I went to Chipotle on Saturday. And. Didn't. Eat. A. Burrito.
I asked for a quesadilla instead: black beans and cheese. That's all. Chips and Diet Coke accompanied my dinner. And it was good. But I think the burrito is better. The only reason I ordered a quesadilla? We were on our way to the movies, and I wanted popcorn. I didn't think I could eat an entire burrito, plus chips (gotta have the chips!!!), and then have room for popcorn. Lame, huh? The quesadilla was okay, but I like my usual much better (veggie burrito: black beans, rice, cheese, a little sour cream, and lettuce)!
This leads to the real reason for my post: I am a creature of habit.
When I go to restaurants, about 99% of the time, I order the exact same thing. When I go outside my routine, I usually end up disappointed. At one of our local Mexican restaurants, I always (ALWAYS) order a seafood enchilada. One day, I thought I'd be bold and order something else. It was icky. Very icky. So, the next time I ventured to that restaurant, I returned to my old stand-by, the seafood enchie. Not much of a risk-taker, am I?
Maybe you've already read my post about what happened when I tried to go to a new hair stylist. Disaster.
Sometimes, I get a little gutsy and try something new.
Grumpy Frump Risks, Take 1!
Me: "Hey! Here's a new sweetener! What do they call it? Splenduh*? Cool! This should be great!"
[drinks a new Diet Coke sweetened with Splenduh]
[three hours later]
Me: "Farm Boy! Farm Boy! Quick! I think I'm dying!"
My stomach: "What the hell did you put into me?"
Farm Boy: "Now what did you eat? Drink? Touch? Breathe?"
...and Scene!
24 hours of sheer stomach/intestinal hell later, I tried to deduce what it was that put me in such gastrointestinal distress. Ah. Maybe I should stay away from synthetic sucralose. Nightmares resurface from the days of WOW chips and Olestra. But let's not go there. So, okay. Splenduh doesn't like me; therefore, I don't like Splenduh.
So, maybe it's only that I don't take risks when it comes to food or hair styles. Or maybe it's more than that. I'm trying to do some re-evaluating of what I do, and why I do it. Soul-searching is not always a fun thing. Sometimes, you see things you don't always like. Sometimes, you realize that you need to make some changes, and that it's okay to do that. Changes, however, should be made for the better... not just 'change for the sake of change.' I think I can risk that.
But then again, sometimes you just have to say, "What the hell. I'll have the usual!"
*name changed to protect ME. I don't need any crazy litigation. Really. I don't.
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13 comments:
I agree with you. Change for change sake is not good change.
When I go out to dinner I always get the same things too. Most places don't do most of their food the way I like it, so I like to stick with what I know. I experiment at home or really really good restaurants.
goldennib: I agree. I'm a great experimental cook... most of the time. ;-)
MPB: No, I don't put extra sweetener in my Diet Coke... Coca-Cola tried substituting Splenduh for Nutrasweet in their Diet Coke. The result didn't taste too great, and obviously, it didn't sit well with me either.
I can't drink regular soda. It tastes like syrup to me.
I always have the usual. There's a reason for "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." I'm with you - every time I try something new at a restaurant, it's gross. Paul is always asking, "The usual?" What's really funny is the few places where he knows my usual and I don't. I don't know what I'd do if I was there without him, lol. Probably order something disgusting and say, "HEY. THIS is not what I wanted!"
Those chips are now the reason I read food labeling.
I'm generally a creature of habit. I quite often just order the same stuff everytime. If it's great, then why change? I like to take risks sometimes, but why change if it's good? Ok, so that's a bad philosophy to live by, but it's ok with food I think!
tammara: Yeah! If it ain't broke! I totally agree. I'm not boring... I'm just smart, just like you! :-)
margus: me, too. Olestra made me sicker than Splenduh. One of my former students ate a whole bag of WOW chips once, and then missed two days of school. That was one sick kid. *shudder*
ludi: so, we could just make an exception when it comes to food. Not being risky is a good thing there. Good idea.
tick tick tick tick tick.....
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.....still waiting for the chipotle burrito paint creation. don't make me one-up you and delve into photoshop. i can create a mean pile'a'sour cream
I always get the same thing, too. There was a period where I felt like a lameass so I started deviating from my usual delights on the menu. I was always sad and longed for my favs. I have since quit trying new things and just get what I want. :)
I would NEVER be able to get something other than the burrito at Chipotle.
P.S. There's always room for popcorn. You'd be surprised how much you can fit in your stomach even after dinner. :) Think of it this way - the popcorn will maybe last through the whole movie if you are already full.
yay, popcorn!
There are some restaurants where I try something new every time, and some restaurants where I have learned (the hard way) it is best to get the same thing every time. And there is one (to remain unnamed) restaurant where I kept thinking a certain item sounded good, so I tried it three times, forgetting that I had tried it before and that it is HORRIBLE.
There's actually a ton of psychological research that proves that people are happier when they stick with the same things provided they separate each event by enough time. Here's an NPR commentary on it if you're interested:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5402259
Anyway, I find this to be fascinating and helpful at eliminating any guilt I feel when I get the same thing over and over again!
I order enchiladas at every Mexican restaurant I go to, in every city, pretty much without fail. Sometimes I beat myself up about it, but mostly I tell myself it's a good gauge of a restaurant since I have a sizeable area to compare it to, and then I remind myself it's just food and I should eat what I want! Life's hard enough as it is. ;-)
hannah: it's coming, I promise!
paisley: As much as I love popcorn, I actually have a corn allergy. If I eat too much popcorn, I regret it. Which is pretty much every time I go to the movies. It's the smell that gets me every single time!
-r-: I've done that too!!! Then I feel like such an idiot. Gah.
miss peach: anytime I can find something that eases guilt, it's a good thing. Thanks!!
maliavale: mmmm... enchies. And life IS too hard. Yeah! I should just eat and eat and eat. or Not.
I also ALWAYS get the Seafood Enchilada!!! Always!!!
And my motto is: I like to stick with what I know, no matter how wrong or inefficient it may be.
I totally agree that if it aint broke, don't fix it. Amen, sister.
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