My friend Steven sent me an article from Lifehacker.com about being a good host in the 21st century. The only thing I didn’t like about it was that I didn’t write it first!
Their first recommendation? Give your guests written instructions on how to work the home theater. Please! We have 50 million separate remotes and I know you all have just as many if not more. There are different ways to watch something- you have your DVDs, your Netflix through your Wii, you have your On Demand, DVR or Tivo. There are so many choices. You can watch your movies with surround sound or without – with the subwoofer or without… Its endless.
So while Lifehacker suggests you write these directions down (which is essential), I think that you should only give your guests only what they NEED to know. For instance, I will show my relatives which remote to use to turn on the tv and the cable. Then how to control the volume. Maybe include extra instructions on how to choose something On Demand and MAYBE how to use the DVD player. Maybe. Most days I can’t be bothered to get up and insert the cd and turn on the tuner and all the other stuff. Your guests probably can’t be bothered either. Soon, DVDs will be obsolete anyway.
The second recommendation involves internet access. It’s a necessity- like the air we breathe. If you only have one computer, set up a guest log-in. Have a wifi password? Make sure they know it. Don’t have internet access? Let them know where the nearest internet café, library or wifi hot spot is. People get twitchy when they’re not connected.
Always have a map for your guests with points of interest even if their phone has GPS. If they don’t have GPS, why not program your own with essential addresses and let them borrow it? Truthfully, I haven’t gotten on board with the GPS thing yet. Maybe when the voice can tell me to turn right at the McDonalds instead of in 400 feet – or if I can get one with William Shatner’s voice. Ha!
Finally, and this is one is a terrific idea, is have a recharge station on a desk or other clean surface. People have gadgets galore. Make sure you've got an empty power strip and an outlet for them to recharge.
Put all of your guest’s need-to-know instructions in a packet. Set up a basket and include this packet, extra toiletries, towels and wash cloths for your guests. I also like to add some snacks, fun magazines, a candy dish and fresh flowers by their bedside. Make sure they have a place to hang their clothes with extra hangers. Make sure they have a place to put their suitcase other than the floor. You love your guests. You should anticipate their needs! If you’d like to read Lifehacker’s great article, you can do so here: http://lifehacker.com/5606282/how-to-be-the-perfect-host-in-the-21st-century
Keep a big plate of sandwiches in the fridge like roast beef and havarti cheese, lettuce and thinly sliced red onion; or bacon, cream cheese and tomato; and/or curry chicken salad – Good sandwiches! They’ll be there all weekend when anyone is hungry and if your friends are driving you can put them in a cooler for their trip home.
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Amy’s Curry Chicken Salad
This recipe is one I made up since having tried it at Atlanta Bread Company. I am partial to Hellman’s mayonnaise but I know many folks prefer Duke’s. Serve with lettuce, tomato and avocados on good bread or serve with crackers for an appetizer.
1 Rotisserie Chicken pull meat in bite size pieces discard skin (I like the Mojo variety from Publix)
Hellmann’s Mayonnaise – start with 1/ 3 cup and add more to taste
Handful of Pecans Chopped
Handful of Yellow Raisins
1/3 Red Onion, Chopped
Juice of small lime
3 Tblsp. of McCormick’s Yellow Curry Powder
Combine all ingredients. Everything more or less “to taste”
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