Kinky Boots Part III

In the category of WTF...

Earlier today I was on Facebook and a friend posted a link to a story on Huffington Post about people who were upset that there was a performance of Kinky Boots during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  The upset people obviously have no idea what the show is about because if they did they would know it is about acceptance and tolerance.  Here are some of the comments:

To me there are two things that need explaining...

1) Why is Stark Sands in a sports coat, dress shirt and tie, and boxers;

2) How do women AND men dance in those boots?

So anyone watching the parade yesterday felt uncomfortable with their kids watching the performance, I guarantee you the kids probably didn't know that those were men dressed as women.  It only became a big deal when the parents made it a big deal.  And who knows, maybe some kid was inspired to become a dancer and singer.

If a child DID ask questions, it was the perfect opportunity for parents to talk about accepting people for who they are and a discussion about tolerance.

Now for the fun part of all of this...

This photo was on Kinky Boots' Facebook page.  Can you imagine shopping at Macy's and Billy Porter and Stark Sands come walking in?  The caption for the photo: 

We went shopping at Macy's today to thank them for supporting 

acceptance & fabulousness on the #MacysParade... you should too!

And just as an afterthought, what did people tell their kinds about Uncle Miltie being dressed as a woman and Flip Wilson's character Geraldine?  Just askin'

Kinky Boots Part II

I can't believe I missed this yesterday!  I was doing odds & ends around The Calvinator's North Texas Crib and didn't get to watch the parade from beginning to end.

 

 

 I knew there would be a highlight from Kinky Boots and I was hoping this would be the song.  This is a very uplifting song and I was humming it when I left the theatre on my recent trip to NYC.  Once again Kinky Boots, thanx for making me smile!

P.S. I'm still amazed at anyone, female or male, who can dance heels that high!  Something to aspire to I guess.

Jimmy Fallon's Holiday Parody

I really wish Jimmy Fallon was on the telly earlier in the evening.  He cracks me up and I'm sorry I missed his holiday parody but today on the day after Thanksgiving I am grateful for YouTube!  Enjoy.

Happy Thanksgiving!

circa 2010

This is a photo that was taken with a self-timer.  I'll probably never get that expression again from The Calvinator so I've decided to make this my annual Thanksgiving Day photo.

Wishing everyone a wonderful day!

Like A Rolling Stone



So last week I ran across this great mashup of Bob Dylan's Like A Rolling Stone.  You have to follow the instructions otherwise it doesn't make any sense.  So read carefully.

First you have do this from a desktop.  It might work on a laptop but I haven't tried it yet.  It doesn't work on a mobile device.  There are about 10+ videos that make up this one video and during the song you can change between videos by using the channel buttons on the left (look at the photo above). Someone took quite a bit of time to make this work and it is amazing.  It can also be addictive!

I then realized that I really don't know the words to Like A Rolling Stone.  So...if you've ever wondered what Bob Dylan is singing, here you go:

Once upon a time you dressed so fine
You threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you ?
People'd call, say, "Beware doll, you're bound to fall"
You thought they were all kiddin' you
You used to laugh about
Everybody that was hangin' out
Now you don't talk so loud
Now you don't seem so proud
About having to be scrounging for your next meal.

How does it feel
How does it feel
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone ?

You've gone to the finest school all right, Miss Lonely
But you know you only used to get juiced in it
And nobody has ever taught you how to live on the street
And now you find out you're gonna have to get used to it
You said you'd never compromise
With the mystery tramp, but know you realize
He's not selling any alibis
As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes
And say do you want to make a deal?

How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone ?
You never turned around to see the frowns on the jugglers and the clowns
When they all come down and did tricks for you
You never understood that it ain't no good
You shouldn't let other people get your kicks for you
You used to ride on the chrome horse with your diplomat
Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat
Ain't it hard when you discover that
He really wasn't where it's at
After he took from you everything he could steal.

How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone ?

Princess on the steeple and all the pretty people
They're drinkin', thinkin' that they got it made
Exchanging all precious gifts
But you'd better take your diamond ring, you'd better pawn it babe
You used to be so amused
At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used
Go to him now, he calls you, you can't refuse
When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose
You're invisible now, you got no secrets to conceal.

How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone ?

Strictly Come Dancing - Ben Cohen

I have never met Ben Cohen but I have been in the same room with him.  I have a feeling that he and I could be BFF.  There's quite a bit to like about him and I'll do another post about him in the future.

I've been watching his Strictly Come Dancing videos and this one is just too cute!  Enjoy!

November 22, 1963

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy in Dallas.  Leading up to today, many television networks have been running specials about the last days of JFK.

