And so went the summer

There I was sitting on my bed looking directly inside my closets. I looked up and saw all the boxes on the shelves, the laundry basket, and Oh-My-Goodness…. Summer clothes!!!! It occurred to me that I’ve been wearing gym/workout clothes ALL SUMMER LONG. How did that happen? I need to correct this ASAP. While it’s been great that I’ve been lifting and running, but what’s the point of having those dresses and heels in the closet? It was another reminder that I need to get OUT. It’s been a challenging summer. But I’m making sure I get more glam before it’s over. Calendar is out and I am scheduling dates. HOLLA at me if you want hang out. But more importantly, holla at me if you need a gorgeous star in your life. There’s enough sunshine for everyone, people!

As I remembered him

Second grade. 1984. I remember MJ collecting grammy awards. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. It wouldn’t stop. My brother and I were glued to the TV, thanks to my mom who was just as big a fan as us.

The next day at school, that’s all we talked about: Michael this, Michael that. We were imitating his moves and just spoke his glory.

A few weeks ago I joked about how I want a summer boyfriend (yeah, I know. you are dying to know who it is. So am I.) and one of the requirements was for him to move like Michael did. And particularly the way he did in this video with his brothers:

You bet I want my man to move like Michael

I’m not sure what to say about his death.

We live.

We die.

I’m sorry he had to leave us so young. And I am not going to dwell in his struggles. He had a LOT of fame and glory and success. He made so many people happy with his music. Just timeless and classic hits after hits. And with his fame came problems. I’m sorry he never really got to enjoy and truly be a kid when he was a kid. I don’t know. Maybe he did have some  fun. I am not a Jackson insider. I didn’t grow up with them. I hope he was able to LIVE life in some way that made him truly happy. His music added so much joy to my life and others in this world, it’s only right that he had the same.

I never had a MJ jacket but I DID have a doll! (Thanks Mommy!)

I should have kept it. I have NO idea where it. And my posters. But that was my boyfriend in a box. Yep. My honey!

R.I.P. Baby!

Did I mention that I do NOT work here?

There I was standing, minding my business, at the self-check kiosk at the library. I have 2 tote bags, one on each side. As I was trying to figure out why the machine wasn’t working a young girl (teen bopper) came up to me and she says:

“Excuse me, do you know where I can find black books, like, Eric Jerome Dickey?”

I gave her this “are you kidding me?” look and said, “I’m sorry but I do NOT work here.”

But really, was she serious?!? CLEARLY I was at the CHECK OUT counter. And “Black Books?” WHAT THE …

Still shaking my head. And I wanted to SHAKE her and tell her to GET A CLUE!

and I’m back!

you know what? i really have nothing to say right now.

i know. it’s tragic.

Leaving on a jet plane

 

OK. I am not exactly leaving on a jet plane but I am going through some changes. While I understand I probably don’t have a large audience , I continue to believe there are those who believe (in me) and actually look forward to my posts. 

And I thank you for your support. 

I’ll be back with posts and great news to share. Change can uncomfortable but it sure is good for the soul.

just thinking

at this exact moment. … i want to pack a bag and leave this joint. i want to be on a beach. …laying on the HOT sand wondering why i didn’t bring a towel to lay on (i forgot to bring one because i was so excited to be there). i want to just lay on the beach with a gallon of water  on my left side (just in case i begin dehydrating from the vodka-base drinks that i had the night before) … and i want to wear a simple bathing suit and wear my sun glasses and i want to pour on SPF 45 on my body and just lay there … i want to reach for the first magazine in the pile on my right side. … (a vintage honey mag or vintage vibe or super vintage source. i’m feeling nostalgic at this point) …. and i want to start reading and look up from it and check the scene  and think how about blessed i am to be here …. and then i look back down and keep reading about some amazing upcoming artist …. then i fall asleep. … for only like 20 mins but when i wake up, i want it to feel like 8 hours. 

i just want to pack a bag and LEAVE.

Shopping around

So it turns out that the better deal for my swim lessons is at the yMca not yWca.

There is a class that starts in March but it begins on the same day that I start 5 week radio skills class. But I am not discouraged. In the meantime I am going to keep working out and increasing my cardio workouts. Buy the time I catch the next round of classes, I will be more ready.

The battle not yet won

Dear friends,

The quest for fitting in a full Anthropologie outfit continues and so do the days of our lives. …



I was on my way to Radio City last week and stopped by the store at Rockefeller Plaza.  Foolishly I tried on the SAME ring (I tried on back when) thinking that things change.

No.

No they don’t.  I’m here to tell you. The ring was now 60% off and the finger said, “Oh, hail-to-the-naw Kat. Your finger has not trimmed any bone.”


It was a self-inflicted wound. So I turn around to move on. I looked at the spring outfits hanging on the antique rack and said, (OUT LOUD), “One day, one sweet day. … I will fit in a dress in this store. Or even a shirt without struggle. …. No longer will I only purchase candles and books and stationery and door knobs, I hope to install in my first home.”  …

No, my friends, Kat will be deck out in an Anthropologie outfit and you’ll look at me and say, “Uhh … you were agonizing over this outfit?” 



The summer belongs to me. The waistline may not be ready for Anthropologie. That might call for extreme measures such as me looking like a waif or anorexic. And I love myself too much to look like bones. But my waist will be ready for pretty dresses and ONE-piece bathing suits. Stay tuned!!

