"This is Halloween Everybody Make a Scene"

Halloween is only two days away, which means you don't have a lot of time left to come up with a costume. So if you're still scrambling for an idea, you're in luck. I noticed that the hombres on LHDP go undercover quite a bit, and, despite the fact that they hardly ever utilized Pepa - the elite undercover agent - their missions provide excellent ideas for various Halloween costumes. To begin, our first costume idea comes from the infamous undercover striptease mission: stripper cops.
Only on LHDP will you see cops going undercover as strippers. Dressed like cops. A costume like this can be found at any costume store. However, chairs (for your routine, of course) and mini guns are optional.




Now I know that Sara isn't very popular in the PepSidom (she's definitely one of my least favorite characters), but she has gone undercover enough times to provide several costume ideas such as:
The slutty/sexy businesswoman. You can pull this outfit together with clothes from your closet - a vest, blazer, miniskirt, tie and some heels. You can also throw in a fedora, some stockings and a garter to achieve an even sexier effect.





A nun. Personally, I don't know why you would want to go as a nun for Halloween - it seems so restrictive - but I'm throwing it out as an idea just in case you really wanna tap into your inner Catholic.








We all know Rita has an obsession with going undercover as a prostitute. Here she shows that a dress, a wig, and the right attitude is all you really need to accomplish that look.
If you're looking for a sportier costume, here are two ideas:

A boxer. This is a simple costume that only requires some boxing shorts (basketball/soccer shorts are a good substitute), a tank top, and some boxing gloves that you can probably pick up at any sporting goods store.





An underground fighter. How is this different from a boxer? Umm, just look at the picture - underground fighters clearly have fewer clothes. You can use the robe to conceal your look, and achieve an even bigger "wow" factor once you take it off.





This last idea isn't based off of any undercover mission, but I want to throw it out anyway because it was one of the last episodes on the show where I actually like Aitor: be a goat tamer. The only thing you need for this costume is a tambourine. And a goat, although you could try getting a friend to go as a goat for you. If you choose this costume, I'd like to request that you throw in a cowbell for your act too, because "I got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell!" (By the way, if you haven't seen the SNL skit that that quote comes from, you need to Google it. Now.)
Of course, if you really want, you and your significant other can go as "Undercover Lovers" as random_flores once dubbed PepSi in her recap of Ep. 96. Oh wait. I'm thinking of games you can play while at a Halloween party. My bad.
Whatever you decide to dress up as, have fun with it. After all, it is Halloween, and no other holiday is more perfect for making a scene (and getting away with it) than Halloween.

kalike

*The title for this lecture is based on lyrics from the song "This is Halloween" from the movie The Nightmare Before Christmas.

BMF'S FOOD COLUMN

HALLOWEEN THEME!

It's that time of year again, when you see the evil, orange faces of hand carved pumpkins, party goers dressed in ridiculous outfits and little children running from house to house with pots of goodies ( or homemade pumpkin biscuits if they came from BMF'S house!). Yes, Halloween is fastly approaching and what better way to celebrate this time of year, than with a freaky main course, deigned to shock and delight those that are brave enough to try it! Ok it just looks freaky, it doesn't taste it! Firstly I would like to share with you my favourite Halloween outfit….lets just say I am not one of those girls that dress as "sexy devils" or "slutty nurses"( dear god can you imagine Marian as sexy devil??!! I think I would pass out)

I wanted to talk about my love affair with the pumpkin. I have always felt at ease with a pumpkin in the kitchen. It brightens up the fridge with its smooth orange skin, gives off a wonderful sweet scent and not only that, Starbucks make it in to the best drink of all time...pumpkin spiced latte! If I could bathe in one liquid, it would be that latte, with whipped cream and sprinkles. Ok on a more practical note, pumpkins are not just good for carving/bathing in/drooling over and are extremely versatile in the kitchen. You can roast thick wedges with garlic, rosemary and olive oil, make a velvety cream of pumpkin soup with chestnuts, add chunks to stews, risottos , or even puree to make a sweet mash. My personal favourite is pumpkin ravioli with sage butter, it is heaven on a plate.

