Modern Meals & Mouth-watering Munchies.

@postaday 240; #postaday2011.

I’ve decided to do a little side project for fun using the Instagram iPhone app here on board The Mothership. Each day I’m going to post a selection from our new vending machines here on the ninth-floor lounge. I am further challenging myself with an accompanying haiku. I just like to get my creative juices flowing while I’m here at work. You know how it is when you want to take a break from the wall of words about health and wellness!

I’m a member of the IDEAS team, and I meet with other members to discuss the ideas and comments posted by employees on the IDEAS internal website. Some people hide behind aliases and some people don’t. We’re OK with that. But frankly, if you have a great idea, why wouldn’t you want to own it? But that’s just me, and I know no one is surprised to read THAT!

Here’s how it works: You submit an idea, and colleagues have the option to vote for it with either a thumbs up or a thumbs down. One vote per idea per employee. Once an idea gets 50 votes, we on the team review it and assess the effect it could have on our business practices. Some ideas are for creature comforts, some are designed to improve efficiency, some are thought provoking and either make us laugh or do some soul searching.

I’m burying my lead. For quite a while employees clamored about healthy food choices in our lounge on the ninth floor, where people take breaks, gather for lunch, and conduct meetings without having to reserve a room somewhere else.

We heard their tummies grumble! The idea to get better food offerings in the lounge was executed. I learned something through this process. For instance, vending machines are custom made. Employees wanted healthier choices, so these new machines were designed to sell soups, sandwiches, pickles, yogurt, puddings, snacks you’d find in a health-food store, and snacks you’d find at Walmart. Believe me, when I’m jonesin’ for chocolate, I’m glad I can get something on the ninth floor instead of having to go down to the little deli at ground level or risk being seen at Walmart. These machines are really nice! They even take credit and debit cards! When I stand before one, mulling the choices of chips, chocolate and chimichangas, I kinda feel like Jane Jetson deciding on what space-age treat to select!

Now we’re hearing grumbles about how expensive the choices are. We expected that, but employees should have expected it, too. Custom-made vending machines cost money, and so does the convenience of having a turkey sandwich on whole-wheat bread or a high-quality energy bar just an elevator ride away. If you like that Mojo bar that’s selling for more than $2 from the machine, then go ahead and buy yourself a case at Sam’s Club next door! These options are handy, and they are an easy way to check out whether you like something or not before committing to buying more than one at the warehouse store.

If we’re friends on Facebook, or you follow me on Twitter, you’ll see these photos via Instagram in my updates. That’s what’s going on. It’s for fun.