At Last ... Miss Peaches Found Her Peace

Last Friday, January 20, legendary songstress and "Matriarch of R&B," Etta James, passed away after her battle with leukemia. She would have turned 84 today. Miss Peaches will always have a special place in my heart - I danced my first dance with my husband to her timeless classic, "At Last." That's a moment I will never forget.

Today, on her birthday, let us celebrate the life, the legend, and the longevity of Miss Etta James, whose memory will live on forever in her music.

YOU Are Possibly the Coolest Person I Know...

Hi, gorgeous! It's National Compliment Day, an unofficial national holiday, created by two imaginative New Hampshire natives Kathy Chamberlin and Debby Hoffman back in 1998. Time for a confession: I love compliments. Big ones, small ones, sincere ones, wholehearted ones, halfhearted ones, fake ones ... Who cares? I don't discriminate; any ego stroke is a good stroke, in my book. Perhaps that makes me a bit self-involved, but let's be real ... who doesn't like compliments?? Nice words make people feel good; they just do. So, do your part today. (You should actually probably try doing this every day, but let's face it, sometimes you just don't feel like being nice.) Tell somebody something that you like about them today - make someone smile. You just might get a compliment back ... in which case, you'll probably smile ... and smiling is good for the soul. See how it's all worth it? I'll lead the way:

You're good enough; you're smart enough; and doggone it, people like you!

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...if you don't care to make anyone else smile, but you still want to do something good for your soul - compliment yourself. You'll still probably smile. Just give yourself a look-see in the mirror and say, "Damn, I look good." I'll allow the vain self-indulgences today, but only because it's National Compliment Day. I'm pretty sure there aren't any rules. It's not like it's National Compliment Somebody Else Day. Until next time, my highly intelligent and strikingly good looking readers! 

Power to the People!

Today, in support of the SOPA/PIPA protest, I'm also doing a blackout. I know that this just a little ol' blog, and that I don't reach as many people as Wikipedia or Reddit; but every little bit counts. It takes a village, people! So, please take the time that you would be spending reading my blog to instead read up on the topic at hand! Do some research - and if you agree that SOPA and PIPA violate your first amendment rights, contact your local representatives, or sign the petition. Together, we can all make a difference. 

Happy Birthday, Dr. King.

Martin Luther King, Jr. is celebrated today, January 16, 2012, one day after he would have turned 83 years old. Today, many of us are off of work, enjoying the many luxuries that we often take for granted. Some have more than others: nice cars, vacation homes, private jets ... but we all have our freedom. We all have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of our own happiness. So today, let us not forget the struggle that came before us, the loooong trek to the mountaintop of civil liberty. Let us celebrate how far we as a nation have come; but also not forget how far we still have to go. Today, let us remember a man who helped to pioneer the Civil Rights Movement, and challenged our nation to lift [itself] "from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood." Happy Birthday, Dr. King - today we celebrate your memory and your vision.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Excerpt of speech taken from YouTube

*If you live in Atlanta, and have not been to the MLK memorial - for shame! You should get on over there, at least just to see it. Culture, remember? Get you some! 

Weekly Rewind

It appears as though we have reached another Sunday! I love Sundays for their sheer laziness and indulgence - sleeping in late, BRUNCH (Because who doesn't love brunch ... and bloody marys or mimosas?), lounging around all day, marathons of various intelligence-reducing-reality-television delights to tickle your fancy ... what's not to love? Well, they also mean catching up on different odds and ends, taking care of last minute chores, and finishing up last-minute details before the beginning of a new work week (for my 9-to-5 readers out there). SO, get out there and really enjoy the remainder of your weekend, folks! Whether that means sitting around your house, reveling in doing absolutely nothing, or getting out and enjoying this beautiful (albeit cold) weather we're having - enjoy your Sunday! Now, on to the Weekly Rewind...

January 9 - Jay-Z and B.I.C. release "Glory"
The lyrics of this song pretty much speak for themselves. It was really nice to be made privy to some of the more personal details of Jay and Bey's struggles with conceiving. Knowing what I do now, I stand my my earlier position that it doesn't matter whether or not the rumors about Beyonce's pregnancy were true. I don't know about you, but I can't wait to see what "a pinch of Hov [and] a whole glass of B" turns out like!



January 9 - Bibbidi-bobbidi, WHO? NPR blog, The Two-Way, reported on Monday that police in Madison, Wisconsin arrested Beezow Doo-Doo Zopittybop-Bop-Bop, after receiving several complaints that the man was prowling around a neighborhood park. 

