Random Friday Thoughts — June 13, 2025

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There are many disadvantages: being outdated, the layout, and the space.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

Random Friday Thoughts — June 10, 2022

Hope your June is off to a great start as we’re already one-third of the way through it.

Have a fantastic weekend and thank you for checking out my random thoughts.

BREAKING NEWS….

CNN reports that President Biden is expected to announce Friday (June 10) the CDC “will end COVID-19 testing requirement for air travelers entering the country”.

This will go into effect midnight Sunday for U.S. bound flights.

Interestingly, I blogged about wanting this policy dropped just four weeks ago! And, it was just earlier this week that I tweeted the President, the White House, and the CDC! 🙂

I know this has nothing to do with the change, but it feels nice to think you might be heard!

GUNS! GUNS! GUNS!

It’s now been just over two weeks since an 18-year-old with no criminal record and no documented mental illness killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

His shooting spree also injured 18 others (fifteen students, two police officers, and his grandmother at home).

Since then, there have been more than three dozen mass shootings in the U.S.!!!

Democrats are screaming tougher gun control and Republicans want more done about mental illness. Well, both are right. But, nothing gets done from either side of the aisle with just talk, talk, talk and soundbites!

About gun control, I don’t want your damn guns. But, I don’t think civilians should have access to Glocks or AR-15-style rifles, which the National Rifle Association calls, “America’s rifle”! How sweet!

Just think of how many more mass shootings have been added to that list!

LET’S TALK MENTAL ILLNESS…

Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter worked hard to bring mental health issues to the forefront.

President Jimmy Carter signed the Mental Health Systems Act of 1980 into law in October, a month before the 1980 presidential election.

Ronald Reagan, seven months after taking office, signed The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 into law.

This repealed most of the Mental Health Systems Act of 1980!

ENTERTAINMENT & MASS SHOOTINGS

In the wake of the Texas school shooting, CBS pulled the season four finale of “FBI” because the storyline involved a suspected student’s participation in a deadly robbery.

This has happened many times in the past.

I was a huge fan of NBC’s “Hannibal”. In the spring of 2013, show producer Bryan Fuller decided to pull the original “fourth” episode of the first season, “Oeuf”, most likely because of the Newtown, Connecticut school shooting in December 2012. 

In this episode that aired in international markets and on streaming services, Molly Shannon plays the “criminal of the week”, a teacher who brainwashes foster kids into killing other kids and their old families.

At the time, my problem with this was that the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings took place almost five months earlier. If the producers were that uneasy about the theme of this episode, they knew that back then and could have done some editing or re-shoots to maintain continuity in the show! 

I guess it worked out for them. I ended up buying the season one DVD just to see that missing episode!

“QUEER AS FOLK”

The eight-episode reboot of “Queer As Folk” debuted on Peacock Thursday.

I watched the first episode and it’s incredible. I loved the LGBTQ+ and racial representation that the two original versions lacked! I’ll be watching the rest of it this weekend.

Did you watch the 10-episode U.K. original in 1999-2000 with a very young Charlie Hunnam (“Sons of Anarchy)?

Or, the five-season, 83 episode, U.S. version on Showtime from 2000-2005. (I watched the first few seasons of the U.S. version and finally caught the U.K. version.)

Okay, I digress.

I’m mentioning the new reboot for three reasons — it’s Pride month, it’s new programming, and because the storyline revolves around a Pulse nightclub-like shooting and rebuilding a community after a tragedy.

What are your thoughts on when entertainment is a little too close to reality?

DOING A DOUBLE TAKE!

Okay, let’s lighten the mood!

I posted my senior picture from high school last week on Facebook and I had someone say I looked like a young Keanu (Reeves). When I was younger, I heard that a few times — and thank you! 🙂

A few weeks back, my friend, Steve, sent me a photo and at first glance, I thought, when was that taken and who are those men?

Well, I clicked on it and realized it wasn’t me. Well, unless I’m a really young and muscular, sexy, porn star! (Or, so I’m told that he’s in the adult film industry!)

We sure like that high hair! 🙂 This was on my first trip to Vegas in the early-1990s!

THE PICK TO PLAY MADONNA

It looks like Ozark’s Julia Garner will be playing Madonna in the new movie following the early years of the icon’s life!

“What are you looking at? / Strike a pose / Strike a pose / Vogue (vogue, vogue)”

WHY THE RAINBOW FLAG?

When the LGBTQ movement took off in the 1970s, there was no widely accepted symbol.

Some used the Greek symbol for lambda, but not many knew what it meant. Others want to use the pink triangle, which is how gays during the Holocaust were branded. Yet, people that was too bleak.

