Ramblings Of A Caffeinated Mind 17.1

URGGHHH!
OK. So despite this being a busy week I also wanted to increase my level of fitness activities. Who knew that this stuffy nose & sore throat would wear me down? I have done one run and one weight workout this week. I was going to get up early this morning and go for a run but I just didn't have it in me. Then I was going to go workout after work but considering that I never had a decent meal today I had no energy. Someone at work even noticed that I had not eaten anything for lunch because she said I was tanking. Things at work will calm down next week so maybe my eating and fitness will get back on schedule.

Debates
I tried to watch the debate last night between Barack Obama and John McCain. I was not entertained.

When the adults would speak all that you could hear was "Wah wah wah." That's what I heard last night when I turned on the telly. Obama: "Wah, wah, wah." McCain, "Wah, wah, wah." I can't remember what I watched but I know it wasn't much of the debate.

I actually enjoyed the Biden/Palin debate last week. I was always a sucker for freak shows at the circus. I'm just sayin'.

Costume
I need a costume idea. I've been invited to a Halloween Party on the 17th and I really haven't had much time to think of a costume. Any ideas? Suggestions are welcome.

What if...
you paid invited a big name celebrity to be the guest speaker at a fundraiser luncheon and he/she didn't show up? Just askin'...and yes it happened yesterday.

dilemma

I was faced with a dilemma this evening. It all had to do with which street I turned left on to get home. You see...

If I turned left on Gray, that would take me to West Gray which would put me within spitting distance of LeFittes. If I turned left on St. Joseph, that would eventually put me on a few streets to take me to Memorial Drive which would take me home. What to do?

This morning I woke up around 3:00a.m. and had a sore throat and was sneezing so no running for me! Knowing that I had done any physical exercise today I decided to go to LeFittes.

I'm a bit tired right now due to my illness and fitness routine but I do feel better from physical exertion. I guess I should always keep a change of clothes in the car in case I'm faced with similar

Ramblings Of A Caffeinated Mind 17.0

Reprimand
Last night at Krewe of Olympus's Fais Do Do I was publicly reprimanded for being a bad blogger. You see...

I have several readers who live and breath by Str8 Up With A Twist. It seems that I have let them down. I explained to one that because of my new job I don't have as much time on my hands and I don't think it would be appropriate to spend a bunch of time at work blogging. So I guess I could quit my job and blog full-time?

Just thinking about the conversation made me think of a song. This next clip is dedicated to Kenny In Montrose (KIM).


Big As A House Car
I can't stop eating! Ever since Ike bitch slapped Houston I have been on an eating binge and I have reduced the amount of time that I spend on my fitness routine. Now...part of this has to do with the fact that that's the night that lights went out in Georgia Memorial Park and it was a bit difficult to run in the dark.

Also, the work schedule and other commitments are interfering with my workouts at LeFittes. These are not excuses but just facts.

However, I could cut back on my eating but well Houston is known for it's good food and some of my friends are good cooks and who am I to say no to a good meal? Just sayin'.

Today I was with AttyHou in The Cal Mobile and there was a lady at a service bent over putting air in her tires. Her car was a Mini Cooper and lets just say her ass was so wide you couldn't see the side of the car. Guess that is the reminder I need to cut back on my eating.

Fais Do Do
Last night Krewe of Olympus had our Fais Do Do (fundraising party). Pretty much it's a reason to get together, eat homemade Cajun food and drink adult beverages. It was a bunch of fun.

I schlepped drinks for a couple of shifts and chatted with our guests when I wasn't schlepping drinks. There were many new faces and I hope that everyone had a good time.

Needless to say, I was a bit tired this morning but I did make it to LeFittes for a workout. And in anticipation of eating quite a bit on Saturday evening, I did a quick jaunt around Memorial Park on Saturday morning.

And In Case You Missed Sarah Palin on SNL

Be careful what you say

So the other night in Ft Worth we are sitting around visiting and yes, Calvin was being very sociable. My brother-in-law kept making comments about how much Calvin loves him.

The next thing I know Calvin jumps on the couch, walks over to my brother-in-law and starts humping his right arm. Now THAT is showing some love!

In other news...
Did y'all see Tina Fey's portrayal of Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live? That was too much when she said she needed to use a lifeline and phone a friend. LOL

I think I might watch the debate on Thurs night. A good laugh is good for the soul.

Speaking of good laughs, why is Cloris Leachman still on Dancing With The Stars?

Crackberry

At a previous place of employment I was issued a Blackberry. Within a matter of days I was addicted. This addiction lasted for a few years and then one day I had to go cold turkey.

