Merriam-Webster defines tension as “inner striving, unrest, or imbalance often with physiological indication of emotion” and tension means “mental or emotional strain” in the Oxford English dictionary.
Late this spring, I realized I was ready for a little “Tension” in my life.
Okay, “Tension”, as in Kylie Minogue’s upcoming 16th album, which arrives September 22nd.
However, it’s what came after that date reveal that’s causing me real tension, mental, and emotional strain. Let me explain!
You can’t imagine my excitement when the worst kept secret ever was finally announced — Kylie would be headlining her first Las Vegas residency at the Venetian Resort’s new 1,000-seat venue, Voltaire.
At a thousand seats, I definitely thought they were underestimating her cult following in the U.S. (I once read about Kylie having a “cult following” here in the States.) I thought it was funny — I’m in a “cult”, so just call me Kimmie Schmidt!
Well, the first ten shows — 10,000 seats — sold out within hours and fans crashed the very substandard website the resort used for tickets sales.
You’d get to the ticket ordering page and click on “Standing Room Only” ($200) and it’d just spin.
Then, if you made it to the next page, you’d get kicked off and see an asinine screen telling you you’re now in line and the wait was more than 1,800 hours.
Umm, what patience???? Then, it’d refresh and the wait jumped to 3,000 hours! And, then “SOLD OUT”!
I was bummed, but I was very confident more dates would be announced and I was right.
Another ten shows — another 10,000 seats — were announced through May 2024!
I was super stoked and prepared. However, that feeling quickly passed within 30 minutes of the tickets going on sale as the new dates sold out!
20,000 seats and I couldn’t snag one “standing room only” ticket that was bumped up to $250!
I don’t usually allow things to get me down, but I was very sad and agitated the rest of that day.
While she’s not a huge star in America (our fault), Kylie is an iconic international superstar!
Who knows, maybe they’ll announce another ten dates!
And, maybe, just maybe, some “Green Fairy” dust and luck will blow my way!
I’m so ready to head to Vegas and fulfill my concert “bucket list” and see Kylie in concert. I’m ready to get wild and go out “Dancing”.
Until then, the “Tension” album release is just one month from today! Here’s the track listing, but I’m ordering the Deluxe version with three extra songs.
This excites me and makes me smile.
Meanwhile, if I win the lottery, I’ll buy a table of four package deal!
More realistically, they’ll announce more concert dates and I’ll score a ticket this time!
Actually, I have a solution to the ticketing nightmare and “It’s No Secret”: The Venetian could throw a lot of money Kylie’s way and add Wednesdays to the ten weeks of Fridays and Saturdays already scheduled.
It’s Vegas and you can sell those thousand seats every night!
It’s still summer, but I’m definitely ready for the shorter days, longer nights, and cooler weather.
Oh, I’m really craving an apple cider doughnut, too! Extra cinnamon sugar, please!
SPEAKING OF APPLE CIDER
On my first trip back to Las Vegas in June 2021 once vaccinations made travel possible again, I met someone for a drink at the Salt & Ivy Patio at the ARIA.
I had a drink called “Everything That Glitters Is…”. It was ginger vodka, apple cider , cinnamon syrup, and lemon juice. While pricey ($17, it’s Vegas baby!), it was so delicious!
Thank you for checking out my random thoughts this week!
ANOTHER MISS XANADU UPDATE
While spaying is a major abdominal surgery for girl puppies, it’s a common procedure.
Leave it to my problem child to have an allergic reaction to the stitches and develop an infection! We’re definitely on the mend now with the antibiotics kicking in.
Stitches were taken out earlier this week, but it’ll take another week or two for the wound to totally heal.
The cone I bought from the vet was a total waste of $11 since she ripped it off each time in less than a minute.
The onesie from Amazon worked better. However, sizing in China (where it was made) is much different than in the U.S. “Medium” is a tight fit for the pug.
I can’t wait for her to be totally healthy again, but she’s already back to full pug craziness!
SUMMERTIME TREAT
Last week, my boss, Clay, brought an ice cream truck to the station and treated us to tasty treats.
It definitely wasn’t our childhood ice cream truck with pre-packaged sandwiches, Push-ups, and popsicles.
I ordered a peanut butter-banana milkshake to share with Xanadu and my sister, Tammy, and I shared a banana split.
It was so delicious. I haven’t had a banana split since I lived in Mayfield, Kentucky, almost 30 years ago!
ANOTHER SWEET TREAT
Rumor has it that the Peanut Butter Crunch McFlurry is now at McDonald’s!
It’s a combination of vanilla soft serve ice cream with crispy cereal mix and chocolate peanut butter cookie pieces.
“THE CELEBRATION TOUR” RESCHEDULED
Earlier this week, Madonna celebrated her 65th birthday.
She also posted the new dates for the North American leg of “The Celebration Tour” that was postponed from July after her emergency stay in the hospital.
You know I love Madonna. I’ve seen her in concert four times and I’d love to see this show.
So, I’m saying this with love and not out of spite.
I really hope she revamps the show and lets her dancers do the grueling work. Otherwise, there’ll be many cancellations or postponed shows if she goes all out like a typical Madonna show. This happened with injuries on her “Madame X Tour”.
And, it’s already going to be taxing on her body since the U.S. shows start just a week after 27 concerts in the U.K. and Europe from October through December!
There are 51 scheduled dates in North America from December 2023 through April 2024.
“BOSTON STRANGLER”
If you’re a fan of true crime stories, you likely know the story of Albert DeSalvo, the man notoriously called the “Boston Strangler”. He’s suspected of killing 13 women in the early-1960s.
However, this 2023 Hulu movie, focuses on Loretta McLaughlin (Keira Knightley), a lifestyles feature reporter for the “Boston Record-American” newspaper and how she broke the story of the Boston Strangler.
Carrie Coon played Jean Cole, another reporter that worked on the Strangler series with McLaughlin.
It was a solid movie that focused more on the reporting and investigation of the crimes and how the two women were constantly disrespected by the Boston Police Commissioner and male reporters.
GRADE: B
CAROL BURNETT
Recently, I spent some time with comedy legend Carol Burnett by reading her 2010 biography “This Time Together” and the 2016 follow-up, “In Such Good Company”.
The 90-year-old comedienne has won six Primetime Emmys, a Grammy, and a Tony.
I remember watching “The Carol Burnett Show” as a kid and I just saw her as a funny woman. I didn’t realize just how beautiful she was out of character.
She shared many funny stories in the two books.
The funniest involved her great friend, Julie Andrews in Washington D.C., in the 1960s. Let’s just say she met First Lady “Lady Bird” Johnson in a hilarious way!
Burnett is the mother of three daughters. Her oldest, Carrie, died of cancer in 2002 at the age of 38.
ERIN HAMILTON
Burnett’s youngest, Erin Hamilton, turned 55 earlier this week.
In 1999, she released a dance-oriented album “One World”. I loved it!
It produced two Top 20 Dance hits — remakes of Gary Wright’s #2 1976 hit “Dream Weaver” and Cheap Trick’s 1988 #1 smash “The Flame”.
