To celebrate my friend’s bday, 17 of us went to Circa in the Marina district of San Francisco for brunch and all you can drink mimosas.  First of all, props to Circa for being able to accommodate 17 of us, especially since there was another huge party there at the same time.  The all you can drink mimosa deal is $9 per person and they pretty much just keep refilling pitchers of mimosas all throughout your meal.  Not much more to say in this regard, because well, it’s all you can drink mimosas!  Where’s the bad in that?

Their brunch menu also had a Benedicts Sampler.  Being the big eggs benedict fanatic that I am, it was a must try for me.  I ordered the Italian Benedict (Fennel sausage, Tomato basil sauce, hollandaise and balsamic) and the Bearnaise Benedict (Grilled Beef Tenderloin & Tarragon-Shallot Hollandaise).  The Italian was really good – not heavy and the tomato basil sauce mixed with the balsamic and hollandaise made a perfect combination.  I was not as pleased with the Bearnaise as it felt heavy and just too much for a benedict.  The beef wasn’t too tender either so that was a bit disappointing.

On the menu I also saw Lobster & White Truffle Mac and Cheese.  I was very excited about it and decided to split it with a few friends.  The dish tasted really good, except it was super creamy and made it a pretty heavy dish.  I only had a few bites, which I thought was the perfect amount.  If i had to finish the whole bowl, I probably would have felt sick afterward.

All in all, the service was good, the food wasn’t bad, and the bottomless mimosas capped off what was a fantastic meal with great friends.  If you’re planning on coming here, especially for a big party, call ahead and make a reservation.  Also, consider taking a cab so you can take advantage of that mimosa!

Exam is over. There’s finally time to do random things & I’ve been listening to Edith Piaf’s ‘Pink Martini’ for the millionth time, it makes me happy. Speaking of that, I’m craving for Lychee Martini. I heart Edith Piaf & Coco Chanel, they have somewhat similar fate, both are French legendary icons who lost their only true love to accidents & they’re beyond amazing. I strongly recommend ‘La Vie En Rose’, a film about the life of Edith Piaf although it’s mostly tragic.

P.S. Schedule ahead. Working till the end of Nov. Packing on 1-2 Dec, flying back on the 3rd, attend the pre-placement briefing on the 4th, meet-up with friends on the 5th, attend memorial on the 6th & start working on the 7th. Oh yea… I’m already worn out.  Spending my post-exam weekends in The Moon & Brisbane bar. Cannot wait.

]]> http://ischoolsalohajane.wordpress.com/2009/11/18/my-unforgettable-experience-in-camp-blog/ Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:51:38 +0000 ischoolsalohajane http://ischoolsalohajane.wordpress.com/2009/11/18/my-unforgettable-experience-in-camp-blog/

Place: Mimosa Leisure Estate, Angeles City, Pampanga

This is a picture of Mimosa Flower.

One of the most memorable experience here in Camp Blog 1B is when my team mates forced me to present infront of Science and English teams about Manny Villar, if voters should vote for him or not. I had to present in front even though I’m not ready because I don’t want my team mates to be disappointed on me. It was not the best presentation because it was my first time presenting in a formal way. I had a lot of presentations in the past but these one is different.  But we researched about Manny Villar’s early life, past positions and others. This was memorable to me because as I said it’s my first presentation here in Camp Blog. But I guess it was a good practice and in the future maybe I will present something that is much better that my first presentation. We always have our first….

Meeting new friends is also one of the most memorable experience here in Camp Blog. They are so friendly and some of the teachers are very funny and fun to be with.

I’m looking forward into having more unforgettable experiences here in Mimosa Leisure Estate. So that I can share it when I go back in Ilocos Norte.

I’m so thankful that ischools Camp Blog gave us an opportunity to have a seminar like this.

Survey.. Survey..Survey..

DJs, Producers, Live Mad Scientists, MCs, Poets, you know…

In no order, and I am going to update this once a week-ish:

1. OOah
2. Robot Koch
3. Datsik
4. Mimosa
5. Take
6. Opiuo
7. Flying Lotus
8. Nasty Nasty
9. R/D
10. Modeselektor

www.prizzispiazza.com

Monday thru Thursday — 4:30 p.m. to 7:00p.m Happy Hour at the bar and on the patio.  $1.50 Slices(cash only bar and patio seating) Meatball Sliders.

Saturday & Sunday Brunch—All Mimosas and Bloody Marys are buy one get one free per customer during brunch hours

Monday Night is . . . $5 Mojito and $6 Martini-Madness.  Mojitos always made with fresh mint and fresh lime.

Tuesday Night is . . . $5 Glass of Wines—All day and Night $5 glasses of Candoni Italian Wines.

Wednesday Night is . . .25% Off Vino—Order any entrée & order a wine by the bottle from our wine list at 25% off the list

price (Excludes any Wines from the Reserve List).
Thursday Night is . . .Late Nite Happy Hour.  Offering Our Happy Hour appetizers from 10p.m. until close.

Friday Night is . . .Cash Savings—Pay Cash and save 10% off the Food Portion of your Bill!

No other Coupons or Discounts accepted…

All promotions subject to change without notice and are offered at the sole discretion of the management
Savings Not Valid With Any Other Discounts orCoupons

Well, it’s bittersweet, but here is the last blog entry about Eddie & Stephanie’s wedding – this great event took place at the Hotel Galvez in Galveston, Texas.

After the wedding ceremony on the Front Lawn of the Galvez, the party moved inside the Hotel to enjoy the world famous Sunday Brunch.  Here are a few images to give you a feel for that part of the day …

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this little guy was enamored with Stephanie…

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Then it was time for the first dance … accompanied by Carol and her ensemble …

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and I love this one of the paparazzi surrounding them!

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Then outside for the bouquet toss … and catch …

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a few last images from the reception…

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and then out to the tagged van…

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Then … BEACH PARTY!!!!!!

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okay, one of the 2 of us …

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and they lived happily ever after …

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Thanks for re-living this day with me!  I hope you enjoyed it!

Its time to invest in fashion classic that will never go out of style. I am talking chic, tailored, neutral looks. Revival of the 80’s cut brings with itself trench coats, pencil skirts and heap of tweed.

