Monthly Archives: October 2009

Remember Louisville When?

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Remember Louisville when?……

Oct09-6* Sundays at Shawnee Park was to be the place to be (the last thing you thought about was being shot, you were just worried about how cute you looked!)

* Grippos and Big Red
*You shopped at either Bashford Manor Mall or The Galleria
* Your parents took you ice skating on the Belvedere

*Screaming Eagles

* You got excited about Fridays in elementary school because that’s when they served the hexagon shaped Mexican pizza

*Robben’s Roost (you know you could move back then!)
* Someone asks about what school you went to, they really only care about what high school you attended

*Masonic Temple

*You only went to Indy’s or the White Castles on Broadway between 1 and 3am.

* Dee’s

*You traveled to a different state and people say they didn’t know black people lived in KY

*Some of your co-workers were scared to drive west of 9th street (some still are!)

*Velvet Rose


The number one way to know someone is from Louisville – they get offended if someone calls their city ‘Louis-ville’ or ‘Louie-ville’.   We represent “Lou-a-vul” baby!

M.Y.  October 2009

Objects in Mirror

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Have you ever seen a product on tv that you knew you just couldn’t live without?  Like the fitness equipment that has everyone losing 80 pounds in 5 hours.  They all look so happy and the before and after pictures are amazing.  Then you receive your product and it’s a cheap piece of plastic.  When you get on it, you don’t have the same fun they do, you lose only half a pound and in the end it collects dust in the corner of your room.

Or what about the product online that is guarantee to give you a bigger booty (yes, it’s a real website).  They show these women with plumb glutes.  The before and after pictures are very convincing as you see a sista go from flatback to thick thighs.  When the pills arrive in the mail, you’re disappointed to see that is just a bottle of Vitamin E with a fancy label.

Men, there’s something for you too.  We hear all the commercials.  We receive plenty of the spam email.  There is a cure to make you a better lover in bed.  You can be a black stallion and get your groove on all night long (and probably into the next morning).  The men that try it usually say either the still lack bedroom skills or even worse, ‘it’ doesn’t go down.  Their partners feel the money could have been better used on shopping.

Oct09-2-169x300It’s also interesting to me that every product seems to be the low price of $19.99.  Does that one cent really make a difference?  We are so drawn in to temptation and the appeal of it all without taking time to do our research.  If we were just a little more patient, the truth will reveal it all.  This is also true with dating.  How often have we dated someone to originally meet their ‘representative’ and then two months later find out who they really are?

Time tells all.  I have had the same experience when meeting some people for the first time.  If they’ve seen my competition pictures, they assume I am a massive bodybuilder with thick shoulders and muscles peeking out of every crease of my clothes.  Then mini-me shows up and they are rather surprised.  I am not bodybuilder.  I just workout. The person in the photo with me, Iris Kyle, is the 6 time Ms. Olympia bodybuilding.   I don’t think she has to worry about me ever competing for her title.  Objects in my personal mirror are definitely larger than they appear!

M.Y.  October 2009

You Might Be A Louisvillian If

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You Might Be a Louisvillian If……

Oct09-5*You grew up thinking that Derby Friday was a national holiday since you didn’t go to school
*You still take off work every Derby Friday
*You think the rest of the world cares about Derby weekend
*You pull out your high school yearbook and see that many males (and females) have gold teeth
*You still say “Showcase Cinemas on Bardstown Rd” when giving directions
*You were bused to school based on the first letter of your last name
*Hearing that simple beat of ‘Gangsta Walk’ makes you stroll around the room regardless of where you are
*Caddy’s (just hearing that word brings a smile to your face)
*You can name several US Presidents, but can only name one of your city’s mayors.
*You think Louisville really is the only city in the state of KY
*You still talk about the UL basketball championships of ’80 and ’86 as if they happened just yesterday

*You only go out once a year but still end up seeing all of the same people

Part II next week…..

M.Y. October 2009

Where Everybody Knows Your Name

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“Where Everybody Knows Your Name”

Oct09-4Although Louisville might be the 16th largest city in the United States, we really are a pretty small place.  It seems like no matter where I go I am running into people from my past, present and possibly future!

