Years ago my husband and I went into a restaurant rather late, there was
only one other couple there and they had a toddler with them.
The child began throwing mashed potatoes at my husband, luckily he was a
poor shot. Then the waiter/cook brought our food and had actually put
caramel sauce on my enchiladas. (we paid and left, if I remember right.)
We have thought about that place several times, and now I believe it was a
front for dope transactions. There was no employee except the cook, there
were no others but the mashed potato throwing kid and his parents. (?)
In those days we just silently left and said nothing, but never went back.
Given that same circumstance today, since we are in our late 70s, I think we
would probably do the same.
Jackie

J. Davidson wrote:
> Years ago my husband and I went into a restaurant rather late, there
> was only one other couple there and they had a toddler with them.
> The child began throwing mashed potatoes at my husband, luckily he
> was a poor shot.

Heh... when I was 19 years old I was working in a retail store. I had to
wear nice clothes for the job. In this instance I had on a silk blouse a
nice skirt and stockings. So this co-worker (yes, Sqwertz! I bitch about
co-workers from even back then!) met me for lunch at a diner in the Mall.
And she ordered her 2 year old son french fries and she was quite liberal
with the ketchup.

Her toddler started tossing ketchup-laden fries at me. I had to go back to
work! And all she said to the little monster was "Quit!" Like a 2 year old
was going to listen to "quit". I wanted to slap the hell out him. And her,
too.

I went back to work with ketchup stains on my nice skirt and blouse and
really ****ed off (after having bummed a towel and some club soda from the
gal up front in the restaurant to sort of clean up).

That was not a pleasant lunch and we certainly didn't repeat it. I've no
idea why people *procreate* when they won't control their kids at the dinner
table. Or in public places. Or in front of guests. Don't get me started!

Jill

jmcquown said...

> I've no
> idea why people *procreate* when they won't control their kids at the
> dinner table.


VALIUM(R)

jmcquown wrote:

> Heh... when I was 19 years old I was working in a retail store. I had to
> wear nice clothes for the job. In this instance I had on a silk blouse a
> nice skirt and stockings. ..

> Her toddler started tossing ketchup-laden fries at me. I had to go back to
> work! And all she said to the little monster was "Quit!" Like a 2 year old
> was going to listen to "quit". I wanted to slap the hell out him. And her,
> too.

> That was not a pleasant lunch and we certainly didn't repeat it. I've no
> idea why people *procreate* when they won't control their kids at the dinner
> table. Or in public places. Or in front of guests.


You were only 19. If something like that were to happen now, you
wouldn't wait until you were covered with ketchup to choose not to
repeat the lunch. You'd get up before the french fry hit, ask the
waitress to seat you at a separate table, and finish your lunch from
there. If your co-worker said anything by way of apology or
explanation, you'd smile and say "oh, I understand, kids will be kids"
while offering no apology or explanation for your decision to move.
Also, no complaint and no advice, just a smile and the same line
repeated as necessary.


At least, that's the way I imagine the scene.


Think of these thoughtless parents like toddlers. As long as they can
get away with something, they will. Like the toddler who will lob
french fries as long as the french fries are in front of him, the
offending parent will take advantage of others as long as they're there
to be taken advantage of. A sensible parent would remove the french
fries from her toddler's reach and possibly restrain the kid's little
arms if necessary (gently, by holding them by his sides). Using the
same logic, the sensible co-worker removes the target (herself) from the
offending parent's reach. She gets another table or stands up and asks
for her lunch to go, anything to get herself out of there. (No, I
wouldn't have thought of that when I was 19, either.)


