THE CULMINATION OF THE DNC

Last night we got last minute tickets to join the mayhem that is the DNC - to get into Invesco field together with about 60 thousand other people from all over - we walked for 30 minutes to get there and stood in a 30 minute line. But the program was fantastic!

We had Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crow, BEP and John Legend performing and all the politicians making speeches. Barrack Obama's speech had the crowd going wild! Fire works to end it off!!

After that we walked for an hour! Back to Larimer and then caught a cab to EXDO - to the Vanity Fair / Google party, WOOOWWWEEEEE It was awesome! Red carpet - security everywhere. We were standing shoulder to shoulder with... wait for the list:

Rachel Leigh Cook

Jamie Fox

Susan Sarandon

Chevy Chase

Ashley Judd

Josh Lucas (omg what a hottie!)

Anne Hathaway (Ok i snuck in a pic of her.. LOL)

Alan Cumming (night crawler from X men)

John Slattery (Vicker Lang from Desparate Housewives and Star of Mad men)

Spike Lee

There were a few recognizable faces whose names and movies for the life of me I cannot recall now!

Other sightings (no shoulder rubbings):

Ben Affleck

Angela Bisset

Oprah Winfrey

Gail (whatshername)

We know Madonna, George Clooney, Scarlett Johannsson, Quentin Tarratino and Matt Damon were in town too - but no sightings of them. :-(

And ofcourse all the American Politicians were everywhere. I didn't take pictures, because when you go somewhere as a guest, you want to appear cool and sane, not like a crazed papazzi! LOL but the memories are imbedded...

So - even though I have been around Celebs for many years, this time was as a fan and not an employee, I never cease to be starstruck and totally taken up by all the glitz. My friend said to me last night: "Delise you must be destined for something great and famous. Lime light seems to follow Delise, because you have ALWAYS seemed to be where all the famous people are"... What can I say? Who knows!

:-)))) Next week is going to be DULL in downtown.. BUT before the dullness...... its time for VEGAS BABY!!!!!! I leave tonight whooo hoooooo.

BEAUTY
You know - I am the type of person who celebrates the small of things and celebrates the biggest of things, I believe that there is a greatness in my destiny and sometimes my world feels utterly too small for where my heart needs to be. I cannot live in a world without the big dreams and goals and unlimited potential that life has to offer - whenever I feel contrained in my life, it is like torture. I can't look down into my world, put blinkers on and not see and live truly what happens around me....

One small thing that is by no means insignificant... is the beauty of nature and wonder of manmade inventions... which I look at and marvel at - at times.. when the two come together, it is like poetry and music and a heart inlove.... and leaves me breathless (This image was taken with my blackberry)

I have to write what that heart loves.....

Denver.. at times - thy beauty astounds me...

When first my eyes saw thee

I drank of thy fountain

my whole heart and me..

Too sweet t'was thine taste

how can I hide thee

on my humbleness a waste

My heart tries to touch thee

with all of her senses

unmake me or give thine whole self to me...

An ode by Delise Moore

The DNC continued

Well, last night I was feeling rightly rotten, I just walked up and down the streets of downtown aimlessly!

But earlier in the day, I stood outside the Brown Palace with all the other paparazzi crazies and managed to spot a few celebs. Aisha Tyler, Dianna Ross' daughter and some other familiar faces were in the crowd. This morning I spotted Jessica Alba. I also saw John Legend in concert on Tuesday night and made eye contact and said hello to Will-i-am (from Black Eyed Peas)

Craig went to an event last night (yes - he dissed me!) and had coctails in the same lounge with Jamie Fox, Ashley Judd, Dario Franchitti, Rachel Leigh Cook and Many more.

Yeah the whole of Hollywood is in town this week - and You KNOW how much I love this kinda thing! You KNOW this is the very reason I moved to the USA - wink wink.

When will I get to see Christian Bale??????

