Special Edition: Robin’s Birthday

Special Edition: Robin’s Birthday
(We skipped the Capitol Club this week and had a party at my place for Robin’s birthday.)

Attendance: Wendy, Mandy, Ann, Steve, Karina, Chris and Mary, and Robin and Jerry
Menu:
Anti-pasta: slow roasted tomatoes, roast eggplant /red pepper/cumber salad and great cheese and salami – not to mention cocktails chosen from the ‘menu’ of drinks
Pasta – stuffed calamari cooked in tomato sauce with tortellini (this won first prize for most people’s favorite dish)
Meat-Course: top round roast cooked with red wine and vodka with root vegetables, and turnips cooked with an orange honey glaze
Dessert: chocolate/raspberry jam cake from Dilettante, espresso/Sambuka and other after dinner drinks
Drinks Consumed: are you kidding, do you think I could keep track of the drinks these lushes consumed?! Well, I’ll try . . . I made more than one Lemon Drop, South-Side (has gin and mint), Ward Eight (has bourbon and juices), Mojito, Compari cocktail, and bottles of wine
Conversations: Too many to list (plus I was too busy getting the food and drinks out to hear most of it) but we did talk about you two and your adventure and wished you were with us, Karina’s sisters (doing great), lots about books, movies and Twin Peaks (which I just got on DVD).
Not too late: We wrapped up a little before mid-night after about 5 hours of eating, drinking and making merry. (Then I had to kick everyone out because Robin looked way too cute in her new dress. J)
The next morning: We didn’t feel too bad (well Robin and I didn’t, I can’t talk for anyone else’s headache). But every vessels for drinking liquid had been used over the course of the previous evening.

Bits and Pieces

Attendance: Robin, Wendy, Ann, Jerry
Weather: For the first time this new school year it was dark outside when we arrived at the Capitol Club.
Drinks Consumed: Robin and Ann (Vodka Tonics), Wendy (Greyhound), Jerry (Bourbon and sodas)
Political News: I’ll begin with presidential political news for Sarah since she recently asked for an update. The standard line in the media is Hillary is still way ahead, especially nationally. At this point the only early state that is close is the first, Iowa, (which will now go on Jan. 3rd). Obama or Edwards could win Iowa and damage what seems like a likely Clinton nomination. (But of course this time last year Dean seemed very likely to win.) With the Republicans it is still wide open with possible paths for Giuliani, Thompson, Romney and McCain. Rudy has a fairly large lead in national poles but Romney is ahead in Iowa and New Hampshire, which would be a huge boost, and Thompson is narrowly ahead in South Carolina. The big news this week was different right-wing religious nuts supported 3 different Republican candidates in the press – Rudy, Thompson and McCain - showing even the most hard-core Republicans are placing bets all over the place.
Bits of news
Dan update: The sailor who Dan was coaching in the Olympic trials in Newport, RI came in 6th out of 35 sailors – not bad at all.
Same place same time: 2 weeks ago unbeknownst to each other Ann and Wendy both took a weekend away to Lopez Island and pretty much followed each other around for 2 days without knowing it.
School stuff: Grades are due (bad), but it’s a Veteran’s Day 3 day weekend (good)!
No Really: Ann was taking home work, a bag stuffed with documents on the Seattle sewer system. We are not sure what one does with such documents.
Jerry Update: I received my National Board Certification!

First Friday in November

Members Present: Jerry, Robin, Mandy, Wendy, Ann, Steve
Drinks: The usual (that lovely pink thing that Robin drinks does stand out)
Conversation: Halloween- the "in" thing for the tiny tots are these adorable stuffed-animal suits that really look like you took your favorite stuffy- opened it up and took out all the stuffing, replacing it with your 8 month-old child, and zip them right up! Very cute. Besides that adorableness, Jerry was spotted wearing a cowboy hat and bolo tie! Yes, it's true. The chaps and spurs rumor was, unfortunately, false. However, Robin had a twinkle in her eye when she talked about a possible repeat of that outfit, so who knows what's next??
What's Everyone Up To? Mandy is still working on her MFA, moving into a new place this weekend (a place that actually has a heater and uses it!), and went to visit some friends in Portland this weekend. She is also the new Head Coach of Girls Basketball at Evergreen Junior High! Congratulations to Mandy!
Robin is continuing to update her kitchen and bath. She also, unbelievably enough, is already planning her boys' Christmas presents. What an awesome mom!
Jerry- hmmm, what is he up to? That man needs to talk more. He is planning to cook a very small bird for Thanksgiving dinner- not squab (sp?)
Wendy- I'm loving my new job. I actually have time to think about teaching! Crazy. I am thinking hard about buying a new car. Gas is more and more expensive and we sit longer and longer in traffic so it will likely be a Prius. It just seems like the right thing to do.
Ann and Steve- both have great new jobs. Ann even has lovely business cards with all kinds of contact information! Steve is a little bit worried about possibly having to be on call. I can't say I blame him.

Hey, I have a question, are you managing to get books? I would worry about that and I'm wondering if you've found a way to read.

We are all missing you both. I had that eerie feeling, once again, of looking forward to seeing you right there at the Capitol Club, and then realizing that I wouldn't. So, I went on your blog and looked at your pictures! Thank you for posting those. It's very comforting.