A Surpise Diva

Self,

Saturday evening I had the pleasure to attend one night of the Mercedes-Benz Wavefest concert series here in Los Angeles at the Greek Theatre.

For me the head-liner of the night was Vanessa Williams. I have rather forgot that she has been on the scene for over 20 years. She looks great. Sounds FANTASTIC! It was for that reason that I'm surprising myself and putting her in the true diva category. The surprise isn't that she is a diva, but more that I wasn't ready to do another post on a diva nor was I intending to do one so soon on a contemporary diva again. But after seeig her live...well I just had to do it.

Y'all she looked beautiful. I made a comment to my friend who went with me that for years I had been kinda jealous/mad at her for snagging Rick Fox (that's the baby daddy,Whew!)...but that night watching her on stage......for a brief period....I think I was actually jealous that he had snagged her! lol In the words on Prince Esquire and our friend, Dallas Black (PapaBear as I call him,) "She could get it!"

It was a two-night event and I attended the second night. The line-up for that evening was a Canadian guitarist named, Jesse Cook. In addition to Ms. Williams, soprano saxaphonist, Kenny G, also performed. Believe it or not that man helo a single note for it seemed like 7-10 minutes. He explained that he is able to do that by having learned how to inhale short gasps through his nose while still exhaling through his mouth into the sax. He put his nose up to the microphone so the audience could hear him breathe.

The first night of the event stared Brian McKnight and Al Jarreau.

Sincerely,
Pharaoh

The First Birthday Shout!

Self,

I don't know if it has been noticed that I haven't given any shout out to people for their birthdays here. It's not because I being mean or anything like that. lol it has a lot to do with memory....and I don't have a very good one....I would hate to give birthday shout out and then discover that I missed someone because I was overwhelmed with stuff and forgot! So I just decided not to do any!

That said.....there is One birthday shout out that I have to do! Today I am 1 year old, or rather "Note2Self-byPharaoh" is one year old today! On September 27, 2008 I penned my first note (Know thy Self) here.....hmm and it's been a torrid love affair since!

My first "Note" was an introduction of myself and what I wanted out of Blogging. Here at my first birthday I think some mild reflections are in order.

I had planned for this to be a daily blog as NYSuitor has reminded me on several occasions sense we connected. (Did I ever mention that he was reading "Notes" even before we had ever knew each other?)

Well I have to admit that I fell short of a daily blog. out of 365 possible entries I have a grand total of........(drum roll, please.)

158 entries.

Although 7 of those are actually "drafts" of post that I started but never finished/published. My ratio as a daily blog is about 43%. =( not even half.

However as a WEEKLY Blog my ratio would be 304% That's a hellalot better and certainly worth smiling about! =) (if you need to do the math for yourself 158/52 = 3.038......do you really have such little trust in me that you needed to get the calculator......fine, I'll wait!)

Now that my math has been verified. I have to say ratio's be damned I have enjoyed my experience with my blog. I hope you have too. a special shout out to readers and followers alike,....knowing that you're out there helps to keep the "pen" in my hand. LOL your comments help too!

Now mushy stuff aside, I think for Note's birthday it's time to do some redecorating. I'd like to hear some suggest on ways to change things up a bit.

Sincerely,
Pharaoh

PS look forward to reading everyone's comments.

Let Me Upgrade You

Self,

I'm not sure if it's common knowledge here that I don't watch a lot of television. The first and main reason for this is that I hated feeling a slave to it when I wanted to go out with friends or on the extremely rare occasions that I had a date and these outings would occur on the same day and time as my "favorite show(s) and I worried about missing the show." So I let TV go for the pleasure of living rather than sitting infront of the boob-tube....lol now I watch a lot of DVDs and a few show I watch with my parents at their house...... but we can skip on pass that though.

So suffice it to say that I didn't see the VMAs, yet I obviously have heard about the stunt Kanye pulled. (On that I'll say, he was Wrong - he should be ashamed of himself - it seems that he is and has apologized.....yes there's more but that's enough of him.)

I'm really just want to acknowledge what I heard Beyonce did for Taylor Swift. I was told that She let Taylor come up on stage to finish her accepting statements during her own time allotment for the same thing. That to me showed some class, grace and compasion. Although that doesn't mean that I think Beyonce is a diva now...but she's on the right path.

Sincerely,
Pharaoh
P.S. Yes I just swallowed a taste of crow, but so what! lol

New Day...Same mess.

