Ramblings Of A Caffeinated Mind 15.1

Project Runway
Last night's challenge was to create a design for drag queen. Some of the contestants did a wonderful job and went over the top and a few fell flat on their face.

Surprisingly, Str8 Joe won the challenge! He had some strong competition from Terri and Korto. And I must ask, "Why didn't one of the fags end up in the top three?" Instead they were the bottom (three) and Blayne should have been with them. Just sayin'.

Once again, there were some funny lines last night. This one was actually a compliment. It's not verbatim and I can't remember who said it: "It looks like the love child from Mahogany and Gene Simmons."

The other one (not verbatim) that made me cackle was a comment that RuPaul said to Keith, "And the dingo ate your baby. All I'm hearing is excuses."

For a recap (because I can't compete with these two and wouldn't even DARE to try), check in with LoneStar Steve and David Dust.

Olympic Fever

There are just too many events to cover and too many accolades to give. However, I would like to blame Misty May-Treanor & Kerri Walsh for making me get to bed late last night. You see...

I have ALWAYS loved volleyball. I've had my moments on the court but I actually like watching it more than I enjoy playing it. Whether it's men's volleyball or women's volleyball, indoor or beach, I *heart* volleyball.

So last night after America's Greatest Dog, Project Runway and Shear Genius I flipped channels over to the Olympics only to realize that it was the gold medal match for Women's Beach Volleyball and it was live! It was also pouring down rain in Beijing but the game was going to happen one way or the other.

It was EXCITING! Misty May-Treanor & Kerri Walsh defended their gold medal from 2004 Athens and racked up consecutive win #108. You geaux girls!

By the time it was over, my adrenaline was pumping. The Calvinator went to bed without me and even came back to the living room to see if I was ready to go to bed. I couldn't sleep I was so excited.

Weird Things
Do you ever catch yourself doing something weird?

I've noticed that recently I've been pinching my waist to see if I have a muffin top. I notice it when I'm at the gym, running or at the grocery store. I'm sure I do it others time during the day. Weird isn't it?

Have You Ever...
seen a nice butt and want to walk up and grab it? Just askin'.

Rain
OK. So we go from near drought levels to having the wettest month of the year and the month isn't over yet. I know I shouldn't complain but it is causing me to have to run on the treadmill and I hate running on a treadmill. So to add to my misery I do inclines and I hate running inclines!

With all of this rain, don't worry, I haven't left my cake out because I'll never have that recipe again.

World AIDS Day Houston 2008 (Dec. 1)
Plans are underway for a week long commemoration of World AIDS Day. As soon as we get definite details for the events, we will have them posted on the website.

I'm really impressed with the cooperation and involvement of so many people. It's a good group of people working for a good cause.

1111111111

OK bois and gurls, that's about it for today. Tomorrow I'll give you details about Ivana Trump coming to Houston for a Legacy event.

Welcome Back

OMG! A few minutes ago I recieved an email fron LoneStarSteve (LSS). LSS is one of the first bloggers that I read several years ago. He was my inspiration to create Str8 Up With A Twist.

I was in the process of writing a play about LSS disappearing from the blogosphere. The name of the play: Come Back To The Blogosphere, LoneStarSteve, LoneStarSteve! So I guess the ending to my play will be a bit different from Come Back To The Five & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean

(I always thought the character portrayed by Karen Black was the best character and I was going to be the mirror image in my own play.)

Glad to have you back LSS!

What A Croc!

Let me first state these facts:

1) I *heart* Tim Gunn

2) I *heart* LoneStarSteve

One of the good things about *hearting* people is that you can agree to disagree and not be offended when comments are made about your attire; just so long as they are willing to accept criticism about their attire.

Tim became popular during the first season of Project Runway. Along with super model Heidi Klum, designer Michael Kors and Nina Garcia Fashion Editor for ELLE Magazine (you have say Nina's name and title all in one breath and with a German accent like Heidi Klum otherwise it doesn't work), Tim offered their opinions about the designers' creations. "Make it work." and "Carry on." are Tim's signature phrases. He is quite eloquent when he speaks and I would love to have dinner and cocktails with him one night and watch him cut loose.

The other day, the Houston Chronicle published a Q & A with Tim Gunn. There were two things that I had to read twice because I just don't agree with Tim:

Q.: What fashion trend should never come back?
A.: Crocs. They're just appalling.

Q.: What's the least fashionable item in your closet?
A.: A pair of cargo shorts.

WHAT????!!!!

I *heart* my Crocs! They are so comfortable. They're great for walking The Calvinator in the rain. They're great for slipping on to run some errands. They're great for slipping on before and after a run so that I don't have to wear dirty running shoes in the car. They're great for wearing to the Spin Room so that I don't have to walk (and sound like I'm tap dancing on the gym floor and who knows WHAT would happen if I was heard tapping in the locker room...thanx Larry Craig) in the cycling shoes.

