The lone diner ....

   I promise .. no crime related post this time.  Instead I
thought I'd write about nice experience for a change. 
(although there is a small rant at the end) 
   As a rule I am not one to eat out a lot.  Yes we have
dinner with friends now and again and breakfast with
the guys every week or so, and the wife has her lunch
dates as well but seldom do we just go out to eat unless
it's for someone's birthday or some occasion.  Well tonight's
occasion was my wife being out of town for the last four
days and me getting tired of cooking and cleaning up
my messes.  I really was hungry for a salad but we all know
that entails buying a zillion dollars worth of veggies,
dressing and such, all of the preparation plus all of that
messy veggie waste one has to discard. After wrestling
with the tractor for over two hours and helping my son
move a piano I was not in any mood for dealing with that.
Enter Eat & Park .. Our train group used to have breakfast
there a lot.  Food is so-so but the salad bar is usually pretty
well stocked.  Ok so in the shower, in the truck and off I go.
    One mistake was wearing a Duck Dynasty shirt.  Hostess
Thought I was Uncle Si .  After she got over my celebrity
status and I got seated I was greeted by one of the nicest
servers I've ever had.  Maybe when one reaches a certain age
waitress don't see them as a threat anymore and aren't afraid
to show a bit of outward friendliness toward lone male diners.
Or maybe it was just pity, but it was welcome just the same.
Service was great, coffee refills prompt, check delivered at
just the right time and a great smile and friendly disposition
at all time.  (ok Maybe I was a bit lonely)  lol   At any rate it
was a first rate dining experience.. save for the Philly steak
and cheese was a tad bland but the salad made up for it .
Now for a mini-rant ...  As nice as the lady was and as much
as I enjoyed the salad, fifteen dollars for a basically 'fast food'
sandwich and a salad Is a bit much.  Of course I didn't have to
clean up the mess, that's a plus.  Add to that a five dollar tip
for the girl with the pretty smile and the nice black jeans and
we're up to twenty dollars for a quick meal.  No I'm not cheap
just frugal lol   But I'm full and there's no dishes in the sink
so I'm happy.  (mm better go edit out the part about the black
jeans .. just in case)  lol   Hey.. I'm old .. not dead !!