A Traditional Three Leaf Clover

St. Patrick’s Day is tomorrow.  It could also be appropriately called “Let’s Wear Green and Get Drunk Day,” since that’s what most folks do.  And if you happen to be one of the poor souls not wearing green because you missed the memo about it being St. Patrick’s Day, then you best steer clear of any and all bars.  Unless you enjoy being pinched by random drunken obnoxious strangers.

But why, oh why, do they do this?  What in the Irish tradition is this pesky pinch tied to?

Actually….its not tied to anything!  Its one of those things “modern traditions” pinned upon the holiday upon being hijacked from its origins.   Because in Ireland, the “wearing of the green” and the pesky pinching is not actually a tradition.  They do sport pinned shamrocks on the St. Patrick’s Day, but the color green is a coincidence.  The shamrocks are actually representative of St. Patrick having used them to educate people on the Holy Trinity.  Yes.  I did just make a religious reference.  Because SAINT Patrick’s Day is of a religious origin.  In fact…back in the day they actually used to mandate that pubs in Ireland be closed!  Can you imagine?!  No pub crawls on St. Patrick’s Day.  The horror!

So, while you and I may now know that wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day really has nothing to do with the dang holiday, I am sure the random drunken obnoxious stranger in the bar does not know that.  And trying to explain to said Obnoxious Stranger why he (or she) should not be pinching you is simply a waste of your time.  So don’t chance it.  If you intend to hit up a bar tomorrow, sport some green and avoid that pesky pinch!

And for those of you who are pesky pinchers…give it a rest.  Just enjoy your green beer and have a good time!

And me?  I’ll be drinking a black velvet (Guinness and Cider) and sporting a green scarf somewhere (better to be safe than sorry)!

Most of us do not have the luxury of a temperature controlled wine cellar.  I don’t even have a wine fridge!  (I know that’s not as tragic of a statement as I make it out to be.)  So when it comes to serving wine I can find myself in a sticky situation.  I mean…what are  you supposed to do?  How are you supposed to know if the wine is at the right temperature for serving?  Well, when I took a tour of the Robert Mondavi Winery a few years ago, our tour guide gave us this quick tip!
White Wines are supposed to be served chilled (approx 45° F).  Not ice cold.  So refrigerate them no less than two hours prior to serving.  Then remove them about twenty minutes before you’re ready to serve them.
Red Wines are to be served just below room temperature (approx 64° F).  If you refrigerate them twenty minutes prior to serving, then they will be about the right temperature.
These are just handy tips.  For more specifics on serving temperatures for a particular wine, check out the recommendations by Master of Wine Jancis Robinson on Wikipedia.

Happy Monday!

Have you ever been seated on a plane, watching the rest of the folks pile in and searching for room for their carry-on luggage.  They get to their seat and there’s no room immediately next to their seat so the walk further back looking for space and still can’t find anything.  Then they start to look all angry because they can’t find anywhere to put their super carry-on (you know…the bag that just narrowly meets the specs for NOT having to be checked baggage).  And then they start to create backup on the plane because their seat is 5 rows back and they still have their luggage in hand with nowhere to stow it because it can’t even fit under their seat.  Its quite interesting to observe!

Well, if you’re one of the culprits who contributed to this person’s state of distress then you really need to re-evaluate your travel routine.  And you know who you are.  Those overhead compartments are precious real estate and taking advantage of being first on the plane leaves the rest of us out in the cold.   So here are some kindly and neighborly guidelines:

• Everyone has some place to be.  You’re not the only one with plans and a schedule.  So when making your plans allow time to pickup your bags from the baggage claim.  I know there are fees for checked bags these days, but it will relieve pressure when trying to navigate through the airport and the airplane.
• People sometimes think they’re adept travelers because they’ve managed to fix their bags so as to NOT check anything.  That only makes you a good traveler if one bag fits comfortably in the overhead compartment and the other under the seat.  If you consistently have problems with stowing your bags then re-evaluate your packing methods and point of view on checking bags.
• If you’re not checking any bags, then make use of the space UNDER the seat in front of you.  Airlines allow you one personal item and one carry on bag.  People often use one of those super carry-ons and a super laptop bag.  And then they stow BOTH in the overhead compartment.  That’s not very neighborly folks.  Those overhead compartments are meant for one (SMALL) bag per person.  If there’s space left after everyone’s in their seats then feel free to place your second bag up top.
• Realize that your super carry-on may be violating the standards and specs for an acceptable carry-on bag.  Yes…there are rules for what dimensions are passable for a carry-on bag.

Now, if you find yourself the situation of not being able to stow your bags on the plane, there’s no need to get testy.  It happens.  Especially on fully booked flights.  Just find a flight attendant and let them know the situation and they will find space for your bag your check it for you right then.  Which brings me to another point.  You never know when you may HAVE to check your bag.  So you should always put precious items in the bag that you won’t ever have to check.  This includes:

• Laptop
• Medication
• Jewelry

That way, when you find yourself in a situation of having to check your carry-on bag its not as dire of a situation because all the really important stuff is in the bag you keep with you at all times!

Happy Monday!

Its a very common practice these days.  You complete a wedding registry and the store you’ve registered at is kind enough to give you cards to include with your invitations so that your guests will know exactly where to go.  The convenience is brilliant!  But, not so fast!  It is actually a faux pas to include registry information with your formal wedding invitations.  The perception is that by including your registry information, you are setting an expectation that a gift is “required.”  Now, we know that’s not what you’re saying, but all the same it is not entirely appropriate.  So, then what are you to do?  You don’t want to field calls about where you’re registered, but you would rather not do anything considered rude or inappropriate.  Here are your two best options:

• Inform your closest family and friends of where you are registered and ask them to relay the information to anyone that asks.
• For your invitations, include a card directing guests to your wedding website for more details and information on the wedding (including accommodations, directions, etc)

Now, the etiquette police won’t be knocking down your door if you decide to go ahead and include your registry details with your invitations.  However, do keep in mind that proper etiquette does say its a no-no!

Happy Monday!

Last Tuesday I attended a NACE Meeting at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay.  The topic of the evening was proper dining etiquette and Constance Hoffman of Social and Business Graces, Inc. lead us down the treacherous road of dos and don’ts.  I was very excited about the evening and came away with several fantastic tidbits of information that I would like to share!

• When attending a networking function be sure to wear a blazer with pockets so that YOUR business cards are at the ready in one pocket and the other pocket is available to for cards you receive
• If you have a drink in one hand and a plate in the other, chances are you are not prepared to shake anyone’s hand.  Try placing the plate on top of your drink…this may take some practice, but will instantly free up your hand for a proper handshake and introduction.
• The dining table is meant to be a place of cleanliness.  That means anything carrying germs should not be set upon the dining table.  This includes but is not limited to: cellphones, wallets, handbags, and keys
• When you are dining with a client, match their courses.  If they order soup, salad and entree then you order soup, salad and entree.  This does not mean you have to consume everything in its entirety, but the act helps set a comfortable playing field for you and your client.
• If a soup bowl has one or two handles on it, then feel free to drink from it like you would any other hot beverage!
• The bread basket is always past around the table clockwise, and the one that begins the passing is the last to take from the basket.

Constance did a fantastic job, especially with a social crowd such as ours.  If you are looking for a lesson on proper etiquette, I highly recommend her!