The Calvinator

I'm trying to get caught up on some of photos from the past few weeks.

I was trying to get The Cal Mobile loaded and packed for our trip to Cowtown. He got impatient and when I went back to The Cal Mobile he was sitting in the driver's seat and was ready to head out. I swear I heard him singing Rihanna's Shut Up and Drive.

Here he is with Frex. They were waiting for me to give them some Cheez Whiz.

Here he is taking a break from opening presents with la familia Martinez.
Frex had too much excitement for the day and fell asleep when we finished opening presents.

Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency (Andrew Christian)

In case you missed JDMA the other night, there was a segment about the Andrew Christian photo shoot. Oh my. Hot models everywhere. One of the female models used the term soft porn. LOL Keep in mind this is the same model who ambushed Janice with a Models For Jesus meeting. The episode has a guy getting his arse shaved, a guy getting a prosthetic in his undies and well, just Janice being Janice. Enjoy!

Project Runway Season 4 (update)

For a review of last night's episode, I turned to my good friend Tim Gunn for his input. The designers could select anything in the Times Square Hershey Store to create their design.



I have selected four of the designs and have included Tim's comments...and then added my own. Enjoy!

Rami wins! And he is the first designer this season to win two challenges. Using York Peppermint Patty paper* for a pleated skirt and vinyl Twizzler pillow cases for an innovatively constructed top, he created a look that was simultaneously edgy, fashion forward, and wearable (i.e. believable). His look was superbly constructed and the fit on his model Sam was perfection. What more is there to say? Congratulations, Rami!

I really liked this dress. A bit on the quirky side but with the right look and attitude a woman could wear this to a cocktail party. Sort of reminds me of the Gold American Express Card dress from the Oscars back in the 90s. Remember? The costume designer for The Adventures of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert made the AMEX dress and AMEX took it on tour across the U.S.

To me, this outcome was inevitable. Elisa listens to two inner voices (at least two…) that operate from opposing positions: that is, one tells her to be fantastically innovative and avant-garde while the other deludes her into thinking that she successfully attains that goal. When I engage with her, I listen seriously and respectfully, but I find that the words she speaks and the work that I’m looking at don’t jibe.

For this challenge, she used her daughter as her muse and sought to achieve an outfit suitable for Gretel of "Hansel and Gretel." She said that she wanted a “fashion confection of fairytale fantasy.” Okay, but what does a stale brown velvet dress have to do with that? I won’t even comment on those ludicrous faux sleeves made out of the Hershey’s Kiss pillows. Ho-hum. If Elisa’s design had been as interesting as her words portrayed, then she’d have been the winner.

Elisa, Elisa, Elisa. A dress for Gretel? LOL Nina Garcia was very correct when she said, "...and all we got was a sad brown dress."

Sweet P was almost completely derailed by this challenge. Was it a consequence of over thinking her design and being too innovative with the materials? Perhaps, but the earlier stage of her work presented an impossible mess. I was in complete agreement that she abort and begin anew. The trouble was that she had made such a mess of so much of her material resources that they couldn’t be recycled into phase II, so there were severe limitations ahead.

This was a classic “make it work” moment. I was proud – and relieved – that she was able to create a garment that looked believable and could walk the runway. Yes, it was a basic look – a silver bodice and pleated miniskirt made out of Hershey’s Kiss paper* -- but at least she had a look! Michael and Nina were especially critical of her look’s banality, but if they could walk a mile in our shoes!

Sweet P was making me nervous. At one point Tim Gunn said, "It looks like a coffee filter or a maxi pad." And even though she was one of two for possible elimination, she didn't get auf'd.

Chris knew only too well that this challenge would either make him or break him. As a costume designer extraordinaire, Chris is more than adept at using untraditional materials, such as food. But were he to go the way of the food circus, then he would have delivered a parade float to the judges, and we know where that would have led. In his own apt words, this design was “Stephen Sprouse meets Andy Warhol.” I loved his strapless mini-dress with “Hershey’s” emblazoned and repeated vertically from the bust-line to the hip: very Warholesque, indeed. The look was clean, beautifully fitted, and his model Marcia looked sublime. Furthermore, it was a strong contender for the win. Chris, I’m proud of you!

I really like this dress. I agree. He channeled Warhol. LOVE IT!

In other news...

It was 34 degrees this morning at 630a when I met runnerOne at the park. I REALLY tried to run the 3 miles as fast as I could because it was cold. According to Fitness Nerd, 34 degrees is a heat wave.

I also made it to the gym this evening. Did an abs and leg workout. Since I'm not spinning as much, I need to get back to the leg weights.

I was actually surprised that the gym wasn't too crowded. Maybe it is because most folks at LeFittes are there all of the time anyway so no reason to make a resolution to get back to the gym.

I did notice that there were quite a few visitors there this evening checking out the place. Which makes sense. Any time that you are checking out a gym, you should go at the time of day that you think you will be going on a regular basis.

If you're counting calories, Cooper Lowenthal has put a calorie comparison chart out there for you. Makes for interesting reading.

Do you need to firm up your butt?

Ramblings of A Caffeinated Mind 8.0

Festivities
So here is brief recap of what has transpired over the past few days.

Saturday night, AttyHou, Everyday Italian and I loaded up the truck and moved to Beverly...uh, I mean, loaded up The Cal Mobile and headed toward the south loop. You see...Barry was having a post-Christmas/pre-New Year party.

