Author Topic: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.  (Read 47040 times)

chesebert

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #100 on: May 22, 2016, 06:55:15 PM »
The guy clearly lacks manners as its common sense to pay if you invite people out.
Still, I think the OP comes off like a judgmental prick, 99% of western civilization does not consider "mineral water" as something obscene, maybe they have tab at home but since it was a first meeting they were trying not to look cheap.
I guess the issue with your though process on this is that much of western civilization is actually located WEST of the GWB, and would, in fact, view paying five bucks a 750 ML bottle of water, and have a waiter put on a show while serving, to be pretentious as hell. BTW, your defense of a half cent's worth of water, in a fancy bottle, for five bucks, will probably receive little sympathy in these parts, LOL


Also, ordering an appetizer as a main course will clearly make the hosts uncomfortable in this kind of situation.
Just play along and be a functioning member of society, we don't have to prove a point every single damn time.

It was 8:30 PM when we ordered. I am generally up, and productively engaged before six AM, and like a lot of fly over county hicks, end up eating at five ish.  A hour before bed, I wasn't the least bit hungry, and order an app.(literally a smaller version of a main course on the menu) and a veggie side. The don was at the other end of a big table, behind a huge center piece arrangement, and I assure you, gave zero fucks as to what, and if,  I was eating. Nobody was trying to make a point by failing to order large amounts of food, late in the evening, specifically to make anybody uncomfortable.Even if I was that devious, this guy sure as hell doesn't do "uncomfortable"

I personally would not give a damn, but it's funny how in this community we always rant about how "people" will judge you because you drive a civic, but then have no issue whatsoever writing a 400 word rant about a poor unknown person because they order Sanpellegrino the first time they have an official dinner with the potential in laws.

Edited to correct awful typos

I would  have to assume that "Sanpellegrino" is a brand of trendy water that most of western civilization (NYC?)drinks at diner?
Just a brand of sparkling mineral water (not water with added carbonation). Usually $1 or so a bottle on average at Costco, not high end stuff. Restaurants however make bank on these and other beverages.

S.S.

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #101 on: May 29, 2016, 02:32:33 PM »
THANK YOU, paddedhat, for refusing to apologize for your story or the way you told it.  It was funny and enlightening to read your anecdote about this annoying person.  Due to your vivid descriptions, I could very easily visualize Mr. Mafia Don and his irksome behavior, which amused me very much (this is a mark of good storytelling, btw).  I, too, have noticed these "weird" posters to which you refer on this forum.  They are looking to get offended and attempt to shame more boisterous posters such as yourself into toeing the line and constructing posts in a more "appropriate" fashion.  In other words, they are attempting to censor your speech.

If you are so easily offended by a satirical anecdote and cannot fathom the idea that a man's writing style is separate from his character or how he behaves IRL, you're better off not reading posts here, as others have pointed out.  This sub-topic is the 100% appropriate place to anonymously call out ridiculous people in your life for being "dicks", "douches", or <gasp> even "bitches" with reckless abandon and ought to remain that way.  That's what makes it FUN.  Remember fun?  It's the thing no one's allowed to have anymore because it could be mildly offensive to someone you don't know and will most likely never meet.

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #102 on: January 03, 2021, 08:40:50 PM »
I love mining the oldie but goody threads, and this one is a gem.

ChickenStash

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #103 on: January 04, 2021, 12:13:05 PM »
I was afraid to open a thread titled with "fancy dinner" and "exploding fountain of waste" assuming it was headed in a much different direction. I'm glad I was wrong.

tk2356

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #104 on: January 05, 2021, 01:43:05 PM »
Enjoyed the story -- thanks for sharing! Side rant: the often unavoidable period of who owes up after a large group dinner is very annoying. It took all of one meal in Germany to see how inefficient the U.S. is:

Group of ten, server had the bill and went around to each couple/person to pay individually, checking the items off as she went. Tax is included and a few euros tip per person is appreciated/quickly passed, so our bill was handled with no discomfort or awkwardness whatsoever in around two minutes. And if the place is busy (or fancy) and the bill is just brought to the table, the tax inclusion + easy tipping system makes it just as easy for us to divvy up ourselves.

