Olympic Closing Ceremony

Source: Associate Press

Source: Houston Chronicle

The Money Shot

This man could be worth $100 million over the course of his lifetime. The photo was inspired by the Mark Spitz photo from 1972. (Thanx to Towleroad for the photos.)

WWMPD?

I'm really enjoying the gazillion hours of coverage of the 2008 Olympic Games that is being provided by NBC and its myriad of network stations. In fact, it is a bit difficult to type this post because I'm watching Women's Beach Volleyball. Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh are playing a team from Brazil and it is a good game.

So. I found out that in February 2009 at the Krewe Ball, one of the costumes I will be wearing will be showing every ounce of fat muscle on my torso.

Thank goodness I have Michael Phelps as inspiration.

Instead of eating a donut in the morning, I will eat a celery stick.

Instead of eating a cheeseburger for lunch, I will eat a leaf of lettuce.
Instead of eating fried chicken and mashed potatoes for dinner, I will eat a carrot.
The other day I was at LeFittes and I was on the Stairmaster. I hate the Stairmaster. Instead of setting it on 30 minutes, I set it for 45 minutes. When I hit the 30 minute mark I was ready to quit and then I thought, "What Would Michael Phelps Do?" (WWMPD?)
So I stayed on for the additional 15 minutes and when I finished, there were puddles of sweat around the machine.I previously mentioned that Friday night I was out with AttyHou, Everyday Italian and some others and we ate Mexican Food and drank frozen Margaritas. Saturday morning after running three miles I was ready to stop and then I thought, "WWMPD?" so I ran another three miles.

Will I ever have his physique? Uh, maybe if I go to the Fun House at the carnival and look in one of the wacky mirrors.
Speaking of the Olympics, has anyone else watched the trampoline events? I get dizzy watching those people flying through the air.

And badminton? Who knew a cock could be hit so hard?

I'm really enjoying the track & field competition. I can only dream of running that fast!

Lucky #8

Congratulations to Michael Phelps on winning his eighth gold medal of the 2008 Olympic Games. Phelps surpassed Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals that was set in 1972.

The eighth gold medal was won in the 4x100m relay. This relay has been dominated by the U.S. Team.

As soon as the team had secured the win, The Calvinator and I could see Michael mouthing the words thank you to his fellow teammates. In a post-relay interview, Phelps said that this could not have happened without his teammates doing their part.

A shout out goes not only to Michael Phelps but also to Aaron Peirsol, Brendan Hansen and Jason Lezak.

Congratulations Dara!

Source: Smiley Pool, Houston Chronicle

"Never put an age limit on your dreams." -Dara Torres, 41

2008 Summer Olympics Silver Medalist in swimming

By A Fingernail

Michael Phelps won his 7th Gold Medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics. He won the race by one one-hundreth of a second. I have a feeling Phelps make think twice about clipping his fingernails from now on.

Congratulations Michael! You and the other U.S. Olympians are representing us well!

To see the video, click here

Strike A Pose (or I'll Tumble For You)

I'm a bit behind on my congratulations to the U.S. Men's Gymnastics Team who won a bronze medal the other day. This is a group of guys who were told the odds were against them. Afterall, they were a group of alternates.

Rudy Tomjanovich said, "Never underestimate the heart of a champion." Good job guys!

and thanx to Towleroad for the pic.

Olympic Fever

I've always been fascinated by the Olympics...more so the Summer games than the Winter games. I guess it goes back to being a fat kid whose clothes came from The Husky Department at Montgomery Ward. There's no place in the Olympics for fat kids. Uniforms would have to come from Montrose Tent & Awning.

The first Olympic Games that I actually remember watching was Mexico City 1968. I remember helping my parents do the laundry while watching the closing ceremonies. I also remember this.

Then there was Munich 1972. It was interrupted when the Israeli team was attacked in the dorm. This is one of the images I remember from Munich.

And who can forget the Mary Decker/Zola Budd incident in Los Angeles 1984? If I really thought about it, there is probably one or two things from each of the Olympics that I remember.

Anywho. So, I've been making The Calvinator watch the games with me and I think most nights I have fallen asleep before him. It's not that I'm bored with the Olympics, it's just that ever since Friday night I've been really tired and part of that has to do with over exerting myself.

For instance, yesterday morning I met runnerOne at Memorial Park at 5:45 a.m. CDT. We did some speed work around the park. So being in the Olympic spirit, I went to spin class later in the day and let's just say I was passed out by 9:00 p.m. I'm just not as young as I used to be. I wonder if napping is an event in the Senior Olympics? I'd probably win.

