HAYYYYY!!  OK …….. I hope that all of my readers, from near and far, have a great and relaxing Thanksgiving!  Possibly due to the economy or the good and negative attitudes that I have witnessed lately, I decided to list THE DIVA'S top 9 for 09 Thankful List [in no particular order, some more important than others]:

1.  My belief in GOD.  The GOD I believe in, has to look down on all of us and think, "fools, that is not what I meant."

2.  My family.

3.  My best buddy, Mr. Roscoe!  I love this dog!  Even though he is bossy, bossy, bossy!

4.  Friends that I have known for a while [HAYYYYY Miss Lauren Rue!, The Carters].

5.  Friends that have recently come into my life [HAYYYYY Hackberry Divas!]. 

6.  Dance music, R&B, some Country, Broadway, etc.  I LOVE my music!  I LOVE I-TUNES!  I LOVE my I-POD!  Shout out to my friend Reed, who I am very thankful to have in my life.  Now, with that said, some certain remixes ……..:)!

7.  My job.  Not only for the employment, but the opportunities!  I have encountered many people lately who complain and complain about their jobs.  GIRRRRRRRL!!  Shut up and be thankful you have a job.  Have you taken a look around at the people who are desperately looking? 

8.  My home.  I love my condo.  I want to do so much, but have to remember to be patient.  Graceland, nor Dollywood were built in a day.

9.  Comedians that see life a little different.  Hello Kathy Griffin, Kate Clinton, Jonny McGovern, Margaret Cho, Kathleen Madigan, Suzanne Westenhofer and Joan Rivers to name a few.

Meanwhile, back at the Hall of Justice …….. 

HAYYYYY!!  OK …….. For the past few days, I have found myself dealing with or talking to individuals who are just plain negative.  Don't like this, don't like that.  And when you note something positive happening in their lives, or in the world around them, the reaction you receive is blah, blah, blah.  **DIVA"S note here .. What I'm writing about does not apply to Carrie Prejean, who has been having a hard time lately .. 8 VIDEO TAPES!!  Carrie, who needs Playboy?  We'll just ask to see your video camera!**  But back to the negativity .. I'm reminded what a smart person told me recently, "there are some people who will always complain and think the grass is greener on the other side, when they ought to be thankful for where they currently stand."

So, to rid myself of these negative vibes, I wanted to list two things that have really made me smile today ……..

1.  Album / I-Tunes release of JONNY MCGOVERN PRESENTS: THE LEGENDS BALL – EAST VILLAGE MIXTAPE 2!!  If you've read some of my blog, you know that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Jonny McGovern's Gay Pimpin' podcast which includes Jonny, Fantastic Linda James, Straighty Martin, soul bird Adam Joseph, and the divine creature pictured above, Miss Ericka Toure Aviance!!  Jonny's podcast is funny, trashy, sexy and just damn great .. all at the same time!

Along with the podcast, Jonny has released 5 albums, all of which contain songs performed by himself and the other podcast members.  Which brings me to Ericka's song on MIXTAPE 2, "My Pumps!"  I have played this song over and over since buying the album last Saturday!  It is the "Supermodel" for 2010!!  Ericka and Jonny – you are both genius and you're making me gag!

"My Pumps" contains a line that I want the Hackberry Divas to shout out loud – "We know that we're FIERECE!  We know that we're FLY! So bitch get out of our way!"

**Second DIVA'S note here – Janet Jackson just released a greatest hits cd called NUMBER ONES, and it contains 50 SONGS!!  Who told Janet that she had 50 number ones??  To my knowledge, Mariah is the only female artist with the most number ones [18 or so].  One what planet and whose charts were these songs number one JJ?? And how in the world does Mandy Moore have a greatest hits collection?? **

2.  My other positive vibe comes from talking with my co-worker C. Carter about his twin daughters.  These beyond cute girls are almost 10 months old.  The way that C. Carter described the daily rituals of dinner time / play time / and bath time ["with arms and legs just going everywhere"] was very funny!  So thanks to the Carters for the great stories as the girls start growing!

I feel a lot more positive now!

Meanwhile, back at the Hall of Justice …….. 

HAYYYYY!!  OK …….. I want to send a HUGE shout out to the Divine Miss Anne, who Miss Gina, Miss Peggy and myself took out for a birthday dinner tonight.  Food, drink, dessert, great conversation and laughs were had by all.  Of course we can't go ANYWHERE with Miss Gina without some sort of DRAMA.  Apparently Gina wanted a dish that Longhorn [our restaurant of choice tonight] was advertising on tv, but could not be ordered.  Our waitress quickly dissolved into tears, the company headquarters was contacted, and we ultimately interrupted the president of Longhorns while he was having dinner at Outback. 

