Text 18290, 124 rader
Skriven 2008-12-22 16:08:40 av Ruth Haffly (1:396/45.28)
  Kommentar till text 18150 av Michael Loo (1:18/200.0)
Ärende: soup 406
================
Hi Michael,

 RH> Frustrating, isn't it when they see that help is needed and just sit
 RH> there?  We experienced this with a family event some years ago.

 ML> Even family do it? That is disappointing. Of course, I have a
 ML> brother who just stands there and stares as I prep for myself,
 ML> then wanders off, even when I ask him to help.

Yes, at the open house we had for my parent's 50th anniversary, Steve,
Deborah, my 2 brothers and I did a lot of the work getting the food out,
replenished, etc.  My sisters sat around doing nothing.  We had some
help from the one BIL & sort of BIL from time to time.  Rachel & David
weren't able to come up for the occaision but if they had, they would
have pitched in to help as well.

The girls learned early on how to help in the kitchen.  After they got
to about nine or ten years old, they did a lot of the cookie baking for
school events.  They also did a lot for home consumption. (G)


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

 ML> I just like to help. The other day, after my concert, I was waiting
 ML> for my ride, the keyboard player, and during this time made myself
 ML> semiuseful by helping the stage crew break down, despite this being
 ML> quite inconvenient to me for various reasons, including my wearing
 ML> concert duds and carrying a torch.


We pitch in most of the time; Steve can do more of the heavy lifting but
I'll fold up chairs, gather salt & pepper shakers, etc.

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

 ML> Nope, I do the very minimum acceptable. If someone said, make
 ML> carrot flowers, I could, laboriously, but usually I just cut
 ML> them into whatever bite-size shape is handy.

But you know how to cut the carrots into flowers.  Most people only know
how to cut thm into rounds.

 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.
 RH> Sigh of relief there?

 ML> This woman was a model in her day, then became an MBA or something.
 ML> Interestingly, I've met her 20-odd daughter, who is not much to look

Doesn't take after her mom in looks?

 ML> at all. Anyhow, she's made her way in the arts world by being blunt
 ML> almost to the abusive stage alternating with feminine cuteness. It
 ML> works, don'tcha know? Though, before she found her second husband,

It sounds like quite a combination. (G)

 ML> she seemed quite irritated with me (to the point of not speaking
 ML> with me when we were across from each other at dinner) for not
 ML> being sufficiently impressed by either her mind or her body (both
 ML> of which are worth being impressed by).

You could always blame it on your poor eye sight. (G)

 ML>  Were the other officers unavailable and by
 RH> defaut (order of succession) she had the job?

 ML> The president delegated her to do it, the other officers and
 ML> board members being either absent or not at the head table.

OK, so she had good reason to do the job.

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

 ML> Mmm hmm.

Actually, he waited to bring it in.

 RH> ... It's as easy as 3.1415926535897932384626433832795028841!

 ML> As I've probably said to you before, 9716939937510.

It's all relative.

 ML> By the way, thank your husband for Kanguru, which isn't
 ML> worth a whole post in itself.

He saw, had no comment.


 ML>       Title: Kangaroo Strips with Bok Choy and Chilli Black Bean Sauce
 ML>  Categories: Chinese, Kangaroo
 ML>    Servings:  6

Ill wait on making this until I find some kangaroo meat. (G)


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


... Are you sure you really want to know that?

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