I love the speech Steve Martin gives in Father of the Bride when he has to go and try to fix the argument that his daughter and soon to be son in law get in weeks before their wedding. He talks about how his daughter comes from a long list of over reactors and then proceeds to list each of the family members that would fall into the group.
I could make the same speech about my family. We are all, to some degree, over reactors. Well.. everyone except my sister Libby. She would probably be classified as an under reactor. It is always entertaining when she FINALLY blows her top. Okay, I say entertaining, because you really have to push her to the brink in order for her to get angry. I'm sure she would disagree (as would her kids), but I think it is such a great quality and one I do not possess.
Case in point.
The other night Adam and I went to dinner at a fairly nice dinner at a great little restaurant. We have been interested in trying this little joint out for.. forever, but we have never quite made it. Until last week. The weather was great so we sat on the patio/sidewalk and ordered a GREAT dinner. GREAT until another dinner brought her STANDARD POODLE in and sat at the table right next to us. The thing just stared at me with his beady little eyes, lapping the water that the host brought for him (oh yeah... in a little bowl) and staring at me. Let me say it totally ruined my dinner. My perfectly good little dinner. I was going to say something, but opted out of it. Instead I wrote a little comment on their comment card about my perfectly fabulous dinner but my unhappiness with the dog situation. My biggest issue- isn't this a health code violation? I mean seriously it was a DOG in a restaurant. I wonder if I were to bring my pet rat (okay- I don't have a pet rat, but I know there are people out there that do) would they let me bring it into the restaurant. Of course not- OF COURSE NOT, because no one would be happy with the situation.. why is a dog any different? I really don't hate animals, but I think it is egotistical to assume that everyone is going to be happy about eating with a dog.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
17 comments:
Maybe you're overreacting, but lots of other people feel the same way. Paul, for instance. His company has a policy that people can bring their dogs to work with them. When one of his officemates started bringing her dog, Paul made her move to another office. It's just weird to treat dogs like people.
Aren't "Standard Poodles" just called "poodles"?
Lara, I appreciated the "standard Poodle" description. It let me know that it was one of those gigantic poodles, as opposed to a toy poodle that could have just gone under the table discretely and not have stared at you the entire time you were trying to eat.
I think I am pretty middle of the road when it comes to reactions, but I think you were right to be bothered. I mean it is gross, you were eating, and not everybody is a dog person. People who are the kind of dog people who take their dogs everywhere fail to recognize this all too much.
Sorry your dinner wasn't as enjoyable as it could have been.
Brent-
I'm not rehashing the term standard poodle vs poodle again. it is a standard poodle and you know it.
I think the fact that it was a standard poodle makes a huge difference! I wouldn't enjoy eating my dinner with a dog, either. I don't even like eating at home with my dog hovering nearby, hoping for a crumb to drop. I am always wondering why Parisians bring their dogs to restaurants, ew.
Yeah that would completely have ruined my dinner as well. It seems that maybe she might be a regular in the fact that they did not even think twice of bringing out water for the dog.
However, I am one of those over reactors that you speak of.
I wish you had a photo to go with this, the thought of you trying to take one is so funny to me.
I wouldn't have been happy about dining next to a dog either. What in the world?
So I find it interesting that you think I'm an under reactor. I think my husband would disagree oh, and a certain sister. I think the dog would have bothered me. I think I would have probably asked if I could be seated somewhere else. I definitely don't have a problem letting people know when I don't like the service. Customers have trained me well!
I'm pretty sure it is a health violation to bring a dog into a restaurant and also a dangerous one as how do you know the dog won't attack someone carrying food! I blame this all on that damned Paris as she started this stupid idea of hauling your dogs everywhere. Did anyone ask the dog if they wanted to be shoved in a purse or where some stupid outfit. NO!
I love my dog but there is no way I want to share my space while I'm eating. I would have asked to be moved and probably in passing the lady I would have said "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!!!" (sorry dear I guess you do come from a family of over reactors, but I don't think this is over reacting.)
I popped over to your blog from Jill's. It was fun to see one of my best friends from home on it at the rodeo with you. Say Hi to Kathryn.
what concerns me is that the dog got better service than we did. Explain that one!
Oh Lara--you crack me up. Over reacting is what makes life interesting in my opinion. A little drama never hurt anyone. As for the pooch--I am COMPLETELY on your side. When I pay good money for food--I expect a little more!
I overreact often, but this is not one of the situations that would bother me...
must be my location that has skewed my view
:P
BTW: thanks for the book, I started reading it, and it looks very promising!
xoxo
Holy cow I would have been beyond peeved. What is up with dogs at a nice restaurant unless of course they are for the blind. I would be interested to see if only certain nice restaurants allow that and if that happened to be one. (much like the hotels allow)
I could understand if it was a seeing-eye dog, but I've never heard of owners taking them to a restaurant. How rude!
I would have complained right away, and I love dogs!
Oh my gosh, that has happend twice to me, Once i was in the four seasons hotel...yes! I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT....but the lady was there with her pouch!....and another time, I don't remember where, but I thought, Oh my goodness..I guess. I am not that crazy about dogs...but if one was steering at my stake...I would proabably through a gaze at him, that would fulminate it!!!!!!!
oh yeah, I remember the other instance was at LA ROCHELLE in france....some years ago...wow...I wished you had a camera with you too! I thought it was a cute little poodle, but a medium size one? I would have him apprehended....
Post a Comment