August 22Aug 22 9 hours ago, a-447 said: In Japan you wouldn't dream of visiting someone's house without taking a gift - usually food. It is commonplace not to open the gift until the guests leave. I found this to be true with my ex-boyfriend's family in Taiwan, too. Whenever we were invited to someone's house for a meal, we always took some type of gift...usually a food or drink item such as wine or fruit. I do this in Thailand, too, when going to my friends. To be perfectly honest...that is how I was raised. Whenever we went to someone's house when I was growing up, my parents always took something for the host family. Nothing elaborate...sometimes something my mother had made...but we always took something.
August 22Aug 22 Active Members 2 hours ago, Suckrates said: In my home, that "leftover" lobster would have made a nice salad the next day..... My dog would get Kibbles & Bits.... But again, it's a Unicorn story, so the dog is FANCY too. Perhaps a requisite designer Frenchie that does make The Met carpet cut and patiently awaits the suitably pointed hostess gift arrival of a vinaigrette emulsifier that never made it to the wedding registry. Surely Ken’s Steakhouse potassium sorbate deserves more than maritime vessel steerage class.
August 22Aug 22 Active Members Token gift? Nothing pharmaceutical as a pool party crisps bowl was already brimming with leftover Doxy.
August 22Aug 22 Active Members 11 hours ago, a-447 said: This is where I think your story falls apart. Over the years, I have come to ENJOY Uni's "fairy tails" and I usually view them the SAME as I view what Trump says, ALL Bullshit, but at least Uni's stories have become entertaining........ Its also getting harder to deny his claims when he is now bringing "visual" receipts...... but then again, anything can be made to look REAL via AI...... I should STOP being such a "suspicious" bitch !
August 22Aug 22 11 hours ago, a-447 said: It's a cultural thing. In Japan you wouldn't dream of visiting someone's house without taking a gift - usually food. It is commonplace not to open the gift until the guests leave. In Australia, we often take alcohol. You are absolutely right about cultural thing, all the same like tipping customs and scores of other social rituals. It's why we need to be careful calling people out ' freeloaders ' and such for perceived infractions. Even within one country customs may vary. Where I was born one wouldn't be expected to go to a dinner carrying gift as this could be seen as immediate revenge and repayment . On another hand if gift was brought for any occasion , if was expected to be unpacked immediately and praised how beautiful, useful, tasty etc. it is.
August 22Aug 22 4 hours ago, Suckrates said: Damn Vinapu, I would rather live in your culture....Do you know how much money I spent on hostess gifts in my time ? I know very well because I live in your culture now. After every party we have the same problem , tons of wrapping and packaging to be put into garbage and how to disposes discreetly those useless gifts without causing an offense. In my building there's table in the lobby where we can place usable things we no longer need for somebody else to take. You should see it on morning day after Christmas - gifts, at times even unwrapped, galore
August 22Aug 22 28 minutes ago, Suckrates said: I should STOP being such a "suspicious" bitch ! you got that right , he,he
August 22Aug 22 Active Members 1 hour ago, vinapu said: You are absolutely right about cultural thing, all the same like tipping customs and scores of other social rituals. It's why we need to be careful calling people out ' freeloaders ' and such for perceived infractions. Even within one country customs may vary. Where I was born one wouldn't be expected to go to a dinner carrying gift as this could be seen as immediate revenge and repayment . On another hand if gift was brought for any occasion , if was expected to be unpacked immediately and praised how beautiful, useful, tasty etc. it is. I called Uni's guests "freeloaders" tongue in cheek, as CLEARLY they are aware of American custom and etiquette, and to my knowledge showed up only in their "twinning" stereotypical GAY costumes......EMPTY handed ! Maybe they are REBELS, but if you know the rules, and choose to ignore them, you will never be a guest in my home AGAIN ! But for YOU Vinapu, I'll make a one time allowance......
August 22Aug 22 1 hour ago, vinapu said: After every party we have the same problem , tons of wrapping and packaging to be put into garbage... In Japan you open a gift by slowly unwrapping it. Don't rush! You find the piece of cellotape and take it from there, being careful not to tear the paper. This is then folded neatly. Sometimes it is re-used, and at other times it is thrown away after the guest leaves. Wrapping is an art in Japan. Every shop assistant in every shop in every part of Japan wraps every item exactly the same way. The Japanese worked out years ago how to wrap using the least amount of paper and only 1 or 2 pieces of cellotape. After all these years, I still can't do it!
August 22Aug 22 Active Members 2 minutes ago, a-447 said: In Japan you open a gift by slowly unwrapping it. Don't rush! You find the piece of cellotape and take it from there, being careful not to tear the paper. This is then folded neatly. Sometimes it is re-used, and at other times it is thrown away after the guest leaves. Wrapping is an art in Japan. Every shop assistant in every shop in every part of Japan wraps every item exactly the same way. The Japanese worked out years ago how to wrap using the least amount of paper and only 1 or 2 pieces of cellotape. After all these years, I still can't do it! Dosent that seem like just a lot of wasted time and effort on something so inconsequential ? Some people just take pride in the littlest things.... I like my things BIG !
