Posts tagged ‘dc’

DC Moms Go to McDonald’s Beef Supplier

10 September, 2009 | dcfemella | Comments

McDonald’s has gotten a bad rep in the last decade, or two, on how unhealthy their fast food is.  Many people, including me, have seen the documentary “Super Size Me“, or have read the many lawsuits from obese people saying that McDonald’s is to blame for their obesity.

McDonald’s responded to these claims by offering healthy options, like salads, yogurts, apple dippers (for the children), and soda alternatives.  I was impressed when I heard that McDonald’s has “Mom Quality Correspondents” in several cities, who serve as the voice of parents worried about the health and nutrition of their children.  There is a group right here in Washington, D.C. I found out that last month, the Mom Quality Correspondents visited a McDonald’s beef supplier in Ohio and talk about the Angus Third Pounder.

I talked Monica Raugitinane, a McDonald’s representative, to find out how these mothers were chosen and about the trip.

1. How did you find these four mothers? The McDonald’s Family Restaurants of Greater Washington, D.C., and Baltimore worked with a third party to recruit local mothers that had three things in common: at least one child under the age of 18, an interest in safe and healthy food options for their families, and women that at least occasionally dine at McDonald’s. We reached out to women through TV commercials and Internet advertising and received about 50 applications. The four women that were chosen represent different backgrounds and geographic areas.

2. Will there be videos made on their trip? Yes. On www.McDonaldsCorrespondents.com, we post online journals, photos and videos showcasing the Moms Quality Correspondents exploring McDonald’s from the inside out.

3. What about a transcript of the questions and answers? This may be possible, but we will get back to you on this upon their return. The women do journal many of their questions in writing as well as in the video, which will all be posted on the Web site in the near future.

4. Do you have any information you can give me about the new Angus Third Pounder? Please see the attached fact sheet on the Angus Third Pounder.   http://bit.ly/2a6w2R

5. Can I have a followup interview with the mothers after they tour the beef supplier? Absolutely!

I found out that this is the DC Mom’s fourth time meeting with McDonald’s suppliers, having already met with baked goods, poultry, and coffee suppliers. The women have also met with their local franchisees and have toured behind-the-counter at local restaurants.

I wished I would have known about this program, but I would have loved to be part of the group.  In the next weeks, I hope to get interviews with the moms, so be on the lookout for a follow-up of this story.

Photo Details: vintage McDonald’s sign, originally uploaded by lalajean_g.

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Posted in children, health | Comments

Sometimes Not Doing A Damn Thing is the Best Therapy

14 August, 2009 | dcfemella | Comments

The Sea Is Wine Red, originally uploaded by requiems.

I’m always on the go. There is not a moment during the day that I am not doing something(s). I know it’s something that I need to change, and I know there are five reasons why I am this way:

1. Being a parent means no time to relax - It’s something that other parents can relate to. If I try to sit down to take a breather, I have one of the kids asking me for something. I don’t think that I have been able to take a shower (or bath) in peace for over eight years with the kids around. They are getting older, so I am starting to teach them that mommy also needs her quiet time, so they need to learn to respect that. My son, who is older, is starting to grasp that, but my daughter is having a harder time. She is more attached to me, so it’s going to be kind of tough to wean her from constantly trying to get me help her with this or that. I know that I have to. I am starting to write this book, so they have to understand that they can’t have their mother doing everything for them at all times.

2. Living in a fast-paced area can be another reason why I can’t relax - Having children is not the only reason that I am constantly moving, DC is also a factor. In this area, everything is fast paced. When you are at a restaurant or store, you expect to be assisted right away or you start huffing and puffing. If you have to wait longer than a minute, you are already checking the clock and exclaiming, “Ugghh…what is taking so long?” Since I was younger, I have been living here, so I have always been this way. Time flies in this area because you are never still. I have heard the same from friends living in other metropolitan cities. I think it might be because there are tons of things to do here, so you are never at one place for long. This contributes to the expectation that everything has to happen NOW. One example is my trip to Tucson to visit my sister. She told me that she had a hard time adjusting to life there. I asked her why? She said that everything runs slowly, and that she knows it will annoy me as well. It did. I was constantly exasperated at how “slow” everything was. Looking back, I think it’s great that people actually take time to relax, instead of always trying to find something to do. I’m learning how to do this, but it’s still something that I have not even come close to mastering. I know that I need to because I am teaching this impatience to my kids, and I want them to know the art of relaxation.

