I have to admit I like house parties much better than lounge/club parties anymore – particular house parties that is.  Suzie sent me the gracious invite to attend the Lederer’s new house/New Year’s Eve party and it was an event.  The only part of it that was almost comically ridiculous was the attitude of the security guard at the gate.  A car was ahead of us at the guard house and they had pulled about 10 feet past the door of the guard house and stopped, rather than have them try to back up to the door – and possibly run into me – I parked about 8 feet shy of the door. 

As is always my custom with the Steed, I roll down the window and turn the engine off cause there’s nothing quite like trying to have a conversation over the sound of a diesel engine. The car never did back up and the guard acted like he was irritated that he had to walk to the car to find out info and then go back to the office to write a pass, etc.  When it came our turn, he acted even more miffed that I didn’t fire up the engine and pull up 8 feet for him.  I gave him my name – his walk even showed irritation as he went back to the office.  He came back a moment later with my pass and I asked him how to get to our destination, he gave us the ‘it’s the 3rd or 4th entrance on the left…’ and waited for me to fire up the steed and get the hell out of his way.

He didn’t open the gate for us right away like he did the car.  We sat and waited, and waited, and waited.  He must’ve checked in the next five rigs before he decided to open the gate, as they followed us on in.  I think he was a cocktail waitress in his last life, pissed because we forced him to do his job.

It was the 4th entrance on the left and then we ran into another gate.  I was leading a procession of rigs by now and I had to get out of the Steed to read the dialing instructions, etc. I got someone at Suzie’s and they put Suzie on, then we got disconnected.  I think someone behind us had a gate key because it swung open and we were on our way.

This is the front door.  You walk over a Koi pond to another door to enter the house.

The windows are amazing and glass is everywhere.  It’s a gainfully employed window washer’s dream. Suzie took us on a tour of the house, and she explained that if Howard was taking us, it would take a lot longer because he would explain how/why they did everything – in detail.  She’s cute!  And funny.  When we got to their bedroom, she explained that the wood walls were reclaimed chips from the mills and pressed into wood, “Basically, it’s junk!”  But it is very attractive junk.

Their bedroom, top floor, the bed is to the left, the ‘junk wall’ to the right, a wonderful gas, glass enclosed fireplace and on the other side of the fireplace is a small sitting area where one enjoys the fireplace also, and an exit to the balcony that overlooks the valley and the city lights.  In this picture you’ll notice the light strip across the middle of the picture, the city lights reflection through the windows.

The house has five bedrooms (I think), a work out room with a full pilates bench, a theatre room, Suzie’s own space – a room for cultivating orchids that is at the back of the house and also has the overview of the valley.

I purposely did not take pictures of certain parts of the house, like their master bath which was killer with a wonderful, stand-alone bath tub, and their gigantic walk in closet area that is bigger than my coach – I think some things are private and if I was a realtor trying to sell the place, I’d definitely shoot it.  Perhaps Card Player will do a video of their whole place at some point.

The main entry has a great chandelier and staircase going up to the second floor:

The art on the walls was truly fantastic.  I didn’t take a picture of one picture though.  The formal dining room is separated from the main entry by a wall of wine.  My sis was surveying the contents from the dining side (that’s what wine drinkers do…check out the goods) – and there’s more of the ‘junk wood.’

I don’t have the energy to try and describe everything in detail so I’ll wing it with a few pictures and some taglines as I go.

The first picture is Suzie and Howard’s office.  The second is the library upstairs.  The third is looking over the rail from the library down into the office.

I have no idea what the stone is in a lot of the walls, Suzie explained it, it’s ‘something’ cut, but it goes so well with the theme of the house, it has to be shown.

The kitchen filled with people – behind me is the living area – to the left of the kitchen is an informal dining area (it opens onto the patio area that wraps clear across the back of the house and overlooks the valley) and has windows-windows-windows.  In this picture you’ll notice just the edge of what appears to be a glass aquarium on the left, it’s another wonderful, glass enclosed, gas burning fireplace that divides the living area from the kitchen.  To the right of me is the hallway that leads to the laundry room (bigger than most people’s bedrooms) and the garage (I think), I didn’t even go to the garage.

Out on the patio, this area divides the living area and Suzie’s orchid room (on the right), the truck driving duo and I believe the visiting gent is Adam but I could have not remembered misheard his name – of course I’m up on the upper balcony that wraps the back of the house.

The back patio area – and I admit to not having much to show due to the darkness and it was fucking freezing outside…maybe grannies freeze and others don’t?

And this – taken from the upper balcony before the fireworks started (of course it’s zoomed to the best of my camera’s ability):

Everything was wonderfully set up with food and drinks everywhere.  It was a dieter’s nightmare.  The party had everything and the whole attitude of the hosts and the people attending, was one of fun and gaiety.  Doyle came to spend the evening – and it appeared that he did as I think he was still there when we left around 1ish.

OK kids, postponed.