Why yes, we had a half-birthday party for a political fact checking column!
So, I relearned last night that partying with a bunch of reporters differs in significant ways from partying with normal people. Or maybe not. I don't really party with normal people so my data may be way off.
Having decided It was just too hot and humid and generally Houston-like (yech) for me to want to drink I stuck with iced tea all night. This seemed to physically and psychically distress some folks. I was offered beer or wine every few minutes, pints were poured for me, I was assured that "someone went down to 512 to get the porter and it was really fresh" (I know, it was ME, the one who went down to the brewery to fill all the growlers). It was really strange. About an hour in I just started telling people I was the designated driver, should have thought of it earlier.
I also suspect that parties that are not populated by political reporters, political editors, lobbyists, and political activists have rather fewer spontaneous recitations of amazingly raunchy and possibly actionable political limericks. Word is they got to the Haiku after I left.
My truth-o-meter stickers were a big hit. I made up a couple of pages each using the .gifs for "truth", "half truth", and "pants on fire". Obviously, the pants on fire went first!
Also: one of the Capitol desk reporters (not a PolitifactTexas reporter) came with great foam flames on her jeans! Yay! Political reporting cosplay?
Pants on fire!
Originally uploaded by dremiel
At some point the folks that brought the jalapeno poppers forgot that they were in the oven so there was a batch that baked for 45 or more minutes instead of 15 or 20 minutes and they were the BEST THINGS ALL NIGHT! The didn't get burned but had a touch of char and the peppers completely slumped. We HAVE to make these for game night tonight!
Jalapeno Poppers (veggie but not vegan version)
12 jalapeno peppers
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 C. parmesan cheese, grated
1/4 C. panko
Veggie sausage, browned or veggie crumble prepped for tacos
PREPARATION
Slice the jalapeno peppers in half lengthwise and remove all seeds and ribs. Combine cream cheese, parmesan, and crumble (and anything else you want to stuff the pepper with). Fill jalapeno halves with mixture and then sprinkle with panko. Place on a foil lined baking sheet and bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for about 25 minutes or until nicely browned. OR DO IT THE NEW WAY AND BAKE UNTIL THEY ARE SLUMPED AND THE MIXTURE IS CRUSTY BUT NOT BURNED.
Having decided It was just too hot and humid and generally Houston-like (yech) for me to want to drink I stuck with iced tea all night. This seemed to physically and psychically distress some folks. I was offered beer or wine every few minutes, pints were poured for me, I was assured that "someone went down to 512 to get the porter and it was really fresh" (I know, it was ME, the one who went down to the brewery to fill all the growlers). It was really strange. About an hour in I just started telling people I was the designated driver, should have thought of it earlier.
I also suspect that parties that are not populated by political reporters, political editors, lobbyists, and political activists have rather fewer spontaneous recitations of amazingly raunchy and possibly actionable political limericks. Word is they got to the Haiku after I left.
My truth-o-meter stickers were a big hit. I made up a couple of pages each using the .gifs for "truth", "half truth", and "pants on fire". Obviously, the pants on fire went first!
Also: one of the Capitol desk reporters (not a PolitifactTexas reporter) came with great foam flames on her jeans! Yay! Political reporting cosplay?
Pants on fire!
Originally uploaded by dremiel
At some point the folks that brought the jalapeno poppers forgot that they were in the oven so there was a batch that baked for 45 or more minutes instead of 15 or 20 minutes and they were the BEST THINGS ALL NIGHT! The didn't get burned but had a touch of char and the peppers completely slumped. We HAVE to make these for game night tonight!
Jalapeno Poppers (veggie but not vegan version)
12 jalapeno peppers
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 C. parmesan cheese, grated
1/4 C. panko
Veggie sausage, browned or veggie crumble prepped for tacos
PREPARATION
Slice the jalapeno peppers in half lengthwise and remove all seeds and ribs. Combine cream cheese, parmesan, and crumble (and anything else you want to stuff the pepper with). Fill jalapeno halves with mixture and then sprinkle with panko. Place on a foil lined baking sheet and bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for about 25 minutes or until nicely browned. OR DO IT THE NEW WAY AND BAKE UNTIL THEY ARE SLUMPED AND THE MIXTURE IS CRUSTY BUT NOT BURNED.