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
August is moving along and that means we’re one day closer to fall.
There are rumors that Wendy’s may be introducing a new Frosty flavor this autumn — pumpkin spice.
Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy’s, created a “light chocolate” Frosty as one of the five original items in 1969.
In 2006, a vanilla flavor was introduced and the chain can only have two flavors at a time.
In the summer of 2022, strawberry replaced the vanilla, and last fall, peppermint replaced vanilla. I’ve only had chocolate, but would try the pumpkin spice.
Thank you for checking out my random thoughts.
XANADU’S RECOVERY
Last Friday, Miss Xanadu went through a puppy “rite of passage” and was spayed.
All went well and the little critter was so pathetic when I picked her up.
While she’s feeling well, she developed an infection, an adverse reaction to the stitches, and is now on antibiotics. Also, once it got infected, she discovered the surgical spot on her tummy, and started licking it.
She’s now white-trash bandaged and will wear the “cone of shame” while in the crate when she’s unattended. This is not going to be pretty!
Before the infection, she did experience her first rainbow last Sunday.
She has a lot in common with my sister — not following medical advice. She still wants to jump and run.
TAMMY’S RECOVERY, TOO!
Speaking of my sister, Tammy had a stroke about two weeks ago and finally went to the emergency room days later because her arm was still numb (she thought she slept on it the wrong way).
Tests showed one carotid artery was 99% closed up, which caused the stroke.
A risky surgery (with her history of heart attacks and COPD) was performed and the surgeon cleaned it out. She’s feeling better now.
The aftermath of the surgery makes her look like a hapless survivor of Michael Myers in a “Halloween” movie.
Like every time before when a major medical crisis occurs, she was told she has to stop smoking, eat healthier, and exercise.
I desperately want my BFF to prove me wrong and do it this time. Otherwise, like every time in the past, it’s “blah blah blah”!
ONE YEAR ALREADY
I can’t believe it’s already been a year since Olivia Newton-John passed away after a long battle with breast cancer.
I was fortunate enough to see her in concert in Las Vegas in 2014.
“CALL ME CRAZY”
It was also one year ago today that actress Anne Heche died six days after a horrific car accident and fire in Los Angeles.
This 2001 memoir came out after her high-profile relationship and break-up with talk show host/comedienne Ellen DeGeneres and her psychotic break with reality in Fresno, California.
After reading about her childhood and her Emmy-winning years on a soap opera, I can definitely understand her mental breakdown especially after the way the press badgered her and Ellen after their coming out as the most famous gay entertainment couple and their breakup.
I’ll also be reading her 2023 follow-up “Call Me Anne”.
“ON NIXON’S MADNESS: AN EMOTIONAL HISTORY”
I just finished this new book from Zachary Jonathan Jacobson.
It was informative, but, overall, not a fun read because it came across as too clinical.
Here are some of the interesting takeaways:
In his first debate in the 1960 presidential race against John F. Kennedy, seeing Nixon’s flop sweat and his shifty and darkened eyes and cheeks, his mother thought him“sickly” and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley exclaimed, “My God, they’ve embalmed him before he even died!”
Former President Harry Truman called Nixon a “shifty-eyed, goddamn liar” and a “son of a bitch”.
In 2014, Bob Woodward, who helped bring Nixon down as a reporter for the Washington Post said, it “was a White House full of lies, chaos, distrust, speculation, self-protection, maneuver, and counter maneuver”. He added Nixon’s regime had “a crookedness that makes Netflix’s ‘House of Cards’ look unsophisticated.”
Near the end of a television news conference in the fall of 1973, after a nuclear scare in the Middle East, Nixon was getting agitated and he was asked about his “rumored disturbed temperament” and the president replied, “Don’t get the impression that you arouse my anger. You see, one can only be angry with those he respects.”
“9-1-1: LONE STAR”& “9-1-1”
I finally got around to watching the fourth season of “9-1-1: Lone Star” and the second half of the sixth season of “9-1-1”.
While I enjoy both of them, “Lone Star” is my favorite. A lot of it has to do with the diversity of the cast and the character’s lives.
And, I just can’t get enough of T.K. and Carlos!
And, getting back to the second half of the last season of “9-1-1”, I just didn’t care about the characters any more!
Do you watch the two series? If so, which is your favorite?
“DOG DAY AFTERNOON”
I decided I’m going to start checking out some classics, so I started with the Oscar-winning 1975 movie, “Dog Day Afternoon”.
Academy Award-nominee Al Pacino plays Sonny, an amateur bank robber trying to steal enough money for his “wife”, Leon, to have a sex change operation.
Leon was played by Oscar nominee Chris Sarandon (former husband of Susan).
The movie definitely captured the grittiness and dirtiness of 1970s New York City and 34-year-old Pacino was smoking hot!
While entertaining, the outcome was too predictable — especially with who lived and died!
GRADE: B
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
August is here and that means fall is just around the corner. Oh wait, decorations are already in stores, so I must be right.
Thank you for taking the time to check out my thoughts. You can definitely disagree, just do it diplomatically.
RETIRE NOW & LIVE YOUR LIVE!
I’m a realist! I’m no longer a “spring chicken” and for the first time in my life, I’m starting to think about retirement. (It’s still years away!)
While I love being a television meteorologist, I also think about what life will be like to enjoy not working and having fewer responsibilities!
With that in mind, I want to talk about politicians not knowing when to leave the party before death takes them out of the game and I’m being non-partisan here.
With recent meltdowns of 81-year-old Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and 90-year-old U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein of California making news, it’s time for them to retire and spend time with their families.
Seriously, these are people making laws that affect all of us and they need to be mentally competent!
And, it doesn’t stop there. Both front runners for the next presidential race will be 81 (President Joe Biden) and 78 (Donald Trump) on Election Day 2024!
WORST KEPT SECRET EVER & I’M VERY HAPPY
Rumors have been swirling since last November that iconic superstar Kylie Minogue would be doing a Las Vegas residency.
In May, Kylie announced her new album “Tension” would arrive in September. It features “Padam Padam”, her first hit in America in almost 20 years.
One song stood out when the track listing of the new album was revealed. The song “Vegas High” confirmed to me she’d be doing a Vegas residency.
Late last week, the worst kept secret became official. Kylie announced her residency at the Venetian Resort as the Voltaire nightclub’s first act.
It’s being billed as “More Than Just A Residency” with Kylie performing most weekends in November, December, and January!
“VEGAS HIGH” — I’M READY!
In that announcement, we got a first listen to “Vegas High”. For years now, I’ve been wanting to see Kylie — it’s the last concert on my bucket list!
I’m so ready to buy my ticket and head to Vegas.
The last time I was there was in September 2021. I went twice that summer once the pandemic eased a bit when vaccines became available. (I didn’t visit Vegas in 2022 because I made the mistake of visiting Atlantic City, New Jersey instead!).
Anyways, back to Vegas. Seeing Kylie would be my first concert since the pandemic.