Everything I know about day that has been told to me by relatives who remember the day, and news stories I have read and heard.  I was only 2 years of age at the time so I have no recollection of what occurred.  If I had to guess, my sister and I were with my Guereca grandparents on the north side of Fort Worth while our parents were at work.  When it happened, I'm sure my grandmother was watching As The World Turns and CBS interrupted the show to announce that Kennedy had been shot.  After the show ended, I would assume they did another news break to announce his death.

The night before, John & Jackie arrived at Carswell Air Force Base.  My Aunt Lulu was there with Raymond (who would later become her husband).  I remember her telling me that when the plane arrived it was like something out of a movie.  The flood lights were on the tarmac and a big crowd had gathered to welcome the Kennedys to Ft.Worth.  The ramp was brought to the plane and the Kennedys exited the plane to the cheers of the crowd.  Uncle Raymond put her on his soldiers so she could see them.

John & Jackie stayed at the Hotel Texas which is now the Hilton.  Inside of the hotel the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce was gathered in the Crystal Ballroom for breakfast with John & Jackie.  And outside of the hotel, a crowd had gathered to greet the President.  News stories say that inside and outside, the crowds were charmed by the President.

In 2012, a monument of JFK was erected and placed outside of the hotel.  Fort Worth holds it's rightful place in history and it was only right to memorialize that day.

Every generation has a defining moment that scars it.  I was too young to remember November 22, 1963.  I do remember what I was doing when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded on January 28, 1986.  I remember what I was doing when the planes flew into The World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.  And I'll never forget the horror of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

I was reminded the other by my mother that in the days after November 22, 1963, my sister and I asked her if John-John and Caroline could come and stay with us.  Looking back, I guess that day did leave an impression upon me.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram has put together a gallery of photos from November 21-22, 1963 that can be viewed here.

And here are photos that I took last year of the memorial in Fort Worth.

Things That Make Me Smile

5 year old Taranza McKelvin Tears Up The Field  

 Joe Boxer tears off the pants

Batkid Saves The Day!

Miles Scott is a five year old who has already battled his share of villains.  He has battled leukemia and is in remission.

Make A Wish Foundation granted his wish to be Batkid.  The San Francisco chapter turned the city of San Francisco into Gotham City on the West Coast for a day and over 13,000 people showed up to watch Batkid save a damsel in distress, confront The Penguin AND The Riddler.  The Department of Justice, FBI, SFO Police Department and the Obamas all participated in helping Batkid.

The story in the Daily News chronicles Batkid's day.  What I didn't realize until today is the Miles' brother helped him by being the sidekick Robin.

San Francisco is one of my favorite cities and the support they showed for Miles proves that all the hearts that have been left in San Francisco were on display on Friday.

Job well done San Francisco!

As I See It

 

I was out walking The Calvinator and this lone tree on the property of Delpechin caught my eye. 

Survey Says...!

So it seems that Pope Francis wants our opinion.  I am willing to bet that in the history of the Roman Catholic Church there has never been a Pope that has taken the time to listen to the members of the faith.

Growing up, I attended parochial school for 12 years.  I think I'm a subject matter expert when it comes to living in a dictatorial environment during the school day; well, at least grades 1-8.

I'm very pleased that he is at least making the effort to get opinions.  I think it would be great if the bishops did an online survey in each diocese.  They could definitely reach more people.  Maybe even do a Facebook survey or have us tweet our replies #thanksforlistening

Anywho, I'm glad he wants our opinion.

Let's Hear It For The Girl (Again)!

Funny thing happened on my way to the keyboard.  I was trying to think of a cutesy name for this post and I decided on Let's Hear It for the Girl only to realize that in a post from 2009 about Annise Parker, I used the same title! 

On Tuesday evening, Annise was re-elected as Mayor of the City of Houston. And what's even better is that she did it without having to go into a run-off.  Her nemesis main challenger, Ben Hall, only received 20something percent of the vote. (He ran some very odd commercials. Just sayin'.)

Things haven't always been perfect in Houston under her administration but one really can't complain about how good things are in the 3rd 4th largest city in the United States.  It's a great city to live in and it is full of opportunity.  She's a great person to have at the helm.

Congratulations Annise!  Here's to another successful two years!!!

photo credit: Dalton Dehart

Brad Ausmus

A big Thank You to Kenneth In The 212 for giving an update on one of my all-time favorite baseball players Brad Ausmus.  Brad was a catcher for the Houston Astros from 2001-2008 and a fan favorite.  He is also an all-around good guy!

Brad has recently been appointed manager of the Detroit Tigers.  Guess I'll be following the Tigers now!  Here's wishing Brad all the best in his new endeavor.

The Hottest New Workout

I was watching the telly the other night and they did a promo about the latest craze in workouts.  I never jumped on the P90X bandwagon or joined in the CrossFit craze although I haven't ruled them out.  I digress.

So the promo was about SurfSET.  It's a fitness workout that simulates you surfing and fighting off sharks.

And to make it even better, Erik Barrajas did the story!  You can view the story here: