Today, they were serving sausage patties and egg patties one can assume to put on the English muffins offered in the "Breads and Pastries" section of the buffet. There was only one dilemma. In the form of a toaster. Only one toaster. For an entire dining room of hungry breakfasters.
There was a subtle air of tension, a sort of unspoken territory war over the appliances in demand. I slid my muffin halves into the toaster and apologetically glanced over to the girl waiting behind me. They popped up but they were quite toasted enough. Oh the pressure! Can I, in good manners, toast them again? Or do I just move on? But they're not really even toasted, just warm. So I quickly smiled at the girl, muttered another apologetic something or other and pushed down the level to toast them again. I might have seen her nostrils flare a little, but this is breakfast sister, back down. The halves popped up and I grabbed them out of the slots, just before she steered her halves in. Jeez. And then the mad dash over to the sterno heated pan holding the sausage and eggs. Again, a slight feeling of desperation - will there be enough for my sandwiches? Do I need to grab extras to make The Saint and my sandwiches? Are those vultures I hear circling? Seriously, I think a fine sheen of sweat broke out.
Anyway, the Bugs' sandwiches were finished and they were happily digging in ... to yogurt, donuts, milk, OJ and cereal as well. And I was back in line...in pursuit of another round with the toaster and the other bumper car breakfasters. I grabbed two more English muffins and took my place in line. Finally, my turn. I put in two halves and pushed the lever down. And had to fend off my right to the other two slots as I see the girl behind me lean towards the toaster. "Um, I have two," I said and literally had to put my arm in front of hers to get my other two muffins in to the toaster. No qualms about the second toasting this time!
Finally, all four of us had every variety of breakfast item offered and we chowed down. And between bites of raisin bran, I commenced to people watch. And watched the same territorial show down at the waffle maker. Hoo boy! These women, clutching their Dixie cups of waffle batter, circle and circle, jumped like they were branded when the alarm goes off and someone has to claim their waffle, before flying into line like the kids in the Sound of Music, jostling for their positions.
People, a pride of lions surrounding a still bleating water buffalo on Animal Planet had nothing on these people! It was survival of the fittest at its finest. All for a love of free breakfast and a sweet, fluffy waffle.
Well, off to move to a new hotel with a functioning pool, some sun and another day at the ball park. Hope your Saturday is fantastic and your breakfast a little less life and death!
