FIRE! and Potluck
So, yesterday was the day of the big potluck which, for the record, was my idea. I had been hounding my mom all day for an idea for a good, easy, Mexican recipe. Finally, we settled on enchiladas. I went and bought all the necessary ingredients and went home with about two hours before the potluck and started getting ready to make these things. I turned on the stove, started heating up the oil and sauce, etc. Well, about five minutes after i turned on the stove, the fire alarm starts going off. And it's fucking loud. This had never happened before, so i didn't know what to do. Also, i sort of was afraid it was my fault, even though there had been no smoke in my apartment. I look out into my hallway, and my neighbors are all in various states of confusion and panic. We all get out behind the building and i notice that some of my neighbors are carrying their cats. "Oh," i think, "i should get Smash." So i go back into the building (thereby risking my life) and get Smash. Then i tried to hold him in my arms for about 45 minutes. Needless to say, he was not too happy, and made that very clear. With his claws. I have the scratches to prove it. I also met some of my Spanish-speaking neighbors, who invited me to drink with them and had a few not-so-nice things to say about our landlord. I think our landlord kicks ass, so whatever.
The firefighters eventually came and determined that there had been an electrical fire downstairs. Apparently, the whole basement was filled with thick black smoke. So, good thing that the alarm went off. However, the firefighters neglected to tell us when it was all-clear, or even when they left, so we continued to freeze our asses off outside for an additional, and unnecessay, 10 minutes.
By the time i got back in doors, there was only half an hour before the potluck was supposed to start. Having no time to cook, i decided i would just bring a bunch of booze. I went to the liquor store and bought a bottle of Captain Morgain (got a little captain, captain, CAPTAIN) and some vodka. The guy at the liquor store didn't card me, saying that i had the sideburns to prove my age. Sweet, i thought.
I got to the potluck. Lots of people were already there. Good crowd, excellent company. Eugene had made excellent egg rolls. Ryan made some sort of Irish onion thing that was good. Cristina made fantastic shepher's pie. Elise brought some of the best lasagna i've had. I didn't have Laurence's beans, but i hear they were good. And, of course, Katherine's mom's pizza was a hit. As were Katherine's brandy old fashioneds. There was lots of booze, good people, and great conversation, mostly concentrating on retelling old war (read: drinking) stories. Good times, great oldies.
There was also a grape war, which ended with a grape being plastered on Katherine's wall. She didn't seem to mind. Laurence and i becamse blood brothers til the end of space and time (though no blood was exchanged), Laurence and Ryan got into a heated discussion and had to "take it outside," where they got more beer, and Zachar just about brought charges against me for sexual assault.
I'm going to give out some Andy Awards of General Excellence and Kick-assedness now. The first recipient, for initiating the great grape war of 2006, Count Ruby. Congratulations.
The second recipient, for excellence in hosting a potluck, Ms. Katherine "Cooch" Smith. This makes her the only person ever to be awarded two Andy Awards of General Excellence and Kick-assedness. Congratulations.
Finally, the award for most entertaining person of the evening. First, the nominees:
Ryan, for being generally entertaining
Zachar, for taking the snap and going back for a pass when there was no context, no football, and no reason. at all.
And Laurence, for taking a shot of "vodka," which was actually water, proclaiming it was water, being convined it was vodka, and then believing it was vodka.
And the Andy goes to . . . LAURENCE!
Congratulations, sir.
The firefighters eventually came and determined that there had been an electrical fire downstairs. Apparently, the whole basement was filled with thick black smoke. So, good thing that the alarm went off. However, the firefighters neglected to tell us when it was all-clear, or even when they left, so we continued to freeze our asses off outside for an additional, and unnecessay, 10 minutes.
By the time i got back in doors, there was only half an hour before the potluck was supposed to start. Having no time to cook, i decided i would just bring a bunch of booze. I went to the liquor store and bought a bottle of Captain Morgain (got a little captain, captain, CAPTAIN) and some vodka. The guy at the liquor store didn't card me, saying that i had the sideburns to prove my age. Sweet, i thought.
I got to the potluck. Lots of people were already there. Good crowd, excellent company. Eugene had made excellent egg rolls. Ryan made some sort of Irish onion thing that was good. Cristina made fantastic shepher's pie. Elise brought some of the best lasagna i've had. I didn't have Laurence's beans, but i hear they were good. And, of course, Katherine's mom's pizza was a hit. As were Katherine's brandy old fashioneds. There was lots of booze, good people, and great conversation, mostly concentrating on retelling old war (read: drinking) stories. Good times, great oldies.
There was also a grape war, which ended with a grape being plastered on Katherine's wall. She didn't seem to mind. Laurence and i becamse blood brothers til the end of space and time (though no blood was exchanged), Laurence and Ryan got into a heated discussion and had to "take it outside," where they got more beer, and Zachar just about brought charges against me for sexual assault.
I'm going to give out some Andy Awards of General Excellence and Kick-assedness now. The first recipient, for initiating the great grape war of 2006, Count Ruby. Congratulations.
The second recipient, for excellence in hosting a potluck, Ms. Katherine "Cooch" Smith. This makes her the only person ever to be awarded two Andy Awards of General Excellence and Kick-assedness. Congratulations.
Finally, the award for most entertaining person of the evening. First, the nominees:
Ryan, for being generally entertaining
Zachar, for taking the snap and going back for a pass when there was no context, no football, and no reason. at all.
And Laurence, for taking a shot of "vodka," which was actually water, proclaiming it was water, being convined it was vodka, and then believing it was vodka.
And the Andy goes to . . . LAURENCE!
Congratulations, sir.
It's an honor to be nominated. Next time, I'll drink three beverages at once instead of merely two, wrestle more guests, throw more grapes, tell more jokes, eat more food and generally build upon this performance.