I hosted a candle party yesterday. In all my years, I have never hosted any retail party and never wanted to. I don't mind attending the occasional Pampered Chef get together, although I think the food can be schlocky, and I don't mind the occasional Taste of Home party or jewelry party. But I have never been even remotely interested in hosting one myself. Last fall, a friend hosted a candle party, and I went just to see why people would go out of their way to buy candles. It was kind of fun, so I unsuspectingly sat down at the table to place an order. The next thing I know, I'm signed up to host a gathering, and there you go. Be careful where you sit. It's not that I don't want to invite people to my house, and it's not that I don't want to make snacky things for them to munch on--I thoroughly enjoy both of those things. It's just that I can't stand sitting by the phone waiting for RSVPs . I invited 28 people, and by Saturday, I had only heard from...