Posts Tagged ‘Peppermint’

Random Friday Thoughts — August 11, 2023

August is moving along and that means we’re one day closer to fall.

There are rumors that Wendy’s may be introducing a new Frosty flavor this autumn — pumpkin spice.

Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy’s, created a “light chocolate” Frosty as one of the five original items in 1969.

In 2006, a vanilla flavor was introduced and the chain can only have two flavors at a time.

In the summer of 2022, strawberry replaced the vanilla, and last fall, peppermint replaced vanilla. I’ve only had chocolate, but would try the pumpkin spice.

Thank you for checking out my random thoughts.

XANADU’S RECOVERY

Last Friday, Miss Xanadu went through a puppy “rite of passage” and was spayed.

All went well and the little critter was so pathetic when I picked her up.

While she’s feeling well, she developed an infection, an adverse reaction to the stitches, and is now on antibiotics. Also, once it got infected, she discovered the surgical spot on her tummy, and started licking it.

She’s now white-trash bandaged and will wear the “cone of shame” while in the crate when she’s unattended. This is not going to be pretty!

Before the infection, she did experience her first rainbow last Sunday.

She has a lot in common with my sister — not following medical advice. She still wants to jump and run.

TAMMY’S RECOVERY, TOO!

Speaking of my sister, Tammy had a stroke about two weeks ago and finally went to the emergency room days later because her arm was still numb (she thought she slept on it the wrong way).

Tests showed one carotid artery was 99% closed up, which caused the stroke.

A risky surgery (with her history of heart attacks and COPD) was performed and the surgeon cleaned it out. She’s feeling better now.

The aftermath of the surgery makes her look like a hapless survivor of Michael Myers in a “Halloween” movie.

Like every time before when a major medical crisis occurs, she was told she has to stop smoking, eat healthier, and exercise.

I desperately want my BFF to prove me wrong and do it this time. Otherwise, like every time in the past, it’s “blah blah blah”!

ONE YEAR ALREADY

I can’t believe it’s already been a year since Olivia Newton-John passed away after a long battle with breast cancer.

I was fortunate enough to see her in concert in Las Vegas in 2014.

“CALL ME CRAZY”

It was also one year ago today that actress Anne Heche died six days after a horrific car accident and fire in Los Angeles.

This 2001 memoir came out after her high-profile relationship and break-up with talk show host/comedienne Ellen DeGeneres and her psychotic break with reality in Fresno, California.

After reading about her childhood and her Emmy-winning years on a soap opera, I can definitely understand her mental breakdown especially after the way the press badgered her and Ellen after their coming out as the most famous gay entertainment couple and their breakup.

I’ll also be reading her 2023 follow-up “Call Me Anne”.

“ON NIXON’S MADNESS: AN EMOTIONAL HISTORY”

I just finished this new book from Zachary Jonathan Jacobson.

It was informative, but, overall, not a fun read because it came across as too clinical.

Here are some of the interesting takeaways:

In his first debate in the 1960 presidential race against John F. Kennedy, seeing Nixon’s flop sweat and his shifty and darkened eyes and cheeks, his mother thought him “sickly” and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley exclaimed, “My God, they’ve embalmed him before he even died!”

Former President Harry Truman called Nixon a “shifty-eyed, goddamn liar” and a “son of a bitch”.

In 2014, Bob Woodward, who helped bring Nixon down as a reporter for the Washington Post said, it “was a White House full of lies, chaos, distrust, speculation, self-protection, maneuver, and counter maneuver”. He added Nixon’s regime had “a crookedness that makes Netflix’s ‘House of Cards’ look unsophisticated.”

Near the end of a television news conference in the fall of 1973, after a nuclear scare in the Middle East, Nixon was getting agitated and he was asked about his “rumored disturbed temperament” and the president replied, “Don’t get the impression that you arouse my anger. You see, one can only be angry with those he respects.”

“9-1-1: LONE STAR” & “9-1-1

I finally got around to watching the fourth season of “9-1-1: Lone Star” and the second half of the sixth season of “9-1-1”.

While I enjoy both of them, “Lone Star” is my favorite. A lot of it has to do with the diversity of the cast and the character’s lives.

And, I just can’t get enough of T.K. and Carlos!

And, getting back to the second half of the last season of “9-1-1”, I just didn’t care about the characters any more!

Do you watch the two series? If so, which is your favorite?

“DOG DAY AFTERNOON”

I decided I’m going to start checking out some classics, so I started with the Oscar-winning 1975 movie, “Dog Day Afternoon”.

Academy Award-nominee Al Pacino plays Sonny, an amateur bank robber trying to steal enough money for his “wife”, Leon, to have a sex change operation.

