Get me to the Ghetto Carnival!

Thursday night, Bart and Anthony wrangled the gang together for a night of fried food, Ferris wheels and funions.
The annual carnival, held across from Turner Field, was up and running and we all wanted a part of the action.

I met up with Rosalind, still in town from Chicago on Spring Break, Genene, Kathy and her fiancé Drew at Mary's for a pre carnival cocktail. There we met up with the boys and after two drinks headed downtown. Once we got there the attendants said it was closed but after much pleading and praying they opened the gates and we flew in like we were running into an all you can eat free buffet.

First off I ran to the corn dog pavilion where I enjoyed a fresh out of the grease pit dawg. Then Rosalind, Genene and I headed for our first ride, the Bear Affair. Ahem! That was a super fun twirl and whirl inside a big furry bear in overalls.

After that I scarffed down half of Kathy's funnel cake. Mmmmm!

Then we found the airbrush backdrops where we could have our pictures taken. There was a little scurfuluffle deciding between the Sponge Bob backdrop or the Escalade. But we eventually decided Sponge Bob in phat pants was so much more ghetto so we piled in, corn dogs in hand (this was my second) and did the deed. The best part was picking out the frame! There were so many to choose from like 'Baller', 'Thug Life' and 'Big Money' but as soon as I saw 'Gangster Boo' I knew that was the one for me.

The kind men printed them out, taped them into the frame and slid them into plastic wrap. Done!

Next up was what I called 'The Claw'. This was quite possibly the scariest moment in my life. This thing swung back and fourth so high that you thought it was going to dislodge and fly into the highway. Not only did it swing back and fourth at great speed but it also spun around. As Rosalind was screaming I was dead silent. My hands were clasped so tightly to the handlebars that I couldn’t speak. I also thought my new glasses were going to plummet to an early death but I was too scared to pry my hands off the bars and push them back on my face. Finally when I thought they were about to dislodge I pushed them back on my face at super sonic speed.

When that damn ride was over I was a hot mess. We all were for well over an hour. I think my brain got giggled around too much so the only thing that could make it better was a cocktail!

The fair was winding down so we all piled back into our cars and headed back to Mary's to refuel and regale all the non-fair goers about our wild time and show off our Gangster Boo photo.

The fried food and whirling rides plus a couple of cocktails went to our heads so Rosalind, Genene and I headed back to Genene's for a super slumber jam.

Ghetto Good Times!

Hardly a Swan Song

Fay's last day in the South was a loverly one.
We woke late, did some work and headed down to Buckhead for a ladies lunch at the Swan Coach House, an old chandeliered, magnoliaed wall papered restaurant that Designing Women would of lived in.

The occasion was in honor of several birthdays to celebrate in our family, mom, my aunt, grandmother and mom's best friend. Another Estrogen fest and me!

I had lovely crab cakes and it was fun for the family to meet Fay. After lunch Fay and I headed over to the Swan House, a home built in 1928 by the Inman family in an Italian Palazzo style. My mother was a docent there when she was pregnant with me, no wonder I turned out like I did!

We took a lovely tour of the house and of the grounds. Afterwards we popped by the antebellum Tully Smith House where Fay went gaa gaa over the baa baa sheep. Then we found the gift shop (naturally) and Fay found my mother a faux Diptyque candle from some southern company with candle names like Hey Y'all, Thanks Y'all, Fiddle-dee-dee, and Love Y'all. And they dont smell like moth balls or aquanet. They actually are appealing.

Afterwards we headed to the airport for Fay to fly back north and I headed to the lake to start working!
Uncle's got a book to write!

Horses and Heffer's

Thanking our lucky charms none of us had a hangover on Sunday! We woke to a perfect day, had a quick breakfast and headed to the country to Serenity Creek Farm to see my aunt and uncle and ride some horses.

These swanky ladies had never ridden western or seen a real cowboy and today they got to experience both!

We took a great hack through the pastures and then my uncle Jim showed the girls how to cut.
He asked Fay to be a cow (Olivia said it wasnt that hard for her to pretend, OUCH!) and she darted back and fourth while the horse followed her every move. It was great fun and if I can figure it out I will post the video.

When we were de tacking Clyde, TJ and Spanky a tall, gorgeous cowboy walked into the barn sporting a cowboy hat, spurs and a toothpick lodged in his mouth. Both girls nearly swooned so Cator (my aunt) made him come over to meet the girls and his 'Well hello Ma'am', had them shivering in their boots. Once Fay told him she enjoys being man handled (can't take her anywhere!) I turned on my heel and headed to the tack room before I burst.

His ego swelled so much that when we were heading to the car for lunch he trotted over to the car and sadly asked if we were all leaving. When we said we were he dismounted and posed for a picture to remember the 'Brokeback' moment.

On our way out we ran into the wee Shetland pony who is being trained as a seeing eye pet. We met her owner who still has partial site. She was so sweet and very excited to be practicing with her little lady before she sadly losses all sight.

We had a lovely lunch at the state botanical garden, took some sun and then drove Olivia to the airport (after we stopped for boiled peanuts at a shack on the side of the road).

Olivia barely made her flight but we got her there in time. Afterwards Fay and I headed into town to meet some of my old high school friends for a drink. Good times and sore thighs!

The Beatrice in of the South

The girls came home, gussied up and we headed to mom and dad's yacht club for a night of green drinks and later green faces.
'Tonight we are Irish, tomorrow we are hung over!'