--Lia

jmcquown wrote:
>
> J. Davidson wrote:
> > Years ago my husband and I went into a restaurant rather late, there
> > was only one other couple there and they had a toddler with them.
> > The child began throwing mashed potatoes at my husband, luckily he
> > was a poor shot.
>
> Heh... when I was 19 years old I was working in a retail store. I had to
> wear nice clothes for the job. In this instance I had on a silk blouse a
> nice skirt and stockings. So this co-worker (yes, Sqwertz! I bitch about
> co-workers from even back then!) met me for lunch at a diner in the Mall.
> And she ordered her 2 year old son french fries and she was quite liberal
> with the ketchup.
>
> Her toddler started tossing ketchup-laden fries at me. I had to go back to
> work! And all she said to the little monster was "Quit!" Like a 2 year old
> was going to listen to "quit". I wanted to slap the hell out him. And her,
> too.
>
> I went back to work with ketchup stains on my nice skirt and blouse and
> really ****ed off (after having bummed a towel and some club soda from the
> gal up front in the restaurant to sort of clean up).
>
> That was not a pleasant lunch and we certainly didn't repeat it. I've no
> idea why people *procreate* when they won't control their kids at the dinner
> table. Or in public places. Or in front of guests. Don't get me started!
>
> Jill

A BIG "AMEN" I raised my four and they wouldn't have been taken out
of the house if they behaved like that. As a child, I wouldn't have
dared to act like that...my grandfather was a barber and my dad
inherited his razor strop...lol... ........Sharon

On Feb 19, 2:58�pm, "jmcquown" > wrote:
> J. Davidson wrote:
> > Years ago my husband and I *went into a restaurant rather late, there
> > was only one other couple there and they had a toddler with them.
> > The child began throwing mashed potatoes at my husband, luckily he
> > was a poor shot.
>
> Heh... when I was 19 years old I was working in a retail store. *I had to
> wear nice clothes for the job. *In this instance I had on a silk blouse a
> nice skirt and stockings. *So this co-worker (yes, Sqwertz! I bitch about
> co-workers from even back then!) met me for lunch at a diner in the Mall.
> And she ordered her 2 year old son french fries and she was quite liberal
> with the ketchup.
>
> Her toddler started tossing ketchup-laden fries at me. *I had to go back to
> work! *And all she said to the little monster was "Quit!" *Like a 2 year old
> was going to listen to "quit". *I wanted to slap the hell out him. *And her,
> too.
>
> I went back to work with ketchup stains on my nice skirt and blouse and
> really ****ed off (after having bummed a towel and some club soda from the
> gal up front in the restaurant to sort of clean up).
>
> That was not a pleasant lunch and we certainly didn't repeat it. *I've no
> idea why people *procreate* when they won't control their kids at the dinner
> table. *Or in public places. *Or in front of guests. *Don't get me started!
>
> Jill

Why didn't you call a cop and file a complaint, take everyone's ID
info and statements and file in small claims court for damages...
greasy ketchup stains are not going to come completely out of a silk
blouse... that future Charles Manson's mother owes you a silk blouse.

Sheldon wrote:
> On Feb 19, 2:58?pm, "jmcquown" > wrote:
>> J. Davidson wrote:
>>> Years ago my husband and I went into a restaurant rather late, there
>>> was only one other couple there and they had a toddler with them.
>>> The child began throwing mashed potatoes at my husband, luckily he
>>> was a poor shot.
>>
>> Heh... when I was 19 years old I was working in a retail store. I
>> had to wear nice clothes for the job. In this instance I had on a
>> silk blouse a nice skirt and stockings. So this co-worker (yes,
>> Sqwertz! I bitch about co-workers from even back then!) met me for
>> lunch at a diner in the Mall. And she ordered her 2 year old son
>> french fries and she was quite liberal with the ketchup.
>>
>> Her toddler started tossing ketchup-laden fries at me. I had to go
>> back to work! And all she said to the little monster was "Quit!"
>> Like a 2 year old was going to listen to "quit". I wanted to slap
>> the hell out him. And her, too.
>>
>> I went back to work with ketchup stains on my nice skirt and blouse
>> and really ****ed off (after having bummed a towel and some club
>> soda from the gal up front in the restaurant to sort of clean up).
>>
>> That was not a pleasant lunch and we certainly didn't repeat it.
>> I've no idea why people *procreate* when they won't control their
>> kids at the dinner table. Or in public places. Or in front of
>> guests. Don't get me started!
>>
>> Jill
>
> Why didn't you call a cop and file a complaint, take everyone's ID
> info and statements and file in small claims court for damages...
> greasy ketchup stains are not going to come completely out of a silk
> blouse... that future Charles Manson's mother owes you a silk blouse.