So I'm sitting here waiting for Michael Phelps to win another gold medal while watching women's gymnastics and wondering how they twist and turn and vault and fly in the air. Better them than me!

A Big High Five!

I'm a bit late in sending out my congratulations to the U.S. Swim Team that won a gold medal last night.

Full disclosure: I REALLY was going to watch it but I fell asleep around 10:00p.m. CDT or so and missed it. So I had to stream it this morning.

Anywho. That was an excellent team effort in the Men's 4x100m Free Relay. However, there were two other factors that contributed to the excitement.

Michael Phelps won his second gold medal and is marching on to his goal of 8 gold medals. Go Michael Phelps!

Prior to the event, the French team was boasting and bragging that they were going to win. They were quite capable but when it was all said and done they didn't win. And they lost by a fraction of a second.

Uh...ya shoulda kept your mouth shut! Just sayin'

Olympus Goes Olympic (recap)

Here are some photos for you to peruse. Enjoy!

Representing the Croquet Team with uniform from Fallas Paredes:
Representing the Baseball Team:
A masked guest:
A visitor from China:
Slinging drinks, your happy bartenders:
Representing the country of England:

Spectators:
Representing the running team:
Baseball team member socializing with other participants (whose pitching and whose catching? Just askin'):
Representing the Wine Drinking Team, Soccer, the press, and Italy's cocktail drinking team:

Giving Ralph Lauren his laurels:

Playing the role of Nina Garcia, Cynorsure offered his comments on the uniforms of the participating contingents:

Happy spectators and participants:

Someone concerned about the Beijing air quality (or was it the smoke coming from the grill and wok in the kitchen?):

The Drinking Team socializing with a Soccer Team member:

Baseball Team and Drinking Team member from The Republic of Cocktail Land:

About Last Night 1.1

Last night was the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China. As mentioned in a previous post, Krewe of Olympus-Texas had a party.

I was working the bar and working the crowd most of the evening so I didn't see much of the ceremony. I'll watch it later.

And later, I will post pictures from the party.

A funny thing happened on the way to the forum. So. It's toward the end of the party and I'm talking to a couple of guests and all of sudden someone comes up behind me and hits me, yes...hits me on the back of the head.

I turned around only to discover it is someone I don't know. So I'm thinking, "WTF?"

So the guy says, "You had a bug on your head and I wanted to get it off of you before it went anywhere else."

OK. I don't see a bug anywhere.

Then he hits my left shoulder while I'm still trying to digest all of this and thank goodness I had consumed a few cocktails because now I'm laughing.

So then he says, "Look!" as he points to the floor and sure enough there was some sort of a bug.

I'm still laughing about it because I can only imagine what my face may have looked like when I got hit on the back of my head.

So here it is around 8:40 a.m. CDT or so and I haven't had my fix for the day. The Calvinator and I slept in and didn't get up until 7:30 a.m. CDT or so.

Last night's party was over around 10:00 p.m. CDT or so and let's just say, I didn't home until 1:00 a.m. CDT or so. ;-)

P.S. Don't forget to check back later today or tomorrow for the pics!

Olympus Goes Olympic

In case you've been living under a rock or have been in rehab with Kaye Sedilla/Sopa Pilla, you should know by now that the 2008 Summer Olympics officially open on Friday, August 8 in Beijing, China. (BTW...when did Peking become Beijing and why is it still named Peking Duck and not Beijing Duck? Just askin'.)

Not to miss a reason to have a party, Krewe of Olympus-Texas will be celebrating the opening ceremonies on Friday night.

A $30 donation to the Krewe will get you in the door, get you some nibbly things and open bar! Olympic attire is encouraged but not required. Str8 Up With A Twist will be there slinging drinks at the bar from 7:00p.m. - 8:00p.m. Str8 Up With A Twist can't decide how to dress for the party. A toga? Water Polo attire? Running attire? Equestrian Steeplechase attire? A Panda Bear? An Olympic Torch? The possibilities are endless.

The party is up in The Heights so stop by on your way to Cyclone Anayas, Cantina 1308, Molinas, El Tiempo, JR's, Guava Lamp or wherever you go on a Friday night. Str Up With A Twist hopes to see you there!

If you can't read the information on the graphic, click here.

BTW...I'm selling raffle tickets for the Krewe. We will be raffling a chance to win a $1000 pre-paid Visa Gift Card. Tickets are valued at $5 each.