I agree with the other posters. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but now you know why more people don't try to give 2 parties in the same day! Basically, you set yourself up for 10 solid hours (plus pre-2:00 prep) of hosting, clean-up, re-set-up, and hosting again. Who could do their best with that kind of challenge? In addition, even though you are experienced hosts, I think you took on quite a bit here -- entertaining 75 people, including clean up and set up in between, without any paid help -- well, I am sure you must have been exhausted; who wouldn't be? And when you are that tired, it is indeed a big deal to have people stay late. If you had only one party, with either a smaller number or some sort of help, I bet it wouldn't have seemed so overwhelming when people stayed late. I am not sure why you are so outraged that people arrived at 2:00 for a 2:00 party. I agree it's nice to give the guests a little cushion and come a few minutes late, but you really can't get mad or be surprised if someone arrives on the dot. Sometimes people have to leave early because of another commitment, so they come as early as they can. (I've had people show up 30-60 minutes EARLY -- how would you like that? Once I was just getting into the shower!) I also don't understand this at all: "Almost everyone else showed up between 3:30 and 4:30 (the event was supposed to end at 5:30)." What is wrong with that? You said it was an "'Open House' from 2 - 5." My confusion isn't whether it was 5 or 5:30, it's that I don't understand what is wrong with coming between 3:30 and 4:30 for a 2-5 (or 5:30) open house -- isn't the whole idea that people come and go within the time frame? 2:00 is too early, 3:30 is too late -- and this is "laid back"? Regarding people staying late for the evening party -- well, they were having fun, so good for you! It must have been a good party. But here again, I don't understand a few things. First you don't seem to like it that many guests didn't come until 10 -- but you didn't plan to feed them dinner (and evidently were clear about that on th invitation), so perhaps they went out to dinner first or something. People come on time for a dinner party, but they don't feel they must be there at the very beginning for a munchies "shindig" -- four hours seems like a lot for that. Regarding staying past midnight: few adult parties (other than open houses; see above) set end times. Even if you'd put it on the invitation, I bet some didn't remember or even notice it. I also don't understand why you were surprised or resentful that you were in the kitchen: you invited a LOT of people to your home, and you started running low on food, so you did what any good host does: you got something for them to eat. If that happens again, spare yourself the work while your guests are there, and order a few pizzas. But as Lindac says: the most important thing is whether your guests had a great time. And it sounds like they did!

No big dogs. 40 lbs max for me. I like dogs that I don't have to buy a truck to transport. I don't like dogs with smashed in faces much. Although I have met some I like personally, I don't think I could stand to hear them wheezing. They seem to have such a hard time in hot weather. Don't like german shepherds much, they kind of scare me, I have known so many over the years that were vicious. Would never ever own a dog that was even part pit bull. Exceedingly yappy dogs, like schnauzers, and chihuahuas. Although I don't mind dogs that bark, just those non-stop high-pitched yappers. I like the terrier breeds and I like (and have owned several) dachshunds. Longhaired ones because they are more mellow than the smooth haireds. But unfortunately the american breeding trend is to breed them smaller and smaller miniature sized. WAY too small for me. So I doubt I will get another unless I can find a breeder of the standard size ones (rare in america). No teeny tiny dogs that you could kill if you accidentally stepped on it. cicidae: Most shih tzus that I have known have such great personalities. My aunt had two, my co-worker has two, my sister has one. So friendly. Owned a border collie. Great dog to train, too high of an energy level unless you have a big fenced in yard. This goes for most shepherd breeds and hunting breeds as well. No retrievers, for some reason that oil on their skin makes me sneeze. And I live on a river so those retrievers would not get out of there I am sure. Nice and stinky. Cocker spaniel: that breed has been ruined by overbreeding. I have known several that have severe personality problems. Completely untrainable.

I love House Plans. I drew house plans from the time I was in junior high school. I re-arranged my bedroom countless times on paper. I 'built' several new homes for DH and me -- on paper. My math skills are nil, so I was not about to become an architect, but I can look at a blueprint and see what a house will look like and how it will (or won't) work for daily living. (Love the House related forums on GardenWeb.) I'm pretty good at navigating -- maps and directions. My mother may have taught me that. She'd take me to Marshall Field's in Chicago and have me find my way from the furniture department (upper floor) to the State Street exit. I'm NOT a good 'decorator' -- at least not the important small stuff that puts finishing touches on a room. I can envision the look I want, but am timid about hanging pictures, etc. (Not timid about painting a whole room a glossy Hershey Bar brown, and liking it.) I enjoy reading and writing. I'm a visual learner. Journalism was my major. Thank goodness for you artsy-craftsy people and for the Math Able!

My last name is ''Large'', just like the size. I try sometimes to pronounce it ''Large-a'' long A sound, but it isn't french, it is just stupid. I tried to make my hubby take my last name, but he wasn't having it. My ob/gyn is a nice woman named dr. cave, my foot doctor is a nice man named dr. handcock, and I had a former employee who married a man with the last name of ''head'', his first name was Richard, so you know his nickname. No joke. One friend of mine had the last name of ''Bugg'', and another co-worker of mine is ''Small''.