i really find the difference between American and European tipping fascinating. Leaving the change rounded up to the next buck is a nice thing to do there, and an insult here.

Anyway, to add a vent story before we get hopelessly off-topic....

In the summers between college, I worked for my father doing construction work.

One day I went to applebees (American casual family restaurant chain) after work with my ex-wife. (wasn't my ex at the time)

I was wearing my work clothes, which included carharts, work boots and a flannel shirt that was just clean enough to make up for the not so clean t-shirt underneath it. Not something I would normally wear out, but it was an early dinner, not a high class restaurant, and I was too tired to care. Since I was dressed like a construction worker who spent all day building a barn, my ex-wife just wore a t-shirt and jeans.

Anyway, the closer we got to finishing our meal, the closer to our table the waiter would stand. Pretty soon, he was actually stopping by the table to check on us every 2 minutes, and while he was just asking the usual things, like if we needed anything else, he wasn't friendly or nice about any of it.

Finally, he brings the check. "I'll be your cashier whenever you're ready."

And then he just stands there. Not doing anything, not saying anything, just standing there. Finally he steps back, and stand like 5 feet from the table, but continues to just stand there.

As I was getting ready to get out my wallet and pay, I realized what was going on. He took one look at me and decided that I was going to walk the check, so he hovered over us to make sure I didn't.

I was livid, but I kept it cool on the outside. I called him over, and politely let him know that I had no intention of leaving without paying, but I would like another refill on my diet pepsi before I settled up and left.

Until I saw his reaction to that, I wasn't quite sure that was what he was doing, but when I said that, the blood drained out of his face, he stamered for a minute, and then gave it up and took my glass away for a refill. I left $40 (enough to cover my check and a tip he didn't deserve) and walked out while he was gone.

But, I had one last laugh. I left the cash under my plate and watched his reaction from the lobby.

Priceless.