Winter is winding down and spring is now just over a week away.
In Central Illinois, we experienced a spring-like day earlier this week with a high of 70° and snow is expected this weekend.
Speaking of the weekend, enjoy yours and thank you for checking out my thoughts.
XANADU — THE FIRST TWO WEEKS
Last week, I shared that I’m now a “Dog Dad” again and I introduced you to #Pug2023 — Xanadu.
She’s had more wins than losses in the potty training process, but that’s because I’m watching her like a hawk when she’s inside.
In the two weeks since I’ve had her, she’s gained one-and-a-half pounds and now weighs six pounds!
She also experienced her first snow (less than an inch) after a rainy day with near hurricane-force winds!
And, she was intrigued by the cold of the ice and enjoyed licking it!
It’s incredible how, like a baby, everything she sees goes into her mouth outside! And, I guess there’s an upside to her biting — she allows my fingers in her mouth to take everything out that she picks up!
Xanadu is becoming much more sociable to people and to the select dogs I’m letting her near until she’s fully vaccinated.
WHY EVEN BOTHER WATCHING?
There are so many streaming services out there, with Netflix being the biggest, and many create its own original content.
And, then if they don’t get “Game of Thrones” or “Ozark” viewership numbers, they cancel the series after just a season or two.
This is never more apparent that now. So, my question is, why even bother investing time into a new series that won’t have a conclusion?
“UNCOUPLED” LIVES!
This happened to the Netflix series “Uncoupled” that I watched last summer.
It was cancelled on a cliffhanger after one season. Luckily, it was picked up by Showtime.
If you haven’t watched it, here’s what I wrote about it:
“Neil Patrick Harris leads this eight-episode, Netflix series, alongside Tisha Campbell, Tuc Williams, and Marcia Gay Harden. This is the show that got me to thinking about my life.
Michael and his boyfriend have been together 17 years and he’s planning a surprise 50th birthday party for his partner. However, it’s Michael that gets the biggest surprise right before he and Colin walk into the party. Colin tells him that he’s moving out!
The series is very funny, sexy, and naughty!
The one thing I didn’t like was Michael’s excessive whining and crying about moving on without Colin.
Don’t get me wrong! I shed tears after my marriage fell apart, but life goes on!
It’s so great seeing Campbell again, even though she’s been actively working since 1990s “Martin”. She plays Michael’s real estate agent colleague and friend Suzanne.”
GRADE: B+
“MARCH MADNESS”
While spring officially begins Monday, March 20th, it’s “Selection Sunday” weekend for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
I might wager $10 this year and put forth my brackets for “March Madness” at work.
In 2013, I was successful in picking Louisville beating Michigan in the finals.
Not only did I win $144 at work, but I also won a 55″ wide screen television from a local store in the Quad Cities. And, it still works!
MY OSCAR PICKS
The Academy Awards are Sunday night.
Here are my picks in the big categories — who will win, who might win, and who I want to win!
Best Picture: I have it narrowed down to three: “All Quiet on the Western Front”, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”, and “Tár”.
WILL WIN: “EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE“
MIGHT WIN: “ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT”
I WANT TO WIN: “TAR”OR “EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE”
Best Director: My final two are Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”) or Steven Spielberg (“The Fabelmans”)
WHO WILL WIN: THE DANIELS
WHO MIGHT WIN: SPIELBERG
WHO I WANT TO WIN: THE DANIELS
Best Lead Actor: My two final choices are Austin Butler (“Elvis”) and Brendan Fraser (“The Whale”)
WHO WILL WIN: FRASER
WHO MIGHT WIN: BUTLER
WHO I WANT TO WIN: NOT COMMITTED SINCE I HAVEN’T SEEN “THE WHALE” YET.
Best Lead Actress: My finalists are Cate Blanchett (“Tár”) and Michelle Yeoh (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”)
WHO WILL WIN: YEOH
WHO MIGHT WIN: BLANCHETT
WHO I WANT TO WIN: A TIE — YEOH AND BLANCHETT BOTH GETTING OSCARS!
Best Supporting Actor:
WILL WIN & WANT TO WIN: Ke Huy Quan (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”)
Best Supporting Actress: I’ve narrowed it down to Angela Bassett (“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”) and Jamie Lee Curtis (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”)
WHO WILL WIN & WANT TO WIN: CURTIS
WHO MIGHT WIN: BASSETT
Best Adapted Screenplay: My finalists are “All Quiet on the Western Front” and “Women Talking”
WHO WILL WIN & WANT TO WIN: “ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT”
WHO MIGHT WIN: “WOMEN TALKING”
Best Original Screenplay: My finalists are “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and “Tár”
WILL WIN & WANT TO WIN: “EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE”
Best Original Song: This is no contest and I’d be shocked if “Naatu Naatu” doesn’t win!
“Applause” from “Tell It Like a Woman”
“Hold My Hand” from “Top Gun: Maverick”
“Lift Me Up” from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
“Naatu Naatu” from “RRR”
“This Is a Life” from “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
WILL WIN & I WANT TO WIN:“NAATU NAATU”
“EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE”
Typically, this would not be my kind of movie.
I watched it last December because of the awards seasons buzz and I love Michelle Yeoh. (Yes, I’m crying because we may never see the sequels to “Crazy Rich Asians”.)
The movie has already picked up the equivalent of “Best Picture” at the Critics’ Choice Awards and the Screen Actors Guild Awards and Yeoh has already won about three dozen Best Actress awards with the Oscars coming down to her and Cate Blanchett.
Ke Hu Quan, who plays Yeoh’s husband, is almost a shoe-in for the Oscar, and Jamie Lee Curtis earned her first Academy Award nomination for the movie in the Best Supporting Actress category.
While the movie ended up being my #6 movie of 2022, I’m so ready to watch it again just to see what I missed the first time since it was so mind-blowing!
GRADE: A-
I’M SO IN LOVE WITH MICHELLE YEOH
I’ve been singing the praises of “Crazy Rich Asians” for years.
When I saw the movie in August 2018, I gave it an “A” calling it “a classic romantic comedy — a masterpiece of not only love, but culture.” in a blog titled, ‘“Crazy Rich Asians” Sparkles — Fascinating & Irresistible”‘.
In that piece, I called Michelle Yeoh “ageless and gorgeous”. And, now that beauty graces the new “People” magazine.
The accompanying article on Yeoh is incredible — just hearing in her own words about the battles and stereotypes she’s been fighting since coming to Hollywood!
While I showed the cover because it’s beautiful, I also featured it because of the emerald ring from “Crazy Rich Asians”. It’s actually her ring and wasn’t just a movie prop!
However, here’s my favorite photo from the “People” article.
Now, just give her the Best Actress Oscar already (and if you’re reading this after Sunday night, you’ll know if the Academy Awards did just that)!
“YOU PEOPLE”
With a cast led by eight-time Emmy Award winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Emmy winner and Oscar nominee Eddie Murphy, how could you go wrong? Well, pretty easily!
The romantic-comedy movie is about race. Broker and podcaster Ezra (Jonah Hill), who is Jewish, meets and falls in love with fashion designer Amira (Lauren London), who is Black.
Dreyfus plays Ezra’s mother who tries too hard to show how thrilled she is by having a future daughter-in-law that’s Black. Meanwhile, Murphy doesn’t try hard enough to hide his feelings about having a white Jewish son-in-law.
While Louis-Dreyfus was great, the standouts in the movie were London and Sam Jay, who plays Mo, Ezra’s podcast sidekick, who’s a Black lesbian.
One of my favorite actors, David Duchovny, is pretty much wasted in this movie — not drunk-wasted, just no real purpose in the movie.
GRADE: C-
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
The new year is here and awards season is underway. So far, I’ve only seen a few of the frontrunners that are winning and are likely to become Oscar contenders!
I saw one movie in the theaters this past year and the refreshments were a disappointment. Pre-pandemic, AMC Theaters gave a bucket for a large popcorn and this time it was a small bag!
I hope the attendant was confused. I’ll give it another try in 2023.
There were two movies I wanted to see in 2022, but I haven’t yet. “Spoiler Alert” didn’t play in my city and I didn’t get around to seeing “Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody”. So, maybe they’ll be on next year’s list if they’re good!
Before we begin this year’s countdown, this was my favorite movie I saw in 2021. I’ve now watched “Promising Young Woman” three times!
The least favorite movie I saw in 2022 was “Licorice Pizza”. After the first hour, I was bored to death and stopped watching.
Here are the movies that just missed out on my countdown: #26 “Death on the Nile”; #25 “Umma”; #24 “Nightmare Alley”; #23 “Belfast”; #22 “Honk For Jesus: Save Your Soul”; and #21 “They/Them”.
Now let’s begin the Top Twenty countdown!
Oh, one final note: Jessica Chastain is in three of my favorite movies I saw in 2022!
“THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE”
BOX OFFICE: $2.7 MILLION
“GOOD LUCK TO YOU, LEO GRANDE”
BOX OFFICE: $6.4 MILLION
“NOPE”
BOX OFFICE: $171.3 MILLION
“SHE SAID”
BOX OFFICE: $12.4 MILLION
“THE 355”
BOX OFFICE: $27.8 MILLION
“LAST NIGHT IN SOHO”
BOX OFFICE: $23 MILLION
“THE GOOD NURSE”
“TICKET TO PARADISE”
BOX OFFICE: $172.2 MILLION
“KING RICHARD”
BOX OFFICE: $39.4 MILLION
“HALLOWEEN ENDS”
BOX OFFICE: $105 MILLION
“FIRE ISLAND”
“RED ROCKET”
BOX OFFICE: $2.3 MILLION
“TOP GUN: MAVERICK”
BOX OFFICE: $1.489 BILLION!!!
