Keeping it real with Alejandro Reyes

News10 Blog U (I'm taking photos at the left)

Last year I did a psychic reading with Jesai Chantler over the phone. I’m not going to share the whole thing with you, but he did say he saw me attending the Oscars or the Emmy Awards or a similar red carpet event.

At the time, I thought he was way off base as none of my scripts were being turned into movies and I wasn’t dating any celebrities – so what were the chances?

It turned out that he was right. I did end up attending the Official Oscar Watch Gala for News10 in February and just a couple weeks ago I was nominated for an Emmy so will be going to the Emmy Awards in June. Amazing.

THE PATH OF LIFE

The other thing Jesai told me was that I was right where I was supposed to be and I was still on my true path. This surprised me as I had thought moving to Sacramento threw me off my path. Not that I don’t love it here. It’s pretty, relaxing and is surrounded by vineyards (and you know I love wine). It’s just that it’s not exactly Paris, London, New York or any other mega-city.

But just like he was right about me going to a red-carpeted event, he was right about being in Sacramento as I’m meeting remarkable people every day – or, as was the case last night, a whole group of remarkable people.

Last night I drove to Stockton to co-host our News10 Blog U event. It was small event of about 20 people but all were aspiring bloggers who were full of passion, energy and great ideas. There was Manuel who was thinking of doing a DUI electrician blog, Anthony who plans of unveiling his street fashion blog soon, Kyle who writes the http://www.TheGirlKyle.com, Kamica who owns Baby Cakes & Co… and so on. Each person had a unique story – and you know I love hearing about stories and dreams.

But the person who pulled it all together was Alejandro Reyes.

IS THERE A MAGNET FOR THAT?

I met Alejandro Reyes my first day in Sacramento. Really. I got here and the News Director told me to go check out this TweetUp that was happening that night -- and among the hundred or so people that were there, I met Alejandro.

Apparently, Alejandro wasn’t just attending the TweetUp; it was his event. I learned months later that he was voted as one of 15 people to watch in Sacramento by Sacramento Magazine and was one of the city’s most respected social media gurus. See? I was in the right place at the right time.

And last night Alejandro brought that whole “being in the right place” message home.

While talking to attendees last night, he said, “Discover your gifts and build your life around them.”

Brilliant. So simple, but so right.

Instead of worrying about being in the wrong place, maybe I need to focus on the end goal. I don’t need to live in Paris or London to use my gifts. I can start using them here and see where my path takes me. Maybe meeting these remarkable people is why I’m here, as each week I find someone who keeps me inspired and moving toward completing my goals.

Discover your gifts and build your life around them…hmmm… I think I’m going to tell him he needs to make a magnet that says that.

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Good people come with kayaks

If you've been following my blog, then you know I'm desperately trying to train for my first triathlon.  I've already got the running down (well, maybe not down, but at least I can run the 6 miles without dying). The biking portion is also kind of under control. That just left the dreaded kayaking -- and making it alive through the San Juan rapids on the American River.

You see...even though I surf, snorkle and do a bunch of water related things, I'm not really a strong swimmer so facing rough water while cruising down a river in a tippy boat was something I wasn't looking forward to.

But then my guardian angel came along and hooked me up with the nicest people in the area.

A GIFT FROM ABOVE...AND IT WAS FREE

For the last three years, Sherri Reese and Steve Holmes have dedicated almost every weekend from May until July teaching new kayakers how to navigate down the American River and safely through the San Juan rapids.

They specifically work with people like me who plan on competing in Eppies Great Race, and believe me these people know what it takes to complete the race. Steve has competed in the Eppies for the last 27 years and Sherri has done it nearly 10 times. But they don't just race, they want to share the fun.

"We love the race. So Steve wrote to Eppies one year and told them we were willing to show people how to kayak," Sherri said. "But even though it's been three years, not that many people know about us yet."

When she told me that, I was baffled.  I mean, the kayak clinics they hold are incredible. They take you down the race route, show you the secrets of getting through the rapids and also the pitfalls of choosing some of calmer water.

But here's the best part. The kayak clinics Sherri and Steve conduct are free of charge and all the equipment is included. They provide the kayak, the lifejackets and the skill to show people of all ages how to paddle safely - and what to do if the boat does happen to capsize. They have 13 kayaks and borrow more from friends if they happen to need them.

And if you are like me and like to perfect things, you can attend more than one clinic, and regardless of how many times you go down the river with Sherri and Steve, there is never any cost. I've attended 3 so far and plan on hanging out with them two more weekends before race day. They are so fabulous and their attitude is "the more; the merrier". They love it when people come out -- especially us newbies.

"We had at least 10 people the first time we did it. For most people who come out, it's their first time on the water. There are a few that have kayaked before, but most haven't. Actually this year, we only had one person who had kayaked before," said Sherri.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PASSION

I admit I feel a little guilty taking all these lessons, but when I asked Sherri and Steve why they do it for free, they said it's because they want to share their passion with others. They don't own a sporting goods store, nor do they sell kayaks. In fact, Sherri works as an infection control nurse at UC Davis and Steve is a high school teacher at Hiram W. Johnson. They say they don't want to charge for the lessons because they don't want money to be the reason people don't learn how to kayak safely.

"The race itself costs money. If you had to rent a kayak and then pay someone to teach you how to do it, it adds up," said Steve.

Sherri says one of the reasons they started giving the free lessons was because she was hit a few times on the water during the race in the middle of the San Juan rapids. She says some of the racers don't know how to steer their boats or they are unfamiliar with the course. They often end up ramming into other racers, capsizing on the river or putting others in danger.

