Next week my Y is hosting a Fashion Show on the rooftop terrace of the Westgate Hotel in downtown San Diego. I have never been to a fashion show – However, I have been planning said fashion show for what seems like an eternity. My only thought now, is PLEASE let this week go by fast.

My entire work day is consumed by fashion. In the past month I have arranged for the poodles in the show to be tinted purple (I’m not kidding), sat at the hotel while they presented the menu only to hear the really rich woman who is helping us change the entire menu that the award-winning, five-star chef had prepared for us. I have also made traveling arrangements for Brody Hutzler who plays some guy on Days of Our Lives as he will be a special guest. I have also traded emails with Miss California 2005 and Miss USA 2005 Runner-up Brittany Hogan (no, you can’t have her email address) as she has graciously offered to be there as well.

I can’t wait to get back to managing my staff and actually focusing on my Y. But first, I have to go shopping. It seems I need a lavender-pastel shirt with a spring/floral tie for the event.

It takes hard work to look that good.

The San Diego Super Chargers are heading to the playoffs for the first time in 10 years (the last time they were in, they got their butts whipped by the 49ers in the Superbowl – but that, alas, was a long time ago). The city of San Diego has gone CRAZY for the Chargers. While I am a transplant and my allegiances lie with the aforementioned 49ers, the Chargers have been fun to watch this year (and they have the coolest theme song in the league – click here for lyrics and to hear it).

My Y is captalizing on Charger mania by hooking up with a company that makes bracelets similar to Lance Armstrong’s LIVESTRONG bracelets. Boltz Bandz are being sold in 7-11 stores throughout San Diego for $3. For each bracelet sold, my Y will receive $1.

Local media has picked this up and word has gotten around. I have done one TV interview and the owner of the bracelet making company has done a few others. It’s been crazy but I’m excited about the possibility of making some money to benefit the kids at our Y. After all, 90% of all the kids we serve qualify for financial assistance.

Here’s hoping the Chargers win – because when they win, so do the kids.

Overheard at my Y. A woman discussing group exercise classes with a friend.

“I was going to sign up for kick boxing class, but then I found out they don’t let you hit anyone.”

As I sat down at the table my Y sponsored for the event, I met Hong Tran. Hong is a senior at Mira Mesa high school and was being honored as one of 15 scholarship recipients from the PennySaver (a weekly advertising mailer) and the Y of San Diego County. She was joined by her three cousins that were also in high school. I had purchased the table to give honorees and parents a chance to come to the awards for free. I introduced myself to Hong who was seated on my left. We made small talk – speaking about college applications and her senior year as we waited for the program to begin.

Once the program started, one by one, the 15 honorees were called and asked to say a few words in front of the 300 people in the banquet hall. I glanced at my program and noticed that Hong was last to speak. As she got closer to her turn, she became fidgety. Her knee began to rhythmically bounce up and down and goose bumps formed on her arms. She nervously clutched her hand-written speech in her lap and glanced at it but she didn’t seem to be reading it. In an attempt to calm her nerves, I leaned over and whispered, “If you get up there and forget who to thank, remember, my name is “Matthew.” She laughed out loud. Too loud – as some people turned to see what was so funny. She didn’t notice. Her knee stopped bouncing and she focused on the next to last speaker. Moments before her name was to be called, I whispered once again, “Matthew.” She smiled brightly and as her name was announced she rose from the table and strode confidently toward the podium.

As she reached the podium, she unfolded her speech, looked out into the audience and began to speak…

“I would like to thank PennySaver, the Y of San Diego County, and Matthew…”

Overheard at my Y. A father looking over the homework of his 6-year old son:

Father: “Wait, is this all the homework you have”

Son: “Yep!”

Father (as they walked out the door): “Wait, you did this wrong! You colored this all wrong!”

A strung out looking woman came into my Y today and started talking to me and a colleague about a membership. She started the conversation as if we knew her and she proceeded to provide us with way too much information. First, she told us she’s had 13 pregnancies and, on the last pregnancy, one of her “tubes exploded.” Second, she told us, as if we needed to really understand that “I’m not a model or a hooker.”

My response to the second comment would be it’s pretty obvious on the first part. Perhaps she needs to work on the second part.

At the Y I work at, we have water aerobics that is popular with our Senior members. Recently the instructor purchased new music because they were getting tired of the same old music.

I gotta tell you. It’s pretty funny to watch a bunch of 70-year olds dancing in the water to “Who let the dogs out”

Who let the dogs out Woof, Woof, Woof, Woof-woof!

Nick Cannon works out at my Y. Very nice young man. Anyone who started out as a Nickelodeon regular is okay in my book.