Well, are you?

Chic, meaning attractive and fashionable when used as an adjective, or style and elegant when used as a noun, comes from the German word, scheck, which means to arrange with tact and skill.

Our word ‘chic’ isn’t our word, it’s  French.  I was first used in 1856 to describe the Empress Eugenie, the consort of the French Emperor Napoleon III.

The French have impacted fashion for centuries, and Eugenie, who was from Spain,  kept UP the tradition.

Eugenie had a lot of time on her hands.  Napoleon was a ladies man, played the field, was out of the country often, and Eugenie salved her sorrows with running France while he was away and by shopping.

Lots of shopping.

Seriously, lots!

She was the first to wear ‘cage’ crinolies back in 1855.  You know, the basis for the giant hoop skirts we associate with the Antebellum era.   Scarlett, Melanie, all that.

Once Eugenie strapped on that hooped skirt, they took off everywhere.

When, at the end of the 1860s she abandoned the saftey hazards at the insistance of her couturier, Charles Frederick Worth, the big butt era was OVER!

But, chic, remains.

We’re not talking fads here.  We’re talking style.  Something which shows subtle taste, design, elegance, and just plain old class.

Like the little black dress, the string of pearls, cleanliness.

So, as the holiday party season approaches, keep UP a good front! 

Think style, think class, think chic!

Be pretty out there, it’s an ugly world!

…here’s a Thanksgiving Memory from Germantown Elementary School.

Yes, I know it’s the worst picture ever.

Back in the day, when I was in the third grade our classes at Germantown Elementary School put on a Thanksgiving Play.

My Dad made my hat, fashioned silver buckles for my shoes out of tin foil, and Mother made the collar and dyed an old white shirt black.

Frankly, I think I rocked the pilgrim look.

I’m the first one on the left in the front row.

I was short then too!

The participants are, just in case you’re reading Valley View, are:  Back Row: all teachers, Miss Pearl Rogers, Mrs. Bernice Gaskins, Mrs. Evelyn Sowder, and Miss Belle Morgan.

Front row, all “pupils”:  UP, Teddy Cottingin, Cassandra Yvonne Mikesell, Charles (Chuck) Kuch, Vicki Clensy, Dwight McElfresh, Randy (Phil) Zehring, and Joanie Dalton.

HAVE A GREAT THANKSGIVING DAY!

…for lots of things.

Family, friends, foes, failures, fettucini.

Victories, virtues, vacations.

Smiles, sunshine, software, Sundays, sweet-n-low.

The Internet, ice cubes, iced tea.

Crayons, computers, Cher, Coffee!

And I’m thankful for the people who take time from their lives to read what I write once in a while.

Some of you I know.  Many I’ve never met.  It facinates me that people who don’t know me face to face will read me from afar.

The ‘readers map’ on my stat counter tells me you’re from places I’ve been, places I’ve never been, and places I’ve never heard of!

From the one in Bodo, Norway who checks in once and a while, family, friends, locals, strangers, old high school friends, and to the person in Lafayette, LA who reads me everyday, whom I don’t even know, Thanks!

Enjoy your Thanksgiving Day tomorrow.

And to the 48,000 + who have checked me out over the last 13 months, Thank you as well, and please keep coming back!

I’m a tad worried about some of my ‘neighbors’,

Don’t worry Leigh, not the ones on my street, just some boys in the Metro!

Here are the headlines.

“Armed Robbery Victim Shoots Suspects’ Tire”

“Judge Pleads Guilty To 2 Drug Charges.”

“Sex Charges Cost CEO His Position.”

“Piano CEO Admits To Smuggling Ivory.”

“Warrant Issued For Ex Falcon Grady Jackson.”

“School Board Member Jailed For Failure To Pay Child Support.”

While the employees were locking UP one night last week at the Triple Food Store on Boulevard, several men came to the door, brandished a gun and after hitting one employee, took $300.

One employee shot back.  Tires and windshield will be needed once the car gets out of impound.  A ’slow-speed’ chase ensued, and after a traffic accident, and a foot flight, the driver was apprehended.

Yeah Cops!

Yeah Employee!

Moving on…US Senior Judge Jack T. Camp pled guilty (I refuse to use the word pleaded, it just sounds stupid, and can not possibly correct!) to trying to buy cocaine and narcotis for his striper girlfriend.  He also admitted to giving her a government laptop.

Hmmmmm!  Wonder if she has a blog?

They found two firearms on the front seat of his vehicle when he was arrested.

The charges carry UP to four years in the slammer.  Looks like the Judge met the Judge.

As to the CEO with the sex charges, innocent until proven guilty applies here.  But if guilty, the former CEO of Reflex Systems, a High Tech Atlanta Firm, could spend most of the rest of his life in jail.

He is accused of having sex with a 12 years old prostitute.  Yes, that was TWELVE YEAR OLD Prostitute. 

How does that happen?

After spending nine days in jail, the CEO put UP his $1.2 million dollar Sugarloaf Country Club mansion as collateral for bail. 

Sugarloaf is the tony subdivision where the Mansion Madam, some of the Falcons, Toni  Braxton, and Usher have homes.

The 12 year old’s Pimp, 38,  is in jail on child molestation and sex trafficing charges in nearby Cobb County.

As to the Ebony and Ivory guy, this dude had boxes of ivory piano keys as well as pianos with real ivory keys stashed away.  Imported Ivory was banned in the US back in 1900 by the Lacey Act which helps states enforce wildlife laws.

Thanks goodness I sold that antique baby grand I bought at an auction 20 years ago!!  He gets to spend one year in jail and pay a $100,000 fine.  His company is on probabtion for five years and may have to cough UP 500 Grands!

Poor Grady Jackson is accused of buying an Aximum Watch at a  pawn shop.  The watch was property of Travelers Insurance.  Who knew?  People pawn $10,000 watches every day…times are tough!

As to tough times, the school board member released a lenghty statement expressing his embarrassment at his business losses, his lack of funds, and his inability to pay his child support.

The school board has elected not to investigate the matter.

Like I said, it’s Bad Boys Week in the ATL!!