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* NEWS ARCHIVE 17 -- October 1-15 2006 * Current News <<< Next News >>> Main News Archive October 13th
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Dr. GiGi and her nurses* took quite a few photos in the last few days. They're sprinkled throughout the rest of today's news... |
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THEY'RE BACK!! (Actually, they never left...) A national group, The Center for Nursing Advocacy, has gotten wind of the Arizona State Board of Nursing's activities; possibly from one of the "5 or 6" nurses mentioned in the AG's letter... (If you're not up to speed on all the fuss, learn more about it) Sandy Summers (the Executive Director) and the gang at the Center whipped up a form letter just for us as part of their latest letter-writing campaign. They illustrated their arguments with a number of photos from our site... and even came up with a cartoon concept of their own! (Maybe one of our fans can flesh out their rough draft...) In all their preparation, they did happen to miss the fact that there is a female physician on staff at the Grill - "Dr. GiGi"... We won't pester you with the text of the form letter here (you can read it on their website), but we think you'll be captivated by some of the valid opinions and heartfelt excerpts that these girls included in addition to the form letter: Sandy "We are Women - Hear Us Roar" Summers MSN, MPH, RN Executive Director from the main office in Baltimore, MD sent not only her form letter, but also included the entire cartoon script. |
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Why do they hate Dr. Jon? 
Sandy Summers - Executive Director |
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Naomi "I am a Professional" Nevakshonoff S.N. Student Nurse from Castlegar, British Columbia says... "I am not going to school for four years so i can have my profession used as a sleazy gimmick to sell food. It is distasteful and disrespectful to all nurses working, and I want to be veiwed with respect, not as a ho. I would appreciate it, as would every other working nurse out there, if you would stop using the naughty nurse image for promostional gain in your restaurant." |
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Kathleen "Your Help" Barta, RN Associate Professor at University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, AR weighs in on the controversy... "The marketing strategies of your establishment undermine our efforts to prepare a strong professional nursing workforce... one that you or your loved ones may need someday. Please find alternative ways of doing business." |
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When asked about what to do with all the Angry Nurses out there, Dr. Jon says, "Let Them All Eat Fries!" That's right, we at the Grill really do love and admire Nurses. In fact we're giving away FREE Flatliner Fries to any REAL NURSE who comes in for lunch or dinner. |
Kathleen "Naughty Nurse Theme" Hunter, PhD, RN, BC President & CEO of K&D Hunter Associates, Inc. in Lithia, FL adds...
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"Geez! I am a registered nurse and it's getting really old having to see people constantly assaulting my profession with these teenage-level fantasies about nurses. Since nurses began practicing, they have been connected by men with sexual fantasies. The result: verbal and physical harrassment and assaults by men, whether colleagues, patients, or any male knowing someone is a nurse. Should you or a family member ever need to be admitted to a hospital or other care center, you best hope that real registered nurses are there to take care of you. The only reason people are admitted to hospitals is because they need nursing care. |
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The problem is, young women and men are not being attracted into my profession. There are numerous possible explanations for this, but the sexual imagery linked to nurses is part of the lack of appeal. Result? An ever-increasing shortage of registered nurses at a time when the baby boom population will be making ever-increasing demands for nursing care. Is this truly how you think about registered nurses? If not, why keep doing this? Thank you taking the time to think about this important issue."