When I first moved to Houston and joined EPAH (Executive & Professional Association of Houston), I met Barry and he would throw fun pre-bar run parties. At that time he was living behind the old Briar Patch (in the Med Ctr) so it was real convenient to go to his place and then go to the Briar Patch.

I liked the Briar Patch because:

• it was a piano bar
• for a buck the piano player would play a show tune
• when I walked in I WAS the pretty one

I'm digressing here. So anywho...Barry moved about a year ago (I didn't know that) and he threw a party so we went. It was fun. Cool house but the guest house was even more cool.

Sunday, I met up with Joe & Eric for Mexian food at Los Cucos. I was tempted to partake of a Margarita but considering that I haven't been running as much (and not burning enough calories), I chose not to partake of the beverage. We sat there and laughed and talked about dogs. It was fun.

Monday night I was invited to a couple of parties and chose to go to one. I've never been a big fan of the New Year's Eve hoopla. There have been a few years that I was actually in bed before the stroke of midnight. I think the phrase from The Perfect Year sums it up for me: It's New Year's Eve and hopes are high..." And I think people have high expectations for something magical happening at the stroke of midnight.

So anywho...I went to Mike & PC's fête. It was a crowded; a good crowd nonetheless and many friends were there. It was fun. So at the stroke of midnight we all sang to a dance version of Auld Lang Syne, drank some champagne, exchanged hugs & kisses, expressed salutations and hallucinations and then I went home. I walked in at 12:33a and The Calvinator was waiting for me.

The party was so crowded that I was never able to sit down which as it turns out will bring me good luck. You see...according to London Preppy, it is a Greek tradition to stand up at the stroke of midnight. It will bring you good luck. And that explains 2007!

You see...when 2006 transitioned to 2007, I was already home AND sitting on the couch with The Calvinator.

Tuesday's calendar had a party scheduled for the evening. Once again, I loaded up The Cal Mobile with AttyHou and Everyday Italian and went to a New Year evening party. Mike and Ray always throw a nice soiree.

The house was decorated to the nines. I'm sure that as they were decorating Ray was playing the role of Auntie Mame and singing We Need A Little Christmas.

This party is always fun because it brings together many different circles of friends. They always have wonderful food. They serve an interesting dish...it is made with biscuit dough, jalapenos, cheese and black-eye peas. I HATE black-eye peas but I like them when they are served this way.

In addition to seeing many of my friends, Elaine & Brandon (from Tropical Depression #46) were helping with the party.

Seeing everybody last night was a good way to start the new year!

Running/Weights
I did a weight workout in yesterday afternoon. I was surprised that the gym wasn't crowded. It was actually nice to not have a bunch of people there.

This morning it was cold so I went to LeFittes for a treadmill run. Worked up a really good sweat.

Project Runway
Just a reminder. A new episode of PR premieres tonight. I can feed my addiction.



I found this picture on Pink Is The New Blog. Thought it was funny.




Banished Words List
The wordsmiths at Lake Superior State University are giving back to English speakers everywhere with their 33rd annual List of Words Banished from the Queen's English for Misuse, Overuse and General Uselessness.

On Dec. 31, 1975, former LSSU Public Relations Director Bill Rabe and his colleagues cooked up an idea to banish overused words and phrases and issue a list on New Year's Day. Much to the delight of language enthusiasts everywhere, the list has stayed the course into a fourth decade.

This year's list derives from more than 2,000 nominations received through the university's website, www.lssu.edu/banished. Word-watchers target pet peeves from everyday speech, as well as from the news, education, technology, advertising, politics, sports and more. A committee makes a final cut in late December. The list is released on New Year's Day.


the years, some copycat lists have made an appearance, but LSSU's list was first.

This year, in a gesture of humanitarian relief, the committee restores "truthiness," banned on last year's list, to formal use. This comes after comedians and late-night hosts were thrown under the bus and rendered speechless by a nationwide professional writers' strike. The silence is deafening.


In this spirit, LSSU presents its 2008 list, a perfect storm of overused and abused words and phrases that pops organic, to a post-9/11 world decimated by webinars.

It is what it is.


Here is the list:

• Perfect Storm


• Webinar


• Waterboarding


• Organic


• Wordsmith/Wordsmithing


• Author/Authored


• Post 9/11


• Surge


• Give back


• 'BLANK' is the new 'BLANK' or 'X' is the new 'Y'


• Black Friday


• Back in the day


• Random


• Sweet


• Decimate


• Emotional


• Pop


• It is what it is


• Under the bus

For defintions, look at the university's website: http://www.lssu.edu/banished/current.php

I am a frequent user of It is what it is because...it is.

Royal Affair

Please join us
at the
Krewe of Olympus

Royal Affair

Saturday, January 5th
7pm-10pm

$25 at the door

Alley Theatre
Mitchell Lobby
615 Texas AvenueHouston, TX 77002

Benefiting the Krewe of Olympus-Texas, Inc and its designated charities.

If you are needing an invitation to the Krewe Ball on January 26, 2008, this is a good opportunity to work the crowd and get an invitation! Let me know if you have any questions.

EDIT: This is a fundraiser/party that is being held in the lobby of The Alley Theater. Silent Auction. Food. Music. Display of royalty trains. Cash bar.

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