1979 was not exactly the litigious U.S. of A. we live in now. The cops
would have laughed me out of the place and so would the court system.
Fortunately I "graduated" from working in retail to working in an office.
There were no food courts and no toddlers with ketchup and fries.

Jill

Julia Altshuler wrote:
> jmcquown wrote:
>
>> Heh... when I was 19 years old I was working in a retail store. I
>> had to wear nice clothes for the job. In this instance I had on a
>> silk blouse a nice skirt and stockings. ..
>
>> Her toddler started tossing ketchup-laden fries at me. I had to go
>> back to work! And all she said to the little monster was "Quit!"
>> Like a 2 year old was going to listen to "quit". I wanted to slap
>> the hell out him. And her, too.
>
> You were only 19. If something like that were to happen now, you
> wouldn't wait until you were covered with ketchup to choose not to
> repeat the lunch. You'd get up before the french fry hit, ask the
> waitress to seat you at a separate table, and finish your lunch from
> there.
(snippage)
> --Lia

Actually if this happened now I'd have blessed her out (and that's putting
it kindly). Then I'd have asked the server for a "to go" box and gone to
the lunchroom at the store where I worked to finish my lunch. But she
probably just would have followed me there, looking bewildered, because she
really was clueless

Jill

"J. Davidson" > wrote in message
...
> Years ago my husband and I went into a restaurant rather late, there was
> only one other couple there and they had a toddler with them.
> The child began throwing mashed potatoes at my husband, luckily he was a
> poor shot. Then the waiter/cook brought our food and had actually put
> caramel sauce on my enchiladas. (we paid and left, if I remember right.)
> We have thought about that place several times, and now I believe it was
> a
> front for dope transactions. There was no employee except the cook, there
> were no others but the mashed potato throwing kid and his parents. (?)
> In those days we just silently left and said nothing, but never went back.
> Given that same circumstance today, since we are in our late 70s, I think
> we
> would probably do the same.
> Jackie
>
>

Did you eat the enchiladas? If no, why did you pay?

I can't remember eating, paying , or leaving. It is too long ago.
Today I am afraid if I send food back they will spit in the new plate, or
something else hideous in retaliation.
Jackie

JoeSpareBedroom > wrote in message
...
> "J. Davidson" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Years ago my husband and I went into a restaurant rather late, there
was
> > only one other couple there and they had a toddler with them.
> > The child began throwing mashed potatoes at my husband, luckily he was a
> > poor shot. Then the waiter/cook brought our food and had actually put
> > caramel sauce on my enchiladas. (we paid and left, if I remember
right.)
> > We have thought about that place several times, and now I believe it
was
> > a
> > front for dope transactions. There was no employee except the cook,
there
> > were no others but the mashed potato throwing kid and his parents. (?)
> > In those days we just silently left and said nothing, but never went
back.
> > Given that same circumstance today, since we are in our late 70s, I
think
> > we
> > would probably do the same.
> > Jackie
> >
> >
>
> Did you eat the enchiladas? If no, why did you pay?
>
>

Some restaurants and bars have a surrealistic quality about them. Two
recommendations:

A movie called "Coffee and Cigarettes". Worth renting. Netflix has it. 20
minutes into it, you'll wonder why you're watching it, but stick with it. It
might remind you of that restaurant.

A song by Tom Waites called "The Piano Has Been Drinking". I have a copy I
could email you, 4.3 megabytes in size. It may also remind you of that
restaurant. :-)