Meeting Charlize Theron

Ingrid and I both decided a while ago that our dream job is to be an Assistant to a Celebrity - having been inviolved in that line of work for a few years - you get disillusioned and UNstar-

struck because you realize that Celebs are just ordinary people and some have a high and mighty opinions of themselves - they buy into their own marketing campaigns! but we both had the idea that we would love to move to LA and work for Charlize - knowing what culture she was from we assumed that she would not be so celebritized as the folks we met!

Last night - I innocently went to the Pepsi Centre as a guest to listen to Hilary Clinton give her speech - As I walked through the security point, a guy asked us to wait for a moment, and in walks Charlize - no body guards, just a guide showing them what to do. She was wearing a plain brown printed skirt and a black short jacket - hair tied back, minimal make up - when she brushed past me and put her bag into the scanner - my heart jumped! I started getting nervous. No one else around even seemed to noticed. She moved slowly not trying to hide - ever so casually with Stewart - who was dressed in a suit. I walked up behind her and just said hello in Afrikaans, she whipped around and lit up and smiled saying HI!!! and we walk a little with them.

Is she normal - yes? yes she beautiful beyond the average person's dreams in REAL life? YES! That is the most amazing thing - she was a little aloof - I bet you have to be if you are that famous - but she was very polite and such a nice person. The thing of it is - I was SO nervous - I mean more so than when I meet Formula one drivers (and THAT is the highlight of my life!) - I think it was strange being on the FAN end of it - usually when I met Celebs in the past it was for work - there was protocol to be followed.

I didn't take any pictures, I just felt out of respect for her - I didn't want to make a fuss or a scene.

WOW - it was awesome. The whole whoohaa for me is that she is an A-list Actress, Oscar winner, one of my favourite, she has a grounded view on life AND she is from Benoni nogal! that rocks!

So that was my little moment :-)) **big smile**

DNC Denver

This week in Denver we have the Democratic National Convention happening in town. The whole town is abuzz and alive - there are events happening everywhere and we have Celebrities, Cops, FBI, Secret Service. Riot police, Mounty police - the whole lot - everywhere.

Last night I went out for cocktails and decided to walk the streets to see what was happening, walked into a live demonstration / protest - all the media, helicopters and riot police were around. It seems kinda tame, if you watch BBC World, look out for me HA HA

totally insane! exciting though.

Reality

Today I was standing in the Starbucks line waiting for my Chai tea and I read something VERY interesting on their board. It said: "live one WHOLE day in real life"....

I thought that was really neat and it got my brain thinking about my obsession with reality. Do I Live a whole day in real life??

So much of life passes us by because we have our minds on the deadlines, the work expectations, the TV shows, the cleaning, the "to do" list - and all of that IS part of reality... but do we ever stop to experience and live in the reality within our souls, stop and look at who we are and how we effect this world? Smile and appreciate the day because it's beautiful, appreciate our jobs because we have one.... fully live in the relationships that we have....

I know I am guilty of letting a day go by without living it wholly in reality.

In and out of Africa

I arrived back on Sunday evening from the quickest whirlwind of a trip! it is not that I haven't been home for that short a period of time, but this trip was so busy - with all the running around and a minimal amount of sleep - it flew by in a blur!

I also didn't have time to take any pictures - so I recorded videos - while eating, walking and driving - so that I didnt have to stop - but still able to capture my trip and relive it to see what I missed!

Day one:

Arrival in South Africa:

I arrive at OR Tambo International airport - tired, stinky, neck all bent out of shape... waited an hour for my luggage. The first thing I decided to do was get a MTN simcard to make calls and announce my arrival - MTN: "Eish, we are out of seemcards"... ok - lets try Vodacom.. "Yes medem, it weel cost you R150 rends for the seemcard and R80 rends for the airtime" - I was like WHAT!!!! - I KNOW that I can get a simcard for R10 from CNA and then just load the airtime. The response: "Yes medem, then go get it from there!"

Welcome to Africa - the accent - for dramatic effect!

I walk out of the majorly confusng, contruction infested airport - to another beautiful, majestic South African sunset... air clean and crisp, familiar energy surrounding me - I am home...

I look across the road from the new "amazing' airport and there are 3 mobile zink home type things - Steers and Nandos kiosks - music blaring - live-live - china!!! gees

Ok - So Willie picks me up in the Audi and we catch up - I feel like I am in a time warp!