With the autumn upon us, it would seem that colour grey, camel and cream are the palette of choice. Theses shades should be the core of fashionistas wardrobe; they provide a limitless mixing and matching options, which is key to keeping the look fresh. People’s Market introduces its range, in line with the hit season colours of Grey and Camel. With unusual curves to finish the hemline as well as swaddled necklines in the form of an attached scarf, it brings one less item of wardrobe to worry about.

Sessun revives the classic mod cut. Smart yet sexy, hemlines disappearing just about the knees. Using the traditional winter colours of blue, black and violin, the coats provide the perfect cover up when teamed with the stiletto boots or biker inspired chunky footwear. Its buttons are inspired by the military patterns while the double-breasted cut shows a fitted yet flattering look.

A new brand in store that breathes chic fashion is the autumn range is British brand, Full circle. With its thin tailored cut blazer in grey, it ensures style reign supreme even when the layers of wools come off. Ideal for indoor winter, the jacket is beautifully cut in a tailcoat style, teaming a masculine cut over a feminine wardrobe.

Another indoor jacket is the Mimosa Chanel cut jacket in line with the current hip style. Its quarter length sleeves and glittered fabric stitching makes it a wonderful buy for the festive season.

An unusual cut in the jacket range is presented by British brand Pyrus, playing on the warm-and-fuzzy feeling, necklines are swaddled in turtleneck, lengths are optional between above waist or an A-line cape style, just above the knee.

The men’s collection saw plenty of cosy coats along with oodles of smart, yet sexy, three-piece suits in soft-looking tweeds. The Baracuta biker line shell jacket provides pragmatism as well as style to the ardent peddlers in the blistering cold. Not only does it provide a sheet of wind protection but also with its guarantee of a 100% waterproof material it is a perfect present for the chic commuters. It is technically cut with slightly longer arms and back hem to increase dryness when cycling in the rain. The brand also carries forward its popular G9 Harrington bomber jackets, thinner in lining; the jacket comes in a slim line option as well as a hooded bringing a modern touch to the mod fashion.

And if you dare to venture outdoor the warmth of man made sheepskin is the option ahead. Dunderdon a brand failing to disappoint warmth as well as style brings forward its lumberjack print jacket effortlessly stylish and undeniably warm. Its vintage hunting style jackets comes in a waistline as well as knee length option.

Lee Jeans new range is an explosion of classic cut that remain forever stylish. The trench coat is a brilliant copy of Burberry Mac on the budget. It looks divine over suits when combined with Tootal scarf providing the classic chic, which is fundamental for city boy’s style. Another risky addition to Lee’s autumn range is the return of the 80’s denim. The denim jacket is a trendy casual fall item that looks great with a chunky scarf. Yes, it’s from the eighties, but the jean jacket is a great way to dress something down.

With enough choice, you are bound to pick up the statement jacket. And hopefully it will be the one that brings a satisfying smile in the gloomy winter.

Love,

B & H

Phtography by Grant Squidd

Ci escono dalla gola le rondini
di chi per noi ha combattuto,
rosseggiano le dee sui papaveri dei campi
ogni loro rinnovato dolore ci rende più forti
e ora, grida lucenti a specchio
mimose e coriandoli
giovinezze e rugiade, insieme
camminiamo sull’erba del tempo.

Aurelia Tieghi

You probably have noticed that The Do Lab has been taking over King King in Hollywood about once a month these days, spreading the Burner vibe along with freaky art and fatty beats, and for that, LA is grateful. November’s show features fan fav Bluetech, Space Island’s Electric Dandelion, and MY favorite and recent transplant to La La Land (and we welcome you with open arms): MIMOSA.

Click here to read my review of Mimosa’s latest album Flux for Life on Glitch.FM.

Click here for the Facebook event page and click here for tickets- buy them early because the last Do Lab show sold out and people were crying at the door. Or something like that.

La gaggìa è una pianta ormai ben poco diffusa. Ce ne sono ancora nelle campagne, nei vecchi giardini, spesso al confine tra una proprietà e l’altra, tra un alloro e un vecchio pittosforo.

Piumini di gaggìa

Non è un bell’albero, ha un colore giallo sporco, che rapidamente volge ad un marroncino marcio e poco invitante. Ma ha il profumo più celestiale del mondo dei fiori, tanto che in America è chiamata “Sweet Acacia”.
La natura, come anche dio, è dotata di senso dell’umorismo, ed ha messo questo profumo celeste in una pianta umile e dimenticata.

Giallo lavastoviglie

Di gaggìe contro i vecchi muri se ne vedono ancora nelle campagne, si usava -credo- come difesa per via dei suoi rami spinosi.

La gaggìa dei vicini

Venne portata in Italia attorno al 1611. Si sa con certezza che questa pianta cresceva negli Orti Farnesiani per ordine del cardinale Edoardo Farnese, e che lì fiorì per la prima volta. Fu proprio dal cognome della nobile famiglia Farnese che l’Acacia farnesiana, la comune gaggìa, prese la sua denominazione botanica.
I semi erano arrivati da Santo Domingo e si sa anche che nel 1624 alcune piante di gaggìa furono portate al Granduca di Toscana.
Ora altro che Orti Farnesiani, orti e basta, al più giardini poveri di ricche famiglie decadute.

La vecchia casa

In effetti l’Acacia farnesiana forse potrebbe stare ancora bene in qualche giardino di principi, ma la gaggìa richiede vecchi muri screpolati e aiuole dimesse.

La tettoia

Poche compagnie: lantane, zinnie, stelle di natale, gelsomini. L’alisso, con cui condivide il profumo di miele.

Il vecchio gelsomino

E non vuole neanche troppo ordine.

Uscita

Samhain, November 1, always indicates new cycles and fresh beginnings in my life, and this year seems to be no different. Here’s to autumn in LA!

As always, I keep this post updated and added to throughout the month and you can find it by looking in the right-hand column on my main page under “Shilo’s Event Calendar.”

