Ninja, Please

Back from Ecuador. Seriously missed my tumblr dashboard and I have some serious pop culture catching up to do. I’m completely exhausted right now since I haven’t gotten much sleep in several days and the long long day of travel has given me a head cold. I see nyquil and sleep hours in the double digits.

I had my party this evening and it was marvelous time! I got to see pretty much everyone I’ve been meaning to see for quite some time while also hanging out with my traveling companions. I’m very exhausted right now and I haven’t been getting much sleep lately and of course I’m scooting off to ECUADOR tomorrow! Wish I had the energy to write more but I’m waking up at 645. Sleeping on the plane is happening tomorrow no doubt.

Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet, Fantasy Overture as the sun rises while I completely fabricate the content for a paper due in a few hours.

good morning world!

theyounggentleman:

Dear Young Gentleman,
Do you have any tips for keeping a college dinner party as classy as college-aged people can possibly manage? I’m worried about finding the right mood in between a comfortable and relaxed setting but not one that will encourage destruction of my property once the alcohol starts kicking in. Thank you!

This is a spectacular question, thanks so much for asking. The first thing to do is establish a dress code. Make sure that your friends know that they are not to arrive in mesh shorts and frat hoodies. That is not the atmosphere you are going for. While it may seem like a simple idea, clothing sets the mood. If everyone arrives dressed respectably, then they will respect themselves and not cause a ruckus.

Next is the music. Choose something that isn’t too lively for dinner. No artist that begins with “Lil” should be played during dinner. Play Feist, Adele, Amy WInehouse, and that type of music to keep the mood young but subdued.

Change up the music after dinner. Then is the time for it to be a little more livelier. But don’t go too crazy because your room shouldn’t be a warehouse club.

Now the alocohol should be RATIONED. Never put it all out on the counter for the table, at least not in the beginning. You should pour the first drink for everyone so you set the pace. As the night continues keep the alcohol in a cabinet and only set it all out once dinner has ended and people are just lounging.

The night will go as you direct it. If you get trashed and make a fool of yourself, then you will send the wrong message. Instead, circulate between groups (assuming there are enough people to warrant more than one clique). Check on the conversations, keep the mood where you want it and make sure that no one is slurring and speaking with their eyes closed.

You guide the dinner party. Even though you are in college, you do not have to forego all manners and always have keggers. Just keep in mind that not everyone will want the same thing that you do. So don’t have huge expectations for your guests. Just expect them to have fun in a different environment.

Be up front with your friends so they know what they are in for before they get to the party.

Hope you enjoy yourself!

-The Young Gentleman

Thanks for responding to my question so quickly! This was very helpful and I’ll be sure to keep all these tips in mind.

I have an interesting schedule this week
USAID 
Congressional Senate Hearing on climate change
Watching the movie “Crude” about big oil companies in the Amazon 
FINCA International - micro finance - dealing with climate change - who knew right?
Go to Earth AID HQ
Begin Ecuador prep
throw in some extra hours working from home for WCF..a couple informational interviews…andddd there’s my week!
Got 4 hours of sleep last night trying finish the analysis on Paul Farmer’s best practices. That dude is a machine.

I’m going to get lost trying to find the Reagan Building this morning…ahhh

Saturday night turned around for the better. Met with classmates Emily, Gabe, Sean, Whitney, Veronica, Riccardo and Max + friend in Chinatown for Where the Wild Things Are. A weird movie…I couldn’t figure it out and I wasn’t a huge fan of the voices or the dialogue of the beasts. I couldn’t really get my head around it - was it political, emotional, environmentally driven? Still not sure but still a good time! My sneaky child’s ticket method backfired and the theater staff sent me back to pay full price. Was fun while that lasted. I still have more than half of the Paul Farmer book to read - looking forward to tomorrow!

that I do when I don’t want to do my actual work! I want to throw a dinner party before I go to Ecuador in 2 weeks. I’m looking to either apply for an internship/volunteer position with the Center for Victims of Torture. I’m looking at my classes for next semester (saddening - all the lame GenEds I still need to take…) But I need to get back to the slow and painful process of reading this Paul Farmer book.. what an awesome Saturday night.

my life has been busy. yesterday I went to a wonderful concert at the Black Cat to see Electric Six. They were really wonderful and are now tucked away in a special part of my heart. I got four hours of sleep and then woke up to go to the World Bank for many many many many many many many hours. I need to sleep. And read 300 pages or something. I’m also deaf in my right ear thanks to last night.