Thankful Thursday (special edition): I've Recovered & Got Stories 2 Tell!

(Click image to see more over at The Rich House)

First, I gotta say: ALL eyez on Sistah Miz!
She certainly deserves the spot light cuz
Sis put it DOWN this past weekend
& showed us how it's done in da Durty!

My "party" started in the NYC's LaGuardia airport when my flight was delayed an hour and I headed to the bar;-). Seems I woke the sullen patrons when I asked the bartender: "Any Happy Hour specials?" One blond woman in a suit whose flight must've been really delayed said: "No ones happy at airport bars." I corrected her: "Everyone's happy, we're all escaping!" She wasn't buying it, but the Hispanic lookin' Sistah next to her glanced at me with a quiet grin. Anyway, I was happy as I stood there a moment trying to decide how much more happy I was trying to get & simply chose a frosty brew buzz. Sat down and the blond dude next to me introduced himself then proceeded to share some of his career & life story, which was genuinely interesting. I've never met a genetic engineer/chemist before. He shared fascinatingly frightening tidbits about scientific possibilities. Watching I AM LEGEND after meeting him gave the movie a new, ummm, reality. Bonus: he bought the second round;-).

Floated off the bar and headed to the gate in time for my smooth flight which landed at about 10:30pm. The flight attendants announced as we were landing: "Welcome to Atlanta. The temperature here is NINETY-FIVE DEGREEZ." Good lawd! Miz pulled up soon after I arrived and I noticed she was lookin' all cute - but I figured she'd come from somewhere else. She informed me that we'd at least stop at one of the local spots for a drink. Cool. Then she pulls up into the parking lot of Arizona's where ALL the Pretty People seemed to be hanging out! Brothers were in linen and Sistahs were sporting summery dresses or jeans & fly azz shoes! Oh HAYL nawl! I was wearing comfy travel gear: gym pants & sneakers. Yes, I did pull the quick change into jeans & heels in Miz's front seat! We laughed about charging anyone for a peek! Heyyyy, gon' make a li'l change while I'm her'! We chilled at the bar long enough to have a drink and appetizer then we moved outdoors to enjoy the live band! It felt good to be around fly Black Folk! The band even hit that Go-Go beat one time as if they knew I was in da house!

Miz & I were far from sleepy when we got to her beautiful home. She gave me the tour & it was imperative that we "christen" her new patio set! We changed into comfy gear & met at the kitchen where we poured wine and headed to the patio. I knew we had plenty to catch up on - but I didn't realize we'd pull an all nighter! It was 4am before we decided to call it "a night". I can't thank Miz enough for being the most gracious hostess. Not sure if I'd give up my bed and put my kids out for a weekend guest (I didn't feel too bad 'bout the kids, since she sent 'em to their Daddy's ... but to give up her bed!;-).

The next afternoon when I awoke it was so quiet I thought that Miz had gone out. After taking a shower I took my slightly grape-smashedness in to her kitchen to raid her fridge (u gotta feed da grape;-). I heard "her" coming from another room and hollered out, "Hey Girl!" not wanting her to shoot my azz leaning into her fridge. Around the corner comes Miz's daughter who jumped at the sight of me. I introduced myself and she calmed down but still seemed wary of the stranger in her moma's kitchen. Miz stumbled in and I let her know I was ready to raid her fridge. She too was hungry, so we got ourselves together and went to hang-over heaven: Waffle House - cheaper & less crowded than IHOP;-).

We had the Waffle House & it's staff all to ourselves since we'd just missed the brunch rush. The gentlemen were friendly and chatting it up which led the manager/franchise owner, Terence to purchase a copy of Bloggers Delight, vol. 1 and 52 Broad Street! Tha's the breakfast of champions;-)! Feeling much bettah with our bellies full, egos stroked & books sold - we rolled out of there knowing we needed to get it in gear since we had to load up the car and intended to stop by T-Dawg's New Shop: BrainCell before arriving early enough to set up for the book celebration. Unfortunately, Miz & I were talking so much we missed T-Dawg's exit and things in da ATL aren't "right around the corner", so we just had to keep it moving & hope that T-Dawg knew to blame our heads/ motor mouths & not our hearts;-).