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*record scratch*  Yes, you read that correctly. The man, formerly known as Jeffrey Wilschke, legally changed his name last October to Beezow Doo-Doo Zopittybop-Bop-Bop. I can't help but laugh at this story (considering that his last arrest was for grinding marijuana in another Madison park, and no one appears to have been hurt, I think it's safe to say that he's relatively harmless). You know, like a fairy tale character.




January 12 - Not Illegal, but Not Exactly LaxIndiana mom Dynesha Lax got creative with her tough love method of raising her 14-year-old son, forcing him to stand on the side of the road wearing a cardboard sign advertising his indiscretions to passing motorists :

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..."I sell drug"? Stay in school, kids.
Well, that concludes this week's Weekly Rewind! Last week was a bit stingy on the crazy, but I've got a good feeling about what's to come this week. Y'all come back now, ya hear?

Tips From a Gourmet Goddess

Today, I thought I would start a new series for this blog, entitled "Tips From a Gourmet Goddess," in which I share different recipes and foodstuffs that I love, so that you too can partake in them. But what makes me a gourmet goddess, you ask? Well, I like to consider myself a bit of a foodie (I'm not quite a hardcore foodie, because I draw the line at eating things like chicken feet and chicken hearts, or any random part of the digestive tract (because it smells probably smells like poo)) ... and I'm also a pretty decent cook (I would say I'm better than decent, but you would probably find it vain). But the real inspiration for the gourmet goddess title came from my hubs.

Here's the back story: I hosted my very first legit Thanksgiving dinner last year with 10 people. A night or two before Thanksgiving, the hubs called me from work with a random question: "Do you consider yourself to be a domestic diva, or a gourmet goddess?" My response? "Probably a gourmet goddess. I like to cook, but I'm not very domestic; I hate to clean." Well, flash forward to the hubby's homecoming from work, and lo and behold, he had a surprise present for me! I don't know about you, but I love surprise prezzies! (Who am I kidding? I just like stuff.) What was it, you ask? I'm sure you're waiting with bated breath. Well, C, being the thoughtful hubs that he is, remembered that I had complained about not having an apron (because I obviously need to protect my designer duds sweatpants when I am in the kitchen creating my culinary masterpieces); and since Thanksgiving was quickly approaching, and with it, the nine-hour long, ultra-tedious meal preparation, my oh-so-thoughtful hubs bought me one!

Note the already-lit gas stove in the back. See? Told you I was a gourmet goddess.

So, now that you know the back story on why I'm a gourmet goddess, let's move on to some tips, shall we? Today's recipe is the one I always go to for a fail-proof steak dinner that is sure to impress. If you like red meat, and you've always wanted to know how to execute the perfect "home" steak, this recipe's for you. Big thanks to Alton Brown of the Food Network, for always knowing how to make some Good Eats (and for creating this recipe). I'm only listing the directions for the ribeye, but an easy solution for the side is to just toss some asparagus spears with a touch of olive oil, salt and pepper, then spread out on a cookie sheet, and roast in the oven (while your steak is cooking) for about 10 mins, and voila!

Ingredients

• 1 boneless rib eye steak, 1 1/2-inch thick
• Canola oil to coat
• Kosher salt and ground black pepper

Directions

Place 10 to 12-inch cast iron skillet in oven and heat oven to 500 degrees. Bring steak(s) to room temperature. (I don't have a cast iron skillet, so I use a non-stick pan with metal handles that is approved for use in the oven.)


When oven reaches temperature, remove pan and place on range over high heat. Coat steak lightly with oil and season both sides with a generous pinch of salt. (I season my steaks ahead of time. Another good tip is to take your steaks out of the refrigerator at least one hour before cooking; it makes the meat super tender!) Grind on black pepper to taste. (I also like to add a dash of garlic powder and onion powder for good measure.)


Immediately place steak in the middle of hot, dry pan. Cook 30 seconds without moving. Turn with tongs and cook another 30 seconds, then put the pan straight into the oven for 2 minutes. (*Don't use a fork!* All of the juices will run out, and you'll be left with a dry steak. Nobody likes dry meat, amiright?) Flip steak and cook for another 2 minutes. (This time is for medium rare steaks. If you prefer medium, add a minute or longer to both of the oven turns.)


