Diva alert!!!!

There's been lots of stuff on the telly recently. I know. It's May. Sweeps month.

I didn't get to see all of the Barbara Walters interview on Oprah but what I did see is what I cared about. She gave the scoop on Star Jones and Rosie.

Barbara and I go back a long ways. You see...

When I was a mere child, my parents would turn on the telly in the morning while we were running around getting ready for school. It was always tuned into the Today Show. I didn't follow Barbara when she left to be co-anchor with Harry Reasoner on ABC News. I have watched many of her specials and I always liked her stories on 20/20. So of course I love it when she is on The View. I'm thinking I'm gonna have to read her book.

So now to the topic at hand. Well sorta.

Have you ever agreed to do something that sounded like a good idea but your gut was telling you don't do it? Well, the reason that I didn't finish watching Barbara on Oprah is because runnerOne wanted to go running and I lost track of time and ran out the door without setting the VCR to capture the last part of the interview.

runnerOne thought it would be fun to go trail running along the bayou. OK. Well, it poured down rain yesterday and let's just say it was a bit muddy and slippery back there in the woods. I have enough trouble trail running when it is dry. UGH!

I was losing my footing and hanging on to tree roots to keep from falling flat on my arse. He would get ahead of me and wait and then when I would catch up with him (because he would stop and wait) he would take off running again. UGH!

OK. So I get back to the house and I'm sweating like there is no tomorrow and Calvin needs to be walked and my shoes are caked in mud. So I wash off the shoes and take Calvin for his walk. I get back to the house and I'm still sweating.

So while I'm trying to cool off before I shower, I'm watching Entertainment Tonight. Mark Steines did an interview with Cher, Tina Turner and Oprah. AND...

Cher and Tina are going to be on Oprah on Thursday. YES! This Thursday. So...

Set your VCR, DVR, or Tivo. Leave work early. Stay home from work. Cancel all appointments It looks like it will be a show not to be missed.

SIDEBAR: I sent a text message to Kaye Sedilla who is still in Guadalajara. She said she never got the call from Oprah to participate in the interview and has cried herself to sleep many nights.

Outdoor vs. Indoor

The Claim: Running Outdoors Burns More Calories
By ANAHAD O’CONNOR
Published: May 6, 2008

THE FACTS

Pavement or treadmill? Most avid runners have a strong preference for one or the other, but how do the two differ in producing results?

According to several studies, the answer is not so simple. Researchers have found in general that while outdoor running tends to promote a more intense exercise, running on a treadmill helps reduce the likelihood of injury, and thus may allow some people to run longer and farther.

A number of studies have shown that in general, outdoor running burns about 5 percent more calories than treadmills do, in part because there is greater wind resistance and no assistance from the treadmill belt. Some studies show, for example, that when adults are allowed to set their own paces on treadmills and on tracks, they move more slowly and with shorter strides when they train on treadmills.

But other studies show that treadmill exercisers suffer fewer stress injuries in the leg. One study published in 2003 in the British journal of sports medicine, for example, analyzed a group of runners and found significantly higher rates of bone strain and tension during pavement running than during treadmill running, particularly in the tibia, or shinbone. This increased strain can heighten the risk of stress fractures by more than 50 percent, the study found.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Studies suggest that running on pavement generally burns slightly more calories, but also raises the risk of stress fractures.

ANAHAD O’CONNOR
scitimes@nytimes.com

Cinco de Mayo

Today many people will have a Margarita, eat some chips, salsa and fajitas and yell out "Happy Cinco de Mayo!" I wonder if they really know the story behind Cinco de Mayo?

Many people equate Cinco de Mayo with Mexican independence. However, Cinco de Mayo actually commemorates the victory of the Mexican Army over the French at the Battle of Puebla. Although the Mexican army was eventually defeated, the "Batalla de Puebla" came to represent a symbol of Mexican unity and patriotism. With this victory, Mexico demonstrated to the world that Mexico and all of Latin America were willing to defend themselves of any foreign intervention, especially those from imperialist states bent on world conquest.

