jmcquown wrote:
> "ChattyCathy" > wrote in message
> ...
>> http://www.recfoodcooking.com
>>
>> Thanks go to gloria p for 'inspiring' this survey. Something she
>> mentioned in another thread gave me the idea...
>>
>> BTW, she had absolutely nothing to do with writing it up, so you can't
>> blame her for any spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, stupid
>> questions etc. That you can take up with me; but please remember you
>> won't be getting any extra TFH's for doing so. <veg>
>>
>> --
>> Cheers
>> Chatty Cathy
>
>
>
> If someone invited me to dinner for 7PM and they were still in the
> shower at that time I'd have to say they're socially inept. If you
> invite guests you should be ready to receive them by the specified
> time. If guests show up an hour early that's a different story
>
> Jill

Good thing you won't have to worry about that.

-dk

James Silverton wrote:
>

>
> A punctilious bunch, I see. My personal preference is to arrive a few
> minutes after the stated times and also expect guests to do the same.
> I've practically never brought small gifts or flowers even on a first
> invitation but I almost always bring a bottle of decent wine. I don't
> necessarily expect the hosts to open and serve it then and there tho'
> they usually do so. However, there are places in Europe where bringing
> flowers is traditional and I go along with that.
> --
>
> James Silverton


My usual group of suspects/invites in London perpetually arrived
'fashionably' late, which drove me bonkers initially. However, a simple
change in telling them when to arrive fixed that. Usually wanted to sit
down to dinner around 8 PM, so told them to arrive by 7:30. Worked a
treat...they'd show up a little before 8 and dinner was on time

Mostly we bring a bottle of decent wine as well, but also chocolates or
flowers depending on to whose house we were going. If asked to bring
food (often asked to bring fresh-baked bread), did that instead.

"brooklyn1" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Janet Wilder" > wrote in message
> ...
>> ChattyCathy wrote:
>>> http://www.recfoodcooking.com
>>
>> I think timing is rather critical for a dinner party. If I am going
>> through the trouble to create a nice table and cook some of my specialty
>> dishes, I am going to be allocating my time pretty carefully. I usually
>> have a schedule so that everything comes together at the right time. The
>> meat gets to rest before carving, the bread is fresh, the salad crisp,
>> etc. Even half an hour either way can change the outcome.
>>
>> Because I know how critical timing is to the preparation of a great meal,
>> I am sensitive to the timing of those who are inviting me to their table.
>>
>
> You need to realize that many here place the emphasis on "party"... the
> dinner part is insignificant... and you don't need any stinkin' timing for
> a trough of mac n' cheese and a tub of tuna 'shroom soup caserole.

ROTFLMAO...........................

Sometimes you really are a piece of work...

Dimitri

Dimitri replied to Sheldon:

>> You need to realize that many here place the emphasis on "party"... the
>> dinner part is insignificant... and you don't need any stinkin' timing
>> for a trough of mac n' cheese and a tub of tuna 'shroom soup caserole.
>
> ROTFLMAO...........................
>
> Sometimes you really are a piece of work...

I think Sheldon was speaking strictly for himself: As long as the cheap
vodka is there, you could feed him pigshit and he'd be happy. Likewise,
Sheldon gave insight into what you could expect at a dinner party thrown by
him.

Bob

"cshenk" ha scritto nel messaggio

>
> Grin! Not at my place! Then again, these are just little weekly stuff
> and > folks can't go broke doing them. We bring *food* items normally.
> Something > we know the neighbor will like or have use for.

What you are describing is a neighborhood get together, not a dinner party,
Pitching in in any way is fine for a GTG and timing isn't critiical.. At a
dinner party with place settings awaiting and a souffle for a first course,
host doesn't want stragglers and no-shows are disgraceful. It's almost as
bad to show up with something that must be fussed with immediately.

