"Nina" > wrote in message
...
> On Thu, 1 Jan 2009 19:51:19 -0800, "SteveB" <toquerville@zionvistas>
> wrote:
>
>>
>>"Nina" > wrote in message
. ..
>>> On Thu, 1 Jan 2009 11:42:52 -0800, "SteveB" <toquerville@zionvistas>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>>Since it's the holidays and you asked for it:
>>>>
>>>>I love it when my MIL and wife pick up after me. Wash my clothes. Make
>>>>the
>>>>bed. Clean out the tub. Lots of things.
>>>>
>>>>But I DO NOT like when then serve me meals. I do not like people
>>>>glopping
>>>>on mounds of stuff I don't particularly care for, or serving me a plate
>>>>of
>>>>food that would make Diamond Jim Brady cringe. Or serving me something
>>>>I
>>>>totally don't like or something I can't eat because of medical
>>>>conditions.
>>>>
>>>>Let me put my own stuff on my plate. And let me make my own sandwiches,
>>>>because I know just how much mayo and mustard and other condiments I
>>>>like,
>>>>that that's not so much that when you take a bite off one end, a turd
>>>>size
>>>>glop of mayo comes out the bottom.
>>>>
>>>>Yes, it is occasionally necessary when preparing platters, and lunches
>>>>for
>>>>people to do some prep work. But it is thoroughly offensive to some
>>>>people
>>>>to be handed something and told "Here, eat this". If possible, I always
>>>>let
>>>>people either put their own stuff on their sandwiches, as in prepared in
>>>>a
>>>>bowl or put on a platter, and then the bowl or platter served, and each
>>>>can
>>>>construct their own sandwich. I abhor too much mayo or mustard, and
>>>>some
>>>>people consider them food groups.
>>>>
>>>>Rant off.
>>>
>>> I guess that what I hate is not so much other people preparing my food
>>> but people not *listening* to my preferences. I mean, you'd only have
>>> to tell me once that you didn't like a lot of mayo or mustard on your
>>> sandwich, and that's the way that you'd get it forever. It seems to
>>> me that your wife/MIL should be able to process this information and
>>> give you a sandwich that you like. It's not rocket science.
>>>
>>> I pay attention to what other people like, and I try not to serve them
>>> things that they don't like, and it really does annoy the hell of me
>>> when they don't do the same.
>>>
>>> Nina
>>
>>Question: Are you married?
>>
>>Steve ;-)
>
> Yes. :-) Fortunately to a guy who is also pretty good (although not
> perfect) about remembering preferences.
>
> The (sort of) funny thing is that what we fight about is that his
> preferences *do* change.... "I don't want a lot of mustard on my
> sandwich" today really doesn't mean "I don't EVER want a lot of
> mustard on my sandwich." So, really, you just can't win....
>
> Nina

We have horseradish mustard, yellow mustard, honey mustard, plain
horseradish, German mustard, etc, etc, etc. My preferences change from
minute to minute. Please just put the stuff out there, and I'll see what
catches my attention THAT MOMENT. Or, I know where the Fridge is, and know
how to open it and reach in and get some and put it on myself.

I like cooking for and serving people. But even then, I like putting things
on the table in bowls or platters, and letting people do their own portions
and combinations, because honestly, they come up with some pretty weird
things. If there's too much, I like buffet line, although some think that
is primitive. I think to serve them a preportioned plate of what I think
they would like, expect them to eat it, and for them to do this not to
offend me is rude. Even at a restaurant you have some control over what you
get if you are not too timid to ask in advance.

Steve