Amanda’s Random Rantings

Only the state that brought you Devo in the 70’s could produce an act like Gil Mantera’s Party Dream today. Composed of brothers Gil Mantera and Ultimate Donny, the music of Youngstown, Ohio’s Gil Mantera’s party dream is equal part Devo and equal part John Hughes movie music. You get synthesizers, unrestrained usage of vocoders, and surprisingly catchy melodies.

As it happens, I didn’t actually end up using a recipe from this old, undated book, the inside covers of which had been glued with seemingly ancient, browned magazine cuttings of further cocktail recipes. I flicked through the book and immediately found a classic favourite of mine, decided I prefer my own way of making them, and set to it. I still had the beautifully retro-looking Angostura Bitters bottle in my cupboard from the last time I made them (several years ago).

As greasy, slimy, pale-skinned, fat with cash but gaunt with drugs as promoters are, sometimes I wish I could be a club promoter. For what better career in the world is there than to cruise from lush club to plush club with your entourage and throw the best damned parties that anyone has ever experienced? I love the music, I love the dancing, but what I would love the most is seeing everyone enjoying themselves. What a rush. Throwing parties gives me a rush.

Our conversation began pleasantly enough, as we chatted about Islam and world events. Within a few minutes, he launched into a virulently anti American and and anti George Bush tirade, insisting that George Bush ‘lied’ and that there were never any WMD’s in Iraq and that George Bush lied to the American people when he said there was a connection between 9/11 and Saddam Hussein. We replied that Mr Bush had never said there was a connection between 9/11 and Saddam and that Saddam most certainly had manufactured and used WMD’s.

Here is the FRAUD COVERED UP, along with DEAD FOSTER CHILDREN COVERED UP! Tom DeLay and Senske the (Lawyer) from Lutheran Social Services showed up on June 6, 2004, to thwarth this Congressional Investigation. Now we know why!

I went to a party to celebrate friends and their milestones. As I looked over at the Hudson river from the roof, with silent, lit boats plowing, and the NY skyline in view, Herve, in a moment of loose melody says, “Yeah, I swam the Hudson today.” What an opening line for a conversation.