Remove steak from pan, cover loosely with foil, and rest for at least 2 minutes. (This allows all of the yummy juices to absorb back into the steak before you serve them. This is possibly the most important step of the recipe.)

That's it, folks. Now, put it in your belly! 

Give this recipe a whirl - if you're looking for a quick fix for dinner, or you're looking to impress a mother-in-law, current/future wife, or potential husband/man of your dream/future father of your future children - this recipe never disappoints. Happy cooking from your own resident gourmet goddess!

Until next time, my dears...

These are My Confessions...

It's time for a bit of a proper introduction to the "True Confessions of a Real Housewife of Atlanta." But what, exactly, is a "true confession?" Confessions can be different things to different people. A confession could mean letting one of those sneaky little skeletons out of the closet, and divulging a long-guarded secret. Confession could mean sitting opposite a priest in an actual confessional, listing all of your sins, apologizing, getting some penance homework, repeating an Act of Contrition, and [hopefully] receiving absolution from the aforementioned priest. (Well, it would only mostly mean that if you are Catholic, Protestant, Lutheran, Anglican, or Mormon. But, I digress.) Confession could also imply that you were arrested for committing a crime, and that you eventually tired of the dark, musty, interrogation room, with the bright lights being shined into your eyes, and the grumpy brute of a detective shouting, "Where were you on the night of May 5th?!?" in your face, spraying you with drops of spittle, and refusing to let you use the restroom, even though you asked very politely (for a criminal). So you finally gave in, walked said detective through every tedious detail of your no-doubt heinous crime, and then he handed you a legal pad and a pencil to "now write the whole thing down."*

The point is, the word confession has a lot of heavy connotations. But the thing is, it doesn't have to be that deep. A confession doesn't have to be an open window into the darkest corners of your soul. It can just be something that you admit, or acknowledge. Yes, it's that easy. Dictionary.com defines "confession" as follows:

So, this brings us back full circle (love it when that happens!) to this blog. What exactly was going through this crazy mind of mine when I decided to create this blog? Well, I definitely was not thinking about Confessions, in the Usher sense (even though he is a fellow ATLien). Fortunately, I have no future baby mama concerns with my chick on the side who is three months pregnant and says she's keeping it. Additionally, seeing as to how I'm (a) not Catholic (or any of those other religions that practice the formal confession of sins), or (b) guilty of committing any crimes, I think I was thinking more along the lines of a combination of the first and third definitions. This blog is my attempt, not at total transparency ... but at a little insight into the lifestyles of the not-so-rich and not-so-famous and the not-at-all-scripted reality television show that is my life. 

...And so I offer you my confessions, all true and from the heart (however black and dismal it may feel that day) of a legitimate, REAL housewife (although less-than-enthused over the current title ... because I'd much rather be working than doing housework, which is what my life, it appears, has been regulated to ... besides blogging, a healthy amount of Facebok stalking (because yes, there is a level of Facebook stalking that graduates you from morbidly curious to full-on creeper), and just being overall fabulous, of course) of Atlanta (who just happens to love all things Housewives (especially you, Andy Cohen)). Hopefully you'll find things that make you laugh, things that pique your interest, things you want to do, things you want to put in your belly, things you have to have, and sometimes just some things that make you go "hmmm." But be warned, the confessions aren't always going to be "confessions" in the typical sense; sometimes you're just going to get little gems like, "I like rice. A lot." (True confession.) Perhaps "true confessions..." is a bit of a dramatic title for what I'm trying to accomplish, here ... but dramatic's kind of my style. 

What are some of your true confessions? I'd love to hear 'em! Until next time, kiddos ... hugs and fake air kisses from your favorite Atl homemaker!**

*Whew. That one got away from me a little bit. What can I say? I watch a lot of crime shows. But really, have you ever wondered why they make them go through the whole story before they hand them the legal pad? If I ever commit a crime for which I confess, I'm going to tell them that I would like my legal pad immediately. Then I can write it down, and they can read it for themselves, then get back to me with any questions. Because my time as a criminal would obviously be very valuable.

**Do people still use the term "homemaker?" I rather like the sound of "homemaker" better than that of "housewife." To me, homemaker implies that I alone make the home. As if the home just wouldn't be the same without me. That it couldn't live without me; that the thought of me leaving the home sends it spiraling into a bender filled with country music, cheap whiskey, geoffries, and furry walls. I am a homemaker. I complete my house; I had it at hello. That sounds so much more attractive than housewife, doesn't it? Then again, "The Real Homemakers of Atlanta" just doesn't quite have the same ring to it. 