• 3: Wisp, Naha, Schlage & more @ Technique @ Zanzibar
• 3: Jogger, Daedelus, Buraka Som Sistema, Jokers of the Scene & more @ Cinespace in Hollyweird. Free vodka 10-11PM.
• 4: Low End Theory Special Ableton Event w/Thavius Beck, Sweatson Klank, MatthewDavid
• 6: Kraddy
• 7: Other People’s Money w/Vibesquad, Datsik, Subvert, Excision, Propa Tingz & more @ Nucleus Events Center

• 8: Brainfeeder Sessions @ Downtown Independent w/Daedelus, Jogger, Gaslamp Killer, Dr. Strangeloop, Jeremy Ellis, Teebs & Kutmah
• 10: Random Rab, Imagika & Electric Dandelion @ Zanzibar
• 11: Low End Theory: My Hollow Drum, Kutmah, Devonwho
• 11: Deru, Blockhead, AmpLive & Yppah @ The Echo
• 12: The Do Lab presents Bluetech, Mimosa & Electric Dandelion @ King King
• 12: I AM A LASER with Take, R/D, LC & Souleye at Club Nokia upstairs
• 13: Compression w/Robtronik, Drumcell, Vic Carillo @ King King
• 14: BWOMP presents: Attack of the BASS w/Anitserum, Puppykicker, Ev-1, J-Viz & more @ TBA

• 18: Low End Theory w/Ghislain Poirier, Rob Luis & Lanu
• 18: Scion House Party w/Plastician, Mary Anne Hobbs, SCUBA & 12th Planet, FREE w/RSVP
• 20: Culprit & Hear w/Anthony Collins, Sammy Dee, Droog, Deliquent Frequency @ new venue TS 2
• 20: Fat Freddy’s Drop @ The Roxy
• 20: RUSKO, 12th Planet, Mr. White @ Avalon
• 21: WE THE PEOPLE w/Bad Religion, Glitch Mob, Flobots, LA Riots, Jogger & much more @ Los Angeles Center Studios, downtown

• 24: Dubtroit w/Pawn, Druley, Rudelgin & more
• 25: Low End Theory: Daedelus special extended set
• 25: House of Dub @ House of Blues w/DLX, Pawn, Steady, Kelly Dean, Evol, Pablo Hassan & more
• 26: HAPPY THANKSGIVING = drinky drinky!
• 27: Compression 4-Year Anniversary w/Claude Von Stroke & SF Dirtybird Crew
• 28: Dysfunctional Family w/[a]pendics shuffle, Death by Acid, Alex Villalobos & more @ TBA
• 28: Pure Filth presents BASSFACE with: JOKER & NOSAJ THING, The Professionals, Novocaine9, Heru!, Kemst, Nomad @ Lot 613

Photo by Tap Tap Productions.

DJs, Producers, Live Mad Scientists, MCs, Trailblazers, you know…

In no order, and I am going to update this once a week-ish:

1. Robot Koch
2. OOah
3. Mimosa
4. R/D
5. Noah D
6. Claw
7. Marty Party
8. an-ten-nae
9. Datsik
10. Ana Sia times infinity!

Ana Sia @ The Do Lab Stage @ Coachella

The King King in Hollywood is usually overrun with fast-tempo freaks who are out for a shiny razzle-dazzle night on the town, but one night a month The Do Lab takes over the stylish venue and packs the dance floor with Burners and other neo-tribal types who actually care what the artists are playing. As always, you can count on a Do Lab show to bring a deeper element to the party and to inspire heads with ideas just as mouths are filled with shouts of glee.

Such was the case last Thursday night as Jupti3r, Deru, and Beats Antique anti-infected Hollyweird with the ruffling sound of sashaying petticoats, the warm smiles of old friends and a hundred guys in brimmed hats.

I arrived at 9PM sharp to the sold-out show; though I was set, I was hoping to score tickets for my out-of-town house guests who had failed to purchase presales. Luckily we were there just in time for them to cage two of the ten tickets for sale at 9PM. Early birds and the worm and all.

Despite a decently long line to get inside the venue, the King King was empty except for two freaks on the dance floor (and one blogger); the opening DJ Pod was playing an interesting set but I was jonesing for Deru to finish his drink at the bar and play already. In the meantime my friends got in, and we left to party where the drinks were cheaper: our flasks.

The crowd filtered in and the dance floor began to fill up as Deru progressed into his set, riding in on a horse of bass and bringing his delightful version of glitch-out hip hop/IDM to a room full of welcoming ears. I would pay to hear Deru play any day of the week. Maybe every day.

By the time Beats Antique came on, the urban gypsies were out in full force and the dance floor was packed, strutting, and beautiful. Beats Antique’s dark circus music has struck a chord in the electronic music community with it’s three rings of broken beat brass, middle eastern enigmas, and straight up underground West Coast lean. They provide an uplifting and fun performance experience that is not too hard, not too soft. Oh how we love the live instruments fused with forward-thinking electronica! Using a violin, guitar, drum kit, plenty of magic electronic boxes and a feather-wielding dancer, Beats Antique does not rest on it’s obviously stellar reputation with the festie crowd, but delivers a fresh and invigorating round of dance love with every song. Fusing live instrumentation with heavy, bouncing beats, their performance was an intriguing display of infinite possibilities of music from roots to future funk, and of the people who believe in such dreams and nonsense.

And I’m not the only one.

Catch Beats Antique as they tour the West Coast in the upcoming weeks; find more information and tour dates here.

Deru plays in Seattle for Halloween at Feralia Deceptiva with Phidelity

Check out The Do Lab here; their next event at King King features none other than Bluetech, Mimosa and Electric Dandelion.

Photo of Beats Antique from The Do Lab’s Album on Facebook.

Find more pics here.

Mimosa travels north from Australia to launch its evening dresses in our store, with an ardent belief that the best style is only as good as the quality of the fabric. Hand painted prints are a signature of this brand, which stands out from any other, creating a uniqueness while keeping it chic and stylish.

Photography by Grant Squidd

While speaking of uniqueness and art combining in a certain product we obviously need to talk about the ‘Handbuilt Press’ brand, designed by Iggi. It’s hand made fabric is lovingly created in middle England with prints showing a somewhat gothic theme. Its signature logo ‘From cradle to the grave’ gives each piece the uniqueness that the brand demands.

Handbuilt Press by Iggi

Mimosa - modern fused glass necklace

Notes from the Artist:

I’ve created my “mimosa collection” using bright yellow and white glass. Update your wardrobe with this bright, optimistic, cheerful necklace.
The size of the pendant (without the bail) is:

1 1/4″ x 2″ (13mm x 21mm)
The bail is silver plated.
It comes with a silver plated neckwire with threaded ball.

article appearing on jambase.com

Words by: Tk Kayembe | Images by: Dave Vann

Symbiosis Gathering 2009 :: 09.18.09 – 09.20.09 :: Camp Mather :: Groveland, CA

Symbiosis 2009

Yosemite, CA hosted the fourth annual Symbiosis Gathering. This year’s event was nestled in Camp Mather bordering the breathtaking Yosemite National Park. The lineup was overwhelming, the site was heavenly and the art installations were unbelievably imaginative; most seeming to be peculiar hallucinations. It was a celestial experience, and like most festivals, to fully comprehend its beauty you would have had to be there; to properly do it justice would take multiple pages and numerous pictures. So, that being said, here are a few highlights from the weekend.

Friday Top 3

1. Flying Lotus – Steve Ellison, aka Flying Lotus, along with his Brainfeeder label mates, seems to be running laps around the hip-hoptronic side of the scene. Fly-Lo’s beats are ingeniously crafted, emphasizing luring offbeat drum samples often tied together with foreign percussion atop jazzy tear-jerking piano, el-p, synth and bass sections. Over the course of his set, genuine bliss was plastered upon his face as he passionately pushed through “Melt” and “Roberta Flack,” dropping plenty of other beat junkie favorites from his collection. Watching the raw emotion he exudes while delicately mixing tracks in and out, fervently tugging at your heartstrings, you realize his music is truly a special gift to this world.

Bassnectar :: Symbiosis 2009

2. Mimosa – Friday night was unadulterated crunk-hop mayhem. Per usual, Tigran Mimosa’s set was a multicolored mob scene of freely flowing bodies. Onstage, he had a hoard of dancers, a ring of supporters, who ensured the intensity onstage matched the insanity of the crowd. He seamlessly cycled through originals and appeased the crowd’s hip-hop guilty pleasures with hyphy remixes of “I’m In Love With A Stripper,” amongst others. With queasy, throbbing bass dressed down with 909 claps, Mimosa’s soul penetrating sub-kick hits deep enough to shake your clothes off.

3. Anahata Sound – Anahata Pace rocked her Friday mid-afternoon Forest Stage set, coaxing the audience closer and closer towards the front of the stage as her performance took flight. Singing, dancing and sequencing throughout the set, the adorably quirky Anahata proudly maintained the attention of all while progressing through original arrangements. Her voice harbors a whispery calm as peaceful and gentle as a resting infant on a warm afternoon. When addressing her assemblage, she legitimately connects, offering humorous small talk as if we were all old friends catching up. Adorned in a fur cap, lens-less glasses and rose blush dotted cheeks, Anahata’s sound was like a big loving bear hug, squeezing us all.

Saturday Top 3

1. CocoRosie – The dreadfully curious, bizarrely eccentric CocoRosie unambiguously stole the spotlight Saturday afternoon. During the twosome’s set, the stage was a diverse mess of various instruments. An assortment of children’s toys, memorable from my early childhood – bells, shakers, etc. – were efficiently laid out upon a table for a face-painted Bianca (Coco) to meddle with. A few yards away, her sister and musical counterpart, Sierra (Rosie) was stationed beside her harp. Joining them onstage was bassist Josh Werner, human beatbox extraordinaire Spleen, along with a pianist who kept one hand on the keys and the other on a MIDI-keyboard. The quirkiness of “Japan” and haunting melodies of “K-Hole,” “Beautiful Boyz” and Kevin Lyttle cover “Turn Me On” sent chills down my spine, remaining with me for hours after the show was over.

ANA SIA Sunrise Set :: Symbiosis 2009

2. Beats Antique – David Satori and Tommy Cappel of Beats Antique pulled out all the stops on their original handcrafted tilt-a-whirl sound at Symbiosis. Their stellar set stood out amongst others, the stage a busily moving spectacle as Tommy bustled back and forth between live drums and his laptop while David juggled guitar and fiddle lines standing in front of his Mac. Zoe Jakes, an improvisational belly dancer (also part of the Beats Antique troop) contributed her visual magic from the side of the stage. Other highlights included the boys dropping brand new tracks off their latest album, an impromptu duet with LYNX, and the masked dance troops bursting out onstage at the end of the set.

3. !Armageddon Prevention Team – A fun Symbiosis discovery I fell upon, the !Armageddon Prevention Team is a squad of top-notch DJ/producers/performers including (but not limited to) iLL Gates and Chris Sia. During their SG set, the artist collective completely filled up the main stage. The perfect nighttime music, !APT dropped dubby originals and smart remixes, ending their set with a clever mashup featuring an instrumental version of John Lennon’s “Imagine” pasted atop The Temptations’ “Ball of Confusion.”

Sunday Top 3

1. Crying Over Porcelain For No Reason

This may have been my favorite set of the entire weekend. OOAH and edIT of The Glitch Mob combined both of their solo downtempo projects for an exceptionally rare, intimate ante meridiem set. In addition to running the usual Ableton/laptop/MIDI-controller setup, the boys alternated between a heaping Rhodes keyboard as well as Gibson and PRS guitars. OOAH’s of Porcelain, a lot like edIT’s COPFNR, is dominated by tranquil piano chords, smooth harmonizing guitar licks, glitch-y backing drums, and minimal but sexy accompanying vocal samples. Both projects faultlessly capture the true feel of downtempo and are so emotional it can bring a tear to your eye. For nearly two hours the boys went back and forth, trading tracks. The hypnotized crowd fluttered about like untied balloons released into the air as the pair performed “Ants,” “Ashtray,” “You Are the Sun” and other heart-wrenching selections from Crying Over Pros For No Reason, essentially draining the entire album before walking off stage.

