Posts Tagged ‘dinner

09
Jan

Dinner Day

By Deb 0 Comments
Categories: Pennsylvania
Tags: , , , , ,

I was working from home today and ran over to the grocery store during my lunch break to pick up a few things and did an impulse buy of the January Cooking Light magazine.  This was naturally motivated in part by my recent joining of Weight Watchers and resolution to lose some weight in 2008.

In any case, there was an article in this issue which caught my attention called “Dinner Day.”  Apparently, on 23 October 2002, the Pennsylvania State Senate declared the second Saturday in January of each year an official holiday called “Invite A Neighbor To Dinner Day.”  Apparently “Dinner Day” was born from the smouldering ashes of the events of 9/11.  After reading up a little on the day from the official website, I have to admit I don’t know why this holiday should be limited to Pennsylvania but feel this should be adopted as a National holiday.

The resolution reads as follows:

“Whereas, Following the events of September 11, 2001, average Americans have sought ways to make a difference; and

Whereas, In times of trouble, Americans have traditionally displayed a kind heart and open door for their neighbors; and

Whereas, An effective means of celebrating American values to get to know or mend fences with one’s neighbors; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Senate proclaim the second Saturday of January of each year to be “Invite A Neighbor to Dinner Day” as a celebration of the values our country is built upon and a way to foster understanding, compassion and tolerance within our neighborhoods.”

Right on PA!  Of course I lived in Pennsylvania in 2003 when the first “Invite A Neighbor To Dinner Day” was celebrated.  I moved back and was here for Dinner Day in 2006 and 2007, but this is the first time I’ve heard of it. 

The Cooking Light article discusses the background of the holiday and also suggests a menu consisting of: Edamole with crudites, Winter Minestrone, Bitter Greens Salad, Lemon Chicken with Ginger and Pine Nuts OR Chile-Brined Roasted Pork Loin, Baked Pommes Frites OR Turnip Gruyere Gratin, complimented with a glass of Chardonnay and topped off with a dessert of Apple Upside-Down Cake OR Butter Rum Pound Cake with tea and/or coffee.  Yum - I wonder how many Weight Watchers points all that would be?

This year Dinner Day falls on January 12th which is only 3 days from now which is pretty short notice for inviting someone over, nevertheless, I will try.  How could anyone not want to celebrate such a cool little holiday?  Party on.

22
Apr

Tartan Day Ball

By Deb 2 Comments
Categories: Pennsylvania
Tags: , , , , , , ,


So the above is one of the pictures I was sent from the Friday night affair - can you find me? As you can plainly see, I did manage to find a dress. After hours of painful searching (and I mean PAINFUL), as a last-ditch effort I stopped into JC Penney’s and, lo and behold, found the PERFECT dress. It was floor-length, black, and I didn’t look like I had been stuffed into it! To top it all off, it was only $80 on sale! Wahoo! Thankfully, I already had a handbag and shoes so once the dress was found, I was set.

I know you’re all wondering how the event went, so without further ado…

I left work around 1:45, had my hair done up and was back at the house by 4 leaving me just enough time to change and get out the door by 4:30. I was to meet Alex and a bunch of other people in the Old Cafe at the Union League (Broad & Sansom - it’s that old funky building with the two rounded staircases in front).

I got there early, but that was fine. I settled in with a glass of wine and waited for everyone else to arrive. A friend of Alex’s named Lindsey (male) showed up first. Then Alex and his friend Sharon (who he was setting up with another friend of his) showed up followed by a friend of Sharon’s and another friend of Alex’s and the six of us headed up to the party.

Cocktails and hors’dourves lasted until 8 when then ushered us into the main banquet room for Scottish highland dancers, dinner (which sadly included haggis), and ballroom-style dancing.

As for Alex, well, let’s just say that I’ve managed to filter out one more guy from my future husband search. Don’t get me wrong - I liked him a lot…he’s a nice guy and fun, but there’s just zero attraction there - not to mention he dropped me on the dance floor…literally.

Here is a picture of us:


So I spent a portion of my drive home in tears over the fact that, even though I try to not get hopes up when meeting a new guy (eHarmony-originating or not) I still do. I guess I’m just an optimist at heart and want to believe that each new guy might be THE guy, and yet instead every new guy is another one who isn’t. I just keep thinking that this losing streak has got to break sometime - then again, it took the Red Sox over 80 years to win another World Series. On the positive side, they did win another one - on the negative side, I don’t have 86 years to spare waiting for my World Series…I’m already 33 afterall. Even Bridget Jones was with Mark Darcy by 33…but let me just say that if I knew that I would eventually end up with Colin Firth, I don’t think I’d mind waiting so much. :)

Anyway, it was a fun evening overall, and I may have at least made a friend or two. Actually the friend of Alex that he brought (Sharon Bain) goes to Tenth. She’s been there for awhile, so you may have come in contact with her when you guys were here. She and I exchanged numbers and may get together.

For now I’ll go and leave you with one last pic - it’s Alex & myself along with another couple from our table: