On Feb 4th I arrived in Houston just in time for a big weekend with my crazy opera girls (aka, ‘the Flamingas’). Now, this is not your grandma’s Wagnerian opera experience with pointy helmets and metal breastplates. Our Opera Weekends involve extensive pre-performance shopping and champagne, post-performance chocolate martinis, and autographs and photos backstage with the stars. In order to attend such a weekend you are required to bring a minimum of 5 fabulous pairs of shoes, several stylish handbags, a wide range of accessories, plenty of pink attire, a stuffed flamingo, and your laptop to share shocking photos from our digital cameras (especially from Lin’s camera, as she is our Chief Officer In Charge Of Shocking Photos). Sometimes we even watch the operas, but have been known to walk out early if they are boring.

This trip, sadly we were missing some of our members. I know that Cindy was busy vacationing in exotic Costa Rica so we forgive her. Not sure about any other of the excuses… !

The lineup included mother-and-daughter tag team Evelyn (Arkansas) & Susan (Houston), Lin (NJ), and me. We set up camp at Susan’s Texan villa, where her executive husband Doug performed such essential services as limousining and cooking. In appreciation for his extensive helpfulness, we let him carry our luggage too.

Friday night we saw Marcello Giordani & Sondra Radvanosky sing in Il Trovatore. I will spare you the technical opera review (in summary: “I liked it!”). Afterwards we sailed past backstage security, of course already being on the VIP list in all the major operahouses of the world, & had a nice chat with Marcello & Sondra.

Saturday night we reluctantly dragged ourselves to that marathon opera seria (thankfully, Mozart’s only opera seria) called ‘Idomeneo’. I was somewhat interested because the lead tenor, Richard Croft, was someone I had met on an airplane returning from Paris a few years ago. He is a very cool guy. Unfortunately, although the singing was lovely, the opera was as boring as dirt, so we left after the second act. (Doug gamely stuck out the entire thing). Our next move was a nice stroll downtown, culminating in a few hours at a very chic, luxe lounge where a charming waiter served us his own special blend of chocolate martini.

Sunday involved extensive brunching and more shopping. I headed back to LA that afternoon, fully satiated with fun & opera sisterhood!

Long Live The Flamingas !!!!!

Arriving at the operahouse, it seemed fortuitous to find this photogenic pink wall:

Pre-show beverages:

A great performance (Verdi’s Il Trovatore):

Backstage with Marcello Giordani (tenor):

Lin chatting with Sondra (soprano):

Chef Doug whips up breakfast the following morning:

Here comes the photo swapping at Mission Control Headquarters:

Of course the mandatory shopping (Lin & her purchases, young salesman excluded…)

In conclusion, Big Texas Hair… (THIS WAS NOT ONE OF US !!!)

Thursday morning we went to the Alien Affairs office, with mixed results (well, Soenke would not say the results were mixed… he would say they SUCKED). Apparently you have to be penniless & from a third world country to be welcomed with open arms into Germany. A self-supporting, economy-boosting US citizen has a lot more red tape to cut. We’re working on it!

Thursday evening we flew to Frankfurt, & met with Patrick & Ozelem at their apartment. We went to dinner at this very cool German restaurant somewhere out in the hills/forest. The food was DELICIOUS. And the company was very enjoyable; we were by far having the most fun of anyone in the restaurant! Plus there was a little wiener dog with a red neckerchief running around the restaurant checking on everyone. Nice touch.

Friday I used my new status on the Lufthansa ‘list’ to fly to Houston in business class for a mere 100 euros (THANK YOU SOENKE, xoxoxo). Upon my arrival in Houston, I was greeted by 3 very high energy flamingas !! What a reunion. Houston updates to come!

Here is the Frankfurt dinner group:

Here is Patrick & Ozelem’s very modern, high-tech apartment (complete with futuristic lighting!)