Ready for Ugly Money & Updates (Answering Questions)

Somebody had a Question. And well, I am answering it. That Simple!

Q:

A: Sure Would. The creator of this question didn't understand, "What Others Think About You is Not Your Business".  And well, that person's misunderstanding of my looks just happens to cost... 

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Oh, the Question That was Updated can be Found HERE.

Don't forget, if you have any questions, email them to C.OUT.SPOKEN.DIVA@gmail.com or leave them in the comment section below or on the social media site where you see this post. I will answer them.

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As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!

Talk About It Tuesday (Everybody Ain't Your Friend, But...)

 

As of the time I made the above video, the FBI has opened an investigation. May the truth about the death of Shanquella Robinson comes out. Her family deserves at least that. Because a lie is not how her death should be deduced. And I hope we All use the case to learn more about positive displays of Friendships & how to utilize them in our lives.

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!

Friendsgiving

Friendsgiving is a blend of friend and Thanksgiving, and it refers to a large meal eaten with friends either on or near Thanksgiving. Thank you, Merriam-Webster for the definition. Friendsgiving has been a very creative idea that makes me proud even though I've never had a chance to experience it. I hate to hear about people being mopey during the holidays because they can't celebrate in a traditional way. I'm shocked that those that like thr fairy tale toned versions of the beginnings of Thanksgiving haven't high-jacked this term. Because of the way the first Thanksgiving story is taught, it does sound like a Friendsgiving. And that makes me wonder how did the day become a "family" day. 

Oh well, that's possible research for another day. I want to talk about the movie, Friendsgiving. If you are new to my platform, I am a person that refuses to skip Thanksgiving and go straight to Christmas. And I continue to request TV networks like Hallmark, Freeform, & Lifetime to make Thanksgiving movies instead of showing yuletide films in November. And whenever I learn about a Thanksgiving movie, I'm watching it. Friendsgiving on Netflix was no exception.

Molly and Abbey, who are getting over bad relationships host an impromptu, dysfunctional, chaotic, and witty Thanksgiving dinner with their crew of close friends & not-so-close friends.

It is full of warm drama & dark comedy. It takes place in Hollywood-adjacent L.A. There are the tropes (divorcée, gays, away from family, estranged mother, ex-boyfriend, botoxed at the last minute, invited single daters, & a vegan shaman) & non-tropes (black married couple with children, an infant, & a confused rebound)

This gathering wasn't planned. It was honestly a last-minute covered dish refuge for friends. But it balloons into a small house party. I could relate to the kitchen scenes. Covered dish soirees get chuckles because "What is this" or "Who made this" is funny. But this film does take a weird turn because of drugs & alcohol. But the movie pulls it together and the main characters figure they need to deal with their pasts so they can have better futures and a better Thanksgiving.

Friendsgiving lives up to the true definition of the term it is named after. If you can't be grateful with family & their shenanigans, give thanks with some friends. Because believe it or not, shamans pray just as long as a granddad.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!

Sweet Potato Memories (OUTSPOKEN Diva's Favorite Recipes)

Sweet Potato Pie

Ingredients

• 3 large sweet potatoes
• ½ cup butter softened
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups sugar, or more to taste
• ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 4 eggs, beaten
• ¾ cup 2% milk
• 2 (9-inch) unbaked pie shells

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F and place a piece of foil on a baking sheet. 
2. Use a fork to poke holes into the sweet potatoes, set them on the baking sheet, and roast for 40 to 50 minutes, or until puffed up and soft inside when pierced with a fork.
3. Remove from oven and let potatoes completely cool. Remove and discard skin.
4. Lower the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
5. Combine sweet potatoes, butter, sugar, vanilla, and pumpkin pie spice in a large bowl. Whisk eggs and milk together in a small bowl; blend into sweet potato mixture. Pour filling into pie shells.
6. Bake pies in the preheated oven for 60 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
   

RIP Aunt V, your pies were delicious & fondly remember. And I also miss you bringing us sweet potatoes from East Texas. The store prices are too high. The thumbnail is one of my recipe folders that contains written, cut-out, & printed recipes since 2004. When my life is over (no time soon, I hope), I don't know who I will leave them with. But always remember if you ask me how to make something, I checked there first. LoL Again below leave a dish that you learned to make some the recipe wouldn't die.

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!

