Buh-buh-buh-buh-Bennie and The Jets

I think I broke my alarm clock this morning. I really wanted to get to Memorial Park around 630A or so. So the alarm went off and in my attempt to hit the snooze I knocked it to the floor and uh...hmmm...it never went off again.

I finally woke up and got The Calvinator out the door around 710A or so for our morning stroll. I saw guys carrying stuff down an alley and putting the stuff in a van. Immediately I thought it was a burglary in progress only to realize some of my neighbors were having a garage sale and these were some customers.

It was actually a good morning for a run. I had a good 7 mile run. Yesterday I loaded Elton John Rocket Man n Number Ones onto the iPod nano. I had listened to a few of the tunes yesterday at LeFittes so I decided I'd give it another whirl this morning on the run.

Wow! Talk about a trip down memory lane.

One of my favorite songs by Elton John is Bennie and The Jets. I consider this some of Elton's best piano playing. The syncopation is flawless. And I guess I never realized that Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting) is a great running song especially on a Saturday morning with low humidity and a moderate temperature.

Many of the other songs took me back to my youth. The one that I appreciated later in life is Tiny Dancer. It wasn't until I watched Almost Famous that I took a true liking to this song. I always visualize the scene on the bus when they're singing the song and I always think of Penny Lane. And I remember being on the flight to Sydney and listening to this song and playing it over and over and over (not quite for 18 hours though).

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

I'm a bit spent right now while I'm composing this and watching the Ugly Betty marathon on abc family.

Earlier I met up with the blogger formerly known as LoneStar Steve. We met at the office in Montrose and I must say that it was much more active than the one on Memorial Drive in NoRO.

The atmosphere at the Montrose location allows folks to be much more flamboyant but what was happening outside was much more interesting/disturbing.

First of all, a bird was stuck in a tree; not a cat. The bird had it's foot caught in a piece of wire(?) and was hanging upside down. I thought it was dead but the blogger formerly known as LoneStar Steve pointed out it was alive which explained why customers and employees were trying to free it. Eventually mission accomplished.

Just as we were getting ready to leave, we noticed a man across the street was laying on the sidewalk face down. An employee and several outdoor customers ran over to help him. My initial thought was some type of seizure or something related to diabetes. I think it was diabetes related. The police and an ambulance arrived.

Before moving to NoRO, I lived in Montrose. It is a very eclectic neighborhood and there is ALWAYS something going on. Today was just a microcosm.

But back to the blogger formerly known as LoneStar Steve. I almost didn't recognize him. His hair is back to it's natural color. He has lost weight. He is toning up. He has a nice tan going. Add all of that to a great personality and well you should just bottle it up and sell it and make a fortune.

It was fun to sit there and laugh and catch up. I hadn't seen him since Kaye Sedilla was in town. Kaye is so high maintenance that I barely had to time to visit with the blogger formerly know as LoneStar Steve.

So...The Calvinator is passed out right now and I think I might join him for a short nap.

Catch up with you later.

What would you do if...

I was supposed to meet RunnerOne this morning at 545A for a jaunt around Memorial Park. When I woke up at 445A, I had a text mssg stating that he wasn't feeling well and wouldn't make it. So...what to do? Go back to bed? Go for a run?

Calvin was still asleep and mozied over to the couch and went back to sleep while I putzed around trying to decide what to do. I was feeling a bit run down and couldn't figure out why and then I remembered that I had a "few" glasses of Flying Pig Shiraz with dinner on Wednesday night.

EDIT: It isn't Flying Pig Shiraz. It is Pigs In The Sky Shiraz.

A small group of us did a pre-birthday dinner celebration for Nichole at Vietnamese Restaurant on 19th Street in The Heights. Good food at a reasonable price with a personable restaurant owner/chef and lots of gossip and laughter makes for a fun evening.

So anywho...after our morning walk and lookout for burglars, I went to Memorial Park and did a 3 mile run. After my run I made my way to the office. On my way I was listening to Sam Malone. His morning crew was talking about O.J. Simpson flying back to Ft. Lauderdale after he was released on bail. From what I understand, O.J. flew in Coach and people were taking photos of him, etc.

So the question presented to Sam's listeners was: "What would you do if you were on a plane with O.J.?" The responses were varied. I didn't have the radio station's phone number but this is what I would have said to Sam: "I would check the in-flight magazine to look at the movie listings to determine if Snakes On A Plane was the movie they would be showing."

And I guess it's time for the Las Vegas Office of Tourism to change their catch phrase because based on O.J.'s escapades it is obvious that what happens in Vegas doesn't stay in Vegas!

