During the night a huge wind storm-swept over Malibu from the desert. I lay in bed listening to pine cones crash down onto the house. The dogs snuggled under each arm.
Willie and the Little Dog, even though they are not friends, work as a good team when there are unexpected visitors on the drive or deer crashing around the property late at night.
The house continues to be very social. Ashley and her friends, my friends. I had 3 visitors before 8am this morning.
After the gardeners left yesterday and the paths were clean and order restored to the land I felt just great and have not felt anything other than great ever since.
Something is happening. A new energy, a new optimism, a new employer.
Money.
The art I sold in NYC yesterday sold for double what was expected. Why in hells name did I sell my other stuff here? I paid my $18, 000 property tax bill. I really RESENT paying so much tax. Anyway, making money.
Ruminating over the past can be so EXHAUSTING.
The sea has turned the most delicious azure. The wind is still roaring through the trees. I can see all the way to Catalina. Spoke to Tim who is recovering from his heart bypass but is laughing out loud so must be getting better. His cheeks are all rosey, his mood and personality have become optimistic and sure.
We applauded the British rioting students. He is a right-wing conservative and I am not yet we both agreed how healthy it is for any government to deal with insurrection. The students broke into the Conservative headquarters and smashed it up. Jolly good! Why the hell should we charge for education? This government is undoubtedly a one term affair. After all, how do we vote back in a coalition?
Lots of you have written to me wanting to know more about the Ellen incident. As I said, if I get moody this week I will funnel my moodiness into telling THAT story. It’s really funny.
Ok, I will.
Tommy Clements, the rudest gay man alive, owns a store in LA. He’s a hot-tub homo. Know what I mean? His sister is actually very sweet. His mother Kathleen and his vacuous Aunt need to take less testosterone. Suppurating sores on the ass of LA.
The store is called The Melrose Project. A cavernous space filled with expensive, pretentious furniture. Over-stuffed Victorian, roughly upholstered sofas dressed in yellowing hessian, useless winged mannequins attempting to be art. This bad, bad art from an equally absurd store in Venice called Obsolete.
Don’t get me STARTED.
Tommy and Kathleen are very, very proud of the furniture they design. Really? Why?
Who in their right mind could possibly be proud of the slew of insipid soft furnishings for which they continually boast? Amongst the overly restored ‘antiques’ and ‘quirky’ nick knacks which they describe as eclectic…are more ‘designed’ pieces. For instance, a particularly vile white lacquered table caught my attention that has a curious lack of anything resembling style and a remarkable absence of ego.
This ersatz chic only exists in LA where there is a great deal of money but where the rich have a surprising lack of confidence hence the ascendance of people like Tommy and Kathleen.
Tommy’s aunt had (rather unsuccessfully) tried to set me up on a date with Tommy. God, what a self-obsessed pig and, as I found out later, the recent cast off of celebrity stylist David Thomas. I have a great deal of affection for David but I am in no mood for his ghastly sloppy seconds. What the hell was he was doing with Tommy? Perhaps he was taking hallucinogenics at the time? The only way one could possibly endure Tommy’s mind numbingly dull conversation.
David designed the costumes for three of my films.
So, I meet Tommy who is patently the wrong sort of gay for me and I politely leave the launch party of his space (Peter Dunham in attendance leaving a trail of acrid mucus behind him) look, these people think they are sooo much better than the average shop keeper/sales assistant.
People who sell art in galleries always think rather grandly of themselves.
After that first meeting I was determined not to go back to his ‘gallery’ but J&J wanted to see it before we had lunch last week so rather than wait outside I went in and there was Ellen (yes that one) and Tommy and his mother who had caught the frail Ellen in their web. Ellen is well-known for her love of collecting extraordinary furniture. Every vintage furniture salesman in town prays for her patronage.
So I say hello to Tommy and his mother but they look horrified and the mother ducks my attempt to kiss her (as we have before) or warmly greet her.
Their disdain is palpable.
A night later I bump into the aunt, who tried setting me up with Tommy, and the aunt’s girlfriend who I rather unfairly make the focus of my irritation. Knowing that this is misdirected I apologize but they decline my apology. The drunk, inflated aunt starts in on me…with rather disastrous consequences.
I know rather too much about this devious woman for her to start telling me what she and others THINK about me.
Do I care? No.
JBC and I met Ellen years ago in NYC and spent some time with her. I don’t need a repeat performance. It’s not hard to be nice Tommy.
Still so happy to have bumped into Maia and Simon.
Mended the gate at the top of the drive and adding an electric opening device. Having the chain link fence covered with green canvas. Now I can wander naked all over the property without nosey neighbours having opinions.
Nothing else to report. Oh, I had like Manhunt date number 16 yesterday. Nice man. Big smile. The others were scarcely worth talking about.
Remarkably elegant going away party last night. We sat around the fire. Some people brought gifts. The food was welcome after a long day schlepping around town erranding. My word. Erranding.
I am on the plane writing this..on my way East.
