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

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