Self,

Hmm, how do I say this and not sound....... pathetic? Last night, I "popped a cherry" that probably should have been popped years ago, particularly at 32 years old. (Get your nasty minds out the gutter! LMFAO)

Yesterday was a friend's birthday and he wanted to go out and be sociable to celebrate and asked me to go with him. I agreed to meet him in the famous gayland of Los Angeles, where it's residents should proudly shout "I 'ho, you 'ho, he 'ho ....WeHo!"As in West Hollywood.

(This is probably the unofficial motto.)

Anyway, my friend was late meeting me so to kill time while I waited for him, I walked up and down Santa Monica Blvd. (Watch it. I didn't say working Santa monica Blvd.) As I was walking I spotted this cutie sitting with another guy outside a new store (atleast new to me - I'm rarely in the area) called "Millions of Milkshakes." Like I said, I thought one of the guys were cute but it look like a rather "intimate" conversation so I kept walking thinking that they were a happy couple just hanging out.

My friend was rather slow getting out to the area. As part of my wait, after walking a while and visiting some of the bars, I ended up taking a phone call and stopped to sit on a brick planter in front of a hardware store...that happen to be a few doors down (like 50ft?) from the couple at the milkshake store.

I noticed that the cutie of the couple turned around and took a look at me. The other guy gets up and goes in the store. The cutie gets up and walks....across the street, to his car opens the trunk (he wasn't carrying anything or pulled anything out,) then just stands around the car. I'm watching and kind think that maybe he giving a hint that he's interested. At this point my phone conversation is interrupted (and oddly disconnected) by my friend calling to let me know he has FINALLY made it, and is trying to locate me. As my friend walks up I notice the cutie walking down the block on the opposite side of the street.

I explain the situation to my friend about the cutie after I had point him out on the street. My friend and I check out some establishments as we try to decide which we will honor with our presence for the remainder of the evening. During our exploration and indecision, I keep seeing cutie. So for the first time, that I can recall (yes I know I'm old and the memory is the first to go,) I grow a pair and introduce myself to cutie.

Like I said I introduced myself, he does the same. We have some small talk. I mention having seen him sitting with the other guy earlier. I explain I'm out for my friend's birthday. I comment about how the bars seem dead. He said that should be expected for a Wednesday, but I told him, that I was told the bars were jumping the week before so we came to check it out. He tells me that he's waiting to give his "boy" a ride home from his job at the Milkshake store. I find out that "his boy" is just a friend. We joke about how we both our "going that extra mile" to be a good friend, me being out on a Wednesday at 11pm when I have to work early in the morning, and him for coming out at so late to give a friend a ride.

Right about then 2 guys walk by that Cutie seems to have known. They exchange a few pleasantries, and I wait off to the side for Cutie. When he finishes with the 2 bypassers, Cutie walks back to me and says;

"Hey [Pharaoh], it was a pleasure meeting you, and I hope you enjoy your evening."

Knowing a dismissal when I hear one, I reply, "Same here, and you take care." Then I walk back down the street to find my friend.

So much for stepping out on a limb, right? Disappointing, to say the least.

Before anyone starts trying to say comforting words to minimize the pain of rejection;

I know it wasn't really that bad.

I know not to take it personally.

I know it is HIS loss, not mine.

I know the other half dozen lines or praise and encouragement that can apply to this situation. They are true and helpful, but that's all besides the point.

I'm not crushed be cause a cute boy rejected me. My concern is that it just seems like it's just one more thing where I take a leap of faith and put myself out on a limb looking, wanting, expecting, hoping, wishing, praying for the best....and well the limbs break and I go crashing down....and sometimes it seems like instead of just hitting the ground, some how a deep cavernous (if not bottomless) pit miraculously finds itself under me.

I know this isn't major...the major things seem to be taken care of and I know I'm blessed for that and I appreciate it. But the things that I climb out on that proverbial limb for are all things that will help to improve/enhance my life. So it SUCKS for the limb to break.

And the faith that inspires those leaps....is dwindling.

Sincerely,

Pharaoh

A Touch of Spirit

Self,

I got an email from a new friend, yesterday. It wasn't bad or anything. It was just a "hey I'm touching base, how are you?" type of note. He mentioned that he was frustrated with the American Political system and a few other things. All of which I understand. The last line of his email before the signature was;
"Pray for our country [Pharaoh]....just pray."

What I found significant to share with you was the...response that poured out of me.

