Random Friday Thoughts — January 30, 2026

While I shared a few blogs last fall and early this winter, the last “Random Friday Thoughts” was on September 5, 2025!

Wow, that’s almost five months ago. Let’s change that.

QUIET FIVE MONTHS

Real life — a move, unpacking and decorating, starting a new job, and my sister’s death have all kept me busy and kept me from sharing my random thoughts on Fridays.

Plus, there’s not a lot of positive things going on in the country. And, what is happening, I can’t be open and honest about. Back when I started my blog in 2012 and over the next several years, I was much more open about politics and things that were happening in the country and the world.

But, I don’t feel that I have that luxury anymore being a public figure — in today’s political climate. I don’t want to be cancelled (what was formerly called “Dixie Chicked”) or have a cult come after me!

MUCH-NEEDED GETAWAY

Last week, Pug Xanadu and I took a road trip to Murray, Kentucky, to visit two of my favorite cousins.

Dennis, a dear friend and one of the longest friendships in my life, drove down to have lunch with us.

I love eating at Sirloin Stockade when I’m in Murray and we all paid tribute to Tammy with our desserts. Okay, ours weren’t as boring as her sundae from December 2021 when we were there!

Xanadu and I are ready to go back!

STILL MISSING MY IDOL

A friend recently sent me a link of Paula Deen visiting President Jimmy Carter in Plains, Georgia, for a segment of her show, “Paula’s Home Cooking” in 2006.

I watched the 22-minute show and loved it. I also want to make that very unhealthy Gorilla Bread.

THIS!

President Jimmy Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 in Oslo, Norway.

Three other presidents have been awarded the prize: Theodore Roosevelt (1906), Woodrow Wilson (1919), and Barack Obama (2009).

Vice President Al Gore was also awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for his efforts to spread knowledge about climate change.

RE-GIFTING AFTER THE HOLIDAYS

This has been my absolute favorite, so far.

“HEATED RIVALRY”

The absolute best and most buzzed about series on television is the gay hockey series, “Heated Rivalry” on HBO Max in the U.S. Yes, I said “gay” and I said “most buzzed about series”. And, it’s not just “the gays”. It’s women, middle America, and even Peoria!

It’s the first series in God knows how long (if ever) that I wanted to start watching again as soon as I finished it.

I can’t believe how much straight America is fawning over the series and Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie).

My favorite character is Scott Hunter and the actor, Francois Arnaud, is so dreamy! And, “Kip” Grady (Robbie G.K.) is so adorable!

While I know the country and the world is full of homophobes and idiots that have no shame in proving that, I’m pleasantly surprised at how the love story is going over and playing in middle America.

Plus, the sex scenes are very hot and people are eating it up!

I saw this post and it cracked me up. It suggested scenes to skip past if you’re watching with your parents.

I looked at it as a guide to the scenes to fast forward to. 🙂

Here’s the trailer and season two is coming!

GRADE: A

“GAME CHANGERS” (THE BOOK SERIES)

I’m now going to read Rachel Reid’s six books the series is based on.

I’m on the list for the first two books through the Moline Public Library. I was 8th in line for the first book and 24th in line for the second book! (I’ve now moved up to 3rd and 18th!)

Someone wants to read them!

The seventh book, “Unrivaled”, which focuses again on Shane and Ilya, is due September 29, 2026.

JENNIFER LOPEZ

I’m a huge fan of J Lo and I still want to see her in concert one day, preferably, in Las Vegas.

With that being said, this snarky comment still cracked me up!

“MEAN GIRLS”

Late last fall, a woman was being “bitchy” (or “cunty” to the British) on my work page, so I posted a photo from “Mean Girls” and explained the situation to her.

A co-worker saw it and asked me about the movie and I said, “I’ve never seen it”. He left the DVD in the weather center for me and I finally watched the 2004 classic and loved it!

I was shocked at how many young stars were in it.

Now, I have to watch the other romantic classic I’ve never seen, “The Princess Bride”!

JONATHAN BENNETT

One of the stars of “Mean Girls” I was surprised to see looking so freaking young and adorable was Jonathan Bennett.

Well, I was four years late to this party below (an Insta post by Bennett that was quickly deleted), but I enjoyed it nevertheless!

Coffee, anyone?

MY FAVORITE SONG RIGHT NOW

The trip back to Kentucky last week gave me a chance to hear my Sirius XM more than the 10-minute drive to work and back.

My favorite song right now is “Cry For You” from the Grammy Award-nominated EDM duo, Sidepiece.

