Fourth of April

Gemini:
>>Monday, April 4

Feeling sanguine about not being able to take definitive steps this very second
is about as likely as finding coconut palms at the North Pole. Still, this
isn’t to say that time spent considering the definitive steps that one will take
just as soon as they are supported (e.g., later in the week) would be time
misspent…
Today’s star rating: ***
Star Guide:
* Poor ** Negotiable *** Good **** Really Good ***** Stellar

Sawubona! pronounced (sow-bona) zulu for hello.

I’m not sure if it was last week’s American Idol performances (they sang songs from the 90′s and Nikko ripped Tevin Campbell’s out the frame) that triggered this need to hear good old 90′s music, but I took it back to 98′ this morning with two CD’s I had to dig out. Mind you these are not all time classics, but my ears desired the sounds of Destiny Child’s debut CD as well as Xscape’s, Traces of My Lipstick a.k.a their exit out of the game of girl groups.

Moving forward it’s a fresh new Monday afternoon, the time has changed and that means longer days. I’ve gotten some good good rest after a long weekend of pain and lack of sleep. Which I carefully unfold those details to you now, but in order for me to do just that I have to start back at Wednesday night when my weekend began.

Wednesday Night – March 30, 2005

Ah! America’s Next Top Model. I have to watch this before I go out on any Wednesday and this particular episode made me so upset, sad and scared for Michelle who was suffering for some funky skin breakout. Those witches (excuse my French) on their can be so cruel and I say that because many of them didn’t put themselves in poor Michelle’s shoes. God! If that were me I would have died from the very sight of my face breaking out like that. I’m happy Noelle got the boot this time.

So after a little being fired up by reality TV drama it was just about time to hit the streets and sing. I had managed to con a couple folks into going to Pornaoke with me.

(Pornaoke (n), Karaoke with Porn being displayed on a projection as one sings. (v) Singing cheesy pop hits to a shit ton of wham-bam thank you mam and chitty chitty bang bang in the background at a local dive bar.)

Kristin, David’s girlfriend who moved out here from Los Angeles and long time girlfriend Becky head over after meeting up at my spot for this new adventure and form of karaoke. I love karaoke, but this was going to be an experience for even myself. I think I was secretly just wanting to watch porn (sssh), but this porn was boring and actually a little bland and amaturish.

When we get to Pegasus Lounge it is totally a dive spot, which I was informed of before going. The crowd was rough for a karaoke group and their song selection very dark kill your mother type. You know the kids with all the black, goth like looks, piercings everywhere, a little clock work orangy or just plain edgy. I was digging it. One duo even screamed out, “This is for Terry Schiavo’s feeding tube!” Or something to that extent.

Becky and Kristin had already expressed not wanting to sing anything for the night, but I love karaoke and to go you must want to sing something!!! Ugh! I applaud them in any case for coming out because some folks won’t. Dayo made a short appearance and left quickly. It wasn’t his type of crowd for sure, but a small kudos for his seven minute stay. I wouldn’t ask anyone to put their health on the fritz either seeing there was a crap ton of smokers and little ventilation.

I had intended to sing Prince’s, “I Would Die For You” after years of searching for the right song to not get my ass kicked by the crowd. I was almost up when I told the guy to scratch me off and that me and my girlfriends were jetting out of the place. He clapped loudly and said, “Chickening out!!! Alright then!” That made me feel like crap because I usually don’t back down from the mic, but it was just no fun and Becky was ready to go to The Green Iguana.

So we leave. I call Muna who was heading down from Gainsville to hang out and told her the change of plans which she is still fine with so she heads over to the Green Iguana too. To make this long drawn out Wednesday night story shorter the Green Iguana was very under par. I really would need to go there again. Bland drunk folks and no real good dance mixes to get down on. Though Kristin, Muna, Becky and Myself did a considerable amount of dancing I didn’t even break a sweat. Poo!

Becky was really hoping I would enjoy her co-workers from the home Depot, but why would I? One gal she knew was also a 5th grade teacher with fake Ta-Ta’s so big Dave Chapelle would have had a fit. This other chick was making out with someone else as we walked in so we really didn’t get a formal introductions, but how can I like someone who comes to the club bringing so bull shat at work drama to the bar to bring somebody’s night down. Two wack thumbs down for that broad. Everyone else from the Depot was slightly normal.

Tis’ was the end of Wednesday night, but not mentally. Inside I was really missing old homies and partners in crime from Cali. Quar and Prince Harlem danced on my brain and I wished they had been there to bring the roof down on karaoke. To not care and blend in. I miss them so much. Our momma’s never knew and M&M never did get those candied yam’s, but kept the dead knat in the vinegar for the collard greens. It’s no wonder they won Steve Harvey’s hoodie awards. I set my boo-hoo’s aside for old compadre’s and went to bed. I didn’t know this would be the first night of sleep desparatly needed.

Prince Harlem, Myself, Muna, Quar at my old pad in Studio City. Such great times.

