ADS 336x280 Here...
I had a dream...Actually I had a nightmare last night. It shocked me out of my sleep at 4:30AM and I was unable to fall back asleep until of course the alarm rang. Web Girl and others have recommended Stephen King's novels, and Come Running gave me a Dean Koontz book. Needless to say that fact had nothing to do with my night-scare.
I dreamed I was on a first date at a burger joint (yes, I know, I really know how to impress) and the date was going fine until I got handed the check of $120.00 for two burgers. I couldn't breathe, they were just burgers for God's sake. I was jolted awake with such ferocity that I scarcely recall more than a few dreams over my entire life having that effect. I can't believe it either. I chalk it up to a combo of an evening coffee (which I never do) and one teensy episode I experienced at Burger Pal in Cedarhurst.
But first, I would like to take you to the special place in my heart (and stomach) for fast food burgers. As a child I often went to the Rockaways to the beach during the summer. Afterward, I would go to Kosher Chef, which has long since gone, and enjoyed burgers and the best eggroll this side of China. It had a Hungarian goulash filling that was to die for (probably literally). Fond memories indeed. I was shocked when Burger Nosh in Cedarhurst closed while everywhere around it all types of restaurants opened. Was I the only one who plumbed the depths of the fast food burger experience? And until Jan 08 my last bastion of hope remained with the Burger Nosh in Queens. But alas, they too have closed shop. What is a LI kid supposed to do? I can't get to burger delight in Manhattan as, let's face it, it ain't the most convenient commute when alls I'ma lookin' for is some burger and fast ones at that. If I was going to travel, I would just skip over to Chicago to Ken's Diner for Burger Buddies, the Avi and other palate stimulating offerings.
I'm taken back to my younger years when Ken's Diner was the beginnings of a wonderful relationship. Primarily with the Burger Buddies but also with a lovely young waitress. What a great vacation. In retrospect, I probably shouldn't have blown off my buddies as much as I did...ahhh...ok where was I?
Time to bring up the burger...incident. Last week I was with the kids and they told me about 'express burgers'. I called information thinking that was the name of the place and the operator connected me. I placed the order for seven burgers and some fries. I then realized that I really wanted to go to Yossi's Grill but instead had ordered from a place hitherto unknown to me, Burger Pal. I had tried to cancel the order along the way but they already made the order. I don't like to screw people based on my misjudgments so I proceeded to Burger Pal after loading the kids up after mistakingly de-vanning at Yossi's Grill. The man thanked me for not being a no-show as apparently some people are. I looked at the bill and it was over $80.00 Yep, I had to consciously think about breathing for quite some time while I quickly ushered the kids out lest they order drinks too. McDonald's seemed like a very appealing option for the future. I kept my cool but my stomach turned and my wallet felt light. Now, to be fair these were not fast food burgers but even so, I can't afford to have night out with the kids cost that much. And so, properly traumatized by this, the foundation was laid for its nocturnal expression. I'm still trying to digest this one.