ONE OF THE LAST BOOK I READ

Since moving to the Quad Cities in early November, the only walks I’ve done are with Miss Xanadu and a few on my own — but, no reading. I haven’t read a book since leaving Central Illinois.

One of the last intriguing books I read was Jeffrey Toobin’s 2023 book, “Homegrown: Timothy McVeigh and the Rise of Right-Wing Extremism”.

He pointed out an interesting fact: Before the 9/11 terrorist attack in 2001, the Oklahoma City bombing was incorrectly reported as “the deadliest terrorist assault on U.S. soil”.

And, the FBI, in its official history, calls it “the deadliest act of homegrown terrorism in U.S. history.” Neither are correct. There was an even deadlier attack and it was in Oklahoma, too.

In June 1921, a racist white mob (pogrom) killed about 300 Black residents in Tulsa’s Greenwood neighborhood!

After the Oklahoma City bombing, the Tulsa race massacre was hardly mentioned.

THAT’S IT

With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!

Anthony

Major Winter Storm Possible with Heavy Snow & Ice

UPDATE: Wednesday, January 21, 2026 — 7:41 a.m.

A “Winter Storm Watch” is now in effect for western Kentucky, southern Illinois, southeast Missouri, and a large part of Tennessee late Friday night through Sunday morning.

Moderate to heavy snow is looking very likely in those areas I just mentioned with six inches or more of snow possible. Heavier snow is likely across the southern Plains.

The “Winter Storm Watch” extends across the South all the way back to Texas and New Mexico.

ORIGINAL POST: Tuesday, January 20, 2026

While it’s still days out, a major winter storm threatens the South with the potential for heavy snow and ice.

This is a situation where if you live there or are traveling that way, you need to keep up on the latest forecast.

Remember that computer models update all day and all night. There are hundreds of models, so I’m focusing this update on two of the most commonly used ones, the American model (GFS) and the European model (ECMWF).

When the models disagree in the placement of a storm system or heavy snow and ice, confidence in the forecast is lower. When they agree, the forecast confidence is higher.

In a perfect winter storm situation, both models are close together or agree.

Here are the latest forecast models for the weekend snowstorm.

THE BIG TAKE AWAY THIS MORNING: The model spread is closer today than it was Monday morning, but there’s still a great deal of disagreement.

The American model predicts light snow will begin Saturday morning across the Mid-South and South and become heavier (darker blue) in the afternoon and at night.

A mix of snow and ice is in purple.

The American model also has the storm exiting southern Illinois, southeast Missouri, western Kentucky, and western Tennessee faster Sunday morning.

THIS FORECAST WOULD PRODUCE A FEW INCHES OF SNOW FOR THOSE AREAS.

Here is the European model depiction for the same time period above.

It shows the light snow holding off until Saturday afternoon, but notice the blues get darker Saturday night into Sunday morning indicating heavier snow. Also, the European model has the snow lasting in the south until Sunday night!

THIS FORECAST WOULD PRODUCE HEAVY SNOW — POSSIBLY 6″ OR MORE!!!

CENTRAL ILLINOIS & THE QUAD CITIES

If you’re from the South or the Mid-South, you’re focused on the heavy snow across Kentucky, Tennessee, southeast Missouri and southern Illinois, and the ice across the south.

However, if the European model is correct, accumulating snow will make its way into Central Illinois Saturday night into Sunday with light to moderate snow all the way north into the Quad Cities.

Also, for Central Illinois and the Quad Cities, the European model has the snow lasting into Monday!

FINAL THOUGHTS — FOUR DAYS OUT

This could turn out to be a huge snow and ice maker for the South. The models will come together closer as we near the weekend and the confidence in the forecast (snow and ice totals) will be much higher.

For now, keep up on the latest forecast.

And, ALWAYS TRUST LOCAL METEOROLOGISTS OVER WEATHER APPS AND SOCIAL MEDIA SCARE TACTICS!

Meteorologist Anthony Peoples

2025: My Favorite Movies

I hope the new year is off to a great start for you and winter isn’t being too brutal in your neck of the woods. Since it’s January, it’s time for me to post my favorite movies I watched last year. I’ve been doing this since 2010.

It’s now been over three years since I last went to a movie theater. It was “Bros” in the fall of 2022.

Jon M. Chu, if you’d stop being “Wicked” and do the sequel to “Crazy Rich Asians”, I’d have my large popcorn and large Coke Zero and be front and center!

Before I share my 20 favorite movies of 2025, my three favorites of 2023 were #3 “Saltburn”, #2 “Red, White & Royal Blue”, and “The Menu” was #1. I just watched it again recently.

