Hello Floridians and friends of Florida House! It's Fernando Flamingo, coming to you from Washington DC. I'm happy to say that this July weather is finally making it feel like Florida in the District of Columbia and let me tell you, Florida House has been busy. To begin with we have the Intern Seminar Series going on. Florida Congressional Interns have been coming to the house to hear politicians from our state speak about their careers. The chicks have already heard from Representatives Klein, Putnam, and Mario Diaz Balart. They love asking the tough questions of our leaders.
Florida State Society is also in full swing this summer. This past Thursday they threw a party at Florida House themed "Cheeseburger in Paradise." There were beach balls in the fountain, margaritas in everyone's glasses, and Jimmy Buffet on the stereo. Fun was had by all. On August fifth the society is going to watch the Florida Marlins play the Washington Nationals. I was excited because I thought we were talking about fish, but the baseball game should be fun too!
Finally, I have to tell ya'll about the political happenings this summer. The senate is debating both the appointment of Judge Sotomayor and whether or not to pass the Cap and Trade Bill. It's enough to make a little bird feel like he is in the center of the world. Flocks of folks are going to see the Sotomayor Confirmation debates, including my two new best buddies; Julianne Mica and Savanna Shuntich. Julianne is Florida House's new Manager of Operations and she flew here all the way from Tallahassee. Savanna is our summer intern and she was hatched in Jacksonville. Both of them seem to be having a wonderful time getting to know DC and adjusting to life here at Florida House.
Well, that's all for now. I have places to go and shrimp to eat. My best to all of you!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Sunshine and Stars: Florida’s Inaugural Ball
Greetings again from Florida House! Fernando Flamingo here reporting on Florida's Inaugural Ball, Sunshine and Stars.
What a wonderful event! Florida House and the Florida State Society sure do know how to throw a party! I flew in yesterday evening to the Corcoran Gallery of Art where Floridians gathered to celebrate the 2009 Inauguration with dinner, dessert, and dancing. Guests arrived for the dinner around 6:30 p.m. and enjoyed hors d'oeuvres and drinks and the live music from Big Ray and the Kool Kats. Guests were seated and welcomed by Bart Hudson, Executive Director of Florida House, and Mike Sewell, President of the Florida State Society. They then enjoyed a delicious meal with a Florida feel. While there, I was honored to meet some of the 16 members of Florida's delegation as well as some of the USA's fine astronauts! The Tallahassee Boys Choir surprised us all as they sang patriotic songs for the dinner's grand finale. Guests were given 2009 Inaugural champagne flutes to take home as a dinner favor and a way of saying "thanks!" to everyone who made the night possible.
At 9:30 things really got hopping as guests with tickets to the Dancing and Dessert portion of the ball arrived and Big Ray picked up the tempo with his amazing band! The sweets were delicious and the dancing was contagious as Floridians stepped up to show their moves (including Gator fans' "Gator Chomp"). Guests were welcomed to walk through the Richard Avedon's "Portraits of Power" exhibit which highlighted significant American politicians that have shaped the way politics are today. Mike Sewell thanked guests and sponsors once again for their fine Floridian generosity and made sure they knew the night couldn't have been possible without them. The festivities concluded at 1 a.m. after the Kool Kats met the guests requests of "One More Song". The night couldn't have been better; great food, great music, and great Floridian company! I tip my wing to Florida House and the Florida State Society for such a wonderful production and say thank you for the wonderful memory!
What a wonderful event! Florida House and the Florida State Society sure do know how to throw a party! I flew in yesterday evening to the Corcoran Gallery of Art where Floridians gathered to celebrate the 2009 Inauguration with dinner, dessert, and dancing. Guests arrived for the dinner around 6:30 p.m. and enjoyed hors d'oeuvres and drinks and the live music from Big Ray and the Kool Kats. Guests were seated and welcomed by Bart Hudson, Executive Director of Florida House, and Mike Sewell, President of the Florida State Society. They then enjoyed a delicious meal with a Florida feel. While there, I was honored to meet some of the 16 members of Florida's delegation as well as some of the USA's fine astronauts! The Tallahassee Boys Choir surprised us all as they sang patriotic songs for the dinner's grand finale. Guests were given 2009 Inaugural champagne flutes to take home as a dinner favor and a way of saying "thanks!" to everyone who made the night possible.