High Brow Art with a High-Yellow Broad*

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On Friday, the hubs and I spent the afternoon at the High Museum, exploring their Picasso to Warhol exhibit. It was our first time going there, so we didn't know what to expect.  What a pleasant surprise; the exhibit is wonderful! I was so impressed by the collection. They have some really breathtaking pieces on display, including several that would be recognizable even to the fine art novice. There are mobiles by Calder, oil paintings by Picasso and paper collages by Matisse. The styles range from Cubism to Fauvism to Pop Art; from the real to the surreal. For all of my Atlantans out there - if you have a free afternoon, and you haven't already been, I highly recommend that you pay a little visit to the High Museum. Parking was $10 in the campus garage; adult admission was $18 (Foursquare offers a $5 off coupon when you check in; Scout Mob should also have the same coupon). If art is kind of your thing, and you dig the museum scene, the High offers different packages that include unlimited admission, free parking and various other perks/discounts at the cafes and gift shops.

For those of you who don't live in Atlanta (i.e., a stone's throw away from the museum), I took pics of some of my favorites (because everyone should see a Picasso at some point in their lives) to share with you. I know, I know - SO thoughtful, right? I do it all for you, folks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please excuse the quality of the pictures. Taking cell phone pics when you have a perfectly good digital SLR collecting dust at home = epic FAIL. I promise to do better next time, guys. Mean it. In the meantime, go see Picasso to Warhol; it's only going to be around until April 29, 2012 ... so hurry up and go get yourself some culture, yo.

*The title of this post was taken from "Off That," from Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3. It shouldn't come as any surprise that Jigga loves fine art; he has spoken repeatedly for his love of the finer things in life. He has touted his Basquiat and Warhol pieces throughout the years; I've now seen exhibits for both of these artists. Thanks to my hip-hoppin' hubs for sharing this link, explaining Hov's love for fine art. Enjoy! Hip-hop is culture, too.

Weekly Rewind

Wow! The first week of the new year has really shaped up to be quite eventful. If this is any indication of what's to come in 2012, you'd better fasten your seatbelts, folks. With an election year, leap year (At least we get an extra day if it really is the end of the world, right?) and the end of days all looming before us, this year promises not to disappoint. Let's take a look at what craziness happened this week, shall we?*

January 5 - Gingrich Implies That All Blacks Get Food Stamps

According to the Huffington Post, 

Hmmm ... did I miss the memo? I didn't realize that the entire African-American community received food stamps. Is this some part of the fine print on the slavery reparations that I overlooked? African-Americans should expect to receive the following: forty acres, one mule, and an endless supply of food stamps...? Forget the food stamps; I want to know who I need to call to formally "demand [a] paycheck."

January 5 - Casey Anthony Reminds Us Why We Dislike Her

On Thursday, Good Morning America and The Today Show aired a video diary allegedly recorded by Casey Anthony on October 13, 2011. The video, recorded in an undisclosed location, showed Anthony sporting a freshly bleached blond bob. Anthony spends four minutes talking about painfully dull topics such as buying a new computer, her plans to post video diaries more frequently, adopting a dog, and the improvements in her life since the trial. She made no mention of her daughter, or any hopes for justice for Caylee. Perhaps this is because she is fully aware of the Fifth Amendment's prohibition of double jeopardy? I'm just saying ... you'd think she would be on a non-stop hunt for justice for her baby girl.

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January 6 - Slavery Makes a Comeback ... In 3rd Grade MathSeveral parents of third graders who attend Beaver Ridge Elementary School in Norcross, GA were outraged to find questions referencing slavery and beatings on a math assignment given to the children for homework. WSB-TV reported:

District spokeswoman Sloan Roach said that the teachers were trying to do a "cross-curricular" activity, and that the questions were an attempt at incorporating social studies lessons into math problems. However, with no apparent historical context whatsoever ... the explanation is shaky, at best. I'm not quite sure how anyone could possibly think that questions such as these are appropriate in any way, shape, or form. In a nation that has not participated in the slave trade in nearly 150 years, to reference such an obviously inflammatory topic in such a flagrantly casual manner to eight year olds (or any year olds, for that matter), is unacceptable. That's two strikes for the Georgia school system, if you ask me. I've never really considered home schooling my child before (perhaps because I don't have a child), but with the constant barrage of improprieties, I'm starting to worry what my [hypothetical] child will (or will not) learn in school. Add that to the long list of things to worry about when I become a mommy.


