Metal Meredith

So, of course, I made one.

What I did do was take a page from another blogger (who took one from another, who took one from another, get it?), and decided to do a Tuesday Night Family & Friends Dinner:

Tuesday Night Drop In Dinner: You’re Invited!

“The idea is that at least half of the effort of having people over for dinner is the hassle of emailing back and forth, trying to find a date that works for everyone, then hoping that no one gets stuck working late and the kids stay healthy. This hassle can be largely overcome by just saying ‘Ok, standing invitation for dinner on Tuesday night. If you can’t make it this week, come next.’ The menus are centered on the sort of low-fuss dishes that can be cooked in large batches as easily as in small (and that freeze well if no one shows up some week). And it will be good for us to have a precipitating event that forces us to vacuum the cat hair off the living room furniture once a week. I’m serious about the invitation. Since we can’t guarantee that we’ll be home every single Tuesday evening, I’m making a list to send everyone who’s interested a weekly notice of a) whether we’re on and b) what’s for dinner (this week, it’s homemade pizza). If you’re in the greater DC area and would like to be added to the list, send me an email.”

Here is a little known fact about me; I don’t really like to have people over. I stress about entertaining. I don’t like to be in control of whether or not people are having a good time. It is simply too much to bear. On the other hand, Phil often talks about having parties and how great it would be. If you ask me, his idea is really to wait until it is warm and drink beer on the back porch. Not really a party, in my opinion.

When this idea came up, I ran with it. What if, I asked myself, I just did it? What if I just invited people over, with no expectations of it being fun, of being entertained or wowed by my culinary skills? Would they still come? Would they eat my food? Would it be able to remain casual? So, I am jumping right in.

We will start out slow. We will start with every other Tuesday starting January 17th, 2006; which will be pizza, a garden salad and some cookies. Then, as I get more comfortable and we see how many people to expect, the menu will get more interesting. Come summer, Phil and I will be the reigning king and queen of the cookout, I am sure.

There are a few very good reasons to take this one. The first being that I need some more interaction with people I love, like and rarely get to see. Getting them into my house, I will have a better chance than trying to work both schedules around kids, pets, husbands, and jobs. Secondly, Phil and I know so many amazing people who have incredibly interesting lives, stories, jobs and families to share. As much as I want to see everyone, I want all of my friends to have the chance to meet my other friends, kids to meet other kids, my family to talk to the people I choose to surround myself as an adult. It just feels like the right time to share everyone.

Now that I am all sounding corny, you know that you are all invited. I can’t say that I will be able to cook for 40, but I am willing to try a good 10-20 people. We will be sitting on the floor, sometimes (and hopefully soon) amidst some minor construction in the house. Kids are happily invited; although babysitting services will not be offered. We will all take care of our own and each other’s. While I have no problem with drinking, I will not be purchasing wine or beer for guests, it is BYOB. And lastly, we will hold strict to the 6pm-8pm policy, lest Phil’s friends want to stay all hours. (Hey, I have a kid to get to bed!)

Come one, come all! Please, give me a reason to clean, give me a reason to socialize.

Happy New Year 2006!