On Apr 9, 5:11*pm, Dave Smith > wrote:
> Zeppo wrote:
>
> > I have a *few friends that like show up early to 'help' (read: start
> > drinking early) when I'm throwing a party. It usually ****ed me off since I
> > usually cook and prepare for the party and leave myself 45 minutes to shave
> > and shower before the start time. I finally had a little heart-to-heart with
> > them.
>
> > My step-daughter shows up early these days but she really does get to work
> > when she arrives. That's a lot different.
>
> I have a similar problem with Big Niece showing up early at family
> functions. She just loves to help out in the kitchen, which usually
> turns out to be her parking herself in the middle of the room and
> sampling. She has once showed up at her step sister's place when the SS
> was having a dinner party, and BN at all the food before the other
> guests arrived. We always invite the others to come earlier than BN so
> that there will be food for them.

Somebody needs to firmly shove her out of the room - why does she get
away with it?

"brooklyn1" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Janet Wilder" > wrote in message
> ...
>> ChattyCathy wrote:
>>> http://www.recfoodcooking.com
>>
>> I think timing is rather critical for a dinner party. If I am going
>> through the trouble to create a nice table and cook some of my specialty
>> dishes, I am going to be allocating my time pretty carefully. I usually
>> have a schedule so that everything comes together at the right time. The
>> meat gets to rest before carving, the bread is fresh, the salad crisp,
>> etc. Even half an hour either way can change the outcome.
>>
>> Because I know how critical timing is to the preparation of a great meal,
>> I am sensitive to the timing of those who are inviting me to their table.
>>
>
> You need to realize that many here place the emphasis on "party"... the
> dinner part is insignificant... and you don't need any stinkin' timing for
> a trough of mac n' cheese and a tub of tuna 'shroom soup caserole.
>

Surely sir you jest.

For it is most assuredly my personal secretary who does the typing for me.

Dimitri
ae

D K wrote:

> jmcquown wrote:
> > "ChattyCathy" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >> http://www.recfoodcooking.com
> >>
> >> Thanks go to gloria p for 'inspiring' this survey. Something she
> >> mentioned in another thread gave me the idea...
> >>
> >> BTW, she had absolutely nothing to do with writing it up, so you can't
> >> blame her for any spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, stupid
> >> questions etc. That you can take up with me; but please remember you
> >> won't be getting any extra TFH's for doing so. <veg>
> >>
> >> --
> >> Cheers
> >> Chatty Cathy
> >
> >
> >
> > If someone invited me to dinner for 7PM and they were still in the
> > shower at that time I'd have to say they're socially inept. If you
> > invite guests you should be ready to receive them by the specified
> > time. If guests show up an hour early that's a different story
> >
> > Jill
>
> Good thing you won't have to worry about that.


Jeez, you beat me to it...

<chuckle>

--
Best
Greg

"The trouble with socialism is that you eventually run out of other
people's money."~~~~Margaret Thatcher

In article >,
ChattyCathy > wrote:

> On Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:50:27 +0000, James Silverton wrote:
>
> > A punctilious bunch, I see. My personal preference is to arrive a few
> > minutes after the stated times and also expect guests to do the same.
> > I've practically never brought small gifts or flowers even on a first
> > invitation but I almost always bring a bottle of decent wine. I don't
> > necessarily expect the hosts to open and serve it then and there tho'
> > they usually do so. However, there are places in Europe where bringing
> > flowers is traditional and I go along with that.
>
> I like to get to dinner parties I'm invited to on time, I feel it's just
> good mannered to do so.
>
> Not that it happens much around here - haven't been to one in years. We
> usually get invited to much more casual affairs. But if I got 'all dressed
> up' and arrived at the appointed time - only to discover my hosts were
> still in the shower and was rudely told that "Oh, yeah. You guys are
> always on time." like *I* was at fault, I would not be impressed.

Last time I had dinner guests, I asked them to come early while I was
still preparing dinner so we could just socialize. I'd not seen them in
a little over a year, plus they were bringing those greens to prep and
steam.

It worked out quite well and we all had a good time. :-)

And the food was served hot off the stove.

