Hello there! It’s been over two months since I last shared some random thoughts. Real life gets in the way!
So, Happy Holidays! Let’s talk!
BEST CHRISTMAS EVER
The holiday season is in fully swing and I plan on making this the best Christmas ever! (Well, if not the best, definitely one of the best.)
This year, I have my wacky little pug, Xanadu, to make the holidays more festive.
Also, my sister, Tammy, suffered a stroke late this summer and then spent almost a week before Thanksgiving back in the hospital, so we’re going to party like it’s 1999!
You just never know how much time you have left, so I’ll enjoy this Christmas as if it’s our last one together.
That’s her all dressed up in Branson, Missouri, in October.
CHRISTMAS SONG LYRICS THAT MAKE ME SMH!
“Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” begins, “You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen, but do you recall, the most famous reindeer of all?”
Wait, if Rudolph is the most famous reindeer of all, which he is, of course we know his name!
Also, in the Carpenters’ “Home For The Holidays, Karen sings, “From Atlantic to Pacific/Gee, the traffic is terrific.” Wait, who’s ever thought that traffic is terrific when traveling, even it’s home for the holidays?
FAVORITE CHRISTMAS GIFTS
I’m now at the age where I have everything I want in life. Material things don’t impress me much!
As I think back to my younger years, four gifts come to mind as my favorites.
The first toy I remember asking for and getting was a red cash register like this one.
I’m sure playing with money as a kid helped me excel in math and money management today!
My favorite Christmas present growing up was a Panasonic tape recorder that I got in 1976.
I spent hours listening to the radio recording songs, making montages, and I remember making a “Hurricane Allen” tape as the storm hit Texas in 1980.
The first song I ever recorded was “You Don’t Have To Be A Star (To Be In My Show)”, which hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and it won a Grammy for Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr.
While I didn’t know it then, Christmas 1989 would end up being one of my favorites — it would be the last one with my mother, Dessie. (That’s her with my cousin, Steve).
She died in early November 1990, so that Christmas was a sad one and definitely my least favorite.
However, she left me with two gifts that I still have to this day. My mother had already put our Christmas presents in layaway.
That Christmas, I had chosen a $30 stone-washed denim jacket and the VHS (yes, VHS!) copy of “Pretty Woman”.
Thank you Tammy for paying off that layaway!
CHER “CHRISTMAS”
In the ageist world we live in, it makes me so happy when two women, Dolly Parton and Cher, in their late-70s are burning up the music charts. (Three now — more on the other one shortly!)
Typically, artists score huge hits on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart with their Christmas releases because those formats are usually the ones that change over to all holiday music in November or December.
With her lead single from her “Christmas” album, “DJ Play a Christmas Song”, Cher hit #1 on the AC chart.
But, an even bigger accomplishment is that the song is at #38 on the Top 40 airplay chart and it’s getting airplay at dance stations, too!
While I love that song, my other favorites on the album are “Angels in the Snow” and “Drop Top Slay Ride” with Tyga. My absolute favorite is “Put a Little Holiday in Your Heart” with Cyndi Lauper.
GRADE: A
“ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU” IS STILL SUPREME!
Mariah Carey performed the holiday classic for the first time this year on an award show (the MTV VMAs). It was superb and she looked and sounded like the queen she is.
WHICH BRINGS ME TO A RARE DOLLY MISFIRE
The “Queen of Country Music” is now rock and roll royalty as her latest album, “Rockstar”, earned rave reviews and hit #3 on the Billboard 200 album chart.
Before Cher this year, “A Holly Dolly Christmas” was the last Christmas album I bought in the fall of 2020.
I loved the album, except for the duet with Jimmy Fallon on Mariah’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You”. It’s horrible, especially Fallon!
BRENDA LEE “ROCKIN'” INTO MUSIC HISTORY
Back in the 1960s, “Little Brenda Lee” or “Little Miss Dynamite” was a pop superstar and she turned that success into a country music career in the 1970s.
Now, Brenda Lee sets music history with a song she first released all the way back in 1958!
During the 2019-2022 holiday seasons, “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” racked up nine weeks at #2, held out of the top spot by Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You”.
This year, Brenda released an official video for the song with appearances by Trisha Yearwood and Tanya Tucker. That extra push took the song to #1 on the new Billboard Hot 100.
Brenda Lee is now the oldest artist ever to top the chart at 78, beating out Louis Armstrong, who was 62 in May 1964 when he hit #1 and Cher was 52 when “Believe” reached the top in March1999.
Also, Brenda Lee now holds the record for longest stretch between #1 Hot 100 hits — 63 years, one month, and two weeks.
She was last at #1 on October 24, 1960 before “Rockin'” topped the Hot 100 this month!
SO WHAT HAPPENS NOW ON THE HOT 100
So what happens now that “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” topped the chart?
With all the press around the Billboard Hot 100 #1 achievement and an appearance on an Opry Christmas special, I expect Brenda Lee to hold at #1 next week.
After that, I predict that Mariah Carey will top the Hot 100 for the last two weeks of 2023.
If that happens, it’ll extend the stay for “All I Want For Christmas” at #1 to 14 weeks!
AND,”FANCY LIKE CHRISTMAS”!
Country music superstar Walker Hayes is a hottie and has a beautiful family.
In 2021, he scored a #1 hit on the Billboard Country chart that peaked at #3 on the Hot 100 with “Fancy Like”. (It ended being the second biggest country song that year and the #4 country song for 2022, a two-year Top 5 winner). I liked the song and many of you did, too.
However, this holiday season, Hayes went back to the well and released “Fancy Like Christmas”. While just listening to the song a couple of times, I didn’t care for it (even with a shout out to Mariah).
And, damn it to hell, I couldn’t help to be charmed by Walker and his family when I watched the official video.
It made the song more bearable, even likeable!
Oh, when I was choosing a photo of him and his family to share, I wasn’t expecting this one from 2019. You’re welcome!
THIS SOUNDS TASTY, TOO!
MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONGS
So, as I wrap up today, I’ll share my ten favorite Christmas songs with you. Interestingly, I first posted a Christmas song countdown back on 12-12-12 (2012, that is).
However, while the my top ten songs are the same, the rankings have changed!!!
10. “Pretty Paper” (Willie Nelson)
9. “It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas” (Michael Buble)
8. “The Secret of Giving” (Reba McEntire)
7. “O Holy Night” (Josh Groban)
6. “Wonderful Christmastime” (Paul McCartney)
“Step Into Christmas” (Elton John)
“Happy Xmas (War is Over)” (John Lennon & Yoko Ono)
“Do They Know It’s Christmas?” (Band Aid)
“Merry Christmas Darling” (The Carpenters)
“All I Want For Christmas is You” (Mariah Carey)
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
“May hope and faith conquer fear and hate” this holiday season.