August 22Aug 22 Author Active Members 4 hours ago, Riobard said: Perhaps a requisite designer Frenchie that does make The Met carpet cut and patiently awaits... Funny that you say that! My husband actually does have a Frenchie from a prior relationship (a scoundrel who conned people out of their money and is now serving time in federal prison for fraud). More to my personality, I have a street rescue mutt. She looks and behaves like a half black labrador/half akita. Maybe a blakita. Here we are walking the dogs in Runyon Canyon Park.
August 22Aug 22 Active Members Labrakita. Not to be confused with a disastrous regrettable research facility incident where progeny of a lab rat and kitten are discovered. In any case, when eyeless, a useful support prophylaxis for falling into canyon ravines. Unless here we see a case of baby blue shame-training cones wedged on your heads. Pooches … oh em gee so adorable ! … cleared for photo opp without social media ethics board conditions. Do you kennel board them during your fairly frequent globetrotting absences? I’d volunteer but ab zero face time tolerated and I don’t facilitate federal Clink visitation.
August 22Aug 22 Active Members 26 minutes ago, unicorn said: Funny that you say that! My husband actually does have a Frenchie from a prior relationship (a scoundrel who conned people out of their money and is now serving time in federal prison for fraud). More to my personality, I have a street rescue mutt. She looks and behaves like a half black labrador/half akita. Maybe a blakita. Here we are walking the dogs in Runyon Canyon Park. Fashion courtesy of Lands End ??? 😏 (looks more like the WORLD ended)
August 22Aug 22 Author Active Members 49 minutes ago, Riobard said: ...Do you kennel board them during your fairly frequent globetrotting absences? ... We can usually find a friend who'll stay at our place to house/dog sit. Worst-case scenario is that our vet has boarding facilities, if we reserve in advance. We've only needed to do that once. Strangely enough, our Frenchie loves the experience, but the Labrakita does not. (Yes, we do compensate the friends) The most commonly-used friend is "Lindoro," discussed in prior strings.
August 22Aug 22 Author Active Members As for gifting, I usually do bring something when arriving as a guest, though, if asked what our guests might bring, I tell them that their presence is enough of a gift. Occasionally, someone will bring a wine so cheap I frankly don't know what to do with it. I wouldn't drink it myself, much less offer it to friends. I wouldn't re-gift such a wine, either. I guess I could probably just pour them down the toilet and place the bottle in the recycling bin. I suppose that a homeless person might appreciate a cheap wine, but giving it to them seems in poor taste.
August 22Aug 22 6 minutes ago, unicorn said: I guess I could probably just pour them down the toilet and place the bottle in the recycling bin never until you try it first, you may be surprised. When my social circle here discovered Georgian and Moldovan wines, it's often French or Spanish stuff which gets regifted.
August 22Aug 22 Active Members 39 minutes ago, unicorn said: As for gifting, I usually do bring something when arriving as a guest, though, if asked what our guests might bring, I tell them that their presence is enough of a gift. Occasionally, someone will bring a wine so cheap I frankly don't know what to do with it. I wouldn't drink it myself, much less offer it to friends. I wouldn't re-gift such a wine, either. I guess I could probably just pour them down the toilet and place the bottle in the recycling bin. I suppose that a homeless person might appreciate a cheap wine, but giving it to them seems in poor taste. Send it to Jeanine Pirro .... It would be a step up from her "box wine".....
August 22Aug 22 Active Members So you don’t have to white (or red; or rosé) lie about flushing supermarket plonk or Château Cardbord, if asked how you liked it: “I let it breathe followed by several generous pours.”
August 22Aug 22 Author Active Members Well, one of the two bottles is Charles Shaw Red Blend. I guess we could try cooking with it...
August 22Aug 22 Active Members 24 minutes ago, unicorn said: Well, one of the two bottles is Charles Shaw Red Blend. I guess we could try cooking with it... … if you are making a stew with bold notes of fiscal restraint and adolescent two-buck chuck binge regret.
August 23Aug 23 Active Members 2 hours ago, Riobard said: … if you are making a stew with bold notes of fiscal restraint and adolescent two-buck chuck binge regret. Sorry Rio, but the two-buck chuck you refer to is now $15.........That at least calls for a Boones Farm wine ? 🤪
August 23Aug 23 1 hour ago, Suckrates said: the two-buck chuck you refer to is now $15......... Like the cost of a 'chuck' in Nature Boy!
August 23Aug 23 5 hours ago, unicorn said: Occasionally, someone will bring a wine so cheap I frankly don't know what to do with it. I wouldn't drink it myself, much less offer it to friends. I wouldn't re-gift such a wine, either. I guess I could probably just pour them down the toilet and place the bottle in the recycling bin. I suppose that a homeless person might appreciate a cheap wine, but giving it to them seems in poor taste. You need to find more 'upmarket' friends who fit more comfortably into your lifestyle.
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.