Dennis's blog

I stopped at McDonald's this morning on my way to work. Sometimes I stop there and get a diet coke, always the same size, always $1.71....I know, it's a lot, but I like the fizz and the ice that McDonald's offers. Today, because it was going to be hot, I thought I'd get a little bigger one with some extra ice. So I pull into the drive and speak into the box...

"I'd like a LARGE diet coke with extra ice, please."

The voice (female, pleasant) says, "That will be $1.71 at the first window."

Well, that's the same size I always get, I say to myself... so I say, "Excuse me, but what's the biggest size you have?"

The voice says, "42 ounces."

I think to myself... that's way too big. I ask, " Do you have any other size?"

She replies, "Supersize." The cars are beginning to back up behind me...some of the faces in the rearview mirror are looking scrunched up. I'm not getting the information I need, but I'm running out of time.

Somewhat exasperated, I ask, " What's the size just above large?"

"Extra-large"

"OK, I'll take one of those instead"

"That will be $1.07 at the first window."

I'm astonished...why do I pay $1.71 for a large and $1.07 for an extra large???

I drive up to the window. "How come the extra large is cheaper than the large?" I ask.

"The extra large is on sale."

"Oh," I say to no one in particular, as I drive away.

While I'm at the light I look at the extra large drink, trying to size up how many ounces it is. My guess is that it's more than 36 and less than 54, which would make it somewhere in the 42 ounce range. I figure there must be some communication slip-up somewhere. It can't be just that I'm easily confused...