Cornyation...love it

So, it's Fiesta in San Antonio.  For you folks not familiar with this phenomenon, it's a crazy week where parts of San Antonio just shut down and party.  (and why, exactly, do I live here?  It's the hispanic, mellow New Orleans, without hurricane warnings this time of year.)   So, this year, with the shock of potentially not getting paid, I decided not to attend many events outside of the two Fiesta runs - but I MUST attend Cornyation - the "cheapest and raunchiest event of Fiesta."

Several weeks ago, I stood in line at the Magestic/Empire theater to get tix - this was the guy who was behind me (in the cast, getting tix for friends - we saw each other after tonight's show).

So, I managed to get us 3rd row center orchestra seats for tonight's show, which, for me, is the funniest - since the show is always a bit of dress rehearsal and, as that ^ guy said, one of their drunkest times, since they're all nervous.  But, it was in the confetti splash zone (like Sea World).

So, here goes the hilarity....First off, we saw this car in the parking garage...

but it was almost legal

And, then - on with the show --

so, thus far, that's friends, a unique cactus, an Arizona immigration skit, making fun of Miss San Antonio (how cool is that taco dress), and a fairly demented take on Sesame Street with Snookie and Katy Perry.

And then (and then) more taco and tiara laughs

 Then we hit puro Big Red

 and the excellent Ruffles getup

 And Ruffles - but not really ruffle ruffles - like this....

And one of the biggest brains behind this show. Robert Rhem.  Robert Rehm is an artist/theatre artist who lives in San Antonio, Texas. Since 1985, he has done design work for 16 Cornyations. Mr. Rehm taught theater arts for nine years at Thomas Jefferson High School (around the corner from my neighborhood) where he was also Director of Theater for the Fine Arts Magnet Academy. In March of 2005, while rehearsing for the UIL One-Act Play, he took a fall off the Jefferson stage into the orchestra pit and the accident left him paralyzed from the neck down. Despite this unfortunate occurrence, Robert remains active in the San Antonio Arts Community today.

Cornyation raises a lot of money for a theater scholarship in his name, the San Antonio AIDS Foundation, and affiliated local charities.  So, it's for a good cause.

And afterward, we have even more fun in the streets...

 Me with the Palins (Sarah got pooped out of a moose)

 And more Palins - the Palin in purple to the far right is the pregnant, but abstinence preaching Palin, and the Bristol to my immediate left is the Dancing with the stars Bristol. 

 With the hostest with the mostest - seriously, she can even talk faster than me. remarkable.

 With Big Bird

 With my favorite - the cactus

 With Elmer Fudd, the immigrant hunter

 More with our hostest (they had to do another show at 10ish, as well as 2 more per day for the next two days) - holy volunteerism!

 with "Miss San Antonio"

 With "Muslim child pageant entrant"

 With Bert and Ernie and Snookie.  I can't even describe this skit.  It also included Katy Perry and a Grease number. Excellent.

 Again, with our hostess - have I mentioned how wonderfully articulate she is?

 More with the Palins

And, yep, I couldn't get enough with the Palins.  The gal who played la la Sarah in the red on the left won best skit last year with her crew. It's really an excellent show, but I recommend that you do not buy tickets, so that I can buy mine.

Lifting my spirits

After staying up last night until that dang budget bill finally passed, I crashed, still feeling the anxiety that has haunted me this week.  This morning, I headed to the (still open) Missions National Park for the Fiesta Mission 10k.

 It was VERY humid, but it was a nice run.  As I arrived and wedged my podcar between trucks and SUVs, my buddy, Ruben, came up and asked if I still had my bike in the car.  (Of course I did - since last Friday - and have not taken the time to remove it.)  He was volunteering as a race marshal and wanted to bike, rather than drive, out to his position.  So, we put the bike together, off he rode, and I headed to the run.

At around mile 2, we actually ran into the Mission San Jose, with it towering above us - so neat.

(That's the outer mission wall on the left)
Of course, there was the heat and humidity, and the bouncy bridges, to slow me down

and make me look like a crazy running chicken.
But, after the run, there were buddies and beer - the perfect thing to lift my spirits

Thanks to Tom (the guy in the reflective vest) for the pics!

After a nap, I headed out for a run and visit with Brandi Shipman, a cancer survivor, coach, and endurance athlete.  I opted to skip the trail run, but really enjoyed hearing her inspirational story.

Brandi with Doug Ratliff - thanks to Jazzy for the pics
And that was a great way to spend a day!

Tough times for feds and females

Without going on a political rant that ends with "you can agree with me or you can be wrong," I'll just tell you that it has been a really tough day.  Make that a tough week.  Make that a tough time since October.  For now, I get to call and see whether I'll be working (and getting paid) at 5 a.m. on Monday.  Excellent.  And Planned Parenthood?!  Really?  They were my primary care provider for many un-(or low-)insured years and save women's lives.  If they really want to cut off something, I suggest they redirect those funds to provide for castration of certain members of Congress.  Oops, political rant. 

Instead, I will think happy thoughts of First Friday cruising - with some pics from last Friday from my buddy, Jenna. *happy thoughts*

So, in these uncertain times, I will try to worry only about the things that I can control.  Which means next up is the Fiesta 10k tomorrow (if the Missions National Park is open, that is).

SAWS 5k

Lots of excuses for this one - which, I think, was my second worst 5k time ever.  It was very very humid.  I stayed out too late for the First Friday Cruiser ride the night before.  There was a BIG hill at the finish (more on that later).  And, I got stopped by a train mid-race.  Again.  Really - though this was just the little Zoo Eagle train and not an evil Union Pacific train.  I don't know what I've done to anger the train gods, but they are clearly out to get me.

Anyway - here's the start, where I'm already sweating - with Sally #1

Then, there was the run, which was scenic as we passed over the Japanesse Tea Gardens and into Brackenridge Park for a flat run.  The whole time, I was dreading The Hill the whole time.  And, then, there it was...

It's a particularly evil hill that we call the "Sunken Garden Hill" -- it goes up steep, then turns the corner, then keeps going up steeply, then plateaus for a little bit, then climbs again.  It's a monster.  But, then I made it to the top for a short downhill into the finish.  Here are the action shots from Ceci:

Yep, crazy slow hill-running chicken all the way.

Thanks to Ceci from http://www.iaapweb.com/ and Scottydog for the pics

Fiesta First Friday Cruiser Ride

Well, Friday was First Friday, and that isn't an April Fool's joke.  And Fiesta is just around the corner for San Antonio, so we rode in style.  As you can see, this time, we had mascots (piñata and Jesse James Leija). 

This is our monthly cruiser ride from joint to joint along the King William and Southtown corridor.  We passed many tourists and the Run-a-Tab runners - and a homeless guy in a wheelchair who cheered and cheered.  Fun times, but it made for a tough 5k the next morning.

 Getting ready to launch with buddies Alexis & Herb (thanks to Alexis for the pic)

 First stop, listening to some tunes (they played "Mustang Sally" - grrrr)

 Our lucky mascot

 At the Alcapulco Drive In

 we outnumbered the motorcycles - but these are also bikes of a 'rival gang' that cruises out from Sam's Burger Joint for First Fridays

 On the road

refastening mascots