What an interesting week across America! And, hello to my friends beyond our borders! 🙂
Thank you for taking the time to check out my thoughts. While we don’t have to agree, we must do it diplomatically!
“HAPPY HOLIDAYS” DOESN’T REALLY COVER IT!
Let’s start off light and cheery! I found a new greeting to get us through the next three months!
And, this is still one of my favorites!
COVID-19 LATEST
I’ve been trying really, really hard to stay out of the fray that is the past four years of 45’s presidency.
But, just when you think nothing else can shock you, SURPRISE!
What? WTH? WTF?
More than 212-thousand people in the U.S. have died this year from Covid-19 and more than 7.6 million have tested positive for it and he tweets, “Don’t be afraid of Covid.” and “Don’t let it dominate your life.”!
While I’m no doctor or medical expert, I feel pretty confident in saying that many people testing positive for Covid-19 are doing so because they’re following pathetic advice like that and not following safety protocols!
This GIF has nothing to do with his comments, but it works!
“VOTE NOT GLOAT”
“Halloween” movie icon Jamie Lee Curtis tweeted an incredible and powerful message last Friday after Donald and Melania Trump tested positive for Covid-19.
As you can see, I approve this message!
PROOF THAT MASKS SAVE LIVES!
If you don’t believe that masks save lives, I have two words for you –Hannibal Lecter!
Now I want to watch 1991’s Oscar winning Best Picture, “The Silence of the Lambs”, again!
#1 SELLING NON-CHOCOLATE CANDY BAR
I recently read the 1991 Chicago Sun-Times book by Don Hayner and Tom McNamee called “Metro Chicago Almanac”.
Since Halloween is nearing, I’ll share this candy stat from the book.
It states that PayDay is the top selling non-chocolate candy bar in the U.S.!
If you love that candy bar, but you crave chocolate, too, a new PayDay was introduced in August — Chocolatey PAYDAY!
What are your favorite candy bars?
Mine are (#4) Milky Way, (#3) PayDay, (#2) Snickers, and at (#1) Zero!
By the way, the original Zero candy bar was produced in Centralia, Illinois!
HAPPY HEAVENLY BIRTHDAY MARY GRIFFITH
Mary Griffith died earlier this year at the age of 85. She shared the same birthday as me (October 13th).
Most of you don’t know the name. But, in the 1980s, she became an icon after she saw the light and became one of the strongest advocates for the LGBTQ community.
However, it took a tragedy for that to happen.
Because of her faith in religion and the Bible, she terrorized her gay son, Bobby, constantly with Bible verses and with the fear of God after he came out to her.
Bobby ended his life is the summer of 1983 when he jumped off a Portland, Oregon, overpass into the path of an 18-wheeler!
Over time, Mary realized that God didn’t need to change Bobby because her son was perfect just as God created him — gay!
Through heartache and pain, she became a staunch advocate for PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) in her northern California chapter.
Mary, now that you and Bobby are reunited, I hope you’re enjoying the happiness you never found together on Earth.
I’m honored to share a birthday with you!
If you want to read Mary’s story, Leroy Aarons’ book, “Prayers For Bobby” is excellent.
And, there’s a great Lifetime movie with Sigourney Weaver.
“LOVE, VICTOR”
When this project was announced, I was excited thinking it was a movie and a true sequel to 2018’s “Love, Simon”. When I found out it was a 10-episode Hulu series and would not be a Nick Robinson-series, I was less excited.
So, I waited a almost three months after it premiered. Boy, was I wrong!
“Love, Victor” has a great cast including the adorable lead, Michael Comino as Victor, Anthony Turpel as his best friend, Felix, and George Sear (Benji) and Rachel Hilson (Mia) as his two crushes.
And, it’s a well-rounded story that just doesn’t just focus on Victor’s coming of age story and coming out. His parents have their own drama!
Plus, Nick Robinson does make a brief appearance in a later episode.
“Love, Victor” was renewed for a second season.
There were many funny one-liners including this one from Benji to Victor about Dolly Parton:
“She’s actually one of the few things that gay sons and straight guys agree on!”
“LOVE, SIMON”
This was my #10 movie of 2018 grossing $66.3 million in theaters. When I saw it March of that year, I gave it a grade of B+ and wrote:
“LGBT icon and trailblazer Harvey Milk once said, ‘You gotta give them hope.’ The new romantic dramedy, ‘Love, Simon’, gives LGBTQ teenagers and young adults a lot of hope.
Nick Robinson is adorable as closeted high school student Simon Spier living in an Atlanta suburb. He has a great family and a group of close friends at school, but he a “huge ass secret” — he’s gay.”
I went on to add, “I loved the movie and the message it presents to youngsters and young adults (and their families).
However, as a realist and an older gay man, the movie was wrapped up a little too perfect even with the drama Simon experienced.
But, regardless of age, we all want a happy ending!”
SELENA
One day I was singing a Selena song and then in a scene that night in “Love, Victor”, his mother was singing one of her songs!
It took me back to my 1997 Lubbock, Texas days when I was a reporter and weekend anchor at the CBS affiliate, KLBK.
That was the year that the movie, “Selena”, with Jennifer Lopez came out. I felt like I was on the Selena “beat” because it seem like I was always doing stories on the movie.
And, I remember interviewing Jackie Delgado, who I honestly believe was Selena’s biggest fan in West Texas!
In 1994, I became a Selena fan when I moved to Chicago and bought her fourth album, “Amor Prohibido”.
At the time of her death, at the age of 23, in the spring of 1995, Selena was working on her English language debut album, “Dreaming of You”.
That album debuted at #1 that summer and produced her only Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 (the title track).
“SELENA: THE SERIES”
This new series debuts December 4, 2020, on Netflix with Christian Serratos (“The Walking Dead”) playing Selena.
“A HOLLY DOLLY CHRISTMAS”
This is Dolly Parton’s first new Christmas album is 30 years.
I loved the duet with Michael Bublé, “Cuddle Up, Cozy Down Christmas”, and the duet with Willie Nelson on his holiday classic, “Pretty Paper”.
Also, her upbeat duet with her brother, Randy, “You Are My Christmas” is great. And, her giddy versions of “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” and “Holly Jolly Christmas” are fun.
I also liked her originals “Christmas on the Square”, “Circle of Love”, and “Comin’ Home for Christmas”.
Now, the downside, her duet with Billy Ray Cyrus would have been much better as just a Dolly song. Despite his success in the 1990s, who said he could sing? And, the pairing with Miley Cyrus was forgettable.
However, the most unforgivable song on the album is Dolly’s remake of Mariah Carey’s Christmas classic, “All I Want For Christmas Is You”, with Jimmy Fallon!
While I love Dolly and I like Fallon, this song is iconic and it shouldn’t have been so gimmicky!
All I can say is “Mariah, I’m sorry!”
After the first listen, I didn’t feel too cheery. On the second listen, the grade went up some. I hope it continues to grow on me!
GRADE: B
HARVEST SEASON
It’s harvest season, so watch out for farmers and farm machinery on the roadways.
Also, you never know what you might find in your gardens! 🙂
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
Anthony
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