Housewarming Party!
Nov. 16th, 2008 02:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bloodsong1Or, Queenie proves she still can't take a compliment even after fishing for one like a third-rate angler
I had been stressing about this event for a week. The ritual wasn't planned out like I wanted, the house wasn't done and I had no idea how to time the food. Thursday afternoon and evening was spent in a dark bedroom thanks to a migraine, so I lost all that time as well.
Friday night I finished the curtains and did NOTHING else the rest of the night. gnyaaah.
Saturday morning, confident in the knowledge no one would be showing up before 2 pm, I bullied my family up and breakfasted and out the door by 10:30. Stopped at the bank (now have bank cc in process, with me as primary as my credit score is better. 9% APR for the first year, 14% after that. Still cheaper then anything else we've qualified for, but WTF? Fed rates are around 3%!!! At least we can roll the countertops into that card and save 6%.)
Yes, Queenie got new countertops Friday. No more lemon yellow, hooray!
After the bank was gas, then halfway across town to the liquor store I promised a customer of mine I'd patronage. About $30 later and a lot of friendly chit-chat, we're out with a big bottle of Finger Lakes Pasta Wine (a smooth, edged to sweet red, worked beautifully), a Poe wine who's name I still can't remember, and a bottle of Kahlua I insisted on. Then back across town to Wegmans for the rest of the food.
We got home about 1, hour and a half left. Cool. Wolf gets to work putting up the door curtains and swearing at our cruel doors for not cooperating with him, as well as the curtain rods being about six inches too long (smallest size we could find at Target). I put the pasta salad together and finished tidying up the house. 2:30 rolls around and I realize, OH SHIT, we forgot to notify Barb on how to get here. I call her, find out she hasn't even left yet.
Ritual was for 3.
Right.
Wolf gives her directions and suddenly I have plenty of time. Yay! I finish the plastic sheets for the bathroom shelves and help Wolf with the curtain rods. Bu, Skitten and Zahde show up as we're finishing.
We explain the delay, I jump all over Bu's comments about various things, and realize, gee, Queenie, it's going on 4 and you haven't eaten since 9 am.
Zahde's chocolate cake served as both appetizer and ritual cake. Thanks, Zahde! I managed to get one dolma and two pieces of cake. Asking timing advice from Bu, I then started on the main dish, got it prepped and into the oven.
5ish, Barb arrives. People slowly start getting ready for ritual. For the record, it's very easy to distract this crowd with various discussions. I had to ask twice to get people off the topic of boxer origins and into the dining room. That being said, Bu was very helpful getting the altar set up and Zahde worked her candle magic to get the Quarter Candles burning.
It was about 6:30 when we get started. I had finished doling out the roles and tossed the job of Circle casting to Bu. He did a great job, borrowing Wolf's copper and bone staff (as we don't own any wands), until he said "Kevin and Michelle".
"EXCUSE ME?" I protest and everyone bursts out laughing. He fixed it and we continued with the Casting. Skitten had the bell ringing job after Quarter calling and Summoning and just loves Wolf's bell. ^_^
We processed through the house, blessing every room, and even went around the front porch. It was cold and damp and not kind to those with bare toesies or stockinged feet.
After we closed out, the dining room table was stripped of ritual gear and set for dinner. Everyone liked my cooking, huzzah! Coffee, tea and layered cheesecakes followed the eggplant parmasean, meatballs, pasta salad and bread, with wine and non-alcoholic sparkling juices. I allowed myself to get nicely tipsy on two small glasses of wine and subjected everyone to Katamari Damacy after the kiddos were in bed. I think it would be a good game for Skitten, if she has a Playstation when she gains more use of her left hand. It's a very simple game, but it does require two thumbs.
I made a point of pointing out the lovely satin curtains, and then spoiling the affirmations by mentioning the rippled hems (which couldn't be seen with the way they were hung and tied). Bu called me on it. ^_^
Zahde and I both got our tops off, hers to cut a pomegranate for snacking and ritual, and mine so Zahde could sew a tuck into the waistband of my ritual skirt, as my lovely sewing kit with pins and safety pins and a thimble and all the cool stuff has VANISHED after I put everything away Friday night when the curtains were done. I did a great job for putting that away, let me tell you! Gnyaaaah. *claws face*
The Ithacans went home first, Barb and Bobby stayed longer to chat and figure out how to get back down south without doubling back on the highway. Everyone was gone by 11 pm. I was a little disappointed, I was hoping some would stay overnight to continue the enjoyment, but it really was for the best. I didn't bother to clean up until about 9 am this morning. The dining room is done, I have the last of the dishes drying in the dishwasher right now, and a load of laundry will be started once the dishes are finished. We are not going to do anything but watch football and chill today. I even got a nap in. ^_^
I had been stressing about this event for a week. The ritual wasn't planned out like I wanted, the house wasn't done and I had no idea how to time the food. Thursday afternoon and evening was spent in a dark bedroom thanks to a migraine, so I lost all that time as well.
