Currently Listening In This Life By Collin Raye "In This Life" see related

An open letter to McDonald's

Back story:  Drew told me about this happening to a friend of his.  I did also submit this on their website.

Hello.  Thank you for reading my message.

A close friend of mine reported that his friend visited a McDonald's restaurant and overheard an employee say "McFaggot."  When he protested, no one in the restaurant would offer apologies, and no one at the head office or human rights board would offer apologies, either.  I am outraged that an issue like this would not be taken seriously.

I know that you are probably skeptical about the situation because, at this point, it's double-hearsay.  But I am writing to you because I would hate to think that if I were in a similar situation, and I lodged a complaint about hearing an unquestionably offensive remark in one of your restaurants, I would want to be assured that your corporation has no tolerance for such behavior.  And, right now, I don't have that confidence.

I would gladly discuss this situation with you.  In the meantime, I am not intending to spend any money in your restaurants, and I'm going to be vocal to others about this situation.  Thinking, moral people should be outraged that this happened.  I would very much like some kind of assurance that your company does not condone offensive remarks from its employees, and I look forward to being able to eat in your restaurants again.

Thank you,
Ken

Currently Listening Up! By Shania Twain "Forever And For Always" see related

Me, too, for realz

http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/archives/013116.html

In the meantime, it's worth noting that my mom is not speaking to me.  Probably.  I called and left a message, and then she called back, but I didn't pick up, and she didn't leave a message.  This was a few days ago.  And, considering today's my birthday, I just have this sinking suspicion that she won't call, just to prove a point, not realizing that all it's going to do is make her look like a horrible person.  Because I really, really haven't done anything wrong.  I'm really sick of this total bullshit.

Currently Listening How Do You Like Me Now?! By Toby Keith "Country Comes To Town" see related

I hate them BECAUSE I love them

Christmas present arrives today.  I am immediately suspicious, especially considering the box is labeled with the brand name of the quack vitamins my mom sells.  (I wish I were making any part of that up.)  And, indeed, inside are a bunch of things that I really don't want:  quack vitamins, socks that are probably 15 years old, a New York-themed set of Uno cards, a blue leathery photo album that a twentysomething woman would want, dental floss, a toothbrush, one blank videotape, a tiny black cowboy hat that looks like something Tanya Tucker would wear if she were a chihuahua going to a funeral, and a bar of soap and a bottle of shampoo from some hotel.  Most of this was in a sort of women's style country boot shaped stocking.

But then, surprisingly, there were things that weren't awful.  There was a deck of playing cards, two Sudoku books, Tom's of Maine toothpaste, and some photos of my parents with their friends Caroline & Jimmy from New Year's Eve 2000.  There was also a photo of my maternal grandparents, who died looooooooong before I was born, with a message from my mother that she wishes that they could've known me and that they would've loved me.  There were also two greeting cards with sincere messages -- both the text that was already there, and annotations from my mother.  She also took the time to underline parts of what the card said that were the most meaningful.  She promised that money would be forthcoming for my birthday, as well as a AAA membership.  Actually, all of those things were thoughtful and show an uncharacteristic understanding of me.

And it's times like this when I want to hate my mother the most, and instead realize that I don't really hate her at all.

Currently Listening Lonely Grill By Lonestar "Amazed" see related

New dilemma

Currently Listening You Do Your Thing By Montgomery Gentry "Gone" see related

Blast from the past