Christmas is my favorite time of the year. This year, I put my tree and decorations up earlier than usual. I really needed the beauty of the sparkling lights and the sounds of Christmas music to get me through my toughest year since my mother died 27 years ago!
After eight years together, Ray and I decided to go our separate ways earlier in the year.
It wasn’t just one thing that brought us to this conclusion. The outcome of the 2016 election was very difficult for me and it took its toll on us. (I’m still not at peace with it!) Also, it turns out I was a better dad to a golden retriever than his teenage daughter. And, Ray realized he wasn’t happy some time ago, but he didn’t address it.
So, I took a morning meteorologist position in Panama City, Florida. I still love what I do, but with the changes in my personal life and the move, it hasn’t been easy. I’m miserable and it’s not just because of the split. I miss my sister, my friends, my koi/fish pond, and the snow in the Midwest!
With that being said, life is too short to feel this way and if things don’t change soon, I’ll make a change for myself and not just accept a “Band-Aid” to cover something that needs more attention – my happiness.
Enough with the “Hard Candy Christmas”, let’s make it a “Holly Jolly Christmas”! There were fun things in 2017!
Meeting my childhood idol was the highlight of my move.
In July, I drove hours through the Southern “backwoods” to Plains, Georgia, and enjoyed a church sermon from President Jimmy Carter.
Not only did I get my picture taken with him and his wonderful wife, Rosalynn, but they sent me an autographed picture of us!
Since paying bills isn’t the only reason I work, I traveled, too!
You know how much I love Las Vegas. In March, I saw Britney Spears for the second time.
And, I caught the Australian Bee Gees, a cover band.
Of course, splurging on buffets is a huge draw for me. I’ve now made the scrumptious Wicked Spoon at the Cosmopolitan and the incredibly delicious Spice Market Buffet at Planet Hollywood part of my Vegas tradition!
In August, Ray and I traveled to Scandinavia together since we had already booked and paid for the trip. Copenhagen, Denmark was gorgeous and Norway was beautiful, too (I loved Bergen and Oslo and seeing snow on Sognefjord (“King of the Fjords”). We also spent one night in Gothenburg, Sweden.
My sister, Tammy, is still in the Quad Cities. She and her boyfriend, Gerald, came down for a week to visit in October.
Just after she got home, her family expanded in October with the birth of twin grandsons. Now, her two granddaughters are big sisters.
I hope life is treating you well and that you have so much to be thankful for — not just at the holidays, but every day. With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it! Here’s wishing us great health and happiness in 2018 as we travel down this road of life!
“May hope and faith conquer fear and hate this Christmas!”
While I compile my “best of” lists of movies, songs, and albums of 2017 that people don’t look at other than me, I’m down to my last two “Random Friday Thoughts” of the year.
Thank you always for taking the time to check out what I’m thinking about weekly (or whenever I blog).
FORGIVENESS
What are your thoughts on forgiving people and moving on?
I just read the most amazing “Time” magazine article, “Murder, Race And Mercy: Stories from Charleston” by David Von Drehle with Jay Newton-Small and Maya Rhodan.
It introduced us to the nine people killed (ages 26 to 87) at the Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston, South Carolina, on a June night in 2015.
We also got to know the other five people at the church that night (three in the room with the shooter) and two others in a different part of the church.
It’s a tragedy that not only ripped apart the lives of the families and loved ones of those in the church that night, but also the basic fabric of “love thy neighbor” in that community and across America. It proved, once again, that hatred and ignorance is alive in this country.
In just about a minute-and-a-half, investigators say 77 bullets were fired, some at point blank. The self-proclaimed white supremacist shooter went to the church that night with one purpose — to kill black church goers — even sitting through a Bible study lesson before opening fire when the group started praying!
Less than two days later, at the shooter’s first court appearance (via a television monitor), family members got to tell him what they were thinking.
One daughter of 70-year-old victim Ethel Lance told him, “I forgive you. You took something very precious away from me. I will never get to talk to her ever again — but I forgive you, and have mercy on your soul… if God forgives you, I forgive you.”
However, her sister, a reverend, says “I understand that forgiveness is a process. Some people can automatically forgive, but I’m not there yet. And I know that God is not going to look at me any differently because I haven’t forgiven *** yet.” (***She spoke the shooter’s name, which I refuse to use in the cases of mass shootings. Many want fame and I’ll not give in to that by sharing their names!)
That disagreement drove the sisters apart.
So, what are you thoughts? Could you forgive that person so easily?
I know it wasn’t my family that was killed, but it was my fellow man and it was done out of hatred. It may not be Christian, but I hope he’s executed sooner rather than later.
In January 2017, he was formally sentenced to death by lethal injection and in the spring of this year, he was transferred to a maximum-security prison in Indiana awaiting his execution.
Speaking of executions: the most notable person to be executed at this prison (June 2011) was the man behind the Oklahoma City bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in 1995 that killed 168 people and hurt more than 600 others.
If you’d like to read the compelling, original “Time” article, here’s the link:
Ever since I first wrote about the Pulse Nightclub massacre in the summer of 2016, I vowed that as long as I blog, I’ll remember the victims.
I especially remember 32-year-old Christopher “Drew” Leinonen and his 22-year-old boyfriend Juan Guerrero.
In June 2016, here’s what I wrote: “Look at the caption taken from this Instagram photo of the men with their families, “Christmas was perfect”. This Christmas won’t be perfect for the grieving families.”
Christopher and Juan are still not forgotten this Christmas!
“HOUSE OF CARDS”
Netflix’s hit series will return in 2018 for the sixth and final season with eight episodes.
Kevin Spacey is out and Robin Wright will lead the cast.
Madam President Claire Underwood, we’re ready for you to lead in 2018!
GLUTTONS
Disclaimer: I love buffets and I sample a lot of food when I indulge — especially desserts. However, I’ve really cut back on how many I eat.
Second Disclaimer: At the holidays, I love to sample finger foods and baked treats every chances I get!
However, it blows my mind when I see the atrocious food offerings that restaurants and sports venues offer on their menus or free to customers that can finish in a certain amount of time.