Friday night I finished the curtains and did NOTHING else the rest of the night. gnyaaah.
Saturday morning, confident in the knowledge no one would be showing up before 2 pm, I bullied my family up and breakfasted and out the door by 10:30. Stopped at the bank (now have bank cc in process, with me as primary as my credit score is better. 9% APR for the first year, 14% after that. Still cheaper then anything else we've qualified for, but WTF? Fed rates are around 3%!!! At least we can roll the countertops into that card and save 6%.)
Yes, Queenie got new countertops Friday. No more lemon yellow, hooray!
After the bank was gas, then halfway across town to the liquor store I promised a customer of mine I'd patronage. About $30 later and a lot of friendly chit-chat, we're out with a big bottle of Finger Lakes Pasta Wine (a smooth, edged to sweet red, worked beautifully), a Poe wine who's name I still can't remember, and a bottle of Kahlua I insisted on. Then back across town to Wegmans for the rest of the food.
We got home about 1, hour and a half left. Cool. Wolf gets to work putting up the door curtains and swearing at our cruel doors for not cooperating with him, as well as the curtain rods being about six inches too long (smallest size we could find at Target). I put the pasta salad together and finished tidying up the house. 2:30 rolls around and I realize, OH SHIT, we forgot to notify Barb on how to get here. I call her, find out she hasn't even left yet.
Ritual was for 3.
Right.
Wolf gives her directions and suddenly I have plenty of time. Yay! I finish the plastic sheets for the bathroom shelves and help Wolf with the curtain rods. Bu, Skitten and Zahde show up as we're finishing.
We explain the delay, I jump all over Bu's comments about various things, and realize, gee, Queenie, it's going on 4 and you haven't eaten since 9 am.
Zahde's chocolate cake served as both appetizer and ritual cake. Thanks, Zahde! I managed to get one dolma and two pieces of cake. Asking timing advice from Bu, I then started on the main dish, got it prepped and into the oven.
5ish, Barb arrives. People slowly start getting ready for ritual. For the record, it's very easy to distract this crowd with various discussions. I had to ask twice to get people off the topic of boxer origins and into the dining room. That being said, Bu was very helpful getting the altar set up and Zahde worked her candle magic to get the Quarter Candles burning.
It was about 6:30 when we get started. I had finished doling out the roles and tossed the job of Circle casting to Bu. He did a great job, borrowing Wolf's copper and bone staff (as we don't own any wands), until he said "Kevin and Michelle".
"EXCUSE ME?" I protest and everyone bursts out laughing. He fixed it and we continued with the Casting. Skitten had the bell ringing job after Quarter calling and Summoning and just loves Wolf's bell. ^_^
We processed through the house, blessing every room, and even went around the front porch. It was cold and damp and not kind to those with bare toesies or stockinged feet.
After we closed out, the dining room table was stripped of ritual gear and set for dinner. Everyone liked my cooking, huzzah! Coffee, tea and layered cheesecakes followed the eggplant parmasean, meatballs, pasta salad and bread, with wine and non-alcoholic sparkling juices. I allowed myself to get nicely tipsy on two small glasses of wine and subjected everyone to Katamari Damacy after the kiddos were in bed. I think it would be a good game for Skitten, if she has a Playstation when she gains more use of her left hand. It's a very simple game, but it does require two thumbs.
I made a point of pointing out the lovely satin curtains, and then spoiling the affirmations by mentioning the rippled hems (which couldn't be seen with the way they were hung and tied). Bu called me on it. ^_^
Zahde and I both got our tops off, hers to cut a pomegranate for snacking and ritual, and mine so Zahde could sew a tuck into the waistband of my ritual skirt, as my lovely sewing kit with pins and safety pins and a thimble and all the cool stuff has VANISHED after I put everything away Friday night when the curtains were done. I did a great job for putting that away, let me tell you! Gnyaaaah. *claws face*
The Ithacans went home first, Barb and Bobby stayed longer to chat and figure out how to get back down south without doubling back on the highway. Everyone was gone by 11 pm. I was a little disappointed, I was hoping some would stay overnight to continue the enjoyment, but it really was for the best. I didn't bother to clean up until about 9 am this morning. The dining room is done, I have the last of the dishes drying in the dishwasher right now, and a load of laundry will be started once the dishes are finished. We are not going to do anything but watch football and chill today. I even got a nap in. ^_^
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no subject
Date: 2008-11-16 08:51 pm (UTC)Reminds me of the time we had to use honeyed hotdog buns as sacrament bread...
no subject
Date: 2008-11-16 09:13 pm (UTC)I didn't realise you wanted us to stay overnight. I have to plan for that in advance. I can't sleep without my BiPAP machine. B&K are usually overbooked. But I'm not. If I had the money for gas I would love drive down by myself and stayed overnight.
no subject
Date: 2008-11-17 02:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-17 02:56 am (UTC)you are *adorable when drunk & btw: you have very pretty breasts despite your feelings about them *hug*