Cause We Like To Party

This weekend, Mr. 1969 and I attended the 50th wedding anniversary of his cousins up in Harrisburg, PA. I knew it was going to be a memorable trip when we drove by a jeep with a 6ft dead black bear strapped to the roof. Now I have seen deer strapped to a car but a bear???? Who does this?

Poor Yogi!

When we arrived at the reception, we noticed our table had a name  “I Feel Good”. As we looked around, it appeared that every table was named after a song. We didn’t think much of it until after our meal when they announced that they they going to play each song and the table had to get up and dance. At the end of every table dancing, the happy couple would select the best table for a prize.

For anyone that knows me….winning makes me happier than Ch.ar.lie Sh.een. I am competitive by nature and if I have to make a fool of myself, then I need to win a prize for doing so!

In ten seconds, I had an idea and the whole table was set with their marching uh, dancing orders. We watched all of the tables get up and it was so much fun. Our biggest competition was table 7 who danced to “Midnight Train To Georgia”. They had their Pips moves down!

When our turn came up, the strains of James Brown filled the air. The ladies at our table were in backup dancer mode and I was out of site. The star of this dance? Our secret weapon, Mr. 1969 who has been practicing to be James Brown all of his natural born life. He LOVES James Brown. Well, he put on a James Brown show for those folks. He did spins, the side step moves and had the crowd on their feet. They weren’t ready for our showstopper though. He broke down and got on his knees and out I came with a floor length coat and covered his shoulders. The crowd went wild. If that wasn’t enough, he jumped back up, knocked the coat on the ground and started dancing again and ended with a half split.  Not only did we win, we were the highlight of the party. Everyone is still calling us and laughing.

It turned out to be a great party despite the poor bear (my heart is still broken). What a celebration to have family and friends join you as you celebrate 50 years of love. If that doesn’t make you feel good….I don’t know what will.

It’s Friday Bytches!

Guess who got up at 6am and ran through the streets of Philly like I was a broke version of Rocky? Yup your girl!

So I am on a runner’s high, fueled by a grande starbucks coffee and my new running theme music. If you don’t own this remix….you ain’t living!

Happy Friday…..

Staycation

This last month at work has been a rough one. I ended up not making my quarterly goal after not missing a goal for the past two years. *sigh* Even though I know that this happens, it never happens to ME.  It was not how I wanted to end the year and puts more pressure on me for next year.

Needless to say, I was so looking forward to today. Why? Cause I am out on vacation until the New Year and this week? No kids at home until Friday. What’s that you hear? Music maybe?

Today, I slept in (well 8am is sleeping in for me when I normally get up around 5:30-6am). I hit the gym, I hung out with Mr. 1969 at Lowes and looked at paint samples (we are redesigning our bedroom as a Christmas gift to ourselves), ate a leisurely breakfast/lunch and then fit in a nice visit this afternoon with one of my girlfriends. In short, I did me!

Nothing like a good staycation to clear the mind. We typically travel to see family in New York and New Jersey over Christmas but after hosting family for Thanksgiving, the SixtyNine family is going….NOWHERE!

I don’t know about you, but it’s the gift that keeps on giving for me. Even Wonder Woman likes a lazy afternoon nap every once in a while. Happy Holidays everyone.

The Art of the Deal

I am on the Acela train headed home to New York. I am headed up there for a meeting with an executive for one of my accounts.

Currently, he has an agreement with one of my competitor’s hotels in place where he sends all of his employees that travel to New York City to that hotel. Not after today.

I am going up there to sign an agreement where he will sever ties with my competitor and he will sign an agreement with my hotel resulting in about 1,000 room nights/annually for us.

Despite their hotel being newer and trendier, they failed him from a service standpoint. He constantly had issues and for what they were paying, it was unacceptable. Not only am I getting his business, we didn’t have to drop rate to get it. People will pay for quality.

I woke up and selected today’s outfit very carefully. Light gray pinstripes, patent shoes, conservative jewelry and chic updo. I am headed home to New York to seal the deal and coming back to Philly with my signed agreement.

Music that’s motivating me today?

The Weekend Recap

On Saturday, Mr. 1969 actually got to leave our abode and head out on an actual date. Thank you God for our dear friend who watched our two boys so we could have some grown folks fun. Do you know how hard it is to find a babysitter on Valentine’s weekend? Especially for two boys? *sigh*

So we dropped the boys to her house for their sleepover. When we drove off, we had big plans. We headed off to World Cafe Live to celebrate Carnaval by listening to Alo Brasil.

