A DAY IN "THE LIFE OF RILEY"

December 21, 2012

Georgia is more than on my mind this week. It's the blast-from-my-past backdrop of my Christmas holiday season. Between the beautiful NEW homes of our once-New-Jersey-based girlfriend Tina and once-Dallas-based girlfriend Patrice (and hubby Keron), the Atlanta leg proved quite the BLUES-BUSTER (Sometimes these holidays can find me quite SAD in reflection of what will never be again. But one friend... reminded me: CHERISH YESTERDAY! DREAM TOMORROW! LIVE TODAY! And alongside childhood BFF Ernest, I - on day one - had old-time fav J.R. CRICKETS in Mapleton (where I stumbled into Savannah homeboy and Morehouse brother Brian who I'd not seen since 1991); did a little shopping at Cumberland Mall; got to sit on photo shoot with Ern's niece Sydney who is one-to-watch and too cute (while watching Miss Ross' "Christmas in Washington"); and reconnected with one of my NYC-BFFs Trevor.

December 22, 2012

Day 2 back in GA on the ATL leg brought southern comforts (Picadilly Cafeteria with dear girlfriend Carla; home-made cookies at my sister and her husband's Lithonia home; margaritas at ATL-BFF Elise's place; Metro Cafe (old Mick's) provided one of my northern comforts: karaoke which Carla, Ern, and I enjoyed! I did Earth, Wind, & Fire's "Reasons"; Natalie Cole's "Our Love"; Whitney's "How Will I Know"; and Mariah's "Make It Happen"! FUN!); and the chance to be the first overnight guests with our fam/friends Patrice; Keron; and their boys Zach and Hunter (and a special visit from one of my dearest friends Chandra Jones and her awesome little boy Gavin!).

December 23, 2012

After last night's festivities, including a night cap at Bulldog's with friend Carla and her friends Deb and Kim, Patrice; Keron; Zach; and Hunter were Ern's and my hosts overnight into today: a delicious meal of fried pork chop; green beans; corn; mashed potatoes; and BET's "ROOTS" marathon for back-drop! Thanks y'all! Then, a pop by BFF Camille - in town from her current abode Malaysia! Always good to catch up with her PLUS she sold us some great, international goods (for gifting)! Then, en route to Savannah, we stopped by the home of my "Original Amazing Grace" (and member of Ern's and my friend circle in high school) Natalie to exchange gifts; eat some apple cake; catch up with Nat, her husband Dwayne, and the girls Lydia and Hannah. RE-NOURISHING TIME!

December 24, 2012

CHRISTMAS EVE: A little shopping at childhood hang: OGLETHORPE MALL (where I bumped into my favorite childhood cousin Eric and his lovely wife Felicia); CAREY HILLIARDS (for fried shrimp; deviled crab; white buttered toast; hush puppies; and potato salad); 1ST ROUND of our FAMILY REUNION at cousins Dee Dee and her husband Chris' place (featuring a house full of my LOVED ONES). SO BLESSED & GRATEFUL to have such a GREAT FAMILY! MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!

December 25, 2012

December 26, 2012

December 28, 2012 – January 1, 2013

AND ALL MY DAYS IN SAVANNAH! Great food! Great family! BIG fun! But all good things must come to an end! Time at home wrapped! And the wind blew us back HOME to NJ and NYC to bring in the New Year - including a lovely open house at the home of my birthday-mate Robin Stone and her son Zach. Oh! And one more karaoke with Moochie before the year wrapped.

AND HERE WE ARE!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYBODY!

To see more of the pix from my TRIP TO GEORGIA, click here: