A Noodle is a Noodle, You Say? Wrong!!!

The thing is, the twirling and the brushing of the sauce from the edges of the bowl. You can't do that with tubular pasta. All it does is smear the sauce around. It's like the difference between Charmin and the store brand.

I won't elaborate, but you know. Oh, yes, you know!

Here's how I know they knew they f'd up, too. With a bowl of ziti, and a garden salad with dressing, here is the inventory of condiments they sent up:

1 extra tub of salad dressing
5 salts
3 peppers
2 ketchups (?)
3 mustards (??)
2 mayos (???)
3 packets of hot pepper
2 packets of parmesean cheese

Do they think I'm making chili dogs up here?

Yeah, I'm a spoiled, whiny American summbich. There are people all over the world who could eat for days on the condiments they sent to my room. That's what makes it infuriating when things aren't right.

We should expect quality product and service in line with what we can afford, and we should ration our spending, also based on what we can afford.

If the fruits of our outlay are exceptional, then the provider of the service is charging too little. If the results are weak, the provider is charging too much. Tossing condiments at the problem doesn't help, it just causes waste. Waste of products, resources, and labor that should be allocated elsewhere. What it boils down to is an inability in our society to grab hold of one's own responsibilities, be productive, take pride, and take credit where due (and raise the bar).

Conversely, if the product or the service is poor, we need to put an end to it, not take a free coupon for another visit and more of the same.

The consumer has some responsibility, too. If you know your quesadilla comes with guacamole, salsa, and sour cream, and you don't like guacamole and sour cream, well then, Genius, tell them to hold the guac and the sour cream! I don't know how many trays I walked by this morning that had cups of untouched guacamole sitting there.

Either the guacamole was rancid, or the buyers were thoughtless.

I'm tired of seeing so much waste.

You, eater: either understand you get what you pay for and stop bitching, or tell them what you want. If you don't get it, don't go back. And you, restaurant: when the menu says fettuccini, either make fettuccini or own up to it.

Yeah, you bet I'm funny about my pasta. It wasn't the right shape, but damn right, I ate every bite.