Monthly Archives: November 2009

It’s All Relative

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It’s All Relative!

Nov09-4This weekend I went to an early Thanksgiving dinner with some of my family that came in town.  It was an interesting event because it wasn’t really my immediate family, but more of my family’s family (on the other side).

To my surprise, I received a Facebook message from James Bentley asking if we were related because he’d be attending the same event.  I knew Louisville was small, but was it really that small to now we are all related to each other?

See, my father T. Steve Yeager had a brother named Philip.  My uncle Philip married Juanita Gibson.  Aunt Juanita had a brother named Joe.  Joe married a lady named Tilly (my father was the best man in their wedding).  Tilly has a sister named Margaret.  Margaret’s son is James Bentley.  WOW-O-WOW!!!  So why we are technically not blood relatives, we are all part of one big, diverse family!

The event was held at James’  fire station.  James pretty much cooked all the food for almost 50 people, and let me tell you – THE BROTHA CAN COOK!!!  We had all the fixings you could imagine and the turkey just melted in your mouth.  I heard his wife Adrayna is just as much a champion chef!

I always get a little down during the holidays because I miss my family traditions and aren’t yet in a point in my life where I’ve started to create new ones.  However this weekend showed me that love and family exist in many ways.  The day before this event, my office had our Thanksgiving lunch catered from Huber’s.  It’s always great to kick it with the work crew.  I’ve learned to appreciate every Thanksgiving opportunity.  This holiday season, please remember those with little family or friends around.  Invite them to join you – it may be a small gesture from you, but it could mean the world to them!

Happy Thanksgiving!

M.Y.  November 2009

Beauty Pains

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Beauty Pains

Nov09-3I will be the first to admit that I am not yet a “girly-girl”. Yes, I have over a hundred dresses that I love to wear, but aside from that, you might as well call me a feminine tomboy.  I could care less about getting my nails done weekly, checking out the latest MAC colors or having a purse large enough to hold a pair of newborn twins.  The makeup I wear takes all of five minutes to put on- 3 strokes of eye shadow, basic black eyeliner and mascara – then I am out the door. My matching accessories are about as simple as my makeup.   I have a wonderful thin black bracelet I wear everyday (it’s really a black ponytail holder).

Every once in a while I will have to be grown and do ladylike things.  Most of it happens when I am getting ready for a competition or accepting an award.  While it is fun to look glamorous for a couple of hours, the process of getting there can be pretty painful – I don’t see how people do it on a regular basis.

Now, I am usually on a stage (in a two piece suit) in front of thousands of people.  So, the first essential thing is a waxing – below the belt.  Now while that area does stay tidy during the year, it’s only on special occasions that it gets fully serviced.  And that sucker HURTS!!!!!!!!  The women that do the waxing offer great conversation to try to mask the pain.  But still, my vaginal pores are speaking in tongues for those first several moments after pulling.  I often wonder why women would go through those motions on a regular basis – that takes a strong and passionate lady.

I decided to try something new for my last show – eyebrow threading.  My friend Jay has wonderful eyebrows and she referred me to the perfect person.  It was hard for me to imagine that a simple piece of thread on my eyebrow making a perfect curve.  So, I sat back in the chair and stretched the skin around my eye.  It makes this really weird chirping sound that is hard to explain.  It too at times is painful.  But when I sat up just five minutes later, my eyebrows came to life.  I felt like Tyra Banks would be proud!

I think that men may have invented most of these beauty tricks because no woman would make being beautiful such a process or a pain.  So, I tip my hat to all of the diva women around.  I admire your style, your dedication and your drive to stay beautiful!!!

M.Y.  November 2009

Parking Punks

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Parking Punks!
Nov09-2I had just finished one meeting.  I had another one an hour later.  I knew it would be a waste of time to drive back to the East end just to leave and back Downtown.  So I said I would support the local economy and go browse some shops on Bardstown Rd.

It was right around 5pm so most of the street parking no longer existed (no parking 4-6 during rush hours).  For some reason, I wanted to check out the store Pitaya but it seemed the most difficult feat to find parking close to the store.  After driving around the same block several times, I found a meter on Highland Ave at those meters where everyone parks diagonally.

I put my little quarter in the meter and knew I wouldn’t be gone for more than 20 minutes.  I heard it travel in the machine (clunk, clunk), but then noticed my meter still read ‘zero’ minutes.  WTF! I looked around at the other cars by me.  Some of their meters also said that they didn’t have any time.  So, I just assumed that all the meters there were broken.  The meters were free after six so I just knew they wouldn’t waste their time coming around again to check.

I went in the store, browsed around to waste time and left.  As I walked around the corner to my car I noticed the bright neon green envelope on my window.  I had hoped there would be this torrential rain all of a sudden or a burst of strong wind would sweep it away, but it was actually beautiful weather.

The little parking suckers tagged me about ten minutes earlier.  And I was mad!  I looked around at the other cars and realized that I was the only one with a ticket.  I saw the car next to me with an expired meter, but that car had nothing.  So the crazy thoughts started running through my head – 1. It’s racially motivated.  Why is it that only the black car with the black female in a black suit received a ticket?  Something doesn’t seem right.  2. There must be a hidden camera around somewhere.  I thought it had to be a trick meter and the meter cop was sitting in a restaurant across the street watching for the next dummy to use that broken meter and walk away.

After being pissed at the $15 I was giving my city (for a trip where I end up empty handed), I went on and paid the ticket.  I heard the city was putting boots on cars that had more than 2 unpaid parking tickets, and that DEFINITELY is not an article I wish to experience!

M.Y.  November 2009

Makers Love?

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Maker’s Love?

Nov09-1I had to interrupt my scheduled article in order to get some discussion going.

The Courier-Journal posted an article recently about a discrimination suit against Maker’s Mark by one of its employees that says she was told to discriminate against African American patrons and “keep out the darker element”.   I first read it online Friday night and was interested to see it in print the next day.

Bright and early Saturday I opened my CJ.  I looked for it in the front section – not there.  Headed to the Metro section – not there either.  At first I thought maybe it was all a dream.  It wasn’t until I was in the Business section that I located the article.  It wasn’t a headline for that section, if you weren’t searching for it, you may not have found it.

I’m interested to hear people’s opinion.  I will admit I am not one to frequent 4th Street Live.  Part of the reason is the way I have personally seen some of my friends treated.  Another reason is due to the conversations I’ve had with various promoters that have tried to take their urban professional parties there only to be turned down.  (Some businesses actually preferred to go out of business instead of giving our crowd a chance).

I do know that Maker’s has allowed a couple (1, 2 or possibly 3 maybe) groups to have their parties there.  However, I’m pretty sure that none of them were able to charge a fee at the door.  So, they were excited to take our money for alcohol but wouldn’t compensate the promoters that brought patrons to the venue.

I will also admit that Maker’s and many of the places at 4th Street Live are impressive.  I have had some great experiences while there. The location is great, the décor is great, and the food and drinks are decent.  So why is it that discrimination is always been associated with the location?  The fact that a worker is now stating that she was told to do this, seems to take the situation to a whole new level.
I can only imagine what Louis Coleman is up there thinking!

M.Y.  November 2009