Friday, May 26, 2006

Steak 'n' Shake

Dean and I have gotten in the habit of eating out on Thursday nights instead of Friday nights. It's a nice treat to not have to cook on Thursdays, and I am more relaxed to take my time and enjoy cooking a nice meal on Fridays.

Since it was Dean's turn to choose, we went to Steak 'n' Shake. After enjoying a low key meal, I got up to pay the bill. Why, you may ask, should I pay the bill when it was Dean's choice to go to Steak 'n' Shake? This is a very well-thought out clever plan. I generously insisted on treating Dean to dinner (~$15) and then when go to a nicer restaurant on Saturday (Carrabba's or Lai Thai) he will feel obligated to pay.

I got up to the register and that's when I saw him, working the grill flipping burgers. A student I had in the Physics II Lab course I taught last spring. A student I had to fail and I didn't even feel all that bad about it. He seemed bright enough, just not motivated. He had a couple unexcused absences, frequently turned in incomplete data sets and never turned in any homework. I recall him vaguely asking about extra credit. On the day it was due. Despite my reputation as an easy-going and at times lenient instructor, I had to draw the line somewhere. So he failed.

And on the way home Dean and I speculated on exactly what may have been in our food if he saw me sitting at the table.

7 comments:

Scott said...

As long as he didn't wink at you or anything. Can you imagine what it must be like to be a cop or a judge? You'd probably only eat at restaurants with owners you trust.

mr. schprock said...

This is a bad story for young people to read. It shows how you can flunk a course and still turn out a big success.

Runner Girl FL said...

Ack!! hehehe!! I have noticed the ones that pay the least amount of attention to me in class are the ones that notice me the least when they leave. I might see them and know but they seem to have forgotten me. :)

Natalie said...

scott~
Or walk in saying "Don't spit in my food or I'll shoot!"

lefty~
You worked at Steak 'n' Shake? If I tell Dean he might leave me for you. Never tried the honey mustard. That's a must for next time.

mr schprock~
This guy has upper management written all over him. Too bad he wasted his time taking a useless physics class.

rg~
Good point. Though I avoided eye contact, it didn't seem like he was especially avoiding me.

brainhell said...

Americium?! Nah - he's not that smart.

Some day soon he'll BE a cop -- or a judge!

Big Feet said...

At the Steak n Shake I go to, we at least know the employees are clean because there's a shower for them in the kitchen...

Natalie said...

bh~
Oh no! It's too evil to even think of! Both the Americium and the thought of him enforcing law! I have to go cry in the corner.

big feet~
Oh that's a great comfort. Cute (big) shoes!!