I was in this much awaited captain’s night dinner on a vacation cruise when I heard a young man seated besides our table sneeze and I felt droplets of water on my neck. When I turned around, I noticed that he used the food menu to cover his sneezing and not the napkin underneath the menu. I was disappointed but then realized that not every one of us was taught manners.
Our parents always teach us whenever humanly possible about different kinds of manners. Our job is to apply them because if you do not do so, other people will think that you were not raised well by your parents.
My friends colleague was given a dramatic salary increase because she was the only one standing up when the boss enters the conference room for meetings. She was noticed and promoted because she had manners.
I’ve read a book a few months back called “The Book of Family Manners” by Hermine Hartley. Here are some of what most of our parents taught us combined with the book that I read for a refresher course on life manners.
1. When visiting someone else’s home and your kid accidentally breaks something, offer to pay or replace the item. When your child doesn’t want the food in the hosts house, at least take a few mouthfuls. It is rude not to do so.
2. When eating, do not forget the basics! Chew with your mouth close. Eat with a fork unless the food is meant to be eaten with fingers. Only babies eat with fingers and last but not the least, always remember to say thank you to the one who served you. Do not say rude things even if you saw some foreign object in your food like insects or hairs.
3. When invited in a party, always follow the R.S.V.P. in the invitation and confirm prior the said event. Plenty of us disregard that and it just defeats the purpose of it. You will also make it harder for the host to estimate the numbers.
4. Parents should be good examples because the children will imitate it. Manners are taught at home and not in school. Always say please, thank you and sorry.
5. Always be considerate to others like when in the subway. Offer your seat to the pregnant woman or elderly person. Do not contradict your spouse in public as your kids will do this to you. Remember the golden rule? Do unto other what you want others to do unto you. You can read that and more on Luke 6:30-36.
Manners should not be a task. It should be a daily lifestyle activity like eating, walking and praying. In doggy world, having manners will mean that you are a good breed and your “papers” will have stars on it. This will show others that your parents are good parents and they have taught you well. Let this be a reminder to everyone who forgets that manners are still important even though you are have achieved high, a multi-billionaire or just a commoner like most of us. Let us do this in return to what our parents had done to us and to reflect God’s attitude. Are you constantly aware of your manners?
Just came across this new book by Sarah O’ Leary Birmingham called, How to Raise your Parents. First reaction, why only let this out NOW?
I had my own issues with my mom and dad when I was in my teen years. It’s like opposites attracting each other to argue. They wanted me to go to an all-girls school but I went to co-ed. Wanted me to become a doctor but I hate the smells of hospitals. Aspired me to become a biology professor but I had hard time dissecting a frog. They wanted me to date their bestfriend’s son who was a pastor but I wanted to become a law enforcer and a car racer at the same time. I have nothing against ministers or pastors but I look at them reverently and can’t imagine being interested to the person who I see every Sunday at church and making sermons that almost always describes how I live.
So, this book talks about the good and bad things about being a teenager. Now,we all know that already. The book also asked if parents should have instructional manuals before having kids. Like a series that will go through even when their children reaches college. I say this book isn’t up for a New York Times Bestseller spot, but then, worthy to be considered by those who have and will and plan to be parents.
Let me guess. There are only two reasons why you are reading this post. One is, because you are a fan of Mr. Bean. The other is, because you are not a fan of him. Was that a useless statement? That is way better than hearing what he had been saying a lot from his TV series like “helloes” or “Tey-dey” (Teddy).
Some quick trivia about Mr. Bean, did you know that Mr. Beans’ first name was never revealed? So is Beans’ arch-enemies identityand the blue car. We can get some real life lessons from his funny moments.
Remember the episode wherein he doesn’t want the food in a restaurant? He tried very hard to dispose this and ended up being given another one. In life, do whatever you want as long as you know the limits. There is a big difference in being shy and being stupid. If you are the customer, you must practice your rights. Remember, having an enemy is always a good sign. It means that you stood up for something you believe in.
How about Mr. Beans’ child like acts like the one where he played with the Christmas display in the mall? It is not recommended to do so but, remember, it is not good to be serious always. You need to release your feelings. Express your emotions! Find whatever that makes you happy and do it. That way, you will enjoy what you do and be successful in it. If you keep everything to yourself, you might explode and go bean crazy.
Mr. Beans’ vacation also showed us confidence. Traveling around an unfamiliar territory with a compass? That would take a lot of guts. In life, you will face situations out of your comfort zone. There are only two choices, it is either to face it or run away from it. Remember, without those challenges, you would not grow as a person.