If I ever have multiple guests, I may consider doing that type of thing
again, but make sure I had some appetizers ready for noshing as well.
--
Peace! Om

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.
It's about learning to dance in the rain.
-- Anon.

In article .com>,
"Pete C." > wrote:

> I typically arrive an hour or so early and help with the last minute
> prep.

Good for you! :-) You sound like the perfect house guest.

I personally like to help clean up afterwards as well. Makes me feel
useful.
--
Peace! Om

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.
It's about learning to dance in the rain.
-- Anon.

On Fri, 10 Apr 2009 08:57:31 +0200, "Giusi" >
wrote:
>
>"cshenk" ha scritto nel messaggio
>
>>
>> Grin! Not at my place! Then again, these are just little weekly stuff
>> and > folks can't go broke doing them. We bring *food* items normally.
>> Something > we know the neighbor will like or have use for.
>
>What you are describing is a neighborhood get together, not a dinner party,
>Pitching in in any way is fine for a GTG and timing isn't critiical.. At a
>dinner party with place settings awaiting and a souffle for a first course,
>host doesn't want stragglers and no-shows are disgraceful. It's almost as
>bad to show up with something that must be fussed with immediately.
>
To be perfectly honest... who does a real dinner party anymore? My
entertaining is much more casual these days, even if I trot out the
good dishes and silverware.

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

On Fri, 10 Apr 2009 05:41:38 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

>Somebody needs to firmly shove her out of the room - why does she get
>away with it?

I've often wondered that myself, but she makes for good stories here
in rfc! He has quite an "interesting" family.

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

Dave Smith wrote:
> wrote:
>
>>
>> About the taking of a small gift: depends. If it's an overnighter
>> and the hosts are putting on a major meal, like Xmas, a small gift is
>> a must in my book. If it's a come on over for hamburgers from the
>> guys I see all the time down the block, no.
>>
>> The gift is something they will use soon and not have to store e.g.
>> wine or a nice candle.
>
> Gifts are nice, but they need to be useful. Our neighbours are very
> nice people. The travel a lot and we gladly bring in their mail,
> newspapers, feed the cat etc. It's not problem. Every time they come
> back they bring us a gift. Some of them are really nice, some okay,
> but really not much use. I hate to throw them out. We don't have a
> lot of storage space. Considering that they go away 5-6 times a year,
> this stuff is starting to pile up.

We bring back food, like rum cakes from Grand Cayman or chocolate from
Belgium, or we will give restaurant gift certificates. Cash and food
are usually welcomed.


Becca

"Giusi" wrote
> "cshenk" ha scritto nel messaggio

>> Grin! Not at my place! Then again, these are just little weekly stuff
>> and > folks can't go broke doing them. We bring *food* items normally.
>> Something > we know the neighbor will like or have use for.
>
> What you are describing is a neighborhood get together, not a dinner
> party, Pitching in in any way is fine for a GTG and timing isn't
> critiical.. At a dinner party with place settings awaiting and a souffle
> for a first course, host doesn't want stragglers and no-shows are
> disgraceful. It's almost as bad to show up with something that must be
> fussed with immediately.

Grin, may be a matter of definition there. What I do here, is a smaller but
still 'dinner party' by at least southern USA standards. I'm not saying
it's a big fancy 'dress up' though we do those too at times just for the fun
of it. Usually Paul hosts those because he's got a big dining table
suitable for 12 and the matching china.

When Paul does them, you bring either good wine or small upscale chocolates,
or similar. (I usually drop off a whole duck 2 days before and he cooks it
along with the other things). 'Cocktail level atttire expected'. His
invites start with an email to set the date and attendance then you get a
card hand delivered (or tucked in the door if away) which you return
acceptance on and drop off at his place.

