TRAVEL PLANS

Dear Readers,
I regret that I shall be unable to post my etiquette blog for several weeks as I’ll be out of the country researching manners abroad. Note that while I am away you can post your questions and I’ll be happy to respond to you when I return.
Until I return remember it is never too late to practice good manners.
Sincerely yours,
Miss Maisy

TABLE MANNERS REVISITED

I was away this weekend and had one observation that I’d like to pass on to you... When you have finished eating whether you are at home or in a restaurant, when you get up to leave, please push in your chair and fold your napkin and put it on the left of your mat. The truth to be told no one will notice but you’ll take pride in knowing you have done the proper thing.

BRAVO TO GOOD MANNERS!

AN EVENING AT THE SYMPHONY

What a joy to go and hear beautiful music. A classical piece of music is made up of movements and the composition may have four or three movements. My point in all this is to remind the audience that one does not applaud until the entire piece is completed. Usually there is a program page, which lists the individual movements of the composition and that can be your guide as to when the piece comes to its ‘conclusion and then please do applaud.

LET’S GIVE IT UP FOR GOOD MANNERS!

THE WAITING GAME

The movie starts at two o’clock and they said they would pick you up at 1:30. So where are they as your watch says 1:50 and at this rate you’ll never make the movie? Why can’t people be on time? You are left waiting at movies, restaurants, theaters, meeting destinations and it is most frustrating. It is most inconsiderate of people not to be on time. The message comes across that your time is not important and of course their time is of the utmost importance. Again good manners says please be on time for your meetings.

TAKE A TRAIN OR A PLANE STAND IN THE RAIN BUT BE ON TIME!!!

INVITATION

Miss Maisy Manners of Dallas
Request the pleasure of
Her faithful readers
to ask questions about etiquette.

R.s.v.p. on Miss Maisy’s blog

LOVE IS IN THE AIR

How wonderful to find yourself in love and feel all those exciting emotions. I think holding hands or an arm around the waist or shoulder is fine when in public and perhaps a quick kiss. Not too long ago I was at a park with my grandson and on one of the park benches a couple in love was making out hot and heavily. Please save these strong shows of affection for a place that is more private as it is uncomfortable for those that are around you. Not to mention that one can get splinters from wooden benches.

THERE IS A TIME AND PLACE FOR EVERYTHING!

THEATER MANNERS

Do you remember a time when we did not have to be told not to take pictures or record a live performance? Yes that was years ago and of course there were no cell phones at that time, which are now part of the announcement at theaters. We certainly do not want to go back to the past but let’s carry to the future some of the etiquette that so graced our lives.

Bravo to good manners!

NOISY RESTAURANT

WE are in a world of noise. Wouldn’t it be lovely to be in a quiet restaurant for dinner? These places are hard to find. It seems everyone wants to be surrounded by loud music so that they do not have to communicate. Oh give me a quite place where I can enjoy conversation with good friends.

No small talk for me!

Magic Words

Okay, I must admit that I am a sucker for those magic words, please and thank you. I think if we have those in our current vocabulary we are going to get ahead very quickly. Those words are especially endearing when uttered by young children and when said to not only company but to their parents. Good manners are always in fashion.

ABRACADABRA ,the magic has worked!

Elbows on the table

Now hands are fine as we need them to lift our silverware when eating but elbows are not part of the equation. There is no place on the dinner table for elbows. How many times have you seen someone leaning both arms on the table? Now if that isn’t bad enough they then proceed to eat by bending over their plate and not raising their arms off the table. If you are that tired please ask for a dinner tray to be sent to your bedroom.

CALL ROOM SERVICE AND ASK FOR MABLE!

TABLE MANNERS

Watch out for those weapons that people are waving around when eating. Yes folks they are the forks, knives and spoons. Have you ever felt that you are dodging silverware when seated by someone who is engaged in animated conversation at the table? Good manners dictate that you only raise your utensils directly to your mouth and not in sweeping motions.

GOOGLE SHIELDS.COM FOR PROTECTIVE ARMOR

GREETINGS

The way we greet people is so important. The effects of our words can be so powerful. If they are negative words they remain imbedded in our memories. If one has a job where you are meeting and greeting the public please use good manners and put on a smile and say a kind word. You will create a beautiful day filled with joy for that person that you kindly greet. A wonderful sense of humor goes a long way and will bring laughter to the recipient.

