Today

This is what I feel like doing right now. Maybe I will. Maybe I won't.

Derby Day (May 3)

There is one day out of the year that I drink bourbon and it is on Kentucky Derby Day.

The past few years I have been invited to a private party to watch the running of the roses. Honestly, it's more about hanging out with friends and drinking Mint Juleps than it is about the race. The race doesn't take that long.

Well, this year the reigning Mr. & Miss Mint Julep are having a kick-off party for Miss Mint Julep 2008.

The party will be on Saturday May 3 at EJ's (2517 Ralph Street) and it will start at 200p. There is no cover to attend.

You can purchase $25 bottomless Mint Juleps. There will be a hat contest and a 50/50raffle. The Kentucky Derby will be televised at 500p.

So don your best Derby attire and big hat and join in the fun!

All proceeds from the event will benefit Legacy Community Health Services.

Ramblings Of A Caffeinated Mind 11.0

Party Pix
You will recall that in a previous post I mentioned Legacy's gala at Neiman-Marcus. If you would like to view photos from the gala, click here. I am only in one pic and it isn't very good because I'm laughing and I look like I have chipmunk cheeks. Everyone else looks good.

Weather
OK, so what's the deal? This morning when I went to walk The Calvinator it was 58 degrees! And the heater had turned on! Just the other day I was running the air conditioner. I'm thinking Al Gore might be a bit wrong about this global warming thing. It's already supposed to be hot in H-town.

Actually, hell froze over and no one sent me an e-mail or text message. Seriously. You see...

Something happened the other night and when I found out about it via email, I replied back, "Did hell freeze over?" So it must have and that is why the temp was 58 this morning.

Big Brother
I am so glad this season is over. I was over it a few weeks ago. Did you notice that I stopped blogging about it? Adam won. (In case you were wondering.)

Goober
Howard Dean is a goober. I think I would be better at heading up the Democratic National Committee. He should have taken care of this whole Michigan & Florida thing long ago.

This morning on the Today Show he was being interviewed by Meredith Viera. She asked him a question and when he answered, he called her Andrea. Uh, would that be Andrea Mitchell? LOL

Physic
Did you know that I'm a physic? You see...

Several years ago on Westcott here in NoRO, there was a lady who set up shop. She was a psychic (who ended up going to the pokey) but her big sign on Westcott said Physic.

So why am I a psychic/physic? Well...

Last night I was too tired to fall asleep so I was channel surfing and what do I run across? Evita starring Madonna and Antonio Banderas. Fortunately I fell asleep after some of my favorite songs had been sung.

One of the songs that I *heart* is Buenos Aires. So this morning, on the Today Show, Matt Lauer started his Where In The World Is Matt Lauer Tour and where in the world was Matt Lauer this morning? In Buenos Aires! Who knew? Well, I guess I did.



Oh no he didn't
You know there are some people who just are not meant to get into the groove, especially with a New Orleans jazz band. I know he doesn't drink alcohol but maybe he should have had a Hurricane from Pat O's or a Long Island Iced Tea from Lafitte's before he decided to bust a move. (BTW...I've been meaning to post for a few days now so this is probably old news to some of you.)

Thursday Night At Saks

Hello bois and gurls. I'm feeling a bit spent today. Thursday, Friday and Saturday have been a whirlwind of activity and it all caught up with me last night. I fell asleep on the couch around 930p after watching 54. I saw the movie when it was released several years ago and I *heart* If You Could Read My Mind being sung by Ultra Nate', Amber & Jocelyn Enriquez.

While watching the movie, I became very confused and had to call AttyHou and Everyday Italian to see if they could unconfuse me. You see...

I thought Penelope Cruz played Anita in the movie. In fact I was 100% sure it was Penelope Cruz but I couldn't remember the other actress who is Spanish or Mexican and it was driving me nuts. They told me it was Salma Hayek. OK...so I was no longer confused until the end of the movie when I was watching the credits only to find out that it WAS Salma Hayek who played Anita. OY!

Penelope Cruz

Salma Hayek

OK. So back to Thursday night...

HERA (Houston Equal Rights Alliance) recently merged with Equality Texas. To promote this new venture a launch party was held on the 3rd floor of Saks 5th Avenue in The Galleria. Music, food and alcohol in a store. That's better than a trifecta! Several Str8 Up With A Twist readers were seen in the crowd, including Kenny In Montrose and AttyFrank. Between the mingling, chatting and listening to speeches I did see a few shirts that I would look wonderful wearing but I don't need to be spending money at Saks, or Neimans or Nordstrom or...

One of the people that I met on Thursday night is Phillip Hudson. Phillip and Keith Collins are launching a new magazine in Houston, fave. I perused a copy of the publication and it is a very nice magazine.

If you're looking for something to do on May 8th, they're having a launch party for the magazine at Kuhl-Linscomb (2424 West Alabama from 700p-1000p). You will need to RSVP to houston@faveonline.com if you're planning on attending.

