Christmas Already?

Prince, MSG, February 7, 2011

When you are handed a week like this, it really does feel like Christmas.  To begin the week, last night, I had the amazing once in a lifetime experience of seeing Prince perform at MSG.  Prince first appeared, raised from beneath the "Artist Formerly Known As" stage, covered in gold sequins and I swear my heart skipped a beat!  His fabulous four inch gold heels and entrancing talent was enough to make any music lover tingle with excitement!  Our seats weren't top dollar, but the view was fantastic and the energy was indescribable. Great company, smuggled in beer, and Prince live... who could ask for anything more?  How about Cee Lo Green and Questlove joining the stage?  I'll take it!  And can I add a Kim Kardashian getting pulled up by Prince only to completely freeze up and then being kicked off the stage?  The only thing that could have made the night better would have been if I had been pulled up on stage myself.  I can promise you I would have done much more than stand awkwardly and clap.  Prince is a god and seeing a god live literally leaves you speechless, or at least hoarse from all the screaming.

To continue the week, we have tomorrow's event.... the Duke vs. UNC game.  For those of you that don't understand this rivalry, I am not quite sure how to put it into words.  Let's just say this.  I grew up a die-hard Duke fan.  My dad and went to games every year.  Our first UNC vs. Duke game was an unfortunate loss at the Dean Dome.  Franklin Street was one huge sea of drunken college kids barfing on the sidewalk and being cuffed by officers that were less than pleased with the scene.  I promised my dad I would never go to UNC... but years later, that is exactly where I went.  Perhaps it was to follow the crowd?  It was the cool thing to do.  Perhaps it was being completely unsure of what I really wanted to do with my life?  Either way, it was and is a fantastic school from which I got a great education and a ton of priceless friends.  With that being said, I have NEVER converted to the dark side...well in this case the light side... the lighter blue.  I refuse to pull for the Tarheels.  I grew up a Blue Devil fan and will go to my grave a Blue Devil fan.  I may have gone to UNC for the education, but I did not go to cheer for their teams.  This basketball rivalry is unmatched.  You cannot describe the hatred that the two teams possess for the other.  I am beyond a rarity to have attended UNC and pull for DUKE.  It didn't exactly provide me with invites to the pre-game parties during my four college years, but I was ok with that.  I wasn't converting.  Period.  The feeling of victory every time your team scores a basket against the "other blue" is simply a feeling you must experience for yourself, and tomorrow night is game one of two for the two teams to face one another, and I can't wait.  Regardless of the rankings and stats, it is always a good game... and I can not wait.  My dark blue blood is boiling and I am tasting a victory.

Photo by Me, Marc Jacobs Spring 2004 Collection

And then there is Thursday....you know... just the beginning of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week! Besides Christmas, Fashion Week is my favorite time of the year.  Twice a year, we are presenting the newest creations from my favorite artists... fashion designers.  My mind always drifts to the sense of excitement I felt watching the Spring 2004 Marc Jacobs collection walk the runway after assisting in the show's preparation.  Each year, I watch the available live streams, and catch up with photos and compare reviews from every fashion site or blog.  This year I am going to immerse myself in the craziness at Lincoln Center.  I am thrilled to be attending some of the shows this year and ready to see the madness first-hand.  For anticipation purposes, I will keep you on the edge of your seat as to what shows I will be attending, but I guarantee you reviews and tweets from each and every event.  Some of the greatest artists in the world will be showcasing their latest masterpieces...and it all starts this week.  The only thing left to do, is decide what I will be wearing!

A week of music, sports, and fashion all wrapped up in a little package, it really does feel like Christmas.  So keep the presents coming Santa, I can't wait to see what's next!