I have a husband who can't miss a meal. In fact, if a meal is late, it might be the end of him.
The most frustrating thing about him is that he can eat pure crap and it does not affect his A1C, his cholesterol or his weight.
There is no justice in this.
So today, we had to go into town. We got another load of stuff from the old house, to include the mirror to the marble topped dresser.
It was about to rain, so we needed to get that load home, but it was a few minutes past noon, and Tim was on his death bed, so we went to McDonald's so that he could get a meal to go.
I got my standard order which is one large unsweetened iced tea, extra ice, double lemon.
While I was not staring death in the eye, I was thirsty, and so when my drink came. I took a big swig and it was sweet tea.
So I got out of the truck and went in and explained the situation. She apologized and I gave her the order again: large unsweetened tea with extra ice and double lemon. She repeated after me: one unsweetened iced tea with extra ice and lemonade.
'No,' I said. 'No lemonade at all. Just one large unsweetened tea, lots of ice. Two slices of lemon.'
'No lemonade? Just lemon?'
'Yes,' I said.
She was gone an awful long time for just getting a drink, but I waited. I mean, unlike Tim, I was not having a near death experience.
But eventually, she came out with a big smile...and handed me a 'large unsweetened iced tea, extra ice, lemonade.'
I said. 'I didn't want lemonade...' and she went wide eyed. 'Oh my gosh. I did it again.'
I waited once again. She returned with my cup. It had my lemons, but she forgot the ice of all things.
I wasn't dying, but I was thirsty, so I took it and left. By the time I got back to the truck, Tim was nearly finished with his meal.
Ah well. No ice, so more tea….Add ice later? Olivia from the PNW, infrequent commenter
ReplyDeleteShameful admission: the ice dilutes my tea. I am not a fan of strong tea. But I just added the dilute when I got home.
DeleteToo many things to cram into a person's head in one order?
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting because even though it was noon, it really wasn't all that busy. But hard telling what sort of day she had already had.
DeleteMental autopilot? And job stress.... At least you got there in the end.
ReplyDeleteI really think she got so flustered by making the same mistake twice that she got too caught up in trying to correct the order quickly.
DeleteIf I take the grandchildren to McD's they eat I only ever have a coffee........
ReplyDeleteSometimes I will have a wrap. I really try to skip lunch though.
DeleteGotta write it down for them the next time! I've ordered a Dr. Pepper with no ice, and they've sometimes placed an order for two Dr. Peppers. Not sure how that happens. Glad hubby survived. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteWe try to use the kiosks inside for that reason.
DeleteI am sure that you were just grateful to get anything to drink after all that toing and froing.
ReplyDeleteIt was only one 'to' and one 'fro' actually. When she cheerfully repeated my drink order as she set it down, well...
DeleteFrustrating for you, but it made me chuckle, so thank you. All the men in my family get hangry if they're not fed at regular intervals.
ReplyDelete'Hangry' is a thing here as well.
DeleteIt is probably down to a fast metabolic system as far as Tim is concerned, not being able to eat at a regular time.
ReplyDeleteOh, to have his metabolism!
DeleteI think it's a male hormones thing. My Hubs can eat whatever and if he does gains a pound, he simply restricts and will lose it near instantly. His blood work has always been just fine. Restricting food only teaches my body to hold on to calories with a death grip, thanks to meno and post meno. So, my way through is regular heavy weight lifting, mobility work, biking, walking, etc. AND getting enough protein. I am by no means "skinny" but I am strong AF and can get up and down off the floor with ease, and carry heavy things. And my blood work is great. At 64 years old, I'll take that over skinny.
ReplyDeleteI guess I look at it the same way. I doubt that I will ever see sylph-like again, but I am strong and healthy and flexible. At 68, we will call that good.
DeleteYah, my sylph years were high school, and I barely broke 100 pounds then. That ain't gonna happen. I will keep on stayin' strong, healthy and flexible like you!
DeleteI can't stand to order drinks these days, as nothing is ever right. I have my (hot) tea first thing with soy and honey or at lunch soy chai but not made on milk. I drink plunger coffee but cannot get the strength or milk ratio right when out that I tend to stick with water or a bottle of OJ
ReplyDeleteI make my coffee at home just right and have learned to drink it without sugar. When out, I tend to stick with iced tea or water. I
DeleteIf the iced tea is not right, the ice dilutes it to the point that it is right.