I dont think these Euro's had any idea how far Southerner's go when a costume or color is called for.
The club was covered in shamrocks and green streamers and every man and woman was decked head to toe in green wigs, makeup and glittery jewelry.

We started off with margarita's and kept rolling with whatever was green.

*Highlight*
The club hired a young troupe of Irish dancers to do a jig for us and I was not ready for six mini Dolly Parton's to come onstage with one cute little red headed boy. Check out that 'Interview with a Vampire' curly wig!

As soon as the jig ended we dashed outside to take some snaps with the sizzling southern sunset. Olivia have our engagement photo ready!

After an amazing dinner of corned beef & cabbage, bangers & mash, shepherd's pie and loads of peas the Dj cranked up the music and we hit the dance floor.

All the men of the club were asking me if I had switched teams after I did a saucy little number with the ladies. Have no fear!
The DJ busted out some Rolling Stones, Beach Boys and other classic hits that we realized are favorites at the Beatrice but these
people all rocked to these oldies when they were hot off the tracks. One couple yelled, "I remember doing LSD to this song!"

We decided to rename the club- Beatrice Inn for Golden Girls.

The end of the night is a bit foggy but we all had aspirin before bed and passed out by 11:30. Very not Beatrice...

A day in Atlanta

No tornado could stop us from taking a tour of my home town!
Oddly enough we never heard a wind sweeping or hail a tapping.
But Friday night the electrical storm was so intense that my Basset Hound, Chloe, jumped into my bed
and howled all night long.

We started at my old family home Jacqueland to check out the (wet) gardens. Then we headed into Virginia-Highlands where we found a Girl Scout cookie stand and loaded up. Hoorah! St. Patrick's day was already underway and again Fay started snapping pictures for boys and their beer.

After a boozy brunch we drove up to Buckhead so the girls could check out the original Jeffrey. They shopped and I chatted with old colleagues. A highlight was the girls discovery of Brookstone. They fell into the massage chairs while I shopped around for green tights for the girls St. Patty's party outfits. I came back empty handed but they didn't mind. They were in hog heaven!

We finally headed back home to get dolled up for a night of Irish shenanigans. Stay tuned.

First night at Hathaway

After getting fueled up at the Varsity, we finally made it to Lake Lanier and to my parents home, Hathaway.

After playing with the Basset Hounds and taking a tour they dove into the guest bedroom closet and found my leopard costume mother made me for the Noah's Ark play at church circa 1984.
Needless to say a photo shoot ensued.
They also had a good giggle over the turlet seat that my cousin painted in the 1960's. Now you can sit on Happy, Sleepy or Bashful's face!

First night in the South and they are in love.

Fay and Olivia head South for the weekend!

After my month in London and a month in NYC I am spending a month in Atlanta! Or Buford, Georgia to be precise at mom and dad's home on the lake.
YAY! The south for a whole month!

Fay and Olivia escorted me down for the weekend and we had a blast.

Mom and Dad picked us up and the first place we headed was the Varsity or as it is known locally, 'The Greasy V'.
Mother always says I was supposed to be born on May 2nd and dad took her to the Varsity that night. After onion rings, a chili dawg and pc I slipped out the next day. Charming I know.

So here we are feasting.
*BONUS* We saw a gaggle of prom kids either stoned and hungry or coating their stomachs for the house party. Fay told them she was a photog for a UK magazine and asked them to pose.
Amazing!

PHOTOS THANKS TO OLIVIA WINDISCH

Justin's Couture Kick Off

Last Friday on a very wet evening, Justin had a bash 1) to celebrate his Ecco Domani win 2) to launch his first couture collection of jewelry.

Held at Cipriani on 23rd Street, all the gang showed up to support including Chanel Iman, Lindsay Price (from Lipstick Jungle YAY!) and Justin's parents and brother.
Rod brought a special guest, Flat Stanley who even got his picture taken by Patrick McMullan!

The collection was presented on synchronized dancers doing high kicks. Needless to say I nearly jumped in formation.

We partied till 11pm then I headed with the French kids to Florent for a last supper at one of the Meat Packing Districts most iconic spots, closing soon because of high rents. We all almost shed a tear.

Then we headed to Lotus for Justin's after party where we met up with Amanda and a gaggle of drag queens and club kids ready to get on down.

I could go on and on but you can check out my piece on NYT blog here for more of the dirt:
http://themoment.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/10/line-dancing/

Oh and how do you like my new glasses? Yes, they really are prescription!

Minya's Baby Shower

The day after Dedra's blowout I had the pleasure of attending Minya's baby shower held conveniently at Brand Pimps HQ. Luckily it didn't start until two and I didn't roll out of bed until 1:30. I always forget that these types of things are just drop bys so peeps were swinging in at 4 and 5.

Minya and Molly did a great job of decorating en bleu. The DJ was poppin off some Sunday slow jams and Molly's finger food about did me in. YUM.

I got to spend some quality time with my boys Richard Martin and Angelo Baque who I rarely get to see. Err, at least sober.

There was a raffle and your tickets were the number of books you bring to fill up little baby Bodhi's library. I brought 5 because I gots greedy for a gift basket. I headed over to Hu-Man book store in my hood and got a very world-centric collection of Babar, Good Night Moon, I love Harlem and a Kuh-razy Jamaican/Harlem book about a goat called Hard heads make soft bottoms. Woah.

Good times were had by all.
Congrats Minnie and I cant wait to meet lil bit when he pops out and say 'Word' to the world!