And, in 2024, my favorites were: #3 “Challengers”, #2 “Society of the Snow”, and at the top, #1, “All of Us Strangers”.

Now, let’s kick off the countdown!

“THE MONKEY” (Box office: $68.9 million)

“LOCKED” (Box office: $4.1 million)

“THE ORDER” (Box office: $2.3 million)

“CONCLAVE” (Box office:$128.0 million)

“MATERIALISTS” (Box office: $108.0 million)

“BABYGIRL” (Box office: $64.7 million)

“THE SUBSTANCE” (Box office: $80.0 million)

“WICKED” (Box office: $758.8 million)

“WEAPONS” (Box office: $269.1 million)

“THE GROOMSMEN SECOND CHANCES” (Box office: –)

Before we get to my ten favorites I saw in 2025, here were my favorites since I started posting them back in 2010!

2022 “House of Gucci”; 2021 “Promising Young Woman”; 2020 “Parasite”; 2019 “The Farewell”; 2018 “Call Me By Your Name”; 2017 “Lion”; 2016 “Goodnight Mommy”; 2015 “Lilting”; 2014 “Bridegroom”; 2013 “Out in the Dark”; 2012 “Weekend”; 2011 “Children of God”; and 2010 “The Kids Are All Right”. 

“THE ROSES” (Box office: $52.0 million)

“A VERY JONAS CHRISTMAS” (Box office: –)

“PAST LIVES” (Box office: $42.7 million)

“SEPTEMBER 5” (Box office: $8.2 million)

“THE LAST SHOWGIRL” (Box office: $7.1 million)

Before we get to my favorite five, here is the ABSOLUTE WORST movie I watched in 2025.

And, the worst movie I watched that is critically acclaimed and could sweep the award season is Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo Di Caprio’s “One Battle After Another”!

I saw six other movies other than the 20 in the countdown and the two worst ones, but they don’t need to be mentioned. 🙂

Now, back to the countdown.

“SINNERS” (Box office: $368.3 million)

“ANORA” (Box office: $58.2 million)

“JUROR #2” (Box office: $27.0 million)

“ANOTHER SIMPLE FAVOR” (Box office: –)

“A NICE INDIAN BOY” (Box office: $902,453)

How many did you see?

Anthony

2026: Welcome and Let’s Do This

Happy New Year! We’re one-quarter of the way done with this century and I’m looking forward to the year ahead.

Politicos are ready for the November midterm elections. Sports enthusiasts are ready for the Super Bowl, March Madness, the NBA playoffs, Wimbledon, or the World Series.

I’m ready for a new and improved life. I’m ready to walk the walk and talk the talk!

MY NEW PHILOSOPHY FOR 2026

Between movies or episodes of whatever series I’m binge-watching, I fall into the YouTube “rabbit hole” of Kylie Minogue, ’80s dance music, slot machine bonus rounds, etc.

I came across this video and I’m totally mesmerized.

I guess Manny Patel has been doing these forever, but “I Just Wanna Fuckin’ Dance 2026” with Alison Jiear is fuckin’ incredible!

2025, GOOD RIDDENCE

The last year was rather trying and one I’d just as well forget.

A move to a new apartment in March turned into hell (okay, it felt like it inside all summer).

A tyrant boss made me re-think my life and leave Central Illinois and my job after 5.5 years. In retrospective, thank you so much! I’m happy and he’s someone else’s problem now!

That led to another move not just across town, but hours away.

And, days before Christmas, I lost my my sister and my best friend, Tammy, at the age of 59.

I’m ready for a new beginning.

QUAD CITIES 2.0

I made the first step toward that by moving back to the Quad Cities this past November. I’m now back at my old station, WHBF-4 and Fox 18.

Here’s how I summed up my first six weeks on the air to someone: “I’ve been here six weeks and it feels like six months with four straight hours of news instead of two and two hours each with two different co-anchors.”

Xanadu and I are settled into our new apartment.

She already has a new bestie, Phineas — a pug one year old than her.

Miss Xanadu turned three a couple of days before New Year’s Eve!

She and I celebrated on the actual day and that weekend, she invited Phineas and his brother George over for a grumble (a real word for three of more pugs in a group)!

We enjoyed our feast, too.

SOCIALIZING MORE

I’m making it a point to get out more.

Weeks into the move back to the Quad Cities, I went to a Christmas fundraiser premiere party and the next Friday, I saw country superstar Clint Black in concert.

And, the weekend before Christmas, I attended a holiday party at a real castle!

It was festive and gay!