Gilbert Baker decided to make a new symbol for the movement and debuted the rainbow flag at San Francisco Pride on June 25, 1978.

While there have been variations of the flag since then, six colors are readily acceptable today on most rainbow flags.

Baker’s original flag had eight colors.

“FIRE ISLAND”

I’ve never been to Fire Island and I’ll probably never go. If I could travel back in time and know then what I know now, I’d love to be there back in the late-1970s and early-1980s during my teenage years.

This Pride month, Hulu is offering a new LGBTQ movie following a group of friends heading to the gay mecca for what could be their last time together there.

The biggest names in the movie are comedian Margaret Cho, “Saturday Night Live” breakout star Bowen Yang, and Conrad Ricamora from “How To Get Away With Murder”.

While the movie is a romantic-comedy, it’s more of a buddy movie. It’s about friends looking out for each other and fighting for each other when the going gets tough.

And, it’s about flaunting what you’ve got.

After a sluggish start, the movie found its footing and ended up being enjoyable, even if the ending wasn’t all that believable!

It was great seeing very sexy Ricamora again (I’d so date him and his character) and the very adorable Charles Scully (“You”). And, “Fire Island”, thank you for introducing me to Zane Phillips and Miss Peppermint!

GRADE: B

MISS PEPPERMINT, “IF” YOU’RE NASTY

Okay, I had heard of Miss Peppermint before “Fire Island”.

Earlier this spring to celebrate Janet’s birthday (Miss Jackson if you’re nasty”), Peppermint released an incredible remake of “If”.

“If” reached the Top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the fall of 1993. It’s still one of my all-time favorite Janet songs!

Here’s the original video.

And, I saw Janet on her “Unbreakable World Tour” in October 2015 in Omaha. Here’s some of “If” live!

SAL MINEO

Most people, if they remember Sal Mineo, know him from “Rebel Without A Cause” from 1955.

After just turning 17-years-old, in 1956, Mineo became the second youngest to get an Oscar nomination in the Best Supporting Actor category for “Rebel”.

Sal was nominated again in 1961 in the Best Supporting Actor category for “Exodus” — becoming the youngest actor, at that time, to have two nominations.

And, some might remember him as the actor stabbed to death outside his apartment in early 1976 after returning home from theatre practice with less than $22 in his pocket and a cupcake he’d bought for his dinner!

I recently read two books about the actor. He was much more successful than he’s remembered for!

Michael Gregg Michaud’s “Sal Mineo: A Biography” (2010) was a great book.

One of my favorite tidbits was a conversation between two of Sal’s girlfriends.

Susan Ladin told Jill Haworth: “If it wasn’t for you, I’d be the first Mrs. Mineo”. And Jill replied, “If it wasn’t for Bobby Sherman, you’d be the second Mrs. Mineo”. (Jill told the author that she walked in on Mineo and Sherman having sex ending her sexual relationship with Sal.)

The other book was by a writer that claims to have had ongoing sexual encounters with Mineo.

Here are some revelations from H. Paul Jeffers’ 2000 book, “Sal Mineo: His Life, Murder, and Mystery”.

While many thought that James Dean was having an affair with both of his co-stars from “Rebel Without A Cause” Sal Mineo and Natalie Wood, Mineo denies they had sex.

In 1973, Jeffers claims Sal told him, “If I’d understood back then that a guy could be in love with another one, it would have happened. But I didn’t come to that realization for a few more years, and then it was too late for Jimmy and me.”

DON JOHNSON & SAL MINEO

Also, from Jeffers book….

Future “Miami Vice” star Don Johnson acted in a 1969 Los Angeles theatrical production directed by Mineo. It was a gay-themed prison drama with nudity and Mineo’s character raping Johnson’s much younger character.

A few years later, in 1973, Johnson said, “Basically, I guess I’m an exhibitionist. I’m very proud of my body. I’m pleased with the way I look and the way I carry myself. I feel that it’s all there to be used — the looks and everything else. Some people have great minds, and they were given them for a reason. I have never been accused of having a great mind, but I do have my looks.”

Johnson lived with Mineo at the time and there were rumors that they were lovers.

Johnson says, “Of course there were some wild stories that went down because of us, which was fine, because they helped sell a lot of tickets. And there have been some outrageous stories about us! God, God, God!”

SUMMER BREAK

Like those that have the summer off, I’m taking a late spring break.

I hope it’s a nice one for you and I’ll be back soon with more random thoughts.

Bon Appetit this Pride Month!

THAT’S IT

With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!

Anthony