In life, most people don’t get to meet their idols.
While just briefly, I got to meet four of mine — President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter and Hillary Clinton.
Reba McEntire was the other one.
There are four presidents (all dead) I would’ve loved to have met and spent the day with to talk about their time in public office. I’ll get to that.
And, I’d love to have spent more time with Hillary and to have met President Bill Clinton, but this is all about my favorite commander-in-chief, Jimmy Carter.
My idol and the nation’s 39th president (1977-1981) turned 100-years-old October 1st. This is a remarkable feat, not just the fact that he’s 100. Many others have lived that long and longer, but because President Carter entered end of life hospice care in February 2023!
He told his family this summer he wants to live long enough to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.
Until his health failed in recent years, he was still active in painting, fly-fishing, woodworking, cycling, tennis and skiing. Amazing!
President Carter is such an inspiring man and I hope to accomplish just a small fraction of what he’s done in his lifetime.
When I was in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2016, I visited the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and left this note for the Carters.
I finally got to meet President Carter and Rosalynn (pronounced “Rosa-lynn”) Carter in Plains, Georgia in July 2017!
HOW IT ALL STARTED…
In the fall of 1976, as a 12-year-old boy in Kentucky, I cast my first presidential vote for the Democrat Carter, and four years later, at 16, I voted for him again.
So, you might be thinking, that’s impossible. Many things go on in Kentucky that aren’t talked about in other states, but kids still cannot vote.
Well, since my grandmother Helen wasn’t very literate, I accompanied her into the voting booth and I got to vote for the candidate of my choice. Even then, I knew what I was doing.
Now, you might be thinking, why Carter? Maybe it was because he was a Southerner and he talked like me! I’m kidding. I just liked him.
As a kid, I didn’t know anything about gay rights, but then again, there was no such thing as “rights” for “those kind of people” in the mid-1970s.
While Carter was a deeply committed Christian, taught Sunday school and prayed several times a day, he was the first president to address gay rights and meet with gay rights activists.
He was opposed to the Briggs Initiative in California that would’ve banned gays from teaching in public schools.
In recent years, Carter supported the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and before marriage was legal for all, he was for civil unions. He “opposes all forms of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and believes there should be equal protection under the law for people who differ in sexual orientation”.
His one-term in office was not remembered kindly.
In addition to high inflation left over from the Ford administration, the last half of Carter’s presidency was tainted by the Iran hostage crisis, the 1979 energy crisis, the Three Mile Island nuclear accident, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics and the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980.
On a positive note, he negotiated the Camp David Accords, a peace agreement between Israel and Egypt, and both the Departments of Energy and Education were created during his four years in office.
CARTER AS A GEORGIA POLITICIAN
Before being elected to the highest office in the country, he served on local school, hospital, and library boards, served two terms in the Georgia Senate, and became the Governor of Georgia in 1971.
At that time, he bucked the Southern mentality by opposing racial segregation. His family was one of only two that voted to admit Blacks to the Plains Baptist Church.
Once he was elected Georgia’s governor, he commented, “I say to you quite frankly, that the time for racial discrimination is over. No poor, rural, weak, or Black person should ever have to bear the additional burden of being deprived of the opportunity of an education, a job, or simple justice.”
Carter appointed many African-Americans to statewide boards and offices. Then, after his one term (which was all that allowed at the time) as Georgia governor ended in 1975, he began his bid to win the presidency with almost no chance of winning since he wasn’t nationally known.
When he told his family he was going to run for President, his mother, Miss Lillian asked, “President of what?”
Carter became the front-runner by winning the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire primary.
He used two different strategies while campaigning: in the South, he ran as a moderate favorite son and in the North, Carter appealed largely to conservative Christian and rural voters.
Carter chose Senator Walter Mondale of Minnesota as his running mate and in the November 1976 elections, he won the popular vote 50-48% over President Gerald Ford and received 297 electoral votes to Ford’s 240 to become the first president from the Deep South to be elected since 1848!
With all of the problems he encountered as president, the 1980 election wasn’t pretty. He won only six states and the District of Columbia and lost the electoral vote to Ronald Reagan 489-49.
In a bittersweet moment, on January 20, 1981, just minutes after Carter’s term as president ended, the 52 U.S. captives held hostage at the U.S. embassy in Iran were released after 444 days, which he negotiated.
POST-PRESIDENCY
Since President Carter was a one-term president and so young when he left office (he was 56), he’s now the longest-lived president after leaving the White House (almost 44 years).
The four years as President took its toll on Carter and his legacy. He began his term with a 66% approval rating, but it dropped to 34% by the time he left office, with 55% disapproving.
Over the past decades, his reputation improved. In 2009, his approval rating was at 64% in 2009. “The Independent” wrote, “Carter is widely considered a better man than he was a president.”
I personally think he did a great job as President and he’s definitely a good man.
After leaving office, Carter returned to Georgia and, in 1982, he established “The Carter Center” in Atlanta to advance human rights, alleviate human suffering by promoting democracy, monitor the electoral process in support of free and fair elections and to improve global health.
He’s also worked very closely with “Habitat for Humanity”.
Among the numerous honors Carter received are the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1999 and the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, the only U.S. president to have received the prize after leaving office.
In July 2023, President and Mrs. Carter celebrated 77 years as a married couple and were the longest-wed presidential couple. She passed away in November 2023 at the age of 96.
LET’S MEET FOR A MEAL
Like President Carter, I’m a bookworm. I once read a book detailing foods and meals presidents loved.
So, in a perfect world — another place and time — I could have spent the day with my idol.
We would start with pancakes for breakfast, have a salad with Roquefort dressing and soup for lunch, and a “Southern-style” fried chicken dinner with batter-fried eggplant and frozen yogurt for dessert.
In addition to Carter and Clinton, there are four other four presidents I’d love to dine with — in an alternate universe since they’re dead.
I’d love to do lunch with Abraham Lincoln over “chicken fricassee” and find out what it was like to be an awkward Kentucky boy (no Indiana, you can’t claim him) that went on to be one of the most beloved presidents of all-time that worked to abolish slavery.
I’d love to have fresh avocados, macadamia nuts, and rum and cokes with “Tricky Dick”, oops sorry, Richard Nixon to see if he was as mean as he’s made out to be.
Also, I’d love to meet Gerald Ford, and, of course, Betty, and share strawberries, butter pecan ice cream and conversation.
And, finally with Ronald Reagan, over honey-baked apples and an “orange blossom” gin cocktail, his favorite drink (when he had one), I’d ask two questions that made me dislike, almost hate, the man who seemed so gentle.
“Why did you wait so long, after so many gay men died, to mention “AIDS” in public — six years after it was first mentioned in the New York Times?”
And, after that, I would want to know if he really thought anti-war protesters, like the four students at Kent State University in 1970, deserved to die.
As California’s governor, he took a hard stance against hippie protestors by saying, “If there’s going to be a blood bath, let’s get on with it.”
I always appreciate you taking the time out of your Friday (or weekend) to check out my random thoughts. Writing is fun and therapy for me.
For now, this is the last one for a while. I have a very busy late summer and fall coming up. There will be other entries, just not random thoughts.
Today’s “Random Friday Thoughts” have a running theme.
SO CLOSE TO 100!
October 1st is just around the corner.
My idol, President Jimmy Carter is now just over a month away from his 100th birthday!
He’s already the oldest living former president and the oldest lived president.
But, this would be an incredible milestone considering he entered end of life home hospice in February 2023!
Recently, he told his family he wants to live long enough to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris for president!
Also, he’s asked his long-time friend, President Joe Biden to deliver his eulogy when the time comes.
Carter did the same for his 1976 rival in the presidential election, President Gerald Ford, when Ford died in late December 2006.
BE BETTER
It’s one thing if you must attack and mock politicians, they’re grown-ups and they chose a public forum. Sadly, it comes with the territory.
However, kids are off limits. America — it might be hard for some, but be better!
DON’T MESS WITH CELINE!
It’s not uncommon for music acts to call out politician for unauthorized use of their music. For some, you might even go so far as saying that’s especially true if the musicians support the other party.
Recently, Celine Dion and her team distanced themselves from the Trump/Vance campaign.
But, what slayed me in this response was the last line “… AND REALLY, THAT SONG?”
Some of the others that have asked Trump not to use their music or have sued him: Adele, Aerosmith, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Isaac Hayes, Phil Collins, Prince, and Queen.
And, on the other side of the aisle: Sam & Dave called out Barack Obama in 2008 and Sting did the same to Al Gore in 2000 (he’s also called out Republicans, too).
In honor of Celine…
LINCOLN — PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 1860
While Abraham Lincoln won the presidency in 1860, he only received 2.1% of the vote in the slaves states of the South!
Lincoln was NOT even on the ballot in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina (elections weren’t even held here and the electoral votes were given to Vice President John Breckenridge), Tennessee and Texas.
SHOOTING PRESIDENTS
While it was almost a year before I was born, I’ve read enough about President John F. Kennedy to know the stories of some school classrooms erupting in joy on the announcement of his shooting.
From Jon Meacham’s incredible book came these stories:
When Lincoln was assassinated in 1865, “The Texas Republic” wrote, “It is certainly a matter of congratulations that Lincoln is dead because the world is happily rid of a monster that disgraced the form of humanity.”
And, Columbia, South Carolina diarist Emma LaConte wrote, “Hurrah! Old Abe Lincoln has been assassinated! It may be wrong to be so jubilant, but I just can’t help it. After the heaviness and gloom… this blow to our enemies comes like a gleam of light. We have suffered till we feel savage. Could there have been a fitter death for such a man?”
That disgraceful woman (I wanted to call her some that sounds similar to her name, but that’d be rude) went on to add, “Andy Jackson will succeed him — the rail-splitter will be succeeded by the drunken ass. Such are the successors of Washington and Jefferson — such are to rule the South.”
THE “REAL” LINCOLN???
We know the sixteenth president as a married man and father. But, was there more to Lincoln?
There have always been rumors about his private life. Two new works are now are diving into that.