CONCERTS

In last year’s look ahead, I was highly anticipating seeing Kylie Minogue in Chicago in April and it was a spectacular show. (And, that’s how close she walked by me!)

This year, I can’t wait for the concert DVD to relive it.

That fulfilled my concert bucket list after seeing Reba (13 times), Madonna (four times), New Kids on the Block (three times), Lady Gaga and the Chicks twice, and Patty Loveless, Olivia Newton-John, Helen Reddy, and Mariah Carey once.

I’m excited for the new year ahead. I’d still love to Daryl Hall & John Oates (if they ever play together again), Culture Club, Toni Braxton, and Vanessa Williams in a Christmas show!

THINGS THAT EXCITE ME FOR 2026

As I mentioned above, clearly the DVD to Kylie Minogue’s “Tension Tour” is at the top of my list.

“DEXTER: RESURRECTION”

Also, in February 2026, I can’t wait to see and add the latest season of “Dexter” to my collection.

Yes, I love Michael C. Hall. Or, do I really love Dexter Morgan?

If it’s Dexter Morgan I love, I definitely want to stay on his good side!

And, there’s season 5 of “Hacks” arriving this year.

I can’t get enough of Jean Smart as Debra Vance and Hannah Einbinder as Ava Daniels.

Also, the long-awaited sequel to “Red, White & Royal Blue”! It’s being shot right now!

Plus, season two of “Heated Rivalry”, but that’ll likely in 2027!

And, either in 2026 or 2027, a sequel is coming to one of my all-time favorite comedies — a box office bomb, but now a cult favorite!

Yes, “Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion”!

And, since I shared that GIF — IYKYK — the biggest music event I’m looking forward to in 2026 is Madonna’s sequel to the her 2005 masterpiece and my second favorite Madonna album, “Confessions on a Dance Floor”!

I’ve seen Madonna in concert four times and the “Confessions Tour” was the first one.

That Chicago show was mind-blowing from the moment she was lowered onto the stage in a giant mirrored disco ball and it opened!

And, then this iconic visual (scandalous?) performance of “Live To Tell”!

My favorite Madonna show was the “MDNA Tour”, which I saw on my birthday in 2012, in Las Vegas!

DATING?

Yes, the thought is still alive after alluding me for nine years. I talked to Santa and he wasn’t too optimistic.

However, he thinks the prospects are better in the Quad Cities than Decatur!

TOTALLY RANDOM THOUGHT

Totally random thought, but it ties in… In February 2025, I wrote about LGBTQ actors playing lead straight roles, “I totally bought my lesbian crush Jodie Foster as a straight woman (?) in “The Silence of the Lambs” and in “True Detective: Night Country“.

But, the point, I’m getting to is this. I also wrote: “And, I totally buy my (gay) dreamboat Jonathan Bailey as a straight man on “Bridgerton”. However, I’m totally jealous it’s not me he’s in love with and making out with!”

Well, I was onto something. “People” named him “Sexiest Man Alive” in the fall. 🙂

Jonathan, see topic above — “DATING?”! 🙂

And, if Jonathan is busy or unavailable, Aaron Tveit, give me a call!

Nevermind, he’s married!

There’s enough of them [married men] in the single life “dating” pool already!

Ironically, both Bailey and Tveit have both played Fiyero Tigelaar in “Wicked”!

Here he is for his talent and not looks (well, not entirely)!

MY FAVORITE SONGS OF 2025

Back in the day, I used to share countdowns of my favorite albums, songs, and movies. I only do movies now.

However, this year, here are my eleven favorite songs (that many of you likely didn’t hear)!

“I’M GOING OUT” (Steve Aoki, Sam Feldt, XANDRA, Nile Rodgers & Zak Abel)

“LAST NIGHT I DREAMT I FELL IN LOVE” (Alok & Kylie Minogue)

“SAVE MY LOVE” (Marshmello, Ellie Goulding, & AVAION)

“NO ONE ELSE” (Two Friends & Corbyn Besson)

“I WANNA GO” (Britney Spears — John Summit Remix)

“TASTE OF YOUR TONGUE” (Elephante featuring babyidontlikeyou)

“FANCY $HIT” (CID x Taylr Renee)

“INTO THE BLUE” (Will Sass featuring Kamille)

“BLESSINGS” (Calvin Harris & Clementine Douglas)

“XMAS” (Kylie Minogue)

***Seriously, this one is amazing if you didn’t catch it this holiday season. Take a listen!***

“NO BROKE BOYS” (Disco Lines & Tinashe)

And, she’s from Kentucky!

Thank you for traveling along with me on this journey called “life”!

Anthony