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Will & Tracy

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Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Oh the weather outside is frightful ....

So thank goodness the wine is good, right? Boy oh boy, they warned us about the summer heat but also of the yucky wet winter. I think it is finally upon us, although they say this is very mild so far. Think New Orleans.... it is rainy, wet, cold and windy. The fog has been so dense the last couple of days you can't see more than 1/4 mile. So it is no surprise that I'm a little bit blue. No, no I say, I won't be dragged down. Since I feel like I have abandoned my post here which has been always very cathartic, I need to revisit and revitalize!

Since meeting Ian (ie "wine dude" from previous post) - and ordering wine - we have also added our names to the list for a couple of "wine" events. Hey its the holiday season to have a little fun and of course to practice our schmoozing skills! Our first effort was at the Allegrini Event that was hosted in the newly opened Le Royal Meridien Hotel (one of the tallest in Shanghai) - complete with leather walls and a huge wall of fish. The object: 7 glasses of wine in 2 hours. Mistake 1. Tracy thought we were going to be fed 2. Tracy dressed up a little, but actually told Will not to worry about wearing a suit. Oops and Oops :) . Soon after arriving, we find Ian and also met the woman who helped with our wine order (the wine distributor). She in turn introduced us to the few guests that were already there. We are IN! The schmooz factor was dialed to 10.

Aah, the upper crust, we meet again... It is an amazing people watching time here - people that you would NEVER mix with in the US (and the world!) are thrown here all together to feel each other out on who has the biggest bank account. For those of us who don't have a bulging bank account, it is pure fun and no pressure! I need a James Bond Hidden Camera for events like this. The people who actually talk about their money really don't have much (well, maybe only 6 zeros in their 401(k), not 7 or 8...9?) but they have no class. My baby on the other hand, has class ...and just maybe a little has rubbed off on me.... so lets get started...

First up, I swallow hard (no pressure, right?) and introduce myself to this lovely fake blond with real Coco Chanel glasses. Her name is Tippy. So what does my classy baby do... he proceeds to speak aloud and say, "...well that should be easy to remember - I always try to pick a pneumonic device to remember someone's name, but this is a wine event, so its easy - Tipsy Tippy." Did my husband really just say that to her? Yes, yes he did! And she is laughing. Whew, one point for Will. Next, is Ann - she and her husband are originally from Dallas, he is here running a big hotel chain. So my classy husband goes for point number 2. "Oh , well we're from Austin and I"m originally from Corisicana...its about...." ...he gets interrupted by Ann... "Oh yes, I know Corsicana - do you know the McNuts? (Owners of the famous Collins Street Bakery)." Will: "Of course I know (of) the McNuts, who doesn't know the McNuts?" We toast to Corsicana...and the McNuts! Damn, he's good. While I proceed to sip my wine and make SMALL TALK - about what? Will leaves me and goes to have this great conversation with a low key computer dude - totally normal. I'm stuck with Tipsy who decides to screw her palate and go immediately for a glass of red - the last red on the list. The Amarone (a la $100USD a pop - chump change). It is now 7:30 (1.5 hours to go)...

So by the end of the two hours, we hadn't eaten anything and had downed 6 glasses of wine (notice I didn't say 7). I was doing quite well thank you very much until that Amarone .... and that did me in (damn the heavy reds, but ooooh so good). By this time, my new name was chatty patty and I was having a grand time chatting with the ladies. My lovely husband came to rescue me and on our way out I turned and said .... "See you at coffee on Monday (hiccup) Tipsy!" .... pure class.....

5 Comments:

Roberet said...

Very interesting read indeed. You can fit in with anyone and be the class of the ball!

9:20 AM  
Anonymous said...

I should have warned you about the evils of Amarone. We happened upon it by mistake and will never forget (not just because of the $$$). Life is too short not to enjoy a bottle (or two) of Amarone.

11:09 AM  
willandtracy said...

We actually, ehm, bought a bottle - they say it will age well so we splurged and are going to save it for an anniversary - maybe next year's won't be spent by the toilet seat. :) Funny thing, when our order was delivered it was mysteriously "paid for" - so we actually didn't pay for it - we're hoping it was a nice little present from the wine dude, or some crazy elf.

2:13 PM  
Jenny H said...

That all sounds like so much fun! Man, am I glad you're an awesome story teller! :)

12:07 AM  
kelly said...

hilarious! i am certainly no match for the belle of the ball. in fact, i make no impression on a room full of toddlers... unless I use the Mr. Rogers voice and talk slowly. Maybe next time i drop hanna off, i will wear sneakers and a red sweater. i am sure to turn heads. You see, i my circles, we simply stand around and drink enfamil and similac...a formula snob to those who *gasp* buy store brand stuff for their children!

3:53 PM  

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