Stupid Dining Tricks?

[Princess Susi]

I'm sick of PC. It's a cancer. Not only is it anti-american, because it forces you to self-censor yourself, but it also is cowardly, because it means you don't stand for something you believe in. I don't want to hurt people's feelings, but there is a difference between maliciously offending someone and someone being offended by...truth. If you are offended by the truth, then that's your problem. The truth is supposed to offend you, that's how you know you don't got it.

So, speak the truth, you have nothing against fat people! Unless they take the last 15 chocolate chip muffins from the breakfast buffet, then it's game on people!

Okay! I will just go for it. I am used to people on the other boards using the term "fluffy" which really bothers me. Stupid word. But I don't want to hurt people's feelings either, which is why I used "people of weight." And you are right, that is a cop out. I am heavy and I know it. I don't think I could ever use the word *fat* tho. It just seems cruel to me and even though they may be, I use heavy. Ralphie likes the term hambeast! Did you did notice I called them Hungry Hippos? That is what they were, Hungry, hungry hippos. Ralphie was just fascinated watching them shove the food down their gullets. And they did clear a whole large plate of donuts between them. Ralphie was in shock. He worried there would be no food for anyone else. (I am laughing so hard right now typing this, I just remember in my head what his face looked like as he watched the food disappear!) It was a sight to behold and then they waddled off to their room. I was cracking up and Ralphie was still in shock. I don't think he has ever seen people put food away like that before! And he WAS worried they would eat ALL the food! LOL! Hey, it was in the concierge lounge and you can eat "all you want" I guess they did! LOL! I solomnly swear not to be PC like that again! It is icky! I lived in Berzerkly and everyone there was soooooooo...careful about what they said about anything. You could not utter one un PC thing or else you were a right wing neo nazi supremacist! Berkeley, where all the nuts live!
God, I am glad to be out of there! Here in cowboy country, they say it like it is. It is a bit of culture shock even still! Anyway back to your regularly scheduled thread. yee haw...
The DDP......or
PARTY AT HOBIES!!!!!!!! :D: Party on, dude!

soooooozie

[hobie16]

I love the People's Republic of Berkeley. It makes the rest of the Bay Area look so sane.

[Kwahati]

Okay, for the record: (a) the whole rest of the Bay Area is sane (as a product of the area, I feel a need to defend it and the substantial portion of my family which still resides there...we're so northern californian, that I still get hell for not going to Stanford like a good boy) (b) There's nothing wrong with PC if that's how you really are (just like there's no problem with being fat unless you have a problem with yourself! [or if you take the last fifteen cookies...]). I would encourage people to be comfortable in their own skin. I don't say the N word behind closed doors, so I don't feel the need to say it in public either. However, I have lots of black friends who feel that African-American is a patronizing term (especially if you ever actually go to Africa and realize that American blacks are "mizungu" just like any other American and have very little in common with Africans) so I use the term "black" instead...lots of people haven't had the same experiences I have had, or don't have the same racially diverse group of friends or whatever, so they use "African-American"...more power to them! They might get laughed at, but they'll never get beat up for it! Basically: say whatever you want, but only if you're willing to take responsibility for offending whoever you might offend. (c) Of course PC is about "self-censoring yourself"...it's hard to self-censor someone else! ;)

Back on topic: My "family" is using the DDP this next trip (just the regular one, the gubment doesn't pay well enough to go "platinum") and I'm pretty excited about it. We've got some great reservations lined up (only one per night) and our schedule is the most laid-back we've ever done. We finally caught on to our own habits and we've scheduled swimming and nap-time every day! There are entire threads on all the various Board X's out there devoted to how to cheat the system, but it sure seems like the DDP is a great value without having to cheat it! We're getting some bottled water and soda and some other things delivered to our hotel, but aside from that, it seems like the DDP has us really well covered! (I do sorta wish you could still do 2 sit-down meals for 1 Victoria and Albert's meal but we definitely don't mind paying for such a grand experience! [In case you didn't catch it, Susi, we're also in the "we like being pampered on vacation" camp...I'll be thinking of you when I'm getting a massage!]) The hardest part of using the DDP for us is that our anticipated meals are setting a really high bar for the Thanksgiving dinner one of my roommates and I are cooking the day after we get back! We're going to do seven courses and we'll be feeding about 10. Then I have to work the day after thanksgiving! I'll get to sleep for a couple of days after that at least... (If anyone here cooks, I'd love to swap some non-traditional thanksgiving dinner ideas! For the benefit of anyone who watches top chef: we're kicking around the idea of sous vide turkey with a cranberry foam! j/k :p: )

[Big Wallaby]

I see the same crazed tourists in Hawaii. It's sunrise on Haleakala, bike down the mountain, whale watch cruise, shop for t-shirts, eat at Mama's Fish House, drive to Hana. And that's just the first day.

For those who have never been to Maui, Hana is its own thing deserving its own day. And if you rent a jeep, it's really fun to come back the other way. Of course, now that I have a friend on Maui, I don't expect I'll ever need to rent a car again, except at that Harley rental place.

[hobie16]

And if you rent a jeep, it's really fun to come back the other way.

The earthquake on the northwest side of the Big Island damaged some bridges on the south end of Maui. That means you can no longer drive around the back side. On the Mainland repairs would probably be done within a year. In Hawaii we're probably looking at ten.

[Big Wallaby]

And don't forget the wackos who think it's better not to do reconstruction anyway.

[hobie16]

And don't forget the wackos who think it's better not to do reconstruction anyway.

In this case the wackos are on the wrong side of the bridge. They've been the most vocal about getting it fixed.

[February]

I love the People's Republic of Berkeley.

Ooo! A geography and a social studies lesson today! I had no idea that this thread would become so educational!!!

I had a friend from Berkeley. . .he was definitely one of a kind. . .

[Princess Susi]

I was raised in the East Bay all my life and moved to the North Bay Area to attend Granola State, er, I mean Sonoma State University! :D: Then I moved back down to the East Bay,met my Ralphie who was living in Berkeley, in the Elmwood about a half mile from campus and a few blocks from the bustling center of Telegraph Avenue! It was quite the place to be! Lots of great bookstores and fun to go down to Telegraph on the weekends and watch the tourists ogle the Naked People or the "hippies" and weirdos! I loved the North Bay area, lived about 15 minutes from the coast and it was beautiful amidst the vineyards! I miss the Bay Area, would never go back to live there, (the in-laws are there...Gaaaaaaahhhhhhh!) and the traffic is horrendous. That is why we are looking at going to Florida. Get out of the cold winters in Denver and be able,to go to the Parks whenever we want, and maybe even work part time for the mouse in our retirement. :bouncemic

Kwahati, where in the Bay Area are you from? Are you still there?
It is a great place in so many ways. I used to think it was the center of the Universe! :D: LOL!
sooooooozie
I also lived up in Mendocino County in Willits for a while! Ah, a part of the infamous Emerald Triangle as it is known in certain herbal circles!

[hobie16]

I lived in Palo Alto before decamping for Maui. I was about a mile from the Stanford campus. You can always tell a Stanford man, but not much.

PA was a great town with excellent schools but, towards the end, it was getting too crowded, traffic was miserable and too many rich nitwits had moved in. My daughter took a while to adjust to Maui but I've never looked back.