Baseball season is here. So is the 2020 election season!
First, let’s talk about America’s favorite past time.
While we’re accustomed to three strikes and you’re out (and many times that’s two strikes, countless foul balls, and then a strike and you’re out).
Would the game of baseball be more exciting if batters were given only two strikes instead of three? And, that’s two strikes and no foul balls to keep the batter in the box?
I’m not proposing a change to the game that dates back to the 18th century. I’m bringing it up as a metaphor for the 2020 presidential election — more specially, the Democratic primary and nomination.
Hillary Clinton has been up to bat twice — 2008 and 2016. In 2008, she was a formidable opponent to eventual winner, President Barack Obama.
Eight years later, Hillary became the first woman to become a major party’s nominee and won the popular vote in the November election with almost 66 million votes!
That was almost three million more votes than “that man” that won the electoral college vote to become “45” (45th president of the U.S.)!
In the current Democratic race, there are already 23 declared candidates including Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders.
Yet, just the prospect or thought of Hillary Clinton entering the race makes many people gasp and freak out!
Some may say “she ran twice and lost”.
But, you didn’t hear that when Ronald Reagan for President in 1968 and again in 1976 before finally winning the presidency in his third attempt, in 1980!
As much as I’d love to see Hillary Clinton as the 46th President, I know she isn’t going to run. Why the hell would she run again and be subjected to the hypocrisy?
Honestly, as diversified as the Democratic field is, I think there are very few (and that’s an understatement) people running that could actually beat “that man”!
As I close, the words of Geraldine Ferraro come to mind.
For those of you that don’t remember or choose to forget, Ferraro was the first woman vice presidential candidate on a major ticket in 1984.
In her book, “Ferraro: My Story”, she shared this story: it was early 1983 and she was talking about which eventual Democratic candidate she’d support.
She wanted someone who shared her values to be the candidate, but she would campaign for any Democrat to run against Ronald Reagan.
As we head into the race to get Trump out of office, remember what Ferraro wrote more than 30 years ago.
She perfectly summed it up with, “Even an imperfect candidate would be better than Reagan — that’s how strongly I felt.”
In life, there are times when we luck out and run into a “celebrity”. It might be on vacation, at a county or state fair, or just a random encounter.
As a television meteorologist, my job is a public and high profile position (if you’re lucky and people watch the news and your channel!).
That wasn’t the case for me in Salisbury, Maryland. No one watched my channel and I was never recognized in public in the year-and-a-half there! However, I was much more well-known in the Quad Cities after 11.5 years and people did recognize me in Panama City, Florida.
I don’t buy into that whole “you’re a celebrity” thing, yet my career has given me better access to some big names in the world of entertainment and politics.
It’s also presented some not so fun moments.
In Lubbock, Texas, I was thrown against a car by an irate man and another time, I was likely urinated on in a crowd of Marilyn Manson fans after his concert while doing my live report (I felt a warm wetness on my leg while talking)!
And, in the Youngstown, Ohio, market, I was first on the scene of a shooting inside a car outside a school and had to look at the body until police covered it. (At that point, we didn’t know if it was a murder or suicide.)
But, back to the positives. For today’s blog, I’m “name dropping”! Some of these people I met through work and some through sheer luck!
I’m going to start off with the three that mean the most to me, so these are not in chronological order of when I met them.
On a cold January morning in 2016 in Davenport, Iowa, I made my way through the crowd and got to say hello to former Secretary of State and former First Lady Hillary Clinton.
Some people even thought this was photo-shopped and then I point out that her hand is on my shoulder! 🙂
The highlight of my move to Panama City, Florida, was meeting my childhood idol, President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter.
In July 2017, I got up in the middle of the night and drove almost four hours through the backwoods of Florida, Alabama and Georgia to Plains, Georgia, to hear President Carter give a sermon at his church.
After getting back home, I sent the Carters a “70th Anniversary” card with our photo. I was totally shocked when they sent it back to me — autographed!