Not all can be learned in school. School teaches you the basics and it is up to you to steer the steering wheel. I am not saying that education is useless. What I am saying here is, education needs to be mixed with real life experiences. Have you watched the one where Bean wanted to donate money to a beggar? He checked out his pocket and saw he was out of coins. What he did was, he placed his handkerchief on the floor and danced away. People gave him money and he in turn, gave the money to the beggar. In life, you need common sense for survival.
Last but not the least; you do not need to exert lots of effort to make people happy. Just be yourself. People who pretend to impress often get caught in a situation where he gets tired of pretending and everything will fall. You always hear that in first dates, you should put your best foot forward. Bean says otherwise. He gave Irma Gobb a poster as a Christmas gift. She was irked a little, but Irma still loved him anyway. In love, you don’t need to pretend to each other to love each other. That won’t be successful.
Just be yourself, be creative and resourceful, improve your confidence and stand up for what you believe in. This is the way to live life to the fullest. Some things are better done in private. I am sure you would agree. So, can you do the bean dance in public?
Living in another country for a short period of time alone in an apartment is hard. You have to get used to living by yourself. No dog’s wagging tail welcome, no wife or girlfriend to give you massages and no cooked food to eat after a tiring day. What would you do then? Get the phone, dial a delivery hotline then watch the television while waiting for your food to arrive.
As a couch potato, you will learn appreciate to commercials. One solid reason is you get to go to have bathroom breaks without you being interrupted watching your favorite TV series. But what if the commercials you are watching becomes more interesting? Will it make you stay? Here are some interesting TV commercials.
Attract everybody and make your games a reality. Bang!
Bring McDonald’s food and your wife in your fishing trips. It just might be the best day of your life.
Ikea organizes like no other. Slurp!
Mastercard has tons of creative and funny commercials. Watch them all to get priceless laughs!
I’m really, really excited about the upcoming car show I’ll be joining this coming Sunday, but my spirits were dampen when I saw this episode on the Today show that reported that certain restaurants are planning to put in their menus how many calories are there in a dish. My initial reaction was, what were they thinking?
After that, 10 second-shock, I realized a reason, which I don’t find sensible. Maybe the move is for those who are weight-conscious. Thing is, all of us are conscious when it comes to our health, especially with the proliferation of weight-loss shows and with the latest winner from the Biggest Loser, it brings a stronger message to make ourselves fit. But, the calorie count in the menus I feel is frustrating and somehow irritating. I go out every other day with my friends for a nice dinner and this is where we really eat to our hearts’ delight after a day’s grueling work, and if I see a calorie count next to my favorite well-done lambchops and stone crab, it’ll spoil everything.
Yes, that day was today! As a car enthusiast, which a few, really few people know, I’ve actively participated in car clubs and other automobile associations. When I was still a kid, I had a dream. I told myself that one day, I would join one of the car shows. That dream, will happen on next Sunday.
I really don’t like to spend much of my hard-earned dough. As much as I want to pimp my ride, all I am willing to spend will be around $200 dollars.
My friend contacted me last week and told me he was willing to setup my car audio system for a discount and if I was willing to display my ride with the brand sticker on it. I Immediately said yes and there it was. After four hours of waiting, voila!,my new top of the line car audio system!
That picture above is not my ride. It just looked something like that. A clean setup. Thinking about it at the end of the day, yes, it made me happy now. But how long will it make me happy? How long do you think?
There is a couch in almost every home and also, potatoes. So, does this make you a couch potato if you are eating potatoes in couch? No! 38 percent of men and 29 percent of women say lying down watching tv is a regular past time while 68 percent of Americans prefer to call themselves homebodies.
Here are some timeless TV shows that is sure to make you a couch potato.
1. Friends – Who could forget this? 10 seasons of friends is enough to make me sane! Plenty of us have watched this TV series over and over again for the nth time! They never fail to make people laugh. Lets just hope that they make an eleventh season of this.
2. The Simpsons – Duuuhhhhh! This show is an American all-time favorite! Ask anyone about The Simpsons and they probably know about them. Kids love it. Teens love it. Adults too! This American pop culture has been America’s animated icon for decades. It is now running on its eighteenth season! Anyone updated on this?
3. Prison Break / Heroes – These are also two of the newest favorite TV series. Who could forget, Lincoln Burrows dating Claire. Wait, Was that Claire or Haley James Scott? Just don’t watch too much because, you will be bound to get addicted.
Actually, there are a lot more like 24, Lost, OC, Smallville, etc… It would be too many to mention! Why not choose your favorites? What are your favorite TV shows?
Wine — it’s a beautiful, beautiful thing. Who knew grape juice would get better with age??? Whoever had the idea of fermenting grape juice was a genius. Now THAT is an example of something timeless.
Unlike milk. Leave milk a few odd weeks after opening? It turns into sour undrinkable chunks, of which, upon consumption, would leave a bad automobile-accident-taste on your throat. Very much like bad pop culture references.