At 9:30 things really got hopping as guests with tickets to the Dancing and Dessert portion of the ball arrived and Big Ray picked up the tempo with his amazing band! The sweets were delicious and the dancing was contagious as Floridians stepped up to show their moves (including Gator fans' "Gator Chomp"). Guests were welcomed to walk through the Richard Avedon's "Portraits of Power" exhibit which highlighted significant American politicians that have shaped the way politics are today. Mike Sewell thanked guests and sponsors once again for their fine Floridian generosity and made sure they knew the night couldn't have been possible without them. The festivities concluded at 1 a.m. after the Kool Kats met the guests requests of "One More Song". The night couldn't have been better; great food, great music, and great Floridian company! I tip my wing to Florida House and the Florida State Society for such a wonderful production and say thank you for the wonderful memory!
Pre-Inaugural Events
Hello to all from our Nation's Capital! Florida House's very own Fernando Flamingo with the bird's eye view of Washington, D.C. during this remarkable time!
Washington, D.C. is booming with Americans from every state trying be a part of history and get a glimpse of President-elect Barack Obama at one venue or another. The streets are filled with tourists taking in the sights and claiming tickets to various balls, parades, and of course, the Swearing-in ceremony taking place on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol with the president-elect being sworn-in by noon, January 20th. Not only has the District been preparing the city to accommodate the estimated 1.7 million travelers during inauguration week, but it has been taking measures to entertain them as well. Yesterday, the public was invited to a concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial featuring a multitude of celebrities and the President-elect himself in a celebration of change and hope that America is set to embark on. Not wanting to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I decided to fly down to the National Mall and be a part of the star-studded event. Thousands of tourists braved the cold (some of my feathered friends were standing on the ice of what was once water in the Capitol Building's reflecting pool!). Three hours before the concert the mile wide area that includes the WWII Memorial, the Washington Memorial's reflecting pool, and the Lincoln Memorial looked like a scene from Forrest Gump! But the wait and the crowd was definitely worth being able to hear singers such as Bruce Springstein, Stevie Wonder, and James Taylor. President-elect Obama even did a duet of "American Pie" with Garth Brooks! Other celebrities were there as well including Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington who spoke about this wonderful country we live in and the many exciting changes we are about to go through. 
As the countdown continues for the Inauguration, the crowd continues to grow! You should see the lines of anxious Americans waiting to get their Inaugural tickets from their State Representatives and Senators! The evening festivities continue with entertainment as Inaugural Balls are being hosted by various states. I will be dropping by Florida's Inaugural Ball, Sunshine and Stars, hosted at the Corcoran Gallery of Art by Florida House and the Florida State Society. Florida's state Representatives and Senators are rumored to be present as well as Floridians local to D.C. and traveling from our southern-most state. Guaranteed to have a good time dancing to Big Ray and The Kool Cats, Floridians will not only be celebrating this great country but also our great state! Stay tuned to hear how the evening went and please feel free to check out my pictures of the Inaugural festivities around town!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Florida's Beauties Have Been Sighted on Capitol Hill
In a recent poll conducted by The Hill, two Floridians were named some of Capitol Hill's 50 most-beautiful people. Roy Zimmerman of Port Charlotte, FL, and Emily Zammit of West Palm Beach, FL, placed third and eighth, respectively. The poll is conducted annually, and past winners include Representative Connie Mack of Florida's 14th Congressional District, who placed fifth last year. With so much beauty in one state, we wonder... Could it be the Florida sunshine, or is there something in the orange juice?
To read interviews with these three Floridians or to see who else won, visit The Hill's Web site at http://thehill.com/cover-stories/50-most-test-2008-07-29.html
Monday, July 14, 2008
故事这些墙壁可能讲
What a story these walls could tell!
The 705 miles between Washington, D.C. and Florida seem shorter than ever after conquering the 4,160-mile Great Wall of China with Floridians Brian and Sarah, former Florida House director of development. The wall (originally built to protect China's northern border from intruders in the third century B.C.) has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, welcoming people from all over, just as Florida House does with Floridians in D.C.
Proving that Florida hospitality can be found anywhere, the pair kindly let me travel with them around the country as they visited their family. Here is what we found...
On a Chinese Tea Plantation, Brian, Sarah and I discovered the methods that the Chinese use to cultivate tea. The people of China have the earliest records of tea drinking; and while we used it to keep energized during our trip, the Chinese have used it medicinally for thousands of years.
Next, always looking to meet a feathered friend, I was eager to take a ride on the Duckling Junk. However, I had to "cry fowl" when I arrived, because this was no bird, but a chartered sailing boat that takes travelers like us on trips around the harbour.
Last, wanting a bit of enlightenment, we visited a Buddhist temple for some meditation. I posed for a quick picture with this Buddha statue! Being surrounded by the constant hustle and bustle of city life in D.C., it was nice to take a breather and learn some relaxation techniques that I could take back with me.
However, nothing can beat a hammock in the shade of Florida palm trees, so I waved goodbye to Sarah and Brian and headed back to the U.S. for another day as a happy Floridian!
