As some of you may be aware, I have a day job. I’m the executive assistant to a fashion designer named Naida Begeta. I run the Kao Pao Shu boutique, write all their stuff they need written, do novice PR work, upkeep their new media ventures, do stylist pulls, run errands… whatever they say. I’m kind of like an upscale P.A. with a power of prose and a knowledge of twitter.
So, back in December, Naida and her husband Marco told me they were going to be gone for a month (not unusual) and that they would be sailing (not unusual) their boat Butch across the Atlantic (WTFFF?!). But you know, as their faithful employee, I said, “Er…. okay…”. Naturally, I was trepidatious. I mean, I’m the kid at sixth grade camp that got half way up the rock wall and started crying that I needed to come down. I’m as mousey as I look. I don’t do dauntless things that could put me in physical harm. Putting myself through an emotional wringer or making myself look like a douchebag for the sake of a laugh, fine. Let’s do tha’ damn thang. But sailing across the ocean in the middle of winter… yeah, not really myyy sort of thang. But Naida and Marco are daring little cats and they peaced out mid-December, trusting me with the shop and everything else.
Because contrary to popular belief, I have been known to be a very responsible and reliable person that is not always drinking red wine and spilling it all over everything she owns.
Okay, so everything was straight chillin’. I had everything on lock back in the states and from the sunny tone of the messages I was sparsely receiving from my brave bosses, everything was legit amongst the waves as well. Then on January nineteenth, I get a satellite message that said (not verbatim):
“SHIT IS GOIN’ DOWN.
THE MAST = IN HALF.
WE’RE BLOWING THIS JOINT.”
The two were saved by a German research boat, the Maria S. Merian.
THE BELEFONTE + SPROCKETS =
MARIA S. MERIAN ?
heart u.
But seriously, I am just thankful that they are safe & sound, whether or not they are hanging with Alistair Hennessy with an accent. Naida and Marco are two of the most wonderful individuals I have been lucky enough to have a part of my life since moving to Los Angeles. They are truly passionate people who inspire me on a daily basis. Being around them you can’t help but feel the creativity and determination one needs to succeed in life. It is genuinely uplifting working for them and they give me hope in the human race.
Also, they’ve given me the opportunity to have a blog that Google AdSense does not think is a beautiful & unique snowflake and also the freedom to edit a lot of videos that people sometimes watch and tell me the audio sucks.
And everyone aboard the Maria S. Merian, although you probably are not taking the time to read my blog let alone translate it, thanks for saving my homies and feeding them.
I am also thankful that we have an awesome PR firm that knows how to turn problems into press.
For a play by play on my heroic head-honchoes’ epic expedition at sea, check out their at-sea-blog.
