Category Archives: M.Y. Words

Beauty Pains

Posted on by
Reply

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

Posted on by
Reply

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?

Posted on by
Reply

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

Remember Louisville When?

Posted on by
Reply

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

Posted on by
Reply

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

Posted on by
Reply

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