“ELVIS”
BOX OFFICE: $287.3 MILLION
“EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE”
BOX OFFICE: $104.1 MILLION
“THE BLACK PHONE”
BOX OFFICE: $161.4 MILLION
“GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY”
BOX OFFICE: $15 MILLION
“RRR”
BOX OFFICE: $147.9 MILLION
“BROS”
BOX OFFICE: $14.8 MILLION
And, before we get to my favorite movie I watched in 2022, here’s an extra!
A tribute to Olivia Newton-John, who passed away in August 2022, at the age of 73, after a lengthy cancer fight.
Yes, the movie, “Xanadu”, is a little out there, but it’s now a cult favorite. And, this song is one my all-time favorites!
“HOUSE OF GUCCI”
BOX OFFICE: $153.3 MILLION
Yes, Gaga was robbed of not getting an Oscar nomination for this!
With all of the heavier rain many of us saw in April, I hope that means a lot of beautiful May flowers.
Hope you have a fantastic weekend and thank you for checking out my random thoughts.
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
The last one I celebrated with my mother, Dessie, was May 13, 1990.
Instead of going out to the local Golden Corral, which my mother loved to do, we took a little road trip two-and-a-half hours away to Nashville, Tennessee, to have champagne brunch at my favorite restaurant, the 101st Airborne.
This was a big deal for my mother because she never got to do much traveling.
We enjoyed our brunch with everything from caviar to prime rib to desserts. The funny thing about the day is that my mother didn’t drink and champagne is one of my favorite spirits.
I would drink my glass of champagne and start drinking my mother’s. Every time the server would come around, my mother’s glass would be empty and they would fill it and top off mine. I didn’t keep count of how many times this happened. All I know is that they probably thought my dear mother was a lush!
Mom, I hope you’re smiling about that now.
And, by the way, my sister, Tammy, was pregnant and didn’t go. But, she eventually got to experience the 101st Airborne brunch.
“FREE” COVID TEST KITS
While we’re dropping mandates and masks across much of the country, we’re seeing another surge in the number of COVID-19 cases.
The other morning while shopping at Kroger, I was baffled by the high price of the at-home COVID-19 testing kits.
I’m definitely not bashing Kroger for selling them for $17.99. I’m mystified that people would actually pay that because you can get free test kits from the U.S. government mailed directly to your home — again, for free.
The first four I received were these exact tests, but the second four I got were a different brand.
“OZARK” FINALE
Well, as with everything, the world is divided and I’m sure there are those that are pleased with the way “Ozark” ended (raises hand) and those that aren’t pleased.
I hate knowing that the four-season run is behind us and I won’t see the incredible Laura Linney playing the cold-hearted, but loving Wendy Byrde!
Give this woman her first “Ozark” Emmy (she’s won four from other series).
Linney made her directorial debut in the 11th episode of the final season (“Pound of Flesh and Still Kickin'”).
It’s this episode that could very well earn Jason Bateman his first acting Emmy (he’s won two Screen Actors Guild Awards for acting for “Ozark” and won an Emmy for “Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series”).
No spoilers please for those that haven’t watched the ending yet!
“HOLLYWOOD BABYLON: IT’S BACK”
I probably would never have read this book, but one of my friends loaned it to me and said that I had to read it.
This 2008 book by Darwin Potter and Danforth Prince is “Hot, Unauthorized, and Unapologetic!” — their words, not mine.
Also, in their words, “All Those Celebrities! All Those Scandals! All That Nudity!… and All That Sin!”, it’s all there.
Like reading a Kitty Kelley biography, which is also not authorized by her subjects, this book is full of outrageous dirt on Hollywood legends — most of which are dead and can’t fight back!
Also, like a Kitty Kelley book, I know it has to be based (somewhat loosely) on factual information or interviews to avoid lawsuits. But, I’m sure in Potter and Prince’s book, there is A LOT of “he said, she said” and “I heard this from a friend of a friend of a friend”.
Now, if only a fraction of these salacious stories are true, Hollywood, then and now, especially then, was full of tramps, a very active “casting couch”, prostituting, “homosexual” marquee names, lesbians, and for sure, “size queens”.
And, for there to be size queens that gossiped freely, the book claims that many of the legendary leading men were you know what! (Insert eggplant emoji!)
Was it fun and gossipy at first, yes! Did it grow tiresome and become a lot less credible the more you read? Yes, but what a read! 🙂
So, take this with a grain of salt. Since it’s already in print, so it must be true (right?), I’ll throw out a couple of names that shocked me the most to be in the list above: Lucille Ball and Nancy Davis (who became Nancy Reagan)!
And, Tom Cruise. (Well, this part was not shocking because we’ve all heard the rumors!)
Oh wait, those rumors about him are absolutely not true! Definitely, most certainly not true, never was a homosexual, never had an affair with a gay porn star — never, never, never.
So, that validation of him being straight should keep me from being sued. He likes to do that, you know, if you make accusations.
In case you don’t remember: In 2001, in a $100 million lawsuit against the porn star, the “Risky Business” star’s lawyer stated, “While Cruise thoroughly respects others’ rights to follow their own sexual preference, he is not a homosexual…”!
“TOP GUN” SEQUEL
Can you believe that “Top Gun”, with star Tom Cruise, came out, oops, strike that, hit theaters 36 years ago this month? Geez, I was barely old enough to drink!
It made an astounding $357.3 million on a budget of only $15 million! (That $15 million would be about $39 million in today’s world.)
The long-awaited sequel, “Top Gun: Maverick”, will blast into theaters this Memorial Day weekend. Boy, have times changed. This movie’s budget is $152 million!
Are you interested in seeing it?
While I went to “the movies” and saw the original, I might watch this one on DVD one day????
LADY GAGA — “HOLD MY HAND” & “THE CHROMATICA TOUR”
Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away”, with music by Giorgio Moroder and lyrics by Tom Whitlock, won the Academy Award for Best Original Song from the original “Top Gun”.
The theme song in the sequel by Lady Gaga, “Hold My Hand”, could follow in Berlin’s footsteps down the red carpet and up on the Oscars stage.
The song was released Tuesday morning and is slowly gaining airplay at Top 40 radio. Slowly!
This summer, Gaga, will embark on her pandemic-delayed 17 date “The Chromatica Ball” Tour. She’ll play in fifteen cities across the world (two dates in Tokyo, Japan and London, England).
“THE 355”
This crime caper was panned by critics, but I really enjoyed it!
Was it totally realistic? No, but most movies are not. Just look at the Marvel Cinematic Universe, DC Comics, etc.
Oscar winner Jessica Chastain (“The Eyes of Tammy Faye”) is a total bad ass in this movie and leads an all-star cast including Penelope Cruz, Lupita Nyong’o, and Sebastian Stan.
Having been to Marrakesh, Morocco, and Shanghai, China, I especially loved those parts of the movie.
GRADE: B
“THE GREAT” FUNNY
This Hulu original dramedy is too funny and crazy!
While I’m finishing up season two (it’s been renewed for a third season), I have to share this funny interaction between Catherine The Great (Elle Fanning) and Lady Marial (Phoebe Fox), my two favorites on the show.
When a very pregnant Catherine was picking out her dress for the coronation, she clearly chooses a dress that didn’t suit her friend and former maid, Marial.
Marial replies, “It’s what our grandmothers used to wear before they were beaten to death for wearing something so ugly.”
Okay, when I said that Catherine and Marial are my two favorites on the show, there’s also Nicholas Hoult. He’s very sexy and funny, as Peter III of Russia.
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
Happy Friday! It finally feels like spring across the Midwest and spring officially begins Sunday!
Um, that has nothing to do with spring or warmer weather, but I’m sweating! Hello Jamie Dornan!
Have a fantastic weekend and thank you for checking out my random thoughts! I’ll have more in April. (I’m sure I’ll have many random thoughts before then, but I’ll share some in April!) 🙂
SAM ELLIOTT — HOMOPHOBIC & SEXIST!
I’ve been a Sam Elliott fan since falling in love with “Prancer” in 1989. It’s still one of my favorite Christmas movies.
Since then, I’ve enjoyed him in “Buffalo Girls” (1995) with Reba McEntire, “The Golden Compass” (2007) with Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, his run on “Justified” (2015) and “Grace and Frankie” (2016), and his Oscar-nominated role in “A Star Is Born” (2018) with Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper.
When “Prancer” came out, I was 25-year-old and I found Elliott, who was 45 then, very sexy. No, I didn’t have “Daddy issues”, but in today’s world, I would’ve have described him as a “Daddy”!
Well, that’s history now. I can’t believe how belligerent he is!
Last month, in a podcast, he called the Oscar-nominated movie, “The Power of the Dog”, a “piece of shit.” Personally, I don’t care if he liked it or not. That’s his opinion. If he had stopped there, all would’ve been good.
But, when he went on to blast Oscar-nominated director Jane Campion (“The Piano”), “I love her previous work, but what the f*ck does this woman from down there, New Zealand, know about the American West?”
And, he added, “And why in the f*ck did she shoot this movie in New Zealand and call it Montana? And say this is the way it was? That f*cking rubbed me the wrong way, pal.”
And, he wasn’t done ranting.
Elliot adds, referring to Benedict Cumberbatch and others in the movie as Chippendale dancers, “who wear bowties and not much else”: “That’s what all these fucking cowboys in that movie looked like… They’re running around in chaps and no shirts. There’s all these allusions of homosexuality throughout the movie. Where’s the Western in this Western?”
Responding to Elliott’s attack to “Variety”, Campion had the perfect response and is the spelling bee champ, “I’m sorry, he was being a little bit of a B-I-T-C-H. I’m sorry to say it but he’s not a cowboy, he’s an actor.”
Campion has already won awards from the BAFTA, the Critics’ Choice, the Directors Guild, the Golden Globe, and the Hollywood Critics Association for directing the movie.
She’s the first woman to direct a movie with more than ten Academy Award nominations (12) and is the first woman to receive two Oscar nominations for Best Director (1993’s “The Piano and “The Power of the Dog”).
