Saturday Pix

Here are some photos from Saturday. My night time photos did come out very well so there's only 1 or 2 that I'll post. Enjoy!

Blaine and Richard

Bill and Loyal

This is George. I think I heard him singing Rihanna's Umbrella.

Annie and Floyd

Me and Blaine

Tony & Kaylynn

Marianne, Bob and Annie

Nick and Tony doing a stop the rain dance.

Stephen and Ken

Jerial and Janna from Tanacious Tan

After the festival closed, a few of us went to a party at The Shop. This is where I get my hair cut. And yes, that is a leopard print motif on the building. You can't miss it.

Vickie and Laura were our hostesses for the evening.

Shy Anne waving to her admirers.

King and Queen Olympus XXXVII

True Colors Tour (corrección)

OK. So I took a quantum leap in time and erased about 7 years of my life. Unfortunately I have the wrinkles that proved I lived those years.

A reader of St8 Up With A Twist noted an error in years. And the reader is correct. She's So Unusual was released in 1983. I should remember that 'cause I had it on a cassette.

True Colors Tour

Sounds like I missed a (in the voice of Ed Sullivan) "really big show" last night in The Woodlands. For a review of the concert, go to this blog on the Houston Chronicle website.

The review said this about Cyndi Lauper:

The diminutive singer works hard onstage, more so than any pop act I've seen in recent memory. She pushes the crowd, pushes her band and pushes herself — almost to the point of exhaustion. It's a thrilling sight to see.

She's So Unusual

I got to thinking about Cyndi. I saw her on tour when she released She's So Unusual. So that was sometime in 1990. And get this, Flock of Seagulls was her opening act.

In May 1997, Tina Turner kicked off her Wildest Dreams Tour in The Woodlands. Oprah showed up that night. Cyndi was the opening act. It was a trifecta. I remember that Cyndi told us she had just found out she was pregnant. So she did most of her set sitting on a stool.

Then...when Cher came to town (the first of many times) in August 2002 with her Living Proof - The Farewell Tour, Cyndi was the opening act. What sticks in my mind about her performance that night is the fact that she performed on crutches.

You see...the previous night in Oklahoma City Cyndi fell of the stage during her set. She was obviously in pain when she performed in Houston but she gave it her all.

I *heart* Cyndi Lauper!

Summer Solstice (revisited)

The Fabulous Miss Jolie Shay (TFMJS) has sent clarification about the Summer Solstice. In case this topic comes up during cocktail conversation, Str8 Up With A Twist wants to make sure that you have all of the facts.

From TFJMS:

"Just a small correction about the summer solstice. The earth's "axis" is always tilted the same direction, however, once the sun passes the Tropic of Cancer, the sun hits the earth with more intensity on the northern hemisphere, hence summer. The winter (Dec. 21) solstice does the opposite. The sun's rays hits more directly on the southern hemisphere after it passes the Tropic of Capricorn. The seasons are opposite in the Northern and Southern hemispheres all because of the earths axis. Betcha didn't know astronomy is the only class I got an "A" in during college."

The Day After

I'm feeling a bit spent today. It's not that I was over served on adult beverages last night. However, it was a long but fun day and evening. After my run and running errands, I never really relaxed before heading out to sell beads.

I'll have photos posted soon from yesterday's festival. It was a bit wet during the festival and everyone who came out to partake of the festivities needs a nice pat on the back...and a dry towel.

The Krewe of Olympus did well on the bead sales. Thank you to everyone who supported us.

Doug and Micheal must have been doing their best rendition of Barbra Streisand's Don't Rain On My Parade because just in time for the parade to start the rain stopped.

I was home by 1030p and took The Calvinator out for a late stroll before I passed out on the couch watching Pulp Fiction. Just as well. The last thing I remember is that they were ready to give Uma Thurman a shot of adrenaline straight to the heart and I always look away during that scene.

It is just around 200p and it hasn't rained yet! The Calvinator and I went out over to Memorial Park for a 1+ mile stroll. He's passed out right now...seriously. I might join him for a nap before I go to 500p Mass at St. Anne's.

Looking forward to hearing a recap about tonight's concert at The Cynthia Mitchell Woods Pavillion up in The Woodlands. Cyndi Lauper brings the True Colors Tour to town. Cyndi will be appearing with Debbie Harry, Erasure, The Dresden Dolls, The Gossip and The Misshapes. Margaret Cho is the host for the evening and Rosie O'Donnell will make a special guest appearance. Sounds like a little bit of something for everyone! I'll keep my fingers crossed that it doesn't rain on the those with lawn seats.

Have a fun Saturday!

UGH. Did a 6 mile run this morning and it was humid! Didn't check the relative humidity but it had to be high. It felt like I had a ton of bricks on my chest.

