I actually just shook my bottle. Like I was in disbelief that my beer bottle was empty. Shake shake shake. What? OK. I should have a full bottle to recount these things. I switched over from a darker winter ale to a lighter traditional lager.
I'll take a sip.
J.P. told me to have the New Year's Eve party that led to disaster. At her command, I put a small affair together that went from being seemingly "OK" to, in my summary, a fucking disaster.
At the last minute, I put a menu together of food that tried to include the three very important groups of eaters:
1. People Who Like Good Food
2. Those Who Can Only Eat Gluten Free Food
3. Those Who are Allergic to Shellfish
I appreciate all those characteristics and built the menu to fill every tummy for all three groups.
And why shouldn't I have this party? Jeni and Franny went to Atlanta and I'm left with Ian T. "Curly" Donovan! We're bachelors, for Christ's sake!
I put together a genius menu of pre-planning. I let Spanish cuisine inspire me without forgetting that I wanted to be able to mingle with my friends. I would leave one dish and the ending of another dish so that people would see that I actually am doing work on this. I expected about twelve and it wasn't hard to make it easy on myself!
1. Italian Wedding Soup (prepared and simmering)
2. Shrimp & Roasted Red Pepper Quesadillas
3. Roasted Red Meatballs
4. Bruschetta and Toasted Gluten-Free Bread (or so I thought)
5. Cooked Shrimp with Cocktail Sauce
6. Mussels in White Wine Sauce
The only final touch (raise my left eyebrow) is a nice fire! Down side: My wood burning fireplace takes a long time to light. Put the big logs down and my usual scuttle of wood scraps in hopes that it will help light faster. I open the flue. Or so I thought. I walked away to "dress up" (read: plaid shirt and corduroys) and "clean up" (read: wash my face and make sure my hair isn't too fucked up). And I get out to the living room where Ian's watch Spongebob very, very closely and smoke has filled the living room.
I immediately understood that instead of opening the flue, I closed it and dealt with everything else. "IAN, GET OUT OF THIS ROOM. WATCH THIS IN OUR BEDROOM." He moved very quickly and kept asking why even if there was a cloud of smoke that filled the room. I shut our bedroom door. Ran to the the flue and opened it. I shut the fireplace doors and opened all the doors and windows available to me. Hoping the stream of wind would take it away, I stood there for about thirty seconds. In my opinion, it was moving slowly. Flying downstairs, I noticed the fan was tucked away. I picked it up and ran it up and pointed it to the window and put it on high. I stood there and supervised the dismal of all smoke.
After the smoke cleared, I sprayed Febreeze.
I had about thirty more minutes before my "party start" time.
As it all came together, it was a delight. I put the mussels out and announced it. The only things that disturbed the night were Ian's love for chocolate as well as Buster (the dog) feeling the need to prove that he is mentally incompetent to be with humans.
I was impressed when Breanne asked me, "Is that really Gluten Free Bread? It looks too good!" I impressed even the one who prepares food for those who suffer from Gluten allergies! Aren't I great? I went to the Gluten Free Bakery to find this bread! Ha ha!
As midnight came and went, we toasted the New Year 2009. It's like toasting a child. "Here's to the potential of what may be." About 1:00AM, many left. J.P. stayed and helped clean.
When she was done, she told me that she had to leave. Though I told her to stay and hang for a while, it was time for home. She had to get downtown and it was late.
Something told me that I should stay up a little bit later. I proceeded to drink a few more and sealed the 'getting hammered' deal. Pffffoooot!
I got a text message from Breanne that the bread must have NOT been rice bread because her boyfriend was crapping all day long. She blamed the smell on me.
What is a successful party? I'm not sure if that was it.
Believe it or not, my bottle's almost empty. Hair of the dog. Works every time.
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