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Pia "Heart Attack Grill" Kanistros, RN, BSN, CCRN ICU RN for 33 years from Dayton, Ohio is so pissed off she can hardly type... "I find your attitude about nurses ignorant and unintelligent. But then again people like you promote hatred, bigotry, and stupid good ole boy mentality. If people don't agree with you you resort to name calling. I can only hope that those who eat your ridiculous high fat meals will get the opportunity to find out what nurses really do. YOUR LIFE WILL DEPEND ON IT. IF YOU THINK THAT DCOTORS ARE THE ONES WHO TAKE CARE OF YOU YOU ARE MORE STUPID THAN YOUR WAIT STAFF YOU DRESS LIKE WHORES AND SEXUAL OBJECTS. SINCE THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE PROMOTING. |
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Those that promote themselves as nothing more than sex objects are just that. I hope the nurses in your area are successful in their pursuit of bringing you to your knees. There are not enough nurses out there. Thank God a real nurse is an advocate for your well-being and to joke about it is sick. We have great senses on humor. Better than you. We put up with creeps like you everyday, but keep our mouths shut because we take care of everyone no matter how despicable, and you would never know. That is becasue we are intelligent, and curteous. Nursing is very hard physcial, mental adn emotionally draining. You don't have any idea. To say otheriwse shows how ignorant you are. Luckily most do know that. You will get the opportunity to find out when you get sick, and you will get sick everyone does. Your comments about these portrayals are not accurate are true. But then your rude after comments are hateful, and for that I can only hope that others see you for the crude person you are, and that business goes under. This has nothing to do with freedom of speech. You nothing more than a sexual strip club who serves food. No class. Be assured this will be passed to many other nurses and physicians who have worked hard to protect you. But obviously you have no REAL education other than your greed. I can only hope they prevent others from frequenting your restaurants. Looking at your menu and food, I am sure they won't eat your grease burgers anyway. They DO values their lives." Margaret "Nursing is a PROFESSION" West, BSN, RN EMS Educator at Kishwaukee Community Hospital in DeKalb, IL weighs in with her opinions:
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"I am appalled and so hurt by your depiction of nurses as "naughty nurses" at your establishment. I've been a nurse for over 20 years, most of it in the Emergency Room. I consider myself a professional and have worked very hard at maintaining that image. Taking nurses and using them as sex objects, even if only as "parody" as you state is a slap in the face to all nurses that work long hours taking care of all kinds of patients on a daily basis. If one of your relatives were a nurse, would you still do this? I hope you can keep an open mind after reading this and realize what harm you're doing to nurses and the nursing profession. The next time you're at a hospital, look around and see who takes care of you." |
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Sara "Stop Making My Job Harder" Kozup, RN, BSN at the RN McCann Treatment Center in Bethel, AK makes her case:
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"I am not fat, not ugly, and I'm definitely not a femiNazi. Despite not fitting with your stereotype of those requesting that you stop negatively portraying nurses at your Heart Attack Grill, I whole heartedly agree with their campaign. I live in a rural area of Alaska, and constantly agonize over the short staffing and lack of services (primarily related to lack of nurses) available to my patients.? Quite frankly, your stereotyped sex-kitten nurses make my job alot harder. The nurse as sex handmaiden stereotype disuades intelligent hard working men and women from becomming nurses (What ambitious young person wants to be a nurse when they are just feminazis or sex servants, right?!). I have seen mistakes made by over worked nurses who are doing extra work simply becuase there is no one else to do the job. Even worse, the programs and health services that would be available if there were enough nurses just don't exist out here." |
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Sarah "Stop Demeaning My Profession" Packman RN, MSN of Bayside, WI chimes in: "As a nurse with both bachelor's and master's degrees, I worked long and hard to become an educated professional. I do not lack humor, nor am I a liberal fanatic. I am offended by the demeaning and hypersexual "nurse" waitstaff at your restaurant." |
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C. "Abuse of Nurses" Hathaway R.N. Charge Nurse at Memorial Health Systems in Colorado Springs, CO says:
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"I urge you to consider removing the "naughty nurses" image from you wait staff. I am a registered nurse and have had patients try to grope and fondle me. I strongly feel that the portarayal of nurses as "easy" and "naughty" contributes to the abuse of real nurses in the work place. My husband and I share an e-mail account and the name of the address has nurse in it. My husband has been sent suggestive and obnoxious sexual invitations because of the word nurse in our address. I understand that no one in your establishment would consider your wait staff to be real nurses, but the continuing message is that nurses are there only to serve and wait on others. I hope no one in your family ever needs to be hospitalized, but if they were, it would be nurses like myself who would be your loved ones first and best line of care. Nurses are the first ones to respond to a "code" and, as those first minutes are the most critical, we are the ones with possibly the biggest impact on whether a code is effective and successful or not. The reality is that nurses are very hghly trained, hard working medical professionals. The continuing image of nursing as anything else is damaging, contributes to the nursing shortage and the abuse of nurses currently in the workforce." |
