Don't you just love good service

I went through a Church's chicken drive-thru to pick up some lunch earlier. I always order their tender strip kid's meal which comes with a side, biscuit and a drink (the only other option is a 5 piece strip meal with a biscuit -- which is more than what I would want to eat). Anway, I place my order and decline the drink since I don't drink soda.

I drive up to the window and I can see the manager standing there holding a small cup as he's talking to the cashier. He opens the window and asks why I don't want the drink. I inform him that I don't drink soda. The cashier had already asked earlier if I wanted an extra side, which I decline as well due to the fact that I am trying to lose the extra weight that I've gained (which has gone straight to my midsection).

So the manager's standing there smiling. You can tell he's thinking. He then asks if I would like a jalapeno pepper since I don't want the drink. I decline again, telling him that I don't care for jalapeno's. At this point I'm feeling almost guilty for not taking something. I didn't expect them to deduct money from my order since it was only a little over $2 to begin with. He also asked if I wanted a cup of water, to which I said no -- I apologized and told him that I have bottled water at work. He's still smiling. He told me what a good thing it is that I don't drink soda since it is really not good for you. I pay for my food, thank the cashier and drive off.

I'm a frequent fast-food customer and I just really appreciate it when I receive excellent service. As I drove off I couldn't help but think, hey - I could have asked for an extra tender strip -- naaaahhhh, that would have been pushing it :).

The Joy of Accomplishment

There's nothing like starting a task and continuing until it is completed (with satisfaction). I decided to 'improve' the landscaping in front of my home. Little did I realize what a strenuous task it would be. I mean, after some mornings of digging up grass and dirt and positioning the brick edging in front of my bushes just right, my back, shoulders and arms would ache. But it was so refreshing and therapeutic. Once I got started I didn't want to stop. I worked up a sweat, got a little dirty and even tossed a few worms out of the way -- eeewwww -- the worst part!

I guess I would call this Phase I. The area in front of my shrubs is completed on both sides of the house. I made a nice little decorative area on each side of my sidewalk that is edged with bricks. It really stands out with the lighting that I placed along the sidewalk not long after I moved in. I even planted a few flowers -- what I had not intended on doing initially. They are annuals, are a variety of colors and I can't remember what they're called. Oh well, it looks nice. I still need to spruce up the area around my 2 trees -- which will be Phase II. I'll probably start on that in about a week. I really enjoy working in my yard. I don't mean just mowing the lawn but getting creative and making it look really nice. I plan on adding some kind of colorful plants or bushes in front of my shrubs. Maybe my effort to spruce of my yard will inspire other neighbors (to mow their lawn on a regular basis if nothing else).

That's a whole different story. I get irritated with homeowners who don't take care of their property -- I'm talking tall grass and/or weeds, raggedy fences. It makes the neighborhood look bad. If me, a single parent with 2 kids making under $50K a year can find a way to maintain my property, I know these other people can. Borrow a lawnmower if you have to. Go to Home Depot, buy wood to fill in the gaps of pieces missing from your fence (it's no more than $1.50 -- I've had to do it myself) and fix that jacked up mess! You don't need a power drill -- at least I didn't. I've got your basic hammer and a box of long nails (I had help picking out the size). I was quite proud of myself after replacing the wood that my adorable dog had broken.

Anyway, enough of that. I love driving past the front of my house just to see my handy work (and make sure none of them bad kids have been messing with my flowers -- just kidding :).

Words of Encouragement

Here's another one of those encouraging e-mails that was sent to me last week. I saved this one just so that I could look at it from time to time.

The road to success is not straight. There is a curve called Failure, a loop called Confusion, speed bumps called Friends, red lights called Enemies, caution lights called Family. You will have flats called Jobs.

But, if you have a spare called Determination, an engine called Perseverance, insurance called Faith, a driver called Jesus, you will make it to a place called Success.

Not Totally Abandoned

I haven't completely abandoned my blog. I've been so busy at work, not to mention trying to keep up with class assignments that I just haven't had time to jot down my thoughts or share whats been going on in my world. I have about 2 more weeks before the semester is officially over. I'm a little nervous about my grade in Biology. I will be happy with a C. Although I feel that I am well above 'average' :).

I have registered for a class at church which is 'Discovering Your Purpose'. I am so excited. It starts this week and will last for 8 weeks (one night per week). I just love it when churches have the resources for members (and non-members) to develop spiritually. I also filled out an information card with our singles group so that I can be 'plugged in' to the happenings going on in that ministry. I am also debating on taking a summer course. It would be much easier for me if the class I wanted to take was offered on-line, but, that is not the case. Does it sound like I'm trying to do to much? I think I can handle it. I'm the type of person that enjoys staying busy (as long as it's productive or is considered a positive activity). I do believe that an idle mind is a devil's workshop. I also plan on getting back into my exercise routine -- which I completely abandoned after I started school. There's one more thing that I want to do -- take swing-out lessons. I have a friend who has been trying to get me to meet him at various places in the metroplex but I have yet to go.

Maybe while my kids are gone to Oklahoma for a few weeks in June I'll be able to do one of my favorite hobbies, read a good book. I haven't done this in a quite a while.

There is soooo much that I want to do.

Why is nothing simple for me?

I've been looking into getting braces. I have a few crooked teeth in the front -- nothing major, but still I would like an 'improved' smile. I scheduled an appointment with an orthodontist for a consultation & x-rays (complimentary). I'm thinking it shouldn't be anything to complicated, after all, my teeth are in good condition and there's no serious crowding or anything. WRONG! I have what is called a crossbite on the left side of my mouth. The key word here is 'side'. Noone can see the side of my mouth. If they can, they're looking waaayyyy to hard.

The problem is, my upper jaw is not wide enough. Therefore, I will first have to have my upper jaw bone widened by an RPE (Rapid Palatal Expansion) device that will be placed in the roof of my mouth and will need to be widened twice a day by inserting a special made key into a key hole that once it is turned, will widen the device. There's more, due to my age (36 and proud of it), some type of tissue in the roof of my mouth is no longer soft (I believe they said it hardens around age 17). So, if the RPE device doesn't work I will have to have a surgically assisted RPE. Which means I have to go to an oral surgeon who will make an incision in the roof of my mouth to allow my jaw bone to expand. Why me! All I want is nice, straight teeth. If I don't have this done, I was told it could affect my bottom teeth if I go ahead and have the braces put on. I am praying that my insurance covers this surgery, if I have to have it. They don't cover orthdontics for adults but the office I went to has payment plans (yeah!). I'll know my next plan of action in about 2 weeks.