Tacos

Leina, for many months now, has been scheming to purchase her very own carne asada. It is her favorite taqueria filling, and she has yearned to sear one up in her own kitchen, despite her kitchen's lack of a vent for the delicious smoky fumes which would inevitably emerge from the hot beef. She has enquired on numerous occasions to her friends where one could come across a piece of carne asada ("pre-marinated, because I don't want to mess with that part of it") that she could sear up herself. She was averse to actually going to a carneceria in the Mission. At some point last year, Erica pointed her in the direction of Trader Joe's, who had that exact item for sale in their refrigerated section.

Leina, perhaps as a half-hearted way to pay back Charles for the surprise party that he and Erica threw her last month, decided to throw him a semi-surprise party, to be held last night. And she had a great theme: taco night! She bought cheese, salsa, onions, taco seasoning mix, lettuce, tortillas, and ground beef for fillings.

Despite her lack of carne asada, Leina was quite excited about the event. On Thursday, she was trying to figure out if it was too early to shred her cheese. Erica said it was. Could she chop the onions? If she really wanted to.... Brown the ground beef? Maybe not. Leina managed to wait until Saturday afternoon to begin her prep, and by that time Charles was hanging around, so he helped her.

Ten or so of his friends came around, including Nicole Dare and her husband, who were responsible for getting Leina and Charles together in the first place. The tacos were created and then consumed and enjoyed. Mexican beer was drunken as well. Someone brought a Wii, and it was a hit, with partygoers swatting at the air while grasping a white remote/wand. Those who were not playing semi-virtual sports partook in another semi-sport, Texas Hold 'Em. Leina participated in the former, and was pretty good at the tennis thing but not so good at the bowling. But at some point, around 11:00 she became a spectator in both, and a cleaner of the dishes.