Cole Escola, who plays Mary Todd Lincoln, took his sold out Off-Broadway play “OH MARY!” to Broadway and is breaking records. It explores Lincoln’s bisexuality.
And, that’s also the topic of director Shaun Peterson’s new documentary called “Lover of Men”.
In his 2022 book, “And There Was Light”, Jon Meacham told the story of Lincoln moving to a new city and sleeping in the bed with another man for a period of time. (Yes, it could have been totally innocent!).
And, this wasn’t the only time — others have written that some of those bed-sharing moments lasted several years!
Finally, back to Meacham, he shared the story of Lincoln spending a hot and humid summer getaway with his assistant and private secretary John Hay.
As Hay dozed off, Lincoln read him Shakespeare. Um, okay!
And, look at the body language with Lincoln and his closest aides. Can you tell which one might be Hay? Maybe the one leaning with his arm/hand on Lincoln?
“RICHARD M. NIXON”
While I was child, I didn’t know or think much about President Nixon. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve read quite a bit about the former leader.
And, while he was deplorable, I’m intrigued with him and he’s one of the people (living or dead), I would’ve wanted to meet and spend time with to understand.
Here are some interesting things that Elizabeth Drew wrote about him in her 2007 biography in “The American Presidents Series”:
In the 1968 presidential election, Nixon (43.4%) barely defeated Democrat Hubert Humphrey (42.7%) in the popular vote and that was mainly because racist George Wallace siphoned 13.5% of the vote away from Nixon and Humphrey.
Drew summed it up with “Nixon had transformed the party of Abraham Lincoln into the party that welcomed racists and despisers of big government, setting into motion a Republican conservative ascendancy.”
Nixon, who was regularly drunk at night, preferred martinis. However, at dinner parties, he’d be served fine wines, while waiters gave his guests “lower quality” wines with the labels hidden behind a napkin!
ONE INTERESTING AGE NOTE
This summer, President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race at 81-years-old. His Republican opponent Donald Trump is 78.
I’m currently reading “A Time To Heal” by former President Gerald Ford.
When President Nixon resigned and Ford became president, he was debating between George H. W. Bush and Nelson Rockefeller for his vice president.
While he chose Rockefeller, one of the things that was holding him back was his age — Rockefeller was 66!
GOTTA LOVE THOSE GOLDENS
Before becoming president, the Fords had a golden retriever named Brown Sugar. After she died, they had another one named just Sugar. Once she crossed the rainbow bridge, they didn’t have another golden until they got Liberty in late 1974.
She would have puppies the following year!
“JACKIE ETHEL JOAN: WOMEN OF CAMELOT”
Of the Kennedy wives, Jackie had the most publicity.
J. Randy Taraborrelli’s 2000 biography of the wives of the John Fitzgerald, Bobby, and Ted Kennedy was an interesting read.
Here are a few things I found interesting from the book:
George Smathers, a U.S. Senator from Florida and a friend of President Kennedy, said “I’ve shaken hands with eleven presidents in my lifetime, and the only two who were one hundred percent totally faithful to their wives were Harry Truman and Richard Nixon. Those were the only two.”
After President Kennedy’s assassination, Jackie lived in Washington D.C. and was unhappy. She decided to move to New York City in the fall of 1964. While house-hunting there, she dined out at Le Pavilion, an upscale restaurant in Manhattan with Bobby and Ethel and a large group of friends.
The dinner sounded amazing: After starting with champagne, they had caviar, navarin d’agneau (lamb stew) served with red wine, and for dessert chocolat souffle, followed by cafe filtre, and more champagne. Wow, that sounds like a perfect meal!
In early 1968, as Jackie was preparing to marry Aristotle Onassis, Ethel and Joan visited her in New York City.
Her Greek chef, Niko, made a feast of “Greek salad with tomatoes, peeled onions, cucumber, and bunch roka (Greek watercress)”. This was followed by a “Greek vegetable casserole with eggplant, zucchini, potatoes, and green peppers” and for dessert, “kouradiedes (Greek cookies) and Greek cheesecake with feta, ricotta, and Swiss cheeses.”
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
My random thoughts last week were a little intense, but the feedback was great and it was well read. This week it’s more about fun, food, and fabulosity!
“GAY SCIENCE”
After reading two heavy books about the Civil War and Lincoln’s fight against slavery and “The Downward Spiral of Black Republicans from the Party of Lincoln to the Cult of Trump” (that’s not my commentary, it’s the subtitle of the book, “The Grift”), I wanted to read something fun and entertaining.
Rob Anderson’s “Gay Science” easily fits the bill!
While the book explains real science, it is satire. Before we even get to the “Table of Contents” of all things — gay, straight and everything in between — Anderson makes a couple of important points…
reasons why the book should not be banned and that it’s not for children and if you think so, “then you’re probably really dumb”!
Right off the bat, we learn what “Gay Science” is and the difference between “The Scientific Method” and “The Gay Scientific Method” — two hints: exaggerate and is it interesting?
I knew the book was going to “slay” (a word Anderson uses once very early on to get it out his system) with this definition of “pathology” in defining the different branches of science: “Pathology: Learn how to keep your body healthy from LGBTQ+ viruses, bacteria, and other diseases like the state of Florida.”
Some of the things you’ll learn: why gays love drama, why gays like them big, why gay men like iced coffee, why gay relationships feel longer than straight ones, why queer people age differently, and why gay men are bad drivers (one scenario: iced coffee and see “My Oh My” further down).
The book is inclusive because you learn science about lesbians, bisexuals, trans people, and straights.
“Gay Science” is hilarious (note to self: buy gray sweatpants!) and the illustrations were LOL funny and sexy.
Speaking of sexy, until we get another book of “Gay Science”, I’ll just watch his pinned X (formerly Twitter) celebration of “Gay Science” being a New York Times bestseller.
I clarified “X” since my gay mind thinks of something other than Twitter when I see “X”.
Oh, what are you thinking? I mean “X” as in Xanadu, my little silly pug.
TWO OF MY FAVORITES COME TOGETHER
Coke Zero (or Coca-Cola Zero Sugar) is my favorite soda and original Oreo cookies are so delicious. What if they were combined for two treats we probably didn’t know we needed!
Wait, no longer — okay, just a little longer.
Beginning September 9th, we’ll get Limited Edition Oreo Coca-Cola Zero Sugar soda — fizzy cookie flavored Coke Zero. And, Oreo Coca-Cola cookies.
The cookies will feature one chocolate cookie with the Coca-Cola logo infused with Coca-Cola syrup and one RED cookie with the traditional white-colored creme. Both cookies will feature popping candies to remind you of fizzy carbonation!
This sounds so intriguing!
NEW FALL CANDY
If that sound too outlandish for you, how about a couple of new Halloween-inspired candy treats this fall — Ghost Toast KitKat and Reese’s Werewolf Tracks.
My choice, if I had to choose, would be the Cinnamon Toast Flavored Creme in the KitKat, although the Milk Chocolate and Peanut Butter with Vanilla Creme sounds tasty, too.
TASTY NEW CHIPS
And, if candy isn’t your thing, how about chips? Lay’s is now featuring three globally-inspired snacks — Tzatziki, Masala, and Honey Butter!
All three sound incredible. Tzatziki (Greek combination of yogurt, lemon, dill and garlic) would be my first choice.
And, it’d be a tie between Masala (Indian-inspired combo of cumin, coriander, turmeric and pepper) and Korea’s most popular chip variety, Honey Butter.
“BRIDGERTON” (SEASON 3)
While the third season dropped late in the spring, I didn’t get around to it until this week and it might have been the best season yet.
After the first season focused on Daphne Bridgerton and the second on Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey), this season centered on the budding love affair of Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan).
I was so impressed with the very revealing sex scene between Colin and Penelope, which was positive for full-figured women.
Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) also brought the steam late in the season, setting the stage for season four.
As for the music, I loved the orchestral versions of Taylor Swift’s “You Belong to Me” and “Lights” by Ellie Goulding.
And, one final thought — Queen Charlotte, stop interrupting parties with your dramatic entrances trying to expose Lady Whistledown!
Now, I need to watch “Queen Charlotte”!
GRADE: B+
NEW KYLIE
My pop princess, wait, she’s a queen, Kylie Minogue continues her 2024 of dropping songs with other artists.
She released “Midnight Ride” with Orville Peck and Diplo during WEHO Pride and this week, “Edge of Saturday Night” with The Blessed Madonna.
Kylie is also climbing the charts now with “My Oh My” with Bexe Rexa and Tove Lo.
VANESSA WILLIAMS IS BACK!
Singer, actress, and former Miss America Vanessa Williams is back with new music.
“Survivor” comes out next week and is her first album in fifteen years.
The first two singles, “Legs (Keep Dancing)” and “Bop!” with Trixie Mattel and Lion Babe are out now.
“CRAZY RICH ASIANS”
After all this time, six years to be exact, could the sequel to 2018’s “Crazy Rich Asians” finally be moving forward into production?
Recently, the profile picture on the “Crazy Rich Asians” movie’s Facebook page was updated.
I’ve read the books and I’m so ready for the next movie!
CAN’T GET KYLIE OUT MY HEAD
Okay, here’s a second dose of Kylie Minogue.
In addition to the new video with Bebe Rexha and Tove Lo, she and the Blessed Madonna released the lyric video to “Edge of Saturday Night”!
I love this one more than “My Oh My”. I can’t wait for the remix and the official video.
I love that line!
TINA TURNER
If I had read “My Love Story: A Memoir” when it was released in 2018, I would’ve known that legendary 12-time Grammy winner Tina Turner’s health was failing.
And, when she died May 24, 2023, at the age of 83, it wouldn’t have shocked me as much.
This book is beautiful. While it covers her turbulent life with scum bag Ike Turner, it focuses on the good in her life and it goes into beautiful details about her fairy tale Swiss wedding to Erwin Bach in 2013 after a 27-year relationship.
Also, I learned that “Physical” was originally offered to Tina, but she turned it down and it became the biggest song of Olivia Newton-John’s career and the biggest song of the 1980s.
