Pageant of the Masters

What the hell is a Pageant of the Masters, anyway? I'd heard about this artistic event for years, but no one could adequately describe what it was. Is it animal or vegetable? Is it a bird or a plane? Is it Superman or Batman, or just a man (which would be fine, especially if he were in Speedos). Oh. It's not that kind of pageant?

"Then what is it?" I asked.

"Living pictures," one friend said. I was intrigued. My BFF Jj (aka She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed) said I should come with her, so we joined in with a great group of ladies who were also going for the first time.

We arrived in Laguna Beach long before the 8 o'clock show, so we had dinner at Tivoli Terrace -- an Italian restaurant that specializes in a mean margarita -- after which we strolled through the Laguna Festival of Arts where they have everything from oil paintings to nail portraits (art made completely from rusty nail heads!). The jewelry was truly wear-able art.

When we got to the outdoor amphitheater, the night was magical. Stars were out, sculptures surrounded the gardens, and then the stage came alive. Literally.

Pageant of the Masters is ninety minutes of "living pictures," incredibly faithful art recreations of classical and some contemporary works with real people posing to look exactly like their counterparts in the paintings. It was better than sugar on Shredded Wheat. A live orchestra accompanied the live narration, making the make-believe absolutely believable.

I urge you to visit the website for a better taste. Even the tickets were pretty (see below)!

Thank you, Jj, for helping me strike Number 152 off of my Bucket List.

Fab 5 Fridays

Fab 5 Friday is where I count down the top five things on my mind this week.
This was originally going to be Day 11 of the 15-Day Photo Challenge, a photo with a friend and a memory, but I couldn't pick just one friend! Heck, I had trouble narrowing it down to 5, but 5 I did. These are in NO particular order, hence, no numerals.
The five most fabulous people in my life today are . . .

Jj, nicknamed She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed because, well, if you do what she says, no one will get hurt and we'll all be winners like she is. She even kicked cancer's ass and ran him out of town. I want to be her when I grow up.

Next, there's the Diva of All That's Good and Red. (These are real names, by the way, and have not been changed to protect the fabulous.) She lights up all the dark corners of my life, and I simply won't live without her.

And what about Me-Me, my sister/sister-in-law/best friend forever who is Gayle to my Oprah and Oprah to my Gayle. Everybody needs a Gayle in their life, someone who always says, no matter what the situation, "You can do this."

I cannot, will not forget Miss C; not even in a pool, not even after school. Though she's not yet my age, she is my sage. (Enough already with the rhyming. Who am I, Dr. Scholl?) Anyway, Miss C is forever in my corner, the first one I hear from whether I've had good news or bad. She guided me through the worst period in my life. Life as I know it today, would not be the same were it not for her.

And last but not in the least bit the least, There's Ri-Ri, who I've known since we were in 7th grade. She taught me everything I know about life, how to be loving, giving, kind and thoughtful. So highly do I think of her, she is the Godmother to both my children. (She also taught me everything I know about sex, so Sarge should be thanking her. But that's a whole other post.)

Who is/are your best friends and why? Inquiring minds and all that.

OBAMA MONDAY

Seeing President Barack Obama in person is a new addition to my Bucket List. I never thought I'd have that chance, but when the opportunity popped up, my friends and I jumped on it. It was a bright and sunny Monday, and Me, Jj and The Diva were ladies on the loose and looking fabulously harmless, but really quite dangerous if we could get close enough for a photo op with POTUS.

It was a fundraiser for Barbara Boxer under the guise of You scratch my back (contribute to my campaign), and I'll get you in to see the President of These United States (up close and personal). So we pay our monies and trek over to the California Science Center. We know we are in the right place as we walk up, because who is in line right in front of us? Tate Donovan of the TV show Damages. Bonus! (And we don't even work on Wall Street!)
We get in, and of course, first things first, we head straight to the host bar. We get our drinks, and try to catch the servers as they circulate with miniature hors d'oeuvres too tiny even for a munchkin. India.Arie performs, Boxer speaks, and then there Obama is, looking so smart and handsome. Right away, he starts his speech by thanking Big Name Attendees, but he seemed to have forgotten to thank The Diva. No worries; she helps him out by yelling out her own name. Check it out at the 35-second mark in the video below.

His speech was inspiring, the crowd was awestruck, and I was three feet away from the President of the United States! It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and worth every cent, but let me tell you something: I would have paid double the fee to see Michelle. Yes, we're on a first name basis, she just doesn't know it yet.

And while I didn't get to shake Obama's hand myself, I was able to play the paparazzi and snap The Diva slipping the surly bonds of the rope line and touching the hand of our Commander in Chief. Look closely in the video below, and don't blink or you'll miss her long gray-sleeved arm reaching out to touch him.


Cross Number 91 off my Bucket List.