In December 2019, I saw Paula Abdul and it was a great time. It was also during that visit that I last ate at the Wicked Spoon, my favorite dining experience in Vegas.
So, I’ve already got my trip planned, I just don’t know the dates yet — win big on the slots, bottomless mimosa brunch at the Wicked Spoon, see Kylie and maybe another show, and come home to my crazy pug, Xanadu!
JACKIE KENNEDY & CLINT HILL
Secret Service agent Clint Hill was on First Lady Jackie Kennedy’s detail on that fateful day in November 1963 when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
He worked for five presidents from Dwight D. Eisenhower to Gerald Ford.
Once he retired from the Secret Service in the mid-1970s, he kept his silence about the Kennedy assassination.
However, he started writing books with Lisa McCubbin (now his wife) in 2012. He’s now written four books.
I went on a Clint Hill reading spree, but I didn’t read them in order. I’d highly recommend them all. They’re very informative and easy to read. If you want gossip and dirt, you won’t find it.
I read them in this order: “Five Presidents: My Extraordinary Journey with Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford” (2016); Five Days in November (2013); “Mrs. Kennedy and Me” (2012), and “My Travels with Mrs. Kennedy” (2022).
Some stories overlap, but you still learn new things.
“THE DIPLOMAT”
Now that Hollywood writers and actors are on strike, we have the chance to binge watch shows we’ve been wanting to check out.
I just finished the first season of “The Diplomat” on Netflix with Keri Russell (“The Americans”). She picked up an Emmy nomination in the Best Actress Drama category.
Kate Wyler (Russell) and her husband, Hal (Rufus Sewell) are both career diplomats. She is sent to U.K. to smooth over an international crises –a British aircraft carrier was bombed in the Persian Gulf killing 41 service members. Iran is the main suspect.
What she doesn’t know is that she was chosen instead of her husband because the American president is wanting Kate’s profile raised because he’s going to replace his vice-president with her.
And, I absolutely loved every scene with the very stunning and sexy Austin Dennison, the U.K. Foreign Secretary (David Gyasi) and his sister, Cecilia (T’Nia Miller).
Oh, by the way, who tailors his suits? Peachy! 🙂
“The Diplomat” was renewed for a second season.
GRADE:B
“THE NIGHT AGENT”
This was a very enjoyable and action-packed political thriller.
Sexy Gabriel Basso was easy to watch over the ten episodes and the show has a great creative force behind it, Shawn Ryan (“The Shield”).
Basso plays Peter Sutherland, Jr., an FBI agent working at the White House as a Night Action telephone operator. He answers the phone for “Night Agents” — undercover agents and spies for the government.
One night a call comes in that exposes a major conspiracy inside the White House.
“The Night Agent” was renewed for a second season.
GRADE:B+
“NOT THAT FANCY”
Just in time for my birthday in early October, Reba McEntire will be releasing her new book, “Not That Fancy: Simple Lessons on Living, Loving, Eating, and Dusting Off Your Boots” (October 6th). An album will accompany that book.
The album will be acoustic versions of some Reba’s biggest hits.
It’ll also feature 3 new classic stripped-down songs that have never been released. It’ll also feature a brand new song, “Seven Minutes in Heaven.”
Since I didn’t buy Reba’s 2021 triple CD “Revived Remixed Revisited”, maybe I’ll get this one.
I really wish Reba would release a new CD of all new music.
However, after country radio totally ignored her incredible Grammy Award-nominated, “Stronger Than The Truth” album in 2019, why would she put out another album of new material — except for fans!
“THE HAMMER”
I should have seen the red flags flying when “A Lifetime Original Movie” popped up on the screen.
While I enjoyed Reba on season three of ABC’s “Big Sky” as Sunny Barnes, this one is worth skipping — unless you just want to see Reba and Melissa Peterman (Barbara Jean on the “Reba” TV series).
GRADE: C
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
Be careful out there as we head into the weekend. A major heat wave is underway across the country, including Illinois.
Thank you for taking the time to check out my random thoughts.
EGYPTIAN DOG OWNERS
It’s estimated Egyptians own more than three million dogs.
But, owing a dog in Egypt could get a lot harder and the cost of having one could become more expensive.
In May, the House of Representatives approved a bill that regulates owning dangerous dogs after a man died after being attacked by a neighbor’s pit bull earlier this year.
These dangerous dogs include Pitbulls, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Huskies, Caucasian Shepherds, Bullmastiffs, Dobermans, Alaskan Malamutes, Great Danes, Akitas, and others.
On the other hand, only 10 breeds were exempt from the list: the Cocker Spaniel, Labradors, Poodles, Malinois, Pomeranians, Jack Russell terriers, Great Danes, White German Shepherds, Maltese, and Samoyeds.
As part of the registration process, pet owners must pay a fee of up to 50,000 Egyptian pounds ($1,620 U.S.) to Egypt’s General Organization for Veterinary Services!!!
Yikes, I won’t complain about $15 a year for a rabies tag!
XANADU — SEVEN MONTHS OLD NOW
My crazy pug, Xanadu, is now seven months old and is up to a whopping 16 pounds. Her weight gain is slowing so I think she’s be around 20 pounds full grown.
While she’s so adorable, she’s a total brat.
She loves to snap leaves off my plants and then run under the dining room table wanting me to come after her.
It’s a game to her, but it ticks me off because I don’t want her eating leaves that may not be good for her. Time to buy some bitter, nasty spray for them!
CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS IN A HEAT WAVE
As August approaches, Christmas is now less than five months. If you regularly read my blog, you know I love Christmas!
And, damn you Kim Kardashian, you’re not going to change that! Thankfully, you’ve given me a reason to skip the new season of “American Horror Story”. And, now, you and your family are recording a Christmas album? BAH HUMBUG!
On a brighter holiday note, there are two interesting albums I’m very excited about this holiday season that’ll likely have us dancin’ around the Christmas instead of rockin’.
A month ago, Cher hinted a Christmas album was coming and she had two songs left to record. Since she’s done dance, pop, and rock, the album could go in any direction.
However, since “Believe” is the biggest hit of her career and the #1 song of 1999, I’m going with a dance-oriented Christmas album.
Meanwhile, Terri Nunn says Berlin is working on a Christmas album, too!
Many of you know the 1980s new wave band for their Oscar-winning, #1 hit in 1986, “Take My Breath Away” from “Top Gun”. The band’s only other Top 40 hit in America was 1984’s “No More Words”, which hit #23.
While both are amazing songs, as a 18-year-old, I was mesmerized by their second album, “Pleasure Victim”, from the fall of 1982.
The synthesizer-heavy album included the iconic tracks “The Metro”, “Sex (I’m A…), and “Masquerade”.
“THE HANDMAID’S TALE”
I’m looking forward to the sixth and final season of the Emmy Award-winning Hulu series, “The Handmaid’s Tale”. But, with the writers and actors strike, it may not arrive until 2024 or 2025!
I wasn’t a big fan of season four, so I was hoping the series would end with season five. However, season five was incredible!
