Dennis Quaid at 53

Holy cow! If THIS is the body of a 53 year old, I guess there is hope for me! I guess it is time to throw away the Ding Dongs, Twinkies, Little Debbie Snackcakes, Donuts and Apple Fritters.
Boy Culture posted these photos from Vanity Fair/Italy.

In other news...
Yesterday there was a good debate on The View about the flaw threshold for Presidents. Is it about infidelity in the Oval Office or is it about weapons of mass destruction that didn't exist and about Osama Bin Laden being in Iraq? I'm just asking...

I had another dream last night. I told one person about it and I'm afraid to put some of the details on this blog because it could lead to a police investigation or wire tapping. Let's just say it was an odd dream.

The Cal Mobile is back in NoRO. I picked it up this morning. Thanx to Alan for giving me a lift. As I was getting out of his '06 Escape that has more mileage than mine, he wanted to check my satchel to make sure I didn't have any explosives or weapons with me.

I will say that Freeway Ford made things right with me. It took it awhile to get there but all is cool right now.

This whole deal with Governor Spitzer hiring a prostitute got me thinking. What OTHER hotels have I stayed in where a political tryst has occurred? I have stayed at The Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. and The Excelsior Hotel (Bill Clinton & Gennifer Flowers). I wonder if anything happened at The Best Western in Alexandria, Louisiana? I'm just asking...

Ramblings Of A Caffeinated Mind 10.0

WTF Saturday

I'm in a mood and I know, I know, I know...I shouldn't let things bother me but they do. Come on. The Cal Mobile has less than 17,000 miles on it and the transmission goes out? UGH. This morning I barely made it up the Shepherd bridge leaving RO on my way back to NoRO and then I had to coast down it, make a quick left, run a stop sign crossing Durham and get into NoRO. If I stepped on the gas it wouldn't go forward but I could put it in reverse and go 90m.p.h.

So being the creative thinker that I am, I backed into a parking lot, got the vehicle turned around and drove home in reverse...and didn't run over anybody. The dealership was open today so it got towed to the dealership.

I know. In the big scheme of things world peace doesn't depend upon my vehicle running. And other people are dealing with bigger issues but I really didn't need this to happen. So all I can say is WTF?

Trail Rides

As I mentioned yesterday, the Trail Ride came to town. Here are some photos of some them arriving in NoRO yesterday on their way to Memorial Park.

They spent the night there and then made their way to downtown for the parade this morning. Then they turned around and came back to Memorial Park and NoRO.

I went running this morning and all I could see up and down Memorial Drive was horse sh_t. And it smelled like horse sh_t.

When you see horse sh_t up and down Memorial Dr. and when you smell it in your 'hood...well, it must be rodeo time in Houston! Cowboy Up!

March 4

I'm getting anxious. The Republican and Democrat primaries are on Tuesday. My personal opinion is that it's too close to call for Hillary and Obama.

I'm hearing things about Obama that I don't like but I can't confirm all of what I'm hearing so I'm not going to put it out here yet! Although, Kenneth In The 212 was able to confirm something that I had long suspected.

This morning before my Cal Mobile problems, Ugly Betty (aka America Ferrera) spoke to me twice through the radio. She was reminding us Texas Latinos of our strong ties to the Clintons and to get out and vote.

Not only that, we have to vote twice on Tuesday. As Bill Clinton said the other day, "Texas is the only place that you can vote twice and not get in trouble." You see...we have this odd primary/caucus system where 1/3 of the delegates are awarded starting in the precinct caucus. So if you want to have a say in how the delegates are awarded you have to go back around 700p (and if you support Obama you can go back at 1000p LOL). Then you sign in and caucus with the Hillary supporters and I'm not sure what happens after that because I have never done this.

This is the first time that I can remember (and no I'm not going to say something like Michelle Obama about this is the first time I'm proud to be an American because well, that got HER in hot water) that I actually care about the caucus part of the voting. I think it is because it really matters this time and it matters enough to me to go back at 700p and sit there and see what this is all about.