We’re halfway through September and there’s one more week of summer left. However, I’m sure many of us are already in the fall frame of mind.
I’ve already decorated for two reasons — I’ve been over summer for some time now and I also decorate early for Christmas!
Thank you for checking out my random thoughts.
TURKEY & NOW MOROCCO
Two months after I returned from an incredible trip across Turkey last fall, the southern part of that country and Syria was struck with a 7.8 magnitude earthquake that killed almost 60,000 people and injured twice that many.
Now, more than 2,900 are dead in Morocco after a 6.8 magnitude quake last Friday in the High Atlas Mountains near Marrakesh.
I was there five years ago next month to celebrate my birthday. The people were so nice and I had such a magical evening in Marrakesh with my new friends — Pom, Sheila, Po Po, and Izzy.
The evening started with a horse-drawn carriage ride through the streets of Marrakesh at sunset and a jaunt through the crowded souk (an Arab marketplace or bazaar) on the way to dinner. Once we were dropped off, we made our way through a series of alleys and at the end of the maze was the incredible and gorgeous restaurant.
I felt like royalty at this lavish dinner with this gorgeous group!
Our three course tasting menu started with incredibly colorful and tasty Moroccan salads. I chose fish Tagine for my entree, and had pastilla with light cream and crushed almonds with fresh mint for dessert.
I’ll hold on to the fond memories of that trip and keep them (and Turkey and Syria) in my thoughts and prayers.
PUMPKIN SPICE CRAZE GETS CRAZIER!
Forget about Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts and their pumpkin spice coffees and baked goods, the pumpkin craze has gone to the dogs.
Anheuser-Busch is offering a non-alcoholic Pumpkin Spice Dog Brew.
Miss Xanadu will likely pass on this — she’s more of a vodka girl! 🙂
SOMETHING FOR THANKSGIVING
The Portland, Oregon-based company Salt & Straw is ready for the fall holidays with “The Harvest Festival Series” of ice cream. I’d love to sample the “Beecher’s Cheese w/Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls” and the “Pinot Poached Pear Sherbet”.
For the fall holidays in 2018, the company offered “Roasted Peach & Sage Cornbread Stuffing” (ice cream infused “with fresh-picked sage…handfuls of sweet and crunchy cornbread brown sugar shortbread cookies and spoonfuls of spiced peach jam brightened with a splash of peach vinegar).
And, “Salted Caramel Thanksgiving Turkey” (“sweet and buttery turkey brittle into a turkey fat caramel ice cream”)!
AND, OF COURSE, CHRISTMAS!
Cher announced October 20th as the release date for her first Christmas album, “Cher Christmas”.
So far, three possible covers have been presented and this is my favorite.
While there is still no track listing, I know that Cher and Darlene Love covered Love’s 1963 classics, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”.
Love wrote on Facebook, “This is one of the BEST duets I’ve EVER done!!! I’m so so proud and honored to be part of Cher’s FIRST EVER Christmas album and to be reconnected with Cherilyn Sarkisian whom I’ve known before she became CHER the mega star!!”
Other duets on the album feature Michael Bublé, Stevie Wonder, and Cyndi Lauper.
CAMELOT WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
70 years ago this week, (September 12, 1953), John Fitzgerald Kennedy married Jacqueline Lee Bouvier in Newport, Rhode Island.
The reception for 1,200 people was held at Hammersmith Farm, her mother and stepfather’s estate. And, because I love food, cake, and desserts, here is the wedding cake!
P.S. There’s also sexy Bobby Kennedy! Um, asking for a friend. How did his son running for president become such an idiot? (Okay, he was a drug user as a teenager and young man, but…)
A FAVORITE RETURNS
Red Velvet Oreos are back for a limited time.
We last enjoyed them in 2020.
“MAFIA MAMMA”
When it comes to movies, I’m more into dramas than comedy.
But, I recently took a chance on “Mafia Mamma” when Redbox offered it to me for $1. It came out last spring and it wasn’t a big box office smash.
It stars Toni Collette and I’ve loved her since 1994’s “Muriel’s Wedding”, one of my all-time favorites. If you haven’t seen it, you must next year for its 30th anniversary.
In “Mafia Mamma”, Collette plays Kristin, who works for a cosmetic company as an ad campaign writer under three sexist and juvenile men. And, she also catches her husband having an affair.
So, when she gets a call that she has to attend the reading of a will of her last living relative, her grandfather, who just died, she takes off to southern Italy.
And, yes, you guessed it. Her “family” is in the mafia and it’s funny watching this fragile American woman trying to run the family “business”.
GRADE: B+
“GOLDA: THE LIFE OF ISRAEL’S PRIME MINISTER”
Over the past weeks, I’ve been sharing some tidbits from Peggy Mann’s incredible 1971 biography of Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir.
Here are the final few:
An example in the book about how much Arabs hated Jews, this was a math problem that was still printed in textbooks in the late-1960s, “If there are eleven Israelis and four are killed, how many are left?” 😦
While the book was published in 1971, things were said then that are truly offensive now, like Mann’s line “And slant-eyedChinese Jews….”
Some know a lot about the Holocaust that exterminated six million Jewish people and some only know a little about that atrocious event! Here’s a description from the book about the men, women, and children before they were shunted into the ovens to their deaths:
“… each corpse was gone over by trained technicians. One pried open the jaw, knocked out gold-filled teeth. In a single camp, Auschwitz, seventeen tons of gold were collected in this manner. Another technician shave the heads of women. The hair was used in the manufacture of mattresses and textiles. An apprentice member of the team removed such items as watches, rings, and false limbs. Jewish fat was used to make inexpensive soap. Bones which did not burn in the ovens were used for the manufacture of phosphate. And the final ashes were made into fertilizer for German fields and flower gardens.”
“A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE”
This 1951 classic was nominated for 12 Oscars including four in the acting categories. It won three of the acting awards (Vivian Leigh, Karl Malden, and Kim Hunter). It became the first movie to win three Oscars in the acting categories. (Since then 1976’s “Network” and 2022’s “Everything Everywhere All At Once” did that.)
I’m surprised at how boring it was and the acting of Vivian Leigh and Marlon Brando was over the top. (And, that’s not a compliment!)
GRADE: C
MARLON BRANDO— WHAT A HOTTIE!
But, it was worth watching just to lust after a young Marlon Brando — if only Stanley Kowalski wasn’t so loud and obnoxious!
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)
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!)
We’ve made it to the middle of November and Thanksgiving is not far off now. I can’t wait to feast!
Thank you for taking time to check out my random thoughts!
