« Everybody's Talking... | Main | No More Entries! »

September 12, 2004

On dinner parties

Live from Alesia, surrounded by dirty dishes and leftovers -- Why is it that having a house full of people over for dinner always seems like a good idea right up until the day of the party?

I love to entertain and even Navy Guy can be persuaded to come out of hermit mode and be social once the people are actually in our house. So the parties themselves always rock. But it's the -- cue eerie music -- hours between (a) waking up and looking blearily around our very kid-friendly house and (b) the time the guests actually arrive that wind up resembling a very bad B movie.

The horror kind.

Me: Where's the fresh fennel? What do you mean, we don't have fresh fennel? You have to go to the store RIGHT NOW and get fennel!!!
Navy Guy: What's fennel?
Me: I don't know! But we need some!! It says right here in the recipe, under . . . oh, crap.
Navy Guy: Oh, crap, what?
Me: Right under "Prepare two days in advance."
[Navy Guy is very wise and keeps stoic silence at this point.]

Then there's the part where we get the house in order.
Me: Honey, why are your dirty socks shoved under your bed? Remember the laundry basket?
Angelic daughter: Yes, Mommy.
Me: Where are your other dirty socks?
Angelic daughter: In my toybox.
Me: Of course. Why didn't I think of that??

Son [who waits till I'm up to my armpits in cutting vegetables]: Will you play name the state flashcards with me again, Mom?
Me: Sure.
Son: You got 7 wrong last time, Mom. You really need to focus.
[OK, I'm really good at the border states. It's some of those in the middle that confuse me.]

Phone rings.
Friend: I know we said we couldn't make it, but now we, our 5 children, and my mother-in-law are unexpectedly free. Can we come after all? We'll bring some beer.
Me [wondering how to stretch 6 chicken breasts 14 ways]: Sure! The more the merrier!

Navy Guy: I think the lawn needs mowed. I'll be outside . . .
Me: Make a move for the door and you're a dead man. The guest bathroom needs cleaned

So here it is, almost midnight, still another dishwasher load to go, and you know what? I'll probably do it again in a month or so. 'Cuz we had a great time and good food and fun conversation and, hey -- I got to keep the leftover cheesecake my friend brought! :)
hugs,
Alesia

Posted by Alesia at 11:07 PM