Tina was asked to star in 1985’s “The Color Purple”, but after her life with Ike Turner, she refused. She didn’t want to live with domestic violence again!
“I, TINA”
In 1986, a year before he joined MTV, Kurt Loder published “I, Tina: My Life Story”.
Early in the book, Tina exclaims, “The fact is, I had no love from my mother or my father from the beginning, from birth, But I survived. To tell the truth, I haven’t received a real love almost ever in my life, believe it or not.”
Even before reading the two books from Tina, just knowing the story of Ike and Tina, I thought he was as a scum bag. After reading these books, he was deplorable!
Here’s what Ike said about having sex with Tina for the first time, but it’s the comment about Pat that blew me away! Ike tells Loder, “The first time I went with her, I felt like I screwed my sister or somethin’… It wasn’t just her voice. I had another girl in St. Louis that sang better than she did, girl named Pat — I don’t know her last name, but I got a baby by her, too.”
Why did that comment make me think of Nick Cannon?
It was also interesting to read that the Rolling Stones drew criticism when they charged $12.50 for concert tickets — a new high. I’m still laughing about it that when you hear today’s ticket prices for the hottest acts — if you can even get tickets!
MY FIVE FAVORITE TINA TURNER SONGS
On the Billboard Hot 100, Tina scored 13 solo hits. Of those, six reached the Top Ten. Her only #1 hit on that chart was “What’s Love Got To Do With It”.
Tina also scored a hit duet with Bryan Adams, “It’s Only Love” (#15, 1985).
She also scored six additional Hot 100 hits with her ex-husband and abuser, Ike Turner. The biggest was “Proud Mary” (#4, 1971).
Here are my favorites!
“THE BEST” (#15, 1989)
“WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT” (3 WEEKS AT #1, 1984)
“BETTER BE GOOD TO ME” (#5, 1984)
“TYPICAL MALE” (#2, 1986)
“WE DON’T NEED ANOTHER HERO (THUNDERDOME)” (#2, 1985)
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
Some of us are finally getting a bit of a break from the heat and humidity of summer.
Bring on fall and Halloween!
Today’s thoughts are a little heavy at the start, but then some fun.
“AND THERE WAS LIGHT”
I just read two heavy books that really made me think.
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham’s 2022 book subtitled, “Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle” was incredible, but sad to read.
While I know that racism is so much still a part of life in America (and the world) today, it saddens me to read some of the quotes from politicians from the mid-1800s about the Black race and slavery.
Lincoln was always against slavery and he was evolving in his thinking about what rights freed slaves should have when he was assassinated.
However, one of the biggest mistakes Lincoln made during his re-election run in 1864 was NOT choosing his own running mate.
He let the system choose racist Tennessee Democrat Andrew Johnson.
After Lincoln’s death, reconstruction came to a standstill and white supremacy came back to the forefront of American life through Black voting suppression and the Ku Klux Klan.
On a lighter note from the book, the story is told about Lincoln canvassing the countryside for his 1958 Senate race.
A woman on a horse approached Lincoln and said, “Well, for the land’s sake, you are the homeliest man I ever saw.” Lincoln replied, “Yes, ma’am, but I cannot help that.” She replied, “No, I suppose not, but you might stay at home.”
“THE GRIFT”
Clay Cane’s 2024 book is subtitled, “The Downward Spiral of Black Republicans from the Party of Lincoln to the Cult of Trump”.
Reading this book right after Meacham’s Lincoln book wasn’t planned, but it worked out well.
Meacham’s book was incredibly researched and written and he touched heavily on the racist politicians of Lincoln’s era and the struggles Lincoln faced as he evolved. However, Meacham, a white man, also somewhat sugar-coated Lincoln’s views on race.
Cane, a Black man, didn’t!
While he praised Lincoln for what he achieved in his lifetime, he also spelled it out that Lincoln was a “white supremist”. (Those two words were gross then, but are much, much more disgusting in today’s world!!!)
He wanted slaves to be free, but he didn’t think Blacks should have the same rights and other privileges white people did (such as holding political office).
“The Grift” moves from Lincoln’s Republican party (which would be closer to the Democratic party today) to where we are now.
Cane took us through the decades and explained how Black politicians chose to become Republicans because they could get the notoriety and fame they couldn’t within the Democratic party.
And, he stressed that many of those Black politicians that became talking heads on Fox News had very little support from Black voters.
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, South Carolina U.S. Senator Tim Scott and former presidential candidate Ben Carson are just some of the Black politicians and cabinet members Cane called out for using their Blackness only when it was convenient.
“The Grift” is a must read!
2024 OLYMPICS IN HEADLINES
THE GOOD…
THE BAD…
Poor sexy guy Anthony Ammirati of France… and all the memes and headlines! 🙂
THE UGLY (KARMA CATCHES UP)…
“BABY REINDEER”
I avoided this powerful Netflix series for the longest time because of the name and not watching the trailer. Until I started hearing more about it, I had no clue what it was about.
Richard Gadd, the show’s creator based the story on traumatic events in his life. He plays Donnie, a bartender in a London pub.
He takes pity upon Martha (Jessica Gunning), a lonely woman who comes in one day. She becomes a regular and she doesn’t understand boundaries.
Martha begins to terrorize him through texts and stalks him in his private life as he falls for Teri (Nava Mau), a trans woman.
If that wasn’t enough, Donnie gets involved in drug-fueled, sexually abusive relationship with TV writer Darrien O’Connor (Tom Goodman-Hill).
“Baby Reindeer” is nominated for eleven Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology series and acting nominations for all four main actors (Gadd, Gunning, Mau and Goodman-Hill).
And, since I’ve been stalked by several people in my lifetime, it’s an even creepier story.
GRADE: A-
“FOOL ME ONCE”
This eight-episode series debuted on Netflix on New Year’s Day 2024.
It’s the most watched English language Netflix series of the year and the 7th-most viewed English language Netflix series of all time.
I just got around to watching it and it was thrilling and exciting. I did figure out the killer early on, but I didn’t see that ending coming! WOW!
Michelle Keegan was fantastic as the series’ lead Maya and it was great seeing Joanna Lumley (“Absolutely Fabulous”) as Maya’s icy mother-in-law Judith.
Last week, I admitted that I had never watched “Designing Women”, which cost me some gay points. Now, another confession — I never saw Lumley as Patsy Stone in “Ab Fab”, another iconic gay show!
GRADE: B
“FOOL ME ONCE” (THE NOVEL)
The book by Harlan Coben came out eight years earlier in the spring of 2016.
Without giving away any major plots, the action in the book took place in New York City and the Northeast and the series moved the location action to the U.K.
Also, there were two sub-plots in the series that weren’t in the book. Otherwise, the series and the book were pretty much the same.
INTERESTING RANDOM STAT
In the book, Coben shared this: shooting handguns with accuracy is difficult and even more so shooting at a moving target.
He states that trained police officers miss the moving target 76% of the time at three to nine feet! For civilians, it’s higher than 90%.
So, like the character Maya, basically run if you’re in that situation! (His literary advice!) While I trust him, I don’t want to find out in real life!
WHY WAS NIXON SO NASTY?
Back to presidents again — in the past, I shared things I learned about Henry Kissinger, President Nixon’s National Security Advisor and Secretary of State.
If you know anything about President Nixon, it’s no secret he was a racist, he was anti-Semantic, and homophobic.
I’ve always wondered if those that scream the loudest are the ones that have the most to hide?
There were always rumors and gossip about Nixon spending so much time away from his wife, Pat, with his friend, Bebe Rebozo.
And, in Walter Isaacson’s 1992 biography, “Kissinger”, I came across a couple of funny (gayish) stories and quotes more about Kissinger than Nixon.
One day at the West Wing elevator, Nixon’s Chief of Staff Bob Haldeman and Nixon’s White House Council John Ehrlichman were teasing Kissinger about seeing him in the newspaper with a beautiful woman at a party the night before.
Ehrlichman then said, “Of course you’d be happier if it was a boy. Were there any cute boys at the party, Henry?”
Kissinger was not amused.
And, Kissinger had a contentious relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir.
As her time as Prime Minister was coming to an end in 1974, she threw a reception for the U.S. Secretary of State.
While laughing and joking, he gave her a big kiss.
Meir replied, “I never knew that you kissed women.”
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
I think it’s because I’m getting older. While true, it might also be that I worked a lot over the past two months.
NEVER TOO EARLY!
Thank you for taking time to check out my random thoughts.
HISTORY DOES REPEAT ITSELF!
Those words are from the sixth President of the United States John Quincy Adams in September 1840!
What would he think about the 2016 and the 2024 presidential election if he were alive today?
JEAN SMART
Actress Jean Smart is coming up on 50 years in the entertainment business and she’s always been an ally to the LGBTQ+ community.
Her late-1980s/early-1990s series, “Designing Women”, was one of the first to address HIV and AIDS.
Earlier this year, while accepting an award from the Human Rights Campaign, Smart deeply touched me when she told the crowd, “in a world where children are starving and dying because of war, it seems insane and beyond understanding that any of us should be concerned with someone else’s sexuality.”
2024 OLYMPIC GAMES
Three of the reasons I know the 2024 Olympics are going on: Lady Gaga, Celine Dion, and the opening ceremony drama some took as a mockery of Christianity.
I didn’t watch it, so I read about it and I wasn’t offended. And, yes I pray every night.
Organizers apologized, “Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group… we really did try to celebrate community tolerance… We believe that this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offence we are, of course, really, really sorry.”
Almost a week later, it’s hardly even being talked about it anymore. I have two things to say: Pet a cute puppy or a bunny and move on.
Or, just think of Jean Smart’s quote from above, “in a world where children are starving and dying because of war, it seems insane and beyond understanding that any of us should be concerned with [insert woe here that doesn’t affect you directly]!”
LOVED THIS RESPONSE TO THE CONTROVERSY
ANOTHER REASON I KNOW THE OLYMPICS ARE GOING ON
“HACKS”
Back to Jean Smart: If you haven’t seen her incredible award-winning series, “Hacks”, I highly recommend it.
