66
Yukon News
Friday, December 6, 2013
Dinner table whispers are saved for special times to continue any kind of communication. Despite that our respective lives have taken us in different directions, I still enjoy sending out a greeting once a year. But I respect that others may not share my feelings, and that by Judith my card may become a bother Martin and a burden rather than being seen as a friendly greeting. So, is this the new etiquette rule — if you don’t get a Christmas card, but get a New Year’s card instead, it means you weren’t DEAR MISS MANNERS: Is it on their Christmas card list to impolite to whisper at the dinner begin with, and they are trying to table? tell you (hint, hint) to stop sendGENTLE READER: Yes, but ing unwanted cards? DEAR MISS MANNERS: After Miss Manners admits that there GENTLE READER: For somethe start of each new year, I look are exceptions. You are allowed to one so heavily invested in an act over the holiday cards we have whisper, “I think there might be of friendship, you have a rather just received. Every once in a DEAR MISS MANNERS: some food caught on your teeth” unfriendly attitude. Why does it while I notice that someone has When my husband and I went or, “If you don’t stop putting your matter whether your friends greet not, for the second year in a row, on a cruise, we were seated with hand on my knee I’m going to returned our Christmas greeting, you on one holiday or week than several other couples at a large stab you with my fork.” and I come to the realization that another? round table for dinner. The othOh, yes, you explained. They we have obviously been removed ers had arrived before we did and, DEAR MISS MANNERS: I like only appear to be greeting you. from their card list. I graciously as there was a bread basket on the to give gifts that have meaning Actually, they were caught trying table, they had chosen their bread accept (is there another alterto me with the receiver in mind. to get rid of you. native?) this fact and allow the plates. What should be the purpose beWell, maybe not. Maybe they yearly card swap to cease. However, some of them had hind the type of gift that is given? decided that the New Year, rather But this year I was confronted taken the one on the right side of For example, this Christmas than a religious holiday, was a with a brand-new scenario. Two their place setting. My husband I mailed religious gifts to family families with whom we exchange more suitable time to greet their was seated on my right and he and did not receive one thankChristmas greetings did not send friends. Maybe they were just late correctly chose the bread plate you, but did receive raves for the us Christmas cards. Instead, a full getting out cards. Maybe they had to his left, which left me with no doghouse I built for my neighlost your address until your card week after New Year’s Day, they bread plate. bor’s dog, aside from my neigharrived. each sent a “Happy New Year” How should I have handled bor. Another Gentle Reader wrote card. I am quite positive it is not this situation? The woman to my What should be the motivaMiss Manners: “Our family has because they do not celebrate left had an unused bread plate to tion in choosing a gift? Need or found the tradition of a twelveher left, so I asked if I might have Christmas. want? Sharing an interest? day Christmas can solve many I am not terribly surprised that one. This clued her in that GENTLE READER: Building holiday problems. Sitting down that they would choose not to she had chosen the wrong one, that doghouse was a spectacuwith a cup of tea or eggnog a day exchange cards. There are some but it wasn’t made into a big deal. lar present, and Miss Manners or two after the event to write people, like these two families, It seems that many people, doesn’t wonder that it attracted thanks and catch up with friends who we do not see during the even well-educated adults, are admiration beyond that of the in a newsy letter can be very course of the year, and I can unaware or forgetful that their recipient. She trusts that the dog relaxing after the pre-Christmas understand if they see no reason bread plate is to the left of their has been licking your hand in
MISS
MANNERS
gratitude. But unless your relatives are simply too rude to acknowledge presents, something must have gone wrong. With religious items, that can easily happen. Even if you chose presents that you know to be in keeping with their beliefs and practices, the implication can arise that you have something in mind besides just pleasing them — that you want to change or expand these in some way. It is an extremely sensitive area, and while your relatives were deeply remiss in failing to acknowledge your presents, Miss Manners supposes they were flummoxed about how to do so.
place setting. I didn’t want to embarrass anyone by saying, “Your bread plate is the one to your left,” but I did want to have some bread and butter with my dinner. GENTLE READER: But you did get your bread and butter, and the lady to your left does not seem to have died of humiliation. Miss Manners is gratified to know that your effort to acquire a plate unobtrusively triumphed over your impulse to criticize the manners of people who might then be tempted to pitch you overboard.