Four years of this magic (+3-4 euro quality half liters) and it's hard to pull the wool back over the eyes.
« Last Edit: January 05, 2021, 01:45:04 PM by tk2356 »

Psychstache

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #105 on: January 05, 2021, 02:41:19 PM »
Enjoyed the story -- thanks for sharing! Side rant: the often unavoidable period of who owes up after a large group dinner is very annoying. It took all of one meal in Germany to see how inefficient the U.S. is:

Group of ten, server had the bill and went around to each couple/person to pay individually, checking the items off as she went. Tax is included and a few euros tip per person is appreciated/quickly passed, so our bill was handled with no discomfort or awkwardness whatsoever in around two minutes. And if the place is busy (or fancy) and the bill is just brought to the table, the tax inclusion + easy tipping system makes it just as easy for us to divvy up ourselves.

Four years of this magic (+3-4 euro quality half liters) and it's hard to pull the wool back over the eyes.

Just a note the inefficiency is regional in my experience. In Texas, separate checks are assumed/established at the beginning of the meal by the server. I've always gotten a check that had just me/me and SO's items on there.

Wintergreen78

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #106 on: January 06, 2021, 06:42:07 PM »
Enjoyed the story -- thanks for sharing! Side rant: the often unavoidable period of who owes up after a large group dinner is very annoying. It took all of one meal in Germany to see how inefficient the U.S. is:

Group of ten, server had the bill and went around to each couple/person to pay individually, checking the items off as she went. Tax is included and a few euros tip per person is appreciated/quickly passed, so our bill was handled with no discomfort or awkwardness whatsoever in around two minutes. And if the place is busy (or fancy) and the bill is just brought to the table, the tax inclusion + easy tipping system makes it just as easy for us to divvy up ourselves.

Four years of this magic (+3-4 euro quality half liters) and it's hard to pull the wool back over the eyes.

Just a note the inefficiency is regional in my experience. In Texas, separate checks are assumed/established at the beginning of the meal by the server. I've always gotten a check that had just me/me and SO's items on there.

I’ve also learned that it is a US thing for the waiter to take your card to the back, instead of taking a reader out to the table. We had a work meal with someone from Canada. He was really unsettled when the waiter wanted to take his card away from the table. Having now been to a place where the waiter just brings out a card reader and sorts things out right at the table, I’m a big fan of that system.

Just Joe

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #107 on: January 06, 2021, 08:08:06 PM »
I would prefer the waiter bring a card reader to the table. We once had a waiter change our tip amount without our knowledge. Fortunately there was other fraud against other people too and we were notified by the restaurant. 

jinga nation

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #108 on: January 07, 2021, 06:56:36 AM »
I would prefer the waiter bring a card reader to the table. We once had a waiter change our tip amount without our knowledge. Fortunately there was other fraud against other people too and we were notified by the restaurant.
It is happening slowly in my city; some of the restaurants we use have started bring card/chip readers to the table, with the option to pay via NFC - touchless transactions FTW!

Chris22

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #109 on: January 07, 2021, 10:02:35 AM »
Even better is we have several restaurants using a Toast system and they bring you a bill with a QR code, scan the QR with your smartphone and pay on a website it brings you too. Then it emails you a receipt and you leave. Once your waiter brings your bill your interactions with them are done, no need to wait for them to come back for your card and then come back again with your card.

https://pos.toasttab.com/products/pay-at-table

Wintergreen78

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #110 on: January 07, 2021, 12:42:20 PM »
Even better is we have several restaurants using a Toast system and they bring you a bill with a QR code, scan the QR with your smartphone and pay on a website it brings you too. Then it emails you a receipt and you leave. Once your waiter brings your bill your interactions with them are done, no need to wait for them to come back for your card and then come back again with your card.

https://pos.toasttab.com/products/pay-at-table

Just to be clear, all of these discussions about restaurants are talking about 2019, right? I’m pretty sure I won’t be having anything other than take-out for at least another year.