Sincerely,

Me

Caught up in the Rapture of …

“It’s been you all the time,” he said.

“Really,” I asked. I could not believe how close we were.

Actually he told me he wasn’t interested.

And he told me we could get at it another time.

So I jumped him and said the time is NOW.

 

Ha! Kidding ….

There was no guy. And there was no heart-stopping, passionate moment of love making. It was “just me” drumming up a chapter in my head while I was on my way to see Ms. Anita Baker at Radio City Music Hall. She’s an angel. … Right now I’m waiting for the concert to begin.

*          *          *          *

Oh man…. I thought I wasn’t the only one attending the show solo. I was under the impression that this lady, a seat over to my left, was here alone, too, but her friend just arrived. Surely there is someone in this building who said to themselves, like I did, “Anita Baker is going to be in town, and I will be there to greet her!”

Right?

Well, let me sit back and not pose with this blackberry. I’m certain people are dying to talk to me ; ) … I’ll continue with post show analysis on my way home. 

(Okay the neon stirrer in everyone’s $20 cocktail is way too much. I hope the drink doesn’t taste as tacky as it looks.)

 

 

 

It’s funny how the audience swells up to capacity within moments of show time.

Wait. Before I go … I just saw a man who looked JUST like Frankie Beverly (& Maze) sipping on what looked like cran & vodka. … But Frankie seems like a Hennessy man, or cognac, if you will, and he would not be chillin’ on the 2nd floor mezzanine level. It will be VIP for the legend, thank you very much. But this Frankie Beverly -look-a-like is, without question, a salt & pepper haired stunner.

(Okay. Really. The neon stirrer should be banned. Looks something used in a fed raid ….)

*          *          *          *

Me and Anita Baker … Kindred spirits, I tell you.

She looked gorgeous on stage.

Her makeup (and yes I know where I sitting lol) …  the eye shadow on her lids gave her this smokey, sultry look. Skin was flawless. She looked like she walked off the set of a 1986 video set. Seriously. I don’t think she aged at ALL!

Ms. Baker told us she just turned 51!

I shouted, “You a lie!”

She wore a black v-necked wrap dress with slits around the shoulder and arms for added sexiness. And a little ruffle on the front. She wore heals. I want to say silver because they had some glitter and shine from this bird’s eye view. Her smile had enough watts to brighten a room. 

The stage was her ballroom. Oh, the way she moved around gracefully. It was comfort watching her. I felt as though I was home with my Aunt Anita and she was telling me incredible stories about love.

Love.

My goodness. …  Each and every song made you want to be in love or feel love. Or just simply BE the definition of love and give it to someone. 

And did I mention she invited more company? Picture it: You’re home with that favorite aunt, or your mom, or friend who is Anita … And she’s talking and telling you about “back in the day.” That’s how it felt.  Then the door knocks. So Aunt Anita would tell me,

“Kat, baby, get the door for me.”

As she takes care of something in another room, I open the door and turn breathless. Tyrese is looking down at me.

 

 

“I want you to meet a good friend of mine,” she would tell me.  … Tyrese came over to sing “Lately” …

{Lately … have I told you I loved you? Have I told you you still mean the world to me?} 

Tyrese was fabulous. Evolving … Aunt Anita told him she wished she wrote those lyrics.

Imagine that.

That’s like Dorothy Parker or Joan Didion saying, “Oh, Kat, I wish I wrote that line in the piece you wrote back then.”

Yeah. I know.

While he was doing a little crooning with the ladies by the stage, Aunt Anita started singing some of his song and he just stopped. You could tell she took him by storm. He was like a little boy while watching her sing, so captivated by her voice — like we ALL were.

Her band and back-up singers were pure and organic. You have to love LIVE music just for that. It was totally unsaturated.

Anita Baker is Grace. Love. Soul. Laughter.

Closing time is always hard but Aunt Anita left me with some powerful reminders and stories of triumph. I left reminded that love makes you feel like You Can! …. Love is not demanding. It’s easy, yet it’s so hard. Love is unconditional. And love. … Love inspires. Inspires you to do something …

Who knew she could swim like that. …

This morning I decided to take the FIRST step in reaching my goal of learning how to swim. I went to the YWCA and had a nice conversation with the aquatic director Bruce.  We talked about why it was important for me to take lessons. …. We talked about whether or not I preferred a man or woman coach. … and what would work best with my schedule.  We also talked about why I wanted to take lessons privately. I am also lucky to have a grad school friend who is committed to helping me reach this goal. 

There are many reasons why I want to learn how to swim besides the fact I believe it’s extremely important for EVERYONE to know the basics.  I think it will easily help me shave the extra pounds I want to lose and put me in leaner conditions. … but more importantly it will help increase my confidence level. I feel this incredible strength just envisioning myself in the pool doing laps. One day when I become a mother, it’s really important that my child gets in the pool early. And I want to be the one who is in the pool helping him or her. I want them to be able to lean on me. There’s something else that’s important to me … I want to be an advocate of getting more young black kids and babies on the track of becoming a swimmer. And how can I do any of that if I do not know how to swim myself? 

Well, it’s too late to become that Olympic swimmer.  But it’s not late to become that beginner and intermediate swimmer : ) … and maybe advance swimmer with the will and faith I have. Let’s see where I dare to go as I dare to live those dreams and reach those goals. 

I have to let go of some things before I get in the pool  …