How To Fill up a Buffet Plate

There is always a trick to everything, including how to fill your plate at a buffet. Gaze at the foods there, find out what you like and where it is placed on the buffet, and keep the desert for last, even though it looks the best.;)

Work in reverse. Smart buffet operators position the cheapest stuff (bread, pasta salad, last week's lettuce) at the front of the table so you'll fill up on it. That's why savvy chowhounds start loading from the back end.
Keep a low center of gravity. Remember your high school physics: Torque equals force times distance from the fulcrum - in this case, the plate center. Start by laying down a ballast of solid meat in the middle to prevent tipping. Reserve the outer rim for lighter fare.
Think vertically. Diners squander valuable real estate by spreading salad alongside the entree. Get over your irrational feelings about different foods touching - it goes on top.
Stick to flat or malleable foods. When stacked, meatballs and baked spuds behave like ball bearings. This can result in an embarrassing demo of kinetics. That's why God created Salisbury steak and mashed potatoes.
Flood-control your sauces. Gravies are prone to sloshing, so ladle the stuff behind a mashed-potato levee - and hope it holds. You can also create a mashed-potato volcano, creating bowl of gravy that doesn't run into your other selections.
Pocket the bread. Duh! That's what cargo pants are for.


* If you are trying to lose weight, you will probably want to avoid buffets.
* If you get stuck having to go to one as part of a lunch date or other obligation where you need to impress, do exactly the opposite of what is listed above.


* Keep in mind that the last step, "pocket the bread" is meant in terms of your convenience in minimizing trips between the table and the buffet. While it's unlikely that anything bad will happen if you take bread home with you, it may appear greedy and rude if you are in polite company.

Prevent Cats From Using a Garden As a Litter Box

Plant feline repellent varieties of herbs, such as pennyroyal. Any herb with a pungent aroma will repel them, but pennyroyal particularly offends them.
Lay weedblocker and use rocks to mulch. This will allow you to maintain your annuals, and will frustrate the cats because: rocks hurt their feet and they can't dig to cover.

You could also use mothballs spread evenly around the garden, but be aware that mothballs are made of napthalene, which is toxic to your plants, the cat, you, and everything else alive.

For the purposes of this article, a "significant other" is defined as someone with whom you are in an ongoing romantic relationship.

Be happy with yourself. This is the most important step. Take up a hobby, such as exercise, reading, or meditation, that makes you feel good and takes up a lot of time. Focus on improving yourself and being happy by yourself.

Construct a large group of friends. They need not be close, but you should have plenty of people whom you are comfortable talking to or going places with on a casual basis. Be friendly to people in places you frequent, so that you have several places that can feel like home if the empty apartment or house starts to bother you.
Find work you love or learn to love your work. Focus on your work to feel fulfilled and increase your group of casual friends. Make sure to focus on doing a great job rather than getting the next promotion--promotions are rare enough that you could quickly become frustrated if that was your only goal.
Do not ignore your need for physical gratification. Most adult stores will stock several supplies to soothe those needs. You will find that, with a little exploration and time, you can satisfy yourself faster and more thoroughly without a partner.
If friends express concern over your single status or want to set you up on a date, explain calmly and confidently that you are happier by yourself. Understand that you are in the minority in this and that not everyone will understand.


If you do find someone that you are interested in, don't hesitate to ask them out just because you had planned on living without a significant other. You can always make exceptions.
Take care of yourself before doing anything else.
If you find yourself in need of enjoying physical pleasure with a partner, choose someone you are comfortable with but not interested in. Make sure they know that you are not interested in a relationship, and that they feel the same wa

Examine yourself. Do you not want to be in a relationship because your last one scarred you? Do you need time to get over something else? Don't live in the past.
Don't be in a relationship just to not be alone. Don't be alone simply because of past experiences. Happiness starts from within.
Avoid drugs or excessive drinking. Either could lead you to send the wrong signals to an interested partner or even lead you to do something you'll regret.