Chris22

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #111 on: January 07, 2021, 01:11:51 PM »
Even better is we have several restaurants using a Toast system and they bring you a bill with a QR code, scan the QR with your smartphone and pay on a website it brings you too. Then it emails you a receipt and you leave. Once your waiter brings your bill your interactions with them are done, no need to wait for them to come back for your card and then come back again with your card.

https://pos.toasttab.com/products/pay-at-table

Just to be clear, all of these discussions about restaurants are talking about 2019, right? I’m pretty sure I won’t be having anything other than take-out for at least another year.

We have a vibrant downtown area in my town, and they shut down the main intersection and allowed restaurants to set up outdoor seating in the summer/fall. And the toast thing was a byproduct of them looking for touch less ways to do business.

RainyDay

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #112 on: January 08, 2021, 09:20:30 AM »
I just want to know if @paddedhat ended up with this guy as an in-law!

OtherJen

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #113 on: January 08, 2021, 09:46:17 AM »
Even better is we have several restaurants using a Toast system and they bring you a bill with a QR code, scan the QR with your smartphone and pay on a website it brings you too. Then it emails you a receipt and you leave. Once your waiter brings your bill your interactions with them are done, no need to wait for them to come back for your card and then come back again with your card.

https://pos.toasttab.com/products/pay-at-table

Just to be clear, all of these discussions about restaurants are talking about 2019, right? I’m pretty sure I won’t be having anything other than take-out for at least another year.

Probably not. Loads of people are still eating in restaurants.

RWD

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #114 on: January 08, 2021, 09:51:59 AM »
I just want to know if @paddedhat ended up with this guy as an in-law!
Unfortunately paddedhat hasn't been on the forum since 2017 so we may never know.

TheGrimSqueaker

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #115 on: January 11, 2021, 01:50:44 PM »
I just want to register my approval of the subject line. I can't read it without visualizing a sewage cannon in the middle of the table. Now that's presentation. You could even rationalize it as some kind of molecular gastronomy.

Christof

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #116 on: January 11, 2021, 05:13:55 PM »

Just to be clear, all of these discussions about restaurants are talking about 2019, right? I’m pretty sure I won’t be having anything other than take-out for at least another year.

We had really low numbers (like five active cases in a city of 100,000) during summer with lots of outdoor options and distanced tables. We leaped several years in going cashless here in Germany in the past year.

Papa bear

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #117 on: January 11, 2021, 06:50:32 PM »
Oh man, I miss paddedhat on here.  Hope he’s doing ok.


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TheGrimSqueaker

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #118 on: January 12, 2021, 07:50:39 AM »
Oh man, I miss paddedhat on here.  Hope he’s doing ok.


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Well, I hope so. But it's probably unrealistic to expect him back given what happened.

YttriumNitrate

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #119 on: January 12, 2021, 08:13:48 AM »
I love mining the oldie but goody threads, and this one is a gem.

When I saw this post was active again, I was expecting a great story about how Padded Hat was now being expected to pay for his daughter's lavish wedding to the son of a mafia Don... oh well.

Bloop Bloop Reloaded

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #120 on: January 13, 2021, 07:17:24 PM »
I liked the story and agreed with the premise that the dinner was ostentatious and contained a lot of unnecessary elements, though personally I would have tried to just enjoy it in good faith; even if it was an ego exercise for the in-laws, many people do have egos (including all of us) and not all of us are subtle about the way we massage ours. I would have tried to take the evening in a bit better humour. After all when you get pissed off at other people's ostentatiousness it's ultimately you who suffers.

Dave1442397

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #121 on: January 14, 2021, 06:50:50 AM »
I love mining the oldie but goody threads, and this one is a gem.

When I saw this post was active again, I was expecting a great story about how Padded Hat was now being expected to pay for his daughter's lavish wedding to the son of a mafia Don... oh well.

We know someone who had one of those weddings. The dress cost $20,000, and I remember the engagement ring being $100,000. I have no idea who paid for the wedding, but it was certainly lavish, and that was twenty years ago.

I forget the original name of the family, but they are still around and involved in Atlantic City casinos, etc. The guy who had the wedding was actually given his mother's maiden name as his last name at birth due to the activities associated with the family.

