I'm a she. And I think decor plays a role. Have just written about it on my site. But I didn't want to be all, come read this post I just wrote, so I just said, I disagree.
As I was writing #3 I thought "I wonder if I should say "he or she"" (b/c the URL is busted, so a simple check wasn't trivially feasible), but that would ruin the terseness.
Ogged, it's a quotation from Edward Gorey's "The Sopping Thursday", which I recommend highly.
If we're allowed to talk about the actual post now, I wanna say that it seemed kind of short on actual concrete tips—probably the reason it's easy to get into giving specific decor or food-related advice, or the like, is that such advice can actually be codified, while attempting to write down how a good host/hostess operates is much more difficult.
Aside from "have things for the guests to do" and "put the booze and booze paraphernalia out", what do you learn? The discussion of the music in the third post doesn't count.
You're right that it can't be codified, but the simple advice that it's not about the food or decorations, and that what you really need to do is stay alert, keep people busy, and pay attention to them is worth reading.
I liked that point about accepting that it's not going to be perfect, and stop fussing once guests arrive. I had a bad time at the last party I threw, because I couldn't accept this. I discovered that I am my mother, and have trouble relaxing. It was scary.
I disagree.
Posted by ac | Link to this comment | 03-22-05 1:19 PM
Huh?
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 03-22-05 1:20 PM
He disagrees.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 03-22-05 1:24 PM
Oh, he disagrees. Thanks, Ben.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 03-22-05 1:25 PM
He's right, too.
Posted by apostropher | Link to this comment | 03-22-05 1:26 PM
He disagrees.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 03-22-05 1:29 PM
There's word about that he disagrees.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 03-22-05 1:32 PM
I overheard it in the checkout line—he disagrees.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 03-22-05 1:34 PM
Have you heard that he's right, too?
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 03-22-05 1:35 PM
—what do you think, she said, directing an inquiring glance his way. Do you agree?
—No.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 03-22-05 1:35 PM
I think we're going to have to agree to disagree. Agreed?
Posted by apostropher | Link to this comment | 03-22-05 1:37 PM
I never go out without an umbrella, he disagreed.
Quite.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 03-22-05 1:37 PM
Going out without an umbrella would be disagreeable, indeed -- if it rained.
Posted by apostropher | Link to this comment | 03-22-05 1:38 PM
I disagree. If you're dirty.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 03-22-05 1:40 PM
This umbrella also will not do.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 03-22-05 1:40 PM
Sounds like we're agreed.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 03-22-05 1:41 PM
I have been poked in the eye with an umbrella.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 03-22-05 1:41 PM
I'm a she. And I think decor plays a role. Have just written about it on my site. But I didn't want to be all, come read this post I just wrote, so I just said, I disagree.
Posted by ac | Link to this comment | 03-22-05 1:43 PM
Thought you were a she, but the game was on. Anyway, Sherry writes about decor in the later posts.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 03-22-05 1:44 PM
I have been poked in the eye with an umbrella.
Comeuppance.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 03-22-05 1:47 PM
In general I'm extremely agreeable.
Posted by ac | Link to this comment | 03-22-05 1:49 PM
As I was writing #3 I thought "I wonder if I should say "he or she"" (b/c the URL is busted, so a simple check wasn't trivially feasible), but that would ruin the terseness.
Ogged, it's a quotation from Edward Gorey's "The Sopping Thursday", which I recommend highly.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 03-22-05 1:49 PM
But I didn't want to be all, come read this post I just wrote
That's never stopped me.
Posted by apostropher | Link to this comment | 03-22-05 1:54 PM
If we're allowed to talk about the actual post now, I wanna say that it seemed kind of short on actual concrete tips—probably the reason it's easy to get into giving specific decor or food-related advice, or the like, is that such advice can actually be codified, while attempting to write down how a good host/hostess operates is much more difficult.
Aside from "have things for the guests to do" and "put the booze and booze paraphernalia out", what do you learn? The discussion of the music in the third post doesn't count.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 03-22-05 1:54 PM
All, come read this post I just wrote two days ago.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 03-22-05 1:55 PM
You're right that it can't be codified, but the simple advice that it's not about the food or decorations, and that what you really need to do is stay alert, keep people busy, and pay attention to them is worth reading.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 03-22-05 1:57 PM
I liked that point about accepting that it's not going to be perfect, and stop fussing once guests arrive. I had a bad time at the last party I threw, because I couldn't accept this. I discovered that I am my mother, and have trouble relaxing. It was scary.
Posted by ac | Link to this comment | 03-22-05 2:01 PM
I wish to know more about the umbrella. I may disagree.
Posted by Gary Farber | Link to this comment | 03-22-05 2:46 PM