Does anyone else hate New Year’s Eve?

Okay, it’s just us without any significant others. The rest of you suck. There are tons of things going on in the city. A “Nappy” Villa Fontana. Tons of stuff on Fourth Street Live. Not to mention everything going on in my little snobby neighborhood. (see previous post) Of course, there are tons of “Christian” new year’s events. Communing with the Lord is good. Remember the most important lessons, Christians: Love thy neighbor as thyself and Judge not lest ye be judged. I’m going to be with my family and Dick Clark (he’s still alive, right?). We never go out and get drunk and party. This time of year is the time we reflect: We made it another year!!!! Another year we didn’t lose weight or stop over-indulging in sweets or save more money. But we made it. We didn’t get killed on I-71. We didn’t wreck the car. We didn’t lose any major loved ones. We didn’t get fired. We just lived, learned, and made it. Sh!t, I sound positive. Oh well, it’s about to be a new year. I can change (a little). Happy New Year, Louisville!

Listening to Mary J. Blige "The Breakthrough"

I’ve become a Highlands Resident

I never thought I would be apart of this snobby-we-say-were-not-snobby part of town. It’s not near any expressway. It’s barely near any grocery store. I’m surrounded by bars, fairly interesting restaurants (ok some really good ones), one of kind little shops, tattoo palors, and tons of people in black horn rimmed glasses. I mean there must be a shortage of these glasses. Everyone wears them. I even saw a little dog with them on along with the requisite black beanie. He was on his way to Ramsi’s. One thing that this place is missing: black folks. HA. I’m going to be the one that says it. Hardly any black people live at this end of Broadway. It’s kinda of funny, because people look at me like I’m lost and need to start heading west. It’s all good though. I have tons of self-confidence; I just look at them like “whatever, you east-end-I-wanna-be-cool transplant.” I’m not knocking the Highlands, but have you ever met a group people who love their area more? Okay, exclude the West End, Newburg and :: insert any project here :: . For real though, I think I’m just hating.

Fun with the Blaine and Shelby

I got to hob-nob with the Black Bourgeoisie of Louisville last night. Talking about "how we can change the black community." Code for how to get those "others" to shape up and stop making us look bad. (Oh Ish!!! Can't believe I just said that. Ignore.) But anyway it was very fun. Engineers. Ph.D.s. Lawyers. Doctors. Entrepreneurs. I was very happy to see all these wonderful black professionals living right here in Louisville. It’s a small club. I knew like half of them. And my parents knew the other half. Ever heard of six degrees of separation? In these circles it’s more like three. Maybe less. Everyone knows everyone else or there parents or other extended family. It’s like being at a family reunion without the uncle that’s an ex-con for a crime no one speaks of or the aunt that’s a crackhead and sold all her kids x-mas presents for a $10 piece. Ha. I’m so mean. I really should try to be a nicer person. (This will not happen.)

Question: Mr. Johnson are you a boxer?

Louisville in panic mode

Here’s the problem: We refused to acknowledge that we are not a southern city. We are not a city of Alabama, Mississippi or Texas. We get lots of snow every year and we are only 90 miles from Cincinnati. Get over it people. We are not some southern, genteel Mayberry. We are a meeting of all points: east, west, north and south. We have a little flavor from all the regions. We were once even called ‘Little Chicago,’ and would probably be on their level of industry and growth if we had joined the winning side during the civil war. But we decided to be stupid and indecisive (as usual and continue to be) and not join either side (remember your history lesson about the border states of Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri). The snow is a coming sooner or later. Quit acting like you’ve never seen it. Now in Atlanta where on any given summer morning is can be already close to 80 degrees, snow is a big deal. But, come on, Louisville, are we really surprised it will snow in the winter? (Un)Fortunately, we get to experience all FOUR seasons, because we are the nexus of all directions. The Bermuda Quadrangle. The conversion of all geographical trajectories. (you liked that last one, didn’t you?)

I’m back, I shouldn’t have left you, without a.....

If you get that reference you win..........again, nothing. The holidays, work and a conference in another city has stolen my time. But, it has definitely been a great ride the last few days. I got to learn from a bunch of old men how they won trial under the most precarious positions: a pen, a pad and no evidence! Really, why is the past so much more glorious in the stories we tell later? All lawyers do is tell anecdotes......for everyone else: LONG STORIES.....really long stories. Most of them were great. Some were so incoherent; I know they were making everything up as they went along. I can wait to have ‘war stories’ to tell to other young lawyers and revel in their rapt attention (or glazed-over expression). Ahhhh, the future. I’ll be sporadic the next few weeks, but I’m going to make a valiant effort to bless all the readers with my astute analysis of the human condition, (The BS meter is going through the roof......), life in Louisville, and my utter hatred and revulsion of all things stupid.