Super Size Me - Variations on a Theme

We went to dinner last night at a diner in the Riverside area. I decided I wanted a hamburger and french fries, partly because they make fresh cut fries. They had a 1/4 pound hamburger for about $2.50 and a 1/2 order of fries for $1.00. That is what I ordered. I hardly ever order drinks in restaurants (unless it is coffee with breakfast or a beer in the evening).

The waitress said "I am going to bring you the 1/2 pound hamburger with 1/2 order of fries and a drink because you can get that for $4.99." I looked on the board and, sure enough, that was their special. However, I did not want the special.

I told her I really didn't want a 1/2 pound hamburger. I resisted the temptation to launch into a tirade about how that was over twice the serving size for meat, and especially for greasy hamburger. I just told her I didn't want the 1/2 pound burger and I did not want anything to drink except water.

I must have grown three heads while I was sitting there, judging by the way she looked at me. And I am sure she doesn't get many people who turn down larger servings when they are "a bargain". But why should I spend $4.99 for more food than I wanted when I could get what I wanted for $3.50?

She may have been calculating her tip. If I could get Harry to tip by my formula - by person rather than a percentage of the bill - she would get the same whether she sold me a slice of bread or the Taj Mahal! That is assuming, of course, that the quality of service was adequate.

Anyway, there was no harm done. I got my little burger and it was more than adequate. It had enough onion with it to choke a horse, even a horse like me who likes onions. The fries were good although they could have been hotter. (That is a whole 'nother blog. Why is it so damn hard to get a hot order of french fries any more, not matter where you go?)

So I am still not skinny by any stretch of the imagination, but I am not as fat as I could be!