AND, THEN SHE GETS STUPID
In her acceptance speech Sunday night after winning for Best Director at the Critics’ Choice Award, Campion made a “thoughtless” (her word) comment, “Venus and Serena, you’re such marvels. However, you don’t play against the guys, like I have to.”
Say what?
While they may have built their tennis legacy on the court against women, Venus and Serena Williams were always up against mostly men that ran the tournaments and they ruled a predominately white sport!
Campion issued an apology and clarification Monday!
“THE POWER OF THE DOG”
This Netflix movie is truly incredible, but it’s definitely not an uplifting movie.
All four leads in the movie are nominated for Oscars: Cumberbatch (Best Actor), Kirsten Dunst (Best Supporting Actress), and Kodi Smit-McPhee and Jesse Plemons (Best Supporting Actor).
It’s the story of love, sadness, and repressed feelings.
It was my 9th favorite movie I saw in 2021.
GRADE:B+
OKAY, MAYBE I SHOULD FORGIVE ELLIOTT?
Dear Sam,
When, for much of your career, you embodied the look of a late-1970s or early-1980s gay porn star, maybe it doesn’t take much to rattle you seeing “cowboys” that look like Chippendales?
Just saying!
GO RACERS!
Congratulations to my alma mater, Murray State.
The Racers won their first game in the NCAA Men’s basketball tournament Thursday night with a win over San Francisco in overtime 92-87.
They would have played the Kentucky Wildcats (my childhood favorite team), but the Wildcats were upset in the first round by the Peacocks of Saint Peter’s in overtime!
If Murray State wins Saturday afternoon against the Peacocks, this will be their first ever trip to the “Sweet Sixteen” in the “Big Dance”!
“THE GREAT”
This hulu original series is freaking hilarious.
Two seasons are available and it’s been renewed for a third season.
Elle Fanning plays a young and naïve Catherine in the 1700s who moves to Russia to marry Peter III to become the Empress of All Russia and “Catherine the Great”.
It’s funny and naughty with drama, death, and intrigue.
I described it to someone as a “Rated-R ‘Beauty and the Beast’ if Belle had married Gaston and he was the Emperor of Russia!”
UKRAINE PRESIDENT ZELENSKY
While the tragedy rages on in Ukraine (thanks for the heartbreak and despair, Vladimir Putin!), it’s hard not to take notice of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
He’s definitely sexy! So, who is this man?
Well, he’s had an interesting ride to the top. He’s an actor and comedian and he was the “Dancing With The Stars” winner in Ukraine in 2006.
And, he was the voice of Paddington Bear in the Ukrainian-dubbed versions of the movies “Paddington” (2014) and “Paddington 2” (2017).
Check out this fun parody video he made a long time ago — scantily dressed! (He’s the second from the left.)
“HALLOWEEN ENDS”
The latest “Halloween” movie and the follow-up to 2021’s “Halloween Kills” is done shooting.
Filming wrapped up earlier this month in Savannah, Georgia.
Last fall, director David Gordon Green said there would be a time jump in the new movie. Both 2018’s “Halloween” and 2021’s “Halloween Kills” took place on the same night.
Green: “Where we’re leaving these characters on Halloween 2018, the world is a different place. So not only do they have their immediate world affected by that trauma, having time to process that trauma—and that’s a specific and immediate traumatic event in the community of Haddonfield. But then they also had a worldwide pandemic and peculiar politics and another million things that turned their world upside down.”
While I was less than thrilled with “Halloween Kills” and I’m glad I didn’t spend money to see it in the theater, I’m very excited to see this one.
The movie is scheduled to hit theaters October 14, 2022.
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
Happy Friday, it’s March and spring is inching closer.
While I’ve shared four blogs with you over the past three months (my Christmas letter, my thoughts for the new year, my favorite movies I saw in 2021, and two secrets about life changes, so far, in 2022), I haven’t shared any “Random Friday Thoughts” since November 2021!
Well, let’s change that. Feel free to comment on any of my thoughts and if you disagree, that’s fine, just do it diplomatically.
MASK MANDATE CHANGES
As the Covid-19 pandemic rages on with hospitalizations and deaths, the infection positivity rates are falling across the U.S. and mask mandates are being dropped or changed.
While I know we need to move forward WITH CAUTION, I’m still going to wear my mask in stores and in places where I’ll be in close proximity with others.
I know this may sound crass, but if I wouldn’t have sex with you without protection, I don’t want you up in my stuff (my face) breathing or coughing on me without me wearing a mask!
Before 2020, I wouldn’t even have that about this, but life as we know it has changed.
LIFE CHANGES ALREADY IN 2022
Earlier, I talked about two life changes I’ve already made in 2022.
If you didn’t see the blog where I made the announcements, here’s the link (it should open in a new window):
In a few weeks, I’ll be jetting off for solitude in a part of the world I’ve never visited.
But, it’s still not one of three continents I’ve yet to visit — Antarctica, Australia, and South America.
I’m also ready to re-book the Cancun trip for me and my sister from last December that we had to cancel with her hospitalization.
And, finally, I booked one more trip for later in the year that just might be the last one before my passport expires in the spring of 2023!!!
“OZARK”
Don’t expect to make any plans with me the last weekend of April!
The incredible series “Ozark” concludes its four season run with what will surely be seven deadly, bloody episodes on April 29th!
While this is not really a “SPOILER ALERT” since none of us really know the answer, but who do you think is going to die? Who’s going to survive?
My guess is Wendy, played by one of my favorite actresses, Laura Linney, will bite the bullet!
I’d venture to say Ruth, too.
Okay, for those that are not caught up on “Ozark”, please don’t mention the name(s) of anyone that died in the first seven episodes of season 4!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“ALL OF US ARE DEAD”
Zombies are not for everyone.
I absolutely loved the first few seasons of “The Walking Dead”. I was totally over it by season nine. Once Andrew Lincoln “left” the series, I was done!
I really enjoyed the South Korean-coming of age zombie series, “All of Us Are Dead”, on Netflix.
Did it really need to be twelve episodes? Probably not, but I did enjoy the character development that the 12 hours allowed it.
I didn’t choose the option, but it played in English-dubbed dialogue and they did a great job with it.
GRADE: A
A THOUGHT ON MOVIES…
Why does it seem that most movies that used to run 90 minute to two hours are now closer to 2.5 hours long? The last three I watched were all that long!
Although I haven’t been to a theater to see a movie in two years, I definitely don’t want to sit for over two hours knowing that I’d have to nurse my Coke Zero because there’s no way I’m getting up to go to the bathroom and miss something!
And, what’s worse, I watch these long movies and think more about the “filler” that could have ended up on the cutting-room floor!
“HOUSE OF GUCCI”
I really enjoyed this Ridley Scott-directed crime thriller.
While snubbed for an Oscar nomination, Lady Gaga made the movie! (She was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild and Critics’ Choice Award for best actress, even though I didn’t think she would/should won!)
She played Patricia Martinelli, a woman that married into the Gucci family. Gaga was an excellent villain, who became a jilted wife and then convicted criminal. You may already know what she did, but, if not, I won’t spoil it.
Adam Driver and Jeremy Irons were great in the movie, but Jared Leto’s character felt very comical and that has nothing to do with the crazy physical transformation he went through for the part.
GRADE: B+
LAS VEGAS
In 1905, Downtown and Fremont became the first mecca of Las Vegas. Highway 91 from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, officially outside the city limits, became known as the “Las Vegas Strip” (Las Vegas Boulevard).
Before the pandemic, Las Vegas buffets — by the numbers….
GEORGE WASHINGTON
From their book on George Washington in “The American Presidents” series (2004), authors James MacGregor Burns and Susan Dunn: as a young man in his teens and 20s, the future first president was obsessed with fashion and designed his cavalry’s jackets. He often frowned upon the poor!
He was elected to the House of Burgesses, the lower house of the colonial Virginia legislature, in 1759, at the age of 27. His party on Election Day for his 390 voters consisted of 160 gallons of rum, wine, beer, and punch.
By the mid-1770s, after he married Martha, a wealthy young widow, and acquired Mount Vernon, his half brother, Lawrence’s estate in Virginia, they owned almost 200 slaves.
Next time, some even more startling revelations about Washington!
“LAST NIGHT IN SOHO”
I really enjoyed this Edgar Rice (“Baby Driver”) psychological thriller set in 1960s London.
The soundtrack, the fashion, and the bizarre storyline was great.
Anya Taylor-Joy was captivating and now I want to watch “The Queen’s Gambit” just to see more of her.
GRADE: B+
“NIGHTMARE ALLEY”
This is another one of those long movies I recently watched and after the first hour, I was thinking, “when will this become thrilling?”
That happened when Cate Blanchett arrived in the movie. (Now, the early scene with Bradley Cooper and Toni Collette definitely captured my attention, but it was for a reason unrelated to the movie. Let’s just say that it was a dime well spent!) 🙂
The last half of the movie redeemed the first half.
GRADE: C+
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
The way I trick or treat continues to change. Yes, I’ll still take Snickers, Baby Ruth, Milky Way, Almond Joy, and Twizzlers if you offer.
But, this is more my way of thinking now!
I’ve only posted two new features over the past six weeks.
The first was about the biggest events and my 100 favorite songs of the second era of my life from 1999-2021 (since I did one last year for my first 35 years).
I supplied the links if you didn’t get a chance to read them the first time or if you want to re-visit them.
While I’m not ready to start back my weekly “Random Friday Thoughts”, I want to share some with you this week just for the fun of it.
Happy Halloween! Be safe and beware of psychos!
I don’t mean the ones that are intentionally scary because of Hollywood and Halloween! 🙂
A “HAPPY HALLOWEEN” MEMORY!
Ten years ago, my golden retriever, ABBA, went trick-or-treating for the last time.
Here she is during “surgery”!
She went as a lobotomized dog with a rubber brain under the bandage. However, as you can see, she decided that part wasn’t for her when the trick-or-treating started! 🙂
ABBA was such a trooper and she got her own fun-size “3 Musketeer” bar and loved eating it!
Yes, I took it out of the paper! 🙂
At the bottom of today’s blog, another fun and very scandalous Halloween flashback of me partying in Houston in 1992!
“HALLOWEEN KILLS”
After a year delay because of the pandemic, I was excited to see “Halloween Kills”. After seeing it, I’m glad I watched it for free on Peacock instead of paying to see it in the theater.
First I’ll share what I liked about the movie: I loved that some of the actors from 1978’s “Halloween” returned. Some may be in 2022’s “Halloween Ends” and a few won’t!
The movie also filled in some of the blanks from what happened in 1963 when Michael Myers first killed to his 1978 killing spree in the original movie that kicked off the franchise.
To add to some of those tidbits, a new actor played Dr. Sam Loomis and the resemblance was startling! (Donald Pleasence died in 1995 after starring in five of the franchise’s first six movies. “Halloween Kills” is the 12th installment!)
The next to the last kill in the movie was phenomenal and the moment of death is classic. Also, the final kill was surprising and shocking!
Now what I didn’t like about it!
For starters, the lack of a storyline for Jamie Lee Curtis’ Laurie Strode! After seeing this movie, I get it that they’re saving her for the “finale” (yeah, right) of the franchise.
The whole mob scene at Haddonfield Memorial Hospital went on way too long. The mentality of the mob was eerily similar to the real-life deadly events at the Capitol in January 2021 in Washington D.C. And, to think that the fictional mob scene in “Halloween Kills” was shot in the fall of 2019!
While I enjoyed the movie as a whole, I’ll never watch it again!
This movie’s predecessor, 2018’s “Halloween” made $255.6 million worldwide. “Halloween Kills” is a box office smash at $93.8 million worldwide against a $20 million budget.
Final thoughts: The trailer is better than the movie, you see many of the kills, you saved money by not going to see it, and you didn’t waste almost two hours!
GRADE: C
P.S. ONE MORE “HALLOWEEN KILLS” THOUGHT
Watch the 2018 “Halloween” movie instead. It’s much better.
Here’s what I said back then and I gave it a “B”:
“It was very entertaining and I loved the winks back to all of the other movies in the franchise that this one pretended didn’t exist.
Iloved that the movie was very violent (Michael Myers as a practicing dentist!). It could be because he’s psychotic and has been locked up and drugged for 40 years!
While the movie was great, it didn’t scare me since nothing can compare to the 1978 original!”
“CRUELLA”
If horror isn’t your thing and that brand of “Halloween” violence may be too much for you, another fun Halloween-ish movie to check out is “Cruella”. (“Halloween-ish” because Cruella likes to dress up!)
While it came out in May, I just saw it on my flight back from Greece and it was very enjoyable.
This movie introduces us to Estella Miller, who as an adult becomes Cruella de Vil. Oscar winner Emma Stone (“La La Land”) is incredible.
But, my favorite character was Baroness von Hellman played by two-time Oscar winner Emma Thompson (one of those Academy Awards was for acting and the other was for writing.)
GRADE: B
HOLD UP, ONE MORE “CRUELLA” THOUGHT
While Stone was incredible as a young Cruella and will be returning in the sequel, she’s no Glenn Close from 1996’s “101 Dalmatians” and 2000’s “102 Dalmatians”.
But, then again, Emma Stone has an Oscar and Close is, sadly, an eight-time Academy Award nominee without a win! Sacrilegious.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Who doesn’t love donuts (or doughnuts)? I know they are so, so unhealthy, but yum.
“THE DONUT KING”
I just watched the informative and entertaining 2020 documentary, “The Donut King”.
It tells the story of Cambodian refugee Ted Ngoy, who came to United States in the 1970s, and built a multi-million dollar empire by baking donuts.
I was blown away by the fact that almost all of the privately owned donut shops in California at one time were owned by Cambodians!
This is a great rags to riches story! But, there’s a twist — how he ends up losing his fortune!
GRADE: B+
ANOTHER NIGHT AT THE “DISCO”
If you regularly read my blog, you know that I was absolutely enthralled by Kylie Minogue’s critically acclaimed, “Disco” album last November. It brought fun and optimism to a pandemic world!
And, I almost lost it in the fall of 2020 when Kylie commented on my tweet!
Now, I’m so excited that Kylie is ready for another round of late night partying, escapism, and disco beats with “Disco: Guest List Edition”!
It features duets and remixes with Dua Lipa, Jessie Ware, Gloria Gaynor, and Years & Years (Olly Alexander).
While that would be exciting enough, there’s also going to be a deluxe version, which features five discs (the original “Disco” deluxe album, the new Guest List Edition of duets and remixes, the Live Infinite Disco Livestream concert DVD, and a CD disc of the music from that virtual concert, plus a BluRay of the concert!)
I’m in heaven!!! I’m also captivated by the new video from Kylie and Years & Years “A Second To Midnight”, the album’s first release.
I keep watching it over and over! Is it November 12th yet? I want my new “Disco”!
AND, ONE MORE KYLIE NOTE!!!
The Queen liked a second tweet of mine this summer with three blue hearts! 💙💙💙
Now, if only there could be a “Disco 2022 Tour”, I’d never have to see another another concert after that!
“PETER RABBIT 2: THE RUNAWAY”
My final movie thought is about “Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway”. While it was entertaining, I didn’t enjoy it as much as the original.
Back in the spring of 2018, I highly recommended “Peter Rabbit” and gave it a “B+”!
GRADE: C+
“AMERICAN HORROR STORY: DOUBLE FEATURE”
The latest season of “American Horror Story” just wrapped and it couldn’t end soon enough.
It was divided into two parts (six episodes of “Red Tide” and four episodes of “Death Valley”).
While I enjoyed some of it, it was the worst season of “American Horror Story” and there have been some stinkers!
I definitely didn’t enjoy most of the season, yet I kept watching!
GRADE: D
Now that this season is over (and the series has been renewed for three more seasons!), how do the ten seasons rank in my opinion?
#10 “Double Feature” (season ten, 2021)
#9 “Freak Show” (season four, 2014) — The highlight!
#8 “Hotel” (season five, 2015)
#7 “Roanoke” (season six, 2016)
#6 “Apocalypse” (season eight, 2018)
#5 “Coven” (season three, 2013)
#4 “1984” (season nine, 2019)
#3 “Murder House” (season one, 2011)
#2 “Cult” (season seven, 2017)
#1 “Asylum” (season two, 2012)
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Houston 1992
And, then there’s this one from 2010. I think I made a great Lady Gaga!
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
If you’re a regular reader of my random thoughts, you know I love making lists and countdowns.
On September 11, 2020, I posted a blog of the 13 biggest events of my first 35 years. (13 because I was born on the 13th and it’s my favorite number).
Along with that, I intended to share my 35 favorite songs of those first 35 years. Well, the initial list ended up with 236 songs, so I decided to be like the Billboard Hot 100 and share my top 100 songs of that era of my life.
In case you didn’t see it last year or last week when I posted it again, here it is:
Well, it was well-received, so why not be like Hollywood and make a sequel???
So, here are the top eight events that shaped the next era of my life (1999-2021) along with not my just my 22 favorite songs of the past 22 years, but my 100 favorites of that era!
EVENTS THATSHAPED MY LAST 22 YEARS
MEETING REBA McENTIRE (APRIL 2005)
While Reba McEntire became a powerhouse superstar in the mid-1980s, I was all about dance and pop music in my 20s during her rise to super stardom.
However, I discovered her at Sidetrack, in Chicago, on country night in 1990. That voice singing “Rumor Has It” blew me away and I’ve been a huge fan ever since.
Regardless of what was happening in my life, good or bad, when Reba released a new album, there were songs I felt she recorded just for me.
I’ve now seen Reba in concert thirteen (13) times and I got to meet her in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in 2005.
MOVING BACK TO CHICAGO (JUNE 2002)
After my mother died in November 1990 and my grandmother, Helen, passed away in November 1993, I felt it was time to leave Kentucky and I moved to Chicago the following summer.
I stayed for two years before kicking off my television news career in the summer of 1996 in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. After jobs in Lubbock, Texas, and Mansfield, Columbus, and Youngstown, Ohio, working for a homophobic, racist, and sexist news director, I felt it was time to take a break from television.
So, Miss ABBA, my golden retriever, and my ex, Christopher, headed back to Chicago, where we had met in early 1995. (Look at how youthful we were 26 years ago!)
It was a very enjoyable return to the “windy city”.
I had a great time at Roscoe’s Tavern (a very popular gay bar on Halsted), worked as a freelance writer for the morning show at Fox News Chicago, and went back to school to earn my meteorology certification.
By the way, I don’t make it a point to lie, but I saw that sticker and it was just too much fun not to stick it on my shirt for a photo op! 🙂
In the summer of 2004, Christopher and I realized our nine-year relationship had run its course, so I took a job in Salisbury, Maryland, and Miss ABBA and I moved to Delmarva for a year-and-a half before returning to the Midwest in November 2005.
When I started putting together the recap of my second era (1999-2021), I thought about the events that shaped the past 22 years of my life and I started thinking of my favorite songs of the past two decades-plus.
That list started with 221 songs and after the first cut, it was still at 155. After thinking long and hard, I narrowed it down to one hundred, just like the Billboard Hot 100!
Here’s to you, Casey Kasem! (Hint, the other 60 are at the bottom of this blog, along with some surprises!)
