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I can walk into a Chowking Branch at JY Square, I won't even look at the cashier, and magically, a few seconds later, she dictates what I want to order, and I give the amount and I get my number and my receipt a few seconds after that.

What happened? Was I able to telepathically communicate my thoughts to the cashier? Or was the cashier telepathic? Or we were both? Or was it a wild guess with fortunate results? None of the above. It's simple. I've been ordering the SAME thing in the same place for over 2 years now. I can hear the creaking of necks due to shaking heads and mutterings of "Ka unhealthy naman" or "Oi, sosyal, Chowking daily ha". Well fact, it's not a daily habit, but indeed often, and another fact, yes, I'd rather spend my money distributing an amount over several months just to get to eat at a fast food restaurant, rather than saving up for a stove (I can't cook, granted I could try to learn) or canned food (I feel too much like a cat by default, so I don't want to add to that thought)--why? Because it can be fast, if the people who use it are also fast. Second is I dislike food, but you have to read another earlier note of mine to understand that bit about me, I won't discuss it here.

Take for instance why this personal trend started in the first place--I dislike lines, because there are people in lines, mostly strangers, and I tend to dislike strangers. Thus my theory was, if people moved faster in queues, I'd probably feel more relaxed. So, if it took only seconds for me to order something, then the queue moves faster. The picture in my head is, the person standing behind me would feel relieved that my order took only a few seconds. I don't know why that matters to me but sometimes it does, and that thought does make me feel relaxed rather than anxious.

Guess what--now it's started at Jollibee IT Park too. I order the same thing everyday at lunchtime. And today...BINGO...they already processed my order before I opened my mouth.

Trained them quite well, it seems.

-RODION