With US Thanksgiving coming up this week, and Christmas and New Year events following soon after, I thought I’ll pull together a compilation of some of the questions I’ve received and essays I’ve written to help you navigate times when you (or, let’s be real, your extended family) might be acting like a bit of… Continue reading Holiday Round-Up
I’ve received questions about RSVPing before, but since we’re getting close to the winter holidays, when people will be hosting small gatherings (Thanksgiving with friends) and large gatherings (open house / cookie party / Christmas party), I wanted to take some time to revisit the concept. As a general rule: you should RSVP to things… Continue reading It’s Time to RSVP
I’m hosting an open house for the holidays, and have invited my friends, as well as friends and families of my young child. Inevitably, that means some adults that I don’t know very well are invited, but I’m hoping to get to know them better. I’m also looking forward to hanging out with my friends… Continue reading Someone Wants Some Free Babysitting
Every once in awhile I observe an interaction in a shop or restaurant that bums me out. Sometimes it will stick with me, and those ones end up on this site. For example, the other day I was in a Cafe Nero coffee shop and witnessed this exchange: Barista: What would you like? Customer: I’d… Continue reading You Think You Deserve Special Treatment in a Shop
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about how to be a good host when guests stay with you in your home. Now it’s time for the flip side: how to be a good guest.* Planning Your Trip If you’re planning a trip to specifically visit certain people, or you’ve been invited by them, then… Continue reading Staying With Friends on Holiday
In the United States today, people are having backyard gatherings, grilling food, drinking beer. Or they’re going to parks and beaches. Tonight, many will watch — or even set off — fireworks (though hopefully they’ll follow my advice here). Ostensibly to celebrate the United States declaring independence from the the King of England. England …… Continue reading It’s the 4th of July
The U.S. Supreme Court has somehow, despite all evidence to the contrary, proclaimed U.S. President* Trump’s Muslim ban constitutional. The U.S. Government is holding small children in cages after having ripped them from their parents — who are fleeing for their lives — and they have no plan for reunification. Meanwhile, high schoolers and younger… Continue reading Fighting Injustice
Having house guests can be delightful — you get to see people you perhaps haven’t seen in awhile, they get to save on hotel costs. Everybody wins! … Usually. But it can also be stressful, as people are around each other nearly non-stop, routines are interrupted, and someone is inevitably in the shower for way… Continue reading Hosting House Guests
It’s been a few weeks since I last inducted someone to the Asshole Hall of Fame (hey Jeff Bezos, you just got what you wanted — no responsibility for the impact your company has on the city of Seattle! You continue to be an asshole!). So far, none of the assholes have redeemed themselves (in fact,… Continue reading Inductees Fifty-Six and Fifty Seven: Jeff Sessions and ICE
Sometimes I think I could write an entire book (or at least a thick pamphlet) about public transit etiquette. In few other situations are we a captive audience with no immediate escape, surrounded by strangers. To me, this means we need to take extra care that we’re considerate of those around us. As someone who… Continue reading Using Public Transportation