“THE HANDMAID’S TALE” (BOOK)
This summer, I finally read Margaret Atwood’s 1985 dystopian novel that was very much ahead of its time. Just look at how women’s rights are being dictated by the government in 2023!
Had I read this book back in Reagan’s conservative America when it came out, I would’ve been blown away.
However, reading it after seeing the first five seasons of the television series, the book didn’t shock or surprise me.
“THE TESTAMENTS” (BOOK)
However, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Atwood’s long-awaited sequel, “The Testaments”, that came out in 2019.
I won’t say if June (played by Emmy winner Elisabeth Moss in the television series) plays a role in the sequel that takes place 15 years after the events of “The Handmaid’s Tale”.
But, a television spin-off is being prepped and Aunt Lydia plays a major role (played by Emmy winner Ann Dowd on television).
40 YEARS ALREADY!
Madonna’s self titled debut album was released 40 years ago this week.
The eight-song album produced her first three Top 40 hits: “Holiday” (#16), “Lucky Star” (#4) and “Borderline” (#10).
However, before the radio hits, she charted with two #3 hits on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart
However, before the radio hits, she charted with two #3 hits on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart, “Everybody” and “Burning Up”.
Even after four decades of hits, “Borderline” is still my favorite Madonna song.
REMEMBERING SINEAD O’CONNOR
Irish singer Sinead O’Connor passed away earlier this week at the age of 56.
In the music world, she was a “one-hit wonder”, but it was a huge one!
Her 1990 remake of “Nothing Compares 2 U” by Prince only took six weeks to reach #1 in the U.S. It stayed there for four weeks and it also topped the U.K. charts for four weeks.
“Billboard” magazine called it the “#1 world single” in 1990.
Years later, she’d mostly be known for ripping up a photo of Pope John Paul II on “Saturday Night Live” in October 1992, speaking out about child sexual abuse in the Catholic church, and being vocal about her mental illness.
She told Oprah in October 2007 that she had been diagnosed as bipolar four years earlier and had also attempted suicide on her 33rd birthday in December 1999.
SHE SAID WHAT?
Since my blog started in 2012, I’d only written about O’Connor twice.
In October 2013, I shared quotes of her spat with Miley Cyrus over the “Wrecking Ball” video.
After O’Connor posted a two-page open letter about Cyrus being “pimped out” in the music business, Miley tweeted the “SNL” Pope incident with “Before there was Amanda Bynes.”
O’Connor fired back at Cyrus: “I mean really really… who advises you? Have you any idea how stupid and dangerous it is to mock people for suffering illness? You will yourself one day suffer such illness, that is without doubt. The course you have set yourself upon can only end in that, trust me.”
O’Connor added that Cyrus was dangerous and irresponsible, “Have you no sense of danger at all? Or responsibility? Remove your tweets immediately or you will hear from my lawyers. Mockery causes deaths. Period. It is an unacceptable form of bullying, no matter who it is doing the bullying.”
SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST — SHE SAID WHAT?
Then in July 2015, I posted this Facebook rant from O’Connor about the “Rolling Stone” cover with Kim Kardashian (West, at the time): “What is this c**t doing on the cover of Rolling Stone? Music has officially died. Who knew it would be Rolling Stone that murdered it? Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh can no longer be expected to take all the blame. Bob Dylan must be f**king horrified. #BoycottRollingStone”
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
Thank you for taking time to check out what’s on my mind. As always, I appreciate hearing what you think, too. If we disagree, that’s fine. Just do it diplomatically!
NOTHING ELSE NEEDS TO BE SAID
“Thoughts and prayers for <insert city>”! We hear this many times — usually after a mass shooting here in the U.S.
However, those thoughts and prayers aren’t really going to ease the pain for parents and family members of those killed.
I saw this bumper sticker this week and it sums it all up!
JASON ALDEAN CONTROVERSY AND #1
Country singer Jason Aldean is at the center of a country music swirl of controversy.
In May, he released his new song, “Try That in a Small Town”.
In two months, it’s been slowly climbing the country radio airplay charts. On Mediabase this morning, it’s only at #27.
However, after CMT (Country Music Television) pulled the video from rotation this week, it’s now the #1 downloaded song in America.
Now, keep in mind, something very similar happened in early 2021.
When country singer Morgan Wallen spewed a racist slur (the n-word) in a drunken stupor and country radio (very briefly) stopped playing his music, people started downloading his songs as fast as they could and many of them charted on the download chart.
I have no desire to listen to Aldean’s song or watch the video (which are reported to have racist and pro-violence undertones).
Here’s how “Variety” magazine sums it up in an article.
For the record, I don’t own any Jason Aldean music, but I do like his 2006 hit “Amarillo Sky”.
YOU CAN’T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ
Recently, I Googled my name and I guess I’m important enough to have my stats and life on a website.
Some statistics were right — where I work, where I’ve worked, my sister and mother’s name, etc.
However, it didn’t have anything about my married life or if I’m dating. I’m laughing because sadly there’s nothing to tell.
However, this part REALLY MADE ME LAUGH OUT LOUD!
My sister asked me if I was holding out on her! 🙂
ON A LIGHTER, TASTIER NOTE
McDonald’s is adding a new limited-edition McFlurry next month and I’m definitely excited for it.
The fast food chain will be adding a Peanut Butter Crunch McFlurry on August 9th.
It’ll be a combination of vanilla soft serve ice cream with crispy cereal mix and chocolate peanut butter cookie pieces.
Did you try the strawberry shortcake McFlurry they added in April?
“SUCCESSION”
I just finished binge watching the Emmy Award-winning HBO series “Succession” this past weekend.
When the Emmy nominations were announced last week, it picked up 27 for the final season with 14 of them in the acting categories! Over its four-year run, “Succession” picked up 75 Emmy nominations! Yes, it’s that good!
So, my thoughts… almost every one on the show was deplorable and many were totally unlikeable.
My favorite characters were Roman Roy (Kieran Culkin) and his sister, Siobhan “Shiv” Roy (Sarah Snook).
Roman is a loose cannon and would be a HR nightmare (“sexual harrassment”) in a real-world situation.
While he had many inappropriate comments that crossed many lines, the funniest scene was in season three — (spoiler) — when he accidently sent a d-pic to his father instead of to someone else sitting at the table.
I can’t believe how much I disliked their brother Kendall (“Succession” Emmy winner Jeremy Strong) by the end of the series.
My least favorite character of all was Tom Wambsgans (“Succession” Emmy winner Matthew Macfadyen).
The character I grew to love because of his goofiness (and sexiness at 6’7″) was Greg (Nicholas Braun).
There were many incredible scenes in the four years, but my three favorites were in season four. I won’t give any context to avoid spoilers: Shiv and Tom “clearing the air” on the balcony…
… the showdown between siblings Kendall, Roman, and Shiv, when she was wavering on whether to vote “no” in the final minutes of the series, and when Greg slaps Tom across the face in the bathroom!
GRADE: A-
“MANHUNTER”
Brian Cox was great as the gruff, threatening patriarch Logan Roy in “Succession”. And, because of that I forgive him for his Hannibal Lecter in 1986’s “Manhunter”.
