Note to My Daughter

Dear Fiona,
I know you like goldfish but you don't need to put them ALL in your mouth at once. Try chewing and swallowing then there will be room for more. Just a little suggestion from your Mama.
XoXo

None of my business and TMI for you but...

I was in the bathroom at work and there was someone in the next stall and although I wasn't listening I couldn't help hearing the distinctive sounds of the unwrapping of a feminine hygiene product (you know what I'm talking about). I didn't think anything of this as you hear it all the time in women's restrooms. What I did notice is the occupant of that stall left the restroom without washing their hands. This kinda creeps me out at the best of times sine you're going to go around touching things I may come in contact with. But when your hands were making actual contact with your personal area you'd think you would want to clean them before you ate or scratched your nose or anything.

Yeah I know I should probably change the description of this blog from random thoughts and pointless musings to things that annoy me since that's what it's been recently. I mention all these things because I don't think I'm alone in wanting a germ free (or at least germ minimal), polite, well spoken society. Am I wrong?

It's called good manners

There are some common etiquette mistakes guests make. Here's one that seemed very appropriate to me.

Etiquette Violation #7: Failure to appreciate that the host and hostess have spent time, money and effort on your behalf. Though the host may try to dismiss it as "I was cooking anyway," the clever guest knows that this is not all true. Hostesses plan for the individual needs of their guests. They plan for the number of guests and types of guests and carefully match personalities. Even if they enjoy entertaining (which I do), that doesn't make it effortless.
This means that last-minute cancellations should only be done in the case of the aforementioned medical emergency, with a few other exceptions. But certainly not in the case of another invitation, laundry to do, work to finish or when "something came up".

Here's the link if you'd like to find out if you are guilty of the other seven common mistakes.

http://www.aish.com/family/heart/Guest_Etiquette.asp

I'm thinking I will NOT be planing any parties in the near future.

It seems to me that something is missing

I am frankly amazed at the complete lack of manners displayed by most people I come in contact with. No one seems to care who they offend they just say whatever is in their heads. Yes I understand that there are no safe words and offence is not always meant but everyone should be expected to think before they speak/act.

Here's an example (this happened to someone I know, not me) this person applied for a promotion within their company. The position was given to another applicant. These things happen however the welcome email for the new hire went out to the staff (including my associate) before they were told they were not getting the job. Come on this is just tacky.

Here's another one that happens all the time (again not to me but I've seen it several times recently). When a couple who are having a baby tell their family and friends the name they've picked people tell them how much they don't like it. Are you kidding me! Hello unless you helped make the baby you don't get a vote.

Here's one that actually did happen to me. At my brothers funeral all my family members kept hugging me and saying how sorry they were until I got to my aunt Jeenie (the rudest person alive) she held me at arms length and asked, "Did you dye your hair?". Okay #1 no that's my natural hair color and #2 I don't think you could have come up with something less appropriate to say if you tried. FYI: I just turned and walked away without answering which I suppose was also rude but I honestly couldn't think of a response.

It's called tact people! Look it up! Oh wait I did it for you.

Main Entry: tact
Pronunciation: \ˈtakt\
Function: noun
Etymology: French, sense of touch, from Latin tactus, from tangere to touch — more at tangent
Date: 1797

1 : sensitive mental or aesthetic perception

2 : a keen sense of what to do or say in order to maintain good relations with others or avoid offense