Today's · memoirs

Jeff Robbins received an e-mail from a pal - who doesn't want to be identified - who was asked to be a flower girl (witness) at a gay wedding last week. Over his black tuxedo he donned a pair of pink fairy/butterfly wings provided by the marrying couple. After the ceremony, there was a luncheon at the Ritz-Carlton, and after that, he stood in the portico waiting to pick up his car. A bunch of black town cars were arriving, and out of one stepped Phil Gramm, co-chair of the John McCain campaign.

The sight of the formally attired bearded gent in wings made many people smile, including Gramm. Given the opportunity, the fairy/butterfly couldn't resist making reference to Gramm's recent comments about economic woes being in people's minds. "Welcome to San Francisco, senator," he said. " I can see why you're not whining, staying at the RitzCarlton." Gramm's smile "froze," said the e-mail, and then he went into the hotel.

Gramm was probably part of a pack of 60 Republican big donors whose three-day grand tour of the region included a skeet-shooting adventure and a meal at the Harlan Estate (Bill Harlan is a vintner and one of the major owners of the Meadowood resort). President Bush flew in for dinner with the donors Thursday at the estate.

Thanks to Monty Sander for calling my attention to a Napa Valley Register report about the four-course meal catered by Meadowood, listing such ingredients as Belgian endive and Kettle chips. Caterers told that newspaper that dinner was in "sandwich form," because organizers felt silverware could "pose a potential security threat to the President."
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And this brilliant overheard-in-San-Francisco:

"You brought the blue cheese-filled olives. You have no one to blame but yourself."

Man addressing his friend, overheard at the Sausage Factory in the Castro by Allen Foster

Current Mood:

tickled