Photo Journal: January 6, 2010

January 6 is The Feast of the Epiphany, Feast of The Three Kings, The 12th Day of Christmas and the beginning of Mardi Gras Season! I had some homemade jambalaya for dinner.

So...here is my entry for January 6. I know. You are thinking something Mardi Gras. Nope. Something from daily routine. Boring. I know.

Cabaret For A Cure

Legacy Community Health Services to honor Trini Mendenhall Sosa and Frank Sosa and Jani Lopez/Shell Oil at the third annual Cabaret for a Cure event on Friday, January 15, 2010 at the Hilton Americas-Houston

This year Legacy Community Health Services will benefit from the evening’s proceeds of an event proven to be magically unique in Houston’s calendar of fundraising. On Friday, January 15, eight-time Grammy-Award winning and legendary R&B sensations Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. take the stage to serenade the audience with their long-time celebrated smooth vocals with hits such as Aquarius, Let The Sun Shine In, One Less Bell to Answer, and Wedding Bell Blues. Combine this with the extraordinary talent of Howard Hill, Lakisha Jones, Deborah Duncan, The Richard Brown Orchestra, Karen Heck, Todd Honeycutt, and Kenneth Gayle, this evening is not to be missed.

Aside from the amazing talent, which will keep three performance stages hopping, Legacy will honor Trini Mendenhall Sosa and Frank Sosa with its Humanitarian Award. The Mendenhall Sosa’s serve as a shining example of giving back to the Houston community. Legacy will also honor Jani Lopez and Shell Oil for their continued fight against HIV/AIDS.

All proceeds will benefit Legacy’s highly regarded programs available for those impacted by HIV/AIDS in Houston. Legacy provides a comprehensive set of health and wellness programs and has support services for people living with HIV/AIDS.

We hope you will join us in raising the funds that will make a difference in the lives of so many people living with HIV/AIDS. Tickets can be purchased online at Cabaret For A Cure, or contact Michael Mandola at mmandola@legacycommunityhealth.org.

Legacy Community Health Services is a full-service, Federally Qualified Health Center that provides comprehensive, primary healthcare services to all Houstonians in a culturally sensitive, judgment-free and confidential environment. Legacy specializes in HIV/AIDS testing and treatment. Generous financial support from individuals, businesses and charitable foundations allows Legacy to provide no-cost or low-cost healthcare services to over 20,000 men, women and children each year.

Photo Journal: January 5, 2010

I was still recuperating on Tuesday from the festivities of Sunday and Monday. I had rehearsal for the Krewe ball and after that was over, I was feeling a bit spent. I fell asleep on the couch watching the news.

Here is a photo that I took on the way home from work. I changed my route yesterday. Now that the construction on Kirby Drive (north of Richmond) is complete the drive home isn't too bad.

The building on the right really bothered me when it was under construction. It looked like ti was going to fall down onto Kirby Drive.

Photo Journal: January 4, 2010

I went with Keith and Kevin to Annise Parker's Inauguration Party at Discovery Green. Donors who contributed high dollar amounts were invited to a cocktail party at The Grove. The rest of could attend the free party. Now, any other January night this would have been a great idea but it was a bit on the chilly side.

However, Tear down the mountains, Stop all the rivers, push, strike, and kill chilly weather was NOT going to keep me from seeing Tony Award winner Jennifer Holliday. Other performers included Roy Head, Mango Punch, Yvonne Washington and the legendary Archie Bell. I actually got to do the Tighten Up while Archie Bell was singing live.

Jennifer Holliday performed her signature song And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going and dedicated it to Annise. What a moment! It was followed by fireworks while Black Eyed Peas I Gotta Feeling played over the sound system. Below is a photo of Jennifer Holliday singing one of her songs. For more photos, click here.

Photo Journal: January 3, 2010

An unofficial victory party took place on January 3, 2010 for Annise Parker. The party was held at the Four Seasons Hotel. I must say that it was a fun time! Nice setting. Nice looking & fun people. Kathy Whitmire, former Mayor of Houston, flew into from Hawaii, and boy were arms tired and I made it a point to meet her and take her photo. When I lived in Ft. Worth, I admired Kathy's work from afar.

Below is a photo of Annise Parker. To see more photos, click here.

History is made in Houston

Although Saturday, January 2, 2010, was the official swearing in of Annise Parker as Mayor of Houston, today was the event that was open to the public and included the swearing in of the other council members. Although there are other U.S. cities that have openly gay or lesbian mayors, Houston is the only city in the U.S. that is in the 10 largest cities that has an openly gay or lesbian mayor. Houston is also the first major U.S. city to elect an openly gay or lesbian mayor. Houston ranks fourth and if everyone had been counted in the 2000 Census, it would probably rank third...but that is a discussion for another time.

Here is footage of Lisa Foronda doing the introduction and of the swearing in ceremony.

This Isn't A Resolution...

...but it is a goal. You see...

A few years ago, I read an article (I think in Oprah's magazine) that Carly Simon kept a Polaroid Journal. How cool is that (except now Polaroid film is no longer manufactured)? So I am going to try and take at least one photo a day of something. Maybe more, who knows? I know that I won't be able to post one every day but I will play catch up.

And you my readers will see what I photograph. So with that said...

January 1, 2010 (more photos can be found here.
I was invited to a party at the home of Tony & Ross. It was also a pool party and even though the pool was heated and it was 92 degrees Farenheit, the actual temperature in Houston was in the 50s. I opted not to jump in the pool. Ross made some yummy black-eyed peas and for me to say they were yummy, they were YUMMY! I HATE black-eyed peas but if you don't eat any on New Year's Day, you will have bad luck during the year.

This is a pic of the sunset in Houston. I took this pic from Memorial Drive in NoRO while I was walking Calvin.

I then went to a party at Lan & Bryan's. They supplied the booze and the guests supplied the food and OMG I was stuffed when I left.


January 2, 2010
The City charter requires that the new mayor be sworn in on January 2, along with the City Controller. Because it was on a Saturday, Annise Parker opted to do a private ceremony and do a public ceremony on January 4. This would save quite a bit of money because City workers wouldn't have to come in on Saturday. This is a pic I snapped from Channel 2.

While I was watching the news, I was doing laundry. Calvin opted to pass out. You see...

He was real lethargic because we went to see the vet to get his booster shots. It wore him and me out!