it gets better

Last night members of the cast of it gets better  were at Legacy.  Our invited guests were staff and members of Legacy's mSociety.

I was very impressed with the discussion.  It was an educating experience from both sides of the table. 

The cast is here in Houston this week.  They're bringing the message of it gets better; a message first brought to the forefront by Dan Savage in response to teen suicides due to bullying.

It was great to hear their personal stories.  It was fun to have lunch with them today at Sparrow. 

So... on Wednesday night their will be piano cabaret karaoke at Guava Lamp starting at 9:30p.m.  This is your turn to "sing out Louise!"

Join us on Friday night at Jones Hall for the performance.  Tickets can be purchased at Society for the Performing Arts website.

Pic Of The Day - 04.22.14

There are sunsets and then there are sunsets.  I took some photos with the blinds raised but then I realized there was a better effect taking the photo with the blinds as a filter.

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Who knew?  I didn't know about Piñata2Go until the other day.  I was strolling Walgreen's to buy cough syrup and this was on the end cap. 

There's a video on YouTube (which I'm having difficulty understanding) to show you how to assemble the piñata in a box. 

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Normally on Easter Sunday I take a photo of the flowers inside of the church.  Well...it was very crowded at the 7:30AM Mass and I really needed to cough so I left the church after communion.  When I exited the church, I noticed these crosses in the circular drive on Westheimer...and there were flowers!

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Legacy had a Client Appreciation Party on Saturday at our Mapleridge location.  Health screenings.  Food.  Music.  Arts & Crafts.  A fun time was had by all.  You can see more photos on Legacy's Facebook page.

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There are eggs and then there are EGGS!

Every year, Houston Galleria does Primavera.  Florists are invited to do a Spring design and their work is scattered throughout the mall.  I really enjoy going and admiring the creativity.

This year there was one entry that blew me away.  It was created by Darryl & Co.  It was awarded Best In Show and the award was well deserved.

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I hate it when the confetti pops too early!  And it happened at the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Annual Luncheon & Business Expo.

Dr. Laura Murillo was speaking and a random canister of confetti popped right over the table where I was seated.  I didn't flinch.  I'm not sure what that says about me.  Anywho...

You could tell that it surprised her but she made the best of it and laughed it off by saying that she saw Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia go under a table.

It was all fine until I reached to drink my water and there was confetti in it.  So I reached for my glass of tea...and there was confetti in it.

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I found the need to post another for Wednesday the 16th.  I entered the egg decorating contest at Legacy and won Most Imaginative.

I was walking through Arne's and saw artificial wisteria.  It spoke to me so I bought it.  It also reminded me of being a kid and the wisteria that was in the front yard.  And yes, it made me sneeze but it was pretty to look at.

So...as I was decorating the egg, I was having to use a wine glass to hold it and voila the wine glass spoke to me!  The outcome is below

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On Wednesday night, Legacy kicked off Lights of Legacy at the home of Melanie Gray and Mark Wawro in River Oaks.  It was a nice evening to meet new people and tell Legacy's story.

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Unlike the day before, it was a sunny day in Houston.  And, my taxes were filed a day early.  It cost me $49 to get a $6 refund.

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It was a rainy day in Houston.

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The jasmine is in bloom.  Pretty to look at but it makes me sneeze!

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Can you tell I'm playing catch up? I've been taking pics but haven't been posting them. Hence, this splurge in postings.

So... last week Outreach United had a fundraiser.  It was a Vegas night which I really don't care for but I went anyway.  The suggested attire was Rat Pack.  I chose do to something a bit more eclectic.  I wore a Tommy Bahama shirt that I haven't worn in 7 years.  There's nothing more Vegas than a Martini, right?

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It's been awhile since I've been to an art walk/open studio.  So... when I received the invitation from Lan Norwood, I thought, "Why not?" so I did.

Lan's new studio is in Silver Street Studio.  It is next to Winter Street Studio, which I also visited.  Montrose Ken went with me.  We strolled through both buildings and visited with several different artists. 

At Winter Street, we stepped onto the lanai.  There were people who had walked over to Spring Street and created great energy for a Friday night; people coming and going.  

While we sipped wine, a train came by and all I could think of was "De train!  De train!"

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Do you ever accidentally see something in the view finder and think, "That would make a cool photo?"  That's what happened with this photo.

This is a table in the café at fit. It was by the window and the light from outside created a cool reflection.

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It was recommended that I try this water and I thought, "Why not?"  After all, it comes from Mineral Wells, sort of my former stomping grounds. I tried and well, hmmm, it's thick. It's probably that way because of the minerals.  I'll stick to my SmartWater or Fiji.

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This is my Boogie Bear wanting attention while I'm trying to watch Real Houseswives of New York.

