Your second definition is a little short. This is a term stolen from the medical community where ignorant people show up at the emergency room with runny noses and other similar life threatening emergencies. It stands for Get Out of My Emergency Room-- GOMER.

I am the epitomy of a kettle, but I embrace it.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<See. ;)

Also, I note that on the last flight I took, the 737 I was on had consecutively-numbered seats up to about row 15, then suddenly changed to 21. I have to say that it left me wondering where the other five rows had gone to. :D

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

Funny, too, how this sort shows up in droves during bad weather, but never during the big game or on a particularly pleasant, sunny weekend afternoon.

So just how comfortable was your seat in row 17?;)

But never after WINNING the big game, and particularly after LOSING it.....

LOL. Well, the ticket said 21D, but it was definitely 16D in my mind. ;)

It was okay. Thankfully, I had an open middle seat on that flight.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

LOL I see what ya' did there....



:D

I am going to digress just a tad. If you really want to find out about the real Mr. and Mrs. Kettle, read Betty MacDonald's non-fiction account of her life on a chicken ranch in rural Washington during the 1920s. Her first book was The Egg and I. She was a young bride married to an older insurance salesman; shortly after the wedding, her husband decided to quit his job, move from Seattle, and purchase a chicken farm. The Kettles were just one of the neighboring families that Betty MacDonald encountered.

Her book was used as the basis for a movie called "The Egg and I" starring Claudette Colbert as the young bride. The Kettles were featured in the movie and became so popular that a series of movies was issued about them.

When I was in the 7th grade, I did a book report on The Egg and I. It was not only the funniest book that I had read but also the first that included "swear words." I am sure that my teacher was not aware of the contents of the book or else I would have been silenced; this took place a long time ago - back in the very late 1960s.

One of the more memorable scenes in the book was a discussion between Betty and Mr. Kettle while he was in the outhouse; there was no door to block her view. The Kettles had many children; the most memorable one had the nickname of "T*ts" and it was short for sister. Mrs. Kettle had immigrated from Estonia and married Mr. Kettle as a means of survival.

I read the book before I saw the movie (on television and not at the theater) and was disappointed that the character Kettles did not use the language that the real Kettles used.

Betty MacDonald wrote other books about her life; they are fascinating, hilarious, and extremely down-to-earth. If you ever come across any of her books, take the time to read them. She also wrote a series of books for children.

along similar lines

if I'm describing a Kettle situation, i might use the term "Jethro" for the male and "Ellie Mae" for the female such as

So "Jethro" sits down in First Class because he didn't realize that he and "Ellie Mae" (who were ticketed for seats at 34 B & E) were in coach....

Generally benign, yes. Frequently amusing, most definately. But exasperating quite often.

Usually my frustration arises not from one Kettle, but from the cumulitave frustration of Kettle after Kettle after Kettle. I fully expect to see them clog up security and grab my seat back as they walk back to their seat and stand at the airside outlet chatting with their families as dozens of other pax pile up behind them...but to go though it over and over and over several times a week becomes extremely irritating.

The more frequently you fly, the more beligerant to kettles you become.

I'm confused. Doesn't the "wallet candy" (e.g. elite status card) describe the DYKWIA?

Thanks for not using Billy Bob as a pejorative. :D

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

No, I don't; I meant exactly what I wrote. The idea is that a POTS = a DYKWIA. Their attitudes don't mix well.

Wow! I didn't know such an innocent post would become a large thread. :)

- Pat

No, but DYKWIA types often have wallet candy.
Many of us on FT have some type of wallet candy but don't play that card.