Girls5eva No More

 

I briefly posted last year about a show I first started watching on streaming platform Peacock that actually introduced me to Peacock.   At the time I did not have a subscription but somehow the show Girls5eva caught my attention.   Since I didn't have a subscription I was only able to watch the first episode for free.  It was all I needed to get hooked.   I enjoyed the characters of Dawn, Wickie, Summer, Gloria, and sometimes Ashley (at least in flashbacks since her character died falling from the edge of an infinity pool...LOL).   The premise was that the remaining ladies reunite and try to get their 90's girl band back together after a popular rap artist samples one of their old hits.

Since I wasn't able to watch the remaining episodes, I would find other sources to get tidbits on the show.   These included message boards like PRIMETIMER, the descendant from the now deceased Television Without Pity boards.

Once Season 2 rolled over on Peacock, I told myself if I passed my latest Salesforce Certification, that I would treat myself by buying a subscription to Peacock so I could watch the full show.   I thankfully passed and quickly purchased it so I could watch the rest of Season 1 and then Season 2.   I even got Dom hooked on the show (the same way I got him hooked on Schitt's Creek...LOL).   The jokes on the show were so funny to me and I enjoyed seeing the ladies journey as they clawed their way back to stardom.

But Peacock wound up cancelling the show.   However, Netflix saved the show by adding it to their roster.   It took another year and a half before 6 new episodes were added.    It was disappointing that the number of episodes were reduced from 8 to 6.    But it was nice having the show back on the air.

My favorite character out of the main 4 protagonists was actress Renee Elise Goldsberry's Wickie.   Wickie was that vapid character that in her mind's eye was the cat's meow.   She always had to do things to make her stand out from the other group members.   Be it doing extra vocal acrobatics during their various songs or making everything about her.

Wickie had so many funny one-liners as well.   She made it all about her from her first entrance in the show.   

"Cease and desist, bitch!"

"I finally get empathy.  It's when you feel sad for others because the same thing's happening to you."

"I think being a publicist is mostly about having a phone."

"I cannot disclose the size of the man I'm meeting, I signed an NDA with the NBA on TNT."

"Normal almost destroyed me, Dawn.  Never again."

"Fine.  But you should know I've never lost at singing...except once as a minor, so those records are sealed."

The actress Renee has been in numerous shows, movies, and theatrical performances through the years.   Going through her resume on IMDB, I didn't realize that she guest-starred on a few shows that I've watched over the years, like Ally McBeal and The Good Wife.   I'll have to rewatch some of those episodes to see her early works.   She first came to my attention when Dom and I went to see Hamilton in 2020.   She played Angelica Schuyler, the eldest no-nonsense sister of Eliza, the future wife of Alexander Hamilton.   I enjoyed her performance there and then I saw her guest star on the show Evil who's main character David played a drug dealer villain on the Good Wife.   She played the temptress of David who was studying to be a priest.   

She also played a role on the futuristic Netflix show Altered Carbon which shows characters jumping into literal "human body" suits to give themselves different looks.

This past November I drove to South Bend to see an independent film called Albany Road.   She played ad executive Celeste who agrees to travel from New York to Washington D.C. where she needs to meet with a potential backer who can save the fledging ad company from going belly up.   Celeste used to live in D.C and flashes back to a significant relationship she had there that ended when her present employment came up.   She runs in her ex's mother at the airport and comedy ensues as the two wind up forced to drive together due to flights being canceled for bad weather and car rentals running out of cars.   The highlight of the movie was getting to see Renee interact with the legendary Lynn Whitfield.

I saw the two actresses interview on the Sherry Shephard show and one of the things asked was about the fate of Girls5eva.   Renee was beaming when talking about the show and expressing hope that it would be renewed.   The whole interview was a delight to see and the movie was excellent.   It's sad that it's not getting the promotion like bigger movies but that's the lot that independent movies have to deal with.   At the theatre I saw it, there were only 3 other people watching.   I do hope that it makes its way to DVD or streaming so I can rewatch it again.   

It's possible that Renee may have already known the fate of the show.   But she put on a brave face when talking about it and I was convinced that she was hoping that it would get renewed.

I'm so pissed at Netflix.   But alas there's not much that can be done.  Unless a third network tries to rescue it but that's not happening.   The actors no doubt will be moving on to new projects.   I will continue to watch the show before Netflix takes it out of rotation completely.   I do hope though that maybe they'll do a limited series follow-up if there's enough outcry.   But I'm not holding my breath for that.   I do look forward to seeing what Renee and the other actors on the show do next.  

R.I.P. Jimmy Carter

 The last time I blogged about Jimmy Carter, I was celebrating his turning 100 on October 1st.   His birthday being the day before my Mom's birthday on October 2nd (different years).    He was defying the odds by remaining in hospice care for well over a year.   Well President Carter was called home on Sunday, December 29th.    He lived just long enough to cast his vote for Kamala Harris and died during a time to add a wrinkle to Trump's inauguration. 

