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June 5, 2005
Live And Let Live -- As Long As You Want!
Don't fall over dead (that would defeat the purpose of doing CR and might lessen your motivation to donate to the Mprize) but I stayed out until midnight last night!
I was invited to a potluck with some new friends. I love to cook for potlucks, and had put a great deal of thought into the dish I brought, including consulting with MR's mom about food safety. I diced green bell peppers, grape tomatoes, and red apples, then I roasted some red bell peppers and chopped them. Then I marinated all in tangy Carolina barbeque sauce. In a separate jar I marinated whole cooked shrimp in the same barbeque sauce, such that people who didn't care for shrimp could still enjoy the dish without. I packed up the vegatables in a big tupperware bowl, and I put the shrimp jar in my cooler bag with two freeze packs to keep it cold for the trip, as I took the train into town.
The event took place at a really cool apartment in my favorite section of town... the sorta Haight Ashbury of Philadelphia, aka South Street. Just down the street from a Whole Foods. The host had a fabulous gray tabby cat who in regal cat fashion ignored the gathering and monopolized the largest chair. Everyone LOVED my food... or at least they said they did, and as they ate almost all of it I believe them. Someone brought sandwich fixings, there were chips dips, excellent Athenos hummus with pita, etc. One woman had made tabouleh that was the best I've had in ages, and another made baked chicken, which I didn't try since I was getting my protein from my shrimp. Someone brought red wine, of which I had a small glass. My food went fast. In almost any social group, I like to occupy the role of Chief Potluck Chef, so the fact that all were impressed by my food made me very, very happy.
The dinner had started at 5:30 so I was expecting to catch the 8:30 train home and be in bed early. As folks were leaving someone said that a group was going to hang out for awhile and meet up with another friend who was coming into town from Eugene, Oregon. It was only 7:15, so I decided to hang out with them until it was time to catch my train. Four of us went to a coffee shop and sat outside on South Street, watching the crowds go by and sipping iced coffee (no calories, lots of niacin) while we waited for the other friend to show up. I was planning to exit the gathering and catch the 8:30 train, but I was so caught up in the conversation that by the time I asked the time, it was 8:15 and I didn't want to have to run to catch the train (we've heard about how I do not like to run to catch public transportation.) So I decided to stay another hour and catch the 9:30 train.
We continued to chat, and eventually I asked one of my new friends (who oddly enough has glasses broken in the same exact way that mine are broken -- and has gone seven months without fixing them) to check his watch so I could figure out if I needed to leave. It was 9:15. "Oh no! I've missed another train!"
They pointed out that there were worse things than hanging out with them for another hour, and I was having such a good time that I didn't mind at all. Eventually the friend from Oregon showed up and she was hungry after a long flight, so we decided to go somewhere to get her dinner. I decided to take the 11:30 train, but pointed out that I absolutely had to catch the 11:30, as it was the last one!
We went to a middle eastern restaurant and she ordered a combo platter that had hummus, baba ganoush, and all sorts of wonderful things, that we were all to share. I had a few bites, and it was delicious... I had had a very light day before going to the events (as I try to do when I'm going to unfamiliar food situations) -- only 340 calories -- so I wasn't too worried about a few extra bites. I drank a beer, and they noticed that my Southern accent was coming out after the first three sips or so... I had pointed out earlier, when queried about why I had no Southern accent, that it comes out only when I'm tired, slightly buzzed, or talking to my parents. By this time I was looking very sleepy, and they were quite amused at my description of my morning routine: starting at 4:40 am, I achieve more before 9 am than most people do all day. I asked if I could get a written statement from each of them attesting to the fact that I was up, functional and happy after 10 pm, and they agreed to do so if anyone accused me of making it up.
I finally got home, fed my mother's cat and the outside cat she's been feeding, fed my cats, and crashed. I haven't been out so late in ages! I definitely felt wild and crazy for staying out so late... I doubt that it will happen often, but every once in awhile it's fun!
I felt very comfortable with the eating situation. Everyone loved my food, and while I tried other people's food, I don't think it would have been an issue if I hadn't. One of the people who went out with us later didn't try the shared hummus plate, and no one cared. This particular group is rather accepting of all forms of free thinking, I think, so no one is going to try to make me eat food I don't want. What a relief. Live and let live... as long as you want!
Posted by april at June 5, 2005 9:36 AM
Comments
where did you meet such fantastic oddballs?
how fun. now go take a nap....or have an extra
shot of niacin today.
Posted by: fruitgirl at June 5, 2005 10:37 AM