Dancing With The Stars (season premiere)

Tonight was the season premiere of Dancing With The Stars. They actually have people that could really be considered stars! As always, there are a few that I have not heard but then I had never heard of Helio Castroneves until last season and I became a fan.

Here are some observations from tonight's show.

The opening number with all of the professionals was great. I think Derek Hough and Mark Ballas should date and become a dance couple. They'd win every competition!

Tonight was the men's competition and Penn Jillette of Penn & Teller was told that his routine looked like Shrek Does The Cha Cha. I think I even saw Teller laugh and get excited.
Edyta danced tonight with Jason Taylor. I swear she must have 2% body fat. There is something kind of sexy and naughty about her. She wears the skimpiest outfits...because she can.
I had never heard of Cristián de la Fuente. He is an actor from Chile and he is funny. The judges gave him sevens. He said that in Chile seven is the highest score you can receive so he did great! LOL
I think Bruno and Carrie Ann are in love with him. Bruno told him (about Cheryl) “She’s banged, you have to bang as hard as she does.” and “and we’re going to be on top of you until you do so.” Tom Bergeron said it was time for the kids to get to bed. Carrie Ann was having to fan herself after Cristián's Cha Cha.

Maks did not return this season. I know that a certain reader of this blog was considering boycotting the show. She is a big of Maks. Fabian Sanchez from Birmingham, Alabama...yes, from Alabama has replaced Maks. We won't know until Tuesday how he compares because the female celebrities don't dance until then.
On Tuesday, Marlee Matlin will dance. Marlee is deaf so this will be interesting only because I think she will do a great job. I went to high school with a girl who was deaf but was a dancer and a good one at that!
Monica Seles will dance tomorrow night. I know there is someone out there making a joke about I hope that knife in her back doesn't get in the way but far be it from me to make a joke about it.

And I can't not comment on this photo of Priscilla Presley. I guess tomorrow night when they interview her it will be Interview With The Vampire.

Ramblings Of A Caffeinated Mind 6.4

Belated birthday greetings to Neighbor Nina! Neighbor Nina's birthday was yesterday but I found out late in the day and then forgot to include it when I was doing the post last night.

Neighbor Nina is another good egg in my life. She is a little ball of energy and enthusiasm.

Neighbor Nina *hearts* Calvin. :-)

Dancing With The Stars (the drama continues)

Associated Press is reporting that Helio Castroneves (winner of Dancing With The Stars) is no longer engaged. It seems that the engagement ended a couple of weeks ago but wasn't announced until last night.

I was sorta wondering what was going on. During the finale, they showed snippets of friends and family wishing Mel B. and Helio good luck. They showed Helio's sister but not his fiance. Hmmm. At the end of the show, Juliann even said that she was going to teach Helio's fiance a few dance steps for the wedding reception. Hmmm. Yesterday on The View, Helio even mentioned his engagement. Hmmm.

I think Helio and Juliann make a cute couple. However, both of them are saying that there is nothing more than a Samba and Cha-Cha going on.

I think Helio delayed the announcement of the broken engagement because he was afraid the women of America would turn on him (even if it is a no-fault broken engagement) and he wouldn't get the votes.

When it's all said and done, he still gets the mirrored disco ball!

Tidbits

The Calvinator got away from me today. I had let him out before we were going for our mid-day stroll. When I went out to get him I couldn't find him. I could his tags jingling but I couldn't see him.

He forced his way through the wrought iron fence and was inside AttyHou and Everyday Italian's azalea bushes. He wouldn't come back through the fence and he was digging in his paws when I would try to pull him back through.

So I had to get the key to the gate next door and when he heard me he came running through the azaleas. OY!

I did get a 3 mile run in today. Weather was too nice not to be outside running.

World AIDS Day - Dec. 1

www.worldaidsdayhouston.org

Ramblings Of A Caffeinated Mind 6.3

So. Last night while I was working on my project I was also watching Dancing With The Stars. I was a bit afraid that the Osmonds and doll collectors would cast enough votes to get Marie Osmond into the finals. Don't get me wrong. I think Marie Osmond is funny. I LOL when she said she felt like Cinderella and the judges were the stepsisters. That was funny. Let's face it though. She couldn't compete with Helio and Mel B.

I was pulling for Helio but if Mel B. had won I would have been fine with that too. I was wondering what would have happened if Sabrina had not been eliminated so soon? Would it have been Sabrina, Helio and Mel B. in the semi-finals? Who knows.

I was happy to see Albert Reed again. He's another one who was voted off too early. If only I could move my hips like that! OK. Well let's start with, if only I had his body and/or his looks.

And as always, there was some sorta drama associated with the show. Mark Ballas was rushed by ambulance to the hospital after his performance. He had injured his arm and dancing last night made it worse.

