Jukebox Wednesday

Today's selection for Jukebox Wednesday is a remake of a song that has always makes me shake my groove thing.

LaBelle originally recorded Lady Marmalade in 1974 or 1975. All I remember is that I was in the 8th grade and that would have been September 1974-May 1975. I remember going to the roller skating rink and trying to skate to this song. (I have never been much of a roller skater.)

When the movie Moulin Rouge was released, a newer version of the song was recorded. Here is a live performance with Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mýa, Pink, Missy Elliott AND Patti LaBelle!

God Bless You

I really wasn't looking forward to going to work today. Three day weekends are so much fun and I was afraid that Tuesday would be the new Monday.

Our receptionist was out today so I was helping to answer the phones. In two separate instances, two callers, who I have never met, said, "God bless you." (and no, I didn't sneeze.) One even told me that God was in control and not to worry.

OK. All I did was answer the phone and give them some information. However, considering the way things have been going and something that happened over the weekend, it was a bit reassuring and nice to hear those nice words from strangers. And maybe I really was helpful or maybe it was a message from God to not worry?

Who knows?

I had a dream

So now either you are humming Everything's Coming Up Roses or I Have A Dream by ABBA. Anywho.

I had the weirdest dream last night and decided to share it with you. Lucky you! This dream was right after the dream about moving furniture for a cousin who dropped out of Notre Dame University and transferred to University of Texas. It involved having to having to get my ex-landlord to hitch a trailer to The Cal Mobile, etc., etc., etc. So here is the weird dream.

I was booked to be the comedian who did a stand-up act after Sammy Davis, Jr. performed his song and dance number. I've never done stand-up before (Isn't my life funny enough? Who needs to rehearse?) so I was unprepared. My booking agent was Melissa Rivers. She wasn't too prepared either and I kept telling her I thought it was odd that I was performing after Sammy Davis, Jr. (nevermind that Sammy Davis, Jr. is DEAD!) but she kept telling me not to worry about it. She comes running up to me and tells me that she thinks a Duke Ellington song would be good introduction music for me. She tells me to give her my Duke Ellington cd...like I carry one with me at all times? I tell her I don't have one with me and she says she will ask her dad (who is also dead!).

So we go to her mom's house (which was attached to an amusement park) so that I can cleanup. Joan Rivers' house was HUGE with a bunch of hallways, closets and bathrooms. She had guests there who were also trying to get ready for Sammy Davis, Jr.'s performance (OK people, he's DEAD!) so the house was buzzing with activity.

In the midst of all of this activity I have to go to the bathroom and we're not talking about having to pee. (Read between the lines.) So I go to find the bathroom only to realize the one I find in this huge house is like a communal bathroom and everyone can see me sitting there!

So I'm dealing with that and I'm trying to come up with my comedy routine and I decide I should talk about things people can relate to: having to go to the bathroom; hitting the send button on an email when you really didn't mean to; texting; cell phones. So I get that all sorted out and flush the toilet and it doesn't work! OMG! I'm in Joan Rivers house and I can't get the toilet to work. I'm looking everywhere for a plunger and can't find one. I keep flushing and flushing and flushing and FINALLY it works.

So now it's time for me to get dressed but I can't find my clothes. So I go walking through the house and turn on a light only to realize it was the switch for security system's panic button and when I turned it on it turned on the emergency generator. OY!

So I find my clothes and walk through the door thinking I'm walking into a changing room of some sort but it takes me to the amusement park and I can't get back into Joan Rivers' house. So now I'm walking around the amusement park trying to find a place to change clothes and I'm trying to rehearse my routine and I finally realize I'm going to bomb and be a big dud.

So that's the end of the dream and I woke up tired. Maybe it had something to do with the two Margaritas, beer, Absolut Mango shot and Mexican food that I had last night?

Jukebox Wednesday

Some bloggers post pics of themselves on HNT (Half Naked Thursday) and yes, they are HN. I can't imagine anyone wanting to see me HN on a Thursday, much less FN on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday!

So...I thought I would start Jukebox Wednesday. Once a week, on Wednesday, I will either post a video or the lyrics to a song that I really like.

With today's launch, I am posting a song by Tina Turner. Are you shocked that it isn't a Pet Shop Boys song? Knowing that my gentle readers would expect that I decided to throw you for a loop and make your day a bit caddywampus!

