When do you have your best ideas? Mine are undoubtedly when I brush my teeth. I've had more ideas for blog posts, stories, photos, decorations, and general mayhem when brushing my teeth than at any other time.
This morning while brushing my teeth, I was overcome with sudden inspiration for an entire approach to the book I've decided to write. Actually, it's slightly different than the book I was going to write originally so I'll save that for my second release. As soon as I finished flossing, I went downstairs and wrote the entire introduction, the start of the first chapter, and an outline for the rest of the book.
And with that, I'm off to brush my teeth again so I can start on chapter two!
Monday, July 18, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Six Word Saturday
back to my regularly scheduled program
Want to play along? All that's necessary to participate is to describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words. For more information, try clicking here. Feel free to explain or not explain. Add an image, a video, a song, nothing. I love seeing what everyone does with their entries.
Each week (probably on Sunday or Monday), I use random.org to select a bunch of entries to visit. Or I visit everyone. Or even numbered entries. Or odd numbered entries. Or multiples of three. Depends on what's going on that week. In addition, please visit the person ahead of you on the list (or visit everyone if you like!). That way everyone receives at least one visit!
If you play along in your blog, please add a link to the Mr. Linky. I appreciate a link back (shiny code below if you like!). Otherwise, you're welcome to leave your six words in this post as a comment.Please be sure to link either to your main page or (preferably) directly to the 6WS post. Links to blogs that do not contain a 6WS entry will be removed (sorry, just the button in the sidebar doesn't count as participating).
Monday, July 11, 2011
You Suck At Tipping
Actually, I don't know if you suck at tipping or not. I've heard that it's a good idea to use potentially inflammatory or controversial post titles to get the reader's attention (because who doesn't want to go read a post about why they suck?) and so here we are.
Joe's a good tipper. 20% for good service. 15% for okay service where we might have to ask for a refill or have a small issue. Less than that if the server totally sucks, at which point we let the server know and usually speak with a manager. Politely. But we're talking BAD service.
Know who does suck at tipping? My brother. And Joe's brother. Embarrassing, honestly.
We ate lunch with my brother and his wife a couple of weeks ago at the Hard Rock Cafe in Baltimore. The waitress was lovely - lots of personality, very on her game. She made great suggestions, didn't leave us wanting, never made us ask twice, but she also wasn't in our face and driving us nuts.
We asked for separate checks, paid our bills, and went on our merry way. My brother gave us his check afterwards because we have some kind of HRC rewards card and we thought we could add their amount to our account. It was at this point that I noticed they left a tip of $4.18 on a check of $73.96, making their total $78.14. Huh?
I was absolutely mortified. I considered trying to track down the poor girl somehow even though we were safely home at our undisclosed location by that time. I felt so awful.
Last week, we went to dinner with BIL, his wife, and their two kids. Again, separate checks. Because I was on alert after lunch with my brother (plus my BIL is kinda known for his cheapness), I did take a look at his check when it arrived. Just over $60. He tipped $7. What for? I'll admit, the server was not amazing. She was okay but she forgot the bacon on the top of the kids' cheese fries. She didn't ask if we wanted an additional appetizer. She wasn't good with drink refills. I would've tipped her around 15%.
I gave Joe a nice nudge and he was able to adjust our tip upwards to compensate for the shortfall.
I don't understand not tipping the waitstaff properly. Sure, I wish they weren't paid so little. I wish their pay started at a minimum wage, just like everyone else, and that a tip was a reward, not an expectation. But that's not how things work, which means we need to factor in a tip if we're going out to eat.
What about you? Do you suck at tipping? Are you a big tipper? What do you do when you're out with someone else and you feel they've severely under-tipped?
Joe's a good tipper. 20% for good service. 15% for okay service where we might have to ask for a refill or have a small issue. Less than that if the server totally sucks, at which point we let the server know and usually speak with a manager. Politely. But we're talking BAD service.
Know who does suck at tipping? My brother. And Joe's brother. Embarrassing, honestly.
