Anyone in my familial circle can tell you I have a bladder possessing the stamina of an Olympian camel. As odd as it may be, I am quietly proud of this ability. I wouldn’t put it on par with my ability to turn my tongue upside down or my capacity to wiggle both ears alternately but one that I proud of none the less. You may ask how this fascinating bit of ridiculousness could in any way be applicable to a faux pas topic. Well, let me tell you… The Northland skies recently delivered us two feet of fresh, powdery snow. With enthusiasm, my husband and I loaded the snowmobiles to ride remote, wooded trails and cross frozen lakes and rivers. Along about the…
Posts from the “Tipping” Category
Handling the division of a restaurant bill is a situation that presents itself with regularity. How to handle it with taste and grace can be tricky especially when your table is filled with diverse palates, relationships and wallet sizes. Here are some common sense strategies and etiquette tips that will aide in your bill-splitting navigations. #1: Request a separate check upon ordering. This not only assures that you will be accountable for only your costs but it conveys to the rest of your table partners you prefer to pay your portion only. #2: If the group suggests an even split, graciously contribute your portion and don’t get hung up on the pennies (i.e.: error on the generous side). This work well if the group…
Ask any woman in America who “does” her hair and you will be provided with a monologue. It will be delivered in much the same way a spy cryptically delivers the formula for the H-Bomb. It will be divulged quietly and abruptly. If you are a close, personal friend you will receive more information than if you were merely an acquaintance. After all, we don’t want the world to learn of the magic hands we’ve studiously searched for. We found the prize and we don’t want to share. He or She is ours. 10 years, 6 weeks and 3 days ago I was forced to painfully re-enter the stylist search. “My girl” decided to bear children and become a stay-at-home mommy. I can still…
I consider myself blessed to be a resident of the United States of America. When it comes to tipping however; the blessings sometimes become blurry. Due to the vast array of venues and circumstances tipping can apply to, I’m going to break up the subject matter into bite-sized pieces. Sometimes I just crack myself up. In some countries, tipping is considered “bad form”. In others, it is considered optional and others still, prohibited or insulting. Those rules would certainly make life just a little bit easier for us to follow in the U.S.A. Unfortunately, I don’t live in Fiji, Samoa, Georgia (the country) or Singapore. Here in America, tipping is confusing in part because it is expected for most services. It is socially obligatory…
faux pas [foh pah] noun, plural faux pas [foh pahz; Fr. foh pah] a slip or blunder in etiquette, manners, or conduct; an embarrassing social blunder or indiscretion. There are as many words for a social blunder as social blunders. My personal favorite (aside from Faux Pas) is peccadillo; a very minor or slight sin or offense; a trifling fault. The word is just flat-out fun to say. Years of silently and sometimes not so silently witnessing social errors lead me to purge through blogging. I can’t possibly be alone in my frustrations! Misery loves company… Not only are there a zillion words for etiquette, there are a zillion more possible subjects just waiting for juicy comment. BUT… comments are not enough. As…
myfauxpas 