Text 18070, 130 rader
Skriven 2008-12-18 17:13:02 av Ruth Haffly (1:396/45.28)
  Kommentar till text 18023 av MICHAEL LOO (1:123/140)
Ärende: soup 391
================
Hi Michael,

 ML> Irritates me that people won't even say "what can I do,"
 ML> though the answer is likely to be "nothing."
 RH> I've known my share of people like that.  Then there are those that
 RH> see you working and know they should be but just sit there.........

 ML> There are two different situations here, but I imagine the same
 ML> people are culprits in both. The one is where everyone is supposed
 ML> to pitch in in some way, and some people just sit on their hands.

Frustrating, isn't it when they see that help is needed and just sit
there?  We experienced this with a family event some years ago.  But,
after a while, Steve shooed me out of the kitchen so I could talk with
some of the guests (relatives I'd not seen in years).


 ML> The other is where one or a few "hosts" or "cooks"  are expected to
 ML> do the work, and everyone else is a "guest" or "eat" - in this
 ML> situation I kind of expect people to offer to help, even if they
 ML> are not going to actually be useful; I imagine the polite offer is
 ML> an acknowledgement that "gee, you're doing something, thank you."

"Nice of you to offer but things are (really, even tho it doesn't look
like it) under control."  Those times I try to make myself useful by
folding napkins or arrainging silverware--something to do but letting
the cook havee his (her) way.

 ML> I don't think people are lazy, or mean-spirited, or whatever, more
 ML> likely they're indecisive and shell-shocked, and if you said, you
 ML> there, cut carrots, they would cut carrots.

Probably some of them are in awe of a person that can really make things
happen in a kitchen.  If you asked for carrots to be cut, they would do
a pedestrian job of it.  OTOH, if someone asked you to cut carrots, you
would probably cut them into fanciful shapes. (G)


 ML> not only paying homage to my superior culinary skills but
 RH> Could he hers are just as good, if she's not under that kind of
 RH> pressure.
 ML> Nope. I've quit being modest on this board. I hope I don't
 ML> end up obnoxious, but if I do, tough.
 RH> You've not come across that way to me yet.

 ML> If you ever pretend that you're capable of doing something
 ML> and you're not, the ordure will strike the rotating blades.
 ML> This is a general warning, not particularly at you, as I

If I can't, I'll admit it and ask for help, if only an instruction book
or a one minute lesson.  Heavy lifting is a definate NO! for me tho.


 ML> figure you can probably pretty much do anything you put
 ML> your mind to.

Most anything, and have both given help & instructed in a wide variety
of areas.

 ML> In the case discussed, the woman was incapable of doing what
 ML> she was supposed to be doing, I was assigned to teach her, and
 ML> I taught her. She didn't pretend, and after a few pro forma
 ML> gestures aimed at making her comfortable to be at the foot of
 ML> the table (the second most prestigious (highest profile, anyway)
 ML> spot in the room! - the first being the head of the head table,
 ML> and the third being the head of the second table, and so on,
 ML> though only the head table has a head and a foot, the others
 ML> having nobody seated at the foot - I told you this is the
 ML> oldest and most tradition-bound musical organization in the

Quite traditional.  Military dining ins or dining outs have a lot of
formal proticol too, some food related.  But, there's generally some
sort of instruction given (written or verbal) to help negotiate the
proccess.


 ML> United States, and what I'm doing there I don't know) I didn't
 ML> pretend either. By the way, traditionally one of the officers,
 ML> the president, vice-president, or secretary, usually presides,
 ML> but I was surprised to see that one of my committee chairs, a
 ML> woman of great dynamism and even now attractiveness, but a bit
 ML> on the abrasive side, had pride of place. Afterward I inquired
 ML> who the next president was going to be, fearing that it would
 ML> be she; it's not.

Sigh of relief there?  Were the other officers unavailable and by defaut
(order of succession) she had the job?

 ML>    But, I understand--if she
 RH> can't take credit for something, then there's no sense trying to give
 RH> it to her wrongly.

 ML> Yep: no good taking unearned credit; no good giving it, either.


It just doesn't fly.


 ML>       Title: Shrimp In Garlic Butter
 RH> Sort of like a shrimp scampi, but not quite.

 ML> Actually, quite like New Orleans-style "barbecue" shrimp, as
 ML> performed at Pascale Manale's.

Having never been to NOLA................ Around here, the shrimp is
generally not too fancied up. (G)


 ML> Sugar cookies
 ML> category: cookies
 ML> yield: 36

Good one for this time of year as they can be cut into all sorts of
shapes.  Rachel was planning to do this with Robert this week.  Last
year we were there to help.

Remember the oatmeal cookies at the B&B?  Linda gave Steve a bag of the
mix.  I made some yesterday but added raisins and pecans. A plate full
will go to work with Steve tomorrow.

---
Catch you later,
Ruth
rchaffly@earthlink.net  FIDO 1:396/45.28


... It's as easy as 3.1415926535897932384626433832795028841!

--- PPoint 3.01
 * Origin: Sew! That's My Point (1:396/45.28)