I saw Tina Turner perform this song live in May 1996 when she launched her Wildest Dreams Tour at The Cynthia Mitchell Woods Pavillion in The Woodlands, Texas. And guess who was there that night? Oprah! That would be the first of two Oprah incidents in my life and it would be the first of two times I would see Tina Turner perform. I digress. So here is Tina Turner's Silent Wings.

Friends

Of all the things that are not perfect in my life, I am very grateful for my family and friends. Many of you are familiar with the saying, "Friends are the family you choose for yourself."

All of my immediate family is Ft. Worth. I have oodles and oodles of relatives in the Fort Worth-Dallas area as well as a pocket of family in Kansas City, Missouri AND Kansas; both sides of the river. (Question: How does one decide which Kansas City to live in?)

So when I moved to Houston, I moved here not knowing anyone. I left behind a very good circle of friends in Ft. Worth. For me, Houston was a tough town to break into. As time went on, I made friends here and while some of us have drifted, I know that there is always a group of people I can count on.

Oprah once asked, "Who are you without your memories?" and to that I would add, "...and without your friends?"

Last night, I met up with a longtime friend who now lives in Calgary, Canada. We met for some stunning repartee, fellowship and adult beverages, followed by Tex-Mex food. Another friend joined us and then I invited two other friends. I'm a big believer in blending relationships.

So here is a photo of us all together.

After partaking of the stunning repartee, fellowship and adult beverages, three of us went for Tex-Mex food and the other two met up with some other friends. All in all it was a GREAT evening.

I think too many times, we all get caught up in our own little world and forget to take time to just sit down and have a face-to-face conversation with a friend...or we don't take the time to pick up the phone and have a chat.

I know. In this age of instant communication, it is easier to send a text message or an email or do an update status on facebook. Call me Guilty!

So unbeknown to me, one of the readings for Mass (in the Catholic Church) this weekend is about laying down your life for a friend. (In case you're wondering, I went to Mass tonight to fulfill my Sunday obligation so that is how I know about the readings.) Now, I'm hoping that you really don't have to lay down your life for a friend but what WOULD you do for friend? If there are strings attached, is it really a friendship? Just askin'.

So, I'm gonna suggest that you make an effort to get in touch with a friend and not via email or text message or facebook...and just check-in. And I will leave you with one of my all time favorite Pet Shop Boys songs (...cause we were never being boring. We had too much time to find for ourselves. And we were never being boring. We dressed up and fought, then thought: make amends. And we were never holding back or worried that time would come to an end. We were always hoping that, looking back you could always rely on a friend.) Click here to view the video.

Music

I've commented before how music has had a huge influence on my life. I'll hear a song and it will take me back to a period in time. Sometimes it is a good memory and sometimes it is a not so good memory. There are some songs that define an era and there are some songs that are timeless.

I heard this song today and didn't realize that it is from the early '90s. Enjoy!

Snippets: The Week In Review

I heard this song the other day and it brought back some really good memories. The first time I heard it I was with a friend who has since passed away. We both agreed it is one of George Michael's best songs.


We had a FUNd raiser for Annise Parker on Wednesday. She is running for mayor of Houston. For more information about Annise, click here. For additional pics, check out my Facebook page.

Saturday night was the Krewe of Olympus Wild Wild West Mardi Gras Style Party. There were cowboys, indians and saloon girls. Miss Mona and Melvin P. Thorpe even made an appearance. More pics are available on my Facebook page.
And then today I was humming this song:


And before you ask, yes, I called my mother today to wish her a Happy Mother's Day!

Feliz Cinco de Mayo

Today is the day of my people. Which people you ask? My people are the people south of the Rio Grande. The people who have scared the world with Swine Flu. Calvin says, "Woof woof woof damned. Woof woof woof woof."

In English that means, "Swine flu be damned. Party like a Kennedy!"

I have a meeting tonight so I won't be partaking of any cervezas or Margaritas. So have one or two or three for me...and be careful out there.

A Day At The Races; A Night In Bed

Yes. You read that correctly. A Day At The Races:





A Night In Bed:




Check back later this week for more photos and for an explanation of what I did yesterday!