"It's hard to believe people would do the kayaking portion of the race without any practice, but it does seem when I get out there, there are some people who have no idea what they are doing. They just get in the kayak and go," Sherri said.

While the couple won't accept payment for their lessons, they are being rewarded in other ways. They say there is nothing like seeing the look on people's faces when they find out they can kayak -especially when they make it through the rapids the first time.

"People always say they've heard about how scary and how awful and rough the San Juan rapids are. We show them how they can get through them. They just need skirt around the left side and it's no big deal," said Steve. "The best part is when people realize they can do it and the rapids aren't going to stop them."

NOTHING LIKE SHARING A LITTE JOY

Sherri agrees. She sees the free lessons they give as a gift. It's a way for them to share the good times they have on the river with others.

"During the race it's so fun to hear someone calling your name from across the river. Sometimes when I'm paddling, I'll catch up with some of our students. It is so nice to see them doing it and succeeding," Sherri said.

Sherri 's teaching doesn't stop with her students. If she sees someone struggling during the race, she'll give them some hints to help them out.

"They always seem so appreciative. Certainly I am passing them as I give them the hint. It is a race," she said, laughing.

Sherri and Steve are planning to hold clinics the weekends of June 27 and July 11. To sign up for one of their free kayak clinics or to find out more, email Sherri and Steve at kfitness01@yahoo.com.
For more information on Eppies Great Race, visit http://www.thegreatrace.org/.

A 14-year-old girl and a pig named O'Malley

Some people blow me away with their amazingness (yes, I know that's not a real word) and 14-year-old Sydney Morrow is one of them. Unlike a lot of people, instead of just talking about something, she took the initiative to start making her dreams come true.

You see, a couple of weeks ago, Sydney wrote News10 and sent us the cutest picture of her and the pig she was rasising for Future Farmers of America.  She wanted the station to come out and meet her pig, O'Malley, and maybe buy him at the El Dorado County Fair auction. 

I know writing a letter is just a small thing, but that's all it took to get my attention. While I wasn't able to buy the pig, I just had to meet this teen that made things happen -- and of course, her pig named O'Malley.

"I knew I was going to join FFA for a while. I was looking forward to it even before I got to high school," said Sydney.

Sydney is a freshman at Ponderosa High School and it turns out that the photo she sent in was the first time she had raised a pig. But she is definitely a girl with a plan. She told me her plan was to raise a market hog for the next four years, auction it off and put the money towards her college education.

She says raising O'Malley, who she named after a character in Grey's Anatomy, was both rewarding and challenging, but no matter how hard it was, she would raise pigs again. Her daily, year-long course involved taking care of O'Malley from the time he was weened until fair day. She says the whole process taught her valuable lessons such as how patience and dedication can pay off.

"I didn't expect the pig to be so hard to train. I have to clean him, feed him and do all this stuff to get him ready for the fair," said Sydney. "The hardest part was getting him to walk in the arena. The first time I tried, he wouldn't even go down. He gets grumpy sometimes and then there is nothing you can do."

Getting the animal ready for the judging at the fair is important and all 30 kids in her class were faced the same struggles. Not only did Sydney have to make sure O'Malley was well-exercised and toned in the right areas, she would have to get them in front of the judges or else he will be disqualified. She also had to make sure her pig was groomed -which means Sydney needed to bath O'Malley.

But Sydney isn't the only Ponderosa teen with a passion for animals and agriculture. There are 30 students in her class and some of them are from farming families.

"My family has been farming for six generations," said Rachel Bacchi. Rachel is raising three lambs and one goat this year.

Sean Golden, 16, also comes from a farming family. This year is his third time raising cattle.

"Cattle is a long process," said Sean. "Right now I have a three. I'm going to auction the steer this year and then breed the other two to get another calf."

Ponderosa high school started their Future Farmers of America (FFA) program in 1964 and it's never waned in popularity.

"We always have quite a lot of kids that want to get involved," said 16-year-old Sara Arsenault, regional FFA reporter. "We have an officer team that starts recruitment at middle schools to raise awareness and get students interested."

The program helps students learn the process of farming and the work involved. In the 2009-2010 school year, 210 students signed up for the Ponderosa FFA/Ag Department. Classes included everything from Agricultural Science, Ag Biology and Animal Science to Floral Design and Animal Health (pre-vet training). Many of the teens who take the program end up in agricultural fields or working with animals, which is why Sydney took the class.

"I really want to be a marine biologist or zoologist as I've always been in love with animals. My dream school is in Monterey because I heard they have a really good marine biology school," Sydney said.

The El Dorado County Fair is less than a week away. Sydney is nearly ready, but the hardest part is still to come. Her pig O'Malley is now about 200 pounds, and after watching him grow from a piglet to maturity, she knows it's going to be hard to auction him off and say goodbye.

"I'm probably going to end up crying," said Sydney. "It's going to be hard knowing I won't see him again."

Isn't she amazing?

Couple finds love connection through khou.com...and Sarah Palin

Success stories are the best. Whether it's finding love, completing an incredible feat, taking a chance on life, beating a disease or fulfilling a goal , I love to hear about how it.  It's the dreamer in me.  I honestly believe everyone can reach the moon if they put their heart into it.

And speaking of hearts...this story is a love story. One of the regular commenters on the khou.com site emailed the station to thank us -- here's why:

For months, Trip7 had been a regular commenter on our daily khou.com weather story. But while she's been playing on the site everyday and posting comments, she had no idea that she was about to find her soul mate - and she never expected that he would be living 3,289 miles away in Alaska.

"We were talking about how horribly hot it was and he popped in and said something like it's 47 where he is and we all busted back at him with, 'Thanks a lot. Why don't you rub it in?'" said Trip7.