In 2014, at Tampa Bay Rays Tropicana Stadium, you could get this four-pound, $30 heart attack waiting to happen — eight patties plus one-half pound of bacon (32 slices). It’s also served with a pound of fries!
If you finished it, you won two free tickets to a future Rays game and a commemorative t-shirt!
Then there’s the Denny’s Beer Barrel Pub in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, features a 6-pound “bruiser” burger.
Or, what about the Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, Texas, which features a 72-ounce steak — that’s almost a 5-pound steak!!!!!!!!
Seriously, am I the only one that thinks this is sad and gross? And, to think those animals were partly raised and slaughtered just to make gluttons out of Americans!
I gave up beef years ago and I’m seriously thinking of making a few other animal groups safe, too!
Happier thoughts!
MORE TURMOIL FROM THE WHITE HOUSE
Oops!
Food for thought: Hillary Clinton won the popular vote in all five of her campaigns! Sadly, more votes doesn’t always equal win!
It never occurred to me or I didn’t remember that she even had more votes than Barack Obama in 2008.
WALMART PULLS T-SHIRTS
Walmart is now longer offering a hateful t-shirt that was popular during the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
The back of the shirt read, “Rope. Tree. Journalist. SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED”!
The Radio Television Digital News Director Association (RTDNA) convinced the retailer to drop the shirt you could order online through a third party.
As you can see from the photo, it was popular among some of one candidate’s followers!
BRITNEY SPEARS’ CHRISTMAS TREE
“A DOG’S PURPOSE”
DREADFUL & DEPRESSING!
I was given this movie back in May, but didn’t feel inclined to watch it until this past weekend.
The premise is that a dog comes into our lives for a reason and then they die and come back into someone’s else’s life.
After a puppy is euthanized, a golden retriever dies, and then a dog is adopted and abandoned in a white trash front yard on a chain, I had all I could take. 73 minutes into the movie, I ejected it and didn’t finish it.
The only highlight in the movie was discovering the sexy KJ Apa, the 20-year-old New Zealand actor (Archie on the CW’s “Riverdale”).
Interesting enough, it was a box office smash bringing in about $196 million in the U.S. alone and a sequel is planned!
No thanks!
GRADE: D
PERFECT TIME TO REMEMBER MY GOLDEN!
And, how about Miss ABBA and Mr. Panda with Ms. Santa!
“GOOD TIME”
I never saw any of the “Twilight” movies or any of Robert Pattinson’s movies.
I took a chance on the crime drama “Good Time” and I was very impressed with his acting.
He plays “Connie”, a man who takes care of his mentally challenged, younger adult brother.
Connie decides they’re going to rob a bank of $65,000, and it appears they get away with it. However, a dye pack is slipped into the money bag, which explodes in the getaway car.
That’s when police start catch up with them. One is taken to jail and the other tries to spring his brother for the rest of the movie.
It’s nominated for five Film Independent Spirit Awards — for Best Male Lead (Pattison), Best Supporting Male (Benny Safdie), Best Supporting Female (Taliah Lennice Webster), Best Director (Benny & Josh Safdie), Best Editing, and Best Cinematography.
GRADE: B
‘THE WALKING DEAD”
I made it to the 90-minute winter finale, which airs Sunday, December 10th.
The eighth season of “The Walking Dead” is still on life support with me — I’m watching it episode by episode and I keep saying that the next one will be my last.
The series is now down to its lowest ratings since the end of season two, when ratings were still climbing!
Only 7.47 million people watched last week’s episode compared to the 17.03 million that watched the season seven premiere!
I’ll admit after a dismal season, I did like episode five that focused mostly on Negan and Father Gabriel trapped in a trailer surrounded by walkers!
Also, for years now, I’ve been hoping that a certain youngster would meet an untimely death.
In episode six, it almost happened and I was freaking out. I’ve changed my mind now since he’s become more human and mature!
And, I hope to see more of Siddiq (Avi Nash), the man that Rick shot at and Carl befriended with food and water.
Also, Callan McAuliffe, who plays Dillon, a Savior, is a nice, cute addition.
SHANIA LOOKED AMAZING!
Shania Twain made a wintry entrance and looked and sounded amazing at her last performance of 2017 — the Grey Cup halftime show.
OXYMORON
This was parked outside my apartment building. So, is this an “oxymoron” or just a moron?
Strike that! It’s the holidays. It’s an oxymoron!
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
I hope you’re getting into the holiday spirit. I am, but I’m also ready for this dreadful year to end and start anew in 2018.
While I’m glad the upcoming royal wedding is giving us a slight breather from mass shootings and the shameful cesspool of sexual misconduct in Hollywood, television news, and politics, I’m already over the talk of Prince Harry and his actress fiancee. *
With this comment, you can tell that starting anew and positive is still a month away. 🙂
* Oops, I spoke too soon. After I wrote that paragraph earlier in the week, Matt Lauer was fired from “The Today Show”!
Thank you for taking the time to check out my “Random Friday Thoughts”!
“WORLD AIDS DAY”
December 1st is “World AIDS Day”.
It was started in 1988 to raise awareness about the spread of HIV and the AIDS pandemic.
While we now have medications, when that taken properly, that allow those living with HIV to live a long, full life, that wasn’t always the case.
We still have a world of people that are still not being treated for HIV and AIDS because of the cost of medication and the fact that many in this country and the world don’t even know they’re infected with HIV.
People, if you’re sexually active (even in a relationship), get tested!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HIV-POSITIVE & UNDETECTABLE
Great news coming in the fight against the spread of HIV.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now says that HIV-positive people that are being treated and with undetectable viral loads CANNOT spread the HIV virus to others.
This is fantastic news in the fight against HIV and for serodiscordant couples — where one is HIV-positive and one is HIV-negative.
While this is a huge step forward, people still need to be aware of the other sexually transmitted infections out there that are rampant in both the LGBT and straight communities!
THANKING PRESIDENT BUSH
While I agreed with a few things that President George W. Bush did as Texas Governor when I lived in Lubbock in 1997, we were usually at odds in our thinking process, especially when he was Commander-in-Chief.
One of the things I’m most proud of came in the early part of his presidency.
In his 2003 State of the Union message, President Bush committed $15 billion (that’s billions with a “B”) to fight AIDS in Africa in what would be knows as PEPFAR (the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief).
It’s still one of the biggest programs ever to fight a single disease by any country.
Thank you again, President Bush!
By the way, I still love former First Lady Laura Bush and I’d love to meet President and Mrs. Bush one day to chat!
LOVE ANA’S HONESTY!
If you’re not familiar with Ana Navarro, she’s a Republican strategist and political commentator who’s not afraid to be honest — she doesn’t care what political party!
CONGRATS REBA!
Congratulations to Reba McEntire on the Grammys nomination for her first gospel album, “Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope”!
It earned a nomination in the BEST ROOTS GOSPEL ALBUM category.
While “Pray To God” didn’t get nominated, Reba is getting country radio airplay for the latest single, “God and My Girlfriends”!
It debuted on the Billboard Country Airplay chart at #54 and is expected to move up some week!
“CALL ME BY YOUR NAME”
“Call Me By Your Name”, the critically-acclaimed LGBT love story, is the movie that I most want to see. But, it won’t be until early 2018 that I’ll get that chance since it’s only in limited release now.
However, it opened in four theaters last weekend and grossed an eye-opening $103,233 per screen average.
That was the biggest per screen average of 2017 and it was good enough to debut at #14 for the weekend ($412,932) — again, in just 4 theaters!!!
“BEACH RATS”
While I await the wide release of “Call Me By Your Name”, I checked out “Beach Rats”, a movie that’s getting a lot of buzz, too.
It’s nominated for two Film Independent Spirit Awards — for Best Male Lead (Harris Dickinson) and Best Cinematography.
21-year-old East London newcomer Dickinson plays Frankie, a young man wasting away his summer hanging out with his friends on the Brooklyn boardwalk drinking, doing drugs, and watching fireworks.
This isn’t just a “coming-of-age” summer for Frankie. His dad is dying of cancer and he’s secretly meeting older men for sex in public wooded areas. The struggle with his sexuality is something he keeps from his girlfriend, his family, and his friends for much of the movie.
Dickinson is a bright new talent and earns the rave reviews he’s getting for his acting. And, that has nothing to do with how cute he is or his gorgeous body! 🙂
GRADE: A-
“MUDBOUND”
This poignant Netflix drama takes place in poverty-stricken and backwards Mississippi in the 1940s.
It tells the story of a white family with a racist patriarch that ends up having to live on the land of an African American family.
Casey Mulligan, Jason Clarke, Mary J. Blige, Rob Morgan, and Jonathan Banks lead an excellent cast.
However, the standouts are Garrett Hedlund and Jason Mitchell, the two sons — one from each family — returning from war. The friendship that forms between them is very touching.
I know it’s a period piece, but the frequency of use of the n-word, the blatant racism, and the graphic violence at the hands of the Ku Klux Klan are still painful to watch. But, the movie is powerful.
I really wish I had seen more of Mary J. Blige.
If you check out “Mudbound”, stay for the amazing Blige song playing over the credits.
GRADE: B
BINGE WATCH “THE BRAVE”
I’m really enjoying this freshman NBC action series.
The winter finale was very suspenseful and with the holidays, you have a chance to binge watch the nine episodes before it returns January 1, 2018!
Here’s what I had to say about the series earlier in the fall:
“I checked out one of the new fall series, “The Brave”, on NBC, mainly because I have a crush on Mike Vogel (“Cloverfield” and “Under The Dome”). It was very entertaining and suspenseful and the pilot episode ended with a major cliffhanger, so I’ll be back next week to see what happens.“
And, in November, I mentioned the series again and added, “Still enjoying this thriller, yet it seems like every time they go up against terrorists, they always win without causalities. That’s a good thing because this show has the most beautiful cast!“
JAMES TAYLOR
Speaking of beautiful, I was just reading an old “Rolling Stone” magazine and came across this 1969 photo of James Taylor! Holy moly!
You probably remember him from his hits “Fire and Rain” (#3, 1970) and “You’ve Got A Friend” (#1, 1971).
COUNTRY RADIO SHOWING A LITTLE LOVE FOR…
Shania Twain’s second single from “Now”, “We Got Something They Don’t” is getting some radio airplay at country stations.
The lead single, “Life’s About to Get Good” only reached #33 on Billboard Country, but it reached #12 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.
MOST PLAYED CHRISTMAS SONGS
Christmas music is taking over the airwaves now, especially at adult contemporary stations, which have gone to 24-hour holiday music.
Earlier this week, I shared the 10 most played Christmas songs last year, according to Nielsen Music.
Let me just say that I was shocked at what was #1!
It wasn’t “All I Want For Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey or, sadly, my favorite Christmas song, “Merry Christmas Darling” by the Carpenters.
The most played Christmas song last year was by a Puerto Rican singer. It was released in 1970 and didn’t even crack the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 — it peaked at #44.
Find out what that song is and if your guess was in the Top Ten! Click on the link.
It’s that time of the year when stations start throwing in some holiday songs to break up the monotony of playing the same twenty songs over and over again!
And, many adult contemporary stations switched over to 24-hour Christmas music in early November. What do you think was the most played Christmas song last year???
According to Nielsen Music, here are the 10 most played Christmas songs on radio in 2016.
JOHNNY MATHIS — “IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS”
BING CROSBY — “WHITE CHRISTMAS”
ANDY WILLIAMS — “IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR”
TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHRESTRA — “CHRISTMAS EVE SARAJAVO”
NAT KING COLE — “THE CHRISTMAS SONG”
MARIAH CAREY — “ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU”
BOBBY HELMS — “JINGLE BELL ROCK”
BURL IVES — “A HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS”
BRENDA LEE — “ROCKIN’ AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE”
JOSE FELICIANO — “FELIZ NAVIDAD”
Will we have a repeat this year and will there be new entries in the Top Ten?
I hope you’re enjoying your Thanksgiving and had plenty to eat.
With many out shopping or visiting with family, I’m not sure how many will check out my “Random Friday Thoughts”, but here they are.
CHRISTMAS CARD DILEMMA
I’m still one of those people trying to keep the postal service in business by buying 49-cent stamps and mailing out Christmas cards!