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January 8 - Superstars Jay and Bey Welcome Their Baby Girl

Beyoncé Knowles and Jay-Z welcomed Blue Ivy Carter, a healthy baby girl, into the world on Saturday in New York at Lenox Hill Hospital, according to E! News. Rumors swirled throughout Bey's pregnancy, with several different conspiracy theories circulating:

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The alleged details of the actual delivery did nothing to quiet the rumors. According to reports by TMZ,

At the end of the day, does it really matter if she was pregnant or not? The couple is notoriously private, and obviously don't care to divulge the dirty deets regarding the pregnancy. Is it really any of our business, anyway? For those of you who just have to know, maybe you'll get lucky, and Beyoncé will show the world her C-section scar. Here's to healthy, [undoubtedly] happy, Blue Ivy! Congratulations, Carter family!

January 8 - Papa John's Offers an Apology for Offensive Slur

A cashier was fired from a New York Papa John's Pizza for identifying an Asian-American customer as "lady chinky eyes." Minhee Cho posted a picture of the offending receipt to her Twitter account with the caption, "Just FYI, my name isn't 'lady chinky eyes.'" 

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Within a day, her post became viral, with over 200,000 views. Papa John's issued the following statement, "This act goes against our company values, and we've confirmed with the franchisee that this matter was addressed immediately and that the employee is being terminated. We are truly sorry for this customer's experience."

Really?! ... soooooo ... that's just it? They're sorry? I wonder if the cashier even bothered to ask this poor woman her name, or if he just thought he would be proactive and use an obnoxious identifier, instead. Did he forget that the name actually appears on the bottom of the receipt? Or maybe he thought it would be funny to add that sweet little racial slur, just to see if she was paying attention. What an ignorant slug. Racial slurs are SO démodé.

Well, that concludes this week's edition of the Weekly Rewind. Join me again next week for more noteworthy news and "Oh, no they didn't!"s. Bonne nuit, my sweets!

This is the Dawning of the Age of Apocalypse!

Okay, now that we've gotten the responsible resolution conversation out of the way, let's address the whole "world's gonna end on December 21, 2012 because those darn Mayans' 'long count' just wasn't quite long enough," thing, shall we? You didn't think I would just glaze over the Mayan calendar, did you? How could you? In case you're not up-to-date (or you live under a rock, in which case, you might actually be fairly safe), apparently the world will end on December 21, 2012. Gosh, that sounds ominous. It really gives you something to look forward to, doesn't it?

"The world will end on December 21, 2012." 

Sheesh. What a buzz kill. Allegedly this isn't supposed to be like that "Rapture" malarky; this might actually really happen. You might want to mark that date on your calendars, just in case ... it could be rather important. For your convenience, please see below for a countdown. This should help to ensure that you are appropriately prepared (both physically and mentally), for the upcoming end of days.


Now you never have to ask, "When is the world ending, again?"
Now that we know when we should expect to meet our demise, let's talk about how we will meet our demise. There are several countless different theories regarding what will happen when December 21 rolls around. Some people think that the world will just cease to exist. (Does that happen? I mean in the non-religious sense. Obviously, God, or whichever higher power you believe in can cause things to randomly just cease to exist. (If you believe in such things at all - I can't exclude anybody because of their belief system; that would be closed-minded and judgmental, which I am not. Such exclusions are frankly deplorable.) But do things just randomly cease to exist on their own? Does the earth have an expiration date? Does mankind have an expiration date?
Me, personally? I think that if December 21 really is going to be the end of the world as we know it, that it will be a more gradual process. I picture it a lot like The Day After Tomorrow, with crazy extreme weather (a little like what we've been experiencing here in the past couple of years...) that we're just not equipped to handle, so our existence just kind of fades away) ... and maybe zombies. The zombie part is probably just my overactive imagination, but it would add a little bit of spice to the whole "the world is ending" thing, wouldn't it? Just imagine if we had to fight our way through mountains of snow, or dodge tornadoes and tidal waves ... all whilst fighting off flesh-eating zombies.*
...you don't really think there will be zombies, do you...?  

