Photo Journal: January 29, 2010

There is a big party in H-town tomorrow night. Preparations are being made for the hottest ticket in town! By invitation only.



And speaking of parties, pics from The 2nd Annual Ugly Sweater Party can be seen here.

Photo Journal: January 27, 2010

Recently, a new pedestrian bridge was opened at Memorial Park. This is a pic that I snapped of the cars traveling west on Memorial Drive.

Photo Journal: January 26, 2010

This morning when I was out walking Calvin I noticed a how beautiful the sky looked. Crisp and clean which is unusual for Houston. So when I went to the gym and was crossing into NoRO, I noticed how beautiful the skyline looked. So...

I went out of my way to get this pic.

Photo Journal: January 25, 2010

Things that make me go grrrrrrr! Getting stopped by the train on TC Jester when you are running late.

Photo Journal: January 24, 2010

This is the altar at St. Anne Catholic Church. I think it is one of the prettiest church interiors I have ever seen and enjoy going there.

Geaux Saints!

Mardi Gras comes every year but the Saints going to the Super Bowl only comes once in a lifetime. Congratulations Saints!




source: Reuters

Photo Journal: January 23, 2010

Laissez les bons temps rouler! Even the pansies in my front yard and Jim & Ben's yard are in the Mardi Gras Spirit!

Photo Journal: January 22, 2010

Even though it was a short work week it was a hectic week and Friday was the icing on the cake.

The building that I work in next to The Velvet Melvin. This is not the original name of the pub. Originally it was named the The Velvet Elvis but Priscilla Presley and The Presley estate went after the pub and won so they had to change the name.

I had never been to The Velvet Melvin but they have a great deck and you can sit there and watch everyone migrate out of Greenway Plaza at the end of the work day. I will probably be going back...especially since I can walk down the parking ramp and have a beer in a matter of minutes!

Photo Journal: January 21, 2010

I have been invited to The Ugly Sweater Party which will be on January 30, 2010. Here's the problem. A few years ago, I purged my closet of ugly sweaters. So I had to go buy one. As an added treat for me being tardy in posting, I am posting pics of my selection of ugly sweaters at Goodwill. Can you guess which one I bought?

Photo Journal: January 20, 2010

Well The Cal Mobile is dirty and needs to be washed but it is NOTHING like this vehicle.

Photo Journal: January 19, 2010

On my way home from work, I stopped at Randall's to make groceries. When I pulled into the parking lot I saw a satellite van for Channel 11. I wondered what was going on.

At first I thought maybe the in-store bank had been robbed but if that were the case there would have been police cars there also.

Turns out, Randall's is collecting money for the Haiti relief effort and Channel 11 was doing a story about it.

Photo Journal: January 18, 2010

So...I realized last night I have not posted any pics in awhile. Don't fret. I've been taking pics so let's play catch up.

Monday was the observance of Martin Luther King, Jr.s's Birthday. Kevin and I spent the day doing tasks for the Krewe stuff.

I have never really spent much time shopping on Harwin Street. Kevin knew of a place that was an indoor mall. It was a bit overwhelming to the eyes. This is a pic of some of the stores that sell bangles, baubles and beads.

Big talents croon a tune for Legacy - 2010-Jan-18 - CultureMap Houston

Big talents croon a tune for Legacy - 2010-Jan-18 - CultureMap Houston

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Photo Journal: January 17, 2010

I wasn't sure what I was going to do about the Aramco Houston Half Marathon. You see...

I've been having some severe pains in my left leg. It actually started a few months ago when I would hit the 10 mile mark and the right ankle would start to hurt. I think I started favoring the right leg which messed up the left leg.

One day in church, I was standing there and it felt like someone took an ice pick to my left knee. It hurt so bad for a few moments that I thought I was going to fall down.

So anywho, my plan for Sunday was to run and then walk when the pain set in. At the last minute, I changed my game plan. Because I was in the black corral with the second wave of runners/walkers, I definitely was not moving at a running pace. Instead, I was moving at a jogging pace. That actually ended up being what I did for most of the 13.1 miles. Yep, I had some pain and I did walk a bit but overall I'm happy that I finished in 2:34:andsomeseconds. I figured it would take me 3+ hours.

Below is a pic from yesterday. To see more photos, click here.


EDIT: I just found this on KPRC's website. My neighbor Ryan Korsgard posted this story.

Photo Journal: January 16, 2010

On Saturday I went to the GRB to pick up my packet for the Aramco Houston Half Marathon that would take place on Sunday. The expo is massive. All different types of vendors hawking their goods. Below is a photo that I snapped while I was there. To see more pics, click here and scroll through the pics.

