Shook the Spot

Routines are a funny thing. Shook's fallen into quite a few.

Yesterday on the T to work, my trolley wasn't nearly as crowded as usual — I easily found a seat — and I had to check my watch to make sure it wasn't later than I thought. It wasn't. I guess people are on vacation.

At my Dunkin' Donuts in the morning — number four, you might recall — it's gotten to the point where I don't even say anything and they've already got my medium iced coffee, dark with sugar, out on the counter. (For my part, I make sure to bring 17 cents and two singles with me to speed the transaction.)

But I've got the most bizarre routine at my usual lunch spot, Dino's. Without fail, I'll walk in and the very nice Greek dude who owns the place will say, "How you doing, chief? Large garden salad with chicken?" Not only is this not my usual order, I've actually never ordered a salad there. I've had the spinach pie, the rice with veggies, the pasta, and I'll usually get a grilled-chicken pannini (amazing, by the way). But my order always has to begin, "No, I think I'll try something different today . . . "