Friday, February 1, 2013

What would Jesus do? Not act like Pastor Bell or Applebee's

I am a huge believer in fighting for the underdog and in this case - Chelsea Welsh is that person who has been fired from Applebee's restaurant for posting a picture of a receipt with one pastor's views on tipping: "I give God 10%, why do you get 18?"

So here's my thoughts on this...What would Jesus do? He probably would help the girl who was putting herself through college as a waitress.  He might even give her a bigger tip so she can take some time off with her family or go to church.  He might ask her to sit down, have a glass of water and take a break...he may offer to help her out any way he could.  He wouldn't complain about tipping - he'd give what he could.  He wouldn't write a nasty comment about how he gives his father 10% so she doesn't deserve 18.  He might give his father an extra percentage on Sunday though.  He wouldn't call the company in a huff because someone was rude to him (or in this case, put a comment up on Reddit) -- first off, he wouldn't have been snarky but second, I feel as though the idea is to own your mistake and seek forgiveness.

At first, I was angry at the pastor and wrote this: The pastor apologized because she got caught.  What has she done to actually make amends? Perhaps she should get another job and give her salary to the woman she had fired for awhile.  Or maybe she should call Applebee's and say she was mistaken, that she was wrong.  How about a fruit basket? I don't know  -- something? anything?

After thinking about how everyone has bad day's though...I wrote the following: So Pastor Bell, now that you're one of the most hated people in the media right now...how do you feel about your comment?  Thankfully, Jesus would also say to forgive you too.  Maybe it was a bad day or maybe you have something going on that we don't know about.  Maybe you just got some bad news or you're having some financial struggles.  Maybe your faith has become a chore and that's why you compare tipping to tithing (which, by the way, isn't supposed to be a chore).  It wasn't the right decision but it happened.  This will pass and you will be forgotten - but you will not forget this moment.  Learn from it and don't be mean to your waitress. Ask about their day, ask what they do and why they're a waitress - give your waitresses an extra percent once in awhile.

So if I ever eat at Applebee's again, I will order water...and I will give my waiter or waitress the money I would have spent on food.  I will NEVER order something from there (mostly because I value my health too much but also because this sort of behaviour is NOT acceptable).  Large corporations should respect their employees because they are the true face of the company.  They are the ones who are dealing with stress and pain and exhaustion...and still smile.  They are not paid enough to deal with this sort of treatment.

Check out Fox News for completely accurate and reliable information - http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/02/01/waitress-fired-after-posting-receipt-showing-pastor-complaint-about-tip/)...okay, so Fox is usually crap but this article gives the details of what happened.
 
From one ex-waitress to Applebee's...I tried to think of an intelligent way to insult you but...you suck.

Sincerely,

Tinkerbell (What can I say - I'm liking the nickname) 

Monday, January 28, 2013

Can I start my Monday with tequila?

Having to get up at 5:30 in the morning is always the way to get my creative juices flowing - especially when Shipley, mom's newest fur-baby decided to sniff my feet with his FREEZING COLD nose! Bad dog! I was on Grand Manan this morning and am now sitting in the caf waiting for Dana to get here so she can join me for coffee.  Oh glorious coffee - the drink of the gods (and the Sammy).

Having been up really early, I forgot that it is Monday but here's what's going on in my life so far:

1) The fish of my friend's roommate is dead.  I suggested eating it - apparently that is the wrong suggestion.  Fine, eating pet fish = bad...I then suggested microwaving it to see what happens.  Thankfully, it was just a fish and there was no real attachment.  Even more thankfully would be the fact that it wasn't my friend's fish or I would build her a fishy-coffin of toilet paper.

2) Who the heck puts butter and cream cheese on a bagel? Seriously, the boat people looked at me like I was crazy because I didn't specify I wanted a dry bagel...I don't want it dry, I want cream cheese.  Maybe they should mention that all bread products come with unnecessary fats and unless you specify, you'll be putting that into your system along with the cream cheese.  Join me in a chorus of EWWWWWW!

3) My phone is almost dead already (Thankfully, I remembered to call work because I am in sweatpants and would have to go home at lunch to change which just wasn't happening).

4) If you huff and puff walking across the caf, it is time to eat better and exercise more.  I watched a girl go across the caf in a way that can only be described as slow and plodding.  My heart really went out to her.  Considering I was really unhealthy while married, I understand how hard it is to start walking and how self-conscious it is to do little things (like shop for groceries or get clothing).  It's common sense I know, but it's still heartbreaking because of the obvious strain her joints are facing.  (NOTE: Bigger people are NOT hated upon for their size alone ever.  I am bigger and I run, play games, and live a moderately active lifestyle, my mom is bigger and the woman is a tank!  Seriously, she could take down a tree with her teeth...okay that may be a bit of a stretch...but she's strong...but the pouring of sweat, greasy skin, combined with panting and puffing is out of shape).

Anyways, Dana's here - later blogworld! 

