Dear Sonic, You Suck

...or Why Amanda Hates Being Nickled and Dimed To Death

I'm not gonna lie, I'm a savvy well-educated consumer. Some people might use the word 'cheapskate,' but I prefer my version. Yes I buy things on sale because they are on sale. I'm not afraid to go to the thrift store and pick up some 'vintage' t-shirts. I search out good deals. I would bet to say that 85% of the things I buy are on sale. So it only stands to reason that I choose to quench my mid-afternoon thirst at Sonic. Happy Hour from 2-4, what could be better? Actually, I'll tell you. Happy Hour from 3-5 like it used to be, but that's another post.

Today, I pulled up to the Sonic in the town I was working in and me, trying to ween myself off caffinated beverages again, decided to go for a flavored tea. Hmmm, okay a large flavored tea is listed at $1.89 so surely happy hour means my drink will be approximately 90 cents plus 8 cents tax. Right? (Psst, I am really good at math, so I did all that in my head.) I placed my order and my total was $1.14. What?!? I asked the order taker if it was still happy hour and he confirmed it, so I asked why it was $1.14 instead of under the $1 dollar mark that I had so anticipated. He replied that they take half of the regular tea price ($1.69) and then add 20 cents on top of that for flavoring instead of taking the half off everything. Yes I realize it's only 15 cents, but this kind of stuff happens to me ALL the time.

Last time I visited Sonic, I got charged 30 extra cents for extra real cherries. Really? I mean, really??? When was the last time Sonic gave me money back when I asked for no lettuce?

I can also recount two separate time when I was charged prices different than what was marked. One lady wanted to argue with me and tell me the computer was right and the other gave me the fifty cents difference. But with my keen math skills, I also knew that they had just gotten four extra cents of my money because of tax. It's just REALLY getting on my nerves. There's no telling how many cents we lose each day to this. I bet if I took the time to look at it, I'd lose all my sense. (Ha! Did you get that? I hope you did.)

My retalliation? I will not be buying flavored iced teas (or diet cherry limeades with extra real cherries) from Sonic anymore. Screw you guys, I'm going home. Or to McDonald's where all drinks are ONE DOLLAR. PERIOD. Doesn't matter the size or flavor. One dollar. That's a deal I can live with.

Boys v. Girls

...or how Amanda is so very different from boys and that's probably why she hasn't dated on in a while.

When we stay at one place for a while for work, we have started renting an apartment for the crew. And to save money, I have started staying at the apartment with the guys. Lots of interesting discussion arise, like Batman v. Wolverine that appeared on my facebook a while ago. Tonight was the topic of dating. Two guys were talking about how it never works out with girls and how they never make it past three dates. And with our job, three dates is the equivalent to two weeks. I was thinking, "What pigs!" Then I afterwards, I was pondering the subject. *I* never even give guys three dates. I am worse than guys! After all this time, I've been thinking guys were the chauvinist pigs that just use girls and leave them hanging. But really, maybe it's the other way around. At least they are giving their potential suitee a chance to see if it works. I just jump to conclusions and stop it before it begins. So the question is: am I being smart or hasty?

365 Days Later

In an interesting twist of fate and irony, the Bolivar Peninsula loses power almost exactly 365 days after it would have during Hurricane Ike. So here I lay, on a bed in a FEMA trailer with thoughts racing through my head. Wondering why? Wondering what happening 365 days ago? I was enjoying a serene East Texas sunset, oblivious of the chaos about to ensue down here. How high was the water right now? Was it in my house? Could I have spent those few extra hours gathering things that I miss? My great grandfather's lamp, my granny's Texas Ranger Uncle's pistol? Family history lost that can never be regained. I hate this. I still don't understand. I don't understand why it happened. I don't understand where that much water comes from. I don't understand how 1 year later, it still hurts so bad.

I'm Gonna Learn to Run....or die trying...

Blah. I feel like I should post but I'm out of words right now. I ran tonight. I'm on Week 2 Day 1 of the Couch to 5K program. I did days 1 and 2 last week but took four days off because I was too busy. I should really stop that. So I decided just to start Week 2 all over again. Which probably ended up being for the better. I added an extra cul-de-sac to my run today and I wasn't so moody! Hooray. Maybe one day I'll actually enjoy running. Right now, I'm just trying not to die before the podcast finishes.

(I also think that maybe if I blog everyday that I run, I'll feel more compeled to run instead of sit on my hump and not do it. So if you'll just bear with me, I'll try and make the non-running posts semi-exciting!)