I’ve told this story many times, but I’ll tell it again. As an 12-year-old in Mayfield, Kentucky, in 1976, I got to go into the voting booth with my grandmother and pull the lever for Jimmy Carter. I did it again in 1980!
In April 2005, I was living in Salisbury, Maryland and working for the ABC affiliate. We also broadcast the CW network that aired the “Reba” comedy series.
To kick off her tour that spring in Virginia Beach, Virginia, we took a bus with twenty viewers to see that cold, windy outdoor show. Two of those lucky people (and me) got to go backstage and meet Reba.
She was just as you’d imagine her to be — sweet and delightful. Here are the framed memories of that night.
And, in 2014, I took my first awkward selfie with Shania Twain in Las Vegas, when she walked out into the crowd!
As I name drop the people I’ve been fortunate to meet, I so wished that we had had smartphones earlier than we did. I could have had photos of the others that I’ve met. 🙂
THE SOS BAND — 1984
In 1984, while a student at Murray State University in western Kentucky, I was doing the nightly weather on the campus television station and I started a music countdown show called “Music Visions”.
The first “celebrity” that I got to meet for the show and in my life was the group, The SOS Band, which was in concert at Murray State.
You might remember them from their #3 Billboard Hot 100 hit, “Take Your Time (Do It Right)”.
PAULA ABDUL — LAS VEGAS, NEVADA — DECEMBER 2019
When I was last in Las Vegas this past December, not only did I get to see Paula Abdul’s great “Forever Your Girl” residency, I got a hug from her as she passed through the crowd during that song! 🙂
LIONEL RICHIE — LAS VEGAS — DECEMBER 2017
I met Lionel before his concert and when I said “Hello” (get it?) and extended my hand, he grabs me and says, “I’m a hugger!”
MADELEINE ALBRIGHT — First Female U. S. Secretary of State (in President Bill Clinton’s administration)
In 1999, while working as a reporter and weathercaster in Youngstown, Ohio, I interviewed Secretary of State Albright. She was so gracious and kind and, at the time, she was the highest ranking political figure I’d ever met.
I interviewed her about several things, but we focused on Serbian President Slobodan Milošević.
Once I got back to the station, I practiced saying his name over and over so that it’d roll off my tongue easily when I did my live report.
It did. But, then I flubbed an English word that followed next! 🙂
MARTHA LAYNE COLLINS — MAYFIELD, KENTUCKY — 1983
I met Collins while she was campaigning for her successful bid to become the first (and only) female Kentucky Governor.
LEANN RIMES — SALISBURY, MARYLAND — NOVEMBER 2005
LeAnn is so sweet and adorable!
RANDY TRAVIS — RHINELANDER, WISCONSIN — JULY 1996
This was an interesting meeting during Rhinelander’s “Hodag Music Festival” at my first real television job.
It was a little awkward because Randy was so kind and talkative and the whole time, his ex-wife/manager watched us like a hawk!
RHETT AKINS — LUBBOCK, TEXAS — 1997
Rhett and I share the same birthday, even though I’m older. I interviewed him a school where he was reading to students.
By the way, he’s the father of current country music superstar Thomas Rhett!
Akins scored his first Top 5 hit in 1995 with “That Ain’t My Truck”!
LEE ANN WOMACK — LUBBOCK, TEXAS — 1997
I met Lee Ann as her first two singles were moving up the country charts. While I love her music and I saw her in concert years later opening for Reba, her demeanor was very short and curt that day.
I was hoping that she was just having a bad day. However, throughout the years, while talking with others in the business, she must have had many bad days when it came to reporters and interviews!
GARY ALLAN — LUBBOCK, TEXAS — 1997
Not only was Gary dreamy and so kind in the interview early in the day, I saw him at his show that night.
After the show, he told me that got a laugh out of the fact that people stopped him in K-Mart before the show after seeing our interview on the news! 🙂
LONESTAR — LUBBOCK, TEXAS — 1997
Luckily, I interviewed Richie McDonald and Dean Sams and I didn’t have to even see close-minded homophobe John Rich!
