<p>I hate to diverge from the fascinating topic of shoes, but this:
reminded me of when we bought an Oriental carpet years ago. We asked about cleaning it, and the salesman told us that any stains could be removed, except for “the urine of the dog.”</p>
<p>When I had carpet downstairs, I kept a washable rug in the area that the dogs liked to hang out…kept the carpet underneath much cleaner and the dogs appreciated the extra cushiness.</p>
<p>^ Our carpet, which I intentionally picked a shade darker then I wanted, always has marks where our beloved 11yo pup lays. Hunt, your cleaner must be better then mine, because it never seems to come totally clean. When she was younger she happily hung out on her oversized llbean bed. The last few years she insists on being directly under my feet wherever I am (yup, she’s there now). We’re simply resigned to waiting to replace the carpet until just prior to selling the house, and keeping it as clean as we can until then. It’s just in the great room so no big deal, hardwoods everywhere else.</p>
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<p>Wish we could do that, but putting a rug in that area would look super-dorky. :)</p>
<p>Fascinating to watch how our guy moves from surface to surface to soothe his old aching joints: from carpet (cushy) to tiles (cool) to patio (heat). Lather, rinse, repeat. </p>
<p>Are we really out of outrageous guest stories? If so, I could talk about how our dog, when visiting my parents (who are very fond of him) for dinner will get very insistent when he’s ready to leave. First, he’ll stand by the front door. If we don’t pick up on the hint, he’ll get passive-aggressive, and indicate his displeasure by leaving a token of his annoyance. On their living room rug. :eek:</p>
<p>Are you sure they used your kareoke machine?
Maybe they hired a DJ for the entertainment. It’s great fun but not inexpensive.
As for taking shoes off, unless someone’s wearing boots or heels that will mess up my floor, I never ask them to remove their shoes. Too many foot problems–I want my guests comfortable (and most are happier shoeless anyways!)</p>
<p>I had a big office dinner party at my house and of course did a ton of cooking and prep work. People brought appetizers and desserts. Most everything was wonderful …
BUT there’s always one!–She brought food that only “needs heating”. As in here is my appetizer–just 20 min in your oven (already occupied with dinner, thank you very much), and I need to stand here in the middle of your kitchen with all my supplies to make the dip and do you have any butter and a spoon and salt…and a bowl to put it in?<br>
After that my H and I agreed to put up baby gates next time to only allow helpful people into the kitchen. What’s worse I remember that incident more than the great time had by all.</p>
<p>Carpets (and ladies) appreciate my Bruno Maglis.</p>
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<p>I strongly dislike the practice of having a “head table” and marooning the SOs of wedding party members at random tables, but this is beyond extreme! I’ve been the marooned spouse of a best man. You just make the best of it.</p>
<p>BTW, as a resident of shoe-removal-country, I have never asked anyone to remove their shoes. I do not have carpeting, which I detest. I do have some very nice Persian carpets and hardwood floors, both of which suffer when grit is tracked onto them, but I do not value them over my guest’s well-being. For the record, I have never seen people removing their shoes here at a dressy party. It is mostly when the visit is casual, and the footgear is either casual or boots. People do not wear Maine Hunting Shoes with heavy tread to cocktail parties and formal dinners. I can’t see getting into a huff over it either way, frankly.</p>
<p>gouf - do you really put up a baby gate during parties? That’s an interesting concept. I don’t give parties often - maybe once in a blue moon - but when I do I provide all the food, entertainment, at no cost. I don’t ask about shoes, I never thought about that. It just seems easier to provide everything yourself, then no one gets in the way in the kitchen - but then I have a miniscule kitchen.</p>
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<p>Many “no shoes” culture families would offer guests comfortable indoor slippers to wear in the house. </p>
<p>Personally, I tend to be casual in my own place and leave the shoe/no shoe up to the guest. </p>
<p>However, I would not presume to effectively tell the resident/owner of the home/apartment how to run their house by taking umbrage at their request to take off shoes or keeping them on. Their house, their rules. Don’t like it…decline the invitation. </p>