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A. "Not planning on being in business long?" Lopez, RN from Mantua, NJ fiercely adds: "Can you picture it, your restaurant surrounded by angry nurses during every open business hour? Lets see how long you can survive without customers. Let's see how many franchises you sell with the press hounding your customers for being sexist pigs. This is a highly sensitive issue and don't kid yourself for a moment that nurses, private citizens will not take exception to your concept and act on it." |
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Dena "Nurses Insulting" Sharpe BSN from Dupont, WA adds:
"I am writting concerning the portrayal of nurses in your grill. No, I do not believe that the general public is so stupid as to think your waitresses are real nurses. I do believe that it portrays a poor image of real nurses. There are enough people who treat us as waitstaff, maids and sex objects already, not the professionals that we truly are. I would hope that your food is good enough to sell without the gimicks and without insulting those of us that hold peoples lives in our hands every day." |
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Patricia "Heart Disease and Exploitation" Seabrooks, ARNP, BC, DNSc President/Consultant Seabrooks and Associates, Inc. in Pembroke Pines, FL makes her point: "You are contributing to the obesity and heart disease phenomena that are plagues in our country!" |
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Kathy "Nurse Image" Mershon, President The Mershon Company in Louisville, KY piles on: "I visit your city frequently, and will not consider patronizing your restaurant. I do hope you will try to open your eyes and ears to see and hear what nurses are saying to you about the negative images that demean them. I know that my knowledge and skill have made a difference in the lives of my patients over the years and I take great offense at the position you are taking in this matter." Next time you're in town Kathy, your free fries will be waiting... |
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N. "Is This What You Really Think" Ourada, RN, MSN/Ed from Honolulu, HI says" "My husband and I like to dine out frequently, often going to Hooter's, or other similiar establishments as we enjoy the food and yes, my husband enjoys the view. I do not have a problem with this as the waitresses are not insulting anybody's profession, other than maybe their own intelligence.
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However, your use of waitresses to look like nurses is a direct insult to everything I have stood for my in professional career, as a nurse and nursing educator, for the past ten years. Would you want a nurse, similiar to one of your waitresses, taking care of one of your family members? Our nation, and nations around the world, are facing a nursing shortage and it is estimated that by the time you and I need long-term nursing care, there will not be enough nurses to go around. So, who will be providing your catheter care and giving you your medications? One of your waitresses? Wouldn't you rather have an educated, experienced registered nurse, one who is compassionate and concerned about your health and welfare? Please reconsider your use of nursing as a way to sell burgers. Certainly there are other ways to sell food and still make a very nice profit. Who knows - you may help nursing in the process, creating that nurse both you and I may need in the near future." |
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Carole "Portrayal is Pornographic and Undeserved" Halvorson RN MPH MN from La Grande, OR adds:
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"I am writing to let you know how unbelievably tawdry and pornographic your theme is at your "restaurant". Would you want your daughter to work there? Do you think this take on pornography makes the world a better place? Pornography in any form or degree is a cancer on our society. It is not harmless to put any woman or man in the position of being a sex object. It cheapens you and everyone you coerce into participating. I deplore the use of women in any suggestive pornographic role. That you are portraying my profession of many years as pornographic is a severe insult to me personally and professionally. The effect on the women you have dressed and interacting as "naughty nurses" or in any other "naughty" role are at risk for permanent damage from emotional trauma and disadvantaged due to low self esteem when dealing with men. Most of them would not recognize this now, but it will detrimentally affect them the rest of their lives." |
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T. "Promoting the Image of Professional Nursing" Qualey, MS, MSN, RN of Spring, TX adds: "I recently became aware of your method of using waitresses dressed as 'nurses' in advertising the "Heart Attack Grill", and I would appreciate you reconsidering your approach. The idea of the "naughty nurse" is one that does our profession a significant disservice. While I am confident that the response you have received has come as a surprise, I am equally confident that the full consequences of your actions have not been fully evaluated.
