Month: August 2022

Please Wait To Be Seated…

You and your sweetie are out for an evening of fine dining.  The work day is over and you want to relax and take it easy and let someone wait on you.  Kick off your shoes without actually kicking off your shoes.  As the Host/Hostess leads you to the table they have selected for you, and it is not to your liking, what do you do?  Do you take whatever is offered and say nothing, or do you speak up and ask for an alternate table?  Is it okay to tell a restaurant hostess you would rather sit somewhere else other than where they want to place you?

This is a semi-important subject to me, and I actually have my own set of “rules”…

  1. The behind-the-scenes “rotation” is none of my concern. As the customer I’m there to enjoy my experience. That’s why I’m paying extra money to eat out rather than stay home. Work it out behind the scenes. That being said…
  2. I will always be polite in my request.
  3. I will always try to state my preference up front right when we walk in, whenever possible.  The exception being as stated in the beginning, when I’m being led to a dissatisfactory table.
  4. I will never… ever… request a room or separate section that is obviously closed.
  5. If the place is super busy I might say something like, “I’d like a booth, if possible.” Emphasis on the “…if possible”. I have preferences but I try to be reasonable, too.
  6. Once I have accepted the seat, it would take a huge extraordinary circumstances for me to request to move. It’s been done, but very rare.
  7. If just the two of us, or with another couple I generally prefer booths. But if I’m in a larger party I hate when they try to stuff us all into a “long booth”. Eff that, that’s extremely uncomfortable, then I want a table.
  8. The only reason I need is I have preferences. I don’t have to justify it beyond that.

So, yes, it is perfectly acceptable to override their seating chart and request something different.

By Restaurants, TippingLeave a Comment

Electric Vehicle Mandates (Probably) Won’t Affect The Grump

California has issued a policy to ban sales of new vehicles with gasoline engines by 2035.  The Grump has mixed feelings about this, but is not automatically opposed.  That being said, this will probably not affect The Grump, and not just because he doesn’t live in California (for good or for bad California sets the standards nationwide and what they do everyone else follows along).  My reasons are less rebellious…

  1. The Grump is cheap.  He values quality and reliable vehicles, but is not willing to keep up with rising new vehicle prices, even without the added current cost of batteries and such.  The Grump has owned two brand new vehicles in his lifetime, the last in 1999, and swore years ago he’d never buy brand new again.  Instead, he has been buying quality used vehicles 1-2 years old where the worst of the depreciation has already occurred.
  2. The infrastructure isn’t there… yet.  This move may hasten infrastructure development, and that would be good, but it’s simply not there right now.  The Grump has no desire to get stranded in eastern Wyoming because there isn’t a charger nearby.
  3. Batteries are freaking expensive!  This is the not-so-secret fatal flaw of the technology right now, and this makes the overall vehicle expensive.  Many people have been shocked at the cost of a battery replacement.  The Grump is not programmed for surprises like that.

Now, would The Grump ever purchase an electric vehicle?  Meh, maybe.  The Grump would be open to it, but honestly all the ancillary factors need to be worked out and make it practical and workable for ME.  The Grump is not willing to ride the cutting edge and work out all the costs and kinks for everyone else.

By Driving, TechnologyLeave a Comment

Passwords

The Grump was talking with his wife this evening… Grumpette???… and this was our topic:  Internet passwords are a minefield through which there is no rational and effective way to navigate.  Many people like to use the same password for everything, which we all know is not secure, but even if you want to do that no two sites have the same criteria so you can’t do that anyway.  Then there’s two-step authentication, which The Grump grudgingly admits is a good security measure, but it’s a pain in the butt… especially when my phone is in another room and I have to get up to retrieve it.

Now, most sites aren’t too bad, you pick a password and go,  But some are infuriating.  Your “conversation” with the website goes something like this…

  • Website:  Please choose a password.  (And that’s all it says.)
  • You:  abc
  • Website:  Passwords must be between 8 and 16 characters.
  • You:  abcdefgh
  • Website:  Passwords must contain at least one number.
  • You:  abcdefg1
  • Website:  Passwords must contain at least one capital letter.
  • You:  (sigh)  Abcdefg1
  • Website:  Passwords must contain at least one special character.
  • You:  (eye roll) Abcdef1$
  • Website:  No, that that special character.  Chose from the following special characters: @
  • You: (grumble) Abcdef1@
  • Website:  That password is already taken.
  • You:  😐  Abcdef2@
  • Website:  Thank you.  Please proceed.

Ummm… Why didn’t you list your criteria BEFORE I started all this crap?  I mean, really!

Footnote:  I have never used the above passwords, nor even close, nor will I ever.  Go away.

By Annoyances, Pet Peeve, TechnologyLeave a Comment

Hmmm… I’m Skeptical

In our daily travels we come across statements from businesses and corporations that, after time, simple aren’t believable anymore.  You see or hear them for so long you know they can’t be legit.  So let’s cut to the chase and list a few…

  1. Many years ago when I lived in Phoenix, Arizona, I would drive by this apartment complex every day.  It was a three-story complex, and on the side near the top, at least 40 feet up, was a permanent “NOW RENTING” sign.  It never moved, never was covered up, never was brought down… always there advertising apartments for rent.  Now maybe they were saying an occupied apartment was an apartment they were “renting”, but that seems a tad deceptive.  Playing fast and loose with the intent of the phrase.  <shrug>
  2. I have been going to my doctor for over 12 years now.  Whenever I call I get the following message, “Please pay attention, as our menu options have recently changed.”  😐  Except they haven’t.  Ever.
  3. A common lunch for me is to order a sandwich and have it delivered to my work.  It cheap and convenient… well, it’s convenient.  The sandwiches aren’t groundbreaking, but they’re fine and I’m lazy, so it all works out.  They’re a national chain and their website says, “We are currently running longer than normal delivery times.“, for every store, every day, at all hours.  It’s a permanent message.  It’s a meaningless message.

The apartment complex wants people to apply even if they’re full.  The doctor’s office wants you to listen because too many people don’t.  And the sandwich shop wants to be able to say, “We warned you it might take longer.” if something goes awry.

Problem is, messages like this do more harm then good.  Not unlike the boy who cried wolf, spread false information enough and no one believes you anymore.

By Annoyances, ObservationsLeave a Comment