An Arab Prince With A Toupee, A Chanel Dinner With A $2 Million Necklace & Kiefer Sutherland. Only In L.A. Baby!
I don't think I've had as much fun as THESE guys. But, I've had my fair share of going out this week and I just wanted to give you an update on what I've been up to. It's rather positive---rare from this old gal. Enjoy it while it lasts........
Dear Ethers,
La-dee-da. I’ve been going out in this town called Holly-weird and meeting some very unusual people at some very unusual venues. It’s really odd what I’ve been up to lately, and my life has seemed like a blur this past week.
So, here is my giant and glam update.
As mentioned, I went to this party thrown by shoe gal. It was an Indian themed night and she hired local women who are brilliant chefs from India to cook massive amounts of the most amazing curries, meats, lentils (I could go on) that you could imagine. My only complaint: no chuntey (what’s wrong with this country!). Her house is a lovely home just off Rodeo Drive and is an Art Deco/Spanish style beauty from the 1920’a that is in impeccable condition and decorated with impeccable taste. To add true Indian flavor to the night, she had a few members of the cast of Slumdog Millionaire (no, sadly not Frieda Pinto or Dev Patel) and gave beautiful embroidered pashminas as presents for coming. I think the highlight for her was seeing Kiefer Sutherland in her home (she’s a huge 24 fan). She sheepishly got the photographer to snap myself and another one of her friends (cringe-worthy—especially after seeing the picture) with him. He was actually really lovely. But the weirdest person to show up was this bonkers Arab prince who brought an escort (no, like a 1-900-babe escort) and his bodyguards and I swear to god he was nuts and high on something and it wasn’t Allah.
The next night our new royal friend invited us out to a jazz bar he shut down for the evening, treated us to an amazing show of music and dancing and the most delicious food ever (the bill evidently came to $5,000 for 9 people, a very sneaky guest told us). The champagne and conversation flowed and he, again, was bonkers. From the shirt open to his midriff with chest hair bursting out and a gold medallion sitting on top of its puffs, to his toupee dancing as much as he did that night—it was certainly errrm, different. He’s staying in a cabana in the Beverly Hills Hotel (it is to die for) and the room costs $4,500 A NIGHT! And he is staying for 6 months!!!!!!!!! I’ll just let you ponder all the nice things you could do with the money like I did when I first heard the numbers.
Then, last night, I had the most AMAZING evening. I was invited to an exclusive Chanel dinner honoring their fine jewelry collection. A very small number of us sat at a pre-set dinner on top of the boutique in Beverly Hills where the chef from Lucques made us a 5-course meal with wines to match each dish. The room was dimly lit with Chanel votives scented with No. 5 and their signature white camellias. When I went out for a cigarette, the balcony had amazing couches and the view of the city was sparkling. The backdrop of the building was of dozens of double C’s lit in white. Marvelous. The best part was when the models, all donning Chanel, came out wearing the jewels. All of us got to wear them and I sat with a 2 million dollar diamond collar around my neck (the center stone was 8 carats!). I was so nervous that they thought I was going to do a runner that I kept looking at security reassuringly. They gave us as a parting favor a rare bottle of Chanel Beige EDT which costs $200 (that’s $100 a ml!).
So all in all it’s been an adventurous week. However, I feel guilty that English gent couldn’t join me for the festivities. Shoe gal is really big on it being all girls when she invites people…….so he wasn’t invited to the party nor the jazz club. Her attitude is, if she doesn’t bring her man, she doesn’t want you bringing yours either. I like it in a way, because it allows me to mingle with potential new friends. And in fact, I have made one or two new possible friendships out of these nights out. I think if English gent HAD been there, I might have been attached to him too much and may not have been as gregarious and keen to talk. It’s really nice having girlfriends and I like shoe gal’s philosophy. But there is guilt that he is left home a lot. We are going out to dinner this evening and I hope that we will get a chance to catch up then. But, the truth is when we are at home together, we don’t really do much. So I feel when I DO get the opportunity to go out, I should take it. Why sit home twirling my fingers when I could be out living life?
