A la Atlanta

So I'm in Atlanta.

And I really need to start getting a good night's rest before a trip to a new place -- because I've noticed a pattern. I end up spending my first day of a trip in a daze -- making unfamiliar surroundings feel even more surreal.

Not to mention the Atlanta International is HUUUUGE. There is actually a TRAIN that you take underground to get in between terminals and make it to your baggage claim.

And you bet your bottom I rushed over to get my luggage after hearing a horror story from an independant soundman about his bags being gone by the time he arrived to claim them. Even when I rushed the carosel, there were already bags from FOUR other flights going around. I've had some bad luck with luggage so hopefully I'm through with mishaps....


There is something weird and terrifying about landing somewhere you've never been, jumping in a rental car, and hitting the open road. It makes you realize just how comfortable you are with your own roads -- especially highways. In Atlanta, the Interstates are no less than SIX LANES, curving and weaving constantly. And I've noticed that highway signs everywhere tell you the approximate travel time to your desired exit, based on the flow of traffic. Come to mention it, the weather channel does this too! I read somewhere that Atlanta rush hour begins at 10AM and ends at 8PM -- so again, I'm blessed to be here on a Saturday/Sunday. Good news -- I got to "test drive" a car that I've been coveting: the Jeep Liberty.
Back to business:

Had a fabulous first official "scout" meeting with an amazing artist and "edutainment" specialist. Met some of his "muses" (sorry for being so cryptic, I'm wondering just how much I want to leave a mystery for when this doc actually airs)... and I'm SO GLAD I finally came down to the "South".

I'll download some photos when I can.

Found my way to the mall -- it's become a ritual for me to see the nicest malls in a given city -- just to compare. Ok, fine, I'm also satisfying an evil habit.

In Atlanta, it's Lenox Mall and Phipps Place. I saw a bit of the former, and though it was sprawling, it didnt leave an impression.

My hotel is valet parking only and every time I come in and out with the car, a young, uber-polite, cleanly-scrubbed man waits eagerly for me to press a bill into his hand. I'm resisting, because the fee is already $18 a day. Does this make me a bad person?

When travelling, I always have to wander a grocery store too -- especially in the States because they have SO MUCH SELECTION when you compare with Canada. When I wander the aisles, I marvel at the processed goods -- even looking at the gum selection, my head spins -- "cold" gum that shoots a cold burst into your mouth, sour gum... breath bursts or something which are little capsules filled with a binaca-type liquid....

And I found the soup display a riot too.

Anyhow, I digress. Back to the booties.

I've seen 'em. Even though I've been sticking to the higher-income areas of the city. But women, especially Black women here, definitely flaunt em. I actually mistook one woman standing on a downtown street corner as a streetwalker because from where I was, it looked like she wasnt wearing anything below her shirt -- but seconds later, she was joined by equally-struttin gals, on their way to a club.

The girls I met today through the artist were just lovely. And super beautiful, though each's bountiful booty was shaped differently and captivating in its own way. They spoke to me on the discrimination of Black women and the assumption that often their body types are considered fat . They expressed frustration that there are no role models like them anywhere in the media. We spoke of women like Buffie the Body, but see that booty girls have become overly-sexualized -- and there are no other alternatives.

They confirmed that I did have a booty (which is always nice)... I had thought I'd spend a half hour with these folks but 2-some hours later, there we still were as the photographer turned on some tunes and the gals shook what their mammas gave them.

I've got a few hours tomorrow morning so we'll see what else I can squeeze in. It's a bummer that I can't get out to the clubs to see how the nightlife is different...but...I'm ready to explore Atlanta more fully -- and it will be good to save some "first times" for production. I've already turned down the opportunity to explore some of the bootys that frequent the more African-American oriented malls in the area.... ooooh I can't wait!!

Bootyfully yours,
Tatyana