DECORATED FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Christmas for me runs from November 1st through January 30th!
My trees are up, my cards are ready, and my tunes are putting a jingle in my step!
This is my main tree in the living room.
And, in my bedroom, my tree without icicles! Ironically, every ornament was picked up at yard sales this year in Decatur!
I love the idea so much that next year I’ll place all of my personal ornaments on this tree just to highlight them for you.
And, I’ll put the yard sale ornaments on the main tree with all the icicles!
Happy Holidays!
MYONLY POLITICAL POST THIS WEEK!
This was too funny not to share! 🙂 If it makes you mad, just be diplomatic in your response.
“DISCO” WEEK!
I’ve already been enjoying Christmas music while I write out my holiday cards. However, Mariah Carey, Michael Buble, Reba, and The Carpenters are temporarily on pause.
I’ve been jamming out and partying to Kylie Minogue’s highly-anticipated new deluxe album, “Disco”!
What a perfect distraction from the U.S. presidential election and the dismal and sad Covid-19 pandemic!
So far, my favorite songs on the album are “Real Groove”, “Supernova”, “Last Chance”, “Where Does The DJ Go?”, “Fine Wine”, and “Spotlight”.
This is, in addition, to the first three single releases, “Say Something”, “Magic”, and “I Love It”.
GRADE: A
“SPOILER ALERT: THE HERO DIES”
This 2017 book is subtitled, “A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Other Four-Letter Words”.
It’s by TVLine editor-in-chief and former “Entertainment Weekly” and “TV Guide” columnist Michael Ausiello.
IT’S ABSOLUTELY THE BEST BOOK I’VE READ IN YEARS!
I’ve been wanting to read it since it came out, but real life and my own drama (D-I-V-O-R-C-E) got in the way.
By page eight, I was ready to date and fall in love in again. By page 26, I had tears streaming down my cheeks and I was happy no one was close enough to me as I was reading and walking by Lake Decatur to see me crying!
The book is amazing. While it’s a heartbreaking story of finding love, fighting for love, and then losing that love in a painful, year-long death sentence, it’s a beautiful love story!
Many will never experience the love that Michael and Kit did.
Ausiello knew just when to drop a funny line, a pop culture reference, or a naughty memory to bring a smile to my face alongside the tears.
One of the “other four-letter words” could be my favorite word (think “F).
Another is one I absolutely love, but I can’t use it without offending someone! (I won’t even give you a hint on that one, but if you’re busy this weekend and on Monday, I’ll see you next Tuesday!)
Also, after reading this beautiful book, “olive juice” takes on a whole new meaning and I hope to get to use it one day! ❤️
“RATCHED”
While Netflix’s “Ratched” feels like another season of “American Horror Story”, it was definitely much better than the last two seasons!
It’s very twisted and entertaining. The color scheme in the sets and wardrobe is gorgeous and is a lead character in itself!
I absolutely love Sarah Paulson as Nurse Mildred Racthed! Well, I love Paulson in everything she does and I’d watch her read a phone book!
And I love Finn Wittrock for many reasons!
But, the dreamiest character in an early episode was Daniel Di Tomasso.
And, if there’s only one Emmy nomination for acting in this series, it’s definitely Tony Award winner and Oscar nominee Sophie Okonedo.
She plays Charlotte Wells, a patient suffering from multiple personalities! Okonedo is amazing to watch!
Another season is coming.
GRADE:B+
“THE ANGEL OF DARKNESS”
I just finished Caleb Carr’s 1997 follow-up to “The Alienist”.
If you watched season two of the TNT series, read this book. It’s totally a different story although Libby Hatch is still featured.
Some that die in the series live in the book and others bite the bullet (spoiler alert)!
DRINK UP!
While I’m one of the few Americans that have never seen any movie in the “Star Wars” series or “The Mandalorian”, I’d partake in this in a heartbeat.
Yo Baby Yoda!
It’s Grey Goose Vodka with muddled kiwi fruit, fresh lime, demerara syrup and bitters .
The cocktail was created by Michael Young, co-owner of the restaurant Vault in Banbridge in the United Kingdom.
THE MILLENNIUM SERIES
I just finished reading the last three books in Stieg Larsson’s Swedish crime series, which were written by David Lagercrantz.
As you might know, Larrsson wrote the first three books, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” (2005), “The Girl Who Played with Fire” (2006), and “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest (2007).
He turned them in and died before reaping any money or success from them!
Writer Lagercrantz wrote the next three books in the series with the Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist characters.
His books are “The Girl in the Spider’s Web” (2015), “The Girl Who Takes an Eye for an Eye” (2017), and “The Girl Who Lived Twice” (2019).
I definitely enjoyed the three newer books. They definitely had more of an American influence, while mainly still based in Stockholm, Sweden.
You can definitely tell the last were (likely) influenced by the Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election with this line: “a string of troll factories that spewed out fake news… not only caused chaos and influenced political elections.”
And, in the “Things That Make You Go Hmmm” category…
In the last book, there’s a very evil, crooked rich tycoon with several hotels around the world (including one in Las Vegas) with ties to Russia and a wife he cheats on that’s from Hungary (which neighbors Slovenia)!
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
What an interesting week across America! And, hello to my friends beyond our borders! 🙂
Thank you for taking the time to check out my thoughts. While we don’t have to agree, we must do it diplomatically!
“HAPPY HOLIDAYS” DOESN’T REALLY COVER IT!
Let’s start off light and cheery! I found a new greeting to get us through the next three months!
And, this is still one of my favorites!
COVID-19 LATEST
I’ve been trying really, really hard to stay out of the fray that is the past four years of 45’s presidency.
But, just when you think nothing else can shock you, SURPRISE!
What? WTH? WTF?
More than 212-thousand people in the U.S. have died this year from Covid-19 and more than 7.6 million have tested positive for it and he tweets, “Don’t be afraid of Covid.” and “Don’t let it dominate your life.”!
While I’m no doctor or medical expert, I feel pretty confident in saying that many people testing positive for Covid-19 are doing so because they’re following pathetic advice like that and not following safety protocols!
This GIF has nothing to do with his comments, but it works!
“VOTE NOT GLOAT”
“Halloween” movie icon Jamie Lee Curtis tweeted an incredible and powerful message last Friday after Donald and Melania Trump tested positive for Covid-19.
As you can see, I approve this message!
PROOF THAT MASKS SAVE LIVES!
If you don’t believe that masks save lives, I have two words for you –Hannibal Lecter!
Now I want to watch 1991’s Oscar winning Best Picture, “The Silence of the Lambs”, again!
#1 SELLING NON-CHOCOLATE CANDY BAR
I recently read the 1991 Chicago Sun-Times book by Don Hayner and Tom McNamee called “Metro Chicago Almanac”.
