Pool Party!!!

Are we just going to let this die? :(

where is everybody?!?!?!

In my defense, I do try.

Open up the page, stare blankly, yet longingly at that ever-mocking blinky cursor thing. I believe this is attempt number 3. or 4 if you count the time my modem just stopped working and i couldn't even access the intertangledness that is the internet and simply waved the white flag (code word for went to sleep).

And now you're asking me for my for 10 goals.

I've never been one for overachieving, so generally my goals float around the vicinity of "wake up at 6am to run everyday," "don't eat red meat for a month," or "try not to drink till you puke." And I've always been trapped in wonderment when I see "achievers" in action. Then, immediately following the mouth-gaping awe is a secret bittersweet hurricane of thought. It begins like this: Let me leave the big goals to the others, let me sit happily on the sidelines. Let me reap the benefits of all that achievement, watch the movies that are made, read the books that are written, stay in the hotels that have been imagined, eat the food, wear the clothes. Let me cheer on life and capturing it all in my memory (and with my trusty G7). But the bitter little fucker comes when i think to myself: "Self, are you underestimating you? Are you underutilizing your talents? (and here comes the ultimate bitter - the bitter that leaves you with your tongue out wishing you could skim that layer of tastebuds off) Self, are you simply a lazy coward?!"

And right at that moment, when that last question settles its bitter, nasty little self into my heartstrings, is when I have the biggest goals and feel conviction with the greatest tenacity. I will start my own creative firm with E-S-G-U-E-R-R-A on the front door. I will quit this job, and work for Leo Burnett in Dubai. I will write the most creative, beautiful work this world has ever seen.

So I start at step one, with the vivacity of a freight train, by reevaluating my current work and mapping out my course of action. I can do it. I will get there. It's so simple. All I need to do is...

..And then the locomotive that is my will, slows. Even stops, sometimes. And my goals return to their meager little selves - "Clean the house as you go so it doesn't get too dirty," "Try to put $500 in savings a month instead of buying shoes."

But you know what? I'm OK with my measly little goals. It makes for that moment when I feel the strongest about my future, feel even more wonderful and so thick with emotion, whether its me hysterical and crying or flitting about with the vigor of a wide-eyed child.

So sometimes i have big goals and sometimes they are little. But all of the goals mentioned have been real at one point of another. Let me see... that's 8.

So, here's 2 more that I have at this very moment:

1. Write more, coz this was fun.
2. Don't let my anger make a fool of me. (totally unrelated to anything here, but totally related to something in the browser window next to this one)

Pool Party Update

The party just never stops in NYC!

First off, battle of the sexes a couple weeks ago at the Staten Island Cook Off. The men made all kinds of meat (of course!) including grilled steaks and spaghetti and meatballs. It was topped off with Jungle Juice (my request-and downfall), while the ladies made Sinigang Roast Chicken, Clam Dip, Gourmet Pizzas and Cupcakes.



Meanwhile, at around 2 am Partee Pork decided it would be a good idea to put a beer keg on top of the grill. It exploded and was found on the street the next morning. When asked about his bright idea, he explained he wanted it to be "like a rocket." Very good Partee!



I missed this spectacle, as I did most of the night because I was passed out before midnight. How sad.

ROCK THE BELLS

Next on the agenda, for me and Cindy at least was the much awaited Rock the Bells at Jones Beach. It took us a couple hours to get there but it was so worth it. Seeing Common, Talib, Wu-Tang, Big Boi, Pete Rock, Nas, Damien Marley and others all in one afternoon was the dopeness.



Talib and Common on one stage = priceless.

HOMEWORK # 3

Ok, so some of us never even did number 2 (me included) and some haven't turned in anything (I don't wanna mention any names, BANJ) but let's start off clean and do homework numbr 3.

