Week One

As promised in the initial blog, I will give this weeks results of the service, or lack thereof, I received.  On Monday I went to Arby's on Willow for dinner for Cyndi and me.  The order was 100% correct.  The sandwiches we made to Arby's standards.  We were given more than enough condiments and napkins were included in the bag.  The service was friendly and the drive thru attendant smiled and made small talk conversation.  She informed me as soon as I drove up that they were cooking fresh potatoes and it would be a couple of minutes.  I don't know about you, but I don't mind a short wait for fresh food.  Within 3 minutes the food was delivered and I was on my way.  My only complaint, the potato cakes I ordered were blazing hot, but the curly fries had seen better days.  Overall a 90!

Sonic half price burgers are a regular on Tuesdays for us.  The Sonic on Jackson took my order promptly, filled it 100% accurately, and within a short amount of time.  The quality was very good, I love onion rings crunchy and these were just right.  The service was quick and with a smile.  A 100 for Sonic.For the week the food establishments did pretty well. 

We made the decision to discontinue our cable service and switch to Directv.  I went to The Technology Store and signed up for the service.  They made an appointment for Wednesday for the install.  Chris called 20 minutes before the set time to make sure everything was still a go and then showed up right on time.  He made the install, making sure everything was working properly before he left.  He also gave me a card with all the numbers to call in case anything wasn't correct.  On Friday I went to Charter to return the digital receivers and cancel the service.  I expected to have them make me an offer to stay with them.  After all, we had ben with them for nearly 20 years at our current home.  The experience was strictly business, sign here, pay this, good bye.  It reaffirmed our decision!  The Technology Store gets a 99.99.  Charter fails!  If you want to know what will happen when the government takes over any segment of the economy as opposed to the free market working, this is it.  Once there is a monopoly service goes out the window.  There's your hope and change!

Let's get started!

Today begins a new adventure.  While I'm rarely at a loss to share my thoughts, I've never written them down in a public forum.  My sister once told me to never put anything on the computer you don't want the world to see, so I will try to follow her sage advice.

I felt compelled to share my experiences, both as a source of humor for those who need a little levity, and a guide to help others avoid some of the pitfalls I see every day.  Some will be of no interest to many.  You've probably been there - done that and perhaps even have the tee shirt to prove it.  But, if they can be a source of help for even one, then it will have been worth the time.

I eat at fast food, drive in restaurants regularly.  I think it is appropriate that the drive thru is no longer called drive thru SERVICE.  I rarely get an order completely correct, and even more rare is feeling like my business was appreciated.  In this rush rush world, perhaps good service has come to mean fast.  It is my opinion those who don't have time, even for a few seconds, to be friendly, do not deserve my business.  Unfortunately, I would have nowhere to eat should I use that standard. 

Without being unfairly subjective, I intend to post scores for local eateries.  These will be based on accuracy, quality, and those little extras like smiles and ketchup packs and napkins, and yes, even attitudes.

That's it for tonight. 

Tall Cotton