#40 “LOVE YOURSELF” (JUSTIN BIEBER) (2015)
#39 “I’LL BE” (REBA McENTIRE) (2000)
#38 “WOMANIZER” (BRITNEY SPEARS) (2008)
#37 “FADED” (ALAN WALKER) (2015)
#36 “THE EDGE OF GLORY” (LADY GAGA) (2011)
While that’s the official version of “The Edge of Glory”, here’s the version I love more. And, I “borrowed” the sparklers idea for my wedding reception!
#35 “WHO WOULDN’T WANNA BE ME” (KEITH URBAN) (2003)
#34 “CAN’T GET YOU OUT OF MY HEAD” (KYLIE MINOGUE) (2001)
NOW, BACK TO MY LIFE EVENTS….
LIVING NEAR MY SISTER AGAIN (AUGUST 2011)
Other than my years of living on campus at Murray State University in the 1980s, less than a half hour from where I was born and raised, I never lived apart from my sister, Tammy, until I moved to Chicago in 1994 and she moved away, too.
My career took me all over the country and my sister made Clarksville, Tennessee, home. After her marriage with her L-O-S-E-R husband ended and life dealt her several bad hands, I convinced her to move to the Quad Cities (Moline, Illinois) in 2011.
While she wasn’t thrilled to have to make her home there and deal with more snow than she was used to, it was nice to be in the same city again. We could now see each other whenever we wanted and we’d spend holidays together again.
After I moved away for 3.5 years, she joined me in Decatur, Illinois. It’s nice to have my best friend around again!
Love you Tammy!
MY 50TH BIRTHDAY TRIP TO PARIS & TEL AVIV (OCTOBER 2014)
While I don’t remember my first birthday, you see from the picture above that it happened and it was celebrated.
Other birthdays that stand out for me are my 30th, in Chicago, when I met a very attractive man that ended up being a psycho that try to kill me (stalker much?), my 48th, in Las Vegas, in 2012, seeing Elton John the night before and Madonna on the big day…
… and my 54th on an incredible solo trip to Morocco with a surprise birthday cake from my tour group!
However, it’s going to be really hard to top my 50th birthday!
In 2013, I took my first “real” international trip (officially, Cancun was the first in the early-1990s, but North America doesn’t really count any more!).
For my ex’s 50th, he chose a Danube River cruise of Europe. The following year, for my 50th, I chose to celebrate the milestone birthday with a trip to Europe (Paris, France) and the Middle East (Tel Aviv, Israel).
While the trip was incredible and I paid my own way, my actual birthday present was like a fairy tale. (He did well!)
I was treated to a dinner cruise on the Seine River, followed by a trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower at night to see the sprawled out city of Paris twinkling in the distance.
And, the night didn’t end there.
It was then off to the historic Moulin Rouge for a show and champagne.
At midnight, I turned 50 during the show sitting right at the stage staring at boobies, acrobatic routines, and a woman in a water tank with snakes!
For the record, years later, in the spring of 2019, I’d have my own encounter with a beautiful albino python in Bangkok, Thailand. I called it my Britney Spears moment! Britney is now free!
Then it was off to Tel Aviv for three days. From the hotel room, you could see the sandy beaches of the Mediterranean Sea!
Each morning, I looked forward to the Israeli breakfasts, which are world-renowned and very tasty and filling!
However, my favorite meal was at בני-הדייג, which translates to Benny The Fisherman, right on the Sea.
That was just the salads and “starters” that they brought out. Yes, fifteen of them, including the bread basket!
Sadly, I didn’t get a stamp on my passport from Israel.
This was during the 2014 Ebola scare and the customs agent was so flustered from ranting at a woman in front of us for sticking her passport in her mouth that he forgot. He refused to let her go through his line because he wasn’t going to touch her passport. And, I really don’t blame him. However, his approach was a little abrasive.
On the return flight home, the snow-covered Alps were beautiful!
This crazy song went viral in 2013 and ended up being my third favorite song of that year. It didn’t make the Top 100 on this countdown, but it was on the initial list. So, it’s a bonus. 🙂
Now, back to the countdown of my favorite songs of the past 22 years!
#33 “LOOKIN’ FOR A GOOD TIME” (LADY A) (2008)
#32 “TURN ON THE RADIO” (REBA McENTIRE) (2010)
#31 “I KNEW I LOVED YOU” (SAVAGE GARDEN) (1999)
#30 “TOXIC” (BRITNEY SPEARS) (2004)
#29 “YOU BELONG WITH ME” (TAYLOR SWIFT) (2009)
And, of course, there’s a cute and sexy alternative version of the Taylor teen love story!
#28 “IF I DIE YOUNG” (THE BAND PERRY) (2010)
#27 “MUSIC” (MADONNA) (2000)
#26 “LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT” (KYLIE MINOGUE) (2002)
#25 “LIFE GOES ON” (LEANN RIMES) (2002)
#24 “BECAUSE OF YOU” (REBA McENTIRE & KELLY CLARKSON) (2007)
#23 “IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS” (MICHAEL BUBLE) (2011)
What! A Christmas song made it onto the countdown!!! Don’t be shocked!
My fourth favorite song of my first 35 years was Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You”!
NOW BACK TO MY LIFE EVENTS OF THE PAST 22 YEARS!
MEETING PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER & ROSALYNN CARTER (JULY 2017) …
In September 2016, I got to visit the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum in Atlanta, Georgia.
However, it would take a major change in my life and relocation to meet my childhood idols, President Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter.
In the summer of 2017, I was living in Panama City, Florida, and I drove 180 miles (3.5 hours) through the backwoods of Florida, Alabama, and Georgia in the darkness of night to fulfill that life-long dream.
Once I arrived in Plains, Georgia, at the Marantha Baptist Church, I was one of the last people to make it in to hear a Sunday school lesson from President Carter.
After his lesson and the Sunday service from the pastor, I got to meet the man and woman that I helped put in the White House in the 1976 presidential election.
For the record, I was just a 12-year-old boy, but I got to go into the voting booth with my grandmother Helen back in Mayfield, Kentucky. She let me choose her candidate and, of course, it was Jimmy Carter.
My vote four years later didn’t keep the Carters in Washington D.C. and they headed back to Plains.
You might notice that the photo is autographed! I sent a copy of the photo inside of an anniversary card to the lovely couple and they signed it and sent it back!!!!!!!!!!
… AND HILLARY CLINTON (JANUARY 2016)
I’ve admired Hillary Clinton since she became the First Lady of the United States in January 1993.
There is no politician that hasn’t been raked over the coals in their career. And, now with 24-hour news channels and less objectivity in their reporting for higher ratings, it’s easy to vilify people, especially if it’s a strong woman — like Hillary.
I went to hear Hillary speak on a cold winter’s day in Davenport, Iowa, in January 2016.
When she finished, I politely edged my way through the crowd toward the roped off area in front of the stage. I lucked out and we talked a little – we exchanged hellos and I wished her success.
“Politely edged” sounds nicer than “aggressively made” my way through the crowd! 🙂
Now, my 22 favorite songs of the past 22 years!
#22 “I WANNA GO (BRITNEY SPEARS) (2011)
#21 “CAN’T FIGHT THE MOONLIGHT” (LEANN RIMES) (2000)
#20 “SURRENDER” (LAURA PAUSINI) (2002)
#19 “IF I FALL YOU’RE GOING DOWN WITH ME” (THE CHICKS) (2001)
I’ve never met Natalie Maines of The Chicks and it’s one of the biggest regrets of my life.
When I took my second television job in Lubbock, Texas, (Natalie’s hometown), in 1997, as a reporter and Saturday anchor at the CBS affiliate, her sister, Kim, was the 10 p.m. weekday producer. What a sweetheart!
1997 was also the year that Natalie and sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Robison exploded onto the country music scene with “I Can Love You Better”, which went on to reach #7 on the Billboard Country chart.
I had a chance to see them and meet the unknown band and real life prevented me from going! Bummer!
#18 “MY BOYFRIEND IS GAY” (HAILEY ROWE) (2013)
#17 “SOMEBODY LIKE YOU” (KEITH URBAN) (2002)
#16 “YOUTH” (TROYE SIVAN) (2015)
#15 “WE’RE SO GOOD TOGETHER” (REBA McENTIRE) (2000)
#14 “SOME DAYS YOU GOTTA DANCE” (THE CHICKS) (2001)
#13 “SILENCE” (MARSHMELLO & KHALID) (2017)
#12 “YOU’LL THINK OF ME” (KEITH URBAN) (2004)
NOW, BACK TO MY BIGGEST LIFE EVENTS OF THE PAST 22 YEARS!
MEET, FALL IN LOVE, GET MARRIED, AND THEN DIVORCE (2009-2017)
We’ve all been there (well, at least half of us).
You meet someone that’s an Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) to your Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts) — with or with sex work involved!
You fall in love and sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn’t.
I got to have a wedding, a beautiful reception, and a gorgeous cake!
And, I was a “like a dad” and I got to experience helping to raise a child. I loved and was loved in return, we traveled the world — Europe, Israel, China, and Scandinavia — and my golden retriever, ABBA, had two more people to shower her with love, and I got to foster 60 koi and goldfish!
While things didn’t work out, I’m glad that I got to experience the good before the bad.
There are many things I miss about those days and there are things I don’t miss. The serenity of the koi pond is definitely high on the list of things I miss!
This is a feeding frenzy in the summer of 2016!
Oh, if you were hoping for sordid details, there were several circumstances leading to the demise of the relationship. Those are being saved for the book (which is being written)!
WE NEED A BREATHER!
Now, back to my favorite songs of the past 22 years!
#11 “SOMETHING” (LASGO) (2001)
#10 “TILL THE WORLD ENDS” (BRITNEY SPEARS) (2011)
#9 “BAD ROMANCE” (LADY GAGA) (2009)
#8 “BLANK SPACE” (TAYLOR SWIFT) (2014)
#7 “EVERYTIME WE TOUCH” (CASCADA) (2005)
#6 “EVERYTIME” (BRITNEY SPEARS) (2004)
NOW BACK TO THE BIGGEST EVENTS OF MY PAST 22 YEARS
MISS ABBA (MAY 2000-FEBRUARY 2012)
My golden retriever, ABBA, and I traveled down many roads together.
