McDonald's or Burger King?

Recent survey reveals that one out of one McDonald's employees prefers Burger King's double cheeseburger to McDonald's.

On Monday, I wanted a quick meal and went through the McDonald's drive thru to get a double cheeseburger. (Yes, after 10 years as a vegetarian, I'm now loving hamburgers again!!) I asked through the speaker if the double cheeseburgers were still a dollar. The friendly girl on the other side of the speaker said, no, but the McDouble was.

As way of education on the McDonald's menu - a McDouble is two pieces of meat and only one piece of cheese. The double cheeseburger has two pieces of meat and two pieces of cheese. And as way of personal experience, the second piece of cheese makes a big difference.

I ordered the McDouble and when I pulled around to the first window to pay, the same friendly girl informed me that Burger King's double cheeseburger was better! Whoa, a McDonald's employee recommending Burger King...while in uniform. And they are still $1, she added.

So, upon intentional and comprehensive deliberation, Philip and I have decided to go to Burger King today for their cheaper, better double cheeseburger.

11 Months!

Anastasia turns 11 months old today. I find that a little hard to believe but thrilling all the same!

Anastasia has a few words: thank you, uh-oh, Mama, Papa, and a variation on Daddy that I think is Granddaddy.

Monday night she blew me a kiss - unsolicited. And this evening she said "thank you" when I gave her her Cheerios! Of course, earlier, when she was upset that I wouldn't let her feed herself, she very purposefuly threw the spoon down on the ground.

So, she's a pretty normal kid - cute and infuriating.

When did BusinessWeek Gobama?

The past 2 issues of BusinessWeek have struck me as different. First, there was the April 5 issue that featured an article on the cost effectiveness of Obama's health care reform. That caught my attention, so I put it aside to read when I had time. Then, the cover of the April 19 issue suggested that Obama is scoring big with his current economic strategy. Again, I set it aside with the April 5 issue to read. Finally, today I the cover of the April 25 BusinessWeek piqued my interest enough to open the front cover and read the letter to its readers.

It was a very well written letter - informing the readers that Bloomberg LP had purchased BusinessWeek and now it would be Bloomberg BusinessWeek magazine. I do indeed like some of the changes that have been made. The publication seems more streamlined, accessible, and well organized. However, I started to wonder if there was a connection between the addition of Bloomberg and the shift in bias.

After reading those articles in the prior issues, it became apparent that someone at BusinessWeek has a pretty big crush on President Obama. Both articles gave him the benefit of the doubt and barely pointed out what naysayers are accusing his legislation of.

There was an editorial in this week's (April 25) issue that I resonated with. It was from Mike Buck in Carrollton, Texas. Buck, who holds a masters in business, says that to credit "the market's temporary uptick to Obama's policies is asinine." I agree. Mike Doring, the author of the pro-Obama article in the April 19 issues, points to the markets to testify to Obama's success. However, as Buck points out, the markets are about temporary gain, not lasting change.

I would love to see President Obama succeed. That would mean a success for the American people, right? However, I don't want that success to be at Anastasia's expense. (And, if Buck is correct and this Administration is on par to double the debt of all previous Administrations, that expense will be large.)

So, when did BusinessWeek gObama? Well, I don't know much about this Bloomberg fellow, but my hunch tells me it's him that has the man-crush on our 44th president.

Ann Louise

Anastasia has obviously enjoyed spending time with "Miss" Ann Louise. Ann Louise has been babysitting Anastasia recently - and is doing an extraordinary job! She is a very trustworthy young woman.

Ann Louise is earning money by babysitting for a summer course at Ballet Magnificat! I bet Anastasia will want to be a ballerina like Ann Louise...especially if they continue spending time together.

Thanks, Ann Louise!

The Masters

Phil Mickelson, my pro-golfer of choice, won the Masters this weekend. Winning his third Masters was exciting - especially given his wife's recent battle with cancer. Watching a golf major, especially the Masters, is restful and exciting - there's so much history and legacy on that revered course in Augusta.

Tiger's re-emergence made this Masters even more interesting. I didn't much care for Tiger before all of this was exposed. He was too much machine and not enough (hu)man. His actions are not commendable nor even excusable. But to know that Tiger is human and susceptible to error and emotion softens my hardness toward him.

I hate that it was an extremely low and hard time in his life. But it was wonderful to see positive emotion from Tiger for something other than winning the whole weekend. How many of us have people cheering and literally applauding us when we walk from our car to the office?? For Tiger to smile from the cheering and applause he received reveals that he has gained some perspective from this negative exposure.

Nike might have taken it a bit too far, though.

Tiger will continue to receive mixed responses from people. And his image will be tainted by his poor choices. But he will still go down in golf history. My loyalties remain with Phil Mickelson, who will also go down in golf history, but it's refreshing to see Tiger's coldness thawing.