Pam's Pet Peeves 2010 -- Non-RSVPer, i.e. Monkey!

Are we just so busy on our Blackberrys, IPODS, and emails, that we can't RSVP to a hostess or host who has been kind enough to not only put together an event, but also include us?

I invited 70 people, mostly the people in a new neighborhood I'd just moved into and wanted to meet, along with some other friends, to a holiday Open House. Thirty-five responded affirmatively. Sixteen actually came. I had prepared enough food for fifty. I had used beautiful snail mail invitations, hand-written.

My sister also just had a holiday Open House. Using Evites, she invited 80 friends and neighbors. About half responded on Evites, and some responded to her verbally in passing, too busy I surmise to put their hand on their mouse and click on "YES." So she RSVPd for them on her own computer! Of the half or so who RSVPd in some way, only 40 people showed up for the party -- and it snowed that night. She had enough lovingly prepared food for sixty. Her numbers were better than mine, but then again, she's a better friend than I am.

Want to know why people are having fewer and fewer parties? Because it takes a lot of time and resources to throw one, not to mention the thoughtfulness, and love thrown in. These are challenging times, and we should be trying to be nicer to one another, and at the very least, not be rude and obnoxious especially, to our friends.

I've concluded, no matter how you invite people, half will have the courtesy to RSVP and only half of those "friends" will have the decency to attend, even if they said they were coming. And the other slobs who didn't take three lousy seconds to RSVP via phone or a click of the mouse, well, I can't really say what I think of them but I'll try...!@(#&()(#!

Shame, Shame, Shame!

My take...if you are too busy or lazy to RSVP, or you say you're attending, and don't, you are a rude PIG, unless you had a last minute family emergency, like your Mother died, or something, then I'll forgive you.

My rule of thumb, if you can't take 3 seconds to RSVP -- I can't take 3 seconds to invite you again, ever. You are banished from my list! Poof! Gone forever, like the wicked witch of the East, melting into oblivion. DOA.

The one and only thing that separates MAN from MONKEY is MANNERS.

Next time, you choose.

Pam's Pet Peeves 2010

The aughts (2000-2009) were the worst. Two more days and it's finally a new decade, a chance to start again. I won't go through all the issues that made the aughts suck. 24 hour news channels are ramming that down our throats enough. This site will report all the minor and major irritants that will occur this year in my personal life, the news, corporate stupidities, and by our "competent government," including the US House and Senate.

Everyone has plenty they, too, could write about, and your comments are welcome. I, however, feel particularly adept to write this because I've made numerous mistakes that I'm sure have inconvenienced many, and irritated and or hurt others. Several businesses/careers, some successful, some bombs, I've founded and operated for many years. My largest was comprised of 32 full-time professionals, some were better educated and paid more than me. Two children, grown now, give me the right to comment on kids and especially the X, Y, ME, generations.

I'm 58.9 years old, so I'm allowed perspective, insight, opinions and sometimes humorous pet peeves for the next 365 days of 2010.