Besides that, I’ve got the normal worries about work. My company that I freelance for just lost 500 employees which, as I mentioned before, trickles down to me. Work will be scarce. I really am so desperate to get on that oh-so-coveted ladder and have terrible anxiety everyday about it. I want out of this house and freedom. I want to have independence. I want to know if I am building a nest here or not. These are all very worrisome questions.
I hope you are all well. I love talking to you guys. It’s so nice to have a chat and be able to open up. If you ever have any questions or if you ever want to open up yourself, e-mail me. I love getting e-mails and you know I’m a comment fiend. I can’t believe tomorrow is Fashion Friday! Seriously, I feel like it was yesterday that I was snapping my leggings and star top from my last post. UGH, I am so fat, what am I going to bloody wear for you people. Good thing you can’t see back shots. That way if nothing zips, I’ll be okay to still photograph myself in it.
Until my closet seeks your eyes out tomorrow.
Dedicatedly yours,
—One of 365









November 12th, 2009 at 11:06 PM
Oh wow…….can I come? Snatch those moments, they sound great.
The job situation is worrying isn’t it. I can’t believe things seem to be getting worse rather than better.
take care. xxxxxx
November 12th, 2009 at 11:06 PM
Wow wow wow !! Amazing week!
Sounds like you had great fun. The parties.. its mind blowing that much wealth isnt it. I remember doing these parties in Marbella and at the time took it for granted.. not now as I know how hard life is . The balance of wealth in this world is unfair and always will be.. I am not a communist far from it but the extravagance in which they spend it is sickening .. Oil we need it they have it !
Glad you are having a good time you deserve it xxxx
Big kiss for English gent as he is being very good but I guess if he see’s you happy and with new friends he is happy xxxx
November 13th, 2009 at 12:16 AM
So pleased to hear you had a fabulous week, very awesome and entertaining experiences and lets hope some new friendships form out of this too!!
November 14th, 2009 at 6:54 AM
Are you saying you want to get out of the freelance gig and get a steady job with a predictable pay check? Yes yet you want freedom and independence? That is a tall order! I hope you find it. I found it in academia (to a degree) but there may be other places–nonprofits, development, Certain non-governmental agencies. You just have to keep looking because every set up is different. I’ve been a newspaper reporter to a health care marketeer and it is not easy finding the niche that works! Best to you!!!
November 14th, 2009 at 9:11 AM
Hey, Ms. 365, what a lot of fun and excitment you’ve been having! The English Gent has to find a way to have fun when you go out so that you don’t feel guilty! I have just gotton back from traveling to Dominica. What a deeply green tropical island. I wrote about it and a couple of semi-autobiographic novelist, so come over when you have a little bit of time. I’m glad you’re having a wonderful time. xx
November 15th, 2009 at 10:45 PM
Hi Mary!
Thanks for the good luck and the comment. I does seem to be that I want my cake and to eat it. But when I say I want my freedom and independence and a steady paycheck–they go hand in hand. Freelancing is keeping me from getting on a ladder that would give me enough money to leave my family home, give me freedom to live an adult life and would allow me independence from my parents and their influence. No, I wouldn’t be able to sleep until noon
But……..I would have a routine and a regular income which would give me so many more gifts. I had thought of teaching….but I only have an MA and that would allow me to teach High-School’s (private) and they pay bubkis! Also, I don’t know if I would be much of an influence….and….I hate mornings and kids! LOL! Sounds like you have a great gig and I need to find my niche too. I’ll keep at it and again, thanks for the comment. xoxoxoxoxo
November 17th, 2009 at 1:55 AM
Chanel….. Oh my god! Call me fickle but I love a bit of Chanel. How did you keep your tongue from hanging out all night. I would be rubbish if I ever got to go to that sort of thing… theres no way I could retain any semblance of cool! An amazing week by all accounts! xx