Some of the sponsors for the Equality Texas party will also be a part of the fave party (Mak Chin's, salud! winery and Stockholm Krystal Vodka).

It should be a fun evening so I hope that you will plan on attending.

I need to scoot and fold some laundry and then get to Mass later in the afternoon. I have a funny story to tell you about yesterday's garage sale. Details to follow.

Hey

Thursday got away from me and Friday blew by. I've been a busy boi. It's another situation where I don't want to tell you what is going on because I'll probably jinx myself.

Had a fabu time at a party at Saks on Thursday night. Details to follow.

Big. Actually HUGE garage sale tomorrow. Many households in Rice Military will be having a garage sale. (Rice Military is the neighborhood that I refer to as North River Oaks.)

AttyHou, Everyday Italian, The Calvinator and I have been getting our stuff together. If you're in the 'hood on Saturday morning come by the corner of Scotland & Roy between the hours of 800a - 1100a. Other households will also be having sales. There is SO MUCH MORE I could tag and put out for sale but I'm tired.

The Calvinator passed our hours ago.

Catch up will y'all later.

Love On The Rocks

Love on the rocks. Ain't no surprise. Pour me a drink and I'll tell you some lies...

I can't remember if I have ever mentioned this and if I have, oh well.

AttyHou received his law degree from University of Houston. He knows someone that dated Star Jones when Star was working on her law degree at UH. The relationship didn't work out but Star's ex-bf remained friends with her and on occasion she would call him up when she was in town. She loved to eat at Pappasito's. On one occasion, AttyHou and his friend went to NYC and met up with Star when she was working in the DA's office.

So that is my story about Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon in regard to Star.

From the get go, there was talk about how long Star's marriage to Al Reynolds would last. Some said it was a farce and she was a beard.

What really put the spotlight on her was how she was always talking about her wedding when she was a co-host on The View. If you're going to put yourself out there like that then you need to be able to deal with public scrutiny. That is one of the reasons Kaye Sedilla keeps such a low profile; she doesn't want the attention. It's also a lesson that the (Desperate) Real HOusewiveS of New York City should take note of.

So here is today's entertainment breaking news:

NEW YORK (AP) -- Three years after tying the knot in a spectacular, over-the-top affair that caused some backlash, Star Jones has decided to end her marriage to banker Al Reynolds.

The 46-year-old TV personality quietly filed divorce papers March 26 in New York Supreme Court in Manhattan. The records are sealed, syndicated entertainment show "Entertainment Tonight" reported Wednesday.

But a representative for SHADOW PR, which represents Jones, confirmed to The Associated Press that she is seeking to end the union.

In a statement to "Entertainment Tonight," Jones said: "Several years ago I made an error in judgment by inviting the media into the most intimate area of my life. A month ago I filed for divorce.

"The dissolution of a marriage is a difficult time in anyone's life that requires privacy with one's thoughts. I have committed myself to handling this situation with dignity and grace and look forward to emerging from this period as a stronger and wiser woman."

It's not the approach Jones took when she threw her uber-lavish, Park Avenue wedding to Reynolds in November 2004. She received criticism for endlessly discussing the wedding - and plugging its sponsors - as a co-host on ABC's "The View." The negative reaction to the affair, which was attended by guests ranging from Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to Spike Lee, was cited by Barbara Walters as a reason why Jones' contract wasn't renewed by ABC's "The View" in 2006.

The former prosecutor recently hosted a talk show on truTV.

© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

How To "Beat" Prostate Cancer

The results of a new study have been released. If you are a male and between the age of 30-50, click here.

Stop The Insanity!

It's been a few weeks since I've posted anything about Barack or Hillary. Afterall, it's been what, six weeks since the last primary? So I was kind of forgetting that there was a primary today in Pennsylvania.

I was reminded this morning when the telly was broadcasting live coverage from polling places in Pennsylvania. I don't know much about Pennsylvania other than the fact that I have spent some time in Philadelphia.

On one trip I had a WONDERFUL stay at the Four Seasons. It was purely by accident that I was booked into that hotel but hey, I didn't complain. Just like I didn't complain about the $5 bag of Peanut M&Ms from the mini-bar.

So anywho, Hillary won the primary tonight. All those bitter people in Pennsylvania who cling to religion and guns got out the vote and raised some Hill. (BTW...the bitter comment are Barack's words and not mine.) Once again, Barack showed that he can't close the deal. So they're marching on to Indiana! I bet Fitnessnerd is creaming in his pants right now.

photo credit: AP

Ya know, this was supposed to have been settled on Super Tuesday, then Texas, then Ohio and then Pennsylvania. It's going to go to the convention and I am just betting that somewhere out there, Susan Powter is screaming "STOP THE INSANITY!"

