Spanx Me

He is by far one of the finest men I have ever laid eyes on. Dipped in chocolate. Dimpled smirk. Pearly white teeth. Big brown eyes. Nice natural muscular build. Plenty of swag. The longest eye lashes I've ever seen. {got a tale on fake lashes for another time } He is the living breathing fantasy man Midnight from The Coldest Winter Ever.

I smile every time I see him. Then always settles a sinking feeling for the great man he could have been, well that he could still be. If he wasn't in these streets making a living. If living is what you could call it with an uncut umbilical cord always pulling him back to the few blocks he has probably spent his whole life in. And in the shadows of the capital of the world. Damn.

We chat all the time. He makes me laugh. I overestimate my strength and underestimate how heavy eggs, milk and lean cuisine meals weigh. He helps me take my groceries upstairs. Never once has he said anything inappropriate. Did I mention he has serious swag?

Yesterday morning I saw him. We smiled. He was standing with a group of guys. I was rushing, like I have been every morning this week with the craziness of a relaunch over my head and mama has been stepping it up (ok, a few tantrums in between . . .)

The eyes of the guys he is with aren't as kind as his. At the last minute I threw on a dress after planning to wear jeans, when I remembered it was the first day of my new boss and I wanted to be in a dress. It wasn't one of my usual wrap dresses and in my haste I didn't put on some boy shorts or even a slip . . .

Midnight was cordial. . . and so were the fellas. Until I walked past: "You jiggling baby, go head baby," the biggest one sang. I didn't want to look back and see if joined in the laughing.

This morning I crossed the street when I saw a whole nother group of guys. I'm usually sweet and if you say good morning I speak. You never know how far a sweet smile and hello can go.

This morning, as I walked to the office from the train, I looked up at the clock at the Lehman Brothers building. Sank in further how bad this economy is. I should by stock in Spanx.

Preying Mantis

So last night my fab editors got me a spot at the last minute to come along to the screening of "The Family That Preys." We were rolling as the middle-aged WASP who sat ahead of us had grabbed four of the complimentary bags of popcorn and about 6 of the twenty ounces. Just greedy I tell ya.

Tyler Perry went to the front and said a few words and I was feeling the power of that Black man. The movie comes on. Im loving Kathy Bates in a TP movie. The plot good, the lines superb, timing on track. Im hooked! I almost wanted my money back from Meet the Browns, and I didn't even pay. Family That Preys has me figuring out when I can go support this good film, not good Black film, and I haven't paid for a movie in a long long time.

The after party afterward was a good time. Sanaa's fine ass boyfriend was just a nice guy, and Ill have to tell you what he said about a certain scene later as not to spoil it. Sanaa was gracious. I was definitely feeling Taraji. Sweet and real about them banging purple shoes being a killer for the big toe. And I almost took her up on the offer to offer my skin color for that banging dress she killed

Met me a new buddy to kick it with in Atlanta.

Good times indeed.

At Papi's Request

Me and my BFF had a blast this weekend. Our favorite veggie burgers at the Diner in the Meatpacking District. Hanging with some accomplished women in their 30s in one of their delux apartments in the SKY (read penthouse in Harlem) Chatting with one of our best buds from high school showing how little we've changed . . .and another person I can begin to annoy with my obsessive talk of Michelle Obama. ADORE her! Watcher her speech at Whit's. Watched Obama's at Rakia's in Dunbar.

Was rolling the next day reading Slate's Twitter of Obama's speech. Still no internet so Im typying fast before I head home to catch the hip hop dance class at the gym. Yay!

My fav commentary of the week though was William Jelani Cobb's blog post on Michelle. Here's a snippet and check out the whole thing if you get a sec:

When brothers see Michelle we see that game-proof sister who you planned to step to once you got your credit straight. Or the one that you approached on the best moment of your best day, and have been self-congratulating ever since. Before he made his own inroads, a chunk of his appeal was based on the idea that any cat who was swift, smart and skilled enough to put a ring on that finger was at least worth listening to. Brothers love Barack too -- but with a twinge of hate because deep down you really suspect that you might be the first black presidential nominee if you'd met her first.

I never felt so humbled to have been called unapproachable:) And tying in Fannie Lou Hammer? Just genius . . .

Till next time (still hoping to get wireless soon . . .Come on already Time Warner!),
Catch me on Twitter: HarlemCharm