Happy 2011

Wishing you and your loved ones a Fun and Safe New Year. Thank you so much for supporting this website. I look forward to bringing you new content and fun posts in 2011! 

No New Year's Resolutions For Me

Every New Year's Eve I whip out my journal to scribble down my hopes and goals for the upcoming year. This Dec. 31st I'm not writing shhhh...shiitake mushrooms. I looked at my list of 2010 resolutions and was disappointed that I hardly crossed off anything on my list. Sometimes New Year's Resolutions don't work. Most of the time  resolutions work when people do the work. It took me 3 resolutions to finally lose thost 15 pounds that kept me out of my favorite Guess jeans. Two car accidents and lack of exercise kept the fat on. My will burned it off. Other times resolutions don't work because life happens. Although I've been working toward that big paying job that's been on my resolution for sometime, no luck in this economy.  So I'm doing things little different. I know what I want and need for 2011. Instead of doing the same ol' stuff that wasn't advancing me, I got a head start in 2010. Earlier this month I began to execute changes I needed to make in my life and career. Why wait until Jan 1 if this needs to jump off now? And instead of just writing keep my weight down, boost viewership to my website, etc. I wrote a plan of how I would achieve these goals. I'll still say my prayer at midnight thanking God for another year and sip on a glass or two of Moscato. But I'll still eat up some black-eyed peas New Year's Day for good luck. Hey, a girl has to stick with some traditions.

2010 Bests, Worsts and Just Wrong

Looking back on 2010 I can't say it was a perfect 10 of a year for me. Maybe it was for you.  But news wise it was very interesting.

We Can Never Forget
The year kicked off with devastation when a big earthquake rocked Haiti. It felt like we were watching Hurricane Katrina all over again. Bloomberg News reports about 230,000 people were killed.  Now the country has another battle on its hands: cholera outbreak. The world poured in a lot of money to help the earthquake victims. Like the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, I still question after all of the money, volunteers and aid sent to ease the devastation what's taking so long for a recovery?

Most Inspirational
Chile was also hit with a deadly earthquake early in the year. The 8.8 quake  took the lives of hundreds. I've been in 7.0 quake and I can not imagine the rumble and fear from one that size. But there was a ray of hope later in the year when 33 Chilean miners were rescued after being trapped underground for two months. And you thought spending the snowed-in holidays with your in-laws was bad.


Juiciest Guilty Pleasure News
It rained golf clubs and jump offs in 2010. Oh, Tiger, Tiger, Tiger.  The scandal began around Thanksgiving 2009 when rumor was Woods' wife Elin could swing the heck out of a golf club and had good aim, especially if you were caught cheating on her--allegedly.  The number of women claiming to have romped with Tiger kept growing. The man had more side dishes than the dinner buffet at the Rio Hotel in Vegas--allegedly. All of that, ahem, playing cost Woods his marriage, endorsements, reputation and a lot of money.

First Lady and Daughter
in Spain

Most Graceful Under Fire
From her chiseled arms to her initiative to curb obesity, First Lady Michelle Obama gets criticized for the most ridiculous things. But Mrs. Obama still keeps doing her thing.  Earlier in the year some in the media labeled her "Marie Antoinette" after her lavish trip to Spain during hard economic times.  Lady O says she made the private trip to visit a close friend who lost her father.
Most Lame
John Mayer dropping the "N-word" and comparing his penis to a "white supremacist" because he's not sexually attracted to black women. Which is why I denied his bootleg "Hood Pass."

Watch your hands Regis.

Most Disrespectful
Regis Feelbin or Philbin? I didn't blog about this earlier but Regis Philbin patting Nicki Minaj on the butt was sooooo disrespectful. I'm not a Niki Minaj fan and I know her lyrics aren't the most PC. I also know she wore a tight knit dress to her performance on "Live with Regis and Kelly." But that doesn't give Regis the right to touch her without permission. When I saw the video, my mouth dropped open like the time Kanye crashed Taylor Swift's acceptance speech. I'm sure plenty of women have come on the show with tight clothes. Look at the tape. He looked at Minaj's butt like it was a pork chop. Philbin did not apologize for the butt pat.  I think he disrespected not just Minaj, but his wife.  Mrs. Philbin may or may not care. His tasteless act definitely changed my view of Regis Feelbin, I mean Philbin.

Just Wrong
In October, Judge Cassandra Mullen sentenced Tony Simmons,  a New York juvenile probation counselor who plead guilty to raping and sexually assaulting 3 teen girls to PROBATION.  There's debate over whether the judge was too easy or the light sentence came through a plea deal. Still, a confessed rapist of children who abused his powers  is punished with probation. What the...??? The teen, now 20 years old,  who reported the rape 5 years ago was sentenced to a year for a falsified report. Of course, officials now know the accusations were true. Now Judge Mullen may stiffen the punishment because the counselor has shown no remorse and she considers him "a danger to the community."  Apparently he thinks the alleged sodomy, rape and oral sex were all consensual.  Maybe he would've gotten a harsher punishment if he killed dogs.