Softgoods Buyer Wanted
We are the Taku Sports Group, a group of sports companies that cater to a wide range of sports and outdoor enthusiasts in the Yukon. We have 4 stores encompassing 30,000 square feet of retail space, located in downtown Whitehorse, Yukon.
On behalf of the residents of Porter Creek, the Porter Creek Community Association thanks the Government of Yukon’s Protective Services Division and the FireSmart Program for their contributions, support, and assistance throughout the 2013 Porter Creek FireSmart Project.
We are looking for a softgoods buyer, to be located in Whitehorse, Yukon. Responsibilities include: Managing product assortment in order to identify and address opportunities; • Negotiating product costs, terms; • Identifying items to maximize promotional and marketing opportunities; • Participating in product pricing strategies to achieve specific margin objectives, and recommend appropriate markdowns; • Traveling to trade shows across Canada and the US.
expeRience/education RequiRed: • Minimum 2 years related retail buying experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience. • Effective communication, analytical, negotiation and organizational skills. • Completely comfortable working with Excel and Word. We offer a highly competitive salary and benefits package. If this opportunity appeals to you, please send your resume to chougen@hougens.com or fax 867-667-7282.
Evening ESL Classes to Improve Your Academic Reading, Writing and Speaking Skills
Do you need to improve your skills to take academic courses at Yukon College? This is a 15-week program from January 6 to April 23, 2014 Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm Students need a Canadian Language Benchmark of 5 and above to qualify. For more information and to register please contact: School of Academic and Skill Development 867-668-8850 or Cathy Borsa at 867-668-5260
Families in the Backcountry Does “the pass” sound enticing to you and your buddies during Christmas break?
Are your kids dreaming of a white Christmas in the backcountry?
Let’s talk! Free evening backcountry awareness session for parents and their kids at the Canada Games Centre Wednesday, December 18th from 6:30 to 8:30 PM.
bustle. “Writing a greeting for the New Year can solve the problem of friends and colleagues who do not celebrate Christmas. Inviting family who can’t arrange for a Christmas Day visit to have another holiday meal (perhaps serving three French hens) is wonderful. And finish with an evening at the theater with friends whose schedule is too busy for you to get together sooner. (Mr. Shakespeare wrote a lovely play for just this occasion: ‘Twelfth Night.’)” Miss Manners hopes these people are not on your list of people to ignore next year. DEAR MISS MANNERS: I attended an exclusive dinner that was clearly identified on the highly sought-after invitation as “white tie.” Although the men in attendance were all clad according to the formality requirements — white tie and tails, not tuxes — several women actually arrived in short cocktail dresses, and one was even in a short cocktail-type suit. I won’t even talk about the women who wore dress pants! To make matters worse, some of the women members of the organization hosting the dinner were among those in short cocktail dresses. Although the organization threatens to turn improperly dressed men away at the door, there has been no such threat for women offenders. But I have to wonder, is their fashion faux pas not as bad? Am I hopelessly mired in the past to believe that “white tie” remains the most formal of the formal events and, as such, demands long dresses, not short — and certainly not pants — for women? GENTLE READER: You do have a point, even one with which Miss Manners agrees. But you would be wise not to press it. Since the 19th century, it has been thought that the proper sartorial division between the genders is that the gentlemen should be dressed conventionally, distinguished only by the perfection of their tailoring, while ladies should indulge in fanciful variety. You don’t need Miss Manners to tell you that there have been revolts in both ranks. There are gentlemen who insist on dolling up their evening clothes with strange vests, perky ties, peeking non-handkerchiefs and such. And ladies who seek a standard evening uniform of little black dresses or trousers. (Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www. missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)
Yu k o n ’s A d v e n t u r e Tr a v e l O u t f i t t e r
The new Yukon home of For more info email info@avalanchenorth.ca or 633-2199.