While I posted a couple of features about the amazing women in my life and one about LeAnn Rimes, it’s been over a month since I posted some random thoughts.
As spring winds down and summer takes over, enjoy your Friday the 13th weekend and what’s on my mind.
APARTMENT LIVING
Ever since my separation and divorce in 2017, I’ve lived in apartments.
While I didn’t like Panama City, Florida, my apartment for the year that I was there was my favorite.
It was destroyed by Hurricane Michael less than five months after I moved to Duluth in 2018.
I also loved my apartment for the past three years in Decatur, Illinois, but the rent became so outrageous, it wasn’t practical.
I’m still working on my apartment where Xanadu and I live now.
The advantages are definitely the balcony and the view of Lake Decatur through the trees.
There are many disadvantages: being outdated, the layout, and the space.
I need to make changes to the living room to give us more space. My first attempt failed, but I’m not giving up. Stay tuned!
Also, I still have a full storage tote and some boxes of dry foods sitting in the kitchen since there’s no storage space.
NATURE
I can’t believe this little yellow cuddy creature turns into this!
Don’t get me wrong, the geese are beautiful, but it’d be really cool if there were yellow geese! 🙂
OCTOBER EXCITEMENT BUILDING
While it’s my birthday month and I’m going on a road trip, that’s not why the excitement is building.
Netflix just announced the second season of “Nobody Wants This” will premiere October 23rd! I can’t wait to watch the first season over again!
About season one, I wrote: “I’m more into dramas or love stories, so usually I’m not a big “comedy” fan. But, I absolutely love this new Netflix series and I almost started watching it again after I finished!
Kristen Bell and Adam Brody play a couple that meet at a dinner party. She’s a podcaster that talks mostly about sex and relationships and he’s a rabbi.
This series is very funny and sexy.”
GRADE: A-
“YOU” — THE FINAL SEASON
I finally got around to watching and finishing “You”.
After the disappointing fourth season, I hoped it’d be a killer final season.
I loved the first two episodes and that twist at the end of the second episode was awesome and that shocking murder at the halfway point made me wonder how that’d play out.
Of course, there were two “filler” episodes (seven and eight), and the ninth episode set up the finale.
Let’s just say, the finale was not perfect like “The Americans” or amazing like “Hannibal”. However, it wasn’t disappointing like the “Dexter” series finale.
This finale was satisfying after the first throwaway 27 minutes.
GRADE: B
“THE LAST SHOWGIRL”
I was intrigued with the prospect of watching “The Last Showgirl” with Pamela Anderson and Jamie Lee Curtis, but I didn’t have high expectations.
I enjoyed reading Anderson’s 2023 autobiography, “Love, Pamela”, but I didn’t know what to expect from her acting (no, I never watched her or her boobs on “Baywatch”).
I knew that Oscar and Emmy-award winner Curtis would knock it out of the park and she did.
Anderson plays Shelly, an aging Las Vegas showgirl faced with an uncertain future after the revue she’s worked at for over 30 years, “Le Razzle Dazzle”, announces it’s closing.
What I found funny is the movie’s Wikipedia page calls her “middle-aged”, but she’s 57-years-old and that’s not middle-aged, especially in the glamorous entertainment business.
Curtis plays Shelly’s best friend, a rough and tumble cocktail waitress and former showgirl.
Anderson was nominated for a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild award in the Best Actress category and Curtis received nominations from the BAFTA (the British “Oscars”) and Screen Actors Guild for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
The movie far exceeded my expectations.
It deeply touched me because of the reality of not only facing aging out in what feels like a younger, rapidly changing world, but also starting over again when you should be thinking of slowing down and enjoying life more.
I know the feeling!
GRADE: A-
MY APOLOGIES TO JACK VALENTI
I wish Jack Valenti was alive today for two reasons: to meet him and tell him how great his autobiography is and to apologize.
I remember his name from his days (actually, 38 years) as the president of the Motion Picture Association of America. I didn’t really pay that much attention to him in that capacity and I always, incorrectly, pictured him as a friend and crony of President Ronald Reagan.
Since I read a lot of political books, his name popped up several times when talking about President Lyndon B. Johnson, so I decided to give his 2007 book, “This Time, This Place: My Life in War, the White House, and Hollywood”, a read. I’m so glad I did.
Valenti was NOT a Reagan “crony” (he said very little about him), but he was a World War 2 veteran and one of the most loyal people to President Johnson — faults and all.
Sadly, Valenti died in late April 2007 and his book came out three weeks later.
It’s definitely a good read.
ONE SEASON IS NOT ENOUGH!
At this time, the fate of ABC’s “Doctor Odyssey” is still up in the air. It wasn’t added to the ABC fall lineup and the network says it’s up to Ryan Murphy to say “yes, there will be a second season” since he’s busy with so many projects.
I actually enjoyed it, but I’m not optimistic it’ll return for a second season.
If you’re a fan of “9-1-1” and its spinoff, you should like it — medical dramas on a luxury cruise ship.
All three of the leads are very sexy — Joshua Jackson (“Dawson’s Creek” and “Fringe”), Phillipa Soo (who is also a singer), and Sean Teale (“Who Is Erin Carter?”).
A while back, I wrote about Teale and “Who Is Erin Carter?”, which I loved and gave a grade of “A-“.
Also, Don Johnson of “Miami Vice” fame is the captain!
ONE SEASON WAS ENOUGH
Over the past few months, I finally got around to watching the Netflix series “Griselda” and the first season of “Interview with the Vampire”.
Emmy nominee Sofia Vergara was amazing in “Griselda” and the drama was entertaining, but one season was enough.
And, while “Interview” has a second season and is coming back for a third, I’m not sure I want to come along for more undead adventures.
“TRAILBLAZER”
Well, I hoped that two younger country superstars could get Reba McEntire back on country radio, but it’s wasn’t meant to be.
However, this song is great.
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
Anthony
What's Peeps Thinking About Now? It's Probably Random! 