dinner party with fire dancing

Saturday. Up around 10, to a call from Hp, the daughter of my mom's second husband. She was in town with her son, for a debating tournament he was in. Gus fluids. We had some breakfast (eggs etc). Shower, then down basement, for abbreviated morning practice. Chef called from the T. My car needed a jump, and then, I drove off to pick him up. A clear cold day.

At the T stop, just as I met Chef, a woman asked me where a nearby hotel was. Rather than try to tell her, I offered a ride. She and her daughter were here from Atlanta, visiting her son, who is in Harvard. Dropped them at the hotel. Back to my place briefly, and Chef scoped the kitchen. Then, to the grocery store, and provisions for the evening. Back home, I hung around until it seemed Chef had settled in. Helped some. Then down basement for exercise and more practice. When I came up, dinner was well underway, and a lovely smell of garlic butter and mushroom pervaded the house.

Shawn arrive a little before 7. We got a small kit set up for him in the living room. Put another leaf in the table. Other guests began to arrive. Yummy little bread toasts. Shawn Chef and I had a little percussion/piano jam. 7 total: Me MB Chef, Shawn, Ra, Mg and Urs. Absolutely delicious dinner: mushroom lasagna with porcini sauce, mixed greens with apple and sugared walnuts (blue cheese or pomegranate vin), and creme brule for dessert with strawberries and whipped cream. Ra found a little piece of plastic in her food, that I later discovered was part of the salad servers.

Chef is a "burner" and did some fire dancing for us in the backyard, while Shawn, MB and I drummed. I saw some neighbors looking out their windows at us. I'm sure this is an unusual sight in this neighborhood. Then the party moved to the living room. Ra shared some drawing and books with us. Shawn and I played a few tunes (me unamplified) by candle-light. Chef joined in on "The Ides" with some poetry. MB danced to "IBE"... Quite a lot of fun. Shawn took off after our set. I played a little more guitar while Mg talked about her complicated love life, and we all chatted about our various interests and endeavors. The gang headed out, Mg giving rides, around midnight. MB and I cleaned up. Some more hanging out and talking about the party. Then, I tucked her in, and headed down basement to complete the day.