So, I think you have all gathered that I am a tad obsessed with pumpkins, just like azwombat is obsessed with shower gel, Booker is with Scoopy, Piper is with the Phillies...... BUT pumpkins are not as exciting as this AWESOME dish. When I think about this dish, my palms begin to sweat, my heart rate goes up, goose pimples form on my skin and shock waves travel up and down my spine. Oh no wait, that's what happens when I watch the frisking scene in the garage, sorry I got confused.
By the way, this is the easiest dish ever!

Eyeball pasta
Ingredients
100g cherry tomatoes

150g pack mini mozzarella balls, drained
handful basil
400g green tagliatelle
350g jar tomato sauce
4 tbsp fresh pesto

Halve the cherry tomatoes and use a small, sharp knife or a teaspoon to remove the seeds. Cut the mozzarella balls in half( this is easier to do if you imagine they are "el gordos" or Alex Pina's). Place one half inside each tomato, trimming the edges if necessary to fit it in. Either cut the smallest circles you can from a basil leaf or finely chop the leaves and scrunch into small circles. Place one at the centre of each mozzarella ball.

Boil the pasta. Meanwhile, heat through the tomato sauce. When the tagliatelle is cooked, drain and stir through the pesto and any remaining basil, chopped finely. Divide between 4-6 serving bowls. Spoon over some tomato sauce, then arrange the stuffed tomato eyeballs on top.

IF THE SUIT FITS....

by Dr. Booker

When I was thirteen I was invited to an all girl costume party. What to wear? I knew that I would not be going as a princess or fairy godmother. My mom and I came up with items we had in the house, and a 1930's gangster was created. When I put on the shirt and tie, my father's old suit, and finally the hat....well it was like the sky opened up and angels began to sing. This was a moment when I knew that there was not a more perfect costume for me.

When I arrived at the party, I saw mostly the costumes that I rejected: nurses, queens, and witches. There was a pirate and another "guy", and a few monsters. And there was this girl in the corner and all I can remember is that she had blonde hair and was wearing a green dress. She and I had one class together, but we had never talked before. She crossed the room and said how much she liked my outfit and that was the start of one of the most memorable nights of my life.

When my dad was driving me home, he said "did you like being a gangster?" Could I tell him that I never wanted to take the suit off? Could I tell him that I spent most of the party with the blonde girl and that all I wanted to do was hold her hand? What was that about? Holding a girl's hand? Thinking about kissing her? It must be the suit...it had some kind of magical hold over me and made me feel these strange things.

The truth was that the suit allowed me the freedom to be myself, without even knowing it. I didn't want to be a gangster and I didn't think I wanted to be a man. I wanted to be a girl who held the blonde girl's hand. Girls holding hands. It was not the first time I thought of that, but this night helped me see who I could be and who I wanted to be with. The only problem was I had no idea what it meant.

We all have different kinds of suits or masks that have helped us find our way...our true selves. I think Pepa and Silvia have been a great vehicle for us to discover what and who we are. These characters certainly helped us find a community. Maybe PepSi helped us answer some questions: am I gay, bisexual or am I in denial about being straight? Why do I like watching these two women kiss so much? Who would I want...Pepa or Silvia?

Halloween is coming soon in America and there will be many parties to attend. I imagine a young girl getting ready for her first teen costume party...what to wear?

Blue jeans, black t-shirt and a vest? Or a red dress with a white lab coat? Decisions, decisions.

Dr. Booker

¡Por favor, resuciten a Silvia!

by Dr Pied Piper

Article from El Pais, 24 October issue, about the campaign to save Silvia. If you want to read the original Spanish text, you can find it here.

Here is the English translation - all inconsistencies and mistranslations are solely my fault.

Please, Resurrect Silvia!

