I love a good skat

I like Al Jarreau, I really do. Y’know, he’s one of those artists that you don’t realize how much you really like until you’re sitting there listening to him in concert. We went to see him last night, the hubby and I. Hubby really, really likes him, has ever since our college days. I remember him serenading me with Jarreau’s “Tenderness” album on more than one occasion (he’d probably deny it on pain of death now…lol).

So we dressed up, I was understated Manhattan chic and looking as fine as I wanted to (hey, it’s my story, I’ll tell it how I please!). Anywho, we dropped the kids off with our neighbors (Louis if you’re reading this, you guys rock!) and headed out to New Brunswick. It was bitter cold too but we were gonna hit the town or go out trying…lol. The funny thing is if you know Al, he’s kind of an eclectic mix of Bill Cosby and Smoky Robinson and he just doesn’t give a damn. I mean the man’s been around since the 70’s, he’ll say what he pleases, when he pleases, how he pleases. He had us rolling; all talking up in between songs and stuff, calling people out in the audience and just strutting around the stage like it wasn’t nothing but a thang. And the man can skat…when he starts making those noises with his mouth, I still can’t figure out how he does it?

It was a really nice evening out; we were definitely out of our generational element judging by the sea of salt-and-pepper heads bobbing around us. Why do old folks always try to act like they’re distinguished and important? Just milling around in their 3-piece suits, fedora’s and fancy furs acting like their sh** don’t stink?

But I digress, as I said, it was a really nice evening out and I discovered that I really, really like Al Jarreau. So what did you do this weekend?

Food Coma

Oh my God…Thanksgiving food coma. Like seriously, I woke up this morning, still full. I’m sluggish, bloated and I swear I’ve gained 5 pounds. And do you know the worst? I’m not done yet…oh hell to the no, lol. There is a half a chocolate cake (with cream cheese frosting!), leftover sweet potatoes and stuffing and at least a half a pint of ice cream with my name on it. I refuse to step on the scale and there will be no talk of the gym. The hubby has taken the RR’s to Chuck E. Cheese and to run a few errands and I’m here at home, under the premise that I need to do laundry. In reality, I’m too full and bloated to fit into any of my clothes, and too damn exhausted to move. Today, I am a total couch potato with no remorse. Roll me over and stick me with a fork, I’m done.

Oh and about Black Friday? You can put that where? Right back there.

G1 anyone?

So I know people just wanna throw up when I talk about how wonderful my hubby is but I’m sorry to say I’m at it again. Now, what did he do you ask?

That man went out and bought me the new G1 phone by T-Mobil…in white nonetheless. I mean, I am not a phone person. Like, literally, if it rings and I can answer it, I’m good. But I have to admit, this phone is off the hookilicious!!! (made that up, right then and there). I have never, I repeat, never had a gadget do the things this phone does (mmm-hmmm, not even that one). I could literally throw out my computer. I mean I can practically one-touch everything. I can get to my email, my bank account, facebook, GPS…you name it, one touch and I’m there. It’s got a full QWERT keyboard which is actually quite easy to use considering the small keys. It’s always online, no looking for hot-spots or Wi-fi and all that stuff so Internet is always at your fingertips and the connection is very good so no dropped service. I mean, I gotta tell y’all, this phone totally does it for me…just like the hubby. Aight, I’m off to go find out what other amazing things it can do…

My-geria

My RR's are still not over their vacation and insist at every turn that they want to go back. RR#1 cried at every turn for about a week and RR#2 loudly proclaimed to anyone who would listen: "Gwanpaw's in My-geria, I going to My-geria!" - read, Nigeria.

They've picked up quite an ensemble of local colloquialisms, if you can imagine the following said in the deep slightly guttural Nigerian accent: "Ah, ah!", "see me trouble o!" and my personal favorite "abeg go jo!". And the thing is that I would actually be ready to take them half seriously if they didn't dissolve into gut-wrenching, hysterical laughter every time they said them. It's like, to them, the words are so unbelievably silly, they couldn't possible hold any real meaning right? And the funny thing is that I kind of get that...considering the range of gesticulations and facial expressions that usually accompany the phrases.

And to make matters worse, I actually do use those phrases with them, often in all seriousness and where do you think that gets me? Zip. Eat your food, jo! Stop that, ah-ah?! Abeg, move, jo! All result in fits of hysterical laughter. So I'm going to have to find some new threats and phrases that will actually resonate in their tiny, warped little minds. Spanglish perhaps? J/k...lol.

A Beautiful Day

Oh, it's a beautiful day. Today I woke up feeling so high, so elated, I literally floated out of bed. I mean, granted, I just came back from a three week vacation, extremely refreshed. And…Obama's heading to the White House…I mean, that alone. But there's something else, I can't quite put my finger on it. And all the usual factors that tend to get to me – my weight, school, work, they're all still there, all still worrisome. I don't know, maybe I'm just getting older and a little more grateful for the little things in life (like how RR#2 has picked up the term "see me trouble o, ah-ah!" after three weeks in the Motherland)? Or maybe it's the holidays? I love the holidays with all the hustle and bustle…I don't know. And why do I have to find out why I'm happy anyway? Why can't I just be freaking happy for no darn reason? I can see it now: "RED ALERT!! RED ALERT!! Happy for no apparent reason" …lol. Anyway, I'll run with it for now and if I figure it out, I'll let you know. In the meantime, enjoy some of my vacation pictures:

At Bar Beach on Lagos Island

Me being silly at the beach...did someone say "Top Model"?

Cooking a pot of rice on open firewood...it's all about the experience right?

Chilling at one of the newer spots in Lagos- Barcelos. Ok, I felt a little skinny here too...lol.

At the Balogun Marketplace...insane!