McDonald's Dogfood

My elementary school teacher Mr. Jackman had a policy that if a kid got straight "commendables" at parent teacher conference evaluations he would take the kid out to lunch. (You were rated in each area as commendable, satisfactory or unsatisfactory, I think.) One time I pulled it off (I'm still not sure how, since I never finished my writing assignments for Mr. Wilson) and I got to go to lunch with Mr. Jackman and his wife. As we drove off he asked me if I wanted to go to McDonald's. I hesitated for a second and then said, "Ummm . . . how about Hardee's?" So off we went to Hardee's instead. For as long as I can remember my Dad had referred to McDonald's as "McDonald's Dogfood" so I was sure I didn't want to go there. It wasn't until high school when Tony dragged me over to McDonald's that I realized, "Hey, this is just like any other fast food place!" I didn't feel deceived--I'm glad my Dad discouraged me from eating fast food--but I am amused by how deeply I had absorbed my Dad's disdain for McDonald's.