Speaking of stopping the insanity...did anyone else watch the reunion show of (Desperate) Real Housewives of New York City? LOL OMG! Talk about insanity! LOL

Bravo is infamous for running repeats of its hit shows so I'm gonna being looking for the repeat of the reunion show. As Running My Mass Off pointed out to me via text message, they were all ganging up on each other. There were some obvious contradictions that were discussed on the show. The most blatant was Alex and her husband Simon saying that they're not social climbers when they really are. LOL

And the Countess LuAnn (platter) writing a book about manners but yet she wanted the driver to refer to her as Mrs. _______ (I can't think of her last name) and she didn't shake his hand when she was introduced.

And then Ramona getting up and walking out when they were discussing the nude photos of Alex yet Ramona is the first to dress like a hoochie mama and go out clubbing without her husband.

It's getting late and The Calvinator is passed out in front of the telly. In a few minutes he will awaken, look at me and go to the bedroom. He cracks me up.

Saturday In The Park With Calvin

This isn't quite a Sondheim musical although at times my life does seem like a musical of some sort.

Saturday was too beautiful of a day to keep The Calvinator inside. First thing in the morning there was a bit of a nip in the air and I couldn't decide if I should go running or take him on a field trip.

Knowing that IFest was going to be happening downtown and knowing that there was probably something going on at the GRB, I decided to get to Discovery Green early; wanted to beat the crowds.

Discovery Green is a 12-acre park that opened last week in downtown Houston. It is by no means Millennium Park or Central Park but considering that parcel of land was previously two parking lots in front of the GRB, I think the City of Houston did good.

The park sits in front of the GRB and Hilton Americas. There is a brand new high-rise condo being built on another side with additional high-rise construction in the works. It isn't far from Minute Maid Park or Toyota Center. It is good to see this end of downtown coming to life.

The park has an upscale restaurant, The Grove, which is run by the Del Grande Group of Cafe Annie fame along with Taco Milagro and Cafe Express (yourself). There is a small lake (pond) where you can rent remote control sailboats, a nice concession stand, a reading room, artwork, a dog area, a 1/2 mile jogging track around the perimeter, a playground, wireless internet access, a performance area, and 100 year old trees that were transplanted.

I think Calvin was bored. He sniffed and peed and tried to stick his nose into the lake. I took him to the dog area and for a few minutes he ran around and sniffed and sort of played with another dog and then he just stood there. I took that as a hint it was time to go.

I hope that conventioneers will make good use of the park and people going to sporting events will use it as well as those people who work on that side of downtown.

I really am happy that the land wasn't used for more parking lots or buildings. I'm especially anxious to see how it used for the Houston Marathon. It will be great place for a post-marathon party.

Speaking of marathons...did anyone else see the Boston Marathon this morning? OMG! The finish for the women was nailbiting!

So here are some pics from our field trip.

I'm Still Here (Apr. 20)

I just realized that it has been several days since I have posted anything on the blog. It's been a hectic few days. Lots of stuff going on.

Throw in some really nice weather here in H-town and well, let's just say The Calvinator is getting lots of time outside on our walks and I'm getting a base tan.

Last night I had a nice time wishing a friend a Happy 28th Birthday. I invited someone to go with me (just in case I didn't know anybody at the party) and on the way over I commented that the birthday boy's mother was going to be there. Then I started doing some calculations and realized that his mother could be my age and I was old enough to be the birthday boy's father. OY!

The birthday boy put on a really nice party for himself. His aunt commented about him throwing his own party and I told her that sometimes it is just easier that way. You can plan the party that you want and more importantly you can control the guest list!

Which brings me to something that has been on my mind and it has to do with manners and class.

Recently there have been several instances where I have either seen someone exhibit a lack of manners or I have seen someone exhibit true class. There was a recent episode on The Real Housewives of New York City that dealt with manners. The Countess LuAnn (platter) went off on Ramona and basically called her out on not having any manners. That episode generated several conversations with some friends about class, manners and good public decorum.

So last night at the party, my guest and I strike up a conversation with someone that was feeling the need to air every ounce of pretentiousness in his body. And let's just say, he wasn't a small person so there was a bunch of pretentiousness oozing from his pores.

He felt the need to make snide remarks about people who were cuter and younger than him. He said that they would never speak to people like us. EXCUSE ME?!?! I proceeded to tell him that if I wanted to I could walk up to any of them and strike up a conversation.

He also started this game about being coy and not revealing his age because well...we were the oldest guys there.

In the course of the conversation he told us that he was born and raised in South Africa. I know two people who were born and raised in South Africa and they have an accent that could be confused with being Aussies. This guy didn't have that accent and I told him that I had not detected an accent. He then tells us that people of a certain class who were born and raised in South Africa were taught to lose their accents. He said he lived in a compound (like a sect maybe?) but I think he meant in a gated community.

We did our best to get away from him but he was like a gnat. The more we swatted the more he came around.

We left and went to Meteor (aka Meet-A-Whore) and guess who was there? Him. He followed us around for a bit and tried to strike up another conversation. At that point I had had enough of him and his attitude and so had my guest. At some in our conversation he pointed out to us that he was wearing big rings and he could hit us with them or something like that. (And yes he was wearing big rings with big stones...imagine costume jewelry at Macy's in the women's department.)