An international campaign on the Internet to bring back a lesbian character who died in "Los Hombres de Paco"

By ELIZABETH GALLO - Madrid - 24/10/2009

"Regresen a Silvia". "No maten a Silvia, por favor". "¡Viva Silvia!" "¡Resucita!". "Silvia, forever". Similar messages written in Castilian, English, Italian, Swedish and even Japanese, received from the five continents, can be viewed on YouTube. They are part of an internet campaign to request the return of the lesbian character,  played by Marian Aguilera, in the Antena3 series Los hombres de Paco. Silvia was killed at the hands of the Camorra in the last episode of season seven. But she was not the only one. Because her marriage to Pepa (Laura Sanchez) held in a quaint country house turned into a bloodbath. The following also died in the ambush: Quique (Enrique Martinez), Nelson (Jimmy Castro) and Montoya (Aitor Luna). However, none of the other three deaths has been the subject of such an international campaign.

The dramatic end of Chapter 104, aired in July, caused a public outcry, orchestrated by followers of Pepsis, an acronym for the names of the two lovers. The campaign took those responsible for Los Hombres by surprise. "We are impressed. It was incredible the number of postcards and emails we've received from Brazil, USA, Serbia, Colombia, New Zealand and Taiwan," says Alex Pina, executive producer of the series.

But the desire to "give life" to the love story as requested by the fans in the video will not be fulfilled. The whole team is already working on the next installments in the series to air in January, "modernized," anticipates Pina. And the resurrection of this woman who, for the better part of the series, played a heterosexual who was married to and later divorced from Lucas (Hugo Silva); then had a relationship with Montoya and finally ended in the arms of Pepa - is not in the minds of the writers . Among other reasons was that Aguilera herself decided to "leave" and seek a "change of scenery," says Pina, recalling that the actress had been in Los hombres de Paco since opening in 2005. By contrast, her widow, Pepa, will be have room for other storylines.

David Molina, director of the series, talks of the website afterellen.com, a U.S. portal (Piper's note: they referred to AE as a blog...) dedicated to analyzing and commenting on how the media portrays lesbian and bisexual women. In one of their forums there appeared a review about a Spanish series which featured a lesbian plot "from the romantic side." Spaniards also responded with various blogs, forums, and a plethora of fan fictions to keep the PepSi story alive.

Antena 3 capitalized on the international followers of the series; soon a YouTube channel called Pepsienglish emerged. International fans eventually discovered the show, especially the PepSi sequences, "with subtitles in English and then in other languages like French and German," says Molina. The director argues that some Web forums have also picked up the affair between Macarena (Patricia Vico), Esther (Fátima Baeza), the physician and nurse in Hospital Central (Telecinco), although with less impact. The climax came last Saturday when an ad appeared on a nationwide announcement with fans from more than 50 countries thanking the actresses Aguilera and Sanchez for their work. "We lack words to express the emotional impact Silvia and Pepa and their love story have had on our lives," says the advertising paid for by money raised through forums and initiatives in digital broadcasting. "Pepsi stands out as a portrait of women in love by being truly unique, realistic and positive, and above all provide hope," the ad further says.

And the sentiment is summarized by C.G., a Los Hombres fan ... and user of the blogs: "It was time for a TV show to portray poetic and romantic relationship between two girls."

Fluff piece, if there ever was one.  Why weren't Marian and Laura interviewed, especially since this article was all about them.  Why was there no mention of "the marketing meeting with executives" that was flaunted by an AE poster?  How long before this article blows over and forgotten, except by birds whose cages are lined with old newspapers containing the 1,000Euro ad?

 Marian Aguilera, Los Hombres de Paco

"Keep it Together in the Family"

 by KalikeCA, Esq

Siblings can be a pain the ass sometimes. I should know - I have three. But the great thing about siblings is that they can also be one of your strongest supporters, because the connection that you share with your sibling is a strong one. One of my favorite things upon discovering LHDP was watching the brother-sister relationship that Paco and Pepa shared. While there haven't been enough Miranda sibling moments since Pepa's arrival (in my opinion), there were four moments that exemplified the beauty of their relationship.