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So...I was sitting there with The Calvinator on a Monday night because that's what we do.  I realized I had not snapped a photo.  Well...I love Dancing With The Stars and I thought a photo of the judges would be a good photo for a Monday.

I really enjoy guessing what that scores will be.  My guess is based on their comments and their history on the show.  I'd guess that I'm correct about 80% of the time.

I think Derek Hough is an amazing dancer and choreographger.

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This spells nothing but trouble.  It's a wall of jasmine that is about to bloom.  It will be pretty.  It will make me sneeze.

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I've realized I'm I a food rut.  I guess the first step is admitting to a problem.

I tend to go to the same places.  I live in Houston.  It is the Culinary Capital of Texas.  Houston gets acknowledged on a national level for its cuisine so why do I always eat at Subway?!?!

Saturday I decided to eat at Mozelle's Cajun Seafood Market. I'm glad I stopped in. It was like being in New Orleans.  The food was good and the staff is very friendly.

And maybe when I go back, I'll get a tattoo for dessert. 

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I was in meeting all day on Friday.  The room didn't have any windows.  It was a beautiful day.  And because I was another side of town, I knew I wouldn't be able to let Calvin out at lunch time so doggy daycare it was!

When I picked him up I decided not to take him directly home.  Instead we went to Memorial Park for his evening stroll. 

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Thursdays always seem to be odd for me when it comes to deciding what to eat.  Weird. 

Plus I put a deadline on what time I need to be home because of parking.  You see...

Something happens next door and a gaggle of woman descend upon the neighborhood.  Book club?  Bible study?  Witches coven?  I don't know.  Anywho...

Last Thursday I realized I had brain to Chipotle in quite some time, so I went to their location on Shepherd.

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It's been really interesting watching the crew create a parking lot.  I wonder if they know I'm watching them and documenting their progress?

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Depelchin has decorated the fence on Memorial Drive with blue ribbons to raise awareness during the month of April about child abuse.

The Calvinator

On March 31, 2004, I was in Jacksonville, FL, on a business trip.  I was flew home that night and arrived at Houston-Intercontinental Airport around 9:00PM.

From the airport, I drove to Sugar Land.  It's approximately 50 miles and something you really don't want to do when you're tired.

I went to Sugar Land to get Calvin.  His owner was giving me custody.  At that point in my life, I really hadn't planned on having a dog; my travel schedule was busy.  However, I had been offered the opportunity to have Calvin come live with me and I knew that somehow I would make it work.  And it did.

Jim's brother John was able to help me by staying at my place and keeping an eye on Calvin.  It seems that they both enjoyed the company.

Calvin has brought me more joy than heart ache.  There were times that I had questioned what I was doing with a dog but the companionship is priceless.  We've been through quite a bit together: the 27 hour drive from Houston to Fort Worth during the evacuation of Hurricane Rita; living through and dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Ike; going back and forth to Fort Worth in the Fall of 2011 when my dad was ill and then died.

Calvin's health was in question in the Fall of 2012 and I was sure he was going to die.  He bounced back (and my bank account took a hit) and is still full of energy even though he sleeps quite a bit more.  He is definitely a lucky dog.

Calvin was four when he came to live with me.  So he is getting up there in age.  I don't know how much longer he will be with me and I really try not to think about it.  We'll enjoy the time together.

The last thing I will say about him is that he brings quite a bit of joy and many smiles to people including people who don't know him.  I remember one day at Memorial Park a guy with a thick Scottish accent said something to us.  I asked him to repeat it and he said, "That is one happy dog."

So, in honor of the day that Calvin came to live with me, Calvin and I had cupcakes from Sprinkles.  Let's hope their are many more cupcakes in our future!

Pic(s) Of The Day - 03.30.14

I didn't mean for it to be aTexan kind of day but it was.  I drove through Memorial Park and 
stumbled across a relay ruin. I think it's called the Texas Relay and it starts at Goliad and ends at the San Jacinto Monument or maybe it doesn't and I made that up?  I think I'm 50% correct. 

So... one of the pit stops hand-off stations one in the park.  There was a slight breeze so the flags were flying. 

As I was leaving the park area, I noticed some beds of Bluebonnets.  It is that time of the year!

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Some days I feel like I'm stuck in a rut especially when it comes to eating establishments.  So on Saturday I was in The Galleria area and popped in to Panera.  If you are what you eat, then I am fast, cheap, easy and free wifi.

Pic Of The Day - 03.28.14

I don't know anything paving parking lots.  I've been watching the crew work on the lot on Missouri Street and it seems to be taking longer than I thought it would.  So on Friday they poured some white stuff.  I was heard to say,  "No use crying over spilled milk. "