Manolo says, here is the Manolo’s latest column from the Express of the Washington Post.

Dear Manolo,

My fortieth birthday is approaching at the end of next week, and I’m beginning to suspect that my husband is going to throw a surprise party for me. At least that’s what I hope he’s doing with all of the furtive phone calls and skulking about. Anyhoo, this means that I’m going to have to wear makeup and good clothes pretty much 24/7 until the event comes off. Can you recommend some festive shoes that aren’t too obvious?

Suzanne

Manolo says, ayyyyy! The Manolo loves the surprise parties! One minute you are minding your own business, accompanying the loved one to his home for the “simple dinner”, and the next, people are leaping at you from behind couches.

Of the course, this letter sounds like the obverse of the set up for the episode of every domestic sitcom ever made, in which Lucy suspects that Ricky is having the affair, and ends up wrecking her surprise party with the hilarious hi-jinks.

In this version, however, Lucy suspects that Ricky is organizing the surprise party, but he is really having the affair with Ethel Mertz, which Lucy wrecks with the hilarious, and fatal hi-jinks. Final scene: Lucy being led off to the gas chamber by the priest, played by special guest star Red Skelton.

Look! Here is the Tina from Botkier, the celebratory leopard-print peep-toe that Lucy would have favored if she had received the last minute pardon from the governor, as played by Milton Berle.