kwanzaa

this is the last week of the year and i am observing kwanzaa for the first time in years. i don't have a kinara of my own, but that doesn't stop me. today is the second day which celebrates kujichagulia, the principle of self-determination. i'm going to keep it brief because there are quite some things that i have to be working on, but i wanted to take a moment to blog this morning. :) this is a different observation of kwanzaa for me, not because it's the minus of the kinara, but because i see things differently now. the last time that i had anything to do with kwanzaa was during my preteen years, when i was going to annual girl scout celebrations. everything is in a different lane now because i understand how meaningful it is, why each principle is inherent. yes, it is an african-american holiday, but anyone can celebrate it. it was originally created for african-americans to have an alternative in the holiday season, but when you think about the principles, these can be applied to anyone regardless of any demographic or path in life.

2011 celebrity of the year: janet jackson

everyone claims to be the biggest fan of whatever artist that they are into and everyone has that one artist where they get a constant chunk of inspiration and they hold high regard for. that artist for me is janet jackson, and in 2011, she made me very proud to be a fan of hers, although i am mad as well, which i will explain here. but here are the points of why she is my celebrity of the year.

1. she embarked on her sixth concert tour, number ones: up close and personal, which is in support of her greatest hits album that she released in 2009. the performances that were a part of this series of concerts received predominately positive reviews from critics and was a 10-month international trek that covered north america, europe, australia, asia, and africa. janet showed to her fans that even at the age of 45, she has not lost her touch on stage, even though the concerts were stripped and scaled down to be more intimate, something that she wanted to do. here's my reason why i'm mad: because i didn't get to go. :'( most importantly, the tour was a chance for her to reconnect with fans, tour to places that she hadn't been to in a while, and to network with promoters and reestablish working relationships with them since her 2008 rock witchu tour was a disaster. this tour was also supposed to be 35 shows in 35 cities, representing her 35 number one hits. she went above and beyond that and performed 85 shows, including two tour extensions. so with all of that information, janet's tour was past successful. 

2. janet released her self-help memoir, true you, in february, which also became a #1 new york times bestseller. i bought my own copy and it has become one of my favorite books, and not because it was written by janet. ok, that's a reason. lol. but another reason is because it was honest and to the point. it made me realize that i am still creating the true me, and i had gotten through the book in 3 days! furthermore, it was a book that PROVED that she was not milking off her brother's death. the other jackson siblings that have written books have them centered around michael that makes it look like they are mooching off his legacy. janet didn't. the book solely focused on her and does mention michael, but only a little dose, which is how it should be.

3. she became the face of blackglama for a second consecutive year after a successful campaign last year. janet also partnered with the fashion company to launch her own mink collection, and one day i do plan to get a piece from it. lol. more power to her for having rhinoceros skin against the bloody organization peta (and pamela anderson... the whore). but seriously, animal rights activists have protested outside her concerts like she went out and slaughtered animals for their fur. they are lashing their anger at the wrong person and they really need to change up their activism. janet did not address them and i like how she didn't.

4. this spring, janet inked a film production deal with lionsgate to produce an independent feature film and i'm anticipating how that will turn out. people forget that she started out in the acting world and after her stellar performance in for colored girls, i believe it to be a good turn for her. the performance established her acting career, which she hasn't done much of. she being featured in the recent why did i get married films was mixed reception, but she is an actress, and i believe that she can be a phenomenal actress. it's all about finding the right company and the right director, just like when she struggled in music and eventually linked with jimmy jam and terry lewis. however, she should thank tyler perry and move on. he helped to get her back on screen and she should find a director who can really mold her. 