Kascat and Trip7 first connected on khou.com in May 2009. Kascat is originally from Pearland and is currently working in Alaska. He was checking in on the weather back home and came across Trip7's posts.

"He said what drew him to me in the first place was the way I write. I write in character. I write as Trip," said Trip7. "I play and have fun and I do rain dances to bring in the rain. He was drawn to me because of my writing style."

After a couple weeks of responding back and forth on the weather story, the two moved to public message and then onto private emails. From there it was eight hour phone calls and endless Web cam chats.

AND THEN THERE WAS SARAH

But it wasn't just the weather that brought them together.

"When we went to the private pages on khou.com, he said something to me and I said that I had been Palinized. He said I could do worse," said Trip7.

Yup...that's right. He loves Sarah Palin and Trip7, well...she's probably not Sarah's Facebook friend.

"On the weather blog one day, he said something about coming on up and dealing with the weather, and I said I would rather be hot than deal with Sarah Palin," said Trip7.

This sparked the conversation and got them talking about deeper issues.

"I told him she was fine a woman and I respected her for a lot of things, but I didn't respect her for other things. She needed a guide dog and maybe when she got her mainland legs she would be okay," said Trip7. "It kind of endeared him to me that I took her side."

Then there was a story on abuse that KHOU had posted on the site. After reading it, Trip7 posted an encouraging message to women under the story.

"I had been in an abusive relationship before and I posted a long post about women being brave enough to walk away from it because if you didn't you would die --either physically or emotionally," said Trip 7.

Trip7 says it was this post that got the two of them talking more privately. And from there their love bloomed. Their messages got longer, he sent her photos of where he lived and even sent her some salmon from Alaska.

"We just kept talking and getting to know each other. We kept getting closer and closer and he talked about coming home for Christmas to see his family and how he would like to meet me then," said Trip7.

But Christmas was months away and by August Trip7 and Kascat had made a decision: They were going to meet.

"I hadn't had a vacation in 41 years and he said why don't you come?" said Trip7.

TAKING A CHANCE

Flying to Alaska wasn't an easy decision for Trip7. She was nervous about meeting someone she had met on the internet and she was concerned about how safe it would be to fly miles away from her family and friends to meet someone in a place that she didn't know.

She says even though neither of them had ever met someone online before and they had never tried online dating, she decided to take a chance.

"We just clicked and I felt comfortable enough about it that I decided to book the flight and go," Trip7 said.

Her friends and family thought she was crazy. Some thought that he should come to her. Others were simply worried about what could happen.

And they were right. Something did happen--they fell deeper in love.

"I came around the corner and there he stood. It was like I had known him all my life. I was just overjoyed," said Trip7. "He said that when he saw me his first thought was, 'Oh my God, she's so beautiful.'"

For a week they toured the beautiful Kenai Peninsula (click here to see photos) and fell madly in love with each other.

"He's the most kindest, considerate and loving person I have ever known. He planned the whole trip and went out of his way to show me special places," said Trip7.

Trip7 is now back in Houston, but the love affair isn't over.

Originally, Kascat planned to come home for Christmas, but now he's thinking Thanksgiving. Trip7 is also thinking about her next trip.

"If it weren't for the weather blog, we would have never met. And if it wasn't for Sarah Palin, we would not have gotten so close," said Trip7.

TEN ONLINE DATING SAFETY TIPS

While Trip7 and Kascat seem like a match made in heaven, you can never be too careful when it comes to meeting someone online.

Below are some safety tips from Online Dating Magazine.

1. Trust Your Gut Instinct
2. Don't Provide Personal Information Too Soon
3. Use a Free Email Account
4. Use a Cell Phone or Anonymous Phone Service to Chat
5. Beware of Married People
6. Look for Questionable Characteristics in Your Communication
7. Ask for a Recent Photo
8. Stick With Paid Online Dating Services
9. Don't Get a False Sense of Security
10. Meet in a Public Place for Your First Meeting

Getting bit by the biking bug - and liking it!

I've decided to christen Julie Urlaub as Houston's "IT girl" of the week. Not only is she beautiful and intelligent, but she's an adrenaline junkie who's incredibly inspiring.

And here's why. Julie just finished the 24 Hours of Adrenalin Bike Competition in Canmore, Canada this past weekend and she came in third for her age class (she's in the 40 to 45 age group). Whoo-hoo!!

The competition played host to 1,400 cyclists from all over the world and you have to qualify to get into it.

SO WHO IS JULIE?

So is Julie the female version of Lance Armstrong? Well, not exactly. She is actually a managing partner for Taiga Company in Houston and has only been cycling for about six years.

"Houston really has a great community for cycling, whether it's road racing or mountain biking. I just got bit by the biking bug," said Julie.

Julie completed her first race about four years ago, but this was the first year she had participated in the 24 Hours of Adrenalin Competition. She says even though she had been training for a while, the course was challenging.

Because it was in the mountains, there was a lot of climbing. In fact, Julie says the climb was about 1,800-2,000 feet per lap and each lap was 12.5 miles long. Julie was able to complete nine laps in the 24 hour period.

"The race was really awesome. Aside from the climbing, there were a lot of technical sections that required you to pay attention," said Julie. "It wasn't like riding the flat terrain in Houston. You had to be in and out of the saddle and be aggressive on the bike."

While she admits the race took a toll on her body, the backdrop was spectacular and made it all worthwhile.

"It was in Canmore, which is the Canadian Rocky Mountains. It was unbelievably beautiful. Incredibly gorgeous," said Julie.