From the llama farm in Ohio where I picked her up in July 2000 to swimming in Lake Michigan when we lived in Chicago to the salty waters of the Atlantic Ocean on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and then back to the cold, snowy Midwestern winters in the Quad Cities, Miss ABBA loved it all and she loved life!
She didn’t mind doggie sitting (or walking) her blind Shar Pei friend, Panda, and she loved road trips so much that you had to spell out R-I-D-E. She loved her fast food hamburgers and she loved treats and cakes!
And, she was the perfect drinking buddy!
From that first ride from the Ohio llama farm to her new life away from Dolly and Fletcher (her mom and dad) and her siblings to the last fateful ride, she enjoyed life so much and never met a stranger.
I wish we were more like ABBA!
As I was lying on the bed comforting ABBA on those final two days in early 2012, these words just came to me and I put them on paper.
While I’m not a poet, I still love this — my goodbye to Miss ABBA!
If you can’t read my writing through the tears:
The fog hangs in the air shrouding the light, not only in the sky, but in your eyes
You look lost and just want to sleep with me close by your side
I listen to you breathe and each breath sounds deeper
Is it the end or just a peaceful sleep
As I caress your neck and shoulder blades,
You snore even louder as I try harder to hold back the tears
I don’t want you to hear me cry,
I want you to let go and not fight for me
You’ve been there for me all your life
And I want to be there for you now, my love.
My best friend — ABBA (May 22, 2000-February 3, 2012)
This is one of my favorite pictures taken of Miss ABBA in her last month with us…
The song in the video tribute below is “Over My Shoulder” by one of my favorite singers, Patty Loveless, from her 1994 album, “When Fallen Angels Fly”.
Okay, this silly photo will take the sadness away…
FINAL BONUS TRACK!
When I put together a recap of my first 35 years and my 100 favorite songs of that era of my life (1964-1999), Olivia Newton-John placed four songs on the countdown: #3 “Xanadu”, #47 “Let Me Be There”, #50 “If You Love Me (Let Me Know)”, and #68 “Magic”.
I finally got to see her in concert at The Flamingo in Las Vegas in May 2014.
As a bonus, I’m featuring two of my favorites in one video — Olivia and Las Vegas.
In 2015, DJ Dave Aude re-worked Olivia’s hit “Magic” and “You Have To Believe” became a #1 dance song for Olivia and her daughter, Chloe Lattanzi.
And, one final fun fact, Olivia met her future husband and Chloe’s dad, Matt Lattanzi, on the set of the movie, “Xanadu”!
Just a random thought, since you know me for random thoughts, I think #Pug2020, which became #Pug2021, and then #Pug20-something, needs to become a reality in 2022!!!
I need a new drinking partner or, at least, a movie and television binge-watching partner!
When I was in Bangkok, Thailand, in the spring of 2019, I saw this in the taxi and I know it was a sign!
NOW BACK TO THE COUNTDOWN OF MY FIVE FAVORITE SONGS OF THE PAST 22 YEARS!
#5 “SOMEBODY” (REBA McENTIRE) (2004)
#4 “NOT READY TO MAKE NICE” (THE CHICKS) (2006)
#3 “CONSIDER ME GONE” (REBA McENTIRE) (2009)
Before I reveal my two favorite songs of the past 22 years, how about another bonus track!
This one didn’t make the list of my Top 100 favorites, but it was one of the 221 on the initial list and was my 13th favorite song of 2014! 🙂
As I reveal my two favorites from 1999-2021, both are two of the most underrated songs that radio should have sent to the top of every chart!
#2 “ALL THE LOVERS” (KYLIE MINOGUE) (2010)
This one did top the airplay chart in Poland and it reached #1 on the Billboard Dance Club songs chart!
And. it’s so naughty and scandalous! 🙂
#1 “DANCING ON MY OWN” (ROBYN) (2010)
This one only topped the chart in Robyn’s native Sweden!
NOW, THE BIGGEST EVENT OF MY PAST 22 YEARS…
THE DEPLORABLE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION! (NOVEMBER 8, 2016)
While this could be a divisive discussion starter, that is not the purpose.
We know “what happened”, since there’s a book about this with that title. It’s been five years now — almost half of the country was on the winning side, but a majority of us were on the losing end.
That statement, “a majority of us were on the losing end”, doesn’t just mean the almost 66 million people that voted for Hillary Clinton.
I’m talking about America’s reputation on the world stage and the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in the first months — a major misstep that had now resulted in more than 700,000 deaths since early 2020 in the United States.
DISCLAIMER: If Hillary Clinton had been elected president, we would still likely have seen a significant death toll from Coronavirus. However, I believe with all my heart and intelligence, it wouldn’t be at 709K and counting…
But, is that why the 2016 U.S. presidential election is the biggest event of my past 22 years? In part, yes. However, it ranks above ABBA’s death and the failure of my relationship because it’s partly to blame for the separation and divorce.
That loss affected me greatly as 2016 turned to 2017. In the five years since, I’ve accepted it and moved on. Does it still bother me? Yes. Is there anything I can do about it? No.
Michelle Obama, in her 2018 autobiography, “Becoming”, sums it up best the day after that shocking loss: “And I will always wonder about what led so many women, in particular, to reject an exceptionally qualified female candidate and instead choose a misogynist as their president. But the result was now ours to live with.”
If you want to share comments about how/if that win or loss affected you, feel free. Do it diplomatically with respect to me and my friends.
The point was not to discuss politics, I’m just sharing my life — the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Thank you for taking the time to travel down the road of the second era of my life!
Before you leave, if you’re not interested in #41 to #100, scroll down a little for some of my favorite photos of the past 22 years!!!
Will I write a third? Probably not. Do you know how old I’d be by then! 🙂
However, if I had two front-runners for favorite songs for my final chapter of life — the new Kylie Minogue and Elton John songs rock my world and are on repeat!
Now, that’s it…. except for some of my favorite photos of the past 22 years!
Wait, my friends, let’s keep going. They haven’t made “last call”!
You know I love lists and I’ve mentioned 100 favorites songs several time in this life recap even though the countdown started at #40 like “American Top 40”.
Scroll down and see which songs just missed out.
You might find one of your favorites on here, you might discover several songs you’re not familiar with, and some that might make you say, “Anthony has some very interesting tastes”, or “No <musical act> on the countdown?”
#41 “MY LOVE IS YOUR LOVE” (WHITNEY HOUSTON) (1999)
#42 “NEED YOU NOW” (LADY A) (2009)
#43 “THAT’S THE KIND OF MOOD I’M IN” (PATTY LOVELESS) (2000)
#44 “MURDER ON THE DANCEFLOOR” (SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR) (2001)
For those of us celebrating the “holiday”, I say “Happy Memorial Day weekend”!
For the men and women in our Armed Forces that died during their military duties to keep us safe, I say, “thank you”!
And, for those checking out my random thoughts this week, I appreciate it.
NEW CDC GUIDELINES
More states are relaxing their mandates with the drop in COVID-19 cases in the United States.
Concerts are happening again, businesses are going back to 100%, and more stores are allowing customers without having to wear masks.
While I’m fully vaccinated, I’m still going to wear my mask into stores, in indoor public places, and in heavier populated areas until more of America is fully vaccinated!
Sorry, not sorry! 🙂
What are your thoughts? Will you continue to rock the mask or ditch it?
DOGS IN BANGKOK
Thailand is taking a new approach after a recent surge in COVID-19 cases — using dogs to sniff out Coronavirus!
Angel, Bobby and Bravo are three of six Labrador Retrievers trained by veterinary researchers at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok to sniff out a unique odor in people’s sweat produced by Coronavirus!
The three have tested thousands of samples in May from college staff, students and people outside the university.
After a few seconds of sniffing sweat samples in metal containers, the dogs can tell which people have the virus. If the test sample is positive, the dog will sit in front of it!
Another reason to love dogs!
“BORN THIS WAY” TURNS 10
Can you believe that Lady Gaga released her iconic album, “Born This Way”, ten years ago this week?
Where does time go?
The Grammy-nominated album topped the charts around the world and went on to sell more than six million copies.
The first release, the title track, hit #1 all across the world and spent six weeks at the top in the U.S. Worldwide, it sold more than 10 million, making it one of the best selling singles of all time!
Three other singles from the album, “Judas”, “The Edge of Glory”, and “You & I” all reached the Top Ten in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100.
“BETTY FORD”
Lisa McCubbin’s 2018 biography, subtitled “First Lady, Women’s Advocate”, Survivor, Trailblazer”, is amazing!
Many know the former First Lady because of her addiction to alcohol and prescription medication that led to her time in a recovery program and for starting the Betty Ford Clinic in 1982.
What an incredible woman! I would have loved to have met her!
Here are a few things I learned from McCubbin’s book:
When President Ford took over for Nixon, he and Betty still lived in their Alexandria, Virginia, home for a period. On his first day on the job, he came home to a small party with ham, salad, lasagna, and champagne.
As Betty took a tray of lasagna out of the oven, she replied, “Jerry, something’s wrong here. You’re president of the United States and I’m still cooking.”
Betty Ford was known for speaking honestly and candidly, whether the topic was the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), abortion, marijuana, or pre-marital sex. After giving an interview with “McCall’s” magazine asking her some very personal questions, Betty responded, “They’ve asked me everything but how often I sleep with my husband and if they’d asked me that, I would have told them: as often as possible!”
“ARMY OF THE DEAD”
Zack Snyder’s “Army of the Dead” is finally here and to no one’s surprise, it was the most watched movie of the weekend on Netflix!