Who knows, maybe by some strange fluke I'll end up at the big convention this summer? I'm sure I could come up with some outlandish costume that could get me on the national telly. Stranger things have happened. The reality is that the delegates that get to go and get drunk are long-time party die hards and all I have to say is you geaux! I'll be happy doing the precinct caucus thingy.

Back to Ugly Betty...

It's going to be VERY interesting to see what happens with the latino-hispanic-mexican-Bill or Billy or Mack or Buddy-vote because the youngsters are getting out and voting this time around and they're leaning toward Obama. So if you're a young latino-hispanic-mexican-Bill or Billy or Mack or Buddy, who gets your vote? I'm sure sus padres, y older hermanos y hermanas and sus abuelos will vote for Hillary. Will you divide la familia? Ay Dios mio!

Mahogany

So yesterday when Bill Clinton was doing his parking lot rally at Fiesta I sort of had a flashback to the movie Mahogany.

Bryan (Billy Dee Williams) was running for office and would do parking lot rallies and campaign at factories. Tracy/Mahogany (Diana Ross) would stand in the crowd and heckle him (it was planned). He is stating his platform and she wants to know what he is going to do for her.

I can't remember exactly what she says to him but it is something like, "My man left me. Can you bring him home?"...or something like that.

I sort of expected Tracy/Mahogany to be in the crowd yesterday and heckle Bill about cheating on his wife. Maybe he is paying his dues for that by showing up in parkling lots of grocery stores?

Hillary Clinton Rally (part 2...Bill arrives)

I swear. Bill Clinton must have some Mexican genes. I know that he is always late but geez he was late today. And I'm sure the rest of the schedule for the day was messed up.

So just as Annise and Sylvia are about to sing and dance for us (and maybe even ask me to get up and help them out) we see the motorcade arrive and the crowd goes wild. Hillary signs everywhere and people are clapping and cheering. And just like that, the SUV that Bill is riding in is right there almost in front of me. And Secret Service agents descend upon us like flies on poop.

Sylvia and Annise are behind the flag exchanging pleasantries with Bill and next thing you know he is on stage.


Bill gave a great speech. It wasn't all about Bill...although he did defend himself at one point when he made reference to things that have been said about the '90s. The three things he talked about: healthcare; the war in Iraq; education. He got me excited and energized.

I know that most of the people there probably were already Hillary supporters. I will say that it was good for me to have someone reiterate her position on these topics.

Bill kept looking in my direction. And no I wasn't wearing a Lewinsky beret. I was wearing some cool sunglasses that always receive positive comments. And I was wearing a baseball cap that had a variation of the U.S. flag.

And I would shake my head in agreement when he was talking. He was preaching to the choir sistah!

He is quite the orator. He hasn't lost his touch. And he still doesn't know when to stop talking. LOL

So he finally finishes and it's time to work the crowd. And then I feel a surge of people coming up from behind me pushing me even closer to the man and now a lady in front of me. OK...so in 9 months, two birth announcements.
As Bill is getting closer, I feel like I'm going to fall over because someone is pushing. I'm trying to hang on to my sign AND take pictures but I'm afraid of falling and taking people down with me.
So I decide I'm not going to shake his hand because I'm actually beginning to panic. There are people pushing their way through to the front...and then I figure out what is part of the situation. There are SS agents moving through the crowd while Bill is in front of us. Well there's no getting out of this crowd.

Here is Bill just as he is getting up to me. I'm still not trying to shake his hand...I'm trying to stay upright and take pics.
So then he comes right over to me and tries to grab my hand (which is not extended) and so in a split second I put down the camera and shake his hand...sort of...it was an awkward handshake.
He went on his way...

And I went and got my free breakfast taco.

I got back to NoRO and put Hillary's sign in a front window.
Hillary is going to be in H-town on Thursday night. I've already made other plans and by the time I get to the venue I'm sure I would end up in the peanut gallery.

