1. I actually look for Maxwell House Daily Brew. I know it gives me a reliable cup of coffee. I also know it is priced very reasonably. If I do not find it I turn to other choices. I do look at price, but that is not the deciding factor. I always want a good cup of coffee so I stay away from store brands. I look for a breakfast or medium roast since my husband does not like darker roasts. If I see that Maxwell House or Folgers have a special bonus package I will usually purchase it.  If there are none I usually look for the price difference. The most important thing about my final choice is whether I have had it before and how it tasted.

2.I have a great relationship with Maxwell House. WHen I was a girl, my great grandfather drank Maxwell House Instant Coffee. He was my favorite person in the world.  So from the start of my life Maxwell House has been there.



3. a)As stated before Maxwell house was part of my life right from the start.
 
    b) It is a part of my life now. As a matter of fact I can look to my right and see the Maxwell canister right there.

    c) Maxwell House always delivers a good cup of coffee. It is reliable. I am never disappointed using it. I have a very high opinion of the brand. I feel like it has a reputation for a quality product.


    d)  n/a


    e) nope, if I am going to get Maxwell House specifically and the store is out I will go somewhere else to get it or wait a few days for it to be restocked.

    f) It's not often that I have a specific brand in mind unless I am looking for a flavored variety.

4 a) They deliver a quality reliable product. They are always the same and that is important. There is nothing worse than expecting something to be the same and then you get it home and  it's not what you thought.

    b) I don't think they have a secret. I think people are loyal to Maxwell House because they get what they expect to. When it comes to foodstuffs I think getting the same product you got the last time is not only wanted but expected.

   c)  I really can't think of anything they don't do well. They are making a great product at a good price.


5.  The 3 values I think this company has are:  Traditional, Strength and Diversity.


I chose strength because they are a long standing company that keeps abreast of the trends and changes just enough to be relevant.

I chose diversity because there are ads for them in all sorts of cultures.

Tradition seems to play a large part in the company. They don't fix what isn't broken. So many companies do bigger and better ( even if it's not) but Maxwell House introduces new items without getting rid of the staples.

6. Does Maxwell House have grit? Oh yeas, they could not have survived and thrived if they didn't. They have been there through upset economies, wars and all other trials and they still grew.

Determined? I guess so , don't really know about that.

Self -Assured? Sure, they know they have a good product and they work at keeping their reputation spotless. They know they  have to rely on repeat customers so they give us what we want.

Hard Work- well yeah, their R & D department is always trying new things. They seem to keep ahead of trends and introduce new items ahead of their competitors.

American? Well yes Maam. (Or Sir) they embody what an American company should be. They seem like an All American kind of company.

Coffee. Hmm. I like to have coffee in the morning and in the afternoons. I'm not much of a coffee drinker in the evenings. Every morning my husband and I brew a full pot of coffee. We almost always have leftovers. In the summer I save the coffee and have iced coffee in the afternoon. If I make the coffee it might be regular flavor or a flavored coffee called Jamaican me Crazy. If it's my husband it's always plain.
If for some reason we don't make coffee at home it always feels strange. Like something is missing. almost incomplete somehow.
We will usually stop somewhere and get coffee at Starbucks or McDonald's or if we are going out for breakfast we will get coffee there. I am kind of picky about coffee. I do not like a lot of coffees. For example I do not like the regular coffee from McDonald's, Burger King or Bojangles. I do like the coffee drinks from McDonald's but I read somewhere that they don't clean their machine very well so I don't drink it there anymore.
As for a replacement, if we are in a restaurant I will often get unsweetened iced tea instead of coffee. But if we are home I will not have something different.
I don't feel that way about anything else in my life. I'm very flexible in most things. .
Most days I have 2 or 3 cups of coffee, unless I get it out, then it's usually one if it's to go but if at a restaurant I will refill it as often as possible. At home I drink coffee in our living room. I sit on one end of our sectional(it is he chaise part) and put my coffee on the table next to me. My husband refills my cup almost always. It's one of the ways he spoils me. I drink coffee mostly as a habit. I don't feel like it wakes me up or anything, it's just  the way we always do it. The TV is always on and while my husband is watching TV I am usually on the computer or my phone checking my emails and Facebook.  I often forget to even drink my coffee. Many many times my husband will ask if I am ready for a refill and I realize I haven't even started to drink the first cup.
 A job description?  That's a hard one. OK here goes: Looking for a reliable early riser, someone willing to show up on a moments notice. Must be willing to stick around until no longer needed. We are looking for someone who is completely flexible. The job is 7 days a week and may include overtime. Must be willing to come in afternoons if needed. Pay is dependent upon your experience.

Coffee in the mornings is comforting. Just because it is a habit doesn't mean it isn't missed. Iced coffee is refreshing in the afternoons, especially in the hot summer months.

I really don't see much difference in a day without coffee and a day with it.

