I wish I hadn't taken the seat that was offered. I was seated next to the loudest, opinionated (yet contradictory), and somewhat foul mouthed and mis-informed female (I hesitate to use the word young lady for she is neither young and CERTAINLY not a lady). Please allow me to continue my rant. She was seated across the table with her co-worker which I had at first mistaken for her mother because of her choices of language usage, it reminded me of a petulant teenager with an exasperated mother who's gotten to the point where they don't even do anything about it. But I later found out it was her co-worker. Okay, I'm not one for ease dropping on people conversations, but seriously this PERSON was just so loud you can't ignore her. In a short time of trying my best to ignore her, I learned that she is part of the administrative team for the corporate office of some engineering firm. She has issue digesting food so she doesn't eat much (FAKER) and she counts calories like crazy. She picks at her food, avoids anything that has the slightest hint of sugar or carb, good for her but please STOP PREACHING! and Stop WASTING FOOD! She could and SHOULD have refused the rice that came with the soup but she ate like 3 small bites and was like "Oh no I ate more rice than I should have. I have to go throw up now" her words, not mine.
She complained about the stupidity of the fact that engineers have more authority and rights than they (the admin. grp) does. I don't believe she's really part of the Administrative team though because as she said to her companion, [I don't know how you can do this where you sit in front of the computer all day it would drive me crazy]. Sorry, I needed to clean up the language for the public audience. Continuing on, she listened, impatiently I might add, about the problems her co-worker was having with another worker who is slightly higher in rank than her. We'll call the female A and the older co-worker B. So A was [oh I would take that, I would so totally talk back and file a complaint etc etc etc..] once again cleaned up for the public. B explained that no matter what she does people like him will always have a job there. A turn and said "No way man, I'm in corporate now so I can fire his ---".
At that point I had wanted to burst out laughing like a loon. It was apparent from the way that she was a)dress b)language c)complaints that whatever she did at the "corporate" office, it did not have the power beyond the first tier of administrative work. Considering she doesn't use computer much, I have a mind of "glorified office intern" in my mind.
So the evening goes on with her saying one thing but later on her actions or reactions to something her co-worker said contradicts her original opinion or statement. I was never happier to see a crowd coming in and I can try to tune her out. Her language, did I mention, was absolutely appalling? I know if I had turned and ask her nicely to please tone down her language as there was children and people like me about that may find if offensive she would have told me "if I can't stand it just leave, I have every right to be saying whatever I want" and caused a scene.
Finally, when my meal was 3/4 way through they left. My great sigh of relief did not go unnoticed. Sitting by the window with his wife/girlfriend was a gentleman, he wasn't near my table but close enough for me to gather that he heard much of what was said and also couldn't ignore it. He more than likely had it a little worse than myself considering he sat perpendicular to us so every time he looked up, he could see the speaker. I doubt he could hear what the co-worker B was saying as she was a more mature woman who has MUCH better manners than the younger. She was the more "corporate" like of the two. Yes, she complained (I mean who doesn't in a major company) but in a quieter tone and using better choice of language. Anyhow, the man smiled at me in sympathy and understanding when he saw me nearly do a happy dance (I restrained myself) when the two left and gave me a "can you believe that?" look. When my meal was finish and I was leaving we gave each other a nod.
It's little things like that simple understanding and interaction that made me decide to stop ordering out and actually going to eat at the restaurants instead of hiding in my apartment. Yes, I was always afraid of one day becoming that one person who sits at the corner table dinning alone, but I realized that there is a need for human contact. No the man and I don't know each other, we never talked and more likely will never see each other again, but it's good to know that I am not odd or have lost touch with society.
Yes, my way of thinking may be somewhat outdated. However, I still believe that in public and mixed companies we should keep our vulgar use of language to a minimum to none. At restaurants keeping a respectable low tone out of consideration for others. And don't call your elders names or curse at their mistakes in public! But that's just me and my antiquated ways, influenced by too many romance novels and children books.
Funniest part: co-worker B pleaded with A asking her not to repeated anything, mainly the complaints she made about certain bosses or co-workers, to anyone. Of course A said something really rude back about how if she had a trust issue she shouldn't have said it in the first place etc. But they were talking so loudly that I think not only myself and the man heard it all, 5 others more than likely heard it clearly and me, being seated so close could repeat many names and complaints. She didn't as any of us to talk about it. . . anyhow, if something leaks out and co-worker B gets in trouble, I'd totally blame A.