But Julie wasn't the only one feeling the pain. Rebecca Rusch, who won the female division of the competition, also said that it was a hard course.

"I figure if Rebecca says it's hard, then it must be hard," said Julie. "I have a lot of respect for her so if she says it's so, then I'm going to believe her."

But the race would not have been so fantastic if it wasn't for the hard work of Stuart Dorland, the founder and creator of 24 Hours of Adrenalin. He leveraged social media with twitter and other platforms, which made the race engaging. Julie said it felt like a world class event.

"It was incredible. The participants at the competition really looked out for each other. They were so supportive. You would be so tired and feel like your legs were going to fall off, then you would drive by a group of people and they would yell, 'Way to go! You can make it up this hill'," said Julie. "It was so inspiring to hear this. I've never been in an environment where people were so amazingly supportive."

Julie trained hard for the race, but says she couldn't have done it without the support of her husband and her friend Tony DeOre, who were her pit crew during the competition.

"You think it's just one person out on the bike, but it's not. It's you and your pit crew. They can make and break the race. My husband and Tony helped me get through it," Julie said.

TRAINING FOR THE RACE

For those of you who haven't been to the Canadian Rocky Mountains, they are the complete opposite of Houston's landscape. In fact, the word "flat" doesn't even make the list when describing them.

"Houston is as flat as a pancake. I did a lot of training miles here before going to Canmore. I also did some other races where there was more climbing," said Julie. "But if you can't climb hills, you can push on your gears for sustained effort and work with a trainer to try to prepare your body for it."

Julie bikes five or six times a week, but she's not always going for distance. Some days she rides long, but other days she works more on intensity.

"It all depends. Mileage isn't always the goal. You try to work different systems within the body," said Julie. "There are a lot of micro/macro building within your training."

Julie says she learned her cycling training tricks by talking with other cyclists, getting a coach, surfing the Web and getting to know what her body could handle. But it's not just being on the bike that's important. She also watches her nutrition to ensure she's getting enough protein and carbs. Sleep is also important as recovery is almost as important as the training.

"The misconception is that you are only working when you are on your bike, but really it has to do with keeping a positive mindset and balancing your life and work," said Julie.

GETTING STARTED AS A CYCLIST

One of the great things about biking is that all you need is a bike and a helmet. And you don't need to buy a fancy bike unless you really get into it.

If you are looking for equipment, Julie recommends paying a visit to her favorite bike store, BikeSport. They can give you information on cycling gear, local trails or joining groups in the area. They also have a team that you can join

In case you were wondering what Julie rides, her bike is a Pivot.

"I love my bike," said Julie. "I really encourage women to get out there and try cycling. There is a great organization here in Houston called GHORBA.org. There are a lot of great women in the group and they are at all different levels."

Julie says joining a group will help you improve your cycling skills, as well as make new friends.
"The best thing about the sport is that everyone cheers each other on," said Julie. "The people become dear to your heart."

THE BEST CYCLING TRAILS IN HOUSTON

You don't have to go all the way to Canada to cycle great trails. Julie says she has two favorite places around Houston that she likes to bike.

1) Double Lake off of 59 in Coldspring, Texas - Double Lake is about an hour outside of Houston. It's a fun course because regardless of your skill level, you can find some way to challenge yourself. The course is twisty so you can practice cornering, but it's also a great place to bike if you just want to go for a leisurely ride with friends. Julie says she's seen deer and rabbits on the trail. There is also a pretty lake in the area.

2) Rocky Hill Ranch in Smithville - Rocky Hill Ranch has 25 miles of trails. There are also some areas where you can practice your cycling climbing skills. Rocky Hill offers more technical challenges than the Double Lake trail.

Julie also says there are some great trails in the San Antonio area.

Meeting up with a cool Nike Dunk collector

Sometimes the most interesting people are in your own backyard - or in this case, working on a Web site in Dallas.

While at a training seminar, I ran into this guy who had the coolest sneakers, so I had to ask him about them. It turns out, he doesn't just have one pair of cool sneakers but over 900!!

Yes, that's right. That equals 1,800 shoes.

I must admit when he told me this, I went into instant shoe envy. His collection makes my 24 pairs look pitiful in comparison.

But these aren't just any shoes, these are Nike Dunks.

"Some of them are rare and hard to find, so now I'm invested," said Doug, Nike Dunk collector.

Doug says he started collecting the sneakers in 1999 and they just started to grow. In fact, the collection is so massive, he's had them insured for $100,000, but says they are probably worth at least three times more.

I have never meet an avid collector like this before. Yeah, I've met stamp collectors and some people that think their collection of Barbies is pretty big, but they have nothing compared to this. I mean, where do you store 900 pairs of sneakers?

"I have them stacked up in the office, and stacked up in other places in house," said Doug. "But my collection is nothing compared to other people's collections."

DOUG SHOWS OFF HIS NIKE DUNKS ON YOUTUBE

After meeting Doug and researching Nike Dunks, I discovered Doug showing off his shoes on Good Morning Texas. This video is a couple of years old, back in the days when he only had 400 to 500 pairs of shoes.



Like a true collector, Doug is always looking for pairs he doesn't have. He's on the Internet, visits skateboard shops around the country and has even camped out in London for a rare pair of laser Dunks.

But he has a method to his purchases. He says, at first he used to just buy one pair of the sneakers, but now he buys three.

"One pair to wear, one pair to save and one pair just in case something happens to the other two pairs," said Doug.

Doug has Dunks ranging from the "Tiffany's" (which have a little diamond on them), the "Huf Dunks" (which are made with the San Francisco Giants colors) and the Melvins.

