Chinese Buffet: All You Kan Eat

Well, we nearly had a tornado last week. What we did have was a very violent storm instead. As I was unfolding the newspaper at work (we use it to wrap the fragile items customers buy), I noticed that the front page headline read, "Possible Tornado Leaves Destruction." Now I know I tend to have a pretty warped sense of humor...so naturally, I found this vastly amusing. Like the possibility of a tornado can bring destruction...like the mere idea of disaster will send trees toppling onto pick up trucks (the full color picture on the front page).

Apparently, this "possible" tornado left destruction at three different McDonald's locations in our region. It was around 10:30 at night a few days later, and Andy wanted a break from studying. We were still getting over our sore throats, and thought something cold (and sweet!) sounded tasty. So we decided we would head to the nearest McDonald's up the road, and get a milkshake, keeping in mind that this would be a quick stop and then back to studying. Well, as sometimes happens at these fast food joints, the ice cream machine had stopped working. We sighed, and asked ourselves if we should just order something else instead. But you know how it is, when you decide to eat something, and you get your taste buds all prepped for it...we just really wanted a milkshake.

"Well, there's another McDonald's right up the road. Let's stop at that one. We're already out, and it won't take that long," said Andy.

So we turned around and went to the other McDonald's. You have probably already guessed that this McDonald's had a broken machine as well. Much to our demise. You know how sometimes, obstacles will arise, and they seem to have no other purpose than to convince you to push and try even harder? Andy suddenly felt this way. He was determined to find a McDonald's with a working ice cream machine, even if we had to drive all night. Keep in mind that we weren't quite laughing at this point...but it's coming.

At this third McDonald's, approximately 15 minutes from our house according to GoogleMaps, we pulled up to the drive thru without much hope, ordering one chocolate and one strawberry milkshake. Here was the guy's reply:

"Uh, hold on a second, let me see if our ice cream machine is working."

The guy had to check! Like this is something that happens every night at 10:30! Either that, or the other two locations had called ahead and warned him that some crazy milkshake seekers were about to descend. I had to roll the window up Andy and I were laughing so hard.

Thankfully, the machine was working. And, needless to say, those were the best milkshakes we have ever had.