I’ve been so excited ever since I heard about it. It’s a heist movie featuring two things I love — Las Vegas and zombies.
Maybe I was too excited for it! While enjoyable, I was a little surprised with its 2.5 hour running time.
It was definitely over the top with violence (great for a zombie movie), but there were several parts that could have been cut. A two-hour running time would have worked better.
My favorites characters were Vanderohe (Omari Hardwick) and Ludwig Dieter (Matthias Schweighöfer).
And, of course, the “G–damned zombie tiger”, which the story tells was part of Siegfried & Roy’s show!
Would I watch it again? Maybe.
I definitely recommend it, but Snyder’s 2004 remake of “Dawn of the Dead” was better!
By the way, a follow-up prequel, “Army of Thieves”, has already been shot! It was directed by actor Schweighöfer, who stars in both movies.
GRADE: B
“JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH”
This 2021 drama is the story of Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya), the chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party in Chicago in the late-1960s.
He was betrayed by William O’Neal (LaKeith Stanfield), an FBI informant.
While Kaluuya won every Best Supporting Actor award for his performance, I really think that Stanfield, who was also nominated in the Oscar category with Kaluuya, deserved it more!
“Judas” picked up six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and came away with two wins — Kaluuya’s acting award and the other for Best Original Song.
GRADE: B
ANOTHER OSCAR THOUGHT(OR TWO)
While Kaluuya was great in “Judas and the Black Messiah”, I thought that his co-star, Stanfield, should have won the Oscar after seeing the movie.
I felt the same way after seeing all of the nominees in the Best Actress category. Frances McDormand won for “Nomadland”.
Maybe it’s just that Kaluuya and McDormand are just so incredible and subtle that I just expect so much from them that I overlooked both to win the Oscar.
Oh, by the way, I picked Carey Mulligan in “Promising Young Woman” for Best Actress. If you haven’t seen the movie, it’s fantastic and I want to see it again.
When I graded it earlier this year, I gave it an “A”!
“STARSTRUCK”
Regular readers of my blog already know that Kylie Minogue’s “Disco” was my favorite album of 2020. I still listen to it several times a week!!!
I’m excited that Kylie is working on releasing an extended version of the critically acclaimed album later this week.
If I were a gambling man (and I am), I’d venture to say that a “Disco Tour” will also be announced for 2022! 🙂
Ahead of the “new” album, Kylie joined Olly Alexander for a remake of the “Years & Years” hit, “Starstruck”, which I expect on the new album!
Here’s the lyric video and the song.
🎶 “If I could bottle you up, I would sip you like cosmic juice”! 🎶
Happy Birthday 🎂 Kylie!!!!!!!! 🍾🥂🌼🌷
“CASTLE ROCK”
If you’re a Stephen King fan, this two season Hulu series was probably very enjoyable for you with all of the references to his huge horror catalog.
While I’m familiar with only some of his work, I still enjoyed it.
Season one focused quite a bit on the Shawshank State Penitentiary (years after the movie). I loved it because of Sissy Spacek and the creepiness of Bill Skarsgard (“It”).
However, I watched “Castle Rock” mainly to see season two and a young Annie Wilkes of “Misery”.
Lizzy Caplan was amazing as the woman made famous by Oscar winner Kathy Bates in the hit 1991 blockbuster movie. Also, Tim Robbins was great, too.
SEASON ONE GRADE: B
SEASON TWO GRADE: A-
“BORN THIS WAY BONUS — “THE EDGE OF GLORY”
While this isn’t the “official” video to “The Edge of Glory”, it’s definitely a favorite of mine and it makes my heart melt!!!
See, my jaded, divorced heart still has hope for a happy ending! 🙂
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
Anthony
P.S. Here’s the full blog about the “Born This Way Ball” concert I saw in Las Vegas in January 2013.
Two weeks ago in my “Random Friday Thoughts”, I jokingly posted about breaking up with winter because summer is hotter!
It snowed earlier this week here in Central Illinois!!! That’s what I get! 🙂
Oh, if winter looked like this in the real world, I’d be all for it twelve months a year!
Thanks Gus (Kenworthy) for making my day!
And, thank you for taking the time to check out my thoughts this week! (Oh, apologies to the uninitiated to my blog about the pictures above, but my thoughts are really random!)
REMEMBERING WALTER MONDALE
Earlier this week, the world lost a great man when former Vice President Walter Mondale passed away at the age of 93.
Before become President Jimmy Carter’s vice president from 1977-1981 and running as the Democratic nominee for President in 1984, he served as the U.S. senator from Minnesota from 1964-1976.
Here are some interesting facts from Jonathan Alder’s 2020 book, “HIS VERY BEST, JIMMY CARTER, A LIFE”:
President Carter changed the role of Vice President. Before Carter, it was basically a useless role — other than becoming the leader of the free world in the case of the president died or became incapacitated.
But, Carter made Vice President Walter Mondale’s role real. He invited him into meetings, gave him real responsibilities, and valued his opinions.
At a farewell dinner before President Carter left office in 1981, Mondale said, “Never once did you put me down. Never once did you fail to treat me with dignity.” He made a toast and added, “We told the truth. We obeyed the law. We kept the peace.”
AND, ON A MORE INFAMOUS NOTE…
While on a high school trip to Washington D.C., future serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer called the White House and talked his way into a tour and met Vice President Mondale!
AMERICA, GET ON WITH YOUR BAD SELF!
Even though thousands are still being diagnosed with COVID-19 daily in America and the death toll continues to rise, more and more of us are fully vaccinated!
In the U.S., 26.7% of us are fully vaccinated! That’s slightly more than one-in-four!
In Illinois, we’re at 26.9% and up to 43.3% for those with at least one shot.
While this is great news, I personally feel that some are getting a little too comfortable a little too soon. However, I’m happy to see things moving toward the “new normal”.
With that being said, more and more artists are announcing fall 2021 tour dates.
In the past few weeks, Eric Church, Kane Brown, Andrea Bocelli, and Sammy Hagar announced new tour dates and Elton John and James Taylor posted new dates for their previously postponed tours.
Meanwhile, last week, Reba postponed her 2021 road concerts to 2022 and Michael Buble did the same for his 2021 U.K. dates.
I’m still waiting for Kylie Minogue to announce dates for her late 2020 critically acclaimed album, “Disco”. As I said before, she’s at the top of my concert “bucket list” and I want to see her in some foreign city!
Call it wanderlust!
How comfortable are you attending concerts with 100% capacity later this year?
I’m ready for us to safely travel again. However, it may still be a while for international travel.
At this point, only 2.8% of the world is fully vaccinated!
REBA ANNOUNCEMENT
Oh, back to Reba! When she announced the postponement of her summer arena tour, she also dropped something that made me very happy!
Yes, new music!!!!!
“ARMY OF THE DEAD”
My two most highly anticipated movies this year are “Halloween Kills” (October 15, 2021) and Netflix and Zack Snyder’s “Army of The Dead” (May 21, 2021).
I’m excited for two reasons: (1) it’s about zombies and (2) it’s set in Las Vegas!
Let’s just hope the excitement for me when I visit in June is winning big bucks (or breaking even) — no explosions or zombies, please!
The full trailer is now out and if you love Kenny Rogers’ “The Gambler”, take a look and listen!
RIP JIM STEINMAN
Earlier this week, the same day that Vice President Mondale died, the rock music world lost a legendary producer.
Jim Steinman produced some of the biggest hits in pop and rock music including Bonnie Tyler’s four week #1 smash “Total Eclipse of the Heart” in 1983 and Meat Loaf’s “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That) in 1993, that topped the charts in 28 countries, including five weeks in the U.S., and Celine Dion’s “It’s All Coming Back To Me Now”, which hit #2 in 1996.
He also wrote and produced my favorite Air Supply song from 1983, “Making Love Out of Nothing At All”. It peaked at #2 for three weeks behind Bonnie Tyler’s “Eclipse”!
“ANOTHER ROUND”
Earlier this week, I checked out the 2020 Danish movie “Druk” (which means “binge drinking”) on Hulu.
While most of you haven’t heard of it, it’s actually nominated for two Oscars this year, including Thomas Vinterberg for Best Director.
My interest in the movie is that it stars Mads Mikkelsen (“Hannibal”).
It’s the story of four high school teachers in Denmark going through mid-life crises.
They decide to do an experiment with alcohol, since a leading psychiatrist believes that an alcohol blood content level of 0.05 makes you more creative and relaxed.
They test the theory and push it to the limits.
While a very interesting movie, I probably wouldn’t watch it again. However, the final scene is amazing!
Spoiler Alert: The captured image above is part of that incredible last scene.
GRADE:B
MORE MADS
If you love Mads Mikkelsen and you’re going through “Hannibal” withdrawals like me, check out “Arctic”, my #9 movie of 2019.
Awesome movie!
THEY SAID WHAT???
Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace to Texas Governor Greg Abbott: “There were thousands of complaints of sexual abuse at migrant shelters during the Trump years. Not to say what’s going on now is right, but we couldn’t find one instance of you complaining & calling that out when President Trump was president.”
“ME”
I’ve read several book about and from Elton John, but his 2019 autobiography, “Me”, is by far the best!
I absolutely loved this book and I’d highly recommend it.
I was very intrigued about what he had to say about Michael Jackson (“He was genuinely mentally ill, a disturbing person to be around.”) and Tina Turner.
In 1997, he and Tina had planned to tour together but found her very difficult to work with. His band called her a “f**king nightmare” and Elton agreed!
Elton says she called him at home and told him, “She didn’t like my hair, she didn’t like the color of my piano – which for some reason had to be white – and she didn’t like my clothes.” And, then Elton says, she added, “You wear too much Versace, and it makes you look fat – you need to wear Armani.”
I loved that he and Rod Stewart have female nicknames for each other.