After meeting Doug, I was intrigued - not to buy a pair of Nike Dunks, but to see if there were other Nike Dunk sneaker addicts out there.

I was surprised to find that there were. There's actually a whole little community of Nike Dunk sneaker wearing people around that I had no idea existed. (The photo on the left is proof that other collectors love these shoes as much as Doug. They guy filled up his entire sofa!)

But if you're a collector, don't bother calling Doug. He loves his shoes and doesn't want to part with any of them.

Father and son roping team live the rodeo dream

The best part of my job is meeting people, and I must say, Allen Bach was one of the most interesting men I have met in my career. 

Allen Bach is a four time PRCA World Champion, 27 consecutive time qualifier to the National Finals Rodeo, and a three time all time high money winner of the George Strait Team Roping Classic.

Bach's been blessed with his success and the chance to rope all his life. But now he says he's living the dream by team roping with his 19-year-old son, Joel.
"I haven't won the most saddles and buckles in history, but I have all the championships that I need to have. My dream now would be to win the National Finals with my son. That would be a story book ending for me," said Bach.

Bach has been married for 30 years and competing in the rodeo during that entire time. As his four kids were growing up, they did everything as a family. However, now that his son is not just watching from the stands, but competing with him, the relationship is different.
"We team rope together so Joel's become more like a business partner. It would be anybody's dream to compete at the high level that we do in the rodeo," said Bach.

While the father/son team is a dream come true, Bach admits that they have had to make little adjustments to make it work.

"I have to be a dad first, then a partner, coach and best friend. But of course, my son would like me to be a partner first, then a coach, friend and finally a dad," said Allen Bach. "He thinks he's already grown up, but he's only 19, and there's still a lot to learn about the world."

But neither Allen or Joel would trade up what they have for anything else. The rodeo is part of their lives and it's almost as if Joel is taking over the family business.

"This is my second year competing with my dad, but I've been riding and roping since I was seven," said Joel. "I'd really like to make the finals and become one of the contenders for the World Rodeo. If we make it, I'll be one of the youngest headers."

Bach admits that his ties to the rodeo, and the people his son has met, made huge impact on Joel as he grew up. He understands the pressure, the lingo and the lifestyle.

"The people Joel's competing against are the same people he grew up with. They are friends and I think this works to his advantage as he's not star struck," said Bach.

Bach says he hopes to help give his son a boost to his rodeo career, but he says there's a lot more to it than just riding and roping. There's also the sponsorship and business side of the rodeo.

"I'm hoping because of my name and reputation that it will help with the advertising and sponsorship. He can follow in my footsteps," said Bach.

Even though Bach takes the rodeo business seriously, he works hard to balance it with his personal life.
In addition to being a rodeo champion, he is also an ordained minister and the founder of the ministry Forever Cowboys.

"It's just a group of guys and we try to bless the kids where we can with rodeo bible camps and other events. Our goal is to maximize the cowboy's influence in the world," said Bach.

According to Bach, the cowboy has always stood for integrity and doing what's right. He's a generic role model that can help make the world a better place.

"When you're a cowboy, your word is your honor. We're trying to follow those values and remind the next generation that these values are important. You can only win so many buckles and saddles. It's time to do something about changing the world," said Bach.

Currently living on 50 acre ranch in Weatherford, Texas, Allen and Joel are on the road for over half of the year. Bach says the secret to his success has to do with priorities.

"My wife is so strong. She's an incredible woman. Together we learned how to make a functional thing that could easily be dysfunctional. We learned to balance God, family and the rodeo," said Bach.

"I always tell people that rodeo makes a lousy God. It's just a spoke in the wagon wheel of life and you have to put God in the middle or else it won't work," said Bach. "I admit that sometimes in my life the rodeo ends up in the middle, but then I have to work to put God back there."

In the meantime, Allen and Joel are enjoying their time together as a team.

"It's really fun traveling with your dad, especially when you win," said Joel.

Bach also has a 15-year-old son that ropes. He's sometimes out competing with his mom while Bach is on the road with Joel.

Finding out what makes a cowboy a champion

Thursday was a busy day for me. I spent hours just hanging out behind the Reliant Stadium at the rodeo trying to find out just what makes a real-live cowboy.

It turns out that being a cowboy at the rodeo isn't all about winning saddles and gold buckles. In fact, based on many of the athletes that I met, the rodeo and riding has been a part of their lives since they were young.

Matt Shiozawa was one of the guys that I ran into. Shiozawa lives in Idaho, but was in Houston competing in the tie-down roping event in the BP Super Series.

"I've been serious about competing in the rodeo since high school," said Shiozawa. "This is what I do as my full-time job."

The 28-year-old has been around rodeos all his life. His family had a farm and he says that competing professionally was something that he's always wanted to do.

"Both my dad and my brother used to compete in rodeos so I've pretty much been around it all my life," said Shiozawa. "My dad and my brother competed locally."

Shiozawa has won a number of rodeo events including finishing 20th in 2004 in the world standings. He's also competed many times in the National Finals Rodeo.

"At first it's a lot practice, but I now feel my skills are as honed as they could be," said Shiozawa. "I believe that being the best athlete you can be is every bit as important as skills training so I weight train and keep in shape."

Jason Havens from Oregon was also there getting ready for Bareback Bronc Riding event.

Havens has been competing for the 17 years and placed in four of 10 rounds at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in 2007.

"I had a cousin that was in the rodeo, and when I was a kid, I would go and watch him," said Havens.

Havens grew up riding horses. But while his immediate family didn't have a farm, he had other family members that did.

"I always wanted to be in the rodeo," said Havens. "I couldn't afford to get a saddle, but my cousin had extra bareback harnesses so I did got into bareback riding."

