Ask Emily: Dogsitter in the wrong
By Casey Gillis on Jul. 09, 2008
Dear Emily: I went away for the weekend and asked my friend “Jonas” to watch my dog for me. When I got back, he told me that a skunk sprayed my dog, but he didn’t give him a bath. My dog smelled horrible when I got him in my car, and I am mad at Jonas for not doing anything about it. Since he agreed to take care of my pet, shouldn’t he have given my dog a bath? He said he didn’t want to smell like skunk himself, so he just waited for me to get home to take care of it.
- Peeved about pet
Dear Peeved about pet: No one wants their house and towels to smell like skunk, but when someone agrees to care for your pet, they need to do just that. There is a difference between a good friend and a great friend, and Jonas hasn’t really met the mark for either. A great friend would have washed the dog immediately to help get rid of the smell. A good friend would have at least taken the dog to a pet salon to get a bath, even if he asked you to pick up the tab. Also, Jonas could have called you and told you what had happened to see if there was another option. Maybe you had a family member close by who would have taken your dog in and given him a bath. Overall, you have a right to be upset with your friend for choosing to take no action. Your dog obviously is not the only thing that stinks in this situation.
Dear Emily: I am going on a job interview over lunch. Can you give me some tips about who should pay, what I should order, and things like that? This is my first lunch interview.
- Eating Out
Dear Eating Out: The most important thing to remember is that this is an interview, so you want to remain professional throughout the meal. Don’t order alcohol, let your interviewee steer the conversation and remember your dining manners (things like keeping your napkin in your lap, elbows off the table and mouth closed when there is food in it). You are not expected to pay for lunch, but don’t think of this as a free meal ticket to order whatever you’d like. Go middle of the road on price, and make sure to eat what you order (you don’t want to look so nervous that you couldn’t even eat your food). Other than that, just relax and be prepared to answer typical interview questions.
Dear Emily: I went out to a fast food restaurant with my girlfriend, and a family ordering food in front of us had their son (about 4-years-old) sitting on the counter where our food comes out. Not only that, but the parents let their son put his dirty shoes all over the counter. I was agitated, but my girlfriend got really mad and started making rude comments about them very loudly. I understand why she was upset, but I think her behavior was worse than the parents’. Isn’t making a scene worse?
- Fast Food Brawl
Dear Fast Food Brawl: Dirty feet on food counters is definitely disgusting, and something should have been said-but not by your girlfriend in that manner. If your girlfriend were that upset, it would have been appropriate for her to ask the manager of the place to say something to the parents (and of course, wipe down the counter before food came out). But causing a scene and just making rude comments is not only counterproductive, it shows very little class. And there is no need for your girlfriend to stoop to that level to make a point.
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