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<\/a>Some of the mingling, while swimmer Ellie Marks gets asked for her autograph. Photo by Karen Salkin, as is the one at the top of this page.<\/p><\/div>\n
It appeared that the entire assemblage agreed with me because, even on one of the hottest nights of the year, with the doors open and the food being served on the back patio, absolutely every single person there appeared to be having a blast! This was such a happy party! It was so easy to talk to strangers, no matter how accomplished some of them, (especially the athletes,) might be.<\/p>\n
As to the venue, no one who\u2019s ever seen Mr. X and me on the old TV show\u00a0Tattletales<\/em>\u00a0back in the day, (the one where celebrity couples competed against each other to win money for the audience, and on which we\u2019re the All-Time Champions!,) would have ever guessed that I would have had such a fabulous time at a\u2026tattoo parlor! That\u2019s because one of the many questions we got exactly right was about where on my body I would get a tattoo. And we both knew the answer immediately, which was \u201cno place ever!!!\u201d<\/p>\n The choice of special Olympics “made-to-fade” tattoos guests could get at the event. Photo courtesy of Team USA.<\/p><\/div>\n But Ephemeral LA on LaBrea, where this soiree was held, is actually beautiful and inviting. And with so many guests getting ones from their special \u201cmade-to-fade\u201d Team USA Flash Tattoo Collection, which are so attractive and adorbs, (and begin to disappear in one-to-three years!,) I was tempted to join in the fun and get one.\u00a0 (I know\u2014who am I?\u2014right?) But when I learned that they still required needling, I couldn\u2019t go through with it. After several very painful injections into both knees recently, I\u2019m done with needles for a long while. (Knock on wood.) Plus, knowing how attached to everything I get, I would have been sad when my cute design faded.<\/p>\n But those special tattoos\u00a0and athletes\u00a0weren\u2019t the only attraction of the evening, by far. There was so much to it!<\/p>\n The buffet. I love when there’s a menu right up front, so we guests don’t have to guess at what the food is! Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n The food was delish and the personnel were very pleasant and kind, even in the heat. It was catered by Colette\u2019s, who provided the perfect and easy Mexican buffet. We got to make our own soft tacos, (with a choice of chicken, beef, or vegetables, and even two kinds of tortillas,) with tasty rice and beans on the side. And they did the absolutely best thing I have ever seen at a fete\u2014they provided take-out containers for us to fill-up and take home!!! That was soooo thoughtful!<\/p>\n The desserts were on a separate table, and very wisely, none were chocolate, which would have surely melted in the intense heat that night! Instead, there were Rice Krispies treats, lemon bars, and mini apple pies, (none of which I eat, thank goodness for my chubbette self.) My friend, Marc, said they were all great. And he doesn\u2019t even usually\u00a0like<\/em>\u00a0Rice Krispies treats! Perhaps he enjoyed these because they were made with limited edition red and blue\u00a0Krispies, which combined with the white marshmallows, were perfect for the Team USA occasion.<\/p>\n Karen Salkin cheering for Team USA in the photo booth while her friend Marc is posing. (It’s blurry because it’s really a video!)<\/p><\/div>\n In addition to all the eating, mingling, and tattooing, there was also a video booth. We got to choose our background from a trio of Team USA designs, and then just moved around goofily (or maybe that was just me,) for about twenty seconds or so. It was amusing that Marc didn\u2019t realize it was a\u00a0video<\/em>, (as opposed to a\u00a0still<\/em>\u00a0pic, which we find at many a soiree,) so he just\u00a0posed<\/em>\u00a0until I told him he had to\u00a0move<\/em>. So our video is basically of me breaking it down for him, which Mr. X got a kick out of when I sent it to him from the event.<\/p>\n But, of course, we were there to celebrate the athletes who are looking to compete in the Paris Olympics next summer. Marc was thrilled to meet very pretty Paralympic two-time gold medalist swimmer,\u00a0Ellie\u00a0Marks; he had to take a selfie with her right away. Then, as we were leaving, I spied adorable rugby player,\u00a0Marcus Tupuola, lying in one of the open \u201crooms,\u201d and I just had to pop in and take some pix of him getting ready to be tattooed. He told me he chose the \u201cbreakdancing\u201d image. (They didn\u2019t offer a rugby one, so his was a good choice because it will be the newest competition in 2024, even though I think breakdancing is a very odd choice as a \u201csport,\u201d no matter how<\/em> athletic you must be to do it, as is required with all<\/em> forms of dance.)<\/p>\n Rugby player Marcus Tupuola, getting ready to be tattooed. (And look at whose pink business card he’s holding!) Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n I\u2019m the first to admit that I can\u2019t function in heat, so I wasn\u2019t my most charming self, and therefore didn\u2019t seek out anyone to chat with. So I feel a tad bad that I didn\u2019t get to meet more of the talented athletes, including Paralympians\u00a0Nick Mayhugh\u00a0(who\u2019s a gold medalist in track and field);\u00a0high jumper Ezra Frech;\u00a0swimmers Ahalya Lettenberger, Haven Shepherd,\u00a0and Lizzi Smith,\u00a0(who already has three medals);\u00a0and Olympic hopefuls Colleen Quigley\u00a0(track and field);\u00a0Kyra Condie\u00a0(climbing); and gymnast Donnell Whittenburg. But, of course, I wish all of them the best of luck in their Olympic trials next year.<\/p>\n The athletes’ poster cards, all ready to be autographed! Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n One thing I got a kick out of is that this was the most casual event\u00a0ever<\/em>! I totally messed-up my entire bedroom trying to find something casual-but-dressy-enough for the occasion, and then when we pulled-up to the fete, all I saw were jeans, tee-shirts, and shorts! On\u00a0everyone<\/em>! In my little very non-fancy dress, I looked like I was on the way to a\u00a0ball<\/em>\u00a0in comparison! They all looked so comfortable that it actually made me happy for them<\/em>, as opposed to being jealous for myself<\/em> because I got the attire choice wrong, (which, trust me, was far from the first time!)<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>