Leon was played by Oscar nominee Chris Sarandon (former husband of Susan).

The movie definitely captured the grittiness and dirtiness of 1970s New York City and 34-year-old Pacino was smoking hot!

While entertaining, the outcome was too predictable — especially with who lived and died!

GRADE: B

THAT’S IT

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

Anthony

Random Friday Thoughts — January 11, 2019

I hope you had a great holiday season and that your New Year is off to a great start!

Here are a few thoughts I want to share — mainly some recommendations.

Have a great weekend!

MY BLOG JUST TURNED 7

On January 7, 2012, I decided that instead of just posting a thought on Facebook, I would expand on whatever I was thinking at the time.

That bright idea led me to starting this blog!

belle 7

My blog — by the numbers — in those seven years:

  • Number of blogs posted:  1244
  • Total views:  607,263

Kylie

  • Most Viewed Month:  January 2014 (33,800 views)

 

  • Most Views by Country:  United States (72% of all views)
  • Runner-up Countries: #2 Germany, #3 Canada, #4 U.K, #5 France* (2012 data is missing, so France could really be higher), #6 Brazil, #7 Australia, and #8 Italy.

 

  • Number of People I’ve Pissed Off: Unknown 🙂

HeatherMooney

THEY SAID WHAT (on Twitter)?

TENNIS LEGEND MARTINA NAVRATILOVA:  “I can tell you all this for sure- whatever ridiculous propaganda we were fed in then Czechoslovakia, which was mandated by Soviet Union- pales next to the lies being told and repeated by trump and his ilk. I am not kidding… trump truly trumps the communists. And that’s not easy”

ADULT STAR STORMY DANIELS (on the night of 45’s immigration prime time plea): “If you’re looking for anything even remotely worth watching tonight at 9pm EST, I will be folding laundry in my underwear for 8 minutes on Instagram live.”

And, one more…

not an immigrant

WINTER FUNNY

Snowman Life in Prison

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Wine Cupcakes

WISH I WAS IN VEGAS NOW!

But, since I can’t be, I’ll share this fun video that features Olivia Newton-John reprising her hit “Magic” (1980) as the chorus.

This version hit #1 on the Billboard dance chart in 2015 for Olivia, her daughter, Chloe Lattanzi and DJ Dave Aude.

Olivia and Chloe are the only mother-daughter team to achieve that on the Billboard Dance Club Song chart!

It features a graveyard of Las Vegas signage of the city’s casino history, show girls, Chippendales, and Britney, Tina Turner, Marilyn Monroe, and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler.  Oh wait, those are illusionists!

“BIRD BOX”

This Netflix original is a great, creepy movie with an all-star cast.  It’s also being watched in record numbers on the streaming service after a limited theatrical run.

Sandra Bullock is fantastic as usual.

Trevante Rhodes

I loved seeing Trevante Rhodes in a major role after his career making part in the Oscar winner “Moonlight”.

Some say the movie is tacky in the way it handles mental illness and suicide.

“Bird Box” would have gotten a higher grade if not for the unbelievable “rapids” scene outcome!

GRADE:  B

“ROMA”

Critics are raving about this latest masterpiece and semi-autobiographical film from director Alfonso Cuarón ( “Gravity” and “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”).

It follows the life of a live-in housekeeper, Cleo, to a middle-class family in Mexico City in the early-1970s.

Lead actress Yalitza Aparicio, who’s not a trained actress, was spectacular and the main reason to see this film.

While the movie is beautifully shot and Cuarón lets the movie breathe, some scenes go on way too long!

Maybe it’s just me because I wasn’t blown away by his critically acclaimed movie “Gravity” either, but I loved Cuarón’s 2001 film, “Y Tu Mama Tambien”.

GRADE:  B-

“PEPPERMINT”

This revenge drama stars Jennifer Garner as a mother hellbent on finding the scum bags that murdered her husband and little girl.

While you had to suspend disbelief in some scenes, it was an entertaining movie.

If you saw and loved Jodie Foster’s much better movie “The Brave One”, you’ll like this one.

It makes me want to binge watch ABC’s “Alias” now!

“Peppermint” was my 16th favorite movie I saw in 2018.

GRADE:  B+

“GAME NIGHT”

I usually prefer dramas over comedy, but this one starring Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams was funny (at times).

My favorite scene was when a character is shot and another one has to clean the wound and stop the bleeding.  Hilarious!!!!!!!

Any movie that features my main crush Michael C. Hall (Ben Whishaw is the other) gets my attention.

GRADE:  B-

“LIZZIE”

We’ve all heard the real life story about Lizzie Borden!

