TOP 10: Things I'll Remember About 2010

10. TRIPS TO THE ER - My first trip to the ER began with a panic attack in January ... I took 2 more trips in the summer behind UTIs ... I'm still fighting for free care ... Yeah, I'm definitely going to remember this LOL

9. DATING DROUGHT - I think I've had 1 or 2 dates this entire year. It's hard to get a brotha to take you out when he knows your celibacy is not a ruse to appear virtuous, but is IN FACT the truth! I want a relationship, but I'm not sacrificing myself ever again ... and if that means no dates, then the drought will continue in 2011 lol.

8. "BLANCHE" GOES TO HEAVEN - I know that Teena Marie passed recently but I think Rue McClanahan's death hit me hardest. Every time I look at "The Golden Girls" I get a little misty-eyed knowing that there's only one of them still living :(

7. MAYOR'S RACE 2010 - The race came down to Brian Wooley and Cedric B. Glover ... and though most knew CBG would be re-elected, it did help that Brian Wooley was caught in controversy during early voting for offering limo rides and free food (allegedly chicken wings but later found out to be hamburgers) to voters on the CooperRoad ... SMH. I think I'm still wondering WTH he was thinking.

6. PISSED AT THE PREZ - It didn't surprise me that the attacks on President Obama grew as the Tea Party started showing it's ass. What did surprise me is how many Blacks came out against the President and joined his proverbial lynching. The man could do no right this year and please no one ... even after a lame-duck session that made history. I felt so sorry for him ... when attitudes went from Yes We Can to No He Can't. America should be ashamed.


5. STARTING GRAD SCHOOL - Probably the biggest change in my life this year was starting Grad School at Louisiana Tech. Nearly a decade after graduating from LSU-BR, I finally felt ready to make the leap and decided to pursue a Master's in General Counseling in hopes of someday becoming a Academic/Career Counselor. The GRE nearly drove me crazy but I got in and 2 years from now I should have my degree (if I don't bail out and go to film school first lol).

4. DWTS (Dancing With The Stars) - This became my Monday night pleasure. It's probably the only season I watched from beginning to end. Along with the joys of dancing that were Kyle and Brandy, the season had us wondering if America was blind, deaf and crazy as Bristol "Cant-Dance-Worth-a-Damn" Palin continued to survive in the contest and made it to the finals over Brandy. But the highlight was seeing the battered and bruised Jennifer Grey make a triumphant comeback and take the trophy. GO J.GREY!!!




3. GOODBYES AND HELLOS - I've had to let go of some friendships and associations this year, some of which hurt me deeply because I didn't deserve the way I was treated, but on the flip side, I met and gained so many new friends that it's hard to be bitter. To those who aren't around anymore, thank you for making room for those who are :)

2. THE CAFE' & OTHER CREATIVE CONTRIBUTIONS - My efforts to bring culture and creativity to the forefront of this area is one of the things I'll remember most ... From my events at the Cafe' (Gospel Cafe', Lyric Cafe', Hip Hop Cafe') to the 318 Cypher, I do my best to bring something different to the city that offers artists the change to express themselves. I was so grateful for the people who supported those events and me ... and all the artists I've been introduced to in the process. I can't wait to do it again next year :)

1. SOCIAL MEDIA TAKEOVER - From the movie that gave us the story behind Facebook, to my growing addiction to said site .. Social Media was the hottest thing in 2010. Even my 70-something-year-old aunt has an FB page and MySpace had to merge with FB just to keep afloat. Along with the increased popularity of Twitter, Social Media pages have not only become a commonplace for all ages, it has fast become a source for litigation and mainstream media. YouTube posts and screenshots are admissable in court as well as chat logs ... and entertaintment/news programs are now using statuses and tweets as if they were quotes from the horse's mouth. It's a gift and a curse, this social media thing, but hopefully it's doing more good than harm.





Honorable (Story) Mentions: The Saints Winning the Super Bowl, The Red River 6 Drownings, Antoine Dodson, T.I. Goes To Jail (and then gets arrested AGAIN), Chris Brown's "comeback", Weezy Goes To Jail, Nicki vs. Kim, and Wacka Flacka showing he's dumb as a post on 106 :)

Honorable (Personal) Mentions: Meeting Tony Henry, Front Cover!!!! and the other amazing bands (MB, AE and Windstorm), Celebrating my niece's 16th birthday (and her getting her driver's permit) & Me FINALLY getting a Blackberry :) LOL


ON TO 2011!!!!