I don't understand people who feel like they need to put on airs and then in the process be catty. In my opinion, it shows they have a low self-esteem and a true lack of manners.

I can't imagine Jackie Kennedy or Lynn Wyatt doing something like that. And while I wanted to call him out (like The Countess LuAnn (platter) did to Ramona), I was also reminded of a letter that was sent to Ann Landers or Dear Abby.

Someone wrote in and said that she had been at a dinner party. She said that one of the guests had not displayed good manners and used the wrong fork. She wanted to know if there was a polite way to point out to someone that they had used the wrong fork.

Ann Landers or Dear Abby replied back that a person with good manners would never point out to someone that they had used the wrong fork.

Cajones

Do you ever wonder where some people get their balls? LOL I mean really.

When I moved to Houston back in 1992, I worked downtown and I really liked it. There's just something about the hustle and bustle.

Today I was downtown. I won't tell you what I was doing because I'm afraid I will jinx myself. That seems to be happening quite a bit to me lately so I'm being real careful what I divulge and to how many people I divulge it to. Anywho...

So I thought I was only going to be in the building for a few minutes but just to be on the safe side I put enough quarters in the meter to cover me for about an hour and 15 minutes. Which to me was an hour more than what I thought I was going to need.

Well...I was inside that building for an hour and forty-five minutes! All I could think of was that I was going to have parking ticket waiting for me when I got back to The Cal Mobile.

So...I leave the building and I can see The Cal Mobile parked right there across the street but I can't tell if I have a ticket waiting for me. And right around the corner I can see a cop car and I'm beginning to panic.

Rather than jaywalk and get a ticket for that, I decided to go to the corner of Jefferson and Smith and properly cross the street.

So I'm standing there waiting for the signal to cross and there is the cop car. Turns out it was a Sheriff Dept. car. He was waiting to turn left and the lane next to him could also turn left and there is a car that is going to do the double turn.

The signal changes and yes, me the pedestrian has the right of way. So, I start to cross, the cop car waits but the car next to him takes off and heads right for me! He got close enough for me to hit the car with my hand and the guy just stared at me.

What gets me is that he did that right in front of the cop car. THAT is cajones! Once I thought about it, I really got upset because the guy in the sheriff's car didn't do ANYTHING!!!!

I wanted to run down the street screaming "Citizens Arrest! Citizens Arrest!" but I didn't. And I didn't have a ticket waiting for me. It really p!ssed me off though about almost getting hit when I had the right of way.

You know. Somedays you just want to pack up your jacks and balls and not play anymore.

Oops!

I know that one should never laugh at the misfortunes of another but this is too funny not post.



LOL Did you notice the guy who went to check on her and fell through the stage himself? Classic case of monkey see, monkey do.

In an interview with Ellen Degeneres, K. Morgan said that after she fell through the runway, she crawled backstage. That is a good thing because that guy would have fallen on her.

She is being a good sport about it. I have never been to Charleston and I have do not have any plans in the near future to go there. However, if I should, I will definitely drop in at K. Morgan.

Studs

There are a few things in life that cause high anxiety for me. Today let's discuss studs and cuff links.

The other night when I was getting ready to go to the Human Rights Campaign Gala I had trouble finding my tuxedo. How does that happen you might ask? Well, I was asking the same thing. For some odd reason I do not have my suits and tux in the same closet. In fact, they're divided into the four closets.

So I finally find the tux jacket but where are the pants? Do you know how many pairs of black pants are in my possession? A bunch. So I spend a few more minutes looking for the pants and finally locate them. I am now running behind schedule.

I knew which shirt and tie I was going to wear so I had already put those where I could see them.

I'm getting ready knowing that the hardest part was yet to come. Do you know how difficult it is to put on cuff links and studs when you have no one to help you? It makes me break into a sweat...seriously. I get nervous thinking about it. At least when I lived with AttyHou we could help each other with the studs and links. Calvin's paws are too big to be of any help. After several minutes of trying to the the studs and cuff links through the heavy starched tuxedo shirt, I was FINALLY all gussied up and out the door and arrived about 10 minutes later than I wanted which meant less time to partake of the open bar. Life is full of disappointments.

Here is a pic from Saturday evening.

That is Ross the Intern from The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Ross is funny and nice and yes his voice is as high pitched in real live as it is on television.. He was on Celebrity Fit Club and lost a bunch of weight and good for him for being able to keep the weight off!

Ross The Intern is quite the stud.

Is it the end of the world? (revisted)

Tonight I was sitting in the couture collection at Neiman-Marcus rubbing elbows with the fashionistas and glitterati of Houston's high society. It was quite an evening and all for a good cause. Proceeds from the evening will go to Legacy Community Health Services.

I was sitting at a table with some high powered attorneys and their friends and somehow the topic of discussion switched to Top Chef and Project Runway. Being that we were in the couture collection it was appropriate that we discuss Project Runway.

