Yes. The first dinner I made for my gf was osso bucco. It was heavenly. She had seconds. We went through two bottles of wine with the meal. It wasn’t until after dessert that she found out the shanks were veal shanks, and she has ethical qualms with eating veal.
HYE totally screwed up a recipe?
Yes, I made soup for some friends once and, although they were polite, I could tell it was a flop.
My parents have a longstanding rule, BTW: when my mom asks, “Did you like it?”, my dad is expected to say “Yes, of course!” But when she asks, “Should I make it again?”, *then *he can be honest.
HYE known of a couple who had a rule like that?
Yes, sort of: my parents. Mom was a lousy cook, but Dad was a good one. Dad was always polite though, so when Mom tried something on her own, Dad would say “That was nice, but you need to add X, a little less Y, and don’t forget the Z.” Or similar, up to and including, “Maybe you shouldn’t try that again.”
Have you ever been invited to a holiday dinner* at a relative’s, only to be disappointed in what you got?
*Define “holiday” however you like. I’m thinking Thanksgiving or Christmas or Easter, but it could include any holiday on the calendar.
Yes, my sister once had a bunch of us over for Thanksgiving. She’s a pretty good cook. Her time management wasn’t very good. Her late lunch turned into early supper. Most folks were pretty drunk by then. Being a tee-totaller I wasn’t, so me and all the kids were left to critique the food with clear heads. It was pretty bad. Somehow hot pepper got into the cranberry sauce. After the meal people started leaving. I took all the kids home with me as the only sober adult. We ordered pizza. It has gone down in family lore as one of the best Thanksgiving meals ever. My sister preens at that, I just groan.
HYE been the only sober person in a group of drunk people,at an event?
Yes. A musician friend was playing out of town on New Yesr’s Eve, and somebody had to drive us all out there. I drew the short straw, so I drove. Well, the boys had a great time drinking beers and shots; I drank Cokes all night, and I was sober as a judge when it came time to drive them home. They all got home safely, as did I.
Have you ever planned on a night of boozing, and taken a taxi, so you don’t have to worry about driving?
Yes, but with a designated driver instead of a taxi
Have you ever had an argument with a taxi driver or driver of any other hired vehicle? (Uber, car service, limo etc)
Yes, once, a mild one, when I thought the cabbie was taking a longer-than-necessary route in Cleveland.
HYE thought of driving a cab, or for Lyft or Uber, yourself?
I thought about driving a cab, years ago, when I was doing my undergrad. A friend of mine was doing it, and was making good money. But in the end, I decided against it–those 12-hour night shifts were obviously taking their toll on my friend, and some of the passengers he told me about–no, thanks.
Have you ever won a lottery prize (of any amount)?
Yes, if you count scratch offs. Not much. Usually I’m the big loser. I’m so unlucky at those kinda things i won’t spend very many dollars on them. I might as well throw the money in the trash. I always post the numbers in the second chance things, so maybe a big win is in my future.
HYE caught a wild bird in your hands? (Yes there’s a story)
If a wild bird alighting in my hand counts, then yes. When I lived in Calgary, it was a tradition for me to take a walk through the city’s Bird Sanctuary on Christmas Day. Although visitors weren’t supposed to, I took along some bird seed, and could often entice the black-capped chickadees to my hand. At other times of the year, when I walked through the Bird Sanctuary, I gave them nothing; but it was Christmas, and I felt that the chickadees deserved a Christmas treat.
Have you ever visited a wild animal or bird sanctuary?
(And Beck–what’s your story?)
Oh, Spoons, your tale is much prettier than mine. I had my French doors opened to the deck yesterday and a little sparrow flew in. The cats went insane. I knew I had to catch it before this little adventure would end in its gruesome murder. It landed on a tall bookshelf. The cats bee-lined to their beam. They were plotting murder. I was thinking of a way to catch or shoo the bird. He flew down to my counter top and landed on the paper towel holder. The cats were on it like a shot, I reached over and just grabbed. I was shocked when I realised it was in my hand. In one very graceful (yeah, right) move I put the bird out the doors and had them shut before kitties followed.
And, I have visited a bird sanctuary in Upper Michigan. I think it was mostly ducks and geese.
HYE petted a big cat?
Only if your definition of “big cat” includes my 27-lb. tabby. I once tried to get him to exercise, so I bought a harness (dog-size) and leash, and took him out to the sidewalk. He refused to walk, and as I tugged on the leash he left long nail scratches on the sidewalk. He was embarrassed by the neighbors’ laughter.
HYE taught a bird (parrot, etc.) to talk?
I’ve taught our African Grey, Rocco, many dozens of words and phrases. Technically I’ve taught him to mimic (there are no birds that talk).
HYE had a bird on your shoulder?
Yes, several times, parrots and macaws IIRC. None of them pooped on me, fortunately.
HYE had an animal pee or poop on you?
Yes i lvoe someone and do ever forever
Not sure what the above post was all about, so…
Yes, many times. Puppies, kids(goats), most varieties of domestic fowl, parrots, a cockatiel, a conure, many parakeets, many pigeons, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, seagulls, and toads.
And a word to the wise: when admiring the beautiful perfect V-shaped formation of a flock of pelicans, no matter how magnificent the pinkish or golden glow of the sun shining through their wings, do NOT look up when they are directly above you 
HYE had to poop and just waded out a little further in the surf to drop trou?
Not me, but one of my friends when I was a kid would do that. Naturally, the rest of us got well away.
Have you ever been asked to speak at a graduation ceremony?
I have the salutatory at my own highschool graduation ceremony.
HYE been so nervous about speaking in public that you threw up?
No, but I once was so nervous about singing in public (a duet, “One Hand, One Heart” from West Side Story) that my hands went numb. At least I didn’t lose my voice!
HYE wanted to get rid of a neighborhood animal? (a stray cat has been yowling outside my window the past hour)
I once had a neighbor with a dog that barked at all hours of the night. Eventually he moved.
Hast Thou Ever been a player in a Shakespearean play?