I absolutely love living in the country. It's the serenity most people long for...even if they don't know it yet. Even still, sometimes I remember my fun party days in LA. Like the private parties we attended annually in Malibu. We would drive up to the Art Deco house tucked against the canyon road. Of course, they hired Valet for the party, because there was nowhere near to park in this neighborhood.

Walk up to the front door, with all the lights dancing in the night and the sound of the DJ in the back mixed with the sound of laughter at the host bar and conversations here and there about the marvelous commissioned art. All this with a backdrop of crickets chirping and the smell of ocean in the air. Absolutely beautiful.

Slate stones lead you to the front door with a large pond (appropriately on the left for feng sui purposes). Once inside, you see a living room with white contemporary couches in front of an all glass wall. From there, your eye wanders to the Baby Grand piano and long 12 seating glass dining table. From there, you walk up the stairs to the beautiful kitchen staffed with the cooks and housekeepers preparing ouderves and then out to the back yard for drinks and dancing.

Every time, we danced and visited till wee morning hours. One year, I came dressed in a gold sleek dress and all eyes stopped when I entered. One time we danced with one of the most prominent litigation attorneys in Los Angeles (and smoked cuban stogies with him). He became a good friend and even defended us in a construction law suit later. (I remember still paying his bills after Stuart died)

Other times, we visited with artists. That was my favorite! They had beautiful pieces from many of them all over their home!! One of the best was a wooden dragon in an alcove made just for it over their headboard in the master bedroom. Awesome. Another of my favorites was their glass block wall in one of the bathrooms. You feel like a voyer...but without being one!

Each party was a steryotypical time of sex, drugs and rock and roll. At one, we all dressed in Costume from Midsummer Nights Dream. There was Ecstasy being passed around. We reluctantly took some, thinking, it's just one time. What could it hurt? Yikes. We were so sick. Stuart puked in the bushes within the hour. I made it till home. But, I was sick for two weeks with the most horrible head pain I've ever had. Probably killed quite a few brain cells!

We always drove home through windy Topanga Canyon Blvd. We'd be the only ones on the road and laugh all the way home at what fun we'd had.

I certainly don't do things like that anymore, but I'm glad I did in the past. But, people around here wonder why I'm content in the country. It's because I've done the big parties and clubs. They aren't long lasting happiness. They're fun for the moment, but after awhile, they get old. I'm content with my fun memories and enjoy the parties I attend now even more.

But, balance is my motto. Sometimes it's good to shake things up a bit. I do my share....and keep this town on it's toes! :-)