The band was fabulous. Most of my pictures were blurry so I apologize in advance but hey, it’s hard to take pictures while getting your samba on.

Mr. 1969′s favorite part?

The highlight for me was when they did a tribute to Trinidad Carnival. They played the Steel Band. My favorite…especially since I knew I was missing panorama in TNT at that very minute.

All in all, we had a great time and I highly recommend seeing Alo Brasil if they come to your city. They put on a great show and literally had the whole place jumping. I felt like I had a little taste of Carnaval right here in Philly.

On a side note, coming in at 3am after drinking the nastiest sugar cane Brazilian cocktails ever was not the hotness. I’ll stick to some good old Trinidadian Sugar Cane RUM thank you very much. Needless to say, I woke up with a crazy headache on Valentine’s Day. Coffee and Tylenol saved my life. I swear, I am getting old. I used to come in at noon after a long night of dancing on speakers to “Break for Love” at the Sound Factory, sleep for three hours and then head out again. Damn you Father Time!

Hope everyone enjoyed their Valentine’s weekend.

Take Two

I was in the car last night and the radio was on. I just want to let you guys know how I feel about people remaking songs. If you can’t do the song justice, or make it better…then DON’T DO IT.

The king of making remakes was indeed the late Luther Vandross. He took “Superstar” by The Carpenters and turned it out. He took “If This World Were Mine” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell and made the song cry. He took “Anyone Who Had a Heart” by Dionne Warwick and made it heartbreaking. Luther was no joke.

I started thinking about my favorite remakes. My alltime favorite is “All I do is Think of You” Say what you want about those jeri curl wearing boys but Troop did that remake justice and you know it’s near impossible to sing an MJ song.

My other favorite is Tevin Campbell’s version of Knocks Me Off My Feet. If you can do Stevie justice…you are all right by me.

And hell, it wouldn’t be me without Maxwell’s version of Al Green live on BET…even Al Green was thrilled.

What are some of your favorite remakes?

1969′s songs of summer

These are all songs that were booming in the summertime of my college years.

Hold On- En Vogue (The tight dress summer)

Keep On Moving- Soul II Soul (The house music summer)

Devotion-Ten City (Slish….I know you know about this one. Sound Factory?)

The Choice is Yours-Black Sheep (This caused a near riot at a Que party we went to. LOL)

Bonita Applebaum- Tribe Called Quest (Mr. 1969 said this was his “down low song”. He used to tell all of his girls on campus that he was gonna dedicate this song to them on the campus radio station and they would all be listening.  He said it enabled him to maintain his playa status for months. *rolls eyes*)

Scenario (Remix)- (Biggest summer song ever! We drove around blasting it everywhere we went on repeat.  The minute Buster Rhymes kicked in with the “I heard you rushed and rushed and attacked….” it was all over.)

Freakin’ You Remix-Jodeci (The greatest line ever “If my girl calls, you’re my cousin Dawn”….LMAO!!!)

One More Chance- Biggie (All summer long….everywhere you went….this packed the dance floor)

They Want Efx-Das Efx (We spent all summer memorizing the verses.)

What songs remind you of your past summers?

Keeping up with 1969….

1969 is currently reading:

I just finished this book and loved it. The book is about Oscar, a 400 pound, sci-fi nerd from the Dominican Republic…living his life in New Jersey. It focuses on the story of his family and the fuku (curse) they are living under.

It appeals to my East Coast, Caribbean upbringing and my love of all books with rich, lush descriptive narratives weaved in with historical themes. Fabulous story.

1969 is currently listening to:

You know how you hear an old school song on the radio and then you have to dig the cd out of storage and start listening to it for the next two weeks? Yup….I am back in love with EPMD. LOL

Nothing beats pulling up to your Bougie Sorority meeting in your car blasting “So Whatchu Sayin?” and stepping out in your sharp diva outfit, with your pinky in the air……LMAO! I know my sorors are like….”WHO THE HELL IS THIS GHETTO CHICK?”

1969 is currently ROCKING:

Shorter Hair!

Curly:

STRAIGHT:

Don’t Ever Wonder…..