"J. Davidson" > wrote in message
.. .
>I can't remember eating, paying , or leaving. It is too long ago.
> Today I am afraid if I send food back they will spit in the new plate, or
> something else hideous in retaliation.
> Jackie
>
> JoeSpareBedroom > wrote in message
> ...
>> "J. Davidson" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > Years ago my husband and I went into a restaurant rather late, there
> was
>> > only one other couple there and they had a toddler with them.
>> > The child began throwing mashed potatoes at my husband, luckily he was
>> > a
>> > poor shot. Then the waiter/cook brought our food and had actually put
>> > caramel sauce on my enchiladas. (we paid and left, if I remember
> right.)
>> > We have thought about that place several times, and now I believe it
> was
>> > a
>> > front for dope transactions. There was no employee except the cook,
> there
>> > were no others but the mashed potato throwing kid and his parents. (?)
>> > In those days we just silently left and said nothing, but never went
> back.
>> > Given that same circumstance today, since we are in our late 70s, I
> think
>> > we
>> > would probably do the same.
>> > Jackie
>> >
>> >
>>
>> Did you eat the enchiladas? If no, why did you pay?
>>
>>
>
>

On Feb 19, 1:58 pm, "jmcquown" > wrote:
> J. Davidson wrote:
> > Years ago my husband and I went into a restaurant rather late, there
> > was only one other couple there and they had a toddler with them.
> > The child began throwing mashed potatoes at my husband, luckily he
> > was a poor shot.
>
> Heh... when I was 19 years old I was working in a retail store. I had to
> wear nice clothes for the job. In this instance I had on a silk blouse a
> nice skirt and stockings. So this co-worker (yes, Sqwertz! I bitch about
> co-workers from even back then!) met me for lunch at a diner in the Mall.
> And she ordered her 2 year old son french fries and she was quite liberal
> with the ketchup.
>
> Her toddler started tossing ketchup-laden fries at me. I had to go back to
> work! And all she said to the little monster was "Quit!" Like a 2 year old
> was going to listen to "quit". I wanted to slap the hell out him. And her,
> too.
>
> I went back to work with ketchup stains on my nice skirt and blouse and
> really ****ed off (after having bummed a towel and some club soda from the
> gal up front in the restaurant to sort of clean up).
>
> That was not a pleasant lunch and we certainly didn't repeat it. I've no
> idea why people *procreate* when they won't control their kids at the dinner
> table. Or in public places. Or in front of guests. Don't get me started!
>
> Jill

Thanks for the re-run, champ.

On Feb 19, 2:09 pm, Andy <q> wrote:
> jmcquown said...
>
> > I've no
> > idea why people *procreate* when they won't control their kids at the
> > dinner table.
>
> VALIUM(R)

And your mother only had thalidomide. Tsk!

J. Davidson wrote:
> I can't remember eating, paying , or leaving. It is too long ago.
> Today I am afraid if I send food back they will spit in the new
> plate, or something else hideous in retaliation.
> Jackie
>
You know, the reports of servers doing such things are grossly overstated.
I never witnessed such a thing in the restaurants where I worked. It was
taken as a matter of course that some food will be sent back. Caramel sauce
on enchiladas?! Give me a break! It was no skin off our noses to carry a
plate back and tell the expeditor to have the cooks get it right.

In fact, as a server, it's better to be gracious about it. In the USA, tips
are the only thing a server can really depend on since servers aren't paid a
living wage. And sending back a wrong order is certainly not cause for
someone to spit in your food. That assumption is just silly.

Jill

> JoeSpareBedroom > wrote in message
> ...
>> "J. Davidson" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> Years ago my husband and I went into a restaurant rather late,
>>> there was only one other couple there and they had a toddler with
>>> them.
>>> The child began throwing mashed potatoes at my husband, luckily he
>>> was a poor shot. Then the waiter/cook brought our food and had
>>> actually put caramel sauce on my enchiladas. (we paid and left, if
>>> I remember right.) We have thought about that place several times,
>>> and now I believe it was a
>>> front for dope transactions. There was no employee except the
>>> cook, there were no others but the mashed potato throwing kid and
>>> his parents. (?) In those days we just silently left and said
>>> nothing, but never went back. Given that same circumstance today,
>>> since we are in our late 70s, I think we
>>> would probably do the same.
>>> Jackie
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Did you eat the enchiladas? If no, why did you pay?

"jmcquown" > wrote in message
...