The Glitch Mob :: Symbiosis 2009

2. Random Rab – The perfect way to start the day, Rab’s lulling tunes pushed the sun up higher into the sky faster than the words out of a coked-out auctioneer’s mouth. His set was deep and intensely seductive, and the enraptured crowd resembled a hulking pendulum swinging back and forth. I’ve never felt such a strong connection with Rab’s music as I had that morning. It was enchanting and drew me in as I enjoyed it thoroughly while fighting off the morning cold with a piping hot mocha.

3. Mala – From packed clubs in Brixton, England to the forests of Yosemite, Mala, one half of the Digital Mystikz, brought originally produced dubstep to the ears of many on Sunday morn. The veteran vinylist, needing nothing more than two Technics turntables, a mixer, and an armful of records, quickly had the air thick with dub breaks. His infectious bass had the early morning crowd twirling about like post-apocalyptic zombies feeding solely on the sound being choked out of the speakers. Quite a sight to see.

Conclusion

All things considered, Symbiosis Gathering was a monumental weekend – an all-inclusive sensory overload freakfest. I still can’t get over the astonishing lineup, plump with the best electronic artists currently touring. It sincerely made catching every set feel like an impossible feat. The Naked Lake will serve as a fond memory: every morning and afternoon the docks were packed with lovely, birthday suited people. A fascinatingly quaint Tea Temple in the vendor’s village sold assorted aged teas and had an adjoined walkthrough shrine with artifacts ranging from Nepalese monkey skulls to Virgin Mary statuettes. On the opposite side of the road lay a Zen Garden. A bit further down the way rested the bust of an enormous unicorn, made from metal scraps, marking the fork in the road between the stages. The people, the atmosphere, the music were all magnificent. The Symbiosis experience is something to be treasured. My only hope is that next year’s festivities will be at the same spot or another place as peaceful and inspiring as Yosemite was.

We love champagne on its own, but champagne cocktails are oh-so-fabulous! The holiday season is coming up, which means we’ll be popping open the bottles and we’d like to know, what’s your favorite champagne cocktail?

A celebration of the first 'landing'. Photo from Wikipedia Commons

Madam Toastmaster, fellow toastmasters, most welcome guests

The theme of the evening is discovery. Tonight I will tell you a story about a group of people who discovered a new land and a new life. A group of people who, like Christopher Columbus, travelled from Europe to the Americas. Like Columbus, they didn’t understand exactly where they were going or what they were getting into. Columbus thought he was going to India, but in fact arrived in America. Similarly this group of Welsh people thought they were going to a green valley, a kind of promised land or a utopia, but reality was not quite the same. Their aim was to set up a new ‘Wales’ in the Americas. They found land in Patagonia in Argentina and negotiated with the Argentine government, which was keen for this land to be populated. Some Welsh people in the 19^th century were troubled by the decline in the Welsh language,  a preoccupation by the way that is still prevalent in Wales now, and wanted to start a colony where their linguistic and cultural rights would be respected.  The organizers of this expedition had noticed that Welsh migrants to north America usually assimilated very quickly and lost their Welsh identity. The solution, or so thought the leader Michael D. Jones, was to find an isolated, uninhabited area. The organizers explained to their compatriots that they would be able to start again and have a prosperous, happy life in Patagonia.

So, in 1865, 153 people set sail on a ship called the Mimosa from Wales to Patagonia. They arrived on the coast, a town they later named Porth or Puerto Madryn after the house name of one of the settlers. Here is a quote from one of the settlers when she arrived on the beach in Patagonia:

“There we were landing at Madryn, and nothing, no nothing, but desert, desert, desert. Well, I sat down and tears rolled down my cheeks.” (Source: John Davies) The settlers had been somewhat misled: the land they would occupy in the lower Chubut valley was an arid desert and incredibly difficult to farm, at least not using the kind of farming techniques you can use in the lowlands of Wales which are green and relatively fertile. The first years in the new colony, were challenging to say the least.

Of course, when you go to set up a colony in a new country, one complication is that there may be people already living there. The area was occasionally visited by nomadic native Americans who lived nearby and the new settlers were raided a few times when they first arrived. However, with time relations with the Tehuelche people became the great success of this colony. They became friends, called each other ‘hermanos’ and traded with each other. When the Welsh people’s harvest failed, their indigenous friends taught them how to hunt so that they could survive. They learned to communicate with each other, the natives becoming particularly keen on the Welsh word ‘bara’ , the bread they were given when they visited. Some of the descendants of the Teheulche are able to speak Welsh to this day, and they participate in the eisteddfodau, which are Welsh poetry and music festivals, held in the Welsh area of Patagonia as they are in Wales itself.

Within a few years one of the women settlers suggested that if irrigation channels were dug around the Chubut river, the settlers would be able to cultivate the land. The settlers worked hard on this task and eventually created Argentina’s most fertile wheatlands. They also built a railway for transporting provisions. There were also other positive things: all men and women over 18 were given the vote, making the area the first example of partial democracy in South America. The Welsh built schools and chapels and continued to be very devout, refusing for example to hunt on Sundays with the Tehuelche or later, when the Argentinian government brought in national service, to go to military drills on Sunday. It seems, however, that some of them softened their stance on alcohol and, while remaining teetotal themselves, sold it to the Tehuelche.  They also created a second settlement, closer to the Andes where the land was less dry. Some of the settlers moved to the areas around Trevelin (means mill town in Welsh). This was an area claimed by both Chile and Argentina but the presence of Welsh settlers with ties in the Chubut valley helped secure the area for Argentina. It is recorded that the Welsh voted for the territory to stay in Argentina, thus demonstrating their loyalty to their adopted country.

However, relations with the Argentinian government did not remain harmonious. After a few years, the government reneged on its promise to allow the Welsh autonomy in the provinces they inhabited and Spanish was enforced in schools, so the settlers were now ironically facing a similar situation to the one they had faced at home in Wales where they had to fight for the rights of the Welsh language faced with English domination. What is more, the Argentinian government, under pressure from European governments keen to colonise further areas of Argentina, engaged in a ‘conquest for the desert’ against the native population, using the Welsh as pawns in the government’s fight  with their friends the Tehuelche. After some time, the Argentinian government also allowed many other nationalities to settle in the area, making a mockery of the idea of a ‘new Wales beyond Wales’ as the Welsh now became the minority.

