Weather: it hasn’t really change in over a month - dark, off and on drizzle, cold
Attendance: Mandy, Wendy, Robin, Jerry, Ann, Steve and introducing Ann’s friend Erin
Drinks Consumed: Mandy, Wendy and Steve went for the Mac and Jacks, Robin and Ann went for the Vodka/tonics, Erin is a Greyhound girl and Jerry went for the bourbon and club
Christmas wrap-up: Wendy made it in and out of Vancouver in record time, leaving Seattle late afternoon on the 24th and returning the night of the 26th. The best detail was about her sister-in-law who said she gave up housecleaning a couple of months ago much to Wendy’s horror.
Mandy was in Olympia. She found it quite interesting that the family decided it was time to bring her older sister’s new furniture back to Seattle Christmas Eve night and get her apartment looking great instead of having the dinner Mandy made. “Just pack it up. We’ll eat it in Seattle.”
Ann and Steve went away together to Winthrop and cross country skied - family free.
Robin and Jerry unexpectedly had Christmas Eve at Sean’s parent’s house. We were just going for a drink (since I had made a dinner) but ended up staying – that family is extremely entertaining as you can imagine. Robin and I ate the Christmas Eve dinner Christmas night.
Baby update: no baby for Sean and Matt yet. The next try is in January.
A double surprise: both Wendy and Mandy and Robin and Jerry ended up at performance of the musical Jersey Boys when friends (Wendy’s aunt and uncle, Sean’s parents) had extra tickets.
New recruit: Steve may soon be sailing on Wendy’s boat as he has always wanted to race boats and his question: “Does your boat need a fat stoner?” was answers with an enthusiastic “Yes!”
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Special Edition: Rudolf and Egg Nog Party
(Sorry. I’m about a week behind. There’s nothing that gets you off track like having 2 weeks with nothing to do.)
Last Wedneday we held the 5th annual Rudolf and Egg Nog party. Remeber that one? We kept alive the idea of exchanging books (after a game to see who picks first) started last year.
Attendance: Wendy, Mandy, Karina, Robin, Jerry
Menu: Big pot of beef stew, salad with satsumas and cheese, homemade biscotti and egg nog from scratch – both a la Robin
The agenda: We started with a number of cocktails, moved to the beef stew and some wine, watched Rudolf on my tiny TV while drinking the amazing egg nog and eating biscotti, and finally played the movie DVD game from 2 New Year’s ago to determine who would get to pick first in our book exchange. Mandy won the game.
Conversation: mostly around our Christmas plans and hopes for our 2 weeks off. Karina told us her sisters were beginning to think about moving out on their own. If they do Karina wants to move closer to downtown/Capitol Hill from her exile way, way up in the 90s and Roosevelt!
It was a very fun time, though we sadly noted your absence a number of times.
Last Wedneday we held the 5th annual Rudolf and Egg Nog party. Remeber that one? We kept alive the idea of exchanging books (after a game to see who picks first) started last year.
Attendance: Wendy, Mandy, Karina, Robin, Jerry
Menu: Big pot of beef stew, salad with satsumas and cheese, homemade biscotti and egg nog from scratch – both a la Robin
The agenda: We started with a number of cocktails, moved to the beef stew and some wine, watched Rudolf on my tiny TV while drinking the amazing egg nog and eating biscotti, and finally played the movie DVD game from 2 New Year’s ago to determine who would get to pick first in our book exchange. Mandy won the game.
Conversation: mostly around our Christmas plans and hopes for our 2 weeks off. Karina told us her sisters were beginning to think about moving out on their own. If they do Karina wants to move closer to downtown/Capitol Hill from her exile way, way up in the 90s and Roosevelt!
It was a very fun time, though we sadly noted your absence a number of times.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Happy Anniversary
Wendy and I decided this week’s Capitol Club was our 7th anniversary of boozy Friday nights! To celebrate we all got fancy drinks and finally started working on the list of everyone who has every come through our table at the Capitol Club. Your job is to fill in names we have forgotten.
Weather: dark, cold, damp, miserable – i.e. December in Seattle
Attendance: Wendy, Mandy, Robin, Jerry
Drinks: Wendy had a Casaba (how do you spell that), Mandy had 2 Margaritas, Jerry started with a much needed coffee and then Robin and Jerry switched to Manhattans, their original Capitol Club drink 7 years ago.