So then I break the news that Nina Garcia has been auf'd by ELLE Magazine and there was a collective gasp from the other guests; something I didn't expect.

I just checked Reality Blurred and here is some additional about Nina's departure:

Project Runway judge Nina Garcia is out from her job as fashion director at Elle magazine, leaving her future as a judge on the show’s sixth season in question. It hasn’t yet been confirmed whether she was fired or left on her own.

“Speculation about Garcia’s departure has swirled for months, especially after the arrival of Joe Zee at the beginning of 2007 as creative director,” according to Women’s Wear Daily, which first reported her departure.

A commenter on New York Magazine’s post about her departure said “her office was entirely boxed, packed, and waiting in the hallways addressed to her home on the upper east by 5pm yesterday. Plus, the gaggle of crying assistants dragging deflated cardboard down the hall for assembly, in addition to Nina’s demonstrative speaking behind closed doors (made visible by a glass partition) also prompts one to believe that she was not leaving of her own accord.”

It was sort of a reality tv kind of night what with excellent food from Tony's (imagine the Top Chef contestants having to cater a high quality meal for 300 guests), sitting in the fancy dress department (make it work Project Runway contestants) and the entertainment for the evening was ballroom dancing (at one point when the music started I said, "They're going to dance the paso doble."...thank you Dancing With The Stars). I must say that somedays I feel like I'm on Survivor.

Miss USA Pageant (revisted)

OK. So AttyHou and Everyday Italian sent this pic of AttyHou and me with Miss Texas USA. Of course this was several weeks before she became Miss USA on Friday night. Maybe she will become Miss Universe!

Tri it

Today, at 700a.m. in Phoenix, Arizona a mass of people will begin the Ironman Arizona triathlon. And guess who will be doing a 2.4 mi. swim • 112 mi. bike • 26.2 mi. run? Not moi.

runnerOne has traveled to PHX to be a part of the competition. I'm sure this is a walk in the park for him. Let's face it. He has done a run through the Sahara, Death Valley, and the Swiss Alps (that's not the complete list of endurance runs but you get the idea).

I'm feeling like a real slug. With runnerOne, Neighbor Will, Neighbor Ryan and Viv all doing triathlons, I'm thinking I need to find a new set of folks to be seen with!

I think I'll start my own group: Slugs R Us!

Is it the end of the world?

I've mentioned this before and it is so funny I'll repeat it but then I need to get serious.

On the corner of W. Gray and Shepherd (here in Houston) there are two Starbucks. The first one is on the southeast corner of the intersection. When construction started on the free standing building on the northeast corner the plan was to shut down the small one in the strip center.

As it turns out, it never happened and both are still open. I know part of it has to do with traffic flow. Plus, the free standing Starbucks has a drive-thru. This is very important in Houston because everyone has a car and public transportation isn't what it could be.

I digress.

So one night on Comedy Central they actually show a photograph of the two Starbucks and the headline is: The End of the World.

Well that was several years ago and the world has not ended but I think we are on the brink of destruction. Here is some REALLY bad news on such a beautiful day in H-town.

I'm sitting here relaxing and trying rest up before I put on my tux and head downtown for the HRC Gala. I haven't been a good Dust Bunny so I decided to check David Dust's blog.

I get hit with the news that Nina Garcia has been given her walking papers from ELLE Magazine!!!!! WTF? It is the end of the world. First it is announced that Project Runway is moving to Lifetime and now we find out that Nina has been auf'd. I must ask once again, "WTF?"

To read more, go here.

After reading the news I thought to myself, "I bet Santino is just cackling." (Remember when he and Nina Garcia got into it during the lingerie challenge?)

Stay tuned because something tells me that the Project Runway drama isn't over!

Miss USA Pageant

On the morning of AIDS Walk Houston, I was having a conversation with TUTS Bob when I spotted Miss Texas USA. I ended the conversation to run over and talk to her.

She told me to make sure that I watched the pageant on April 11, 2008 and I told her I would and I wished her good luck...and then I asked who designed her gown for tonight's pageant. I can't remember who designed the dress but I do remember she said it was a gold color.

So tonight I watched the pageant and yes she wore the gold dress (and looked wonderful) and yes, she won! I would like to think that it was MY wishing her good luck (and keeping my word to watch the show) that tipped the scale.

So...Crystle Stewart, if you're reading this, CONGRATULATIONS!

Party Animals (pic)

photo credit: Jeff Fitlow

Friend Lydia sent this pic to me today. It is from the party at the arboretum last Saturday. I REALLY need to learn to use lighting to my favor or learn how to pose (like Paris Hilton & Lynn Wyatt and Carolyn Farb)...(Wear makeup like Kaye Sedilla?) Once again, I look like my chin and neck are all smushed together. Calvin on the other hand looks cute as ever.