While I personalize each card, I started sending out a Christmas letter to recap my year for those that don’t follow me on Facebook or read my blog! (The horror!)
Last year, at the end of my Christmas letter, I shared the photo with Hillary Clinton and I wrote that it was “the highlight of the year” for me.
And, I added, “Sadly, we all know how that turned out in November! Regardless of how you voted, I was very dismayed. But, I hope for the best for the U.S. and the world over the next four years.”
I thought that was diplomatic and it expressed my sadness.
However, I was appalled by a response from, I guess, a former “friend” and co-worker. On the outside of the envelope, she wrote:
Now, I spent my only Maryland Thanksgiving with her and her husband. She was my drinking buddy and my confidant. I still considered her a friend even though at some point in 2016, she unfriended me on Facebook!
So, I was torn. Do I not send a card this year? Do I send a card and ignore the comment?
Or, do I send a card and say, “I was already living in a stronger ISIS-free America prior to the election. As for a “new found security”, I wasn’t insecure. When I’m in a large crowd, I’m aware of my surroundings, but I’ve never felt threatened or insecure. But, as one of your LGBT friends, I feel more insecure of my future now –with the current administration — than I did prior to the 2016 election!”
What would you do? At the end of the blog, I’ll tell you what I did. 🙂
STAMPS
By the way, I chose these fun stamps this year.
I’M NOT IN THE MIDWEST ANYMORE!
As the winter season moves closer, I know I’ll miss the Midwest snow. However, I won’t miss the bitterly cold air!
I smiled the other day when I saw this on an area National Weather Service Twitter feed.
Here in northwestern Florida, it only takes 2″+ of snow and/or more than 1/2″ of sleet (or a combination) in a 12-hour period for a “Winter Storm Warning”!
Back in the Quad Cities, it would take 6″ of snow in a 12-hour period or 8″ in 24 hours and/or more than 1/2″ of sleet (or a combination) for a “Winter Storm Warning” to be issued!
GOODBYE, “AHS: CULT”
This season of “American Horror Story: Cult” was incredible.
While the subject matter — the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election — brought back many painful memories, it was presented pretty realistically (although the violence was highly over exaggerated for dramatic effect!). There were things as a Hillary or a Trump supporter that you may not have wanted to hear.
So, as I say “thank you” Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk for a great season, I want to share two crazy late season scenes.
TV reporter and eventual cult member Beverly Hope tells cult leader Kai Anderson what she thinks of him and his cult as she tries to break away.
BH: “Your promises are sh*t. You’re a fake. You don’t stand for a goddamn thing.”
KA: “I’m standing up for millions of people who are finally being heard.”
BH: “Nothing is bigger than your ego. You don’t know what the f*ck you’re doing from one minute to the next. You’re an incompetent guy — just another media whore.”
And, for this next one, I won’t set up the scene because I don’t believe in complete spoilers. But, it was my favorite line of the season!
And, how can I move on without sharing this hilarious one again from earlier in the season!
WINTER FINALE — “HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER”
With all of the craziness of the past 3.5 seasons, you know when you get a special warning beyond the typical “Viewer Discretion Advised” in the last 20 minutes that it’s going to be over-the-top!
Well, this winter finale had a W-T-F ending that you couldn’t tear yourself away from –even as you cringed!
Without giving it anything away, it was the most painful and heart-wrenching scene I’ve seen on television — maybe ever!
This scene made the accidental deadly gunshot to the head and the blood spatter earlier in the episode register only as a “wow”.
“How To Get Away With Murder” returns on January 18, 2018.
NOW THAT IT’S THANKSGIVING…
Maybe people will be a little less touchy about seeing Christmas decorations and hearing all Christmas, all the time on the radio, now that they’ve had some turkey.
However, if you’re decorating this weekend and you live in Florida or in a tropical area, be careful with palm trees and lights! 🙂
PRICIEST CHRISTMAS TREE
Last year, the Christmas tree at the Emirates Palace Hotel, a seven-star hotel in Abu Dhabi, was valued at $11.4 million!
Emeralds, diamonds, and pearls enhanced the 43-feet high tree.
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING FOR KIDS
Since many of you will be heading out Christmas shopping, here’s an interesting tidbit:
“U.S. children make up just 3.1% of the global world population, but American families buy 40% of the world’s toys.” (“Time” — March 23, 2015)
JON STEWART SAID WHAT???
Former “The Daily Show” host Jon Stewart tells “Rolling Stone” in November 2014 about Fox News and Christmas:
“They truly feel the loss of absolute power is the same as persecution. Like, watch them do their “War on Christmas” stuff. It’s real, man. There’s no bullsh*t. They are in the middle of Rockefeller Center talking about “They won’t let us put up a Christmas tree!” Meanwhile, they’re standing next to a 60-foot Christmas tree in a place with so much Christmas stuff up it looks like Santa’s balls just exploded.”
HOT JANUARY TELEVISION
Two highly anticipated television shows (at least for me) will be warming up my DVR in January.
Back in June, I wrote about the upcoming Ryan Murphy series, “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”.
The 10-episode series will premiere on January 17, 2018.
It stars Edgar Ramirez as Versace, Oscar winner Penelope Cruz as Versace’s sister, Donatella, Darren Criss (“Glee”) as Andrew Cunanan, the man that killed Versace, and Ricky Martin, as Versace’s boyfriend, Antonio D’Amico.
Here’s the official trailer.
And, the 10-episode eleventh season of “The X-Files” returns even earlier on January 3, 2018, on Fox.
David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson return as FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully!
“WIND RIVER”
Jeremy Renner plays a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agent who stumbles upon the body of an a teenager in the cold, wintry Wyoming tundra on the Wind River Indian Reservation.
The woman’s death isn’t a simple case of hypothermia and frostbite. The FBI is called in and rookie special agent Jane Banner (Elizabeth Olsen) has to determine if this is a murder case.
Olsen is incredible in this very intense and, at times, brutal movie.
“Wind River” cost $11 million, but it went on to gross $40 million at the box office.
