As I See It - 03.12.16 - Sunset At The Crib

Living with The Calvinator at his crib has proven to me that no two sunsets are ever the same.

Pic Of The Day - 12.21.15 - Low Hanging

...clouds. This was the morning view from the crib.

Pic(s) Of The Day - 12.18.15 - Scenes From A Mall

I finally made it back to The Galleria to continue with my Christmas shopping. Traffic was a bitch getting there and once I arrived, I decided I was going to valet at Nordstrom because it's just what the doctor ordered.
I made my annual pilgrimage to the tree in the ice skating rink and it wasn't lit!

Usually there is one or two displays that will catch my attention and this year the award goes to Coach!

And so, I was minding my own business and I thought, "Hmmm. I haven't been on the 2nd level of the Nordstrom wing. Let's go that way." So I did and THEN I saw THIS:

The store is closing! At some point it will reopen but not in The Galleria. My bet is that it will re-open in River Oaks District.

And yes, I purchased some more shoes. Can you blame me? It was 70% the last marked price. #MerryChristmasToMe

Pic(s) Of The Day - 12.05.15 - Saturday Scenes

Another beautimus sunset in Houston. And...I wasn't going shopping until I was able to display my snowflakes on the balcony of the The Calvinator's crib. As you can tell, he doesn't look too thrilled.

Pic Of The Day - 11.08.15 - A Visit To The Mothership

And there's no better way to round out the weekend than taking a trip to Nordstrom. It's that time of year for them to have a sale and instinct told me to head west to The Galleria. I may or may not have purchased an item or two.

Pic(s) Of The Day - 03.22.15 - Scenes From A Sunday

I took some really great photos on Sunday and had to share all of them with you!

I was at a stop light and noticed this railing adorned with stickers. This is only a fraction of the stickers.

The perfect combination of blue sky, clouds and sunset. That is Greenway Plaza and The Galleria area skyline.

 

It was my Sunday to help at 5:00PM Mass at St. Anne's. Before the congregation arrived, the church was dark and peaceful.

 

Pic Of The Day - 03.21.15 - Bow Ties On A Silver Platter

It was a wet day in Houston and I braved the elements to go to The Galleria. The traffic inside the parking garage was the biggest challenge of the day, not the wet streets.

So why did I venture out? Well...

My friend Stefan Eade-Hill was having a trunk show of his bow ties (KnottingHill Bow Ties) at Christofle. A portion of the proceeds of the sale of the bow ties went to HRC.

Now...I don't know how to tie a bow tie but I purchased The Blue Boy. I figure this now gives me a reason to learn how to tie a bow tie.

Pic Of The Day - 01.03.15 - The Mothership

There's something about Nordstrom that makes me feel good. Some of their merchandise is out of my price range  (like the $2300 Burberry trench cost) but I still enjoy going there.

One of my post-Christmas/New Year tradition is to shop their sale merchandise. And, this venture to the mothership didn't disappoint.

Pic Of The Day - 12.19.14 - Oh Christmas Tree

It's been a few years since I have been this far behind on Christmas shopping. Thank goodness for Macy's and their preview of their One Day Sale!

It was pouring down rain on Friday and I had shopping to do. I whisked The Calvinator off to daycare at Dogtopia, purchased a new pair of glasses and off I went to The Galleria.

I made it through most of my list at Macy's and then decided to stroll down the mall to Versace, Polo, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany's, and Neiman Marcus. And no, I don't have the money to spend at those stores but it's always fun to window shop.

This wing of the complex also as the ice skating rink. The ice skating rink is also home to the Christmas tree.

Pic Of The Day - 11.17.14 - A Room With A View

This is the view The Calvinator has from his new crib.  It encompasses part of Greenway Plaza and The Galleria district.

Pic Of The Day - 09.20.14 - The Cranes

It's a good problem to have.  Houston is a boom town again and there are cranes everywhere. 

This picture doesn't quite capture what I wanted it to.  I would probably have to get out of the car and in the street to capture the true the essence of the sky disappearing at this intersection.

Pic Of The Day - 07.18.14 - The Mothership

When the mothership has a sale, I can't resist.  I took an extended lunch break to swing buy Nordstrom and purchased a few things.

Pic(s) Of The Day - 05.10.14 - Scenes From A Mall

Food. Sunglasses. Shorts and a shirt (not pictured).

Pic Of The Day - 04.18.14

There are eggs and then there are EGGS!

Every year, Houston Galleria does Primavera.  Florists are invited to do a Spring design and their work is scattered throughout the mall.  I really enjoy going and admiring the creativity.

This year there was one entry that blew me away.  It was created by Darryl & Co.  It was awarded Best In Show and the award was well deserved.

Pic Of The Day - 03.29.14

Some days I feel like I'm stuck in a rut especially when it comes to eating establishments.  So on Saturday I was in The Galleria area and popped in to Panera.  If you are what you eat, then I am fast, cheap, easy and free wifi.

Photo Journal: February 19, 2010

I had to run an errand which took me into what is know as The Galleria. The Galleria itself is a HUGE shopping center. However, the neighborhood around is known as The Galleria. Shops, restaurants, hotels, high-rise residential buidlings, office towers and people everywhere. There are some unusual street signs that look like this.

The Year In Review (according to the nano)

On December 30, 2006 I was iJacked...sort of. I left my iPod nano at LeFittes and when I went back to find it it was gone. So on December 31, 2006 I was the first person to enter the door at the Apple Store in The Galleria. That is when I purchased the red iPod nano.

So it has been a year since I have had the red one and I thought it would be cool to gather some data from the nano and see what played over the past year. I'm sure it will tell something about me...and 2007. If you're bored, you can analyze it and offer me your analysis. If anything, you will decipher that I have eclectic tastes.

Top 25 Most Played Songs

• 1. Midnight -Robin S. -88 plays
• 2. Flawless (Go To The City) -George Michael -72 plays
• 3. U + UR Hand (explicit) -Pink -67 plays
• 4. River Deep, Mountain High -Celine Dion -62 plays
• 5. (tie) Irreplaceable (Irreemplazable) (Nortena Mix) -Beyonce -56 plays
• 5. (tie) Candyman -Christina Aguilera -56 plays
• 5. (tie) What's Up? -4 Non Blondes -56 plays
• 8. (I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden -Martina McBride -49 plays
• 9. (tie) Who Says You Can't Go Home -Bon Jovi with Jennifer Nettles -47 plays
• 9. (tie) Sunny -Boney M. -47 plays
• 11. One Day In Your Life -Anastasia -45 plays
• 12. The Sodom & Gomorrah Show -Pet Shop Boys -44 plays
• 13. Gloria -Laura Branigan -43 plays
• 14. (tie) Proud (Peter PrestaQAF V Mix) -Heather Small -42 plays
• 14. (tie) The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia -Reba McEntire -42 plays
• 16. The Ladies Who Lunch -Elaine Stritch -40 plays
• 17. Pavement Cracks -Annie Lennox -37 plays
• 18. (tie) 1, 2 Step (Don Candiani Reggaeton Mix) -Ciara & Missy Elliott -36 plays
• 18. (tie) If My Friends Could See Me Now -Linda Clifford -36 plays
• 20. (tie) I Love You -Donna Summer -35 plays
• 20. (tie) I Beg Your Pardon (12" Mix) -Kon Kan -35 plays
• 22. (tie) Before He Cheats -Carrie Underwood -34 plays
• 22. (tie) A Public Affair -Jessica Simpson -34 plays
• 24. Proud Mary -Tina Turner -33 plays
• 25. Suspicious Minds -Elvis Presley -32 plays

So I noticed a few things.