"[A] thought occurred to me from your last sentence. You or rather we can't pray for the country - it's too enormous and amorphous of an entity for the universe to respond to your prayers. The Universe is a DIVA beyond measure even calling her a fierce bitch (as I occasionally have done) is an understatement, but I think a prayer like that would limit her powers rather then expand them. I suggest instead work in specifics.

Pray she keeps harm and negativity at bey from friends and family.

Pray she grants them wisdom and grace.

Pray she has the benevolence to bless them with a bounty of joy/pleasure/happiness to combat/balance the fear/pain/sorrow that she also wields.

Pray that financial woes are scarce and their living necessities are met with an abundance.

[You may] feel free to include President Obama (and the first family and other members of government) if you like.

If you do that for you and yours, I do that for me and mine, [Gayte-keeper] does the same for his, and so on and so forth. Then we expand her powers to allow her to see the big picture in greater clarity.....then the country takes care of itself along with the rest of the world...."

When I re-read this before clicking the send button. I personally felt that ....well the universe was speaking through me. That's the reason I chose to share it here because maybe it wasn't just his ears alone, she was trying to reach.

Sincerely,
Pharaoh

The Next Diva

Self,

I have to say that in a way I am just winging my way through this Diva series. I hadn't quite decided who would be represented next. In the back of my mind, I think I had anticipated it being a contemporary of The First Divas.

However when a friend showed this clip to me I knew this to be a DIVA moment. I also knew that it would be very appropriate to acknowledge this Diva who is still MAKING her mark and presence known.

Since September was and still is in some cases the month that makes the begining of a new academic school year I thought this clip was additionally fitting besides just showing the divas talent. And to raise it just one more notch, today is the first Sunday of the month which pays tribute to the genre of music the diva sings in this clip. When the talent is there...you just got to shout! Here's a Diva whose name you gotta call twice - Patti Patti. LaBelle that is.




I don't think Beyonce could have done that!

Sincerely,
Pharaoh

It's All About Promotion & Packaging!

(This will be a duel post on M.A.L.E.)

Self,

Ok Yesterday I was browsing through a catalog that I received in the
mail. I'll admit it's gay oriented, and I flip through to see the
models as well some "fashion" ideas.....but mostly the models Eye
candy all day long!

The catalog is best and biggest section is underwear (if you don't
know, yes I have an underwear fetish....SO WHAT! =)

So, I'm flipping through the underwear section, checking out the
models and I notice these sketches in the middle of the page where
photos normally. This is not completely odd it's done occassionally to
give the viewers an idea of the cut/style/fit of an item and if need
be showcase any "unique" features of the article of clothing. The
drawings in questioned had a hole/ring in the middle of the crotch
area. Of course I was curious. I initially though about the skit on
MadTV where the guys were wearing jeans that allowed their...testicles
to hang out....but I didn't not concieve that someone tried to
actually manufacture anything based on that design, nor could I see
the point of such a desing for undergarments...Suffice it to say, I
continued to investigate.

Imagine my....surprise to learn that these underwear were designed
with a cock-ring in the fabric to enhance the appearance of your
"package" imprint, by lifting and pushing it out a bit. not to mention
the added "swelling" that occurs automatically with the use of
cock-rings. And to appeal to a variety of preferences and purposes
you can order these package enhancing garments as either, briefs,
trunks (short-leg boxer briefs) or a thong. (See below.)
(Here's the thong for your viewing pleasure.)

I immediately sent a text to severaly friends...and I laughed plenty
at the jokes that they came up with in response. In fact the title of
this post was one such response from my dear brother, Prince Esquire!
Schehimazade got a prompt "Fuck you" when he feyed shock that I didn't
know the price because he had assumed I had already placed an order. -
That Ass!

Now all jokes aside....REALLY a COCK-RING in your underwear to make
you look bigger! As I said this is a gay oriented catalog (althought
they may claim otherwise) so I don't think you will be able to find
these garments in Target, Wal-Mart or H & M: Nor would I expect them
to be stocked on the shelves in Macy's, Saks, or Dillard's. I won't
even think about designer boutiques like Kenneth Cole, or Armani.
Therefore, these garments are intended for a specific group of
shoppers.

So are gay men that vain, shallow and insecure that we need cock-ring
re-enforced underwear to feel attractive/sexy to get the attention of
potential sex partners? What the Hell is wrong here? And why do I
feel like my head should hang low because these are "my peers?"

Sincerely,
Pharaoh