Yes, I had a 70s basement party, complete with Tab, PBR, Disco, (fake) illegal party favors, and Hunter S. Thompson. One thing I'll say about rangers... they know how to party.
So three wild and crazy girls set out to make this the best party of the season, or my payback on the bet wouldn't work. D, C and I each had a role to play. D was in charge of decorations and awards. You can't have a 70s party without a costume competition. She made Loser buttons for people who didn't dress up. These buttons were modeled after official campaign buttons by the politicians who lost the presidential races in the 70s. (Um, sorry to those politician guys but none of you looked familiar. Losers)
C and I were in charge of food, music and learning 70s dance routines. Basically, we watched that episode of That 70s show where they all dance at a disco, over and over again until we had it down!
As I Googled 70s party food, much to my delight I discovered that all the hors dourves that my mother and grandmother had been serving for years was 70s food! I knew exactly how to make this stuff. Now if only the liquor procurement had gone as easily. Being as we lived in Utah, we would have to look far and wide for a liquor selection. Luckily one of our neighbors was heading to Colorado and after some sweet talking, he brought back the makings for White Russians. (I love them, they are 70s, and I'll probably never be able to drink them again. More on that later.)
Someone actually found Tab at a local store.... not that surprising in our neck of the woods. Some of the food on the grocery shelves was older than me!
Yeah, we were all stoked about the Tab. That stuff is horrible! |
Now I must confess that the idea behind this party came a few months before when, at a thrift shop, C found an outfit that she couldn't pass up, but couldn't wear anywhere else.... I had a bridesmaid dress that would fit in and D decided she would come as Mrs. Robinson.
70s Bridesmaid, Mrs Robinson, and Disco Queen - the masterminds behind the party |
Once the sun went down, the disco ball was lit up and as the music blared, the strangest costumes began walking into my house.
C's man showed up. Digging the chains and the shoes! |
Smarmy Chuck brought Wonder Woman |
Hunter S Thompson, Best Costume Award He stayed in character all night, shouting at bats, staring into the disco ball, spending way too much time with the lines in the bathroom.... |
The hippies did the Time Warp. |
Disco Diva |
We danced all night. The YMCA, the Hustle, and yes, C and I did our 70s Show routine. Awards were handed out for most authentic costume (Hunter ST), most original (Mrs. Robinson) and of course, the Loser buttons. Someone even got a Pet Rock for an award. C made me an awesome cake and there were birthday candles and singing. There was also lots of drinking. Everyone lives within walking distance so as long as people could walk up the stairs, they were free to go. For those of us living in my house, we drank a bit too much. I do remember perilously making my way up the stairs to mix 2 more jugs of White Russians... 1 for me, and 1 for C. I even found straws to make drinking from the jugs possible. This was NOT a good idea. This was the one and only time that I've ever blacked out from drinking. (It won't be happening again. A few days later, someone told me that I'd run out of cream so the 2nd jug was just milky vodka.... ew.)
While I was blacked out, and God-knows where, the party took a turn. Hunter S Thompson started playing Broomtar (broomstick as guitar) to Sister Christian with Disco Diva clawing at his feet. Smarmy Chuck might have snorted some powdered sugar in the bathroom. Eventually Wonder Woman apprehended Hunter ST for trying to kill too many imaginary bats. Smarmy Chuck lost his Jeri Curl wig, and his chest hair. Some time later, Hunter would be seen wearing the wig and giving his best come hither looks for the camera. Yes, my neighbors were cool enough to capture all of this on camera for me so I wouldn't miss a thing. I'm not posting those because I'm pretty sure everyone was pretty wasted.
In the morning, I awoke with a pretty bad hangover. Luckily, my friends had stayed after everyone else left and we danced (sweated) out most of our liquor. I made my way down the hall, I realized our house was now the scene of the Apocalypse. Blue sequins were everywhere, trash and cups littered the basement, dirty dishes were piled in the sink, and we still had a 12-pack of Tab to drink. But, I had paid back my lost wager, had a fantastic birthday party, and haven't drank a White Russian since!
YiiiiMCA! |
PS.... I've moved 7 times since this party and I STILL find those damned turquoise sequins around my house. I lovingly refer to them as Corree-sequins.