Write down 10 goals or dreams you have for the next five years of your life. No matter how crazy or ridiculous they might sound, as long as you are dead serious about wanting to achieve them. And as a side bar, write down 5 things you wanted to be or do as a child/teenager and let us know if you actually became or did any of those things. If not, well, everyday is a new day and there is still time! :)

Deadline is August 1- a week from now.

Peace Out Party People :)

Q-Tip at Summerstage in Central Park... Amazing

It's a great thing when your favorite MC, who you show up two hours early to get in line to see, gives it his all and just puts on an amazing show. Q-Tip did not fail to impress this Summerstage and did not fail to impress me. Simply put, amazing. And I say this with two days to think it over, so all my thoughts are thoroughly secured. Check out some pics and comments from the show below:


With a great mix from all the ATCQ and solo hits, the highlight for me was the 10 min 'Electric Relaxation'. Not only is it my favorite Tribe song, Q-Tip continued the end of the song into a great jam along with his backing band. Another great highlight was 'Vivrant Thing' with a special guest dance appearance by the one and only Bad Boy himself, P. Diddy.




With the main act taken care of, let's move onto the opening act. I was greatly surprised and now a fan of this little Swedish quartet named Little Dragon. Fabulous little hipster grooves with a sultry female lead voice. Reminds me, but not exactly like, Portishead. I just think their spirit is reminiscent of the great trip-hop group.

The other opening act was the Harvard-ite duo of Chester French. Some songs were poppy enough to get into but the stage performance left me unimpressed. Check out their mixtape, which I gave a listen to, has some good songs. Overall I'm left with an 'ehh' opinion on the group.

Keep posted for more pics from the show...

-Poetic

I know, I'm obsessed...

I know, I know...you're thinking that there are one too many posts about '(500) Days of Summer'. But what can I say. I really love this movie. It instantly jumped in to my Top Five list and sits right next to 'High Fidelity' as my favorite movie of all time.

Like I said before, Music, Art, Movies, Books, these things matter. I see so much of myself in the lead character. I definitely relate to his hopeless romanticism (or should I say emotional laziness). But at the end, we all win...

Check out a cool article about the movie here at LATimes.com, enjoy.

Out of Control...

It's been a tough couple of weeks. Going out, having fun, getting out of control. All in one night. I can tell you it's putting a burden on my health. Not to mention that I have to make it into work the next day. Then do it all over again.

So we really did have a pool party last Saturday at Summer Jam • Grospeville 2009. I'm sure you've all seen the pics. All I can say is that sometimes you just have to get loose with it. Poetics highlights are as follow (as much as I can remember anyway):

- Drinking beer
- Listening / Dancing to irie reggae sounds
- Apparently had "joos"
- Taking a lot of pictures
- Trying to kiss everyone
- More dancing
- Rain
- Jumping in the pool
- Running around in my underwear (I don't know if this is true)
- My nose bleeding
- Rock Band

If you have further information of my nigh, please comment...

- Poetic

NYC's Best Dance Parties Are in the Afternoons... And Not In Dance Clubs...

Just came across this on nytimes.com. Apparently we've been going to the wrong dance parties and at the wrong time. We definitely need to do P.S. 1 very soon. Let's get a head count started...

500 Days of Summer

500 Days Of Summer Trailer from keith on Vimeo.

Call me a hopeless romantic or call me schmaltzy, but I love this trailer. The part at the beginning where he says, "Ohh, shit...', kills me. Seriously kills me. And I just got the album from the band playing, they're called The Temper Trap and are a great new band from Melbourne, AUS.

I'm going to a screening this Monday where after we view the movie and there will be a Q+A with the director and Zooey (FYI, number 2 on the list) right after.

I think this will have to be mandatory viewing for the swimmers. For assignment #3 I would like an essay on how this made you feel or a comprehensive review.

Welcome to Adelaide

Rizzo

Yo swimmers,

I couldn't think of anything to video other than me attempting to play the guitar and sing. Meh. Since the Poetic one posted an old video I figured to do that too. Here's a compilation of 3 songs and a lil bit of acting I did in Grease :) It was my high school's first attempt in 15years (I think) to produce a musical. Ehhh.. haha. So don't clown on the poor production and the flamboyant actors (men at my school weren't jumping to audition)!! ENJOY!




