430: A night of Bliss with Maxwell.

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Well y'all, Friday, November 14 was my special night out.

I went to Greensboro to attend the concert of one of my favorite artists, Maxwell.

The show was won-der-ful!

Maxwell sounded a little hoarse but that didn't stop him from bringing the house down.

It had been quite a while since I'd had the pleasure of seeing him in concert, and like his other fans I had been missing him something awful.

We had relocated since I last saw him; several times over the past few years I've wondered if he would ever perform in our new town.

When I found out he had a show planned for November 14 in Greensboro I was torn. On the one hand, I was willing to drive up to 100 miles to hear Maxwell sing. On the other hand, I was wishing he was coming here and concerned that I would make a 75-mile drive to sit in a crappy seat.

In my home town, his tickets would sell out in a few hours. For several shows.

Miraculously, even though I wasn't even aware of his tour until four hours after tickets went on sale for my show, I was able to get an up-close seat.

Thus began a month of escalating excitement and frenzy.

As soon as I bought my ticket I began thinking about what I would wear. I had a general idea because I like to wear black for nighttime outings. Most of my anxiety came with trying to decide on my accessories.

I knew I was gonna make my jewelry but I couldn't decide on the color(s) or style(s). So I made several sets.

The week of the show I decided I wanted to wear real make up. So I got a make-over at Kohl's but didn't like it when I got home. I ended up going to the mall the day before the show to get a M.A.C. make-over at Belk. It was absolutely fabulous. My makeup artiste (a woman named Carol) knows her stuff!

(Turns out that she was supposed to go to the concert too but she couldn't coordinate her work schedule well enough so she decided to pass. I'm hoping she goes to his next show. Maybe we can ride together.)

I also got my skirt back from the seamstress the night before the show. She is another miracle worker. I don't know how she measures but she pulled out the tape, got behind me for a half a minute, then put the tape away.

Then I saw her write down three (3) numbers which of course I thought wasn't enough information.

Well maybe it was or maybe she has a great memory because the skirt fit perfectly.

When I went for my "fitting" (the night before the show) I only had to try it on wearing my shoes so M'lady could cut and serge the hem.

Amazing.

(Also amazing was the price she charged me. It was wayyyyy less than what I thought the skirt was worth. When I protested, she said it only took her about an hour. Okay but I was looking at the quality of her work in its totality. I gave her a little extra but I still thought she didn't charge enough for her work.)

Now back to the Pre-Party Pandemonium...

The day of the show was mega hectic around here.

Mr. Bliss and I didn't want to get caught in the rush hour traffic (it usually starts around 2 p.m.) so we set 1 p.m. as our departure time.

As usual, I was trying to race the clock.

By 11 a.m., I had everything gathered but nothing packed. I also needed to:

1. get my grandma.
2. get a shower.
3. get dressed for the road.
4. make sure I had my ticket, the directions to our hotel from home and from our hotel to the venue. I didn't; I had to get online again to print them all.
5. I also needed to make a bank run.

Although we left later than planned, my timing is getting better! We were out of here before 1:45.

Traffic was very light, thankfully. Otherwise I might have seen it as a bad omen and been panicky for the whole ride.

Despite the fact that Mr. Bliss wasn't attending the concert, he happily drove the 1.5 hours up to Greensboro. He knows how much I love Maxwell's music!

Not that I needed anything more to hype me up but we listened to Maxwell's CDs for the whole ride.

As many adventures as I've had in my life, this was my first time traveling out of town for a concert. I was happy to make the drive with my hubby but it would have been awesome if I had gone with a group of Maxwell fans.

There was no time for me to rest at the hotel. I had a lot to do before the show and only a few hours to do it in.

Several things involved crocheting and those were the most time-consuming.

I also had to:

1. polish my toe- and fingernails.
2. eat.
3. figure out how to wear a waist-hugging slip under a hip-hugging skirt.
4. write a thank-you letter to Maxwell.
5. get a shower.
6. remove a gazillion straws from my hair.
7. put on my makeup.
8. get dressed.

Right when it looked like I had some time to relax, I was once again racing the clock.

Thank you God/Goddess/Universe for the inimitable Mr. Bliss. He helped me get dressed and with my hair.

The end result:


A little after 8 p.m., we were about to walk out. Then I looked at myself in the mirror and began to hyperventilate. I knew I had everything but I felt like I was forgetting something.