Dick Cheney and the naked woman

photo credit: The White House

Is that a naked woman in the reflection of Dick Cheney's sunglasses? Click here to read more

How I Spent My Day

I needed someone to get back with me today and I had hoped for sooner than later. It happened later...and I don't mean to sound like I'm complaining because it was that they got back with me. However, it meant not getting some stuff done because I didn't want to be in the middle of something when the phone rang. I kept thinking that with my luck I'd be peeing and the call would come.

Anywho...at one point I found myself singing this song:

Latin Grammys Are Coming To Houston

I've sorta been on a Mexican/Latin roll with my posts so here is one more...

So yesterday when I was listening to the 400p news with Erik Barajas, not with him in the house but with him on the telly, they announced that Houston will be hosting the Latin Grammys on November 13.

No. This isn't your abuelas (the Latin Grannys). This is the awards show for Latin recording artists.

Folks, this is HUGE! HUGE I tell ya!

Previous host cities have been Miami and Las Vegas and I believe Los Angeles.

When I heard the news, I immediately sent a text message to Kaye Sedilla. You see, Kaye is making her annual Houston appearance on Sunday, July 20 at the Mr. & Miss Mint Julep Contest. Kaye Sedilla only appears once a year in Houston because she is on tour the rest of the time.

So I'm hoping that Kaye can clear her calendar and make another visit to Houston November 13.

There is a rumor floating around town that Beyonce will make an apperance at the Latin Grammys. Her dad, Matthew Knowles, said that Beyonce is working on another Spanish cd that will drop in November so timing is everything.

Kaye's people will be contacting Beyonce's people because Kaye would LOVE to do a duet with Beyonce. She sings the Norteña Mix of Irreplaceable (Irremplazable) all of the time...even if she doesn't know the words.

It's kind of like that girl singing Ken Lee instead of Without You.

If you want the 411 on the Latin Grammy's, click here.

I do have another comment to make...When this city was building Minute Maid Park, Toyota Center and Reliant Stadium, there was a bunch of moaning and groaning (just like what's going on with the soccer stadium). Folks, we need venues and hotel rooms and attractions that will bring major events to this city (i.e. Super Bowl, All Star Game, Latin Grammys). We have quite a bit going on this city and it just isn't about stadiums and arenas.

We just dedicated a brand new Cathedral (co-cathedral to be correct) and this weekend will be the grand opening of Discovery Green.

It just goes to prove that "If you build it, they will come."

Erik Barajas Hits The Houston Airwaves

So the other day I was looking at another blog and I see this photo:



The face was familiar but I couldn't place it so I read the post.

This is Erik Barrajas. I remember seeing Erik on the telly when I would travel to San Antonio. He was working for KSAT.

Erik is a native Houstonian and went to U of H. He is now working for KTRK (Channel 13). He is a co-anchor for the 400p news.

Erik's brother Omar worked with Sugar Land Stuart so I'm sure this is sort of like 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon.

Welcome back to Houston Erik!

Somebody Has Their Panties In An Absolut Wad

In this image released by the Mexican advertising firm of Teran/TBWA on Monday April 7, 2008, an advertisement created for Swedish Absolut Vodka which ran in Mexico, shows a map of the border of Mexico and the United States where it stood before the Mexican-American War of 1848. The Absolut vodka company apologized for the ad campaign amid angry calls for a boycott by U.S. consumers. (AP Photo/Teran/TBWA)

As someone of Mexican descent (grandparents from both sides came from Mexico), I think this is funny. It's not like they were running the ad in the States.

When I was a kid, Frito-Lay had the Frito Bandito who was used as a character to sell Fritos. No one in my family was upset but I guess other people were upset because Frito-Lay ended up pulling the ads and did away with the Frito Bandito. Either I'm insensitive or other people are too sensitive. I know that I don't have a heart of stone because I still cry every Sunday night when I watch Oprah's Big Give.

from Associated Press:
Vodka-Maker Absolut Apologizes for Ads
By MARK STEVENSON

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The Absolut vodka company apologized Saturday for an ad campaign depicting the southwestern U.S. as part of Mexico amid angry calls for a boycott by U.S. consumers.

The campaign, which promotes ideal scenarios under the slogan "In an Absolut World," showed a 1830s-era map when Mexico included California, Texas and other southwestern states. Mexico still resents losing that territory in the 1848 Mexican-American War and the fight for Texas independence.

But the ads, which ran only in Mexico and have since ended, were less than ideal for Americans undergoing a border buildup and embroiled in an emotional debate over illegal immigration from their southern neighbor.

More than a dozen calls to boycott Absolut were posted on michellemalkin.com, a Web site operated by conservative columnist Michelle Malkin. The ads sparked heated comment on a half-dozen other Internet sites and blogs.

"In no way was it meant to offend or disparage, nor does it advocate an altering of borders, nor does it lend support to any anti-American sentiment, nor does it reflect immigration issues," Absolut said in a statement left on its consumer inquiry phone line.

Some fringe U.S. groups also claim the land is rightfully part of Mexico, while extreme immigration foes argue parts of the U.S. already are being overtaken by Mexico.