Okay, let’s put this into perspective. I just watched the thriller this year.
It’s based on Thomas Harris’ 1981 book, “Red Dragon”, which kicked off the Hannibal Lecter/’The Silence of the Lambs” series.
If I had watched “Manhunter” before the Oscar winning “The Silence of the Lambs” (1991), I might not have thought the movie was so jokey.
William Petersen (“CSI”) was sexy and great as Will Graham, but he’s no Hugh Dancy (NBC’s “Hannibal”).
However, after seeing Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins in three Hannibal Lecter movies, watching a much younger, award winning Cox as Hannibal was like watching a community theater production of “Red Dragon”!
2023 GRADE: C-
WHAM! DOCUMENTARY
I really enjoyed the new Wham! documentary on Netflix. This was a very entertaining 90-minute look at the duo.
It’s crazy that while George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley starting playing music together in high school, Wham was only a worldwide phenomenon for only four years (1982-1986)!
While it wasn’t a George Michael documentary, I wish it spent a few minutes to cover George and Andrew’s post-Wham lives.
George’s was covered in a graphic or two at the end telling how many albums he sold in his solo career!
GRADE:B+
EMMY NOMINATIONS AFTERTHOUGHT
“Welcome To Chippendales” picked up five Emmy nominations, four in the acting categories. This is no shock to me.
Here’s what I said in February when I recommended the series: “Who knew the world behind the Chippendales was so sordid and dangerous! When Emmy nominations are announced this summer, I expect this Hulu series to grab several. Kumail Nanjiani (superb in “The Big Sick”) should easily get a Best Actor nomination and one should go to Murray Bartlett (Emmy winner for season one of “The White Lotus”) in the Supporting Actor category. It was great seeing the always amazing Tony Award-winning actress Annaleigh Ashford (Paula Jones in “Impeachment: American Crime Story”). And, Juliette Lewis (Peacock’s “Queer As Folk”) was as kooky and great as ever.”
GRADE: A
“THE WHITE LOTUS”
The second season garnered 23 Emmy nominations. Of those, nine were in the acting categories.
What’s funny is that in the “Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series”, there were eight nominations — four were from “The White Lotus” and the other four were from “Succession”.
In the “Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series”, five of the eight nominees were from “The White Lotus”.
In February, here’s what I said (and by the way, all four that I mentioned were nominated): “While I enjoyed the first season, I absolutely loved the second season, which was set in Italy. The scenery was gorgeous and so was the cast. Last week, I shared an image of Theo James and Aubrey Plaza. Both were great, but it was English actor Will Sharpe (as Ethan) that had me mesmerized. Jennifer Coolidge won an Emmy for the first season and she returns for season two. In the first season, her rich, lonely character Tanya McQuoid was so annoying. She was so much more likeable in season two! I see a second Emmy coming her way this year.”
GRADE:A
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
Where does time go? July is already half over! Thank you for taking time to check out what’s on my mind this week.
HUH? YOUR KID CAN’T DO WHAT?
An Australian mom is upset with her child’s school!
Ashlee Griffiths says a teacher’s aide refused to unwrap her 5-year-old son’s snack cake because it was “unhealthy”.
The comedy and lifestyle TikToker says she speaking out to denounce diet culture and “take away the stigma around good verses bad foods”.
However, the big question for me: A five-year-old can’t open a cellophane wrapper himself? Who knows, maybe Australian snacks are hard to break into like Fort Knox?
MUST TRY THIS!
Guess I’m going to have to make a special trip to Walmart. Snickers is introducing a new candy bar — butterscotch!
It’s limited edition, so if this sounds delicious to you, too, we’d better hurry!
“THE BEAR” SEASON 2
I just watched the second season of the Emmy-nominated Hulu series “The Bear” and it was phenomenal!
While the main cast was fantastic just as in season one, there were so many great guest star appearances (Oscar winners Jamie Lee Curtis and Olivia Colman, Emmy winner Sarah Paulson, and Emmy nominees Bob Odenkirk and Will Poulter).
I loved the episodes “Forks” (showcasing Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Richie), the season finale, “The Bear”, and “Fishes”, the hour-long Christmas episode.
While this years’ Emmy nominations were announced earlier this week, just go ahead and give Jamie Lee Curtis an Emmy for next year.
Her performance as Donna Berzatto, the mother of the Berzatto siblings, was so heartbreaking and real.
Also, the episode “Sundae” when Sydney visits many Chicago restaurants to sample their dishes renews my desire to fulfil the #2 item on my “bucket list” — to dine at Grant Achatz’s Alinea in Chicago!
By the way, season one earned 13 Emmy nominations earlier this week including acting noms for Jeremy Allen White (Carmy), Ayo Edebiri (Sydney), Moss-Bachrach (Richie), Jon Bernthal (Mikey Berzatto), and Oliver Platt (Uncle Jimmy).
GRADE: A-
KYLIE IS READY TO TAKE ON AMERICA!
It’s no secret — you know I love Kylie Minogue and I can’t wait to finally see her in concert.
What’s crazy is that she’s a Grammy Award winner (2004’s “Come Into My World” won Best Dance Recording) and a five-time Grammy nominee.
She’s a huge international star on the level of Madonna — except in the U.S., where it’s said, she has “cult status”! What, I’m in a cult? 🙂
Worldwide, she’s sold more than 80 million records and is the biggest-selling female Australian artist of all time. In the U.K., she’s had 52 Top 40 hits, 35 of them have hit the Top Ten, and 7 have topped the charts!
Totally baffling is that in the U.S., she’s only had five Top 40 hits since her first in 1987, “I Should Be So Lucky” (#28).
Here, she’s known for the #3 1988 hit “The Loco-Motion” and “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” in 2001. It reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100, but #1 in 40 countries around the world!
That’s all about to change as “Padam Padam”, the lead single from her upcoming “Tension” album (September 22nd), is finally getting American and Canadian airplay and will likely become a hit at Top 40 radio.
MADONNA HEALTH SCARE POSTPONES NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
Madonna’s “The Celebration Tour”, featuring the biggest hits of her amazing 40-year career, was to kick off this weekend in British Columbia for 57 dates across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
However, on June 24th, she developed a serious bacterial infection and spent several days in the ICU. Madonna is now out of the hospital and is feeling better, but the North America tour is postponed.
The tour will now kick off October 14th in London, England, with four shows. It’ll then make its way across Europe and end on December 6th in London for a total of 27 European dates.
As of now, no word on when the North American dates will be rescheduled.
EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT A MADONNA FAN…. I WANT YOUR OPINION ON THE VIDEO BELOW First, the back story…
WHEN FEARLESS MADONNA BACKED DOWN
As a Madonna fan for 40 years, my favorite song is still “Borderline” from her 1983 self-titled debut album.
I finally bought “Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones”, a compilation of all of her #1 hits on the Billboard Dance Club Song chart.
It’s incredible — the remixes and the remastered tracks sound amazing! However, “Borderline” isn’t featured since it only reached #4 on the Dance chart.
But, that’s not what the reason I’m talking about Madonna today.
Unfortunately, most of the press she’s gotten over the past year or so hasn’t been good.
Some of it is ageist blasting the 64-year-old for being too provocative. (Hello… Bitch, She’s Madonna!) Some of it she’s brought upon herself and it’s justified. Even as a huge fan, lately I’ve shaken my head more often than not.
She’s never been one to back down from controversy. In 1990, during the “Blonde Ambition” Tour”, Toronto (Ontario, Canada) authorities threatened to arrest her during the simulated masturbation performance of “Like A Virgin”. All three shows went on, she did her thing, and she was NOT fined or arrested.
However, in early 2003, she did back down from a controversy. And, I fully believe it would’ve ended her career if she hadn’t!!!
In February of that year, she shot a very graphic, antiwar video for the first single, the title track to her upcoming ninth studio album, “American Life”.
“AMERICAN LIFE” NOW — 20 YEARS LATER
At the time, we never saw it. We got a lame version.
On April 1, 2003, Madonna pulled the video because of the political climate in the U.S..
She said, “I’ve decided not to release my new video. It was filmed before the war started and I do not believe it is appropriate to air it at this time. Due to the volatile state of the world and out of sensitivity and respect to the armed forces, who I support and pray for, I do not want to risk offending anyone who might misinterpret the meaning of this video.”
This spring, on the 20th anniversary of the “American Life” album, the “director’s cut” of the original video was released. And, boy is it compelling and honest, in light of what we now know about Bush’s war — the Iraqi invasion of 2003!!!
Even if you’re not a Madonna fan, watch them and tell me what you think.
Do you think this would have ended her career in 2003?
GRADE: A
“AMERICAN LIFE” THEN
Here is the video Madonna released instead. It’s no surprised the song bombed with this lame, sterile video!
Oh, that “rap” in the song was laughable then and especially twenty years later!
Sorry, Madonna!
GRADE: C-
Your thoughts on the two videos?
“JACQUELINE BOUVIER KENNEDY ONASSIS: A LIFE”
Donald Spoto’s 2000 biography was compelling and very comprehensive.
As much as I’ve read about the Kennedys, I learned even more with this book, like…
Jackie and Jack Kennedy had opposite taste, “Jackie like French antiques, velvets and silk, high art, classical music and great literature, pate de fois gras with a good Bordeaux and dinner parties for four or six, maximum. Jack, on the other hand, was a lounge-chair or rocker type of man whose preferences ran to pop songs, Irish airs, boiled beef and beer with a large crowd of boisterous buddies”.
Just two years into their marriage, Jackie expressed to her father-in-law, Joseph Kennedy, her unhappiness. He offered her $1 million in trust funds not to divorce JFK! (That’d be $11 million today.) By the way, she didn’t take it.
By 1961, Washington correspondent Gwen Gibson summarized the Kennedy marriage as “a partnership, an arrangement for their mutual benefit. Later they became closer, but that happened so near to the end.” This sounds very much like what is said about President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton.
Another thing that Jackie and Hillary had in common is that both President Kennedy and President Clinton turned to their wives for advice even though they didn’t advise the president’s staffs.
I have several things in common with Jackie — one is planning for Christmas in July!
The press declared Jackie “a new kind of First Lady”. And, why wouldn’t they? Since Jackie followed first ladies Eleanor Roosevelt, Bess Truman, and Mamie Eisenhower, Truman’s daughter, Margaret Truman, stated, “Jackie was new in capital letters.”
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
Hopefully, you had a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July.
For many of us across Illinois, it was one of cleaning up from damaging winds and tornadoes that left at least 107,000 Ameren Illinois customers without power. Even at midweek, there were still a thousand or so in the dark.
Thus, I wasn’t able to post my thoughts last Friday, so here goes….
FINAL SUBMERSIVE THOUGHT
This follows up from my last blog. While I’m sad for the families of those onboard the Titan submersible that imploded killing the five men on board, I just can’t get past how reckless the whole adventure was going into it.
It’s been reported that four of the men paid about $250,000 a person for the adventure, that’s a million dollars!
Meanwhile, in the Mediterranean, migrants are paying almost every penny they have to unsafely cross the Sea for a better life knowing they could die.
This sums it up!
BUD LIGHT CONTROVERSY WON’T GO AWAY
I honestly want to stop talking about the silliness that is the Bud Light controversy.
I don’t drink beer, so it affects mostly those that hate trans people and want to be on the wrong side of history.
Country icon and legend Garth Brooks is opening a restaurant in Nashville called “Friends In Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk”.
He says, “I want it to be a place you feel safe in, I want it to be a place where you feel like there are manners and people like one another.” He went on to say, “If you [are let] into this house, love one another. If you’re an asshole, there are plenty of other places on lower Broadway.” Oh, and it’ll serve “every brand of beer”.
Of course that prompted the ire of right wing commenters and the very intelligent Florida congressman Matt Gaetz. (Sarcasm!)
But, the biggest fool of all is Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
He tweeted a FAKE article about Brooks being booed off the stage in the Lone Star state and thanked Texans for being jerks!
He has since deleted the tweet.
Clearly, I’d chose Brooks’ “friends in low places” over Abbott’s friends!
Good Lord, I’m still laughing about it!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
While he’s at home with end-of-life hospice and she’s suffering from dementia, my idol former President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter are celebrating their 77th wedding anniversary (July 7).
They are the longest-wed presidential couple.
MY FAVORITE FOURTH OF JULY
My favorite Independence Day is, without a doubt, probably one of your favorites, too.
Back in 1976, the United States was celebrating its 200th birthday, its bicentennial.
As a kid, I was mesmerized with the sight of more than a dozen tall ships and tens of thousands of boats filling New York Harbor.
On my transistor radio, “Fernando” by ABBA was playing. It’s hard to believe that just one month later, the band would release the iconic “Dancing Queen”!
MY LEAST FAVORITE FOURTH OF JULY
On the other hand, none compare to the 4th of July in 2007 for the worst!
I was working the morning show and on my drive in, it started pouring rain. In the three minute drive to the station, it was coming down in buckets.
As I was running toward the door, my keys flew out of my hands and went underwater in a puddle. I got to the door and banged and banged, but no one heard it! It was 1:45 a.m. (I didn’t have a cell phone at the time!)
So, I dug through my bag and found my spare car keys. I drove to the other side of the building and, this time, one of the producers heard me knocking and opened the door.
Since I was soaked, I decided to go back home and change into a dry suit.
As torrential rains continued falling, a wall of water came crashing into the intersection. Without warning, in just seconds (real-time seconds), my car stalled and died as the water quickly came up to the door. At the same time, three other cars met the same fate as mine.
I quickly thought about the power doors and windows and opened my door! If there was a shortage, I would be locked inside!
Three intoxicated teenagers came running through the water and helped me push my car into an alley.
Soaking wet, I walked fifteen blocks to my house bare-footed in a ruined suit.