Of all the things I’ve lost I miss my mind the most. And a close 2nd is my list of birthdays.

When Str8 Up With A Twist purchased a new laptop, he may not have properly transferred all of his files. Thanx to Roving Reporter Kenny In Montrose (KIM) Str8 Up With A Twist was informed of two birthdays being celebrated this weekend. And what a weekend it will be!

¡Feliz Cumpleaños to Doug & Micheal! According to KIM, Scott has arranged for a festival AND a parade. The festival will be today from 200P-800P near the corner of Westheimer & Montrose. The parade begins at 845P and starts at Woodhead/Westheimer and ends at Whitney/Westheimer.

This is Doug having a good time at the Mystery & Fantasy Ball (Feb. 2007).

This is Micheal who is also having a good time at the Mystery & Fantasy Ball (Feb. 2007).

Str8 Up With A Twist will be selling beads at the festival from 500P-700P (maybe longer if the eye candy is sweet) for the Krewe of Olympus. Proceeds from the bead sales will be used toward the cost of the Ball in January 2008.

If you’re in the ‘hood early enough, stop by A Lasting Legacy Resale Shop and look for a bargain or two. Martha and the staff will be happy to help you! And while you’re there, mosey on down to Tanacious Tanning and visit with Janna, Jerial, Edwin, Lee and the rest of the friendly staff. Str8 Up With A Twist had an optical overload with the festive décor when he walked in on Friday. Str8 Up With A Twist plans on stopping by The Shop (it's the leopard print building on Westheimer & Commonwealth) and partaking of the festivities that Vickie & Laura have planned.

Str8 Up With A Twist was reminiscing on Friday about the time that he lived two blocks off of the parade route and would throw a fabulous pre-parade party. The house was always rockin’ and nobody cared about knockin’. They just came on in. Those were the days my friends. We thought they’d never end. We’d sing and dance forever and a day.



Looking forward to seeing everyone later today!

Ramblings Of A Caffeinated Mind 1.1

URGGGGGGGHHHH!

Do you ever have one of those days when you wake up and you feel like you're going to blow up...sort of being on the edge of losing it?

A few minutes ago a lady honked at me 'cause I wouldn't make a right turn on red. "Hey lady! There were cars coming at me!" I almost got out of the car and banged on her window but in this town you never know who has a gun in their car. To make matters worse, after we both turned onto Memorial Drive we got stopped by a red light. She was in the middle lane 5 cars back; I was in the right lane first car at the light. She proceeds to get behind me and ride my bumper. UGH!

Maybe I shouldn't have had coffee this morning.

OK. Enough of my ranting.

1, 2, Cha Cha Cha

Do you ever see something that makes you giggle? After my run on Thursday, I was in the jungle gym area doing my post-run stretches. The iPod was playing Janet Jackson’s Together Again (Tony Moran 12” Club mix).

There was a lady not far from me who was doing some type of calisthenics that looked like she was doing Cha Cha steps…except she didn’t have any type of musical device to give her the beat. However, her rhythm was right on beat with what was playing on my iPod. I started to giggle and almost went to ask her if I could Cha Cha with her.

June 21 (revisited)

Yesterday was the first day of summer, also known as the Summer Solstice. Solstice comes from the Latin words that mean “sun stops”. If I understand it correctly, at 1:06P CDT on June 21, 2007, the sun reached the Tropic of Cancer. From that point on, it will now start to move south because the earth is tilting in a different direction and the days will get shorter. Does that sorta make sense?

Speaking of the longest day of the year. In my Father’s Day post, I mentioned a trip to South Korea. The day that I departed Seoul happened to be June 21, 1989. Seoul is much farther north than Ft. Worth so the sun came up around 415A. We left that afternoon and at some point we went from the 21st of June back to the 20th of June but landed at LAX around 1000A on the 21st of June so here is the sun in the morning…again. I didn’t get back to DFW until the evening of the 21st and the sun was STILL out. Str8 Up With A Twist recommends to its readers not to cross the International Date Line anywhere near June 20 and June 21. It will mess with your mind and your sleep.

And speaking once again of summer. Have I ever told you that Houston has two seasons? That’s right! Summer and August.

Yoga Boi messed with my mind yesterday. I figured that since it was the longest day of the year, he would be out early. I got to the park around 615A and no Yoga Boi. I run-right counter-clockwise and at about mile 1 running-right clockwise was Yoga Boi. Did he do yoga yesterday? And I promise, that I will do a post about Yoga Boi and why I am so intrigued with him doing yoga at the park.

P.S. Forgot to tell you

A good thing happened on Wednesday night. I received a massage! Calvin doesn’t know it but that was his Father’s Day present to me…since he didn’t even acknowledge the day. If you’re in Houston and looking for a massage therapist that does an awesome job, visit Your Body In Harmony.