Archive for the ‘entertaining’ Category
1600 miles and 12 champagne flutes
Why would two busy girls, with no abnormal fear of heights or over-zealous TSA personnel, opt to drive the 1600+ miles to Seattle and back rather than flying? Two words: yellow lab.
According to my sister, Charlie (the aforementioned yellow lab), really wanted to visit Coco (my parents’ Eskipoo) over the holidays. And since Christmas is about acquiescing and flying with a dog is a bitch, I caved.
charlie tries to look extra squished by presents. drama queen.
Of course, the silver lining of nearly killing yourself driving through rain, sleet and snow at all hours of the day and night for a mere three days at home is that your parents are really happy. And maybe even a little guilty. So guilty that they justify the alternate mode of transportation by putting an absurd number of bulky presents under the tree…presents that would most certainly not all fit in an overhead bin.
My parents are awesome gift givers. My Dad has accepted and even embraced the fact that he is surrounded by women (even the dogs are female, the misleadingly named Charlie included), and has become a jewelry connoisseur of sorts. My mom practices thematic gifting, which has generally worked out well, save the Christmas when I received a bevy of Chicken Soup for the Soul and other self-help books as a 15-year-old. Which perhaps was not entirely unwarranted.
This year, the theme was decidedly “entertaining.” Now that both parents have joined Facebook, they have access to photographic evidence of all our shenanigans, which include hosting lots of boozy brunches and the occasional dinner. And since our dad is a master chef and our mom a former interior decorator, they heartily approve. When we repacked the car for the trip home, poor Charlie was extra squished thanks to two tablecloths and matching napkins, 12 beautiful Anthropologie champagne glasses (mimosas!), coasters, cheese knives, platters, and a stunning Versace-designed espresso serving set (I know, I know). I even received a book of culinary terms, which ironically was opened right after I asked my dad when he was going to “bone the duck” for dinner. Apparently the proper term is “de-bone.” Awkward.
version 2.0 coming in 2011
So kids, it looks like we’ll be hosting lots of parties in 2011, which I couldn’t be happier about. It’s funny, when I moved to San Francisco three years ago post-college, I had an almost allergic reaction to house parties. After all, I’d only recently earned my legal right to venture beyond campus keggers to bars and lounges. Why regress? But in the past year or so, I’ve noticed that my friends and I have boomeranged back to hosting at home more often. It helps that we probably have nicer digs and bigger budgets than when we first moved to San Francisco, and hopefully improved culinary skills as well. Plus, it’s a super fun way to bring together different groups of friends, something that’s much harder to accomplish at a restaurant or bar.
So thank you, Charlie, for inspiring the treacherous drive to Seattle and sharing the backseat with many household items. But next Christmas, we’re flying.
