EXCUSES, EXCUSES

This morning Derek Vanlandingham of the esteemed John Phifer Marrs design team called to tell me he couldn’t come to a little get together I am having over the holidays. “I will never be able to use this line again,” he said, clearing his throat. “I would love to come to your party but I will be in Costa Rica, decorating the American Embassy.” John Marrs will be working on the home of newly-appointed Ambassador and Mrs. Mark Langdale of Dallas. Derek is getting the residence all holiday’d up; after the first of the year the firm will execute a makeover which is now in the planning stages.