It's always fun and games....

until someone pokes their eye out...or comes home from a pool party with a sprained middle finger on the left hand. Have no idea how it happened.

Ramblings Of A Caffeinated Mind 1.3

Surprise

I went to spin class yesterday. In anticipation of Connie being the instructor I wasn't feeling too guilty about not going running in the morning. I needed to rest up 'cause there's no way that woman is going to get the best of me!

Guess who's back in town? The Spin Doctor! He came Waltzing Matilda into LeFittes. Turns out he had just returned from Down Under. According to the Spin Doctor, the drought in Oz ended the day he got there. He taught a good class. His style is different from Connie's but both of them will give you a good workout. (My new measurement tool is the amount of sweat that has puddled by the end of the class.)

Koo-koo-ka-choo

I woke up this morning singing Lemonheads rendition of Mrs. Robinson. It's been a few hours and I still can't get it out of my head! Especially the intro: "deet da deet da deety...."

Hey batta batta batta!

Congratulations to Houston Astros Craig Biggio on becoming the 27th player to reach the 3,000-Hit Fraternity. The Killer B reached this milestone last night in front of an SRO crowd at Minute Maid Park. Biggio is in good company. He joins Ty Cobb, Willie Mays, Cal Ripken, Jr. and Rod Carew...just to name a few.

James Nielsen: Chronicle

"That just goes to show you what kind of guy he is," Bagwell said. "He was kind of thinking about a whole different bunch of things. When you play with somebody for 15 years, there's a lot of emotions and all kinds of stuff."

Mark your calendars

July 14 The Art of Costuming is a party at Bering & James Art Gallery being put on by the Krewe of Olympus. Guests will have the opportunity to get up close and personal and look at the detailing on some of the magnificent costumes created by Krewe members. This event is to thank our underwriters and to sign up new underwriters. There is no cost to attend.

July 15 Str8 Up With A Twist has personally talked with the one and only Kaye Sedilla! Kaye has confirmed that she will appear at the Miss Mint Julep Contest on July 15 at Rich's-Houston. The event is a benefit for Legacy.

A summary of the conversation will appear in a future posting. Kaye has only granted one interview this year and that was to Str8 Up With A Twist. Matt Lauer from the Today Show personally called Kaye asking for an exclusive. Kaye reports that Mr. Lauer was extremely disappointed when she turned down his request. Kaye started singing You Can't Always Get What You Want.

I miss Ann Richards

On an episode of Bill Maher’s Politically Incorrect (when it was on ABC) his guests were Dennis Miller, Mike Ferrell, Ann Coulter and Ann Richards. The topic of discussion was the death penalty. With the exception of Ann Richards (former Governor of Texas), the panel was having a heated debate. Bill Maher finally engages Ann Richards and asks for her opinion. She was quick to note that of the five people sitting there she was the only person who ever had to deal with the death penalty. (Round of applause from the audience.)

She proceeds to offer her thoughts and Ann Coulter interrupts her and starts to talk over her. Ann Richards looks at Ann Coulter and says in her best Southern drawl, “Would you please shut up? I didn’t interrupt you when you were talking.” (Round of applause from the audience. Str8 Up With A Twist cackles.)

I used to be able to tolerate Ann Coulter. I’d listen to her and roll my eyes ‘cause she was good for a laugh every now and then. (And recently, Kathy Griffin is getting a ton of laughs at Ann Coulter’s expense.)

At some point Ann Coulter got too big for her britches. Celebrity went to her head. She stopped buying new clothes and started wearing the same black cocktail dress at morning, noon and night…with black Ray Bans.
If you haven’t kept up with what has put a new bee in my bonnet, you can see the footage from Hardball on YouTube or read the story on USA Today. It really started back in January when she referred to John Edwards as a f****t . What was the point of THAT?!?!

People like Ann Coulter really irritate me. They talk just to hear themselves talk (except she gets paid big bucks). They say things just to say them. I’ve worked with people like her (and I’m not naming names but some of you can figure it out). They’re hard to ignore because they won’t shut up. And if you get into an argument with them, they won’t argue the facts. They just mouth off. They say things just to say things. Specific to Ann Coulter, our political views are miles apart from each other.

And here’s to Elizabeth Edwards for standing up to her. I have no idea if it was a calculated move by the Edwards campaign but I don’t think so. I think Elizabeth is just as fed up as I am. So here’s a You Geaux Girl Award to Elizabeth Edwards. And good for the Edwards campaign for using Ann Coulter to raise money. I’m sure that if Ann Richards was still with us she would join the mêlée.
I really wish Ann Coulter would go away. Go buy a new dress. Do something other than mouth off! In the words of Ann Richards, “Would you puh-leeze shut up?”

PS I was late with this post because I've been up to something this morning. Can't give the details just yet. :-)

Gimme a beat!