This is what I think Maxwell House kind of people are: They are just ordinary people doing ordinary things. This is Mike and Cindy. They are Republicans who think George Bush was the bomb. They spend their weekends flea marketing and searching for that one piece that they can brag about. They have many friends but only get together with them during football season.

And this is a Dunkin Donuts kinda person, a working Mom. Her name is Norma and she is a busy busy woman. She loves the drive-thru. Norma is a democrat and supports Hillary Clinton. She thinks the fact that she can vote for a woman is more important than the substance of the candidate. She is in a Mommies and me class and does yoga at the gym twice a week.

This is Ashley. She is a loyal Starbucks customer. She is a democrat who supports Bernie Sanders. She thinks the government should take care of everyone. While she likes what she hears him say she doesn't bother investigating the facts. She is a member of the masses and doesn't understand why anyone would ever own a gun, or would support a Republican. Ashley likes to surf the web, she is a vegan who food shames everyone around her. She has a child who has to vie for her attention, she haunts Facebook.

This is Roy and Sarah. They are elderly Folgers users. They still remember the "olden days" when America was great. They are staunch Republicans who are disappointed that Jeb Bush isn't still in the presidential race. They don't have any use for the younger generation and see them as whiners who don't  know what hard work is. Roy and Sarah hang out with their siblings playing card games on Friday evening and go to church every Sunday.

I respect the opinion of all of them. Do I think they are all right? Absolutely not. Ashley and Norma are fools as far as I see and the other 2 couples are so set in their ways they don't give room for progress.

Grit. Hmm- to me that means a never give up attitude. It means persevering even when the poop hits the fan. It means sticking with something and making sure you finish despite  obstacles. Without grit a person would easily give up when things get difficult. It is taking something that is a challenge and making it happen anyway. In my life it has been sheer grit that has allowed me to keep moving forward even when obstacles are placed in my way. It means I have been tough enough to just go, even when I feel like I can't. In the world, grit is what allows athletes to "just do it". Another word for grit is toughness. I think I had alot of grit when we found out my husband had to go to prison. Everyone thought I would crumble but I was determined to show them I was stronger than they thought.

This image just spoke to me because it is with grit that we succeed.We cannot succeed if we allow negative thoughts to fester, we must rise above them.

This image shows the true meaning of grit. Never giving up on what really matters to you.

I can't think of any movie character with more grit. Can you?

Determined- Keeping on keeping on even when you want to give up. Not allowing anything to get in your way. I have shown determination by finishing school even though I had 4 kids and a husband. I went to work and I went to school, all the while taking care of them and our home. Determination out in the world is shown when people get past the obstacles and get it done. Sticktoitness.  

I chose these 3 quotes because the truly describe what determination means to me. 

Self assured- Not to be confused with someone who thinks their stuff doesn't stink. Instead to me it means someone who knows their strengths and emphasizes them. BUT they also know their weaknesses and instead of using them as an excuse does whatever they can to compensate for them. They are people who aren't boastful but instead they act as a person who can and will. 

This image reminds me that our outside appearance doesn't always match who we really are

You cannot be self assured if you don't lie yourself first. 

This woman embraces her appearance and probably sees herself very differently than others might. 

I have not embraced being self assured. I am sometimes but not as much as I would like. A person cannot fully embrace themselves if they do not embrace all they are. The world is starting to become much more self assured. Look at all the people who are coming out, the people who are fighting for equality, and the otherwise different or unusual. 

Hard work- Wow this is my every day. A hard worker is a person who believes in putting all their effort into what they are doing. I have shown I am a hard worker by working for myself for the last 6 years. I have learned to use a chainsaw, write invoices, write quotes and other things I needed to learn to keep my business going.

I think this is self explanatory

A person who calls attention to the work they do invites criticism. Let the work speak for itself. 

Same as above. Don't brag, just show

In the world today we are seeing not much hard work, alot more self assurance, less determination yet more grit. We have become a world that feel they are owed. It's nuts. Someone spills coffee on themselves and sues  because she was a klutz.

Grit seems like something we see mostly in the older generation. Self assurance is seen in alot of the younger generation now. We see people standing up for themselves all over the place nowadays. 

Hard workers and determined people are harder to find. Especially Americans. We bitch that immigrants are taking our jobs yet most people would not do the work if requested. 

A job well done means that what a person takes on is done correctly. That they took the time and effort to do the job the way it should be done. 

I take pride in always doing a job well done. In my work I go above and beyond my customers expectations. I don't feel like the job is finished until my customer is happy. It matters because it gives me a sense of pride. When customers refer us to other people it makes me feel valued. 

It is a great feeling.

  An American is someone who even if they weren't born here, they take pride in America. They work to make their lives better all the time making this country better. I try to purchase items made in the US as much as possible, My car is American and I try to support the little man businesses. I am proud to be an American. Even though I disagree with the current administration I still give them the respect the office deserves. I am patriotic. I don't fly a flag at my home but in my heart I am soooooo proud to be an American.
I really don't know any places that are really all American anymore. Years ago WalMart was 97% made in America, after Sam died though now it is 3%. What a shame. If I had to pick one the first that comes to mind is Whirlpool. Everything they make is made in America.
 