She plays Deborah Vance, a legendary Las Vegas stand-up comedy diva needing to change her act so she doesn’t lose her residency at the Palmetto Casino.
Ava (Hannah Einbinder), her young comedy writer, is amazing, too.
While season three of “Hacks” has already aired on Max, I’m waiting for it to come to DVD to watch.
I’m hoping season three features more of sexy Damien (Mark Indelicato), Deborah’s personal assistant.
Smart is a five-time Emmy Award winner (two for “Frasier”, one for “Samantha Who?” and two for “Hacks”). Interestingly enough, she was never nominated for “Designing Women”!
GRADE: A- (Seasons 1 & 2)
FIRST CONCERT IN ALMOST FIVE YEARS
My last concert, pre-pandemic, was Paula Abdul in Las Vegas in December 2019.
It was a fantastic, fun show.
And, as she was making her way through the crowd singing “Forever Your Girl”, she hugged me!
Last weekend, I saw Straight No Chaser at the Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater in Decatur, Illinois.
The A cappella band is on its “Summer: The ’90s Tour”.
It was an entertaining time with their versions of some of the biggest songs from my 20s and 30s: Britney, the Spice Girls, the Backstreet Boys, Hanson, Ricky Martin and an encore of some of the biggest dance club hits of the ’90s!
While “Africa” is an ’80s song, I was hoping they’d sneak it in and I held out for an off-season Christmas song. Why?
Straight No Chaser is probably known more for their several Christmas albums than their pop music, which I enjoy.
If you get a chance to see the band, do so! What a fun group of guys!
Hello there Jasper, Mike, and Luke Bob!
And, opening act Jon McLaughlin was very talented, entertaining, and sexy!
“OPPENHEIMER”
I finally got around to seeing last summer’s blockbuster, “Oppenheimer”, that grossed almost a billion dollars ($977 million) worldwide.
The movie earned a leading 13 Academy Award nominations, making it Christopher Nolan’s most Oscar-nominated movie.
It won for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Cillian Murphy), Best Supporting Actor (Robert Downey Jr.), Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, and Best Original Score.
It was an incredible movie, even with a running time of almost three hours. That’s the reason I waited to see it at home. I will NOT go to a theater and sit for any three-hour movie!
While amazing, from the acting to the cinematography, when I post my favorite movies I saw this year in January 2024, it won’t be #1 or maybe even in the top five. WHY NOT?
In addition to the quality of a movie, a bigger factor for my movie ranking for the year is, “Would I watch it again? And, again?” The answer is: NO.
GRADE: B+
STRAIGHT NO CHASER — CHRISTMAS!
With Christmas now just over four months away, here’s a little holiday taste from Straight No Chaser!
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
I shared some random thoughts last week after a few months and I appreciate those of you that took the time to read them and respond.
I have a few more today. Happy Weekend!
THANK YOU PRESIDENT BIDEN!
President Joe Biden gave into growing pressure from leading Democrats and dropped out of the 2024 presidential race.
He endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his choice for the Democratic nominee.
President Biden, thank you very much for your 50-plus years of service to Delaware and the United States and for serving as Vice President from 2009-2017 and President since 2021.
Also, thank you, thank you, thank you for evolving and pushing marriage equality forward in 2012.
And, I’m grateful that in early-1976, you were the first senator, a young one (33) at that, to endorse my idol, Jimmy Carter, in his successful presidential run in 1976.
SO LONG REDBOX!
While The Buggles scored a #1 hit worldwide with “Video Killed The Radio Star”, the song only reached #40 in the United States, making the group a one-hit wonder.
On August 1, 1981, the song became infamous in the U.S. as it was the first video played on the new music network, MTV.
Well, if video killed the radio star, streaming services killed DVDs and Redbox.
I absolutely loved Redbox and rented many movies from the company since it was founded in 2002.
Earlier this month, a bankruptcy judge ordered the company that owns Redbox to liquidate. This means over a thousand employees will be out of work and more than 26,000 Redbox kiosks will shut down forever.
At its peak, in 2013, Redbox’s revenue was at $1.97 billion (B)!
‘TIS THE SEASON EARLY
It may still be summer and Christmas is five months away, but you can get a taste of winter now!
International Delight’s winter holiday flavors are already in stores and the “Grinch” theme of last year is being replaced with “Home Alone” this season.
A new flavor, Hot Chocolate Marshmallow (milk chocolate, vanilla and marshmallow) will join perennial favorites, Frosted Sugar Cookie and Peppermint Mocha. There’s also a “ready-to-drink” peppermint mocha iced coffee.
The Gingerbread Cookie Dough creamer was dropped this time around.
MOVIES
When it comes to movie genres, my go-to is usually dramas.
I’ll watch comedies and over the years, horror has dropped much lower on my list, except when a new “Halloween” movie comes out — good (“Halloween 2018”) or bad (“Halloween Kills”).
Recently, I checked out two romantic comedies. It seems older women dating men sixteen years younger is hot now. I guess if I luck out in same way, watch out mid-40s studs!
“A FAMILY AFFAIR”
I’ll start with the second one I watched since I’ll expand on the better one. I watched “A Family Affair” only because I love Nicole Kidman.
Zac Efron plays a very annoying, self-centered Hollywood actor (a stretch?).
His assistant is Kidman’s daughter. She quits working for him because he’s a jerk. He goes to talk to her and meets her mother and romance happens.
I’ll admit that Efron’s body is great to look at, but by the end of the movie I became distracted by his face (not in a good way, especially if you believe the rumors).
“A Family Affair” is an okay movie and it was great to see Oscar winner Kathy Bates again and I loved the Christmas scenes.
Instead of the trailer, I’ll just post an image following a very funny scene that led to this.
GRADE: C+
“THE IDEA OF YOU”
I haven’t watched Anne Hathaway in a movie since 2012’s “The Dark Knight Rises” and her Oscar winning performance in “Les Misérables” the same year.
And, the reason I even gave this one a chance was because of Nicholas Galitzine (“Red, White & Royal Blue).
Hathaway plays an art dealer in Los Angeles. As her 40th birthday approaches, she plans a camping trip to get away, but instead has to take her teenage daughter to the Coachella music festival.
Looking for a restroom, she accidently stumbles into the private trailer of Hayes Campbell, of the boy band, August Moon. They flirt at a meet & greet. Then, he shows up at her gallery and buys her out.
They have a whirlwind romance across Europe and the media finally catches on and all hell breaks loose — older woman, a teenage daughter, online bullying, and a young pop star stud.
GRADE: B
I COULD REALLY SEE THIS HAPPENING
Okay, while watching “The Idea of You”, I can’t imagine that Solange (Hathaway) would have been able to get into Hayes’ trailer before the concert by accident? One word — SECURITY!
But, it’s a rom-com and a movie, so let’s pretend it could happen. The part I could really see happening is falling for a boy band pop star. Believe me!
In my fantasies, it happened with me and Jordan Knight of New Kids on the Block. I saw them in concert three times from 1988- 1990. In real life, I never met Jordan.
It probably didn’t happen because only six years separates us in age! LOL
“RED, WHITE & ROYAL BLUE”
While Nicholas Galitzine has starred in many popular movies and shows, I discovered him in Amazon Prime Video’s 2023 hit, “Red, White & Royal Blue”.
It’s now an Emmy nominee for Outstanding Television Movie!
I’ve now watched it several times and I think it’s time again! (I’ve read the book, too!)
Here’s what I said about the movie last September: “It’s been some time since I watched a LGBTQ movie that really touched me and made me want to fall in love again... Both leads, Taylor Zakhar Perez and Nicholas Galitzine, were sexy and charming and Perez has a beautiful butt! (Okay, he did!)
The movie starts at a royal wedding and a scandal ensues when the $75,000 wedding cake crashes to the ground after a shoving match between Alex Claremont-Diaz, the son of the U.S. president, and England’s Prince Henry.
So, they’re called in to do “damage control” and prove to the world that they’re friends and not enemies. Well, one thing leads to another and since it’s a love story…”
GRADE: A
“THE BEAR”
I just watched the third season of Hulu’s hit series, “The Bear”. I loved the first two seasons. The new season was enjoyable, but a little uneven.
My favorite episodes this season were “Tomorrow” (episode one), “Napkins” (episode six), “Ice Chips” (episode eight), and “Forever” (episode ten).
“Napkins” tells Tina’s backstory and it’s so touching and real!
When Emmy nominations were announced earlier this month, “The Bear”, for season two, picked up a comedy record of 23 nominations.
Last year after seeing Jamie Lee Curtis’ performance as Donna Berzatto, the mother of the Berzatto siblings, I said, “just go ahead and give Jamie Lee Curtis an Emmy for next year.”!
Season one earned 13 Emmy nominations.
Season 1: GRADE: A-
Season 2: GRADE: A-
Season 3: GRADE: B
“MY LIFE BY GOLDA MEIR”
Last week I shared some interesting things I learned from Former Israeli Prime Minister’s Golda Meir’s 1975 autobiography.
Here are a few more:
Meir spoke very highly of the Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon administrations and their support of Israel.
However, her thoughts of the Eisenhower administration were not flattering. She referred to Eisenhower’s Secretary of State John Foster Dulles as “that cold gray man”.
After becoming Prime Minister in 1969, Meir tried to meet and negotiate with Arab leaders to no avail. In June 1969, one Jordanian newspaper wrote, “… Mrs. Meir is prepared to go to Cairo to hold discussions with President Nassar but, to her sorrow, has not been invited. She believes that one fine day a world without guns will emerge in the Middle East. Golda Meir is behaving like a grandmother telling bedtime stories to her grandchildren.”
In March 1973, President Nixon held a State Dinner for Prime Minister Meir and she called it, “from start to finish, one of the most wonderful evenings of my life”.
In the days that followed Egypt and Syria’s sneak attack on Israel on October 6, 1973 (The Yom Kippur War, The October War), Meir said and would repeat several times in her life, “However history judges Richard Nixon — and it is probable the verdict will be very harsh — it must also be put on the record forever that he did not break a single one of the promises he made to us [Israel].”