R.I.P Jonathan K. (the bigger guy that dances around with me in the first song.. he passed away years ago)


----
I just embedded this from my multiply.. haha

POOL PARTY FIELD TRIP!!!

Since we are all lovers of that little thing called hip hop, and everything that goes with it, I suggest we get out of the pool for a minute and go on a little field trip to Five Points in Queens.





Some of you may have already been, but how cool would all our pictures be? I may cry when I see all this.

This Is... The Amazing Race!

This is the...Amazing Race from Shanti Garcia on Vimeo.

Here's my infamous audition tape for the reality show, The Amazing Race. Jami and I put this together about 4 years ago aspiring to be reality TV stars and catapult us to fame and fortune. Unfortunately we didn't hear back from them and all we have to gain is this...enjoy!

Look what I found!

Hey Cindy, remember this????
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Photographs Wesley Villarica
Hair and Makeup Erica Paredes
Stylist Jenni Epperson
Model Cindy Kurleto

Partee's Interpretive Dancing...

Warning: turn down your volume (that's Lisa laughing in the background!)



I'm not going to claim this for my assignment, but had to post Tony's interpretive dance for "I'm every women" by Whitney Houston. Simply breath-taking.

CHICK FLICK

Assignment No. 2 as given by Miss Margaux

Viewer Discretion Advised!

While waiting for the 4th of July Fireworks.....

...There was an actual big ass fire 4 blocks away from where I ws in Brooklyn.Crazzzzy!Hope everyone made it out safe.

Favorite NY things #3

PANNA II Indian Restaurant is located in the East Village, 93 1st Ave between 5th and 6th. The food is not spectacular but above decent, but that's not why you should go. It's their crazy, kitschy decor that will reel you in, plus the happy birthday song the waiters sing for you if you are celebrating (or pretending to be)

Don't get it twisted, This place has been recommended by The New York Times and Washington Post. And if their tag line: "WHERE CHILI PEPPER LIGHTS MEET CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTS" doesn't make you want to go, I don't know what will.




The Birthday song-They turn the lights off and the waiters start dancing and it turns into some sort of weird Bollywood video.

Favorite NY things #2

Watching the sunset from a rooftop in Brooklyn. Amazing.

BANJ HAS TO STAND IN THE CORNER.

Tsk Tsk Tsk.... No HW? Detention for you.

What's the verdict, people?

Professor Margaux Speaks..

I'm putting it upon myself to assign our next... uhm... assignment.

Video time! Now I know everyone here has a camera, a phone with a camera, a friend who has a camera (we all think "Aycs" here huh?) .. so make a video. It has to be something entertaining. Please don't upload a video of you scratching your butt, drinking a brew at home. That is not pimpin! It's really not that hard. Record yourself eating something at your fav resto and tell us what you ordered. Commentary on the annoying people in the cubicle either side of your workspace. Cooking up your favorite meal (dang, I must be hungry). Singing your favorite song. Or even a video of you commuting in NY, The PI, Lima or wherever the hell you're at at the moment, Kris :D



Due date: This is a weekly thing right? Alright then.. July 11th it is

2HOURS and 30 MINS TO GO!

Dearest Pool Party guests... Apologies for chasing my deadline. This has been a never ending theme for the past...2...3...6...years. But good news! I am working on it!

The Basics:
Name: Maria Victoria Hannah Paredes Herrera
To those who know me well... its Vicky or V.
I am a Gemini
I just turned 22
I like Peanut Butter
I also like Rum Coke

BACKGROUND:

I was born in Long Beach California and pretty much studied there till 1st grade. My earliest memory of Long Beach was my mom cursing in Tagalog when my classmate hugged me. He was a boy. She freaked. I was 4. And that's also been a never ending theme.

