Hello, my name is Mario and I am a recovering Taxi-holic. I am no longer a part of the mighty LST and therefore I am taking a great risk in writing this blog without their permission. I only hope that they will grant an exiled panda this last request.

Today my son will be born. It is now 4:18pm in Bismarck, ND and Alison is nearly ready to complete the final round of this 15 hour contest. As I sit here waiting to see Nathan Natal Pesacreta for the first time (yes, I lost a bet to Nathan!) I can’t help but feel nostalgic.

Does anyone remember just how high Franco used to jump? Can anyone recall when Nathan donned his “Funky Pants”? Can anyone forget the time I had long beautiful hair, like an overweight Fabio?

Franco: I can’t believe its not butter!

Mario-Fabio: That’s because it is butter!

I will miss the vikings of Quilcene: Bjorn and Mike. Everyone misses Sally, I will never forget her and we all loved her very much!!

Mr. Wilson, I hope you can build me a mic holder for my trumpet again, but this time in five minutes instead of ten. Also, if you have not picked up a copy of the “Zombie Survival Guide” yet, you may be in for a rude surprise.

To the Chards (excluding Andrew of course): Thank you for your hospitality, ribs, wine, camera lenses, and for one hell of a bass playing son.

Thanks to the band for putting up with my mood swings, perfectionism, and hygene.

Also to everyone else in Quilcene, and Touchet, and Yakima, and countless other people that fed and housed the plague of locusts that is LST.

LST is a magical group that will always have the ability to touch peoples hearts and… yes even their ears through unclassifiable, ever changing music.

This is the last blog of the panda.

Goodbye.