Pic(s) Of The Day - 12.14.15 - Feliz Navidad

The City of Houston Mayor's Hispanic Advisory Board held its Annual Holiday Party at Cafe Adobe. Mayor-elect Sylvester Turner was there celebrating his recent win and delivered good to news to the crowd.

Pic(s) Of The Day - 12.15.14 - Come On Baby Light My Fire

The Mayor's Hispanic Advisory Council had their holiday party at Cafe Adobe on the Katy Freeway. I had never been to that location and since Legacy was a sponsor the Hispanic Heritage month, and since I was invited, I decided to go. There was a really cool fireplace with a water fall. I was mesmerized by it. I was quite as mesmerized by the huge neon sign but it was worthy of a photo.

See You Later Bryan

If you've  been following my recent blog posts, you might remember me making a comment that there was something I need to write about but I wasn't ready to do so.  I've put it off as long as possible but today is the day.  I think I have waited writing this because the reality of the loss of friend hit me hard today when I attended a funeral Mass for him.

A few weeks ago I was at work and was getting ready to call it a day.  It was later than I usually stay.  I was getting ready to turn off my computer and a message appeared via Facebook from Trisha Beissel.  It was a request to call her.  I had met Trisha maybe once or twice.

The message really concerned because I knew that her mother had heart surgery within the past year or so.  I thought it was odd that Trisha was asking me to call her because if something had had happened to her mother, why wasn't Bryan calling me?

When I spoke with Trisha, she told me Bryan had died.  It was news I didn't expect to hear.  In fact, I had to repeat back to her what I thought I had heard her say.  And I was correct, Bryan was dead.

I met Bryan in 1997 at St. Anne Catholic Church here in Houston.  He was a part of a group of guys that would attend the Sunday, 5:00PM Mass.  AttyHou and I made friends with the group and every now and then we would go across the street to Cafe Adobe for fellowship after Mass.

Throughout the years, Bryan and I would find ourselves at the same party or fundraiser.  We did some traveling together which provided us with some great memories.  He became a BeadBoy and hosted some Mardi Gras parties with me and some others.

BeadBoys Party

Bryan had friends around the world.  He traveled the world because of his job and he made friends everywhere he went.

Bryan left Houston and moved to Atlanta.  As time went on, we didn't speak to each as often as we used to when he lived in Houston; it happens.

Sometimes when Bryan would be in Houston for work we would get together for dinner.  On occasion, his mother would join us.  He was the type of person that I could pick up the conversation where we last left off.

He was also the type of person that would do anything for you...within reason.

Our last conversation was early/mid-January.  We reminisced about a trip to Los Angeles and how much fun we had coming back to Houston.  We had a good laugh going down Memory Lane.  I also told him to think about coming to Houston for the Mystery & Fantasy Mardi Gras Party on 2/22/14.  He said he would think about it.

I sent Bryan a text message on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and never heard back from him.  I thought it was a bit odd but I didn't think too much about it when he didn't reply.  Within a week he would be dead.

Bryan was 51 when he died; a year younger than me.

At 1308 Cantina, April 2, 2010

 I was upset to hear the news.  I called his mother and we shared a few tears and laughs over the phone.  Bryan was cremated and due to the big ice/snow storm in Atlanta, there was going to be a delay in the delivery of his ashes.  And so, a Mass was scheduled for today and the reality of Bryan being dead hit me like a train.

When the arrangements were made, Trisha asked if I would say a few words at the service and I agreed.  I wasn't sure what to say and even when Mass started, I still wasn't sure what I would say.  I had a long continuous dream last night about the funeral.  I didn't sleep well.

This morning, I went to Starbucks and jotted down a few bullet points and then it was time to go to the church.

I shared some memories with the congregants.  It was by far one of the hardest things I have had to do.  I told them how we met at a church.  I told them about our last conversation and I'm glad we were able to laugh.  I told them that I had invited him to come to Houston for the Mystery & Fantasy Mardi Gras Party tomorrow.

If you could say that we had a song, it would be Amber's Above The Clouds and I shared that with the assembly.


I ended it by saying that if you believe heaven is above the clouds, then Bryan is there smiling at us.  And because I said hello to him the first time at church I was glad that I could be at a church at a Mass in his memory and be able to say, "See you later Bryan."

St. Justin the Martyr Catholic Church

EPILOGUE: A lady who was at the Mass told me that my comments made her smile.  Several guys who there told me I did good job.  Bryan's dad found me at the luncheon and thanked me for speaking.  He said he could tell that I spoke from my heart.