And you know what, if I had Cameron Mathison's body and looks, I'd be walking around 1/2 naked on live television too! However, one must not forget that he is a soap star so that comes with the territory I guess.

And what is it with Wayne Newton's hair! It's getting worse. I believe the hair color is called Diner Waitress Jet Black.

In other news:

I think 48 degrees Fahrenheit is the point on the thermometer where I'm not sure what to wear when I going running. I went for a 3 mile jaunt this morning and wore shorts and a long-sleeve shirt. Might could have used some gloves. There were people out there all bundled up and there were people out there 1/2 naked.

And I think my fat ass might have been on the news this morning. Seriously.

I was finishing my run right before 700A and Channel 13 (the ABC affiliate) had a camera guy out there filming runners probably as the newscast was signing off; it was a beautiful morning. As I ran past him, I realized the camera was rolling. So it is quite possible my fat ass was on television. If you were home watching the news while eating breakfast, all I can say is seeing my fat ass run past the camera isn't a good way for you to start your day.

If you read I'm Not Fit To Run, you will recall that she ends her posts with a random thought. For instance, one day she wondered if they really give her what she orders at Starbucks (i.e. non-fat milk, etc.).

So that actually got me to thinking about some of my random fears and I will share one with you today.

After The Calvinator poops, he does this kicking thing that lasts a few seconds and there's grass and dirt flying. It's sorta like a Cha-Cha dance. He always steps away from the poop.

My fear is that one day when I am bending down to pick up the poop, he is going to kick it in my face. Is that a valid fear or WHAT?!

OK. I need to catch up with Project Runway. Looks like there is all sorts of drama going on.

World AIDS Day - Dec. 1

www.worldaidsdayhouston.org

Dancing With The Stars

Because I was on the radio this evening, I had to miss part of Dancing With The Stars. So when I got home I watched the freestyle dancing.

I was a bit disappointed with Mel B. Don't get me wrong. She was good but there wasn't much pizazz.

Marie Osmond had me laughing because I couldn't figure it out. I mean I sorta knew what they were trying to do but it didn't quite work for me. I kept thinking that when he wound her up she would loosen up and do a good dance.

It was my man Helio that won the judges over with this freestyle. And once again, he put a smile on my face. OK...he sorta screwed one of the lifts when Julieann (sp) was coming out of it but other than that he did a great job. His smile is infectious.

I'm gonna have to miss most of the finale tomorrow night but I'll watch a tape of it.

And I'm curious about something. Does Victoria Beckham have to work hard at not smiling?

In other news:
I met up with runnerOne at Memorial Park tonight for some more speed work. We did 400m sprints and I actually surprised myself. I wouldn't start calling myself FloJo but...

World AIDS Day-Dec. 1

www.worldaidsdayhouston.org

"Hey lolly lolly. Hey lolly lolly."

This is Wanda Adams. Wanda is in a run-off for Houston City Council District D. Up until last night I had never met Wanda but I had heard of her. Good Egg Kathryn (GEK) invited me to a fundraiser last night at Reef. Not one to pass up an opportunity to meet a candidate, I went to Reef. Nice group of people.

Of course Wanda was there and I'm glad I got to meet her. If I could vote for her, I would but you see, I don't live in her district so I can't. If you want to know more about Wanda, you can go to http://www.wandaadamsforhouston.com/. AND you can also make a contribution to her campaign.

I had to leave GEK and Wanda Adams at Reef and head over to the Hyatt to pick up a couple of guys. HA! Not what you think.

You see, Danny and John are visiting from San Francisco. The last time that I saw them there cocktails, beads and costumes involved because we were in New Orleans for Mardi Gras. What happens in New Orleans doesn't always stay in New Orleans and unfortunately Danny has seen me at my best(?) in the Big Easy.

We headed over to Cyclone Anaya's in Midtown for Mexican food, BIG frozen Margaritas (with frozen Sangria), and intoxicating repartee. Later we were joined by Ray & Bill.

Danny cracks me up. When he lived in Houston he lived in my apt. complex. He lived by the back pool and was always ready with his blender to make frozen adult concoctions for an impromptu party. Many good times were had with Danny at JRs for 99 cent vodka drinks and karaoke. Once again, he has seen me at my best(?) on a Sunday afternoon-evening-Monday morning.

Danny told John that I was coming to pick them in The Cal Mobile. He told John that my dog's nickname is Cal and John thought he said cow and couldn't figure out why I named my dog a cow. If I had a cat, would it be named pig? LOL

While we were having dinner, someone at the table asked about Wocky Molee and then asked about Enchee Lada. I was a bit confused only to realize that they were asking if I had heard from Kaye Sedilla! LOL I do know that Kaye is still on her world tour (The Hot Tamale Tour). I'm sure she will be pleased to know that people are asking about her. I informed our San Francisco visitors that if they could arrange it, Kaye could do a show in The City By The Bay.

