Update...

         Hey guys! For those of you who are wondering where this blog about the Beef Barn is actually going, I'm here to update you all. First of all, after doing some observations that I posed, I am starting to get an idea of where I want my final project to go. The more I go back to the Beef Barn and every time I'm out at restaurants, I can't help but notice the cell phone problem. For example, I was at Panera Bread last night and there was a family sitting at the table next to us... the older gentleman was eating his food, the older woman was on her cell phone, the middle aged woman was reading a book, with her tablet on the table, and the other middle aged woman had headphones in with a tablet! My boyfriend and I was shocked to see this, and hear no conversation occur between any of them! This issue is very interesting to me, and it will be a prominent aspect to my paper. The other main topic I've been looking into is local businesses. I really want to point out the fact that independent restaurants are out there, trying to survive surrounded by all the franchised places. It's important to point out when locally owned restaurants give back to their community! With Small Business Day coming up, I believe it's mid-November, it reminds us all to try and spend our money at local and independently owned small business because they are more likely to give back and use the money compared to giving it to millionaires who own a whole fast food franchise. That will be my goal to all of you... after researching the difficulties small businesses, specifically restaurants, encounter, go out and have dinner at a local place in your home town! Or instead of going to Walmart, try the little place down the road who grows their own produce.
         As for my final paper, my two points will be the discovery of this push and pull relationship. We care about locally, family owned restaurants and bring our family and friends with us to share a meal, yet we ignore them with our cell phones, tablets, laptops, etc. Later on I will post a picture of something called a "mind map" which will demonstrate where I want to go, but in pictures and colors and multiple "stems" branching off...