This is...beyond terrible

Never mind that it's one apple slice but labelled 'slices': it's a terrible way to pollute the Earth's oceans.

McDonald’s sparks outrage with new ‘The Little Mermaid’ food packaging: ‘Surprised nobody has sued them’

The original post: "One apple slice in this plastic baggie, advertising a movie about the ocean..."

--sjdjenen

These apple slice packs are standard in Happy Meals. McDonald’s sells 4.1 million Happy Meals a day. Imagine 4.1 million of these wrappers in a pile.”

--Outside_the_Walls

Home and tired, ready for bed

I made a special trip to Danville this evening after work to visit my mom, who is in the hospital, and this greeted me as I pulled into my apartment complex afterwards. Pretty, yes?

Sorry I didn't write last night; my stepfather and I and a friend and I were exchanging phone calls regarding my mom, who is being a somewhat difficult patient, but otherwise I think should be doing better soon, or at least let's hope so. I brought her a pretty pink-and-yellow miniature rose to help cheer her up.

I did get word from the Kentucky NAMI group that I am officially accepted as a teacher for the Family-to-Family class and they've sent the agenda for the training, which is pretty intensive; essentially all eleven classes are covered, with additional information, in a two-day training. But I am excited. And even though driving up is still a little anxiety-producing, I did well in rush-hour traffic down a state road today, so that was good practice. The training is at Sullivan in Louisville, and that's where Brenda takes her son for his classes, so I think I'll ask her about the construction I've heard about.

I got a note on my door this evening from my leasing agent about expanded options for lease renewals that include an 18-month lease with only $5 increase in rent. I think I'll take that one. I've been here for 10 years and don't anticipate moving any time soon.

Okay, I've gotten home, I've alerted my friend that I'm back, have eaten a McDonald's double-filet-of-fish meal, and am a bit pooped. I have to get up at 6:30 in the morning because it's my allergy shot day and I go into work early. So I'm heading to bed, I think. Good night!

Well, I made a (somewhat) horrible mistake

I forgot to pay my electric bill. So last night I came home to a dark, cold house, and had to use one of those battery-powered push-on/push-off lights to find my around. I couldn't sleep much at all, because I didn't have my CPAP. In fact, in the six hours I was in bed, I probably slept about an hour and a half.

At 5:15 I finally gave up, got up, washed my face, dressed, and headed out to McDonald's, where I could get breakfast, charge my phone, and get free Wi-Fi. So I thought I'd spend some time on the Internet before they got busy. My phone was at 10% when I came in, and on ultra-power-saving mode. Now it's at 64%, so I'm feeling a little better about having a connexion to others if needed. Funny how we've gotten so dependent on cell phones.

Okay, I'm going to check the news. I don't have much juice in my laptop and I can't get the plug into the outlet here for some reason, so I can't charge it. But I'll try to make the most of it. Boy, though, I'm sleepy. I'm supposed to celebrate my birthday/spring with friends, one of whom is going to make Jewish-food goodness, like kugel and matzo ball soup. [It's a little early--my birthday is in early April, but my friend associates it with the vernal equinox, and I was at work yesterday, so we're celebrating today.] I'm hoping I can stay awake with so little sleep. And I haven't taken a shower, because it would be cold, and so I look like crap. But hey, it's my own fault. And yes, I used my phone's hotspot and the laptop last night to go ahead and pay the bill, so it'll be on sometime before 11 pm tonight. Here's hoping it's sooner.

Hope you're having a somewhat better weekend so far.

So I'm at McDonald's and it's a little after 6 am

There was no point in trying to sleep any more, really. I managed to get into a sort of drowsy half-sleep for about an hour at a time, but kept waking up because I couldn't get comfortable. I normally sleep with a fan, for one. The CPAP is crucial for me, of course. So I'm tired and kind of achy. But I did manage a lukewarm shower and dressing in the dark. I wish I'd remembered the allergy medicine I got at the grocery yesterday, though. Mine are in full swing.

I've had breakfast (two egg and cheese biscuits), and I'm on their wi-fi catching up on news and blogging. But I'm behind on my time because of that three-hour dental appointment the other day, so I think I'll go on in to work soon. I just have to be careful I don't get overtime. I can't leave early today because I may be needed to meet someone who did a book drive, and that'll probably be between 4 and 5 pm.

Hopefully the electricity will be back on at home by the time I get there this afternoon. I unplugged the aquarium and little fish tank so the filters/pumps wouldn't run without water.

Okay, I'm going to go check the news for the morning, then head over to work. Have a great day. And hey, at least it's Friday (and in my case, jeans day at work.) :)

Trick-or-Treat was kind of a bust from my point of view

I was actually home through most of it, but not one trick-or-treater came by looking for candy. Granted, I live in an apartment complex, but still. I thought I might get a few, and I always feel bad if I don't have anything at all for them. But, alas, they missed out, and I went on over to my friends' house with about a half an hour to go till the end of the trick-or-treating (it was moved to this evening due to the severe weather of yesterday). Also, apparently the place to go after trick-or-treating is McDonald's, because I went over there right before 'Grimm' to get us some food and it was crazy. There were about 20 cars in the double drive-through, with more waiting to get into the lot. I went on inside and placed my order, and I'm sure I got it long before some of those people did, but it was very busy inside as well. I had no idea what a happening place it would be!

Now I'm home. My upstairs neighbour has lights up for Diwali (actually, there are quite a few light strings throughout the complex, as we have quite a lot of people from India and South Asia here. It's very cheery. So, happy Diwali this weekend.

I think I'm going to listen to some music in the bedroom, maybe read awhile, and just relax, then head on to bed. Hope you had a good week and have a great weekend ahead of you! Good night.

I got a lot done in an hour

So for $15 I got four tomatoes, six ears of corn, an onion, a cucumber, and a pint of black raspberries. The squash in the picture comes courtesy of Brenda, who brought it at the last game, along with salad greens and snow peas. The little purple peppers are from my plant. I've had about seven so far, maybe more, and it's full again. So now I have the fixings for corn-on-the-cob, salad, and the dish I make with cheese, squash, and onions that I have no idea what it's called, but it's very yummy.

I ate breakfast at McDonald's, where a fly kept buzzing around me in the dining room. I know it's impossible to keep them out in hot weather, but it was annoying. But breakfast (egg and cheese biscuits) was good, and then I headed for the bank, where the drive-through was really hopping. I had to go inside for my transaction, and had to wait awhile because there was only one lobby teller open, but I was patient and eventually one of the drive-through tellers was able to do my transaction. I got the cashier's cheque for my rent and some money for the farmer's market, then headed there. After browsing the stalls and buying from about three of them (I like to spread the bounty), I headed to the leasing office, paid my rent (early!) and came on back to the house.

That's all I had planned for the morning. So pool or notes? Hmmmm....