I suspect Paul's affairs are more what you are thinking of? He lives 3
doors down and does a fantastic smoked fish. In fact, I just got back from
delivering him 2 bangus (english name I think is milkfish). I was gonna
make it but his is *so* much better! BBQ at my place this weekend. I have
the only large enough fully screened porch to fit the bunch and the weather
forcast says we may have some showers.

sf wrote:

> To be perfectly honest... who does a real dinner party anymore? My
> entertaining is much more casual these days, even if I trot out the
> good dishes and silverware.
>

I still enjoy having friends over for dinner and fussing a bit with the
food and the table. I usually invite them for a time about 45 minutes to
an hour before I want to serve and put out little snackie things and
serve drinks. That way the timing of the dinner isn't ruined if someone
is late.

My little dinners are far from formal but I do my best to make them nice
and to serve good food. But that's just me.

--
Janet Wilder
way-the-heck-south Texas
spelling doesn't count
but cooking does

Omelet wrote:

> Good for you! :-) You sound like the perfect house guest.
>
> I personally like to help clean up afterwards as well. Makes me feel
> useful.

I'm a bit of an opposite to you ... I hate having people try to help me
or clean in my kitchen. I feel like I spend more time answering
questions on where such and such is or how do I like to do something.
Heck, I seldom ask Bob for help when I'm cooking. (Me following him
about while he's cooking and me cleaning up after him is a different story).

A guest is a guest and I feel they are there to relax and enjoy the
evening. The main living area (not to be confused with the formal living
room) is an open floor plan with a large kitchen separated from the
living with a long raised, tiled counter/bar. On the kitchen side of
that bar is my sink and more counter space. I can watch T.V., keep an
eye on the fireplace, visit with friends and family, etc. They can relax
nearby on the couch or sit at the bar and chat with me as I cook.

Because I do like to visit and not spend the whole night in the kitchen,
I tend to do one-pot meals or simple roasts. For instance, we have
friends coming in from SoCal tonight and I have the biggest pot roast
with veggies slow-cooking in the oven right now. Because their arrival
could be off by an hour or so with weather and traffic, something like
this keeps just fine till everyone is ready to eat -- and I'm not flying
around the kitchen making sure everything is hot and cooked properly.

Now, I will offer to help cook or clean when at someone else's place,
but if they say no thank-you I don't push the point.

--Lin

On Thu, 09 Apr 2009 11:18:53 -0400, Dave Smith wrote:

> James Silverton wrote:
>
>> It's something that is not just personal liking but local custom. There
>> are places where the hosts would be embarrassed if you arrived right on
>> time and others where punctuality is hoped for.
>
> Then there are the cases of people being known to be prompt and those
> who are known to be tardy. I used to be able to set my watch by my
> father's timing. If I invited them for 5 pm Dad would pull in the
> driveway at 5 pm. OTOH, there are people like my late (in more ways than
> one) brother in law. When my MiL wanted to served dinner at 6 she would
> tell him dinner was 5. He would still be late, and dinner would have to
> be held.
>
> I had a friend who extremely anal about time, and didn't like his
> stepson and family being late. He would tell them what time dinner was
> and then serve it at that time if they were there or not. If they came
> late, they didn't get fed.

that seems sensible to me, assuming the invitation time was a little
earlier (for drinks, to allow for traffic, etc.). let the devil take the
hindmost.

your pal,
blake

On Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:35:35 GMT, brooklyn1 wrote:

> "ChattyCathy" > wrote in message
> ...
>> On Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:50:27 +0000, James Silverton wrote:
>>
>>> A punctilious bunch, I see. My personal preference is to arrive a few
>>> minutes after the stated times and also expect guests to do the same.
>>> I've practically never brought small gifts or flowers even on a first
>>> invitation but I almost always bring a bottle of decent wine. I don't
>>> necessarily expect the hosts to open and serve it then and there tho'
>>> they usually do so. However, there are places in Europe where bringing
>>> flowers is traditional and I go along with that.
>>
>> I like to get to dinner parties I'm invited to on time, I feel it's just
>> good mannered to do so.
>>
>> Not that it happens much around here - haven't been to one in years. We
>> usually get invited to much more casual affairs. But if I got 'all dressed
>> up' and arrived at the appointed time - only to discover my hosts were
>> still in the shower and was rudely told that "Oh, yeah. You guys are
>> always on time." like *I* was at fault, I would not be impressed.
>
> They were both in the shower, so who let you in, the dog? Depending, I
> might pour a couple 2nis and join her.

why not? it would be the first live, naked female you've seen in quite a
while. except for strip clubs, of course.

blake

On Thu, 9 Apr 2009 17:54:15 +0200, Giusi wrote:

> "Pete C." > ha scritto nel messaggio
> ster.com...
>>
>> I typically arrive an hour or so early and help with the last minute
>> prep.
>
> Gee thanks, Pete. At my house that will be shaving my legs and applying
> mascara and I am bad at both.

just hope he doesn't get confused and apply mascara to your legs and shave
your eyelashes.

your pal,
blake

blake murphy wrote:

> On Thu, 9 Apr 2009 17:54:15 +0200, Giusi wrote:
>
> > "Pete C." > ha scritto nel messaggio
> > ster.com...
> >>
> >> I typically arrive an hour or so early and help with the last minute
> >> prep.
> >
> > Gee thanks, Pete. At my house that will be shaving my legs and applying
> > mascara and I am bad at both.
>
> just hope he doesn't get confused and apply mascara to your legs and shave
> your eyelashes.


Gals in Italy shave their legs, blake...???



--
Best
Greg

"The trouble with socialism is that you eventually run out of other
people's money."~~~~Margaret Thatcher

Twilly the Envious Runt spakith:
> Dimitri replied to Sheldon:
>
>>> You need to realize that many here place the emphasis on "party"... the
>>> dinner part is insignificant... and you don't need any stinkin' timing
>>> for a trough of mac n' cheese and a tub of tuna 'shroom soup caserole.
>>
>> ROTFLMAO...........................
>>
>> Sometimes you really are a piece of work...
>
> I think Sheldon was speaking strictly for himself: As long as the cheap
> vodka is there, you could feed him pigshit and he'd be happy. Likewise,
> Sheldon gave insight into what you could expect at a dinner party thrown
> by him.
>
> Bob
Folks here have seen the shit I cook, on the other hand you ain't shown us
shit... Twilly is just empty woids on a screen.

Btw, it's not like I can just run next door to snap pics but I did manage to
dig up a few old photos of my properties in Belize. I have much better pics
but they have other people in them so I won't post those.. not really
posting to prove anything to you, just for others who may find them of
interest.

Not too shabby for a third world country:
http://i39.tinypic.com/dwt2ep.jpg
That's me in the yard:
http://i42.tinypic.com/344cmea.jpg
Me inside refreshing, Belize' makes exceptional rum:
http://i40.tinypic.com/263g17n.jpg
Me scouting out a lot in a newly developed part of town,
I eventually purchased it... I know it doesn't look like much, but:
http://i40.tinypic.com/rwsbr7.jpg
This is what makes it extremely valuable, its back yard right on the sea:
http://i43.tinypic.com/29nvxxv.jpg

The third property is just two cement hurricane proof rentals on one lot,
also right on the
sea in Cozamel. I have a picture but not a very good one so I didn't scan
it. It's not anything much but has good value and generates good rent.
Over the years mostly foreign dignitaries have rented my properties, they
can afford to pay well and decent quality rentals in safe parts of town are
scarce.

All have been sold at good profit... Belize is for the young, and it's not
very safe there anymore, not that it ever was but it's now more dangerous
than in the last 100 years... the
world is achangin' and not for the better.

wrote:

>> If someone invited me to dinner for 7PM and they were still in the
>> shower at that time I'd have to say they're socially inept. If you
>> invite guests you should be ready to receive them by the specified
>> time. If guests show up an hour early that's a different story
>>
>> Jill
>
> Good thing you won't have to worry about that.