Made Me Sick

The capture of the alleged Grim Sleeper serial killer who murdered poor, black women in South Los Angeles for two decades. Now pictures of 180 women found in his home have police questioning how many he really killed.

Biggest Mess
BP's oil spill in the gulf. It hurt our environment and small businesses. BP's  cheesy commericals didn't help either.

Elizabeth Edwards


Most Strength
I want boxing gloves like Elizabeth Edwards. Even through the cancer, the loss of a son and her husband fathering a child outside of their marriage, she still held her head high. Mrs. Edwards fought for her life and her family with admirable class and grace. That is an example of true strength.

Teena Marie

Fly Ladies We'll Miss
I ain't gonna let you go that easy you've got to say you love me too
Teena Marie is gone? Teena Marie? I can't believe it. She was only 54 and died day after Christmas. Her songs are part of the roots to my love for music. I remember listening to her records in my uncle and aunt's den with family. She had a beautiful voice and lot of soul.
Leena Horne, Dorothy Height, Rue McClanahan and Dixie Carter are some fly ladies we lost this year.






Favorite Interview



Photographer Saddi Khali

Saddi Khali is just as fascinating as his work. I enjoyed our interview and learned so much from him about survival, pursuing your dreams, self-love and appreciating the chunks and chips of life's pleasures.
Another favorite, Joey Mazzarino, head writer of Sesame Street, heart-touching story about making the "I Love My Hair" sketch that went viral of the internet. Plus it was cool talking to someone who works with Big Bird and Elmo.





Janelle Monae

 
Best Album
I listened to Janelle Monae's The ArchAndroid so much I had to stop for a while. I could hear the songs in my sleep. Take me back to Wonderland.
The woman is super-crazy talented and underrated. If Justin Beiber and Katy Perry are big hits...I'm just sayin'.



Andy Allo's UnFresh




Favorite New Artist
Love, Love. Love ANDY ALLO.  Her album UnFresh is hella fresh. And she has an inspiring story.



Immigration rally in LA
photo cred: Jenee Darden




Don't Underestimate
The Latino Vote. California governor candidate and former Ebay CEO Meg Whitman spent the most money on a campaign and had a strong lead in the polls. Her ratings took a dive when her former maid, a Latina went public claiming Whitman knew she was an undocumented immigrant but fired her after deciding to run for office.

Sarah Palin isn't
going anywhere soon.

Liberals are wishing for Sarah Palin to run in 2012 but don't underestimate this woman. I've said this a million times. Palin is well liked by many and knows how to draw people in.

Most Over Exposed
Speaking of Palin,I need a break from the former governor and her Alaska family. I was done after Bristol's run on "Dancing with the Stars." It was too much. But I know Sarah "Everyday I'm Hustlin'" Palin and her family aren't going anywhere.

Please STOP
If Lindsay Lohan weren't a movie star, but some young woman from Fresno who worked for Walgreens she would still be sitting in a jail cell. I'm tired of her foolishness making headlines.

Just Ridiculous
Airport security pap smears and prostate exams  pat downs and screening photos. There has to be a better way to ensure our safety. Seriously, there has to be.

Don't Mess with Her


Michelle Rhee


Michelle Rhee upset a lot of people with her tough approach to fixing Washington, D.C public schools. Voters made sure the Chancellor didn't come back. But that hasn't stopped Rhee. She's taking her passion to a national level with her non-profit Students First. I've worked in public schools and a change is needed. The U.S. will not remain a superpower with the poor-quality education many of our children receive. I'm looking forward to what she has in store for 2011.

Det. Ferris Jones

NYPD Officer Ferris Jones was off-duty and getting her hair done when some fool decided to rob the salon. Officer Jones shot the gun out of the robber's hand. She was promoted to Det. Jones. Don't mess with a woman during her "Me Time."

For the History Books


Pres. Obama signing DADT repeal

 Healthcare Reform passes but it cost the Dems the house.

Julian Assange founder of WikiLeaks who can't hold water or top secret government documents.

The UConn Huskies Women's Basketball Team breaking UCLA Men's team winning-streak record

Don't Ask Don't Tell is gone. No questions asked.

If you have 2010 Best Worsts or Just Wrongs speak your mind in the comments.

My Christmas Jam! Little Jackie's 'Mrs. Claus Ain't Got Nothin' on Me'

Little Jackie

Target has been jamming with the Christmas jingles this year. My FAVORITE is Little Jackie's "Mrs. Claus Ain't Got Nothin' On Me." It has an old school, Motwown, mama playing records while cooking greens and cornbread soulful sound. You've seen the commerical. Holiday seasons are crazy-hectic for women because we're shopping, cooking, cleaning, decorating, wrapping gifts, attending and throwing holiday parties, traveling and keeping our excited kids calm. This is on top of us going to school, working and handling our regular duties.  Whew, it's too much! But this song makes you pop your collar a bit and feel like, Hey, I got this. "Mrs. Clause Ain't Got Nothin' on Me" is on my top Christmas songs list with the Temptations "Silent Night" and Boyz II Men "Let It Snow. " Can't wait to hear more music from this group. By the way you can download it for free at Target's website.  And aren't you loving Blackalicious' "Toy Jackpot"? You know that commercial with the kids unwrapping their toys after Santa comes but the video is playing backwards. The hook is "Is it time yet? Is it time? I can't wait." Takes me back to when I was a kid and could hardly sleep on Christmas Eve. That song is available on Target's site for free too.  Watch both song's videos below.
 