Hillary Clinton Rally (part 1...waiting for Bill)

I got to the parking lot of Fiesta Grocery Store a bit later than planned. When I arrived, the news crews were already there waiting to televise and film the rally.

Here is the Fiesta Grocery Store on Kirby near Reliant Stadium.
They roped off the area and when I got there at 740a this was closest I could get to the stage. I mean really. Surely they weren't going to make us stand THAT far away from the stage or were VIPs going to be able to get in front of us.
Around 750a, some men starting taking down the tape that was serving as a barricade and were telling people they could now get closer. Many of you know that I run so as soon as the coast was clear I took off running and so did everyone else.
This was close! I let some shorter people get in front of me. I'm not that tall but there were people shorter than me. As you can see, people were crammed in with their signs. I was so close to the man in front of me, I expect to hear from him in 9 months to announce the birth of our child. Annise Parker, City Controller for Houston was there and working the crowd while we waited for Bill's arrival.

This Secret Service agent kept an eye on us. He wasn't the only one there; he was the most photogenic.

So while we waited for Bill, some mariachis entertained us. The SS agent was not tapping his toes or clapping his hands. He was watching us. The mariachis were very entertaining but where was Bill?

The mariachis played for at least 30+ minutes. I knew most of the songs. I couldn't clap my hands because I was squished into the crowd and I was holding a Hillary sign and I had my camera.
And he continued to watch us. I think he was a bit jealous that he left his maracas at home.

So the mariachis go through the repetoire. People were shouting out songs for them to play. They played La Bamba. They played La Cucaracha. They played Jalisco. They played and played and played but they NEVER played Volver! They left and we continued to wait. Finally Annise takes the stage and tells us that Bill is on his way.

County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia was there to lend her support. She reminded us of what former Governor Ann Richards said about a woman being able to do a man's job and being able to do it wearing high heels.

Bill was still running late and the mariachis had long departed. Annise and Sylvia were about to do a soft shoe routine. While we continued to wait, people would drive by and stare. What was interesting is that the truck drivers and taxi drivers would toot their horns to show their support. The crowd waiting for Bill was very mixed. A good representation of Houston.

What A Day

Here it is only 10:30 and I'm worn out. Not so much physically and not so much emotionally...maybe mentally?

I slept later than planned this morning. I kept hitting the snooze alarm. Finally got out of bed and realized it was going to be a beautiful day.

So I'm out walking The Calvinator, enjoying the chill in the air. As we're heading back toward the house, I see one of my neighbors out walking his dog. Hadn't seen him in awhile and it is always good to talk to him so this is a nice surprise to see him.

We're talking and he says that he is glad he ran into me. He has something to tell me...and he wasn't smiling. In a split second my mind goes racing in a hundred different directions. He then tells me that he is moving to another part of town but his wife is staying in the house. They're splitting up. This is another case of I never would have guessed. He is taking the dog with him.

It wasn't appropriate to ask questions so all I could say was that I was sorry to hear that and that on many different levels I'm sorry to see him leave the neighborhood.

It really caught me off-guard. Maybe if I had already had my daily dose of my addiction it wouldn't have hit me as hard.

So, now I'm really late for my next venture. I had received an email that Bill Clinton (the former President) was going to be making some stops in Houston and the first one was at 800a. Having some first hand knowledge of how a day of campaigning can go, I wanted to be at the first stop because once you're late it sets the rest of the schedule behind.

I'll be posting a commentary later about the rally (with pics). I walked away from there feeling happy again and feeling hopeful.

Change seems to be the word of day and all I'm saying is that I'm ready.

And I finally got my coffee!