Thursday Morning / Afternoon – March 31, 2005

I forced myself to get up in the morning to do some writing for Gadling. I really wanted to make it to the Lowry Park Zoo with Muna and her niece Mia short for Timia (sp?). She had been talking about a trip there for sometime and I really wanted to go. I hadn’t been to a zoo in ages and wanted to seize this opportunity. I managed to get two blogs done and decided to get dressed and go.

The weather was slightly overcast, but it was still hot and sticky enough to make the animal smells cling all over you. There is not a whole lot to say about the zoo here with the exception of it being tons of fun and a great day trip. Using all my expertise on zoo’s and the countless times I’ve been to them I would have to say Lowry Park is one of the best around. So here is the photo journal portion of that day.

Giant killer goldfish on display at the zoo! So not…

You talkin’ to me?

Muna and Mia have made great friends with the bat and now they hang, sleep and eat upside down. Most spectacular.

My favorites. The lazy animals.

Pucker up!

Goats gone wild!!!! Baaa!!!!

Mia’s second photo appearance in the – Sike! Though you had a friend shot.

Two zebras play and catch a little nookie for the camera

So the girafffes are my favorites.

Mia looking up to something.

But assures me she is not.

Before the camel ride. I didn’t ride, but Mia enjoyed her first time I think.

Muna laughs as Mia bangs on the camel’s hump like a drum.

The camel’s name was Hank. Everybody meet Hank!

Go, Hank, Go!

The Southern American Bald Eagle just chillin’.

Deer’s suck! Hahahaha!

The snobby Flamingo’s. I swear they put them at the bottom of the Earth. It was hard taking a good picture of the birds.

Two turtles.

In the small aquarium part of the zoo. Look all those amazing underwater creatures! Is this what scuba diving is like?

A manatee plays belly up for the camera.

Now, what a cute little hairy mammal!

Feeding time!

And it’s so tasty!!!

Does Mia know there are huge aquatic creatures behind her? Does she care?

Some body quick – put on the Jaws soundtrack. Adrienne looks possessed.

I like this shot Muna. Very arty!

Fishy, fishy, fish…

A spooky turtle.

The sting rays.

And souvenir’s of course.

A worn out Mia.

Mia’s, I could be as cute as a teddy bear or as bad as an O.G. Right now I’m feeling like an O.G. so you might want to get that camera out my face. Capeesh?

On my way home I caught up with Monica out in California. She was at work, but managed to shed some light on a person who needs some light shedding on. We basically diagnosed someone I know as a passive-aggresive. And this makes so much sense now! I never heard that term before (well yeah and no), but my gosh! I would normally come out and put folks on blast, but due to the number of photos I began posting in my journal I will keep that name private as a number of people view my page. I have no problem with keeping things censored and private until further communicated.

After getting off the phone I checked my email real quick to find my editor, Erik Olsen over at Gadling was going to be doing some travelling this weekend and Judith had asked if I could could write more to accomadate him while he was out. This basically meant that I would have to write triple what I normally write, but I was cool with that. I love lending a helping hand. (If you wish to see some of the blogs for this time frame look at March 31-April 3. Most if not all those blogs will be mine. I state this as speople have a hrad time finding my posts on the site sometimes.) I then post a couple more blogs before getting ready to go out with D.

Thursday Night – March 31, 2005

Skipping past more boring details about writing, I get ready for the show. We were going to go see Ladysmith Black Mambazo at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center and I thought my grandmother’s Mr. Blackwell designer dress would be perfect. It is the same dress I wore to see a ‘Raisin in the Sun’ off-Broadway in NY last summer, and it commanded the crowd. Got tons of compliments which is nice and is an overall winner. The same happened that night.

I had mentioned to D that eating dinner before hand would work out best for me since I had to get home and write more for gadling, didn’t want to be up and wanted to try to get some sleep so I would work my 10 hour shift the next day. Besides I had only eaten a bag of sour patch kids and drank like three glasses of apple juice earlier that day. It is safe to say I was a little bit hungry, but I could put it off and I had to.

We left early enough to get something to eat, but headed to the box office to pick up the ticket for D’s buddy (we’ll call him that for now) that would be seeing the show as well. We wanted to meet him there so we could had off the ticket and grab some food. But there is nothing to eat around the TBPAC within walking distance and the show would start in about 35 minutes. By this time Prince A had showed up, D’s buddy from Nigeria with a deep sorta thick accent. (I’m not sure if that is the right way to say the name or not, but it is something like that.) He was a nice guy.

The show finally started and my was it a damn fine show. I had honestly never heard much of Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s work, but the sound they injected into your eardrums was just amazing South African sound that sent chills and goose bumps racing up my body. I recommend checking out a show if you have the opportunity. Their harmonizing and soothing voices almost put me at a sleep-like ease and I had only had four hours the night before.

Somewhere during the show though I started thinking about all the stuff I needed to do when I got home in order to get ready for work and do work. Luckily it was toward the end and the beautiful show was over.

Now the game plan would be to get some food. It was a little late and many of the places D and I had considered earlier were closed for the night. I didn’t really want to think hard about what I wanted as I just wanted to eat and go home. After concert socializing was a big no-no for me. Prince A mentioned eating at Churches Chicken which was fine anything was fine. He is the DM of the southeastern Churches’ and so that was groovy. Let’s go!