Since Halloween is nearing, I’ll share this candy stat from the book.
It states that PayDay is the top selling non-chocolate candy bar in the U.S.!
If you love that candy bar, but you crave chocolate, too, a new PayDay was introduced in August — Chocolatey PAYDAY!
What are your favorite candy bars?
Mine are (#4) Milky Way, (#3) PayDay, (#2) Snickers, and at (#1) Zero!
By the way, the original Zero candy bar was produced in Centralia, Illinois!
HAPPY HEAVENLY BIRTHDAY MARY GRIFFITH
Mary Griffith died earlier this year at the age of 85. She shared the same birthday as me (October 13th).
Most of you don’t know the name. But, in the 1980s, she became an icon after she saw the light and became one of the strongest advocates for the LGBTQ community.
However, it took a tragedy for that to happen.
Because of her faith in religion and the Bible, she terrorized her gay son, Bobby, constantly with Bible verses and with the fear of God after he came out to her.
Bobby ended his life is the summer of 1983 when he jumped off a Portland, Oregon, overpass into the path of an 18-wheeler!
Over time, Mary realized that God didn’t need to change Bobby because her son was perfect just as God created him — gay!
Through heartache and pain, she became a staunch advocate for PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) in her northern California chapter.
Mary, now that you and Bobby are reunited, I hope you’re enjoying the happiness you never found together on Earth.
I’m honored to share a birthday with you!
If you want to read Mary’s story, Leroy Aarons’ book, “Prayers For Bobby” is excellent.
And, there’s a great Lifetime movie with Sigourney Weaver.
“LOVE, VICTOR”
When this project was announced, I was excited thinking it was a movie and a true sequel to 2018’s “Love, Simon”. When I found out it was a 10-episode Hulu series and would not be a Nick Robinson-series, I was less excited.
So, I waited a almost three months after it premiered. Boy, was I wrong!
“Love, Victor” has a great cast including the adorable lead, Michael Comino as Victor, Anthony Turpel as his best friend, Felix, and George Sear (Benji) and Rachel Hilson (Mia) as his two crushes.
And, it’s a well-rounded story that just doesn’t just focus on Victor’s coming of age story and coming out. His parents have their own drama!
Plus, Nick Robinson does make a brief appearance in a later episode.
“Love, Victor” was renewed for a second season.
There were many funny one-liners including this one from Benji to Victor about Dolly Parton:
“She’s actually one of the few things that gay sons and straight guys agree on!”
“LOVE, SIMON”
This was my #10 movie of 2018 grossing $66.3 million in theaters. When I saw it March of that year, I gave it a grade of B+ and wrote:
“LGBT icon and trailblazer Harvey Milk once said, ‘You gotta give them hope.’ The new romantic dramedy, ‘Love, Simon’, gives LGBTQ teenagers and young adults a lot of hope.
Nick Robinson is adorable as closeted high school student Simon Spier living in an Atlanta suburb. He has a great family and a group of close friends at school, but he a “huge ass secret” — he’s gay.”
I went on to add, “I loved the movie and the message it presents to youngsters and young adults (and their families).
However, as a realist and an older gay man, the movie was wrapped up a little too perfect even with the drama Simon experienced.
But, regardless of age, we all want a happy ending!”
SELENA
One day I was singing a Selena song and then in a scene that night in “Love, Victor”, his mother was singing one of her songs!
It took me back to my 1997 Lubbock, Texas days when I was a reporter and weekend anchor at the CBS affiliate, KLBK.
That was the year that the movie, “Selena”, with Jennifer Lopez came out. I felt like I was on the Selena “beat” because it seem like I was always doing stories on the movie.
And, I remember interviewing Jackie Delgado, who I honestly believe was Selena’s biggest fan in West Texas!
In 1994, I became a Selena fan when I moved to Chicago and bought her fourth album, “Amor Prohibido”.
At the time of her death, at the age of 23, in the spring of 1995, Selena was working on her English language debut album, “Dreaming of You”.
That album debuted at #1 that summer and produced her only Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 (the title track).
“SELENA: THE SERIES”
This new series debuts December 4, 2020, on Netflix with Christian Serratos (“The Walking Dead”) playing Selena.
“A HOLLY DOLLY CHRISTMAS”
This is Dolly Parton’s first new Christmas album is 30 years.
I loved the duet with Michael Bublé, “Cuddle Up, Cozy Down Christmas”, and the duet with Willie Nelson on his holiday classic, “Pretty Paper”.
Also, her upbeat duet with her brother, Randy, “You Are My Christmas” is great. And, her giddy versions of “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” and “Holly Jolly Christmas” are fun.
I also liked her originals “Christmas on the Square”, “Circle of Love”, and “Comin’ Home for Christmas”.
Now, the downside, her duet with Billy Ray Cyrus would have been much better as just a Dolly song. Despite his success in the 1990s, who said he could sing? And, the pairing with Miley Cyrus was forgettable.
However, the most unforgivable song on the album is Dolly’s remake of Mariah Carey’s Christmas classic, “All I Want For Christmas Is You”, with Jimmy Fallon!
While I love Dolly and I like Fallon, this song is iconic and it shouldn’t have been so gimmicky!
All I can say is “Mariah, I’m sorry!”
After the first listen, I didn’t feel too cheery. On the second listen, the grade went up some. I hope it continues to grow on me!
GRADE: B
HARVEST SEASON
It’s harvest season, so watch out for farmers and farm machinery on the roadways.
Also, you never know what you might find in your gardens! 🙂
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
I hope as we head toward the holiday season, people are more caring and happier like Jack and his friends!
However, with the 2020 election ahead, that may have to wait until 2021. 😦
Thank you for taking the time to check out my “Random Friday Thoughts”. It’s okay if we disagree, just do it diplomatically!
“RBG”
Much of America is still reeling from the loss of 87-year-old Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died last Friday.
She was appointed by President Bill Clinton and confirmed in 1993.
Documentaries are usually not known for being big money makers in theaters. But, in 2018, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” (about Mister Rogers) ($22.6 million) and “RBG” ($14.4 million) changed that!
This is a superb 97-minute feature directed by Betsy West and Julie Cohen.
It documents Ginsburg’s trailblazing career — from just being a woman and a mother who decides to become a lawyer in an unwelcoming field for females and to use her voice to make the world a better place for us all!
GRADE: A
“The Notorious RBG” was an amazing woman and will be sorely missed!
ONE MORE THING…
My original scenario didn’t involve Ginsburg dying, but I hope the outcome is correct!