All the way to the venue (a ten minute drive) I felt teary-eyed. I knew I'd better keep those tears in check though. No runny mascara or tear-streaked foundation for this concert cutie!

The opening act (sorry I can't remember her name) was good. She was very upbeat, had a good voice, and seemed to love what she was doing. Though I had never heard of her or heard her music before, she had me bobbing and nodding along to the beat.

Finally she was done. I felt the tension grow thick. Just like me, everyone was waiting on The Main Attraction.

Lucky me, my southern can was planted in the third row. There was a guy to my right and two ladies sitting to my left. The guy was pretty quiet. Initially I thought he was there with the lady to his right. As the night went on I wasn't so sure.

The two ladies to my left were true fans. We talked while the stagehands changed the set.

Then the lights went out and the screaming began.

Lights shone on the curtains.

The screams got louder. I felt folk straining in their chairs.

The curtains opened and I thought the hall was trembling around me as the screams grew even louder.

The band was revealed and the screams threatened to tear down the walls.

Then Maxwell came out and the screams rose to a crescendo. 

People got up out of their seats and it was on!

I was on my feet and screaming along with the crowd, overjoyed to finally get another in-person listen to the man whose music has stirred my soul for so many years.

I was so excited that now I can't even remember what song he sang first.

My first thought upon seeing him was that he looked so different to me with his new, less-is-more hair. I thought I wouldn't like it but change is good.

He and his band were dressed to the nines, in suits and ties. LaTina (his only female background vocalist) looked beautiful in a peach satin-y gown with an empire bodice.

The two young ladies to my left were just as ecstatic as I was to be at the show. One said it was her first Maxwell show. I was excited at her excitement.

The way Maxwell engages his audience is something to see.

I watched the crowd to observe their reactions to him but for sure, I got my party on.

It looked like folk were having the time of their lives and that increased my joy exponentially. I love to see people enjoy themselves and that night was no exception.

Maxwell, thank you for Greensboro. I can't live without my music and your sexy soul crooning is a part of my life!

Seeing you live and meeting a few new friends (I hope) has been the best night out I've had this year.

I'm thankful.

Amen.

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429: Counting down to my special night out.

Hey y'all.

I've managed to do half the things on my most recent to-do list. Actually I did three things on the list. Mr. Bliss got a ride home from work. After he got all cleaned up, we all watched telly for a while. Then I got dressed so we could get outta here.

Our first stop was the library. We all went in. I dropped my returns then sashayed over to the "holds" section for my reserved items. Baby and Mr. Bliss went to look for movies. They didn't find anything  but I already had three movies waiting for me.

We headed north so I could drop them at the mall to wait for me whilst I waited to have my skirt hemmed. I thought I would also need to get the waist fitted or something but I didn't. The woman who made my skirt is a top-notch seamstress and the answer to my prayers.

The skirt is a perfect fit, not too loose and not too tight. I was amazed. She also fixed the waist of a pair of jeans I couldn't wear comfortably even with a belt. Mr. Bliss and I both looked hard but neither of us could see where she did the fix. Incredible.

I gave her another pair of jeans and a skirt to fix for me. Of course I wish I had met her umpteen years ago but I am more than thankful to know her now.

We had quite a bit of time to talk while I was there. She and I have many similarities in our lives. I left feeling like we had bonded which is good. Our daughters are friends and I would welcome a new friend as well.

The mall is a hop and a skip from the Seamstress's house. I was there to get the Blisses in probably three minutes. We went to dinner at our favorite -- my favorite, any way -- restaurant across the street from the mall.

After dinner we drove up to Super WalMart. I don't know why it takes us so long to get out of that place. I think it was an hour this time.

The parking lots near our building were all full when we got home so I had to park across the way. I prefer not to park on that side because we have to cross in-and-out traffic to get to and from the car. With the way folk around here drive, it can be a perilous endeavor.

Such is the faux pas of returning home after dark.

We all carried bags in but funny how I was (and usually am) the only one who thought they needed to be unpacked before I ran off to do Other Things.

Half an hour after we got in, I see most of the bags still on the floor by the front door, where they dropped them. Two tins of biscuits and four quarters of butter were still sitting in a bag when they should have been in the fridge.

*sigh*

As if I didn't have enough to do already.

Now those other Blisses are sound asleep. And I'm still up, doing laundry and trying to figure out whether or not I'll have time to finish a few things tonight before my big outing.


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428: I should be dancing.

I have so much to do today that I literally don't know where to start.