Havens says that all though high school he practiced whenever he could.

"There were amateur stock contractors by the high school and I would practice on their horses. I also practiced at Walla-Walla Community College while I was attending school there," said Havens.

Like many of the athletes at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, both Havens and Shiozawa spend much of the year on the road. This year Shiozawa estimates that he'll be spending about 10 months going from competition to competition, while Havens will spend approximately 150 to 160 days on the road. The athletes don't travel alone. Many of them travel the circuit together.

"Bareback riders Bobby Mote, Brain Bain, Ryan Gray and I all travel together," said Havens. "I meet Bobby back in college and we just started travelling together."

Havens and Shiozawa are currently competing in the BP Super Series at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and while they are little quiet and don't seem to want to talk about how great they are, the guys are pretty good.

As of March 5, Shiozawa was first in the Series 1 tie-down roping standings. Havens was 8th in the bareback bronc riding standings.

Could you win the Amazing Race?

Thousands of people send in video tapes for their chance to get on the Amazing Race, but only a select few are chosen. Houston's Jodi Wincheski was one of them.

"I also wanted to be on the show since the first episode," said Wincheski.

The cool thing is Wincheski isn't some wanna-be-actor. She's actually a 40-year-old single mom who works as a flight attendant for Southwest Airlines. In other words, she could be your next door neighbor.

Wincheski said was hoping to do the race with her best friend from Oregon, but it didn't work out because of their schedules. Instead, she decided to audition with 37-year-old Christy Volkmer, another flight attendant.

But the two women didn't just want to be on the show; they wanted to win.

BUFFING UP TO WIN

If you have ever seen The Amazing Race, you know that they make the contestants do crazy things. They may have to brave heights, run up hundreds of stairs, or crab-crawl while carrying the biggest chunk cheese you've ever seen in order to get to their destination. The race is definitely not for the out-of-shape couch potato.

So what does it take to compete? Well, unless you are already a fitness fiend, it takes months of training.

"We started training as soon as we heard we were accepted," said Wincheski. "We started in May and the show was shot in November."

Wincheski is a dedicated fan of The Amazing Race and has not missed a season. She told me that no two women have ever won and Season 14 promises to be the most extreme race to date.

"I can't tell you about the race, but I can tell you that's it's their most extreme race. There are extreme temperatures and extreme tasks," said Wincheski. "Christy and I knew that we would be challenged."

JODI AND CHRISTY'S PLAN

Wincheski says they focused on strength training. She worked out four days a week with weights and tried to do cardio on the other days.

"My boyfriend Eric used to be a professional baseball player, so he put the training program together for me," said Wincheski. "I told him I wanted to put on muscle and lose weight."

Eric came up with a workout which supersets muscles. Basically what this does, is work select muscle groups so that the body is working continuously to get the maximum amount of benefit in the shortest amount of time.

Eric's program had Wincheski working opposing muscle groups on alternate days. So on day 1, she would work her back, legs and biceps. Then on day 2, she would work her chest muscles, shoulders, triceps and abs.

In addition to the training with weights, Wincheski also did other activities including indoor rock climbing and archery lessons. But she also did some unusual tasks.

"My dad had a weird dream that we would need to climb a rope during the race, so we set one up in the backyard. You just never know and we wanted to be prepared for everything," said Wincheski.

Rope climbing was only the beginning of their random fitness tests. To prepare for the challenge, the women did everything from bowling to shooting hoops to get ready for the race. But Wincheski's secret weapon was her passion for beach volleyball.

"Beach volleyball is good for stamina," said Wincheski. "We have a court set up in the backyard."

I checked it out and she was telling the truth. The entire backyard is filled with sand. Very cool and definitely something I may do if I ever buy a house. It was like having beachfront property - without the ocean of course.

THE AMAZING RACE WORKOUT

Wincheski looks lean, strong and incredible. She said before Eric's workout, she needed to drop a few pounds and didn't have the muscle tone she has now.

"On Eric's workout, I got a lot stronger and I'm glad. There's a reason why guys always win. We had to build up upper body strength," said Wincheski.

She told me that after you watch the first episode on February 15, you'll understand why strength was so important. But until then, here are two of Wincheski's workout moves:

EXERCISE 1

STEP UPS:

Works: Hamstrings, quadriceps and glutes.

You'll need a sturdy chair for this exercise. To increase the challenge, perform the exercise holding hand weights.

Step 1: Start with your legs together beside the chair.

Step 2: Step up with your right leg onto the chair.

Step 3: Bring your left leg up and keep it bent.

Step 4: Step down off the chair, with your left leg landing on the ground first.

Step 5: Repeat the move again, beginning with the left leg first.

Do three sets of 10 on each leg.

EXERCISE 2

Building up core strength was also important. Wincheski did four different ab exercises to flatten her tummy, tone her muscles and build up core strength.

PHYSIO-BALL ABS

Works: Abs and rotator cuff

Step 1: Sit on a stability ball holding a hand weight. Walk your feet away from the ball and roll down until only your shoulders and upper back are on the ball.

Step 2: Lift the weight over your head. Wincheski uses a 10 pound weight, but if that's too heavy,you can use a lighter weight.

NOTE: If you are a beginner and this is tough, don't use any weight at all and keep your arms at your side rather than over your head.

Step 3: Slowly raise your upper body to a seated position on the ball, bringing the weight over your head as you do.

Try not to use momentum to bring your body up, but use your ab muscles. A way to resist using momentum is to raise your body while slowly counting to four.

LAST MINUTE AMAZING RACE TIPS

In case you're planning to enter the Amazing Race next season, Wincheski says it's not all about strength. Communication is also important.