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Take a few moments and consider that should one of your patrons - or a family member or even yourself - actually have a heart attack, just who do you think would be providing the care you need to survive the event once admitted to the hospital? It really is no joke: each day people's lives (as opposed to their sexual ambitions) are in the hands of the profession you are mocking. Currently, the profession of nursing is experiencing a significant reduction in the number of people - both men and women - who want to become nurses. While there are many reasons for this reduction, the bottom line is that all patients suffer when there are fewer nurses. Here is your chance to help reverse a negative trend. Your effort to help promote and not demote the image of professional nursing - in person at the Grill and on your website is not only appreciated, but would be considered by many the right action to take. I also think it would be the manly action to take. Thank you for your interest." |
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Jen "Nurses should be valued for their minds, skills and compassion, not their physique" Bayer, ANP-C Adult Nurse Practitioner from Johnson City, NY says:
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"I realize you think that attractive women in skimpy clothing sell more burgers, and you may be right. However, using the "naughty nurse" imagery on the Heart Attack Grill wait staff uniforms degrades the profession of nursing and reinforces long-standing stereotypes that nurses are sexually available to patients. You do not live in a sheltered world where situations do not affect each other - those stereotypes discourage practicing and potential nurses (especially men), foster sexual violence in the workplace, and contribute to a general atmosphere of disrespect that weakens nurses' claims to adequate resources. That in turn exacerbates the global nursing shortage, a public health crisis that is killing thousands of people. The shortage is so damaging because, contrary to their popular image, nurses are highly skilled professionals who use their college-level educations to save lives and improve patient outcomes every day." |
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J. "Please Respect Your Nurse" Krcatovich RN, BSN from Allegan, MI adds: "Hopefully you will be receiving many form letters from nurses asking you to stop exploiting us by showcasing the naughty nurse stereotype. [We've received a few...] I want you to know that I did read the form portion of this letter and I agree with all of it. I have been a professional nurse for more than 25 years. My colleagues and I are working long difficult shifts due to the fact that there is a severe nursing shortage. This shortage will only get worse as the baby boomer nurses begin retiring in large numbers in the next few years. Please stop perpetuating the negative nursing image. My professional desperately needs to recruit new men and women in order to meet the healthcare needs of our country. The healthcare needs of you. The healthcare needs of your loved ones. I urge to you stop dressing your wait staff in nurse uniforms, and to also remove these images from your web site, from your promotional materials, and from any planned clothing sales." |
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Maureen "Only Half the Market Appeal" Fitzpatrick, CRNP Nurse Practitioner at The Center for Sexual Medicine at Sheppard Pratt in Baltimore, MD bestows some interesting advice: "I read with concern your website and other discussions regarding the Arizona nurses' complaints and threats of a lawsuit. I do see your point that you and your employees have a constitutional right to free speech, and I am sure you will have every opportunity to address this issue in court. In balance, I would hope you recognize that the Arizona nurses have a right to protect their professional image. Given the various problems in healthcare today, that is the real issue (rather than any confusion which might arise from your waitresses calling themselves nurses). I guess the courts can straighten it all out. |
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However, you will best appreciate my other concern if you take a moment to make note of my affiliation, The Center for Sexual Medicine. I am wondering why you don't have any hot male "nurses" at your restaurant? Many of my patients would appreciate having a male nurse take their order. Unfortunately, your photos showing a pseudo-doctor-looking fellow aren't at all appealing (tell him to stop eating up all the profits!) Really, this is an costly oversight, since you are missing out on an enormous potential market. Looking forward to some beefcake..." (Hey Maureen, see the beefcake below...) The following girls were so emotionally moved by the controversy that they were only able to send the form letter:
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Jodi Gunther, RN, MS, CCRN Staff registered nurse from Island Lake, IL: "Please get rid of the naughty nurses concept" |
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Janice White RN, BSN Patient Care Director at INOVA Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, VA: "A nursing shortage, why? Maybe the image of nursing" |
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Andrea Stone, RN of Amarillo, TX: "This is awful!" |
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Patricia Lach, RN, MSN of West Hollywood, CA: "This is more than a blight on my profession, it insults all who devote their lives to the sick." |