Just Joe

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #122 on: January 14, 2021, 08:39:55 AM »
Did the marriage survive?

Chris22

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #123 on: January 14, 2021, 11:42:26 AM »
I’ll be honest, I don’t get how a $50/person dinner is ostentatious. Like a real dinner with drinks and such, not a night at Applebee’s with a coupon.

My wife and I went out last week, our baby sitter is going back to college so we wanted our girls to see her again before she left so she came over and we ran some errands and then had a leisurely dinner at a sports bar (outdoor seating etc calm down Covid warriors) and watched the Mich-WI game.

We had some cheese curds ($12), a burger ($14), a chicken sandwich* ($15), and four craft beers 4x 7.50). With tax that’s about $80, and I tipped the guy $30 because he did a good job and there was no one there and it’s a local place we like. There’s your $50/person dinner. That’s not something we do every week or month but jeez.  And to not be able to cover it while acting like a big shot?  Christ. 

*beer battered and covered with local cheese, it’s fantastic, don’t scoff at the price it’s worth it

TheGrimSqueaker

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #124 on: January 14, 2021, 12:02:49 PM »
I’ll be honest, I don’t get how a $50/person dinner is ostentatious. Like a real dinner with drinks and such, not a night at Applebee’s with a coupon.

My wife and I went out last week, our baby sitter is going back to college so we wanted our girls to see her again before she left so she came over and we ran some errands and then had a leisurely dinner at a sports bar (outdoor seating etc calm down Covid warriors) and watched the Mich-WI game.

We had some cheese curds ($12), a burger ($14), a chicken sandwich* ($15), and four craft beers 4x 7.50). With tax that’s about $80, and I tipped the guy $30 because he did a good job and there was no one there and it’s a local place we like. There’s your $50/person dinner. That’s not something we do every week or month but jeez.  And to not be able to cover it while acting like a big shot?  Christ. 

*beer battered and covered with local cheese, it’s fantastic, don’t scoff at the price it’s worth it

Even three years ago, dinner at $50 per head is easy to run up even before the tip.

Dining in the home, a $50 per head dinner is spectacular. For that price, a six-person meal at my place is seven courses, and I can do it in the proper Slavic fashion with three dishes per course and separate wines for the entree and main course. A lot depends on the ingredients selected and where you want to buy them. If you can find wine at a good price or make your own, and if you have reasonable cooking skills, a 10-course tasting menu is not out of the question. I try to keep the head count at six or fewer when I do that because I don't run out of dishes that way.

My next planned feast will cost about that amount per head. It will be for the people I'm bubbled with. I'm planning cocktails with caviar, a soup, an entree of some protein such as kielbasa with cabbage, a starch or pasta course, pickles, then roast goose with rice stuffing, applesauce, and two to three vegetable sides... followed by pie or cake for dessert. Very basic, not a lot of labor except for the preparation of the goose, but I want to show off my "new" (i.e. refinished by me) cabinets.

Chris Pascale

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #125 on: January 16, 2021, 06:47:05 PM »
FIL didn't expect to have to pay, but in the end he did.  Hell, he extended the invite and chose the place.

This kind of stuff bugs me. If friends go out together, they can all pay for their own stuff, but when someone puts on a show of setting up an event, they should treat unless otherwise discussed. Apparently, when someone throws themselves a birthday outing, they expect to be treated.

Uh, what? You extended an invite to me. Also, you're 34, and it's not your wedding.

I first found out about this when I invited a bunch of people out for my birthday. I picked up a dozen tickets to a comedy show ($10 each) and paid the bar tab at the end of the show. My friend said it was really cool of me to do that - that people invite people out, then hit the head when the check arrives.

Not sure how you do that to your friends.

Alternatively, I went to a go-kart birthday party (very fun) and when it's over I find myself paying for part of it, then we're heading to an expensive restaurant. I had the cash on me, but, dude, a head's up?

Chris Pascale

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #126 on: January 16, 2021, 06:58:23 PM »
This reminds me of .........a good friend who was very wealthy...................he often " forgot his wallet!"

................I paid the bill and left a generous tip ......................my friend pocketed the tip I left!

