Bad Black Movies: Fried Chicken Monday?

Sometimes, you have to change the menu, so this week's Fried Chicken is being served on what would typically be a Red Beans & Rice Monday.  Actually, since awards shows tend to air on Sundays and the post-itis commentaries are most timely on a Monday, then we will go with Red Beans and Rice for $200, Alex...

Except, the BBW did not watch the BET Awards last night!  I was out to dinner and while every TV in the place was tuned to the BET Awards, we were seated outside watching the foot traffic.  And I left my cell phone in the car, so I was unable to follow the tweets and FB updates in real time.  And when I got home, I COMPLETELY FORGOT to tune in!  So, I guess no Red Beans & Rice today folks. 

Fried Chicken it is!

What I did watch instead of the BET Awards was Soul Food for the umpteenth time.  And after mourning Big Mama and wondering what in the heck happened to Vivica A. Fox's career, I then watched Jungle Fever--another movie that I've seen at least ten times. 

Now you probably disagree that these two films should be described as bad black films; however, before you accuse me of being a bourgie snob, I'll ask you to think back to the last truly excellent black movie you saw...

And I'm betting that your answer was Love Jones, which came out nearly 15 years ago in 1997!  (Take a moment to collect yourself because it has really been that long). 

The 2011 Michael Jackson Tribute

Of course I could not let this day pass without any commentary.  Although I am not wearing my special tee shirt as planned and I may not get to watch The Wiz, I just had to acknowledge the significance of this day.  It is the day that Michael Jackson became immortal.

I remember every detail of the day two years ago--the youngest brother was just leaving my house and I was headed to ballet class.  While packing my dance bag, the news flash came that MJ had collapsed and had been rushed to the hospital.  In the car ride over to the dance studio, radio stations were already playing his music although there were conflicting reports about his status.  In dance class, I was too distracted to focus and kept thinking, what in the world would it mean if Michael Jackson was gone.

And now we know.  Two years later, and I totally understand how Elvis fans feel every August 16th.  But instead of mourning, I celebrate!

The BBW Gardening Chronicles

I mentioned a while back that I decided to take up gardening again...which is totally insane given where my life is at the moment.  Like if I don't feel like pulling weeds, why am I planting more stuff into the ground?

Which is why I am gardening in containers!  And another cheat--getting plants that were already started at the nursery instead of starting my own from seed.  Yes, I should be ashamed, but I'm not since that is precisely the reason why they sell those pre-started plants anyway.  For busy folks like me who did not start their tomatoes in April, these will do the trick just fine, thank you very much.

Highs and Lows

So the Inaugural Busy Black Woman Hump Day Happy Hour was a success and I am still riding the high!  Again, thanks to everyone who came out and remember to be on the lookout for more events soon!

But, as I am the BBW, I had to move onto the next thing, which includes writing up a few committee reports, preparing for meetings, and planning a conference for the Fall.  Somehow, I need to figure out how to get in some time to exercise so that I can keep the love handles at bay. 

Speaking of exercise, I did make it back to dance class for the first time since the recital and thankfully, class was taught by a substitute who did not have too many expectations...not that it was easy, but let's just say that she was merciful.  And I did not feel anything until this morning when I went for a walk around the monuments.

For a moment, can I just add my voice to the chorus of Washingtonians who find tourists annoying?  I know that the city benefits from the visitors, but there has to be a happy medium between stopping the flow of traffic for pictures with a monument in the background and the economic boon we enjoy from all the crappy trinkets purchased and junk food consumed downtown.  Something has got to give--today I got really close to shoving a woman out of my way after saying "excuse me" at least 50 times. 

And speaking of shoving folks, I am not generally a violent person, but if one more person stands too close to me while I am trying to pay for my groceries in the self-service checkout line...

Fried Chicken Wednesday: Hugh Hefner

This is one of those times when I just need to come clean and admit that I cannot begin to explain my fascination with Hugh Hefner...

The BBW cannot explain why, as a life-long feminist, I actually used to watch full episodes of The Girls Next Door.  I cannot explain how I was able to use an article from Playboy magazine in a course I taught and not get into trouble.  I cannot explain why I kinda dig the bunny costumes.  And I cannot explain why the cancellation of Hefner's wedding to a woman old enough to be his granddaughter has me wishing that he would jump on a scooter and make his way back to Holly Madison before time runs out.

Does this qualify as an eight-piece meal with sides?

Chick-flickering

Now that my dance recital is behind me, the BBW actually has had quite a bit of free time on the weekends!  And honestly, I do not know what to do with myself...

So instead of filling the time with gardening (too hot), house-cleaning (too much), re-caulking the bathroom tile (too lazy), I have been watching a lot of movies.  Actually, I have been catching a lot of bits and pieces of movies.  You know how it is, you start off watching one piece of a movie, and then when it ends and you start flipping channels, you happen upon another piece of another movie, and the pattern repeats until you've spent an entire day trying to catch the repeat of the movie you only saw the end of the last time it came on. 

Watch Your Mouth!

The BBW is switching hats for a brief public service announcement aimed at a few folks whom I love dearly, but who are too old for me to put across my knee...so just think of me as your Busy Body Mama.

Because for the life of me, I cannot understand why some of ya'll (mostly under the age of 25), feel the need to use Facebook and Twitter to send out dim-witted stream of conscious rants aimed at your equally dim-witted friends.  For real...profanity-laced tirades about nothing in particular?

Here is something you need to know--no, you are not cool.  You are just an overgrown child with a dirty mouth!

Just Keep Dancing

On Saturday I did not make it on time to meet my team for the Komen Race.  Not that being late for a meeting is all that out of character for me, but I was really late this past Saturday for the stupidest of reasons, so now there are a couple of people out there who probably think that I am the most unreliable flake.

Thus if anyone who holds that opinion of me happens upon this blog, please know that I am only an occasionally unreliable flake...

Chalk it up to what I call the Newton-Murphy's Law to the Third Power, of which I am a perpetual victim.  In the BBW universe, whenever there is a day when things fall exactly into place, there are two days when everthing falls apart.  And it tends to be invoked when I can least afford to have things go awry.

Last Thursday, I succeeded in securing my trade name and registering my business without getting a parking ticket (which is no small feat in DC these days).  Then I got my new business cards in the mail, opened my new bank account, and got free mailing supplies from the Post Office.  I managed to get some work done for some clients, made it to dance rehearsal, and finished the evening with dinner and a couple of beers at a quirky Irish-Jewish bar.  It was a very productive day!

Home Improvement

The BBW has a confession to make: I live in an old house, so something always needs to be fixed and I love DIY!  Unfortunately, I am the Queen of Unfinished DIY projects...And I am confessing this now in case you hear the husband complaining about not being able to use the bathroom.

This latest DIY bender started when I broke my toilet seat back in April (not by sitting on it), but it could not be fixed so I went to my local Home Depot to buy a replacement.  Since it was late and I was on my own, my plan was to go in, find the replacement, jump on line to pay, and badda-bing, ten minutes later I would be on my way.

Except, as everyone knows, there is no such thing as a quick trip to the hardware store.