Toga Classic

Big fun last weekend, kids!  It all started out with a big bang on Friday night with the toga party at the Surf’s Out.  On the way over the ferry was full of folks in all kinds of greco-roman attire and thanks to our many white bedsheets, getting the whole crew geared up was no problem.  Of course the Out doesn’t get kicking until around 11:00 – 12:00 so Cat started us off putting gas in the tank by hand frying tortillas for a delicous meal of chewy nachos that got completely wiped out by the gang.

At the bar

The toga party ran late into the night with shares getting back to wind down at all hours.  Steve cut the rug so hard at the Surf’s out that the tiles were melting under the floor!  At the end of the night, we even had a very sweet and horribly lost dude walk out onto the balcony thinking he was at Brown Sugar until he closed the door to the deck behind him.  Spencer was kind enough to give Teddy a big red cup full of water and send him in the direction of his house.

Lauren's yoga class

On Saturday, Lauren helped the shares realign their alcohol soaked bodies and minds with a relaxing morning yoga session in the studio.  Ben finished up with the outdoor speakers so we now have stereo sound out on the upper deck and by about 11:30, Steve had transformed the studio into a relaxing massage room.  About 6 of us got a full massage and most of us that did needed a quick nap thereafter to fully enjoy the loosness.  When we woke up, Spencer helped us revive with Gouda-smothered hotdogs, one of the most delicous things ever.

Cocktail party

That evening, some of our friends in town came over for an impromtu cocktail party that turned out to be a lot of fun.  The Polaroid camera donated by Paul (C weekends) was a big hit and we took tons of fun snapshots for the bulliten board.  Tammy Lee, of Chance, made extra efforts to win the affection of Prozac, which (not surpisingly) were well recieved.  Steve and Joe made sure that martinis with a lemon twist were readily availible and Seven Seas loaned out beach umbreallas so that party-goers could make it home dry since it started to rain while we were all hanging out.

Karen shows her chops

Once the crown subsided, Karen was quick to start handing out her mushroom crostinis and searing the honey glazed porkchops.  The dinner was fantastic and the porkchops were sweet and tender.  For dessert, sweetened peaches in red wine were served as the share helped clear up the dishes.  Spencer and Kate got the medal of honor Saturday night for valliance in cleaning, knuckling down and leaving the kitchen completely spotless – 100% clean for the next morning.  Ben and Steve pounded the drumheads for a while to fiery music and by the end of it., the team was ready to hit the bars again.

Sunday Scrabble

Sunday was a recovery day for the most part.  Hearing of Seven Seas legendary Scrabble players, John Blesso headed over to challenge Spencer and Kat in a threeway duel that ended very closely in a victory for Spencer Beggs.  With this victory, it seems that Spencer now has top billing over Blesso and O’Leary and is the one to beat for bragging rights.

After the 8:00 boat, only Gabe and Steve were left at the house and Lauren reported a clean kitchen on her arrival on Monday so way to go Gabe and Steve!  Thanks for heloing her out!  Cat’s Birthday party is coming up next weekend so get ready for the Big Kahuna!  See you all next week in Kismet!

Aaron at the table

Tricia

Drum line

Toga chic

Ben, Spencer and John

Cocktail party

'Toga'-lates pays off, wow!

Steve, Tammy, dry martini

Gabe entertains

Mushroom crostini

Cocktail party guests

Karen, Tricia

Prepping the 'shrooms

K'OB and pal

Steve gets some love

Prozac relaxes

Gouda dogs!

Goofing off

Toga dancer

Toga dancer for real!

Lovely ladies

Tammy wins Prozac's affection

Toga on the deck

The silly shot

Cat, Yujin, Tricia & Kat

Ryan and Sing at the table

We had made exactly the right amount of food because when the last surviving peanut butter pie was found in the freezer, it was made short work of, even by the few who proclaimed “not to like peanut butter,” if such a  thing is possible.  That evening Michael R. revealed his inner bartender, demonstrating remarkable versatility and precision in creating everything from picture perfect Manhattans to fruity sweet concoctions to accompany the warm night.

After music (and a second load of dishes) the gang all headed to the Kismet Inn for drinks and company.  As the night proceeded, shots started coming out and inner teenagers were released. Folks trickled back to their beds into the late hours with only Ben J. and Johnny accidentally walking into some other house, where fortunately there was also a party in action.

British food

On Saturday morning, the team was up and about for egg breakfasts and up just in time to greet our Saturday guest arrivals.  The sun came out around noon.  That afternoon, the deck proved most popular, as a steady stream of snacks flowed from the kitchen.  Ben J. added his culinary contribution of corn chips with sour cream and peanut M&M’s –and you thought British food was bland!  Michael, of course, treated bystanders to hot dogs at lunch.

The day turned into a very nice beach day and everyone was happy to lie out in the sun, frolic in the water, and more.  Adam J. won the day’s award for most helpful share member, showing love for our great wood shop on the ground floor. Coming back from a run, he found Ben wandering around with the surfboards that came over on the freight ferry that morning in a confused manner.  He proceeded to devise an ingenious system for racking up our boards using only the materials on hand in a safe and aesthetically pleasing manner.  This grew into a second project to install our new audio system with outdoor speakers!  Now we can have music on the deck too!  Three cheers for Adam!

Butterflied Lamb

At 5:00, the whole house headed off to enjoy the great view and cool breeze on Bicycle Bill’s roof top for the 4th annual (KGB) Burger-Off competition, an annual event held to determine who in Kismet makes the most delicious burgers.  Although we ate well, it didn’t stop Ben and Andrea from dressing the stuffed butterflied legs of lamb for dinner that night.  They were delicious.

Salsa eruption

After dinner, the jam session got into full swing.  Kevin had brought his guitar too and we had all the instruments out for a complete tribal sound.  The music inspired a reprise of last week’s love chain (completely organically) and the ladies danced away in the living room.  Jeremy also wowed us all with his smooth salsa moves that accompanied our instrumentation quite well. Johnny led the charge to the Kismet Surf’s Out face first down the ramp (thankfully, no serious injuries were inflicted) and the rest of the party followed out to the dance floor, where Jeremy and Reena were already well in action!

Sing-sational Scrabble player

On Sunday, the crowd thinned out a bit, but the sun broke through in the afternoon and it got even warmer than Saturday.  Ben remained unscathed in a beach Scrabble match with Sing, Jeremy, and Heidi.  Meanwhile, Dagmar happily read through our copy of Sharehouse Confidential on the beach.  The left over lamb was enough for both people on the 8:05 to grab to-go sandwiches as well as to turn into a great meal with an avocado and tomato salad by Cat and some mushroom au jus prepared by Ben.  Barbara came over with a bottle of cabernet, and we had a nice meal in the sunset.

After dinner, there was just enough time for Tom and Kevin to break out in blues guitars with Ben trying to keep up on bass.   All in all another perfect weekend out at Seven Seas!  Thanks everyone!

Ben J and Jo get wet

Kevin beach lounging

Beach fellows

Ladies prep meat

Chips gang

Summer reading

Fish bowl twins

Sunburned

Ryan peels potatoes

Lady of the house

Dancing, or box out?

We love bubbly

Jam Session

Clean up on Aisle 7

Jam Session 2

Kevin shreds it

The Love Chain Returns!

Fearless leaders

Sunday on the deck

Dagmar and Ryan in the sun

Heidi readies a word

Andrea checks the time

Kevin counts 'em up