1. No Madonna???? I Love New York had 29 plays.

2. Where is Being Boring by Pet Shop Boys? 15 (combined)plays

3. Pet Shop Boys West End Girls? 20 (combined) plays

4. Shut Up & Drive by Rihanna? 19 plays

5. What would have been the next 10?

• 26. One by Mary J. Blige & U2 with 31 plays
• 27. Big Time by Linda Eder with 30 plays
• 28. (tie) Rock Your Body by Justin Timberlake with 29 plays
• 28. (tie) Sexual Revolution by Leah Howard with 29 plays
• 28. (tie) I Love New York by Madonna with 29 plays
• 31. (tie) Pretty Vegas by INXS with 28 plays
• 31. (tie) Wonderwall by Oasis with 28 plays
• 31. (tie) Drops Of Jupiter by Train with 28 plays
• 34. Heaven's What I Feel (Love To Infinity's Classic Radio Mix) by Gloria Estefan with 27 plays
• 35. (tie) Rehab by Amy Winehouse with 26 plays
• 35. (tie) Breathe (2AM) by Anna Nalick with 26 plays
• 35. (tie) Vertigo by U2 with 26 plays

Ramblings Of A Caffeinated Mind 4.1

Yesterday marked the peak of hurricane season. Still too early to say, "The coast is clear." Remember, it was around September 23/24, 2005 when Rita made landfall and wiped out the rest of southwestern Louisiana and The Golden Triangle of Texas.

Today marks the 6th Anniversary of 9/11 (the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon). I got a snippet of the ceremony held near Ground Zero in NYC and it really got to me.

I had a meeting today and then went to lunch with AttyHou. On my way back to NoRO I heard Green Day's When September Ends. There are several songs that put a lump in my throat and that is one of them. Included on this list is: Seasons Of Love; Alone Again (Naturally); On Eagles Wings; Be Not Afraid; and Rainy Days & Mondays. There are more songs.

Yesterday was a fun day. I made my way to The Galleria to wish Neiman-Marcus a 100th Happy Birthday! They were giving away their famous cookie. Of course I strolled around N-M like I belonged there.

The cookie had its own special shopping bag.

Close-up of the cookie (before I ate the whole thing).

A small tin of mints (for after an office visit).

I had to get a look at the N-M exclusive Prada shoe. I think it was only $995. Pocket change for an oil tycoon. They had a really nice looking shirt by Robert Graham for about $180 or so. Don't worry...I didn't buy either item.

I did stroll around The Galleria. Purchased a new protective cover for the iPod nano. It is red just like the nano.

And of course I had to make my obligatory pilgrimage to the mother ship...Nordstrom

I did do a 3 mile run first thing in the morning and get this...I actually made it to LeFittes to do some weights. It was a quick workout 'cause Everyday Italian and AttyHou wanted to go out to dinner. It's always nice to return to the scene of the crime so we went to Cyclone Anayas. The last time I was there I was a bit tipsy when I left. Not last night though.

I had to be sure to eat my Neiman-Marcus cookie before I went to bed. I know. That can't be good for the body but it sure tasted good.

Life in NoRO (aka 007/Houston)

Lots of stuff going on today and I feel a headache coming on. I don't get headaches very often but when I do they're the kind that bring me to my knees...well, what I mean is that I have to lay on the couch all day. I'm wondering if it is a bit of dehydration? I'm drinking some Accelerade (Citrus Grapefruit) right now and I'm hoping that it helps.

So where to begin?

Weather

Satellite image of Hurricane Dean taken some time this morning.

Last night before I went to bed I was watching Your Education Station and Frank Billingsley said, "Don't get too smug about this." The strike zone cone for Hurricane Dean has narrowed and now Galveston-Houston is at the northern most tip...pretty much out of the zone. However, it will be late Sunday or early Monday before the forecasters get a better feel for what "might" happen.
On an earlier broadcast, Frank spoke with Max Mayfield. Just the sight of him causes me high anxiety! This guy is one of the best hurricane forecasters. Even Max said it is too early to tell.
I really do need to do an inventory of supplies. Even if Dean goes south of us we're probably gonna get real wet for a few days. Look what TS Erin did to Houston.

Running

I did my obligatory 6 mile run this morning. I've decided to do the 1/2 marathon in January so right now I don't feel like doing much more than 6 miles. I do need to start doing some speed work.

