Last-minute guests, revisited

On Tue 03 May 2005 05:55:17a, Chris Neidecker wrote in rec.food.cooking:

Quoted message said:

Grr! My husband just announced, on his way out the door, that he was
bringing home a colleague for dinner tonight. Normally, I can make do
with a last-minute invite, because it's always the same guy who is
practically family, but this is a different thing altogether.

Not to minimize the impact of the morning, but I guess you're lucky he did
just call you on the way home from work tonight to let you know.

--
Wayne Boatwright
____________________________________________

Give me a smart idiot over a stupid genius any day.
Sam Goldwyn, 1882-1974

"Wayne Boatwright" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Tue 03 May 2005 05:55:17a, Chris Neidecker wrote in
rec.food.cooking:

Quoted message said:

Grr! My husband just announced, on his way out the door, that he was
bringing home a colleague for dinner tonight. Normally, I can make
do
with a last-minute invite, because it's always the same guy who is
practically family, but this is a different thing altogether.

Not to minimize the impact of the morning, but I guess you're lucky he
did
just call you on the way home from work tonight to let you know.

Yes, Wayne, I'm pretty lucky I got that much warning! I guess the
warning could've been, "Hi honey, I'm home...and I brought Joe with me!"

Anyway, just a few more chores to do, and then I can throw together a
pan of bar cookies, and then I'm home free!

"Chris Neidecker" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:VwKde.6143$7K.726@trnddc06...

Quoted message said:

Grr! My husband just announced, on his way out the door, that he was bringing
home a colleague for dinner tonight. Normally, I can make do with a
last-minute invite, because it's always the same guy who is practically
family, but this is a different thing altogether.

Now, I do have all day to get ready, but I was telling my husband last night
what a busy day today would be (including taking our 19-month-old to the lab
to collect blood and urine samples...think the little guy will want to run
around shopping after that?). A heads-up last night would have gone a long
way; but today I will be cleaning and shopping among other commitments. Sigh.

I will pick up some hamburger meat and buns, and some cheese, and some really
good potato salad from the BBQ shop next to the supermarket. We have lots of
avocados and limes and chips, so my husband can make his famous table-side
guacamole while he grills the burgers. Hmm, I will also make a fresh corn and
tomato salad, and pick up something for dessert....maybe ice cream. I'd
better check the beer supply, too.

Anyway, I'd better get a move on! He's going to owe me big time for this
(even though he'll be cooking half the meal himself!).
Chris

I think you should call him on the way home and tell him you've ordered the
_________?

Pizza, Chinese, Mexican , Bar B Q, and let him pick it up.

Dimitri

My response would have been to pick up the phone, make reservations for
two, then tell him where to take his guest -- while I stay home with
the child and non-cleaned house.
Or, a baby sitter and reservations for three, but only if you feel like
it.

Chris Neidecker said:

Now, I do have all day to get ready, but I was telling my husband last
night what a busy day today would be (including taking our 19-month-old
to the lab to collect blood and urine samples...think the little guy
will want to run around shopping after that?). A heads-up last night
would have gone a long way; but today I will be cleaning and shopping
among other commitments. Sigh.

I will pick up some hamburger meat and buns, and some cheese, and some
really good potato salad from the BBQ shop next to the supermarket. We
have lots of avocados and limes and chips, so my husband can make his
famous table-side guacamole while he grills the burgers. Hmm, I will
also make a fresh corn and tomato salad, and pick up something for
dessert....maybe ice cream. I'd better check the beer supply, too.

Anyway, I'd better get a move on! He's going to owe me big time for
this (even though he'll be cooking half the meal himself!).

He's going to owe you big time for getting hamburgers?
And it's going to take all day to them ready? Yes indeed. Beer is required,
and lots of it.

Quoted post said:

My response would have been to pick up the phone, make reservations for
two, then tell him where to take his guest -- while I stay home with
the child and non-cleaned house.
Or, a baby sitter and reservations for three, but only if you feel like
it.

For the hamburgers she slaved on all day?
If I were in his position, I would be calling to tell her not to bother
with supper for me because my friend and I are going out for beer and
burgers.

"Dave Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Chris Neidecker wrote:

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Anyway, I'd better get a move on! He's going to owe me big time for
this (even though he'll be cooking half the meal himself!).

He's going to owe you big time for getting hamburgers?
And it's going to take all day to them ready? Yes indeed. Beer is

required,

Quoted message said:

and lots of it.