Obviously some of it will have to wait until tomorrow.

Here's what I'm aiming for:

1. More clean-up needed in here!
   
2. Trader Joe's - need to get food, palm oil, and make contact with the field trip guy
3. Get Mr. Bliss from work.
4. Library - return and pick up items.
5. CVS or Walgreen's - nail polish remover, toilet paper
   
6. Final fitting for my skirt.
7. Wash and set my hair.
8. Work on gift for Friday night.

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427: Chill time.

Hey y'all.

Last week I went to the Mindfulness Sangha at a local church. It was a good stress reliever. I wanted to go this week too but Mr. Bliss worked late and I didn't want to take Baby Bliss with me.

She's been to daimoku tozos and yoga classes with me but there was always something to keep the children occupied at those events. She did ask to go with me to the sangha but I didn't think she would last for an hour of silent meditation. I also didn't think there would be any other children there and I was right.

My friend N___ has a son who is good friends with Baby Bliss. N___ came to meditation too last week. But her son stayed home with N___'s significant other.

N___ and I talked about this week's meditation the night of, both saying we wanted to go and disappointed that neither of us could.

There's always next week. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Mr. Bliss will be home on time.

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426: Oh dear.

Poor Mr. Bliss.

I guess he was so eager to get home from work to see his loving wife (that would be me) that he didn't see the deer running full speed towards the right side of his truck.

Thank God for good ole Detroit steel. If Mr. Bliss had been driving a newer model truck (his dates back to the early 70s) I might be visiting him at the hospital instead of sitting here typing.

But now I have to take him to work tomorrow morning. In the rain... And rush hour traffic. Good that he works less than 10 miles from home.

On another note, I was reading RuPaul's "Lettin It All Hang Out" last night. I've always admired Ru's fashion sense, especially the Flawless Face she always presents us with. For years my dream has been to have Ru do my make up.

Well that day may never come but the beauty tips I found in the first chapter have given me hope that I too may one day achieve Drag Queen Glamour. But it won't be cheap because RuPaul swears by M.A.C. and I know what that kinda looking cute costs.


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424: "His eye is on the sparrow..."

Hey y'all.

Three days later, I am still crying with joy and amazement.

The awe that fills my heart may never subside. For me, an African-American woman, to be living in the United States of America knowing that we have elected a man of color as our next president is so overwhelming that I can hardly put my feelings into words.

There are many who are saying that Barack Obama is the fulfillment of legacies, prophecies, Biblical promises, and more.

Who knows?

For some, it's their truth.

My truth is that the world is changing and I am so thankful that I lived to see the day.

Mr. Bliss and I have been talking to many people since that historic night. There is a lot of pride in the Black community and even among Whites who supported Obama's candidacy.

However, even in our own families, there were nay-sayers and McCain supporters.

*shrug*

To each his/her own...

For those of you out there who feel that you want to get more in touch with what this means to African-Americans, I'm here to help.

You can start by learning the "Black" National Anthem, "Lift Every Voice and Sing". Because really, it is a song about hope for all and I think Obama's election is our beacon.

And while you're there, check out the other "Negro Spirituals". You might find that you already know some of these songs.

Barack, mazel tov!
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423: For those who have passed on.

For all my glee and elation at Barack Obama's historic election as president of the United States, I am a little sad as well.

There are some who have passed on who I wish were alive to see this day. But if there be angels, I know they are smiling down on us today.

Number one on my list: Big G, my paternal grandmother.

Others who aren't here in the flesh (but I hope they're watching and shouting!):

1. Barack Obama's grandmother,
   
2. the wives of our slain civil rights leaders: Miss Coretta, Miss Betty (Shabazz),
3. our beloved Rosa Parks
   
4. our funny man, Bernie Mac
5. our hardest working entertainer, James Brown.
6. our senior sexy soul singer, Isaac Hayes
7. countless others who would have been ecstatic to see this day.

Amen.

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422: America has spoken!

Dear President-elect Obama,

America has spoken.

You are in the House!

We are grateful.

Amen.

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421: What do you really know about the Electoral College?

hey y'all.

after a spirited conversation with a relative, i came across some very interesting information that led me to wonder what most people really know about the electoral college.

for instance, do you know how the electoral college came to be and why it still exists?

click here to learn the answers to these and other pertinent questions.

were you aware that there is no Constitutional provision or Federal law that requires electors to vote according to the results of the popular vote in their States?

go here to find out more about this thought-provoking tidbit.


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