or let’s just go to the beach
Last night I went to the kitschiest party ever. Even on our way there I told M “I don’t really want to go but it’ll be something to blog about”. And it was. It lived up to all my expectations. When kitsch is postmodern and intentional and ironic, it is always so boring. But when, like last night, it is spontaneous and unintended and even meant to be avoided, that’s superb. Let me take you there:
-The huge house was pseudo-ancient greek style with columns, marble everywhere and an inhouse lift that looked exactly like your usual lift (no attempt had been made so that it did not resemble an office lift). I guess ancient greeks ALSO invented the lift, among other things.
-There was a big swimming pool, all lit up for the party, with palm tree balloons floating in it. Woo hoo!
-A fake gypsy band with violins was playing waltzes for the guests. Most of the guests were octogenarians, apart from us and Miss Hellas (Miss
-Miss Tourism wore something like this for the occassion.
She was a big hit with the octogenarians. Someone said she would perform a striptease. Now, that wouldn’t last long, would it? Anyway, she didn’t.
-There was a margarita machine churning out regular margaritas and strawberry margaritas. I hugged it to survive.
-There was lots of food some catering company had provided. What do you call it when in the same plate you can eat souvlaki, spring rolls, tabouleh, and melon? Fusion cuisine?
-The host blew his candles by the pool. There were the inevitable fireworks and a speech a woman made to suck up to him. To get an idea add “you’ve got money” after the ellipses.
“You are not just a friend to me but….”
“Your daughter shines like a star in your family and …”
“All our best wishes are with you because you deserve happiness and….”
“This wonderful house is going to be your haven because you put so much effort into it and…”
“Thank you for being a wonderful host to us, you are so considerate, I will never forget that…”
The friends who took us there were gobsmacked by the money galore and went on a tour round the house. It took them 45 minutes to get back. Finally, when like a nerd, I said this house is using up too much energy for just 2 people they looked at me like I was a deflated palm tree balloon .
July 9th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
It’s not things in life that bring happiness it is love and people to share it with………..
Love you
Jeanne ^j^
July 9th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
Heh. I think when you’re brought up in a society that encourages respect for the super rich it’s often quite a shock when you get to meet them. Realising that taste and merit is entirely divorced from financial position. Sanity often too. The third estate often get bad press, but generally have better taste than the first and second :-).
July 9th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
You should have boosted the margarita maker and had M carry it for you.
July 9th, 2007 at 5:16 pm
lol a deflated palm tree balloon - what a punchline! The things we do for blogging!!
I wouldn’t mind taking a look at the house, but then I’d get home and feel claustrophobic at the tinniness (new word) of everything. And I’d need a margarita to get myself together. I’ve met the strangest people in those posh-dos.
July 9th, 2007 at 8:17 pm
The margarita machine makes up for all their downfalls.
I hope you had a few…
July 9th, 2007 at 8:53 pm
Sounds like fun! Hot chicks, liquor, big house with lots of rooms to hide in with miss tourism. Call me next time.
I’m off to Bolivia tomorrow. Nobody has money but we’re sure gonna have some fun. Try to keep up with the photos!
July 10th, 2007 at 4:25 am
Not to give the rich any credit, but at least they were sharing their place and wanting their guests to have a good time. A lot of rich people are real stingy, and that’s worse.
The part about kissing up to the host was really funny.I know a rich man who is so unpopular that when he has guests he hires a pr firm to create a tribute to him. Guests must watch a film, hear testimonials from his family and employees, and listen to his aw-shucks demurrals. Everyone hates him, but many are forced to attend these “dos” because they work for him or do business with him. Unbelievable!
I have yet to meet a rich person I thought had good taste. Somehow the display of expensive objects in large private houses strikes me as tasteless, per se, no matter how high class the surroundings are supposed to be.
July 10th, 2007 at 4:48 am
Oh, I SO wish I could have been there!
July 10th, 2007 at 6:48 am
if that pic is indicative of the way greek women look *and* dress in the name of tourism then i am on the next plane to athens tomorrow!
July 10th, 2007 at 8:31 am
MMmmm… I feel like being a toursit now!
Will she greet me when I come off the plane? Give me a toga or a block of cheese?
As for everything else in this post;
the rich don’t think like you and I. they don’t have to. They pay people to do that for them. Like the people saying the things with the elipsses (very funny by the way!).
July 10th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
hey, will I see your picture on the glossy, gossipy pages of the sunday papers’ magazines? : P give me a hint which one to buy!
July 10th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
I love the comment you made!
I can completely imagine this horrible party, Chloe…did you know the rich birthday boy?
xo
July 10th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
So how smashed did you get?
July 10th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
sounds just like the parties in l.a., i was always hugging the alcohol too.
July 10th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
Wow, what a surreal experience.
Mmmm, margaritas sound nice
July 10th, 2007 at 10:28 pm
unfazed is why i love you.
July 10th, 2007 at 11:17 pm
I wish I had been there with you. A fake gypsy band playing waltzes? Thank God there was a margarita machine!
July 11th, 2007 at 2:10 am
Heehee. Fabulous irony. I love it!
July 11th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
I think I need a cocktail machine. Yes, I would like a cocktail machine. My Christmas list starts here.
July 12th, 2007 at 4:56 am
Just dropping by to say hello..enjoy your trip tomorrow and be safe!
July 12th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
There was a girl at my university people used to call Miss Tourism. Although that was more to do with her romantic practises.
July 13th, 2007 at 5:09 am
No matter how you put it too much is just too much.
July 13th, 2007 at 10:15 pm
Hey chickadee,
I signed me up a blog on wordpress. Which do you like better…the new or the old?
k.
http://travelobsession.wordpress.com/
http://because-i-want.blogspot.com/
July 14th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
Hmmm, their theory is probably “If you’ve got it, flaunt it !!”.
Not my cup of tea, I’m afraid !!
Hope the margaritas were yummy.
Take care. hugs, Meow
July 16th, 2007 at 11:06 pm
would some tape or a plaster help to stop the deflation?
July 17th, 2007 at 3:16 pm
Sounds like a real experience. Thank goodness for your drink machine friend. I would have to be drinking to be able to tolerate the awful band.
Hugs,
Connie
July 17th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
This sound like the BESTpart ever!!
What a sweet THOUGHTFUL CREATIVE host to
include everyone at this UNIQUE celebration with
MEMORIES TO LAST FOR A LIFETIME!!!
And a daughter who is raised with all this affluence and
SHINES LIKE A STAR IN THE SKY FOR HER VERY
PURITY AND GOODNESS.
(just in case he is reading this …..(read…MONEY)
July 20th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
Ahum!
July 22nd, 2007 at 6:52 pm
Come back.
Need new frothiness please.
July 23rd, 2007 at 7:03 pm
Tell me you are not in that mess of a flood in London?
July 27th, 2007 at 12:55 am
A margarita machine … wow lol!
I hear you are having a heatwave in Greece. If you are coming to London you’ll notice the difference in temperatures :).
July 27th, 2007 at 1:44 am
Ti ginetai bre; Den mporo na xonepso tis katastrofes pou ftanoun st’aytia mou kathe mera gia foties kai alles foties. Den tha meinei tipote mou fainetai. Elpizo na eisai esy kai oi dikoi sou kala x
July 29th, 2007 at 2:13 am
ok, the red bag has got to go!
:p
July 29th, 2007 at 9:50 am
I had to read this post aloud to someone–it’s hilarious!
(Sadly, my parents house is also trying to do the fake Greek column thing…but they’ve never thrown a party quite like that…)