Thursday, November 5, 2009....
You get amazing conversation and food collected for a good cause.
Last month, I decided to extend the Weight Watcher promotion of donating a pound of food for every pound lost by inviting friends over for a tasty dinner (well, I hope it was -- no one died and many have signed up to come for November's dinner). Because I lost 6lbs, every guest was to bring 6lbs of food for my local food pantry.
One friend, D, went shopping at Restaurant Depot where all food is larger than life and among the items was a 6lb 12oz can of sliced potatoes. I'm not a restaurant owner, so, I was both intrigued and amused by the can (yeah, I'm sometimes easily amused at stupid stuff).
I think I was so amused by it because I couldn't imagine Bill and I sitting down for a 7 lb meal of potatoes. Last I knew, we weren't giants.
Know what the best part of the can was? The recipe for scalloped potatoes on the back.
The conversation at the table was mixed, but at some point focused to a guy my friend met online. He was affectionately named 'Seahorse Guy'.
She hadn't met him, but he already told her that he raised seahorses as a hobby. He explained the process to her and my gf, D, blurted out something like "Oh. My. God. What a boring guy."
Personally, I was amused by Seahorse Guy, but I like quirky people (although, I think dating a guy who went on about his love of raising seahorses would be too much for even me to handle).
I really loved D's comment. She's been married almost 20 years and hasn't dated since college. She doesn't have a clue of what it is like to date in your mid to late 30s. If she did, she might have thought he wasn't half bad.[Before I get slammed with comments about women being whack jobs, I'm only speaking from my experience -- seriously, one guy (8 minute dating event) told me he likes his job because he likes to be in big trucks -- I thought I was on Sesame Street. Needless to say, I did not choose to see him again]
I also learned it is the male seahorse that gives birth and a bunch of other factoids that have quickly left my head.
Since the dinner, my friend, L, has gone out with the Seahorse Guy and she's coming to my next dinner. She mentioned she was going to take a break from dating for a bit, but am looking forward to her misadventure with him.
When I dropped off the food, the reason for the dinner sunk in. The waiting room was packed. People in line for food, others for winter coats and when I handed the volunteer the food, I was asked what church I was from. It's probably because of my angelic looks.
29 comments:
sounds like an interesting dinner party and conversation; personally I would think Seahorse Guy could be nice to know as a friend; I would enjoy learning about seahorses
awesome cause you are doing this for!!!
betty
What a great idea to donate food for pounds lost. That is wonderful!
Your conversations sound so fun! I think that Seahorse Guy could be quite interesting- after all, it's not every day that you meet someone raising seahorses for a living!
I've never had a canned potato. Makes me wonder what one is like. (I guess this shows just how spoiled I am.)
Great cause. Thank you for making the world a little bit better!
I think what you are doing is amazing. It had to feel good when you told them you were bringing in the food on your own and not through any other church or group!
Seahorses?!?!? Okay now I've heard everything. Where did he raise them...his bathtub??? I don't know what I would do if some guy told me about that.
Good for you girl on the 6 pounds. I like this idea of the donating food for pounds lost. It's very motivating.
You are an angel! Good job. That must have been such a good feeling to be able to donate the food.
Scalloped potatoes sounds good.
I forgot....
Hugs!!
Hmmmm - the church of good heartedness?
I personally love sea horses so I think it would be cool to meet someone who raised them. They are quite funky looking and the way they propel themselves around curling and uncurling their tail is pretty cool. I wonder if real Sea Horse Guy is funky looking and hops around on his ass? I had to do a report on them when I was in middle school. I remember making a cardboard sea horse and decorating it with spices from my mom's kitchen to make it look like real scales. I do remember that the guys gave birth which made me wonder if the little sea horse could do it, why couldn't human guys? No if the real Sea Horse Guy could give birth, that would seal the dating deal for me!!!
Ah dating...seahorse guy sounds kind of interesting...and lovely dontating all that food.
what a great way to give and be with friends.
much love
This is extremely random, but I read your post and it got me thinking about a book I read recently in a book group, "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society". It takes place during World War II and has some really cool connections to the value of literature.
Anyway, the book club portrayed in the book get together, discuss literature, and eat "potato peel pie", which I decided to make for my own book group. As one of the main ingredients is beets, it got mixed reviews, but it was great fun : )
Thanks for reminding me!
I love having dinner with a group of women. We always have alot of fun. I help out in the camp kitchen so I've seen those large cans of food. They're crazy.
And kudos to you guys for donating. If only everyone were so thoughtful.
♥Spot
Or your halo glowing.....
That is a great way to give.
How very cool!
