Besides being a great piece of cinematic history, things really are tough all over..... or so they seem.  Melissa, the kids and I were dining at a ritzy establishment here in town called Taco Bell.  You may have heard of it.  Anywho, while I was waiting for them to get my order ready, this lady (who was with two unruly kids and a husband) approached me and asked " So how do we get our food, do we just wait for them to call our number or something).  I was a little struck by the question, and politely said yes and helped to inform her of the complex dining process that is fast food at Taco Bell.  After that exchange, I observed several cues that suggest that she and her family may be lowering their usual dining standards perhaps because of the economic times. 

    This was a strange encounter because I can't imagine anyone, natively born in the US, that hasn't partaken the in delictable dishes served at the the premier mexican/american fast food joint.  I could be way off base and it was just a sort of brain fart situation on the part of the woman.  However, another episode occurred in the same encounter that still leaves me perplexed.  One of the fine ladies sons proceeded (with parental supervision) over to the drink dispenser and dialed up this fantabulous concoction.  1/4 pepsi, 1/2 pink lemonade, 1/4 water.  The parent seem to be directing the child on the amounts that they were allowed to consume.  I understand that maybe mixing lemonade with water, but the pepsi mixed just boggled my mind.  It was a strange occurrence but hey, I at least got something to noodle on for a while and bizzare story to share!