BRAD PAISLEY — CANFIELD, OHIO — 2001
THE BAND PERRY — DAVENPORT, IOWA — AUGUST 2012
FAITH HILL — RHINELANDER, WISCONSIN — JULY 1996
TIM McGRAW — RHINELANDER, WISCONSIN — JULY 1996
PAM TILLIS — BETTENDORF, IOWA — NOVEMBER 2012
PAM TILLIS & LORRIE MORGAN — CLINTON, IOWA — JUNE 2014
I first interviewed Tracy when I was working in Lubbock, Texas. We crossed paths again when I got to introduce him at a concert at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds in Davenport, Iowa.
Both times, he was warm and down-to-earth!
NEAL McCOY — RHINELANDER, WISCONSIN — JULY 1996
EMILIO — RHINELANDER, WISCONSIN — JULY 1996
TY ENGLAND — RHINELANDER, WISCONSIN — 1996
STEPHANIE BENTLEY — RHINELANDER, WISCONSIN — 1996
DAVID KERSH — LUBBOCK, TEXAS — 1997
David was such a sweet person (and no I didn’t say “Goodnight Sweetheart” to him) and was very grateful for the television exposure.
Sadly, after a string of hits from 1996-1998, he had to take time off in 1999 for vocal strain and left the music business in 2005.
TARA DAWN HOLLAND — Miss America 1997 — LUBBOCK, TEXAS
CAROL CHANNING — LUBBOCK, TEXAS — 1997
DEE DEE MYERS — Bill Clinton’s press secretary in 1993 & 1994
C. EVERETT KOOP, Surgeon General, 1992-1999
KAY BAILEY HUTCHINSON, Republican Texas U.S. Senator & PHIL GRAMM, Republican Texas U.S. Senator
ED RENDELL, former Pennsylvania Governor
DENISE BROWN, sister of Nicole Simpson, O.J. Simpson’s murdered wife
JIM TRESSEL, former Ohio State University and Youngstown State University football coach
MOLLY SIMS — And, before any of these celebrities I’ve met through my career, I worked at a college textbook company in Murray, Kentucky, for the Sims family. Their adolescent daughter was always around in the warehouse.
Molly Sims would go on to become a model and staple on MTV.
WISHFUL THINKING!
Outside of music, I still want to meet Michael C. Hall (“Dexter”)
Gillian Anderson (“The X-Files” and “Hannibal”)
and Laura Linney (“Ozark” and “Tales of the City” series)!
Now, there are four other singers that I’ve seen in concert a total of ten times, but I’ve never gotten to meet them.
Happy Mother’s Day weekend to all of the moms and future moms out there, whether it’s children, godchildren, pets or plants!
Here’s a flashback to spring 1990 with my mother, Dessie, and my sister, Tammy. While we didn’t know it then, this would be her last spring and Mother’s Day with us! 😦
Thank you for taking the time to check out my random thoughts. If you disagree, feel free to diplomatically share yours with me!
IT’S SPRING, BUT NOT SO MUCH IN DULUTH
Okay, we’re already past the first week of May and we just experienced record May snowfall in Duluth, Minnesota.
10.6″ of snow fell Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Of that, 8.3″ fell Wednesday night making it the snowiest May 8th on record and the snowiest single day in May.
An additional 2.3″ fell on Thursday making it the snowiest May 9th on record.
This is now the snowiest May on record with 10.9″ (so far).
For this snow season, we’re up to 104.4″ in Duluth, making this the 15th snowiest winter on record and these records go back to 1884!
REALLY CLASSY PANAMA CITY BEACH!
As you know, I was miserable the year I spent in Panama City, Florida, before moving to Duluth.
While I made three amazing friends and I’m sure there were many other great people I didn’t meet, there were a lot of people there that believed every word that spews out of 45’s ugly mouth.
