Speed Dating

 It is that time of the year... turkey strut season!

They are certainly talking smack at each other!

It is so much fun watching this from our windows.

And Here I Am... Mid May

 Yes, busy again.  Spring finally arrived out here at The Sticks.  So before it turns to summer (which happens way too fast) we have been very busy with outside tasks.

There's been a lot of repairing, cleaning up, hauling off, and brush burning.  Bonsai and the herb garden woke up.  There were a few casualties from that brutal December freeze but not really bad.

As I get things done, there will be things to share.  Everything is a bit piece mill for now.

My blooming iris!

Adios March

What a month March was!  It came in like a lion… and went out like a mean ole ram!!  it is storming as I write this and a tornado watch for our area has popped up (there is an active tornado several counties west of us).  This is not sparking joy!

But in other news things are much better for us.  We got our full claim for our lost cold foods.  Restocking has begun.

The local HazMat day was mid-month.  We had a full load as we have not made one since 2020.  So good to get that space cleared out.  Found out they are going back to the twice a year format which will really help.  So our garage spring cleaning is done.

Last and BEST news is Himself’s last lab results show improvement with his immune system!! 

So, moving on along…

TIPS - To Insure Prompt Service

 

CNN has recently run some articles about “the tipping culture” which have gotten me to start thinking…

 How did American consumers get suckered into paying a portion of an employers wage to their employees?  Why does the government that requires a minimum wage let food service owners blow it off?  And why does the tip depend on the price of what you have ordered?  Service will be the same if your ordered filet mignon or chicken pasta. 

 The last few times we’ve eaten out I’ve paid attention to the amount of time the server has directly been serving me. 

 After being seated, one is handed a menu and asked about drinks… 45 seconds max.

 In hopefully less than 5 minutes returns with drinks and asks for your order…  2 minutes including getting the drinks poured.

 Ten to fifteen minutes later (or more) brings out food… 3 minutes to put food on tray, carry over, and set down.  Any time spent getting items that should have already been available is on them.

 If you are lucky, a zip by check of your drinks mid-meal.  30 seconds.

 End of meal check to see if you want dessert.  15 seconds.

 Back with check... 15 seconds.

 Bye bye!

 You have seen this person less than 7 minutes. 

 Now lets say you had a nice steak- that will be about $50 or more total costs.  The little electronic pad wants you to tip 18% or 20% or 25%.  Going the middle road, that is $10.  Now figure they turn 6 tables in an hour and that everyone’s bills are similar or more.  This server has earned $60 an hour.

Even worse is when there is a tip expected running a cash register.

 My friends who were once servers said it was good money…  yeah, I think so.  

 Other countries expect waitstaff to provide good service as a standard. 

 I’ve decided enough is enough.  Good standard service will get 10%.  GREAT service will get more (since it is such a rare thing).  Crappy service will get nothing… and I won’t be back there either. 

 Don’t even get me started on places that CHARGE a fee for groups over 6!

Wind Storm Aftermath

I'd say there was outages.  As I said before, we got our power back in 3 days.  It took 6 days for our service area (4 counties - a bit over 108,000 customers) to be all back.

Not an uncommon sight.

We had the new state wind record.

Ugh.

And there were people who had the nerve (stupidity) to complain their power wasn't on in a few hours.

In so many places good neighbors got the roads opened up.

Minor injuries here.

These guys do NOT get paid enough!

So many snapped poles to replace.

Especially hard where the lines went thru the woods.

This is OUR aftermath.  A trunk full of food heading to the dump.  Our insurance pays up to $500 (no deductible).  We lost more than that but it certainly helps.

Cuteness Overload

 Finally feeling better.  Super busy with Medicare/Tricare good news and getting our fridge and freezers restocked.  So I am sharing the sweetest thing I've seen lately... an ambush...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ad25P7Nlf2I&list=FLsMi6-SCXJFblgAR0rFFc_Q&index=3    

It's Been...

A long 2 weeks actually.

Got a ton of things finished in late February.  Letting a lot of stuff go, the attic is dejunked.  We demolished our deck in prep for future replacement.  The jerks we bought our house from "fixed" the deck with PINE.  Yep, that didn't last long...  And we've done a lot of culling and reorganizing in the garage.  Not finished as we are waiting on HazMat Day.

 March has been no picnic so far.  I've had a sinus thing going since the first.  Then on the 3rd we were hit by THE wind storm.  Record wind of 79 MPH.  Power went off at 1pm and it was gone for 71 hours.  We lost all of our cold storage food (checking insurance on that) AND I got food poisoning from one of the restaurants we ate at.

 I need a vacation!!