October 25, 2004

October 25, 2004 - Monday | 8:01 AM, CST

On Friday, a flock of us went to Gordo's for some fine Mexican dining. I've noticed that lately, I've been frequenting Gordo's rather than Pedro's for my Mexican delights... and pretty much whenever I want to eat out, I choose Gordo's (the only thing stopping me from eating Mexican every day is Kelly, who always orders the American food from the menu).

Anyway, the night started off deliciously enough, with William installing a CB in his truck as the rest of us looked on. We were soon joined by Spinner, Koby, some girl who drove a "straight V-6" Ford F-150, Suzanne, and her boss. Koby wasted about two minutes attempting to parallel park in front of the Mexicans, so I jumped into his truck and executed the maneuver in one shot.

Thats strike two for Koby's driving shame.

But anyway, back to the whole Gordo / Pedro thing. I really kinda forgot where I was going with this whole thing, so I have come up with a small table comparing the two restaurants.

~ Gordo's ~	~ Pedro's ~
Much seedier-looking than Pedro's.	Cleaner dining room, looks well-cared for.
Bathroom is located down a deep, winding maze of dimly-lit hallways at the back of the building. The spookiness adds to the seediness.	Bathroom is at the end of a short hallway - has a paper towel dispenser which I almost always hit my elbow on upon entering.
American staff is curt, bordering on rude. Hygeine is questionable.	Mexican staff is prompt and attentive. They appear clean and well-groomed.

Looking at the above table, you will clearly see a huge difference between the two restaurants in terms of outward appearance and customer attitude. Why, then, do I continue to choose Gordo's over Pedro's? I think we can basically narrow it down to the tortillas used at Gordo's. They are made of cornflower, yet they remain soft. I'm pretty sure they dip them in oil before frying them, not to mention they are double layered when used in tacos.

This reminds me of the old Chinese restaurant that used to operate in Watseka before the new Super Buffet came in and run them out of town.

That day was quite possibly the saddest day of my life.

You see, there during my senior year, I got off before lunch each day for CWT (Cooperative Work Training). That was for students who had enough credits not to be in school the whole day, so they could leave early and attend a part time job after school. During that time at Keller Dong, I worked maybe three days a week. Usually one or two hours on Monday or Tuesday, then one or two regular shifts during the week. Needless to say, very rarely did I need to get out of school before noon.

I would usually head on over to the Chinese restaurant, keeping a careful watch Al Gore didn't see where I was going, and enter the dark, mysterious Asian surroundings...

The skinny, short Chinese woman standing behind the counter at the usually deserted restaurant would look at me, smile, and grab a carry-out box from underneath the table. I came in so often, and always got carryout, that she and I had a routine, which I write below in the form of a play.

Scene: Chinese restaurant. Year 2000, mid to late winter.
Lighting: Subdued.
Characters:-
  Chinese woman - short, slender. Usually smiling. Heavily accented speech.
  Matthew - Above average height and build. Usually frowning. Articulate speech, but used rarely. Notice bulging muscles of delts, quads, biceps, triceps, and crotch.
  Al Gore - A democrat, the lowest of the low. A vendetta against Matthew's Chinese food affliction, especially his affinity for vegetable fried rice.
  Mr. Potts - A grey coat.
Narrator: Our heroes have just gotten out of school and made the ardous journey from Sheldon, to Watseka. The weather outside is cold, and the duo are eager to load up on vegetable fried rice and bring it back to Sheldon for a feast with Nathan.
Enter Al Gore.
Al Gore: Ahh, Chinese Lady, so we meet again!
Chinese Lady: You no welcome here!
Al Gore: Silence!
Al Gore's donkey-faced henchmen then rush in, flanking the buffet bar on either side.
Al Gore: You were warned to quit serving vegetable fried rice on school days, now you will pay!
Chinese Lady: Noooo!
The henchmen dump all the vegetable fried rice onto the floor, and smash it into the carpet.
Al Gore: Let this be a lesson to you.
Freeze frame, car horn sounds playing to the tune of Dixie. Screen pans out to a shot of a 1998 Hyundai Elantra (being driving by Matthew and Mr. Potts) airborn over a large culvert.
Matthew: Yeeeee hawwwwww!
Freeze frame.
Narrator: Looks like those boys were just a little too late to help out this time.
Frame returns to the Chinese restaurant, now empty except for the Chinese Lady. The two exchange a familiar smile, and the Chinese Lady holds up a styrofoam carryout box.
Matthew: Thank you.
Our hero takes the carryout box from the Chinese Lady, and heads over to the buffet bar, looking disappointedly at the empty vegetable fried rice container.
Matthew: Looks like they don't have any today.
Mr. Potts: No, I imagine Al Gore got here before we did!
Matthew: A fair assumption, no doubt true. He is probably viewing us somewhere, hidden like a snake and enjoying our abject misery.
Mr. Potts: Agreed.
Our heroes take their boxes to the counter.
Chinese Lady: Five dollar.
Matthew: Here you go.
Our hero pays his five dollars.
Chinese Lady: En-Joy!

Hold for applause.

After that, Mr. Potts and I would rush back to Sheldon and eat lunch with Nathan, freezing our feet on his cold tile floor, but with warmth in our bellies from the delicious Chinese food and the pleasant conversation.

alcade.net/me/

Journal archive

E-Mail form

Newslist

All about me
11/13/02

Nudie pics!
11/5/02

Dreams
9/2/10

Junk drawer
8/05/05

grokkings

I would definately recommend purchasing a CB.

different crap

Ghost hunting
7/23/02

other people