I shot this yesterday off the road that leads down to the Islander on Gwynn's Island. This serene water scene belied a cruel and unusual punishment that I was about to endure, and that's what this post is about.
Yesterday, Chesapeake Bay Daughter and I went out to take some pictures because I am bored with the 4,000 I already have taken.
We stopped over at the Islander, and then, because I was feeling guilty for dragging her along (sitting in the back seat while your mother drives two feet, pulls over, snaps pictures of Who Knows What because you have no idea what she could possibly find interesting enough to photograph), I told her I'd take her to Hardee's drive-through for a milkshake. A milkshake would buy me enough good will to be able to drive down to Haven Beach to take even more pictures.
First, some background:
1. I am exceedingly non-confrontational and would rather eat undercooked poultry served up on a skewer as an appetizer than complain to the waitress that it was uncooked. (Just ask my friend Kathy. When Kathy told the waitress it was "rare" chicken, I smiled and said, "Yes, but it tasted fantastic.") I do not like to make anyone feel bad for any reason whatsoever. (Unless it's my sisters or family, and then it's clearly spelled out on my job description that I must be aggravating.)
2. I have had The Worst Possible Luck Ever in the History of Bad Luck with all fast-food restaurants and their drive-throughs. I could write a book on this topic alone.
3. This Hardee's in Mathews--at the risk of being sued for libel/slander--is without a doubt The Slowest Drive Through in the History of Drive-Throughs.
In spite of these well-documented facts, I pulled up to the Hardee's drive-through to get the daggone milkshake. Surely with only one car ahead of me, and hardly any cars in the parking lot - and it being well after lunch time- there would be no problem.
Why did I think that?
I placed the order and drove around the corner. With two cars ahead of me, we sat there for five minutes. Ten. Fifteen. Not budging. Nobody moving. No money being exchanged, no food being passed into vehicles, no cars pulling away. Nothing.
Then I started to play the game that you play where you consider other options yet don't act on them because you'll jinx yourself. Why don't I just pull over and walk in to get the daggone milkshake? Answer: Because that's when the line will move. Why don't I just go somewhere else? It'll take too long and there's only one fast-food establishment in Mathews. Why not just tell Chesapeake Bay Daughter we'll get it some other time? Because I need her to be a willing participant so I can get more pictures.
Well then, let's just wait. TWENTY MINUTES PASSED.
We finally made it to the window. The lady quickly took my money and said, "Your milkshake will be ready in a moment." Chesapeake Bay Daughter said, "I wonder what she thinks a moment is."
Come to find out, a moment at Hardee's is defined as six more of the most excruciating minutes that you ever plotted to strangle someone.
When she finally passed me the stuff, I said, "TWENTY SIX MINUTES IS A RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF TIME TO WAIT FOR A MILKSHAKE. YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT US COMING BACK HERE AGAIN."
Boy, I sure told her and gave her What For! I'm sure she will miss our three-times-a-year visit and that'll really get 'em in the pocketbook where it hurts.
She said she was sorry, and then I felt bad. I started to realize hormones could be a factor here, but then I quickly got over it. If she had just said to me, "Ma'am, I'm sorry you had to wait so long, we're understaffed today," I would have been all, "Oh, don't worry about it, we weren't in any rush." But no!! She just passes me the stuff and says nothing.
Because Chesapeake Bay Daughter has experienced each and every one of my "fast" food nightmares, she started laughing after we drove away. Then I did too, and good thing because my temples were throbbing a pre-stroke throb.
In other "fast" food fiascos, I once was forced into an argument with a most nasty and impatient voice coming through the loudspeaker at Burger King in Richmond* and ended up pulling away from the window on TWO WHEELS hollering that I would never, EVER, NEVER go to a Burker King again.
But that's yet another story for another time.
*Richmond is not only the capital of Virginia, it is also the Capital of the World's Worst Fast-Food Employees. There was a period of time when it had the reputation of being the Murder Capital of the United States. Coincidence? I think not.
20 comments:
Not only do you wait forever, At the Hardes in Mathews, they hardly ever get your order right. I don't know how some of these people get out of bed in the morning.
The Hardee's in Mathews IS very slow. The one in West Point is even slower, and they never get your order right. The West Point one is also very rude. Yep, I live almost five hours away now, but the slow Hardees in Mathews still sticks in my mind.
...but they got the best breakfast biscuits of all the fast food joints in the country. Except, the privately owned greasy spoons:)
Cats - I don't understand it either.
ND - I try to avoid the Hardees in West Point and usually go to the McDonalds, which is also not without its troubles, but is a hair above Hardees. A very tiny hair....
Anonymous - I am sure you're right about their biscuits but I won't ever find out because NEVER AGAIN I tell you!
I think it is worth mentioning, also, that Chesapeake Bay Son spent the night at a friend's house last night, and this morning when I picked him up, I said, "CB Son - Daughter and I went to Hardees yesterday...." AT just the mere mention of Hardee's he said, "Oh NO!" See? It's not just me. He then went on to say that Hardee's is "mutant". When he heard that I actually said something to the lady, he couldn't believe it, though, because that's so out of character for me.
Happy Sunday! It's in the 70's here today....
I feel your pain. I have the worst luck with fast food drive thru joints too.
It has to be rough when you don't have a whole lot of options, like going somewhere else.
