chicus.com

Plastic Utensils
May 19, 2009
Life has been pretty busy around here but things have been good. This last weekend was no exception, when I plopped down Sunday night I realized I had barely been home but felt wholly relaxed, the perfect way to look back on a weekend.

I've been on some dates lately and as a part of one I got to play dog owner with a woman who was dog sitting for a friend. It left me with the same feeling as babysitting. It was great to 'play' the role as a parent but know you could give up the life shortly. I think it would be a bit different if I had a close personal relationship with the dog (or child) but after being the good guy and taking it out in the rain I was ready to give up the pretend role, at least temporarily.

The most interesting story from the weekend came while meeting a friend for a late brunch at IHOP on Sunday. As we were dining I noticed that the couple at the table next to us was eating with plastic utensils as their silverware sat in the middle of the table. I was, and still am, a bit baffled by this. Why was the reason for using plastic utensils?

It seems unlikely that it would be for fear of the cleanliness of the silverware. While it may be a valid concern at IHOP they were drinking from standard coffee mugs and juice cups as well as using standard plates. If they were worried about cleanliness I think they would want disposable everything, especially since the cups come to their lips as silverware would go in. Perhaps it was for religious reasons (Jewish or Muslim law) but again, even if their silverware was kosher, etc. the plates they ate from were not, I would imagine. Maybe IHOP keeps kosher but I highly doubt it, I have never seen or heard of that.

I am at a loss for any other reasons. Does anyone have a good guess as to what the reasoning may be?