persephone33

The people that my husband invited to lunch today never told him whether or not they were coming.

A.  Rude people.
B.  Husband.  Argh.  Get an RSVP.
C.  Food for 10 that may only be eaten by four.

Anyone want to come over for leftovers?

My jaw is sore I've clenched it so much this morning.

They suck the joy out of traveling.

Of course, hubs is cranky, I sat in chocolate, spilled coffee all over my white undershirt and very light blue jeans, my foot is wet because I stepped in the dog's water bowl and didn't have time to change shoes before we left the house, got my muffins squished in the security checkpoint (no, that's not a euphemism for anything), aaaaand our plane is delayed for 50 minutes due to "maintenance."

Shouldn't they maintain the planes on their own time?

I'm just saying.

Anyway. We're on out way to lovely San Antotio, TX. Without the kiddos. So things might be looking up.

Still do not have phone number.  Old provider being punk.

Still do not have mailbox.  The U.S. Postal service only uses the"Neither Rain, Nor Sleet, Nor gloom of night" crap when it doesn't involve getting a new box.  WE HAVE NEIGHBORS ON EITHER SIDE OF US.  How is it that we don't have a box?  No one seems to have an answer.  May go postal.  *hysterical giggle*

Nolan says he needs my cell phone (it's a company phone) to give to one of the employees.  Not fussed about getting me a new one.

So to recap...  No mail, no cell, no phone service.   Were it not for the internet, I would be an island.

But no man is an island.

I'm a woman, though.

See?  The isolation is getting to me already.

ETA:  Sicked Nolan on Postal Jerks.  Have key.  Hurrah.

I'm going to rant a bit.  I feel I should I should warn you ahead of time.

In my travels about the country in the past week, I've noticed that good manners in the American culture are slipping.  No, not even slipping.  Horribly absent.  I'm not even talking about using the wrong fork here, folks, but things that should be second nature, and aren't.  It seems that in this "me" society, that no one thinks of others before themselves.  What has happened to please and thank you? (I've trained my husband now.  He didn't bother with it when we were first married.)  Those are the barest essential elements of good manners and it appears that it has become passe to use even those niceties.  Don't even get me started about chivalry, or the people in the airport barrelling over you with not even an apology thrown over their shoulder as they race to another gate.  Opening the doors for other people?  Helping someone struggling with a load?  It might be a little more prevalent in the south of the United states, but not much.  

Due to the training I've been giving my own sons, the qualities in them that I'm trying to make second nature to them, I've noticed that, aside from their father, they don't have very many good role models in men.  Their little friends don't open the doors for their mother, they don't help unload groceries from the car, and they have attrocious table manners.  

Table manners!  Good heavens above!  I know formal American table manners, like where to put your knife and fork when you're finished eating to signal the waiter that you've finished your meal, as well my way around a place setting, but I'm talking the basics.  For children, for adults, for everyone.  Put your napkin in your lap.  Close your mouth when you chew.  Don't talk with food in your mouth.  Sit up straight (Posture.  Don't even get me started.) and bring the food to your mouth, don't hunch over your plate like someone might take it from you.  Keep your elbows off the table.  Don't salt the food without tasting it first.  You do not belch, burp, or anything worse at the dinner table.  EVER.  Don't begin eating before the host does, unless directed otherwise.  When someone asks you to pass the salt, you pass it hand to hand, down the table, and you do not hold it hostage and use it first before passing it. (This is a pet peeve of mine.)  Blot with a napkin, don't smear.

I'm not going to go in to how to eat soup, because we'd be here all day.

In short, having good manners nowadays sometimes means putting up with someone else's bad manners.  But, if people were more aware of others and their feelings, it might come more naturally.  Think of someone else first, for a change.  And for heaven's sake, chew with your mouth closed.