He was in Panama City Beach this week and while talking about immigrants and how to handle the border, a woman in the audience shouted, “Shoot them”!
He smiled and commented, “That’s only in the Panhandle, you can get away with that statement. Only in the Panhandle!”
Sadly, it’s probably true! Pathetic!
PINK SAID WHAT????
To “Entertainment Weekly” about the title track of her latest album, “Hurts 2B Human”, a duet with Khalid: “I feel like if you’re present in 2019 and not totally escaping your feelings and looking around at what’s going on in the world, especially this country, it hurts. It fucking hurts your heart. I think that’s a good thing, because that’s what creates change, and we’re starting to see change and people show up and fight back!”
“FERRARO: MY STORY”
This 1985 autobiography is by Congresswoman Geraldine A. Ferraro.
In 1984, she became the first woman to make it on a major presidential ticket when Democratic nominee Walter Mondale chose her as his running mate.
While she talked about her family, her mother raising her and her brother as a single parent after her father’s death and her early political career, the book focuses mostly on the weeks leading up to her nomination and the long and painful 1984 presidential run.
In the book, this story stood out to me and it’s very relevant today as we head into a bitter fight into the 2020 race to get Donald Trump out of office.
It was early 1983 and Ferraro was talking about which eventual Democratic candidate she’d support. She wanted someone who shared her values to be the candidate, but she would campaign for any Democrat to defeat Ronald Reagan.
Ferraro wrote, “Even an imperfect candidate would be better than Reagan — that’s how strongly I felt.”
“THE BLOOD OF ABRAHAM”
This 1985 book by my idol and former President Jimmy Carter traces the history of the Israeli-Palestinian turmoil back to biblical times when the Arabs, the Jews and the Christians all came from Abraham.
If you’re not a reader of the Bible, some of the history is overwhelming and, to me, unbelievable (Abraham fathered children when he around 100 years old and he lived to 175!).
But, this was only in the first few pages of the book.
The great, concise book (just over 200 pages) details the torturous history of Palestine that only became more daunting once Israel came into existence in 1948 and Arab Palestinians didn’t have a home or home state.
As you recall, President Carter worked night and day for almost two week at Camp David in the summer of 1978 with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachen Begin to broker a peace agreement between the Israelis and the Arabs.
Sadly, there will never be peace between the two peoples over this small piece of real estate because neither side wants to give up anything to make peace.
Carter sums up the book talking about Abraham’s blood flowing through the veins of the Arab, Jew and Christian people and the bloody history of the Middle East with this chilling line, “The spilled blood in the Holy Land cries out to God — an anguished cry for peace.”
AMERICA’S CRY FOR PEACE
It’s easy for Westerners to shake their heads over the long-standing history of violence in the Middle East. But, that’s very narrow-minded of us.
Without being too judgmental, it’s like that right now in the United States. We have strong race divisions, religious divisions, human rights divisions, and many more.
Just look at the divide between Democrats and Republicans, Hillary Clinton supporters, Bernie Sanders fans, and the ones that think that Donald Trump can do no wrong!
We’ve crossed a line from which we can’t (or will never) rebound!
I’m not a pessimist, I’m a realist!
“MADAME X TOUR”
Madonna announced her latest tour this week to support her 14th studio album, “Madame X” coming out June 14th.
And, not surprising, it’s something new for the ever-changing icon.
Instead of taking her very expensive and incredible tours to arenas and cities all over the world, she’s doing mini-residencies in smaller theaters in large cities in the U.S. and Europe.
So far, only New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago have been announced. The tickets sold out so quickly that five more shows were added in New York City and four more in Los Angeles.
While only 25 show dates are known now, she’s set to announce additional dates for Boston, Las Vegas, Miami, and Philadelphia for 2019.
Since I didn’t get to Vegas last year, I’m planning on seeing Madonna for the fifth time when the show plays at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
And, while the dates aren’t public yet, I’d venture to say that it’ll be in December since no headliner has been announced there in that month! 🙂
“KILLING EVE” UPDATE
I couldn’t take the suspense any longer. After finishing season one of the critically acclaimed BBC America series, I slowly started watching season two.