I'm not sure (oh wait I think I do know) how it happened but at one point I found myself leading the table in a rousing version of "It's just an itty bitty pissant country place. Nothing much to see. No drinking allowed..." And at one point I was trying to remember the words to that Telephone Man(?) song. "I got it with a buzz and I got with a ring....I even got a dingaling...Hey lolly lolly. Hey lolly lolly." Danny + alcohol ./. show tunes = lots of laughs.

I left the bois on the doorstep of Cyclone Anaya's after singing "One hand in my pocket..." and "Big Mess..."(to the tune of Go West).

I had awakened early and did a jaunt at Memorial Park and was scheduled to meet runnerOne this morning for a speed workout on the track. So I needed to get to bed at a decent hour.

I got home in time to see Jennie(sp) Garth voted off Dancing With The Stars. She needed to go but at least she did it on a high note. The previous night she received a perfect score of 30 for one of her performances. I am happy that my man Helio is in the finals!

That sorta catches me up. I would like to tell you about an odd coincidence that happened but I'm afraid it might jinx me. I will tell you that the laughter I shared last night with GEK and then with the boys was definitely a mood enhancer.

Catch up with you soon!

Ramblings Of A Caffeinated Mind 6.0

I got up this a.m. and went to Memorial Park for a 3 mile jaunt. It was a nice morning for a run. I stopped by the office and had an idea on my way in the door. And trust me, this totally threw them for a loop.

Rather than order an Iced Grande Sugar-free Vanilla Non-fat Latte I had the bright idea to order an Iced Grande Sugar-free Gingerbread Non-fat Latte. They were stunned. The whole place came to a standstill because they couldn't believe I was ordering something different.

So here's my review. It was yummy! If you like an iced Chai Tea but you want the jolt of a Latte, I highly recommend this drink.

I just finished watching Dancing With The Stars and I gotta tell you, I like Helio Castroneves. His smile is infectious. He could be the male version of Mary Richards. Who can turn the world on with his smile. Remember that song? I had never heard of Helio until this season of Dancing With The Stars but I have become a big fan of his. And his Brazilian heritage was shining through this evening when he did the Samba.


Which got me to thinking: Whatever happened to The Lambada (The Forbidden Dance)?

OK. So I promised a recap of Saturday. Let's start with Katy's bday party.

Katy invited guests to her bday party at Reef. Cocktails at 700p and dinner at 800p. I had already committed to going to Neighbor Michael's bday party but I knew that I had time for a cocktail or two at Reef.

What a fun time! I didn't know all of the people there but I knew some and I crammed in many conversations in 60 minutes and there was a bunch of laughter...just like it should be at a birthday party.

So after 2 Grey Goose Martinis (straight up with a twist) it was time to head back to NoRO for Neighbor Michael's fete.

I didn't valet park because well, I could park in my own driveway and walk next door. It was a very nice party! Bartenders. Wait staff. DJ down by the pool. NoRO was rocking and I didn't bother knockin'...I just walked in.

Once again, I didn't know everyone but there were many conversations that I crammed into 2 hours and I stuffed my face with the appetizers. Everyday Italian did a fabu job with the food. Neighbor Nina did a fabu job in planning and executing the party.




So the theme of the party was to party like a Rock Star. All day long I kept humming Rock Star by Nickelback. If you're not familiar with the song, the very first line is: I'm through with standin' in lineTo clubs I'll never get in... and this is where life imitated art.

So AttyHou, Everyday Italian and I took a taxi downtown (even though we live 3 miles from downtown but quite a bit can happen within 3 miles when you've been drinking and isn't cheaper to pay a taxi fare than it is to spend the night in jail for a DWI?). By the time we got there, there was a line of folks waiting to get in and all of them (with the exception of a few) are 15 years younger than me, if not younger.

Well, Neighbor Nina had VIP seating but the dude working the velvet rope didn't care. So there's about 10 of us that KNOW we belong in there but dude doesn't give a sh_t.

So Former Dogsitter John and I decide to give it 5 minutes and then we're outta there. Just about that time somebody has made arrangements for us to go in through a back door/hidden entrance. OK...so now I am feeling like a Rock Star.

The 10 of us walk around Bayou Place and up some stairs and down a hallway and once the door is secure another door opens and *poof* we're inside RocBar. There were HUGE bottles of Grey Goose waiting for us and since that's how the evening began at Reef that's how it was going to end at RocBar.

And as I previously stated, no hangover on Sunday...just a bit spent.