Oh, 2020 Won't Get a Cookie

It was nowhere near the best. I had plans and none of them looked like this year. There may be some truth to the wives tale about whatever you're doing at Midnight when the New Year arrives, you'll be doing that all year. I was watching Watch Night services in my bedroom. I have been in this same place watching a lot of content in 2020, including church services. I've been in this same place planning work things, errands, & my "social life". I'm in my bedroom typing this blog post.

I want the questions, "Where do you see yourself in 5 years? or 10 years?" canceled from the world's lexicon. Because thanks to 2020, none of us will ever guess or plan anything like this. Plus, I've never like that question anyway.

If "Write your plans in pencil, then give God the eraser" was a year, 2020 had to be it. Because everyone had a jolt of change given to them. And the ride of its low lows & high highs will lead into 2021. I won't even say I want off this ride because I don't want to know where I would be dropped off at. I'll see this thing until it ends if I am allowed.

Youtube Me would like a word.

I appreciate its lessons. But the year's delivery system needed work. 2020 won't get a cookie. But with the words of the talented Sir Elton John, I have a message for it.

Because With God I Am!!!

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!!!

I'll Name This, Diana!

I was on time for my family's Christmas Zoom call. And I watched All of the movie, Wonder Woman 1984 on the HBO Max app that day, too. I was ready to watch it in theaters like the fan I am. I bought my mask in July when the film was pushed back from its August date. It was at a fraction of its current cost.

Well, I reviewed Wonder Woman, so it's natural for me to give the Good, the Bad & the Diva on its sequel. All in all, WW1984 is decent for a sequel. But decent is not perfect.

The Good

Unlike its predecessor, WW1984 is brightly shot. It is a love letter to the 1980s. It has the fashions, hairstyles, greed, & corruption. I was a child in the 80s, I remember those years well. The opening scene was wonderful & a good introduction to one of the lessons of the film. And of course, it was great to see Themyscira. Yes, you saw Steve Trevor in the trailer and he's in film & it will make sense why. The method is a tad cruel, but it will make sense. Cheetah's storyline ending was nice. It was subtle. *wink* And like this blog post's title alludes, WW1984 is a Diana tale. I like that because the viewers got to see how her beliefs & mindset grew over the years, especially now that she lives on Earth.

The Bad

It is a Diana tale and Wonder Woman is shortchanged. I only liked the concluding freedom confrontation. The other action & fight scenes were formulaic. I know I asked the Invisible Jet to be in this movie. But it needed maybe a memory scene to go along with its "appearance". Maxwell Lord was a typical cartoonish DC villain. And we got it with his wants in the movie. Did we have to hear him talk about it all the time? Despite the usual CGI issues I liked Cheetah, but Barbara Minerva looked very musty. I know she was to reek with desperation, but I swore I smelled her until she came into her own later. 

The Diva

As a person who dislikes 80s fashions & all animal printed clothing & accessories, I loved Cheetah's outfit when she arrived on the scene. Very transformative! And I asked the Wonder Woman creators for non-stereotypical black female representation. Even though the scenes are not long(one is very quick), they are still powerfully seen. I saw the name of the most known black actress in the movie & I was concerned. But trust me the film let me see me in it. And lastly, stay for the credits. A familiar face in a beautiful cape will appear. And you don't want to miss it.

Wonder Woman 1984 will be on the HBO Max app for 31 days after its premiere. I will be watching this decent sequel many times before it goes away. And don't worry about my WW mask. It like what Diana Prince does for her world protects me while I'm out of the house.

As Always Talking to You in Adults Terms!

This Post Packs a Punch (OUTSPOKEN_DIVA's Favorite Recipes)

 

A loanword from Sanskrit, punch means "five", as the drink was originally made with five ingredients: sugar, the juice from either lime or lemon, water, and spices(usually nutmeg, ginger, or cinnamon). Many get a little parched while decking the halls, sometimes. And whether alone or a group(a small one of less than 7 during a pandemic), there is nothing like a little punch to quench ye ol' thirst.

My best friend, Intellectual Diva(ID) & I are stans of a clear soda & sherbert drink. She calls it Frappé because she's fancy. I call it Annual Day punch because I'm churchy. And it not shocking that she shared a holiday recipe (cutely named after the Dr. Suess character)she saw on Facebook with me.