“Gonna take you in the room suga’
Lock you up and love for days
We gonna be rockin baby
Till the cops come knockin
Pappa gonna have to leave
A message on the telephone baby
There won’t be no stoppin’ me
Till the cops come knockin”

 It’s no secret that I love Maxwell. His music is the soundtrack to my life, my loves, my loneliness, my pain and my joy.

Everyone has that artist who’s work speaks to their soul. Whether it’s through their art, their fashion, their acting, their writing or their music. For me, he is that person.

I can tell you a story about my life as it relates to every song that he has ever released. I have followed him from his first tour through his current outing. I have seen him five times in concert. And I am finally….going to see him one more time.

He is one of those few artists that can go on hiatus and return to sold out venues, six years later. Talent is talent.

I will try and do a picture blog on Friday but tomorrow, I will be busy prepping for my date with Max on Thursday night.

Here are some pictures of Max from the kick off concert in Amsterdam (pics courtesy of Aida) …

Your girl may not make it back home…………..and I still have no clue what I am wearing. UGH!!!!!

In no particular order…Old School Sunday

Bonita Applebaum-Tribe (Will always rock a party…always!)

T.R.O.Y- Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth

Fight The Power-Public Enemy

Eric B is President-Eric B and Rakim

Passin Me By-The Pharcyde

So Fresh and So Clean-OutKast

Electric Relaxation-ATCQ

Big Pimpin-Jay Z

Buddy-Native Tongues

I’ll Take Her-Ill and Al Skratch ft.Brian McKnight

The Message-Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five (classic)

Brooklyn Zoo-ODB

Who Got The Props-Black Moon

Gin and Juice- Snoop

AJ Scratch- Kurtis Blow (Fresh and Lisa….What you know about THIS song? LOL)

I’ll Take Your Man-Salt N Pepa

Shimmy Shimmy Ya-ODB

Lucini-Camp Lo

Say No Go-De La Soul

Check The Rhime-ATCQ

Hold It Now, Hit It-Beastie Boys

I Got Cha Open-Black Moon

Sally-Stetsasonic

Deep Cover-Dr. Dre and Snoop

Funky Dividends-EST

Steppin to the A.M.-3rd Bass

Flava in Ya Ear REMIX-Craig Mack, BIG, Busta, Rampage (LL’s verse was so bad I can’t even write his name)

Rock This Funky Joint-Poor Righteous Teachers

Cherchez Le Ghost-Ghostface Killah

Live at the BBQ-Main Source

Rock the Bells-LL Cool J

Fugeela-The Fugees

The Choice Is Yours-Black Sheep

Last Nite-Kid and Play

I Get Around-Tupac

Rock The House-DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince

S.e.x Packets-Digital Underground

My Philosophy-KRS One/BDP (Maybe my all time favorite song eva.)

The Show-Doug E. Fresh/Slick Rick

SLAM-Onyx (Comin thru wit a scam, a fullproof plan ,B-boys make some noise, and just, JUST SLAM)

Peter Piper-Run DMC (One of the greatest songs ever!!)

Hard Knock Life-Jay z (genius…he’s rhyming over ANNIE)

Paper Thin-MC Lyte

Bring The Pain-Method Man

Ms. Fat Booty-Mos Def (I heart you Mos Def)

MC’s act like they don’t know-KRS One

Mama Said Knock You Out-LL COOl J

Scenario Remix-ATCQ ft. Busta Rhymes

Juicy-Notorious B.I.G

Lucifer-Jay Z

 I Used to Love H.E.R- Common

Paid in Full-Eric B and Rakim

R.A.W- Big Daddy Kane

Cappucino-Mc Lyte

CREAM-Wu Tang Clan

Mic Checka-Das Efx

Touch The Sky- Kanye West (Love this video. You were robbed Kanye!)

Crush On You-Lil Kim (Keep ya stone sets, I got my own baguettes….LMAO!)

Can’t Knock The Hustle-Jay Z ft Mary J Blige

If I Ruled the World-Nas ft. Lauren Hill

Tonight’s The Night-Redman

UMI Says-Mos Def

Slow Down- Brand Nubian

Roxanne-UTFO

Bombs Over Baghdad-OutKast

You Gotz To Chill-EPMD

Oh Yeah-Foxy Brown ft. Spragga Benz

WHOA- Black Rob

Nappy Heads-The Fugees

The Symphony-Juice Crew

My Mind’s Playing Tricks on Me-GETO Boyz

Youtube has most of these classics….*sigh* I love hip hop. Do yourself a favor and go listen to some of these. Happy Sunday!