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Snake Oil Diet Pills

Recently, I had the opportunity to challenge a woman on Facebook who was selling her 'new, Dr. approved, all-natural' diet pill called Visi Trimma.  Having had a teacher in middle school who died of phenphen, another all natural, doctor approved diet pill, I feel very strongly about these snake oil salesmen (or in this case, women).  I have given up on answering her posts and I believe she is an uneducated dolt and I'm not a mean person on Facebook (and my mother is the moderator on the group, Grand Manan Buy and Sell).  That being said, there are a few points that I would like to point out on a more descriptive post.

1) This woman is fat.  She has no chin - now, I am a chubby chick but that being said, I have a neck and a defined waist.  She does not...so if I take these pills, am I going to look like her?  Crap.  If she hasn't had results from the pills yet (and therefore has no 'after' picture), why is she pawning them off to her friends?  I am not a fat-hater but I also call it like I see it.  If I'm going to be the face of a product, shouldn't I have been using the product and...I dunno...been getting results first?

2) There is NO pill that is safe for every single person.  You may have an allergy to one of the ingredients, you may be on medication that causes complications, your body may not respond well to them so instead of dieting and exercise, take a pill that is not FDA regulated (yet she states this is not a 'drug') without knowing the long term effects, any clinical studies (real ones, not the ones Visi Trimma made up to sound good).  Apparently, this pill is a miracle drug though and gets people off insulin, is safe for people who are on blood pressure medicines, have problems with their liver etc etc etc...does it sound too good to be true? That's a good sign that you're being scammed.

3) I stated she was an uneducated dolt.  Let me offer some of her wonderful comments that screams "I'm here to give you health advice:"
After three days you feel the difference all natural gluten free safe for kids my friend 14 yr old is 190lbs and its safe for him you are what you eat my friend also taking it she lost 10 lbs and 5 inches in 18 days just one a day she hasn't changed eating habits or exercised depends on you how much and how fast you loose weight they also have two other products they offer not just for weight loss one is for wellness and I'd have to check on third all natural vitamins stuff your body needs to see the video on my web site if explains a lot also I have nutrition sheet of what's in it if you like to see give me your email address and I will send it to
Let me tear this apart (the English major in me is rather bored) - the entire thing is wrong! You do not "loose" weight.  This is all one sentence. "If explains a lot" is never right on any level in the circles of grammatical hell.  Okay, I just put in bold all the mistakes.  For the record, if this woman has a high school education, please warn me where so that I can avoid it.  Stupidity may not be contagious but I do feel rather nauseous after reading that (and this is who is selling you diet pills).  If she cannot speak like a doctor (or even someone who passed grade six), find someone who, at very least, sounds intelligent.
4) Diet and exercise do not work for everyone but they do work for most people.  Also, there are skinny people who are unhealthy (ever heard of skinny fat?).  She is promoting something as 'healthy' but saying you can continue to eat whatever you want (eyes roll here), live the life of a couch potato and still be 'healthy'.  I say she's a liar.  Go talk to your doctor, look up healthy weight loss tips and save your money.
5) Apparently, Dr. Oz promoted this.  No, he did not (from the research I have done so far).  He promoted one of the ingredients in it.  There is a blog that has Dr. Oz's name in the title and supports Visi Trimma.  This is a popular way to get hits on Google and some people will consider this 'good enough' evidence.  It is not.  So not only does she not show the results in her portly figure, she does not know enough about the product to know who does (or does not) promote it.  Something is rotten in the province of New Brunswick.

So with these five points, I conclude with my insightful yet witty finale...she be crazy (and still obese).  The only lighter thing on her (and you if you bother buying her shyster scam) is your wallet.

Eat healthy, drink water, poop often :) 

Love, 
Sam.

You, my dear, are an idiot

You know that moment when you look at someone and think "What the HECK is wrong with you?" Recently, I broke up with my boyfriend - I'd say it was a truly traumatic experience but it wasn't.  It happens, I'm over it.   

So why am I grumpy, you may ask.  We broke up because he's massively in debt but apparently, he didn't bother to share this.   Basically, it wasn't because he's in debt that made me end it - I could handle that. The irresponsibility and the fact that he didn't seem to have a plan to fix this (and prevent it from happening it again) was worrisome.  To explain further, he didn't realize that he was this far in debt - ummm, really? You didn't know how much your car would cost? or that your credit cards were maxed? or that you were in overdraft and had been missing payments? Really? I've gotten pretty good at calling 'bullshit' and my radar was up on this one.   

Anyways, we had a chat last night and he proceeded to tell me that he was upset that I left him when he needed me the most.  Fact: We've been dating four months.  Fact: When I asked what he planned to do about it, he said he didn't know, he ignored phone calls from creditors and oh yeah, he was still smoking.  Sorry but I was not that much invested into the relationship.  At four months, a relationship should still be fun, not stressful due to one person not managing his money properly.

Anyways, this is my rant and yes, I'm rather grumpy about the "you left me" accusation.  I don't believe in playing the victim and this is exactly what he did - it's a stupid ploy to make me feel guilty and it only made me angry.  It's called growing up - some people apparently take longer than others.

In happier news, I got to go to Grand Manan for the weekend and am having a great stay! Woot!