I’m usually a pretty good host, even though I haven’t hosted any dinners since my Divorce 10 years ago. But my hard and fast rule was: If you have special dietary needs, I will make a minimal effort to accomodate you without inconveniencing everyone else. But I’m not cooking you alone a special meal while everyone else eats the regular menu. If you insist on only eating (insert specialized food that no one else will eat), you’d probably better plan on bringing it.
Just plan a broad menu that includes 5-7 items at each meal. Those with special needs can stick to the items within their niche. If they complain, they are very poor guests and I’d think twice about having them over again.
“Why no, those are NOT gluten free dinner rolls. Yes, I know that you are gluten free, but the rest of us are not. If you cannot eat them, then don’t eat them, but please don’t ruin dinner by whining about how everything isn’t made special just for you.” My doctor prescribed extra gluten for me, so fuck off, you self-absorbed twat!
Neither of those things going down the storm sewer are cool. Not even a tiny little bit cool. Bad non-resident neighbours! Bad!
I’m reading a book about Rational Economics right now - I have to say, people are dumb assholes, but they are Rational - they do whatever they can get away with because it is indeed easy and free, and there are no consequences (to them).
I think my response would be directions to my local Safeway - knock yerselves out.
Assign menu planning to the vegetarian and the person who doesn’t like vegetables. Both of them have to agree on the menu. You can then add roasted or fried meat as needed.
They won’t operate a second time, so I’ll guess I’ll be having to have her put down, then I’ll just have my ex-housemate’s mice to look after, now she’s fucked off.
Still haven’t found anywhere to live from the end of the month either.
This is where you haul out your favorite tapas cookbook and declare that everyone gets to look through and make their dish of choice, and won’t it be FUN having everyone in the kitchen at once? The 7 year gets some help, but many dishes are within their abilities.
My mom did this once when she didn’t want to be in the alone all day in the kitchen cooking Christmas dinner, and it was an absolute blast. Tapas for everyone!
P.S. If someone objects that they “don’t cook”, they’re elected to clean up the god-awful mess that will result.
For maximum fun, let people declare that they don’t cook, and let everyone else figure out what they’ll make. Then tell Bubba and Uncle Joe that their contribution is the clean-up, and also table service.
I don’t know why I need to have Braxton Hicks contractions. I don’t need any practice, I’m a pro by now! (pregnancy #5) Last night they were actually painful and I couldn’t decide whether or not I should call the doc. I decided to try to go to sleep and then they finally stopped. Only a few weeks to go and suddenly I feel less prepared than before! It can’t be time already!! :eek:
Alright, Safeway, you’ve won this round (making the prices so complicated that I didn’t actually know what I was supposed to be paying). I’m going to have to study up for the next round.
Specifically, I think if you install their suggestion of Classic Shell and only pick the “Classic Menu” option to install, you will suddenly be much, much happier. Because I know I was. I even installed it for a near-retiree neighbor who had to get a new computer and was suddenly baffled as to what had happened to the computer system he thought he was familiar with, and it helped him tremendously.
So I’m on vacation. At home. “Enjoying my properties”, as we used to say when playing Monopoly; throwing out stacks of old stuff, copying vinyls to mp3 (it’s legal since I do own the records and it’s for personal use, the judges said so nyahnyah and anyway SGAE already got a cut when I bought said records and another when I bought the recorder), reorganizing, doing some stuff for work (it’s billable)…
And my mother calls, moaning “oooh you brothers! They are leaving me alone this weekend!”
And I say “:rolleyes: riiiiiight. I’ll come down for the weekend :rolleyes:. And since Aunt M is sick and you mentioned going to visit her, you’re in charge of calling her up and asking if Monday is good for her.”
And she guuuushes her gratitude.
Now she wants me to stay until Thursday. And wants to go visit Aunt M on Sunday - uh, no? Don’t you remember your husband’s last two years at all? Aunt M has the same cancer he had and she got her first chemo yesterday Friday, even if the medications are better now (if) she won’t be in any shape for visitors tomorrow. And since when is “for the weekend” equal to “six days”?
Gee Mom, wonder why your children don’t want to be with you.
When travelling, please give me a heads-up that you are on your way and will arrive soon longer than ONE HOUR before your anticipated arrival.
Especially when you are driving for ten or more hours.
Especially if you are arriving near dinner time.
(I cooked-- package of potstickers from freezer, and a pretty sad looking stir-fry to go with it. It was fine. Not great, fine. But with a little more notice, I had great plans, which wouldn’t necessarily have taken that much more prep. But no one could be bothered to let me know that they had in fact departed earlier than predicted. I’m mostly annoyed because this is a pattern of behavior. And I hate the “we couldn’t remember your work schedule” excuse. You don’t have to remember my schedule (which is admittedly erratic), you just have to text me or call me at your convenience, and I’ll call back if needed at mine.)
