eating by yourself at a restaurant is kind of a bizarre experience. last time i was down in petersburg i ate at restaurants by myself a good amount...at first. as the host/hostess would lead me to my table, i started getting the feeling that people were staring at me like: 1) i had an arm growing out of the side of my head. or 2) i was a flipping serial killer. im pretty sure i saw a small child turn and cry to their parents because they were so frightened by my pitiful/eerie solitude. ok, maybe not.
its funny, i never felt wierd about it before. and even as i sat alone i didnt feel depressed or lonely, it was just the perception of others that disuaded me from dining solo in restaurants. other than getting food to go, the other 'viable' option is to order your food at the bar. this is kosher as long as there are at least two others at the bar as well, and there is some lame distracting show on a tv nearby.
im thinking that much of this is in my head and emanates from the same initial reaction i have when i see someone eating a ruby tuesdays by themself...before my brain catches up and chides my initial reaction (i always denied that i did that). i think this only goes to show how steeped i am in the 'rules' of culture. we place so much pressure on being accepted by other people. i think community is a great thing and i wouldnt be doing well without it. and im sure there definately are lonely people who do go to restaurants by themselves who may be in need of friendship. i guess i was just suprised to see how strong the pressure was to 'fix' whatever was wrong with me and barred me from company, even though im from out of town.
i think going to a movie all by your lonesome would have a similar feel, at least while you bought ah ticket. afterwards you wouldnt really be exposed and it might not feel the same. i should try that out while im here, the new hp is showing at the local cinema after all.
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17 comments:
noo we didn't go see HP and probably won't before the weekend.. you should wait and check it out at the Senator!
Hp is pretty okay. I actually enjoy going to movies alone- usually in the middle of the day. That sounds "wrong, " I know- but I kinda like it sometimes.
haha, why do you like going alone?
eating solo and looking lonely is the best way to pick up chicks... it's the pity
HP, while hewlitt packards are good, you really want to go with the e-machines.
i used to eat alone in highschool from 10th to 11th grade for lunch, not because i didn't have any friends... but because it was a habit that developed when we moved into our new building.
i'll tell you more in detail later there's more behind it
i like going alone because sometimes i enjoy time to myself to do whatever the heck i want without having to worry about being with people. i enjoy friends and company a lot but sometimes just going about a typical day all alone lets you get lost in thought. sometimes you need to get a little lost in thought.
That is interesting. I totally syke myself out eating alone, just as you are describing. Man I had lunch alone all through high school, I am interested to hear your story Seye (read: Blog it). Senior year as well.
But going to the theater alone, I was put in that situation before(read: Stood up) and it actually was a good experience for me as well. In that case, I guess You can be entertained by your own company.
whoa, looks like you hit a nerve
I am completely against eating alone. the whole purpose of going to a restaurant is to spend time and talk to another person while enjoying the same good food. food is for sharing, and being alone at a restaurant seems like a waste of time
so what viable options are there for those who unavoidably find themselves hungry and alone(out of town)?
other places where its awkward to be alone:
a new church
an outdoor pool (indoor seems, ok)
the beach
concert?
i have done each of those things alone, except the outdoor pool i think, and they all suck. new churches because often nobody talks to you. the beach because you need someone to swim with in case you drown, and also to watch your stuff. and a concert because while eavesdropping on other people's conversations between acts can be fun, it gets old, and you just want someone to talk to or to just sit down.
HP = amazing.
"steeped in the rules of culture"...like marriage! who needs it!? but you know, if you grew up in a polygamist society, it would be normal to have a commune full of swingers, eh. so you'd just think it was some norm for you to have like 10 wives, and then maybe you would be questioning if THAT were the ideal God wanted for humans.
to address jb's question:
1. get a table by yourself
2. order an appetizer for another table
3. when the food arrives and the server explains to them that you ordered it for them: smile and wink
4. moneytime
Alot of times I end up going to concerts alone and at first I feel extremely awkward. Everyone has someone to talk to, hang out with, etc. But once the music starts going, I forget about the awkwardness and just do my best to enjoy the music.
As for food, I've started to cook for myself, because for me it's more gratifying, no matter how disgusting it is. Plus my mother says I need to be a good husband and cook (yea right)
But now ow that I think about it, I spend 90% of my time alone, that it's just something I've learned to deal with.
so you want to write letters? give me your address!
fine.
1501 w. lombard street
baltimore md, 21223
to lanny:
i really appreciate time alone lately. it can afford you time with your thoughts, which can often be neglected. however, awkward alone time isnt as exciting...maybe its just something to push through?
outdoor pools alone are no problem - do it all the time
(Anna, not Jayme)
dude... i watched "get rich or die tryin'" solo on a misty night in san fransisco.
a part of me died that night.
but it died tryin'.
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