"Does Your Mama Know About Me?" - Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers

Good morning peeps! Happy Day-After-Black-Friday! Let's come up with a name for it... How about: "Come to your senses 'cause you are broke Saturday?" Too long right? Anywhoo...my topic for today is interracial dating; inspired by two songs that I remember well from the sixties: "Does Your Mama Know About Me" which was recorded incidently, by the group that supposedly really discovered The J5; Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers. Included in the group was Tommy Chong of Cheech and Chong, who is also the father of bi-racial actress Rae Dawn Chong. The Supremes also recorded a version of this song. In the song, the question is asked, "Does your mama know about me? Does she know just what I am? Will she turn her back on me? Or accept me as a man?" Deep huh? He goes on to ask, "And what about your dad? Did you think of what he'll say? Do you accept the burdens, I know will surely come your way? Maybe I shouldn't worry, but I've been through this before, and I'd like to get things straight, before I'm knocking at your door" (Huuummm, a serial bi-racial dater). The other song that comes to mind about this situation is called "Brother Louie" by a one-hit-wonder group, The Stories. The intro goes, "She was black as the night, Louie was whiter than white, but when he took her home to meet his mama and papa, it was a terrible fight."  Now I ask you...have you ever been involved in these situations? Have you dated outside your race or ethnic group, and was rejected by the family and friends? Has your family rejected someone you brought home because of their race or ethnicity? Share your story; I'll share mine: I went on my first interracial date this past July, with a nice fella I met over a social networking site. He was of Irish descent. We had been messaging back and forth, and had spoken on the phone a few times. We had more in common than not: kids, gr.kids, a liking for 1950's blk & wh. Sci-Fi movies, Doo-wop music. When I finally accepted a date with him, I followed all the "safe meeting suggestions" and invited him to an outdoor Doo-wop concert in The Boogie Down. He drove from Strong Island in his convertable. We went to lunch at an Italian restaurant, then enjoyed the concert. I called my sister Rickie, to come and join us; she did. He was friendly but quiet; also generous...he insisted on paying for the lunch and bought me a tee-shirt. After a long concert, he drove us both home then called later to say he'd enjoyed himself and didn't want it to end. We are still in touch, but have had no further dates. He has asked but I've been reluctant; only because I don't believe in putting one's eggs in one basket  (WTF does that mean?). I didn't want him to think I was that into him...I wasn't! He is friend material, but no sparks for me. I don't think his race is the reason; it's me I guess. I want the butterflies in the stomach feeling we women get when we meet "that man." It didn't happen with him. Now, do tell!!!

"Thank God it's Friday" - Love & Kisses

Good morning peeps! Are you here? Or are you out shopping til you drop because it's "Black Friday?" I used to think that the term "black" is attributed to all things negative, in the media. For example, "black magic" is bad; the man in the "black hat and coat" is usually the villian in a story. Captain "Black Beard" was a bad pirate; however, next to "Good Friday", "Black Friday" is a good Friday! I was curious about the origins of the term because I had always thought (notice I didn't say assumed, and you know why), that the term "Black Friday" was referencing the retail term for turning a profit, since being in the "red" meant losses and being in the "black" meant gains. Well, it did evolve into that meaning. Macy's and other retailers designated the day after Thanksgiving as "Black Friday" to usher in the unofficial start of the Christmas shopping season. But it didn't always refer to just shopping. In the 1960's, Philiadelphia police called the day after Thanksgiving "Black Friday" because of the huge traffic jams caused by shoppers. The term spread to the mainstream after The New York Times used it in an article about shopping after Thanksgiving. Now wasn't that an interesting bit of trivia? I know...get a life right?

"I Want to Thank You Heavenly Father" - Alicia Myers

Good morning peeps! It's that time of year when we become mindful of all that we have or are. Although we should be grateful every day we wake up, we often tend to relegate our declarations of gratitude to specific times of the year. Thanksgiving is tomorrow, so we once again openly state what we are thankful for; unashamedly. I'm no different so...here are my declarations of gratitude:
As I stood in my kitchen this morning preparing pancakes, I felt a brush on my shoulder followed by a loud bang! The overhead light globe had fallen! It is made out of glass, but did not shatter or break in any way. I was stunned because it was so unexpected. I did not know the holding knob on the bottom was even loose. After I replaced it and screwed it back on as tightly as I could, I thought about how close it came to hitting me square on my noggin. Then, I thanked God that it hadn't, for it would surely have knocked me senseless! It reminded me how God looks out for us, even when we aren't even thinking about it. I am thankful for my ancestors who helped mold me into who I am; my immediate family (siblings, children, parents...) and my friends. I have made new friends whom I have never even met in person, thanks to this medium we call the internet. Thank you Stephanie Jordan for being my sister-from-another-mother/father or as we say, SFAMF. Without your support and know how, this blog would not have happened; you inspire me. Thank you to all who have touched my life in positive ways...Peace!

