Dinner nearly ruined by Technology

        Hal and I had a wonderful Saturday afternoon and evening together. We went shopping, or rather the plan was for me to accompany Hal as he shopped. Sadly, the first stop we made was at Stein Mart in Chantilly. Stein Mart is a step below Kohl's on the discount department store level, but they do have great merchandise and some awesome deals.

        I walked into Stein Mart and announced that I was off to look at the Menswear section while Hal browsed through everything else. I am always on the prowl for some new shirts to pair up with my suits and jackets in an effort to look fresh each wee when I meet with the clients at work. I made my way to the men's section and almost immediately wished that I hadn't! I saw so many shirts that I wanted to get that would go well with my suits, yet they would be different from what everyone wears and I wanted to purchase several of them. However, with the move coming up in July, I decided against making the purchases. I will be going back to Stein Mart in the future after the move!

    After the trip to Stein Mart, we went on to Fair Oaks Mall. I managed to get away from there spending less than $20, but the evening with Hal was nearly ruined when we went to dinner at Popeye's. We seldom do the expensive dinners, so fast food was enough for us. The Popeye's has it's own seating area so we were not in the vast food court zoo. We had settled down and begun to enjoy our dinners when 2 attractive women walked in and took one of the tables near us.

    While one of the women went to place their order, the other remained at the table and pulled out her iPhone. She called someone and then the drama started. What began as a normal conversation soon turned into a shouting match. Keep in mind that Hal and I can only hear 1 side to this conversation. The trouble was that everyone in the restaurant could also hear this conversation! Within 2 minutes, this grown woman is crying hysterically into her iPhone at full volume and spilling her pointless secrets to everyone within 50 feet! Needless to say, this was NOT the ideal environment for Hal and I to enjoy our dinner.

    Finally, the woman ran out of Popeye's still clutching her phone and crying. Her friend was left at the counter waiting on the order. Hopefully, the woman went to the nearest exit from the mall and continued her hysterics in the parking lot. Her friend looked totally embarrassed as she waited to get their orders (now to go obviously) and left quietly.

    While there are times that technology is a great thing, it does not mean that wrapping oneself into our own little bubble absolves us from the responsibility of acting like an adult around others. Whatever trouble this woman was going through ( and obviously it involved a man) should NEVER have been broadcast at FULL VOLUME to people around her.

    Hal and I finished our dinner, along with the others who were there. A sense of relief and disgust soon evaporated after the woman had left. Sadly, her stupidity nearly ruined a great time for us and everyone else in the restaurant. People should be a bit more considerate when using their technology in a public place.