give me my money back

Sorry to all of my fan(s) for being late with my column. The days they just fly.

from shirley's cottage

GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK!
I was on my way home from work, and the big fast food sign beckoned. I could hear it say to me: Come on in-have a triple burger, super-size fries, and wash it down with an extra super-giant real; coke
I didn’t even feel guilty as I pulled into the parking space I’d been doing a lot of healthy cooking lately; reading labels, omitting fructose, msg, and preservatives. A person can only take so much. I needed a fast food fix.
I went inside instead of the drive-thru. I wanted to take my time looking at the menu and ordering. I had been missing the smell and sounds of grease and frying.
With my order in, (I cannot divulge what-.my doctor may read this) I stood back and waited..
All of a sudden a man came lumbering through the door. I thought he was going to yell, "call 911", or rush to the rest room.
Instead he brushed past me, flat-handed the counter, and didn’t yell, but-it was a very loud voice that turned the heads of everyone in the place. "GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK! I have been waiting out there for TEN minutes!"
To make my point, I have to describe him. Age is hard to tell, but I would guess around early 40's. His hair was askew, dirty tennis shoes untied, black sweat pants and green sweat shirt not meeting, leaving a space for his girth to show. It was not any of my business, but he looked like he should have been eating more of my soup, and less fast food.
He was ugly. It was not the physical appearance that made him ugly. It was the "I’m ready to kill someone" look on his face. He was so mad he was almost snorting.
He waited for several minutes like that. I didn’t want to lose my good mood, and as long as he was so over the top, I thought he might as well give him a little boost. I said, "You may have to wait ten minutes for your money." He said, "I BETTER NOT." And flat-handed the counter again.
The manager came with his refund. He looked like he was about twelve years old. The kid flipping the burgers looked like his kid brother. I felt bad for him.
The guy lumbered out the way he came in- ugly mad and ugly attitude.
When my order came up, he (the manager) said, ‘Sorry, ma’am for the wait." I hadn’t waited long at all. The poor kid just wanted to cover all his bases.
.
It just so happened that same afternoon I had a bad experience with a business ( in Madison) that was much more serious than waiting for a burger.
I got the names of the employees I was going to complain about. I found out the name of the supervisor in the company to contact.. With phone in hand, and email open, I was more than ready to be ugly.
Then, for some reason I simmered down. I changed the tone of my email and only named the employees who had helped. I strongly suggested that everyone in the office should be so helpful as the ones named.
In the long run, I helped myself more than anyone else.. I might not have felt pretty. But I sure didn’t feel ugly. And that is a good feeling.
The fast food was good and what I needed at the time. Now, I’m back to soup. As much as I make soup, this is my daughter Deb’s recipe. I make it, but not as good as she does.
Deb’s Cheddar Chowder with Bacon or Clams
you will need:
3 cups water
3 chicken bouillon cubes
5 medium potatoes, diced
1 med onion, chopped
1 ½ cups dices carrots
½ cup green pepper
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup flour
3 ½ cups milk
4 cups cheddar cheese1
1 jar diced pimento-optional
1/4 t hot sauce
l pound chopped, fried, drained bacon 0R 3 cans drained clams
Bring water and bouillon to a boil
Add vegetables; simmer until tender
Melt butter in saucepan and make roux by blending in flour.
Cook one minute. Add milk, stir and cook until thickened
Stir in cheddar cheese. Add hot sauce (and pimentos)
Add cheese sauce to vegetables
Simmer, but don’t boil
Add clams or bacon
Don’t count calories on this healthy one. Just serve and enjoy!
P.S. Any seafood can be used.