It’s now the last weekend of August. Where did summer go?
While we still have about four weeks of summer left, Labor Day is fast approaching and, for some, that’s the unofficial end of the summer season.
If you’re ready for fall (and winter), then the first story in my “Random Friday Thoughts” is just for you.
Even if it’s not for you, if you live in the Quad Cities or nearby, please read it and take it to heart.
THE BOY THAT CRIED WOLF
It’s still summer, but we all know that fall is getting closer since our low dropped to 53° this past Monday in the Quad Cities.
While there’s plenty of warm weather left and time for several tropical systems to develop in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, colder weather is spilling in well to our northwest and some long-term computer models even paint a little snow over western Canada by September 1st. 🙂
This is a perfect time to clarify a couple of things and I’m sure you’ll hear me reiterate this again during the winter months!
We know there are some local forecasters across Iowa and Illinois that cry wolf and dramatize every potential snowflake to get Facebook likes, shares, and blog hits!
That’s not me! While I love for people to read what I write and comment on it, I’m not going to sensationalize a forecast to get you to watch me or brag about the number of people that click on my page.
With that being said, when you see astronomical snow forecasts a week or so ahead of a potential snow event (which is stupid from a forecasting standpoint), just ignore them!
However, if you insist on looking, don’t make the mistake of asking me about it! If I think there’s a chance of seeing a decent snow, I’ll definitely be telling you. But, I will not justify another forecaster’s sensationalism!
Again, I know I’ll have to mention this again this winter.
2016 SUMMER OLYMPICS
I’m so proud of all of the athletes on Team USA that won gold, silver, and bronze medals at the 2016 Summer Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
I’m just as happy for those that made the team that didn’t win medals, too.
I didn’t watch the games, but I did follow the medal count as Team USA won more gold and more medals overall than any other team in the world.
All of those performances shined brighter than the adolescent ignorance and shame brought on by gold medalist swimmer Ryan Lochte and his three friends who claimed they were robbed at gunpoint. Lochte now says his story was “over-exaggerated”.
SPEEDO FALLOUT
No, there’s no photo of a “wardrobe malfunction” with Lochte and his Speedo. However, there is fallout from his lies.
Speedo USA ended its sponsorship of him earlier this week. The company will still donate a portion of his fee ($50,000) to the global charity “Save The Children” in Brazil.
RALPH LAUREN FOLLOWS SPEEDO
The hits against Lochte didn’t stop with Speedo. Ralph Lauren and two other companies cut ties, too.
The fashion company says, “Ralph Lauren continues to proudly sponsor the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Team and the values that its athletes embody.”
It added, “Ralph Lauren’s endorsement agreement with Ryan Lochte was specifically in support of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and the company will not be renewing his contract.”
Lochte, stuff that in your Speedos!
STILL NOT READY!
The Dixie Chicks debuted on the Billboard County charts in 1997 with “I Can Love You Better”. From 1997-2003, the Texas trio charted 16 Top 40 hits with 14 of them reaching the Top Ten, and six topping the charts.
Then, in 2003, lead singer Natalie Maines told a foreign crowd that she was ashamed that then President George W. Bush was from Texas. The fallout at country radio was swift, but not like Taylor!
“Travelin’ Soldier” was at the top of the country charts when Natalie’s words made is back to America. Cumulus radio stations banned the Chicks and the song dropped off the charts in two weeks — from #1!
The Dixie Chicks returned with a new album, “Taking The Long Way”, in 2006. It topped Billboard’s Top 200 and Country album charts, sold over two million copies, and won a total of five Grammy Awards.
They’re back on tour now, their first since 2006, and Natalie still has more to say!
I’ll be seeing Natalie, Martie, and Emily for the second time in less than three weeks when they play the iWireless Center in Moline, Illinois, on September 15th, on the “DCX MMXVI World Tour”.
I’m currently listening to all my Dixie Chicks CDs again to rank my 20 favorite songs before the concert!
If you want to see the April 2012 blog I wrote about them and the war with country radio, here it is. (It’ll open in a new window.)
DO YOU LOVE COTTON CANDY?
I love cotton candy and I eat it every time I go to Spice Market Buffet at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. 
However, I thought of it in a different way recently reading an interview with Jennifer Lawrence talking about her upcoming movie, “Passengers”, with Chris Pratt.
Lawrence says (referring to Pratt), “He’s a bag of Gummi Bears. He’s human cotton candy.”
Three things crossed my mind: (1) “human cotton candy” sounds like something Hannibal Lecter would make if he was slumming for a dinner party dessert, (2) I do like cotton candy, and (3), I’d like it even more if it comes in the shape of the new and improved Chris Pratt body!
“BREAKING BAD”
I have another thought about winter today.
I know the most critically acclaimed show of all time (Guinness World Records, 2013), “Breaking Bad” concluded its five year run in the fall of 2013.
Ray and I were finally going to binge watch it when we got snowed in this winter, but we started it this week and after just three episodes, all I can say is “it’s incredible” — even if we saw Walter White (Bryan Cranston) too many times in his tighty whities. 🙂
Now, if we start seeing Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) in his, that’ll be different!
While we’ll still be watching “Breaking Bad” this winter, we also have “House of Cards”, “Justified”, and “Tyrant” to binge watch on when the days get short, the air gets colder, and the snow piles up.
A BIRTHDAY PRESENT FOR ME???
At my age, I don’t really make a big deal out of my birthdays since I’ve already passed many of the milestones (13, 16, 18, 21, 30, 40, and 50). Okay, I still have many years to go before retirement and social security.
For my 50th birthday, Ray treated me to a dinner cruise on the Seine River, a trip to top of the Eiffel Tower, and a show at the world famous Moulin Rouge, where I was sipping champagne and watching very risque and sexy performers at the stroke of midnight!
But, this year there’ll be a fun birthday present that I might just have to buy for myself.
One of my favorite bands of all-time, Erasure, is releasing a mammoth boxed set called “From Moscow to Mars”. If you’re a die-hard Erasure fan or a fan of 1980s music, you’ll know where that title came from. I know, you’re racking your brain now!
Check out this incredible video teaser!
Who knows how much that 13 disc set with over 200 tracks will cost, but I think I’m worth it!
AND THERE’S MORE….
If that wasn’t enough, Michael Buble is back, too, with a new album, “Nobody But Me” on October 21st.
His last album, “To Be Loved” came out more than three years ago and his last tour ended in March 2015.
Michael has been spending more time with his wife, Luisana, and their two sons, three-year-old Noah and seven-month-old Elias.
The first single and the title track came out last week.
ANOTHER CHRISTMAS OFFERING
Christmas is still four months away, but it’s that time of the year when details of upcoming holiday albums emerge.
Already, I’ve talked about a duets Christmas album from Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood and a new holiday album from Kacey Musgraves.
Illinois native and country hit maker Brett Eldredge will also be releasing his first Christmas collection this fall.
The album will feature classics and a new song called “Glow”. It’ll also have a “big band and swing sound”.
Until we get the track listing and that first video, here’s Brett from the 2014 CMA Country Christmas special.
And, if it’s too early for you to listen to a Christmas song, here’s Brett with one of my favorite songs of last year, his #1 country smash, “Lose My Mind”.
THAT’S IT
With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!
Anthony
What's Peeps Thinking About Now? It's Probably Random! 