I arrived home at around 10pm - walked into my townhouse and everything was so familiar - everything looked exactly the same! After a much needed bath - I realized that I am too wired to go to bed - unpack and call Marlene - shoot over for some rooibos tea and chat.

Day 2:

Sunday morning after not sleeping very much - I woke up early - got ready and went to visit my parents. Spent the morning eating koeksisters (ahhhhh) and chatting to the 'rents, catching up - giving them their gifts from the USofA... It was also my boets birthday, so we went to the new casino out in Krugersdorp- wow - what a nice place. Had a nice buffet lunch - we sat there from 1pm till almost 5pm - chatting and laughing - and taking videos!! LOLOLOL

After the great day with the family, I went to visit Shantal and her new oh-so-cute baby. Had more food! Delicious Indian curry - ahhhh the food from home rocks man!

Day 3:

Monday morning came around and I knew that the busyness was about to begin. I got out of the house early - organized the gardener to do something about the highly neglected garden, ran over to Sandton City - I almost didn't find my way - since everything looks so different - gees they are building a hotel right opposite the Village Walk!! Did my banking and met my friend at Baglios for breakfast - some things have NOT changed - Baglios - still sucks - service-wise! David raced over from his busy work day as well and we had a cup of Cinammon Milo - ahem... Chai Tea? whatever - it was nice - until I saw the price!!! Ok - I had 2 slices of brown toast with scrambled eggs. He had a fruit bowl - wait for it.... R300!!! WTF!

Moving RIGHT along! I then got a call from Ingrid to discuss wedding things, I did a bit of shopping for her and made some appointments as well. The afternoon flew by me! I was in the process of making some gifts for Ingrid for her "pre wedding" day sleep over at my house and for her wedding morning breakfast surprise - so with my limited amount of time I raced through Sandton City trying to find what I needed - Appalled at the prices of things - even in dollar conversion things were outrageous!

Petrol time.. sigh - how nice to have someone do it for you - but then really - if I could save the R750 it cost me to fill my small golf tank - I would do it myself - give the poor oke a break! but they wouldnt have it! Argh! Raced through insane traffic to get to Cresta where I met Ingry - ah the reunion of old mates - and the 2 Antonies - We had the nicest Steaks - agh lekker man! After that we went to Melville for coffee at their house and had a gas till early hours.

Day 4:

Tuesday, I was already feeling very tired, after my late dinner and drive home at ungodly hours... I tried to get more sleep! Alas! the gardener was there at the crack of dawn making all sorts of noise. I went over to InnStaff and met Troy for breakfast - chatted with old colleagues and ex-boss - it was great to see everyone again.

After that my time belonged to Ingy - went over to her place in Mellville and did wedding things - she cooked us dinner and Cheryl came over - it was like a RBTC reunion - ofcourse - only the sane was were there! We then went for a wedding dress fitting, it was alot of fun - I was put in charge of making sure the bride eats nothing major until the wedding day - but when we got back to Mellvile we had chocolates and tea! just for THAT night!

Day 5:

Day before the big wedding day! Ingy and I met early and started our errands - so far - bride was calm, bridesmaid was tired - but all was well. Errands went smooth - met David for lunch while Ingy had her nails done - raced all the way back to Mellville - only to find a stressed bride! DRAMA! The nails were a disaster - good news though - the 2 Antonies and another friend were in the process of whipping up a lekker braai! And making me PAPTERT!! Whooo hoo - but ok - back to the nails... bubbles - OMG! Alteast we managed to get another appointment for new nails - but on the wedding morning.... So we prepared ourselves fo it to be a hectic day ahead.

Anyway, we forgot about that and ate our paptert and wors - oh happy day! had a great time! We stayed up late waiting for the music coordinator and chatting about last minute wedding stuff - finally we got to my place and bathed the bride (African tradition)- had our Amarula shots and that was when I gave her all her gifts - it was a lot of fun - even though we were all so exhausted - we got into bed at around 1am... (oh - if you are wondering why we had paptert when it was my job to make sure the bride doesnt eat alot so she fits into her dress.. erm I... ermm.. concentrated on my paptert and it got away from me LOL - BAD Maid of Honor!)