People of Mexican descent (and their friends) who live in the United States seem to make a big deal out of Cinco de Mayo more than their counterparts in Mexico. Go figure. Just another reason to throw on a sombrero and throw back a few Coronas (with lime) and Margaritas.

Before I forget, I did receive a postcard from Kaye Sedilla. She sends greetings. She is in Guadalajara today doing her lounge act. Here is her postcard.

If you're going out drinking tonight, be careful! And eat a few fajitas for me.

Derby Day (recap)

Yesterday was Derby Day. The reigning Mr. & Miss Mint Julep put together a wonderful party and fundraiser to benefit Legacy Community Health Services. Mint Juleps. Barefoot Wine. Bourbon Balls. Brisket and all of the trimmings. Beautiful weather. It was a bunch of fun. And yes, on the one day out of the year that I drink bourbon, I drank too much bourbon.

There was entertainment:



Just like the Kentucky Derby when Queen Elizabeth visited, Derby Days had royalty attend. Queen Olympus XXXVIII Kaylynn Burns (far right) was in attendance and entered the hat contest. (She is pictured with some of the Krewe members who attended.)

AttyHou wanted to make a hat that was very Kentuckyish so this is what he came up with. Being on a budget, I wanted to make a hat that I could wear for Derby Day and Cinco de Mayo. The flowers are made out of cocktail napkins.

There were several horse races during the afternoon. I entered a race and came in 2nd or 3rd.

Barefoot Wine provided complimentary Pinot Grigio, Shiraz and Sparkling Wine for the attendees. Austin seemed to be having a good time giving away his stuff.

I saw John Paul looking lost in the parking lot. It seems that he lost his horse so I offered him a ride home. I guess if we had been at the BRB they could have played that song, "Save A Horse. Ride A Cowboy."

After all of the fun was over, we went home, showered, changed, walked The Calvinator and went to JR's. From there we went to Tony's Corner Pocket. However, on the way I took AttyHou on a detour and we stopped at Bering & James for a gallery opening. Needless to say, I'm a bit tired today. :-)

Ramblings Of A Caffeinated Mind 12.0

I went for a 6 mile run this morning. After cleaning up, feeding my addiction and getting a haircut, I went to Kroger on W. Gray.

Not sure how long these prices will be in effect but here are some bargains for you that I found this morning:

Gatorade: 10 for $1.00

CLIF Bar: 10 for $1.00

LÄRABAR: 4 fo $5.00

These prices are good when you use your Kroger card.

OK...need to scoot. Need to finish up my hat for the party this afternoon and I'm trying to track down a rumor that July 20, 2008 may be Kaye Sedilla's last performance. It has to do with Tina Turner and Cher both coming out of retirement. I'll let you know what I find out from her people.

Project Runway alert

From EW.com:

According to a source close to Project Runway, the Emmy-nominated reality show will split its sixth season (expected to premiere on Lifetime in November) between Los Angeles and New York to accommodate host Heidi Klum’s (pictured) schedule and home life. For season 7, the show will be back in New York, where it has been since its inception, and the upcoming fifth season, which debuts on Bravo in July, will also be set in the Big Apple. -- Additional reporting by Lynette Rice

Today's Scream

Today's scream isn't quite like yesterday's scream. Yesterday's scream was out of pure frustration and anxiety and losing sleep over something.

Today I got all gussied up and went to a meeting. I had previously met two of the three people and there was a new face at the table. All of them are very nice and have good intentions.

So we're sitting there talking and some words came out of my mouth that I'm sorta wishing I hadn't said and then they kept coming out. You know sort of like diarrhea of the mouth. Normally I choose my words very carefully but I was getting a bit frustrated with these nice people and I thought, "Well, the floodgates are open so just way what's are your mind." So I did.

I think I surprised them but I also think they appreciated my balls to the wall attitude and bluntness. We'll see.