"In an Absolut world, a company that produces vodka fires its entire marketing department in a desperate attempt to win back enraged North American customers after a disastrous ad campaign backfires," a person using the moniker "SalsaNChips" wrote on Malkin's Web site.

A plan for comprehensive immigration reform designed to deal with an estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants in the United States — the vast majority from Mexico — collapsed last summer under the emotional weight of the debate.

Absolut said the ad was designed for a Mexican audience and intended to recall "a time which the population of Mexico might feel was more ideal."

"As a global company, we recognize that people in different parts of the world may lend different perspectives or interpret our ads in a different way than was intended in that market, and for that we apologize."

Vin & Sprit, Absolut's Sweden-based parent company, will be acquired by French spirit maker Pernod Ricard SA under a deal reached last week.

One day you're in and one day you're out

BravoTV has been auf'd by Project Runway!


From EW.com:
'Project Runway' jumps from Bravo to Lifetime
Apr 7, 2008, 03:40 PM by Lynette Rice

Lifetime announced today that it has picked up the hit Bravo series Project Runway and will begin airing the series' sixth cycle, which debuts in November. In a statement, The Weinstein Co., which produces the show with executive producers Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz of Magical Elves, announced that it entered a five-year deal for the show with Lifetime — a development that prompted legal action by NBC/Universal. In the same statement, the Weinstein Co. acknowledged that NBC filed a lawsuit today in New York Supreme Court in an attempt to block the series from moving to Lifetime. "We believe that this lawsuit is without merit. While good for the market for lawyers, it is always unfortunate when parties try to win in court what they have lost in the marketplace," said David Boies, counsel to The Weinstein Co.

The NBC/Universal lawsuit asserts that the company had been negotiating with The Weinstein Co. for a year to obtain additional installments of Runway but the production company "never intended to negotiate in good faith." It goes on to say, "Instead, The Weinstein Co. threatened to take future cycles of the program to a competing TV network unless [NBC] agreed to pay many millions of additional dollars to Weinstein to acquire a 'package' that included TV rights to second-tier Weinstein films unrelated to Runway." The Weinstein Co. was contractually obligated to give the NBC-owned Bravo the right of first refusal when it got the offer from Lifetime, says the suit.

The Weinstein Co. has already begun pre-production of Runway's fifth season for Bravo, which is scheduled to air in June.

NBC released this statement today: "NBC Universal has continuing legal rights related to Project Runway, including a right of first refusal to future cycles of the series, which The Weinstein Company unfortunately has refused to honor. NBC Universal regrettably had no alternative but to bring legal action to enforce its rights to this program, including the right to decide whether it is in the best interest of the company to continue to air the show under the proposed financial terms."

One source familiar with the negotiations argues that Bravo was damaging the Runway brand by airing too many repeats of the show and surrounding it with copycat series like Top Design, Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style, and Make Me A Supermodel. "It's a phenomenon that needs to be protected," the source says. "Lifetime provided a substantial offer. NBC chose not to provide a competitive bid." That rerun marathon strategy, however, is what made Runway a hit in its first season. When Bravo began to heavily repeat the show, the fourth episode of the first season broke the 1 million mark — and the series has continually grown from there. In fact, the show's fourth season finale last month — in which the "fierce" Christian Siriano earned the top prize — attracted a whopping 5.2 million total viewers, down slightly from the 5.4 million viewers who watched the season 3 finale. (Additional reporting by Missy Schwartz)

What Did You Just Sing?

In a previous post I told the story about a guy who confused the words to one of Madonna's songs. Admit it. We've all done it.

Remember the song Guantanamera? The chorus is, "Guantanamera. Guajira Guantanamera." Well someone once sang, "One ton tomato. I ate a one ton tomato."

How about Creedence Clearwater Revival's Bad Moon Rising? There is a line in there about "There's a bad moon on the rise." Someone thought that they were singing, "There's a bathroom on the right."

And I think I've previously mentioned a former neighbor who thought Madonna's Isla Bonita contained the lyrics, "Last night I dreamt of some bagels." Instead of "Last night I dreamt of San Pedro."

So now I present the Bulgarian version of American Idol. Everytime I watch this I giggle.

It's Almost Pool Party Time

The weather is heating up here in H-town and even though I have often said, "There are two seasons in Houston: Summer and Autumn", hanging out by a pool takes a break during December - March.

So, I've been running (sweated like pig at 545 this morning) and working out and trying to watch what I eat. I mean let's face it. If people wanted to hang out with Shamu, they could drive down I-10 to San Antonio.

So, you know what they say about never go to the grocery store when you're hungry? Well I did. And not only that, I ate a free cookie. Yes, I know. Some kid with grubby hands probably touched every cookie in the free container and then along comes Timmy and eats a contaminated cookie.

Oh. It gets worse.

So on my way to check out, I see these containers that have two slices of carrot cake and if you have your Kroger Card with you they're on sale. So I did and I did and then after dinner I ate one whole slice of carrot cake. And yes, it was yummy.

