I hosted bunco at my house last night. I love to entertain, whether it is simply a couple of friends popping in for a visit, a potluck, a big dinner, whatever. I love to cook. I love to see my family and friends. Mostly? I love that having people over makes me clean my house.
I clean my house every day (parts of it anyway) but cleaning for company means that when I vacuum, I will also take that extra step and use the attachments to do the baseboards as well. I am forced to do the extra stuff and I really love that. (not the extra stuff, but that something forces me to do it…) So yesterday, I am not stressed, things are humming along fine. I even got myself showered and ready in plenty of time.
My bunco group doesn’t usually serve dinner, but I like to do it when I host. If I can’t do a whole dinner, I like to at least serve heavy appetizers. Not only am I hungry, I still need to feed my kids.
My friend Raquel makes delicious Pico de Gallo and I beg her for it whenever she innocently asks “Can I bring anything?” I decided to make quesadillas to go with it. I was going to use steak, tomato, spinach and a bit of red onion. They’re really good.
I took 2 lbs of good tri-tip steak, seasoned it and seared it. I let it rest and then sliced it into perfect, thin, bite sized pieces to put into the quesadillas. I trimmed off any fat or gristle and set it aside. I put the prepared strips into a large white bowl and put the scraps into a little white ceramic spoon-rest.
When we have people over, I like to put our two dogs into the side yard, so that they don’t stand at the sliders and whine all night about how they aren’t part of the action. I know they are dying to jump on my friends, pilfer food and sniff crotches, but I don’t like that kind of behavior at my parties, so into the side yard they go.
I asked Devin, my 16 year old, to please put them in the side yard for me. The younger dog will go, but our ancient Dalmatian will have none of that action. He’s ready to fall over, so you can’t push him or pull him… you have to lure him.
“Devin, please lure the dogs to the side yard… there are steak scraps in the little white dish by the stove.” (I cup my hand to illustrate the size while I say this.)
I carry on with my preparations and return to the kitchen about the same time that Devin does. He is holding an empty large white bowl.
“Um, was this the meat I was supposed to give them….?”
I might have given myself a neck injury by whipping my head around towards the counter where I had last seen the large white bowl of perfect, thin, bite sized pieces of steak. The bowl was gone. However, the little spoon rest of scraps and gristle was still there.
Yep. My boy fed the dogs two pounds of delicious tri-tip and left me with a tiny dish of gristle and fat to feed my ladies (as well as my kids…) In Devin’s defense, I did not clearly specify which white dish. Um, but in my defense – are you kidding me!!!???? Duh. That’s all I have to say. Duh.
It did not occur to me to take a “before” picture, (cuz’ ya know… why would it) but please imagine the bowl on the left, piled high with strips of tri-tip. Now go feed the dogs.
I ordered the boys a pizza and served my ladies veggie quesadillas. The vein on my forehead only throbbed a little bit and I was quickly able to laugh about it.
Kinda.
Don’t throw out good beef!!!!
Alrighty, I’ll take this tag and raise you a dollar. I have to say, though, you handled yourself rather well when it came to your boy feeding the dog the bull. ha. I would have flipped my lids. Kudos to you chickaroo. Big Kudos.
#5 is so funny, because I do the same thing. I drag my feet about watching new movies on HBO, but will sit and Cheaper by the Dozen for the eighteenth time. It drives Mike crazy!
Thanks for the tag!
Man those quesadillas sound like they were gonaa be yummy! Darn! Thanks for the list. I worry too and my husband says that I THINK of things to worry about…now who would do that?!?!
OMG!!OMG!! I can’t even imagine!! I would be livid, but I guess there is nothing you can do, you might as well laugh it off!!! You are such a good sport and a great mom.
I have enjoyed reading tips they are excellent!!!
oh my goodness! that boy of yours! too funny!
Aagghhh! I think I read the majority of your post with my mouth hanging open. So sorry about the beef 😉 Good for you for not totally losing it ~ I could see myself turning into ‘lunatic mom’.
Oh geesh…that sucked.
Oh no!!! See, this is why I hate entertaining!
I’m sure everyone had a blast and enjoyed the veggie quesadillas! They sound delicious!
You behaved well, my dear.
I would have acted like a kid having a tantrum in the toy aisle of the grocery store.
I know why we will watch a movie we’ve already seen over a new one. The new one is a commitment and the other, well, you’ve seen it. You know how it ends. You can leave anytime. But you don’t.
Oh no! Did you tell the party guests or did you force it, I mean politely keep it to yourself?
Oh what I would have paid to been a fly on the wall!
If you ever need a sub and you have like a 2 week notice call me I love bunko!
Holy Cow! Pun intended…that so sounds like my life!!!
Also…I totally am the same about watching a new movie. Conditions have to be perfect for “new movie viewing”, an old one, you can still do other stuff while you watch!
Oh how I have missed you!!! What a great, and sorry but hilarious post to start my catching up!!! I needed the laugh!! Thanks!
Oh, you did very well with the steak incident of ’09. Wow. Sometimes you just have to wonder WHAT THE HECK IS (or isn’t) GOING ON IN THESE KIDS’ BRAINS?! Oh well. The quesadillas sound really good anyway. Thanks for taggin’ me! Hopefully I’ll get up there near you one day with the followers…80?! When I first found you, you had what…30 something?? I don’t remember. But your numbers are growing so fast!
By the way…this Bunco thing you speak of…I’ve never played. It must be fun…? Tons of people play it! : )
Macey
BTW Don’t go more than 24 hours without posting again, lady. : )
Also: WHERE did you get that cow sign? It’s perfect for your post!
Oh no. I was reading your story and when you got to the part about the dogs I could just imagine them umping up on your counter and scarfing all of the meat down. Mine would do that if she could. You are a good mom not to get too upset.
I love Bunco. I really miss it. What a fun time to relax with your girlfriends.
Loved reading more about you too. I am a huge worrier. So sad about those poor people and their families.
Have a super weekend!
XOXO
Jen
I
W O U L D
H A V E
F R E A K E D
O U T !
Oh my goodness I would have lost it. At least you were able to still make a yummy dish. You gotta love kids. I have a 16 yr. old boy that has done something similar. Hugs, Bobbi Jo
I can’t believe it!!!! Seriously- I KNOW my son would do/ is going to do stuff like that.
I too am obsessing with the Air France crash. And am worried that they can not find any wreckage. So incredibly tragic.
Have a great Saturday.
~Becca
I’m with you — I am very competitive well when it comes to basketball. I use to play guitar hero — before the wii fried. Thanks for coming by. I didn’t get around much yesterday I was busy all morning!
That was hysterical!!!
Don’t you love it when that great bloggy material FALLS IN YOUR LAP??
I don’t even get mad anymore, I just IMMEDIATELY blog the incidents.
and there are many………..
Giggle. Your son is now a hero to those dogs. They will follow him to the ends of the earth.
Oh My Goodness! That is horrible!
Oh, I would have been so mad! I can’t believe you didn’t take a before picture;)
Hmmmm…you had no choice but to tag me?
ooh thanks for the tag, girlfriend! 🙂 I’m behind! I promise I’ll do it!
and UGH! That SUCKS!!
those dogs were like… “OMG… she has SO been holding out on us!”
Oh, Viv, that would have given me a STROKE! But what good blog fodder! I’m sure you carried off the veggie quesadillas in style, and hopefully your boys will think twice or ASK before making an assumption in the future 🙂
That is crazy! I’m so glad you can laugh about that — I don’t think I would have moved on so quickly… Thanks for the laugh!