Back on October 18, 2019, I wrote, “In early 2021 when the Democratic 46th president takes office, I think Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will step down from the bench and Hillary [Clinton] will become the new Supreme Court Justice!”
ON A HAPPIER NOTE!
My idol, former President Jimmy Carter will celebrate his 96th birthday next Thursday, October 1st!
Meanwhile, back in August, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter turned 93, and this past summer, the couple celebrated their 74th wedding anniversary!
This makes them the longest married presidential couple!
For the record, President Carter is not only the oldest living president, he’s also the nation’s longest-lived president, and he’s had the longest post-presidency life — closing in on almost 40 years!
President Carter and Mrs. Carter, here’s to the holidays, more anniversaries, and more birthdays!
Four years ago this month, I visited the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, Georgia, and here’s the message I left for the Carters.
Happy Birthday and I love you both!
AND, SPEAKING OF THESE TWO AMAZING PEOPLE
BEFORE YOU KNOW IT….
Many people are devouring pumpkin spice this and pumpkin spice that. Some are in denial and trying to hang on to summer.
Well, it’s my duty to inform you that Christmas will be here before you know it! It’s only three months from today! 🙂
“A HOLLY DOLLY CHRISTMAS”
This year on November 1st when I put up my trees and decorations, I’ll have a new musical entry to help me decorate alongside last year’s stellar Deluxe Anniversary Edition of “Mariah Carey Merry Christmas”!
Dolly Parton is releasing her first new Christmas album in 30 years, “A Holly Dolly Christmas”, on October 2nd.
And, she’s doing a remake of “All I Want For Christmas Is You”, Mariah Carey’s iconic Christmas standard!
The album also features one of my crushes, Michael Buble — also known as “Mr. Christmas” — on the single, “Cuddle Up, Cozy Down Christmas”!
Here’s the track listing:
Holly Jolly Christmas – Dolly Parton Christmas Is (featuring Miley Cyrus) – Dolly Parton Cuddle Up, Cozy Down Christmas – Dolly Parton, Michael Bublé Christmas On The Square – Dolly Parton Circle Of Love – Dolly Parton All I Want For Christmas Is You – Dolly Parton, Jimmy Fallon Comin’ Home For Christmas – Dolly Parton Christmas Where We Are (feat. Billy Ray Cyrus) – Dolly Parton Pretty Paper – Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus – Dolly Parton You Are My Christmas (feat. Randy Parton) – Dolly Parton Mary, Did You Know? – Dolly Parton
Final note, Willie Nelson’s “Pretty Paper” is still one of my all-time favorite holiday songs and now he’s doing it with Dolly!
“OBAMA’S WARS”
Bob Woodward, along with Carl Bernstein, are household names for basically single-handedly bringing down Richard Nixon’s presidency.
Woodward is back in the news with his latest new book, “Rage”, about #45 and his presidency. This is a follow-up to his 2018 book, “Fear: Trump in the White House”.
However, I’m writing about his 2010 book, “Obama’s Wars” today.
It’s a great book that covers how President Barack Obama planned to exit from the two wars he acquired from President George W. Bush — Iraq and Afghanistan.
The downside to the book is that it came out in 2010 and while thorough, it would have been better to show how the exit from those wars and countries progressed.
There’s a quote from President Obama that I hope comes true in 2021 about his 2008 Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton.
Obama told his senior political aide and closest advisor David Axelrod, “Hillary and I were friends before this started. We had this very vituperative campaign, but, you know, she is smart and we ought to be able to do something with her.”
Before he offered her the position of “Secretary of State”, he stated she did her homework, fought hard, was relentless, and “she’d make a great Supreme Court justice”, according to Woodward.
By the way, I had not read the Woodward book when I made the comment last year about Hillary becoming a Supreme Court justice in 2021!
Personally, I’m ready for the next Hillary chapter!
“SPELL MY NAME”
I’ve been a huge fan of Toni Braxton since her 1993 self-titled debut. Her tenth studio album, “Spell My Name”, is perfect Toni Braxton!
The lead off single, “Do It”, is featured twice on the album and both version have charted this summer.
Both versions are amazing — the slower, original version topped the Adult R&B chart and the remix version with Missy Elliot made it to #11 on the R&B/Hip Hop chart.
However, the first song I heard from the album got my feet moving. “Dance” is racing up the Adult R&B chart now and is in the Top 25.
While I absolutely love the upbeat “Dance”, my favorite song on the album is “Happy Without Me”!
Other standout tracks are “Saturday Night” and “Nothin'”.
GRADE: B+
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
The December holidays are underway (Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Kwanzaa) and that means that 2020 is quickly approaching, too!
This isn’t exactly a “Random Friday Thoughts”, but we can pretend that it is since there hasn’t been one in almost two months!
Enjoy your weekend and thank you for checking out my thoughts!
CHRISTMAS MAY BE OVER, BUT…
By this time, I know some of you have already taken down your Christmas tree 🎅🎄 and decorations!
To each his and her own, but that truly baffles me — just like watching people buy a tree 🎄 to decorate on the weekend before Christmas! 🎅
There is just something for me about the beauty and serenity of enjoying a lighted tree for months!
Mine went up the first weekend of November and will stay up until the last day of January!
ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS COMMERCIAL!
Mariah Carey’s commercial for Walkers Crisps is so awesome!
“HUSTLERS” & AN OSCAR NOMINATION FOR JENNIFER LOPEZ?
“Hustlers” was an incredible movie and is based on a true story.
While Constance Wu was amazing and earned top billing in the movie, Jennifer Lopez is definitely the star attraction.
I predict that she’ll definitely hear her name called in the “Best Supporting Actress” category when the Oscar nominations come out.
Cardi B was fun and sassy in her minor role and you definitely see more of Lizzo than I was expecting — both were very sexy!
And, I was surprised that male genitalia made an appearance or two! 🙂
GRADE: A
“GOOD BOYS”
This was the worst movie I saw in 2019!
I knew it was going to be raunchy and expected it to be juvenile. But, seriously, sixth grade boys in today’s internet world are not that clueless when it comes to sex!
Watch the trailer and save 90 minutes of your life and the money for the rental!
GRADE: D
NEW YEAR OPTIMISM
MY FIRST REQUEST FOR (LATE) 2020
While I’m already asking for a lot in planning the #NextChapter and #Pug 2020, if the big man upstairs is listening and taking requests, I have one more — a boyfriend!
Other than a pulse, here are a few requirements:
TWO MUSICAL WISHES FOR 2020
Since the state of country radio is pathetically sad (sexist and ageist, for starters) and will not play new music from Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton, and Patty Loveless…
I’d love for Reba, Dolly, and Patty to release an album together just like Loretta Lynn, Dolly and Tammy Wynette did in 1993 with “Honky Tonk Angels”!