We ate lunch with my brother and his wife a couple of weeks ago at the Hard Rock Cafe in Baltimore. The waitress was lovely - lots of personality, very on her game. She made great suggestions, didn't leave us wanting, never made us ask twice, but she also wasn't in our face and driving us nuts.
We asked for separate checks, paid our bills, and went on our merry way. My brother gave us his check afterwards because we have some kind of HRC rewards card and we thought we could add their amount to our account. It was at this point that I noticed they left a tip of $4.18 on a check of $73.96, making their total $78.14. Huh?
I was absolutely mortified. I considered trying to track down the poor girl somehow even though we were safely home at our undisclosed location by that time. I felt so awful.
Last week, we went to dinner with BIL, his wife, and their two kids. Again, separate checks. Because I was on alert after lunch with my brother (plus my BIL is kinda known for his cheapness), I did take a look at his check when it arrived. Just over $60. He tipped $7. What for? I'll admit, the server was not amazing. She was okay but she forgot the bacon on the top of the kids' cheese fries. She didn't ask if we wanted an additional appetizer. She wasn't good with drink refills. I would've tipped her around 15%.
I gave Joe a nice nudge and he was able to adjust our tip upwards to compensate for the shortfall.
I don't understand not tipping the waitstaff properly. Sure, I wish they weren't paid so little. I wish their pay started at a minimum wage, just like everyone else, and that a tip was a reward, not an expectation. But that's not how things work, which means we need to factor in a tip if we're going out to eat.
What about you? Do you suck at tipping? Are you a big tipper? What do you do when you're out with someone else and you feel they've severely under-tipped?
Saturday, July 09, 2011
Six Word Saturday
a brief break between family visits
Want to play along? All that's necessary to participate is to describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words. For more information, try clicking here. Feel free to explain or not explain. Add an image, a video, a song, nothing. I love seeing what everyone does with their entries.
Each week (probably on Sunday or Monday), I use random.org to select a bunch of entries to visit. Or I visit everyone. Or even numbered entries. Or odd numbered entries. Or multiples of three. Depends on what's going on that week. In addition, please visit the person ahead of you on the list (or visit everyone if you like!). That way everyone receives at least one visit!
If you play along in your blog, please add a link to the Mr. Linky. I appreciate a link back (shiny code below if you like!). Otherwise, you're welcome to leave your six words in this post as a comment.Please be sure to link either to your main page or (preferably) directly to the 6WS post. Links to blogs that do not contain a 6WS entry will be removed (sorry, just the button in the sidebar doesn't count as participating).
Friday, July 08, 2011
The Siege is Over
Remember the invading house guests post on Wednesday?
They were here for less than fifteen hours, leaving behind them three loads of dirtied towels and bedding (for four people and the kids didn't even shower - and that doesn't include the load of their laundry that I somehow ended up washing for them last night) and two very traumatized cats.
And since I'm still working on this whole positive mindset idea, I'm going to take the advice of a very wiseman rabbit. "If you can't say something nice, don't say nothin' at all" - it's a lofty goal indeed.
P.S. I was impressed with Tonya. Not only did she not hide the moment they arrived, she put up with a lot of torment without eating any faces. And I wouldn't have blamed or reprimanded her for taking a chunk or two out of someone. In fact, she might've earned a tuna treat for it.
They were here for less than fifteen hours, leaving behind them three loads of dirtied towels and bedding (for four people and the kids didn't even shower - and that doesn't include the load of their laundry that I somehow ended up washing for them last night) and two very traumatized cats.
Via twitter: If you tease my cat, yes, she's going to hiss at you. And possibly take a swipe at you. And I'm going to feel bad - but only for the cat.
And since I'm still working on this whole positive mindset idea, I'm going to take the advice of a very wise
P.S. I was impressed with Tonya. Not only did she not hide the moment they arrived, she put up with a lot of torment without eating any faces. And I wouldn't have blamed or reprimanded her for taking a chunk or two out of someone. In fact, she might've earned a tuna treat for it.
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