OK, it's a rough day for New York society gossip. Park Avenue Peerage is off to India; A Socialite's Life has posted a Thanksgiving message that reminds us of a bad drag queen joke, and we've already visited David Patrick Columbia.

One thing that did sort of stop us in our tracks was Carol Joynt's account of her trip to Beltway exurb Middleburg, Va., a one-time stomping ground of the Captiol's horsey set. At this place or that it was common to see Jackie Onassis or Nancy Reagan. But the best we can muster this holiday weekend is Linda Tripp, sitting behind the counter of her little shoppe, The Christmas Sleigh. Oh, dear.