May 26, 2005
Cuba Nostalgia Sponsors
I would like to take a moment to express my sincerest gratitude to those that helped out via donations and sponsorships for the Cuba Nostalgia Convention. Had it not been for the following people and companies the Babalu Blog exhibit space would never have come to fruition.
First, there were number of private donors, folks who read this blog daily who sent in monetary donations while wishing to remain anonymous. I cant even begin to tell these fine people just what their sacrifice means to me, knowing that I have good friends out there that share my love for Cuba's freedom and that stand here beside me when I need them. When it came time to answer the call you guys proudly stepped forward with your "We're here!" Gracias, from the bottom of my heart.
I need to thank my boss, not only for his monetary contribution, but for putting up with all of my frantic running around and missing work and for allowing me the time to take care of everything that needed to be taken care of. It is an incredible honor and privilege to work with such a noble and understanding man who has been a bastion of support with my work on the blog and the convention. Not only that, but he urged and nagged his friends until they too, came up with donations of their own. Gracias, Opie. Es un orgullo ser tu amigo.
One of the first donations I recieved was from WA Berry and Associates, a consulting engineering firm we work with at our office. Chiqui, a Cubanita-American and her husband Saeed, and Iranian American, were the first to step up to the plate no questions asked. When I first told them about what I was planning the checkbook came out lightning speed. Gracias, guys. You have no idea how I cried as I sat in the car after leaving your office that day.
I also received a sizable donation from Design Drywall, Inc. An interiors and drywall installation company whose owners have never met me, never spoken to me, and had never read the blog until the day my boss called them up and told them they had to help me out with the Convention. Another donation built on trust and a solidarity for the cause. Thank you, sir, for your having believed in me despite the fact that you have never met me in person.
Garcia and Garcia, Cerified Public Accountants also stepped up to the plate knowing very little, if anything, about my work on the blog. While I have spoken to Fico and Isa, whom I met for the very first time in person Friday during the convention, they helped out this stranger with a sizable contribution no questions asked. Gracias not only for the donation, but for coming by and supporting us during the convention.
Rodriguez and Currier, consulting engineers, also made a sizable contribution for the convention. I work with these two gentlemen and I consider it an honor to have their support. Not only do I appreciate their monetary sponsorship, but I gain strength by the way Charlie's eyes light up when he speaks of his youth in Cuba. Gracias, señores, del alma.
The minute Ines Flax heard about what I was doing, she immediately came to offer us support. She donated the first laptop, which was literally in our hands less than an hour after my wife contacted her and told her about the convention. Having come from Nicaragua and her family facing conditions similar to those some face in Cuba, she stepped up, front and center, and expressed her solidarity with the cause. Gracias, Ines, es un privilegio having you on our side.
Our friend Ari of Universal Trust Lenders came through with a second laptop for the convention, no questions asked. "Take my own personal laptop" he said to my wife when she spoke to him about our plans. I was a little wary of using his personal laptop, scared that I might break it or it would get stolen or dropped or something, but Ari insisted, knowing how important this whole thing was to us. Gracias Ari, for the laptop, but speically for your friendship and support. Without you I wouldnt have the home I have now.
When I designed the exhibit space I knew I needed a round conference type table as the central blogging and computer space. A square or a rectangular table wouldnt do. I had to have a 5 foot diameter conference table and, if youve ever looked for a table like that one in particular, you know how rare they are. But then Camilo Office Furniture came to the rescue. Not only did they have a 5 foot diameter table, but they loaned us a beautiful solid cherry wood table whose design and elegance was way beyond my expectations. Gracias, Camilo y gracias Ana Maria for your support and kindness and for providing the Babalu exhibit with its beautiful blogging heart.
The minute Jim of Smoke on the Water got wind of the Babalu Blog exhibit at the Cuba Nostalgia convention he immediately contacted his friend Al at Cuban Crafters Cigars. Al in turn immediately contacted me and said "Whatever you need, it's yours." Not only did Cuban Crafters Cigars offer up a sizable contribution, but donated a box of their finest cigars. Al not only came through, but his zeal in helping me was an inspiration when frustration with the preparation had started to set in. Coño, Al, gracias mi hermano.
One of the biggest surprises for this whole thing was meeting Robert of Meeting Solutions. When I called him about needing audio/visual equipment he picked up the ball and ran with it. Not only did he come up with the perfect plan for the A/V presentations, but he donated the equipment and his time. He was there during the build and the tear down and without so much as a second thought was there with "What else do you need? Cables? Power strips? Extensions? Lo que sea." Thanks Robert, you rock dude.
