Andie, you well know that Chicago is Italian food central. Fantastic Italian restaurants everywhere, northern...southern...Sicilian...anything you can think of. So, back in the late 60's I found myself transplanted to San Antonio, Texas. I was dying for Italian food so we called the local diner near Billy Mitchell Village where we were living, and we ordered a sausage pizza. Got it home and we were salivating over the prospect of a pizza. We opened the box to find something that generally resembled one, but it had BREAKFAST PORK SAUSAGES artfully arranged in a wagon wheel shape. It was the worst pizza I've ever eaten. Gandle, I had to search "Runza" because I couldn't believe there would be a fast-food Runza place. REALLY! I'm amazed. There's another food that can't in any way, shape or form taste like the real thing. Runza's are a Nebraska phenom, but my aunt was a Russian from an area that was alternately Russian and German. She made something called Biruk which is basically a Runza. Hers was a fabulous yeast dough square filled with the beef/onion/cabbage mixture and brushed with real butter. I made it my business to learn to make them and if my childrens friends have any hint that I'm making Biruk they descend upon the house like a swarm of locusts. Now that's a comfort food!

FOAS, I disagree. When a man does something himself to save money, that's being polite. When he asks his wife to make a sacrifice that inconveniences her and not him, it has a different effect. I don't mean to sound like a princess here. I go out of my way not to spend the amount of money my bf tries to spend buying me dinner, and also to research restaurants so that he spends his money well rather than on disappointing food. I mostly order tap water, and he tends to drink several liters of designer water. But, I take for granted that my choices would never be criticized. I think that when one person is being polite and considerate, the other one should be too. NancyLouise, that's exactly how I feel. People should be good company to each other. Riverrat, I don't mean to say that I've written off their marriage or think that Raymond's a bad guy. I said he needed a reminder of how to be polite company. To me, a wife who's worried enough about the cost of a beverage to make a post asking if it's polite to carry water enhancers implies more than just a playful argument from someone who really doesn't care at all. Given the considerable dining-out budget, it seems that this isn't an issue of not being able to pay the mortgage if she orders a soda. I consider these the factors that are relevant to forming an opinion. The fact that he's a good husband with dimples who is generally a gentleman is really good news, but I don't see how it changes the question. Since this is unsolicited advice on an internet forum, and Mustangs and her water-preferring husband are fully entitled to ignore me completely, I'm not sure there's any need for offense. Of course, you're entitled to feel however you feel. I stand by my pro-beverage stance.

Thought that those interested in the original post might like an update. First, I took both my print-outs (one that said I ordered a $20.00 GC if one spends $50.00, and the one that said $100.00 must be spent) to the restaurant owners. So, this husband & wife team, BOTH groaned when I presented them with the evidence. They stated they had been trying to get out of contracting w/ R.Com, but were locked into a 2 year contract and despised them for the following reasons: 1) R. Com ran coupons unbeknownst to them during Valentines Day which left them dishing out $20.00 in food costs for $5.00 to the same opportunists who were buying the coupons literally by the dozen. 2) It's nearly impossible to get a live person on the phone. 3)Can't cancel contract for two years. In conclusion, the wife immediately made good on the original purchase - and I had informed them of yet another reason why they will cancel their contract at the end of 2 years.

Haven't heard of it. As for the conversation at a table for four, given the noise level ... ... cut up a couple of chunks from an old garden hose or other slightly larger hose, which would enable one to send a message from the moth(*) of one to the ear of another. It sure would delay one's meal, though, as one would need to repeat one's self two times! The information about the prolonging of the dinner would need to be communicated to one's server, as fewer table groups over the course of the evening would reduce one's tips ... ... and one could communicate the message to the manager (if the server, or other patrons, having observed the means of communication, hadn't told her/him about it and s/he hadn't come to view this [interesting?] innovation for him/herself). ole joyful (*) Please read "mouth" - this computer isn't computing well, today.