There were no further migrations from Wales after 1912. In most ways, then, the Welsh discovered that it is not easy to find a new paradise. The attempt to create a Welsh colony in Patagonia failed. However, Welsh influence can still be seen in the area. The Welsh-Argentine community now consists of around 20,000 people, including people of mixed origin,  with possibly 2 000 of them being able to speak Welsh. Relations between Wales and Patagonia have been strengthened and people in the area, of various origins are proud of the Welsh connection. If you ever go to Gaiman, Trelew, Dolafon, Trevelin or Puerto Madryn, make sure you sample some Welsh cakes in one of the traditional tea houses there.

There was no television in 1865 so the Welsh could not know what the terrain of Patagonia was like. The fact that the Argentinian government would eventually not tolerate an autonomous territory could possibly have been predicted along with the inevitability of conflict between the authorities and the native populations. The Welsh discovery might not have been such a disappointment if they had realised that ‘the grass is not always greener’ on the other side.

Madam Toastmaster.

Although the story recounted above is true, I cannot be sure that the facts are accurately reported in my speech or that the order of events is correct.

My sources and links to further information:

Wikipedia

‘Glaniad’ (Welsh for ‘landing’) is a website which tells the story of the Welsh emigrants who settled in Patagonia

John Davies

LA Times article

Documentary on YouTube

Chapter in A Brief History of Wales

YouTube video on Welsh culture in Patagonia (in Spanish and Welsh) and here

YouTube videos in Spanish on the Chubut Eisteddfod, relations between the Welsh and the Tehuelche and the role of a horse named Malacara in the Welsh settlers’ move to the Andes area

As a member of the Junior League in my home town, I was sent this hilarious blog post by a woman in Georgia, The Peach Tart, who isn’t really sure she belongs in “The League.”  But she makes the best of it anyway.  I sit on the committee for our yearly Christmas show, which could possibly be the reason I haven’t posted in some time.  Sometimes I literally think I’m going to blow up!  Some of these women have all the time in the world to sit and think of stuff to concern themselves with.  You know them, the type that doesn’t work and expects me to drop what’s going on at my catering business and take care of Junior League stuff.  Really?

Enough of the venting, I’m going to the Broadway Production of Mamma Mia today with my REAL friends, right after brunch.  I’m excited for two reasons, I get to see the play and I get to critique brunch.  I do see a tasty mimosa in my future.

Photo by Dylan of Tap Tap Productions

As 45,000 runners passed on the Chicago Marathon track, eight of us gathered to cheer them on while dining on delicious vegan brunch fare served up by chefshuggieotis and dj earthtones. The menu included some killer tofu scramble, roasted potatoes, radishes, coffee, AND tempeh bacon that was marinated in soy sauce, maple syrup, and veggie stock for over an hour (even before the early 7:30 start time for the brunch and the runners). Everyone brought a little something, including some perfect mimosa fixins’, handpressed (!) hot apple cider, and homemade rye bread that makes me think we are definitely missing out by not having a breadmaker. Jason and I brought along a golden beet carrot cake and a dvd of the webisode to share.

What a fun way to start the day. Left very full of food + friendship and inspired by those folks who force train their body to endure the challenge of 26.2!

On to party #2 of the day soon, after I finish a quick shift on the ref desk. A librarian’s work is never done..

See what the other MoFoers have to say:

and please let that include coming to the BABE CAVE today, we have some special treats in store for you. Including (but not limited to) the films of Bridget Irish, special guest DJ In Heat, and (as always) FREE DONUTS>>> be there or BE [] SQUARE. 12-6pm 2534 Mission Street (@21st & 22nd) SF.

Bagarre agaiiiiiiiiiin for your pleasure:

DON”T TRY TO STOP US!

(or Kano) Just JOIN US in the Babababababababaveeeeeeeeee and sway a little while you drink a Mimosa, won’tcha??

THE THREE LIBRAS BIRTHDAY BASH!!!
It’s that time of the year again.
Your 3 favorite Libras are turning another year older, wiser, stronger, better and all that good stuff!
Furthermore, one of your girls is saying good-bye to a decade and hello to that sexy 30!
Of course a lady never reveals her age,
so we’ll leave the guessing to you…
Anyway, what better way to celebrate these momentous occasions than going to Mimosa,
the Bay Area’s hottest champagne lounge,
and popping bottles with good friends, food and fun.

See you this Saturday!!!
Renee Hamilton – October 7
Katuri Kaye – October 12
Kreshenda Jenkins – October 14

Damn you jet lag!

We find ourselves waking up at 8 a.m. on day two. Extremely red-eyed with blistered feet but, overall, not too bad.

This is my sign from the above that I haven’t drank enough.

Not so for S and Scotty. They complain that they’re hungover, so they are less than enthusiastic when I suggest that we find a bar. It’s Vegas, bitches! Sobriety is the only real sin in this town.

We all agree to explore the strip a little bit more. It’s ten times more enjoyable when you’re wearing flip flops, by the way. (Although those will also find a way to betray me.) We stop at a couple of the resorts before ending up at the Bellagio.

It’s 10:30 a.m., we’re not drinking, and I begin to get annoyed, so I text my spiritual (alcohol is a spirit, right?) advisor, Maren.

KFD: No one else is drinking?! Where the F are you?
Maren: No one else is drinking? Who the F did you go with?
KFD: They stopped drinking after 12 hours. Wusses.
Maren: Blowhards. Don’t they know they’re in the holy land?
KFD: I’m gonna drink one for the both of us. Out of vengeance.
Maren: Yes! Carry on! I’ll do some remote drinking from here.

We arrive at the Bellagio and I have reached my breaking point. Just give me a damn mimosa! Before we can belly up to the bar, Scotty and S want to tour the botanical gardens.

The gardens are themed to the season and are a combination of beautiful and frightening. Obviously it’s an autumn theme right now. But the Bellagio can’t just do traditional decorations. Instead, they have 650-pound pumpkins, their ever-present creepy talking tree and a sinister, pedophile troll tree sitting with his legs spread over a pumpkin patch. If that doesn’t induce nightmares, I don’t know what does!

Finally, three hours after waking up we make it to a bar. They’re lucky I didn’t have the shakes. I jubilantly order my much-desired mimosa. S and Scotty order…(suspenseful pause)…water.

