Yesterday, 5:05 p.m.: Wrap up meeting. Start getting excited about book party at Mitchell Gold celebrating The Book of Decorating, a Domino Magazine venture.
5:10: Bid Virginia client a fond farewell. Feeling good: had convinced her to use some strong colors for her new kitchen, possibly Benj. Moore‘s AF 290 Caliente or AF-405 Thicket on her cabinets.
5:20: Pull out of her driveway in the driving rain.
5:21: Feeling smug – plenty of time to meet fellow DC Bloggers Michele of My Notting Hill and Jennifer of Washington Spaces at 5:45 as agreed.
5:23: Merge onto I-395 North.
5:24: Come to a complete stop.
[time elapses]
5:45: Step on gas, then brake.
5:54: Break my own rule and e-mail Michele to let her know that I am somewhere in Virginia.
5:55: Fantasize about big gin & tonic waiting for me at the party.
6:13: Step on gas, then brake.
[time elapses]
6:45: Cross bridge, enter city. Under normal circumstances, the drive would have taken about 7 minutes.
6:47: Receive call from husband, who asks me to pick up a prescription for him before pharmacy closes at 9. Hang up on him.
6:55: Receive pitying stare from person waiting for cab as I bang my head on the steering wheel. SHE is standing out in the rain, I am inside my cozy car, SHE is giving ME the pitying stare.
7:08: Scream.
7:15: Through the downpour, see Mitchell Gold on the horizon, on opposite side of the street. Decide if there’s a parking space right in front, I’ll go in for the last 15 minutes of the party, even though my fellow bloggers have probably left.
7:20: Ascertain that there is no parking space in front of the store
7:20:07: See large sign that says, “Complimentary Valet Parking.” Risk lives of self and others as large U-turn is made.
7:23: Ask dripping-wet valet guy if he’s still taking cars for the Domino party. He heaves big sigh and says, “I suppose so.”
7:28: Enter party. Still very packed. Start looking for bloggers. Realize that aside from Michele and Jennifer, I have no idea what they look like.
7:40: Decide I can’t wait for bartender to assemble gin & tonic and grab glass of champagne from waiter. See two friends. Proceed to talk w/ them for half an hour, pausing only to admire the Mona Sofette near us.
8:15: Go to buy Domino book with the two friends, only to hugged warmly and handed book and gift bag from the ever-glamorous Kimberly of the Washington Store. Experience flash of jealousy that she always looks so great.
8:20: Mitchell Gold himself stops us so he can greet my two friends. He is very dapper.
8:32: Retrieve car from still-dripping-wet valet, drive to CVS, miraculously find parking space in front. Pick up prescription. Buy Vitamin C while I’m at it.
9:15: Bedraggled and exhausted, crawl into my house. Greeted by silence. Good sign. See husband stringing lights on the Christmas tree. Forgive him for prescription incident.
9:18: Reflect on the evening and decide that the life of an interior designer-slash-decorator is the most glamorous job on earth.
For a much more eloquent, accurate report on the party, please see Michele’s post on My Notting Hill today. I’m so annoyed that I also missed fellow bloggers Stefan of Architect Design, Bob of Homers Odd Isn’t He. Sigh. Picture of Mitchell Gold exterior, btw, is Soho store, not DC.