Photo Journal: January 15, 2010

Cabaret For A Cure was held at The Hilton Americas Houston. It was a benefit for Legacy Community Health Services. The featured performers were Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr.

I had a really nice enjoying the performances, the food and seeing many of Houston's philanthropic community. Thank you to everyone who had a part in the event!

This pic was taken in the lobby of the fourth floor of the hotel. It is a glass sculpture on the ceiling.

To see more photos, click here

Photo Journal: January 14, 2010

It was a dreary, wet day in Houston. I snapped this pic at lunch time on my way back to the office.

Photo Journal: January 13, 2010

On Wednesday I made a stop at Legacy Southwest Clinic. It is located in the Gulfton/Sharpstown area of Houston. This part of Houston is very diverse and could be a mini-United Nations.

Rather than hop on the freeway to go back to the office, I took the surface road. I snapped a pic of this Kroger Grocery Store because I have never seen another Kroger whose signage was out of the norm.

Photo Journal: January 12, 2010

Trying to play catch up here. And yes, I have been taking at least one photo a day.

I met runnerOne at Memorial Park at 5:45A.M....yes, as in the wee hours of the morning...as in before the sun comes up. The running trail at the park is lit and this it what it looks like early in the morning...because I know most Houstonians have no clue what it looks like.

Photo Journal: January 11, 2010

I went to Hobby Lobby and when I first walked in, this is what I saw. Uh, could they not pick a better name for a throat lozenger? Just askin'.

Photo Journal: January 10, 2010

I spent a big chunk of January 10, 2010 working on the photos from the Krewe's Red Explosion which occurred on January 9, 2010. Here is a of what my computer screen looked like in the photo gallery; definitely red.

Photo Journal: January 9, 2010

Yesterday was a very busy day. I was at Career and Education Day presented by Houston Hispanic Forum. Later that evening I was at Red Explosion. This was a fundraiser for Krewe of Olympus-Texas. It was a fun time!

More photos can be viewed here.

Photo Journal: January 8, 2010

I know some of you will chuckle when I say this but is frickin' cold in Houston. This is the coldest hard freeze we have had in 20 years. We aren't accustomed to having to wear hats and gloves. And while you may think that sub-thirty-two degree weather is nothing it is SOMETHING to us. So just bear with us as we whine about the cold weather.

Some people are using this cold snap to drag out their furs. This is pic that I snapped of one of my co-workers. All he needed was a megaphone and a pennant.

Photo Journal: January 7, 2010

Yesterday afternoon I went to drop off some business cards at Legacy's newest location. On January 4, 2010, Legacy took over the operations of what was formerly a health center run by Christus Health.

We are really happy to be able to provide services to Houstonians who live in the Gulfton and Sharpstown areas of Houston.

(This is a temporary banner with our logo for our Southwest Clinic.)

Photo Journal: January 6, 2010

January 6 is The Feast of the Epiphany, Feast of The Three Kings, The 12th Day of Christmas and the beginning of Mardi Gras Season! I had some homemade jambalaya for dinner.

So...here is my entry for January 6. I know. You are thinking something Mardi Gras. Nope. Something from daily routine. Boring. I know.

Cabaret For A Cure

Legacy Community Health Services to honor Trini Mendenhall Sosa and Frank Sosa and Jani Lopez/Shell Oil at the third annual Cabaret for a Cure event on Friday, January 15, 2010 at the Hilton Americas-Houston

This year Legacy Community Health Services will benefit from the evening’s proceeds of an event proven to be magically unique in Houston’s calendar of fundraising. On Friday, January 15, eight-time Grammy-Award winning and legendary R&B sensations Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. take the stage to serenade the audience with their long-time celebrated smooth vocals with hits such as Aquarius, Let The Sun Shine In, One Less Bell to Answer, and Wedding Bell Blues. Combine this with the extraordinary talent of Howard Hill, Lakisha Jones, Deborah Duncan, The Richard Brown Orchestra, Karen Heck, Todd Honeycutt, and Kenneth Gayle, this evening is not to be missed.

Aside from the amazing talent, which will keep three performance stages hopping, Legacy will honor Trini Mendenhall Sosa and Frank Sosa with its Humanitarian Award. The Mendenhall Sosa’s serve as a shining example of giving back to the Houston community. Legacy will also honor Jani Lopez and Shell Oil for their continued fight against HIV/AIDS.

All proceeds will benefit Legacy’s highly regarded programs available for those impacted by HIV/AIDS in Houston. Legacy provides a comprehensive set of health and wellness programs and has support services for people living with HIV/AIDS.

