**Shameless plug: Hop over to my friend Peggy Eldridge-Love’s blog for “A Minute with Author Jackie Young”. Don’t forget to leave ya girl a few comments.
Peggy Eldridge-Love
Now…where were we? Oh yes…**

It’s Friday! It’s Friday! La-la-la…it’s FRIDAY!!

Can you tell that I’m EXCITED to see this workweek come to an end?!?!

All in all, it’s been a good week. A few bumps here and there but such is life.

As we close out the work week, let me share with you a few things that made me smile and one thing that has me absolutely, over-the-top, straight up giddy.

Wednesday night, Princess So Fabulous and I had a lovely conversation about their impending move. They’re moving to a new house next month, not too far from where they live now but I’ve only been there once. And of course my brother went through all these sidestreets and whatnot. Sooooo, the Princess is freaking out because her dad hasn’t given me directions - as she put it, “this isn’t one of those FBI-witness-relocation-thingies”. LOL That kid cracks me up.

I had a few minutes to talk with my nephew “Peanut”, the four-year old. When he first came to my house, he was really concerned that I lived alone. His little eyes got all big and he kept saying, “Aunt Jackie, you stay here by yourself?” Yes. “For real?” Yes. “You gonna stay here when we leave?” LOL So we’re talking and he asks me again, “Aunt Jackie, you’re at home?” Yes. “It’s night time.” Yes. “You gonna stay there tonight.” Yes. “Wow”. Then he asks me, “Aunt Jackie, can I see you later?” which, translated into “Peanut-ese” means “can you come to Uncle BigBro#4’s house this weekend?”. It made me smile because, while he’s used to me coming to visit, I think this is the first time HE ever asked me himself. He even offered to let me use his ‘puter.

Now…on to Dat Dude D…the high school senior. When he was about 5 and wanted to have a “real” conversation, he’d always start the topic by saying, “Auntie, we need to talk serious bidness”. LOL He was sooo serious, his little brow all furrowed, hands going all over the place while he explained his ideas or issues. He called me the other day to talk about some college stuff and started the conversation with, “Auntie, we need to talk serious bidness”. I cracked up. He didn’t remember it but I sure did. That and the fact that whenever he, my mom and I were around and he’d ask a question, if I answered it, he would always turn to my mom and say, “Is that right Grandma?” cause you know Grandma knows everything. ROFL

Ahhhhh, kids. Ya’ll know Aunt Jackie loves the kids.

Now on to the giddiness of it all. This past summer I was crushed - crushed I tell you - when I saw the line-up for the Capital Jazz Festival. I decided I wasn’t going. Didn’t try to dissuade any of the crew. Just said I ain’t going. Wellllllll……guess what I got in the mail today?? Yes - the lineup for this year is so darn exciting, I’m ready to hit the road right now!! For real. Shoot, tickets go on sale next week and you know who is gonna be perched at her keyboard to pounce. Check out the line-up for yourself…..

16th Annual Capital Jazz Fest
June 6-8, 2008
Merriweather Post Pavilion
Columbia, Maryland

The 2008 Capital Jazz Fest will take place on June 6-8, 2008 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. This year’s festival will be hosted by Grammy Award-winning vocalist Patti Austin. The talent lineup–just announced today–appears below:

16th Annual Capital Jazz Fest
Talent Lineup

Friday, June 6, 2008
7:30pm

Pavilion Stage
BONEY JAMES· Brian McKnight
Special guest host: PATTI AUSTIN
Plus…the 5th annual Capital Jazz Challenge competition
at the Hilton Columbia Hotel

Saturday, June 7, 2008
12 noon - 10pm

Pavilion Stage
CHRIS BOTTI · DIANNE REEVES· Spyro Gyra · Kim Waters · ROBERTA FLACK · Ken Ford · Wayman Tisdale
Special guest host: Patti Austin

Symphony Woods Stage
JEFFREY OSBORNE · LOOSE ENDS · PLUNKY** · Carl Thomas · FRANK MCCOMB
plus additional artist TBA
Special guest host: Tony Richards
(**Blog owner’s note - ya’ll know that’s Richmond’s very own James “PLUNKY” Branch, right? Go ‘head Plunky! Hmmm….I wonder if he’s bringing “The Oneness” with him. And if anybody out there knows what’s up with “JuJu”, holla atcha girl!**)

Sunday, June 8, 2008
12 noon - 10pm

Pavilion Stage
JOR SAMPLE· RANDY CRAWFORD · BRIAN CULBERTSON · DOWN TO THE BONE · R&R (featuring RICK BRAUN & Richard Elliot) · Four80East
plus additional artist TBA
Special guest host: Patti Austin

Symphony Woods Stage
LEDISI · AVERAGE WHITE BAND · The Jazzy Soul Collective (featuring Jimmy Sommers, Vikter Duplaix, GORDON CHAMBERS, & Lynne Fiddmont) · Howard Hewett · ERIC ROBERSON (**ERRO!! That brother puts on a show, ya hear me? If he sings “Softest Lips”, I’m done. DONE. D-O-N-E Done.) · Billy Kilson & BK Groove
Special guest host: Tony Richards

Tickets for the 16th annual Capital Jazz Fest go on sale Saturday, March 8 at 12 noon. For more details on the Capital Jazz Fest, visit www.capitaljazz.com.

I was so excited when I got that email, I hit FavCus#1 on speed dial and ran down the list for her. So…the call goes out to-mor-row to find out who’s in and who’s out. All I know is, me and FavCus#1 are ready to roll…THIS is gonna be GOODER than GOOD!

Who knows? Maybe we’ll be serenaded in the gas station again by some jazz loving Canadians. “What you won’t do…do for love…do you know where I’ve beeeennnn Baybee?” Or roll up on Biz Markie in I-Hop. “You, you got what I neeeeed..and you say he’s just a friend…and you say he’s just a friend…oh baby you….”

Happy Friday!