If I keep up these bad eating habits, I'll never have abs like this

or this

Maybe there are some things that just should not be on your Things To Achieve List?

Saturday In The Park - Party Animals

Yesterday the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center hosted Party Animals. Calvin went and strutted his stuff and Winslow was there also. He was escorted by AnnaBanana.

Sponsors for the event were: 002 Houston, Dirty Dawgz, Houston SPCA, Urban Tails, Bow Wow Meow, Gone To The Dogs...And Cats Too, Bed & Biscuits Pet Spa.
Chipotle was there handing out burritos and chips. The guy in the blue shirt gave Calvin a Chipotle chew toy and a Chipotle leash.
This is Lydia. Her pr firm did the pr for the event.

Calvin was pooped last night. However, he spent most of the evening sleeping and spent most of the wee hours roaming around the house and he kept waking me up.

Music makes the people come together

4 minutes

I downloaded the single off of iTunes the other day. All it took was one listening and I was hooked. Watch the video. It will only take four minutes.

EDIT: The video has been removed from YouTube. However, Kenneth In The 212 has it on his blog. Click on his name and it should take you there. (I couldn't figure out the Russian language to find the code to embed.)

How You Ever...?

Today's blog is brought to you by the words: Have You Ever with help from ?

Have You Ever Thought WTF?
Let me first state that I am not being judgemental. I'm just having a hard time wrapping my brain around two things that have happened this week.

First on the list, is the 14 year old Houstonian who put her stillborn fetus in a trashcan on a Continental airplane on Sunday. The girl had been on a middle school field trip and was returning to IAH from La Guardia. Workers found the fetus approximately 15 minutes after the passengers had disembarked.

Yesterday, a 14 year old Baytown (Houston area) student tried to flush her newborn baby down the toilet at school. It was a full-term baby that died as a result of its mother's actions.

Have You Ever Screwed Up Your Laundry?
I know better but I had no idea the t-shirt that really isn't even red was going to bleed. Now I have two pink undershirts.

Have You Ever Accidentally Stalked Somebody?
The other day I ran into the same person three times. And I know that this person thought I was following them because I was always about 10 minutes behind them. Purely an accident.

Have You Ever Intentionally Stalked Somebody?
It happened today and I'm not giving any details! I'll just say that this morning it started off as pure coincidence and then I took it to the stalking level. :-)

Have You Ever Gone For A Run And Wanted To Quit?
That happened to me today. My knees were killing me and I almost quit at the 1/10 of a mile mark. I ran through the pain and did 3.0 miles when I really should have done 4 or 5.

Have You Ever Known Someone That Was On BravoTV?
One of the readers of this blog was on Top Chef last night. It happened so quick I missed her so I'll have to watch the show umpteen times to see her.

Kylie Minogue

Kylie Minogue's publicist must be working overtime or the publicist is finally earning their money!

I fell in love with Kylie several years ago and my love for her was heightened when I went to OZ in 2002.

So on Monday she was on the Today Show with Matt Lauer. Wednesday night she performed on Dancing With The Stars. Her cd dropped in the U.S. yesterday.

Pop icon. Dance diva. Sex symbol. Global phenomena. An institution. That's how Matt Lauer described her.

She overcame some health problems in 2005 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

In the interview she says that she received a letter addressed to: "Kylie Minogue. Pop princess. Australia."

If you're not familiar with Kylie, I think you will enjoy this clip.
EDIT: For some reason, the video doesn't always load. You can click here and go directly to the MSNBC website to see the interview.

The Mango

In case you missed this tango on Dancing With The Stars last night.

Party Animals

The Houston Arboretum is hosting a party on Saturday, April 5 from 3p-5p. The Calvinator and I didn't make the last party because that is the day the transmission went out on the The Cal Mobile and I was in a foul mood. Hopefully, we'll be able to make it this Saturday.

For more information, click here or on the link under Upcoming Events. There is RSVP information in the link.

A Celebration of Legend and Style

On Sunday, April 13 the glitterati and fashionistas of Houston will be gathering at Neiman-Marcus for an evening of fashion, flair and fabulous cuisine. It is the 10th anniversary of Legacy Community Health Services gala.

This year's honoree is Jeanie Kilroy. Jeanie is receiving the Jerry D. Bartee Humanitarian Award.

The co-chairs (Pat Breen, Bob Devlin and Sue Smith) have been working with the Legacy staff to plan a fabulous event.

Cocktails begin at 630p and dinner begins at 800p.

Individual ticket prices start at $500 and tables start at $5,000. To make a purchase please call the Legacy office at 713.574.9713 or aschuster@legacycommunityhealth.org.

Krewe of Olympus Apprecation Show

This Saturday, April 5, 2008, Mr & Miss EJ's 2007 will be doing a benefit show for the Krewe of Olympus. The show will begin at 800p and will be at EJ's (2517 Ralph Street).