15 vs 4

That picture below is about to be 15 years old. I know some of you didn't see that picture before 4 years ago, when my companion in the photo, Football Nerd left this world for New Life. Facebook has a feature, "On This Day" to remind users of past posts. I don't think I'll ever need FB to remind me of this time, 4 years ago. 4 years ago, grief instantly ensconced me like a new skin. It feels good to not wake up to yourself crying this time of the year. It feels good not write grief poetry all the time. It feels good to think of good memories first.

I saw that photo today and I first thought was that my Bachelor's degree is going to be 15 years old in August. I don't care what anyone else will call it. I call that a victory.

So yeah, I pick 15. A photo of a young lady who had just received her Bachelor's degree in Family Consumer Science with an emphasis in Food & Nutrition. She standing with a man she "used to date", as they figure out how to be "just friends". They will form their own definition years later.  It was his graduation gown she had on because her robe was too short for her graduation sundress. So, he loaned her his. She returned it to him, an hour later at Cheddar's during lunch. She still has her gown, hanging on a door in her home. And she will always wonder why that little girl has a scowl on her face. It was a happy day. She needed to smile if she was going to in the picture.

Good memories versus Bad Memories, of course, choose the Good. Especially since you get a choice. I choose to be blessed that knew a man blog named Football Nerd. It's the best choice.

As Always Talking to You In Adult Terms

Ovencue, Slow Cookercue But Not BBQ (OUTSPOKEN_SIVA's Favorite Recipes)

Memorial Day Weekend is thought to be the start of "BBQ Season". I live in Texas, so grills & smokers may blaze year-round. But many people light their grills & smokers for the first time of the year on the last weekend in May. Shout out to the people who actually can barbeque, grill, & smoke food. I love a good smoked chicken. I can't 'cue or smoke food. And the only grilling I do is on an electric, indoor one.

And I don't say I can barbecue. I also don't label my dishes BBQ when they are not. Pouring barbecue sauce on it doesn't make it BBQ. Yes, it seems nit-picky & some think I am rude, but I will ask how was the BBQ chicken made at a non-BBQ restaurant.

If I hear baked, slow cooked or pan seared, I'm ordering something else. Growing up my mom, MuhDiva called baked meat in BBQ sauce, Oven-cue. I now use that term, too. And if I cook the meat in a slow cooker with BBQ sauce, I call that Slow Cooker-Cue.

I have only been cooking via slow cooker for a few years. My first year, I jumped head first in cooking almost everything in one. Ribs were no exception. This recipe is one I found on the net that I put my touches on. A few hours in sauce & cola, the meat can literally fall off the bone.

Slow Cooker-Cue Ribs

Ingredients

• 4 lbs pork spareribs
• 1/4 tsp. Cayenne Pepper
• 1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder
• 1/2 tsp. Onion Powder
• 1 Tblsp. Italian Seasoning
• 1 18oz bottle Barbecue Sauce
• 1 cup Coca-Cola

Directions

1. Spray inside of 4 to 5 qt slow cooker with cooking spray.
2. Remove inner skin from ribs.
3. Mix spices together
4. Rub mixture into ribs.
5. Cut ribs into 4 in pieces.
6. Layer ribs in slow cooker.
7. Combine Italian dressing, BBQ Sauce and Coke in a bowl, mix well, reserve ½ cup, then pour remainder of sauce over ribs in slow cooker.
8. Cover and cook on low setting 8 to 9 hours or until tender
9. When ribs are done, remove from slow cooker and brush on remaining ½ cup of sauce before serving

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. MuhDiva makes the best Oven-cue Chicken. Once I turned down an invite to one of my favorite eateries because she was making it. It's a simple dish. And many times, simple is best.

Oven-Cue Chicken Breasts

Ingredients

• 4 bone-in Chicken Breast Halved
• 1/2 cup Italian dressing
• 1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 1/4 tsp. Cayenne Pepper
• 1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder
• 1/2 tsp. Onion Powder
• 1 cup favorite prepared BBQ sauce

Directions

1. Put cleaned & trimmed chicken breast halves and place in a large ziptop bag.
2. Combine Italian dressing & smoked paprika in a small bowl and pour over chicken.
3. Let chicken marinate for at least an hour, up to 24 in the fridge.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
5. Remove chicken from bag and place on a baking sheet. Season with pepper, onion & garlic powders.
6. Bake for 30 minutes and brush a layer of BBQ sauce on the chicken. Pour the BbQ sauce onto chicken Return to the oven for 30 more minutes
7. Let chicken rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Both of these go well with your favorite salads or vegetable sides that are usually served at a bbq or cookout.