> J. Davidson wrote:
>> I can't remember eating, paying , or leaving. It is too long ago.
>> Today I am afraid if I send food back they will spit in the new
>> plate, or something else hideous in retaliation.
>> Jackie
>>
> You know, the reports of servers doing such things are grossly overstated.
> I never witnessed such a thing in the restaurants where I worked. It was
> taken as a matter of course that some food will be sent back. Caramel
> sauce
> on enchiladas?! Give me a break! It was no skin off our noses to carry a
> plate back and tell the expeditor to have the cooks get it right.
>
> In fact, as a server, it's better to be gracious about it. In the USA,
> tips
> are the only thing a server can really depend on since servers aren't paid
> a
> living wage. And sending back a wrong order is certainly not cause for
> someone to spit in your food. That assumption is just silly.
>
> Jill


The caramel sauce *might* make you wonder what other mixups had occurred
with your food. Lots of white powders look alike.

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
> "jmcquown" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>> J. Davidson wrote:
>>> Today I am afraid if I send food back they will spit in the new
>>> plate, or something else hideous in retaliation.
>> Caramel sauce
>> on enchiladas?! Give me a break! It was no skin off our noses to
>> carry a plate back and tell the expeditor to have the cooks get it
>> right.
>>
>> Jill
>
> The caramel sauce *might* make you wonder what other mixups had
> occurred with your food. Lots of white powders look alike.

Last time I checked caramel wasn't white

"jmcquown" > wrote in message
...
> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>> "jmcquown" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>
>>> J. Davidson wrote:
>>>> Today I am afraid if I send food back they will spit in the new
>>>> plate, or something else hideous in retaliation.
>>> Caramel sauce
>>> on enchiladas?! Give me a break! It was no skin off our noses to
>>> carry a plate back and tell the expeditor to have the cooks get it
>>> right.
>>>
>>> Jill
>>
>> The caramel sauce *might* make you wonder what other mixups had
>> occurred with your food. Lots of white powders look alike.
>
> Last time I checked caramel wasn't white
>
>


I was referring to other things, like scouring powder, salt, sugar, cocaine,
dishwashing powder, and whatever else you can imagine might end up in your
soup. If the cook's so addled that he confuses caramel syrup with (what??),
anything's possible.

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
> "jmcquown" > wrote in message
> ...
>> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>>> "jmcquown" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>
>>>> J. Davidson wrote:
>>>>> Today I am afraid if I send food back they will spit in the new
>>>>> plate, or something else hideous in retaliation.
>>>> Caramel sauce
>>>> on enchiladas?! Give me a break! It was no skin off our noses to
>>>> carry a plate back and tell the expeditor to have the cooks get it
>>>> right.
>>>>
>>>> Jill
>>>
>>> The caramel sauce *might* make you wonder what other mixups had
>>> occurred with your food. Lots of white powders look alike.
>>
>> Last time I checked caramel wasn't white
>>
>>
>
>
> I was referring to other things, like scouring powder, salt, sugar,
> cocaine, dishwashing powder, and whatever else you can imagine might
> end up in your soup. If the cook's so addled that he confuses caramel
> syrup with (what??), anything's possible.

As Harry Nilsson said in 'The Point', "You've got a point there!"

Jill

J. Davidson wrote:

> I can't remember eating, paying , or leaving.


Please don't top-post. Your replies belong following or interspersed
with properly trimmed quotes. See the majority of other posts in the
newsgroup, or:
<http://www.caliburn.nl/topposting.html>

On Tue, 20 Feb 2007 04:30:23 -0600, "jmcquown"
> wrote:

>J. Davidson wrote:
>> I can't remember eating, paying , or leaving. It is too long ago.
>> Today I am afraid if I send food back they will spit in the new
>> plate, or something else hideous in retaliation.
>> Jackie
>>
>You know, the reports of servers doing such things are grossly overstated.
>I never witnessed such a thing in the restaurants where I worked. It was
>taken as a matter of course that some food will be sent back. Caramel sauce
>on enchiladas?! Give me a break! It was no skin off our noses to carry a
>plate back and tell the expeditor to have the cooks get it right.
>
>In fact, as a server, it's better to be gracious about it. In the USA, tips
>are the only thing a server can really depend on since servers aren't paid a
>living wage. And sending back a wrong order is certainly not cause for
>someone to spit in your food. That assumption is just silly.
>
>Jill
>

i have been spending some time lately at the *customers suck* website

http://community.livejournal.com/customers_suck/

....which has posts by disgruntled retail (and other) employees, and
they pooh-pooh this idea as well. (not that they're not sorely
tempted, given some of the assholes they encounter.) would you risk
losing your (even if it's cruddy) job just to give a patron the ass in
such a manner that he doesn't even know it? not that it never
happens, but life is not the movies.

