Hi Mike, Here's a non-Russert kind of question, but one that may be fun.
Do you ever have the time to throw parties or small gatherings? What kind of social host are you? "CDs stacked on the player; Here's the fridge, here's the booze, make yourself at home"? Or, caterer, DJ, dance floor? I know what I guess.
What's the best party you've ever thrown? And why wasn't I there? Jonesie
I wonder if he would invite Dave, knowing he would probably eat all the cookies?
You know Jonsie, it does depend on the social gathering that Mike has. Super Bowl party, more relaxed. I just don't see Mike throwing a party unless it is impromptu or spur of the moment.
You know I've been wondering if Mike would still want to invite those same ten people to his "dinner party" or would he want a have anyone different now.
I agree with NOLA, I see Mike as the very laid back "Beer's in the fridge and help yourself to the eats..." -Mostly!, But I bet he can do fancy shmancy if he really wants to....special occasions maybe and let's face it the man looks very ....good... in a tux.
Not much on entertaining, to be honest. Not opposed to it, just don't have a lifestyle currently suited to planning, organizing, etc. Don't have the right space either.
But once upon a time, things were different. Very different.
For several years in the early 90's, I lived alone in a sprawling, 19th century mansion in Chester PA. At the time, the Mansion was known as Georgia Farm, and was without question the most amazing home I've ever lived in. And yes, I've lived in a few. Technically, I was "hired" as a Caretaker by a woman who believed the property was haunted. Practically, I functioned as a Freeloader, performing minimal services for free room and board. It was the mother of all sweetheart deals. Georgia Farm sat on 330 acres of pristine property, and looked like a southern plantation. In fact, it was. Why it was built in Pennsylvania is another story, as are the exact circumstances by which I came to be the sole occupant for nearly two years. We'll deal with all that another time, along with the intruders, the ghosts, the guns, the art, the fire, the crazy player piano, and the sordid details of my abrupt eviction. Here's an aerial photo of Georgia Farm, taken 7 years ago. Makes me nostalgic.
Georgia Farm and the surrounding buildings were an entertainers dream, even if I was an entertainers nightmare. At the time, I worked the midnight shift at QVC, and kept hours best described as unconventional. I didn't have any actual friends in the area, but I was determined to change that quickly, and thanks to Georgia Farm, I had no trouble doing so. QVC employed several thousand, and there was a university nearby. I decided early on to make in impression.
Several weeks into my sentence at The Q, I had some people over. Nothing extravagant, just everyone in the zip code. I asked a girl I met at the college to spread a rumor through her sorority that a wealthy twenty-something had purchased a nearby country estate, and was having an open house all weekend. Word spread. I invited everyone at work. I invited the crew at the local Denny's where I at most of my meals at 3 am. I invited everyone at the Firehouse, and everyone at The Moose Lodge. I invited the town, and they all showed up.
I didn't do much, but really, I didn't have to. The place was impressive on it's own. There were Tiki torches and Chinese lanterns. There were pigs on a spit. There were rowboats and canoes down on the lake. There was a keg of beer in every room, and there were many rooms. There was square dancing in the barn and live music on the giant porch. And there was a great deal of speculation about who the hell was. I didn't bother with the truth - just a shrug and a smile and a "Please, make yourself at home, and have fun. I've got to check on my other guests." I held court like some later-day Gatsby, walking around in a smoking jacket and swilling Drambuie.
The event went on in one form or another for nearly three days. People came and went. I had more food and more beer sent in. New friendships were forged. Babies were made. Two couples who met that weekend eventually married. (One is now separated but hey, what can you do?) All in all, I'd say three hundred showed up at that little get together. The good ones stuck around and helped me clean up, and are still friends.
Anyway, the party was a success, and there for a brief time, I was thought of as a thoughtful and genial host. Every month I'd do something similar, but on a smaller scale. Halloweens were of particular intensity, as the giant basement of Georgia Farm was never restored, and looked very much like a good place for an Inquisition, Spanish style. Christmas was fun too, with room for a twenty foot tree in the main hall, and a string quartet. And St. Patty's Day? Don't even get me started. That one made Hot Springs look like a Lenten Dinner...
