”Please Don’t Hit Me”

Thursday night I went to Gip’s party at City Block.  I love, love, love to dance so I busted a move with a friend of mine.  We had been dancing to several songs when I glanced up and saw this shadow.  It was a big shadow.  And then I saw the face.  What?  Is that my buddy Mark?  I hadn’t seen Mark in over fours years and am shocked that he’s back in Louisville.  When he was here we’d go hang out at the movies and just kick it.  I always thought he was kinda crazy, but at the same time humorous.

I cut my dance short while I walk over to the area where Mark was standing.  Gip’s party was crowded by the bar area so I squeezed through some people to say hello to him.   “Hey Mark! Remember me!”  I nudged him in the process to get his attention.  Well I guess I nudged a little too hard because the next thing he yells is “Who the f$@* knocked my drink on me?”  OH NO!!!  He looked around and angrily repeated the phrase.  I have to explain who this Mark is.  Mark’s full name is Mark Henry, current WWE wrestler, formerly known as Sexual Chocolate. Brotha man weighs 400 pounds and also had the title of World’s Strongest Man.  (I can vouch for that because he came to my classroom several years ago and bent a steel cooking skillet for my students).  So, now he’s pissed.  I get a little scared and wonder what will happen if he doesn’t remember me.

I stand high on my toes so we’re eye level and say, “Mark, look at me.  Look at me!  Remember me.  I spilled your drink.  I’m sorry!  I was trying to get your attention.”  He looks at me with his mean wrestler look for about five second then smiles his wide grin.  “Hey, Kim! How are you doing?”   Um, yeah, that’s not my name.  “Dude,” I say, “that’s not my name”.  He then follows up with ‘Yeager, right”  Whew! After clearing up the proper first name, Mark and I caught up on old times.  I reminded him of the time he embarrassed me in Cracker Barrel. He actually remembered the exact phrase he’d yelled out at the top of my lungs for all restaurant eaters to hear (and then repeated it in the club).  I’m not sure if he ever got another drink, but I do know I successful left the party without any scratches or bruises!! And that’s what matters!

Derby 2008 Recap

My magic number ended up being lucky number 7.  Seven parties in one weekend – whoa is all I have to say.  Thank goodness God invented a bed because my bed and I became the best of friends during the day on
Saturday and Sunday.

Thursday:  Stop 1: Sherlene Shanklin’s party at Glassworks.  The party was in great location.  Guests received gift baskets and it was an amazing setup.  This is just the second year of the event, but I have a
feeling it will become more popular in the years to come.  Highlight – receiving a Jagermeister (“yeager-myster”) hat and t-shirt.  Absolutly love it!

Stop 2: Gip Palm’s party at City Block- folks came out to kick it with Gip and the DJs were jammin.  I always call Derby Thursday “Louisville local” night because you run into old friends.  Gip came through once again with another successful event.  Highlight – While dancing with one friend, I saw a friend of mine I hadn’t seen in four years, my buddy WWE wrestler Mark Henry.  I thought he was going to beat me up as I accidentally spilled his drink on him.  But once he looked me in the eyes and saw it was me, we were cool. Still big as ever, yet still sweet and friendly.

Friday: Stop 3: The All White Party at the Galt House.  This was my first time at this event.  I’m telling you, this party is a hidden gem.  I arrived at 11:00pm and the place was already packed.  It didn’t matter your age, everyone looked sharp as ever.  Highlight – Watching the Louisville Slyde in action on the dance floor.

Stop 4: The Goodtimers party at Kye’s.  If you ever want to know how many black people you can fit into one location – go to Kye’s on Derby Friday.  This place was packed.  Rain obviously didn’t keep folks away.  There was old school (for me), new school, and live music.  I even heard the Goodtimers have something in the works.  Highlight – hearing Darrell Levine singing Playa’s “Cheers to You” (RIP Static).

Saturday day – sleep, sleep, eat, sleep, sleep, eat.  I woke up right at 6:00 to watch the Derby.  It was the strangest emotion celebrating Big Brown’s win and then grieving the loss of Eight Belles.  As a true Louisvillian who has grown up with the Derby it was an instance that I never would have expected to happen, and I’ll never forget.

Stop 5: Grand Gala – OnyxLouisville receive a media pass to take pics of all the celebrities. You realize celebrities, although still beautiful, are much smaller in person.  Everyone looked their finest.  Highlight – seeing Renee Murphy’s husband, Keith, dressed to the nine in his suit.  Go Keith go!
Stop 6: Kris Rob/400 Club party at the Water Tower.  This was another wonderful location for a party where everyone was having a good time.  VIP was at it’s best.  Highlight – being reunited with many of the
models from the Louisville Shine fashion show.

Stop 7: Gaskins/JRP party at the Museum of Arts and Craft.  I’d never been to this facility and it’s somewhere worth visiting in your Louisville lifetime.  There were three floors of action. Folks were surrounded by art and feasted on sushi. Highlight – watching DJ Que do what he always does, but this time dressed to the nine in a tux!

M.Y. May 2008