Carbfest '04
This weekend was the annual pilgrimage to Portland for Christmas. It's done a weekend early so we can get more Christmas bang for the buck. I claim it's because the Sweetie's family lives in Seattle and there are nephews and a niece to consider, but really it's because the weekend before Christmas so that we can do a day of Christmas with the family and then participate in Carbfest.
Carbfest originally began as the annual tree-trimming party of a couple of friends. There would be a tree and ornaments, lots of food (mandatory on the menu: stuffed french toast), hot buttered rum and at least one jew. Because what's a Christmas tree-trimming without a jew? (One of the friends who host the party used to work at a synagogue, so that's somehow how that part of the story got started). The tree somehow fell out of the equation over the years, but the food continues to multiply year after year.
Carbfest is a WONDERFUL holiday party. It's hosted by two of the coolest people you could ever hope to know. They serve you stuffed french toast (which is one of the yummiest foods ever) and hot buttered rum, and lots of other super-yummy foods. A kitchen table and a coffee table straining under the weight they are so loaded down with food. And you can just pick your way through all day. So by the end of the day no one knows how many nanaimo bars you've had or that you are almost single-handedly responsible for obliterating that wedge of cheese.
And while you're sitting there on the couch, unable to move as the diabetic coma sets in, you just get to sit around and visit with people. Some of the people are your good friends from college that you barely ever get to see so it's wonderful to get a while to catch up on what's been going on and get all the good gossip on the other friends you haven't seen in forever. Some of the people are people you've met at past Carb-fests, and you really only see them this once a year, but they're lovely people and it's nice to share a few moments with them and you sincerely look forward to seeing them at the next Carbfest for a few more minutes of conversation. Some are people you've never met but oh the stories you've heard, and it's nice to put a person to those stories. And some are people you've never met before. Maybe you'll never see them again, but hopefully they'll make an appearance at another carbfest. The conversation always starts out with the pleasantries and commonalities and how do YOU know the hosts. However, since my connection to the hosts involves spreadsheets and flowcharts to try to explain (and it really helps if you take notes, there will be a quiz later), soon you start to test the waters of commonalities, and next thing you now you're discussing how plagarists really should be drawn and quartered.
I'd call it cocktail party conversation, but when you're at a cocktail party you've got a cocktail in your hand and you've got to stand around all nice and proper because god forbid you spill a drop of your martini. But when it's a carbest you're all sprawled out from the insulin shock, and there's no opportunity for pretension because I really may fall asleep any moment so I'd best get this story in now.
And to top off a perfectly lovely day we go from Carbfest to Lessons and Carols at the childhood church. So it really is a day full of the holidays. Friends, family, food and faith. What more could a girl want?
Carbfest originally began as the annual tree-trimming party of a couple of friends. There would be a tree and ornaments, lots of food (mandatory on the menu: stuffed french toast), hot buttered rum and at least one jew. Because what's a Christmas tree-trimming without a jew? (One of the friends who host the party used to work at a synagogue, so that's somehow how that part of the story got started). The tree somehow fell out of the equation over the years, but the food continues to multiply year after year.
Carbfest is a WONDERFUL holiday party. It's hosted by two of the coolest people you could ever hope to know. They serve you stuffed french toast (which is one of the yummiest foods ever) and hot buttered rum, and lots of other super-yummy foods. A kitchen table and a coffee table straining under the weight they are so loaded down with food. And you can just pick your way through all day. So by the end of the day no one knows how many nanaimo bars you've had or that you are almost single-handedly responsible for obliterating that wedge of cheese.
And while you're sitting there on the couch, unable to move as the diabetic coma sets in, you just get to sit around and visit with people. Some of the people are your good friends from college that you barely ever get to see so it's wonderful to get a while to catch up on what's been going on and get all the good gossip on the other friends you haven't seen in forever. Some of the people are people you've met at past Carb-fests, and you really only see them this once a year, but they're lovely people and it's nice to share a few moments with them and you sincerely look forward to seeing them at the next Carbfest for a few more minutes of conversation. Some are people you've never met but oh the stories you've heard, and it's nice to put a person to those stories. And some are people you've never met before. Maybe you'll never see them again, but hopefully they'll make an appearance at another carbfest. The conversation always starts out with the pleasantries and commonalities and how do YOU know the hosts. However, since my connection to the hosts involves spreadsheets and flowcharts to try to explain (and it really helps if you take notes, there will be a quiz later), soon you start to test the waters of commonalities, and next thing you now you're discussing how plagarists really should be drawn and quartered.
I'd call it cocktail party conversation, but when you're at a cocktail party you've got a cocktail in your hand and you've got to stand around all nice and proper because god forbid you spill a drop of your martini. But when it's a carbest you're all sprawled out from the insulin shock, and there's no opportunity for pretension because I really may fall asleep any moment so I'd best get this story in now.
And to top off a perfectly lovely day we go from Carbfest to Lessons and Carols at the childhood church. So it really is a day full of the holidays. Friends, family, food and faith. What more could a girl want?
posted by Swankette at 8:50 PM
3 Comments:
Plagarists should be hanged, drawn, quartered, have their entrails removed and then... oh, never mind. :-)
Wow. Now *that* is what I call a review!
How the hell are we supposed to top that for Carbfest '05? ;-)
Still comatose in Stumptown,
Just keep feeding me stuffed french toast and hot buttered rum and you'll never get a negative review for Carbfest. Makes me feel guilty that the Boxing Day dinners have gone by the wayside.
Once you get around to opening the gifts you'll have to let me know. There's a story that goes along with it which I'm sure you both will find quite amusing.
Post a Comment
<< Home