To refresh your memory of the Miranda family history: "In 1997, at Sara's first communion, Don Lorenzo, (Pepa's) dad and Paco caught (Pepa) with (her) tongue down Silvia's throat." Paco blamed Pepa for their parents' separation, Pepa left, and seven years passed before Paco and Pepa spoke to each other again. Their first real scene together in the precinct upon Pepa's return to San Antonio is also the first scene that established their relationship as brother and sister. Paco is nervous, as usual, and things are awkward between the two of them. Paco attempts to read Pepa a letter he wrote to her months ago but never found the courage to send. In classic LHDP hilarity, Paco fumbles as he tries to find the right page that describes what he really wants to say until Pepa suggests that they skip to the end of his letter. Upon doing so, we learn that what Paco really wants is "to forget all the bad things that happened and to once again be (Pepa's) brother. The brother that used to take (her) by the hand to school. The one who would go with (her) to the store to buy candy. The one who showed (her) how to fly a kite on the beach of Huelga. (The) brother who loves (her)." It's a beautiful scene, because in that moment, they both remembered the connection and history they shared as siblings, and they decided to forgive each other for the past and rebuild their relationship.

Another great Miranda sibling moment occurred during Season 7, when Pepa is venting to Paco over her drunken promise to Silvia. This scene showed two of the great things about siblings: they listen to you, and they support you no matter what. Pepa's outburst occurred during the middle of an operation, but Paco recognized that what she needed at that moment was someone to listen to her, so he did. He listened, he tried to be understanding, and above all, he never judged her. Paco told Pepa that no matter what happened, "If it comes, we're going to love him so very much." With that little sentence, Paco let Pepa know that while he didn't know how her situation with Silvia would turn out, he would be there to support her and accept any child that she brought into their family.

Paco's message to Pepa and Silvia in their wedding video is the third great example of Paco and Pepa's relationship even though Pepa's not in it. In his message, Paco expresses nothing but genuine happiness over the fact that Pepa is getting married. Paco concludes his message by taking out a puzzle piece from his wallet and reading what is written on it: "My name is Pepa. I am six years old. For my brother, always." It was a simple, little gesture that spoke volumes. It showed the love that little Pepa had for her older brother, and it showed that despite everything that they've been through Paco had always carried a piece of Pepa with him - his own way of staying forever connected to his little sister.

My favorite Miranda sibling moment takes place in Episode 104. Now, I know this episode invokes strong feelings in the PepSiverse, but hear me out. Despite the overwhelming amount of tragedy in this episode, there was a scene that, to me, epitomized the beauty of Paco and Pepa's relationship. The moment I'm referring to occurs when Paco suddenly gets up off the floor, looks around the room at all the dejected faces, says, "It's the wedding of my sister and sister-in-law, so I don't want any sad faces, is that clear?" and then proceeds to lead the hombres in a chant of "We want a kiss." Granted, a part of the reason why Paco did this was to raise the morale of his men. But I also think that Paco was trying to be there for Pepa, during the worst moment of her life, the only way he knew how. Paco couldn't kiss Pepa on the cheek and make everything better, but he could give her that chant. The chant that gave Pepa a moment to smile. A moment to calm her nerves. A moment to feel like a bride. And a moment to share one more kiss with her wife.

One of my hopes for Season 9 is that the writers will "keep it together in the family" and show more of these brother-sister moments between Paco and Pepa. Moments that remind us that even though siblings can be a pain sometimes, they often tend to be one of the few people who will always love you for who you are. And that they will always be there during the darkest moments of your life to comfort you and help you through your pain. Because no matter what happens, siblings will always have a connection. A connection of blood. A connection of family.

kalike

*The title for this lecture is based on lyrics from the song "Keep It Together" by Madonna.