GRADE: A-
A DIFFERENT “THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS”
I feature this very different version of the “The Twelve Days of Christmas” every year because it’s so funny.
I hope you find it humorous, too.
CHRISTMAS CARD DILEMMA — MY SOLUTION
I took the high road and I didn’t send a card. I decided to vent and share my disappointment here.
If she hadn’t unfriended me on Facebook, I would have addressed it to her privately.
My thought is that if that’s how she approached the subject — on the outside of an envelope last year — her friendship isn’t worth 49 cents!
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
Many watch football and stuff themselves for Thanksgiving. Many love to shop until they drop.
And, some like to lounge on the couch and watch movies.
If you’re one of those people, I want to recommend a few movies if you haven’t already seen them.
Why? Because I enjoyed these and they just picked up “Independent Spirit Award” nominations.
“PATTI CAKE$”
This awesome overlooked American drama is nominated for Best First Feature for the “Independent Spirit Award”.
I’ve heard really good things about the summer drama “Patti Cake$”.
As I started watching the first 10-15 minutes of the movie, I was unsure what I was going to think about it. However, it clicked and I loved it.
Danielle Macdonald plays Patricia Dombrowski, who’s mockingly called “Dumbo” in her New Jersey neighborhood.
She’s down on her luck and her home life is appalling. She lives with her mother and terminally ill grandmother. They’re poor and behind on their bills and are constantly getting collection agency calls.
But, the hardship comes naturally for Patti. Her mother, Barb (Bridget Everett) loves to get drunk and sing karaoke at the dive bar where Patti works.
Patti’s calling is writing rhymes and rapping with her best friend, Jheri, played by a very charming Siddharth Dhananjay, a YouTube star from India.
By the end of the movie, you’re rooting for Patti and being thankful that Barb isn’t your mother.
Another interesting note about “Patti Cake$” is that while watching the movie, it had a very “Muriel’s Wedding” feel with rap music substituted for ABBA songs.
The reason could be that Macdonald is Australian, just like Muriel Heslop and actress Toni Collette.
GRADE: A-
“GET OUT”
This movie picked up five nominations in the “Independent Spirit Award”: Best Feature, Best Director (Jordan Peele), Best Screenplay, Best Editing, and Best Male Lead (Daniel Kaluuya).
Racism is front and center of this psychological drama about a young, white woman taking her black boyfriend home to her little small New England town.
It’s the directorial debut from comedian Jordan Peele (“Key & Peele” and “MADtv”) and he masters it beautifully. Peele knows the subject very well since he’s the son of an interracial couple.
As the movie is moving toward its climax, you might have to suspend disbelief, but the point is perfectly driven home.
While it’s a drama, the comedy provided by Chicago actor and comedian Lil Rel Howery is so funny. He plays the main character’s best friend.
When he explained to his friend why he needed to “Get Out” of there, I’m glad I wasn’t taking a drink of something when he started talking about Jeffrey Dahmer, lobotomies, and penises! It was so flipping hilarious!
GRADE: A-
“THE BIG SICK”
This movie picked up two nominations for “Independent Spirit Award”: Best First Screenplay and Best Supporting Female (Holly Hunter).
This romantic comedy (dramedy) is loosely based on the lives of lead actor Kumail Nanjiani and his wife Emily V. Gordon. Both Nanjiani and Gordon were co-writers of the script.
Without giving away the “big sick” part, it’s the story of a Pakistani comedian (Nanjiani) in Chicago. One night at a show, he’s heckled by a cute, young woman (Zoe Kazan).
A romance ensues, but things get complicated by the fact that Emily is white.
Holly Hunter, who plays Emily’s mother, is incredible in the movie. It’s so great to see the Oscar winner back in a powerful role. I seriously think that she could get another Academy Award nomination for this movie. If so, that’d be her fifth Oscar nomination!
“The Big Sick” is a must see!
GRADE: A
“CALL ME BY YOUR NAME”
And, my most anticipated movie that I won’t get to see until 2018 is “Call Me By Your Name”.
This movie picked up the most “Independent Spirit Award” nominations — six — for Best Feature, Best Director (Luca Guadagnino), Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Male Lead (Timothee Chalamet), and Best Supporting Male (Armie Hammer).
I so wish I lived in a big city to see this when it hits theaters Friday! But, since I don’t, it’ll be early 2018 that I’ll see it — just in time for Oscar nominations!
Can you believe Thanksgiving is now just days away?
I hope you have an incredible feast and enjoy everything about the holiday season.
Thank you for checking out my “Random Friday Thoughts”.
THANK YOU AUSTRALIA!
Australians earlier this week overwhelmingly (62%) voted “yes” for marriage equality!
Thank you for seeing that “Love Is Love Is Love”. And, thank you LeAnn Rimes for this incredible #1 U.S. Dance hit!
“COURT”ING CONTROVERSY”
75-year-old Australian tennis legend Margaret Court, who won 62 major titles in her career is a long-time opponent to marriage equality.
In one of my first blogs ever back in January 2012, I wrote about Court when she said this (and much more) about being LGBT, “It is not something you are born with. My concern is that we are advocating to young people that it is OK to have these feelings.”
At the time, I wrote, “While I fully disagree with Court, I’m glad she stands by her views and I hope one day she can open her mind for equality.” Clearly, she hasn’t.
So, ironically, I concluded my blog then with, “You old wind bag, feel free to speak your mind, but if you get on the “court” and make a lob, expect a return volley.”
No regrets!
NAVRATILOVA, MATCH & GAME POINT!
Openly gay tennis pro and LGBT rights activist Martina Navratilova posted this awesome tweet for Court.
“MR. ROBOT”
The third season of the USA Network hit series is moving right along and recently addressed #45!
Zhang (who’s also “Whiterose”), China’s Minster of State Security, tells the right wing TV host Frank Cody: “I may have a potential candidate for president I want you to back.”(with “that man” on the television).
Cody: <nervous laugh> “Look, the country’s desperate right now, but you can’t be serious. I mean the guy’s a buffoon. He’s completely divorced from reality. How would you even control him?”
Zhang (Whiterose): “If you pull the right strings, a puppet will dance anyway you desire!”
