In Defense of the Lunch Lady

I'm going on a rampage tonight!  The High School I work at has a newspaper they put out.  Today there was an article in there from a student who bascially bashed the lunch ladies.  He was pretty much disgusted with the lunches because they can't have the HUGE cookies and the DOUBLE BACON CHEESBURGERS anymore.   He said the lunches at school used to be awesome but now they are not.  The end of his article said "I think we can do better.  So if you're listening lunch ladies, please go back to the great lunches we once had".   What these students don't understand is we did not do this.  We didn't take away what we can and can not serve.   Obama's new healthcare law has given us many restrictions on what we can and can not serve.  It is not us that took away your cookies and double bacon cheeseburgers.  Laws will become even stricter next year in what can be served for lunch so I suspect we will hear more complaining.
I am disappointed in how the high schoolers have no respect for the lunch ladies and all the hard work they go to to supply them a meal each day.  So sorry that because you abused the ranch dressing in the pumpers we had to serve ranch in cups and you only get one now.  Maybe if you hadn't abused it so much we would not have had to do that.  It's called portion control.  When you fill three of your tray compartments with ranch then we've got a problem.  Not only have you abused but those students who have not abused, well, they get punished for it.  Of course, because we didn't have the pumpers out so you could get as much ranch as you wanted your complaint to the district was duly noticed.  So sorry that we couldn't give you the pumpers.  How about next time we just give you a bottle of ranch for lunch?
These kids are very spoiled when it comes to their food choices, hence the complaint about the ranch pumpers.  I have worked in two different high schools, one being out of state.  Neither one of those high schools have as many choices that these kids get here.   These kids get choices, beyond choices, yet at times it seems they are never satisfied.  How much fruit can we pile onto our tray?  How many items can we shove in our pocket and not have to pay for it?  Walk into the two high school I have worked at in the past at lunch time and see what is being served and I can guarantee you that they will think twice about complaining. 
Without the lunch ladies students would be hungry and starving!  Young man who complained today, maybe you should just start bringing your lunch from home.   That would solve you not having a very good lunch.  Then if you didn't have a very good one you could blame it on yourself because you were the one who made it.   We do the best we can with what we have.  Don't be so spoiled and disrespectful.
TO THE LUNCH LADIES ALL OVER THE US: KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK LADIES!!  WE ROCK!!

Don't Pick My Name

I entered a contest on 1040 WHO Radio with Van & Bonnie a couple weeks ago.  Last week my name was one of 50 people chosen to see if I would win a shed they were giving away at the Iowa Home Show tonight at the Varied Industries Building. We were also given tickets to get into the show. I signed in and then they had us sit on the bleachers. One by one they chose a name and if that name was called they had to leave, which meant they didn't win. Van  walked over to Zayvn to pick a name and I yelled "Not my name!" Thankfully he didn't. Couple more names are drawn then Van walks over to Renn to pick one. Out comes the name and you can guess right here what happens huh? Yep, Renn picks MY name!! I couldn't believe! Van was laughing and asked if Renn really was my son. I said yes and he starts laughing again. Anyway, we had a great time and it was fun to look around the Home Show. Great way to spend a family night together!!

Sitting in the bleachers

Hilarious Video

My Unending Journey

My friend has a blog titled My Transparent Heart.  I should title this blog entry that since I'm going to be VERY transparent here today!!  The first of the year I decided to watch what I eat.  I know, I know.  I've been on this cycle before but a friend and I decided to keep each other accountable on this unending journey.  I've made it 8 days and I've kept pretty good track of what I've been eating thanks to Calorie Counter http://www.caloriecounter.com/.   With my bmi (you don't need to know this! wink, wink) I'm to have 1500 calories.  The first day I started I didn't even make it.  The 2nd day I flew right on by.  The last six I've been meeting the mark just shy a few calories.  It's really opened my eyes and to be conciously aware of what I'm eating.  Yes, I do have the temptations to snack, however if I do, I know I have to write it down.   I never ate breakfast in the morning, skipping out until I had break at work.  I didn't like to take the time to make something so now I grab a breakfast bar or something easy.  It's made a world of difference when I take break and get something to eat.  I don't feel like I'm starving to death.  My friend keeps telling me to go buy a scale (oops, I was just at the store last night!) but I don't want to.  I don't want to step onto it and see the pounds I haven't lost.  I don't want to have to be controlled by a scale, so therefore I won't buy one.  I would rather feel the loosening of my clothes than be subject to a scale that is not going to be my friend.   No, I haven't forgot about the exercise part.  That does come with eating healthy.  Exercise is not my friend either.  We have never been friends although I'm trying.    We have a membership to the campus, however finding time to go there is beyond me.  No, I'm not making excuses.  It truly is hard to find time to go.  Kev goes early in the morning (like at 4:30am.  Yeah right!!  Says the night owl!!)  I could go in the evening but I enjoy spending time with my family in the evening.  I would rather be with them then at the gym.  I do a lot of walking at work, on my feet for all but 15 minutes of my 5 hours.  Especially when I'm catcher in the dish room (putting all the dishes away).   That  walking has helped tremendously and in the evening when everyone is in bed I do my own little version of exercise.  Not long, but I feel, for me, long enough and hard enough.  I kick myself for not grabbing the treadmill that someone offered to us last year!!  Will this journey end?  I don't think so.  It is a journey I have traveled most of my life.  However, it's been a journey without asking the Lord's guidance and help and a journey without faith and belief.  Faith and belief in myself that I can make better and wiser food selections.  Dinner rolls around and I make the same meal for everyone, I just choose to take a little less than I use to.   My unending journey may not ever end because I will always have to watch what I eat but it's a journey that can make me stronger and better.  Physically, spiritually and emotionally.