BMF'S FOOD COLUMN

by Chef BigMarianFan

I was meant to be writing a food column this week, describing the wonderful cuisine we had on our trip to Amsterdam. Unfortunately BMF smoked one too many "herbal cigarettes" and spent far too much time in the red light district practising pole dancing and how to drink shots off various female body parts, meaning I did not find much time to eat!. What shocked me the most is when I FINALLY sat down at a restaurant, exhausted, blurry eyed, in need of a nice warming dish to return me back to planet earth, this is what was presented to me (see above)

Needless to say after indulging in that menu, I was away with the fairies again and had to return to the comfort of my hotel room where Azwombat was waiting for me in the shower. She had been there for hours and her skin was all shrivelled like a prunes (or like Scoopgirl after her jacuzzi session with Booker)! I tried to leave the hotel room, to go find PM and KalikeCA but apparently PM had passed out in "Celas Bar" in the centre of town, having attempted to try every drink they sold and as for KalikeCA, well she had found a karaoke bar and point blank refused to leave until they played every song on the jukebox!


Dr Booker informed me that the Uitsmijter and Erwtensoep were fantastic and she very kindly sent me some pictures from her Blackberry.


For those of you who have no idea what Erwtensoep and Uitsmijter are, I will summarise.

Erwtensoep - a Dutch pea soup made with gammon and split peas. Booker spoon fed Scoopgirl this while whispering sweet nothings in to her ear.

Uitsmijter- fried ham and eggs with mustard cheese (or food you chomp on when you have the munchies).

I know you all expected recipes this week but I had no memorable food whatsoever that was worth recreating back home. I did see and smell some wonderful foods in the various restaurants I stumbled past and think they deserve special mention.

I did bring back a lot of other new skills beside cooking though and I plan on trying them out on whoever is willing! I thoroughly enjoyed our little trip but only wish we could have spent more time together.

Pannekoeken and Poffertjes - Dutch pancakes similar to French crepes, served flat on a dinner plate, topped with confectioners' sugar, jam, syrup, hot apples, or typically Dutch hot ginger sauce. The less common kind are called pannekoeken which contain different types of meat. Poffertjes are small fried-pancake "puffs" coated with confectioners' sugar and filled with syrup or liqueur.

Uitsmijter -- An open-faced sandwich consisting of a buttered slice of bread (or two) topped with cold cuts and fried eggs

Saucijzenbrood - A hot dog, except the bun's made of flaky pastry and the hot dog is a spicy Dutch wurst, or sausage. Again they looked delicisious and if I ever return, that will be the first thing I wrap my lips around!

Tostis -Grilled ham-and-cheese sandwiches (Okay we actually have these in every country so they are not that special!)


Vlammetjes (little flames) - diminutive spring rolls which make up in fiery aggression for what they lack in size

On Letting Go...

Reluctance

Out through the fields and the woods
And over the walls I have wended;
I have climbed the hills of view
And looked at the world, and descended;
I have come by the highway home,
And lo, it is ended.

The leaves are all dead on the ground,
Save those that the oak is keeping
To ravel them one by one
And let them go scraping and creeping
Out over the crusted snow,
When others are sleeping.

And the dead leaves lie huddled and still,
No longer blown hither and thither;
The last lone aster is gone;
The flowers of the witch hazel wither;
The heart is still aching to seek,
But the feet question "Whither?"

Ah, when to the heart of man
Was it ever less than a treason
To go with the drift of things,
To yield with a grace to reason,
And bow and accept the end
Of a love or a season?

- Robert Frost

"You've Got This Strange Effect On Me"

 by KalikeCA, Esq

Marianne Williamson once described charisma as "a sparkle in people that money can't buy. It's an invisible energy with visible effects." Pepa certainly has charisma. Maybe her "invisible energy" is due to her independent, free spirit, or perhaps it's due to to the fact that she's a "shameless lunatic." Whatever it is, her energy creates what I like to call "The Pepa Effect," where people just seem to be drawn to her.