What a motherfucking asshole.

TheGrimSqueaker

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #127 on: January 18, 2021, 01:33:17 PM »
My friend said it was really cool of me to do that - that people invite people out, then hit the head when the check arrives.

Not sure how you do that to your friends.

It probably explains why people are so reluctant to accept invitations.

Back before COVID-19 when it was still possible to have places to go where group participation was an option, I found that people would hem, haw, and be very reluctant to try something they weren't certain they would like. Part of the reluctance was due to not wanting to pay for what might not be enjoyable. I found that if I said "my treat" and made it obvious I was paying (note this wasn't something I did often, usually just for special occasions) people were more likely to try something new, so I'd get a better response rate and less reluctance.

JestJes

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #128 on: January 20, 2021, 01:40:07 PM »
OooooooOOOo can we complain about in-laws for a second?

My mother in law is the most jaw-droppingly naïve human I have ever met in my life. Classic "I think I earned my fathers money." She always talks about how she isn't going to work a day past 65 and how she made it without going to college and being a teen mom blah blah blah. So I asked her one day, how she had saved up so much money because they have all the things they have brand new Jeep, Truck, Snowmobile, several motorcycles and still retire "early".  She told me they didn't have a dime saved, but were expecting her father to leave them a hearty sum and that is their retirement. I must have made a face because she quickly mentioned that SO had a fund set aside as well.

I know this makes me a bad person but I secretly hope her father donates everything to an animal rescue or something like that. The look on her face would bring me years and years of satisfaction.

Chris Pascale

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #129 on: January 21, 2021, 01:23:28 PM »
OooooooOOOo can we complain about in-laws for a second?

My mother in law is the most jaw-droppingly naïve human I have ever met in my life. Classic "I think I earned my fathers money." She always talks about how she isn't going to work a day past 65 and how she made it without going to college and being a teen mom blah blah blah. So I asked her one day, how she had saved up so much money because they have all the things they have brand new Jeep, Truck, Snowmobile, several motorcycles and still retire "early".  She told me they didn't have a dime saved, but were expecting her father to leave them a hearty sum and that is their retirement. I must have made a face because she quickly mentioned that SO had a fund set aside as well.

I know this makes me a bad person but I secretly hope her father donates everything to an animal rescue or something like that. The look on her face would bring me years and years of satisfaction.

It is very natural to want someone to get their comeuppance when they are so entitled. This song by Paramore might be a fun one to listen to when thinking about your MIL - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFEmTsfFL5A

I wonder if grandpa told his kids "I have a lot of money, and it's enough for you to retire." But if that's the case, is he giving yearly gifts to his kids? Or is she just saying to herself he has a house and goes on vacation, so he's clearly very rich. I've seen that with some people.

Just Joe

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #130 on: January 23, 2021, 07:38:49 AM »
That's a big load of trust she is putting in a person - albeit a parent. Maybe she hasn't heard the kind of stories shared here in the MMM forums.

She might have a confusing moment when her daydream collapses and there isn't an inheritance or its $5K rather than $500K.

Rustyfa

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #131 on: January 23, 2021, 12:13:31 PM »
I’d love an update.  Did they end up together?  We’re there more run ins with the in laws?

Chris Pascale

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #132 on: January 23, 2021, 12:40:40 PM »
That's a big load of trust she is putting in a person - albeit a parent. Maybe she hasn't heard the kind of stories shared here in the MMM forums.

She might have a confusing moment when her daydream collapses and there isn't an inheritance or its $5K rather than $500K.

Also, if you're a spender, $500k can be gone really quickly. The cost of a Range Rover is $92,000, and we have to remember that there's 2 drivers in the home. Probably around the time they get solar panels installed on the way home from a trip to Europe, it might be time to start figuring just how well you live on Social Security.

Nicholas Carter

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #133 on: February 10, 2021, 07:23:58 PM »
Oh man, I miss paddedhat on here.  Hope he’s doing ok.


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Well, I hope so. But it's probably unrealistic to expect him back given what happened.
What happened?