When I designed the structure for the exhibit space I wanted it to graphically depict the blog in one way or another and decided that I would have canvas banners as the "walls" of the framework. Freddie of Hi-Tech Signs and Graphics took the artwork reader CB made up and came up with some beautiful high-res banners that had patrons of the event enthralled. The banners he offered up were what brought people straight to the booth and kept them there reading. Gracias, Freddie, not only for printing those incredible banners but for dealing with my panicky self and coming through in the clinch.
My old man took the sketches I drew up for the framework and made the thing in 2 days. I dropped off the sketches on a Saturday morning and Monday at lunch time they were ready to be picked up. You have no idea how proud I am of that structure, not because I designed it, but because my old man built it. He poured his heart into it knowing it was important to me. He kept asking why I didnt want to paint it, leaving it showing slight signs of rust, and I basically told him "just because."
But it wasnt just because. I wanted to show his work. I wanted each and every weld to show, each and every scratch from the grinder, each and every part of that thing that he had to sweat for and work on with his calloused hands to be there for all to see. I dont think my father had any idea of what the actual finished product of that framework would look like, but I wish I could describe the look on his face when he first saw it there on the convention room floor, all decked out with banners and canopies and laptops and most importantly, people standing side by side with his son, working their behinds off for an entity that lives in their hearts: Cuba. Gracias, viejo, por tanto y por todo.
There are many many more people to thank, it wasnt just sponsors who got this thing rolling, but a bunch of folks who volunteered their time and efforts to help make the Babalu Blog exhibit at Cuba Nostalgia a success. Ill be posting about all their work this weekend.
Posted by Val Prieto at May 26, 2005 09:00 AM
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Comments
from all of us a very warm and heartfelt thanks to you Val for make this blog available and for giving us a place where to make our voices heard.
Thanks, a big hug!
Posted by: CB at May 26, 2005 09:11 AM
Val,
Make that TWO abrazotes, as I'm sending you one as well. It was a privilege to attend CubaNostalgia and help out. I'm still flying high from the experience!
And, co~no,who the hell drank my wine without asking for it after I left Sunday?
Julio
Posted by: Julio C. Zangroniz at May 26, 2005 09:23 AM
Julio,
I dont know what happened to your wine. I do know Val, Maggie, George and I were putting down Mojitos from the time you left until were tore down.
Efrain
Posted by: Efrain at May 26, 2005 09:32 AM
Addendum:
What really frosted my casta~nas about that situation is the fact that the wine thief had the gall to replace it with water, so the bottle still looked partially full... and we ourselves didn't discover the theft/substitution until we were at Mancamp on Monday.
I had offered the wine to anyone, except perhaps to the thief himself. Small thing, but annoying. As'i es la vida!
Julio
Posted by: Julio C. Zangroniz at May 26, 2005 09:33 AM
Julio,
Thats funny! Did the bottle stay there overnight until Monday morning? I dont remember packing it. Sounds like more of a prank to me.
Efrain
Posted by: Efrain at May 26, 2005 09:36 AM
Efrain,
Yes, I had placed a bottle of white wine, and a bottle of seltzer water, on the end of the table closest to the movie screen. Periodically, I would stop there and, using one of the plastic Bacardi cups that a friendly bartender had given me, I would pour out either water or wine, depending on what I felt like at that particular time. George Moneo graciously brought me a mojito now and then, too, though I really didn't want to imbibe too much alcohol because it really screws up my rapidly diminishing photographic skills.
I had to leave CubaNostalgia early on Sunday, around 5 PM, or shortly after the arrival of Cachao. My last act there was one final hike around all the exhibits in Building #2, to see if I could locate Cachao and his daughter, for some last-minute photos. Earlier, I had to photograph Cachao as he sat on a bench virtually surrounded by people, and I felt I could get better photos. When I took the photo of George and Amanda with Cachao, for instance, I couldn't even move a few inches to either side.
But my Sunday meanderings were foiled, because I never did see Cachao or his daughter again.
After a quick round of "hasta la vistas," I took off and didn't return to the place until Monday morning, to help Val finish knocking the exhibit down.
The bottle of wine was still there, as was the water. Both were about 1/3 to 1/2 half full, just as I had left them the day before. But somehow, the wine had turned to water overnight.
A reversed Biblical event, I guess.
Val and I suspect the culprit was one of the Security people.
Julio
Posted by: Julio C. Zangronz at May 26, 2005 10:07 AM
Julio,
It was either the security people or maybe some of the people tearing down other exhibits got thirsty. Either way, next time you are coming down let Val know and I will pick up a bottle of wine and we can all have a drink or two at Man Camp.
Efrain
Posted by: Efrain at May 26, 2005 10:16 AM
Efrain,
Es un "deal"!