I moved to Manila when I was 5 (I think). And was completely shocked by the heat. My mom forgot to inform me that I would be living here.... and my first day of school I cried. Not over the language barriers, but because they required me to wear a "uniform." See? I already knew the crap I didn't like to wear!! haha.

My sisters and brother moved to Manila a year after me. Then they started getting into the fashion/entertainment industry. Yeah, they are the main characters of my life story right now. Thats Teresa, Tina, Ro, and Jon... My family is so important to me. These cats taught me everything I know about fashion/ people/ the world/ life. They are my main mentors. Also my main bad influences (plus Sarah and Erika).

And also, I've probably met all of you through my siblings right?? :)

So I started modelling back when I as 17, coz I wanted to make money and do something else outside of college. (I get really bored when I'm just doing one thing.)



After I graduated, I travelled for a bit, bummed for a bit, decided to take a break on the whole model thing, and I dove into my first love- writing. I called everybody from the industry and I said "Hey, can I write for you?....."

Here's the twist. I called everybody BUT my siblings- they own/run STATUS Mag. Being the youngest, I was at this point in my life wherein I wanted to "do things on my own" so working for them wasnt an option. I still ended up writing for them though. And ironically, the most fulfilling jobs I've EVER EVER had were assigned by this magazine. So I decided to really join it. Now I am one of its editors. Working with family is pretty cool after all :) Okay enuf about work!

Status 06 is hustlin' from Status Magazine on Vimeo.

Slash Dot Com Vid they played last Philippine Fashion Week!

I want to seriously tell you about the trouble I've been getting into- which is ALOT these days. But my 'kuya' Jon might read this and tell my mother. So I guess not!

I can't find any scanned baby pics. Maybe next time!

xo

V

PS. Okay as of 9.46 pm Im having difficulty resizing pics. Im gotta rush to Dubplate Ill fix it when Im back!

I know, I'm Random

Full Name: Margaux Sue Morada Cortez

Birthdate: March 20, 1985 (that means I belong in the kiddie pool)

Locations:
Born in Manila, Philippines. Moved to the Bay Area, Ca. when I was about 2 years old. Moved to Fresno, Ca. at 5 till age 12. Moved back to the Bay Area (all over) till 21. Now I'm back in the motherland :) Next stop? Who knows..

Familia:
Both parents are filipino. I'm the middle child with an older sister and a younger brother.

As a kid:
I was outgoing. I did anything and everything grownups would tell me to do - cartwheels, sing, get them a glass of water - so long as someone gave me a dollar for it. Hustler. I taught myself to do almost everything I know to do. Ride the bike, rollerblade, cartwheels, flirt. I'm cool like that. The only thing I remember someone teaching me was when my Lola taught me algebra in like first grade. I played sports because I knew my dad always wanted a boy so I kinda tried to be one. Like I'd walk around the house with no shirt just underwear on, belching and playing video games. It was that bad. Then when I was 12, I got a little brother and found out boys liked me. It was a wrap. Rap? I like rap.

As a teen:

My passions were singing, acting, dancing, watching sports and boys. I was in choirs, my high school step team (short lived), musicals, and I took stats for football and some basketball games. I was a floater on campus. You could catch me with anyone at any given moment. From the jocks to the drama club people to random new comers that had no friends. The family always loved going to DisneyLand but I think it became an obsession in high school because I went almost every year for choir.





Now, I guess:
I'm a single, 24 year old, Piscean woman who loves funny, smart, understanding, spiritual, tall, dark and handsome men - where are you? Holler. Jokes aside (okay that wasn't really a joke) above all I am a lover. Three very important emotions I've learned throughout my life thus far is LOVE, EMPATHY and FORGIVENESS. With that said, I'm a very emotional person but you probably wouldn't know that if you don't know me well enough. Or even if you knew me well, I joke around too much for people to see how emotional I am. I'm as random now as I was as a kid. You know kids attention span is hella short. I am down for those I love, period. If I love you, you probably noticed that already. I like to do almost everything. Seriously. Oh and I'm usually the butt of all jokes. There's so much more to me.. I just don't know what else to say...

