BF and I were out at a local pub last Friday night, shooting pool, and, just out of habit, I guess, I started bussing some of the tables. I can't stand it when people leave crap on the tables, and I know the barmaid, and I knew she was busy, so I just cleared a few bottles off the tables while I was waiting to take my shot. BF got all pissy about it, said, you don't get paid to do that, and I said I didn't care, I knew Holly was busy, I was just helping her out. She topped off my glass of wine by way of thanking me, but she didn't have to do that. o.O

Reminds me of the local cinema. It amazes me how much trash is just left sitting there, when there are trash cans right outside of each theater. I understand that stuff spills and people are forgetful, but damn, how much effort is it to pick up your cup and drop it in the trash on your way out?

Flynne -

I do the same thing sometimes. And you know, I get the absolute best fucking service...

I'm with you about the movies, too. And I feel the same way about hotel rooms. Because somebody will pick up after you doesn't mean you should slob it up.

Ironically, when people fail to notice their trash that they leave behind in the theaters, sometimes they fail to notice their dropped wallets. When I was in high school I worked at a movie theater, way back when they actually cleaned the theaters between shows. The stuff we found! The manager told us she was calling the people who lost their wallets, but the people always came looking for them and she always said "Sorry, haven't seen it" and let them crawl around on their hands and knees up and down the rows. GAG!

The slobs that bug me the most are the ones who toss cigarettes out of car windows. (Don't get me going on the ones who throw lit cigarettes.) The other day I was behind a car with a Yale bumper sticker and, yup, there came the cigarette. I honked, and at the next light (in a very unlike-me impulse) I rolled down my window and shouted, "So apparently Yale does accept idiots." From the back seat my little one let her know, "You're a mean litterbug!" (At the time, I literally thought, "That'd be Amy Alkon's daughter if she had one.")

Hmm. Lutece closed in 2004. Mr. Soltner probably couldn't find 14 people who owned a suit to come to dinner any more. At the same time I dislike slobbery, I confess I have no love for ritualized eating.

Except newspapers, I love it when people leave them. Especially if they haven't done the crossword!

I am ashamed to admit that I said nothing when I witnessed a woman who was walking her dog throw a bag of poop into the sewer.

Rad, I stopped living in NYC in the 90s (was going back and forth for a while). Lutece just came to me.

Newspapers I leave folded neatly on a table or I ask people if they'd like mine (if they come into a place looking around like they're seeking one).

Pseudo, love the confession. Cameraphones are wonderful for that, even if you never do anything with the picture. If the person doesn't look armed, I'll take their photo in hopes of unnerving them about what it could be used for. It's a First Amendment right to be able to photograph somebody on public property, in case anybody tells you differently.

Leaving trash for others to pick up is one of my biggest pet peeves. My 7yo and 4yo boys have seen me pick up garbage for other people so many times that it has become second nature for them to do the same. My 4yo will become quite upset over garbage left in shopping carts and will make sure that I do not move into the store until he has placed the trash into the garbage can.

Now if only I could get them to feel the same way about their own messes at home. Somehow at home their messes are camouflaged and they require a reminder to take their plates to the sink and rinse them. And at the same time the 4yo will do an entire sink of dishes and put them into the dishwasher without me asking. I'm not sure that I'll ever understand the workings of that child's mind.