Just something for us who don't have outdoor cooking skills. No, it's not the hickory smoked tastiness from your favorite BBQ spot. But it's still delicious!

As Always Talking to You In Adult Term

Disposable Gloves Exist

Admit it, you guys Hate food. No by the way food is treated these days, it has to be proof somebody hates food. I didn't blog about the suggestions about not washing meat. I didn't blog about some woman cooking a whole chicken with a blow dryer. But touch-free meat packages in England must be talked about.

If you haven't heard about the touch-free meat packages, read about them HERE.

I couldn't roll my eyes hard enough at this article. I don't like how meat feels either But it needs to be:

• Examined: There is times chicken, may still have feathers on it. Meat may have more fat than one may like.
• Cleaned & Trimmed: That is self-explanatory.
• Seasoned: Meat tasted better when it is seasoned before cooking it. Even recipes tell you to that.

How do you do any of that if you dump the meat directly into the cooking vessel directly from the package? And this is not a diss to British cuisine, but I now understand the stereotypical attitudes about it. Many people say it is bland and just covered in heavy sauces. A lot of things are now making sense.

I bet this newest form of coddling will cost the sqeemish young people. It doesn't have to though. Let's use common sense before we jump on a hack bandwagon. Get the millennials disposable gloves and handle meat like it should be. I use them for meat handling, raw egg separation, and cleaning produce from dirt & pesticides. Saves lives & money, Sounds like a win-win.

As Always Talking to You In Adult Terms!!!

Bucket List Item 6B

I have a Bucket List. There are things I want to do before I leave this world for New Life. My Number 1 item is Psalms 27:4.

One thing has I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.

As a Christian, that scripture gives my heart joy. That's why it's number 1. Bucket List Item #6B gave to joy but it also gives me a little fear, also.

As a Black, Plus Size Woman with only basic sewing skills and limited expendable funds, doing Cosplay gave me a small size of anxiety. Wait I know, I know. What is Cosplay?  A contraction of the words costume play is a hobby in which participants called cosplayers to wear costumes and fashion accessories to represent a specific character. Thank you, Wikipedia!

When you think of Cosplay, you think of someone that looks like a cast member of Revenge of the Nerds or Big Bang Theory. (Interesting the one non-American character referred to a plus-size lady he slept with after a con as Tubby Sailor Moon) Your mind doesn't think about me. Pop Culture and it's limiting definitions has a crazy way of doing that.

But when you do the research. Folks with limited sewing skills do cosplay. Cosplay doesn't have to cost an arm & a leg. Don't believe me, go to Instagram and look up #ClosetCosplay #CasualCosplay. The people found inspiration in their closets, clearance racks, and thrifting. While on there, look up Kiera Please, a black woman's page dedicated to her cosplay looks. Between her page and the IG page of Chunky Girl Universe, my mind brimmed with possibilities. And every February #28DaysofCosplay pours over with pictures of Black cosplay all month long.

One of the members of Chunky Girl Universe was even featured in Curvy Fashionista's article, 13 of Our Fave Plus Size Cosplayers – Who Are Also Women of Color! Read it HERE. 

That is where I saw the perfect cosplay character for me to be...Penny Proud of The Proud Family. And I made my cosplay debut at WiComicon in Baltimore. (You read about my experience at that event, HERE) My outfit including hair & shoes came to $27.

I shopped my closet & clearance sections to achieve the look. And I felt like I did good. No one asked for my name, they call me Penny Proud. I must have gotten my first Cosplay look right. Oh and the 1st person to recognize who I was, a vendor, who had a rad green & black haircut and also a plus-size sister. Anyone who knows her, tell her I said "She Rocks".

So, I'm checking off 6B.

6B Cosplay at a Con ✔

After the Event
Look

I had fun. And this may not be my last time doing cosplay. Penny Proud was my first idea, but I have a list of possible characters to be. And there are other Cons & events out there.

As Always Talking to You In Adult Terms

🎶WiComicon🎶

Moments to Movements
Panel

There is a saying, "When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade". Well, I got to sip some good stuff recently in the form of an event named, Wicomicon. Wicomicon was the result of the foul-up that was to be Universal FanCon.

Universal FanCon was to be the 3-day inaugural comic book and genres convention by and for people of color, the LGBTQ community, and the disabled in Baltimore, Md. If you ever went to a mainstream comic con, you know diversity is a Major thing they lack. I was going to attend with my best friends, ID & LJ. Fancon was to a very important event, but it was "postponed" One Week prior to the event. Yes, you read right, One Week.

I could(Trust Me, I could) but I won't crap on the postponing of the event. If you want to want to read some think pieces on the postponement, read THIS and THIS.