Twenty minutes later, they realize we’re in Las Vegas and order drinks as we settle in to the penny slots.

I don’t consider myself a gambler, but toss in free drinks and the added bonus of only spending 30 cents at a time and I can get used to the idea.

This is the beginning of the end for my wallet.

S and I are on a roll. We are chugging vodka and raping those penny slots. My $10 win makes me feel like a white trash queen. Scotty ventures forth and finds a home at the blackjack table.

Penny slots become tiresome and we begin feeling a bit peckish, so we head further down the strip until we get to the Venetian. The beauty of the Venetian makes S and I realize we need to marry rich and become kept women. A pretty noble goal, in my opinion.

We grab lunch at an Italian restaurant (home of the douchiest, most condescending server known to man) and head back to our hotel to continue drinking and gambling.

As we walk, my phone signals that I have an e-mail. It’s a message from Loopt. Some guy in Vegas wanted me to join AA. I’m not sure if I should be honored or disheartened.

Once we get back, S and I go to our land of cheap slots and Scotty hits up the blackjack tables again. While at the penny slots we find ourselves striking up a conversation with two young men.

Meet Manny, the Mexican French-Canadian. First of all, that is a mindfuck of a heritage. Have you ever heard a Mexi/Canuck accent? Odd. Very odd. But that isn’t what makes Manny special. Manny will always be remembered for proudly showing us that he is down one digit. He lost half of his pointer finger in a tragic sheet metal accident.

Note to the male species – some chicks may dig scars, but no one digs stumps.

Through Manny’s harrowing tale, we learned that the Canadian health care system sucks. Apparently the hospital “misplaced” him and he was found at another hospital down the road. I suppose I no longer have to be jealous of our neighbor to the north.

Bless his heart, he was a really good sport about his condition. While he can no longer effectively display the peace sign (because it gets confused for flipping the bird), he can now tell time on his left hand in half-hours. Genius!

We excuse ourselves from our new friends and make our way back to the room. But first we hit up the bill breaker to collect our winnings. That’s when we hear a familiar voice.

“Hey ladies, I saw you in my bar today but you didn’t sit down.”

It was our dear friend Lucas from Nine Fine Irishmen. We got recognized from a distance by a bartender we had just met? That, my friends, is how you do Vegas.

The reason we hadn’t sat down was because a) it was packed and b) we were distracted by a drunken bachelor party making Chewbacca noises. Duh.

S and I promised we’d see him again before we leave and head up to the room for a mid-afternoon nap.

Side Note- On our first day we decided to play the alphabet game, thought up by a girl from my job and her roommate. The point of this game is to make out with 26 people whose names begin with a different letter from the alphabet by the end of 2009. S and I are cheater so we counted everyone from the beginning of the year. This put us up at about five or six people apiece. This ends up influencing decisions later on.

An hour later we feel refreshed and ready to drink. But where to go? This is where “fate” and “no expectations” come into play.

We casually notice on a sheet of paper that Rok Vegas has happy hour from 6 to 8 p.m. on its patio. They have a special on vodka and Red Bull. Sold!

We gussy up and make our way down, expecting there to be a crowd.

Ha.

Aside from some wildebeests, a small group of guys, and two guys with a girl, it is slim pickings. We grab a drink and sit down in the corner. Prime people watching area.

Side Note #2 – Ever heard of the game Gay, Straight, or British? Of course you haven’t. I pioneered it during my days hostessing near Disney. Basically, if you see a man approach you wearing, for example, khaki manpris, a pink polo and perfectly-coiffed hair (maybe in a faux-hawk?), you have to make a judgment call. Gay, straight, or British? Nine times out of 10 the answer is straight British, but there are the rare combinations of gay American, gay Brit, and poorly-styled straight southerner.

We looked at the two guys with the girl and played a quick game of GSoB. British, like always.

We then notice that the small group of guys is made up of a couple of pretties. And that it’s a bachelor party. We must tread carefully and figure out who is the groom before we can call dibs.

S, once again, sees our in. One guy is wearing a UF shirt and another is wearing a UF hat. Could it be that they, too, are from Florida?

As we slink back to the bar to grab round two, S approaches and engages the men in conversation. They are actually from Arizona. All but one are med school students and the groom is not any of the ones we were interested in.

Ding Ding Ding! We have a winner!

S and I split up and go after our respective targets. The guys never knew what hit them.

Turns out they’re all pretty cool guys. Well, except for my guy. First he scoffed at my bartending gig, then he scoffed at the blog. Maren and I are fiercely protective over our little alcohol-soaked blog.

A little tipsy and a little annoyed, I rename him Dr. Douche and invent the biggest lie of the trip.

I have a book deal.

Now, I thought nothing of it at the time, but this lie ended up growing legs and help guide the remainder of our trip. Thanks to my hypewoman, S, word of the book grew and everyone we met wanted to be included.

Bored with Dr. Douche, I move back to the bar and chat with Dr. Mystery and Dr. I’m Gonna Buy You Girls Drinks Because You’re Cool. Never caught their real names…

While Dr. IGBYGDBYC is living up to his name, S is at the other end of the bar throwing back shots with Dr. Hispanic. Aw, my wifey makes me so proud!

I mingle with the group and end up talking to guy she originally claimed, Dr. Steve.

Dr. Steve had the following gem to share:

Dr. Steve: Ya know what I’ve learned through working in a hospital? People love things shoved up their ass?

We exchanged numbers when he tried to send me an X-ray of a lady with a 10-inch dildo shoved up her ass. Wow.

He also confided in me and let me know that they stocked up on IV bags and anti-nausea medication for the room. This is when I decide that they are my favorite people ever.

Drunk, I tell him that we are going to get married. But it’s cool, because we can have a prenup that protects him. As long as he’s down with us both banging 20-year-olds and dying by 50.

I can be quite the honest drunk.

Dr. Steve, surprisingly, agrees and lets me know that he plans on dying by age 50 by injecting potassium. I choose orgy or exploding implant. Aw, Vegas soul mate, you will be missed!

The guys buy us one more round before heading off to continue their bachelor party. S and I meet back up with Scotty to grab a bite to eat.