ENJOY AND ABOVE ALL HAVE FUN!

Rainbows and thunderclouds

It is always good manners to have some conversation over the dinner meal. In an adult dinner there is usually lots of conversation but sometimes when we are home with our children, it is eat and run. The dinner meal is a great time for sharing the day’s events. Children aren’t always talkative and they certainly don’t want to be grilled on their day at school. One solution is to play rainbows and thunderclouds. Each person shares there happy moments of the day and the not so happy events that occurred during the day. Just recently we had a couple and their young children for dinner and we all had such fun sharing our day with each other. I think this helps everyone feel more comfortable in social situations.

You won’t need your umbrella for this event!

PET PEEVE

I love going out to dinner at a fine restaurant where the service is impeccable. The staff does not rush you through your meal and the table is yours for the evening. Now that is at a very elegant and fine establishment. There are those in between restaurants where the food is good and the evening pleasant except for the fact that you are on a time table to finish your dining experience. This is where my pet peeve comes to light. Not everyone at the table is through eating but the waiters feel that they must clear any plate that is empty or partially empty. There are still a few people eating and they think they must hurry up and finish. Why can’t restaurants train their staff in the art of clearing? I believe that the end result will be happy customers.

HOLD ON TO EVERYTHING THAT ISN’T NAILED DOWN!

WORKING OUT

Working out is a great exercise and I for one am all for it. Many workout rooms have televisions that everyone can hear so please be considerate of the noise level. Some people may be watching another program with their ear phones or listening to music. Another problem can be the level of conversation, manners dictates that one is thoughtful of those around them. Please keep your voices at a low level.

SEE YOU IN THE GYM!

CELL PHONES

Cell phones are great to have in an emergency. If your car breaks down they are a must but please don’t drive with only one hand while the other hand is holding the phone. It just isn’t safe!
The other day I was having dinner at a restaurant and the table next to me had four people all of whom were on their cell phones. What is the point of meeting together for a meal and then not talking to each other but instead spending the time on your cell phone with someone else?
Remember you are broadcasting your personal life to everyone around you when you are on your cell phone.

THANKS FOR SHARING!

DON’T BE LATE

If you are asked for dinner please don’t be late. Your hostess and host have gone to a lot of work to insure that you have a pleasant evening. Whatever the time that you are invited arriving too early or too late is not acceptable. You may be fashionably late up to ten minutes but I would not go beyond that point. Remember they have organized the evening from cocktails to dinner and all of this is well timed and planned.

DON’T BE RUNNING LIKE THAT RABBIT MUMBLING “ I AM LATE I’M LATE FOR A VERY IMPORTANT DATE”.

YAWNING

How lovely to wake up in the morning and enjoy a big yawn and stretch. This is one of the luxuries of life but please confine it to the bedroom. When in public if you feel a yawn coming on please use your hand to cover your mouth. You may use the right hand or the left hand but do raise one to your mouth. How many times have you seen the inside of someone's mouth when yawning? I don't want to see how many cavities a person has, that is between them and their dentist.

LET'S KEEP IT UNDER WRAPS!

FLU SEASON

It is that time of the year when those germs are flying around. Good manners would dictate that you stay out of crowds if you have flu like symptoms. If you are coughing and blowing your nose the last thing anyone wants is your bug. Please be considerate of your fellow man. A few days at home will prevent your germs from being passed on.

THE BUREAU OF DISEASE CONTROL WILL THANK YOU AND SO WILL I!

TRASH CANS

Why is it that some people feel the world is their trash can? Even when receptacles are provided some people can’t seem to seek them out and they feel free to dispose of their litter on highways, city streets, and in stores. Even Oscar the grouch knows that this is bad manners. We need to be thoughtful of our neighbors who also inhabit this planet. So let us not throw our unwanted items on the ground and yes that includes gum.

Watch where you step!

THE GENTLEMAN STANDS

In my early twenties I had the opportunity to live in Spain for awhile. This was so many years ago and chivalry flourished at that time. I remember boarding a street car in Barcelona and a very elderly man stood up and offered me his seat. I thanked him and accepted his offer but I did feel he should have been sitting instead of me. How nice it is to have men stand up for women, when being introduced and at restaurants when a women approaches the table or if she should excuse herself and leave. When in doubt gentlemen stand up. These polite gestures fill our busy world with grace and they will long be remembered.
If for no other reason standing up is great exercise!