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I think it could go either way. Uh oh. This apocalypse just got real. Because I love my readers, and I want you to be as safe as possible if the world does indeed end in December, I have included a couple of links to the CDC, so you can make sure you have all of the supplies necessary to survive the apocalypse.**

Here is all of the info (including more links) that you will need relating to emergency preparedness and response. You don't have to wait until the end of days to access this information, you know. It's surprisingly useful in hurricanes, too.
Now, for those of you concerned about the zombies, you should still click the link above to be prepared for the apocalypse itself, but you might want to check this out, too. Just in the the interest of self-preservation, you know? (You call it an overactive imagination; I call it being prepared. How different is a zombie from a cannibal, really? We all know that when the going gets tough, and people get hungry ... they will eat you. It happens. Have you seen the movie Alive? Stuff got real, and people got eaten. It can't hurt to be ready when they come for you.)
Well, that concludes today's conversation about the end of the world. I hope you now feel well-informed and prepared for what may be to come ... but don't dwell on the thought of our possible extinction. Just make sure to have lots of water on hand, and live life to its fullest! Because let's face facts: we're all mortal. We could cease to exist on any given day ...not just on December 21, 2012. Live, laugh and love like every day is your last.

*I'm sure you're thinking it ... no, I am not British. I realize that Americans don't really say the word "whilst," but I like it. I use it in every day conversation. It sounds so cultured. Chock that up to blogger's license ... again. The world is ending in less than a year, remember? I do what I want. 
**Hmmm. I'm not exactly sure how this whole apocalypse thing works. Can proper preparedness really lead to preservation? If I have a sufficient amount of drinking water and a bomb shelter, might I make it through the rubble to see 2013? Or will I just spend all of my money stocking up on gallons of water and building said bomb shelter, only to spontaneously implode at midnight on December 21? Also, I feel as though December 21 is very vague. December 21, at what time? And in what time zone? Will each respective time zone cease to exist as the clock strikes midnight there? This is really a lot to think about. I'm tired already.

You Say You Want a Resolution?

res·o·lu·tion

  [rez-uh-loo-shuhn]

noun

1.

a formal expression of opinion or intention made, usually after voting, by a formal organization, a legislature, a club,or other group. Compare concurrent resolution, joint resolution.

2.

a resolve or determination: to make a firm resolution to dosomething.

3.

the act of resolving or determining upon an action or courseof action, method, procedure, etc.

4.

the mental state or quality of being resolved or resolute;firmness of purpose.

With the dawn of every new year, many people often find themselves committing to do something better moving forward. Everyone typically has some sort of resolution, whether it is to lose some weight, get more exercise, be more social ... resolutions can come in any shape and form. But my question is, with the possibility of the impending demise of our world as we know it, did anybody forego their resolutions for the year?

I look at it like this: if I only have less than a year left to live ... for that year, I'm going to live it up! You only live once, you know - I don't want to meet my apocalyptic doom while composing a spreadsheet, or putting together a proposal. I want to go out with a bang! So my resolution this year is to get out there and live life to its fullest.

This year, I want to do something I've never done, go places I've never gone, and eat foods I've never heard of. I want to live and love recklessly, to throw my head back and bask in the sunshine, to feel the powder sand beneath my toes and the wind in my hair. I want to get into a pillow fight, and eat ice cream for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I want to laugh until everything hurts, until I maybe even cry ... but I only want to shed happy tears this year. This year, I'M taking control of my own happiness and learning to let go, because I can't expect other people to make me happy or to always do the right thing ... but I CAN have that expectation of myself. And that power, that ownership ... feels really good...

Apocalypse, or not.



Nina Simone - Feeling Good by hydearck

2011: The Year in Review

Happy New Year!! Greetings from 2012, my pets! It appears as though we made it through 2011 relatively unscathed ... but what a year it was! According to the Yahoo! 2011 Year in Review, there was such a wealth of noteworthy news that 2011 had to be broken down into ten different categories. I'm going to dedicate this post to consolidating those ten categories into one list of 10 major events ... and heeeeere we go...

The Year 2011 in Review

1. We Got Some "Signs of the Times..."

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January 1 - Residents of Beebe, Arkansas got an unpleasant surprise when they awoke to at least 1,000 red-winged blackbird carcasses strewn about their city. There was no shortage of theories about the birds' demise. Possible causes ranged from mass poisoning (ruled out), stress from the New Year's fireworks celebrations, and of course, the obligatory  claims of the dawning apocalypse. This incident sparked a rash of sudden animal deaths reported around the world. A few days later, another 500 blackbirds were found dead in Baton Rouge, LA, and then the story went international; Sweden reported dozens of birds falling out of the sky. But the deaths didn't stop with the blackbirds; millions of fish carcasses started mysteriously floating to the surface in various waterways. The Chesapeake Bay reported about two million fish were estimated dead in the area, and around 40,000 crabs died on the coast of Kent in Britain. The mystery of the sudden animal deaths remains unsolved today.