Guess who is having a guest for the weekend??  Roscoe's friend and my second favorite pug, Mr. Peabody!!

Peabody is actually one of my boss's dogs who I watched a few times before Mr. R arrived.  

When I brought Peabody home today, Roscoe starts doing his little dance, "Peabody, Peabody, friends forever remember?"  Peabody walks past him, as if to say, "Yeah, yeah let's not get all up in my face."  Roscoe just continued to spazz. 

Carrie, Carrie, Carrie .. you are seriously in need of a QUEEN PLEASE reality check.  Earlier this week, I watched Carrie go on Sean Hannity and The Today Show to state with a "straight" [pun intended] face that she only made the solo sex recording one time, and sent it to her boyfriend when she was 17.  And of course this was the biggest mistake, she never said she was perfect, and she threw down some attitude on THE VIEW!

Fast forward to Friday, and now there is news that Miss Former California not only made more than one recording, but sent them to several people when she was in her 20's!!

And still, no one is talking about our current Miss USA, Kristen Dalton from North Carolina!  You know Miss Thang is not too happy!

Meanwhile, back at the Hall of Justice …….. 

HAYYYYY!!  OK …….. It has been a busy week for the DIVA, but I wanted to share some thoughts for my loyal and always fashionable readers:

1.  If I have not mentioned this before, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, and LOVE some more THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ATLANTA!  LOVE this show!!  And although I know there are some who consider it trash .. well like Mom #2, Miss Anne of Hackberry, I LOVE this trash!  My favorite housewife is Kandi Burrus.  The girl actually has several careers, is a prolific songwriter, and has won a Grammy!

Due to my LOVE for Miss Kandi, I am going through the XSCAPE collection [Thanks Reed!], as well as her solo work.  Which brings me to Kandi's latest release, the ep, FLY ABOVE.  Readers, this is a GREAT [although small - only 5 songs] collection.  My favorite songs include "Trade Him In" and "Must Be Good."

2.  You have to acknowledge the truth .. On Friday, one of my work friends noticed that all of my cds were by black artists, mainly divas [Brandy, Whitney, Beyonce, Diddy, Deborah Cox, etc].  He said, "Paul, just admit it.  You're a black boy wrapped in a white boy's body!"  "I said, you got that right.  Only I'm a black DIVA wrapped in a white boy's body!" 

3.  Oh LOOK!  My favorite beauty queen was back in the news this week!  Carrie!  I've missed you.  In case my readers are not aware, the directors of the Miss California pageant [who were in a counter suit against Carrie] received a rather interesting video tape this week.  Appears that the former Miss CA was caught in a rather revealing sex tape.  Carrie, Carrie, Carrie, I though you knew better.  Next time, hire someone who understands lighting for video tape.

4.  Question:  Can the board handle the DIVA and the Divine?  After a nail biting, weave pulling, name calling, and captured all on video tape [Carrie can be found in the background], my condo association held the board elections yesterday.  Although Lady Di later remarked that she thought my wearing overalls to the election [HAYYYYY they are comfortable], looked less than inspiring, both the Divine Miss Gina and myself were elected to the board!!  Can you believe it?  One step toward Roscoe being named First Pug!

Meanwhile, back at the Hall Of Justice …….. 

HAYYYYY!!  OK …….. I have to send a HUGE shout out to the Legendary LADY DI for her fantastic Halloween Par-Tay on Saturday night!  What our little Martha Stewart mixed with Monte Hall [and a sprinkle of Donald Trump] can do with her carport is AMAZING!  There were tables, chairs, spooky music, and spiderwebs everywhere!  Not to mention some really good eats.

Now you know the Divas of Hackberry were bringing it to the runway for this par-tay!  We had the Divine Red Hatter [Miss Peggy], Miss Halloween Festivities 2009 [Miss Anne], a former go-go dancer from READY, SET, GO [the goddess Cindy - as I have been instructed to call her], and pure, not refined, white trash [Miss Gina]!  Speaking of Miss G, I would like to show some pics from the party, but guess who has not sent them to Call Him Miss Ross?  As for the THE DIVA, the look went as follows: Converse sneakers, Craftsman overalls, dark blue thermal shirt, and THE HAT:

Now dear readers, due to my "voice of an angel," and the fact that I worked for several years with the USO in Serbia and lower Antarctica, the diva is often asked to perform at dinner parties, social gatherings, and even Target openings.  Well, last nights par-tay was no exception.  During a short lived lull in the conversation, I was dragged to the mainstage and performed my version of Kim Zolciak's classic, "Tardy For The Party."  Although my time on stage was short [uh hello Lady DI?!?!], the applause was deafening!

Once again, LADY DI, thanks for a great time!

Meanwhile, back at the Hall of Justice ……..