For all you farmers out there...

Watch the chicken walking behind the horse

Wing Lady

The other day my wife and I went into Wal-Mart to grab some of those Famous Boneless Honey BBQ wings from the Deli Dept. I gained a new perspective on customer service and what is acceptable and what is forgivable. We waited in line behind two other people and when it was our turn we ordered. A nice sweet slow little old lady was the only one serving the food at that time. Emphasis on slow.

Anyways, my wife got her meal, and then I asked for some wings. It just so happened they didn’t have enough for a full portion. So, this meant she had to go to the back, get a mixing bowl, wash her hands, get gloves, get sauce, get the chicken out of the fryer, mix it up, put it in the warmer, and then put it in the container. In the amount of time it took her I could have gotten my oil changed, my hair cut, and opened a bank account all without leaving the building. I finally got the wings, and I went home and enjoyed them.

The funny part of the story is that there were 3-4 people in line behind us. Through the whole “making of the wings” process, I looked at my wife multiple times and just chuckled. I laughed, not because it was slow, but because the little old lady was completely clueless to the line that was forming. If she did see the line, which I highly doubt, it made her move no faster at all. The guy directly behind me, also thought this was funny, and realized there was nothing he could do but wait patiently.

Why is it when it takes 4 minutes to get our latte, we wonder why the 17-year old can’t make it faster. When we hold for 2 minutes when we call a company our temper rises. But when Wing Lady moves at her own pace, we can only laugh. Is it because she reminds me of everyone’s grandma, she moves at her own pace or because it would do absolutely no good to get agitated?

Go to Webb City Wal-Mart, visit the deli, try the wings. But you can’t get upset at how long it takes.

Bad Weekend for Sports

Last weekend was a bad weekend for sports in my house. My beloved Auburn Tigers got smoked by the Razorbacks. National Title hopes destroyed. My wife's beloved Oklahoma Sooners got beat by the Texas Longhorns. I really can't stand Texas.

What could be worse than those two loses above is that I got beat in Fantasy Football in our office league. I was the only undefeated team left, and I got beat by a girl. I did help her draft her team, so I kinda got beat by myself. But really, who would have thought the Chargers would have thrown to Gates to get a touchdown and not let their pro-bowl back LT run it across the goal line? If only I had picked up a tight end that would have played. I digress.

What is even worse, is now Jayson is in first place. He has reminded me several times that he is now the one in first place.

Maybe this weekend will be better. Go Bears. Beat Texas.

I just want the seeds

On our way to Austin, TX, Seth, one of our interns for the year, told me about these sunflower seeds that were the best he's ever had. I told him I need to try them. Let me just say I consider my self a connoisseur of sunflower seeds. I played baseball for the first 21 years of my life. I have consumed dill pickle seeds. I typically have a spit cup in my car for seeds. So when Seth said they were the best ever, I was somewhat skeptical.

So I tried his seeds. They were good. They were really good. I would go as far to say they may be the best seeds I have ever had. Problem - I don't know where to get them!

Look at the picture above. This is the only label on the bag. I have no idea where to get more. Seth said he got them at a demolition derby in Colorado. Fat chance I will be at a DD in the Rockies anytime soon. Seriously though, there is no way for me to find out where the seeds came from. Horrible branding, marketing, selling, etc., etc., etc.

Give me a website. Give me a phone number. For crying out loud give me the name of the company! There is no where to go. I know the seeds are Roasted, Salted, may have peanuts or tree nuts and are from the lot #RSS177. That's it. Thanks for nothing.

Here is a piece of advice. If you develop a product that is "the best" in it's category, allow people to buy it. Don't just sell your product at Demolition Derbies in Colorado.

Don't cheapen Jamba Juice

A few days ago when I was in the Llyod Center in Portland, I had a Jamba Juice. Typically I stop every time I am in the area of one. The other day Jamba let me down. They now have paper cups. Or at least the one I was at did. The cups looked the same, but they were paper. Don't know who made that decision. I sure hope that all of them aren't going that direction.

Not that the actual product (or drink) is affected, but what this does is tell me "cheap." Part of the Jamba Juice experience is the styrofoam cup. But you don't realize how big a deal it is until it is gone. If they go cheap on this, it begs the question, "What else do they or will they go cheap on?"

In my eyes Jamba is going down the cheap route to save, what $ .03 per cup. Raise the price of all drinks $ .05. I wouldn't notice. But I do notice when you change the cup. It is all perception.

What was funny was the lady in front of me. She asked for a second cup so she could "double" her cup. She said the drink feels cold on her hand.

I will still probably go to Jamba Juice every time I am in the area of one because they are stinkin' good, but I want the old cups back.

Jamba, please don't go cheap.

Oh also, get the double fiber boost....it's worth it.