Dr. Hispanic, Dr. Steve, Dr. IGBYGDBYC, Dr. Mystery, Dr. Douche (top right), Firefighter Groom (bottom center)

We end back up at the MGM Grand. Still no lions, just that infernal cleaning lady.

Dr. Steve texts us, letting us know that they had to IV the groom but they’ll be heading over to Carnaval Court. S, who loves to inject a little bit of drama, invites the pretties from the night before along.

Walking all the way down the strip is not an option, so someone suggests that we take the monorail. I hate the monorail, by the way. The MGM entrance to it is on the bottom floor of a labyrinth. I’m shocked that we didn’t run into David Bowie or the Minotaur.

It takes longer than expected, but we finally meet up with the medical bachelor party. We’re drunk, but they’re trashed. Surprisingly, the IV worked like a charm and the groom is remarkably fresh-faced. I notice that a couple of them have yard-sized drinks hanging from their necks.

I quickly make my way to the bar to realize my dream.

For the low, low price of $36, I get a 36-inch vodka sprite made with approximately half of a Smirnoff bottle. This is my Disney World.

My Dream

What I didn’t anticipate was the agonizing rope burn it would cause on the back of my neck. But hey, a dedicated individual is willing to suffer for their craft.

The medical bachelor party drags us out to the dance floor. About 10 minutes later, the pretties show up. This is going to be awkward.

We say hi to Shane and Mark and we begin to get a feel for their personalities. Shane is a tad bit assertive to make up for Mark’s obvious shyness. I’m all for wingmen, but Shane was extreme.

Shane: Hey Katie, why don’t you dance with Mark? ::douchey wink::
KFD: Uh…I have a 10-pound pendulum dangling from my neck…

S and Shane hit it off and the pretty couple dance and make googly eyes at each other. Mark and I stand there awkwardly as I suck down my 36-inch drink in an effort to stop feeling.

This is not sitting well with the medical bachelor party.

Dr. Douche bounces around like a 6’5” rubber ball while Dr. Hispanic and Dr. Steve try to lure us away. I hate confrontations, so I play nice and try to oscillate between groups.

S is so into Shane that she doesn’t notice much of anything. You saw the picture, can you blame her?

The medical bachelor party retires and I tell Dr. Steve that we’ll catch up later.

Now it’s just us and hottie cops. I put down my drink and notice something funny. My shoes seem to be stuck to the ground. Damn you, Target flip flops, why have you betrayed me?! My shoes literally fall apart and I have realized my nightmare of being barefoot on the Las Vegas strip.

I take a minute, get over the embarrassment of putting my shoes together in public, and I’m back in the game.

The world’s largest vodka sprite has done its job and I am no longer opposed to the idea of dancing. Or making out with the pretties, who are cops in Georgia. S is already way ahead of me and her and Shane are off in their own world.

I have already planted the idea in my head of making out with a cop and a doctor in the same night, so I text Maren to let her know my plan. I send her a picture of Mark.

KFD: I win?
Maren: Yes. And now I have a “last picture” of you.
KFD: For the milk carton, I assume. Also, Dr. Steve is just as hot. Decisions, decisions…
Maren: You’re in Vegas…both.
KFD: Fact. Gonna make out with cop and doctor. Supreme.

Around this time I start receiving texts from Dr. Steve.

Dr. Steve: Ditch the tools at Carnaval. We’re going to have some crazy fun in the room.
KFD: See you around 1 a.m.?
Dr. Steve: Meet me at the Il Fornaio for wine and food. My treat. No expectations.

A real date in Vegas? Does it count as a date if you’re already drunk enough to kill a small animal?

We finish making out with the cops and they walk us to the monorail. That’s when they reveal that they’re in town for the world’s largest tattoo convention and they’re competing.

So, if they’re competing they should have some pretty cool tats, right? Maybe not. Shane has a full back tattoo with a giant clock tower and the Statue of Liberty on a cross.

S: Uh…Is that Big Ben?
Shane: Yep!
S: ::::Blank Stare::::

Mark has two arm pieces. One tattoo is a giant Batman reference and the other is a giant pirate ship. Words cannot describe how dumb these tattoos are.

We bid the good cops adieu and make our way back to the New York New York. I assume that a couple of the doctors will be at Il Fornaio. Wrong. Just little Dr. Steve and a bottle of wine.

S retires to the room and I have a seat across from Dr. Steve. I have a glass of wine and we head upstairs to drop the leftovers off in his room.

This is when Dr. Steve makes his move and we start to kiss. While he’s holding a bag of pizza. How romantic!

We go to his room and I see Dr. Douche, the groom, and Dr. Mystery passed out on the bed. He suggests that we make out in the bathroom, but I just want to use the bathroom for its intended purposes. I go inside and that’s when I notice the trash can. Plastic tubes and baggies are sticking out. I also see a bit of blood. The IV bags! He was going to make out with me in a room filled with bloody IV bags!

WTF

I ask him why there’s so much blood and he said the groom was squirming too much. Remind me to never receive medical care in Arizona.

He walks me up to my room and we go inside and grab a drink, careful not to wake up S. We leave the room and make out in the hallway. Seemed like a grand idea at the time.

Out of the corner of my eye I see some movement. A little boy scurries by in his Spongebog Squarepants boxers. At 3 a.m. In Vegas. He’s soon joined by his mom, who yells at us.

I’m far too drunk for any of this to make sense. All I know is I hate getting reprimanded while on vacation. Dr. Steve and I decide to part ways.

I kiss him goodnight and get into my pajamas when I receive a text.

Dr. Steve: Spend the night nothing else.
KFD: I’m pretty sure all your beds are occupied, dear.
Dr. Steve: Either yours or I could clear mine if needed.
KFD: I suppose you can come down here.
Dr. Steve: At your door.

Well that was fast.

He enters and, true to his word, spends the night and nothing else.

In the morning I wake up to a text from S.

S: Paging Dr. Faggot. Dr. Faaaaaggggotttt!!!
KFD: Are you proud of me?
S: So proud! And you got an S!!…No expectations of course.
KFD: Uh….he’s awake.

First walk of shame for the trip. S got an ‘S’ and I got an ‘S’ and ‘M’!