Adventures in Shopping: The TRUE Reason For The Season

For the first time in a long time I was able to Christmas shop without a super-tight budget.

Though I technically started shopping weeks ago, a sprained ankle prevented me from completing everything in a couple of days like I normally do.

So 3 weekend attempts and lots of online shopping later, I ventured out into the busy streets of the SBC to get the gifts I still needed to purchase.

Maybe it's the fact that I haven't done hard-core holiday shopping in a while that had me stressed and frustrated ... and a little overwhelmed, but damn ... who knew this many people lived in the SBC????

The streets were clogged from one end of the metro area to the other. This must be the only time we truly get to see the 300K population count!


And speaking of populations ... this must be the only time kids actually hang out in the mall (or maybe i haven't hung out in one in a while), because they were posted up like I used to in the South Park Mall days (Saturdays were the LICK! lol).





In both Pierre Bossier and St. Vincent Malls I caught the flirtacious glances from one teen to another, signs that groups of high-schoolers had been dropped off and were wondering what to do until their parents returned (lol), and rowdy kids running around unsupervised ... causing havoc for store clerks. Ahhh the memories :)


Actually, before my "Adventures in Shopping", I wasn't even in the Christmas spirit. But the more time I spent watching other people's revelry and excitement, the more I wanted to be an eager participant.


During 3 days of shopping this Christmas week, I saw a lot that tickled me. A Rudolph nose and antlers on a compact car. A youngster counting out his savings to buy a gift at Walgreens, and probably the craziest thing I've ever seen in all my shopping days:





A Sheriff's deputy directing traffic ... in the parking lot ... of a SHOPPING CENTER. WTF? People were driving so badly that they had to call in traffic control?

That area at Youree and 70th was hella congested but geez, it wasn't like a stop light was out ... people just didn't care and apparently the Deputy did :) Kudos to him!

Once I was inside the stores, the madness and coolness continued. In BIG LOTS I saw this:





A "Julia" Doll. Ain't it cute? :)


And on the same shelf was one of these:





Yes, Barbie/Mattel GREASE DOLLS!!! Anyone who knows me knows that's my favorite movie. They didn't have a Rizzo doll but if they did, I might have bought it!! LOL.

Many miles, stores and dollars later, I found this (and lots of cute shoes I can't afford right now) in Dillard's:





Too bad I have no one to buy it for :( (C'mon I'm not the only single woman missing shopping for her man ... don't trip lol). Speaking of men though ... That's another thing I found in droves at retail outlets! MEN!

Cute ones, sexy ones, tall ones, short ones ... Where have they been all year??? LOL. Too bad most of them are buying something for a significant other (which means they're not single ... *sigh*).

Another notable tidbit: It seems I can probably find a lot of potential models in malls. I saw at least six this week that I'd shoot in a heartbeat. (But I was too busy and tired to scout them ... lol). Alas, my quest shall wait until after the holidays :)


****

After nearly a month between the time I started shopping at the day I was finally able to say "It is done!", I'm now awaiting the looks on the faces of my family.

Somehow, it's those moments that make the traffic jams, long lines, sore feet, rude people with bad attitudes and depleted bank accounts all worth it.

Yes, we know that Jesus is the reason for the season and that this is a celebration of his life and the most influential legacy of all time ... but it's also the time to show love to the people you quite possibly take for granted every other day of the year.

It's the time to show the love we were shown by Jesus and our Father, and give selflessly to those who mean the most to us, as was done for us so long ago.

I know some may turn their nose at the holiday, some may discount it to just another Saturday. But not this holiday shopper. To me, it's a day to take time out and appreciate the ones I love.

On Valentine's Day we show love to our sweetheart. On Mother's Day and Father's Day, our parents. On Thanksgiving we give thanks for our blessings. But Christmas is all those wrapped into one. A time to show love and appreciation to EVERYONE you love, including those who are not here.

There's much more than presents and dinner ... It's about the love put into both efforts at putting a smile on our family's faces.


So regardless of your religious beliefs or your Bam Humbugness ... Take time to show love to those who show it to you ... That's the true meaning of Christmas.



Happy Holidays,
mahogani