News You May Have Missed

I heard two stories today that are rather disturbing. The first one involves a mother who set her children on fire. This took place in Haltom City, TX, which happens to be the suburb of Ft. Worth where I grew up.

I sent Helen an e-mail today to find out what she knew about it and it turns out it happened two blocks from Joe & Helen! Joe & Helen heard the sirens, etc. but didn't go to investigate what was happening down the street. (I wonder where I got my Gladys Kravitz gene?)

If you want to read more about the story, here is the link to Houston Chronicle.

The second story is something that I have witnessed. A study was done about hand washing. It concludes that 1/3 of men do not wash their hands after going to the bathroom.

I have noticed this at LeFittes. I've seen guys go to the urinal, shake it and then leave without ever going to wash their hands and THEN they go back to the gym floor!

Now, I will admit there have been times that I haven't washed my hands but it only happens when I'm running and have to use a Port-O-Potty and there isn't any place to wash your hands or there isn't any hand sanitizer available. In an instance like that it is what it is because there is no choice.

In fact, I think I've become a bit obsessive/compulsive about washing my hands ever since I took possession of Calvin a few years ago. I feel like I am constantly washing my hands and I go through rolls of paper towels like there's no tomorrow.

And speaking of paper towels....I went to buy some today and there was a double pack of Brawny Paper Towels with the Brawny Man on the packaging. However, the double pack had Mary Engelbreit designs on them. Isn't this sort of a contradiction?

Here's the Brawny Man:

And here's the Mary Engelbreit design:

As it turns out, it was cheaper to buy two single rolls with no design than it was to buy the contradictory double pack.

Now this third story is actually kind of funny because I know how frustrated the guy must have been. I ran across this from Kenneth In The 212.

I can totally relate to the attacker's frustration! In fact, I haven't been to spin class in awhile and the last time I was there a guy in front of me was grunting and swearing and shaking his head and stopping when it got too difficult. Dude. You control the tension on the bike! Adjust it!!!

(from NYPost.com):

GYM VICTIM IS WHEELY ANGRY
'SPIN ATTACKER' DODGES FELONY

By LAURA ITALIANO

September 18, 2007 -- He's not doing much "whooping" now.

A Manhattan hedge-fund manager whose loud grunting and cheering during an Upper East Side spin class allegedly led a fed-up broker on the bike nearby to nearly break his neck is furious that prosecutors aren't treating the assault as a felony.

"This wasn't just a playground fall where Stewy fell down and went boo hoo," angry victim Stuart Sugarman said when told that his alleged attacker was charged yesterday with a mere misdemeanor.

"The reality is I spent two weeks in Lenox Hill [Hospital], including a week in ICU and six hours in surgery," Sugarman complained. "My life has been altered, possibly permanently. This is not a misdemeanor."

Sugarman, 48, a fund manager and investment banker at Sunrise Financial Group, admits that he noisily war-whooped, groaned and shouted, "You go, girl!" during his last spin workout Aug. 15 at an Equinox gym on East 85th Street. That, he says, didn't give broker Christopher Carter, who was three bikes over, the right to repeatedly yell, "Shut the f- - - up!" and then leap off his Schwinn and come charging at him.

The grunting Sugarman is accusing the allegedly berserk broker - both men top 200 pounds - of tilting Sugarman's stationary bike's front wheel up a yard off the floor and flipping the bike and Sugarman into a wall.

Sugarman suffered a concussion from the bike's falling on top of him, along with damage to six discs in the vertebrae of his neck. His surgeon, he said, tells him he was "one click away from a wheelchair."

"The guy had a spinal-cord contusion with major surgery to his neck involving the use of cadaver tissue and multiple metal plates and screws," said Sugarman's lawyer, Samuel Davis.

The criminal complaint lodged yesterday against Carter, 44, of Maxim Investments Group, only accuses him of causing "sustained lower-back pain" and "substantial pain" but makes no mention of the serious physical injury needed to characterize an assault as a felony.

Prosecutors declined to comment on the case. Carter's lawyer, Michael Farkas, said only that his client "did not commit any criminal acts."

"Mr. Sugarman is clearly taking advantage of the criminal-justice system to build some civil lawsuit," he said. Sugarman has yet to file a suit.

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

I haven't heard anything else about the break in yesterday. I will tell you that I didn't sleep well last night. Before I went to bed I told The Calvinator that he was on duty. He was asleep by 1030p.

He woke up at 545A when I did. We both heard a noise in the backyard and it frightened the sh_t out of me. He started barking and I was up turning on lights and looking out windows. It may have been one of my critters making their last run before the sun came up.

Since I was awake, I took him for his morning stroll. Including myself, I counted 7 people walking their dogs and five people going to work between 610A and 630A. Once again, why would anyone attempt a burglary at that hour of the morning?

After we finished our stroll, I went to Memorial Park for a 4 mile run.

Ramblings Of A Caffeinated Mind 4.2

I was actually going to title this post Ramblings Of A Constipated Mind but then I went to eat at JAX Grille and ate a HUGE Chicken Caesar Salad and now I think things might flow like they should.

You've prolly noticed that I haven't been putting much out here. A big part of that is because I was getting ready for Tropical Depression #46. Another part of it is because I feel like I'm having a bit of writer's block and since I can't take a laxative for that I'm not sure what to do. Maybe a Martini or two? And something is really bothering me today so maybe if I write about it and get it off of my mind, that will help.

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

After a wonderful Friday evening with Linda Eder, I overslept on Saturday morning. I didn't on the alarm clock and just happened to wake up. I took The Calvinator for his morning stroll and then went over to Memorial Park. I only had time for a 5 mile run which I guess is better than nothing at all. If I had more time, I could have done an additional 2 or 3 miles but I had things to do and people to see.

The good thing about Saturday's run is that I didn't have a case of droopy drawers. The humidity was high but not as high as the previous Saturday so I wasn't sweating as much.

The rest of the day was spent getting ready for Tropical Depression #46. I was up to my eyeballs in Jambalaya. When Jim and I lived together I remember he told me one time, "Nobody makes Jambalaya like you do." Over the years I have received several additional compliments. So when it came time to decide about catering vs. cooking, I opted for cooking.

I couldn't have done the party without Ben's help and Michael's creative eye. Ben made dozens of mini-Po' Boys. We used the Antone's concept of putting Chow-Chow with mayo for the dressing and they were yummy! Ben also created a recipe for Cajun Vegetable Dip. It had a secret ingredient that I won't reveal. And we also served Zapp's Chips and Praline Brownies from Acadian Bakers.

I didn't do a full bar. Guests had the choice of Barefoot Cellars Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay, beer (Bud Light, Abita and O'Doul's), soft drinks (Coke, Diet Coke and Sprite) and a special Tropical Depression #46 frozen drink (Hurricane mix with orange vodka, an umbrella and a cherry). I didn't think I was going to like the TD #46 drink but that sucker was good!

The party was at Legacy's Resale Store. In lieu of a birthday present I asked the guests to consider making a monetary donation to Legacy or to bring an item for the store. Also, some of my guests have been longtime supporters of Legacy and this party was also serving as a thank you for all that you have done type event.

I'm not trying to sound egotistical but it was a fun time. Kenny In Montrose (KIM) wrote this about the party:

In theory the party benefited Legacy Resale Shop but in reality it was just flat out fun. The guests all enjoyed each other so much fun that they stayed until the bitter end.

I'm not sure if you have ever made Jambalaya but it's all about getting the right ingredients in the right proportions. That's sort of how I view the party. It wasn't all about the food and drinks. It was about having a good mix of friends for a good cause and making sure everyone had a good time.

And all of this couldn't have been done without the help of some of Legacy's staff: Alaina, Martha, Phil and Chris.

I haven't had a chance to work on the photos but I'll be getting those on here soon.

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

So this is what's bothering me.

This morning I woke up a bit later than usual and didn't get out with The Calvinator until around 645A. We were on our usual morning route and a block away I saw 2 HPD cars and there were cops walking the perimeter of a fenced yard.

When we came back around on the other side of the block there were 3 HPD K-9 units which is never a good sign. Of course, the dogs could see The Calvinator but he couldn't see them and he could hear them in their SUVs so he is going nuts in the middle of the street.

I left Calvin at the house and then went for a 3 mile run at Memorial Park. There was no way I wasn't going to enjoy the low humidity morning!!!

Later in the day when we went for our mid-day stroll I saw a lady near one of the houses on Dickson where the cops had been. Turns out she is the mother of the guy that lives in one of the houses.

This morning around 600A while he was asleep upstairs 2 men broke into his house. When he realized what was happening he called 911. The cops told him that there has been a rash of burglaries in the 'hood and they're happening between 500A-700A. What the f___? People are still home at that hour! Somebody is either cracked out or has a big set of cajones.

If I had awakened at my normal time, we would have been near the house around the time that the break in happened. Awhile back I stopped carrying my cell phone and mace with me on our walks but I guess it's time I start doing it again.

So let's see...leash, poop bag, keys, cell phone, mace...I guess I'll just put Calvin in a wagon and haul him along with everything else. :-) Actually, I normally wear a pair of running shorts or gym shorts so I guess I'll wear cargo shorts instead. I'll designate one pair for Calvin walking.

I thought when I left Montrose and moved to NoRO life would be quiet. Oh well.