Will Run For Martinis clued me in on getting some running music from iTunes. I downloaded a few of the podcasts from Podrunner and listened to one of them this morning. The constant bass beat really did set the cadence (maybe that is what is causing the headache?) and it was a good run but buhgeezes it was hot and humid this morning!

My shoes, socks, shorts and shirt were soaked. I actually had to take off my shirt because I was afraid of getting bloody nipples. (Runners will know what I'm talking about.) It hurts and it's not pretty. When guys start to bleed through their shirts it looks like they've been shot in the chest.

I had put Body Glide on the inner thighs but not on the nipples. Didn't have any Band Aids or Nip Guards to use as protection. And I figured if nobody wanted to see me shirtless, they didn't have to look! :-) I didn't hear anybody screaming and kids didn't cry so I guess I was OK.

Tax Free Weekend

Texas is having a tax free weekend on clothing and backpacks but not school supplies(?). I believe that any item on the approved list that is $100 or less is tax free. Even if you're not going to school you can still get the items tax free.

As a child, my mother trained me to always look for the sales. And I scored big time this morning at Macy's! I got a Kenneth Cole shirt (regular price: $79.00) for $19 and some change and a pair of Kenneth Cole pants (regular price: $70.00) for $19 and some change. (Hurricane evacuation attire it isn't but I will look good on the telly in case they want to interview me as an evacuee.)

However, that is when the headache started. And then I realized that it wasn't even 10:00A yet and the crowds with their kids would soon be arriving so I left The Galleria. Better safe than sorry.

I hadn't been to Fleet Feet Sports in eons and there is one sorta on the way home but not really but it is better than going to Rice Village so I stopped in. OK...20% off ALL apparel and tax free! I only bought a couple of things because the headache was really getting to me.

Anywho...The Calvinator has had his noontime stroll and I think I might need to eat something before I have to lay down on the couch.

I'm outta here!

S-H-O-P-P-I-N-G

Anybody remember that Pet Shop Boys (PSB) song Shopping? That's the tune I was hummin' yesterday morning as I took my happy @ss through the ga'zillion square feet of The Galleria. If you're not familiar with the mall, it's huge I tell ya! All of the regulars are there: Macy's, Borders, Sunglass Hut, Fossil, Abercrombie & Fitch, etc. However, some of the not so regulars are there: CH Carolina Herrera, Versace, Yves Saint Laurent, Tiffany & Co., Jimmy Choo, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Kenneth Cole, Neiman-Marcus, Cartier, Gucci, Chanel...you get the picture.

The Galleria has an indoor ice skating rink. When I was s-h-o-p-p-i-n-g, it struck me as kinda funny that outside it was 86 degrees & 59% relative humidity and inside there were people on ice. Kinda messes with your brain. One of the things that I do when I'm s-h-o-p-p-i-n-g at Nordstrom is to call Edmond Janet from the women's shoe dept. at Nordstrom and say, "I'm passing by the women's shoe dept. at Nordtrom and you're not here."

Janet is a good egg that I used to work with and travel with and s-h-o-p with whenever we could find a Nordstrom. Her fetish for shoes is as strong as mine. I did go through the men's shoe dept. and found so many shoes that I liked, I started to get woozy so I left. I was really at Nordstrom to purchase a Fathers Day gift for Joe.

In case I haven't told you, I *heart* Nordstrom!

I did venture out into the mall and make some other purchases...didn't buy any shoes 'cause I ordered some running shoes the other day when I THOUGHT I might need them to run in the ING NYC Marathon (I need to get over that).

I actually stepped into The Gap. I don't *heart* The Gap anymore. They lost their way and alienated a strong customer base. I was actually surprised that I was able to find something that I liked.

I stepped foot into Abercrombie & Fitch. Hadn't been in there in about a year. And then I asked myself, "At what age do you stop shopping at A&F?" and then I thought, "If you have to ask, you've prolly reached that age." I left without making a purchase.

It reminded me of a conversation that I had with Good Egg Jeremy about a Will & Grace episode. Will is trying to dress youthful and Jack says, "Ring, ring. Will. Your youth just called. It's looking for you." (or something to that effect.)

And just in case I haven't told you I *heart* Chick-fil-a!