but…uh…

If you’ve been seen my quest for Shamrock Shakes, you may be interested in an update from McDonald’s on why they can be hard to find in different parts of the country.

Hello Aaron:

Thank you for taking the time to contact McDonald’s. We appreciate your interest in our Shamrock Shake.

The Shamrock Shake is a “promotional” product offered for a limited time only. Since the decision to offer promotional products is made on a region by region basis, I have forwarded your comments to the McDonald’s regional office in your area for their consideration in deciding if they will offer the Shamrock Shakes to their customers next year.

Once again, thank you for taking the time to contact McDonald’s and sharing your comments with us. Hopefully, the Shamrock Shake will be offered at your local McDonald’s next year.

Tina
McDonald’s Customer Response Center

So, there you go. If you want to see shakes where you live next year, I guess you’d better start sending some feed back now.

So, I just realized that St. Patrick’s Day is on Friday. When did that happen?

For some reason, my thoughts turned to McDonald’s and their Shamrock Shakes. I haven’t had one of these in YEARS! Of course, since I never watch commercials I had no way to know if they had them or not. I thought they must, but to save a trip I looked online. There was no sight of them at the McDonald’s website. Ever since Supersize Me, though, their marketing has focused on the “healthy” aspects of their food and the benefits of exercise.

Yeah, whatever, clown. Give me a nuclear green shake and shut your fry hole.

So, if they won’t tell me about what they are ACTUALLY selling, I knew that Google would save me. A quick search for shamrock shake turns up this site. Bring Back the Shamrock Shake. WTF? According to this guy, they hadn’t made them in up to 10 years. Am I really that old? That’s crazy.

So, I dutifully clicked on the link to send some feedback to Ronald McDonald and I gave him a piece of my mind.

Bring back the shamrock shake!

I was about to get up and go to McDonald’s just to get one and a quick search on Google tells me you haven’t made them in years. What’s up with that? They were the best thing EVAR!

I’m sure you wouldn’t be able to whip some up for this year, but maybe next year you could turn it around and everyone will be happier. I know I would be. And so would my friends.

Luck o’ the Irish to ya,

Aaron O’Hurley

OK, so my last name isn’t O’Hurley, but I thought if I mick’d it up a little with an extra O’ I might garner more sympathy.

Not long after sending off my note of concern I see ANOTHER page on the same site saying that Shamrock Shakes have been spotted at McDonald’s in various parts of the country. Well, now there’s a mission. A chance. I don’t care if I end up driving to Ohio, I’m going to get a sweet sweet minty shake. I will not be denied.

Turns out, I wasn’t. 2 miles down the road at the closest McDonald’s I could find, they had them right there on the menu board. They didn’t have any big posters or anything on the building. They reserved those for the selling their Apple Walnut Salad. (Come on. Who do they think they are kidding?) You can click on the photo below to see the whole adventure. It may not have been as difficult as originally envisioned, still, it was so thick, and frothy, and just so shamrocky.

They are so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.

Let me start by saying that I’ve never been one for decorating for holidays other than Christmas, but I think that might have to change next year. It might be wrong, but I think this is a great idea.

In other fun news, I just found out that the Matt Groening approved the filming of a live action opening for The Simpsons. Check it out, it’s great.

OK, so it’s been 22 days since my last entry.  Not the longest break by far, but it’s been a full 3 weeks.  I don’t have much time to write so I’ll make it quick.

The play went really well and the crowds got bigger every show.  Thanks to everyone who came out and to Ravi for the great DriveTime exposure.  

 While working on the play, an old friend hooked me up with some developers in San Jose who were launching a new website and needed help with some modules for their product.  I did a little work for them and they flew me out to California for a few days for some intense coding prior to the February 15th launch.  While there, they offered me a really excellent full time job. 

The opportunity was far too good to pass up so I decided to take it.  I finished the last weekend of performances and then flew to Nashville where my Mini was still sitting to be sold since I moved last fall.  I renewed my tags, had a lovely dinner with Jimmy and Tina, and on Thursday the 23rd I hit the open road.  3 days, 6 states and 2,400 miles later, I arrived in San Jose.  Well, Santa Clara to be exact. 

I’m working for just a great group of people in a beautiful setting.  Just to give you an idea, no one in the office had seen any of the best picture nominees this year so every day this week has included an afternoon matinee to catch up on them.  How great is that?  Throw in a birthday party on Monday and karaoke with some friends from San Francisco tonight and I don’t have time to sleep or do any pleasure surfing.  I’ve not even turned on a TV. 

There’s a lot of work but the people and place are wonderful.  Sure, it’s a little bit like Mayberry (except with traffic), but the gorgeous views I wake up to every day are stellar.  In many ways, I still can’t believe this is my life.  I’m not 100% sure I’ve ever really known what home feels like.  I think this might be it - and I like it.