McDonald’s Embargo: One-Year Later

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all-ages…and most importantly, my Faithful Readers…I’ve done it!!

Today marks one full year since I last ate at McDonald’s.

*cue massive applause*

That’s right, the heavily-lauded “McDonald’s Embargo” was established 365 days ago, on February 13, 2009 after a fourth consecutive day dining beneath the glow of the Golden Arches.

Now I realize that the McDonald’s accomplishment is a little less bad-ass being that it started as I already rapidly approaching the one-year anniversary of my (surprisingly still active) Burger King Embargo.

That fact notwithstanding, I find it pretty damn impressive given some of the obstacles I’ve encountered throughout this embargo.

The BK Embargo grew increasingly less difficult to maintain after we moved out of Southie and away from a Burger King.

McDonald’s is everywhere. More specifically, it’s right by my freakin’ apartment. In addition to the obvious proximity-factor is that I’ve had many, many Mickey-D’s-related temptations in the past year:

Grace the Temptress

In March, roughly a month and a half into the Embargo, Grace taunted me endlessly and went as far as to drag me into a McDonald’s. I held strong, but damn if it wasn’t the toughest test up that point.

Wedding Blues

In May, while serving as a groomsman at a buddy’s wedding, the only pre-wedding food option was McDonald’s. Having not eaten all day and knowing that an evening full of heavy imbibing was in the offing, I resisted. Once more I sat in a McDonald’s, surrounded by burgers and chicken nuggets and went hungry. I nearly cried.

Airport Adventures

In October, I was waiting at an airport—again after having not eaten—and the only option was McDonald’s. Despite my overwhelming hunger, I bypassed Mickey-D’s and survived on the granola bar the fine folks on the airplane tossed my way when we hit 30,000 feet.

The McRib Returns

It late 2009 and early 2010, the legendary McRib made a triumphant return to McDonald’s locations all-across the nation. The McRib is probably the most delectable (and elusive) piece of fast food on the planet. I would have tossed the Embargo out on its ass had I encountered one of these bad-boys. Luckily, the closest reported McRib sighting on the famed McRib Locator proved to be false and the Embargo lived to see another day.

There you have it folks.

It’s been a rough year, but I survived.

Unfortunately, much like the one-year anniversary of my Burger King Embargo, this all feels so anticlimactic.

Perhaps I should run out tomorrow and devour everything on the menu; partially as a way to celebrate and partially to show my love for burgers, after all it is Valentine’s Day tomorrow.

Or perhaps I’ll just continue the McDonald’s Embargo with no reward, because honestly, there really shouldn’t be a reward for “not eating crap food.”

Although, in a perfect world, the reward would be a ton of McDonald’s and Burger King served on a silver platter.

Yeah, that sounds nice.