DINNER AT THE DAHLGRENS

I just had dinner at the Dahlgren household--a thank you feast for 4 years of working with their amazingly talented son in forensics.

First, we had finger food appetizers: i can't tell you how many pieces of stuffed olives, pepperoni, cheese, hot peppers, veggies I put down.

Then came the salads, and the steak, and the shrimp, and the veggies.

The came dessert: decadent brownies, fruit pizza (to die for) and naked chocolate from my favorite place on walnut street, between 12th and 13th in cc Philly.

I have two questions:  What exactly did I eat? And how much did I consume of each?

Answers: I am not sure and I am not sure.

What speech lesson do we glean from this?

First, every speech has a beginning, a middle, and an end. If you overplay the introduction (the appetizers), the audience may not be able to--or want to--consume the body (the entrée.)  And if you offer too much of one thing (too much humor, too many puns, too many stats) the audience may develop a distaste for what you are offering or may feel intellectually bloated by it.

So plan your speaking menu wisely.