No, they don’t get better with age — they have a VERY short shelf life, and trying to bring them back is just lame. TV and film has taught us the joy of self-referencing out of respect (or disrespect) for itself. A small part of that self-referencing is catchphrases. Apparently, other forms of media find it inappropriate to just let some of ‘em die, much like keeping a suffering animal from getting it out of its misery.
In this article, is a list of catchphrases that most media just won’t let go — from least merciful to the most abused. Enjoy!
Hack the “…” - We’re pretty much very near the end of the first “2000” decades and some folk still talk like it’s the 90’s. (Or late 80’s if you count Sneakers — yeah, you know it, that Robert Redford film) Apparently, to present an “edge,” hacking is the way to go. After the browser boom of the 90’s, people are going, “hack da planeeeetttt,” “hack da mothershiiiipppp,” “hack da maatriiixxx,” or “hack that soulja boy?” Anyway, how would it be possible to “hack” alien technology with modern-day equipment? Jeff Goldblum did it in Independence day, and the most recent offenders are The Transformers movie (when the Department of Defense hired “hackers” to decode the Transformer signal) and the new Spider-Man cartoon’s opening sequence: “DNA hacked” — how the hell would you hack DNA?
I’ll Be Back – Ahnold said it first! (Or is it a variation on Douglas McArthur’s “I shall return”?) This is typically said while making an impression of Ahnold, all big boy voice and whatnot. It’s been 23 years since the first Terminator movie, and people are still quoting it. What’s up with that? It’s just offensive to people who a.) have funny accents or b.) are planning to return to something they were doing.
What-EVER – With total emphasis on the word EVER. (EvERRRR, Evar, Evahhhh) Say somebody points out a fault, the accused party goes, “like, what-EVER!” We get it — your comebacks are from a time and place where clever banter doesn’t exist! I remember it being part of a regular skit from the Nickelodeon show All That in the late 90’s — the very same kids who use this up to today are generally regarded as airheads. (Though the usage in All That was actually making fun of BEING an airhead!)
Duuuuuuuuuuuuhhh – When pointing out something completely obvious, this is usually the reply. Are they trying to prove anything? Does intellectual superiority amount to presupposing that you knew the right answer all along, expressed by a prolonged syllable? Uh, duuuuuuuuhhh!
Oh no they di’int – Followed by snapping at three different locations. It’s not just annoying, it’s also offensive by stereotyping! Oh que horror!
Yo Mama – A.k.a. “Your mom!” At which point was it cool to poke fun at someone else’s mom? It’s just mean. Origins? “You mama so fat, *insert hyperbole here*” So what if the other person’s mom is a little fat? What does it have to do with your argument with the other person? Is it some deep-seated Oedipal desire let loose?
What more can a woman want? Jessica Alba seems to have it all – she has the looks, the talent, the fans, the wealth, the boyfriend, the baby and finally, a MySpace account. What more can a woman ask?
Well, we’ve always known that she is more than just a pretty face. And now she’s more than just having the nicest eyes. She is in The Eye. Okay that sounded really cheesy but well….it is a horror film and I wanted to horrify you with my statements.
Kidding aside, have you seen the trailer? Well, there has been a lot of horror stories involving blind people… seeing things they shouldn’t see and all but maybe Jessica Alba’s blind horror movie will have a twist we’ve never seen before. According to the interview I read, she was really looking for the right horror movie. She said that she wanted to remove herself from the character and truly immerse herself in a role… which the interviewer said was a sign of a good actress, and humility aside she agreed.
So what do I get out of this… is it possible that Alba doesn’t really have it all? Apparently so… it would seem to me that by having The Eye she believes that she may be getting more respect in the movie industry that she’s in. Although we know that she is more than a pretty face, maybe she needs to prove it to herself still and to the rest of her colleagues in Hollywood.
Barrack Obama seems to be getting the popular vote. He seems to be the new JFK with his promises and a future that seems so much better than the America that we are living in
But is America ready for a black president? Isn’t it possible that his idealism is more because of his lack of experience? Which is worse a President whose grounded on the reality of politics or a President whose head is in the clouds and whose fall, if he does, will drag America into the depths of Hell?
I have nothing against the man and everything that comes out of his mouth is quite inspiring. I want to believe it. But I’ve heard this before. Promises…promises…promises…. Will he be able to deliver these promises?
Then of course he is African-American. Look, I am not a racist and I have issue with him being black. But not all of America thinks like me. Let’s be realistic here…. The south is still filled with red-necks. People may be politically correct everywhere else… they may not be discriminating but they may still have their prejudices kept in locked closets. The young vote is strong and the young vote goes to Obama but the young vote isn’t everything.