On our way to Churches’ we start heading through a bad part of Tampa off of Nebraska. D and I are following Prince A, who is from ATL and doesn’t know the area too hot, but we pull up to a Churches’ and I feel relieved. Sure it’s in the hood at night and I’m looking like P.Y.T, but who cares – Just want to get home! When Dayo and I try to get into the store which there are still two customers on the inside we find the door is locked and a little knuckle headed guy named Shanmarcus running this “GO THRU THE DRIVE THRU OPERATION” was waving us back to the car. Prince A just about had a fit here and at that moment I knew I was rolling with the H.N.I.C. He starts shaking the door, banging on the glass, and pointing to the hours of operation that clearly state the store is supposed to stay open until 11 PM. Shanmarcus comes to open the door and acts oblivious to all of this. (Apparently he missed the memo and hadn’t met his DM before.)

Next Prince A tells the young lady working behind the counter to spit the gum out of her mouth and goes through a series of work related questions. One of which is what temperature is the chicken supposed to be fried at? Shanmarcus said he didn’t know and ain’t nobody tell him. (Here’s where I get confused – isn’t that the only thing you do all day? Work around chicken? How do you not know this?) Anyhow, Prince A requests a piece of chicken and digs his thumb inside to find it is surely not worthy of serving to restaurant patrons. Shanmarcus will probably be getting fired soon.

This wasn’t going to be the Churches I would be getting my food from so we had to go to another one. Now as much as I appreciated this post concert display of a DM in Notorious B.I.G. style action I really longed to forget about chicken, forget about food and go home. I had never been involved in such and felt like I had been dragged into some sort of African Mafia like drive by events late at night. I was saying nothing during this whole escapade and I’m sure they thought this was merely an act for the lady as she deserves the best damn chicken around! Don’t they understand the tensions between those who were dragged to the New World and those who were left behind!?!?!? I begged God not to see anyone I knew that night. (Not that tons of my friends hang out in these parts of town or from there, but still.)

We arrive at the next Churches with a couple girls working the front counter. They had a little funk and were trying to use there girlish charm to calm Prince A during his late night visit. They actually made me laugh during a time I was wishing for the already undercooked meal at the previous Churches. How sleep was calling! 20 minutes later we get a jillion pieces of chicken and like 6 corns on the cobs. I had simply requested a 2 pc combo, but when you got the hook-up you got the hook-up. I couldn’t complain, but I wanted to badly. I wanted to save the extras and go home. And it was time to at this point.
We parted ways from Prince A and D drove me back. He ate chicken as soon as we got into the house and I started moving like crazy. I had so much to get done and D helped where he could before leaving.

I finished writing what I could and was in bed by 1:30 AM. I set my alarm clock for 6 AM.

Friday – Sunday, April 1-3

It’s time to start wrapping all this up so I will combine the next three days into the painful, restless days they became. I had booked a promo job with the IRL, Indy Racing League to work the Honda Grand Prix. I was going to involved in the Fan Experience. Luckily they wanted me to help with merchandising in the trailer between the two grand stands which worked out well. I hadn’t much energy at this point to go parading around getting people to participate in simulations and such.

The gal, Lisette I was working with was great in providing future promotion information. I would be working with her for the next three days. And over the next few days here is a recap of what happened:

* I started my period. Most treacherous little demon was late late which is not normal for me.
* I sliced my left index finger trying to cut some early morning oranges for work.
* I wrote and wrote what I could for gadling.
* I endured the most painful headaches the first two days of the Grand Prix as I had forgotten my aspirin.
* I learned that the sound of formula race cars humming and buzzing around the track does sound a lot like music, which reminded me a lot of the guy I like. I see why we likes fast cars now.
* I thought a bit about my ex. (I saw him two nights in a row last week, but remembered I’m not up for the Da Vinci Code right now. LOL.) Kidding kidding.
* I encountered weirdos and such at the Grand Prix.

That was really about all. It was just a long weekend with little rest which made me quite grumpy. I feel a whole lot better now, but i have to start working on my priorities. Which also means cutting some of the fun and games out. Now folks, my priorties are different than the way a lot of other folks do things, so if something sounds a bit wacky – that’s why.

For this week:

* Post eBay things. I want them out of my room!
* If my money ever come sin this week – go see a doctor. I need to see a doc? No money no Med insurance. Boo-hoo.
* Pre-post for next week. I’ll be in D.C.
* Keep looking for more work – mainly mobile marketing.
* Apply at the temp agency.
* Finish boot……….
* Birthday calls. Tons of B-days in April all of a sudden.
* Mas spring cleaning.

I have written way too much. I’ve switched to R. Kelly and “Keep it on the Down Low.” What a great 90′s song. I remember how I played it on repeat, wishing my own Downlow Lover that existed only in the far depths of my imagination wouldn’t get caught by Mr. Bigs. Who at that time would have been my Dad. LOL. I swear the 90′s was about affairs. I need to get going now, but it might be a while before my next post.

Sobonana masinyane – see you soon – zulu.