Taco huh?

I've been in Columbia about one month now. It would probably be appropriate to report that I've dropped the useage of my car to 1-2 days a week with 10-15 miles tops put on the vehicle per week. That's going to round out to 60 miles a month, assuming I don't make any major trips, which means a tank of gas may well last me several months. THAT is something I'd die to see.

Tonight though, I found myself firing up my Saturn for a clandestine trip. As I plugged my coordinates into my Garmin and located my destination I was very aware of the cars around me. Would they know where I was going? I didn't want to give any clues, so I drove speed limit and stayed in the lane opposite to where I'd need to be. Then, 2.1 miles from my apartment, I made a left hand turn...

Into the Taco Bell drivethru.

Okay, there's really nothing clandestine about that. I wasn't really worried about it. But I was CRAVING Del Taco tonight with a passion that I can't even describe. I have heard of such cravings, had laughed them off as weakness of people who had moved away from home, but to actually EXPERIENCE this craving...it was too much for me to bear.

In my mind were pictures of spicy jack quesadillas and Big Fat Chicken tacos (especially the ones I'd get with jalepeno poppers after me and my workout buddies would hit the gym. I know, it totally defeated the purpose, but they were SOOO GOOD!) I imagined Coke products and Del Scorcho sauce.

But alas, there are NO Del Tacos in the great state of South Carolina. There are Taco Bells...but Taco Bell is a cheap bastardization of a perfectly delectable fast food creation, in my opinion.

Still...tonight I was up a creek without a paddle...er, taco. I slid into the drivethru and ordered something random. It was there that I received my first bit of South Carolina rudeness, and I'm happy to find that some things (ie, the rudeness of Taco Bell employees) are just universal truths no matter what state you're in.

As I headed home with my ill-gotten goods I had to laugh at myself. I felt so un-Southern. I felt so un-South Carolinian. I felt so...Las Vegan. Sigh.

I guess its true. You can take the girl out of the city...

But you'll never take the craving for really decent fast food out of the girl.