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December 31 - Beebe residents rang in the 2012 New Year with dead blackbirds falling from the sky AGAIN. Coincidence? Further indication of the accuracy of the Mayan calendar predictions and the impending apocalypse? Or perhaps solid evidence that fireworks and blackbirds do not mix. (...and all of the dead sea creatures were just a fluke. No big deal. Nothing to see here, folks.)

According to The Huffington Post:

"Scientists say the loud cracks and booms from celebratory fireworks likely sent the birds into such a tizzy that they crashed into homes, cars and each other before plummeting to their deaths last New Year's Eve. The birds landed on roofs, sidewalks, streets and fields. One struck a woman walking her dog. Another hit a police cruiser."

Police in Beebe were prompted to ban fireworks after dozens of the birds were found dead one year after the original incident. I guess we'll have to see what happens on New Year's next year... if we make it that far. Now I'm not all that superstitious, but all things considered, maybe we should just take this one day at a time instead of anxiously awaiting the 2013 New Year's festivus of falling fowl. I'm not even sure blackbirds can be considered fowl, but I'm a sucker for alliteration. Let's move on.

2. An Island Nation Got ROCKED... 

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March 11 - The Tohoku region of Japan was devastated by an 8.9-magnitude earthquake that caused monstrous waves measuring up to 30 feet in height and sweeping as far as 6 miles inland. The country was ill-prepared for the devastation that followed. Almost 16,000 people died, and nearly 5,000 disappeared in the fires and tsunami - this catastrophic event produced the highest number of casualties that Japan has experienced since World War II.

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3. Prince Charming Got the Girl... 

April 29 - Prince William married his longtime sweetheart, [commoner] Catherine Middleton, in an awe-inspiring service at Westminster Abbey that captured the attention of the world. 1,900 people were in attendance, and millions of others crowded the streets surrounding the abbey, hoping for a glimpse of the newlyweds. (And let's not forget the millions of Americans that woke up in the wee hours of the morning to tune in on their television sets ... oh, who am I kidding? That's what dvr is for, am I right?) Princess Kate's engagement ring was none other than the stunning sapphire beauty worn by Princess Diana in 1981. Her Royal Highness (so fancy!) chose a lovely, demure, satin and lace gown by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.    

 

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4. We Got the Bad Guy... 
May 11 - At 11:35 p.m. ET, President Obama held a live news conference from the White House. It was during this special broadcast that he stated to the world, "Good evening. Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaida and a terrorist who's responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women, and children." 

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5. A Mother Got Away With Murder... 

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July 5 - After an almost three-year-long ordeal, and less than eleven hours of deliberation, the jury in the Casey Anthony trial read the verdict heard 'round the world (okay, maybe just the country). Casey Anthony was found not guilty of the first degree murder and aggravated abuse of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee. She was, however, convicted on four counts of providing false information to law enforcement officers. Much like the O.J. Simpson verdict of 1995, the jury's decision was met with a wave of shock and disbelief. The case gained notoriety because of the hauntingly sweet and innocent image of Caylee Anthony, but also because of the seemingly endless incongruity of Casey's ever-changing story. The trial was much like the search for Caylee itself, filled with Casey's less-than-half truths, evidence of her obvious negligence, and the pathetic attempts of her overindulgent mother, willing to forego justice for her granddaughter in order to preserve the existence of her pathologically selfish daughter. Whether or not she killed poor little Caylee is still a matter of water cooler debate, but thanks to lack of physical evidence and the perhaps overzealous efforts of the prosecutor, Casey Anthony is a free woman.

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6. NASA got Shut Down...
July 21 - The space shuttle Atlantis returned to Kennedy Space Center from its final voyage, mission Space Transportation System-135. The conclusion of this mission marked the end of a thirty-year shuttle program. The shuttle era will forever be haunted by the Challenger and Columbia tragedies; however, it will also be remembered for its many accomplishments. Over its thirty year duration, the program's fleet of five shuttles built the largest structure in space (the International Space Station) and transported astronauts to and from it. Shuttle crews also repaired the space station, captured wayward satellites, launched the Hubble Space Telescope, and conducted numerous scientific experiments. The overall cost of the program is estimated to have been $209 billion. Although the NASA program is no longer operating, it will forever remain in our hearts.

