DH is the kind of person who loves to arrive 36 hours early to a concert venue just so he can end up in the front row and maybe catch the band for a few pics and autographs. And when the holidays are here, DH often jumps at the chance to join the desperate soccer moms and nerdy teenagers in line at Best Buy, waiting (and freezing) for a shot at the latest gaming system.

So, it was only natural for him to want to camp out at the recent grand opening of a local Chic-Fi1-@ so he could be one of the first 100 customers to walk through their doors and receive 1 free combo meal per week for a year. He got there about 20 hours before the doors opened and was number 60-something in line. With cardboard nugget-box full of 52 free combo meal cards in hand, he arrived home triumphantly and with a heightened taste for fried chicken.

Like an addict looking for a new place to score, he put his radar out for another grand opening....and found one. He spent all day Monday gathering up his camping gear and other essentials. That night, our kitchen became Mission Control, with grocery sacks full of granola bars, propane tanks, gloves, bottles of Naked juice drinks, and H0tHand packs all piled up by the back door. This time, the Chic-Fi1-@ opening was this morning at 6:00 AM, in a town about 3.5 hours away. And (get this) DH left the house at about noon on TUESDAY to head over there. He is hard core.

It all paid off. We are now the proud owners of a grand total of 104 free Chic-Fi1-@ meals. The great thing is, we can use the free meal cards whenever and however often we want - they don't necessarilly have to be used in the form of one free meal per week. Also, the cards say "Please use by 01/09", but DH was told that is not a set-in-stone expiration date and they will take the cards after that day. Out of all the fast food franchises, I'm glad our free meals are from a place that is somewhat Weight Watchers friendly. Although the cards are not good for the salads, I could easily get a grilled chicken sandwich combo and substitute a fruit cup for the fries (might have to pay a few cents extra).

He's on his way home now. Since he was the first person in line, he also got a back pack, a book, a water bottle, a t-shirt and a stuffed cow. You know you're all jealous. You wish you had a Chic-Fi1-@ back pack.

Now, if only the collections office for the hospital where I delivered Scout would take Chic-Fi1-@ coupons as payment. (sigh)

Labels: dh, food, holy crap, trips