Random Favs:
Color: Green
Number: Four
Food: Japanese or Mexican.. it's a toss up
Sounds: The squeak of sneakers on a basketball court, genuine laughter, music I can FEEL
Smell: Palmer's Cocoa Butter.. PLAMER'S though

Yea, I'm gonna post this now before I get punished...

CK

I was baptized as Cynthia Christina Edeltraud Kurleto. Edeltraud being the name of the nurse that saved my life as a baby. Most people call me Cindy, which is my screen name and nickname since I'm little, though I prefer CK, Cynth or Cynthia.

I'm half Austrian and half Filipina, a single child, and stayed with my mom after their divorce. She would take the new Filipinas in town in, until they found their own place, so I grew up listening to german, english and tagalog. My mom told me that no one understood me because I was talking my own language until I was 4. (go figure) Once she caught me stuffing cookies into the cassette deck. I loved cookies and would never share them so she was surprised that I would discard them in such a way, worried they were bad or had run off. When asked though I replied that the cassette recorder was my best friend and HE said he was hungry. I love music and dancing. My perfect night out would always involve good music and a dance floor. Okay, yes, and cookies.

I spent my teenage years in cultured Vienna, where I grew up with cold winters and raw hip hop sounds. After gaining notoriety with vienna police for jaywalking a deserted street at 3am, which they fined me for, I fled for the Phillippines where I evaded the law, and hot showers, for 9 months at the foot of a volcano, before moving to Manila. It was there I found work for the next decade and started meeting most of the crazy peeps on this blog.

Like everything mixed with Filipino, I'm instinctively creative, love music, acting and artistic pursuits. I've actually had a quite glamorous career in the lime light, which is the reason why, in addition of my baby pic, you can actually watch a creepy video on youtube of me when I was just about 11 years old. Yeah, I just saw the start of it again and I'm not sure what's creepier, that some stranger took it and posted it on the net some fifteenehemtwenty years later, or to see chubby mini me =) 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opnlopf1z7g

Oh AND I've moved countries again and live in South America now. Pfew, hope that will do, I had my head in my hands the last couple of days thinking about: Who am I?? And what are the basics??

My favorite thing in New York thus far.....

Oh wait. And that broccoli chicken pizza I had in Staten Island yesterday.

One Day Left!

One day left till you stragglers receive your suggested punishment. So you lazy's, get up, get out and start blogging. Lateness is punishable by death (of autotune).

Roll Call...

Antonio Paolo Albano Mendoza



















a.k.a. tony, tee, partyboy, Mexican Druglord (In most international airports, they do not allow 'Antonio Mendoza' and 'Santiago Garcia' on the same flight. Ever.)

I was born in the Philippines, went 'state-side' at age 7 and have since lived in Ohio, South Carolina, California... but New York is where I call home.

















I love anything on wheels!

Incriminating Shenanigans:
1. Speeding + Blood Alcohol Content of .059 (waaaay below arresting limits)
2. Drinking in public, smoking kaya in public.
3. Subway/MetroCard/Turn style misunderstanding (Banj!)
4. No comment.

Some people have asked - "Why do they call you ParteePork?"
(see pic) 'nuff said.

See you kiddies at the pool!

Hobo in Uniform

Kristine, checking-in from Mong Kok, Hong Kong.

24 going on 25. Late-bloomer with affinities to smiley faces and exclamation points.

Plucked from the motherland at four and relocated to Adelaide, South Australia. When I was a kid, all I wanted to be, when I grew up was a McDonald's counter chick and a five-foot-ten supermodel. During Year 10, I spent many an early evening in the kitchen with my mum, who was often chopping up ingredients for that evening's dinner. We used to talk about what I was going to do when I reached University because I thought that what I did in Uni would set my life out. I was a planner. After following the path that Communications & Media brought me, I found myself lost with itchy feet, so I set out on the path less travelled. Sold the house, sold the car, quit my job, left The Land Down Under, all in the name of whim and livin' la vida loca. A nine-month sabbatical is where I met the first of these crazy cats, which led to the wedding, which led to the pool party.