I’m four episodes in (five of the eight season two episodes have aired).
In the second episode, I almost peed myself with a line that likely went over the heads of most Americans!
Giving a power point presentation to her new team of detectives about Villanelle’s murders, Eve mentions that Bill was killed (oops, spoiler!) on a club’s dance floor and she quickly replies:
“MURDER ON THE DANCEFLOOR”
“Murder on the Dance Floor” by Sophie Ellis Bextor was a minor dance club hit here in the U.S. in the early 2000s, yet it hit the Top Ten in, at least, 18 countries worldwide.
I fell in love with this song at Roscoe’s when I moved back to Chicago in 2002.
It’s from her fantastic debut album, “Read My Lips”.
MARIAH CHRISTMAS EARLY!
While Christmas is still more than seven months away, Mariah Carey recently announced that she’ll be performing her holidays standards again in Las Vegas.
Her “All I Want For Christmas Is You” will be returning to the Colosseum at Caesars Palace for five shows November 22-30, 2019.
Trust me, this is a phenomenal show! I saw a version of it in December 2017 in Vegas.
This is what I wrote about it on my return, “She was absolutely gorgeous and flawless and her voice was crisp and angelic. The sets were magical and stunning and for just over 90 minutes, all my unhappiness was a distant memory!”
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
Now that May is here and the weather will start being nice on a regular basis (I hope), I’m ready to get out more and enjoy life.
So, I have just a few more blogs to share with you before I go on hiatus.
Thank you for checking out my random thoughts. Feel free to share your thoughts about what I’m talking about and if we disagree, that’s fine. Just do it diplomatically!
GET VACCINATED!
I know I probably have friends that don’t believe in vaccinating their children, but this is a subject where we sorely disagree.
If you don’t vaccinate, I’m sure you have your reasons.
I think people, of any age, should be up to date on their shots to help prevent the spread of contagions!
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tweeted this on Monday!
KENT STATE MASSACRE
This weekend marks the 49th anniversary of the Kent State Massacre!
As you recall, the Ohio National Guard opened fire on the campus and the shootings left four students dead.
In May 2000, I was a reporter in Mansfield, Ohio, about 75 miles away from Kent State University and I got to cover the 30th anniversary of the shooting spree.
It was very eerie and I can’t believe that next year will be 50 years!
Here is the report that I filed in 2000. My apologies for the quality since this was recorded on my phone from TV and VHS!
The story is still great!
2019 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS
The 2019 Billboard Music Awards were amazing! It was a total throwback for me to the fun 1980s American Music Awards — so many great, exciting visual performances!
Madonna & Maluma, Taylor & Brendon Urie, Mariah Carey, Ciara, Paula Abdul and The Jonas Brothers rocked Las Vegas and the MGM Grand, along with Halsey and Kelly Clarkson (both performances)!!!
I’m still crushing on Brendon!
“KILLING EVE”
We’re midway through the eight-episode second season of BBC America’s “Killing Eve”.
I just finished binge watching the first season’s eight episodes and finally brought myself to start watching the second season.
After the shocking season one finale, I hesitated to start this season because I know I’ll have to wait for the next four episodes to air on television and then wait another year for the third season!
The show is absolutely incredible!
Sandra Oh, who won Best Actress awards in a drama from the Critics’ Choice Television Awards and the Golden Globes, is amazing, as Eve Polastri, an MI5 officer in London.
And, every time that Jodie Comer, who plays psychopathic, hired assassin Villanelle, is on screen, I’m mesmerized!
And, of course, I’m crushing on Sean Delaney, who plays Kenny Stowton, an ex-hacker who has been recruited by Eve in her search for Villanelle!
“SECOND ACT”
I love Jennifer Lopez and I’m hoping to see her in concert this summer.
Until then, you can catch her on this hit from last winter. The $16 million comedy brought in $72.3 million in theaters.
