So, here I am in North Carolina, suffering through the aftermath of the worst ice storm in 12 years. Sleet and freezing rain turning to snow turning to sleet that fell for about 18 hours. Trees down all over (one hit my neighbor's house), and no electricity for two days.
Friday was the worst as the sleet was still falling. Power goes out about 4am pretty much all over the Piedmont Triad. I have a gas furnace, with an electric starter and blowers, electric stove, electric water heater. So I'm pretty much SOL. The only saving grace was it wasn't as cold as it could have been.
Most businesses shut down on Friday. Evil Empryss and I went to a House O Waffles, but they lost power and we ended up leaving. Went to Voldemart, and they were open. Busy, but open. Hence Sighting the First:
Deli Madness
We picked up stuff for burgers (fish for me, it's Lent). EE planned to get out the gas grill to cook. The Evil Princess wants Swiss for the burgers. There's a big crowd around the deli, and this slack jawed fellow who was acting as if it were just another normal day. EP was getting pretty frustrated because he'd tell her "You're next" then "not yet" when she tried to order.
Then some guy (SG) starts waving a piece of paper at the deli guy (DG) and going on about his order. DG: I just got here, I'll get it after I finish with her (EP).
He then starts slicing her order. He was making slow deliberate slices with SG fumes, and starts bitching to the other customers. He finishes EP's order and we get the hell out of dodge. I realize Voldemart has a thing where you fill out an order slip, shop, and come back for your lunchmeat. His shopping was done (he had a big cart full of stuff) but his meat wasn't ready. So I don't blame him for being upset.
Limited Menu
Saturday morning I get up and still no power. I'm still in the mood for waffles, so I decide to try House O Waffles again. I need gas anyway. So I get to the one we usually go to (not the one from the previous day) hoping they have their power back. They don't, but the grill is gas fired so they're open. I decide to get something anyway; I was really hungry and hadn't eaten in over 18 hours.
The counter guy tells me they have a limited menu: egg sandwich with ham and cheese, egg sandwich with sausage and cheese, egg sandwich with bacon and cheese, and hashbrowns. They have coke or sprite to drink (from 2 liter bottles, fountain not working) or water. No coffee.
So of course, everyone else coming in asks for coffee (not me, I don't like it).
I order, and the food is very quick with such a limited menu. But it was hot, and it was good.
Old guy comes in and starts to order some kind of waffle platter. CG interrupts and says, "Sorry, sir. We have a limited menu today [cue menu spiel]."
OG: OK. Let me have [waffle platter to order].
CG: Sir, we have a limited menu today [cue spiel].
OG: OK. I'll just have [waffle platter to order].
Meanwhile, I'm sitting two chairs down doing the :bangdesk:
CG: (very patient), Sir, we have a limited menu today [gives spiel one last time]
OG: Oh. OK. [orders sandwich]. And coffee.
CG: We only have coke, sprite, or water.
Oy! The CG has the patience of a saint. He didn't get nasty or sarcastic. Bully for him. Manager was really nice too, thanking everyone for coming. I complimented him on how well things were running.
Manager: well, you do what you gotta do . . . .
And so you do!
Friday was the worst as the sleet was still falling. Power goes out about 4am pretty much all over the Piedmont Triad. I have a gas furnace, with an electric starter and blowers, electric stove, electric water heater. So I'm pretty much SOL. The only saving grace was it wasn't as cold as it could have been.
Most businesses shut down on Friday. Evil Empryss and I went to a House O Waffles, but they lost power and we ended up leaving. Went to Voldemart, and they were open. Busy, but open. Hence Sighting the First:
Deli Madness
We picked up stuff for burgers (fish for me, it's Lent). EE planned to get out the gas grill to cook. The Evil Princess wants Swiss for the burgers. There's a big crowd around the deli, and this slack jawed fellow who was acting as if it were just another normal day. EP was getting pretty frustrated because he'd tell her "You're next" then "not yet" when she tried to order.
Then some guy (SG) starts waving a piece of paper at the deli guy (DG) and going on about his order. DG: I just got here, I'll get it after I finish with her (EP).
He then starts slicing her order. He was making slow deliberate slices with SG fumes, and starts bitching to the other customers. He finishes EP's order and we get the hell out of dodge. I realize Voldemart has a thing where you fill out an order slip, shop, and come back for your lunchmeat. His shopping was done (he had a big cart full of stuff) but his meat wasn't ready. So I don't blame him for being upset.
Limited Menu
Saturday morning I get up and still no power. I'm still in the mood for waffles, so I decide to try House O Waffles again. I need gas anyway. So I get to the one we usually go to (not the one from the previous day) hoping they have their power back. They don't, but the grill is gas fired so they're open. I decide to get something anyway; I was really hungry and hadn't eaten in over 18 hours.
The counter guy tells me they have a limited menu: egg sandwich with ham and cheese, egg sandwich with sausage and cheese, egg sandwich with bacon and cheese, and hashbrowns. They have coke or sprite to drink (from 2 liter bottles, fountain not working) or water. No coffee.
So of course, everyone else coming in asks for coffee (not me, I don't like it).
I order, and the food is very quick with such a limited menu. But it was hot, and it was good.
Old guy comes in and starts to order some kind of waffle platter. CG interrupts and says, "Sorry, sir. We have a limited menu today [cue menu spiel]."
OG: OK. Let me have [waffle platter to order].
CG: Sir, we have a limited menu today [cue spiel].
OG: OK. I'll just have [waffle platter to order].
Meanwhile, I'm sitting two chairs down doing the :bangdesk:
CG: (very patient), Sir, we have a limited menu today [gives spiel one last time]
OG: Oh. OK. [orders sandwich]. And coffee.
CG: We only have coke, sprite, or water.
Oy! The CG has the patience of a saint. He didn't get nasty or sarcastic. Bully for him. Manager was really nice too, thanking everyone for coming. I complimented him on how well things were running.
Manager: well, you do what you gotta do . . . .
And so you do!
Comment