Jeremy spent the morning cleaning and running errands, while I put everything together. After a short encounter with a neighbor (who actually stopped by to say hello!!), and the arrival of all of our guests, we packed up and sped away to the park.
You know that permit I was talking about in a previous blog? Yeah. Doesn't do jack. There was a party of thirty already at the shelter, who said that they had called the Parks Dept. and were told that it was simply first-come, first-served. We had been that same thing via the Parks website, plus a tiny little clause that went "unless someone has a permit". Fortunately, it worked out okay -- it wasn't raining, and there was a picnic table in the shade, so we just scooted over there. The Parks Dept. will be getting a call on Monday though. This time it was okay, because we were only eight people and the weather was cooperating, but if we ever try to throw a big party, something like that will be a major problem. Those people need to get their stories straight!!
So Jeremy's parents set up the volleyball tent while the rest of us played Bocce and Jeremy went to get the ice. Then we sat down to eat (mental note: those cute little single-serving bags of charcoal are
single-serving. They do not cook eight hamburgers and as many hot dogs. Fortunately, our picnic neighbors let us borrow some charcoal to cook the stuff) and talk. It was SO HOT and SO MUGGY that nobody wanted to be running around trying to hit a ball. Thankfully, though, it cooled down and dried up a little, and we played a few rounds.
Boy am I bad at volleyball. Next time we have that kind of party, I'm going to invite eight people so that I can sit it out!
But it was fun. We played until the heat just got too oppressive to bear, and then headed off to our house, where we partook of that lovely little modern marvel known as air conditioning. Elizabeth and her friend Jonelle (spelling?) had to take off, because they were going to have to get up at 4AM today to drive to a concert in New York (State, not City). The rest of us were going to play games, but the boys snuck downstairs to finally finish up the last season of the Shield, so the girls stayed upstairs to chat.
Then Jeremy's parents went home, and Peter and Becky invited us over to their campsite for some toasted hotdogs, which I mentioned in last night's blog. That was a great idea on Becky's part, and we had a lot of fun. It was a perfect way to round out the day.
All in all, the plan executed pretty well, our guests said they had fun, and I'm encouraged enough to start thinking about my next party plan. Right now I'm thinking a taffy pull for eight or ten people. Baby steps.
Plus, before she left, Elizabeth said something about our place being a good middle-ground for people to get together, which has me all excited, because if anyone wants to start getting together more informally more often, I would be
thrilled to do the hosting. Having a place to entertain is one of the top reasons I wanted to buy a house!
So all that added up to one of the best days I've ever had. And
then, when we got home from hotdogs, Jeremy got a very important e-mail... but I'm saving that for a blog later today when Jeremy can post the pictures. That one deserves a spot all its own, and it needs to be at the top. (But CONGRATULATIONS guys!!)
Written by: Angela at 8:33 AM
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