The 705 miles between Washington, D.C. and Florida seem shorter than ever after conquering the 4,160-mile Great Wall of China with Floridians Brian and Sarah, former Florida House director of development. The wall (originally built to protect China's northern border from intruders in the third century B.C.) has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, welcoming people from all over, just as Florida House does with Floridians in D.C.Proving that Florida hospitality can be found anywhere, the pair kindly let me travel with them around the country as they visited their family. Here is what we found...
On a Chinese Tea Plantation, Brian, Sarah and I discovered the methods that the Chinese use to cultivate tea. The people of China have the earliest records of tea drinking; and while we used it to keep energized during our trip, the Chinese have used it medicinally for thousands of years.
Next, always looking to meet a feathered friend, I was eager to take a ride on the Duckling Junk. However, I had to "cry fowl" when I arrived, because this was no bird, but a chartered sailing boat that takes travelers like us on trips around the harbour.
Last, wanting a bit of enlightenment, we visited a Buddhist temple for some meditation. I posed for a quick picture with this Buddha statue! Being surrounded by the constant hustle and bustle of city life in D.C., it was nice to take a breather and learn some relaxation techniques that I could take back with me.
However, nothing can beat a hammock in the shade of Florida palm trees, so I waved goodbye to Sarah and Brian and headed back to the U.S. for another day as a happy Floridian!
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Soaring Through the Sky
Feeling the need to get back to the Sunshine State, I decided to fly on down to Pensacola, Florida. I went straight to Forrest Sherman Field, Naval Air Station, home of the Pensacola Blue Angels. After World War II, these planes began doing tricks to keep people interested in naval aviation. They ended up at their home base of NAS Pensacola in 1954 and have remained there ever since.
I jumped on a boat and rode to the middle of the Santa Rosa Sound to get a better view of the show. From my perch on the deck, I watched them dive through the sky from formation to formation. They would start in diamon
ds and then quickly switch to lines. The Blue Angels were traveling at high rates of speed, dangerously close to one another. The highlight of the show was watching them race towards each other, only to turn at the last moment and narrowly miss a head on collision. The show was great for people of all ages and really sparked interest in the Florida citizens.
I jumped on a boat and rode to the middle of the Santa Rosa Sound to get a better view of the show. From my perch on the deck, I watched them dive through the sky from formation to formation. They would start in diamon
ds and then quickly switch to lines. The Blue Angels were traveling at high rates of speed, dangerously close to one another. The highlight of the show was watching them race towards each other, only to turn at the last moment and narrowly miss a head on collision. The show was great for people of all ages and really sparked interest in the Florida citizens. Monday, July 7, 2008
FLYING INTO THE WILD!
As the D.C. summer heats up, I am always looking for new methods to stay cool. So, after a fun-filled Fourth of July, I decided to take a journey through the seven continents at the National Museum of Natural History to learn how other animals cope with some of the most extreme temperatures. 
From sub-Saharan Africa to the rain forests of South America, all animals have a unique way of living, eating and caring for their young. Even humans.
Did you know that your goose bumps are caused when small muscles beneath the skin contract, and the hair stands on end, helping trap warm air near the skin, or that by slowing their heart, breathing and metabolism, a hibernating ground squirrel can lower its body temperature to one degree Celsius?
From sub-Saharan Africa to the rain forests of South America, all animals have a unique way of living, eating and caring for their young. Even humans.
Did you know that your goose bumps are caused when small muscles beneath the skin contract, and the hair stands on end, helping trap warm air near the skin, or that by slowing their heart, breathing and metabolism, a hibernating ground squirrel can lower its body temperature to one degree Celsius?
It's interesting to think that no matter what type of climate we live in or how we keep warm, we are all descendants of the dinosaurs: another must-see feature of the museum at the Johnson IMAX Theater!
Dinosaurs: Giants of Patagonia is a 3D adventure following paleontologists in Argentina, as they uncover the evolution of the dinosaur into today's birds, like me. Who knew I would learn so much about my ancestors in one trip to the museum?
With so much to see, and not much time, I made a quick stop at the Harry Winston Gallery to see the Hope Diamond, the world's largest deep-blue diamond. It's shine reminded me of the Florida sun and the visitors I still needed to greet at the Florida House. So, I left the museum to plan next week's adventure and await the arrival of more Floridians to our embassy. I can't wait to see who I will meet and what I will uncover in the week to come!
Dinosaurs: Giants of Patagonia is a 3D adventure following paleontologists in Argentina, as they uncover the evolution of the dinosaur into today's birds, like me. Who knew I would learn so much about my ancestors in one trip to the museum?
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