I went to the 530P spin class yesterday. I was drenched in sweat by the time it was over. Connie was the instructor again and she showed no mercy. 30 minutes into the class and 3 people left. They couldn't keep up. 10 minutes later, a couple of more people were outta there.

I would love to have joined them during their departure but I have my pride! Plus, I had good rhythm going with some of my classmates. If you've never been into a spin studio, the cyclists face a mirrored wall so everybody can see each other.

Last night's class was a rhythm class which means you keep cadence with the beat. Good thing I have some sense of rhythm. :-) All I could think of was playing in the band in high school and Mr. Roberts saying to tap your foot to keep the beat. It also helps that I know how to play the guitar. Oh...and don't forget that I won a disco dance contest my senior year in high school.

OK...so there are some people that couldn't keep the beat. I would have felt sorry for them but I was doing everything I could just to keep up.

By the time we finished, I noticed that the guy to right and the guy to the left had pools of sweat around their cycles. I looked down and let's just say, it wasn't pretty. We definitely were nasty boys. At the end of class, Connie said the room smelled like a locker room.

RunnerOne showed me no mercy this morning. Let's just say that right now my legs are tired and my metabolism is revved up. Did somebody say "lunchtime"?

Ramblings Of A Caffeinated Mind 1.2

Greetings from the office. I've got a bunch of things on my mind this morning so bear with me, OK? Thanx. This is sort of a cornucopia of idle thoughts.

Heights Fun Run

A few Saturdays ago I did a 5K Fun Run in The Heights. It is one of my favorite runs because it is very much a neighborhood event...even though I don't live in the neighborhood I still like to run it. Anywhoo...they have a Kids Fun Run that goes along with it.

I was intrigued with this little girl who from the get-go was leading the pack. She had great form. I'm not sure where she lost the lead but she came in 2nd and only missed 1st place by a split second. You geaux girl! Keep an eye on her. She could be the next FloJo.

Tim Johnson: For The Chronicle
Ebony Smith, 8, left, and Christopher Delgado, 13, finish in first place in the girls and boys divisons of the 22nd annual Heights Fun Run.

"I have one word for you Benjamin. Recycle"

I am amazed at the amount of plastic, aluminum and paper that I can collect in a two week period. Yesterday was recycle day in NoRO. On Sunday night I took a photo of my recycle bins. Look at this! And this is what I remembered to save. We all need to do our part to recycle. I won't get on my soapbox YET about what doesn't happen at the office.

There was an editorial about recycling in yesterday's Houston Chronicle. Check it out.

Judge Judy

Did anybody see Judge Judy on Larry King Live last week? Did she actually say Elisabeth Hasselhoff instead of Elisabeth Hasselbeck? LOL

June Birthdays

As I mentioned in a previous post, I've lost my list of birthdays and I know I have forgotten a few. Mea culpa.

Here's a shout out to folks celebrating birthdays in June.

David in PHX had a birthday earlier this month. I have known David for almost 20 years. We met when I was 10. LOL (uh huh...sure) He was working at Trinity University and I was working at Texas Wesleyan University. I don't have a pic of David but I do have one of Elizabeth Taylor.

You see...we were in Albuquerque one time to do some sort of a college fair. We went out later that night and David was wearing an Elizabeth Taylor t-shirt. The image was sort of Warhol-esque on the front. If I remember correctly, on the back was this quote: "I've been through it all, baby, I'm mother courage.” –Elizabeth Taylor

I can't find the image so I'm going to post one of my favorite Elizabeth Taylor pictures.

Birthday greetings also to Ken in Qatar. I met Ken when he lived in Houston for a bit. Ken is actually from Canada and has his permanent residence in Calgary. Many good times have been shared with Ken and most of them have involved some sort of adult beverage.

Ken and I share a favorite moment in our friendship. A few years ago I went to visit him in Calgary. It was around July 4. We went to an outdoor rodeo and I have never been so cold in my entire life during the month of July. During the visit we had a fabulous dinner at his dinner table that involved a bunch of wine, laughter and music. Also at the dinner table were Joe and Brian. I remember waking up at some point in the wee hours of the morning under the dining room table. Don't worry, I wasn't the only one passed out in the dining room.

And last but not least, birthday greetings to Leah in Fort Worth. Leah and I met in college. She is one of those people that I may not speak to for months but when we do it's like we just spoke yesterday. Leah is one of the two people I credit with teaching me to like beer. I think one of my favorite memories is tubing down the Guadalupe River with her and Tracey and some other members of the Student Foundation. THEY had a tube specifically for beer! I don't have a pic of Leah but I will raise a beer mug in her honor.

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.

Celebrating Bastille Day a few weeks too early?

Str8 Up With A Twist’s First Marie Antoinette Award goes to Commissioner Steve Radack.