quick sample story from the

Now in a hotel there's always at least one restaurant. So they have
this man who comes in regularly. And the staff notice everytime he's
in there, something will go wrong with the food. Inevitably. He'll eat
3/4 of the dish before complaining there's some insect or similar in
the dish. Every. Darn. Time.

It is my mom's and the kitchen staff's hypothesis that this douche
brings in dead bugs himself and plants it in the food.

So, one day, the manager comes to this difficult man, and finds that
the sucky costumer has complained of a tiny dead roach in his food.

M = Manager
DM = Douchebag Man

M: What seems to be the problem sir?
DM: Your kitchen is horrendously unsanitary! Look, there's a DEAD
COCKROACH in my food.
M: -picks up the roach without batting an eyelid and eats it- Why,
it's delicious sir! I think you mistook a shallot for an insect.
DM: -splutters, speechless-

your pal,
blake

>> JoeSpareBedroom > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> "J. Davidson" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> Years ago my husband and I went into a restaurant rather late,
>>>> there was only one other couple there and they had a toddler with
>>>> them.
>>>> The child began throwing mashed potatoes at my husband, luckily he
>>>> was a poor shot. Then the waiter/cook brought our food and had
>>>> actually put caramel sauce on my enchiladas. (we paid and left, if
>>>> I remember right.) We have thought about that place several times,
>>>> and now I believe it was a
>>>> front for dope transactions. There was no employee except the
>>>> cook, there were no others but the mashed potato throwing kid and
>>>> his parents. (?) In those days we just silently left and said
>>>> nothing, but never went back. Given that same circumstance today,
>>>> since we are in our late 70s, I think we
>>>> would probably do the same.
>>>> Jackie
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> Did you eat the enchiladas? If no, why did you pay?
>

blake murphy wrote:
> On Tue, 20 Feb 2007 04:30:23 -0600, "jmcquown"
> > wrote:
>
>> J. Davidson wrote:
>>> I can't remember eating, paying , or leaving. It is too long ago.
>>> Today I am afraid if I send food back they will spit in the new
>>> plate, or something else hideous in retaliation.
>>> Jackie
>>>
>> You know, the reports of servers doing such things are grossly
>> overstated. I never witnessed such a thing in the restaurants where
>> I worked. It was taken as a matter of course that some food will be
>> sent back.
>> Jill
>>
>
> i have been spending some time lately at the *customers suck* website
>
> http://community.livejournal.com/customers_suck/
>
> ...which has posts by disgruntled retail (and other) employees, and
> they pooh-pooh this idea as well. (not that they're not sorely
> tempted, given some of the assholes they encounter.) would you risk
> losing your (even if it's cruddy) job just to give a patron the ass in
> such a manner that he doesn't even know it? not that it never
> happens, but life is not the movies.
>
> your pal,
> blake
>

I've told this story before but it bears repeating. Glasses in restaurants
are stored face down for the dishwasher. So you can't drop a screw in your
glass of iced tea and expect your meal to be comp'd. We all know you had
that screw in your pocket. Due to the laws of something called gravity,
screws won't stay in the glass when they are run through the dishwasher.
Not to mention, the busboys are hosing down those glasses before they go
through the pass to the dishwasher. Scam artists aren't all that bright.

Jill

In article >,
"JoeSpareBedroom" > wrote:

> I was referring to other things, like scouring powder, salt, sugar, cocaine,
> dishwashing powder, and whatever else you can imagine might end up in your
> soup. If the cook's so addled that he confuses caramel syrup with (what??),
> anything's possible.


If they're keeping cocaine in the kitchen, maybe it's not a restaurant I
want to frequent.

--
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