Panda

How I love the Panda. As far as I can tell, there’s only one that serves fried tofu and eggplant in garlic sauce, but fortunately it’s the restaurant nearest me. Googling the dish finds reference only to string beans and fried tofu with garlic sauce.

Also, I may be the only one eating it. I go to Panda Express once a week, and they know to start making the dish as soon as they see me. Very rarely is there any eggplant in the silver bin under the heat warmer. Obviously their orange chicken is what everyone wants, cus that bin is twice the size of all the others.

Today they coerced me into ordering a double serving of the entree. Coerced by saying, “You want double?” It looked like too much food and yet, I had to stop myself from eating the whole thing.

A Panda Express is under construction in my future hometown, and I really hope they make the dish, otherwise I’m going to have to write a letter to the company.

I’m known to say things like “I can’t eat popcorn,” or potato chips, or Chips Ahoy cookies. But I’ll eat it if it’s like right there. Sometimes. Then regret it. The other day, for employee appreciation day (I felt so unworthy of the appreciation) I ate ciabatta. That was a mistake. Nor can I eat nuts or apples, but never am I tempted by those.

Fortune cookies are definitely something I should not eat, but I do, every time, if only to get at cryptic messages such as: “Don’t ignore your needs in the area of new challenges.”

There’s advice there that I probably need, but I don’t understand it. Is it as simple as “Don’t be afraid to ask for help” ? Or “Don’t neglect your own usual needs while you’re busy tackling new challenges” ?