Right Over Left, Wakanda Forever

Well, Wakanda had to be re-visited. For me, it was an event one must attend. Even though the circumstances are known & unknown at the same time. Chadwick Bosman as T'challa, Ruler of Wakanda & The Black Panther will not be there. What will this film be like at this point? Well, I sat in a theater and watched how. And I enjoyed it enough to give you guys the Good, the Bad, and the Diva (Head Nod to Andre, the Black Nerd Comedy) thoughts about it.

Good:

Fans of Marvel know that grief is a major character in All their films. I think it is the true Big Bad in some of their works. 98% of MCU characters need grief counseling (Can somebody make Wanda an appointment?). And in Wakanda Forever, Grief is addressed head-on. Even the plan of a traditional timeline of sadness is broken and not followed because, in life, grief does what it wants. T'challa & Chadwick were honored beautifully throughout. There were times the words could not give the sad scenes justice and that is where the actions of the characters livingly touched the heart. Because of death, the movie visits the Ancestral Plain. It was good to what it looks like because of your heart's true intention. This movie handles the importance of the Wankandan Leadership Throne & the Mantle of Black Panther separately. Can one survive if the other is gone? The World knows it & Queen Ramonda knows the World knows it. And the Queen powerfully & deliciously tells the World what it can do with its knowledge. We see a less aggressive but more conscious but still quick-witted M'baku, the leader of the Jabari tribe. I think that helps clear a path for his future. Speaking of humorous banter, the funny one-liners are good. There is even one cultural stinger that I put in my think bank for future reference.  And finally, RiRi Williams is a refreshing introduction to the MCU. It was good to see an American that's not evil & greedy. She's just a talented black nerdy girl going to school. I know there is a supposed "known" perspective of what Africans think of Americans of African descent (aka Black) but it's good to see a "not all Africans" viewpoint.

Bad:

*sigh* Marvel missed a wonderful introduction of the X-Men to the MCU with the Mid-Credit scene. That scene also could have given a head nod to a relationship that we all know about. Between basic Marvel comic knowledge & the BET series, I don't understand how the Mid-Credit scene is anything but a failed opportunity. Shuri was not written as a strong lead in a movie. She's intelligent, seen everywhere, and emotional, but still needed a bolder presence. Shuri felt carried around. Also for this movie to be so long, I don't understand why things like the relationship between Aneka & Ayo, Everett Ross's personal life, & the balance of the diplomatic & warrior sides of M'baku weren't fleshed out more. I am not a fan of the anti-hero, Namor. He's a man emotionally stunted at the young age he met the world outside of his very beautiful home. And his view of that world is very limited & he was never truly regretful or learned from his actions. Speaking of actions, there is an unnecessary trope of a death. And it's used to push a character to be their full self. I think a coma or a disability would've been just as effective. I also wasn't a fan of the long but still insufficient plotline of the Talokanil. They were just extra blue people who live with Namor ready to fight when he said so.

The Diva:

African & African descent (aka Black) women are seen as strong, smart, and ruling as well as sad, vulnerable, and innocently confused. We are protectors but also safeguarded. We are counseling but also receiving much-needed advice And I LOVED to see it. I mean a 19-year-old was spoken about as a teenager, not as a grown-up several times. Also, a royal had to put on her HR hat and shift positions around Wakanda.  If Ruth Carter doesn't get another Oscar for costume design I will be upset. The pallbearer dresses for Dora Milaje & Okoye's non-uniform fashions look like outfits from modern-day runways.

Even the longer outfits on M'baku were chef's kiss. Speaking of covering up the best-looking man in Wakanda, in my opinion, we only get arm sightings from him. He has sitting moments but no "come hither" thigh & leg shots. And it is okay because we have his mental prowess & Namor's body & outfits to make up for that. Namor has a nice swimmer's body & his shorts made me blush. I blushed like I was watching professional hurdlers during a track & field race. Eye Candy won't disappoint.

As I said on social media, I give Wakanda Forever a 3.75. It gave Marvel a got good blueprint on properly dealing with grief (Don't think I didn't notice Phase 4 starts out mishandling grief with WandaVision. I see you Marvel) blueprints point forward. Maybe some professional therapy with be introduced at a later date. But here is the Big But. This movie is not made with Marvel fans in mind, in my opinion. As an MCU fan, I know Wakanda Forever was to close out Phase 4. But this door had a few loud creaks that seriously needed some WD-40.  I think this sequel is for people who only like the original Black Panther movie & are very sentimental about the untimely passing of Chadwick Boseman. It is lovingly appreciated but just not balanced.

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!