I'm already pouring my pre-dinner libation when, "Oh, I forgot to
mention that So-and-So is dropping by for dinner." "I hope she's not
expecting anything special, it's leftovers tonight." "Is that all we
have?" "When is she coming--there isn't time to go shopping, (mutters)
even if I wanted to, is there?" "I know you'll come up with something.
You know how she likes to talk."

So there's the pitch. The unspoken but well-understood message is,
Don't Embarrass Me. And I was looking forward to an effortless prelude
and accompaniment to the Dodgers game. Instead, it's going to be me
scrambling from behind rather than the team. Well, what to do?

You've all been there, right? How did you cope with the last minute
challenge?

Last night's worked out pretty well. Our guest turned up almost
immediately and I put on just enough of a show to demonstrate that she
merited special attention. To dress up the ordinary tossed salad I
roasted a red bell pepper on a long fork over the gas flame before
peeling and slicing it, and toasted some sliced almonds in a dry pan.
Instead of the intended leftover mashed potatoes I made homemade egg
noodles. The two-day old beef stew (made this time with beef shanks)
was plentiful, and I casually commented that such things are always
better when they've mellowed in the refrigerator overnight. A slightly
better than planned red wine, and all was good. But the Dodgers lost.

And you?