TheGrimSqueaker

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #134 on: February 11, 2021, 08:16:19 AM »
Oh man, I miss paddedhat on here.  Hope he’s doing ok.


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Well, I hope so. But it's probably unrealistic to expect him back given what happened.

What happened?

He was a valuable contributor to the forum, which meant that he sometimes dealt out criticism while using adult language. The board went through a phase where people from certain groups were exempt from criticism or mockery despite being empowered to deal it out. There was one piling-on incident too many, and he did what most contributors to the board did. They either go silent (like me), or they leave completely. It's why there really aren't many new threads anymore. The people providing content have been successfully hectored into silence, which has essentially turned the forum into an echo chamber.

There's very little variety left here in terms of people's backgrounds or approach to frugality.

Warlord1986

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #135 on: February 11, 2021, 07:25:55 PM »
Oh man, I miss paddedhat on here.  Hope he’s doing ok.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well, I hope so. But it's probably unrealistic to expect him back given what happened.
What happened?

Nothing exciting. Paddedhat was an absurdly hostile and disgusting poster who was needlessly aggressive to other forum members. For evidence you can see these threads:

https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/antimustachian-wall-of-shame-and-comedy/biking-is-dangerous/msg1788439/#msg1788439

https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/antimustachian-wall-of-shame-and-comedy/gets-1-3-million-for-inherited-blanket/msg1784059/#msg1784059

You can go through his posts and make your own decisions. The mods told him to shut up once or twice, and shut down a thread he participated in. He disappeared not long after.

The idea that he was run off because of his language is ludicrous. Nobody piled on him, and there was never a forum-wide phase where certain animals were more equal than others. There are plenty of new threads, and any discussion reveals a variety of different viewpoints.

firstmatedavy

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Re: Fancy dinner with the in-laws, or an exploding fountain of waste.
« Reply #136 on: March 09, 2021, 09:44:30 AM »
So we'll invite them over for dinner sometimes and I'll cook something I'd consider a bit nicer - fresh bruschetta from homegrown ingredients to start and blue mussels with white wine sauce over linguine last night for example - and I can tell FIL is not a huge fan:)  MIL loves my cooking though and since it was mother's day that's what counted.

I'll make chilli topped with pre-grated bagged cheddar for dad in law next time:)

To be honest, the only thing in that meal that I would want to eat is the bread (which sounds good). I don't like gourmet food in general, and if he's the same way then of course he's not going to appreciate that meal.
I agree, he might be blown away if you serve well prepared freshly made simple food. Homemade chilli with freshly grated extra-sharp cheddar sounds more appealing to me than the pasta dish you served (I'll still take your bruschetta though).

For the record, we're not some fancypants people who eat escargot all the time.  My point got lost in the relative fanciness of our mother's day dinner (both my wife and MIL loved it though, and it was meant for them).  We make plenty of simple "meat and potatoes" dinners at home.  What I'm saying is that if I want to pay someone for cooking me steak, I won't go to Applebees to have one reheated for me.  My in-laws will, though.  And think it's a good deal because it was 12.99/person.  Basically, no risk of crazy restaurant bills having to be split with them.  However, I still don't like going out to eat with them because we'll end up at a crappy place where I don't value the food even if it ends up costing $10/person because I know that we can do MUCH better at home both in terms of quality and cost/plate.   Unfortunately, FIL does not express much appreciation for food prepared at home...for whatever reason.  MIL makes up for it though with public gratitude on facebook and the like.


Ugh, my in-laws are like that.  We took them to one of our favorite (pricey) restaurants, and made it clear we were treating them.  They couldn't even enjoy it because of how much it cost.  Sat there looking uncomfortable and trying to find the cheapest thing on the menu.  And yet they go to places like Bob Evans or Applebees all the time.  I thought they'd appreciate a treat since they never go out to a nice restaurant.  We won't make that mistake again with people who can't appreciate it.

I'm like this. I also appreciate the food I make more when it's cheap, so maybe cheapness is a really good seasoning or something. (Pre-pandemic, I liked restaurants that weren't chains but also weren't much more expensive than Ruby Tuesday and such. My husband and I are completely out of the habit of eating out now, which is great.)

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!