OK, The List:
The Stars: Wendy, Jerry, Robin, Mandy, Sarah Vanessa
Special Reoccurring Co-Stars: Ann, Bill, Susan, Vanessa (Ann’s friend), Rich (Ann’s friend), Shevaun (these are people who were regulars for a time)
Co-stars: Steve (Ann’s boyfriend), Dan, Cass, Sean, Adam, Kevin (Wendy’s cousin), Karina, the girl we tried to fix-up with Karina, that girl’s friend from Sarah’s work, Monte, Brett, Marlin, Travis, Rebecca (Travis’ boyfriend), Rebecca (Ann’s friend), Terry (Ann’s friend), Merritt, Mindy, Lindy, Lynne, Kelley, Bev, Patri (Sarah’s friend), Amy (Mandy’s friend), Cass’s ex-girlfriend, Bill’s brother, Steve (Jerry’s friend), Steve’s boyfriend.
That’s all we got. Who did we forget?
Gossip: Robin and I were the subject of school gossip this week. It seems our new secretary (new since August) found out the day before our Christmas party that Robin and I were together. First she is whispering about this to Lynne, right in front of Robin, and then she is telling everyone at the Christmas party who didn’t know. I personally was amazed that this tidbit had taken 4 months to reach the new staff (and even more amazingly some people had been in the dark for years). I figured that info came with the tour – this is the staff lounge, the bathroom is down the hall and Robin and Jerry are dating.
Rating: Mandy and Wendy spent some time pondering and rating the attractiveness of various men at their school. Few scored high.
Gossip: On the other hand an IA made it known to Mandy (the Mandy at my school), and went on and on about it, that Robin has got one gorgeous man. Actually that's not gossip, its true.
OK – that’s enough. Now who else is on the list?!
Answers:
Mandy’s roommate was screwy and she now has her own studio near Ballard.
Obama is still a threat – there have been a number of incidents in the past few months exposing how calculating the Clinton campaign is – like taking all sides of an immigration question in a debate and planting questions at a town hall meeting. Also Obama makes a great speech, which is big in the up-close and personal Iowa and NH primaries. But beyond IA and NH Clinton is still pretty far out in front nationally. I don’t want it to seem like she is suddenly not expected to win. She is. It is more that journalist finally see a way that she could possibly lose.
Not a peep from Bloomberg or Gore. And since Iowa is only 3 weeks away Gore is definitely out. Bloomberg wouldn’t be getting in until the other nominations are settled as an independent.
Ron Paul has no poll number but is raising millions and has hinted at being a 3rd party candidate once he loses in the Republican field.
Huckabee is still surging in IA and now also in NH, SC and a bit nationally. That one is still up for grabs. The Republicans do not like any of their candidates. I still say McCain could win the presidency if the Republicans nominate him.
Did I miss anything?
Weather: dark, cold, damp, miserable – i.e. December in Seattle
Attendance: Wendy, Mandy, Robin, Jerry
Drinks: Wendy had a Casaba (how do you spell that), Mandy had 2 Margaritas, Jerry started with a much needed coffee and then Robin and Jerry switched to Manhattans, their original Capitol Club drink 7 years ago.
OK, The List:
The Stars: Wendy, Jerry, Robin, Mandy, Sarah Vanessa
Special Reoccurring Co-Stars: Ann, Bill, Susan, Vanessa (Ann’s friend), Rich (Ann’s friend), Shevaun (these are people who were regulars for a time)
Co-stars: Steve (Ann’s boyfriend), Dan, Cass, Sean, Adam, Kevin (Wendy’s cousin), Karina, the girl we tried to fix-up with Karina, that girl’s friend from Sarah’s work, Monte, Brett, Marlin, Travis, Rebecca (Travis’ boyfriend), Rebecca (Ann’s friend), Terry (Ann’s friend), Merritt, Mindy, Lindy, Lynne, Kelley, Bev, Patri (Sarah’s friend), Amy (Mandy’s friend), Cass’s ex-girlfriend, Bill’s brother, Steve (Jerry’s friend), Steve’s boyfriend.
That’s all we got. Who did we forget?
Gossip: Robin and I were the subject of school gossip this week. It seems our new secretary (new since August) found out the day before our Christmas party that Robin and I were together. First she is whispering about this to Lynne, right in front of Robin, and then she is telling everyone at the Christmas party who didn’t know. I personally was amazed that this tidbit had taken 4 months to reach the new staff (and even more amazingly some people had been in the dark for years). I figured that info came with the tour – this is the staff lounge, the bathroom is down the hall and Robin and Jerry are dating.
Rating: Mandy and Wendy spent some time pondering and rating the attractiveness of various men at their school. Few scored high.
Gossip: On the other hand an IA made it known to Mandy (the Mandy at my school), and went on and on about it, that Robin has got one gorgeous man. Actually that's not gossip, its true.
OK – that’s enough. Now who else is on the list?!
Answers:
Mandy’s roommate was screwy and she now has her own studio near Ballard.
