New dress! Well, new to me. I love wearing a new dress for the first time, especially if it's not much like the rest of my wardrobe, and the weather lets me show it off. I feel free and shiny, like a bright copper penny on the sidewalk. Except better than that, because sidewalk clutter is just about the only use for a penny these days. Last night I picked up some change--a quarter and a nickel--and I noticed that there was a penny on the ground too. I had already bent over, but I still didn't pick up the penny. I'll take 'em as change when I buy something, but they go straight into tip jars. I actually hate getting change anywhere that doesn't have a tip jar, even dimes and whatnot, because coins are a pain to deal with and I'd rather give them straight back.
I'm not lush enough to hand out cash to street musicians anymore, which makes me sad, but I have always believed that if you can't afford to tip, you can't afford to go out. I'm not quite as strict about it at coffee shops, because at least the baristas have to be paid minimum wage, but people who don't tip at restaurants are trash. Yes, the system is stupid and management should pay waiters a fair wage up front, but not tipping does absolutely nothing to change that. It just screws the waiter over. The only excuse for not tipping is really atrocious service--and even then it has to be something that's actually the waiter's fault, not cold food or other issues caused by the kitchen.
I didn't intend to rant about this, and yet somehow it happened... ANYWAY, the pattern on my dress reminds me of both seashells and leopard print. I dig it. Impromptu thrift trips can yield wonderful results.
I must admit, this look would have been improved 400% by red lipstick. But that's true of a lot of looks, so whatevs. By the way, I hope you had a happy Fourth of July! Regardless of whether you're American, because I like y'all.
Tipping is such a foreign concept to me, as it doesn't exist in NZ. Sure, there are tip jars near cash registers that I'll use if I have change, but any surcharge that's going to be added is automatically added to the bill, and minimum wage is compulsory, as far as I know. Also, when you go to a restaurant, often two or three (or four!) different people will serve you, so tipping would get quite complicated...
ReplyDeleteI really worry about it when I'm in other countries, though. And although there are usually good guidelines in books for how much is normal to tip at food places, people seem strangely silent on how much you should tip, say, a bellhop. The only guidelines I have are from like 1970, and I can't adjust for inflation in my head. Mostly I'm just scared of undertipping...
Oddly enough, I'm totally at ease with haggling, and always feel like I can have a good time and reach a price that's fair for me and the vendor. Go figure!
OT: I like that dress! I agree that red lipstick would've been great, but then so would purple - and pretty much all bright lipsticks look great on you, from what I've seen!
Hehe, thank you! Yeah, my rant pertains to America. I have no idea how it works in other countries. And I also have no idea how much one tips a bellhop. That have never come up in my life. Maybe ask the bellhop?
DeleteNext time you can wear red lipstick! I think this dress was a great find and it really does have a cool print. Also I agree with your waiter tipping rant.
ReplyDeleteYup, there's always next time! I'm quite lazy about makeup, though. & thank you :)
DeleteI was enjoying the change from bright red lipstick on you! Shell pink to match the pattern...very subtle and lovely. But what do I know? Re Tipping...I remember leaving a tip in a cafe bar on campus at the University of Edinburgh and having the waitress follow me to hand it back, with a sweet smile on her face. "No lass, we don't tip here. But very kind of ye all the same!"
ReplyDeleteAww, thank you :) That's a lovely alternate perspective. And what a sweet waitress!
Delete