If you were in Slovenia, this looks like a nice place to spend Mother's Day, with or without dear old mom.
What, you say you don't know jack about Slovenia? Well, read up, my little Edgesters.
Fun (well...) facts about Slovenia
Slovenia is located in the eastern Alps and borders the Adriatic Sea between Austria and Croatia.
The capital and largest city of Slovenia is Ljubljana.
Slovenia is slightly smaller than New Jersey and has a population of 2.06 million.
The highest point of Slovenia is the 9,396-foot Mount Triglav; the lowest point is the Adriatic Sea at sea level.
The majority of the population speaks Slovene, which is also the country's official language. Other local protected official languages are Hungarian and Italian.
Facts about moms in Slovenia
Among 19,554 mothers who gave birth in 2007: 1.5 percent were teenagers; over 47 percent were at least 30 years old; 2.2 percent were 40 or more, 19 had their eighth child or more; and 15 gave birth at home. About 70 percent of women over age 14 have given birth at least once.
Jokes about Slovenia
If you open an umbrella in the streets of Ljubljana, be careful not to hurt somebody's eye in Maribor.
Q: Why is it forbidden to jump into swimming pools in Slovenia ?
A: Because Italians would complain about water splashing.
But this is no joke
According to the CIA Factbook, Slovenia is a model of economic success and stability for the region. With the highest per capita GDP in Central Europe, Slovenia has excellent infrastructure, a well-educated work force, and a strategic location between the Balkans and Western Europe.
While I'm working on videos and photos taken at the last three events, here's some more popular "narodno-zabavna glasba" (folk music), made in Slovenia.
For today I chose for you Slovenian Waltz of the year 2009 "Del srca" (Piece of Heart) by a very successful and popular, young Slovenian ensemble: Ansambel Roka Žlindre (Rok Žlindra Ensemble)
Rok Žlindra (band leader and button accordion player) wrote 40+ or his own melodies and the group is about to release the third CD. Rok Žlindra Ensemble won several awards for their tunes.
And another waltz video spot by the same group: Ansambel Roka Žlindre - "Srce pa še vedno hrepeni" (Longing Heart)
I have to admit that my online life has been pretty adventurous ever since 2009 turned into 2010. I have no intention to bore You with technical details of everything that happened (completely out of my control), so I'm only updating everyone on the part that might have affected You.
There were some major issues on the webhosting server where my SNPJ 778 e-mailing list of subscribers is saved and where I was sending all the email updates from. It took skilled technicians several weeks to fix everything and in the meantime I was improvising to get as many messages out as possible. Unfortunately, about 50 email addresses were lost in the process.
Hence, if you read this and haven't received any emails from SNPJ778 recently - and you're still interested in knowing what's going on at our Club in Spring Hill - please subscribe again at the top of the right-hand-side bar.
One last thing. Right now I'm also testing a new emailing service and sofar the response has been great. The only problem is that some of you might be receiving two newsletters every time I send something out. But only for the next 40 days or so.
I apologize for any inconvenience - spamming anyone would be the last thing on my mind.
And I promise I will keep this blog (website) updated as frequently as possible and filled with interesting facts, videos and photos from past events and more.
Wishing you a beautiful week and sending some spring your way with this photo of mine that I took in my front yard a few weeks ago.
Photo above: Morning dew on hot pink Geranium in my front yard
Photo above: Ray Sholar at the SNPJ 778 February board meeting in 2009
Ray Sholar was one of the founders of our SNPJ Spring Hill Lodge 778. I remember him coming to all the board meetings and every other event, he was always kind, in a good mood and smiling. The last time I saw him he came in really early so we got to talk some more than usually.
Friendship memorial for Ray Sholar is scheduled for:
Saturday, March 27, 2010
from 4:00 to 8:00 PM
at the SNPJ 778 Spring Hill Hall on County Line Road.
Everyone who knew Ray Sholar is welcome to attend.
In lieu of flowers, donations are sincerely appreciated in Ray Sholar's name to the SNPJ Lodge 778.
I'll be away for a few days so I'm sending some energizing Slovenian music your way. :)
First, here's best Slovenian polka of 2009 by Ansambel Golte (Golte Ensemble):
"Če te luna nosi"
The title seems kind of difficult to translate - it's something like "Moonwalking" - you know, the kind that happens to men who are totally in love and all they can see and think about are their sweetheart's hands, touching them.
And if you like Ansambel Golte, here's another one of their polka videos "Če je ljubezen greh" (If love is a sin). It's a happy tune, which is obvious from the video part.
Enjoy the happy music, have the most beautiful weekend and keep smiling!! :) . .
Virgil Baker, playing at SNPJ 778 Spring Hill hall in March of 2009
Slovenian-American Club - SNPJ 778 Spring Hill Hall
13383 County Line Rd, Spring Hill, FL 34609
is hosting a traditional Sunday Afternoon with Virgil Baker on Sunday, March 21, 2010 with:
live music
dancing
jamming
ethnic foods
OPEN TO PUBLIC, EVERYONE IS WELCOME!
Schedule:
Sunday, March 21
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Music by: Virgil Baker from Michigan
Food served: 12 to 1:30 pm
Dancing: 2 - 6 pm
Dance admission: $8.00
For more information and reservations call Carol Drongosky at: 352-237-8039
BRING YOUR FRIENDS - ALL WELCOME - ETHNIC FOOD - GREAT PRICES - GREAT MUSIC - GREAT JAMMIN - SUNNY WEATHER - HAPPY PEOPLE - FOOD AND CASH BAR AVAILABLE AT ALL DANCES
Our SNPJ 778 Spring Hill Hall was lively with good music, dancing and jamming all week long (Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 5 - 7, 2010). . .
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I caught a lot of happy faces on my camera, the attendees looked like they had fun. . .
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We had ethnic parade on Saturday and our national SNPJ president Joseph Evanish from headquarters in Pennsylvania attending our event (photo below):
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We sold out on goulash and fish fry and as usually had lots of various desserts (photo below):
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The golfing tournament was a success and this year the weather cooperated much better than the year before. I'll publish the golfing results as soon as I receive them.
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Two great bands were entertaining us:
Bob Turcola (photo below):
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and Polka Quads (photo below):
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Besides the SNPJ National President Joseph Evanish, we had some other special guests:
Walter Ostanek and Joe Fedorchak (photo below):
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Tony Klepec (first from the right playing button box on the photo below):
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Frank Svet (photo below):
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... and many others. Of course jamming is always popular (photo below):
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...and so is "Židana marela" (Silk Umbrella) - photo below: . .
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There are a lot more photos and videos ready to be uploaded on my computer, keep checking back to see all the latest updates - and leave a comment if you like! :) . .
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