I ended up with three large blisters on the soles of my feet. Luckily, I didn’t step on anything sharp, which would have allowed bacteria from the nasty floodwaters to make me sick!
By the way, I made it back in time to get my weather graphics done and was on the air at 5 a.m.!
As a meteorologist, I’ve never encountered the force of raging water and now I know first hand just where “flash flooding” gets its name.
It just two or three seconds, the water came out of nowhere and submerged the cars!
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
Remember, it only takes about six inches of flowing water to sweep a person off their feet, a foot of moving water to make a car buoyant, and only two feet of raging water to sweep a car away!
SUMMER AND TICKS
Now that summer is here, mosquitos are a pest and ticks are lurking.
There are some amazing smelling herbs and plants you can put in your yard to create a barrier between wooded areas and your home that keep ticks away.
Mint, sage, lavender, rosemary, garlic, and marigolds have tick-repellent properties, with fragrances, textures and oils that ticks can’t tolerate.
“GEORGE MICHAEL: A LIFE”
This 2022 biography by James Gavin was very honest and very enlightening. A must read!
It covers all of the demons George battled in life — from his childhood (overweight and insecure) to early adulthood (worldwide fame and drugs) to later in life (fame, avoiding the spotlight of fame, drugs, and weight gain). Oh, and that arrest in the Los Angeles park bathroom!
George died on Christmas Day 2016 and eerily, his sister, Melanie Panayiotou, also died on Christmas Day three years later.
WHAM! (THE DOCUMENTARY)
I can’t wait to check out the “Wham!” documentary that debuted on Netflix earlier this week.
“WHEN WE RISE: MY LIFE IN THE MOVEMENT”
Pride month is over, but I still want to share some details from LGBTQ pioneer Cleve Jones’ 2016 autobiography.
He came up with the idea of the AIDS Memorial Quilt in 1985 at a Harvey Milk memorial service.
Jones also fought against Anita Bryant’s “Save our Children” campaign in Florida (1977) and John Briggs’ California Proposition 6, better known as the “Briggs Initiative” (1978), which would have banned gays and lesbians (and their allies) to work in the California school system.
After his historical election to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in November 1977, his friend, the legendary Harvey Milk, told Jones, “Even if we lose, having the debate moves us forward, just by requiring people to think about the issue. The more they think about it, the more progress we make. And we have to get everyone to come out of their closet.” Milk smiled and added, “If we all come out, we will win. Once people understand that they have gay friends and family members and coworkers and neighbors, they won’t fear us, they won’t hate us, and they won’t vote against us. That’s how we win. Everyone must come out.”
And, I loved the story that Jones told about his sadness after finding his lover in bed with another man. When he told Harvey, Milk told the young Jones (in his early 20s) that later in life he’d realize who was and who was not the great loves in life. He said that Harvey was right.
MY FAVORITE GEORGE MICHAEL (WHAM) SONGS
There are many to choose from, so “Monkey”, “Too Funky”, and “Freedom 90” missed out.
“WAKE ME UP BEFORE YOU GO GO” (Wham!) (3 weeks at #1, 1984)
“I’M YOUR MAN” (Wham!) (#3, 1986)
“I WANT YOUR SEX” (#2, 1987)
“FAITH (4 weeks at #1, 1987)
“I KNEW YOU WERE WAITING (FOR ME) with Aretha Franklin (#1, 1987)
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
Happy Friday and for you summer lovers, enjoy it for me.
Now that it’s officially summer, fall is just 92 days away.
Thank you for taking time to check out my random thoughts.
SUBMERSIVE SAGA
This past week, crews were searching the North Atlantic near the site of the “Titanic” wreckage for a submersible called the “Titan” with five men inside. They’re likely dead.
U.S. and Canadian ships and aircrafts intensified the search about 900 miles east of Cape Cod and about 13,000 feet below sea level.
While it’s a tragic end to the story, you’d never have seen me on that regardless of the cost! No thank you!
I’m claustrophobic enough that I don’t even want to sit in the middle seat on a plane!
If I want to see the “Titanic”, I’ll watch Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio as Rose and Jack!
A TRUE TRAGEDY OFF GREECE& SPAIN
At the end of May, I talked about people willing to die for a chance of freedom and a new life.
It was mainly about how many migrants die while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach Italy.
Earlier this week, a migrant boat sank near Spain’s Canary Islands and dozens are feared drowned.
On Thursday, Spanish government maritime services rescued 227 other migrants from four boats off Morocco’s west coast.
And, just last week, more than 300 Pakistani nationals died off the coast of Greece when the overcrowded fishing boat they were on capsized. About 750 men, women, and children were on board.
The refugee crises involves tens of thousands seeking sanctuary from poverty, persecution, and war.
How sad!
BOYCOTTING — WHAT’S DIFFERENT
I know you haven’t lost any sleep over it, but I was thinking about the difference between the Bud Light boycott and me not spending my money (basically boycotting) at Chick-fil-A!
I’m not hypocritical by shaking my head at those avoiding Bud Light beer because it featured a trans woman in a promotion.
Clearly, the people mad at Anheuser-Busch are transphobic, even if they don’t know what that means.
I loathe the chicken chain because of its blatant antigay stance and its funding of antigay agendas!
By the way, I’d love to try its peach shake, but I sure the hate would make it tasty less peachy!
So, I’ll just watch Elio enjoy his peach in “Call Me By Your Name!” 🙂
WHAT PRIDE IS & ISN’T
A WORK OF FICTION!
Typically, I read biographies, autobiographies, and books about real life events.
For years, I’ve been moving a box of old “Time” magazines (2017-2019) from place to place and I finally read them. While doing so, I jotted down some fiction book titles that sounded interesting and read them.
I’d highly recommend three of them, I’m indifferent about one, and would skip the last one.
“THE CARE AND FEEDING OF RAVENOUSLY HUNGRY GIRLS” by Anissa Gray (2019)
I highly recommend this book.
It’s about a family coming together after the oldest sister goes to jail. It’s then up to her siblings to raise her two children. This is a very touching book about family dealing with the past while trying to figure out the future.
Additionally, the book really touched me because I can truly relate to one of the characters — she’s gay and she has an eating disorder.
GRADE: A-
“THE OTHER AMERICANS” by Laila Lalami (2019)
A Moroccan immigrant living with his wife outside of Palm Springs, California, is killed by a hit and run driver.
His grown daughter, Nora, a musician living in San Francisco, comes home for the funeral and butts heads with her mother and sister.
While home, she meets up with an old high school friend, Jeremy, who helps her cope with her dad’s death while battling his own demons.
He also helps her with the investigation into her father’s death.
GRADE: B+
“99 NIGHTS IN LOGAR” by Jamil Jan Kochai (2019)
This is a riveting coming-of-age story about a boy living in the United States making a journey home to modern-day Afghanistan.
While there, 12-year-old Marwand, one of his brothers, and his young cousins go on a 99-night search across Logar for the family guard dog, Budabash, after it bites Marwand’s finger off and escapes.
We learn more about the dog and its relationship with the boy when he visited six years ago.
It was also very enlightening about their culture.
