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May 5, 2008
Tequilacon 2008 - Saturday Night
Saturday afternoon found me filled with a sense of dread when, as I passed a business named "Mr. Chicken," I was reminded that I'd baked a pan of chicken thighs Thursday night and that I'd forgot to wrap and put in the fridge. I'd had every intention of letting them cool in the oven for ten minutes but as I did the math Saturday morning it hit me that a day and a half had passed and that it would be Sunday about midnight before I could get to them. I wasn't too concerned about the thighs putting off any sort of smell in the 72 hours they'd be "cooling," -- I'd tossed the package they'd come in into garbage I'd forgotten to take out and was sure that smell would outclass any other that was lingering in the house -- I just don't like the idea of wasting food and there's no way I'm going to be eating those things.
[Due to some serious work things today and some bike riding tonight I'm a bit behind. This is posted as a Sunday entry but I'm "tweaking" it Monday night. When I got home the house did not smell and the pan of thighs looked pretty good. I'd considered that they'd been in an oven that I'd heated to 405F and that was sealed sort of — it isn't waterproof, but it isn't like the thighs were sitting outside. Anyway, I took a bite of one of the thighs to see how it was (I'd call it a bit dry) and then I spit it out into the garbage as I wasn't positive that eating meat that had been unrefrigerated for three days was a good idea.)
A short time later the sense of dread passed and was replaced with a sense of wonder as I stepped into the North Bowl Lounge and Lanes.
I've got to admit that I was a little concerned when I'd heard that Tequilacon was going to be held in a bowling alley as it sounded like an ass kicking waiting to happen: a bunch of geeks getting together to party in a bowling alley which is the native habitat of the American redneck. I'd even gone so far as to suggest that Black Belt Mama show up in her black belt (called a Karman to those of us in the know) and robe (or Ghia) just in case we needed some protection.
The North Bowl and Lounge and Lanes, as it turned out, was the perfect venue. It was more like a really nice bar with a bowling alley downstairs. Perhaps that's why "Lounge" comes first in the name.
The upstairs lounge part of the North Bowl was overrun by the Tequilacon crew and a few other people that seemed to be very unredneck-like and who were being watched over by Jen's mom. I know this because, upon seeing Dave digging into a plate of something I thought I'd go grab a plate of the obviously-free snacks myself. But first I'd get a beer. And it was while I was standing waiting to order my beer that Jen's mom came over.
"I'm Jen's mother," said the tiny, elderly lady with a hint of German in her accent.
"From Run Jen Run?" I asked, genuinely surprised. I'd talked to Jen and she hadn't mentioned her mother being there but it isn't like Jen and I were super-duper extra-tight pals. I was pretty sure there were a lot of things Jen hadn't told me and maybe she was afraid I'd ask her mom to carry me around on her back if she let it slip she was there. I'd met Dustin earlier and knew his mother was playing an active role in Tequilacon, so why not Jen's mom?
"No. I'm Jen's mother?" repeated the tiny elderly lady, in a tone that showed incredible patience for a person of Germanic ancestory.
"From Run Jen Run? I restated, assuming she'd misunderstood me.
"No. Jen and David. The bride and groom."
"Is this a wedding party in this part of the lounge?" I asked with genuine surprise, "I might be in the wrong place." And I was which was verified by a wave and a "you're supposed to be down here" from Hello Haha Narf and a polite "yes you are" from the barmaid. I was so glad I hadn't gotten snacks first. (I was able to order snacks from our part of the lounge… which was soo much better and cooler and full of more fun people than the wedding party part. Though I will say that Jen's mom seemed nice.)
(I am really really tired and there is a lot more to say and it is one a.m. Tuesday morning despite the time stamp on this. AND I was simply going to download this off my PDA and post it, but it needed two-seconds tweaking and now more than an hour has passed. So, I'll finish later.)
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Posted by delmer at May 5, 2008 4:19 AM