GOSSIP FROM THE GIRLFRIEND GATHERINGS

Learning from YOU to empower ME !

NaBloPoMo #15 –One of My “Feel Good” Outfits Is…………..

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NaBloPoMo November 2013Women Having Coffee

In terms of what makes me “feel good”, clothes are usually secondary to the events to which I wear them.    I love attending events in Houston’s Theatre District.    We have great ballet, opera, plays and a wonderful symphony in Houston.  Also, it is one of the stops for traveling Broadway shows.    If I attend a matinee or a week night event, I will dress casually.   However, when I am attending on a Saturday night, I “dress up” (as we say in Texas) especially if it is the ballet or opera.

One of my favorite “feel good” outfits for these events starts with a long, straight black skirt.   The accompanying top is black with long sleeves that are sheer and partially designed with black beaded lace.   The beaded lace on the sleeves is from the shoulder to the upper arm and at the wrist cuffs.   Also, there is a beading around the jewel neck line and the top is sheer down to the bodice with the remainder designed with the same beaded lace.  I wear a simple pair of formal black pumps or black strappy sandals depending on the season and carry a small black satin clutch.   The only other accessory is a pair of black, dangly beaded earrings and the only splash of color is on my toes, nails and lips.

NaBloPoMo #11 – One Bad Habit I Wish I Could Quit Instantly Without Difficulty Is…….

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NaBloPoMo November 2013Women Having Coffee

The one bad habit I wish I could quit instantly without difficulty is eating that movie-going meal at the theatre.    For me, that meal is a small bag of popcorn, a hot dog loaded with mustard/relish and a large coca-cola or root beer.   I know most would say that is a normal combo for the movies and acceptable for the occasional theatre outing but I go to the theatre almost every weekend.   This habit is wrecking my eating management plan and my attempt to transition to better healthier choices is falling short.

Now, there is a history surrounding eating this meal at the movies.   In an earlier post, I mentioned how my mother was an avid movie buff when I was growing up.   Within one mile of my childhood home was a drive-in movie.   During the school year we would go on the weekends and in the summer we would go on Mondays for the $1 a carload special.   My Mom would make us homemade hot dogs, pop our popcorn by the old-fashioned on-the-stove method in butter, and have cans of our favorite soft drinks iced down in a cooler.   It really didn’t matter what was showing at the drive-in because we went every time they changed the movie.    I have fond memories of those times and I think that is associated with my current theatre experiences.  It makes it hard to give up.  Today, my Mom and I still watch movies together.

So, on my quest to substitute and still enjoy my at-the-movies meal, I have tried many variations.   The best healthy substitute was iced herbal raspberry tea and falafel chips but I had to sneak the food inside the movie in my large tote.   Of course, there is no substitute for a hot dog.   However, this only works when I plan to go to the theatre so that I can have the items on hand in my pantry.   There are times like this past weekend when I decided at the spur of the moment to go the theatre to see the new Thor movie and I ended up eating my usual meal.   I felt guilty so I skipped dinner that night.

Saluting SisterGirlfriends

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Women on the BeachThere is a myth that women cannot truly be friends because they are always competing with one another for male attention.   I disagree.   I believe that women can have non-competitive friendships that are separate and apart from their relationships with their spouses or lovers.   One such friendship that I admire is the friendship between Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King.

In my opinion, your relational life is not complete unless you have a SisterGirlfriend.   This woman can be your relative or a friend you would have chosen to be your sister, if given the choice.

What is her role in your life?

She is your sounding board, your cheerleader, your “voice of wisdom” and your helper in “keeping it real” during those times when you get a little delusional.

She was probably there with you through all of the Mr. Right Nows until you found Mr. Right and stood by you when he either walked out the door or was carried out of the door.

She listened to your frustrations through those “hard-headed” kid days and shared your pride when they finally grew up.

She celebrated with you when you got that degree, certification, opened that business or pursued your dream.

She cried with you when you had to say those final goodbyes to loved ones.

She’s your walking- off-the-pounds partner, let’s-go-to-brunch buddy, share-my-laughter sister, getting-our-groove-back girlfriend.