The male seahorse gives birth, eh? And they survive without whining to death?
lol
Personally, I cannot even imagine dating at this age. I've been w/my dh since I was 21 years old so my dating experience is quite limited but I can imagine (& I have a pretty good imagination, plus I've seen all the seasons of Sex in the City...that counts for something, right?).
Have a great week & congrats on your 6lbs!!
Lynn
It's funny how as adults we find so much more amusement in the personalities of the people our friends date!
what an awesome idea...and great conversation too. Bravo for being charitable. I think in this economy their are so many people who need more help than ever.
hell..it's hard enough dating in your late 20's. I'd date a sea horse loving guy. The selection of men in these parts seems to be so minuscule he'd probably be a god here!
I'm just catching up on your blog...sorry to hear about your ear infection.
Oh you are such a great chick!!
Donating is always a wonderful thing and not just on holidays - you should be proud of yourself ;-)
Wish I could have met you the other day..next time for sure!
XOXO
Poor seahorse guy, he's just looking for love.
HAHA Seahorse guy does sound Funny. You can meet the weirdest people online, I dont encourage anyone to try it.
When I gain a pound, I hope they don't give me food for each pound gained! LOL!
Seriously, though, what a great way to help you and other people at the same time!
I think Seahorse guy could be quite fascinating. The conversation would certainly be different from the usual cars and football.
Congrats on the six pounds, and the donations - a very cool thing, by the by.
I think that just about anything can be interesting in the right dosage, and when the right person says it. I find seahorses particularly interesting, but if someone talks too much about them, my eyes would glaze over.
Sounds like you fed a lot of people. Good onya!
Now, now, Ms. Blogger you just never know...you'd be surprised how many guys drive trucks because they like to be in a big truck...take my husband for example...he can sell ice to an eskimo, but when I met him he was driving a truck. And... come to think of it, he treated me better than all of those "sophisticated" types that I was dating before him. And in the end,isn't that what makes us happy?
But, truly, if I lived near you, I'd come to these dinners. What a creative idea. Oh, and congrats on the weight loss!
What an amazing way to give!
You can also get some amazing comments over doing the dishes! That's where I usually end up at dinner parties -- in the kitchen, doing dishes (the one thing I CAN close to properly), chatting to dish dryers (the people kind, not the cloth kind).
That corgi – The conversation was definitely interesting, but I think if the only thing this guy could talk about was seahorses, it might get old fast.
Dree – It’s very motivating. When I want to sit on my butt and not workout, I remember I have a dinner to host and get off my butt and workout.
Lacochran – I never have either and I really wanted to open it up and look at it, but what then? 7 lbs of potatoes is a bit much.
Bamboo – It did and it felt great to give when I’m not in the position to really give financially.
Melanie’s Randomness – I found it fascinating to hear about the seahorses, but on a 3rd party basis.
Green Eyed – LOL. Angel, not quite. It was a great feeling. Wish I could do more.
The Bumbles – I love seahorses, but after hearing about the separate tanks, having to grow a tank of plankton, making sure you separate the babies after birth = a lot of headaches for a hobby. Hmmm…now I’m curious as to how he looked since they say most people look like their pets.
Staceyjwarner – I agree, he does sound fascinating IF he could discuss other topics.
KLo – Okay your comment made me laugh because I would have never seen that coming. Love that you made the soup from the book.
Spot – It is a great way to get together and enjoy an evening.
Jules – Exactly…glowing from a nuclear power plant maybe….
Kys – Thanks.
Actual Scale - Ahhh…dating in mid to late 30’s was very difficult. I met my 1st husband at age 20 and was with him till 36. Interesting is an understatement.
Blueviolet – It definitely is.
JennyMac - Thanks.
OP – Well, I think my friend has decided not to pursue him so I’ll send him to you. Just make sure you have enough tanks for the seahorses and plankton.
Midtown Girl – Thanks! Definitely next time.
Captain Dumbass – I think he’s more interested in plankton for his seahorses.
Cyn – I met quirky people online, but I also met my husband online. It really is a hit or miss.
Otin – Thanks
Sues_Cabin – It could and would be, but if all the time, no thanks.
Restaurantrefugge – Thanks. I agree. Any conversation in the right dosage is interesting, particularly when learning something new, but I believe that’s all he talked about.
Jewels Diva – I feel terrible. I definitely don’t discriminate about what a person does or their interests. There was more to that comment which I emailed.
Heather – Thanks.
Elizabeth Mahlou – My kitchen is far too small for anyone in it besides me. I have strict rules about people just leaving stuff where it is. That rules baffles guests.
I am so with you in the dating thing... Also, I am a geek, so I thought the seahorse guy sounded really interesting. You are going to tell us the rest of the story, right? :-)
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