 

Blog #1: All About Me (due Thursday, 5/19 at midnight)   

1.My name is Theresa. I am a 50 year old woman. I am married to an amazing man who just happens to have Parkinson's disease and early onset dementia. I am the mother of 3 sons and 2 daughters and I am Mamaw to 2 amazing little girls. I am a property inspector right now but next  month I start as an at home customer service representative. I am originally from New York and moved to North Carolina 11 years ago. 

When I met my husband 8 years ago he was a heavy equipment operator and hauler. Soon after we were married he started having panic attacks. Soon after we started noticing neurological problems and he was eventually diagnosed with Parkinson's. So as soon as my world was sunshiny a cloud fell over our marriage. But you know what? Everything turned out great. I found we actually became closer because we were forced to spend so much time together. I can honestly say that I am happier than I have ever been.  

My day begins the same way almost every day. I get up between 6:30 and 7:30 am and the first thing I do (after the necessary potty stop) is making the coffee. I make a full pot every day even though there is almost always leftovers. I guess I think maybe today we will drink more. After a few minutes my husband, Terry will get up and as soon as the coffee is done he pours us each a cup. We usually have cookies or another sweet to eat with the coffee. He will turn on the tv and watch that while I am on the computer. We chat and figure out our day.  After a while he will take the dogs outside while I get dressed. If we are going out to inspect houses we map out our route. When we are done with houses we come home and I upload the photos I took. 

We usually eat lunch when we are out. After the houses are done I usually start supper. After supper we sit on the couch and watch tv. 

As happy as I am, i can't help but feel cheated. I was classed as a genius and yet here I am sitting in a single wide mobile home. I could have and should have done so much more.

I have a VERY small circle of friends. Most of them have not kept in touch since we moved but I still occasionally chat with them online. What my friends would say is that I am very loyal. I will always be there for them when they need me. 

   

The first picture is of my 3 dogs. We live in a house where the most used comment is Let the dogs out and/or let the dogs in. It seems like thats all we do. The second picture is my husband and my youngest granddaughter, Ruby. She is the light of my world. She is 18 months old and when she is here with me nothing else matters. Terry and Ruby have a fantastic relationship. One that I feel privileged to be here to witness. Both of these pictures signify the love I have in my life, the dedication I hold in my heart and an unfailing love that flows both out of me and into my heart. 

 One of the people I have really admired over the years was Ronald Reagan. He was a man who stood up for what he believed. He fought both personal and public wars. He was a man who held strong beliefs and when he loved- he loved hard. I have always thought him to be the best president we have had in my lifetime. He had moral conviction and stood his ground. There was no challenge he ran from. He held high values and morals and wasn't afraid to show his love for God. 

This next picture is a picture of my Dad. He married my Mom when I was 12. He taught me how to be a good person. To be a good mother, wife, and citizen. He wasn't perfect but he was the greatest person I ever knew. He died several years ago and I really feel a loss every single day. Jim was the one who walked me down the aisle when I married the first time. He was the first one to hold my daughter after she was born. HE taught me how to change my own oil, how to change a tire, how to save money, how to be an educated person and how to rise above all obstacles. 

Every day I am inspired by my husband. He has had to overcome so much and yet he still puts one foot in front of the other every single day. He hasn't let his disabilities define him. Instead he has risen above his difficulties. As for challenges, every day I am challenged by the limitations of my life. We have to overcome our families being so far away. We are usually broke, we are normally bored and lonely. Because we both suffer from health issues there are days that make it hard for either of us to  get our get up and go to get up and go. 

My values are so very important to me. It is the guide I follow into every situation I find myself in. 1. God loving- that I am. My relationship to God is the most important guideline in my life. Without it I would be lost.In my everyday life I use my love for God to know that he always has my back and I can always rely on his grace. 2. Loving- I have a never ending supply of love. I sometimes get hurt because of it. There are times when I wonder if my heart would ever be too generous. I don't know how to turn off my feelings. My husband can harden his heart if he is hurt but not me.In my everyday life I will let my kids walk all over me, I lend money, time, and always give give give.  3. Loyal- to a fault. I will let the people I care about hurt me over and over and I always stay with them. I have never turned a friend away when I was needed I have stayed friends with people who have walked all over me. . 4. Jealous- yup- it's my worse fault. I am always jealous of what other people have. Material things, relationships, brains and everything else. It's hard to control sometimes but usually only my husband gets to see my green  eyed monster. I sometimes don't go places because I know I will feel so much worse after I am there.  5. Honest- I will always tell the truth, sometimes I have to hold my tongue so I don't hurt someone.
I am always impressed by the Avon corporation. They stand behind their products, they are loyal to their customers and their representatives. I like the fact they donate to charity and they empower women with their message. 
   

ok so here is my first entry on my brand new blog