Grinch Punch

Ingredients

• 1 2 Liter bottle Lemon-Lime soda or Ginger Ale, chilled
• 1 (46-ounce) can pineapple juice
• 48 ounces Lime Sherbet

Directions

1. Mix ingredients together
2. Serve & Enjoy

Hot Chocolate is not technically a punch, but it can be a good solo or group drink in my opinion. What is cold weather without a hot cup of chocolate? And this one is spiked with red wine. Whether you might be having a holiday movie night with just yourself or friends or maybe a trendy little trip to a cabin, this cozy drink should keep all the spirits bright & warm.

Red Wine Hot Chocolate

Ingredients

• 4 packets Instant Hot Cocoa Mix
• 2 cups 1% Milk or Water
• 1 cup Red Wine Blend or Pinot Noir
• 1 tsp powdered cinnamon (optional)

Directions

1. Stir hot cocoa and milk or water together to taste in a small pan over medium-low heat.
2. When you see steam rising from the pan, add the red wine and a shake of cinnamon.
3. Warm through, taste, and adjust with a little extra sugar if needed.

Oh, that first picture of a red & green layer punch is just a little Hawaiian Punch Green Berry Rush & Grenadine. You can see how to layer it HERE. 

No matter what you wet your whistle with, I hope you're blessed to do it in joy & peace. Because no matter the time of the year, festive beverages, like punch should be enjoyed with lovely feelings.

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!

Christian Makeup for Ambiverts & Their Past During a Pandemic(Answering Questions)

Question have Answers. Answers have Questions. And that's all I came up with.

Q. One of the spiritual advisors of President Trump died of Covid-19, another one, Paula White's prayed & dispatched African angels for him to win the election, and Brian Carne backtracked his prophecy about who will win the presidency, did the 2020 election make you embarrassed to be a Christian? Because I am.

A. I'm not quick to be shamed that I am a Christian because the world makes the fun even when there is nothing problematic going on. We are a peculiar people. And That's the Bible!!! Those people you named don't embarrass me because they don't represent My Christianity. Jesus Christ is my only ambassador to follow.

I didn't know of Bishop Henry Jackson, Jr at all until he passed away. I only know Prophet Brian Carn's name because of chatter & giggles about possible inaccurate prophecies. The questionable 2020 election revelation is not the first time his name has come up. And my ears turned deaf to Paula White-Cain once she publicly aligned herself with 45 a few years ago. It's not a liberal vs conservative issue for me. It is a use of common sense & following someone who understands the job thing for me. That was not the person who was in presidential office from 2017 thru 2020. So, I let my life tell my Christian story. That way humans can't let me down.

Q. I saw this meme and will you answer it?

A. I would look around the room, ask has everyone introduced themselves to one another and who brought dinner. Because I know they weren't expecting me to cook. I know 2 losers getting cussed out & leaving because they probably won't be pitching in to make the meal or financially to purchased it. The rest will go together to get the meal or the groceries to make the meal. Then I would go to sleep because I locked them out. And I'm somewhat of a heavy sleeper.

Q. When did you realize or finally accept that we'd be in this pandemic at least through the end of the year?

A. This Summer was when I accepted that Covid-19 would be here a lot longer than reported & thought. I couldn't go on a planned trip & concert for my birthday. I was bummed out. I did have a Whine With Wine call on Hangout with my travel friends to ease some of the pain. But when my family decided that we would spend the holidays talking on Zoom, it didn't bother me one bit. That when I accepted this panoramic life for what it is.

This Post's Video Q&A 

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.

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms

Not a Documentary, a Musical

I almost titled this "Coming to the Stage, Spike D", but I felt it was too crass. Anywho, here is a funny observation. Men like for others to know if or if not their reproductive organs don't function properly. I bet if I turn on a few podcasts right I will hear at least 1 ad for a product called Blue Chew(do your Googles). So, why did I have to find out about Spike Lee setting up a musical about the making of Viagra, the pill used to treat erectile dysfunction on Youtube? Y'all can talk about election news & Covid-19 vaccination research, but you are mum about this. Maybe you didn't know about it. So, read about it HERE if you have not.