3. Not being flexible in deviating from my schedule – Ever since I was a teenager, I’ve always had a planner. In my planner, I write how I will schedule my entire day. It can be a good or bad thing. The good thing is that I usually get everything I need to get done completed. However, the bad thing is that I never schedule any time to just sit down and do nothing. My ex used to get so angry with me because if I had down that I was going to get up at 7:00 a.m., regardless of what time I went to sleep the night before, I would get up at that time and do what I had to do. I would then be in a foul mood all day because I was tired. Sometimes sleeping in and doing nothing is not a bad thing. I know that, but it’s still hard to do.

4. Say no even if someone tries to use guilt – Every weekend, I have different people asking me to do things. I am slowly learning how to say no. Even if the person tries to guilt me into doing it, I am realizing that I need to stand firm.

5. Smartphone and laptop are always attached to my hip – Since I was a teenager, I have always been with the phone in my hand and a computer nearby. For awhile, I had a rule that on the weekends, I would disconnect myself from the electronics. Lately, I haven’t been following that rule. I am going to start this weekend. I am always connected during the week, so it isn’t bad if I’m not on the weekends.

When you have this “go go go” mentality, you will one day crash and burn. I think I have finally come to this. I am tired and have no energy to do anything. 1. My ex, who hasn’t come around in over a month, is finally taking the kids this weekend. 2. I have no plans except dinner tonight and a goodbye dinner tomorrow. 3. I had all these things that I had planned to do this weekend, I quickly cancelled them. 4. Everyone who has asked me to do something that will take more of myself than I am willing to give, I have turned down. 5. I am turning off the phone and enjoying my time alone.

I need this because I need to regroup and de-stress. This weekend I am riding my bike, reading a book, writing a few chapters, and painting my closets. Maybe it’s time that I disappear from the world.


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Posted in lists, self, weekend recap | Comments

Are DCers a Bunch of Flakes?

4 March, 2009 | dcfemella | Comments

I always said I wanted friends like in Sex and the City, and my friends would shake their heads and sigh.  We would vow to start being that way.  The next day our lives would come flashing before our eyes, and we would forget about this promise and only see each other once in a blue moon.  Why?  Cause DC people are a bunch of flakes.  There…I said it.

Flaking should be a word that is incorporated in everyday language in the DC area.  If you have lived here for awhile, you have probably flaked on someone and/or been flaked on.  It’s ridiculous that I only see my friends once or twice a year because all of us are “so busy!”  Or  if someone doesn’t feel like going out, he/she will call you last minute and cancel.

When I went to LA last month, I was shocked to see how “non-flaky” people were.

  1. They would come and hang out at whatever time
  2. If they said they were going to hang out with you, THEY hung out
  3. You felt like you ever needed anything, one of them were there for you

I was at lunch with one of the people, and I said that in DC, you barely can get in contact with your friends.  He didn’t understand that concept.

“You don’t see your friends every week?” he asked.

“Nope, usually once or twice a year.”

“Wow, that REALLY sucks.”

It made me think.  Yes, it really does suck.  Why am I seeing my friends only once in a blue moon?  If I can make time to watch crazy things, why can’t I make time for my friends?

I did just that.  Ever since I have come back, I have kept in contact with all of my friends, and made plans with them.  If I say I am going to hang out, I hang out.  I’ve told all of them that I am tired of being flaky and of them flaking, and I think it’s starting to rub off because we are all making an effort to see each other more than on email, text, or social networking sites.

You know what?  I’m happier seeing my loved ones more often.  It baffles me that it took for me to be on the other side of the country to realize that.  Even a phone call, rather than texting, is great to do.  I abhor the phone, but I can pick it up to speak to someone for 15 minutes that day.  They are my friends, so no more flaking!

DC, I know we are all busy and there are plenty of us that are workaholics.  However, when we die, are we going to think about how much money we made or how hard we worked?  No, we are going to think about the family and friends we left behind.

You might even meet a cool person by actually going where you said you were and talking.  Yes, talking (That is another topic).


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Posted in friends, fun, self | Comments

Inauguration Ball Pics Taken By Sis

21 January, 2009 | dcfemella | Comments

Here are pictures that my older sister took at the Inauguration Ball last night, minus the douchebag of a boyfriend that she has.  I love DC:

Inauguration Ball 2009

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Posted in family, news | Comments

DC Men, Wake the F* Up

19 September, 2008 | dcfemella | Comments

I don’t know if I can do dating anymore. I started dating again after taking a two-year break, and after a month, I’m ready to give up. The DC dating scene is probably one of the worst in the country, and I’m tired of trying to find a decent guy. This area is full of pretentious, career-obsessed, emotionally unavailable freaks who say they want a relationship, but in reality, they really don’t.

Ever since the dot.com boom of 2000, this area hasn’t been the same. As a native, I have seen how it has changed for the worse because of all the transplants who have infested the area. Now it seems that the following has happened:

  1. Men do not want any type of relationship until they are in their forties
  2. Women are having children when they are in their late thirties because they don’t want to screw up their careers
  3. Everyone has gotten uglier (I had to throw that one in there to see if you wee paying attention, but it’s true)
  4. No one cares about their appearance anymore
  5. Everyone is so detached

I want to put on “Suicide Club” for them, so they can understand that we don’t always have to be so disconnected from life. It saddens me that this area has become this way. Maybe other areas have as well, but I don’t live there. Even guys approaching girls has changed. It seems they only approach the easy targets because they don’t want their egos to be hurt. I don’t care for me, but I have seen my pretty friends who have guys checking them out, but they never come up to them. Later, you will see a Missed Connection on Craigslist. What do I think? Pathetic.

I posted a Yahoo! Personal ad to see what happens. I’ve had a bunch of guys who didn’t check out my preference. My checklist isn’t that bad anymore. I read this book called “Unhooked Generation” that opened my eyes. However, I still have one or two things that I prefer. Finally, I had three potentials that I was excited about.

  1. The TV Producer decides he is moving to California, but he still wants to date. I’m not wasting my time, so that didn’t last.
  2. The Lawyer was a strange character. I’m weird, but he took weirdness to another level.
  3. The Scientist disappeared.

Talking to my other friends, it seems to be the trend. They either plan to move after the first date; they are different in person than their Internet persona; they never contact you again; or they are so focused on their career that they never have time.

I’m disillusioned, and I’m getting tired of this DC dating scene. I was talking to one of my best friends who lives in Kansas City. She was saying that down there guys want to get married and have children in their late twenties. We both deciphered that it’s cause they are more family oriented than the DC breed. When I went to Arizona, I was pleasantly surprised that there were young families everywhere.

I have decided that if I want to find a man to have a long-lasting relationship with, I have to either move away or find a guy who is older than 45. I am not wasting my time anymore. Last guy I wasted my time with turned out to be married, to my horror. I find this out after I Googled him for the first (I’m a Google before the first date believer now), had fallen in love with him and planned our wedding in my head. I just wonder how he was able to spend weekends and weekdays with me without his wife figuring out what was going on.

Do I want to find myself in that situation again? No!

Men in DC, here are a few tips for you:

  1. Do not post an online ad when you plan to move or your career takes up 86% of your time.
  2. If you just got out of a relationship, or are still in one, wait at least six months before you start finding someone else.
  3. Be a man and just tell the woman that you are just not into her.
  4. Stop being so disconnected and learn to compromise
  5. If you see a girl you find attractive and interesting, approach her. The worst she can say is “I’m not interested.” Take the blow and move on to someone else.

I am going to give myself one more month. After that, I’m going to go on hiatus for another two years.

DC Men, I dedicate this song to you.  Korn’s “Wake Up,” Chipmunk Style.

Wake Up

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Posted in dating, rant | Comments

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