Comments on: Quicky with the mermaid http://greenlagirl.com/quicky-with-the-mermaid/ Urban environmental lifestyle blog in Los Angeles Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:11:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Siel http://greenlagirl.com/quicky-with-the-mermaid/comment-page-1/#comment-1049 Siel Tue, 03 Jan 2006 06:25:18 +0000 http://greenlagirl.com/?p=250#comment-1049 I heart Fast Food Nation. Of course, that got many of my food phobias started... Still, a valuable read -- Hmm... Nothing like LSD'ers to drive you to bacon cheeseburgers -- I'll chalk this experience up to one of those naive, high school experiences -- How old were those hippies? ;) I heart Fast Food Nation. Of course, that got many of my food phobias started… Still, a valuable read –

Hmm… Nothing like LSD’ers to drive you to bacon cheeseburgers — I’ll chalk this experience up to one of those naive, high school experiences — How old were those hippies? ;)

]]> By: Chris O'Brien http://greenlagirl.com/quicky-with-the-mermaid/comment-page-1/#comment-1044 Chris O'Brien Mon, 02 Jan 2006 23:00:48 +0000 http://greenlagirl.com/?p=250#comment-1044 Siel, You probably know that the whole drive-thru phenom began in SoCal, but if you're interested in learning more about how it occurred, Fast Food Nation is a fantastic read. Another great read is the Great Good Place, by Ray Oldenburg, which is about how to create the opposite of fast food culture. But speaking of drive-thrus, I hope you will permit me to recount a personal fast food experience. I was fresh out of high school and traveling the country with no money and a beat up Mercury Lynx. I picked up hitch hikers for company and to help fund the gas I needed to keep moving. I ended up with a band of hippies who were traveling to a Rainbow Gathering. I spent a few days with them in the Rocky Mountains as this event was getting set up. I got pretty turned off by the whole thing - lots of self-righteous attitudes, drug-induced stupidity, and fake nature spiritality. Just as the gathering was officially starting and hordes of people were arriving, I coldn't take it any more. So I got in my car and headed for the nearest city, which was Denver, and without awareness of the irony, went straight to a Burger King drive thru and ordered a bacon double chesseburger. At the time, I had been vegetarian for about three years. I suppose it was an unconscious need to purge myself of the phoniness of the Rainbow Gathering by indulging in something that was at least honest about itself - fast food. It was perhaps the only time in my life that I found a quite appropriate moment to avail myself of a drive thru. Happy New Year, Chris Siel,

You probably know that the whole drive-thru phenom began in SoCal, but if you’re interested in learning more about how it occurred, Fast Food Nation is a fantastic read. Another great read is the Great Good Place, by Ray Oldenburg, which is about how to create the opposite of fast food culture.

But speaking of drive-thrus, I hope you will permit me to recount a personal fast food experience. I was fresh out of high school and traveling the country with no money and a beat up Mercury Lynx. I picked up hitch hikers for company and to help fund the gas I needed to keep moving. I ended up with a band of hippies who were traveling to a Rainbow Gathering. I spent a few days with them in the Rocky Mountains as this event was getting set up. I got pretty turned off by the whole thing – lots of self-righteous attitudes, drug-induced stupidity, and fake nature spiritality. Just as the gathering was officially starting and hordes of people were arriving, I coldn’t take it any more. So I got in my car and headed for the nearest city, which was Denver, and without awareness of the irony, went straight to a Burger King drive thru and ordered a bacon double chesseburger. At the time, I had been vegetarian for about three years. I suppose it was an unconscious need to purge myself of the phoniness of the Rainbow Gathering by indulging in something that was at least honest about itself – fast food. It was perhaps the only time in my life that I found a quite appropriate moment to avail myself of a drive thru.

Happy New Year,
Chris

]]> By: Siel http://greenlagirl.com/quicky-with-the-mermaid/comment-page-1/#comment-1042 Siel Mon, 02 Jan 2006 17:41:55 +0000 http://greenlagirl.com/?p=250#comment-1042 Well, yeah. Drive-thrus are convenient in a car culture world. As are instant coffees, junk food, and automatic espresso machines. I just think we also lose a lot with the convenience... And ya know -- in SoCal, where the Starbucks drive-thrus started out, it's rarely goes below 40, let alone 40 below... ;) I never missed drive-thru coffee while living in Indiana during winter. But then again, I'm baby-free! Well, yeah. Drive-thrus are convenient in a car culture world. As are instant coffees, junk food, and automatic espresso machines. I just think we also lose a lot with the convenience…

And ya know — in SoCal, where the Starbucks drive-thrus started out, it’s rarely goes below 40, let alone 40 below… ;) I never missed drive-thru coffee while living in Indiana during winter. But then again, I’m baby-free!

