a divorce.  At least starting one.  If you have known me for any stretch of time on this blog, even tho I've had to go back and delete them, that I was married to an abusive asshole.  That I was married to a man who hit me, called me names and drank like a fish.  Well after almost 4 years of being separated, and a very very nasty phone call about Ethan's hair, I decided it was time for a divorce.  I'm not going for full custody, we can share custody (he doesn't hit the kids and he's not drinking anymore, thank god) and I am going to get partial child support and some sort of spousal support (or this is what we are asking for, he can bite me, as my lawyer said "You helped him advance his career, that means something").  I'm not sure how this is going to go, I'm scared, alot scared, but this is how things need to be in order for me to get my life back on track.  I need to make this marriage be dissolved.  I am not his wife anymore, he went with someone else, I'm with someone else and things just need to get better from here. I think this is the first step.  I'm great friends with Dakota's dad (even tho his wife still hates me) and I want the same thing with Blaine, even tho I'm not expecting it anytime soon. 

So I'm filling out the financial information, getting some info from the government today, and getting things started.  This is probably going to be a long process.  I can't get it out of my mind.  I wish I could see what I had gotten myself into and got out of it.  I shouldn't have stayed with him as long as I had, but then I wouldn't have Henna and Ethane.  I love the kids, hated the relationship they came out of.  But that is going to change.  No more marriage.  No more blushed.  YAY. 

Wish me luck, time to go jump in the shower and get ready for work.  Oh and take something for this headache I've had since last night. 

I promise, it will look better when I'm done with it.  Right now it looks like a ghetto yard LOL.  I am going to get the grass sorted out, the water in the back and alot of painting and trimming done.  It will be a new yard when i'm done with it!!  I hope to show some good after pictures :)

Ok I've been thinking about this all day and I decided it's time to blog about it.  I will do it in two parts, the first part is how to order and the second part is just tidbits for the fast food ordering challenged.  Please remember these are specific to me, and I'm the one who is annoyed by these things and will show you how to do this with the less urge for me to spit in your coffee.

How to order fast food:

• Know what you want to eat:  If you don't know, don't go up to the till.  If you are standing in line, check out the menu over the order taker's head!  That's what it's there for!  Don't stand at the till for 5 minutes because you don't know what you want or pause halfway thru your order to decide.  The person at the till is being timed from the moment they hit the first button and has to have your order taken and ran in 90 seconds.  They cannot do this when you are hemming and hawing over what burger.  There aren't that many to decide from.
• Listen to what they are saying and make eye contact:  One of the hints from my old boss is making eye contact with the person at the till to let them know you are listening to them.  This is very important at front counter but what if you are at the Drive Thru and you are talking through a box?  Listen carefully, look at the screen that is displaying your order if it's there.  Check to make sure they are punching in the right food.  Let them know condiments while you are there.  Listen for prompts like "Would you like your order Large size?" or "we have a special on pies, 2 for a dollar thirty nine, would you like some dessert?" or "How many ketchup would you like?".  They ask these things to run your order and make your experience faster.  Please just listen instead of talking on your cell phone or texting that dirty text to your boyfriend.  You are there for food and we are just trying to do our job fast.
• Exact change is your friend!:  If you can pay with exact change, it's awesome.  Especially since at least at the drive thru, they will tell you how much your food is going to cost.  Spend that few seconds digging in your console for a few pennies to make it easier to grab your change.  And please please please do not pay for a 2 dollar coffee at 8am with a 20.  That is a serious pet peeve of mine. 
  
• Say thank you:  It makes my day when I get a thank you from a customer.  It lets me know that I'm a person on the other end of the headset, coffee maker, etc.  I may be a 16 year old crew member or (Like I am currently) a 30 something manager that is there to do a job just like you.  It's just a job that keeps us running our butts off, working around very hot and dangerous equipment, and doing it fast.  So it's nice to know that we are doing something right for a change instead of only hearing complaints.
  

Just these few things will make life so much easier for the person at the other end.  We do try and make sure your order is right, but these things will make things easier for us and a more pleasureable experience for you.

Ok now onto the few things that annoy me specifically this past week.  McDonalds does have a free coffee promotion where you can get a free coffee for the next two weeks, during breakfast hours, but here's the kicker....You have to ask for it!  Do not think we are giving it to you for free if you don't ask for it.  Just a tidbit.

Ok now onto a few more things that are just annoying at my job that I just want you all to know.

• If you have a problem with your previous order, telling the person at the drive thru window while they are running your order is not only a pain in the ass but they cannot do anything about it!  You have to speak to a manager and sitting in the DT is not the place for it.  Call when you get home, or come up to the counter if you are sitting down.  They are more than willing to help you out, but you have to be a little proactive. 
  If you are promised a free meal or whatever, do not do it through DT either.   Come up to the counter, because the manager has to go find the ticket for it and punch it in themselves.  Takes up more time and causes longer line times for the people behind you.  So go to the front counter where there isn't a clock reminding the staff that they are taking 30 seconds too many to run an order.
• Do not ever yell or swear at me at any time no matter how angry you are that there was lettuce, no extra pickles, etc on your burger.  I will not take your call/order seriously.  The same with coming in drunk and swearing at me when it's late at night.  I will call the police and deny you service.  This is very serious.  Our staff never have to be yelled at or sworn at ever.  They are there doing thier job and do not need to be abused at all.  You do not have me sitting in your office yelling at you because you don't have your desk perfect do I?  So don't think you can treat someone this way when you order food "because they JUST work at McDonalds".  They still are people and deserve the same treatment.  It's called being polite...they are nicer to you if you are polite in the first place. 
  

But I now have to get some food in me and go play wow hehe...Huggles!

Carrie