Lopez plays Maya Vargas, an assistant manager at a Value Shop store, who is ready for a big promotion after working there for 15 years.
She’s passed over because she doesn’t have a college degree.
On her birthday, she makes a wish that is far-fetched. But, through the magic of the internet and social media, things start happening for Maya, but it’s based on a lie!
Leah Remini is hilarious and sexy Milo Ventimiglia (“This Is Us”) plays Lopez’s boyfriend.
Okay, the movie is cute, sexy, and funny, but it’s not totally realistic. But, that’s why we watch some movies!
GRADE: B+
“ON THE BASIS OF SEX”
This movie is based on the life of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
It covers her life from her college years, when not too many women were enrolled at Harvard Law School, to her trying her first big case.
Felicity Jones (“The Theory of Everything”) plays Bader and dreamy Armie Hammer (“Call Me By Your Name”) plays her husband, Martin Ginsburg.
It’s a well told story and both actors are great, so I recommend it. However, I’d highly suggest that you watch the superior “RBG” instead or in addition to “On The Basis of Sex”.
GRADE: B
“RBG”
In September 2018, I wrote, “This superb 97-minute feature directed by Betsy West and Julie Cohen documents the career of 85-year-old Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.”
GRADE: A
“SANTA CLARITA DIET” CANCELLED
I haven’t gotten around to watching the third season of this Netflix comedy.
I guess I should laugh and cherish each episode since it was cancelled!
Where will I watch Timothy Olyphant now?
SPECTRUM “ON DEMAND”
My cable company, Spectrum, is pretty much like any other cable company, most notably, Mediacom — very expensive and very unreliable.
While recently on a customer service call, I was told that “On Demand” is free.
I politely told the agent that while Spectrum may consider it “free” and there may not be a line on my bill that charges me for “On Demand”, when I pay them $140.40 a month, when I turn on the television to watch something on cable, it’s not free!
I was calling because there was a missing episode in season three of “Veep” and there are four missing episodes scattered about in seasons three and four of “Younger”!
“YOUNGER”
Speaking of… I’ve been trying to binge watch the TV Land series, “Younger” for over a year now.
I watched season one last spring while I was still in Panama City. When I got to Duluth, Minnesota, seasons two through four were not available “On Demand”, yet I did DVR season five.
Now “On Demand”, all five seasons are available with random missing or unavailable episodes.
I’m just finished season four and for the missing episodes, I just read the Wikipedia episode synopsis and ventured on. 😦
“Younger” is from creator and producer Darren Star, who brought us the classics “Beverly Hills, 90120”, “Melrose Place” and “Sex and the City”.
It stars Sutton Foster, as Liza, a 40-year-old recently separated mother of a teenager, who’s trying to jump start her once thriving career. She tries to get a job in publishing, but she realizes the industry is obsessed with much younger employees!
Her roommate and best friend, Maggie (Debi Mazar), gives her a makeover and she lands a job as a “26-year-old” and works for Diana Trout (a hilarious Miriam Shor) and alongside Kelsey Peters (Hilary Duff).
She meets and falls for young, inked, and insanely sexy Josh (Nico Tortorella), a tattoo artist, who thinks Liza is around his age, mid-20s!
I’ve crushed on Tortorella since he was on the first season of Fox’s “The Following”.
On ‘Younger”, the bisexual/genderfluid actor is absolutely stunning!
And, the sexiness doesn’t end with Tortorella. There’s also Peter Hermann (Charles) and Dan Amboyer (Thad).
Amboyer (above) came out as gay in 2017 and announced he had married his long-term partner.
And, my new hottie in seasons three and four is Ben Rappaport!
Season six debuts on June 12, 2019, on TV Land.
“ME”
Taylor Swift is back and she seems happy after the awesome, darker 2017 “Reputation” album.
This time she’s teaming up with sexy Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco.
Wonder if there’s going to be a duet with The Dixie Chicks on the new album?
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
