So, I just got back from TNNA/San Diego. Fun, fun, fun. And best of all, I was invited to a dinner party given by my publisher.
I really planned this one to the T, I tell you what. I knew that I shouldn't look like I'm trying too hard, or anything, and decided to wear a pair of black tuxedo pants and a black long-sleeved t-shirt. I even brought along some of the old high-heels I used to wear "B.G" (Before Girlfriend) but knew, in the back of my mind, they'd never make it out the suitcase.
This dinner party was important because I knew some of the heavy-hitter knitwear designer-authors would be there. Must make a good impression, you know? So that afternoon, I did a dry run to the restaurant, and checked out parking spots. I decided on a mall parking lot that gives you a free three-hour stay in the lot with any purchase from Nordstrom's. And to celebrate the fact that I didn't get lost on the way there, I purchased a new MAC lipstick in the color, Chili.
I returned to the hotel, got ready, and drove back to the mall parking lot. After another quickie purchase to offset the parking fees, I walked the two blocks to the restaurant thinking it was a good thing that it was freezing cold outside so no one would wonder why my hands were shaking so badly.
So, I'm standing there outside the crowded restaurant waiting for the hostesses to finally notice me. And then I announce, "I'm here for a dinner party!"
"And what name is the reservation under?"
"Uhm, I don't know. I just know there's a party here, and I'm invited. I'm here!"
"Well, if you can just tell me a name I can look for on the list," she says.
"Okay, uhm, maybe Melanie Falick?"
"Nope. Not not on the list. Do you want to look inside?"
"It won't help! I don't know what Melanie looks like. I don't know what Veronik or Teva look like, either!" I shudder.
"Either do we, and their names are not on the list."
So I hand them the invitation with both hands shaking. The hostesses huddle over it and squint in the darkness, hand it back to me and say:
"The party is on the 13th. Today is the 12th. See you tomorrow."
Yup...yup yup yup.
In the end, it worked out okay, and I showed up the next day in the same exact outfit (and with yet another Nordstrom purchase stuffed in my purse to offset the parking fees). During dinner, I even managed to confess what had happened the night before.
"That's not so bad," said a popular knitting book author from across the table, "I once flew all the way to New Jersey for my high school reunion. I showed up to the dance hall all gussied up and wondered where everyone was. Turns out, I was a week early."
So, obviously, not much else to report. I will say, however, that the Spanx I wore the first night were definitely more comfortable on the second night. I will also say, in hindsight, that you shouldn't fall for the "free three-hour parking with a purchase" ploy. In the end, I came home with two new lipsticks, a pair of 18-dollar socks, a 10-dollar sandwich and a Clinique eye pencil I will never wear.
And the picture of the knitting accomplished while in the hotel--at least the non-book items: Almost one-whole sock in the Panda Cotton (Crystal Palace, 55% bamboo and some cotton and nylon--fantastic), and a will-be knitted and felted box.
Nice to know that we are all human...
Posted by: knitcatt | January 15, 2007 at 05:37 PM
Great story, and I'm so excited to hear that you're hitting the knitting-big-time. I think if it were me (hitting my own version of a long-dreamed-of big time), I'd probably have tripped over my own feet on the way in. On the 13th.
And then probably landed in someone's lap, thereby spilling their drink as well as wrinkling their Chanel.
Posted by: Lizbon | January 15, 2007 at 05:53 PM
One time I showed up to a fourth of July party on July 3rd! Luckily it was my best friend & I was 8 months, 3 weeks pregnant, so I had a good excuse, but still. (And I could swear she said she was having it on the 3rd!)So I went home & ate the blueberry pie I had made for the party & then had to make a new one the next day.
Posted by: Liz | January 15, 2007 at 06:02 PM
Hysterical story. Something we've all done.
What? You bought socks? Don't you know you can knit those things?
Posted by: Elizabeth | January 15, 2007 at 06:07 PM
Yes, but you were early. Imagine if you'd turned up on the 14th?
Posted by: fitknit | January 15, 2007 at 06:14 PM
Too Funny!
Posted by: Lynae | January 15, 2007 at 06:16 PM
Wish I'da known! I would have shown up and pumped you for info on TNNA!! Hope you had a great time!
Posted by: Hilari | January 15, 2007 at 06:29 PM
Tee hee hee. I'm so glad you are willing to share these tales with us. I think the best way to encourage each other is to be honest about ourselves! So thanks for the encouragement... and the laugh.
BTW - me, I would've gotten lost on the way to the restaurant.
Posted by: Tammy | January 15, 2007 at 06:53 PM
I would have gotten lost too! Sounds like you had a good time in spite of it all- wish I could have gone this time!
Posted by: Amy | January 15, 2007 at 06:57 PM
OMG. That is funny.
Posted by: scout | January 15, 2007 at 07:18 PM
You don't even know how many times I've done that!
Posted by: ariane | January 15, 2007 at 07:22 PM
You. Were. At. A. Party. With. All. THOSE. People?! Gasp! Wow! And I understand why you were so anxious to get there "early"!
Posted by: miss ewe | January 15, 2007 at 07:30 PM
Nordie's takes returns.
Posted by: jen | January 15, 2007 at 07:46 PM
I'm impressed that you were thinking far enough ahead to scope things out ... I would have been cursing while trying to find a parking spot 5 minutes prior to the dinner ...
Posted by: Sherri | January 15, 2007 at 07:48 PM
That is funny, but it is best to arrive a day early than a day late ;)
Posted by: Isela | January 15, 2007 at 07:58 PM
Way better to be a day early rather than a day late! I think everyone's done that at least once. So, are we going to get any scoop on anything?
Posted by: Marsha | January 15, 2007 at 08:00 PM
At least you got to do a "test run" of the outfit, the shoes, the parking.
Did the mall happen to be Horton Plaza? If so, I LOVE that mall!!
Posted by: gwen aka tllgrrl | January 15, 2007 at 08:00 PM
Sounds like Horton Plaza parking, to me! Poor girl, shivering. MAC lips are always a good investment,though...
Posted by: flutter | January 15, 2007 at 08:01 PM
Yup. Horton Plaza (I think I was there five times in two days).
Thing is, well, at night, not so safe!
Posted by: wendy | January 15, 2007 at 08:04 PM
Good story. Return the eyeliner to Clinique. Don't bother keeping it if you'll never wear it. Really.
Posted by: Gina | January 15, 2007 at 08:10 PM
Its funny knowing what you're talking about. I'm from sd and all throughout high school my friends and I would go park there to walk around the gaslamp district. hint for the future, many of the food places, the bookstore, and hot topic will validate parking for free. :)
Posted by: Heather | January 15, 2007 at 08:21 PM
Disney Store will, too. I used to peddle plush toys and played Snow White. Ugh.
SD is lovely though, no? I miss it!
Posted by: flutter | January 15, 2007 at 09:10 PM
ooh, Spanx. I remember mine fondly from my pregnancy. They saved me on those days I had to put on a skirt and pumps for court. Post baby, I have not put a pair of heels back on...
Posted by: Juls | January 15, 2007 at 10:00 PM
Funny story! It has been absolutely freezing here in SD, though. Funny thing is, it was warm last weekend through Tuesday.
Posted by: Marion | January 15, 2007 at 10:09 PM
Personally I am the queen of lateness, I would have arrived the day AFTER the event. I did manage to send one of my girls to a b'day party a day early. She wasn't impressed with me one bit, seems that was pretty much the ultimate embarrassment at that point in her life!
Posted by: Gaile | January 16, 2007 at 12:39 AM