"Christy and I promised to stay a team and not fight," said Wincheski.

They also studied languages and geography before the show, because they had no idea where they were going to be sent.

"I brushed up on Spanish, Portuguese and Italian and Christy focused on German and French," said Wincheski.

Most importantly, they maintained their friendship and focused on each other's strengths, rather than tearing apart their weaknesses.

Amazing advice, from two amazing women.

Party like a rock star

It's been a long time since I heard the five B's of 1980s rock, but on Saturday night they were all there.

If you're over 30, you know who they are. They are Bon Jovi, Billy Idol, Bryan Adams, Pat Benatar and of course, Blackheart - as in Joan Jett. The weird part was that they weren't just there in music. They were there in costume.

So where was I? I was at the Legends of Rock and Roll Fundraiser put on by TIRR Foundation, which is an organization that raises money for brain and spinal cord injuries. And it was - wait for it - totally awesome!

THE LEGEND BEHIND THE LEGENDS OF ROCK

This is the third year that TIRR Foundation has put on a fundraiser. Every year they are something different and just as cool.

"We were having it at the House of Blues, so Legends of Rock made an appropriate theme for that venue," said Brooke Reichek of TIRR Foundation. "The party chairs were excited about the rock star costumes and the theme in general."

I was pretty psyched about the costumes, too. Because where else would you find 250 people dressed up in rock star garb, mullets and spiked, overly teased hair? (see slideshow)

I swear I saw everyone from Elvis and Madonna, to Gem and the Holograms, to the bee girl from that Blind Melon video. It was a great night of people watching.

"The event is put on by the Junior VolunTIRR's. These are the young professionals of the organization. For the past two years, the fundraiser went to support Camp Xtreme, which is a week long overnight camp for wheelchair dependent children to make them feel like regular kids," said Brooke.

But this year's event was even more special.

"This year for the first time we are going to split the proceeds to support a clinical trial. There are two young girls who are currently in a wheelchair, but if their injuries are taken care of by the time they are four-years-old, there is a chance that they will walk and lead normal lives," said Brooke.

Now, those are two very good reasons to squeeze into leather pants and hot pink spandex.

THE BEST PART OF MY JOB

I swear I meet the best people in Houston with my job, and Saturday night was no exception. That's because one of the moms, whose child would be going through the clinical trial, was at the party.

She was dressed as Madonna in her early "Get into the Groove" phase, but her energy and determination to find a way to help her little girl would put the Material Girl's ambition to shame.

"My daughter, Elena, is paralyzed from the waist down, but from the waist up she's a tiger," said Juliet Porras.

Elena is only 20 months old, but she's been pretty busy fighting for her life since the day she was born. She's already beaten phase III cancer, met Lance Armstrong and has got the attention of some of the best doctors in Houston. Not bad for someone who hasn't even had her second birthday yet.

Because the cancer tumor was found on her spine, she's currently in a wheelchair. But her mom is determined to give her little girl the best life possible and thinks a neurosurgeon from Memorial Hermann and his colleague may have the answer.

"Dr. Baumgartner is working at getting the research passed so they can take stem cells from Elena's hip and introduce them into her spinal cord," said Juliet.

Taking cells from bone marrow isn't exactly going to be a happy day at the zoo for little Elena, but if everything goes well, she'll be in and out of the hospital before nightfall.

So Juliet has found the doctor and the possible treatment to get her daughter walking, but there is one big catch: It costs $300,000.

That's where TIRR comes in. With their help, she's determined to raise the money and spread the word.

"Elena had her first chemo treatment at two days old. She's already overcome so much and I know she's a fighter," said Juliet.

Yup, she's right. This little is girl is a fighter...just like her mom.

Gloria Gaynor is absolutely divine

If Gloria Gaynor is a diva, then I want some of her diva-ness to wash off on me. I had the chance to meet her this week while she was in Houston for her concert and she is absolutely divine!!

"I try not to be a diva," said Gaynor. "I really try not to bother anyone with anything beyond what I need that I can't get myself."

Gaynor may be a diva on the stage (because who can deny her incredible voice and stage presence), but when not performing she is gracious, classy and humble. In fact, when I met her at lunch and complimented her on her fabulous red printed overwrap, she was almost shy.

"Thanks. It was something that was easy," said Gaynor, referring to the outfit.

SINGING WITH THE HOUSTON SYMPHONY

Thirty years after her hit "I Will Survive" went number one, Gaynor kicked off her celebration tour in Houston with a concert. But this wasn't your traditional disco concert. It was special and something that was new -- even for Gaynor.

You see, months ago she was approached by Sean O'Loughlin from the Houston Symphony who said he'd like to create some special arrangements just for her.

"I was thrilled and honored for the opportunity. I had never performed with a full symphony before," said Gaynor.

The months leading up to the January 23 performance, Gaynor's excitement continued to grow as she heard snippets of the arrangements from O'Loughlin.

"I haven't heard it all together," said Gloria, the day before the concert. "I'll be hearing just a few hours before the audience will, but from what I've heard, it's going to be 'wow'."

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW, SOMETHING BORROWED...

"Wow" doesn't even describe the concert, and those who attended agree.

"This was my best night in my life. I have been listening to Gloria Gaynor for years and I still play 'I Will Survive' whenever I'm down," said Aida West, concert attendee.

Right from the first song, "Goin' Out of My Head," Gaynor had the audience captivated. She sang all of her hits including "Never Can Say Goodbye" and "I Am What Am," and then threw in a couple of her favorite all time songs, including an upbeat version of "Every Breath You Take" and Barbara Streisand's "The Way We Were." She even honored a young "diva," Christina Aguilera.

