Mount Sutro: An Electronic Periodical

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OCD Dinner

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And here I thought I was compulsive! While eating dinner last night at Cracker Barrel, I could not help but watch this man who was sitting several tables away. He was average in height and build, probably around 45-50 years of age, Caucasian and had a shaved or bald head.

The first unusual thing I noted about this man was the fact that for a period of several minutes, I was absolutely convinced he had fallen asleep right there at the table. He was sitting alone, holding his head up with his hand and arm, eyes closed. I kept looking over to see if he had just closed them for a second or not.

When his food arrived I noticed a few more things that got my attention. First, it appeared he had ordered the same meal as I had, the new special Homestyle Chicken dinner: two plump, hand-breaded boneless chicken breasts fried to a golden brown and served with your choice of three country vegetables, plus biscuits or corn muffins. I had ordered mine as pictured with mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans and baby carrots. It was a damn good meal I am looking forward to having again soon.



Unlike the picture, my dinner came with all the sides included on the main plate. Sometimes they will put a vegetable that has liquid, like corn, in a separate dish, but for the most part they are all grouped on one nice large plate. This guy specifically ordered everything be in a separate dish. The waitress placed all of the items (five dishes in all) on the table and left. He proceeded to order the dishes in a manner I could not quite discern from my distance. There was a very specific and intentional order, though.

Once his arrangement was complete, he went into consumption mode eating one item at a time until completion before moving on to the next item - vegetables first, then potatoes and finally the meat. I left before I got to see what he did with the biscuits.

I enjoy seeing people do things like this because they remind me that as compulsive as I can be at times, there are always people that probably should be taking medication for it.

Two Comment Bubbles nineteen Comments

  • JJEternal

    ...And how much is Cracker Barrel paying you for this endorsement deal?

  • David July

    Nothing, I just enjoyed my dinner that much.

  • Allstarme79

    ...and you made me want to eat there.

  • FSUpaintball

    cracker-ass-cracker barrel is the devil

  • Allstarme79

    It didn't feel so devilish when I was having a yummy breakfast this morning...

  • Allstarme79

    ...and then, on Tuesday, I ate there all by myself. You have inspired me, David.

  • FSUpaintball

    does this make me the only white male to never have eaten at the cracker-ass-cracker barrel?

  • Syelence

    The answer would be ...yes!

  • Allstarme79

    How long have you lived in Tallahassee, Matt?

  • FSUpaintball

    um, 22 1/2 years? :-)

    Yeah, I know? there's a lot of things I should have done by now but haven't. You wouldn't believe the movies I haven't seen (Scarface, Animal House, etc)

  • Allstarme79

    well it's time you've begun, isn't it?

  • FSUpaintball

    Yeah, I got Boondock Saints and Donnie Darko and a Dirty Harry movie out of the way, and Se7en and Scarface are next on the list.

  • JJEternal

    Why didn't you watch Se7en or Scarface before Boondock Saints?

  • Anonymous

    Jesus Christ man, you saw that shit before you saw Se7en or Scarface? Are you fucked up or what, man?

  • Allstarme79

    ...guests are mean :-(

  • FSUpaintball

    lol

    nah, it was kind of random in the order I was watching them. I just saw them on the shelf and thought, "I've been meaning to see that"

  • David July

    I got back about an hour ago from enjoying the chicken dinner that was the original cause for this thread.

    The "guest" was me being a smart ass. I was intoxicated and thought I was logged in. Oops. :-)

  • Allstarme79

    LOL!

  • David July

    Mmmm? I finished the rest of my chicken dinner I had the other evening. Even under the scrutiny of the microwave oven, this meal rocks. Not to mention it is not very expensive either only being like $8 or so. Even more cost effective is the fact I cannot possibly finish the entire meal so it is a built in second-night's dinner. Oh, and my cat enjoyed some chicken bits as well. ;-)

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