THE USUAL

For the last three nights, I've been to IHOP with friends after the show. Too much of a good thing?

The first night it was just me and Ryan. Then it was Josh & Rachel, Chris & Wendy, Ryan and me. Then it was Terry, Jo, Ryan & me. If I go again tonight, I'm just going to greet the waitress and say, "The usual. Thanks."

Three nights...if I go again, I've got to order something new. I always fall into a rut when it comes to restaurants. At OCharleys, I get the fried chicken salad. At McAllisters Deli, it's the chicken salad on a croissant. At Ruby Tuesdays, the salad bar and half a club. At Sonic, it's the BLT. And at IHOP, I order the chocolate chip pancakes.

I'm becoming like my friend Judy. In college, I went to Outback with a group of friends about once a month. Judy would always get the Alice Springs Chicken. And everyone would laugh every time she ordered it. Judy took the joke pretty well. She knew what she liked, and it wasn't steak.

I guess my deal is that I really don't like restaurant food. So, when I finally find something on the menu that I like, I stick with it. But, three nights in a row is a little much, so what would you suggest that I order?