Everything was fine for awhile until last week when I purchased a Blackberry to replace the phone that I lost post-Ike. I couldn't resist!

Once an addict, always an addict. I wonder if there is a 12 step program that I can join? Is there a Crackberry Anonymous group? Should I join Kaye Sedilla at Betty Ford?

What I have discovered is that I think I can blog using the Crackberry. If this post posts, then I know it works! Doubt that I can post pics or videos or use spellcheck. Maybe you will hear from me more often!

Oh! The possibilities.

In other news...
I made a quasi-surprise visit to la familia today. You see...

Pre-Ike they wanted me to come & visit to celebrate my b'day. Made some plans that didn't happen. So this past Thursday was Joe & Helen's 53rd Wedding Anniversary. Yes bois & gurrls, I said 53.

So there was a small luncheon planned today and I showed up in Ft Worth. It was something that I needed to do and I'm glad that I did. I had some other commitments for today but unfortunately they had to be shelved and I hope that I will be forgiven. I'm back in H-town on Sunday.

And guess who eating lunch in the same restaurant as me today? The one & only Bernadette Peters! OMG!

I knew that she was in Ft. Worth to perform this evening but I never expected to see her eating!

I SO wanted to talk to her. However, she was with someone and they had their food so I left her alone. I think I know where she is staying and I could have hung out in the hotel lobby and stalked her...

One last thing. Things are still a bit odd in Houston. Some of my peeps still don't have power.

Catch up with y'all later.

Tighten Up

On Monday at work we were discussing an upcoming artist installation that will center around Lightin' Hopkins. Turns out Lightin' Hopkins was inspired by Blind Lemon Jefferson. Blind Lemon Jefferson was the inspiration for a former collegemate's restaurant in Deep Ellum (Dallas, TX). He name the restaurant The Blind Lemon and the logo was a lemon wearing sunglasses. It's funny how one topic can lead to another.

So while we were discussing artists and musicians I told them that when I was a mere tyke I was given a portable record player and an album. The album was a compilation of various songs and one of them was Tighten Up by Archie Bell & The Drells. I never knew how to dance the Tighten Up but I remember the song...and that was from about 40 years ago.

What I remember about the song is that Archie Bell says that in Houston they do a dance called the Tighten Up. While I'm telling this story one of the ladies said they she remembers seeing Archie Bell & The Drells perform at something similar to the Houston version of American Bandstand.

So one of my co-workers is intrigued by all of this and she finds a video of Archie Bell & The Drells performing the song. Until I watched the video yesterday, I always thought The Drells were the musicians. I love their dance steps on the video. Enjoy!

Pictures post-Ike

Thought you might enjoy looking at some pics. I'll have a few more later but these are a few that I got ready just you!

So...when I purchased The Cal Mobile the intent was to get something that could be loaded up with some of my belongings and it wouldn't be low to the ground and I could evacuate before or after a hurricane. Well, I listened to the city and county officials and didn't evacuate. And even if I wanted to leave after the storm I couldn't because I had a FENCE ON THE CAL MOBILE!!!!

The power went out a bit after 9:00 p.m. on September 12. Here I am on Sunday, September 14 around 4:00 p.m. I was a prisoner of CenterPoint Energy. And yes, that is Cakebread Chardonnay in the glass. I was a prisoner with class and good taste.

On September 21, AttyHou, some neighbors and I decided we needed to finish cleaning up his yard and my yard. I thought it would take a couple of hours. Uh...it took a bit over 5 hours. I had not eaten lunch and I was delirious and started channeling Heidi Klum, Tim Gunn, Michael Kors AND Nina Garcia.

The challenge was to use the debris from Ike and make a couture dress. This is what I came up with.


I want to be on the cover of ELLE Magazine dammit!

My mom told me that she saw a story on the telly about how Houstonians were helping Houstonians post-Ike. Neighbors and strangers reaching out and helping each other. Calvin decided to do his part and join in the recovery and cleanup of Houston.

Calvin opened up a small Bed & Rawhide and invited over Baxter & Tanner who were without power.

They were all a bit pooped out from playing. Here they are relaxing.

And you know how I have a song for everything. While Ike was beating us up this song popped into my head. Yes, even while the house was shaking due to the sustained hurricane winds, rain not falling from the sky but hitting the house sideways, transformers popping outside and wondering if the insanity would ever stop, I thought of Ike and Tina Turner.


It's getting late. I'll have a few more pics for you soon.