By the way, Dolly ended 2019 dancing up the Billboard charts with Galantis and Mr. Probz.
“Faith” was #1 at Dance radio stations!
My other musical wish in 2020 is to see Kylie Minogue in concert!
I was really wanting to see the “Golden Tour”, but it didn’t come to America. However, in early December, Kylie released it on DVD!
And, it’s amazing!
I bought the “Golden” album when it came out in April 2018 and this new combo not only comes with concert DVD, but two CDs of live music from the show!
Since I’m making a wish list, I might as well add another one or two!
In addition to wanting to see Kylie in concert in 2020, I’d also love to see Toni Braxton…
and Vanessa Williams doing a Christmas show — all as Las Vegas residencies!!!!!
Those are the last three of my musical divas I’ve always wanted to see in concert, but haven’t!
Other than the Kylie “Golden Tour” CD/DVD combo, I bought five other albums in 2019.
“MERRY CHRISTMAS DELUXE ANNIVERSARY EDITION”
25 years after the classic “Merry Christmas” was released on November 1, 1994, Mariah Carey re-released the original with one new song on that disc and added a full new disc of previously unreleased material!
The “Deluxe Anniversary Edition” of “Merry Christmas” came out November 1, 2019.
It’s divine! Just look at the track list on the second disc!
And, for the first time ever, “All I Want For Christmas Is You” hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Only one other Christmas song has topped that chart. Back in 1958, Dave Seville and the Chipmunks reached the top for four weeks with “The Chipmunk Song”!
This year, Mariah also released a gorgeous new video directed by Joseph Kahn! It’s phenomenal!
So, “Mariah Christmas” everyone!
“LOVER”
Taylor Swift’s seventh studio album “Lover” came out in August. It’s almost perfect and is my favorite album of new material in 2019.
Along with the hit title track, it features the #2 smashes, “Me” with Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco and “You Need To Calm Down”, Taylor’s love letter to her LGBTQ fans.
My favorite songs from the album are “I Forgot That You Existed”, “The Man”, “I Think He Knows”, “Cornelia Street”, “False God”, “You Need To Calm Down”, and “Afterglow”.
I hope the next single will be “I Forgot That You Existed”!
GRADE: A
“MADAME X”
In June, Madonna released her first new album in four years with “Madame X”.
While Top 40 radio ignored the album, Madonna found continued success in the dance clubs.
“Medellín” (with Colombian hottie Maluma), “I Rise, and “Crave” (with Swae Lee) became her 47th, 48th, and her record-extending 49th number one songs on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.
“Crave” also got some play on Adult Contemporary radio and reached #11.
My favorite songs are “Medellín”, “God Control”, “Crave”, “Crazy”, and “I Don’t Search I Find”!
“God Control” is a very powerful and brutal video.
While some were disgusted that the video was so graphic, I’m with Madonna in the “sorry, not sorry” camp!
GRADE: B
“STRONGER THAN THE TRUTH”
Reba McEntire’s latest album, “Stronger Than The Truth, is up for the “Best Country Album” Grammy Award and is one of the most underrated country albums ever!
The spring 2019 release was her first country album in four years.
It debuted at #4 on the Billboard Country Albums chart, which is a great accomplishment since country music radio programmers are pretty much sexist, ageist, and racist in what they play!
Ouch! But, it’s the truth! Look at how many women, women of a certain age, and people of color that are on country radio these days. It wouldn’t take long to count!
Forgive me for deviating from Reba’s new album — her divorce album.
Unlike “MDNA”, Madonna’s 2012 very angry and violent divorce album to her ex, Reba’s album deals with loss and heartbreak, but it does offer some hope and optimism.
On the album, Reba goes back to her 1980s country roots and it kicks off with the fun, upbeat “Swing All Night With You” and then Reba does what she does best.
She rips your heart out on a modern day “Rumor Has It”, the first song that we heard from the new album, the title track.
Heartbreak is what Reba is known for and she does it so well on this album with my two favorite ballads, “Tammy Wynette Kind of Pain” and “The Bar’s Getting Lower”.
Upbeat songs are also a Reba specialty and my absolute favorite song on the album is one of the two tracks on the Target exclusive. Sadly, people that bought the album from amazon or iTunes will miss out on “While You Were Sleeping”.
It starts out sounding like a gentle love song, but quickly turns into a fun kiss off!!!!
My other favorite upbeat songs are “No U In Oklahoma” and “Storm in a Shot Glass”.
I’ve been a die-hard Reba fan since 1990’s “Rumor Has It” album. And, it seems that regardless of what’s going on in my life when a new Reba album comes out, good or bad, there’s a song (or two) on the album that I feel that Reba is singing just to me.
Sadly, it’s a reality check ballad called “The Bar’s Getting Lower”.
Disclaimer: I fully stand behind everything I said about country radio, but, in all fairness, part of the blame for the album’s commercial failure falls back on Reba and the record company.
There was no official video for the single “Freedom” or the title track when it was advanced!
GRADE: B+
“LOVE”
I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Michael Buble in concert twice and he’s an amazing performer and vocalist.
If Mariah Carey is the “Queen of Christmas”, I think that Buble should be the “King of Christmas”.
His 2011 album “Christmas”, has already sold 4.3 million copies in the U.S. and was ranked at #24 on the biggest albums of the past decade chart — the highest ranked holiday album!!!
But, his late 2018 release, “Love” (stylized as ❤️ , the red heart emoji), is beautiful.
I’m including it here because I got it in 2019!
You might not recognize Loren Allred, but it was her beautiful voice in “Never Enough” from “The Greatest Showman” for the Jenny Lind character!
GRADE: B
“LAST CHRISTMAS”
If you’re a fan of Christmas movies, I recommend “Last Christmas”.
It isn’t a perfect movie, by far, but Emilia Clarke is absolutely stunning (funny and heartbreaking) and Henry Golding is still so dreamy. (I’m still swooning after multiple views of “Crazy Rich Asians”!)
There are holes in some story lines and some could have been shortened.
But, you can’t go wrong with a movie that features a George Michael soundtrack, Christmas, love, and the gorgeous Michelle Yeoh!
In a trying, complicated, divisive world, you gotta have faith at Christmas!
GRADE: B
“LAST CHRISTMAS”
George Michael and Wham’s original version of “Last Christmas” is perfect, but here are two of my other favorite versions.
I love the Cascada’s dance version of the song and the gorgeous Christmas setting and the beautiful friends make the video!
And, I absolutely love Darren Hayes’ version!
NOW, ON TO 2020!
As we put the highs and lows of 2019 and the 2010s behind us and look forward to new adventures (and a new president-elect) in 2020, I wish you and yours a very Happy News Year!
