d. tafakari

Confession: I’m a Football Fan Who Doesn’t Like Athletes

Sometimes you have to own your ugly. This is mine. I am a fantasy football playing, college team cheering, NFL-loving chick who spends hours every weekend glued to the television watching men run up and down a field in tights. I bust celebration dances when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers manage to do the impossible andContinue reading “Confession: I’m a Football Fan Who Doesn’t Like Athletes”

Friday Feel-Good Tune: “Back and Forth” (Aaliyah)

Before the controversy about R. Kelly and alleged underage marriages, before Dame Dash, before Romeo Must Die and Queen of the Damned, and before the tragedy that saddened the world–Aaliyah was a fly Detroit girl whose debut single gave me my first Friday feel-good tune. I had no girls to pick up (I was 12), I had noContinue reading “Friday Feel-Good Tune: “Back and Forth” (Aaliyah)”

My Spouse Wants a Gun, But I Don’t

When my husband found out that we were having a girl, he covered his face with his hands in sincere terror. “What am I gonna do with a girl?!” he lamented. Family and friends jokingly gave him the answer: “Welp, guess you better get a gun!” It conjured up the image of a father standingContinue reading “My Spouse Wants a Gun, But I Don’t”

5 Things I Learned From Failing NaNoWriMo

I never expected to fail National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) so spectacularly, but here we are, 21 days into November, and I have about 500 of 50,000 words written. Yes. The failure is that great. Sure, we have nine days left in the month; there’s still time! But no, it’s not happening, and I knowContinue reading “5 Things I Learned From Failing NaNoWriMo”

The Politics of Not Cooking for Thanksgiving

As Thanksgiving rears its conflicting smallpox and stuffing-laden head next week, I have a confession: I’ve been married four years and have yet to cook an entire Thanksgiving meal. Let me explain before you start typing furiously about me abandoning my wifely duties. Thanksgiving is the Olympics of meal preparation. You train all year, slippingContinue reading “The Politics of Not Cooking for Thanksgiving”