When we got to The Grounds Coffee House another party was leaving out. Rather than sit in the car until they were done and use up Miz's gas to keep cool, I suggested we check out the lovely li'l boutique next door to the coffee shoppe! I asked if they had hair jewelry, dude at the counter said no, but my creativity kicked in and I asked to look closer at a bracelet which could double as a fly "scrunchy" and it did quite nicely. As clerk-dude searched for the price in a box of jewelry my nosiness paid off as I discovered the cutest SHOE necklace in the box he rifled through. With bracelet/hair jewelry & shoe necklace (see photo below;-) -- I was ready!

(Click on above image to get to Tony Oh's spot
for even more great shots)

I assisted Miz in setting up the tables & chairs as she desired while the musician/singer set up his equipment. I even enlisted the muscles of a coffee house patron to unload a box of books from Miz's trunk. As we were unloading and setting up Sistah Jali rolled up on us. We whooped, hugged & hollered like old friends who hadn't seen each other in years! Her energy is soooo cool & laid back! Soon after her arrival The Rich House came through with an entourage of wife & parents! All of them sweethearts - though Daddy Rich has devilment sparkling in his eyes;-). T-Dawg and Tony Ohhh slid up into the place just as smooth as only country men can be like a hug waiting to happen and I got my fill!

While waiting on the arrival of other folk - I made myself useful by pulling jokahs off the street. LOL! No, seriously - I was looking out into the heat for Sistah Jali when I noticed a brother walk toward the door with puzzlement on his face as if he couldn't believe his favorite coffee shop was closed to the public. I stepped out, invited him in, told him what we were doing and he bought a book! I even got all of the authors in attendance to sign it for him - which was a challenge because it was like interrupting mini reunions. Thanx Bruthah Alton for supporting our first volume of Bloggers' Delight.

After that it was like a wonderful whirlwind which brought in all sorts of family, friends and more blog-family!! It's a funny thing -- this learning to "perform" in the midst of having family reunions - cuz that's what these celebrations have all been! When Miz called me up to read, I was in the back of the shoppe and you would've thought she called me to be the next contestant on The Price is Right the way I ran up to the mic! LOL! Thankfully, I pulled it together enough to find my reading segment - even if I did ramble a bit while flipping through the book. Although, I get a bit nervous while reading - when I look out at the faces listening attentively - it's all LOVE and it feels so good!

After the readings and photo ops, I began to burn Go- Go music from my laptop for 12Kyle & Rich who had requested it. Since 12Kyle brought extra disks I kept burning for others who were interested in that DC sound;-). Of course, we couldn't let the party stop at the coffee house! This was da ATL - the party capital of da Durty! 12Kyle had to change into his Daddy-Cape, so he couldn't cut a rug with me - but I've got a rain check for next time! Several others also had to call it a night, so a few of us die-hards took it onto the Atlantic Center for a li'l eye candy, dranks & appetizers. It was only appropriate that we end our night in the nation's "shoe modeling" capital at a spot called: STRIP! LOL! I must add that the sistahs DO rock some serious shoes in da ATL!

U would've thought that after such a full day, Miz & I would hit our pillows as soon as we got back to her spot. But, u KNOW we had to end my stay with one more night on her lovely patio with the remainder of that wine we popped the night before. Yes, folk - I had a wonderful time in da ATL! My natural high couldn't even be brought down by the major delayed return to NYC! My delay was caused by expensive hair products which I refused to trash and checking my luggage caused me to miss my flight. Storms in the NYC area delayed the flight I boarded. God is still in the blessing business because my dear friend's fiancé had to work late and he works near La Guardia, so he was able to scoop me and drop me at my door on his way home! I know next time I go to the ATL that their baggage checkers don't play;-).