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
Santa (and his jovial face) is synonymous with Christmas for kids from one to ninety-two. But, he’s gotten some beautiful competition that builds each passing year.
When I think of Christmas, two modern singers come to mind: Mariah Carey and Michael Buble.
While Buble gave us the 2011 perennial favorite “Christmas” (and the 2003 EP, “Let It Snow”), it’s Mariah that dominates Christmas!
It all started with her now classic hit, “All I Want For Christmas Is You” from the 1994 “Merry Christmas” album.
That album has sold more than 15 million copies worldwide and the song alone has sold another 14 million around the world.
Mariah released a second Christmas set in 2010, “Merry Christmas II You”.
There are other singers that have released more Christmas albums (Reba McEntire, Celine Dion, Glen Campbell, and Johnny Mathis to name a few), but Mariah has made herself as much a part of Christmas as egg nog, sleigh rides, and rockin’ around the Christmas tree.
In 2014, she began an annual Christmas concert at the Beacon Theater in New York City.
This year, while she’ll still do six shows at the Beacon, there are seven other North American dates, plus a five-night residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
I was lucky enough to see the Christmas show in Las Vegas in December 2017 and Mariah looked and sounded flawless and the sets were incredible!!!!!!!
It was the most magical 90 minutes I’ve enjoyed in the past couple of years!
And, if that wasn’t enough, the Christmas show is going international with three dates in England and France!
In addition to the Christmas concerts, she has a direct-to-video animated feature called “Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You”, (November 14th), for which she recorded a new song called “Lil Snowman” for the soundtrack.
Mariah also has the title song from the upcoming holiday release “The Star” (November 17th), which also features new holiday music from Fifth Harmony and Kelsea Ballerini, which is available now!
And, if that’s not enough, there’s also the “Mariah Carey Christmas Factory”, a deal with the “Sugar Factory”, that’ll feature more than 100 Christmas-themed retail and candy items created by Mariah!
Plus, you can also look for 2015’s holiday feature, “A Christmas Melody”, on The Hallmark Channel, in which Mariah starred and made her directorial debut.
CONCLUSION:MARIAH CAREY = CHRISTMAS!
I just booked a trip to Vegas to see Mariah’s December 14th show! That means, I now have to quickly buy a ticket.
So, while I do that, let me be your jukebox as I share my “12 Days of Mariah Carey”, oops, I mean my Lucky 13 favorite Mariah Carey Christmas songs!!
“CHRISTMAS TIME IS IN THE AIR AGAIN”
“WHEN CHRISTMAS COMES”
“SILENT NIGHT”
“CHRISTMAS (BABY PLEASE COME HOME)”
“JESUS WHAT A WONDERFUL CHILD”
“THE STAR”
“MISS YOU MOST (AT CHRISTMAS TIME)”
“JOY TO THE WORLD”
“O HOLY NIGHT”
“HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS (RIGHT DOWN SANTA CLAUS LANE)”
After 11.5 years, I left bright and early this morning to start my 1,000-mile journey to Panama City, Florida, to start the next chapter of my life.
I’m stopping along the way in Grand Rivers, Kentucky, to have lunch with one of my best friends, Steve, at one of my favorite restaurants, Patti’s 1880’s Settlement!
If you’ve never heard of it and you’re traveling through Land Between The Lakes in western Kentucky, you have to stop there!
On Thursday, I talked about my local television career. Today, it’s all about how the Quad Cities enriched my life and, hopefully, made me a better person.
First off, social media made me more accessible to my friends. It also made loyal viewers more connected to me and my life.
That’s definitely an advantage (and to some degree, with some, a disadvantage). The friendships I’ve fostered over the years definitely outweighed the negative people that suck. 🙂
SETTLING INTO THE QUAD CITIES
It’s hard to believe that Miss ABBA, my golden retriever, and I arrived in Moline, Illinois, from Salisbury, Maryland, the week of Thanksgiving 2005 when I accepted the weekend meteorologist and weekday reporter position at the ABC affiliate. After seven years there, I moved to WHBF for a little over four years.
When ABBA and I moved here, I was still earning my meteorology certification while working full-time.
We’d go on long walks to Karstens Park and sit for hours. I’d be reading and studying and she happily watched the world go by. She was always hoping that every person that walked by would stop and love on her. She was a golden retriever, after all!
It was always fun on our walks. We’d stop and make “photo ops” out of someone else’s yard decorations! 🙂
EATING OUT
I love to cook and when I moved here, I ate most of my meals at home. But, when my sister Tammy or “Mom” (Betty) visited the Quad Cities, I enjoyed going out to eat.
Bishop’s Buffet in South Park Mall in Moline was one of my favorites. As you know, I love buffets and even though it was served cafeteria style, it was still a buffet and it was incredible. I was saddened when they closed the doors.
I loved their coconut chicken and it was there that I first had strawberry-rhubarb pie. Bishop’s desserts were out of this world. I still eat more desserts at a buffet than real food. 🙂
Along with Bishops, I loved Panda Buffet in Moline, which is now Osaka Buffet. I got to eat there once more yesterday!
Where else can you have tasty Chinese food and great sushi at such a reasonable price!
I’ll truly miss Osaka Buffet, but I know Panama City will have something similar to make me happy.
FATE KEEPS ME IN THE QUAD CITIES
After a few years here, I was thinking about leaving the Quad Cities in early 2009. But, fate intervened and Ray and Gretel came into our lives. I joined Facebook in March of that year and you pretty much know most of what’s happened since then. 🙂
But, since I’m sharing my memories of the Quad Cities and some of you are newer friends, I have more to tell.
Ray and I met in February 2009 and our first lunch date was at Exotic Thai in Moline. I had pumpkin curry and each anniversary of that date we went back there and I had the same thing each time!
Once we got past that date, I invited Ray over for dinner and made him Shrimp Scampi, which was healthier than my comfort food staple, Chicken a la King with mashed potatoes!
I still make Shrimp Scampi, but I’ve now mastered an incredible Shrimp Ceviche!
The first dinner Ray made for me and Miss ABBA at his place was Chicken Piccata (thinly breaded, pan-fried chicken cooked with lemons and capers). It’s now one of my favorite meals and Ray made it again for me last weekend. (This is Ray’s Chicken Piccata from earlier this year.)
I’ll never forget this funny story from that first dinner date.
While he was cooking, Miss ABBA was on the linoleum floor waiting for him to share with her or drop something.
Much to his chagrin, because he hated the ugly floor (and it was), I laid down beside her and just talked to him while he made dinner. 🙂
Since we both love to cook, the second big project after I moved in was to renovate the kitchen and we were very pleased with the final project in the summer of 2012.