The degree to which a person is affected by Pepa's charms varies, but it always starts the same way - with a glimpse of her natural beauty and million-watt smile, and exposure to her friendly personality. Even Lucas admitted that Pepa is hot, because her gorgeous, supermodel looks are undeniable. Her smile and personality only add to the spark that she gives off; they are bright, friendly, and infectious. This energy often results in others developing deep feelings for Pepa, feelings that Pepa, for the most part, remains oblivious to (unless your name happens to be Silvia Castro Leon).

Montoya was one of the people who was visibly effected by Pepa. He was immediately smitten with the elite agent and used any excuse possible in order to spend more time with her: he made coffee for her, offered to show her around the precinct, brought desserts to Paco's family dinner, flirted with her during a commercial shoot, and pleaded with Curtis - his subordinate - to join an undercover mission simply because it involved Pepa stripping. "The Pepa Effect" blinded Montoya to the obvious fact that Pepa is a lesbian. He couldn't tell that while Pepa was friendly to everyone, she was clearly interested in Silvia, and only Silvia. In fact, it wasn't until he saw the way Pepa reassured Silvia while they were on their way to apprehend El Kaiser that he finally understood that he was not as special to Pepa as Silvia was.

"The Pepa Effect" was more serious in Curtis' case. Like Montoya, Curtis was infatuated with Pepa ever since she arrived in San Antonio, but he was "branded" by Pepa when she kissed him in an attempt to make Silvia jealous. The fact that Curtis knew that Pepa is a lesbian didn't stop him from trying to win her heart, nor did Pepa's explanation that it was "an impulse" and nothing more than "a dumb kiss." Granted, Pepa didn't help matters when she pretended to be his girlfriend, but even after she tried to break up with Curtis and he found out that she and Silvia had reconciled, he still tried to have a relationship with her (and Silvia). It wasn't until Curtis overheard Silvia mention that Pepa lied to him because he was dying and Pepa mention that she felt sorry for him that he finally realized he could never have Pepa's love the way that Silvia did.

And that brings us to Silvia. Silvia definitely suffered from "The Pepa Effect," although she had been branded years ago at Sara's communion. Time may have separated Pepa and Silvia, but the effect that Pepa had on her never really left; it was just buried and didn't resurface until Pepa returned to San Antonio. Like the others, it caused Silvia to make numerous excuses just to be near Pepa: she followed Pepa around the precinct; she left Rocio's bachelorette party because she was jealous upon seeing the stripper give Pepa a lapdance; she pretended that she didn't know how to dance so that she could feel Pepa's hands on her hips; and she approved the undercover striptease mission probably for the same reasons Montoya wanted to join it. The difference between Montoya, Curtis and Silvia was that while they were all affected by Pepa, the only person who affected Pepa was Silvia. And at the end of the day, that's all that really mattered.

Perhaps "The Pepa Effect" is a composite of everything that makes Pepa who she is: her beauty, her smile, her warm personality, the fact that she's free-spirited, and the fact that she's slightly crazy. Regardless of the reasons behind her "invisible energy," I think it's safe to say that Pepa tends to have a strange effect on everyone, and they like it.

kalike

*The title for this lecture is based on lyrics from the song "This Strange Effect" by Hooverphonic.

BMF'S FOOD COLUMN

Hey ladies!! I thought I would start by saying that NEVER in a million years would I dream of doing a food column on breakfast tacos, but a special someone requested this, so I am doing this for her! By merely mentioning the words "b***k***t t***s", many members of the AE thread have felt the fiery wrath of BMF and wound up in permanent detention. I had never even heard of a breakfast taco a couple of weeks ago, mainly because we don't have them in England (*BMF sheds a tear*) but now I cannot stop thinking about their heavenly aroma, their moorish texture, how they would set my taste buds on fire, leaving me wanting more and more after every single satisfying bite. They have popped in to my head more times than Silvia has and that’s saying something!

What bagels are to New Yorkers or what scones are to the English, are what breakfast tacos are to the Texans. What is it about them, that has various people, (*cough Cela, cough *Azwombat*) drooling all over their computers / laptops when thinking about them?