My Triumphant Return

...kinda. I've fallen off the bandwagon, in more ways than one recently. I stopped blogging, I stopped eating right, I stopped exercising. Well, today, it all ends (hopefully, I say with my fingers crossed behind my back). I got back into exercising. I'm started the Couch-to-5K program. It's a running plan that I have looked into for sometime, but never actually followed. BUT TODAY, I started the plan. It's a slow progression from being a lazy bum to actually being able to run for an extended period of time. My next workout is Thursday. So all three of you who read this need to send me a text, email, facebook, whatever method you prefer to make sure I actually do it. Today's "run" and I use that term loosely, was good and productive and I feel great and revived. It's just a matter of making it out that door and making the choice to do it today!

In an effort to not counteract my "running," I decided to pick up Subway. It worked for Jared, so it's good enough for me, right? Of course! I'm a fan of the Subway Club, which is one the healthy menu, but also has enough variety with ham, turkey AND roast beef to make it seem NOT like diet food. If you've watched TV recently, you'll know Subway is bragging about their $5 combos and how they are so cheap. GUESS WHAT?!? My beloved Subway Club isn't on there. Not only is it NOT on there, they raised the price. WTF? I guess to compensate for the cheapness of the crappy subs, the blessed Subway Club is now a "premium" sub. Well thanks Subway, I will no longer be eating your over-priced sub-par deli sandwiches. I'll just eat a cheeseburger and run another five miles.

Okay, I probably will return to Subway out of necessity, but it just makes me mad! So I'm boycotting them for at least a day.

Btw, I just have to throw out that I am seriously, quite possibly even unhealthily (is that a word?) thinking about an old crush ALL THE TIME? It's been for freaking ever. Has anyone else gone through this? Geez. I feel silly for even thinking of him.

So there it is, my return to blogging, my return to a healthier lifestyle. As for the boy, psshtt, hopefully, he'll be out of my head by the end of the week.

Oddly enough, I find peace in country roads and Willie Nelson with the windows down. Somehow all the pent-up stress from driving the past six and a half hours is now gone. It's just me, the road and the Texas sky these last eighty miles today.

Time Flies When You're Havng Fun...

I can't believe my time on tour is almost up. It doesn't seem like my life has been immersed in drum corps for the past two and a half weeks. In the past when I have taught corps, there comes a time when I am ready to throw in the towel and go home. I know I have til this weekend, but that hasn't happened yet. This is also the first time the staff isn't factioned; everyone hangs out with everyone. I think everyone on the staff has said to me, please don't leave which is pretty crazy for people I've known less than a month.

As always in drum corps, I've learned about myself. The three days prior to leaving for tour, I had that little voice in my head appear. 'Can you do this?' 'This isn't just teching, you're responsible for the WHOLE ensemble, brass, percussion and guard.' 'YOU have to talk to the judges in critique, you can't rely on someone else to carry you.' Then after this self conversation, my next thought was, 'F my life, why did I say yes to this???' But you know what? I have held my own. I have realized my mistakes and will learn from them. I also realized I know a hell of a lot more than I thought I did. And, I'm capable of a hell of a lot more than I thought I was. Not to brag, but I impressed myself these past two weeks. I feel like this should be my wrap up post but when that time comes, I'll list what I learned instead.

To summarize since getting off the train...I taught most of the show in a week. I was told that 'I'm mean on the field but I'm the coolest person in the world off the field' and I like it that way. We placed second in both our shows last weekend but they weren't our best shows. I'm waiting for the show when they tear it up. My birthday was Sunday and I got a billion calls (so much that my voicemail was full) and texts and emails and facebook messages. The staff went out for burgers and drinks in Rverside afterwards. It was low-key (for me) but was still a good time. A staff member bought me a birthday shot and some delectable snicker-ish ice cream cake. I have my drum corps crush for the summer. I have become good pals with the Executive Officer for a Seabees Battalion and he invited us to play for a change of command ceremony on Thursday (which I am REAL excited about). Today I was in the studio audience for 'Are You Smarter Than a Fith Grader?' and it was okay. I think Jeff Foxworthy is still one of the nicest and humblest celebrities I've met. Hollywood Boulevard isn't as impressive as you would think it is.

I know that was random,but there's my stream of conscious writing, er blogging. Thanks to all who are listening. I'll post a wrap up next week!