Obama is still a threat – there have been a number of incidents in the past few months exposing how calculating the Clinton campaign is – like taking all sides of an immigration question in a debate and planting questions at a town hall meeting. Also Obama makes a great speech, which is big in the up-close and personal Iowa and NH primaries. But beyond IA and NH Clinton is still pretty far out in front nationally. I don’t want it to seem like she is suddenly not expected to win. She is. It is more that journalist finally see a way that she could possibly lose.
Not a peep from Bloomberg or Gore. And since Iowa is only 3 weeks away Gore is definitely out. Bloomberg wouldn’t be getting in until the other nominations are settled as an independent.
Ron Paul has no poll number but is raising millions and has hinted at being a 3rd party candidate once he loses in the Republican field.
Huckabee is still surging in IA and now also in NH, SC and a bit nationally. That one is still up for grabs. The Republicans do not like any of their candidates. I still say McCain could win the presidency if the Republicans nominate him.
Did I miss anything?
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Political Edition
Robin and I had to go to out staff Christmas party so we missed the Capitol Club this week. We left the Christmas Party at 8 so no one on our staff was drunk enough yet to do anything really ridiculous to tell you about (aside from Lynne grabbing my butt), so instead I will give Sarah a political update.
Policy Issues: I will be like the real press and not really talk about policy issues. The democrats mostly attack Clinton during debates, in particular on a vote to condemn the Iranian Republican Army. They say it is like her vote for the Iraq war. In the Republicans debates they mostly try to out Jesus each other, grandstand on who will round up the most illegal immigrants, and argue over who will blow up Iran first if they were president.
Iowa: This has been the most interesting development. Get this. Mike Huckabee is now in first place in Iowa. I guess the base there just figured out he is a Baptist preacher and have tossed Romney’s Mormon ass to the devil.
Speaking of Romney’s Mormon ass, he gave a religious speech this week a la JFK. But unlike JFK who said his religion was personal and would not interfere with his public policy, Romney basically said I’m just as full of Jesus as all you evangelicals out there, so let's get together and bash all those non-believers who want god out of government.
Also Obama is coming on strong in Iowa and New Hampshire. He is in first place in Iowa now and a close second in New Hampshire. Both Clinton and Edwards are right with him in poll numbers, but Obama feels like he is rising fast.
Oprah: The biggest news this weekend is Oprah campaigned with Obama. It was her first ever candidate endorsement and adds to the recent and sudden excitement about his campaign.
So on both sides the contest suddenly seems totally up for grabs. And despite the move forward by the big states, Iowa and New Hampshire still seem as important as ever.
Thomson is still barely awake.
Rudy is doing well in the big states but there is a worry he won’t seem credible any more if he loses Iowa, NH and SC all in a row.
Joe Biden is doing nothing but often sounds the smartest and most competent during debates.
McCain is by far the most impressive during debates and is the Republican most likely to be able to beat a Democrat as far as I'm concerned. Luckily the Republicans who vote in primaries don’t like him at all.
Any questions?
Policy Issues: I will be like the real press and not really talk about policy issues. The democrats mostly attack Clinton during debates, in particular on a vote to condemn the Iranian Republican Army. They say it is like her vote for the Iraq war. In the Republicans debates they mostly try to out Jesus each other, grandstand on who will round up the most illegal immigrants, and argue over who will blow up Iran first if they were president.
Iowa: This has been the most interesting development. Get this. Mike Huckabee is now in first place in Iowa. I guess the base there just figured out he is a Baptist preacher and have tossed Romney’s Mormon ass to the devil.
Speaking of Romney’s Mormon ass, he gave a religious speech this week a la JFK. But unlike JFK who said his religion was personal and would not interfere with his public policy, Romney basically said I’m just as full of Jesus as all you evangelicals out there, so let's get together and bash all those non-believers who want god out of government.
Also Obama is coming on strong in Iowa and New Hampshire. He is in first place in Iowa now and a close second in New Hampshire. Both Clinton and Edwards are right with him in poll numbers, but Obama feels like he is rising fast.
Oprah: The biggest news this weekend is Oprah campaigned with Obama. It was her first ever candidate endorsement and adds to the recent and sudden excitement about his campaign.
So on both sides the contest suddenly seems totally up for grabs. And despite the move forward by the big states, Iowa and New Hampshire still seem as important as ever.
Thomson is still barely awake.
Rudy is doing well in the big states but there is a worry he won’t seem credible any more if he loses Iowa, NH and SC all in a row.
Joe Biden is doing nothing but often sounds the smartest and most competent during debates.
McCain is by far the most impressive during debates and is the Republican most likely to be able to beat a Democrat as far as I'm concerned. Luckily the Republicans who vote in primaries don’t like him at all.