There are certain songs/albums I MUST hear around the Christmas season:Vanessa Williams' "Little Drummer Boy," all of Kenny G's Christmas albums, Louis Armstrong's "Christmas Night in Harlem," Boyz II Men and the Temptations, Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas," Bing Crosby "White Christmas," then we stop in the hood with  Snoop Dog's "Santa Claus Goes Straight to the Ghetto," and of course Nat King Cole's "Christmas Song."

89! UConn Women's Basketball Team Breaks UCLA Men's Record What's Up with the Sexism?



It took Huskies to beat the Bruins. University of Connecticut's women's basketball team can play ball, but they weren't playin' (you know there's a difference between playing and playin') tonight when it came to earning the record of  the highest college basketball winning streak. UCLA men's team set their 88-win record during the 1971-1974 seasons.  The ladies claimed their 89th victory, beating Florida State 93-62 in a sold out game. Maya Moore scored 41 points. See what I mean when I said they weren't playin'? 

I've read articles about some sports fans being excited about the team.  Others dismiss the victory because they don't think the women's team could have taken on UCLA men's team anyway.  Then there's the media coverage. UConn Coach Geno Auriemma said recently the team is getting a lot of attention, but with a twist of sexism:   

“

If we were breaking a women’s record, everybody would go, ‘Aren’t those girls nice, let’s give them two paragraphs in USA Today, you know, give them one line on the bottom of ESPN and then let’s send them back where they belong, in the kitchen.”

Interesting. We know sports fans give women's college basketball  little love. The last time a women's college b-ball team made headlines was when Don Imus spewed, racist-sexist jokes about the women's Rutgers team on air. And if the Huskies trampled over the lady Bruins record would Maya Moore's photo be on the front page of Sports Illustrated and ESPN websites? I doubt it, but I could be wrong. 

Analysis aside, congratulations to the Huskies. They are truly the queens of all college basketball courts. What a great college memory to have. To those disappointed UCLA fans, look on the bright side. Imagine if the USC women's team would've broken the record? Talk about bragging rights for life. Fight On!

I Need a Small Favor Take My Short Survey *Pretty Please*

Make that,"Pretty please with some chocolate sprinkles, low-fat whipped cream and a juicy, red cherry on top? (batting big brown eyes as I type this?" As I work on making this blog grow I need your feedback. I want to know what works for you on this site and what works your nerves. While you're on the train or the  boss is in a meeting,  please fill out my short survey so I can get an idea of what I need to do to make this website better and flourish. It should take no more than a couple of minutes. The survey is anonymous so just keep it real with the answers. I can handle the constructive criticism. Of course I love a compliment. Whether it's constructive criticism, praise, or somewhere in between it's all love because both will make CocoaFly.com grow. I want this site better for me and you. Thanks! 
Click HERE for the survey.

Brown Betties 'Harlem's Night' Cabaret/Burlesque Will Turn Up the Heat in Atlanta

Remember that man? The one who drove you crazy in a bad way. Then he made it up to by driving you crazy in a good way. You remember loving him with all of your heart? But at times  you hated him to the bone. Still you wanted him. You wanted his time, his lovin', his laughter, his attention. Every piece of him you wanted-- so bad that you thought you needed him. Then he broke your heart and you hated him...again. But that's love.  Right? Well it's also the premise of the show "Harlem's Nights" starring the Los Angeles cabaret/burlesque troupe  Brown Betties. The show is coming to Atlanta for two nights only December 9th and 10th.

"Harlem's Night" is about a woman who is head over heels, can't think straight, in love and lust with a man named Joe. But when you see the show there are four women on stage. Each represents Harlem's conflicted feelings: Love, Hate, Need and Want. I saw the show earlier this year and if you're in Atlanta you MUST see it. "Harlem's Night" sold out in LA and New York City. There's dancing, singing, spoken word and it's tastefully sexy.  I interviewed the show's creator Peppur Chambers and the rest of the Brown Betties at a Los Angeles performance earlier this year. Listen here for a taste of what to expect. There were a lot of couples at the LA show I attended so you may want to take your fella or lady. Keep the kids at home.   Check it out and let me know your thoughts.

What: Harlem's Night Cabaret
When: Thursday, December 9th and Friday December 10th
Where:Paris On Ponce
716 Ponce De Leon Place NE
Atlanta GA  30306
CALL 770.232.1589 for info and showtimes or click here