"Sometimes an artist does a song that you wish you could have done," said Gaynor, as she prepped the audience for her rendition of Aguilera's 'Beautiful.' "I promised you something old, something new, something borrowed, but nothing blue. Well...this one is borrowed."

But the song that blew many people away was Gaynor's version of "Killing Me Softly." Combined with the powerful sound of the symphony behind her, the song sounded like it was made for Gaynor's voice. In fact, the very first note brought the crowd to a spontaneous applause.

THE GLORIA GAYNOR MOMENT WE CAME FOR

While the concert was incredible, let's face it, everyone was really there for one thing: To hear the Disco Diva sing her Grammy winning hit, "I Will Survive."

Now, let me just say that before the concert, I was worried that the song would loose some of its disco power with the symphony behind it, but you'll be glad to hear, that I was completely wrong. It was even better!

From the moment Gloria started with "First I was afraid...," she had the entire audience clapping and cheering. Then, when she got into the verses, we were singing along - because why not? We all knew the words and frankly, Gloria didn't seem to mind. She was dancing and beaming just like the rest of us.

And at the end of the song, we couldn't even give her a standing ovation, because we were already were standing. It was an incredible experience and I'm sure if Gloria decided to sing that song again in her encore, none of us would have complained. Of course, she didn't. She came out and did a Marvin Gaye classic which was just as good.

BUT IT WASN'T OVER

Whew...you would think after a high like that, the night would be over. Well, not quite - at least it wasn't over for a few hundred of her fans who decided to buy a ticket to the after-party.

After the concert, the theatre transformed the stage area into a modern version of Studio 54 complete with a DJ, leather sofas and of course, a disco ball. While sipping on wine and cocktails, fans dance, mingled and re-lived the night by discussing their favorites.

But that's not all. Gloria Gaynor was also at the party and spent hours taking pictures with fans, talking with them and just being her gracious, fabulous self. It was a night all those who attended would cherish.

"It was a memorable night," said Jason Hose. "I was surprised that she came to Houston. And after tonight, I feel like I can do anything."

The Heights are so bright that I have to wear shades - or funky 3D glasses

Saturday night the Heights are having their 21st Lights in the Heights event and it's going to be fantastic. I should know, I already snuck down and checked it out around midnight on Friday night just to see what was going on.

I started down Bayland and wound my way over to Woodland. I saw a quite a few houses that made me go "oohh and aww", but they were nothing compared to one home at the end street. It was so incredibly lit up, I actually had to stop my car, get out and take a closer look.

"We've been watching them put up the lights for weeks," said one neighbor. "Every day he's added something new, but tonight was the first time everything was lit up."

THE HOUSE WITH THE LIGHTS

When she said everything, she meant it. The house, trees and even the bushes were covered with lights. My pictures don't do the place justice. You've got to go see it yourself.

"We have a mountain of empty light boxes. I haven't counted them yet, but we used between 40,000 to 50,000 lights," said David Jenny.

David and Rachel Jenny moved to the Heights in April 2008, so this is their first year participating in the Lights in the Heights festival.

It took them three weeks of working weekends and evenings to get everything done in time. And what is really impressive is that they used no net lights. Everything was hand strung, including the 8,000 lights on one of the trees.

"The trees were the hardest part. They are high and we had to wrap the lights around them," said David.

But David wasn't alone with the thousands and thousands of lights. His cousin Jonathan Wheeler also helped out and took care of the lights on the roof.

"It's payback for letting me stay in the spare room while my house gets repaired after Ike," said Jonathan.

While David and Jonathan were out stringing lights, Rachel was busy making the decorations.

"I made all the garlands and bows by hand," said Jenny, pointing to the garland around the door and the gate. They also have a suspended wreath hanging over the archway that took some engineering in order to work. The attention to detail is quite impressive.

"I have two back up generators in case we lose power," said David. "You'd be surprised at how much energy this takes up. It's around 10,000 watts of lights."

The Jennys aren't novices when it comes to holiday decorating. They went all out on Halloween and that's when the neighbors told them about the Lights in the Heights event.

"They described it like Houston Mardi Gras, so we decided to go big," said David. "I even considered doing the roof, but then changed my mind. It's a little steep and probably not a good idea."

David, Rachel and Jonathan had a blast putting everything together --from the red door, to the presents under the tree, to the nativity scene on the driveway. They even have funky 3D glasses that they pass out to friends to create various effects with the lights.

Jonathan let me try them out, and I must say that they were fun. I love the 1960s kaleidoscope and the starry-eyed ones the best.

But you'll have to visit the Lights in the Heights yourself to check them out.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE LIGHTS IN THE HEIGHTS

The Jennys house on Woodland is only one of the many houses in the neighborhood where the residents have gone all out. They have not only decked the halls, but covered everything with sparkling lights.

I saw homes with flamingos, sparkling snowmen, and even saw a home that had Santa fishing in a boat. Some of these people put the Griswolds from the movie 'National Lampoons Christmas Vacation' to shame.

But here are some guidelines:

1) Wear walking shoes: The streets in the area are closing to make it a true festival. The police will start bringing out the barricades at around 5:30 p.m. to close off Woodland and Bayland Streets so you'll be able to watch up and down to really check out the decorations.

2) The barricades come down at 10:00 p.m.

3) Residents are encouraged to park their cars off of the street closure (Woodland and Bayland) if at all possible.

4) If you don't live in the area, park on cross streets or streets parallel to the festival route.

5) Come early! Getting in and out is tougher the closer in you want to get to the route and traffic is heavy during the event.