Ain't You Got No Couth!?

I have to say this has been one of the most trying days I can remember in the last five years. Let me start by saying something nice:

...


um....

hmm.

Rainbows are pretty.

Okay, so -- the one thing I wanted to be able to do today at work was talk to Marcia and the unnamed actress when they came in for breakfast, but I was so busy that we barely got to say a few words to each other. Hopefully they'll come in again soon (hint) and I'll get a chance to chat, because I truly enjoy their company.

I'm fairly certain that 80% of the people I encountered today were raised by wolves. "Please", "Thank you", "Excuse me"... these were not a part of their vocabulary. Grunts and scowls were the daily fare. Someone actually insulted the granola I made, and when I told him that some people do not prefer it as crunchy as he wanted it, he told me that he would debate that. As if everyone has exactly the same taste as he does because it is a matter of fact, not opinion, that all granola must be extremely crunchy. He is the only complaint I've ever had on my granola in the three years I have been making it. I'm sure he would also debate that. I'm sick to death of hearing "Give me a...." instead of "Could I please have a..." Really, how difficult is it to treat the person who is serving you with a modicum of respect on the off chance that they might also be human and not in any way inferior to you just because they serve your coffee and clean up your mess? Is it really out of your way to add "please" to "I need a large coffee,"? Do I need to make a list of acceptable and unacceptable ways of ordering?

YES: Could I please have a large cappuccino with skim milk and a lot of foam?

NO: Give me a cappuccino. What sizes you got? I want the biggest one. And no fat in my milk.

YES: Can I get a Pepsi, please?

NO: I want a Coke. (Is Pepsi okay, Sir?) I guess.

Also, I'd prefer it if you did not say offensive things in my line, to me, around me, or to or around my other customers. What you do and say in the privacy of your living room is your business, but not when you bring it into public. Then it becomes my business. And for the love of all that is holy, during the lunch rush when there are seventeen people in line behind you, don't wait until you get to the front of the line to start thinking about what you might want to order. Have some idea before you get there! AND DO NOT ... I REPEAT, DO NOT ... ASK ME WHAT I THINK IS GOOD, AND THEN ORDER SOMETHING ELSE!

YES: I would like the Zesty tomato soup, please.

NO: What kind of soup is your favorite? (Cream of mushroom, for sure.) Give me a bowl of Zesty tomato.

Okay, I think I'm done with that tirade. For now, at least. I'm sure it will crop up again sometime in the near future.

In other news, I once again ate Chinese food, and tons of it. We are down to one kid tonight -- our 12-year-old daughter is hanging out with us watching "Whip It". Son #1 is at Grandma's, and Son #2 is at his cousin's house. Just the three of us here and the doggies.

Tomorrow: breakfast and set construction at Elkhart Civic Theatre for Alice in Wonderland, Jr.

No reading updates. Same old, same old.

Already looking forward to falling asleep tonight. It's GOT to be the highlight of my day!

Happy Friday,
SJS