<p>Throwing a huff or asking for exemption except in cases where it is a medical necessity is extremely childish and shows lack of appropriate boundaries regarding the property of others.</p>
<p>I can’t quote on phone, but yes, most people around here wear socks. Three months maybe out of the year it’s warm enough to wear flipflops. But yes, people do sometimes go barefoot during those months in other people’s homes.</p>
<p>I grew up in New England and never saw anyone take off shoes in any weather, except maybe the heaviest boots. Most people had “boot trays” for those, if the person wanted to use them. </p>
<p>I don’t know anyone who’s anti-shoes-in-the-house here in Seattle, but I’ve always felt that walking around in stocking or bare feet is a “familiar” thing one does in their OWN home, not as a visitor. It feels like taking off one’s shirt or walking around in sweats. If I was forced to take off my shoes, I would do it, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable about it, and I would NEVER EVER wear someone else’s used slippers. Who knows what’s been on the feet of the person wearing them last? Which is why walking around barefoot in someone else’s house seems odd to me.</p>
<p>I don’t have any good outrageous guest stories but I do have a brother who periodically “negotiates” my invitations. Example: invited brother and family to meet at restaurant close to us for a Sunday brunch to celebrate my birthday and see DS who will be in town (brother lives 35 minutes away and 5 minutes from our mother, whom he will bring). Brother calls to see if we can do it at 11:00 (which is what I initially said) and can they stop by the house about a half hour ahead of time to visit. Because (1) apparently it will be too hard for 7 people to visit at the table at the restaurant and (2) if they come over after brunch they might…well, not explicity stated but …get stuck all afternoon and (2a) they’re going to services that evening and (2B) SIL has to prepare dinner for the next day’s holiday.</p>
<p>I’m not saying he likes to make things complicated :rolleyes:. But he wasn’t even sure what he/they really wanted to do. So I messaged back that DS was only getting in the evening before, we weren’t early risers like him, we’d already be rushing to get ready, and it just wouldn’t work out before brunch. I said they were welcome to come over after if they felt they needed more “visiting” and promised to kick them out whenever they liked :p. Still waiting for the counter offer.</p>
<p>^^Maybe it IS a Maine thing, as Consolation said, because people usually take off their shoes up here during the winter. It stood out to me immediately as soon as I moved up from Texas!</p>
<p>Of course, a lot of folks (myself included) just wear boots all of the time and don’t bother changing into other shoes as a rule.</p>
<p>Its an asain thing (or at the very least a japanese thing).</p>
<p>My mom was big on it when i was younger due to the black ddirt that was in FL. It continued to this day. I normally keep an eye out to see what the host does, then go from there.</p>
<p>I currently have a situation with a family friend (my parents) who wants to bring their friends to my apartment for a party. Mind you, I am not having a party, just a place for her to see my parents. I offered to make some lunch for them, but now she wants to bring 4 strangers to my apartment in addition to herself and her husband. H is saying no.</p>
<p>Our head table included girlfriends and spouses. I think people have some pretty weird ideas swirling around weddings which IMNSHO are absolutely wrong. </p>
<p>I never give parties where I ask people to bring food though they often do.Most people just bring wine which is fine with me.</p>
<p>Most of our friends don’t ask us to bring food, but are happy to suggest if we ask. It depends a bit on the crowd we have one set of friends that are always a little disappointed if dh doesn’t bring his famous baklava, but if it’s July they get my sour cherry pie instead. (Which they now look forward to almost as much I think.)</p>
<p>Lots of people ask about taking off shoes in our house, and lots of people clearly take off shoes in their house. I think it’s gotten much more common. We always have piles of shoes in the front hall. DH always takes off his shoes, and so do our boys, but I don’t nearly as often.</p>
<p>A lot of couples nowadays have a “sweetheart table” at which just the bride and groom sit. Sometimes the chairs are like thrones or are elevated/decorated in some fashion.</p>
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<p>Mathmom, we have a nice little wooden shoe rack near the front door.</p>
<p>“Sweetheart Tables” are very popular around here,too.</p>
<p>Taking shows off inside the house is also big in this part of the country.</p>