Have you ever seen Lee's movie, School Daze? Remember the beauty shop musical scene. When I heard about this all I could think is was these lyrics, "Talk about Good not Bad D---. If You Want to Please a Chick".(*sigh* As soon as the church opens, I'll head straight to the altar because of that.)  I expect it to be like Menopause the Musical. I saw a commercial for it years ago. "I'm having a hot flash".

I see in my research for a video this show has been all over the nation, touring internationally, and can be streamed as of the date of this post. Lee says he does this musical with his late mother's fandom of Rogers and Hammerstein in mind. My mind wonders if she would have enjoyed the Menopause show.

I don't know who producers & writers want particularly for the cast. But I hope they consider the guy who played "Smiling Bob" from the Enzyte (another E.D. product) ads. He is probably the most recognizable person in the fight for male reproductive issues. I hope they reach out to him to audition. It should be a fun show. Well, at least funny. Viagra, which was originally supposed to be a heart attack medication has had its share in-jokes at its expense. And interesting it will get its shine on stage.

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!!

Are We Even Thankful?

I know why I celebrate Thanksgiving. Truly every day is a day of Thanksgiving for me. Every year I mentally mute the "Woke" population of America wondering why do we continue to celebrate Thanksgiving. Because we know the real history behind the tradition of being Grateful for Safe Passage & Survival to & in the New World. After the Indigenous Peoples shared their bounty with the destitute Europeans, the Europeans gave them pox-diseased blankets and also violently seized their land.

Then I heard a news anchor ask why does Canada celebrate Thanksgiving, this week. "Did they have Pilgrims & Indians, too"?

For those interested, "Long before Europeans settled in North America, festivals of thanks and celebrations of harvest took place in Europe in the month of October. ... And since Thanksgiving for Canadians is more about giving thanks for the harvest season than the arrival of pilgrims, it makes sense to celebrate the holiday in October." From Why Candian Thanksgiving is Celebrated in October Also, Thank You to my long-time buddy, Coast2Coast (Blog Name) for this resource.

I couldn't roll my eyes & let an annoyed sigh out hard enough. I know the news anchor may have been executing a joke. But y'all know I am a firm believer in "Being Dumb Aint Cute". And I am sorry, that was stupid for the news anchor to say. This post was set to be snarkier in tone, but my mind took a more calming turn. And I decided to go the route of my childhood Thanksgivings. Some Thanksgivings the younger than 18 family members had to tell what they were thankful for. Then I sighed again with the question, Are We Even Thankful, Right Now?

I mean the Christmas movies were brought out before Halloween. Dr. Fauci, CDC & the other medical experts suggest we lessen the number in attendance at our dinners. (They didn't have to tell my family that. We agreed on a corporate family prayer Zoom call back this Summer.) And even though the stores will be closed(a good thing that the pandemic caused), online Black Friday deals are already being rolled out.

But how long would it take us to sincerely answer the first meme on this post? We can't wallow in feeling bad and making others feel bad. Are you a person who will need to be in line because you can't afford groceries, let alone a holiday meal?

Do you have a job to go to? Is No the answer to the question, "Was your income decreased this year"? Did you have to bury a loved one? Were you stricken with Covid-19? Did you survive Covid-19 after catching it? You did it because you're reading this. And how many of us are thriving through depression this pandemic crept into our lives? Let me raise my hand. Because as I'm writing this, I could give this current time the middle finger. I fight dread constantly these days. But when I list the positive things that are going on in my mind, these weary times get to slither away for a while.

And I know that is a Happy Happy, Joy Joy approach, but it keeps me sane. Try it and tell me how it turns out for you. I bet wondering why Americans & Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving will be a trivial thing to think about. If you need help, let Walter Hawkins & the Love Center Church give you some ideas.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

And Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!!!

Gotta Break a Holiday Rule... (OUTSPOKEN_DIVA's Favorite Recipes)

...but I won't tell you precisely how. Which rule? "You've had all year to practice, don't debut new recipes at the holidays". The funny part is I've broken this rule a few times in life. My first turkey made was my actual first turkey made. When I make my mother's green bean casserole I use different seasonings & no one has known the wiser. Heck, they didn't know I made it for 3 years straight until my mother told them to give me the good credit instead of her.