Yes, the one that “gave her mother 40 whacks; when she saw what she had done, she gave her father 41”!

This very compelling drama features incredible performances by actresses Chloe Sevigny as Lizzie and Kristin Stewart as her family’s maid.

GRADE:  B

“BLACK CHRISTMAS” (1974)

I’ve seen the 2006 remake of “Black Christmas” and I finally caught the 1974 original this holiday season.

It stars the late Margot Kidder.

Considering this movie was pre-“Halloween” (1978), it tried to build up the suspense, but failed.

I was more surprised by the language that was allowed 40+years ago!

GRADE:  C+

THAT’S IT

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

Anthony

2018: My Favorite Movies

2019 is almost here and Oscar nominations will be announced Tuesday, January 22, 2019.

Since the Academy, movie critics, and people living in huge metropolitan cities (read:  New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, etc.) get access to some movies before the rest of us, some of these movies made 2017 lists.  Oh well!

Here are my favorite movies I saw this year.  There are two documentaries on the list that were not released in theaters, but it’s my list and I’m including them. 🙂

If these two weren’t on the list then “The Greatest Showman” would have been my #20 movie of the year and “Halloween (2018)” would be at #19.  But, they’re not. 🙂

Before we kick off my countdown of my favorite movies of 2018, this Oscar nominated movie was my 2017 favorite!

#1 CD

“LION”

20

“THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI”

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE: $157.2 MILLION

19

“JONESTOWN:  TERROR IN THE JUNGLE”

#18

“I, TONYA”

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE: $54 MILLION

#17

“BLACKKKLANSMAN”

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE: $88.6 MILLION

16

“PEPPERMINT”

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE: $51.8 MILLION

#15 Movie

“PADDINGTON 2”

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE:  $227.3 MILLION

#14 Movie

“THE FLORIDA PROJECT”

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE:  $5.9 MILLION

13

“VICTORIA & ABDUL”

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE:  $65.4 MILLION

12

“SEARCHING”

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE:  $75.1 MILLION

#11 Movie

“BOBBY”

10

“LOVE, SIMON”

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE:  $66.3 MILLION

9 CD

“A QUIET PLACE”

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE:  $340.7 MILLION

#8 MOVIE

“GOD’S OWN COUNTRY”

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE: $335,609

#7 CD

“BORG VS. McENROE”

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE:  $231,346

#6 CD

“FILM STARS DON’T DIE IN LIVERPOOL”

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE:  $1 MILLION

#5 MOVIE

“CRAZY RICH ASIANS”

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE:  $238 MILLION

4

“BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY”

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE:  $702.5 MILLION

green 3

“WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?”

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE:  $22.6 MILLION

#2 CD

“THE SHAPE OF WATER”

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE:  $195.2 MILLION

Gag Me

Before I reveal my favorite movie I saw in 2018, here are four worst movies I saw this year.

4th Worst:  “BREAKING IN”

In September, I gave it a “D+” and I wrote, “This movie will likely have a mention in my year end blog of my 20 favorites movies of the year.  But, it’ll be on a different list — the worst movies of the year!”

I added, “it’s terrible.  I couldn’t wait for it to be over because it was so unrealistic!”

3rd Worst:  “THE FIRST PURGE”

In November, I gave it a “D” writing, “it was so jokey and silly that I was mostly bored.  Pretty sad because I really liked the first three movies in the series.  Skip this movie if you haven’t already seen it and if you need a “purge” fix, check out the 10-episode USA Network event.”

2nd Worst:  “THE SNOWMAN”

It pains me to say that “The Snowman” was the second worst movie I saw this year.

I loved the book and my man, Michael Fassbender, is so hot.

I gave the movie a D+ writing under the headline “THE SNOWMAN (DISASTER)”!

I added, “it was the most disjointed thing I’ve seen in a long time.  It was like they had a script and threw out pages here and there and just pieced it together.”

WORST MOVIE OF THE YEAR:  “HAPPY DEATH DAY”

In March, I gave it a “D” and wrote, “‘The Snowman’ is no longer my least favorite movie I’ve seen in 2018. This horror movie is atrocious!”

peach 1

Now it’s time for me to “pick” my favorite movie I saw this year.  It should come as no surprise if you’ve read my blog on a regular basis.

I mentioned it last year when I counted my favorite movies of 2017.  It made the critics’ list, it was nominated for several Oscars.  But, it didn’t open wide until 2018, so it’s on list at the top!

#1

“CALL ME BY YOUR NAME”

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE:  $41.9 MILLION

So, how many of these have you seen?

What was your favorite movie you saw this year?

Anthony