Day 6:

The Big day

Woke up at 5am - I prepared breakfast (which was really just a yoghurt and water! LOL) and prepared her wedding gift I made before I left the USA.... It was nice - gave it to her in bed and wished her Happy wedding day! She was calm but emotional. We got ready and were at the parents house at 7am - got the combi and the cars - bride and everyone in for our long hour drive to Avianto.

The wedding day went really well. It was wonderful to see so many people from RBTC who have influenced my life - Ingrid looked amazing and the wedding day was a wonderful celebration of a LOOOOOONG awaited day! :-)))))) wink wink

Got home at around 1am (again) - drove the VR6 in my dress and all- got stopped in a roadblock - only for the cops to oogle at my car! argh whatever.

Day 7:

Woke up at 6am (yes- dont ask). I met David and Steve for breakfast at this gorgeous nursery - agh it was nice! Chatted and caught up and said goodbye basically. I went home after that to sleep again - the car was annoying me and I didn't want to drive around - but I only had an hour anyway to recoup myself. Marlene took half a day off and we went walking through the stores - had Nandos (YUM) for lunch and said our goodbyes.

I then went to Sam's house and it was nice to spend time with her and Maddy - ofcourse in tru Sam style - she was not feeling well - but still dressed to the hills! fancy new hairstyle and red stilettos! go Sam!! Ha da great time and also got spoilt with Sam pancakes. Yum yum. Then i realized i had to get something from marlene - raced over to her house - and we decided while I am there, we may as well have pizza! So we did! and Rooibos. :-)

When I got home, I felt a sense of anti-climax.. my week was already over.. :-(

Day 8:

Packed all my things, did a walk through and list of everything that needed attending to in the house. Ingrid's mum came round to fetch some things that Ingy had left with me, we had a good chat and a good old laugh! And I could see a proud, happy mum - also relieved that she can relax as well now.

I took my bonny bags and drove all the way to my mum. We sat at home chatting - had lunch and went for a walk around Eldos! lekker - oh no - the best part - we went driving around Klipspruit - whose idea was THAT??? gees - then to Shoprite (NO COMMENT)

Then it was time for goodbyes...

Over to Willie -humg out with them for a short while and then headed for my loooooong journey home...

It was a really nice trip - it was such an honor to see my best friend's dream come true... now she is hitched - another one bits the dust! Toon - jy beter after my vriend mooi kyk hoor - en moenie ophou om haar to maak lag met jou lekker jokes!

"I luv you" (teehee)

Congrats Ingy! :-)

HOMEWARD BOUND!!!

Well, Last weekend I went out to Vail / Beaver Creek where I had the privilege (again) of smulling some awesome vehicles.. Since I haven't had time to download the pics from the website, I will do that when I return to Denver from South Africa. But It was an awesome experience. The Audi R8 was by far the nicest looking, sexiest car that has all the vroom vroom of all the cars there! I loved the Lamborghini Superleggera as well. Very raw man-power - rough around the edges - not for the faint hearted.

So here are two teaser pics... more to follow.

The past two weeks have been INSANE. I am preparing for my quick blitz home - I leave tomorrow at some ungodly hour - via Atlanta - psyching myself up for a 27 hour journey all by myself is NO fun!

But, because I am attending my best friend's wedding, I had a lot of preps to do... and in true Murphy style - everything that can go wrong - went wrong....

I went to the dry cleaners after dropping off like 8 skirts - a million shirts etc etc - everything came out perfect except the brand new dress that I planned to take with me - came back with no belt and because of the style is now useless! There goes $80 down the drain! ARGH! And then from there all the little things just started to spin out of control.

Nevertheless..... I am at work - my last day of trying to ensure that everything is left in good order and that nothing goes arye while I am in Africa!!!!

I am looking forward to seeing everyone again, it is going to be SO nice!!!!

Yippeee - MA - I am coming home!! Whooo hooo