And, I was so touched when he told the story of how he and his husband, David Furnish, met in October 1993. (Elton was feeling down, so he called a friend and said bring others over for a dinner party before they went out to celebrate Halloween. David was one of the people his friend brought along to dinner!)
He and David are now the dads of 10-year-old Zachary and 8-year-old Elijah.
Since I haven’t had a date in more than two years, I should try that when the “new normal” post-pandemic world begins!
Also, I was curious about what he’d have to say about Madonna.
If I recall correctly, Elton mentioned her four times and three were positive. The other time he spoke of Madonna was about his anger toward her and he said he apologized to her!
THE NIGHT I SPENT WITH ELTON JOHN
Ha! That’s just tease writing! I never spent the night with Elton John — just the evening! 🙂
For my birthday weekend in 2012, I had tickets to see Madonna’s “MDNA Tour” in Las Vegas.
Earlier that year, Sir Elton John was forced to cancel nine shows due to health reasons and it was announced in the summer that he would make up those dates in October. But, I didn’t have tickets.
As luck would have it, just hours after arriving in Las Vegas, I searched ebay one last time and found fantastic rear orchestra seats for a great price. And, just like that, two hours later I was sitting there waiting for the show to begin!
I’ve always been a fan of Elton’s from the days of my childhood and his poppy ’70s songs, the fun, yet sometimes, moody hits of the ’80s, the more mature themed music of the ’90s when radio began to move away from playing his new songs (except for “The Lion King” and his tribute to Princess Diana), to his recent adult contemporary fare.
Elton closed out his 19-song set with his award-winning “Circle of Life” from “The Lion King”.
It was two hours of pure gold entertainment!!!
LAST CHANCE TO SEE ELTON
In January 2018, Elton announced his final “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour that would play more than 300 shows worldwide.
The North American leg kicked off that September and ran through March 2019 and then moved to Europe for the summer and then back to North America though November. The show moved “down under” to Australia and New Zealand from late 2019 to March 2020 when COVID-19 shut down the tour and the world!
Dates are now rescheduled and the tour is expected to resume in Europe on September 1, 2021, and return to the U.S. and Canada in January 2022 for 43 shows through April!
MY FAVORITE ELTON JOHN SONGS
On the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S., Elton has scored 58 Top 40 hits. Of those, 27 reached the Top 10 with 19 making it to the Top Five. Nine reached #1!
And, he’s had even more hits on the American Adult Contemporary charts. He’s scored 74 Top 40 hits with 40 of them making the Top 10 and 33 of those reaching the Top Five! Eighteen topped the charts!
So, it was so hard narrowing the list down….
“I’M STILL STANDING”
“THE LAST SONG”
“SAD SONGS (SAY SO MUCH)”
“EMPTY GARDEN (HEY HEY JOHNNY)”
“I GUESS THAT’S WHY THEY CALL IT THE BLUES”
What’s your favorite Elton song?
If you want to see the full blog and my other 15 favorite Elton John songs, here it is! (It should open in a new window!)
Forget online dating and phone apps, I may have learned how to end my two-year dating drought and find the love of my life.
If that turns out to be the case, I owe it all to Elton John and his 2019 autobiography, “Me”, that I just got around to reading.
While I’ve read other books about Elton, I absolutely loved this book because it’s in Elton’s own words and from his heart. I’d highly recommend it.
Other than our gayness, there’s two others things Elton and I have in common — analyzing music charts and our love of statistics!
I was very intrigued about what he had to say about Michael Jackson (“He was genuinely mentally ill, a disturbing person to be around.”) and Tina Turner.
In 1997, he and Tina had planned to tour together but he found working with her very difficult. His band called her a “f**king nightmare” and Elton agreed!
Elton says she called him at home and told him, “She didn’t like my hair, she didn’t like the color of my piano – which for some reason had to be white – and she didn’t like my clothes.” And, then Elton says, she added, “You wear too much Versace, and it makes you look fat – you need to wear Armani.”
I loved that he and Rod Stewart have female nicknames for each other.
And, I was so touched when he told the story of how he and his now husband, David Furnish-John, met in October 1993.
I don’t want to spoil it for you in case you decide to read “Me”.
It’s very clever and it’d be up my alley when I finally get to meet people socially in Decatur, Illinois, now that I’m fully vaccinated from COVID-19!
Sir Elton and David, who have now been together for almost 28 years, are the dads of 10-year-old Zachary and 8-year-old Elijah.
Also, I was curious about what he’d have to say about Madonna.
Elton is not one to hold his tongue and he’s said some mean-spirited things about Madonna in the past about her live performances and her beef with Lady Gaga over “Born This Way” being “reductive”.
If I recall correctly, Elton mentioned her four times in the book and three were positive. The other time he spoke of Madonna was about his anger toward her over Gaga and he said he apologized to her!
I SPENT THE NIGHT WITH ELTON JOHN!
Ha! That’s just tease writing! I never spent the night with Elton John — just the evening! 🙂
For my birthday weekend in 2012, I had tickets to see Madonna’s “MDNA Tour” in Las Vegas.
Earlier that year, Sir Elton John was forced to cancel nine shows due to health reasons and it was announced he’d make up those dates in October. But, I didn’t have tickets.
As luck would have it, just hours after arriving in Las Vegas, I searched ebay one last time and found fantastic rear orchestra seats for a great price. And, just like that, two hours later I was sitting there waiting for the show to begin!
I’ve always been a fan of Elton’s from the days of my childhood and his poppy ’70s songs, the fun, yet sometimes, moody hits of the ’80s, the more mature themed music of the ’90s when radio began to move away from playing his new songs (except for “The Lion King” and his tribute to Princess Diana), to his recent adult contemporary fare.
When the lights went down and the stage lit up, Elton John had arrived and he opened with “The Bitch Is Back”. For the next two hours, he would perform some of his biggest hits of the 1970’s: “Bennie and the Jets”, “Rocket Man”, “Levon”, “Tiny Dancer”, “Your Song”, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”, “Philadelphia Freedom”, “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me”, and “Crocodile Rock”.
After that decade, the selections became more scarce. He performed “I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues” and “I’m Still Standing” from the 1980s.
Elton closed out his 19-song set with his award-winning “Circle of Life” from “The Lion King”.
It was two hours of pure gold entertainment!!! Sir Elton John sounded great and was in a fantastic mood telling some really touching stories about his past, his collaborations, the friends he has lost (Ryan White, Lady Diana, and Elizabeth Taylor), and some naughty stories (John Lennon) and he did make one, very funny Madonna reference.
While talking about his glitzy Yahama piano, Elton said that the company went all out with the construction of the piano. He said they even installed an aquarium on the front of it so if he got bored, he could watch the fish. He then said that we could see fish and through optical illusions, the sides of the piano changed like his background and we saw fish swimming.
At that point, he said the fish reminded him of Madonna. All of the sudden, a small gasp could be heard from the well-informed, and he hushed us, saying that he and Madonna have made up and that they met for dinner in France, “I hugged her and she kicked me in the balls”. The crowd loved it!
Sir Elton John, you were simply amazing and I’m glad I got to spend two hours of my 2012 birthday weekend with you.
After seeing the show, I bought his “The Red Piano” DVD from his 2004-2009 Las Vegas residency. And, can you believe, nine years later, I still haven’t watched it? But, I will soon!
LAST CHANCE TO SEE ELTON
In January 2018, Elton announced his final “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour that would play more than 300 dates worldwide.
The North American leg kicked off that September and ran through March 2019 and then moved to Europe for the summer and then back to North America though November.
The show moved “down under” to Australia and New Zealand in late 2019 to March 2020 when COVID-19 shut down the tour and the world!
Dates are now rescheduled and the tour is expected to resume in Europe on September 1, 2021, and return to the U.S. and Canada in January 2022 for 43 shows through April!
Maybe I should see Elton one more time and buy tickets to his St. Louis, Missouri, show on March 30, 2022!!!
ELTON JOHN’S AMERICAN CHART SUCCESS
Do you know how difficult it is to narrow down decades of Elton John hits to pick your twenty favorite? Think about it for a moment.
On the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S., Elton has scored 58 Top 40 hits. Of those, 27 reached the Top 10 with 19 making it to the Top Five. Nine reached #1!
And, he’s had even more hits on the American Adult Contemporary charts. He’s scored 74 Top 40 hits with 40 of them making the Top 10 and 33 of those reaching the Top Five!
Eighteen topped the charts (and seven more of those Top Five hits stalled at #2. I’d be firing some people in the office for not getting them to #1! Just Kidding!!!)
MY FAVORITE ELTON JOHN SONGS
So with all those hits and all that pressure, here are my 20 favorite Elton John songs!
Once you listen and look at my list, tell me your favorites!
“ISLAND GIRL”
“MAMA CAN’T BUY YOU LOVE”
“CROCODILE ROCK”
“SORRY SEEMS TO BE THE HARDEST WORD”
“DON’T GO BREAKING MY HEART” (WITH RUPAUL)
“STEP INTO CHRISTMAS”
“SACRIFICE”
“ROCKET MAN”
“LITTLE JEANNIE”
“DON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME” (WITH GEORGE MICHAEL)
“KISS THE BRIDE”
“PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM”
“DANIEL”
“BLUE EYES”
“THE ONE”
“I’M STILL STANDING”
“THE LAST SONG”
“SAD SONGS (SAY SO MUCH)”
“EMPTY GARDEN (HEY HEY JOHNNY)”
“I GUESS THAT’S WHY THEY CALL IT THE BLUES”
Thank you Elton John for the decades of music and memories and for the beautiful story of your life in “Me”!
Enjoy the rest of the farewell tour and maybe I’ll see you in St. Louis!
Afterwards, enjoy your family, your retirement, and keep making music for fun!
What's Peeps Thinking About Now? It's Probably Random! 