Wow, now that sounds like a very good story to put in one of your books. I remember a post from a woman many months back who remembered you from that time. Their family invited you for Thanksgiving dinner if my memory serves me right. Chris could probably look it up. She is really good about things like that.
"That one made Hot Springs look like a Lenten Dinner..."
*looks up lenten" OH, Pishaw! You should have seen us Monday night, you would have been walking funny when we were done with you.
Your birthday was on the horizon and you were swept away, all cloak and dagger, never to be seen again. Trust me, we had plans for you, plans that never came to fruition.
[quote]"That one made Hot Springs look like a Lenten Dinner..."
*looks up lenten" OH, Pishaw! You should have seen us Monday night, you would have been walking funny when we were done with you.
Your birthday was on the horizon and you were swept away, all cloak and dagger, never to be seen again. Trust me, we had plans for you, plans that never came to fruition.
Arica[/quote]
Don't forget the house detective at the hotel. He looked us all over like he didn't want forget the faces for later identification. The two cute guys on the hotel porch who still don't know what hit them. And the bar band who thanked us for entertaining them. We had a blast. And I've got my alibi written down just in case I forget anything.
"as are the exact circumstances by which I came to be the sole occupant for nearly two years. We'll deal with all that another time, along with the intruders, the ghosts, the guns, the art, the fire, the crazy player piano, and the sordid details of my abrupt eviction."
You tease! It like mom saying "maybe later" or "we'll see." It just never happens. I'm glad you aren't able to throw huge parties anymore, maybe it will give you time to finish the book, like maybe sometime before I am too old to see anymore.
Kristi
P.S.
You can always get Discovery to throw your party for you.
Were you making enough to pay for all that food and beer? Sounds like a great party and a lovely location. Your abrupt eviction sounds interesting.......
[quote]I was thought of as a thoughtful and genial host.[/quote]
That's the way I picture you, making sure everyone is having a good time, checking on refreshments, not the "get your own beer" type of host at all. I think I would have stayed at that party all three days. What a beautiful place to live.
Loretta, Mike is just like a soap opera...dun, dun, dun. There's always just a little more to the story, a twist, an uncle that everyone presumed dead but was actually in Sweden getting a...procedure... done...and comes back to seek revenge... but then has a change of heart...etc.
Yeah! That's Mike. We will never know the man's full story. That is what makes him so absolutely sweetly marvellous.
[quote]Were you making enough to pay for all that food and beer?[/quote]
Way back when, I work various locations in the city. One was at the old Adams Mark Hotel in Philly. I was told I actually met Mike there once. I don't remember, so I don't think its true. There were some QVC people there. Now I am told that I'm remembering the story wrong and it was a different location, and the Adams Mark was a different time, occassion etc. Anyhoo, we overheard some hosts make a comment like "Where else can you make several hundred grand a year talking about crap for hours on end.
So yea, I am sure he was making enough for a few fat parties. Especially with no other large financial responsibilities like a mortgage.
Side note: At the bar in the building, they had these nation wide trivia contests. I was playing one. I was doing pretty good that night when a QVC host, male, turned, looked at me and said " I guess we're done being pretty for the night eh?" I was a lowly model to the big shot I guess <shrugs>
Thanks Mike for your response- I especially love the posts with your pre-DJ life tales...It's why I look so forward to the day you select a Publisher.
And I agree that Halloween parties have a certain je ne sais quoi about them....
And now that I hear this about your hosting skills, as inert as they may be right now, I have a thought.
Have you read "I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence" by, wait for it...Amy Sedaris? It's a book spoof of 1950's coffee table hospitality How-To books that is just too good.
I think that you should do something similar, such as.. "Life of the Party: Getting Down, Mike Rowe Style"...thoughts? Jonesie
