I was reading an article today Dame Shirley Bassey, who's half Nigerian like me by the way, and I got to thinking . Shirley has seen her fair share of pain and tragedy and yet the show still goes on for her. She's not defeated. My mother used to play this song a lot. I think it was her anthem. The lyrics are words to live by.Now this a diva !
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Maybe I'm biased as I'm a Scorpion, but I really believe Autumn is the most beautiful time of the year. I can get lost at the variations in colors as the leaves change. It's a time of harvests, warm and comforting food, drink and clothes, and at times a touch of melancholy for some. Nature is a riot of color and celebration before she goes into her darkest coldest period.
Today I took a few minutes to take it all in and inhale and exhale. Isn't it exquisite? Chicago wears Autumn well.
One of the reasons I revived Diary of a Shopgirl was to work on my writing skills more.I have a idea brewing for a book and really need to hone this craft. I saw this writing challenge via Michelle and Big Black Dogs and Spend A Buck Farm and we got to tweeting. Seems she used to be a reader long ago. That's a sign if I ever heard one. So here we go....
My tastes run to camp and out there sort of things. Before the days of cable my television would be tuned into those obscure stations that ran old movies. I loved the glamour of the films in the thirties through the sixties. But amidst all the glamour , I never saw a glamorous black woman. Maybe that's what gripped my heart about Mahogany. This movie would never contend for Oscar status, but when my Mommy took me as young girl to see this movie, the memory of the divine Diana Ross stayed with me through life. Its funny because there are many parallels and incidents in this movie I can actually relate to my past. Mahogany influenced me to want to become a fashion designer, move to Europe, and lead that sort of life. And yes, I did all of that, for a spell. I didn't come from from Chicago,but my mother did. I remember the aggravating feeling of instructors holding you back in your artistic style.The 'dream on' looks and comments others gave you when you voiced your dreams.I love seeing the old shots downtown Chicago's Marshall Fields, a old building I spent most of the last decade servicing in my line of work. I could go one and on. That's the thing about camp films, you can recite them line and verse. They grow on you. Even today's self crowned divas play homage to this film. Remember Beyonces montage in Dreamgirls? A straight rip off of Mahogany.
So call me campy , corny or Whatever ...but remember this in the words of Mr. Billy Dee Williams
"Success is nothing without someone you love to share it with."
and Ms. Ross'
"I'm a WINNER baby"
The cubicle mate and I were talking about copy cats the last few days. As a woman who has always marched to her own distinct beat I cant understand why anyone wants to flat out copy anyone. Here is where my Auntie Mame would interject with "Why do you always try to find logic in everything?" But really, isn't there enough mediocrity out there? The old adage says "it is the sincerest form of flattery", I say its creepy. In blog land we see a lot of this and we call it plagiarism. So the same way I get up in arms if mine or some friends photo or recipe were ripped off, I get annoyed when someone flat out copies elements of my life.
In my single days I tended to attract a particular type of female friend always. When I saw the light and moved on, another was waiting in the wings. You know the type that likes the same men you like,is like a toxic poison and vampire sucking off your style and mannerisms,and eventually trying to get your man?Not saying I'm all that, but I got a lot of those nutcases. I'm not a girls girl. I prefer the company of men because its less drama. One of the things I hate is shopping with "the girls" for clothes. I will go to extremes to be unique and don't want to look cookie cutter. I had another gal pal that always wondered why I didn't shop at" normal mainstream"places like Anne Taylor or Banana Republic (not like there is anything wrong with them), I just don't want to look like everyone else , that's all. She would criticize my choices and yet I would find she painted her house in my colors, or copy other elements.If I did shop in those places I would work it in a different way with my existing vintage pieces, etc.
I'm an observer of life and people and in that I find my inspiration. My exasperation comes from those that don't have and mind or idea of their own. So when I see the imitation, I don't feel flattered, just annoyed, and a little creeped out. I'm seeing it again and I just wanted to rant.
It's been a long while since I posted on this blog. Coco Cooks takes all my focus these days, but I suppose I can still post here on occasion. I like to look back at old posts here and see how I ended up to present my present state. I met Certain Someone while writing this blog. Certain Someone is quick to say 'It's not always about food'.
Today I set up a new blog. I haven't been blogging as much lately.I have realized, as I pursue new things ,the Shopgirl is evolving. My sidelines seem to have a culinary bent . It doesn't help that nesting with Certain Someone helps drive this interest . So I set up the Coco Cooks blog. I plan to post in both , depending on where 'Whats on mind' falls under. They will be ramblings from a zealous amateur cook. I'm amazed at the number of foodie blogs out there. Seems to be the "trend" to be a foodie. A trend which has always been with me , and as I mature, will embrace more and more. http://cococooks.blogspot.com
Yesterday my catering sideline took me to a beautiful event. The Chairman of a major global financial institutions Chicago base threw a surprise party for his wife. The estate was on a breathtaking parcel of land on the North Shore with a private beach. The heat was intense and it was hard work. But the final result was a touching, loving affair for this lucky woman. The husband flew in a songwriter artist I have not heard of before. However upon hearing her sing her trademark song over and over during rehearsal sound check, it sounded eerily familiar. I found out later on during the husbands speech to his guests that she's a Oscar nominated songwriter ( that's why I know the song) and has appeared on several well know television series. The party was warm and intimate. We had to dress in our bistro costumes consisting of Tuxedo shirts,bow ties, and long aprons. The guests were dressy casual as they dined under the tents. The chefs and all of us were sweating it out in the outdoor kitchens. I felt sorry for some of the staff as a few seemed to drop some drinks trays on the terrace early one. Those trays get heavy. The girls and I I always had to rotate and twist our wrists when we came to the kitchen for more rounds. The guest were very nice to us which was surprising. Sometimes they can act as if you don't exist.Not that I'm expecting conversation, but at least say yey or nay if you want a hors d' oeuvres I didn't glean much from conversations, just talk of travels past and future. They seem a real loving, close knit family which is touching considering the amount of wealth, etc. They don't strike me as the types to "chase the cameras and constantly be in the papers". Just hard working, mid western, self made people. As always I love to observe this type of stuff.