I am now a flight attendant (which has nothing to do with anything I studied), living in Dubai.

Criminal records? DUI a few years back. Kids, don't do it...no matter how painstaking your fight with your boyfriend was. Breaking out into tears and heaving just before you blow into the mouthpiece is not going to get you out of it, believe me, I tried. Offense #2 - which I find coincidental but not surprising, follows Sarah's string of toplessness: Went topless at a beach in Dubai after finding out that it was Monday Only Ladies' Day. It turns out that even though it's just the ladies, no one's ladies should be out and about, if y'know what I mean. It's just not allowed.

So that's it! Assignment #1. Mission accomplished.

Ok, READY?!

I say "Pool," you say, "Party!" "Pool!" "Party!" "Pool!" "Party!"

This is CC. Officially at your service. And in keeping in the vein of the assignment, here are the basics:

Today, I am 26 years and 10 1/2 months old.

Me and my pimp-ass dad at the Lourdes Esguerra Residence in J. Asilo in TayTay

I was brought, by my parents, to The Home of the Brave when I was 2 1/2, from The Home of (my favorite!) Sinigang. (And for those of you that know, I mean Sinigang, not Sin-i-Gang.)

I work as a creative in the Advertising world. I say "creative" because although my business card says "copywriter," I've found myself doing anything from designing windows at Macy's Herald Square to art directing a Rolling Stone spread about MP3 players to, which happens more often than the likes of the previous two, writing email blasts about why you should purchase your next vehicle from the New York Long Island Honda Dealers.

If I don't do yoga, I am 20 times more likely to grab at your throat.

And when I was a kid, I used to spend upwards of 5 hours at a time in a pool.

Oh, and don't anyone dare say anything bad about Michael Jackson in my vicinity.

- Til' next time, my little swimmers.

Sarah Marie Margarita Carina Go Meier

My name is Sarah Marie Margarita Carina Go Meier - although the Margarita and Carina names only came into effect when I was 7 years old - at which time my Mother realized how Jewish "Sarah Meier" sounded.

[Just to clarify, I am not Jewish.]

I was born and raised in Hong Kong during British rule, with a Filipina-Chinese maternal heritage, and a Swiss-Yugoslav paternal one. I have lived the second half of my life in the Philippines, and consider New York my second home. This makes the question, "Where are you from?" a dilemma to answer when you're really just making small talk, and prior to the query, were already thinking of ways to politely excuse yourself from the going-nowhere conversation.




When I was a child, I traveled to a different country every summer. On two of these trips, I spent majority of the vacation topless, and have since buried the photo albums somewhere in embarrassment:

Pattaya, Thailand - I wore no clothes, because none of the other children did, and neither did our pet monkey. I half-wished his name was Spank, just so I'd have a story to tell, but in actuality, his name was Hong Kong. Our favorite pastime was running around asking each other, "Where is Hong Kong?" and tirelessly replying, with a shriek, "Near China!!!".

Switzerland - I wore no top because none of the other women did.
[On second thought, maybe I should unearth those photo albums.]

I married a stellar chap named Banjo three years ago, and again this past March. We have an incredible daughter named Kaya, whose name, amongst other things, is a synonym for weed in Jamaican.

[Just to clarify, I do not smoke pot.]



At our latter wedding, we failed to realize what a cataclysmic event it would be to introduce some of the most "interesting" people from our lives (who, on the contrary, DO smoke pot), to each other . We likewise failed to realize that fish balls were more fun to throw than eat, that bridesmaids were such a hot commodity, and that everybody loved to swim so much. What we did realize, was that if yous gots a good thing going, don't stop - 'til you get enough.

