"Melba's Jammin'" > wrote in message
...
> In article
> >,
> Ranée at Arabian Knits > wrote:
>
>> In article >,
>> "gloria.p" > wrote:
>>
>> > A picnic should be a relaxing getaway for EVERYONE, including Mother,
>> > not a morning spent working in the kitchen to prepare elegant food
>> > so everyone else can enjoy themselves. I think of vacations in the
>> > same
>> > way. I prepare food in my house every day. Packing a lovely lunch up
>> > in
>> > an attractive, healthy manner doesn't add to the enjoyment of the day
>> > for me although it did in my younger days. Bread, cheese, fruit is OK.
>> > Multi-courses, salads, and things that take hours to prep and cook,
>> > not so much.
>>
>> I disagree with the idea that somehow play
>> time/vacations/celebrations that require some work are no longer fun
>> for the person or people working.
>
> Speak for yourself. If it's not fun for me or Gloria, how are you
> affected by that?
>
>> We still enjoy Christmas, even though
>> there is late night mass and morning mass, and wrapping presents and
>> decorating the tree after the children are in bed, even though we cook a
>> big meal. We love Thanksgiving and I start cooking and everyone else
>> starts cleaning several days in advance. We have a good time. I _like_
>> preparing the food for such things, because I like cooking and I like
>> food.
>
> Good for you. Not everyone does.
>
>> I get to choose exactly what I want to eat and serve and have it
>> come out the way we like it. Rich helps, the children help, but usually
>> by fetching and carrying or cleaning. This idea that any leisure that
>> requires effort isn't really leisure seems a pernicious message to me.
>
> WTF? Pernicious to whom? "having a harmful effect, esp. in a gradual
> or subtle way." What's the harmful effect on the person who wants to
> enjoy a picnic meal without having to prepare it?
>
> --
> Barb,
> http://web.me.com/barbschaller July 27, 2011. Read it and weep.


What, her kids don't even get to decorate the Christmas tree?

I like to cook. But I definitely don't wake up at the crack of dawn to
start cooking, especially not for a picnic. Picnics are suppose to be fun.
Leftover fried chicken, some bread, cheeses. Pack a picnic lunch. Go out
and have some fun. But it really wasn't even about that. I just wondered
who owns a picnic basket. I did inquire about what foods you might take but
wow! Fetching, carrying and cleaning? Yikes!

Jill