Okay, here goes: I have been approached by an organization to perform at their annual fundraiser event. We have done this event in the past, usually performing during the cocktail hour, they hire a well known huge super-band for the dinner and dancing portion of the evening, – which is cool as far as I’m concerned because it makes for an early night for us. Well, this year I had a few allies on the committee who pushed for my own uberband: Lynne Jordan & the Shivers to perform during the dinner and dancing part of the night. Usually, I am not party to entertainment committee conversations, I either get a gig or I don’t, but thanks to a very loose tongue I got the scoop- or as in this case – the poop of the committee’s discussion regarding entertainment.

Well, the skinny is: One of the Entertainment committee members had an issue because – are you ready?

“She’s a very large woman, isn’t she?…I don’t know…”

WTF?

So, I have been trying to fill in the blank.

She’s a very large woman, isn’t she? I don’t know_________:

1. If we will have a stage big enough to hold her?
2. If fat entertainers will ruin our charitable image?
3. If she might go on a feeding frenzy and mow down the buffet?
3. if all the skinny assed bitches at the party will be jealous?
4. If she hears about this she might whoop my ass, or worse, sit on me?

I am here standing beside myself! Laughing out loud and scratching my head in amazement.

But then I realized, I have spent almost this entire blog vowing and swearing to stop being large, so why should anyone else be happy with me being large? Wow! Maybe I need to retool the way I express my desire for a body and weight change. I would hate to give credence to this plus-size hater’s attitude!

And that’s all I have to say about that!

And no, contrary to my smart-ass friend Kyle, it wasn’t the “Stop Obesity Now” campaign or the Diabetes Foundation… Kinda reminds me of the time I watched all the smokers discreetly puffing away outside the venue during the American Lung Association’s fundraising gala…

Lionel Richie & Me

It’s a big party. And booking Lionel Richie as the entertainment ensured that the event sold out at 500 guests. My girlfriend (and hostess) flies in barbecue chef Tom Perini from Perini Ranch Steakhouse in Texas and puts the whole shebang under a massive tent in her front yard. And this ain’t no regular front yard. I should mention that besides being fabulous people, they are also fabulously wealthy. Their magnificent home has been featured in Architectural Digest and a book entitled “The 100 most beautiful Homes in the World” (more on the house in a separate post). She is the ultimate hostess and her giving nature and style always makes for one heck of a party – beautifully done, well appointed and elegant but as down to Earth as you can possibly imagine.

But back to meeting Lionel… we line up inside the house for the meet and greet. There is a professional photographer set up for the photo opp but I brought my handy Nikon and asked this hot guy (who had several cameras hanging around his neck) to snap photos of us when our turn came so I could have the photos right away. We ( (I brought along new NU grad niece Whitney) are first in line when we see Lionel come around the corner with our hosts. Lionel walks in and immediately spots me.
He points at me and says:

“I know you!! You’re a singer!”

Our hosts, Lionel, me, Whitney - notice the landscape window view behind us...

Lionel & my niece Whitney

It turns out that Lionel Richie is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha (Alpha) which happens to be the brother frat to my niece’s sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha(AKA) and when he found out she was an AKA he started making his Frat hand signs and she started doing her AKA sign. Those Black Greeks have a comradeship that lasts over generations.

Lionel was awesome. He was funny, friendly and very enthusiastic. We got a ton of photos and chatted a wee bit about the upcoming evening, my showbiz (he swears that he knows who I am) and my niece scores an autographed CD for her mom and dad.

The photo opp ends and we join the party which is in full swing. We had Cocktails and hors d’oeurves during the silent auction followed by a buffet dinner (barbecue: mesquite smoked peppered beef tenderloin, fried catfish, hominy, string beans, salad etc) then a short live auction where guests bid/donated on services for the shelter. Then Lionel performed.

place settings and goody bags from the party

Here is a short clip of the result. I finally uploaded video to my IMovie software and created a mini video. I even added an effect at the open and close of the clip!

