The Obama Express and San Francisco festivities – Four days until Inauguration Super Bowl XXXXIV

President-elect Barack Obama will board a train in Philadelphia, home of the American Revolution and American Independence. It’s a very fitting start for a man who is making a history as he prepares to pave the way for a renewed and optimistic American independence in the 21st century. His festivities include pit stops in Delaware and Maryland until his destination Washington. Inauguration event organizers predict two million people will attend the start studded event. But what about those who can’t attend like me? The following is a list of San Francisco parties and events that look interesting:

SOCK IT TO ME: Free event will be held at the Civic Center Plaza in front of City Hall. They will have live coverage. This will be huge. I'm not sure yet if I'm going to attend since they open the barricades at seven in the morning and traffic will be a bear. Will see. Instead of an entrance fee, organizers are asking the public to donate unused socks to benefit the homeless and underprivileged. http://www.nextarts.org/concerts/inauguration_faq.php

THE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION SKATERS' BALL: This evening dance party looks fun. Roller skate and dance to old school disco beats. People are encouraged to dress as their favorite politician: Barack Obama, Sarah Palin, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom or whatever tickles your affiliation. Maybe I’ll dress like Sarah Palin since I have the glasses and hair. The entrance fee is $10. If you’ve ever perused the Golden Gate Park on Sunday, these are the dancers that boogie all day long along a strip of Kennedy Drive. I first saw them in 1993 and they looked like Dance Fever (showing my age) alumni but on roller skates: fluid, awesome and entertaining. http://www.cora.org/ObamaParty09.htm

INAUGURATION WEST: Held on the top 360 view floor of The Metreon with live music and dancing. Guests include former San Francisco 49er football greats among other local celebrities. Ticket prices are $75 to $125 for general to VIP admission. Proceeds benefit Omega Boys Club and other non profit organizations. With these high $$$, I believe more people will attend Sock it to Me and several smaller parties and venues which won't burn your recession lined pockets.
http://www.inaugurationwest.com/

Following up on my “Amazing Spiderman #583” hunt, as I had suspected, my neighborhood comic (geek) book store ran out of all first and second print issues on the first day of the release. Marvel is printing their third release which won’t hit stands until mid-late February. The second publication will ship on Inauguration Day. I’m #30 on the store’s waiting list.

Alzheimer's hits again

I just found out that actor Sean Connery, who passed away last October, died of complications due to Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's debilitates cognitive function. The cause of his death hit me three-fold: He was my mother's favorite movie star, they are both in their 90s, and she too has Alzheimer's. According to a recent AARP feature story , I was shocked that the great jazz singer Tony Bennett has Alzheimer's. Tony was also another idol of my mom. She would always perk up whenever she heard his infamous "I left my heart in San Francisco" ballad. Photo by Dyna Lopez In 2017, one year after his diagnosis, my mom, brother, and I watched him for the first time performing in San Francisco to a packed audience amongst a sea of silver-haired ladies. He was 90 at the time and did not disappoint. He belted out hit after hit and showed no signs of the debilitating disease. She sang along to a melody that was unfamiliar to my brother and me. My brother asked her, ...

Veteran's Day is very different this time

I usually don't think twice about Veteran's Day. I see the parades of retired military veterans on television, most wearing their uniforms proudly and offering a interview or two about sacrifice, remembrance and honor of the soldiers who fought and died for freedom. My only connection to Veteran's Day is my father, John Villegas Lopez. He served in WWII when he was drafted as a Philippine Scout and fought alongside United States serviceman against the Japanese when they invaded the Philippines. He escaped from the Bataan Death March and suffered from Malaria for a month before returning to serve again. It's shocking to know that 700 WWII veterans die every day. Only 2,530 are still alive. It was of course sobering for my parents to see the numbers shrink every year as a majority of my dad's fellow comrades have passed away. He outlived most of them until this past May. My father of 88 years joined them when he lost his courageous battle to lung cancer. The last...

How to make money in this economy

http://blog.futurewomenleaders.net/blog/bid/19763/How-to-generate-business-in-a-recession-for-less-than-50 I've been attending various workshops and lectures in the Bay Area targeting small business owners and current/future entrepreneurs. I wrote a post for Future Women Leaders about one of the lectures conducted by a Business Expert and Marketing Consultant. He shared an inexpensive checklist of strategies on how to stay afloat during these hard times, gain traction and build smart partnerships. Very helpful advice for any business regardless of the size (are you listening Corporate America!) and industry.

RamblingDyna

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