But this year, "experimentation" is a must for me. We are downsizing our family celebrations. Yep, we're Zoom calling a prayer & then eating, instead of 20-30 people gathering at one house with their assigned dishes. 

It's been the plan since mid-summer. And yes, thank Covid-19. We're cooking for 3 people. That's fine if I wasn't a "lazy" meal preparer these days with restricted oven & stove space and time. (In my memoir, I'll talk about this.) But luckily, the emotions about my laziness has leaked into my thoughts. But after a small trial run of these researched recipes, they should be a hit.

It's not Thanksgiving without Muh Diva's recipe of Green Bean Casserole. But if you're a true reader, you know this is not hers. She doesn't trust everybody to do it wrong, correctly. LoL But it is a tasty recipe that goes low & slow in its heating and a little easy on the waistline.

Slow-Cooker Green Bean Casserole

Ingredients

• 4 (14.5 Ounce) Cans of Green Beans, Drained
• 2 (10.5 Ounce) Cans Cream of Mushroom Soup
• 1/4 Cup Plain Nonfat Yogurt
• 3/4 cup 2% Milk
• 1/2 Teaspoon Italian Seasoning
• 1/4 Teaspoon Onion Powder
• 1/2 Teaspoon Pepper
• 1/2 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
• 1/4 Cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese
• 1 6 Ounce Can French Fried Onions
  
  
  

Directions

1. In your cooker combine the cream of mushroom soup, yogurt, milk, and seasonings, and whisk to combine. 
2. Stir in the green beans, parmesan, and half of the french fried onions. Place the lid on your cooker and cook on low for 2 hours.
3. After two hours stir the casserole well and add the remaining french fried onions to the top. Replace the lid and continue cooking for 30 minutes, up to one more hour.

Sweet Potato Pie is a family favorite, especially during the holidays. And one day going down a Youtube rabbit hole, this gem came on the screen. I knew it would be nice for my "roommates" and me for dessert. Yes, they are fried, but the portion sizes are smaller than that wedge that is usually cut. Helpful & not over-indulging. 

Fried Sweet Potato Pies

Ingredients

• 3 refrigerated pie crusts (from 2 boxes), softened as directed on box

Filling

• 2 cups fresh sweet potatoes cooked & mashed (about 3 small sweet potatoes)
• 1/4 cup half n half
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1½ teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch

Glaze

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• salt pinch
  
  
  

Directions

Sweet Potato Filling

1. Add cooked sweet potatoes and half n half to a food processor and blend until smooth and creamy.
2. Place sweet potatoes in a bowl and stir in butter, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract, and cornstarch until well combined and creamy.
3. Taste and adjust the sweetness and spices to your liking.
4. Cover and place in the fridge until ready to use

Pie Frying

1. Place 2 tablespoons of filling in the center of the dough (see note).
2. Unroll 1 pie crust; roll into a 12-inch round. Using a 4-inch round cookie cutter, cut into 8 rounds, rerolling dough as necessary. Repeat with second and third crusts.
3. Fold the dough over the filling and seal the edges, crimp with a fork.
4. Heat oil in a deep skillet (375 F.) and gently place the pies into the hot oil.
5. Fry pie until golden, about 2-3 minutes or until lightly golden.
6. Remove pies from oil with a slotted spoon and place on a cooling rack to drain.

Make the Glaze

1. To make the glaze add all glaze ingredients into a bowl and stir until smooth.
2. Brush the hot pies with glaze and let it hardened. Flip and glaze the other side and then repeat.
3. Once the glaze has hardened. Serve immediately.

Notes: Filling Amount: There will be plenty of filling leftover in case you prefer them stuffed. But be careful not too overstuffed them or they will not seal correctly.

How are you celebrating the holidays this year? Please spend it celebrating & relaxing some way, somehow. Sitting back and taking a moment to breathe and appreciate something seems small but if you do it watch that moment swell to make you happy.

Have a Happy Holiday Season🙂❤🙂

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!