The fundraiser went pretty good.   We had about 75+/- people show up.  We had been hoping for 200.  There were a significantly large amount of people that bought tickets and/or said they were coming for SURE that didn't come, so that really was disappointing.  To be honest, I think that a lot of people were sick.  Several of my Mom's very good friends didn't show up for that reason.  The raffle went well, but of course without the volume of people, we didn't sell the volume of raffle tickets that I was hoping for.  In the end, we basically broke even.  I had really been hoping to raise the money for our travel expenses, but I guess it just wasn't meant to be.  Live and learn.  The people that did come had a really great time, and it was nice in that I got to spend a little time with each and every person that came.  The band was GREAT.  Everyone kept saying how good they were.  They did rock and roll, current top 40's stuff.  Very danceable and really nice guys, too.  The food turned out good.  One of the deli's that had volunteered to give us stuff, forgot.  Per showed up to pick up the food and she totally spaced it, despite us reminding her the day before as she'd asked us to do.  So she ended up throwing together a quick sandwich platter.  My Mom was worried about us having enough food, so she encouraged me to make a bunch of deviled eggs, Swedish meatballs and sweet 'n sour kielbasa.  The food was all a big hit, and as people were leaving, I asked everyone to take some home with them.  That worked out perfect, because we didn't have any waste that way.  I am really, really, really glad that it is all over.  I really don't think I would attempt something like that again.  It was so much work and I did it all myself.  It seemed like a good idea, and I'd had so many people tell us we should do it, that I felt like if I didn't it would seem like I wasn't trying.  So there ya' go - I tried, right? At least we didn't lose any money.  I think we came out somewhere in the neighborhood of $300 or so ahead.  That's a lot of work for $300! Per's 40th birthday was the same day as the fundraiser, but we didn't want to make a big deal of it at the fundraiser, we thought that would be a little tacky.  I did give him a small carrot cake with candles at the party, but I just did it with the 2 of us off to the side, and I gave him his gifts after most people had left.  I didn't want him to feel like he didn't have a birthday at all, you know?