Lola's Salon

Imperturbably, Withers [butler at Lola's townhouse] steps up to the dumpster and addresses rolled-up rug:

"Welcome home Sir, Mr. Blatham - your bath is ready as is your white tie for tomorrow's party. The tailor is on standby in case you gained any weight since last year; the valet is of course at your disposal in case you require any additional shopping."

<as Blatham extricates self from rug, Withers looks up at sky and murmurs to himself.... "we already had one eccentric here, HofT, arriving in all means of transport; wonder if it's contagious, and how then would Mr. B. have caught it????... Hmmm....And is this Ms. Debs making a takeover bid???? Call my broker - assuming it's not insider info, but then Supreme Court said anything in a dumpster is public info...."> <G>

PaL continues to pound out "That Old Time Rock and Roll" on the grand piano. She jumps when she hears a loud 'bang'. It sounds like the lid of the dumpster in the alley. She continues to play, but she is leaning toward the window, trying to see who is in the alley.....

OK, sewing together all the threads here..........

poor darling Blatham is delivering himself from the rolled carpet in the dumpster and mumbling about RevCat and RevPat, not wanting HofT, Withers or anyone inside to know that he was kidnapped by RevCat, et.al., rolled in ashes, tied into a sack cloth bag and rolled up in Lola's best Persian carpet. No one had missed the carpet, all assuming Withers had ordered it removed for the dancing.

The Revs always appear magically, along with Ashcroft (appropriately named, I might add) when ever all night sex is mentioned.

But something is still not right with Blatham..........he's......he's......he's...well.......he's embarrassed by all this attention. So he quietly, and with confidence follows Withers upstairs to try on his tux and maybe get a little sleep before those demanding women come knocking on his door again.

Meanwhile, downstairs, the guys are enjoying the company of the ladies....... real live dancin, singin, weapon totin women..... ah, this is the life.

"P.U.!" yells jes, holding her nose. "Blatham, take a bath! Pronto!" jes tosses blatham some Calgon (Manly Mixture) and goes back to the dancing.

It was me in the alley Pal, playing with the dumpster, looking for a bed for the night.

Mikey, Mikey, Mikey............you don't need to look in the alley for a bed........we have lots, oodles of guest rooms at my house. We have endless guest rooms......and plenty of hot water and all the food and drink you would like to order. Each room has it's own fireplace......perfect for a sexy man like you....... You wouldn't turn down Lola's hospitality would ya?

Yea, Mikey, it's called "Lola's Place," and it seems you're the only one unawares of this 'Palace.' Excuse me! That should read "Castle." c.i.

If you wish upon a star........

....our dreams are for tomorrows......

I wish I had a bed tonight in Manhatten, at Lola's.
A Goodwill box would do tho.

When you're ready, Mikey, Fifi will show you to your room. You'll find a nice warm fire in the fireplace and a tray of snacks on the table. Anything else you need, let us know.

Lola, Once a great hostess, always a great hostess. c.i.

c.i., you are so complimentary.......you turn my head. :wink:

(note to Jes...'bath oil beads' and 'manly' ought not to arrive in same sentence with exception of sentences in magazines you might find yourself reading at the beauty-salon while under those sci-fi hair dryers which, as it happens, look ever so much like the nose cone on HOT's experimental aircraft and my adolescent fantasies of Jane Mansfield's sweater)

Thanks for the room Lola...

Beats the dumpster,

As Lola's guests are settling in for the evening, PaL stops pounding out old rock-and-roll tunes and switches to some light classical pieces.

PaL asks the group, "Perhaps a dreamy Brahms lullaby?"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Lullaby and good night, with roses bedight
With lilies o'er spread is baby's wee bed
Lay thee down now and rest, may thy slumber be blessed
Lay thee down now and rest, may thy slumber be blessed

Lullaby and good night, thy mother's delight
Bright angels beside my darling abide
They will guard thee at rest, thou shalt wake on my breast
They will guard thee at rest, thou shalt wake on my breast

(original German)
Guten Abend, gute Nacht, Mit Rosen bedacht,
Mit Naeglein besteckt, schlupf unter die Deck'
Morgen frueh, wenn Gott will, wirst du wieder geweckt
Morgen frueh, wenn Gott will, wirst du wieder geweckt

Guten Abend, gute Nacht, Von Englein bewacht
Die zeigen im Traum, dir Christkindleins Baum
Schlaf nun selig und suess, Schau im Traum's Paradies
Schlaf nun selig und suess, Schau im Traum's Paradies

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

PaL looks up from the piano's keyboard to see if anyone is still awake....

I am awake, P&L, says Bunny, and feeling a little blue..what to do...'tis New Year's Eve here - and I have little gust for it... shall I go out and do stuff, or stay and nurse the blues a little......? I borrowed a good movie in case I decided to stay home...

"Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuss
Auf Liebe eingestellt,
Das ist meine Welt,
Und sonnst gar nichts..."

If that was Mikey at the dumpster -where is Blatham? or are they both abed upstairs?

Thanks from me, P+L! Last heard this lullaby (German version) before my grandmother died - she used to sing it to me; was about 2 at the time, but remember the refrain. Oddly (though perhaps logically for a 2-year-old) had associated languages with persons - thought it's just the way they express themselves, and have to be addressed accordingly - and somehow managed to become fluent in five before it dawned on me it wasn't necessary: the governess (a Brit) had, after 20 years in Geneva, learned exactly two words in French, bonjour and merci, and got along just fine since everybody spoke English. By the time I realized that, it was unfortunately too late <G>

Lola - have invited Maraso for the party tomorrow; you may remember him from the historic party we threw for him on his birthday some time ago. He's a fellow poker player so hope you'll remember to instruct Withers accordingly concerning extra decks of cards, poker chips etc - thanks!

[off to get beauty sleep before big event tomorrow - g'night, all <G>]

Lola and P&L decide to put on a little classic Dylan for the party warm up.

'Twas in another lifetime, one of toil and blood
When blackness was a virtue and the road was full of mud
I came in from the wilderness, a creature void of form.
"Come in," she said,
"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

And if I pass this way again, you can rest assured
I'll always do my best for her, on that I give my word
In a world of steel-eyed death, and men who are fighting to be warm.
"Come in," she said,
"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

Not a word was spoke between us, there was little risk involved
Everything up to that point had been left unresolved.
Try imagining a place where it's always safe and warm.
"Come in," she said,
"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

I was burned out from exhaustion, buried in the hail,
Poisoned in the bushes an' blown out on the trail,
Hunted like a crocodile, ravaged in the corn.
"Come in," she said,
"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

Suddenly I turned around and she was standin' there
With silver bracelets on her wrists and flowers in her hair.
She walked up to me so gracefully and took my crown of thorns.
"Come in," she said,
"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

I've heard newborn babies wailin' like a mournin' dove
And old men with broken teeth stranded without love.
Do I understand your question, man, is it hopeless and forlorn?
"Come in," she said,
"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

In a little hilltop village, they gambled for my clothes
I bargained for salvation an' they gave me a lethal dose.
I offered up my innocence and got repaid with scorn.
"Come in," she said,
"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

Well, I'm livin' in a foreign country but I'm bound to cross the line
Beauty walks a razor's edge, someday I'll make it mine.
If I could only turn back the clock to when God and her were born.
"Come in," she said,
"I'll give you shelter from the storm."