On that note, the saga continues.
Pool Party in 20 minutes, motherf#$%^&s.

Thanks for a Golden Good Time...

Thanks for all the birthday wishes and for all of you who came out to help me celebrate. Here's a couple of pics for a re-cap. We're waiting on the official party pics from CC...

Wandering Star

Name: Erica Noelle M. Paredes

Nickname/s: Aycs, E, Lushie, Drunkie

Age: Anywhere from 15-40 depending on situation, although legally, my birth certificate says I am 30.

Occupation: Technically, "Beauty Editor", but I prefer "Gypsy".

I was your typical wild child growing up-partying too hard too often (Oh wait...that's still me now.) until I got pregnant at 24, and had my beautiful baby girl at 25. She literally saved my life I believe, and everyday I learn more and more from her. I like to travel, eat good food, drink good wine, have great conversations, experience new things, get lost in a country/city I've never been in, get tattoos, write about both profound and inane things and randomly do cartwheels and handstands. I eat and breathe hip hop and old school slow jams. My clothes are all vintage, and so is my soul.

I love my friends like family, and I love my family as much as frozen yogurt, and that says a lot, ask anyone.

I am required to confess any criminal records, so I will come clean and admit that I have been caught vandalizing property with cans of spray paint, back in my early teens when I thought I was cool. Now I know I am, so I don't need to do that anymore.I was also constantly grounded growing up for "underachieving" (aka bad grades) and answering back at teachers and/or walking out of class. Oh, and once I was caught for something that had to do with a parked car and a boyfriend but lets leave it at that.

Hopefully you don't judge me for my honesty :)

Fun Fact: When my sister was born I wanted to name her Chuck Mangione.


Me at 4 years old with my dad and "Chuck"

now :) (Still in Quito, Ecuador at present)

Peace and Love,

E

The Poetic One...

Santiago Rodriguez Garcia IV reporting for duty. I'll pretty much make you smile, guaranteed. I come from many places but much rather be here with you. I believe what really matters is what you like, not what you are like... Books, records, films - these things matter. Call me shallow but it's the fuckin' truth!

Roll Call!

So, since there are about 400 of us in on this little collabo, I suggest that we take turn being "Editor" on a weekly basis. That way, each week, there is one person in charge that gives everyone else a theme, a question, an assignment, or a direction - which gives us all liberty to post our posts, but with some sort of unifying undercurrent.

And since it was my idea, I'm going to go first.

EDITORIAL ASSIGNMENT #1 (For the week of June 26 - July 3):

Introduce yourselves, individually. Make sure to get the basics across, plus a nice little backgrounder, and at least one fun fact about yourself. A childhood picture is also required.

[Coming clean now about any potential criminal records is highly recommended, because I personally like to know EXACTLY who I'm going swimming with. And Banj - your arrest for hopping the turnstile in the Subway counts.]

Deadline: July 3, 2009

Punishment for late submission to be determined by suggestion/majority vote at the time of offense.

RIP Michael Jackson & Farrah Fawcett

The Pool Party is Officialy Open!!!

With much procrastination and much more verbal bullying (...you know who you are), I'm proud to officially open Pool Party, 20 Minutes! The One Blog for The Many.

I don't think we've really come to a consensus on the direction of this blog. I say we just run with it and where ever it takes us, is where it takes us. Someone wise once told me, "it's not the destination, but the journey." Actually I think it was 'Playful' who said it. I don't know, I think we were intoxicated at the time.

So contributors...contribute and visitors...enjoy.

I heart the Galapagos Islands

Look what I found! I wanted to cry. It was so so so awesome.

A baby sea lion, no more than two months old, abandoned by his mom. I wanted to take him home with me!!!

The only other time I saw killer whales was at Sea World

Sea lion pups are fun to play with but the big ones are a bit scary so I kept my distance.

Back in Quito now, but my heart is still in the Galapagos

Whatever!

Shanti is a punk! But thanks for the new logo... Let the sh!t talkin begin!