Did Rick Casey's research assistant get a pink slip?
Here's Rich Connelly last week:
I.V. Hilliard is the black Joel Osteen -- a telegenic preacher at a Houston megachurch who hobnobs with celebrities and lives the good life.
It appears he's like Osteen in one other way: He's got a high-maintenance wife.
[snip]
Everyone in town -- even you! -- is cordially invited to attend "A 50th Birthday Celebration Honoring Dr. Bridget Hilliard," to be held at the Hyatt Regency downtown March 12. Tickets are only $100, cheap when compared to…to…the price of a movie ticket these days, we guess.
Click further on the page and you'll see a link for "suggested gift ideas." And what is the preacher's wife willing to receive? A helpful list is provided, in a suitably classy wedding-invitation font. We quote: "Monetary gifts. Designer handbags: Gucci, Chanel, Louis Vuitton. Gift Certificates: Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Escada."
And here's Rick Casey's latest:
The fundraiser is for Bridget Hilliard, the energetic and articulate wife and co-minister of Pastor Ian V. Hilliard.
Their church and ministry, the New Light Christian Center, is one of Houston's biggest and fastest growing.[snip]
If you hurry you can get tickets ($100 each) for the March 12 celebration. Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover cards are accepted.
It's going to be quite an affair. Men are instructed to wear black tuxedos, and women cream or gold formals.
So why, you ask, am I calling it a fundraiser rather than a birthday party?
Because of the link called "Gift Ideas."
It's a short list:
•Monetary gifts.
•Designer handbags: Gucci, Chanel, Louis Vuitton.
•Gift certificates: Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Escada.
That's it: cash, gift certificates to upscale shops or designer handbags in which to stash the loot.The site says nobody is expected to bring gifts, but so many people have asked what Mrs. Hilliard likes that it will save staff time to post her desires on the Web site.
Coincidence? Who knows, but Casey sure does seem to be plagued by these coincidences.
UPDATE: Rich Connelly follows up his original story in this week's Houston Press.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 02/15/06 09:23 AM | Houston Chronicle | Print | Comments (5)
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