For some stereotypical fraternity college guy a dream party is to have an open bar full of premium liquor with attractive people ready to serve you any drink your heart desires and more food than you can stuff in your attractive mouth. Tonight I lived that stereotypical fraternity college guy’s dream.
Food was in abundance. There were so many drinks around us I felt like I was in a salt water aquarium and it was my job to drink around other fancy, vibrant and polished looking fish.
Tonight was one of the best fundraisers I have been to in my life. VIP ALL THE WAY! Chelsea and I roll up to the valet parking area, walk in the door with three waiters all holding select wines for us to choose from while we decide if we would like to put our coat in check.
I am still on crutches so Chelsea looks like a lush holding two glasses of wine. We stroll through to swipe our credit card to get a paddel so we can bid on local art. We turn the corner and there is a table lined with ahi seared tuni bites covered with chili powder, saffron infused crab cakes with a hint of lemon, steak topped with horseradish and gorgonzola and green alfalfa sprouts and a WHOLE LOT more. (I even tried raw meat. Have you ever had that? I didn’t know you could do that!)
We looked around at art for about an hour, drank and ate more food, then walked down the stairs of death (there were two flights of slick concrete and a herd of people behind us while I was on crutches) and met our amazing table hosts, J Wrigley Vineyards at one of the best seats in the house (Side note: we met Jody and John one day at our other friend’s winery and we instantly bonded. They are amazing people and invited us to sit at their table at this sold out event. Jody and John….yall are amazing!!!) Plus, all she wanted for the seats that originally cost $250 each (which would have cost Chelsea and I $500) she just asked us to give her $200 and she would donate it back to CAP. That is a good person right there!
The people at our table were all fabulous. We had our own waiter who literally ALWAYS kept our glass full. Even if you tried to drink the last sip he popped up like that guy in that Adam Sandler movie; Mr. Deeds.
Chelsea is now officially on her second glass of wine halfway through the auction and here are some notable quotes of the night:
- “You got like a straw or somthin” (yes I dropped the “g” off of something because that is how she said it. OH and she was not referring to her water glass, she was referring to her WINE glass)
- “Babe you need to remember to be classy! BURP!” (literally as she was saying the word classy she burped out loud!)
- “Ahhh man dude! my onion ring fell on the ground! Ah never mind that was just the onion, the fried part is still on my fork! Hell yea!”
We proceeded to watch a very powerful video in which CAP showed what services they offer and the people they serve. It showed three people (a single African America mother, a white male whose sexual orientation was not disclosed and a young teenage boy who was born with the virus) living with HIV and we learned about their story. The lights went out, candles were lit and the three people featured in the video took the stage. All you could hear was clapping and people scooting their chairs out to stand up in appreciation. It was incredibly moving.
Yes, there is a human in the silk see -through screen hanging from the celling doing arial dances! It was really cool!
The live auction raised more than $300,000 for CAP thanks to the artistis, donors and companies such as NIKE who did matching gifts. Chelsea and I did our largest paddle raise for $250 and it felt good. So good actually that all I could do was think “I am so thankful that I am able to do this and cannot wait till I can raise my paddle for $2,500 or $25,000.” HIV/AIDS awareness is something I am very passionate about. It was a great feeling to know we could help by sending two HIV affected and/or infected volunteers to a school or organization to provide a two-hour presentation on HIV including educational materials and staff follow up.
I had a really horrific scare in college and I know testing can be a scary place. First off, you have to wait six months before you know if you have the virus or not after engaging in sexual relations with someone. That six months is hell. No other word than hell. All the negative thoughts roll through your head. I was so scared that I would not shake peoples hands because I was so nervous.
I was lucky to learn a lesson without having it affect my life in a major way. Today, every eight seconds around the world someone is being infected with HIV. Every. Eight. Seconds.
(Side note: There are other ways to contract HIV other than sex; blood transfusions, sharing needles and from mother to child. There are also some MAJOR steroytypes, myths and stigmas around HIV/AIDS that we can read up on.)
If you are thinking about having sex or taking that next step… talk with your partner about their past and your future. It can be difficult but that is one major way we can change things. If we get comfortable talking about our sexual wants and needs this world will be a better place.
Life Lesson: Speak out for what you believe in even if it is scary. Seeing those three people walk on stage was a powerful moment for me. I know how scary it can be to get tested. There are people in your community that will help you with whatever happens. Positive or Negative. Get tested.
*We need help spreading the word. If you like this blog article please share it with your friends and family!
April 29, 2012 - 8:11 pm
you are in trouble for posting that silly picture of me! i was not drunk i was just being silly you punk!
April 30, 2012 - 10:07 am
well hey there ryan and chelsea,
i just looked around y’alls blog and absolutely love it. i think the concept of this whole site is just awesome, and i really love y’alls 4 lil relationship/life mottos.
ryan – it has been a loonnngg time, but you seem to be doing wonderful. :]
chelsea – i went to high school with ryan. it’s nice to meet you ;) i love traveling as well. maybe we can all link up a hit up a country together!
April 30, 2012 - 1:31 pm
hi antara, thanks so much for checking out our blog and nice to meet you too! glad to love you hear traveling too, we love travel buddies :)
April 30, 2012 - 2:20 pm
Hi Antara, I am glad you like the blog :) It for sure has been a very longgggg time and I am always down for hitting up a country together :)
April 30, 2012 - 12:51 pm
[...] woke up yesterday morning feeling slightly less than stellar. as you may recall from our previous post, we indulged in a lot of food, sugar and alcohol the night before at the CAP art auction. so not [...]
April 30, 2012 - 8:11 pm
Hi Ryan and Chelsea – I work at CAP, and got such joy out of reading this. I’m so glad that you two enjoyed the evening, and your support means so much to us and the people we serve. Thanks for sharing your own experience and helping to raise awareness. Hope to see you again at next year’s auction!
Mary
April 30, 2012 - 10:47 pm
Hi Mary,
Thank you for reading the blog and I am so glad you liked the article. CAP does amazing work and we are happy we can can support the organization and people you serve. We will be at next year’s auction :)
May 2, 2012 - 11:51 am
[...] weekend in during the eugene marathon (we couldn’t be there because we were partying at the CAP Art Auction)! well done lady! look at that impressive medal (and no she wasn’t wearing it around all day, [...]
May 6, 2012 - 1:32 pm
sounds like fantastic night, events like this one can do so much good & let everybody have a great time besides, did you actually win an item at auction or just bid on one?
May 7, 2012 - 1:38 pm
It was a great night. We just did a paddle raise, the items were going for $3k-$8k so a little out of our price range :)