Firstly , they can fit perfectly in to ones hand and mouth.

Secondly, when eating them, the chance of the filling spilling out is high, meaning the chance of some hotty reaching over and saying to you, "you've got a little something there", while using her finger to wipe away …Ok I am getting carried away but you get the point!

So what is a breakfast taco??

A breakfast taco is a regular 8-inch flour tortilla (almost always flour, there is a soft corn variety) stuffed with scrambled eggs, cheese and breakfast meat and if you are feeling feeling wild like my tigers, you can add a thin spread of refried beans.

A thick chewy flour tortilla and a spicy salsa will separate an excellent BT from a good BT.

Ingredients:
4 eggs- FREE RANGE, NOT BATTERY!!!!!!
1/4 cup of milk
4 slices of bacon,or 1 cup of chorizo ( my personal favourite!)
1 cup of refried beans, heated on Silvia Castro's burning loins
1/2 cup of salsa
1 cup of shredded Longhorn cheddar or any cheese you like
4 flour tortillas
1 tablespoon of butter
Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

1. Whisk eggs with milk( preferably from Daisy)
2. Heat up iron skillet on medium-high, and melt tablespoon of butter
3. When butter is melted, pour in eggs and scramble for about three minutes or until done to your liking. Add salt and pepper to taste
4. Heat up your flour tortillas either on a skillet, or by laying them on top of a gas burner. When tortilla starts to puff (about 20 seconds) turn it over and cook for another 20 seconds.
5. Take a tortilla and spread 1/4 cup of refried beans in the center of the tortilla. Add 1/4 of the scrambled eggs, 1/8 cup of salsa, 1/4 cup of cheese and either a slice of bacon or chorizo
6. Fold in bottom 1 inch of the tortilla, and then roll from left to right until self-contained

This makes 4 tacos but if you are like me, that will be enough for 1 person and one person only!

We can dance if we want to. We can leave your friends behind...

by Cela

Now that the Ice Cream Body Painting Contest is over (and, boy was that a blast), it’s time to clean up, dress up, and get ready for…

PepSi University’s first ever school dance – this year, we’re doing it 80s style!

To start the night, everybody* will be arriving in mondo 80s luxury and style - an 80s Lincoln Towncar Stretch Limousine!

At the door, don’t forget to pick up your snap bracelets and friendship bracelets (what would the 80s have been without cheap jewelry??)

*Noids not invited

She wants to party. She wants to get down...all she wants to do is dance (and make romance).

by Cela 

The dance floor is where y’all can get down to all the 80s hits. So, make your way over, walking like an Egyptian, and don’t forget to do a little moonwalkin’, too.

Here’s the awesome party playlist:


Also, I hope everyone will gather ‘round the floor when it comes time for Dr. B and Scoopgirl’s very special performance from Dirty Dancing. They’ve been practicing very hard, and I’m sure the show will be ace! (And, remember…nobody puts Baby in a corner.)

Because our retro dance party is all about the 80s, not the 70s (the 70s, like lame, for sure)…we won’t be using a grodie old disco ball…we’ll have a rubik’s cube to light up our floor.

Anybody have any other special music requests???


Situated around the dance floor, there will be monitors playing 80s movie classics:

The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off


Top Gun and The Goonies

Ghostbusters and Adventures in Babysitting

So let's sink another drink, 'cause it'll give me time to think.

by Cela 

Primo eats will be provided by BMF and her posse, while the bar, manned by purplemartini, will be serving up whatever your poison (Poison! Every rose has it’s thorn, man!) may be.

The specials, though, will include the Pretty in Pink cocktail.


And, jello shots!


(Yes, that IS Bill Cosby’s likeness. Isn’t it sick?!)

For those not so alcohol-inclined…well, this is one time where you will be actively encouraged to drink the Kool-Aid. And, we’re retiring the Pepsi for one night…and drinking TAB instead!



