ON THAT NOTE
Vladimir Putin’s approval ratings in Russia hit a record level of 88% with the annexation of Crimea in March 2014!
Wonder what it now that he influenced the 2016 U.S. presidential election?
“MINDHUNTER”
If crime procedurals and serial killers are your thing, you’ll love the Netflix series, “Mindhunter”.
Jonathan Groff and Holt McCallany star as FBI agents in the late-1970s that start the FBI’s “Behavioral Science” division to study criminal psychology and criminal profiling.
They want to learn from serial killers and this criminal profiling can help them catch future killers.
Groff (“Glee”, “Hamilton”, and Kristoff in “Frozen”) is adorable in this series. In life, his character, Holden Ford is socially awkward, but it’s his fascination with crime and killers that pushes this project forward.
It’s especially fun seeing the very sexy Groff, who’s gay in real life, play a very sexually active straight man in graphic sex scenes, much like Neil Patrick Harris did on “How I Met Your Mother” — without the graphic sex scenes.
Also, it’s great to see Anna Torv (“Fringe”) back in a series and I love the fact that she eats tuna out of the can! She rocks!
I find it hilarious that since “behavioral science” is a new division within the FBI that it’s relegated to the basement! Sounds like another FBI show that studied paranormal activity and was put in the basement!
GRADE: A-
BEST “MINDHUNTER” LINE THIS SEASON
Holden: “How do you get to be the president of the United States if you’re a sociopath?”
Breathe Trumpsters! He was talking about President Richard Nixon!
WHO LISTENS TO CHRISTMAS MUSIC?
Nielsen released data on Christmas music on the radio from last year and what groups do you think listen to holiday music the most? The results may surprise you.
Millennials (Age 18-34): 36%
Gen X (Age 35-54): 31%
Boomers & Beyond (Age 55+): 25%
Gen Z (Age 13-17): 8%
“MARIAH CHRISTMAS TO ALL”
With that in mind, I put together my “12 Days of Mariah Carey”, I mean my 12 favorite Mariah Carey Christmas songs.
If you missed the countdown earlier in the week, you have another chance. What do you think is #1? Are you right?
Last Friday, Taylor Swift released “reputation”, the follow-up to her megahit “1989”, that’s gone on to sell more than 10 million copies worldwide.
“reputation” sold 1.05 million copies in just its first four days to become the biggest selling album of 2017.
That’s four consecutive first week million sellers for Swift!
One thing I can say about the new album is that “Tim McGraw”‘s Taylor Swift is DEAD!!!!
This album is definitely more grown up and angrier with jabs to the older men she’s dated and veiled slams to Kanye West and Katy Perry (or “drama queens”).
I love the first two singles, “Look What You Made Me Do” and “Ready For It”.
The video to the album’s first single is incredible. Even if you’re not a Swift fan, at least click on the video and watch the last 30 seconds. Amazing and funny!
My favorite songs on the album are “Delicate” and “Gorgeous”.
I also love “I Did Something Bad”, “This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things”, “Getaway Car”, “Dress”, and “Don’t Blame Me”.
“End Game” with Ed Sheeran and Future is great, too.
GRADE: A-
“PATTI CAKE$”
I’ve heard really good things about the summer drama “Patti Cake$”.
As I started watching the first 10-15 minutes of the movie, I was unsure what I was going to think about it. However, it clicked and I loved it.
Danielle Macdonald plays Patricia Dombrowski, who’s mockingly called “Dumbo” in her New Jersey neighborhood.
She’s down on her luck and her home life is appalling. She lives with her mother and terminally ill grandmother. They’re poor and behind on their bills and are constantly getting collection agency calls.
But, the hardship comes naturally for Patti. Her mother, Barb (Bridget Everett) loves to get drunk and sing karaoke at the dive bar where Patti works.
Patti’s calling is writing rhymes and rapping with her best friend, Jheri, played by a very charming Siddharth Dhananjay, a YouTube star from India.
By the end of the movie, you’re rooting for Patti and being thankful that Barb isn’t your mother.
GRADE: A-
Another interesting note about “Patti Cake$” is that while watching the movie, it had a very “Muriel’s Wedding” feel with rap music substituted for ABBA songs.
The reason could be that Macdonald is Australian, just like Muriel Heslop and actress Toni Collette.
“PATTI CAKE$” BONUS — “PBNJ”
“THE BEGUILED”
First off, the movie stars my “girl crush” Nicole Kidman and the very sexy Colin Farrell.
It’s set in 1864, near the end of the Civil War.
Martha Farnsworth (Kidman) runs a home for young girls in Virginia. One day while out hunting mushrooms, one of the girls finds an injured Union soldier (Farrell).
Against their better judgement, they nurse him back to health instead of turning him over to the Confederate Army.
Well, being the only (hot) man in a house of two women (Kidman and Kirsten Dunst) and a sexually provocative teenage vixen (Elle Fanning), you can imagine there’s “tension” and things go bad.
GRADE: B+
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
UPDATE: I saw Mariah Carey’s amazing Christmas show in Las Vegas last December and she was phenomenal, beautiful, and sounded incredible!
ORIGINAL POST
I can’t believe that I’ve never gotten to see the incredibly amazing Mariah Carey in concert.
I had tickets to see her and Lionel Richie in Nashville, Tennessee, this past summer, but that show was postponed. When the new tour update came out, Nashville had been dropped. 😦
I’ve equally been wanting to get to New York City to see her Christmas show at the Beacon Theater, so when it was announced that she was bringing the show to Las Vegas, I was ready to move heaven and earth to see it.
I love Christmas and I love Mariah, so guess what, it’s happening!!!!!!!
Yesterday, I shared my “12 Days of Mariah”, I mean, my 12 favorite Mariah Carey Christmas songs. If you think it’s too soon for Christmas songs, take a chance and check it out…
Today, I’m counting down my 20 favorite Mariah Carey songs. And, let me say, composing this list was so hard!
Not only has she topped the Billboard Hot 100 eighteen (18) times in her career (only the Beatles had more #1 hits), Mariah has easily spent more weeks at the top of that chart 79 weeks) than her nearest competitor. They’re 20 weeks behind the Queen!