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
While I wrote about my spring European cruise and about the 30th anniversary of the biggest and best decision I’ve made, I haven’t shared any random thoughts lately.
So, why not do it now and next week! Thank you for checking them out.
THE FUTURE
All I’ll say right now is that I’m saddened to think about the future — the next four months and the next four years.
I’m not talking about my particular future, but generally speaking.
DRUNK NATIONAL ANTHEM
Earlier this week, singer Ingrid Andress slaughtered, not slayed, the National Anthem at the MLB Home Run Derby. (I have no clue who she is and I know that “Derby” is not the Kentucky Derby and it has something to do with baseball!)
I could enlighten myself on both accounts, but I’m not that concerned.
What I did see in headlines and intros to stories on Andress is she’s a four-time Grammy nominee. WOW!
So, why am I even talking about it? I saw her Instagram post saying she was drunk and she apologized. But, what caught my attention was the glib last line.
“I’ll let y’all know how rehab is I hear it’s super fun.”
She sounds very committed to getting help. Hell, who knows? She might have still been intoxicated writing that apology.
You go (AWAY) girl!
2024 OLYMPIC GAMES
On a happier note, excitement is building as the 2024 Olympic Games get underway next Friday, July 26th. I’ll be cheering on Team USA in spirit.
What sports will you be watching?
FLASHBACK TO THE 1984 OLYMPICS
Hello Mitch Gaylord!
Am I the only one that went to the theater to see him in 1986’s “American Anthem”?
“UNDER PARIS”
If you haven’t watched “Jaws” lately and you need a shark attack fix, this is it.
Before I watched this movie, I expected it to be hokey. It’s not (totally), but you’ll need to suspend belief.
Clearly, from the title, you expect sharks in the Seine River in Paris.
However, this movie goes off the rails in the best way possible and it turns into a true disaster flick with heart.
It stars Oscar nominee Berenice Bejo (2011’s “The Artist”) and heartthrobs Nassim Lyes and Marvin Dubart!
A sequel is already underway.
GRADE: B+
SEINE AFTERTHOUGHT
America, let’s not bastardize the beautiful French language.
While Americans pronounce the Parisian river, “sane”, the French say “sin”!
“BEVERLY HILLS COP:” AXEL F”
This is latest and the fourth movie in the “Beverly Hills Cop” franchise that started back in 1984.
I enjoyed the first movie and I can’t remember if I saw the second one. I know I didn’t see the unpopular third movie.
Overall, this one was enjoyable. It definitely got better toward the end.
And, luckily, it wasn’t homophobic like the original.
About that, I think a large part of it stems from the 1980s mind-set in Ronald Reagan’s conservative, homophobic and AIDS-phobic America.
And, a larger part due to Murphy’s very homophobic and AIDS-phobic comedy routine of the day.
GRADE: B-
“HIT MAN”
I wanted to like this movie because I love seeing Glen Powell and yes, I think he can act. But, mostly because I love seeing Glen.
I’d watch “Top Gun: Maverick” again just for the beach volleyball scene.
“Hit Man” was just okay. The first 30 minutes were pretty boring and I didn’t like the silly ending.
GRADE: C
“ANYONE BUT YOU“
When it comes to Glen, I’d suggest you watch him and Sydney Sweeney in “Anyone But You”. This romantic comedy was funny and sexy.
GRADE: B
“THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMM…”
Since I mentioned it earlier, “Things That Make You Go Hmmm…” took me back to 1991 and C + C Music Factory and their Top 5 Hot 100 and #1 dance hit.
I totally love their 1990 album, “Gonna Make You Sweat”! It sold more than 5 million copies in the U.S. alone!
“GOLDA”
This movie was pretty much a thrilling telling of a Wikipedia page on the Yom Kippur War (aka the Ramadan War) that started in early October 1973 when Israel was sneak attacked by an Arab coalition of Egypt and Syria on the holy day.
Oscar winner Helen Mirren (“The Queen”) played Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir. When the movie was announced, some were (rightfully) upset because she isn’t Jewish.
But, I admired Meir and I loved watching Mirren play her.
GRADE: B
“MY LIFE BY GOLDA MEIR”
Earlier this year, I shared things I learned about the first and only female Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir from Peggy Mann’s 1971 biography.
I then read Meir’s 1975 autobiography, which was after she retired from public office.
Meir was born in Russia, but she grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Denver, Colorado, before moving to Palestine in 1921, which would become Israel in 1948. She lived there until her death in December 1978.
About Milwaukee in the early-1900s, Meir wrote, “In general, I thought Milwaukee was wonderful…” and “I think back on those five years in Milwaukee with great pleasure.”
She worked for Palestinian labor parties from the late-1920s before working for the Israeli government from 1948 until 1969 when she became Prime Minister (PM). She was PM until June 1974.
Meir was brutally honest about her marriage and her love for her husband, Morris. They remained married even after they separated (they married in 1921 and he died in 1951). She said, “I had already realized in the course of those four years in Jerusalem that my marriage was a failure.”
She added, “What I do regret — and bitterly so — … I was not able to make a success of our marriage after all.”
Meir was baffled from 1939-1945 and even as she was publishing her book in 1975 about how calloused the British were in not letting European Jews settle in Palestine.
Meir writes all the Palestinian Jews wanted was “Just to be allowed to share the little that we had with men, women and children who were fortunate enough not to have been shot, gassed or buried alive yet by the very people to whose downfall the entire British Empire was in any case totally committed.”
In early 1948, Meir visited the United States and spoke to as many of the American Jewry as possible and raised $50 million dollars toward making Israel a state. When she returned David Ben-Gurion (Israel’s first PM) replied, “Someday when history will be written, it will be said that there was a Jewish woman who got the money which made the state possible.”
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
Life is full of ups and downs (or highs or lows) and there are many dates or anniversaries that can bring melancholy or smiles.
This week, I’m celebrating the 30th anniversary of a decision that changed my life.
As I drifted through my late-20s, I knew I needed to make a change in my life. I just didn’t know how to make it happen.
As my 20s were winding down, a weekend getaway provided the answer I needed and that’s when my life really started (and almost ended).
I made a move that introduced me to the big city and the world that George Bailey (“It’s a Wonderful Life”) never saw except in magazines.
I experienced the nightlife, I met a stalker that would almost kill me, I fell in love for the first time and I started my television news career.
KENTUCKY BOY
Except for four months in the summer of 1990 when I moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I spent the first 29 years of my life in Mayfield, Kentucky, where I was born and raised (three of those years I lived 30 minutes away in Murray, Kentucky, where I attended Murray State University).
I was your typical southern boy — I went camping and fishing many weekends during the summer and I played basketball in the neighborhood (and I was pretty good).
Hunting was never my thing, but it really didn’t matter to my alcoholic, hateful father. Nothing was going to make me acceptable in his eyes.
Good thing, I was golden to my mother!
When I was in college and too young to legally drink, I started sneaking into the local gay bar in Paducah, Kentucky.
It was there, in 1986, that I met someone and started dating for the first time. While the relationship lasted four years, it was turbulent and not love.
The late 1980s were exciting, but, at the same time, unfulfilling.
I graduated college in 1989 and started applying for television weather jobs and the first station I sent a tape to was KTKA in Topeka, Kansas.
Could you just imagine me ending up in the same city as Fred Phelps and his cult, the Westboro Baptist Church?
Nothing happened in my career and I made the decision to move to Milwaukee in the summer of 1990. While it wasn’t a wise decision, I believe everything happens for a reason.
It was a short-term move, but it had its benefits: That college boyfriend and I broke up there after four years together and he moved to the Northwoods of Wisconsin to be with his grandparents and I met D’nell, the woman who would become “Mom” to me until she passed away in February 2009.
And, that fall, the NBC affiliate in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, offered me the evening weather position.
I considered the offer and declined it and I packed up the U-Haul to move back to Kentucky to be with my family.
In a sad twist of fate, my dear mother, Dessie, died of a heart attack at the age of 47, less than three weeks later!
I was miserable the next three years.
While dealing with the loss of my best friend, my mother (yes, I was a “Mama’s Boy”), I was already struggling with an eating disorder that started in 1986.
Once it gripped me, I was a practicing bulimic for eight consecutive years (until 1994) and my weight dropped from 169 pounds to 116 pounds!
With the ignorance and the stigma surrounding the AIDS epidemic, the 1980s and the 1990s were not ideal times for a gay man to be frighteningly thin.
However, there were definitely fun times in the early-1990s. I loved hanging out with my two besties, Steve and Dennis.
With Dennis, I went to Las Vegas for the first time.
And, we went to Cancun!
However, I was wasting away physically and mentally, and then in November 1993, my grandmother Helen (the last of my living parents and grandparents) died.
Taking care of her was really the main reason I was still in Kentucky.
While my sister, Tammy, was still there and we had grown closer after our mother’s death, she was young and she had her own family.
She’d be okay if I left Kentucky. But, I stayed and struggled through the 1993 holiday season and the winter months of 1994.
I often wondered if Reba McEntire was singing to me on her 1992 hit, “Is There Life Out There”?
NOW, here’s where life becomes more interesting and happier!
“TALES OF THE CITY”
I have my cousin and bestie, Steve, to thank for introducing me to Armistead Maupin, Laura Linney, Mary Ann Singleton and “Tales of the City”.
It sparked a “wanderlust” that gave me hope.
In early 1994, PBS started airing the English television series based on Maupin’s 1970s “San Francisco Chronicle” newspaper series of the same name. (The newspaper series was reworked into a book and the first one came out in in 1978. The latest, the tenth in the series, came out in early 2024!)
It’s about a group of San Franciscans at 28 Barbary Lane in the 1970s. But, it was Laura Linney’s Mary Ann Singleton that touched me the most and became my inspiration to make a “fantabulous” change in my life.
She was a small town girl (Cleveland, Ohio) that visited the city by the bay and never went back home.
After just working jobs to pay the bills, Mary Ann eventually became an on-air television personality!