GRADE: B
“DRIVING YOUR PLOW OVER THE BONES OF THE DEAD” by Olga Tokarczuk (2019)
This book was originally published in Polish in 2009 and translated in 2019. I absolutely love the title!
It’s the dead of a European winter out in the middle of nowhere Poland.
Janine prefers animals to people, so she’s not too upset when her neighbor she wasn’t friendly with ends up dead. His death is followed by other deaths with strange circumstances.
Janine becomes an eccentric sleuth trying to find the killer using astrology and the police aren’t impressed with her nosiness and methods.
GRADE: B–
“MY SISTER THE SERIAL KILLER: A NOVEL” by Oyinkan Braithwaite(2018)
This book is about a Nigerian health care worker helping her sister cover up the death of her boyfriend that she claims threatened her life.
However, it seems her beautiful, younger sister has bad luck with guys because another boyfriend ends up dead and, again, involves her sister in getting rid of the body.
But, the older sister draws the line with her “serial killer” sister when the younger one starts dating a co-worker she’s crushing on.
Much of the book was entertaining, but the ending was unfulfilling!
GRADE: C
“I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY” (THE MOVIE)
I finally got around to seeing the $45 million Whitney Houston biopic, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” that made almost $60 million in theaters last winter.
Naomi Ackie was great as the iconic singer and I enjoyed Stanley Tucci as music mogul Clive Davis.
I’m still grossed out by the real and movie version of Bobby Brown!
GRADE:B
“I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY” (THE SONG)
“I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” was released as the first single from Houston’s second studio album.
It entered the Billboard Hot 100 at #38 on May 16, 1987. It reached #1 six weeks later on June 27, 1987, the same day her album “Whitney” debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 (known then as “Top Pop Albums”). That was the first time ever for a woman!
The song also won the Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
“I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) is my favorite Whitney Houston song.
At #2 is “So Emotional” (1987)
At #3 “How Will I Know” (1985)
and at 4, “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay” (1999)
MY LIFE: THE FIRST 35YEARS
In the summer of 2020, with the pandemic raging, I started thinking about the events and the songs that influenced me most in life.
On September 11, 2020, I counted down my 35 favorite songs of my first 35 years (1964-1999). However, because I had so much fun with it, I decided to countdown my 101 favorites (there were 101 Dalmatians)!
I also counted down the 13 biggest events, personal or worldwide, that affected me the most.
If you’d like to have some fun and enjoy the soundtrack of my first 35 years of life, click here and take a walk down memory lane with me:
Happy Friday! The last week of spring is winding down and when I share thoughts next Friday, it’ll officially be summer.
Yay! That means it’s closer to fall!
Enjoy your weekend and thank you for checking out my random thoughts.
CHEERS!
A new study shows light consumption of alcohol benefits the heart by turning down stress to the brain.
It shows that light to moderate drinkers (those having one to 14 drinks per week) were less likely to have a heart attack or stroke than those who had less than one drink per week — even after genetic and lifestyle adjustments.
The study was conducted by a group at the Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
They also add that aside from drinking, two good stress relievers are exercise and meditation.
Now, the downside, the researchers found that ANY amount of drinking increases the risk of cancer!!!
QUOTE OF THE MONTH!
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre: “After calling Joe Biden senile, Republicans complained he outsmarted them. I will leave it there.”
PRIDE MONTH THOUGHT
We’re now into the middle of June and Pride Month and I hope everyone is doing well.
Okay, most people!
PRIDE PLAYLIST
I know this is from last year, but if you want some jammin’ tunes for Pride or just to have fun this Friday, this playlist is awesome.
And, two of my favorite songs of the past 25 years are back-to-back at #13 and #14, Robyn and Kylie Minogue (about 16 minutes into the mix)!
“THE BEAR”
The second season of the amazing FX series, “The Bear”, drops June 22nd.
If you haven’t seen the first season (eight episodes), I highly recommend it.
Earlier this year, I finally watched it and here’s what I had to say about it: “If you’re a fan of the Food Network or intrigued by the cutthroat world of the restaurant business, you’ll really enjoy the Hulu series, “The Bear”.
For the longest time, I didn’t even give it a second thought because of the name. I didn’t realize it was about cooking and food. It’s incredible!”
I went on to say, “I absolutely love Jeremy Allen White’s intensity as “Carmy”, a New York City chef that comes back to Chicago to run his late brother’s restaurant that’s about to go under.
White won the Critics’ Choice Award and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Comedy. I expect the same when the Emmy Awards are announced.”
I gave season one an “A-“!
“TILL”
The acting in this true story movie about the murder of a 14-year-old Black Chicago boy visiting his family in Mississippi after flirting with a white woman in the 1950s was fantastic.
Danielle Deadwyler, who plays Mamie Till, was amazing.
And, it was great seeing Whoopi Goldberg, in another dramatic role, playing Mamie’s mother.
GRADE: B
“LUTHER (THE SERIES)”
This British psychological/police drama ran five short seasons between 2010-2019.
Idris Elba stars as DCI John Luther, who has a keen sense into the minds of criminals. He thinks outside of the box and doesn’t exactly play by the rules.
I just finished the series and the new Netflix movie.
The series was sluggish in the first season, but definitely was thrilling and much darker, creepier, and more violent in the next four seasons.
My favorite character was Alice Morgan (Ruth Wilson), a research scientist and genius, but she was totally psychotic!
I enjoyed the storyline of vigilante killer Tom Marwood in season three because the actor, Elliot Cowan, was so good looking.
And, I really loved Warren Brown as DS Justin Ripley.
Spoiler alert — he was killed off too soon!
GRADE: B
“LUTHER: THE FALLEN SUN”
Four years after season five, this movie was briefly released in theaters earlier this year and is now streaming on Netflix.
The movie was very creepy.
How creepy? Let’s just say a few minutes into the movie, a serial killer tricks several parents of some of his victims to gather at a house where he burns their children’s corpses in front of them!!!
GRADE: B+
“OFFICIAL AND CONFIDENTIAL: THE SECRET LIFE OF J. EDGAR HOOVER”
Here are some things I learned about former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, who died in May 1972, from Anthony Summers’ 1993 book.
Hoover was an evil, self-loathing closet homosexual and I know it’s bad to think this way, but I’m happy that he never got to see his dream project, the new FBI headquarters finished! He died in 1972 and it opened in September 1975.
While it was under construction, Hoover fought constantly with the planners. He said open arcades would provide “free access to alcoholics, homos, and whores” (which ironically he was two out of three!). Oh, in case you didn’t figure it out, who’d pay to have sex with him!
He also said that columns would give cover to lurking assassins, which he always feared and rode in a bulletproof car.
There is strong speculation that Hoover may have committed suicide since his death came at an appropriate time when two very scathing books about him and the FBI were coming out and he knew that Nixon was finally ready to let him go.
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
, cinnamon syrup, and lemon 
juice. While pricey ($17, it’s Vegas baby!), it was so delicious!
What's Peeps Thinking About Now? It's Probably Random! 