5. janet had more of a presence with philanthropic efforts this year, headlining fundraisers for different causes at a few of her tour stops, being one of the chairpersons for a couple of fundraising balls for the hiv/aids cause, and recognizing young people in the different cities on her tour. to top it off, she just became the spokesperson for nutrisystem (and is not being paid for this) and co-founded nutribank with nutrisystem founder joe redling. they are committing to donate $10 million in food contributions to world hunger by the end of 2012. me, i don't care if she is using the plan or not using it. you cannot criticize fighting world hunger.


janet jackson is one of the few iconic artists today who are considered to be free agents, meaning that she can do whatever she wants. the content on her last three albums explains that she hasn't been inspired musically and that's what happens when you are trapped in a contract that you don't want to be in and can't immediately get out of. i love that she is doing what makes her happy and that she doesn't feel the need to be competitive or to prove anything to the public. i also love the fact that she isn't trying to regain her prime, but enjoying her impact, legacy, and contributions to entertainment. there are plenty of people who are desiring new janet music and that it is time to put out an album. i agree... to some extent... but the longer i wait, it makes me more anticipated for what she is cooking up. in february, it will be four years since she released a studio album and i feel that whenever she releases new music that it will be worth the wait. at this point, she is doing music because she wants to, and when she does it, it will be amazing. 

december

it's really hard for me to believe that this is the final month of 2011. it's really hard for me to believe that this is the first blog that i have done in a while. between taking this theology course that wraps up in 3 weeks, seeking volunteer work, and odd jobs, making plans for 2012, it's been hard for me to blog consistently and also create more poetry. i think i needed a break after all that writing that i composed for nanowrimo. that is still on a pause, by the way.  this weekend, however, will be one that i'm going to take for myself, as soon as i stop procrastinating on this homework that should have only taken two hours to do. smh. there are many things that i have to lay out in my head, all sorts of ideas cluttered in the notepad of my ipod touch and some still roaming around in my mind. if i have to put in def poetry on, i will. it would just be wonderful if i had a clear space, with my notebook, music, and wine... and those nestle tollhouse cookies i bought last night. lol. i have to have something sweet! there's also been a lot of writing in my wb group on facebook that i have not looked at. see what happens with life... and procrastination? it's in my sign. don't judge me. i'm known to do it. in fact, we are all known to do it. especially this friend of mine who shall remain nameless. too busy puffing on the blunt when he should be churning out novel number 2. lol. he's probably going to read this because i always post my stuff everywhere.


i can't really talk about subbing that much. my first day, i hated it and i did not return. that's all i'm going to say for now. something in our school system angers me, but that does not mean that i'm going to quit my contributions to it. there's still more on the agenda, but i will tell you that i understand the frustrations of teachers, and people have to understand why these teachers get arrested for "cruelty to a juvenile". there's only so much that we can take.


but right now, i leave you with this funny ass quote that was just said:


‎
"I don't understand why people don't like fruitcake. Most people don't like

fruitcake... It don't taste too bad with hot chocolate." -my 70-year-old 


grandmother.

LMFAO!

my grammy picks

Record of the Year: Rolling in the Deep - Adele
Album of the Year: 21 - Adele
Song of the Year: Rolling in the Deep - Adele
Best New Artist: No one I like
Best Pop Solo Performance: Someone Like You - Adele
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: Body and Soul - Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse
Best Pop Vocal Album: 21 - Adele
Best Traditional Pop Album: Duets II - Tony Bennett and Various Artists
Best Rock Performance: Every Teardrop is a Waterfall - Coldplay
Best R&B Performance: Far Away - Marsha Ambrosius
Best Traditional R&B Performance: Good Man - Raphael Saadiq
Best R&B Song: Far Away - Marsha Ambrosius
Best R&B Album: Anything except F.A.M.E. by Chris Brown
Best Rap Performance: Otis (Jay-Z and Kanye) or The Show Goes On (Lupe Fiasco)
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration: All of the Lights - Kanye West
Best Rap Album: Watch the Throne, Lasers, or My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Best Reggae Album: Wild and Free - Ziggy Marley
Best World Music Album: Africa for Africa - Femi Kuti
Best Short Form Music Video: Rolling in the Deep - Adele