Yesterday I was engaged in one of my favorite past-times: trolling the thrift store in search of bargains. And I found something I loved but truly do not need: champagne glasses. These were lovely tulip glasses that emitted a lovely ringing tone when I tapped them. The lady in the next aisle turned at the sound. “Pretty, huh?” I asked. “Yes. Are they crystal?” “Yup.” “Are you going to get them?” Well, if I hadn’t committed to it already, that made up my mind. “Absolutely.” She turned away. I thought maybe she was disappointed. I checked the price: $1.99 and it was senior day which is 30% off so that made them, um, $1.34. Couldn’t resist. I do love crystal. There were a couple of drawbacks: I’m not much of a champagne drinker, but of course it’s always good for celebrations. And can you drink champagne out of regular… Read More »
Think White
QUICK … name as many white wines as you can think of in the next two minutes. I just joined American Wine Society (AWS) which keeps me in the loop of wine tastings here in Las Vegas with a bunch of really nice people. They also sent me a membership card which entitles me to discounts at … ah, I forget. But here’s something really fun — they have a magazine. I love reading about wine! When I took wine classes, I took the textbooks to bed with me. I highlighted and underlined and put little Post-it arrows on the pages. What fun! Man, who ever knew this stuff? How much of do I remember? Not much. But it was fun reading about it and I do use the books for reference constantly. So last night I took my new AWS magazine to bed and started reading about hybrids in the 21st Century. The first unfamiliar name… Read More »
Lunch at Phyllis’s (Part two)
… so there we were, sitting in the loggia, swapping stories and savoring our drinks when the maid discreetly motioned to Phyllis. “Lunch is ready,” Phyllis announced. We all got up to follow her on the short journey past the “John Wilkes Booth” (the downstairs phone booth) to the dining room at the front of the house. “What should I do with this?” I asked Ingrid, holding up my half-full champagne flute. We both looked around for someplace to put it. She shrugged. I chug-a-lugged the rest of it and set the empty glass on the bar as I passed. The butler had opened the doors and I saw a table set for a royal banquet. Everything was beautiful. Phyllis had put out her best. I was a little overwhelmed — I think we all were. “Place cards!” someone whispered and we all began reading as we circled. “Carol, you’re here,” I said as… Read More »
Phyllis Diller’s First Dustbiter Reunion Lunch
It was July 17, 2005, Phyllis Diller’s 88th birthday. The butler pushed open the doors of the formal dining room. “This room was always off-limits when I worked here,” Carole Beams whispered as the butler stood aside and motioned for us to enter. The table was beautifully set with antique silver, elegant china and crystal wine goblets. Linen napkins and place cards marked every place. The tall candles in the center were lit even although it was the middle of the day. Phyllis had invited a select group of former secretaries, whom she dubbed her “Dustbiters” for the first of what would become many annual reunions. (She later explained her name for us on the Rosie O’Donnell Show, “they worked for me as long as they could stand it, then they bit the dust!”). This was the first time in nearly 30 years I’d been back. The house had not changed, but it was very… Read More »
What do Phyllis Diller and wine have to do with each other ?
My previous blog was titled “Phyllis Diller and Wine” because those were the two things I actually knew enough about to feel comfortable writing about them. I’ve expanded a bit to include my cats and things that go on around the neighborhood and how I stay busy with golf and pottery, but originally I started with this explanation of what I thought I was doing, and it’s still pretty accurate: So what DO Phyllis Diller and wine have to do with each other? … not a lot. Except that those are two things I know about. I worked for Phyllis Diller for nearly two years back in her heyday in the 70s. And as for wine, well, I’ve taken a lot of classes, visited a lot of vineyards, talked to a lot of winemakers and am diligent about doing my homework — you betcha! As for Phyllis and wine, the only wine… Read More »
