24 february 2005

Today I went to bed at six a.m.

I woke up at one.

I shopped until 2, cooked until 6:53. That’s what time it is now. Soon between six and ten people will fill my little living room to eat shitake risotto and gnocchi puttanesca and drink vodka with lemon soda. It’s amazing what you can do with an unreasonable budget and all day to cook.

I like to share food with people. People like to eat, and they like company. You can meet someone from a different country and feel fairly confident that they will enjoy a dinner with others.

Also you need to get everyone a little drunk. This makes people who would otherwise be uncomfortable much more comfortable. You wouldn’t think it would be so easy, but that’s almost all it takes.

Food is how I have met many people here. Hi, I’m Jenn, here’s where I live with my books and my shoes and here’s the bread I like. I learned this from Jeff and Mia in Brooklyn. Thank you, Jeff and Mia.

It’s now seven on the dot. No one is here yet, but they will be here soon. Late is not so fashionable in the Netherlands. I think my bell will ring by 7:10. Of course, we won’t eat for a while yet, because Spaniards are involved. We’ll be lucky if the Spaniards show up by nine.