Any questions?
Monday, December 3, 2007
Drama Old and New - PLUS Special Edition: Wendy's Birthday
* No blog last week. We took off Thanksgiving week.
Weather: It is now totally night time by the time we arrive at 5. We had a week of clear and very cold (by Seattle standards) weather.
Attendance: Mandy, Wendy, Robin, Jerry, Ann, Steve
Drinks: Beer for Mandy, Greyhound for Wendy, Fancy-pants for Robin, 2 bourbons for Jerry, I think 3 vodka tonics of Ann and Steve arrived late and could only get in 1 beer before we left. Robin left early for a women’s dinner. Amber, our favorite giver of drinks, was off last week.
Conversation: A lot of our conversation revolved around Thanksgiving. Our trips – Wendy to Vancouver and the coast and Mandy to the Tacoma area – and some of their family interactions. Robin and Jerry and Ann and Steve had quiet dinners for 2. We discussed our food successes and disasters – poultry cooked wonderfully (Ann’s duck) and not cooked enough (Wendy’s turkey and 1 of Jerry’s 2 Cornish game hens) – and the wonders and pleasures of Cook’s Illustrated.
New Drama: Mandy has a place of her own (a studio between Freemont and Ballard) after living 3 weeks with a wacko in a house with an exploding toilet. Jerry told Mandy not to worry because he moved out of a similarly uncomfortable house situation after less than 2 months. So, what were your shortest/worst living arrangements?
Old Drama: Ann told this amazing story about her dad’s plan (who used to do contract work for the CIA) to get back a really mean girl during her middle school years. The plan involved forgery, slander and sneaking into the school during off hours. Mandy hopes to make use of this story during her MFA program.
Capitol Hill News: The last of the open businesses on the old Bimbo’s Pine Street block shut down last week. The buildings will be torn down in January.
Special Edition: Wendy’s Birthday
We saw each other again on Sunday for Wendy’s 40th. After a bit of a late start Dan (with great help from Mandy) pulled off a great dinner of pork chops, kale, apple sauce and mashed potatoes. We were at this great room at the Shilshole Bay Marina on a windy, windy, rainy, rainy afternoon. We raised a toast to Wendy using yummy Cup Cake Royal cupcakes. It made for a wonderful Sunday.
Best conversation: Wendy’s cousin Kevin told us about getting professional Christmas pictures taken of his hairless cat. Should I sign up Buster?
Weather: It is now totally night time by the time we arrive at 5. We had a week of clear and very cold (by Seattle standards) weather.
Attendance: Mandy, Wendy, Robin, Jerry, Ann, Steve
Drinks: Beer for Mandy, Greyhound for Wendy, Fancy-pants for Robin, 2 bourbons for Jerry, I think 3 vodka tonics of Ann and Steve arrived late and could only get in 1 beer before we left. Robin left early for a women’s dinner. Amber, our favorite giver of drinks, was off last week.
Conversation: A lot of our conversation revolved around Thanksgiving. Our trips – Wendy to Vancouver and the coast and Mandy to the Tacoma area – and some of their family interactions. Robin and Jerry and Ann and Steve had quiet dinners for 2. We discussed our food successes and disasters – poultry cooked wonderfully (Ann’s duck) and not cooked enough (Wendy’s turkey and 1 of Jerry’s 2 Cornish game hens) – and the wonders and pleasures of Cook’s Illustrated.
New Drama: Mandy has a place of her own (a studio between Freemont and Ballard) after living 3 weeks with a wacko in a house with an exploding toilet. Jerry told Mandy not to worry because he moved out of a similarly uncomfortable house situation after less than 2 months. So, what were your shortest/worst living arrangements?
Old Drama: Ann told this amazing story about her dad’s plan (who used to do contract work for the CIA) to get back a really mean girl during her middle school years. The plan involved forgery, slander and sneaking into the school during off hours. Mandy hopes to make use of this story during her MFA program.
Capitol Hill News: The last of the open businesses on the old Bimbo’s Pine Street block shut down last week. The buildings will be torn down in January.
Special Edition: Wendy’s Birthday
We saw each other again on Sunday for Wendy’s 40th. After a bit of a late start Dan (with great help from Mandy) pulled off a great dinner of pork chops, kale, apple sauce and mashed potatoes. We were at this great room at the Shilshole Bay Marina on a windy, windy, rainy, rainy afternoon. We raised a toast to Wendy using yummy Cup Cake Royal cupcakes. It made for a wonderful Sunday.
Best conversation: Wendy’s cousin Kevin told us about getting professional Christmas pictures taken of his hairless cat. Should I sign up Buster?
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