So I send LoneStarSteve (another Tim Gunn aficionado) an e-mail about how I disagree with Tim Gunn's opinion of the Crocs. In part, this is what HE says...

...all i can remember thinking was: they need to collect up all of those 'alleged' shoes and burn them in a big pile. and then they need to destroy the original molds so that no more can be produced.

You win some and you lose some.

Here are my Crocs.

And I don't know how many pairs of cargo shorts I have but they're quite handy when you have to carry around different gadgets. They're much more accepted than a man purse.

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

Weekend Plans

I was supposed to go on a road trip this weekend but that has been delayed until later in the month. Nothing wrong with being flexible with your plans, right?

Will definitely get up tomorrow morning and do a 7 or 8 mile run. Putz around during the day and then do dinner with some friends.

Sunday will probably consist of my normal Sunday morning routine and then I'll catch the matinee performance of Whistle Down The Wind and then attend an evening Mass at St. Anne's, St. Theresa's or St. Michael's.

CORRECTION on 9/9/07: I found out this morning that the show starts it previews today and actually opens on 9/13/07.

SIDEBAR: When I purchased my ticket for Whistle Down The Wind, I didn't realize that the national tour is starting here in Houston and the 200P performance will be their first performance. Not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing.

When Whatever Happened To Baby Jane? The Musical premiered here in Houston, I was there on opening night and it was uh...hmmm...pretty bad. A stage hand got caught on stage and stayed there through the scene. Some of the props didn't work. Cues were missed. And we were laughing at parts that I later found out weren't supposed to be funny. Plus parts of the story didn't make any sense.

I thought it was a campy musical...the director, the producer, the lyricist and everyone else associated with the production had other thoughts. If memory serves me well, it never made it to Broadway.

Red Hot

Yesterday I ventured over to MFA/Houston to check out one of the exhibits. I figured the crowds would be over at the Museum of Natural Science viewing Lucy. The MFA/H was almost empty...it was nice!

The exhibit is a collection of contemporary Asian art from the Chaney (not Cheney) family of Houston. Other than the Feng Zheng Jie piece that has been used for the promo and a post on LoneStarSteve's blog, I really didn't know what to expect.

I'm glad I went to view the exhibit. Even though the term contemporary is used in the description I guess I was still expecting more traditional Asian art.

Some of my favorite pieces were from The Luo Brothers. Their pieces from Welcome To The World's Most Famous Brands were really fun.

This piece is not on exhibit but is an example of the work that they do.

The FENG Zheng Jie pieces were really interesting. I wish I had a big house with big walls...oh and lots of money...to display a couple of his pieces of art.

I was amazed at Karma by Do-Ho Suh. I kept viewing it from different angles.

The shoes look like a pair of Kenneth Coles that I have.

There was another interesting piece. It is Paratrooper III also by Do-Ho Suh. The parachute is made of six circles of organza shirts. I can't remember what the torso was made of but it was really interesting.

There was a 5+ minute video that someone had made. The person went to Chinatown in New York City and played a rap song by The Notorious MSG (LOL) and asked people to dance to the music...and they did. It was funny. It was a good portrayal of mixing something Occidental with something Oriental.

In LoneStarSteve's blog, he was quizzical about the works of art displayed outside. I must say, I'm not sure what they are trying to portray. I'll leave that up to each of you to decide.

Jurassic Age by Sui Jiango

Spirit Way by Yue Minjun

The exhibit is on view through October 21, 2007. Check it out!

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

Akeelah and the Bee

I was sorta in a restless mood last night and couldn't decide what to do. While pondering the possibilities for nocturnal activities, I ran across this movie on Showtime. I figured I'd watch a few minutes and then get on with the evening.

Two hours later, the movie was over and I was still sitting on the couch. It's a cute, little movie. I was actually surprised that one of the words in the championship round was lagniappe

I'm not sure who designed the dvd cover but the names don't match up with the faces.

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

Attack of the killer ants

I took The Calvinator over to Memorial Park today. I wanted to get over there before it rained. We were on our merry way and he stops to poop. No big deal. I get off of the running trail and step in the grass to wait. He finishes, I do my civic duty and then my right ankle starts to burn!

I look down and there are fire ants all over my right shoe and ankle!!! I have ants on me, a bag of poop in one hand and Calvin and his leash in the other hand...and there's no place to sit.

I run over to a trash can and attempt to take off my shoe but now the ants are also all over the shoelace and they're still biting me. I finally mange to kick off my shoe, get the extra plastic bag and use that to get them off my ankle and my shoe...and just as all of this is transpiring Calvin wants to rumble with a dog that is passing by us.

It took a couple of hours for the stinging to stop. My ankle is red but I'll be fine. One word: O-U-C-H!