Dearest Devotees of Our Lady of Weight Loss, Tushkateers and all who have mysteriously landed on this page, as Thanksgiving is around the corner and you and your families will be gathering around the dining room table,  Our Lady of Weight Loss thought it would be fun to know, “How Ill-Mannered Are YOU?”

After she did a bit of research on etiquette, she was shocked to learn that her family (as in my family) is made up of a bunch of ill-mannered heathens. And, if I were to be perfectly honest, I’d have to say that I’m in violation myself and therefore, not a candidate of the Emily Post Manner Award.

How does your family measure up?

The Rules of Etiquette
One should …
* arrive at least 10 minutes early unless otherwise specified. (Whatever happened to fashionably late?)
* pass food from the left to right. (So if someone is on my left, should I pass it around the table?)
* pass both the salt and pepper together, even if only asked for one of them.
* place food item directly in front of the person asking for it, rather than handing it to them (hand-to-hand). (No tossing the roll across the table and saying ‘head’s up’)
* never even think to grab a roll out of the breadbasket as it’s being passed to someone else. (Are you kidding? I’d never get a piece. It’s every man for himself here.)
* serve food from the left; remove from the right.
* put the butter or spread on your plate before you spread it on your food. In other words, do not take butter and directly spread it on the bread.

* scoop the food away from you. (I do that with soup, but I didn’t know you’re supposed to do that with all food!)
* taste your food before seasoning it.
* never blow on your food to cool it. If it’s hot, you just wait for it to cool.
* keep elbows off the table. Keep your left hand in your lap unless you are using it.
* not talk with your mouth full. Chew with your mouth closed.
* cut only enough food for the next mouthful. Eat in small bites and slowly.
* not blow your nose at the dinner table. Excuse yourself to visit the restroom. (What if I have a cold? I might spend the evening in the restroom.)
* wash hands before returning to the dining room.
* cover your mouth if you cough with your napkin to stop the spread of germs and muffle the noise.
* not use a toothpick or apply makeup at the table. (Even we’re not so uncouth as to apply make up at the dinner table, especially the boys.)
* stand when a woman leaves the table or returns to sit (For the men). (As if!)

Emily Post ” . . . . manner is personality–the outward manifestation of one’s innate character and attitude toward life.”
How ill-mannered are you?

Feel free to print and bring to your Thanksgiving dinner!  Big Family Fun, hey?!

Spread the word–NOT the icing!

Janice