The Playwicki Dinner was un-remarkable. The Roast for Lew Mohr involved some strong language and I got to jab him for my hatred of his damn-near jingoistic emails that he refuses to recognize as spam despite having 2000 recipients all listed in the “To” line and enough flag gifs and smileys to reduce 1997 to tears.
They also had a silent auction which I a novel way to minimize donor value by having someone donate 40 dollars of stuff that may sell for 20. I received a Starbucks Gift box that probably sold for something egregious during the holidays for $12.00. I don’t drink coffee but I do enjoy large mugs (cappuccino mugs, apparently) that can hold a whole can of soup. I brought my package home and threw out the rock candy and “tasting squares” which would make fun-sized candy appear brobdingnagian. I grabbed the mug, held it up to the kitchen light in triumph and saw clear through it. Mind you, the mug was shrink wrapped and there was no chunk of ceramic tumbling in the faux woven basket that would have filled the 1/4″ hole. Did someone shoot it with a BB gun in the factory before packaging it? Was it hit by some particle weapon in transit? Maybe this is why the gift basket was donated.