Thanks to the Chinese for Being Lactose Intolerant

I crave restaurant food. As my internal exam day approaches, I leaf through (while shuddering) the preparation leaflet (the term oral purgative is rather ominous) I received during my eight minute specialist consultation. How ironic that it makes me crave restaurant food. As a foodie, it has been extremely painful (in more than one way, seriously) to avoid restaurants for nearly six months. I think I have eaten in a restaurant less than five times - shocking! And what a change from my three to five times a week last year - and probably the main reason I haven't seen my fellow foodie friends (and former restaurant visiting partners) since Christmas. Luckily, it dawned on me a couple of weeks ago that Asians are lactose intolerant - and if an entire population shares a general food intolerance - chances are their pseudo-ethnic food avoids it (nearly) completely. Problem solved and Chinese food ordered. Yay! Thanks to the lactose intolerant Chinese.

And, as everything else with my ailment, how ironic that Chinese food is my safe food choice. As a child, I refused to eat Chinese food since my mother was obsessed with all things Chinese and family dinners out usually ended up at the Ho Inn in Chinatown... when all I wanted was a "normal" family dinner at the suburban ABC Family restaurant like my friends. That in itself is also ironic since I don't think I have even taken my own child to the suburban franchise.

Of course, I also have to give thanks to the paramedic for going and picking up the Chinese food order in the pouring rain... even though I am pretty sure he ate my second fortune cookie.