Shane's vs. the teenagers

Wednesday's are pretty crazy for us. Son #1 goes to the gym, while son #2 has music lessons. This Wednesday you could add an unexpected e-mail assignment at the office at 4:55 for me and some after-work errands for my wife. As everyone returned home, we faced two very hungry teenagers--walking garbage disposals, really--and a shortage of quick fixin's in the house. A two-for-one full rib platter ADVG coupon for Shane's Rib Shack, 4217-A West Wendover Avenue, saved our, um, bacon.

Shane's is a growing chain. A new store is set to open soon on Westover Terrace (great, as if we needed one more thing to add to the grand Wendover-Westover confusion).

The stores offer good food, big portions, and quick service in a clean setting--well, as clean as a rib shack can get--and at good prices. Sons #1 and #2 really like the place, and CWS Mom and Dad are growing to like it. Given the chain's growth, we're not the only ones.

This night we used one of the coveted coupons from the prestigious "dining" section at the front of the ADVG. Not casual dining, mind you, but regular dining. Very likely the same section of the ADVG that Bill and Melinda Gates clip their coupons from.

The teenagers both got the full rack rib platters, while my wife got a chopped pork BBQ sandwich and I got the chopped pork platter.

The teenagers' platters were enormous. The ribs for each platter were stacked on one plate, and the sides were stacked on another. I had a moment of panic, as visions of the ribs tipping the table over like the Flintstone mobile came into my head.

(Quick aside: Think about the theme from the Flintstones. Flintstones, meet the Flinstones. They're a modern Stone-Age fa-mi-lee... Okay, now stop thinking about it. You can't; nobody can.)

I also thought I saw just a hint of fear in the eyes of the teenagers, especially Son #2, who has only recently come into his teenage appetite.

It turns out that it wasn't fear at all, but most likely hunger pangs. The boys finished their huge platters about the same time as my wife and I finished our human-sized dishes.

From the little that I could see of them, the ribs looked great. We asked the boys about them while a few were still on the plate. Son #1 nodded enthusiastically with his cheeks stuffed like a chipmunk's. Son #2 was more prosaic, answering us with a full-mouthed "gorf." And who can really argue with that?