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Because I can't bear to eulogize Doug - 2008-08-19
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10:57 a.m. - 2003-06-27
The party preparations continue. I tend to get a bit nervy and overwrought when I throw a party. It's not so much that I want to bowl everyone over with my Martha-esque hostessing, I just want everyone to have a good time. To have everything to hand so the conversations go smoothly, that there's enough chairs, and nobody leaves hungry. The hungry part is where I really go overboard and haven't had a party yet that we didn't end up living on leftovers for a week afterward. Like Sunday's party planning started with a simple menu of BBQed burgers and dogs, some chips, and birthday cake. The menu has bloated as the RSVPs roll in and I've added: deviled eggs (3 dozen), tuna/pasta salad, a fruit tray, a raw veggies tray with 2 kinds of dip, and an ice cream sundae bar with all the fixin's. AND since the party is at the new house this means I've got to do all the prep work and cooking here and then tote everything over. The inflatable jumpy thing was already booked (boo on you Grand Rental Station!) and I'm all freaky that the kids won't have enough to do. All the kids are veterans of birthday bashes held at Chuck E Cheese and other birthday party palaces, a home party in the back yard seems underwhelming. So to keep everyone busy I've laid in squirt guns, wading pools (either for squirt gun refills or for stomping around in), a piñata, 2 dozen cans of Silly String, water balloons, and the granddaddy of birthday party games- Pin the Tail on the Donkey. Plus, there’s Wolf’s birthday present of a monster swing set with all the extras; a slide, a fireman’s pole, a cargo net, 3 swings and a glider, a monkey bar thing, and a tower. Wolf’s little club house is all cleaned out too and stocked with balls, hula hoops, whiffle bats, and other yard toys. We’re talking 9-14 little boys age 8 and under. If you don’t keep them busy with stuff you WANT them to play with, they’ll find plenty to do, none of it safe. My other huge worry is the heat. The yard is plenty shady in spots, but even in the shade this heat and humidity is sapping. Gahhh! I’m not being graded on this. I need to take a chill pill and relax. It’s a kid’s birthday party. I’ve been standing around bored to death for years while my boys party down. Often leaving these extravaganzas gnawingly hungry and parched like a camel because all the refreshments and entertainments were aimed solely at the kids. Wolf’s party will have plenty food and drink for all and the waiting parents can take their ease in handy lawn chairs under the trees instead of clustering in a corner out of the way of the jugglers and clowns working the floor at Birfdays R Us. Today is also Alex’s graduation. He’s throwing HIS party later on after 4th of July, thank goodness. I dunno, after all this fuss and bother maybe I can talk him into having it at Chuck E Cheese. Naaaahhhh.... Happy Weekend y’all, ~LA
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