starkey gala vip party...

wow.
what a night.
i am exhausted.
this was the most incredible gathering
i have ever experienced!
people kept coming up and saying ~
"this is your job?" and i got to say
"yep! sucks to be me!"

now, i was required to turn in my cards
so i currently have no images to share but
the day started at 4:30. i met cheryl
at the "griffin gallery" in bloomington.
if they had just told me that it's in the
old "camelot" building that would have
been good. :) go see it! seriously!

so we get there 30 minutes early to get
the lay of the land and meet the folks
that own the gallery (bill & deborah mack),
this was a showing of jane seymore's artwork
(bill mack's work is on the other side of the
gallery and i encourage everyone to go
and see his work. it's just awesome!)
including handbags and silk scarves as well
as acrylics, oils pastels and watercolors...
she's really an amazing artist...who knew!?
her husband, james keech was there as well.
this was an event set up for the opening of
the gallery and something for the starkey guests
to attend. all of jane's artwork was for sale.
art started at $795..too rich for my blood but
i did manage to get a hand bag with one of
her paintings on it. it's lovely and i'll
pick it up today (why would i bring money, right?)
she signed it for me and i had my photo taken
with her at the gallery holding my bag. fun!

moving on....
the austin home on bryant lake. wow!
no expense spared for this little shin~dig.
i'm just guessing, but it had to be hovering
around the million mark. incredible! at least
15 foot tall topiary giraffe, 9 foot elephant
topiary (created by ricardo edelstein), tiki torch lined drive and african
drums and dancers beckoned the guests as the
limos dropped them off. offerings of
sparkling water, champagne & wasabe shots (yum,
i had one!) and bloody mary's were made available
by like 12 servers. (i could go on and on about
the greeting of guests!)
i stood near the elephants and offered photos
of each of the guests with the topiaries and
handed them cards that were printed with info
on how to view the images later for purchase.
yes, i did feel a little like a cruise ship
photographer for a bit, but everyone LOVED it!!
EVERYONE wanted a photo! great fun!

inside, a Picasso museum, a plethora of artifacts
from around the world, signed one of a kind pieces
and even sir elton john's red baby grand piano!
i can't even...um...hardly remember all of the
incredible details and signed sports memorabilia
contained in this gorgeous home.

i met norm crosby (also loves m&m's!)
leslie nielsen (had my photo taken with him.
mikey rooney (sweet!), c.everett koop (wonderful!)
lou ferrigno (i think he still works out!)

tonight there will be nearly triple the number of
guests. many who were at last night's affair.
this morning there is a golf outing up at rush creek
and a sporting clay as well. i'd have loved
to hit either of those..especially the sporting
clay! but today i relax, recharge (literally)
and wait for the big party tonight at the new
starkey training facility off crosstown.
3 bands...it's gonna be huge!

i'm going to go put my feet up now!

side note....today, hobie and katie get their
summer cuts! i'll post images tomorrow.
this is a new spot.."clean as a whisker"
in st. louis park recommended by my vet!

tomorrow i photograph a good friend's wedding
in parker, south dakota. i'll hit the road
early with gary (my handsome assistant!)

p.s. got my chocolate brown sample album
like a week early from pictage! WOW!!!