"Doctor's Orders" - Carol Douglas

Good evening all. I spent the best part of this day sitting in a doctor's office (not sick; just preventive stuff). Therefore, I've decided to make this blog about doctor trivia. Songs, TV shows, observations about doctors. I would love for you to join in with your ideas.

How many songs with "doctor" in the title or lyrics can you name? Here's what I have: "I pick, (clap, clap); names of, (clap, clap); doctors, (clap, clap); five a piece, (clap, clap); no repeats, (clap, clap): memba that game?
1. Doctor's Orders - Carol Douglas
2. Doctor My Eyes - Jackson Browne
3. Dr. Feel Good - Aretha Franklin
4.The Witch Doctor - Alvin and The Chipmunks
5. Doctor Love - Tina Charies

T V doctors ( Real or not):
1. Dr. Kildare
2. Dr. Ben Casey
3. Dr. Welby
4. Dr. Phil
5. Dr. Oz

What type of Doctor am I?
1 .I deliver babies. What type of doctor am I?
2. I get under your skin. What's my title?
3 .I deal with the male genitalia and reproductive system. I am called a____________?
4. My specialty is the female genitalia and reproductive system. I am called a__________?
5. I take care of the babies and kiddies after they arrive. I am a_____________? 
6. I get inside your head and prescribe medication if needed; I am a____________________?
7. I get inside your head but am not a medical doctor and do not prescribe medication; I am a___________?
8. I examine your eyes but don't give you the glasses. I'm called an____________________.
9. I fit you with glasses, after examining your eyes. I'm an________________________.
10.I charge you big bucks to make you look fake. I am a________________________.

Well peeps, that's my blog for today...comment, answer questions, add jokes or whatever you want to do, peace!

Best Wishes!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
I'm thankful to cross paths with everyone! Life is Good!

I wish you all a great Holiday, good food and fun with family and friends this Thanksgiving!
Just showing some love :-)
Steph

These tree pics were all taken around my neighborhood in the East Bay, Cali.

"I Love Music" - The O'Jays

Good Morning music lovers! Did you watch The American Music Awards show last night? You bet I did! I missed the opening and Janet Jackson's performance because I was watching the very funny Curb Your Enthusiasm on HBO, which I ordinarily don't watch. The episode featured Vivica A. Fox, playing as "the black woman," who performed a certain service on Larry David's character (he plays himself). Vivica is cursing him out because he wants to return to his wife, and accuses him of getting a taste of "brown sugar," then moving on...or something to that effect. By now, I was hooked, and continued watching the next episode, which was the reunion episode. It featured the cast from the Larry David created show, Seinfeld. I was watching this, when I saw a feed on FB from a friend, talking about some dress Paula Abdul was wearing on The AMA's. I quickly turned and caught the rest of the show. I still missed Whitney's performance...I don't know...I must have dozed or something. I did see her win an "International Award of Excellence." Is this a newly created award? Anyway, congratulations to Whitney. Here are some of my observations:
Thanks to Kanye West, Taylor Swift won damn near every award in sight for a female artist, including the coveted Favorite Female Artist of the Year, Favorite Pop Female, Favorite Country Female and get this, Adult Contemporary. Isn't she still seventeen? Or is that her "show business age?" Go Taylor; it's because of Kanye!...Jay-Z was introduced by his new BF, A. Rod of  The New York Yankees, and with his new muse, Alicia Keyes, he performed Empire State of Mind. He had the LA audience mouthing the words, and bobbing their heads. When Jay gave props to New York, I thought I heard some slight booing. Maybe it was my imagination. Anyway, enough of this East Coast-West Coast rivalry nonsense...kudos to the many talented people on both coasts! Speaking of Jay, his beautiful wife B, was conspicuously absent! And when she was announced as the winner of the Favorite Female in the Soul/R&B award (read: black category), the award had to be accepted by the presenters. Huh? Why didn't Jay accept it for her? I'm just saying. Curioser and curioser...when Jay gave thanks for his Favorite Hip-Hop award, he thanked everyone involved, except...guess who? Another observation: There was a whole lot of "channeling" happening on the show: Lady Ga Ga channeled Madonna, Rihanna channeled Lady Ga Ga, my Bronx home girl J Lo channeled Rihanna, right down to Rihanna's signature "eh, eh, eh!" Home girl danced and stepped up on some male dancer's backs, jumped off and landed on her celebrated derriere! Proving to be a typical Nu-Yawker, she got right back up...in style! As she exited the stage, she quipped, "did you miss me?" Go J Lo! Getting back to Rihanna channeling Lady Ga Ga: the performance was rather...please fill in the blank if you saw the show. She was wearing an interesting "cat suit  meets the mummy" outfit, but she has the figure to pull it off! The late, great Michael Jackson won at least two awards: Favorite Male Artist and Album of the Year for his "Number Ones" albumn. Brother Jermaine accepted the award like it was for him...LOL! Watching all the shenanigans made me long for "real music" "real singers" and, alas...the artists of days gone by...oh well.

EAST COAST * WEST COAST DIVAS: "Left Coast...Right Coast?"

EAST COAST * WEST COAST DIVAS: "Left Coast...Right Coast?"