Pictures and Stories

Monday Night Dinner

I belong to "Team Bangerang!", named from the unforgettable film Hook.

Holly dutifully and joyously prepares the salad. The people in the house are put into food groups, to share the cost and joy of cooking meals. My food group consists of myself, Holly, Jonathan, Michael, Alyssa, and Scot. We eat together, family style, three nights a week and take turns cooking.

Theo attacks his kebab. Kebabs are readily available from various kebab vans and trailers that park in high traffic parts of town. Lots of meat for about 2 pounds fifty - what's not to love?

J consumes his kebab dinner like a pro.

The table all set and ready for the dinner that Holly and I (but mostly Holly) prepared - Orange-glazed salmon, basmati rice, and citrus salad, with tasty apple pie for dessert.

Michael/Thomas and Alyssa demonstrate their satisfaction with the meal. See how the serving dishes are empty! They loved it!
Everyone helps to wash up after dinner.

Sunday Evening - The Rabbi Schmuley Party
I think that the Rabbi Schmuley party needs some explanation. I found an amazing book, entitled 'Dating Secrets of the Ten Commandments:
Here is Rabbi Schmuley, partying with one of his more successful clients:
Rabbi Schmuley, also the author of Kosher Sex, is also the host of TLC's 'Shalom in the Home', wrote an amazing book called The Dating Secrets of the Ten Commandments, in which he expounds the ten commandments as they relate to dating. It was so bad, that it had to be read aloud. Here is an excerpt:

The first thing you must do [if you encounter a mugger] is to overcome the urge to panic and flee. Look your attacker in the eye and say with the greatest confidence, ‘Look here you miserable , wretched, putrid scum. We work hard for our money, unlike lazy, twisted dirt bags like you. So why don’t you go back to having sex with your mother and producing children with arms growing out of their scrotums, before I personally do away with you, Mr Human Refuse?’

Without further ado: the photographs.

Derek and Will are a little embarrassed by some of Rabbi Schmuley's advice.

Michael/Thomas serves as the first reader from the book 'Dating Secrets of the Ten Commandments', a text that provided ample opportunity for laughter and embarrassing stories.

Scot takes his turn reading about Halloween and a particular sort of non-kosher M&Ms.

Michael/Thomas thought that this would be an opportune place from which to give the reading from the Rabbi Schmuley text, but not everyone was comfortable with him being the center of attention.

Our intrepid Junior Dean/house-uncle/maker of the world's best coffee, Jonathan, listens in to glean tips from the Ten Commandments for his own dating life.

Tuesday Tea and Supper

I took this photo walking down Cornmarket Street. At the end, if you look closely enough, you can see the Christ Church College tower on St. Aldate's.

Down this dodgy little alley, called Frewin Court, is the SCIO/CCCU-UK offices, where we are all invited for tea every Tuesday afternoon. Teatime is a big deal here. It's like another meal.

Simon, our intrepid international-college-student-helper was in the middle of cutting up some donuts, though he was making a joke about being cross and using the knife in a threatening way. You can see, however, that there is no actual threat since I am smiling, and I lived to be able to post this photo and write about it.
On the way from tea to dinner (yes, really), Holly, Jonathan, and I stopped at his college (Balliol) so he could check out some books at the library. Holly and I went exploring some, and Jonathan pointed out the doors which got scorched when the 'martyrs' Latimer, Cranmer, and Ridley were burned on Broad Street (which used to be the ditch outside of the city walls).

Later in the evening, Alyssa and Scot (which is short for Scotland - awesome name) prepared dinner - this time, peanut chicken and rice, followed by some AMAZING monkey bread for dessert.

Since this is the second picture I have posted in which someone is wielding a knife in my face, you probably think I am in grave danger constantly. Fear not, friends. I am very very safe.

Mitza is preparing dinner for her food group.

One of the other food-groups partaking of their delicious meal. From left to right: Derek, J (his real name is Jonathan, but he just goes by J), Kirsten, Mitza (rhymes with 'pizza'), and Theo.

This is the food-group named Team Sexiness enjoying their food. From left to right: Amanda, Kat (my roommate), Will, Brittany (other roommate), Jo (amazing), and Cara.