I’m truly going to miss our kitchen!
FIRST CONCERT DATE
We’ve gone to many concerts over the past eight years: Madonna (twice), Lady Gaga (three times), Reba (three times), Britney Spears, Elton John, Bette Midler, Olivia Newton-John, Shania Twain, Duran Duran, Janet Jackson, Scissor Sisters, Michael Buble, Josh Groban, the Dixie Chicks, Erasure, Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull (twice), Kesha, Carly Rae Jepsen, The Band Perry, Ellie Goulding, and more.
But, our first concert together in the summer of 2009 was Keith Urban and pre-megastar Taylor Swift at the iWireless Center in Moline!
Yes, in all of his sweaty hotness, Keith was this close to us. But, I was on a date and I adore Nicole Kidman too much to think about it (okay, maybe a little!). 🙂
TRAVEL
Before the Quad Cities, my travel was confined to North America: Nashville (TN), Louisville (KY), Houston (TX), Palm Springs (CA), Las Vegas (NV), Niagara Falls (NY), and Cancun (Mexico).
Once I met Ray, we started traveling more domestically.
Our first trip together was to Reno and Lake Tahoe, Nevada, when I accompanied him to a conference. That was in the fall of 2009 and I was so excited when an October snow dropped several inches overnight to make Lake Tahoe even more breathtaking.
Since then, I’ve gone along with him to New Orleans (LA), Houston, Indianapolis (IN), Ottawa (Ontario, Canada), San Francisco (CA), Anchorage (AK), and Atlanta (GA).
And, for fun, we’ve gone to New York City and to Savannah (GA) and Charleston (SC) on the Atlanta Trip.
For his 50th birthday, we decided to go big and I got to get a passport for the first time. Ray chose a cruise on the Danube River in Europe and we got to see Bratislava (above), Austria, and Germany.
Although it was Ray’s celebration and he chose the location, I convinced him to fly into Zurich, Switzerland, since we were so close. I’ve always wanted to visit there and it was one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen.
For dinner that night, we went to a restaurant and the menu consisted of mostly deer and boar, so we politely got up and left while the waiter was getting water. Okay, we bolted for the door! 🙂
We ended up going to a grocery and getting cheeses, breads, dessert, and wines and it was a much more intimate and enjoyable dining experience.
For my 50th birthday celebration a year later, in 2014, I chose to go to Tel Aviv, Israel, a mystical and stunning place I’ve always wanted to go.
The connecting flight was in Paris, France, so we decided to spend three nights in Paris since we were already there and four night in Tel Aviv.
For my birthday celebration, Ray treated me to a dinner cruise on the Seine River, a trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower, and a show at the world-renowned and historic Moulin Rouge — sans Satine (Nicole Kidman — her again!)
I actually turned 50 years old while sipping champagne stage side at the Moulin Rouge show.
From there, it was on to the beautiful Tel Aviv on the Mediterranean Sea.
The trip was so magical. Even though tensions kept us from visiting the holy city of Jerusalem, we did walk to Jaffa — the oldest part of Tel Aviv (about 3,500 years old).
You know how much I love food and the morning Israeli breakfast at our hotel, Prima City Hotel, was very tasty.
However, my favorite meal ever was at בני-הדייג, which translates to Benny The Fisherman, right on the Mediterranean Port.
What you see here is the equivalent of their “starters” — fifteen of them, including the bread basket! This was brought out before our entrees!
And, last spring, we went to China. While I’d never have to go back again, if you ever get a chance to go, do it.
While we saw many fun things including the Great Wall, the Terracotta Army soldiers, and much more, my favorite part was at the end — Shanghai!
Why did I deviate from the Quad Cities to food and travel elsewhere? If it wasn’t for my time here, I may not have gotten to experience all of those other things.
One more thing and then I’ll close with a few more Quad Cities thoughts. I shared my favorite restaurant (Patti’s 1880s Settlement) and my favorite meal (בני-הדייג — Benny the Fisherman).
Since you know I love lists and rankings, my favorite entree was in Atlanta last September at Tavernpoint — Sonoran Salmon (avocado soup, goat cheese-black bean cake, crema, pico).
And, my favorite brunch or buffet is Wicked Spoon at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas!
Now, back to the Quad Cities.
I’m going to miss Wise Guys Pizza in Davenport. Their boneless chicken wings are superb and their dessert pizzas (cherry, apple, and cinnamon crumb) are not to be missed. I always eat more dessert pizza than the others.
I’ll miss the mimosa brunches at the Bix Bistro and Thunder Bay and the weekend crab legs at Jumer’s.
However, while I’ll miss my Lotus Flower slot machine, I won’t miss leaving my $$$ with the casino!
Seriously, enough about food. I’ve gained five pounds writing this.
PERSONAL THANK YOUS…
When I first moved here, I started working to promote the LGBT community in the Quad Cities.
I was very impressed with the work that Wendy Kelly and Thea Hansen Bettis were doing with “The Project of the Quad Cities”. This is an amazing group that provides HIV testing and services to those with HIV/AIDS.
While I’m not an “organized religion” person, a great alternative and welcoming group is Reverend Rich Hendricks and the Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad Cities.
Rich, thank you for all that you do for the community. It’s been a pleasure standing along side you in the fight for love and no hate!
Also, to Rich, to those who fought for us, and the Iowa judges that brought “marriage equality” to Iowa and the Midwest before the Supreme Court ruling in 2015 that allowed me to get married in September 2011, thank you!
Finally, since all of you know how much Miss ABBA meant to me, I have to say a special thank you to Dr. Thomas Greiner and his wonderful wife, Pamela, and all of the great people at Oak Knoll Animal Hospital in Moline.
Miss ABBA always thought going to the vet was a fun time. Even with shots, she still socialized and had a blast.
You were there for us for all of the fun times and even the dark day when Miss ABBA crossed the “rainbow bridge”.
Thank you for everything and enjoy retirement and traveling!
AND, NOW YOU!
My friends, you’ve been amazing over the past 11.5 years and I hope you stay in touch across the miles. I know you’re probably not interested in Florida weather, but once I get my work page set up, feel free to “like” it and follow me.
Otherwise, I know most of us will stay in touch personally.
.
Mariah released a second Christmas set in 2010, “Merry Christmas II You”.
In addition to the Christmas concerts, she has a direct-to-video animated feature called “Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You”, (November 14th), for which she recorded a new song called “Lil Snowman” for the soundtrack.
I just booked a trip to Vegas to see Mariah’s December 14th show! That means, I now have to quickly buy a ticket.
I’ll never forget this funny story from that first dinner date.
What's Peeps Thinking About Now? It's Probably Random! 