It's not just you that suffers from post-party anxiety. I usually quell it with more wine. Does it help? No. I just seem to care less.

Me too....post party anxiety!

Ah well, such is life (c'est la vie!). Like my wanna be French?

Have had great time in Paris!

Me, post just about anything anxiety, really. Because, even when cold sober, I can go into Jabberwacky Mode at any time.

I do so love your cat pictures. Kindest regards to Bob et al.

Me three. I think, "did I really say/do that?" Really good friends though tend to love you anyway, despite drunken behavior.

I do that too - went to a birthday party this weekend and there is photographic evidence of me singing karaoke (cringe) - SO not a good idea!
The shrimp looks wonderful though, what did you marinade it in?

Grilled Marinated Shrimp, my Dad's recipe :)

I use the frozen shrimp that have already been shelled and de-veined (I am lazy.)

Rinse shrimp under cold running water. Place rinsed shrimp in a ziploc baggie with:
- olive oil
- balsmaic vinegar
- salt & pepper
- spices of choice (I used a little Cavendar's Greek Seasoning and a little of this organic all-seasoning stuff from Whole Foods, but you can use anything)

Marinate in the fridge for up to half an hour.

Soak bamboo skewers in water while shrimp are marinating (keeps them from catching on fire) (although one of mine caught on fire anyway). Thread shrimp on skewers, cook on a med-hot grill until done and yummy!

What, no escargo?

so, um, do the cats get to go to Paris? Or will they be manning the blog for us readers left behind?

MmMmmm. Love the shrimp on the barbey!

good question- who will be cat sitting?

Hee! I have the same little Wal-Mart grill. (Only ew Panorama City ew ew? Swap Meet Sunday much over there? If I must, it's West Hills or Porter Ranch. Can you believe they put Wal-Marts in the nice parts of town, toooo? Bizarre.)

Thank you for shrimpin' instructions. I will be trying that! :D

I love the wal mart on Crenshaw. S'all I got to say 'bout that. Although, I went to a walmart in a nicer area of San diego. I was totally lost.

As for post-party, you must realize - your friends look forward to your drunken behavior. Nothin to worry 'bout there!

Hee. Bob looks like the most-anti anxious creature on earth. I reckon that he's developed a sort of immunity to anxiety after dealing with the bone-rotting gamma ray death hate of the Soba.

I have that Grill too! It's very cute and functional and I like it a lot :)

The shrimp were AWESOME! I had so much fun, even if I do look like hell in those pictures. But yum! And it was so much fun! And no, if you didn't talk about the bird flu, Andrew Weil, and conspiracy theory, how else would I find out about such stuff? You are being an INFORMANT, which is IMPORTANT!

Even if you said dumb things, in the company of your closest friends, it's always okay. Glad you had a terrific time, and I'm 'verte' with envy that you're going to France and I'm not. Amusez-vous bien! Can't wait to see the photos and hear the chatter about your trip.
I gotta ask: What French flicks didja watch? My faves are "Camille Claudel," "Jean de Florette" and its sequel "Manon des Sources," and "Le Retour de Martin Guerre." If you didn't watch any of these last weekend, I highly recommend all four. Another good one is "Entre Nous." Okay, I'll shut up now (goes away, smacking head...)

Those shrimp were delicious, as was all the organic cheese. You have no need for post-party anxiety. Look at how short I am! I am like 12 and my head barely goes above the table! Haha!

Wish I had a grill. Wish I had a patio.

I only worry about what I've said when I am at someone else's home. At my home, I worry about whether or not the guests truly had enough to eat or drink. Were they just trying to be polite?

I know that Bob is my own cat and all, but DAMN he is so cute, I see his little mug and I just want to slobber on my monitor. Cute-faced Bob!

We actually ended up watching zero movies, LOL, we talked all night, it was awesome!

Bob's face is just so fuzzy.

Sounds like a blast... I don't suffer much from post-party anxiety, but maybe I just don't REMEMBER those things I should be embarrassed about. Have a grat time in Paris!

Oh Bob! Did I talk that much? Hmmm...

Mmm, cheese and shrimp and wine and good company! Sounds like a blast. I'm sure you were 100% adorable and charming, so stop worrying!

Helen

Um, Laurie...what on earth is that scary orange stuff on your table..don't tell me that's cheese?

Sacre bleu! Cette fromage est orange!

And Bob is just too damn purty for a cat.

Bob is beautiful! Is he part Russian Blue? Hope that's not a dumb question, but that's what color he looks in the picture (to me, anyway).

Just curious, because I have a cat that is part Russian Blue, and he is about the same color.

Liz

I didn't really have post-party anxiety until the first (and last) time I blacked out. The conversation with my friend the next day that consisted of "wait...I did what?!?"...yeah, that's when I started to worry. Four hours of my life for which I have no memory whatsoever. Eek.

i call it 'party regret' - after a couple of drinks, i'm usually blathering away and regretting everything the minute i get home.

I love the cat pictures! They're adorable. Milo and Purl concur (my screen now has cat nose wetness on it from where Milo nudged your cat's pic).

How's cutie-pie Bob doing these days? He looks very healthy!

hmmm... if by "healthy" you mean "fat and cute" then yes! yes he is! heheheheheh

that bob never misses a meal

I shouldn't have checked your blog at lunch. Your shrimp made my Lean Cuisine look so blech.

I get that post party anxiety as well - but often am reassured all was ok, the irony, back in the bad days when I really was an obnoxious drunken idiot I didn't get PPA. ergo, PPA = nothing to worry about.

It must be like a total southern thing - even southern hemisphere, I couldn't serve just cheese for dinner either. When our dinner guests come they often wonder when the other 40 or so people I've cooked for are going to turn up.

So who IS going to watch the cats while you're in France? Need a cathousesitter???

I have a housesitter, thank you though!! :)

Um, what? Like are you saying that not everyone is in love with Andrew Weil? I know I am. Anyone who is unsure of their feelings for Dr. Weil should try this lentil soup recipe http://www.drweil.com/u/Recipe/Recipe10074/ Not only will this clarify your feelings for Andrew but you may even fall in love with yourself for being able to make such an amazing soup!

Well there is the pre-party stress following by the post-party anxiety. Will they have fun? Are you sure? Is there enough food? What if we they don't have fun? What if they don't have anything to talk about. Followed by did they have fun? Are you sure? Was there enough food? Was there enough talking?

You're not the only one who suffers from post party anxiety. Lately I've been telling everyone about my social anxiety while I'm at the party or the restaurant or whatever and they all look at me like I'm insane and for some reason this helps me to feel less anxious later.

Poor Bob, looks like he really tied one on.

Um Laurie? Your friends (and readers) are such BECAUSE they love to hear you talk (read what you write).

Yeah, most of us probably suffer from that.

I however, suffer from another affliction....saying the wrong thing for condolences.

I have said such STUPID things that now I just say, "I am sorry, I have nothing worthwhile to say other than I am sorry."

Seriously, Chickie - you have nothing to worry about.

I gotta make some friends; that looks like so much fun!!

Bob is sweetness-with-whiskers!

I used to do the post-party stressing too, then I realized that most everyone is as "pink cheeked" as I am and won't remember the dumb things I said anyway. *ha*

Wal Mart is evil! Don't shop there!

Your food pics are soooooo hot! MM Mm M M M
I want your GRILL baby!

Shrimp kababs are French?
Who knew?

Is "pinkened" a word? Really?

My friend Holly and I came up with an acronym: PSGA (pronounced piss-gah) which stand for Post Social Gathering Anxiety. When it's really bad, you have PSGAD--disorder tacked to the end.

It's not just you. Because I? TALK ALL THE TIME and the next thing you know, at a party, I'm all "HI! Did I tell you this patch of eczema behind my ear might need to be frozen off? And that I'm bloated? With GAS?"

It's uncontrollable. And this is without wine. So usually the next day, I am a frenzy of insane phone calls to people, all "OH MY GOD, who was that I was talking to about my eczema?"

Yeeeah. I'm smooth.

Well, it looks like the mojo is back!

I love the Bob. And the grillin' (in February, you SoCal woman, you!)....mmm, shrimp. So when are you leaving for France?

Sorry, late post, but, I just had to tell you this great grill recipe. Chicken wings, marinate in Italian dressing and tobasko in ziploc bag overnight and grill to heart's content! YUM!

Oh, dear dear Laurie! You're so wonderful, and yet you have the same anxieties as I. Unfortunately, I have no way to make yours better, because if I did, I'd be fixing my own. As it is, I hope you have a wonderful F14. Keep your eyes on the prize, a stiff upper lip, and all that jazz.

PS: I have a million other stories just like the one I emailed you. Just in case you're in the mood for a pick-me-up someday. ;)

Post-post a comment anxiety: Woops I meant to write. "What, no escargot?"
Glad to get that off my mind.......

Now then.
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY
to my crazy Aunt and her Kitties
Have a Lovely Day. Chocolate all around.

THAT is one of the most remarkable cat photos I've ever seen. So I'll remark on it!

Happy VD!! I hope you're wearing pink (what am I, crazy? Of COURSE you're wearing pink!)

Practically every social interaction I am part of ends with me shrinking into a tiny ball of humiliation inside, because I am certain that everything I say is stupid. Repeat after me: "Other people are too busy worrying about what they are saying themselves, to be harshly critical of everything I am saying." This mantra enables me to continue interacting with other humans, and to pretend I'm not morbidly shy.

You are adorable, Laurie. :)

Party anxiety - in Ireland they call it 'the fear'

long time reader first time poster

thanks for your interesting insights - really digging it. and totally jealous that you were able to have a BBQ in FEBRUARY as I am stuck in dark rainy weather in Belfast. Although, I suppose it is better than the Canadian snow I'm used to!

Great history... hilariant!

I've managed to save up roughly $18431 in my bank account, but I'm not sure if I should buy a house or not. Do you think the market is stable or do you think that home prices will decrease by a lot?