In the #10 spot we have Toni Braxton’s amazing rendition of Christmastime Is Here, a staple if you religiously watch A Charlie Brown Christmas like I do. I’ve loved this song for as long as I can remember, and Ms. Toni does it justice.
This has been a rough week. I am grateful for the weekend and ready to get at these cocktails ASAP. But first, here are my 5Things for this week:
Because the God that I serve does not promote the use of his name towards such hatred. On Saturday, as her friends and family gather to lay Elizabeth Edwards to rest, this church group will stage a protest. There is a vile, hate-filled flyer that the church released that attempts to explain their reasoning behind such a hurtful and abhorrent display; I will not display it here (Google it). It makes me angry that this group of people deem themselves to be judge and jury over the lives of people that they have decided are not worthy of respect. Of course, this is not the first time the church has staged this kind of protest; sadly, it also will not be the last. You can read the article here.
I’m a fiend for martinis. I don’t like the basic martinis; I like my martinis fruity…that fruit holds off the vodka. I once put down more than 5 martinis in one night. I don’t remember much, but I do remember that they were absolutely delicious. Good times.
My drink of the week is the Strawberry Martini. My favorite variation comes from The Cheesecake Factory. When I try to recreate it at home, it’s alright, but doesn’t come close. Here’s my recipe:
Shake w/ ice and pour into martini glass and garnish with strawberry…voila!
When President Bill Clinton took over the podium during President Obama’s press conference last week, I felt a twinge of nostalgia. I am still in support of President Obama (although he is stretching my support wa-aa-ay out of shape), but Bill Clinton was the reason I started voting in the first place. He was served from 1993 – 2001; I was 22 when he went into office. All of this politics stuff was new to me, although I took the customary car drive with my mother when she voted. But voting for Bill Clinton became personal to me…it was almost like I couldn’t wait to say that I voted for him. And I did…proudly, the same way that I did for President Obama.
I can’t say enough about how much I love Oprah. She is the ultimate, and she has always been, since her introduction to my television 25 years ago. I’ve been to her show, I’ve purchased all the books (even those book club books that I wanted to throw back at the television and scream, “What are you thinking?!), I have the DVDs, etc. etc. etc.
I had an epiphany while watching Oprah and Barbara. All that material shit means nothing if I haven’t changed my life for the better. I think I have, but there is so much more I could do.
I’ve been playing this Kanye CD non-stop. NON. STOP. I’ve finally identified a favorite (at least for today) and it is Lost in the World. I put on my headphones and let the music take me there. I hear something new every time I listen to it. This YouTube version does nothing for it…I dare you to sit in a quiet place and listen. It will steal your heart.
At #11 on the Marvalus Christmas Countdown we have The Supremes with My Favorite Things. This song just makes me happy. It makes me want to run out in the middle of the street, throw my head back, and catch snowflakes on my eyelashes…you know, if it wasn’t for that oncoming traffic running me over thing.
Happy Friday! How appropriate the time is to begin the Marvalus countdown of my favorite Christmas songs. I will post a new one every day, ending on December 21, when I will post my favorite Christmas song of all time and go on hiatus until after the first of the new year.
At #12, we have James Brown. Santa Claus, Go Straight To The Ghetto makes you want to jump up and shimmy and shake your groove thing to the music, even if Santa himself is knocking at the door. Go ahead; invite Santa in. I’m sure he’ll love the party as much as you do!
I’ve been to a lot of concerts over the years. By far, the top two would have to be Michael Jackson’s Bad Tour in 1988 and Prince’s Musicology Tour in 2004. I waver between the two; Michael was all up in my heart, and Prince was all in my head. I never wanted to do Michael (that just seems like I’m breaking a law or something); but Prince? Who knew such a little man could carry around all that sexy?
When Prince dropped by The View to surprise the ladies with tickets to his sold-out show on December 18th at Madison Square Garden, Sherri Shepherd lost. her. mind. And I am not even mad at her. God certainly knows what he is doing by keeping me away from this man, because all virtues and morals would fly out of the room quicker than my decorum…and clothing. LOL…
Watch Sherri’s reaction; I think she may have had an orgasm on the spot!
The internet can be mean, malicious, and heartless. Rumors spread in the land of internet like wildfire; I have taken the stance to believe only what I can prove by my own research. This morning, I read here that the mystery illness that Aretha Franklin had surgery for last week is pancreatic cancer.
I hope it’s a rumor.
Aretha Franklin (or Auntie Ree as I affectionately call her; she’s a member of my family in my mind) has been singing in my ear since I was born. As a child, I remember being absolutely fascinated that such a beautiful sound could come out of a person. Such power and conviction, all tangled up in music that was so grounded in gospel that it was hard to establish if even her biggest hits weren’t about the good Lord and his blessings. I even have a cousin who was named for her; that is the extent of how Auntie Ree is worshipped by almost everyone in my family.
