Hi Everyone
I can't tell you how just knowing that I have to "check in" helped me get through the last two parties!
I survived the wine club party and it was a huge success!
I have the smallest and least decorated of all the homes of the people in my wine club, so I always feel inclined to go over board on the food. I guess it's my over compensating personality...
By the time dinner came, people were so full of wine and appetizers, that a huge portion of the casseroles & salads went half eaten! And my house was described as "romantic"

Even the huge mirror looked great!
The trick of making a bowl of berries back fired, I didn't snack on the food hardly at all, I took 3 very small helpings of each of the casseroles and only ate half of what I took, but one fairly generous serving of a salad full of dressing, bacon & avocado (that was my splurge)...I was eyeing my bowl of strawberries and blueberries when I noticed one of the guys sat next to it and finished off the whole bowl
The wine was superb! I decided to do a walk around the world stopping in CA, France & Australia trying a Chardonnay, Cab, Merlot and Syrah from each, as well as a Malbec from France & Argentina.
I have to say, I still prefer the California wines best.
The clear winner was
Haven Merlot
Brassfield Syrah
They were both fabulous!
I had literally a sip (mouthful) of about 12 different wines, I have no idea how much that works out to, but I can't imagine it being two glasses. Between that, and the food, I did pretty good!
I'm glad it's over!