Sweet & Mellow: Lady Day, Five Time Felons & Fried Catfish in August.

Tonite I eat catfish, fried chicken wings w/ hot sauce, crab-corn chowder soup with garlic bread and caesar salad . My greedy ass friend (who eats like a lumberjack, but works out everyday – unlike moi), ordered strawberry shortcake (homestyle), w/ vanilla bean ice cream and whipped topping. She tried to get me to have a taste, but I refused, only because I knew it would be too good to me. As a matter of fact, it was sooo good, she sprinkled black pepper over the top and mushed it with a napkin - to keep herself from eating the huge, made to share portion . We grubbed & eat up alla food ON TOP OF, Baileys and Grand Marnier cocktails, on ice.

And she talkin’ bout her tummy hurts. Geez, I wonder why?

During all of the grubbin’, a ‘local’ I know of, confessed to having 5 felonies on his record. Nobody was surprised by this. Not one person at the table was astonished that he would share this information with us. Especially once we ‘peeped’ his unkempt, bear claw, fingernails. His “crypt keeper” nail beds gave us plenty insight into his life of sloppy crime. Of course, he tried to make a love connection before the night was over . . . but I’m having no parts of a 5 time felony, ghetto, Chuck Woolery. No Sir.

Another more accomplished, polished and witty big-baller-shot-caller (known for his generosity and hot temper) went on to share how he blew $8,000 at the club one night, just tricking off at the bar. The cause for celebration was because he’d recently purchased a home and was now a happy home owner. Yay for him! I told his ass for all of the money he spent at the disco - he could’ve sponsored some ones college tuition, namely mine. A chick is trying to go back to school for Web Development and Electronic Publishing. Dang. Can I get a dime?

Keep the designer hand bags and shoes. Do something productive with your easy money and send a chick to back to school. If I was dating a baller, I’d have his ass pay for my school books and continuing education. Keep that Gucci bag, brother. Stuff my cap with some knowledge. That way, when you leave the relationship or your ass gets locked up - I’ll be that much smarter of a chick than when you met me. Knowledge doesn’t depreciate in value. That’s providing the Feds don’t get me first. No need in being a smart/dumb chic.

Now that’s “table talk” for your ass. Of course half of what was just written is a solo conversation I quietly had with myself. *wink*

In between words and solo conversations, an anonymous chap, seated out of my range of vision, initiated a friendly game of “The next round is on me”. . . Sure, we accepted the round of drinks, but the “Mr.Big Baller” at our table was not to be out-done. As soon as we accepted “the next round” - he was ordering up another round for the guy who just sent us a round - if that makes any sense. I could care less who was buying, so long as it wasn’t me. They could’ve battled all night as far as I’m concerned. *lol*

I’ve spent my share of time with guys that will spend good money buying drinks . . . but how about a round of groceries? I wish a brother would be like “Can I buy you a few bags of groceries? ” Okay, now I’m getting side tracked. I can buy my own damn groceries, but I’m just saying . . .

And that was best a chick could do for a Tuesday evening in Minneapolis. I was feeling sweet & mellow and melancholy at the same time.

So now I would like to share the following video w/ you . . .which really has nothing to do w/ my dinner menu . . .or ballerific aquaintences . . . but oh well.

Dig it:

Billie Holiday recorded “Sweet and Mellow” during a TV session in New York on December 8, 1957, about a year and a half before she died at the age of 44.

Crisp footage. Haunting too . . .