My friends, LJ & ID, and I decided to regroup. We could cancel our hotel in Baltimore but the flights from Dallas were non-refundable. ID actually stays in a small town in Maryland. I decided to keep my flight from Dallas and LJ decide to reschedule a flight for a little later next month.

Princess Mononoke
&
Penny Proud

While those of us attendees & vendors were dealing with what to do on our personal ends, within 48 hours, a new one-day pop-up event was made by groups including Nerds of Color, Black Heroes Matter, and The Blerd Girl. It was called WiComicon. ID & I put on our planned cosplay(Princess Mononoke & Penny Proud) and attended it. (Read the story behind my cosplay choice HERE)

WiComicon Was So Fun.

Ducky Dynamo, DJed her butt off to kick off the event. She was Jamming. So much so, I forget what genre "Jesus Can Work It Out" belonged to & had a slight twerk session. Keyword is... Slight. #HeKnowsMyHeart The vendors were phenomenal. I purchased comics, mini-comics & buttons. I was very happy that they had a space to sell. My "postponed" money was nothing compared to the money spent to produce & transport merchandise to sell at events.

Rayne Coleman
Carefree Black Nerd

I got to sit in on two panels discussions. One was with the cast of the show, The Magicians. The other was called Moments to Movements with Marvel's Voices Podcaster, Angelique Roche, #OscarSoWhite creator, April Reign, and Creator & Showrunner of the show Luke Cage, Cheo Hadari Coker. Both panels were informative and so much fun. I got to meet one of my favorite podcasters, Rayne Coleman of Carefree Black Nerd. He was as sweet & cool as he is on the show. The cosplay was on point. If you follow hashtags Wicomicon & Wicomicon2018 on social media you will see all the fabulous characters. The littlest cosplayers had to be the stars of the day.  They ALL were so cute.

Mini Button from Fly Nerd

And finally, the attendees were in good moods. No one I met was commiserating about the debacle of Fancon. People were the spirit of the great event.

WiComicon was just that, a Great event.

I thank the everyone involved in making WiComicon great. Being nerdy & geeky of any kind was celebrated. That was the best spirit to have. I loved it and I was happy I could attend.

As Always Talking to You In Adult Terms

Of Course, I Wi...(Answering Questions)

Time to answer a few of the questions in the inbox. If you have any send them to C.OUT.SPOKEN.DIVA@gmail.com. I will answer them to the best of my ability.

Q. If you were dating would you tell us?
A: No. But I'll let you guys know when I'm in a long-term, committed relationship. Never will I bore you guys with the all the possibles leading to him. I never have.

Q: If money was not an object, would you live in the USA.

A: Use that money to get me a passport or two & some frequent traveler points, because this is my home. Everywhere has problems. But I would rather live among the issues I know about.

Q: What is the worst part about blogging?
A: 1)It has to end one day. And I have No timeline when I want to do it.
2) I hate having to give disclaimers & warnings.  But if I don't some will run amuck.

Q: What is the best part about blogging?
A: Whether they change or stay the same, these are MY thoughts. And that one satisfying truth overrules it all.

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

Gladiators, What Color Was Your Suit?

Warning: If you haven't seen the Series Finale of Scandal...LEAVE!

The Olivia Pope Diet

Well Gladiators, you Lovers of Liberty, the show Scandal has officially ended. Many times it was enjoyable. Sometimes it was boring. But it was a ride.

Most of you know I was never #TeamFitz or #TeamJake. She could have stood in the sun in Vermont and I still would not have cared. I was Only a #TeamFixer fan. I felt like Fitz & Jake were hindrances to her job. I hated Olivia Pope gave up OPA. And yeah, a few fixer storylines showed up at the end, but the full fixer heart was missing in them. RIP Olivia the Fixer for the Civilians

I am happy that the viewers were shown humanism in Papa Pope. We never really got to see what he saw in Mama Pope and that is ok. We got to see he had tender spots around that crude, murderous, patriot heart of his. God Bless America!!!🇺🇸

RIP David Rosen Oh, you were not a B*tch. You were trusting a Dumb Butt. You trusted the one person I wanted dead.

Cyrus Beene...
I am so upset he walked away to live. Oh, the guilt in All he did will keep him hostage, but he alive & not in chains, like Jake. But that's life!!!

Well, Mellie is TV POTUS with Marcus by her side. Sally Langston will keep the Lovers of Liberty informed. Mr. & Mrs. Bernard & Quinn Gusky get to be a loving family. Abby will wrap up in David's love. And Huck can put the past behind. Eli Pope will still have Sunday dinner. All as Olivia Pope gets back to White and Live Free!!!

Shonda Rhimes always said she knew how to end Scandal. And that is what she did. Officially, It's Handled!!!

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms.