Public Disclosure

People who conduct personal phones calls in a restaurant deserve to have both critique and feedback.

My decision today was to take a meritorious day off to regroup after yesterday's nastiness. I drove to the Post Office to check my mail, and upon exiting the parking lot, allowed my car to turn right and head for the Pizza Hut. Ever since the commercials have been on TV for the "pizzone," I've wanted to try one, probably not a good nutritional decision on many levels, but so what. I literally haven't had pizza in just about a year, so today was going to make up for that self-denial. In spades.

I fixed a large platter of fairly plain salad, which I ate while waiting for the pizzone. The lunchtime entertainment featured 2 men, who may or may not have been related (it was hard to tell), discussing a real estate deal. One of them discussed details for a full 10 minutes with a woman involved in the situation , while the other guy listened in. Phone guy paid $73k for the property and he wants to divide it in thirds, but he also wants to give a break to one of the people involved in the deal. His property = his business.

When the phone conversation ended, the second man, the eavesdropper, began his podium presentation, a most unwelcome lecture generated from his ego-centric ethics, his greed, his wanting in on the deal. He challenged the first man, corrected his math/figures, told him he was "nuts" to throw away potential profit just because he wants to do good by his cousin (I think; it may have been his son). The financial management specialist was aggressive and unrelenting; every time the man explained that this is the way he wants to do this business, the other man came with a new attack.

Finance man hammered the other guy with one phrase: can you afford a $24k gift? Has this guy ever done anything to earn getting your $24k? Couldn't you use that money yourself, rather than throwing it away on someone who won't appreciate it? Hell, he said, if you have that kinda money to throw away, throw some of it my way.

That was good for a self laugh, but it was obvious that the man with the property had made his decision. I wondered if he would be able to stand by it or finally cave in to the unrelenting pressure from the wheeler/dealer.

There was something in me that wanted to turn around and tell the profit-led conversationalist to shut the hell up and leave the guy alone! He made it clear that this is what he wants to do, and it appears to be his decision to make, so shut up and mind your own business. As if that is going to happen ...

As I stood up to leave, I checked out the 2 men, one of whom was an older man, probably in his 50s, dressed in his well-worn work clothes. The money man was a heavy-set, bling-decorated, 20-something big wheeler and dealer decked out in more hip clothes. He didn't look professional, he looked "pimped out," which leads me to believe he's just some guy working a deal that could benefit him if he plays his cards right.

Imagine how much bang for the old man's buck this guy could get from a quick $24k.

The conversation between the two men will not be over for many long weeks to come if bling guy has his way!

PS: The pizzone is good, reminding me of a pre-made product that is cooked, rather than made to order. I ordered the traditional, which had lots of bell pepper, some onion and cheese, and a tiny bit of meat. If I go back for another pizzone, I'll try the "meat lovers" variety because the traditional was almost too vegetarian for my taste.