BMF, azwombat, pepsimax, and purplemartini…please feel free to chime in and let us know what you have planned for the party!!

'Cause I've got Pac-Man (BMF) Fever

by Cela 

Of course, I couldn’t forget the pool. Y’all seemed so fond of our pool party before…so let’s continue the fun, shall we?


Bring your floaties, water guns, and lots of lotion (don’t worry, I’ll get your back for ya. *wink*).

And, before the night is over, we’ll have a costume contest. (Presided over by Pepsi University Faculty.) The grand prize winner will receive…



A Ms. Pac-Man arcade machine! (I know you want it…you’d be a total hit in your PepSi U dorm with this thing.)

So, come sportin’ your Michael Jackson glove or your Madonna cone bra. I want to see lace, and I want to see crimped hair…and let’s all jam out to the totally rad 80s!

"I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor"

 by KalikeCA, Esq

George Bernard Shaw once said that dancing is "the vertical expression of a horizontal desire legitimized by music." To me, this is the truest statement that describes the way Pepa and Silvia interacted when they were dancing together. It was more than just two people moving to the flow of the music. It was like the music became infused with their entire body, adding a whole new level of sensuality to their relationship. If you don't believe me, then you should stop reading right now and go re-watch the beginning of Episode 103. I'm serious. Go re-watch it. I'll wait. Ok. Now that you have a visual of what I'm talking about, we can focus on you. How can you capitalize on expressing yourself vertically? That's easy. All you need to do is follow PepSi's dance lessons.

Step 1: Have confidence. Confidence is sexy. Pepa never said she was fantastic dancer, and she didn't need to - her confidence in her dancing abilities spoke for her. At Rocio's bachelorette party, Pepa didn't hesitate to get up and dance the hell out of the Flamenco, and her confidence worked wonders. Silvia spent most of that dance shooting daggers a Pepa's dance partner, wishing that she was the one dancing with Pepa. So, you don't have to be the best dancer in the world to be the sexiest. You simply have to have confidence in yourself and believe that you can be sexy even when you're doing something as simple as "picking up a fucking file."
Step 2: Practice and don't be afraid to ask for help. Practice makes perfect, and sometimes you have to be willing to accept help if you want to improve your dancing skills. PepSi definitely recognized this. Even though it was for an undercover mission, Pepa and Silvia knew that they had to be convincing in their role as strippers or their cover would be blown. So they practiced. Sure, Silvia was using it (and her feigned inexperience in dancing) as a pretense to get Pepa to touch her, but we all know that PepSi were masters in the art of multitasking. And let's face it: that rehearsal was extremely productive in more ways than one. So take the time to practice and see how you can perfect your dance steps. If you aren't near an interrogation room, improvise and use a mirror at home. Or your nearest parking garage.
Step 3: Trust your partner. Every single dance that Pepa and Silvia shared together was sexy, because they were always in sync with each other. Regardless of whether they were doing a striptease, rocking out, or moving to a slow dance, they were playing off of the vibes that they got from each other. This energy is what added a whole new level of sensuality to their dancing. So trust your partner - let her help you reach a vertical level of desire you've never experienced before.
Step 4: Listen to the music. If dancing really is the "vertical expression of a horizontal desire," then when you're dancing you are really having a ménage à trois between you, your dance partner, and the music. So let the music be your guide. Don't be afraid to let loose and rock out when the music calls for it. At the same time, don't be afraid to pull your partner closer to you during slower, more romantic tunes. Let the music wash over you and block out the rest of the world so that it's just the two of you sharing that intimate moment together on the dance floor. After all, in that moment all that really matters is you, her, and the music. If you do it right, you'll end up experiencing something like this:
And that, my friends, is what the vertical expression of a horizontal desire looks like.

I'm willing to bet that every single one of you girls looks good on the dance floor, so grab the Pepa or Silvia in your life and have some fun!

kalike

*The title for this lecture is based on the song "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor" by Arctic Monkeys.