She is the first person you want to share a funny story with and the last friend you want to see disappointed.

You are the same for her.

 

QUESTION(S):

Do you believe that women can have non-competitive friendships?    If not, please explain.

Do you have a sister-girlfriend friendship?   If so, can you please share some history about your friendship?

It’s Rodeo Time! Yee-Hah!

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If you are anywhere near Houston, Texas you will know that the cowboys and cowgirls have blazed in from their trail ride and it is RODEO time!   There will be three weeks of rodeo contests, world-class concerts, barbecue cook offs and rides on a Texas-sized Ferris wheel at the Rodeo Carnival.  For eighty years, we Houstonians have enjoyed what has become one of the largest rodeos in the world – Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.  Visit http://www.hlsr.com and check it out.

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Another important rodeo venue during the same period is the Black Professional Cowboys and Cowgirls Association’s Heritage Day Rodeo which benefits high school students with scholarships to attend a four-year accredited college.    The BPCCA strive to present and preserve the image of the African-American cowboy and cowgirl who participated fully in settling the American West.   Please visit  http://www.bpcca.com to learn more about this organization.

Due to media depiction and partial teaching of American history in our schools, it is a little known fact that one-third of the American cowboys were African-American, one-third were Latin-American and one-third were Anglo-American.   However, on the trail they were all the same as they worked together to face life and death perils to drive the cattle across the West to market.   It was one of the first places in our history were racial barriers were willingly torn down.

This year was the first time that I attended the BPCCA rodeo even though this is their 14th year for this annual event.  It was really inspiring to see so many African-American families there to support the rodeo.   There were the familiar contests – steer wrestling, bull-riding, barrel racing – but there was one event that required unique bravery from the cowgirls.   This event is unique to African-American rodeos and is called “Steer Un-decorating”.   The cowgirls ride and chase a steer to remove the ribbon tied around it.   Watching those cowgirls made me feel very inadequate as a native Texan because I don’t even own a pair of cowgirl boots!

Even though the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo offers a “Black Heritage Day” as a part of their venue, I hope that more persons discover the Black Professional Cowboys and Cowgirls Association’s Heritage Day Rodeo and will consider attending next year during our rodeo season.   It is a great event.

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Girlfriends on the Road – In the City that Keeps it “Weird”

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If you are a book lover, then you should have joined me to attend the 17th Annual Texas Book Festival in Austin, Texas.   I am a native Houstonian but I have fallen in love with Austin!  I have found that it is rich in cultural surprises and my visit to the Texas Book Festival has proven to be one of the most engaging events.

The 2012 festival sessions were held in tent locations on Congress Avenue and in various locations inside of the beautiful Texas State Capitol building – even inside of the House and Senate chambers.   The weather was beautiful on both days with just enough chill to warrant a quick stop at Starbuck’s in between sessions.

It was my first book festival and I had a great time discovering authors and books that I never would have encountered had I not attended the festival.   Some notable mentions are

Tony Danza – “I’d Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had: My Year as a Rookie Teacher at Northeast High”

Damien Echols – “Life after Death: A Conversation with Death Row Survivor Damien Echols”

Naomi Wolf – “Vagina – A New Biography”

Henry Wiencek – “Master of His Mountain: Thomas Jefferson and His Slaves”

Ron Rozelle – “The Forgotten Texas Catastrophe: The School Explosion that Killed 300 Children”

Jodi Egerton – “Secret Sex Lives: A Year Spent on the Fringes of American Sexuality”

Jenna Hays McEachern and Edith Royal – “DKR-The Royal Scrapbook”

As you can see from the list above, the subject matter was very diverse and attractive to all types of readers.   There were also sessions for children books and Jewel was there to talk about her new book for kids.   So, the festival is a wonderful venue for family entertainment.

This was such a wonderful event for me and well worth the 3 hour drive from Houston to Austin.  I plan to make this an annual event and hope that all of you will consider it in your future plans.

QUESTION:

Are you a book lover?

If so, what types of books do you read?

Are you willing to expand your interests from your normal subject matter?

Would you consider attending the Texas Book Festival?