That seems like quite an exotic order for McDonalds. I don’t really do McD, but I don’t think the Canadian version could handle that order. I may be wrong though. It’s happened before.
ReplyDeleteReally? Or are you pulling my leg? Here, the kiosks offer it as an option. When you order iced tea at the kiosk you pick how many lemon slices you want, and hit the plus button for extra ice. I am not sure when adding lemonade became a thing. But for some reason placing the order verbally gets you lemonade added instead of lemon. Even worse, when I order double lemon. I am probably getting a double add of the sugared lemonade!
DeleteI would have been enraged.
ReplyDeleteIn this way, Glen and Tim are different. Glen forgets to eat and by the time he remembers, he feels terrible. It makes me insane.
As a person who does stupid things all the time, I try to have patience with similarly afflicted.
DeleteI think I'm more in line with Tim. I can't imagine not eating lunch!
ReplyDeleteI try not to eat when I am not hungry. My oats and my coffee hold me just fine.
DeleteA frustrating but funny read, sorry about your McTea--as for Tim and his ability to eat anything... aargh!
ReplyDeleteI know. I live with this injustice.
DeleteI know it was not funny at the time, but it is a good story. The other night at a restuarant, my server placed the pizza in front of me and it slid off the plate, onto the table. I was so hungry, I just slid the pizza back on the plate and ate it.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't not funny. Going in the first time was mildly aggravating. But when she repeated her mistake, it just seemed a bit absurd. (I backtracked to make sure I was speaking English). The third time was more of a 'okay...I just need to get out of here.' So I did.
DeleteAs long as I can remember my mom (now 101) has become vicious if a meal is late. She won't eat something like a banana if there is a delay, it's a proper meal or nothing. After a certain period of lateness she refuses to eat until the next scheduled meal and is then vicious X 2. We all learned to make sure meals were built in to any schedule, except for my dad who was oblivious until whatever hit the fan. I try to be responsive to my hunger cues because I don't want to ever be like that, but I WILL eat a banana or something if I get hungry and no meal is available. My husband on the other hand just wilts if he doesn't get something to eat. He has no stored reserves like I do.
ReplyDeleteBUT it sounds like you were a nice person through it all.
Ceci
Is there some sort of dementia going on? I mean really that sound extreme.
DeleteOh, no, this has been going on as long as I can remember (60+ years). My personal theory is a metabolism issue combined/exacerbated with family of origin stuff.
DeleteCecilia
That was quite a flustered young lady to mess up that much. Glad you could dilute it when you got home. :)
ReplyDeleteIn the great scheme of things it was not a big deal, but it was peculiar. She wasn't really young. I would guess 50s.
DeleteYou were a good sport about your tea order. She must have been having a confusing day. I can sympathize.
ReplyDeleteSadly Ellen, so can I.
DeleteYou were a good sport about your tea order. She must have been having a confusing day. I can sympathize.
ReplyDeleteGood grief. So simple, but she sure made it hard.
ReplyDeleteIt was kind of strange.
DeleteI have a husband like that. Always thinking about food, always eating, and devours food like a starving person. I should call him Voratio instead of Farmbeau.
ReplyDeleteI am amazed you can order on a kiosk. On our recent trip out of state, most of them were not functioning when I went inside to use them. One refused to move from the first page. When I try to order at the counter instead it was quite an imposition for the workers. I was ordering one large coffee. And when I tried to drink it, it was so bitter I ended up dumping it out.
ReplyDeleteI've never had an iced tea - don't fancy it at all. Only been in a McDonalds once ! Different world over here!
ReplyDeleteI would have held out too, sweet tea is an abomination.
ReplyDeleteMcDonalds? Wow! I'm glad Art does the cooking at our house. Since I've lost a lot of my sense of taste, everything he makes tastes great.
ReplyDeleteDear God. There was nothing complicated about that order!
ReplyDeleteWhat a saga. Next time, maybe just ask for a side of ice with two slices of patience. Hope you made it home before the rain.
ReplyDeleteI think she must be related to the girl in the shop yesterday, who was unable to work out what 50% of 82 pence was . . .
ReplyDelete