Buona notte Gorino!

Christopher is fabulous but still decided to "tag" me with a meme (I still can't figure out what the hell that means) wherein I must now answer questions that I would never have thought of.

1. Pick a single person, past or present, in the film industry who you'd like to have dinner with, and tell us why you chose this person.

Wow, First I only get to choose one? And my mind begins to race... I've always wanted to meet Alison Janney because I think we'd be fast friends. But that will happen one way or another I don't need a magical dinner. I love Rosalind Russel, but i think I would run into that old adage of thinking I invited Auntie Mame to dinner and then would wind up with some very selfish actor. Better Davis has her legendary dinner temperament to consider, but since I've heard a first hand story from a director who did have her for dinner I think I've gotten close enough.

So on to my actual choice, I just read a quote from him today and I've actually met him once at a big Hollywood benefit where we chatted for about ten minutes over cocktails and I blushed repeatedly and found it hard to breathe as I was so intimidated. All of this earned me the nickname "Gore Vidal's Boy Toy". So I would like to invite Gore Vidal.

2. Set the table for your dinner. What would you eat? Would it be in a home or at a restaurant? And what would you wear? Feel free to elaborate on the details.

We'd eat at my house. That way we wouldn't be interrupted by strangers. I know he has lived in Italy but I fear my Italian dishes are too heavy. We'd go French. And that means I'm going to make Lyle cook. Duck confit, prosciutto and filo wrapped asparagus, baguette, a lite salad, a cheese course, chocolate chip cookies and ice cream for dessert (something homey). Oh and numerous bottles of expensive Italian wine.

The dogs would be freshly bathed. The table cloth would be ironed. I'd hire a server for the evening. I would wear my black Prada pants, black patent loafers, a crisp white shirt with cuff links (good for conversation starting) but no tie or jacket. Wait, do I look like the waiter now? I'm changing my shirt to light blue. I'd also be obsessed over my hair. It would start crazy to look hip, then I'd freak out and make it very preppy conservative. I'd wear my black Hermes belt.

3. List five thoughtful questions you would ask this person during dinner. As if I'd be able to speak... well, I can write these down and just slide them across the table.

When I met him the first time (okay, the only time) my friend Cindy told me I should have asked him about his feud with Truman Capote. So this time I would.

I'd ask him about what drove him to buy a villa in Italy, how it felt to be an expat, and why he has returned to the United States.

I'd ask him what he thinks of the literary world today. Has it really changed from when he started. Is it like everyone childhood memories that get over romanticized in the fuzzy hindsight and things weren't much different?

I'd ask him what he would do to solve all the ills that the last 7 years have brought us and how would he go about raising the standard of the 24 hour news media world we live in.

I'd force him to dish deliciously on the entire experience of making "Myra Breckenridge".

(If you're curious about some of his answers - there's an interview with him)

4. Link back to Lazy Eye Theatre, so that people know the mastermind behind this meme.

5. When all is said and done, select bloggers to pass this Meme along to:

You can't make me do this.