I have a major project in the works with Val, and it will probably require at least one more personal visit to the Sunshine State soon.
Hopefully, we can meet at Mancamp and share some adult beverages there.
Julio
Posted by: Julio C. Zangroniz at May 26, 2005 10:24 AM
Looking forward to it. See you soon.
Efrain
Posted by: Efrain at May 26, 2005 10:28 AM
I fndi it verey suspisdhus thatt juLIo wood bringg up the lost wine . I swer I di d not tuch a drop.
geoRge
Posted by: George L. Moneo at May 26, 2005 10:40 AM
Julio, weren't those plastic cups very similar to those George had with his mojitos. Hmm....
Posted by: Amanda at May 26, 2005 10:46 AM
Yes, Amanda, they were the same type of cups.
But I wrote my name on one of the cups, so I wouldn't be using anyone else's.
Apparently, *that* wasn't a problem for George! :)
By the end of business tomorrow, Friday, I expect to have prints in the mail to most of those that I promised them. Sadly, I still haven't mastered the technique(s) for downsizing my picture files, attaching them to e-mails and sending them successfully.
But paper prints will be better, because you won't need computer equipment to share them with friends.
And George, if I recall correctly, you wanted me to send Mrs. Moneo the photos of the rumbera, so she could copy the outfit, right?
Julio
Posted by: Julio C. Zangroniz at May 26, 2005 11:24 AM
Julio, first of all, I was holding on to my mojitos with dear life until I finished them, so I did not need my name on the cups. If I would have put my name on the cups I would have writing for half the show! Second, I asked you to send me the pictures of me standing next to the rumbera. I have to complete the article on Afro-Cuban Jazz I am writing for Val and that photo is part of my research into dimples and the rhythm of the Caribbean...
;-)
Posted by: George L. Moneo at May 26, 2005 11:50 AM
Julio, I can teach you how to do that.
I will write to you tonight and you'll be able to do that in a snap.
Posted by: CB at May 26, 2005 12:42 PM
Thanks, CB,
A word of warning, I must go to work for an FDA contractor tonight, until about 11 PM --as I do every night-- so please bear with me if you don't get an immediate response. But I certainly look forward to being able to unravel yet another "mystery of life."
As to George, I guess your last comment means that you'd prefer some of the *extreme closeups* of the rumbera, because they sure show the dimples so much more clearly... unless you only want to cover the main curvatures de esa escultural chica. Ay Dios m'io.... you have no idea how I *miss* Miami right now!
Julio
Posted by: Julio C. Zangroniz at May 26, 2005 12:49 PM
Julio, any and all would be fine! ;-) BTW, I have a funny story about the "reverse biblical trick" you mentioned (turning wine into water). My wife and I went to a friend's house and the lady of the house offered me a drink. I told her I would have a vodka on the rocks. When I tasted it (it was alledgedly Finlandia vodka which is pretty good) the vodka was pretty flat and tasteless. I did not say anything so as not to offend our hosts. Come to find out a month later that our host's slightly under 21 year old daughter had had a party at the house and had replaced all of the vodka and gin with mineral water! No wonder I didn't get a buzz! So as you can see, the tactic is well known...
Posted by: George L. Moneo at May 26, 2005 01:51 PM
Julio, you work with photoshop right? That's the only thing I need to know... from there on, it's just a walk in the park...
Posted by: CB at May 26, 2005 03:40 PM
Esteemed CB,
Sorry, but I have not begun to try to tackle the mysteries of Photoshop.
Although I have been to at least three photographic seminars that discussed its capabilities, and my wife has been tinkering with a version of it for the last couple of years, I have not attempted to put it into practice.
Yours truly, sadly, simply hasn't had the chance to sit down with enough time to start mastering Photoshop.
It's just one (more) of those things that must "wait until I have more time."
Today, for instance, I had to spend about three hours mowing the grass around our house, a lush herboreal carpet that had reached knee-high in some places (jeez, it was only around my ankles when I left for Florida last Thursday!) and now I have to continue processing a stack of about 125 reprints that I ordered at our photo lab yesterday. The photos require numbering, and an i.d. tag line (the usual "Photo by...", so people will know years from now where a particular print came from) and then I have about 12 envelopes to address, stamp and mail.
And I owe Val at least four stories about the weekend. The legend of CubaNostalgia continues...
Val, in particular, is going to enjoy a pretty fine album of images, but only because Maggie treated me so well, as did both sets of parents (his and hers). I felt I was with my own grandparents. What lovely people! As'i son los cubanos!
Julio
Posted by: Julio C. Zangroniz at May 26, 2005 04:05 PM
