Having received over 120 e-mails yesterday in response to the e-mail
about my upcoming trip to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, and not being able to
respond individually, I feel I need to let you all know the latest
developments: There was a last minute change in plans, with one of the
Saudi princes' cousin taking helm of the 1999 (MESS-C) Middle East
Summer Swing Camp, so unfortunately, I won't be going after all.......
A...
Ap...
Apr...
APRIL FOOOOOOOLS!
You've just been SHAGGED. I Shagged you rotten, baby, yeah! Yeah,
baby, YEAHHH! Saucer of milk, table 2. Allow myself to introduce...
myself. I was never going to Saudi Arabia, and I'll be here all
summer! I swear, Vanessa, the Italian bird meant NOTHING to me. You
know, I never really played an April Fools joke before, and as many of
you know, I'm an "all-or-nothing" kind of guy, so I figured I'd go all
out.
Here at the Swing Society, we not only shag you on April Fools Day,
but additionally, we publicly humiliate you by publishing a list of
names of people who actually fell for it, or were "Shagged," as the
saying goes. Don't worry if you're on the list (if you think you are,
you are), because I was tricked on a couple of occasions yesterday, once
by 3 Spot. Very funny guys! Here is a list of SOME of the responses.
There were many. Some swingers were totally Shagged, others were only
Balboa'd:
Val,
Dude this is *NOT* how you keep from being a stranger! ARgh! But,
jeez, what an opportunity. I'll definitely be in touch this month
before you're gone. Bummer, I was hoping you'd be around this summer.
-- Brent Metcalf
(Hepcat Warren figures it out)
Val,
Very funny.
by the way, did I tell you I was engaged?
-- Warren Raquel
(this one's especially, because Jeannine's NOT totally sure it's a joke)
So, like, Val -
'you really going to Saudi or is this some silly little April Fools Day
Joke...
hmmm... me thinks it's the latter. why I outta!
Not that they wouldn't be crazy not to recruit you, but well, you
know what I mean!
;)
Jeannine
but, just in case it's not though, CONGRATULATIONS! :)
-- Jeannine Nelson
(this one nearly killed me. It's from a dear friend of mine, Tony)
Subject: Are you nuts???
From: joseph a bonetti <bonetti@students.uiuc.edu>
Val,
Why don't stay and finish your degree before you leave for SA? You only
have 4 weeks of school left. Are you sure you want to graduate?
-- Tony "T-Bone"
Bonetti
Val,
I just wanted to say good luck and have fun this summer!! That is so
cool
that you get to do that! Have a Happy Easter,
Love,
-- Annie Hogan
Val,
I'm glad to hear you have such a wonderful opportunity! Does that mean
that we're not making a movie this summer? ;-) This is really cool!
It's neat to know that you're in demand for such a worthwhile cause! :-)
-- Sean Jordan
Sean Jordan
Editor-in-Chief
eXscape
http://www.exscape.com
Dear Valentin,
What is this about going to Saudi Arabia - I can't believe it!
I'm so excited for you! I'm sure it will be an amazing experience and
you
will have the time of your life. I bet you never thought swing dancing
could change your life in such a drastic way. I hope that everything
goes
wonderfully for you and that you make the most of your experience. Talk
to you soon. Good luck!
Love,
-- Annabel (NFK 61!)
Val,
About your going to Saudi Arabia -- It sounds like a good deal except
for
the following: My sister has a girlfriend who is a model for Victoria's
Secret (need I comment that she's an absolute knockout) and is going to
be in
C-U for most of May. She wants to learn some swing dancing. I've told
her
about you, and she was hoping to arrange some private lessons. I doubt
that
the babes in S.A. are as hot as she is. But whatever. Have a good
time.
-- (anonymous for now)
Val,
I can't believe you're going to Saudi. That's craziness. But in a good
way, I'm sure. Have a good Easter!
Love,
-- Clarice Gerke
(I had Caryn going pretty good; she even gave me a sad face. Caryn,
you're still cool. I would have fallen for it too.)
Hey Val,
That is so cool. What a great opportunity. So are you going to be on
campus til then? I guess I'll only have the pleasure of dancing with you
a few more times... :(
-- Caryn Lieberfeld
(I feel a little bad when I get responses like this one. I'm sorry
Steph! Actually, now I really do wish I were going...)
Hey Valentin!
It's Steph Wallace from Cutting Edge! I just wanted to tell you
congratulations on your opportunity in Saudi Arabia- that's crazy (and
exciting). For some reason, I feel compelled to tell you to be careful,
even if I'm kind of uneducated about the place. Anyhow, I'm sure that
will be a life-enhancing experience! Thanks again for teaching us swing
and the Daddy-O choreography (if I don't see you before then!). Take
care!
-- Stephanie Wallace (from Cutting
Edge)
Dear Val,
I just read your Swing Society update. Did I read correctly? Are you
going to Saudi Arabia?!?! That is awesome! For how long are you going
to go? Also, since you have to withdraw from the semester, what will
happen with graduation? Can you walk through the ceremony anyway, or do
you know have to wait until the fall? When did all of this happen? I
didn't hear a word!
Regards,
-- Brian Wiemeyer, best friend and high school/UCLA buddy from LA
(couldn't fool Bev though)
Val,
I'm assuming that the Saudi thing was a nice little April fool. I
probably get fooled more often now than when I was a kid because it was
a BIG holiday in grade school. We always looked forward to it. Anyway,
are you going to Catalina? Trent and I have made reservations on the
island. We're going to stay an extra day to play on the beach and
snorkel. Take care!
-- Beverly Cook (Chicago swing
instructor)
(then, T-Bone wised up)
Hey Val,
You got me. I had no idea yesterday was April Fool's Day. Plus, you
are wild and crazy enough to actually do what you said. See ya
-- Tony Bonetti (again)
April Fool's Day Joke ACCOMPLICE(S): Anne Mowbray (she picked Dhahran)
Everyone, thank you for being a good sport.
I love you all!
Valentin Ion Prisecaru
Co-conspirator and President,
Swing Society of the U of I