EDIT @ 1:30P: I went running at Memorial Park at noon. Just had to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather. I have a meeting this evening so I won't be able to enjoy this evening. I'm doing post-run stretching in the jungle gym area and out of nowhere Viv comes up and says hello! Wow! What a nice treat! We were chatting and I said something about Ethel Kennedy being at Obama's HQ at 11a but I didn't want to go to his HQ to see her and she says, "What time is it?" I said, "12:40." She says, "twelve four zero?" And I say, "yes." Next thing I know I see a streak of lavendar go running away from me. LOL Viv...hope you made it to your destination on time...and safely.

See you lattte!

support my efforts to raise funds for
AIDS Walk Houston 2008

Ramblings Of An (un)Caffeinated Mind 9.4

Hmmm

Not sure what got a hold of me yesterday. With the exception of taking The Calvinator out for his mid-day and evening strolls, I pretty much stayed on the couch. I watched Touch Of Pink (cute movie) and Showgirls (not so good movie). I watched some repeats of Make Me A Supermodel. Finally around 330p or so I started feeling like I was coming back to life. I know that if I had gone to the office, a few extra shots of espresso prolly would have given me a kick start but then I would have crashed hard.

I made it to LeFittes and did a lite weight workout. Spent some time in the steam room trying to loosen up some congestion.

Just When You Think You Have Heard It All

Did you know that there is a rock opera about Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan? LOL Yes! The opera is named Tonya and Nancy: The Opera. It premiered the other night in Portland, Oregon. I heard on the telly that Tonya was in the audience and loved it.

Hillary

So while I was laying on the couch, I checked email and there was announcement that Hillary was going to be in Houston. Surely (don't call me Shirley) this was a mistake. The email arrived a few hours before the event and I had just heard she was in Ohio. Then I thought, oh...it's just a rally. Well, one of the talking heads on the telly said that she was really here! UGH! I didn't have anything to wear and I figured it would be over by the time I got there. Oh well. As it turns out, the venue only had room for 400 people and 200 got left in the parking lot trying to get in. That would have been me.

A friend was at the Hyatt the other night when Bill made his appearance at a fundraiser for Hillary. The friend said that Bill hasn't lost his touch. Gave a great speech.

Still haven't talked to anyone who sipped Margaritas with Chelsea the other night. However, if you want to see some pics of Chelsea at Cyclone Anaya's-Midtown, click here. (There are some Obama Rally pics in the mix.)

NoRO Weather

Not to rub it in to anyone south of the Mason Dixon Line or for that matter south of Fort Worth-Dallas but as I'm blogging, I'm sitting outside while The Calvinator runs around and it is 81 degrees Fahrenheit and not a cloud in the sky. Went for a short but difficult run...don't have my mojo...this morning because the weather was too nice not to be outside.

Oscars

For those of you who don't know this, the Academy Awards aka The Oscars are tonight. This is the Gay Super Bowl. Can't say that I have seen any of the movies but I will be watching the telly. Gonna be interesting what with the writers' strike just ending and all. Vanity Fair canceled their party so Madonna and Demi Moore have stepped up to the plate and will throw a bash tonight with an exclusive guest list. I'm sure this party will be in A League Of Its Own. Madge must have known that I couldn't make last minute travel plans so she didn't invite me. No worries Madge. I still love you.

Things are heating up in H-town

As predicted, the politicos are making their way through Houston.

Yesterday, Bush 41 met up with John McCain. Bush 41, along with Babs, endorsed McCain for the Republican nomination.

Yesterday, both Hillary and Obama opened their campaign headquarters here in Houston. Hillary is on the eastside and Obama is in Midtown.

Tonight Bill Clinton is appearing at the Hyatt for a fundraiser. Obama is at the Toyota Center.

Tomorrow Bill is at Univ. of Houston in the morning and Chelsea is at Cyclone Anaya's in Midtown in the evening. EDIT: Bill is in Galveston in the morning; Victoria & Beaumont during the day; UH @ 845p.

EDIT: Huckabee arrives in Houston on Thursday.

hmmm...out of all of these events, I think I'd rather have a frozen Margarita Sangria swirl with Chelsea at Cyclone Anaya's! Drink up girl