I think you said this twice, Dave.

rmg said:

"Dave Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Chris Neidecker wrote:

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Anyway, I'd better get a move on! He's going to owe me big time for
this (even though he'll be cooking half the meal himself!).

He's going to owe you big time for getting hamburgers?
And it's going to take all day to them ready? Yes indeed. Beer is
required, and lots of it.

I think you said this twice, Dave.

Obviously hamburgers struck a negative cord with Dave. But hey, it's not
Dave's time (or Chris' husband's time, either).

Jill

jmcquown said:

Obviously hamburgers struck a negative cord with Dave. But hey, it's not
Dave's time (or Chris' husband's time, either).

It wasn't so much the hamburgers but the comment about how he was going to
owe her big time for coming it up with such a gourmet delight with only a day
to prepare them.

Dave Smith said:

jmcquown said:

Obviously hamburgers struck a negative cord with Dave. But hey, it's not
Dave's time (or Chris' husband's time, either).

It wasn't so much the hamburgers but the comment about how he was going to
owe her big time for coming it up with such a gourmet delight with only a day
to prepare them.

It's not like she had nothing else to do all day. Taking a small
child for lab work can wreck a whole day. And she did mention to her
husband the night before that she had a full day scheduled. And then
he popped the guest on his way out the door that morning. Not
everyone manages to keep a full larder and a house that you would want
to invite new people into.
--
Susan N.

"Moral indignation is in most cases two percent moral, 48 percent indignation, and 50 percent envy."
Vittorio De Sica, Italian movie director (1901-1974)

"Dave Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

jmcquown said:

Obviously hamburgers struck a negative cord with Dave. But hey, it's
not
Dave's time (or Chris' husband's time, either).

It wasn't so much the hamburgers but the comment about how he was
going to
owe her big time for coming it up with such a gourmet delight with
only a day
to prepare them.

Did I say ANYTHING about spending all day making hamburgers?

No! Hamburgers take a few minutes, but the cleaning and shopping take
time. My husband knew I had an extremely busy day planned, so if he had
given me a heads-up the night before, it would have helped a lot.

God, I'm certainly glad I'm not married to YOU.

Chris - who finds a charcoal-grilled burger to be a perfectly fine
mid-week meal, guests or no guests!

The Cook said:

Dave Smith said:

jmcquown said:

Obviously hamburgers struck a negative cord with Dave. But hey,
it's not Dave's time (or Chris' husband's time, either).

It wasn't so much the hamburgers but the comment about how he was
going to owe her big time for coming it up with such a gourmet
delight with only a day to prepare them.

It's not like she had nothing else to do all day. Taking a small
child for lab work can wreck a whole day. And she did mention to her
husband the night before that she had a full day scheduled. And then
he popped the guest on his way out the door that morning. Not
everyone manages to keep a full larder and a house that you would want
to invite new people into.

Yep, Susan, that's pretty much what I meant. She already stated she had a
full day. I don't have children but I wouldn't want to take one to the
market after sitting in a doctor's office (we all know how long that can
take) for lab tests which are bound to not be pleasant. Oh, then try to
plan out an elaborate meal, clean the house, etc. Then of course, be
cheerful receiving a new guest, not knowing what they might expect in the
way of a meal. I believe it's called "consideration".

Jill

jmcquown said:

The Cook said:

Dave Smith said:

jmcquown wrote:

>
> Obviously hamburgers struck a negative cord with Dave. But hey,
> it's not Dave's time (or Chris' husband's time, either).
>

It wasn't so much the hamburgers but the comment about how he was
going to owe her big time for coming it up with such a gourmet
delight with only a day to prepare them.

It's not like she had nothing else to do all day. Taking a small
child for lab work can wreck a whole day. And she did mention to

her

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

husband the night before that she had a full day scheduled. And

then

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

he popped the guest on his way out the door that morning. Not
everyone manages to keep a full larder and a house that you would

want

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to invite new people into.

Yep, Susan, that's pretty much what I meant. She already stated she

had a

Quoted message said:

full day. I don't have children but I wouldn't want to take one to

the

Quoted message said:

market after sitting in a doctor's office (we all know how long that

can

Quoted message said:

take) for lab tests which are bound to not be pleasant. Oh, then try

to

Quoted message said:

plan out an elaborate meal, clean the house, etc. Then of course, be
cheerful receiving a new guest, not knowing what they might expect in

the

Quoted message said:

way of a meal. I believe it's called "consideration".