How would you know about that? I bet dk stands for DOG KENNEL! And that is
where you belong! Why are you picking on Jilly? What did she do to you?

Kitty, giving kitty-head-butts to Jilly

On Fri, 10 Apr 2009 17:11:10 -0500, "Gregory Morrow"
> wrote:

>
>
>blake murphy wrote:
>
>> On Thu, 9 Apr 2009 17:54:15 +0200, Giusi wrote:
>>
>> > "Pete C." > ha scritto nel messaggio
>> > ster.com...
>> >>
>> >> I typically arrive an hour or so early and help with the last minute
>> >> prep.
>> >
>> > Gee thanks, Pete. At my house that will be shaving my legs and applying
>> > mascara and I am bad at both.
>>
>> just hope he doesn't get confused and apply mascara to your legs and shave
>> your eyelashes.
>
>
>Gals in Italy shave their legs, blake...???

She's an American. So sue her.

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

Lin wrote:
> Because I do like to visit and not spend the whole night in the
> kitchen, I tend to do one-pot meals or simple roasts. For instance, we
> have friends coming in from SoCal tonight and I have the biggest pot
> roast with veggies slow-cooking in the oven right now. Because their
> arrival could be off by an hour or so with weather and traffic,
> something like this keeps just fine till everyone is ready to eat --
> and I'm not flying around the kitchen making sure everything is hot
> and cooked properly.
>
> Now, I will offer to help cook or clean when at someone else's place,
> but if they say no thank-you I don't push the point.
>
> --Lin


The party is not any fun if you have to spend the night in the kitchen.
We are having a dinner party in June and we are having BBQ, potato
salad, cole slaw and beans. The BBQ is being delivered, the potato
salad and the cole slaw will be chilled in the fridge and the beans will
be kept hot until dinner is served, probably in a crock pot. I have not
decided on appetizers, but we will probably have brownies for dessert.
It is a hippie party. :-P


I am making placemats, from copies of posters from the 60's, then we are
laminating them. I have not had much time to dwell on it, because so
much has been going on.


Becca

Becca wrote:

> The party is not any fun if you have to spend the night in the kitchen.
> We are having a dinner party in June and we are having BBQ, potato
> salad, cole slaw and beans. The BBQ is being delivered, the potato
> salad and the cole slaw will be chilled in the fridge and the beans will
> be kept hot until dinner is served, probably in a crock pot. I have not
> decided on appetizers, but we will probably have brownies for dessert.
> It is a hippie party. :-P

I totally agree about spending too much time in the kitchen, thus my
doing something in the oven early on. Last night went without a hitch
and we were sipping wine and getting our relax on in no time at all.

I do love a good outdoor party! It's just now getting nice enough that
we can spend more time outside in the evening. Grilling -- be it
charcoal or gas -- is my forté. If someone offers to bring a dish I
don't turn them down. Then there's Bob, and you know he will have lots
of things ready.

> I am making placemats, from copies of posters from the 60's, then we are
> laminating them. I have not had much time to dwell on it, because so
> much has been going on.

What a great idea! A party I would love to attend. Take pictures, please.

--Lin

"Hey there, groovy chicks. You're all hep in far out ways. " -- Greg
Brady, The Brady Bunch Movie

On Fri, 10 Apr 2009 17:11:10 -0500, Gregory Morrow wrote:

> blake murphy wrote:
>
>> On Thu, 9 Apr 2009 17:54:15 +0200, Giusi wrote:
>>
>>> "Pete C." > ha scritto nel messaggio
>>> ster.com...
>>>>
>>>> I typically arrive an hour or so early and help with the last minute
>>>> prep.
>>>
>>> Gee thanks, Pete. At my house that will be shaving my legs and applying
>>> mascara and I am bad at both.
>>
>> just hope he doesn't get confused and apply mascara to your legs and shave
>> your eyelashes.
>
> Gals in Italy shave their legs, blake...???

what did she just say?