]]> By: Monkey http://greenlagirl.com/quicky-with-the-mermaid/comment-page-1/#comment-1041 Monkey Mon, 02 Jan 2006 16:38:31 +0000 http://greenlagirl.com/?p=250#comment-1041 I actually think that drive-thrus can be a real blessing. I, at one time, worked for Victor Allens Coffee in Madison, Wisconsin. They built, what I believe to be, the first coffee drive-thru in the nation. When it's 40 below and you need your coffee, it's good to be in a warm car. As a parent of a small monkey, it is very connvenient to order in a drive thru situation without having to remove him from the car, get out the stroller, make sure his Rottweiler sister has enough air, etc, etc. One comment on Starbucks. I think they do a fine job on a grand scale. I just wish they wouldn't use those crappy automatic espresso machines. We went there this morning, just to take a break from our own coffee, and my latte tasted like dishwater... And Howard, back off the Allanis Morrisette CD's! Happy New Year! I actually think that drive-thrus can be a real blessing. I, at one time, worked for Victor Allens Coffee in Madison, Wisconsin. They built, what I believe to be, the first coffee drive-thru in the nation. When it’s 40 below and you need your coffee, it’s good to be in a warm car.
As a parent of a small monkey, it is very connvenient to order in a drive thru situation without having to remove him from the car, get out the stroller, make sure his Rottweiler sister has enough air, etc, etc.
One comment on Starbucks. I think they do a fine job on a grand scale. I just wish they wouldn’t use those crappy automatic espresso machines. We went there this morning, just to take a break from our own coffee, and my latte tasted like dishwater… And Howard, back off the Allanis Morrisette CD’s!
Happy New Year!

]]> By: Brian http://greenlagirl.com/quicky-with-the-mermaid/comment-page-1/#comment-1032 Brian Sun, 01 Jan 2006 02:18:35 +0000 http://greenlagirl.com/?p=250#comment-1032 I can remember the last time I used a drive-thru, years ago now. I found myself waiting in a line of cars a dozen long and noticed that the restaurant itself was nearly vacant. I got out, ordered my food inside, and was on my way before the line outside had budged. And I had the bonus of talking to a human being. It wasn't even a question of convenience versus quality of life. It was a question of obstinate stupidity versus a little common sense. The newest Starbucks within walking distance of my house is barely more than a drive thru itself. The interior is just a long unaccommodating corridor with a few tables crammed haphazardly along the edges, and I can never read in the outdoor area because of the distracting noise from the drive-thru speaker. I choose not to use the drive thru because I figure I could use the human interaction, but it defeats the purpose when the person I talk to is speaking out the other side of his mouth into the drive-thru mic headset. I find it depressing. I used to like Starbucks, I really did. The two of us were inseparable. These days, though, I find the local donut shop more atmospheric. Certainly less soul-destroying ... I can remember the last time I used a drive-thru, years ago now. I found myself waiting in a line of cars a dozen long and noticed that the restaurant itself was nearly vacant. I got out, ordered my food inside, and was on my way before the line outside had budged. And I had the bonus of talking to a human being. It wasn’t even a question of convenience versus quality of life. It was a question of obstinate stupidity versus a little common sense.

The newest Starbucks within walking distance of my house is barely more than a drive thru itself. The interior is just a long unaccommodating corridor with a few tables crammed haphazardly along the edges, and I can never read in the outdoor area because of the distracting noise from the drive-thru speaker. I choose not to use the drive thru because I figure I could use the human interaction, but it defeats the purpose when the person I talk to is speaking out the other side of his mouth into the drive-thru mic headset.

I find it depressing. I used to like Starbucks, I really did. The two of us were inseparable. These days, though, I find the local donut shop more atmospheric. Certainly less soul-destroying …

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