So, let the countdown begin!!!!
“ANYTIME YOU NEED A FRIEND” (#12 — Billboard Hot 100 — 1994)
“YOU NEED ME” (Album Track — 1990)
“TOUCH MY BODY” (1 week at #1 — Billboard Hot 100 — 2008)
“WE BELONG TOGETHER” (14 weeks at #1 — Billboard Hot 100 — 2005)
“PRISONER” (Album Track — 1990)
“FANTASY” (8 weeks at #1 — Billboard Hot 100 — 1995)
“YOU’RE SO COLD” (Album Track — 1991)
“MY ALL” (1 week at #1 — Billboard Hot 100 — 1998)
“HERO” (4 weeks at #1 — Billboard Hot 100 — 1993)
“ALWAYS BE MY BABY” (2 weeks at #1 — Billboard Hot 100 — 1996)
“CAN’T LET GO” (#2 — Billboard Hot 100 — 1992)
“I DON’T WANNA CRY” (2 weeks at #1 — Billboard Hot 100 — 1991)
“LOVE TAKES TIME” (3 weeks at #1 — Billboard Hot 100 — 1990)
“THERE’S GOT TO BE A WAY” (Album Track — 1991)
“SOMEDAY” (2 weeks at #1 — Billboard Hot 100 — 1991)
“DREAMLOVER” (8 weeks at #1 — Billboard Hot 100 — 1993)
“ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU” (#11 — Billboard Hot 100 — 1994)
“VISION OF LOVE” (4 weeks at #1 — Billboard Hot 100 — 1990)
“MAKE IT HAPPEN” (#5 — Billboard Hot 100 — 1992)
“EMOTIONS” (3 weeks at #1 — Billboard Hot 100 — 1991)
So, those are favorite Mariah Carey songs. Check out my separate blog of my Top Ten Mariah Carey Christmas songs.
Santa (and his jovial face) is synonymous with Christmas for kids from one to ninety-two. But, he’s gotten some beautiful competition that builds each passing year.
When I think of Christmas, two modern singers come to mind: Mariah Carey and Michael Buble.
While Buble gave us the 2011 perennial favorite “Christmas” (and the 2003 EP, “Let It Snow”), it’s Mariah that dominates Christmas!
It all started with her now classic hit, “All I Want For Christmas Is You” from the 1994 “Merry Christmas” album.
That album has sold more than 15 million copies worldwide and the song alone has sold another 14 million around the world.
Mariah released a second Christmas set in 2010, “Merry Christmas II You”.
There are other singers that have released more Christmas albums (Reba McEntire, Celine Dion, Glen Campbell, and Johnny Mathis to name a few), but Mariah has made herself as much a part of Christmas as egg nog, sleigh rides, and rockin’ around the Christmas tree.
In 2014, she began an annual Christmas concert at the Beacon Theater in New York City.
This year, while she’ll still do six shows at the Beacon, there are seven other North American dates, plus a five-night residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
I was lucky enough to see the Christmas show in Las Vegas in December 2017 and Mariah looked and sounded flawless and the sets were incredible!!!!!!!
It was the most magical 90 minutes I’ve enjoyed in the past couple of years!
And, if that wasn’t enough, the Christmas show is going international with three dates in England and France!
In addition to the Christmas concerts, she has a direct-to-video animated feature called “Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You”, (November 14th), for which she recorded a new song called “Lil Snowman” for the soundtrack.
Mariah also has the title song from the upcoming holiday release “The Star” (November 17th), which also features new holiday music from Fifth Harmony and Kelsea Ballerini, which is available now!
And, if that’s not enough, there’s also the “Mariah Carey Christmas Factory”, a deal with the “Sugar Factory”, that’ll feature more than 100 Christmas-themed retail and candy items created by Mariah!
Plus, you can also look for 2015’s holiday feature, “A Christmas Melody”, on The Hallmark Channel, in which Mariah starred and made her directorial debut.
CONCLUSION:MARIAH CAREY = CHRISTMAS!
I just booked a trip to Vegas to see Mariah’s December 14th show! That means, I now have to quickly buy a ticket.
So, while I do that, let me be your jukebox as I share my “12 Days of Mariah Carey”, oops, I mean my Lucky 13 favorite Mariah Carey Christmas songs!!
“CHRISTMAS TIME IS IN THE AIR AGAIN”
“WHEN CHRISTMAS COMES”
“SILENT NIGHT”
“CHRISTMAS (BABY PLEASE COME HOME)”
“JESUS WHAT A WONDERFUL CHILD”
“THE STAR”
“MISS YOU MOST (AT CHRISTMAS TIME)”
“JOY TO THE WORLD”
“O HOLY NIGHT”
“HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS (RIGHT DOWN SANTA CLAUS LANE)”
The first story in today’s blog may not set well with some. That’s fine. Read it or scroll past it and check out the rest of my thoughts.
If you’d like to comment (and I’m asking for your opinion), do it diplomatically!
Have a great weekend and thank you for checking out my random thoughts.
REFLECTIONS — ONE YEAR LATER!
It’s been one year now since that fateful night in 2016 when the truly impossible happened.
The bottom line is that former FBI Director James Comey’s October 27th bombshell of reopening the email controversy was (and still is) the main reason for the unthinkable. If that proclamation hadn’t been made, Hillary Clinton would be the 45th President of the United States!
Now that I’ve had a year to reflect on it (and you have, too), I’m still no more at ease than I was in the early morning hours of November 9, 2016.
In retrospective, I’m not mad at the minority of people that voted for “that man”. While I don’t know, I try to understand why they did.
I’m still angrier with the people that voted for Gary Johnson and Jill Stein. Did they really think that either of them had a chance to win the election? No!
Did they vote for them to make a statement against Hillary? Yes!
But, was it worth the outcomes in the battleground states of Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin? If a fraction of the votes for Johnson and Stein in those all important states had been cast for Hillary, she would have had the electoral votes to win the election.
Now, my question for those who voted for Trump, are you happy with what he’s done for America? Also, do you think he’s well representing the U.S. and what we stand for on the world stage?
And, I didn’t even get started on the Bernie Sanders supporters that didn’t vote or didn’t vote for Hillary. Again, was the outcome of that anger worth it?
Those are some of the questions I’ve asked myself every day for the past year! I can’t answer them.
I just know how I feel waking up daily and not having Hillary Clinton as my president. 😦
I hope things change.
“AMERICAN HORROR STORY”
The seventh season of “American Horror Story” wraps up Tuesday night, November 14th!
Wait, wrong graphic! 🙂
I can’t wait to see how “Cult” ends. After the dismal fourth and fifth seasons (“Freak Show” and Hotel”, respectively), and the so-so sixth season, “Roanoke”, this season was entertaining and thought-provoking.
FAILED AGGRESSORS!
“History is filled with aggressors who triumphed for a moment. Then failed.”
Who do you think Madeleine Albright, the 64th U.S. Seceretary of State, was talking about in “Time” magazine in 2014?
Since you know me so well, I know who you’re thinking!
Surprisingly, it’s not “that man”. It’s this slime bag– Vladimir Putin!
But, as time will likely tell, it’ll fit well into our current situation, too!
LAS VEGAS AND NOW TEXAS…
It sounds like a broken record.
Here’s what I wrote on July 14, 2017, before the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history in Las Vegas and before the Texas church shooting last weekend.
“When something like the Pulse Nightclub shooting, the Sandy Hook school massacre, or the bombing outside the Manchester Ariana Grande concert happens, we’re shocked for a few days before the news cycle moves on to the next story.
People go crazy on Facebook sharing “Remember <insert city>” or “Pray for <insert city>. And, then we move on, too!”
Why is this a regular part of our lives now?
DONNA BRAZILE & HER NEW BOOK
EMMA STONE & SEXISM
In her new movie, “Battle of the Sexes”, Oscar winner Emma Stone plays tennis legend Billie Jean King.
It’s about the historic tennis match with sexist, misogynist Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell).
In “Out” magazine in August 2017, Stone talked about where King and women were in the 1970s and where we are today “with anarcissistic, self-focused, constantly-stirring-the-pot kind of guy — again this incredible, qualified woman, and at the same time be playing Billie Jean King…”
Stone adds, “Obviously the way this has all panned out has been fascinating and horrifying, and it still feels like we’re in a bad dream, but those parallels make sense to me — the equal-pay issue makes a lot of sense to me. At our best right now we’re making 80 cents to the dollar.”
“LOSING SLEEP” — CHRIS YOUNG
I’ll admit upfront that I grew up on country music in the 1970s and abandoned the genre for Top 40/English Invasion/Dance music in the 1980s, and then re-discovered country in the 1990s with Reba McEntire and Patty Loveless.
Once radio cooled on Reba and Patty, I pretty music gave up on the format and especially with its love of bro-country.
When I do buy a country album, it’s usually by female singers. The last male country album I bought was Canadian Brett Kissel’s phenomenal “Pick Me Up”, my #7 CD of 2016.
Before that, it was Michael Ray’s self titled full length in 2015.
I went out a limb and bought the latest from country crooner Chris Young.
I really like the texture of his voice on past hits, “Getting You Home (The Black Dress Song)”, “Voices”, “Think of You” (with Cassadee Pope), and “Sober Saturday Night” (with Vince Gill).
On this album, there are some standout perfect songs.
My favorites and I’m putting them in the order of how I’d love for him to release songs as singles: “Losing Sleep” (his current hit, just outside the Top Ten), the ballad “Where I Go When I Drink”, “Holiday” (the perfect summer song), and “She’s Got A Way”.
“Blacked Out”, “Trouble Looking”, and “Hangin’ On” are also great.
GRADE: B+
I KID YOU NOT! 🙂
This is the “The River 100.5” WTRV in Grand Rapids, Michigan, playlist from yesterday morning!
24-hour Christmas music was being played just after Halloween at some stations! Who needs to wait until Thanksgiving anymore?
As you can see, several Christmas songs are already charting on the Adult Contemporary charts.
CHRISTMAS ALBUMS SALES
In 2016, overall album sales dropped almost 17% (falling from 241.4 million in 2015 to 200.8 million in 2016).
However, Christmas albums sales jumped 10.6% (climbing from 7.2 million units to 7.97 million).
HOT NEW CRUSH
You may not know the name “Henry Golding” now.
But, you will when “Crazy Rich Asians” hits theaters August 17, 2018!
Golding is a 30-year-old British-Malaysian actor and he got married a year ago in August! 🙂 😦
MORE MID-FALL TELEVISION THOUGHTS
“How To Get Away With Murder” — Absolutely loving the fourth season. Analise is incredible and I can’t wait to see what this whole blood bath is all about. Plus, Connor and Frank are so hot this season!
“Mr. Robot” — I’m glad that Tyrell (Martin Wallstrom) was given a full episode to expand his back story. And, Wallstrom is so sexy!
Also, I love Darlene (Carly Chaikin) and I’m always surprised at what comes out of her mouth. In a recent episode, it was “muff divers” and “diddle your skittle”! *The horror!* 🙂
As much as I’ve enjoyed the three seasons so far, I hope it ends with this season.
“Law and Order True Crime: The Menendez Brothers” — I’m DVR-ing it, but have not watched the first episode yet. Should I just delete it and free up the space?
“The Walking Dead” (again) — Episodes 2 and 3 of Season 8 sucked! I’m giving it one more episode and I’m done.
This whole Ezekiel, his pet tiger Shiva, and the Kingdom plot line is such a laughable joke.
PICK HIT
EDM (electronic dance music) producer and DJ Marshmello, who’s identity is unknown (but may be American DJ Christian Comstock), has scored seven hits in the U.S. on the Billboard Dance charts since 2015.
Two have reached the Top Ten. “Alone” reached #9 in 2016.
His current hit featuring Khalid, “Silence” is currently at #2 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. It’s also #36 on the Mediabase Top 40 airplay chart.
“Silence” already topped the Australian Dance chart and hit the Top 5 in Belgium, Norway, Sweden, and on the UK Dance chart.
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
Mariah released a second Christmas set in 2010, “Merry Christmas II You”.
What's Peeps Thinking About Now? It's Probably Random! 