blake

Lin wrote:
> Becca wrote:
>
>> The party is not any fun if you have to spend the night in the
>> kitchen. We are having a dinner party in June and we are having BBQ,
>> potato salad, cole slaw and beans. The BBQ is being delivered, the
>> potato salad and the cole slaw will be chilled in the fridge and the
>> beans will be kept hot until dinner is served, probably in a crock
>> pot. I have not decided on appetizers, but we will probably have
>> brownies for dessert. It is a hippie party. :-P
>
> I totally agree about spending too much time in the kitchen, thus my
> doing something in the oven early on. Last night went without a hitch
> and we were sipping wine and getting our relax on in no time at all.
>
> I do love a good outdoor party! It's just now getting nice enough that
> we can spend more time outside in the evening. Grilling -- be it
> charcoal or gas -- is my forté. If someone offers to bring a dish I
> don't turn them down. Then there's Bob, and you know he will have lots
> of things ready.
>
>> I am making placemats, from copies of posters from the 60's, then we
>> are laminating them. I have not had much time to dwell on it,
>> because so much has been going on.
>
> What a great idea! A party I would love to attend. Take pictures, please.
>
> --Lin


Everyone is dressing in costume, so I will certainly take pictures.
People keep telling me what they are going to wear, but they do not want
me to tell anyone else, they want it to be a surprise. lol I think
they are getting as excited as I am. One lady is going to wear the same
clothes that she wore in high school. Hah! I wish I could do that. lol


Becca

"Dave Smith" > wrote in message
...
> Zeppo wrote:
>>
>> I have a few friends that like show up early to 'help' (read: start
>> drinking early) when I'm throwing a party. It usually ****ed me off since
>> I usually cook and prepare for the party and leave myself 45 minutes to
>> shave and shower before the start time. I finally had a little
>> heart-to-heart with them.
>>
>> My step-daughter shows up early these days but she really does get to
>> work when she arrives. That's a lot different.
>
>
> I have a similar problem with Big Niece showing up early at family
> functions. She just loves to help out in the kitchen, which usually turns
> out to be her parking herself in the middle of the room and sampling. She
> has once showed up at her step sister's place when the SS was having a
> dinner party, and BN at all the food before the other guests arrived. We
> always invite the others to come earlier than BN so that there will be
> food for them.



If she wants to treat your home that way, maybe you should start charging
her like they do at an all you can eat buffet. And I don't mean a cheap
buffet. I'll bet if she had to pay you $50 to get in the door she wouldn't
be so quick to come in and graze. <G>

Jill

In article >,
"jmcquown" > wrote:

> "Dave Smith" > wrote in message
> ...

> > I have a similar problem with Big Niece showing up early at family
> > functions. She just loves to help out in the kitchen, which usually turns
> > out to be her parking herself in the middle of the room and sampling. She
> > has once showed up at her step sister's place when the SS was having a
> > dinner party, and BN at all the food before the other guests arrived. We
> > always invite the others to come earlier than BN so that there will be
> > food for them.

> If she wants to treat your home that way, maybe you should start charging
> her like they do at an all you can eat buffet. And I don't mean a cheap
> buffet. I'll bet if she had to pay you $50 to get in the door she wouldn't
> be so quick to come in and graze. <G>

Bad idea, Jill. Never met the woman, but based on what Dave has posted,
she'd probably stay 5 days and eat $250 worth of food, just to get her
money's worth.

:-(

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA

"[Don't] assume that someone is "broken" just because they behave in ways
you don't like or don't understand." --Miche