7. The Nation Got Occupied...

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September 17 - 2011 became the year of the underdog when protesters took to the streets for the Occupy Wall Street movement. The movement was not limited to Wall Street; diverse groups of "Occupiers" could be found nationwide, proclaiming, "We are the 99%!" Occupy Wall Street originally began as a peaceful protest against the "privileged 1%," the select individuals that own 40% of global wealth. However, the movement quickly snowballed into an all-encompassing platform for the disenfranchised to express their disdain and displeasure regarding the inequities found in society, and in their own personal lives.

8. Cancer Got the Better (Not the Best) of a Brilliant Visionary...

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October 5 - Steve Jobs, CEO and co-founder of Apple, lost his 8-year battle with pancreatic cancer; he was just 56.  The world mourned the loss of him and his creative genius with an outpouring of emotion, a large portion of which was expressed using one of the very devices that Jobs himself helped to create - the iPhone. He was a technical pioneer, responsible for not only the iPhone, but other monumental contributions such as one of the first commercially successful lines of personal computers (the Apple II series), the built-in ethernet port, and Pixar Animation Studios. (Jobs was a co-founder; he was also credited as Executive Producer for Toy Story, the movie that put Pixar on the map.) Although his flame was snuffed out much too soon, he made such an impact in the time that he was here by revolutionizing music, movies, computers, and interpersonal communication. His memory will live on forever within his visions and innovations.

9. Two Dictators Got Inducted Into the 69 Club...**
October 20 - After 40+ years of reigning over Libya with terror and bloodshed, Dictator Moammar Gadhafi was killed and put on display for his countrymen to see; he was 69 years old. After his death, Libya ended its seven-month civil war, and now faces the arduous task of rebuilding a nation without resorting back to the deplorable tactics used by the former leader.

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December 17 - North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il died of a heart attack; he was also 69 years old. His death marked the end of his seventeen-year stint as the Supreme Leader of North Korea. Kim Jong-Il was succeeded by his son, Kim Jong-Un, and the question still remains whether the new leadership regime will allow for improved relations between North and South Korea.

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9.5. The Fairy Tale Got Scary...
October 31 - On Halloween, Kim Kardashian filed for divorce from Kris Humphries after a [not-so] shocking, measly, seventy-two days. The cost of the extravagant nuptials was said to total somewhere aroun $10 to 30 million. Luckily [for Kim], the couple had a prenuptial agreement. KK plans to keep her engagement ring (to which she is entitled, if she chooses to reimburse Hump for the full purchase price), which is rumored to be valued at $2 million. The couple's split invigorated the rumor mill, inspiring people of all walks of life to debate whether the wedding was a desperate ploy for publicity, or KK and Hump were just married too quickly. Whatever the truth may be, it's pretty obvious that this union was doomed  from the start. I guess Kris just couldn't Keep Up With the Kardashians.

10. We [Finally] Got the Hell Outta Dodge...
December 15 - After almost nine years, the United States formally declared the end of the War in Iraq. The war leaves us with many scars, both physical and mental. Almost 4,500 Americans lost their lives in the war effort, and about 30,000 were left wounded. About 4,000 troops remained in Iraq after the declaration, but they were expected to return home just in time to ring in the New Year with their loved ones. President Obama stated that the United States government plans to continue to provide economic and military help to Iraq in the days to come.



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...and there you have it, folks. That concludes my own personal account of the the top ten (and a half) key events of 2011. Hopefully you enjoyed my rundown (and hopefully you understand that I don't mean to trivialize any other events of 2011; these are just a few of the highlights). Again, Happy New Year! I leave you with well wishes for you and yours throughout the year of 2012 (and for many more to come if we get past that pesky Mayan calendar).

Peace and Love!

*Of course, I looked up fowl to determine whether or not I used it properly. What, you thought I wouldn't? I can't stand not knowing! ...and I did ... get it right, that is. 
** Yeah, I made that up. You know, like the 27 club ... only much, much older. I can't honestly say in good conscience that an uncanny amount of fairly famous people have died at the age of 69 ... but who's to say it's not true? I just found it an odd coincidence  that two crazy dictators died in 2011 at the ripe age of 69. Call it blogger's license.