Radack on Tuesday said of drivers unhappy about peak-hour pricing, "Let them go down Richmond Road. Or they can use Westpark," a secondary road near the tollway. (In other words, let them eat cake!) His office received a slew of phone calls and e-mail from residents critical of his comment, he said.

Toll transactions along the main part of the tollway now cost $1. That fee will rise to $1.25 per transaction during nonpeak hours. And the rate during peak hours will be $2.50 per transaction.
As of 1100A on Thursday, it seems that commissioners have had second thoughts about the toll increase.

Happy Birthday Roni!

Today is the longest day of the year. Summer arrives today. According to Eric Braate at Your Education Station, summer officially arrives at 1:06P CDT. We will have 14 hours and 4 minutes of daylight today.

Today is also Roni’s birthday. Roni is my only sister. I won’t tell you how old she is today but I will tell you that Eisenhower was President. (hint hint) Roni has been teaching in FWISD since 1981.

I won’t tell the story about how she bit me because I wouldn’t stop reading the comics over her shoulder. And I won’t tell you how she would tell me to go hide because there was a tornado coming…just so I would leave her alone...and the sun would be shining. And I won’t tell you how later in life she turned into a Mardi Gras bead wh_re (I set the example and she learned from the best). I won’t tell these stories because I’m sure she could one up me.

I’ve posted some photos of Roni. If you’re in Ft. Worth and you see her today, wish her a Feliz Cumpleaños!

This is Roni when she was very young. One of my uncles said she was the prettiest baby he had ever seen. (Those words just sting!) :-)

Here we are in coordinated outfits. She is acting a bit coy and I'm doing my best imitation of a Weeble Wobble. On second thought, I look a bit drunk. Maybe this was a premonition of what would happen years later in the French Quarter.

Here are the three siblings.

Here is Roni's Senior picture. All three of us went to Nolan High School in Ft. Worth.

This is Roni & Joey at the Krewe Ball in 2006. Once again, she is acting coy and only wearing a "couple of strands" of Mardi Gras beads. (I'm sure there was a bag full of beads that didn't get photographed.)

Ramblings Of A Caffeinated Mind 1.0

When I last spoke of the weather, I said that it was going to rain on Monday and Tuesday. Well it rained somewhere in Houston but not on me.

Guess I shouldn't have been feeling so cocky 'cause I got my due about 230A or so this morning.

OMG! The house was shaking and it was lit up in that electric blue-white light that only comes with lightning.

At one time, Jim and I lived much closer to Memorial Park. We were always getting hit by heavy storms. I'm not as close to the park but close enough and now I'm closer to the bayou. I'm beginning to think Mother Nature is upset that so much development is going on in NoRO and she is making us pay the price.

Without me even calling him, Calvin jumped on the bed with me to ride out the storm. I kept thinking we would lose power; we didn't. However, later on in the morning I would discover that the the office had lost power.

Because the rain continued for awhile, I had to delay Calvin's morning walk. I debated about going for a run. Ended up going and sure enough Yoga Boi was there. I will say that there is something very refreshing about running in a light rain when it is about 79 degrees.

After I dropped off Calvin at doggy daycare, I went to the office and that is when I realized I
would be a displaced worker. I went to one of the other locations and discovered that some of my office mates were there.

What are those birds? Lemmings? That's what I feel like some days.

So, I'm going to try and change my attitude about this weather. After all, on my way to the park this morning I did see a rainbow. What better way to start your day?

So rather than b!tch about the rain, I'll sing a ditty about the rain. I think I'll start with Viola Willis's dance version of Stormy Weather.

On a completely different thought, in my search for a substitute for The Spin Doctor, I went to a different spin class last night. I thought DIT was tough...Connie was much tougher than DIT.

Neighbor Nina (NN) had told me about her. Connie had been on vacation and came back with a vengeance. Last night my calves were twitching and my fingers were cramping so I loaded up on Gatorade and bananas.

Don't forget...tomorrow is June 21 which is the first day of Summer and the longest day of the year!

Life in NoRO (aka 007/Houston)

I'm not much of a Chatty Cathy at LeFittes but on occasion I do strike up a conversation. (At some point, I'll do another post about the snob appeal of the gym.) The other day I was talking to a guy and he asked me where I lived. I told him that I had nicknamed the area North River Oaks. (It really is Rice Military or West End.)

He laughed liked many others have because there really is no North River Oaks. The only thing that separates me from Houston's Old Money and New Money is Memorial Drive and Buffalo Bayou. Well...my people are accustomed to barriers (i.e. Rio Grande River) so I guess it is a given that I should be able to look into the backyards of the rich while I'm out with The Calvinator

He suggested that I name the neighborhood NoRO. LOL I asked him where he lived and he laughed and said ERO. LOL He happens to be on the wrong side of Shepherd Drive.

This morning before I went to meet RunnerOne at Memorial Park, I took The Calvinator out for his morning stroll. Get this. At 530A it was 80 degrees and 80% relative humidity. According to Anthony Yanez at The Education Station it felt like 91 degrees!!!!! Sultry and sauna were words he used to desribe the feeling outside.

It was so sultry that I noticed many windows on houses had condensation on the outside of the windows.

Needless to say, my shorts and shoes were soaked with sweat by the time RunnerOne and I finished running.

OK. So I haven't posted a pic of Calvin in awhile. I tried the other day to take some cute photos and I kept getting the evil eye. Just to prove it, here is Calvin giving me the evil eye. Have a good day everybody!

Age appropriate attire

Jeremy in Oklahoma (JIO) contacted Str8 Up With A Twist to offer his best recollection of the previously mentioned Will and Grace episode.

From JIO: "Now that I've read that post, I have to correct your quote. Jack actually said 'Will, your youth called and it wants it's shirt back.' If I can remember correctly, it was when Will was trying to wear a sleeveless shirt from A&F."

Str8 Up With A Twist must admit that there are several A&F shirts in his closet as well as one pair of boxer shorts. However...none of the shirts are sleeveless. It is so difficult to part with one's youth.

Str8 Up With A Twist reported to AttyHou about his visit to A&F last week and how out of place he felt. AttyHou replied that Str8 Up With A Twist should have stopped going to A&F 20 years ago! And also asked did he get called "sir"? EVIL I tell ya!

Still I wonder. Who'll stop the rain?

I know. I should be grateful. It's a bit difficult to welcome the rain when your personality rivals that of Mary Sunshine.

Right now the sun is shining. The ground is so wet that the heat with moisture makes it a bit sticky outside.

The Calvinator is getting tired of getting toweled-off every time we come back from a walk. His paws and underside get wet from the wet grass. He realizes that the downside to going on a walk is that he has to endure the toweling-off process.

I guarantee you that at some point today it is going to get dark, the wind will kick up and it will rain. For 6 consecutive days this has happened and today and tomorrow will prolly be the same.

I can't get my running shoes to dry out and they're getting a "stench".

OK...on a happy note:

2 SNAPS UP to Ellen DeGeneres. At the 34th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, Ellen won awards for Best Talk Show and Best Host. Ellen stated that she wanted to stir things up on her show. Instead of Hot Topics, ala The View, she is going to have Hot Pockets. Her first controversial comment, “Bob Barker is a quitter.” LOL

2 SNAPS UP to the Rice University Owls. Having pounded Louisville into submission in their College World Series opener Friday, the second-seeded Owls cranked out 14 more hits Sunday to beat the tar out of North Carolina 14-2.

Happy Father's Day Joe!

How many of you know the history of Father's Day? I did some research for you and this is what I found out...

The idea for creating a day for children to honor their fathers began in Spokane, Washington. A woman by the name of Sonora Smart Dodd thought of the idea for Father's Day while listening to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909.

Having been raised by her father, William Jackson Smart, after her mother died, Sonora wanted her father to know how special he was to her. It was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a courageous, selfless, and loving man. Sonora's father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father's Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910.

In 1926, a National Father's Day Committee was formed in New York City. Father's Day was recognized by a Joint Resolution of Congress in 1956. In 1972, President Richard Nixon established a permanent national observance of Father's Day to be held on the third Sunday of June. So Father's Day was born in memory and gratitude by a daughter who thought that her father and all good fathers should be honored with a special day just like we honor our mothers on Mother's Day.

I thought I'd show you some family photos and sorta remember the past...

This is a photo of my Grandfather Joe Martinez.

I chose this photo of my Grandfather Ralph Guereca because I'm it and I look cute. (FYI...I was almost 2 years old in this photo.)

Here is a picture of my father Joe Martinez. He was in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. I believe he was in the Army from 1951-1953. Years later, I would go to South Korea and no, I wasn't in the Army. My tour of South Korea was much different from Joe's.

Here is Joe with his saxophone. Years later I would learn to play the clarinet and my brother would become a saxophonist.
Here are Joe and Helen in 1993 at Diamond Hill-Jarvis High School Prom. Joe was a principal there for several years.
Here we all are at Joe's Retirement Party in August 1998. (When I master PhotoShop I'm going to get rid of that apple behind my head. For 9 years that has bugged me.)

And here is la familia Martinez in December 2006. Joey (my brother-in-law) must have been taking the pictures 'cause he's not in it. As you can tell, we were trying to get the dogs to pose but we weren't successful...and one of the dogs is missing. At least it's a good photo of Joe and Helen!Little known fact about Joe...

My sister Roni was born on June 21, 1959 which happened to be Father's Day. He became a father on Father's Day.