"Dan Abel" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> "jmcquown" > wrote:
>
>> "Dave Smith" > wrote in message
>> ...
>
>> > I have a similar problem with Big Niece showing up early at family
>> > functions. She just loves to help out in the kitchen, which usually
>> > turns
>> > out to be her parking herself in the middle of the room and sampling.
>> > She
>> > has once showed up at her step sister's place when the SS was having a
>> > dinner party, and BN at all the food before the other guests arrived.
>> > We
>> > always invite the others to come earlier than BN so that there will be
>> > food for them.
>
>> If she wants to treat your home that way, maybe you should start charging
>> her like they do at an all you can eat buffet. And I don't mean a cheap
>> buffet. I'll bet if she had to pay you $50 to get in the door she
>> wouldn't
>> be so quick to come in and graze. <G>
>
> Bad idea, Jill. Never met the woman, but based on what Dave has posted,
> she'd probably stay 5 days and eat $250 worth of food, just to get her
> money's worth.
>
> :-(
>
> --
> Dan Abel
> Petaluma, California USA
>
> "[Don't] assume that someone is "broken" just because they behave in ways
> you don't like or don't understand." --Miche


LOLOL But then he'd be running a Bed & Breakfast and could charge her
outrageous fees for staying overnight, for several nights! It could run
into thousands of dollars...

Jill

Omelet wrote:
> In article .com>,
> "Pete C." > wrote:
>
>> I typically arrive an hour or so early and help with the last minute
>> prep.
>
> Good for you! :-) You sound like the perfect house guest.

I would not be amused if I invited someone to a dinner party and they
showed up an hour early, unless they'd cleared it with me first.

>
> I personally like to help clean up afterwards as well. Makes me feel
> useful.

Same here, though I'm careful not to press my help on the host if they
don't want my help.

Serene
--
42 Magazine, celebrating life with meaning. Inaugural issue is here!
http://42magazine.com

"But here's a handy hint: if your fabulous theory for ending war and
all other human conflict will not survive an online argument with
humourless feminists who are not afraid to throw rape around as an
example, your theory needs work." -- Aqua, alt.polyamory

"Serene Vannoy" > wrote in message
...
> Omelet wrote:
>> In article .com>,
>> "Pete C." > wrote:
>>
>>> I typically arrive an hour or so early and help with the last minute
>>> prep.
>>
>> Good for you! :-) You sound like the perfect house guest.
>
> I would not be amused if I invited someone to a dinner party and they
> showed up an hour early, unless they'd cleared it with me first.
>
>>
>> I personally like to help clean up afterwards as well. Makes me feel
>> useful.
>
> Same here, though I'm careful not to press my help on the host if they
> don't want my help.
>
>
True... typically hosts want guests to vamoose afterwards, they don't want
hangers on because often they want to relax, get out of their hosting
attire, maybe go to bed themselves, and do the clean up the next day at
their leisure. I don't want anyone cleaning my pots and pans, I'll only
have to redo it anyway. Let's make it plain so everyone can comprehend, you
want it okay that you futz around in my kitchen for an hour, then it's gotta
be okay with you that while you're stirring my pots that it's okay that your
wife spends the next hour being stirred in my bedroom by me... fair is fair.

I don't permit anyone in my kitchen before, during, or after... they'll only
be in my way... I don't want anyone peeking into my pots or oven and I
especially don't want anyone into my fridge... my kitchen is absolutely off
limits, no one goes poking into my cupboards... need something, ask! Anyone
needs extra kitchen work they can invite me to dinner at their home. I have
plenty of entertainment space in my house, a huge living room, a big den, a
dining room, a guest terlit, a deck, a patio, and acres of grounds... there
is no reason for guests to be wandering throughout the off limits portions
of my home unless they're up to no good. Every room has a door, when the
door is closed that means KEEP OUT!

Folks who want to help in the kitchen are just nosey and pushy, they tend to
make themselves too much at home... before you know it they'll be opening
doors and wandering into every room, opening closets and dresser drawers
like they live there... these types are not guests, they don't know how to
be guests, they don't want to be guests, they somehow feel being just a
guest like everyone else is demeaning, they want to feel special, they want
to be a member of your family, they gotta be very lonely, unfulfilled, and
have suffered some horrendous emotional event... these overly familiar types
have a severe mental disorder and I never reinvite them. Actually these
types have a control issue, you let them an inch into your kitchen and
within minutes they're all the way in taking over and you're out.