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! 

 

Selfish Coughing Thumbnails(Answering Your Questions)

That title will make sense when you watch the video for this post. Some of my best work I think. You don't have to agree if you don't.

Q:

A: The 10k I'm a woman of a certain age, 100k would only cover my medical bills because I would be exhausted. I can invest part of the 10k and become a millionaire without working so long.

This Post's Q & A Video:

Now, the post title makes sense. I Know!!!

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.

Subscribe to the YouTube Channel!!

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!

Adjectives (October Awareness)

I don't know why I didn't type this post earlier. I've known what I wanted to say for a while. Journalist, Katie Couric announced she had breast cancer and said she was 6 months late for her annual mammogram & felt lucky it was found soon enough.

The Word I Kept Focusing on is Lucky!

A relative posted she was a 36-year survivor of breast cancer this year. That amazes me because I didn't know she ever had the disease until a few years ago. It shouldn't because I grew up in a family that called hysterectomies, "Ladies Surgery". But amazed I am. And my relative never uses the word, Lucky. She says She is Blessed!

Then I remember a classmate from Women's Self-Defense during my UT-Arlington days. We were discussing Domestic Violence. Our instructor asked us our opinions about the victims. And this classmate didn't use the term Lucky. She said they were Stupid. I was pissed off. So much so, for the one-page assignment on the lesson, I explained my feelings about what she said. Two class periods later we were made to read each other's statements. I found out she was a victim. We never talked about what we read to one another. I just hoped she understood she was Loved.

Lots of adjectives to describe October, Breast Cancer & Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I just hope everyone affected by these two issues are receptive that they are Lucky, Blessed, & Loved. Because words like those are what the Awareness for this month should be about.

As Always Talking to You Adult Terms!!!

FYI

For anonymous, confidential help, 24/7, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline

1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY). If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

The Komen Breast Care Helpline

1-877-465-6636 or email helpline@komen.org

Talk About it Tuesday (Lessons from My Flugga Mugga)

NOT Everybody Will Understand or Like You, But Always Be Yourself. It wasn't like we could change him. Literally a futile endeavor. And I can't imagine wanting him any other way.

Sing! No matter if the words are wrong, You Sing!!! "God bless America, land that I love. Stand beside her and guide her And the Power & the Glory God bless America, my home sweet home" I still laugh at his words to that song. Once I had to sing it out loud to see where he went wrong. Because "And the Power & the Glory" fit so well.

Music is a Mood Changer. They say music soothes the beast. Music soothes the savage beast. Bad moods can be changed with the right tunes. Heck, sometimes there is a bad mood because no melodies are playing. Sweet tunes, Sweet Vibes.

And those were the first 3 lessons my brother's life taught me that came to my mind. It's a tool that helps me a lot. And I hope it helps other broken hearts out there.

Long Live G!!!

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!

VOTE

It was a tweet about a young lady preferring a Felon over Any man with a Baby Mama that prompted me to remind you all to go and Vote in this next election. (I mean having a Baby Mama doesn't mean the guy can't vote or travel out of state & country but to each their own.) I almost named this Go Vote, Baby Mama because a Felon Can't. But salacious title-making is not my strongest area in blogging.

Yeah, the current candidates are not making the voting process attractive in 2022.

That's Their Plan. They want you to be so turned off that you don't go to the polls and demand they do a better job. The worst candidates seem to be the most obvious problematic choice with the most money to have the influence to be seen more. No party or political machine educates or encourages voters to do any research on what we are voting on. But voters need to know about the city & state propositions & candidate platforms. 

But as voting citizens we work ahead and use our rights in picking those who represent the best. We do it with the following promise in our hearts.

To honor my parents, grandparents, and great-grands, I will.

To honor my family, my heritage, and my ancestors, I will.

To honor those who endured slavery, Jim Crow, and apartheid, I will.

To honor those who bled, who suffered humiliation, who died, I will.

To honor my future generation, I will.

I WILL GET OUT TO VOTE!

And May the Best Win.

GO VOTE

 As Always Talking to You In Adult Terms!