THE SCENERIO :

Friday night.
My younger sister & I.
Several glasses of cheap White Zinfandel.
A few generous ‘puffs’.
Posted up in the Penumbra Theatre.
Highly anticipating the performance of “Grandchildren of the Buffalo Soldiers”
Front row seats.
Center aisle.
*SOLD OUT*
My senses are on alert to the 10th power.
I peep how EXTREMELY close we are to the action.
So CLOSE, that If I wanted to, I could’ve propped my foot up on the stage.
So CLOSE, that I could’ve been an ‘extra’ in the play.
So CLOSE, that I started to feel a bit awkward.
So CLOSE, that I just had to mention it to my sister.
So CLOSE, that we both started to make ‘funnies’ about our potential dilemma.
Um, maybe front row seats weren’t such a good idea, after all . . .

Stage lights blared in our faces.
Bright White, Red, Blue & Pink.
The curtain opened.
The music cued.
The lights dimmed.
Enter stage left.
The main character took his position front and center.
Hella dramatic.
Florida Evans, Damn, Damn, Damn! Dramatic.
I looked at my sister.
She looked at me.
That’s when I felt it.
Slowing creeping from the “rooter” to the ” tooter”.
A serious case of the “giggles”.
Oh Lord, please not now. Not during the play. . .
I couldn’t help it.
My body shook uncontrollably as I doubled over and silently chuckled.
Tears streamed down my cheeks.
I didn’t dare look at my sister.
But, I could feel her body trembling too.
I closed my eyes for 20 minutes.
Consumed with the fear that if I uttered a sound, I would disrupt the play and be bannished the from Penumbra Theatre for life.
For a few seconds I almost stopped breathing.
I couldn’t go to the bathroom.
I couldn’t escape.
I was trapped in the theatre.
Thank God I’ve ‘baby’ mastered the ability to focus.
Thank God for intermissions.
I will never, ever get seats that friggin’ close, again.
Unless perhaps it’s a musical comedy.

*Exhale*

I will never be the same again . . . There is way too much to be said, but I’ll “cut the check” the best I can and kick this post off on a list of whys?

Why did I almost NOT attend the Ghostface concert because I’ve been to every show he’s had in Minneapolis and I figured I wouldn’t be missing anything?

Why am I OVERJOYED that I snapped back in to my right mind, at the last minute and went anyway?

Why was I in the front, front, row and he invited “the ladies” to join him on stage?

Why is that all I needed to hear and I never looked back?

Why was I totally comfortable, knew all of the lyrics and was pretending to be both members of Zhane when he performed Churchez LaGhost?

Why did Ghost and I dance together on stage? We bumpeded, we grinded. I did the “WHOP” the “House” the “Prep” and the “Booty Shake” !

Why did I put my foot on the speaker and bobbed my head like I was part of the entourage ?

Why was I not the only lady on stage but I felt like I was? Some of em’ was scurred to do their thing.

Why did I rep so hard, but still maintained my dignity and was hardly looking like a groupie?

Why did this most AMAZING moment go on for a good 5 or more songs - basically until the end of the show? I thought for sure he’d boot us off stage after one song. But he was diggin’ it!

Why did I capture the essence w/ these KILLAH PHOTOS ?

Why did I wake up at 5:00 a.m. with painful muscle spasms in mah legs because I used some muscles that I didn’t know existed?

Yo, Ghost ripped that shit on the main stage at FIRST AVENUE. The venue was SOLD OUT.

If you think I’m lying or over exaggerating - I’ve got WITNESSES!

Playboy did all the hits!!!!

• Apollo Kids
• Childs Play
• ONE
• Run
• Nutmeg
• Ice Cream
• Iron Man
• Be This Way
• Holla
• Churchez LaGhost

And on and on and on . . .

Oh and be on the look out for his new joint “FISHSCALE” coming soon . I’mma leave it at that. Holla!

I had very little interest in the benefits of wine, until I decided it was time for me to lose some weight. Upon taking inventory of my eating and drinking habits, I quickly learned that not only is it important to eat healthy, but to drink healthy as well. Beverages, non-alcoholic and otherwise can be loaded with sugar and calories.

Carb-a-licious cocktails, coolers & beer will have your waistline on swole. Depending on how much you drink and what you consume during happy hour, you may find yourself stacking up an amount liquid calories, equivalent a chicken & a biscuit dinner from KFC. Not to be one caught sober at a party; White Zinfandel became my new best friend.

With that being said, my appreciation for wine has grown - so much, I decided to take in a wine-tasting this past weekend. Sponsored by one of my favorite local rags, I found the event to be appealing to a hipster-chic, like me. With over 250 choices of wine to sample, I kept my glass on full, snacked on gourmet appetizers and chocolates, all while enjoying a live jazz band. It was cool like that and I plan on making a point to enjoy future “tastings”.

One thing I did take note of is that there very few brown faces in the crowd. It would be nice to see more us attending these events. I can always call a friend to hang out with me at the local juke-joint, but when I mention trying something new and different, I get a whole lot of hemmin’ & hawin’ or no response at all. [Begin PSA] People, don’t be afraid to break out of your comfort zone and enjoy what life has to offer. Expand your horizons! Tomorrow isn’t promised to any of us.[/End PSA]