Jill

Actually the key words here are *inconsiderate [censored]* (husband) &
*doormat/subservient-enabler* (wife/wuss).

Inviting someone to the home without *first* checking with ones spouse
is the epitomy of scumbaggery.

Sheldon

Dave Smith said:

jmcquown wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Obviously hamburgers struck a negative cord with Dave. But hey, it's not
Dave's time (or Chris' husband's time, either).

It wasn't so much the hamburgers but the comment about how he was going to
owe her big time for coming it up with such a gourmet delight with only a day
to prepare them.

Plus the house cleaning, shopping, tidying and general life stuff that
she had to rush to get done! Houses don't clean themselves you know...
~Karen aka Kajikit
Crafts, cats, and chocolate - the three essentials of life
http://www.kajikitscorner.com
*remove 'nospam' to reply

One time on Usenet, "Chris Neidecker" <[email hidden]> said:

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Chris - who finds a charcoal-grilled burger to be a perfectly fine
mid-week meal, guests or no guests!

Same here, we just had them last night...

--
Jani in WA ~ mom, vid gamer, novice cook ~
"The ships hung in the sky in much the same
way that bricks don't" - D. Adams, HGTTG

Gal Called Jani said:

Quoted message said:

Chris - who finds a charcoal-grilled burger to be a perfectly fine
mid-week meal, guests or no guests!

Same here, we just had them last night...

There's nothing wrong with a good hamburger. It's just not something I
would have thought that anyone would owe big time for.

Dave Smith said:

Gal Called Jani said:

Quoted message said:

Chris - who finds a charcoal-grilled burger to be a perfectly fine
mid-week meal, guests or no guests!

Same here, we just had them last night...

There's nothing wrong with a good hamburger. It's just not something I
would have thought that anyone would owe big time for.

You totally missed the point, Dave. "Owe big time" is not for the
hamburgers, it's for adding the imposition of a dinner guest to an already
hectic day.

Jill

jmcquown said:

Quoted message said:

There's nothing wrong with a good hamburger. It's just not something I
would have thought that anyone would owe big time for.

You totally missed the point, Dave. "Owe big time" is not for the
hamburgers, it's for adding the imposition of a dinner guest to an already
hectic day.

I must have Jill. I used to work for a living, so taking a kid for a blood
test on top of 10 hour work day would have been a major hassle. Now that I am
retired and have all day to do things, a trip to the clinic is not a major
problem, and if I had to do a little shopping, I would stop at the grocery
store on the way home. That's going to add a few minutes to the trip. Most
families have to eat dinner anyway. I revert to what I suggested earlier,
that if I was married to someone who thought that I "owed big time" for
bringing a friend home for hamburgers, I think I would be calling home to say
not to hold dinner because I am going out with a friend for burgers (or wings)
and beer. I wouldn't want to keep anyone from their soaps.

Dave Smith said:

jmcquown said:

Quoted message said:

There's nothing wrong with a good hamburger. It's just not
something I would have thought that anyone would owe big time for.

You totally missed the point, Dave. "Owe big time" is not for the
hamburgers, it's for adding the imposition of a dinner guest to an
already hectic day.

I must have Jill. I used to work for a living, so taking a kid for
a blood test on top of 10 hour work day would have been a major
hassle. Now that I am retired and have all day to do things, a trip
to the clinic is not a major problem, and if I had to do a little
shopping, I would stop at the grocery store on the way home.

With a child who was cranky from being poked and prodded? Of course you
realize from prior posts, those screaming cranky children are an annoyance
to a lot of other people? And perhaps she can't hire someone to take care
of the child on such short notice so she can run to the store to get a lot
of other stuff.

That's

Quoted message said:

going to add a few minutes to the trip. Most families have to eat
dinner anyway.

Yes, but not necessarily with unexpected guests. I don't happen to stock my
freezer or pantry with the idea that someone I don't know might happen along
and expect to eat.

I revert to what I suggested earlier, that if I was

Quoted message said:

married to someone who thought that I "owed big time" for bringing a
friend home for hamburgers, I think I would be calling home to say
not to hold dinner because I am going out with a friend for burgers
(or wings) and beer. I wouldn't want to keep anyone from their
soaps.

Soaps, shmopes. It's the Judge shows, you fool! <G> Besides, while I don't
want to put words in Chris' mouth, I'd have to say the "owed big time" might
be a nice candlelit dinner alone, sans the rushing around with the child and
dinner guests; some music and maybe a nice bubble bath and ummmm 😉 You'd
say "no" to that?

Jill