Hearing this bit of “news” this morning has me feeling hot and cold, weak and strong, all at the same time. Folks don’t give much credence to how people in the public eye shape your life, change your outlook, impact how you feel and act and what you do. There are icons, and then there is everyone else. Michael Jackson = icon. Luther Vandross = icon. Beyonce = on her way to being an icon. But the icon of all icons, the one that is truly worthy of bowing and lowering your eyes if you are ever lucky enough to be in her presence, is Aretha Franklin.
That is why I am praying that this rumor is just that…a rumor. Who will we have left if the world is devoid of Aretha Franklin’s brightly burning star? There is no one who is ready to take her place, and that is rightly so. She is a Queen, the Queen, and there is no one who can even touch her resplendence.
But I will not focus on the possibility of losing Auntie Ree; I will instead celebrate her by listening to the gifts that she has dropped over the span of her musical career. I will wrap myself in the voice that has pulled me out of some deep recesses, and pray that this is all just a rumor.
*update* Aretha Franklin’s condition has supposedly been confirmed by a member of her family. Let’s lift her in our prayers.
On this day of Elizabeth’s passing, it is important to remember the quiet and consistent strength that she always exuded, even in the face of the scandal involving her husband and his mistress. Looking at her, one could tell that she was guided by a higher power; a power that was deep within her and even though she knew pain, she also knew that she would overcome.
Sadly, it was cancer that took her from this life. Instead of her physically being here, she leaves behind a legacy of grace and faith. I remember watching her on Oprah, speaking about her life and her marriage, and I was amazed at how resilient she was. Even with all of the madness that swirled around her, she remained steadfast and sure. How admirable that was.
I send my prayers to Elizabeth’s friends and family members.
Whenever I am feeling low, I put this record on to remind me of the true reason I’m here, living and breathing. Everyone needs a little push now and again, and this song does it for me every time.
“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost and now I’m found
Was blind but now I see!”
Happy Sunday…
I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend. I have two finals today, so my weekend is pretty much in the toilet. I will lay in my bed afterward in silent prayer that I didn’t completely flub them both.
Anywho, 5 Things Saturday is something new. There are a lot of things that I see or hear that seem to linger in my brain. This is my way of exorcising those things. Let’s begin, shall we?
OK…the whole “Barbie” thing, the whole “let’s see who can have the raunchiest video” thing, the whole “head between legs and crotch in camera” thing is bothering me to no end. Where is the imagination? Where is the creativity? Apparently, it seems that the train to success passes through Trampville and Hoetown. But let me back up a minute; this does not happen to be just the chicks. The dudes are getting in their share as well. Partake, will you, of these two examples:
Keri Hilson Feat Rick Ross – The Way You Love Me (CLIP)
Uploaded by RapGhetto-Youth. – See the latest featured music videos.
Raheem DeVaughn – She’s Single (New)
Uploaded by foxysoul. – Watch more music videos, in HD!
All I know is this: there is nothing wrong with using your imagination. It actually can be better than Ms. Keri-Baa-beytelling me she has that p*ssy that will keep you at home (I don’t need to know all that!), or observing Raheem trimming the hedges. I don’t like soft porn, and that is exactly what this shit right here is. But um, Raheem’s song is kinda tight. Keri’s…not so much.
Now that the politicians have decided that unemployment benefits will not be extended, what are they prepared to do with desperate people resorting to desperate measures? Surely they are aware that a 9.8% unemployment rate, with about 1 job for every 6 unemployed persons, is going to lead to some serious shit. And while those politicians are relaxing in their big ass houses and enjoying their excellent health care (don’t even get me started on this one), the public will be bending over and getting screwed. Without the benefit of lubrication, mind you.
I’ve discovered this new wine called ChocoVine. It is a mixture of Cabernet and chocolate, and it is a chocolate martini in a wine bottle. Yummy!
There is an article written on ESPN by Nils Lofgren, member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band (you can read the article here). Basically, he expresses his disappointment in the “…collective, lopsided praise of Michael Vick due to his recent spectacular on-field performance.” He goes on to dust off the same argument that we’ve heard before Vick started playing ball again: he doesn’t deserve to be in the NFL, what he did was atrocious, waa-waa-waa.
Look, it is not for us to decide who gets to play football or not. I would think people would be excited that he is using the platform he has to tell kids he made a mistake. But instead, the public wants to continue to hang this noose around his neck (and yes, I mean that exactly). I do agree with Mr. Lofgren on one point: we cannot forget what Vick did that led to his imprisonment and suspension from the NFL. We also cannot restrict him from going back to the career that he had.
In other words, get over yourselves and view this as what it is: a man who has paid the price for his terrible acts and is trying to rebuild his life.
Plus, he’s my fantasy football QB (my other is Tom Brady…I. Cannot. Lose!!!). I could give a damn what he did in the past if his life now shows purpose. And it does.
This fascinates me. I’m a little too old to be dougie-ing, but it is still a kick to watch others do it. Especially John Wall of the Washington Wizards. Being the mother of a teenager, I’ve seen the Dougie more than I care to admit. But no one, and I mean no one, hits that Dougie as hard as John Wall. Watch:
Today is Jay-Z’s 41st birthday.Wiggle that thang to some Blue Magic!