MEMORIAL DAY 1994 CHANGED EVERYTHING
Months after I watched “Tales of the City”, Steve, Dennis, and I went to Chicago to party over the Memorial Day weekend and we had a blast!
At Gentry’s on Rush, the owner started sending over free cocktails, the men were very hot and the music was incredible!
It was there that I fell in love with “Dreams” by Gabrielle (one of my 30 favorites songs of my first 35 years — yes, I love lists and countdowns) and Sarah Brightman’s “Once in a Lifetime” from the “Dive” album!
It was also that weekend I decided to move to Chicago!
Six weeks later, over the Fourth of July weekend, Dennis, Steve and I loaded up the U-Haul and my chow chow, Keshia, and I moved to the big city.
It was the best decision I ever made!
NO MORE COUNTRY BOY SMALLTOWNFOR ME
In 1975, Glen Campbell sang“Country boy, you got your feet in L.A./But your mind’s on Tennessee”.
While that “Country Boy” might have been missing home, this Kentucky boy didn’t!
I started waiting tables at T.G.I. Fridays and happened to stumble into Charlie’s, a gay country bar. It became a big part of my life through the summer of 1996.
THE ADVENTURES OF PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT
Living in the big city not only provided me a nightlife, but there were fine restaurants, history, culture, art, and movies at my fingertips I’d never see back in western Kentucky.
One of those movies came a month after I arrived and I got to experience the incredible Australian film, “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” on the big screen!
I’ve watched it many times over the years. I saw it again recently and it holds up well.
And, I still can’t believe how incredibly sexy Guy Pearce was in his breakout role as Adam/Felicia Jollygoodfellow!
MEETING THE PSYCHO
That summer, I got on the wagon and ate sensibly for several months and gained a few pounds.
And then, in October, I met a charming psycho on my 30th birthday. Dating quickly turned into a cycle of domestic abuse leading to a spring 1995 break-up.
That turned into a stalker situation and a near-death experience at his violent hands. Needless to say, I fell off the wagon hard.
This is a photo just after that final attack with my bestie, Steve, who was visiting at the time.
You can see how alarmingly thin I was, the gash on my forehead and the black eye!
Okay, it’s in the past so I can laugh about this now.
When I went to the emergency room that night, the nurse looked at me still with blood on my face, and asked “Which of you is the victim?”. Steve and I still laugh about it to this day. (That facility looked like Haddonfield Memorial Hospital in 1981’s “Halloween 2” and was staffed as poorly!)
FALLING IN LOVE FOR THE FIRST TIME
Back to my story… at the darkest point in the spring of 1995, I met Christopher, started my longest relationship and I got back on the wagon.
Even after we broke up nine years later (2004) and I started another relationship in 2009, I still fought the food demons.
While there have been temporary bulimic lapses, I’m eating healthier and keeping the food down.
FINALLY, THE CAREER HAPPENED!
It was also during my first residency in Chicago that my television news career finally took off in the spring of 1996. (Spoiler alert: I left Chicago that summer and moved back a second time from 2002-2004).
That first job was as a part-time reporter at a PBS station in Merrillville, Indiana, about 50 miles from Chicago, for $5 an hour.
I was only there for about six weeks — just long enough to do a few stories to update my resume tape (with an old 1989 weathercast).
And, here’s a connection to Central Illinois before I moved here in 2020: My 1996 news director in Merrillville, Dave Benton, moved to Champaign in 2005 where he anchored news until his death in 2015.
My first real network-affiliated television weather job was in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, in the summer of 1996. From there, jobs in Texas, Ohio, Maryland, Illinois, Florida, and Minnesota followed!
This is from the Mansfield, Ohio, station, on May 4, 2000, covering the 30th anniversary of the Kent State Massacre.
SUMMING IT UP
My career has given me the opportunity to live in many places and leave when I wanted to try something new.
I stayed in Chicago for almost two years the first time before moving to Rhinelander to start my career.
It was an interesting two years — bartending at Charlie’s, meeting a psycho that tried to kill me several times, and then falling in love.
And, speaking of that country bar, it was there that I discovered an unknown Canadian singer and the song, “What Made You Say That”.
That popular Charlie’s song only made it to #55 on the country chart in the U.S. But, I loved the self-titled album it was from.
And, in 1995, America, Canada and the world would discover Shania Twain with her follow-up blockbuster, “The Woman in Me”!
THANK YOU ARMISTEAD & MARY ANN (LAURA LINNEY)
Armistead Maupin, thank you for giving this small-town Kentucky boy the motivation and the courage to move to Chicago just three months shy of my 30th birthday, just as you allowed Mary Ann Singleton to leave Cleveland, Ohio, for San Francisco.
And, just like Mary Ann’s career as a television personality, I fulfilled my dream of becoming a television newscaster and meteorologist!
And, by the way, Steve, Dennis and I are still friends across the miles. I got to see them last month in Clarksville, Tennessee.
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
If you follow my personal Facebook page, I posted hundreds of photos (462 to be exact) of my recent European River Cruise, my second. (I also posted several on my work Facebook page).
While the saying is “a picture is worth a thousand words”, I’m sharing some stories behind some of the photos and some stories of the photos you didn’t see (and I hope they don’t exist)! You know, what happens in EuroVegas stays in EuroVegas!
Thank you for coming along for the trip again — in words and photos.
My first European River Cruise was on the Danube River in the fall of 2013. I had an amazing time and here’s what I wrote afterwards, “The food was amazing on the “MS Sound of Music” cruise and the staff was incredible”.
In retrospect, the food was amazing and the staff was incredible.
However, I had nothing to compare it to. Now that I do, it’s like comparing the Bates Motel (that first cruise) to a five-star hotel (this Rhine River cruise on the “Emerald Dawn”)!
A “WORKING” TRIP TO EUROPE
This adventure was different for me for two reasons.
The first river cruise was my also my first time in Europe and my first major trip (other than Cancun, Mexico, in 1993, when a passport wasn’t needed).
Also, this was a “working” trip. Since work promoted the trip, I was acting as a “Tour Group Leader” of forty people — most of them from Central Illinois.
OUCH!
While being responsible for 40 people, guess who was injured first! That’s rhetorical — of course, it was me! Let’s get that out of the way, so we can focus on the beauty of the trip.
As soon as we got to O’Hare Airport in Chicago, we were told to go downstairs from the drop off to get our tickets that were ready for us. They didn’t tell us about the elevator and pointed to the escalator.
A few of the people needed help getting on the escalator safely with their luggage. After successfully getting one person on, I was helping another and I was making my way back up the three or four moving steps.
Remember, I’m walking “up” the escalator that’s going “down”. And, I stumbled forward on the next to last step to the top!
Luckily, I had jeans on and the damage wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been! (Yes, I said every variation of my favorite 4-letter “f-word” inside my head with a smile on my face!)
I got everyone downstairs and went into the bathroom and cleaned my knee and bandaged it and the trip went on and I didn’t miss a beat.
The moral of the story — DON’T walk up a moving escalator going down!
I’m a quick learner — I didn’t attempt it again in Zurich, Amsterdam, Washington D.C., or Chicago on the return!
Three weeks later, I’m almost healed although it will leave a small scar — a free trip souvenir!
READY FOR DEPARTURE
Once we boarded our 9-hour flight to Zurich, Switzerland, I counted my people and two were not in their seats.
The flight attendant told me that they hadn’t closed the doors, so they may still be boarding.
I didn’t take that chance and I walked to front of the plane and started looking at everyone to find my two people that I’d just met that morning. And, there they were. They upgraded their seats!
“All Systems Go” for Zurich and I was ready for them to take off and “Dim All The Lights”! Whew, “She Works Hard For the Money” counting to 38! (The last two people in the group met us in Zurich.) “Heaven Knows” I’d have the shortest “Tour Group Leader” career if I left two people in Chicago at the start of the trip!
I sat back, enjoyed two glasses of white wine and watched the documentary, “Love to Love You, Donna Summer”! (See what I did there — I used four Donna Summer song titles in that last paragraph!
SWITZERLAND
While we were only at the airport on this trip, this was my second time in Zurich.
Back in 2013, my first real international trip was to start in Budapest, Hungary.
However, I’ve been intrigued by Switzerland since I was a youngster and since it was close, I arranged a pit stop for a day and night and boy, it was worth it!
Back to 2024, my group boarded two busses for the short drive from Zurich to Lucerne, one of the oldest cities in the country, to begin our European adventure.
We arrived in the morning and couldn’t check into the hotel until afternoon, so it gave us a chance to explore Lucerne.
While I didn’t nap on the overnight flight, I wasn’t tired when we arrived. How could you be with this view across from the hotel?
Before I got to Europe, I looked to see what was near the hotel and I noticed an Aldi. Yes, Aldi as in the ones we have here in the States. Once there, I set off to explore and find it.
I’m glad I did. Unlike the Aldi stores I’ve been to, the one in Lucerne had a bakery!
I bought a Coke Zero and several baked goods and sat by Lake Lucerne eating my feast for lunch. The pretzel cost one Swiss Franc (about $1.09) and it was incredible.
I went back the next day and bought three more (two came home with me)!
Once we were all back to hotel that evening, the group had our first dinner together. The salad was pretty and the chicken was tasty, but the Crème Brulee dessert was amazing.
Actually, I had two! I don’t know if the kitchen manager thought I looked like I needed it or maybe he sensed I love desserts, but he walked by and handed me another one.
On the second day in Lucerne, our walking tour took us to the famous 14th-century Chapel Bridge where we saw the Gutsch Castle in the background.
We also visited “The Lion of Lucerne”. “The Dying Lion” attracts 1.4 million tourists each year.
CONTINUING MY SWISS TRADITION
In Zurich, back in 2013, I stopped at the most awesome grocery store, Coop and stocked up on wine, cheese, bread, and two desserts to snack on. However, it turned out to be dinner.
After stopping at a restaurant to have an authentic Swiss dinner, the Cordon Bleu I wanted was not chicken, but deer! Looking closer at the menu, it consisted mainly of deer stew, deer this, and deer that. And, if deer wasn’t your thing, there was something with boar!
A decade ago, I was just beginning to travel internationally and I wasn’t as adventurous trying new things. Today, I would have eaten one of the entrees.
But, that night, my buffet of wine, bread, cheeses, and desserts from Coop was perfect for a Zurich Saturday night.
So, since I was in Switzerland again, I decided to continue the tradition.
At Aldi, while buying more pretzels, I bought chorizo, cheese, couscous, an English cucumber, grapes, apples, bread, and wine (I brought the lemon cake home to share with Miss Xanadu).
My 2024 feast at Lake Lucerne with a view of the Alps was perfect as the sun set on a great start to “holiday”!
ÄSS BAR
When I visit foreign places, I like to walk around and explore.
Many in my group visited Mount Pilatus overlooking Lucerne. I walked around and dipped my feet into the cold waters of Lake Lucerne, went to the Farmers Market and checked out the Äss Bar!
When I posted this photo on Facebook, it got many smiley face emoji responses. Get your mind out of the gutter!
Äss Bar is a play on the Swiss-German word for “essbar” — meaning“edible”.
So, Äss Bar goes to restaurants and bakeries collecting leftover desserts and sandwiches and sells them at highly reduced prices. This cuts back on waste!
I came out of Äss Bar with these desserts on my two visits within an hour. (Yes, they added more treats between visits!)
Along with my leftover cheese, chorizo, and cucumber from the night before, my Äss Bar treats and wine made for a tasty lunch before we boarded the bus to take us to the cruise ship in Basel and to unlimited food!!!
BASEL & CRUISE
As we approached Basel and the Emerald Dawn cruise ship, we basically drove through Switzerland, France, and Germany in a short stretch of roadway.
The lobby on the very clean and gorgeous cruise ship was a spectacle. Check-in was quick and then we were off to make our way “down” the Rhine River, which was actually north!
As we passed through the first of four locks that first evening, we enjoyed the first of many delicious meals.
My first meal was seared hake fish fillet and poppy seed with sautéed vegetables and broccoli puree.
For dessert, I ordered a cheese platter to share with others at my table to go along with my lemon and nougat profiteroles, custard and chocolate sauce.
It set the bar high for my culinary adventure in the week ahead!
And, my first server on the Emerald Dawn, Ivan, was also working his first cruise.
He was very attentive and professional. Ivan is a great addition to an amazing crew. (It didn’t hurt that he was attractive and very sociable.)
Later in the cruise, when I was walking and reading on the Sun Deck, he nicknamed me “Professor”!
BREISACH, GERMANY
Breisach, Germany, and Neuf-Breisach, France, two towns divided my the Rhine River, was our first stop on the cruise.
While there was a nice scenic view of the beginning of the Black Forest from the German side, I certainly would have preferred to keep sailing on to Strasbourg, France, so that we could spend more time (or all night) in Cologne, Germany later in the cruise.
In one garden, I found a fig tree that was the opposite of mine at home.
This one, outdoors in Germany, had many figs on it and just a few leaves, while mine at home has plenty of leaves on it. However, in all the years I’ve had it, it’s only produced one fig that didn’t even mature before it fell off!
In Breisach, I did get this photo, which is one of my favorites on the trip.
The highlight of this stop from a shopping standpoint was a bakery on the French side and an ice cream shop and a souvenir store on the German side. It was here that I bought my first of three souvenirs to bring home.
I plan on having one of the miniature liquors each day leading up to Christmas this year because the packaging gives me a holiday feel!
STRASBOURG, FRANCE
Our next stop was in Kehl, Germany and we crossed the river by bus to visit the capital of the Alsace Region of France — Strasbourg.
I definitely loved the historical city centre with all the canals!
And, this captured my attention and imagination inside one of the beautiful churches.
It was also outside a candy store there that I met one of the best looking men in Europe! He was the best kind of man — he didn’t talk!
I took a cue from him not to smile to work on my sullen, sultry look.
In Strasbourg, I made the second of my European souvenir purchases.
In Branson, Missouri, last October, my sister, Tammy, and her boyfriend bought me one of these plaques in English. Miss Xanadu was not impressed — whether in English or in French!
That night at dinner, I had one of my favorite appetizers. Asparagus is in season there and the white asparagus was incredible.
I could have eaten just asparagus that night and been in heaven. On the other plate, grilled vegetables, shaved Parmigiano and balsamic sauce.
I worked it off that night by feeling like an extra in “Mamma Mia” and dancing to almost every ABBA song Benny performed. I think the last time I danced was about ten years ago in Chicago!
LUDWIGSHAFEN, GERMANY
As we cruised along the Rhine River, I enjoyed another fantastic breakfast.
Before the trip, I hoped that smoked salmon and capers would be served for breakfast. The “Emerald Dawn” did NOT disappoint and I had it for breakfast all seven days of the cruise.
While I had already sampled the real thing, at this breakfast I made my own version of Black Forest Cake with a chocolate swirl cake and cherries (and walnuts).
We visited Schwetzingen Palace, which featured pretty gardens and a beautiful fountain.
Once we toured the palace, I had one of my best meals (for lunch, even) — Pangasius fish Finkenwerder style with bacon, shrimp, onion, dill, potatoes and leaf spinach!
KOBLENZ, GERMANY
As we sailed through the Rhine Gorge, it was breathtaking seeing the lush green fields and vineyards on both sides passing medieval castle after castle.
We docked in the 2000-year-old town of Koblenz, where the Rhine and Moselle Rivers come together.
After the walking tour, I took a fun cable car ride over the River to the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress.
This fortress was part of the Prussian defense against the French in the 1800s. The American military used it a headquarters during WWII.
Then it was back to the ship for “Tea Time” before I went back out to walk around near the River.
COLOGNE, GERMANY
Don’t get me wrong — the trip was amazing and the food was unbelievable. However, my only disappointment (or the one thing I’d change) is something I mentioned earlier — skipping the first stop and spending more than just a few hours in Cologne (Köln) — the fourth largest city in Germany.
Even while walking around the Old Town of the city founded by the Romans gazing at the UNESCO World Heritage gothic cathedral, I’m sidetracked by baked goods!
We then visited the gorgeous Cologne Botanical Gardens.
The beauty was just a preview for the mind-blowing Keukenhof Gardens near Amsterdam, the Netherlands the next day.
While people started boarding the bus back to the ship, I noticed a Ferris Wheel and walked over to look at the Cologne Zoological Garden entrance and watched this adorable creature having salad for lunch.
Back at the ship late that afternoon, I gathered my group for a cocktail and a group photo. I had a “Ginger Spritz” (Prosecco, ginger and mint).
That evening, it was the Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner and maybe because I was a “Tour Group Leader”, I was asked to join the Captain at his table for a five-course dinner.
You probably gathered earlier that I love, love, love smoked salmon since I had a large portion at breakfast all seven days. I also had it in another form at lunch one day.
And, for the Captain’s Dinner, I had it as an appetizer.
That’s Smoked Salmon Carpaccio (salmon mousse, apple celery salad & citrus vinaigrette). It was followed by a Grilled Watermelon & Rocket Salad with a goat cheese crostini & raspberry vinaigrette.
The third course was something out of a Hannibal Lecter dinner party (sans human body parts) — lemon sorbet with sparkling wine and rose flower.
For my entrée that night, you can take the boy of Kentucky and put him in Europe, but he’ll still find white beans!
That’s seared pollock fish fillet with a bouillabaisse sauce and creamy white beans. And, for dessert, we had chocolate fondant with a berries sauce.
Once the captain departed, our stomachs were full and the wine glasses were emptied, it was time to dance it off at “Disco Night”.
While I danced again and there was no Donna Summer (yet, we heard “YMCA” by the Village People), Benny did play “Padam Padam” by Kylie Minogue for me — so European!
At last, the night was over and the glow stick was retired. The next morning would be the last full day of our European adventure.
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS
Back in the summer of 2017 on my way to Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, I was at the airport in Amsterdam.
But, flash forward back to 2024, this time I saw Amsterdam in all of its glory and beauty.
As we arrived at the world-famous Keukenhof Gardens (the “Garden of Europe”), it was cold and rainy.
That didn’t dampen our spirits with the stellar beauty of 7.5 million tulips smiling at us. How could you not smile back?
For six weeks in April and May, these tulips are center stage for an average of 13-thousand visitors each day!
We also heard why the gardeners at Keukenhof were “beheading” the beautiful flowering tulips. (It allows the plants’ energy to make the bulb stronger so it grows to top size.)
Here were two of my favorites: This one looks like Jack Frost visited overnight!
And, this one may not even be a tulip (?)!
And, I bought my final souvenir at the garden, a bouquet of wooden tulips!
Back on the boat at lunch, I had herring for the first time. While fishy, the cream cheese and garlic made it tasty and edible.
It must not have been that bad — I had herring again for dinner that night as an appetizer. This is marinated herring, potatoes, red onion, quail egg & vinaigrette.
But, before dinner, a group of us took a boat canal ride to see Amsterdam.
By the way, Amsterdam has more canals than Venice!
THE FLIGHT BACK TO THE U.S.
Luckily, the flight to Europe and the two flights back to the U.S. were on time, even though it was a 25-hour day on the return.
On the flight back, the Mediterranean chicken dish served by United Airlines was tasty and so was the Pesto Pizza Twist snack before we landed in Washington D.C.
During the flight home, I watched the first season of Max’s “Julia”, about Chef Julia Child.
Why not? I had just gained four pounds eating French and European food and drinking many glasses of wine!
While the meals were tasty, the dessert makes it into the next topic.
MARY SUMMED IT BEST
On the evening of the Captain’s Farewell Dinner, I had a lot going on — getting my group together for a drink and a group photo and sitting at the Captain’s table.
I got dressed and I rushed out of my room and ran into Mary, a woman in my group, in the lobby by the reception desk. She alerted me I still had a Q-Tip in my ear! LOL
She said to me, “We can’t take you anywhere”!
And, that was before the flight home when I let the meal dessert — the European version of “Hershey Kisses” — melt in my seat pocket. Not knowing that, I gracefully placed the opened package in my lap.
Let’s just say, I’m glad most of the chocolate was on the front of my jeans than on the back!
Needless to say, I used my jacket to try to hide the mess and after we got through customs, I grabbed a pair of jeans out of my suitcase before re-checking my luggage!
HELLO MISS XANADU — IS DADDY FORGIVEN FOR LEAVING?
Once I knew I was getting Xanadu in early 2023, I didn’t even renew my expiring passport when I returned from Turkey in November 2022.
Although I said when I got #Pug20-something, I’d still travel and not have a problem boarding her.
That was easier said than done once the trip got closer. I was a basket case worrying how she’d handle being away from me for the first time and away from her home for 12 nights!
She handled it much better than I did and actually enjoyed herself.
Our reunion was great just nine hours after I returned home.
Now, I’ve decided if I get a chance to see Kylie Minogue in Vegas, Miss Xanadu can go visit her puppy friends again.
During the trip, a friend shared this with me and it made me smile.
WOULD I DO IT AGAIN?
A few days after we returned from the amazing trip, I had a post-mortem (that sounds so ghoulish — how about “ex post facto” meeting?) with Becky from Tour Group Planners in Decatur, Illinois, that organized the trip.
She asked if I’d be a “Tour Group Leader” on another trip and without hesitation, I said, “Yes”, and then she asked where I’d like to go.
While I mentioned two trips on my “bucket list”, an extended visit to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, and a trip to India, I don’t think those would be high on other people’s dream vacation list.
So, if another opportunity arises to be a “Tour Group Leader” again, I’ll go.
Becky, if a trip to Iceland, South Africa (with a safari) or another cruise comes up (Alaska or Mediterranean), you have my number!
By the way, here is my group (all but two people) on the Tulip/Rhine River adventure.
ONE MORE REGRET IN LIFE…
Now that I experienced being a “Tour Group Leader”, I wish I had pursued a venture in the travel industry in my 20s instead of waiting tables while waiting for my television news career to start.
I would’ve seen the world in youth instead of waiting until I was 49-years-old!
However, since I got that first passport in 2013, I’ve been fortunate to use it many times. Here are a few photos of my favorite trips:
Israel (2014)
While I’ll never top my 50th birthday with a Seine River Dinner Cruise, going to the top of the Eiffel Tower, and sipping champagne at the historic Moulin Rouge right at midnight, my few days in Tel Aviv on that same trip were fun.
This was my post-50th birthday dessert at Yotveta — waffles, chocolate syrup, bananas, diced fruit and whipped topping with coconut, pistachio, caramel, and vanilla ice cream!
But, one of my favorite meals ever was also in Tel Aviv at Benny the Fisherman, right on the Mediterranean.
This was the “salad” before the entrees!
Scandinavia (2017)
Morocco (2018)
Greece (2021)
Turkey (2022)
That’s Eleanor and Allison with me with Greece and a beautiful sunset behind us.
We had such a great time together in Turkey that Miss Xanadu and I are planning to visit them next summer, which will be my first visit to New England!
THANK YOU AGAIN!
Becky and Amy of “Tour Group Planners”, thank you again for organizing this incredible trip and allowing me to be a part of it!
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
The first weekend of April is upon us and this will be it for a while. I appreciate you taking the time to check out my thoughts and sharing yours.
THIS WILL NOT ME THE NEXT TWO WEEKS!
Normally, I exercise and I eat healthy. But, I still enjoy my desserts and wine.
I’ll be indulging in plenty of food, desserts, and wine soon as I eat and drink my way across Europe.
You won’t hear me ask this question until I return!
FINAL EASTER THOUGHT
The Easter Bunny didn’t visit us and I didn’t go looking for half-price candy the next day. During our little Easter photo shoot, Miss Xanadu didn’t hide her desire for it to be over.
In human terms — I’d call this “RBF”! In pug terms, it’s “expressive”!
I’M IN THE DOG HOUSE
And, she wasn’t impressed with my April Fools’ Day humor on Facebook.
“MADONNA: A REBEL LIFE”
Barbra Streisand was 81-years-old when she released her autobiography in November 2023.
Who knows how long it might be before Madonna finally publishes her memoirs since she’s rather busy at 65, with her “The Celebration Tour”.
With that in mind, I accidently came across Mary Gabriel’s October 2023 biography, “Madonna: A Rebel Life”, and thought I’d give it a chance, even at 800-plus pages.
I’m so glad I did. It was so enjoyable.
While she didn’t have access to Madonna, the book was well researched and well written.
With a 40-year career and a life spanning 65 years, there was a lot to cover.
Since real life gets in the way of things, this book gave me details I had missed when I was living my life and Madonna wasn’t front and center. A MUST READ!
Here are a few things I thought were interesting:
Before her career took off, a record executive hearing her early music said she could be as big as Olivia [Newton-John]! I love Olivia, but Madonna did indeed become as big — actually, bigger than ONJ!
Also, many thought Madonna’s career would quickly fizzle and that Cyndi Lauper would be the bigger star! And, again, I love Cyndi, too.
I don’t know Guy Ritchie, Madonna’s second husband, so this is only based on what I’ve read and seen. Do I think he’s homophobic? Probably.
But, damn, I’d almost wear blinders (almost and just for a moment) when I see this photo — my favorite of him!
Joking about the divorce settlement (around $92 million) years later, Madonna said, “If I think about it for even five seconds it’s more than I can take. Did he deserve a hundred million for putting up with me? Hell, if I thought he was going to get ‘that’ much, I would have been a ‘much’ bigger bitch to him. ‘Much bigger!'”
As much as I love Madonna, seriously, no pre-nuptial when you’re worth almost a billion dollars????
YES, PLEASE!
I love traditional nachos, but these Banana Split Nachos are more up my alley.
And, while I love airline flights and margarita flights, I really love mimosa flights. But, I’m really into this new trend — ice cream flights.
This is from a Grand Rapids, Michigan, ice cream shop, Love’s. And, when I finally visit my dear friend Emily there, I’m definitely stopping in!
“ANATOMY OF A FALL”
This 2023 French film was nominated for five Oscars this year — Best Picture, Best Director (Justine Triet), Best Actress (Sandra Huller) and Best Editing. I t won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
In France, it was nominated for eleven Cesar Awards (basically, the French Oscars) and it won six, including Best Film, Director, Actress, Supporting Actor (Swann Arlaud), and Best Original Screenplay.
A woman is indicted and goes on trial for killing her husband, but he may have fallen/or jumped to his death from the upper level of their home.
I loved the movie. It was full of suspense and drama. But, it made me feel very claustrophobic if this movie truly represents how trials are held in France — so open and free and not having the defendant take the stand in front of the court.
My only complaint — the ending. I’ll leave it at that and not spoil it for you before you watch it.
GRADE: A-
“HACKS”
I watched the first season of this HBO Max series on an international flight and I just loved it.
Emmy Award winner Jean Smart was incredible as Deborah Vance, a legendary Las Vegas stand-up comedy diva needing to change her act so she doesn’t lose her residency at the Palmetto Casino.
Ava (Hannah Einbinder) as her young comedy writer is amazing, too.
My other favorites are Deborah’s sexy agent Jimmy (Paul W. Downs, who is also a co-creator of the series) and his assistant Kayla (Megan Stalter).
And, I also hope that in May’s season three that Marcus (Carl Clemons-Hopkins) and Wilson (Johnny Sibilly) get back together. Oh, spoiler alert!
GRADE: A-
I’M SO… SILLY (AND YOU THOUGHT I’D SAY “EXCITED”)!
That’s your shout out to the Pointer Sisters today!
I just watched the second season of “The Flight Attendant” and decided to read the book again and I enjoyed it just as much the second time.
And, then I decided to watch the first season of the HBO Max series again just because.
This is Xanadu while I was watching it. She thought, “that girl is f**ked up” and I said, Xanadu, “don’t say that”. She then thought, “well that girl’s got more problems than I do”.
She’s right and it has nothing to do with waking in bed with a dead hottie.
I sure didn’t look like this when I walking down the streets in Bangkok!
And, I sure didn’t have this waiting for me either.
But, then again, he didn’t end up like this either!
Trust me, it was much bloodier in the series reveal.
Oops, you know it!
NOVELTY HITS
“Physical” by Olivia Newton-John was the #1 song of 1982, the year I graduated high school. It was also the year of novelty hits.
The other day, I heard Buckner & Garcia’s “Pac-Man Fever” on the radio! It reached #9 in March 1982 and was the 42nd biggest hit of the year on the Billboard Hot 100.
At that time, too, Bob & Doug McKenzie (actors Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas from “SCTV”) reached #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Take Off”. I actually bought this 45! (Don’t hold it against me, I was 17!)
And, in the summer of 1982, Moon Zappa, the 14-year-old daughter of Frank Zappa, hit #32 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Valley Girl”. I love, love, love this one.
MY FIVE FAVORITE MADONNA SONGS
In the fall of 2015, before I saw Madonna in concert for the fourth time, I ranked my 33 favorite Madonna songs (33 because that’s how many years into her career she was at the time).
While they didn’t make the list, two more recent songs, “Living For Love” and “Crave” might be considered for an update, but not in the top 30.
Here are five favorite Madonna songs.
#5 “RAIN” (1993)
#4 “EXPRESS YOURSELF” (1989)
#3 “OPEN YOUR HEART” (1986)
#2 “LIKE A PRAYER” (1989)
#1 “BORDERLINE” (1984)
If you want to see my full list of my 33 favorite Madonna songs (as of 2015), click here (it’ll open in a new window):
While technically not “Spring Break”, this is it for “Random Friday Thoughts” for a month or so. Life-permitting, more thoughts are coming in May or June!
In the meantime, there are three blogs I’m working on that I’ll be investing a lot of time in.
The first arrives in late April, which’ll explain why there won’t be any random thoughts until then.
The other two — one in July and the other in October — will celebrate milestones in my life.
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
What's Peeps Thinking About Now? It's Probably Random! 