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Katrina Ady Second Year Nursing Student at Canada's Selkirk College, in Castlegar BC: "I am disgusted by the way you disrespect nurses's positions!" |
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Karen Rode, RN, BSN, CCRN Pediatric Critical Care Nurse from Tucson, AZ: "Nurses are NOT sex objects!" |
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Joanne Dupuis RN MN CPN Cardiac Transplant Coordinator at Children's Hospital of MI in Detroit, MI: "Nurses save lives!" |
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Kathy Jo Keever Associate Professor Nursing at AACC in Stevensville, MD: "Nursing is a noble profession not your naughty nurse imagery" |
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Anne Greenwald RN from Bend, OR: "Stop impersonating professional medical Registered Nurses!!" |
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Valerie Edwards, RN, MSN Associate Professor at Passaic County Community College in Paterson, NJ: "Incorrect image of Nursing" |
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Leona Mason 2nd year Nursing Student at Canada's Selkirk College in Castlegar, BC: "I am not going through 4 years of intense schooling to have the average guy think this of my career" |
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Tanya J. Quarty, RN, BS, SNP Registered Professional Nurse, Student Nurse Practitioner in Maryland, NY: "Your views on Nursing are titally inappropriate!!!" |
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Sonia Nikolova Nursing Student at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA "I want to be a respected health care professional when I graduate to a sex toy!" |
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Anne Doyle, RN, CEN, NREMT-P Clinical Nurse Manager, Emergency Department St Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, MD: "Stop Exploiting the Image of Nurses!!!" |
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Sharon Ann Van Wicklin, BSN, RN, CNOR, CRNFA, CPSN Perioperative Education Coordinator at Williamson Medical Center in Franklin, TN: "Please don't damage my credibility as a nurse!" |
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Rebekah Turner, RN BSN FNP Student University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM: "The repulsive Heart Attack Grill" |
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Cheryl Chana, ARNP, BC, CRRN Gerontologic Nurse Practitioner of North Palm Beach, FL: "Insulting portrayal of nurses" |
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Marilyn B. Andrews, MS, CANP Adult Nurse Practitioner at Becker and Associates Family Medicine in Pikesville, MD: "STOP Exploiting Nurses!" |
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Tara Ralph Student Nurse from Fruitvale, BC: "Thanks for exploiting the nursing profession, when it could save your life one day" |
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Lucille the English Professor (Not Even a Nurse?) at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, MD: "Your damaging stereotypes" |
A study referenced on the Center for Nursing Advocacy's own website says that 54% of men fantasize about nurses. It also states that 47% of women surveyed fantasize about firemen. Maybe the nursing industry should stop ignoring the real world and use the facts to their benefit. Consider taking a page out of the firefighter playbook (an industry plagued by issues including shortage of volunteers and lack of funding) and reflect on the possibilities of using a similar campaign to help further their cause.
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Firefighters have enjoyed success with calendar campaigns for years raising funding for burn foundations, cancer research, hurricane relief, fire safety education, and local charities in addition to fundraising for their own departments. The target market for a comparable nursing campaign is 54% of the male population - a number that can't be ignored. |
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October 1st
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Alpha Male Monday rocked with the help of a few crazy guys who did their best to eat us out of house and home. We've learned that the Alpha Male Monday celebration isn't just for lunch anymore. |
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The carnage of red beef continued well into the night when Ben, Neil, Ryan, and Brad tried to outdo one another.
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Fortunately, Nurse* Lauren was there to give lessons on the proper method of drinking a root beer float. She fearfully guarded the cooler so that no one else would have a chance to get a root beer until her lesson was complete, believe me ALL the students paid careful attention to her lessons. |
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Believe it or not just as the night was hitting a crescendo, none other than the Forquer Brothers showed up to re-remind us all how the Grill is supposed to operate. Nurse* Lauren took an instant liking to these old time Grill celebrities. She even taught them her special way of how to drink their sodas. |
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In the spirit of teaching new tricks, Paul showed us a Guinness float. That's right vanilla ice cream and Guinness! Even the Forquer Brothers tried a Guinness float. |
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Current News <<< Next News >>> Main News Archive
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