McDonald's pulls out all the stops to make me fat.

{This is a picture of Miss G from a field trip her school took to McDonald's. NO, I did not come up with the idea, YES, I was in attendance}

I am having second thoughts about writing this. I feel like I have been doing a lot of complaining lately, but I really, really, really am so frustrated with customer service today. In an economy where businesses should be thrilled that any consumer is choosing to spend their money in their establishment, why, why, why is it so hard to get some customer service.

I love McDonald's. Most would find this shameful. I have really come to grips with my love affair.

I love McDonald's so much that I crave the cheeseburger. The way the onions and the ketchup mix so lovingly (not that I can eat that these days due to my lack of milk/cheese intake) in my mouth. My brother in law talked about it at my wedding. I made Ralph eat it on our wedding night. If I have my way, I gorge on it after every marathon. It is gross. I know it is gross, but I love it. My heart is swelling thinking of my love for the golden arches.

I recently read that a Filet o Fish has a reasonable amount of calories. Especially when not smothered with tarter sauce and processed cheese....neither of which I am eating right now. AND, McDonald's has free wi-fi. What better place to get some much needed work done and entertain my darling three year old (not to mention pass my ridiculous obsession down to the next generation).

We get to McDonald's and play a while. We go potty. We head to the counter to order our lunch.

"Chicken McNugget Happy meal, w apples a milk and girl toy."

"and, a number eleven, no tarter sauce, no cheese. Small fry instead of medium."

Seriously, it may take me thirty minutes to order a plain coffee at Starbuck's but I have this McDonald's stuff down.

"We don't do that."

"Actually, you always give me a small fry instead of medium, no problem." (clearly this poor clerk is confused about my McDonald's expertise.)

We banter back and forth until he calls a manager.

Because he wants to charge me MORE for a small fry than the meal with the medium fry.

"That is ludicrous. Why would I pay more for a small fry than a medium?"

The manager (assistant, I think) confirms that she can not do this.

"Fine, just give me the meal."

"OK."

I pay and wait. Mind you this entire time I am trying to keep an eye on my purse, laptop and three year old running wild because she is in the part of the store that does not have a play structure and is not too happy about it.

I look at my receipt. HE CHARGED ME FOR THE SMALL FRY, MEDIUM DRINK and FILET 'O FISH. More than the stupid meal.

I am waiting so long that one of the gals asks why.

I just can't contain myself. I am so frustrated. I did not say or do anything, but steam must have been flying from my brain because suddenly the real manager appears.

"Is there a problem?"

I go through the whole thing.

"So basically, you want to pay for the meal and me to give you a small fry?"

"Yes." with an elated emotional sigh that makes me feel like FINALLY, someone understands me. Almost with the same satisfaction I get after having YEAR LONG discussions with my husband. Just to feel understood.

"OK."

And she refunds my $1.17.

My top two concerns with this entire scenario:

1. McDonald's really wants to make it hard for me to have any sort of portion control.

2. You have to be at senior manager level to have some common sense.