The Dream Gala- I crash the party!

Here we are at the Oakland Rotunda.

The place had to be high class because of the red carpet treatment... and so I crash it with a few other hard-core buddies... the Storm Troopers!


So we force our way through...

...and are offered appetizers- huh? How nice!

This place isn't bad after all!

There is music to enjoy...

... and a monkey to play with.

Even the emcee is intimidated and allows this monkey to say a few wise words on the mic ("BRAPPPT!")

Or you can even take a picture with a baboon on a moon!

You can raffle for the wine safe and get all 50-bottles of wine on that table too.

And if you don't like wine, there's always the martinis you can get from the bartender that has a fancy over Hawaiian dolls...

The appetizers were great (tortellini and pesto sauce on a bamboo skewer).

...and then there are the monkey game meat you can try also. $20 bucks a piece with a chance to win an Ipod!

These few were hopefull with their kill (oops)...win.

The Foster A Dream youth come in to do their STOMP dance.

While a silent auction is in action...

Lori, the founder of Foster A Dream, checks out the items for auction.

These bon-bons are pretty tempting wouldn't you say?

Doris' husband, the owner of Little Angels Photography, will probably get upset upon hearing how I enticed Doris on bidding $110 on this flag that will be erected at Capitol Hill by Congressman George Miller for any occasion. The flag once flown will be brought down and returned to the winning bidder. Doris hopes to win it for her husbands Cub Scouts Troop

I was able to go behind the scenes and get a bite or two.

And thank the caterers...

...and give the Storm Troopers a break from their hot gear.

Then back to the dinner party. Everyone had to be still, otherwise this baboon might attack.

I got a little concerned he kept looking my way everytime my camera flash went off...

Another baboon took the light (and his owners baseball cap and drink!). This monkey is a celebrity as it has been on the Jay Leno show and had done a commercial for Sierra Mist (Pepsi Co).

These girls sang a Celine Dion song together before...

...awards were given to Foster A Dream Youth who scored at least a 3.25 GPA. Sponsors present included head honchos from the John Muir Hospital and Valero Refineries (out of the few I could remember)

Yup, that's a monkey that wants to go home with me. We'll see how Kai reacts to it tomorrow!

(As for that thing that looks like an umbilical cord- that's my camera battery electrical connection)

OK I'm tired now!