Enjoy:

Details coming…

I have been shooting the band at the past two weddings we did and it’s been great fun. Shooting video well is not easy at all. I still haven’t mastered the art of the zoom but I’m getting better every time. I need to get out more and shoot the neighborhood, my house (if I ever get it near presentable) and maybe some more of the Cat. Fans are eagerly waiting for the “Shana Punim is taken on a Walk” on HD – coming to a computer screen near you.

In the meantime I am studying the 200 plus pages of the instruction manual as well as the two dozen tutoring videos that will show me how to handle the IMovie editing and storage software.

OY vey! I will keep you posted!

It hasn’t been easy. Mostly I have been consuming delicious salads and chicken and fruits & veggies – no fried stuff if I can help it. A lot has been as simple as me saying: “yes, to salad,” and “No to cake and fried chicken.” I don’t miss it either – especially after I stepped on the scale today. Mind you, I haven’t been perfect but my prior eating habits were so atrocious that any slight concentration on improvement makes a huge difference. So, I am cutting the calories and adding the healthy foods and nutrition. I must get the exercise thing going.

But for now I’m pleased. I must stay with it. Wish me luck!

Permanent Lifestyle Change Girl Away!

These were my thoughts as I trudged through the sweltering heat and humidity – especially the weight-loss fantasy part because I know that I would be less uncomfortable today if I had less flesh on my bones.

But back to our overheated planet…

Is it just me or hasn’t anyone else noticed this crazy weather? – that is, anyone other than scientists from all over the world… I am surprised more people aren’t talking about it as much as they debated the Cain VS. Obama campaigns.

Stay tuned please…

Me & the cast of MDQ.

But this time I was not afraid. I knew what to expect. I knew that besides being a great show, everyone involved with this production is kind, enthusiastic and gracious – the cast, the crew – even the producer is wonderful. And being asked back was an honor for me. I had a different mindset this time. Last time, I just wanted to do a great job and not screw up. This time I was completely comfortable with the tune, “Sweet Home Chicago” and because it was Blues I knew I had the room to really perform. I didn’t want to just sing and perform well – I was out for the kill. I wanted to slay ‘em (the audience).

I decided to let it all hang out. I was not gonna start singing until that audience was right where I wanted them. I burst onto that stage with both barrels blazing and a white feather boa. I ran from stage right to stage left demanding that they holler!
C’mon! Make some noise! Louder! I can’t hear you!

And the boys were right there with me.
Follow my lead because tonight we’re going to the Promised Land! Mama’s on fire!

I made the audience sing back to me.
“back to that same ole place…”

Sweet Home Chicago!

I commanded: LOUDER!!

SWEET HOME CHICAGO!

I shimmied, I shook, I waved that boa, I squatted, hiked up my dress and kicked my legs and when I finished givin’ it to ‘em the entire audience, simultaneously, in one giant rush, jumped to their feet and cheered.

I got a standing ovation.

It was thee most wonderful gift I have ever received. It was humbling. It was amazing. I am weeping as I write this.

I got a standing ovation.

It was an absolute triumph. And then the most wonderful thing occurred. I went outside into the lobby – I was mobbed by folks offering congratulations and an outpouring of love and appreciation. And then I noticed a large group of kids about 12-13 years old standing around in the lobby. They were part of a travel group who came to see the show They surrounded me and showered me (an old 49 year old broad) with love. This was a whole different generation raised on hip-hop and pop music digging old school rock and roll, the Blues and me.

Oh! Whatta night!

I have never been more grateful in my life then I was at that moment. No, that’s not true. I think I am even more grateful right now. I am trying not to make a big deal of it. But it happened. And I can not deny the the impact it has made on me. Right now I feel like anything is possible. Me and The Million Dollar Quartet – a match made in Heaven!

Go see the The Million Dollar Quartet – Chicago. They’re making magic over there.

If you can, please check out the tony Award winning MDQ on Broadway in New York.

Note: So, when I came home from my wonderful night I got an email from an acquaintance who was at the show. He said: “You were great but Sweet Home isn’t my favorite song. I’ll have to come see you [somewhere] where I can really hear you sing…”

!!!!!

I was like: “Dude! I got a STANDING OVATION! What the fuck?!”

Some folks just gotta piss on your parade! But no worries. He didn’t ruin my bliss.