where was I?

Okay.
So...sleepingsleepingsleeping, and not even REALIZING that the SHRINE TO FABULOUS HANDBAGS was right across the room from me.



Wendy's house is not very big - but she is a master-organizer. All the beautiful bags lined up perfectly on those shelves made me weak in the knees. And if you are impressed with that, take a deep breath and look at this:



Oh yes. She's crafty. Very very crafty.
But I'm getting ahead of myself -

Suddenly, a wee six year old appeared in my room and demanded a story.
She chose one of those Magic Tree House books and we settled in. It was the one about the San Francisco earthquake and subsequent Great Fire and it dawned on me that, perhaps, she was not old enough to hear about these things.
I TELL YOU I WAS DANCING AS FAST AS I COULD - trying to get my way around earthquakes not happening in Illinois and explaining why the children in the pictures had bloody feet (it was mud!) and how you cannot fall in the sewer in the backyard in Illinois when there is an earthquake. My lord it was exhausting. But I was saved.
Saved by Trixie, who took a header down the long, hard, stairway and landed at my feet like a tiny starfish. She was okay after the hard crying and the ice pack, and this dramatic interruption saved me from explaining why the entire population of San Francisco had to 'move to a new house!'

We did our morning stuff and I got a better tour of the basement/workroom/play area/Peter Rabbit Laundry Room.



Could you DIE? BECAUSE I COULD JUST DIE.



I don't even know what's IN these.



I hate to bust her spot, but how can I not post these?



Wendy doesn't keep her thread in zip bags.

I don't want to divulge too much more - but look at this...



SHE HAS A WRAP CLOSET.

Anyway. We did our thing and then went to the supermarket (because I HAVE TO GO EVERY DAY) and then made our way into the city.
Blah blah blah...funny story with the doorman...I did some Windexing...we put sheets on the beds...had a glass of wine...got dressed for the party...and the Adorable Husband of Poppy showed up to give us a ride across town in the OTHER minivan.

Off we went to Jen's. It was a wonderful party in a fabulous apartment, with dozens of interesting people to talk to.
I did a lot of this -



And some of this -



And here I am trying to look intellectual whilst J explains the difference between naked and nude.



Across the room from me, Poppy was demonstrating SOMETHING -



but I'm not sure what.

Here she is attempting to duck as Susie's blouse kept bursting open. In the nicest way possible.



And here is Wendy, looking gorgeous and relaxed -



And that's not even her beer.

Susie was drinking cheap cosmos.



Apparently, cheap cosmos are vodka and cranberry juice. I've made a couple of cosmos in my day and I can tell you there should be a few more things in there.



That's our gracious hostess Jen with her necklace from Ten Thousand Villages. She did a good job choosing it, didn't she? Well she would, HAVING PERFECT TASTE AND WORKING IN THE ART WORLD.

It was a wonderful party. We laughed and drank and had the very best time - all of us together. And I got to meet Carol Who Has No Blog But Who Is Just Gorgeous (think Renee Russo and Julianne Moore) and Jen, and I even got to have a laugh or two with a very famous Jen.

Poppy's adorable husband herded us all back to the apartment (I cannot remember the conversation and can only imagine the decibel level) where we stayed up latelatelate and slogged off to bed at some ungodly hour with paralyzed smile muscles.

What a time.
What wonderful people.
How incredibly fun.
How lucky am I.

How the HELL am I going to get these terrific women to Tuvalu?