We hope you will join us in raising the funds that will make a difference in the lives of so many people living with HIV/AIDS. Tickets can be purchased online at Cabaret For A Cure, or contact Michael Mandola at mmandola@legacycommunityhealth.org.

Legacy Community Health Services is a full-service, Federally Qualified Health Center that provides comprehensive, primary healthcare services to all Houstonians in a culturally sensitive, judgment-free and confidential environment. Legacy specializes in HIV/AIDS testing and treatment. Generous financial support from individuals, businesses and charitable foundations allows Legacy to provide no-cost or low-cost healthcare services to over 20,000 men, women and children each year.

Photo Journal: January 5, 2010

I was still recuperating on Tuesday from the festivities of Sunday and Monday. I had rehearsal for the Krewe ball and after that was over, I was feeling a bit spent. I fell asleep on the couch watching the news.

Here is a photo that I took on the way home from work. I changed my route yesterday. Now that the construction on Kirby Drive (north of Richmond) is complete the drive home isn't too bad.

The building on the right really bothered me when it was under construction. It looked like ti was going to fall down onto Kirby Drive.

Photo Journal: January 4, 2010

I went with Keith and Kevin to Annise Parker's Inauguration Party at Discovery Green. Donors who contributed high dollar amounts were invited to a cocktail party at The Grove. The rest of could attend the free party. Now, any other January night this would have been a great idea but it was a bit on the chilly side.

However, Tear down the mountains, Stop all the rivers, push, strike, and kill chilly weather was NOT going to keep me from seeing Tony Award winner Jennifer Holliday. Other performers included Roy Head, Mango Punch, Yvonne Washington and the legendary Archie Bell. I actually got to do the Tighten Up while Archie Bell was singing live.

Jennifer Holliday performed her signature song And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going and dedicated it to Annise. What a moment! It was followed by fireworks while Black Eyed Peas I Gotta Feeling played over the sound system. Below is a photo of Jennifer Holliday singing one of her songs. For more photos, click here.

Photo Journal: January 3, 2010

An unofficial victory party took place on January 3, 2010 for Annise Parker. The party was held at the Four Seasons Hotel. I must say that it was a fun time! Nice setting. Nice looking & fun people. Kathy Whitmire, former Mayor of Houston, flew into from Hawaii, and boy were arms tired and I made it a point to meet her and take her photo. When I lived in Ft. Worth, I admired Kathy's work from afar.

Below is a photo of Annise Parker. To see more photos, click here.

History is made in Houston

Although Saturday, January 2, 2010, was the official swearing in of Annise Parker as Mayor of Houston, today was the event that was open to the public and included the swearing in of the other council members. Although there are other U.S. cities that have openly gay or lesbian mayors, Houston is the only city in the U.S. that is in the 10 largest cities that has an openly gay or lesbian mayor. Houston is also the first major U.S. city to elect an openly gay or lesbian mayor. Houston ranks fourth and if everyone had been counted in the 2000 Census, it would probably rank third...but that is a discussion for another time.

Here is footage of Lisa Foronda doing the introduction and of the swearing in ceremony.

This Isn't A Resolution...

...but it is a goal. You see...

A few years ago, I read an article (I think in Oprah's magazine) that Carly Simon kept a Polaroid Journal. How cool is that (except now Polaroid film is no longer manufactured)? So I am going to try and take at least one photo a day of something. Maybe more, who knows? I know that I won't be able to post one every day but I will play catch up.

And you my readers will see what I photograph. So with that said...

January 1, 2010 (more photos can be found here.
I was invited to a party at the home of Tony & Ross. It was also a pool party and even though the pool was heated and it was 92 degrees Farenheit, the actual temperature in Houston was in the 50s. I opted not to jump in the pool. Ross made some yummy black-eyed peas and for me to say they were yummy, they were YUMMY! I HATE black-eyed peas but if you don't eat any on New Year's Day, you will have bad luck during the year.

This is a pic of the sunset in Houston. I took this pic from Memorial Drive in NoRO while I was walking Calvin.

I then went to a party at Lan & Bryan's. They supplied the booze and the guests supplied the food and OMG I was stuffed when I left.


January 2, 2010
The City charter requires that the new mayor be sworn in on January 2, along with the City Controller. Because it was on a Saturday, Annise Parker opted to do a private ceremony and do a public ceremony on January 4. This would save quite a bit of money because City workers wouldn't have to come in on Saturday. This is a pic I snapped from Channel 2.

While I was watching the news, I was doing laundry. Calvin opted to pass out. You see...

He was real lethargic because we went to see the vet to get his booster shots. It wore him and me out!

¡Feliz Año Nuevo!

Happy New Year from Houston, Texas! Let's make 2010 a great year!!!!