Showing posts with label etiquette. Show all posts
Showing posts with label etiquette. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Warning! Food Issues & Such


I am a foodie! Surprise! I love to watch cooking shows and travel shows wherein they seek out really bizarre food. I like to cook when I have time to experiment. I LOVE stores like Williams-Sonoma, although that one is a little to much of a box store for me. Point me in the gadget direction and I am a happy camper, er, cooker? I like almost any kind of food, however I do have my limits. I have issues with texture. I cannot eat oatmeal unless it is in the form of a cookie, it absolutely will not go down and stay down! Jello makes me cringe, I don't like my food moving around or squishing between my teeth. Who thinks grapes and jello is a good idea? I can only eat certain types of yogurt. Pudding is in the questionable category. Fuzzy fruit makes me crazy, like my mouth itches or something. I like bananas but do not like anything that is banana flavored such as juice, smoothies and that sort of thing. I have issues from childhood with cooked spinach and Brussels sprouts. Still can't eat them! I want to like Tofu, really I do, I just haven't found the right recipe. Recently I tried to eat a "Thai spring roll" , while the taste was not bad, the texture put me over the edge. The wrapping was not the typical spring roll that I am accustomed to eating. The rubbery texture inside and out was just more than I could bear. I have decided many "Asian" recipes call for hot as heck sauces so that you don't notice the actual ingredients! I absolutely love Sushi and Seaweed Salad, my favorite being eel rolls, go figure. My daughter hosted a Pampered Chef Party at my home and I, of course, was in gadget heaven. Many guests later and a lighter wallet, I settled down to watch a little "food" television to wind down from the party before going to bed. Why would someone relaxing want to watch bizarre food shows? I have this whole I am repulsed but I can't look away issue! I am amazed at some of the food people will eat. I, for one, am not eating organs. You can keep monkey brains and sheep's eyes. No can do. What's up with eating pig's feet or chicken feet? I could very easily be a vegetarian! Liver is another traumatic food stemming from my childhood. Why did my mother think THAT was good for you? It seems to grow with every chew and is impossible to get down your gullet. I think organ meats or "sweet meats" and feet of any kind are best left to Voodoo rituals!!! Whatever will I do when I become a world famous traveller and am offered the delicacy of that country being sheep's eyeballs or whatever? You would not want to insult the host/hostess!


The utensils, plating and cookware is a whole issue for me as well. I like certain types of glasses and abhor others. I worked with a lady who absolutely refused to eat off anything but white plates. She was from the low country and had many "superstitious" beliefs. She had a very difficult time eating anything that she had not prepared. I can sympathize with her! Am I the only one with food issues? So, what are you having for dinner? Care to join me for some pickled pig's feet and hog jowls? Yeah, me neither.

Monday, April 28, 2008

Cell Phone Rant


Do you ever feel like our fellow citizens take the unlimited calling thing too literally? I do. I LOVE my cell phone. I have been able to call from the side of the road to get assistance. I have been able to call for help for other people. I can call and let someone know I am enroute. My doctor's office can reach me. My grandchildren call on their way home to see if Nonnie's home and is it okay to stop and visit! Cell phones are a wonderful technological advancement. The downside...herewith starts my rant...I don't want to hear someone's conversation when I am in a restaurant attempting to enjoy a meal and conversation at my table. I don't want to hear your personal business while I am shopping, waiting in line, or in the doctor's office. I absolutely do not want to hear what your baby cousin sister brother's girlfriend did last night. I do not need to hear you argue with your spouse or yell at your children. And my all time favorite...turn the darn cell phone OFF when you are in church. God can hear you just fine without it. I was in a meeting yesterday at church and someone's cell phone rang...it happens to all of us...but do we all answer the phone in a room full of people? Hell....00000???!!!! Holy Inappropriateness! Yes, there are emergencies, go outside or to the hall to discuss your business. Another personal favorite of mine, answering and talking, at length, when in the company of others. Call them back...the world will not stop its revolution around the Sun if you don't answer your phone. I think that before anyone is allowed to have a cell phone they should have to take a cell phone etiquette class and pass a test. I have a friend, I love her dearly, however, she clearly has NO clue about cell phone etiquette! She once hosted a baby shower in her home and went into the bedroom to answer a call and missed a HUGE amount of time hosting this shower. It doesn't matter where you go with her, she WILL answer her phone and carry on a full length conversation. How about...I'll call you back later. I have pointed this out to said friend and she's like I know, I know. I have another friend, quite the opposite...she is fully present in the moment...the phone goes off and she may check her messages at the end of the outing to see if there is something she needs to do for her family on the way home. Big Difference. Who would you want to spend time with? There are emergency calls, however, I suspect the vast majority of calls just pass the time. If you are carrying on a full length conversation while driving, you are not paying full attention to your driving I do not care who you are. How many accidents do you think are a result of cell phone conversations? In South Carolina, a law is being considered to make it illegal for teenagers to talk on their phones while driving...great idea...how about all the other lunatics that pull out in front of you, nearly back into you, nearly running over pedestrians and so on and on while talking on the phone. One more...while watching a movie that you have paid eight bucks to see... why in all that is holy are you on your phone in the movie theater????
I personally also love when someone is carrying on a conversation while on the toilet in a public restroom... how gross is that?! Please people let us show some restraint. Rome is not burning!
Call back later.