..and they just added chilly dogs to their menu. I'm a sucker for chilly dogs!
yeah, and just so there's no confusion, I've been known in the past, to fry up some Spam with my eggs!
Hope you get a burn (just a little one) being out side today! It's, uhhh, NOT sunbathing temp. here today. I'm jealous and envious.
I would like to add that for breakfast, i like McDonalds way better and Sonic beats them both. You can get breakfast at sonic anytime of day. Very Good.
I don't think you should mention the word "hair" when comparing "fast" food restaurants....
Can you believe our weather??!! I. Am. Loving. It.
And ya'll thought Hilda at Emory's was an adventure. In 26 minutes at Payne's I'd have made 10 milkshakes.**sigh** the good ole days.
I've written about fast food fiascos a number of times... probably so much that my readers are getting tired of it, but such good blog fodder they provide!
Oh my! I take a nap and wake up to a hilarious set of comments.
PJ - You should have sent me that story and I would have put it front and center on the blog because that is ONE HILARIOUS story and the best part is the inclusion of some of my favorite sayings that I've long forgotten....hell to the yea! I was laughing out loud on this one.
(Seriously, if you or any other folks from Mathews or Gloucester wish to send me stories to publish, I am always accepting them.)
BHE - Excellent point. This reminds me of another story that involves a hair.... maybe I'll write about that tomorrow.
Phyl - Hilda at Emory's! And I have long been intending to write about Paynes but haven't gotten around to it. I think the time is nigh - perhaps I'll throw something together this week. Oh, and the Payne's milkshake would have been TEN times better than a Hardee's one...served up with a smile rather than, well, it's Sunday and I'm going to be nice and not say anything disparaging about Hardee's employees.
Meg - I do believe I have read one of your fast-food nightmares....this is even further evidence we are long-lost relatives.
GREAT to read all these hilarious comments. Maybe I'll take another nap and see what I awaken to....
Hey CBW...just checked your blog after toooo long...I decided to treat myself to a guitar in July to celebrate turning 51 in August. It's working...I feel like a teenager again. :) So I've been consumed with learning the guitar and little else...something that I understand aflicts a lot of guitarists if this joke is true: Q: What's the difference between a pizza and a guitar player? A: A pizza can feed four people.
Moving on to your post...In the room next to my office is the Resident Teen Son and his friend, both juniors at Mathews High. I can shed some light on possibilities for the slowness but might be sued. You know the drill. The Friend of Resident Teen used to work at Hardess, so shall have to remain nameless. We'll have to talk one day...sheesh, you're almost within spittin' distance! I'm currently listening to the sound of what sounds like racecars and kids caught in a tornado...with this warm weather, all of the windows are open and the dog is being driven crazy by whatever is going on next door. Which is sayin' a lot, since he's a Jack Russell Terrorist...
Sorry to have been away for so long...we'll have to catch up soon.
Julie the Mean Mom
I think I sat beside PJ Hammer & Drinking Buddy at that race. I never went back again either.....
Bwahahahaha!
The romp for chicken brings to mind, that if you're hungry and it's after 12, the place to eat is White Castle.
Nothin' better than a sack of sliders washed down with cold beer!
Didn't mean to hijack your blog, CBW and I'd never miss an opportunity to read your stories with my drivel. The fast food experience just reminded me of a funny story that I'm fortunate to have been able to share on your blog.
Mean Mom - So glad you're back. I know exactly what you heard today because I visited your next-door neighbors yesterday and saw the most beautiful minibike ever, plus they were riding around on a go-kart with no brakes but it is all FUN. IF I weren't so big, I'd have gotten in the darn thing(s). Good for you with the guitar - maybe you can play for us at the first-ever Virginia Blogapalooza, being discussed for this spring.
BHE - At least you got to go to a race. It is something I've only heard about and never been fortunate enough to experience. I'll wager there's enough stuff to write about at one of these races to last a lifetime.
Anonymous - That's what I hear (that White Castle has the best burgers), but if we wanted to go to a White Castle, we'd have to drive for hours on end. One way. We got some rather slim pickins around these parts for fast food. (That's not always such a bad thing, may I add....)
PJ Hammer - YOu didn't hijack the blog, you made it exactly what I have always wanted it to be - a place where people can come and tell their story or contribute to mine and hopefully make people laugh --or learn something--in the process. I love your participation. Hell to the yeah.
I am impressed that with all that waiting you continued to use the word DAGGONE. I would have been up to something four lettered by the 10 minute mark.
This was SO funny! 26 minutes for a milkshake...I hope it was SO good she will go out with you on many more picture taking sessions : ).
Hardees always makes me think of my Grammy. She loved the fried chicken there. Or was it Roy Rogers? Well, even if she didn't like that restaurant, I still think of her when I hear about a Hardees.
I don't hear about Hardees or Roy Rogers barely ever : )
Raw chicken! Quah! I can't stop laughing. Just envisioning you yelling at the drive-through chicadee is hysterical. No wonder CB daughter was cracking up too! I'm surprised you didn't drive back to the window and apologize profusely and then start tossing all your money and credit cards at her in repentance. CBW, you are the best.
I'm told that if you read the health inspector's reports for any fast food restaurant in West Point (or Richmond, or probably anywhere else) you'll never eat there again. :)
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