Friday Five--Paaahrtyyyy!

From Songbird at RevGalBlogPals, here’s a Friday Five.

Five things about parties, birthday or otherwise.

1) Would you rather be the host or the guest?
Guest—way less responsibility. On the other hand, I do like to throw parties. Mine were, at one point, in another life/career, legendary.

2) When you are hosting, do you clean everything up the minute the guests go home? Will you accept help with the dishes?
Yes, I do tend to clean up at least the big stuff—put away the food, put the serving things in the dishwasher, etc. But go around and get all the cups and trash and rearrange furniture? Naah. That can wait.

I will certainly accept help with the dishes—and anything else people want to help with. I try to have everything done ahead of time, though, so all I have to do put stuff out and then clean up.

3) If you had the wherewithal, and I guess I mean more than money, to throw a great theme party, what would the theme be?
This is a tough one. Hmmm. The problem with themes is finding one that can be carried out well—décor, food, music, even what the guests wear—without being too much. I would probably go with something simple, that people could interpret is a variety of ways. Perhaps something like Truman Capote’s famous Black and White party, or a garden party—I mean really in a garden, with a pavilion and all—or a simple Halloween party. Christmas parties have always been a favourite.

Maybe I don’t have enough imagination for this one! I’ll get back to you on this.

4) What's the worst time you ever had at a party?
I really can’t remember an awful time at a party. I’m sure I did, in high school or perhaps university. I just can’t remember it. I enjoy parties so much that if I’m at one, I generally have a good time.

5) And to end on a brighter note, what was the best?

Again. I don’t know that there’s one that stands out. Perhaps the morale party that a friend threw for me one year. I had recently become unemployed and was very depressed about it. It was my birthday, so she called a bunch of my friends—ones from our crowd, from my church, from my ex-job, family—and threw a huge surprise party for me. It was just what my morale and ego needed—to see all these people who loved me, supported me, encouraged me—when I was feeling very down on myself. Thank you, Ruth.