While sitting in the lobby waiting for a meeting to start I saw a familiar face.  It’s Coach Stewart, my high school athletic director.  He always had a jolly smile and the glow surrounding him still existed.  He talked about being newly retired and we went our separate ways.  While walking to the actual meeting location I passed Dr. Greer.  She is the wife of my high school track coach.  All of my memories of Waggener High School started re-emerging.  (The things you get away with in high school – wow!)

But it didn’t stop there.  The next day my co-workers and I all went to eat lunch at Cheesecake Factory.  One of them shared that his son surprisingly got married.  He said the girl was really nice and showed us a photo of the teenage girl.  I asked her name and said that I knew her.  He didn’t believe me until I gave him the name of her mother and sister.  She was a student at my elementary school when I first started teaching. (That made me feel a little old!)

Friday night, the Goodtimers had a party at Artemesia’s.  The owner told one of the promoters he knew me although I had no idea who the owner was.  I went to the party just to see who he was.   I quickly realized he was someone that I grew up with in church. (Those were my innocent days, although I am still innocent now. LOL!)

I think this was the never ending week of seeing people you know in completely different settings.  I also went to Spalding University to talk to some education students only to walk past one of the guys I see in the gym every day. At Noe Middle School a lady was picking up her granddaughter. She turned around and ended up being a lady that used to babysit me.  Then today, I went to Video Bred for a meeting only to be greeted by Natalie, someone I’ve known for over a decade.

It’s often a great experience to know that you have so many friends and connections in the area.  But at the same time – all eyes on are you!  Not too long ago there was this rumor going around that I had a “for sale” sign up for my house, was engaged and in route to Houston.  The rumor wasn’t spread my people my age, it was by people my mother’s age.  I thought it was interesting that not one of these women took the time to call and see if the rumor was true.  I guess I should have let it continue just to see what type of wedding presents I would receive.  Instead, I put the rumor to rest.  Boyfriend – yes.  Engaged and moving – no.

However, I am taking a trip to Houston this weekend – maybe I’ll just cancel my return flight and be a new face of Houston.  Naw, I’m definitely not ready for that just yet.  There are still a lot of things in this city that I’m really excited about and many people that I am still anxious to know!

M.Y.  October 2009

Sin City

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Sin City

Oct09-1I just returned from a six day excursion to Las Vegas.  Vegas is an experience in itself and like no other place on Earth.  Unless you’re a big gambler, the casinos can get old pretty easily but there are plenty of shows and sightseeing to be seen.  I’d been before, but this time I left with different thoughts.

Scary thought: While watching the news, they talked about a elderly couple that had been shot.  The man killed his wife then tried to kill himself.  They said it would be a homicide/suicide case – the FIFTH in the month of September.  Not 5th for the year or the decade, 5th in a month. Not a good statistic. (NV also has the highest divorce rate in the nation.)  I guess the saying “you can’t live with them, you can’t live without them” is true!

Smart thought: The next news story dealt with the schools of Sin City.  The kids were complaining that their classrooms were too hot.  (It was 97 degrees when I was there all week)  The PR person for the district was interviewed and said they just didn’t have enough money to afford appropriate air conditioning for all of the schools.  What?  Right after watching the news I walked down The Strip and marveled at all of the lights.  I could only imagine the electricity bill for the city.  Shouldn’t some of these hotels help provide air for the kiddies?  I’m just saying.

Zzzz thought: Vegas can mess up your sleep pattern. Being three hours behind is bad enough.  Then you go out to the clubs until 3-4am.  Here in Louisville that’s fine because you can sleep a couple of hours and get up.  But, when your body automatically wakes up at 6-7am (which is 3-4am Vegas time) your body is trying to wake up when it should be going to sleep.  I had to cover every single bit of light in the room, cover my head with a pillow and turn away from the window just to attempt to sleep a little longer.

Stomach thought:  Food is plentiful.  There is a buffet, discounted or splurge meal around every corner (sometimes all in one hotel).  We went to a buffet that had eight different stations (Italian, Mexican, American, Chinese etc….)  Now I normally wouldn’t eat crawfish, burritos, jumbalaya slice of pizza and sushi all on one plate but each item called my name.  Although I could barely walk, I also had to make room for chocolate cake and eclairs along with some ice cream.  Wow, I’m full just thinking about it!

Vegas is a great getaway, but it definitely takes at least a day to recuperate when you return to Louisville – Possibility City.  I’m not sure who turned off the heat in Louisville, but could we possibly turn it back on?

M.Y.  October 2009