Photo Journal: March 7, 2010

Busy day. The Oscars. Birthday Party. Bunnies Bar Bash. Here I am with my posse. And that's how we roll in H-town.

Support my efforts to raise money for AIDS Walk Houston 2010!

Ramblings Of A Caffeinated Mind 17.2

666
Yesterday's post about Ivana Trump post #666. I'm just sayin'.

Ike update
A month ago many of us were dealing with the aftermath of being bitch slapped by Ike. And like Tina Turner all we asked for was our electricity our name a new normal.

AttyHou and Everyday Italian have put up a new fence so I no longer have a room with a view a view of the swimming pool next door; just like old times. I don't see my neighbors very much anymore. For those few days, we were comrades in arms. ¡Viva la revolución! Misery loves company.

There is still debris in the streets. There are still people missing from Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula.

Instead of saying, "Hey! How are you?" the new greeting is, "How long were you without power?"

Instead of talking about plans for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas people are talking about what size generator they're going to buy in anticipation of Hurricane Season 2009.

I guess this is the new normal.

What's In A Name
John Culberson is running for re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives. This morning on the telly I heard one of his commercials. What got my attention is he referred to Hurricane Ike as the storm of the century. Uh...

Ike was a strong Category 2. This is only 2008. Katrina was in 2005. How can Ike be the storm of the century? Just askin'.

Have you ever...?
seen someone who looks like their dog?

Today on my way to LeFittes I was cutting through Midtown and I saw a guy from the gym walking his dog.

This guy is about 5'6" and is built like a brick house. He was walking some breed of bulldog. Definitely a pair.

I have been told that if I had blonde hair I would look like Calvin.

Once upon a time there was a tavern restaurant
My longtime friend Kanadian Ken from Kalgary is in town this week. I have not Kanadian Ken in a few years and it is always a pleasure to spend time with him. He is one of those friends that when we see each other we can pick up where we left off no matter how long it has been.

So last night Kanadian Ken from Kalgary gathered the usual suspects for dinner at Cafe A Do Me Adobe on Westheimer. I was at the office until 545P (CDT) and had three things to do before I could arrive at A Do Me Adobe.

I was a bit surprised when I arrived a few minutes late and was able to find parking and easily found my tablemates for the evening. It wasn't crowded at all.

This used to be the place to be seen on a Monday night in Houston. Dead as a door nail I tell ya!

We pondered why this was the situation and none of us could come up with a good answer. The economy? Post-Ike depression? People have a new place to be seen on a Monday and I didn't get the memo? Who knows?

So that is about it bois and gurls. Catch up with you soon!

Ramblings Of A Caffeinated Mind 4.0

Stormy Weather

Yesterday was wet. There's no other way to describe it. The day started off dry but we were warned it would rain.

Mid-morning I not only ventured OTL (Outside The Loop), I went OTB (Outside The Beltway)! I needed to check out a place in Missouri City to see if they had some paper that I was looking for.

Found it on Google but instinct told me there was a better way to get there. I went with Google...instinct was correct. I took a different way back ITL (Inside The Loop), ran a few errands and tried to get home before it rained. I wasn't successful.

Storm clouds coming in from the Gulf. Photo taken on Hwy. 6...somewhere in Ft. Bound County.

On Hwy. 6 heading toward US 59. The sun was shining but it was raining on me.

In RO @ Kirby & San Felipe looking west trying to get to NoRO.

@ the RO and NoRO border; Shepherd @ Memorial heading northWindshield wipers were on high speed.

Merman (and I don't mean Ethel)

Last week, Everyday Italian and AttyHou returned from their holiday. Due to Hurricane Dean, they made a detour to Key West. As they were strolling the streets they saw a large version of a merman and thought of me. Turns out, the store had the ornament for sell. So my souvenir is Mr. Martini.

They told me to put it on my Christmas tree. Why wait? I think it needs to go on permanent display.

Bois Night

I think there might have been a tsetse fly that was hanging out with those fire ants on Sunday. I took a 2 hour nap yesterday afternoon. Something about the pitter-patter of rain makes me drowsy.

AttyHou called around 530P and woke me up to find out if I still wanted to go to Cafe A-Do-Me. An hour later, The Calvinator had been walked, I had showered and we were on our way with RRTStephen & RRTJohn.

It had been awhile since I had been to Cafe A-Do-Me on a Monday night. The usual suspects were there. Nice to know that some things don't change. ;-)

We had great conversation with our libations and food. I think I ate too many tortilla chips 'cause I couldn't finish my meal.

A fun time was had by all.