On Sat, 2 Mar 2013 07:01:10 -0800, "Cheri" >
wrote:

> wrote in message
.. .
>> On Sat, 02 Mar 2013 08:27:16 -0500, jmcquown >
>> wrote:
>>
>>>On 3/1/2013 3:48 PM, wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am old enough to recall when guests came first.
>>>> Drop-ins might have been unexpected, but never unwanted or unwelcome.
>>>> The family made accommodations as if they had been invited -- even if
>>>> guests got most of the meal or the children of the household ate peanut
>>>> butter sandwiches.
>>>>
>>>> Nowadays the family's schedule comes first, and drop-ins might not even
>>>> be invited in for a brief chat and coffee. Calling first does not mean
>>>> they will be welcome either.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> While I'd like to agree with Miss Manners, I suspect that what the
>>>> writer
>>>> meant was that he/she lived in a rural area where few people had phones
>>> > - maybe in the 1950s? - and that kids, unlike now, were expected to
>>> > make
>>> > sacrifices for adults all the time, so it would have been considered
>>> > rude
>>> > for the "hosts" to make the "guests" eat the PBJ sandwiches instead.
>>>I only
>>> > wish MM had not ignored that possibility; it would have made for a more
>>> > interesting explanation of how and why times change.
>>>>
>>>> Lenona.
>>>>
>>>(attempted to "fix" the GoogleGroups line-wrap crap, hopefully)
>>>
>>>It doesn't really matter why things have changed, does it? Fact is,
>>>they have. This *isn't* the 1950's. IMHO it's rude to show up
>>>unannounced (*especially* around dinner time). I don't consider people
>>>like that "guests".
>>>
>>>Jill
>>
>> i say 'freezer' !!! i love people to drop in, friends or family - i
>> have dishes in the freezer i can nuke to unfreeze then bake or
>> whatever.
>>
>> what greater joy than sharing food together ?
>>
>> (sorry about lack of caps but hand is casted for next 3 weeks)
>
>
>A greater joy to me is knowing they're coming so I can plan something
>special, but I don't really keep already prepared meals in the freezer, so
>they'd be out of luck waiting for the roast to defrost.
>
>Cheri

I can instantly shift to one of several menus that are easy to prepare
a larger amount quickly... I always have lots of eggs (and Spam),
pasta/rice, and sauces that can stretch a meal. I keep enough
groceries on hand in case a military helicopter has to make an
emergency landing in my yard... don't you own a can opener... and
nowadays canned beans are in pull top tins.