Ich Liebe Es

I have great ideas sometimes that never make it beyond my moronic muttering to myself around the house, causing bouts of hysterical laughter and entertaining a little girl who doesn’t know that talking to yourself is kinda weird.  So I talk to myself.  Alot sometimes.  Big deal. Most that know me know I’m a little off kilter.  However, today I’m going to make plunge and announce this:

I LOVE MCDONALD’S!

Now let’s take a deep breath and not freak out here.  I started bouncing this idea off my mom last night who replied “Eeeewww”!  Yes, I will admit there are far better burgers out there.  Yes, I have felt sick after some of the grease-and-salt-disguised-as-food meals.   Just last month I was one of the people who poo-pooed Micky D’s.  But listen: after 4 years of expat life McDonald’s is the one place I can go and have a burger and fries and know what I’m getting.  It will always taste the same no matter where on earth you are.  McDonald’s does not let you down.  Not to mention they will always have the cleanest bathrooms around the world, WITH TOILET PAPER, but that’s a different discussion entirely.

So I got past the burgers and started looking at McDonald’s as a whole.  First of all, how do they get their food to taste the same world wide?  The consistency is pretty amazing, and it’s consistency that continues to sell a product.  Second, McDonald’s is EVERYWHERE!  Kids worldwide clamor for a chance at a Happy Meal or an ice cream cone.  Whether it’s the branding aimed at the very young or simply the free toy, I have watched families sit down and enjoy a bit of the American fast food phenomena over, and over, and over again.  I mean, it’s like worldwide marketing domination!

Muuuaaaahhhh, haaa haaa haaaaa!

McDonald’s also sponsors sporting events and encourages and educates about healthy, active living.  The Ronald McDonald charities do some great  work and offer scholarships worldwide.  The more I think about McDonald’s the more impressed I get with the company as a whole.  OK, so there was the whole “Super Size Me” thing that grossed us all out.  But that’s kinda what I’m saying here; there’s much more to McDonald’s than meets the burger.