The White House (President Biden) ordered the flags on the White House and other public buildings to be at half-staff starting at 30 days from Carter's death.   This period includes the day that Trump gets inaugurated into office.    Of course Trump was upset about this and threw a tantrum.   

A part of me wondered if Biden was being petty about the order knowing that the 30 days would also include inauguration day.   That day is set to be a pretty sad state of affairs.   Having the flags at half-staff does seem appropriate given the crazy that is taking over the White House again.   It may serve as a precursor of what may come over the next four years.   Will the United States survive another four years of his insanity?

He's been talking so much nonsense about having Canada become the 51st state, changing Gulf of Mexico's name to Gulf of America, taking over Greenland, and criticizing the handling of the L.A. wildfires.   It truly is scary that the majority of America chose to vote a convicted felon as president.  If he can be president, other convicted felons should be able to get lesser jobs.   In fact, all they have to do is utter the word "Trump" if a prospective job discriminates against them.

I wonder though if Trump will make it through his entire term.   I feel like they are setting the stage for J.D. Vance to step in and then all hell would really break loose.   All we can do is pray.

But back to what this post was really about.   It's celebrating the life of a great man who many say wasn't a great president.   However he was a better man who made a positive difference in many lives with the work that he's done with Habitat for Humanity.   Earlier today was Jimmy Carter's funeral at Washington National Cathedral.   I haven't seen any articles yet of any bad behavior but I'm sure those are still being printed.   But Mr. Carter is finally at peace.  

Two Odds Making It Even

 At the Church I attend there are two folks with odd behaviors that crossed paths and have coupled up.   I wasn't there when hints of their relationship first became apparent but thanks to COVID and the church's decision to continue "Facebook Live-ing" services long after the pandemic (5 years and counting...uggh), I got to witness the hints during a rewatch of a service.

Before I get to that moment though here's a brief snippet about each individual.   Norbit is the name of the first guy.   I believe he first came to the Church sometime in 2018 or 2019.   I can't remember exactly.   But Norbit has the habit of talking and talking and talking and not knowing when to stop.   At the time Dom and I were both actively coming into the Church together.   Hemingway poor Norbit kept wanting to hang out with Dom and I outside of Church and neither of us had the heart to tell him no.   Dom quickly threw me under the bus telling Norbit to get my number.  I reluctantly gave him my number but kept making excuses for not hanging out.   I felt bad but did not want to be forced into a situation I wanted no part of.   It took him awhile but he finally got the hint.   He also stopped coming to services regularly once he got a job at Menard's.

Theron is the name of guy #2.  He first appeared at Church around June 2024 at the Church's Pride Picnic event.   I remember he seemed pretty nice but had a tendency to overshare on things.    As it turned out, he had experience playing piano and there hasn't been a steady piano player since Dom stepped away from playing full-time after over 10 years being the main music man.    We did hire another guy a year or so after Dom stopped playing but he unfortunately did not work out and there was a vacancy for several more years that was filled with random muzak from Youtube that I as a choir member had to adjust to singing too.   Originally when Dom was playing piano there were three other regular choir members who one by one stepped away until only I remained.   Our good Rev inserted himself into the choir just before the third member left.   He tends to sing very loudly and is not that great.  Plus he selects the music and comes up with the oddest selections which I have to struggle to figure out live.    But back to Theron.

Theron offered to play for free on Sundays.   He does okay though we've gotten used to singing fast with Dom's playing.   Theron plays a lot slower.

So as I said I did not attend service the week Norbit came back to the Church.   Actually a month prior to that he appeared as well and I happen to not be at service that week.   But the week in question I couldn't help but notice that Norbit parked himself in the front row near the piano.   Theron sits in the front row as well whenever a muzak selection is playing or during Rev's sermon.   In the video I saw that Theron reached out to hug Norbit.   But Norbit didn't seem that receptive.

So the week after that I also didn't attend for whatever reason (I may have hooked up with Anthony that time).  I watched the playback later and Norbit wasn't there that week.   During the weekly "news to share" segment, Theron spoke up.   He basically was saying how much he enjoyed meeting Norbit and was looking forward to seeing him again.  That was when I realized something was brewing there and I remember Rev being at a loss of words initially on how to summarize what was said before calling for the next person to give their "news to share".

After that the two of them have been inseparable and have stated they've been at each other's homes.   They're an unexpected odd couple.    I have to say though I am glad that they found each other.   There truly is somebody out there for everybody.    I think the crazy tendencies the two have play well off each other.

During our board meeting, the Rev mentioned that Theron was asking for some money now for playing.   Part of me was wondering if Norbit put that idea in his head.   Besides he needs some spending money to date Norbit.   I don't know if Theron has another job or not.   But nonetheless it'll be interesting to see where things go with them.   Hopefully they don't drive each other crazy with their individual craziness.   

But at the end of the day, it's none of my concern.   I remember when Dom and I started dating how annoying some folks were getting when they were wondering where Dom and I were heading.   Some wanted to put the cart before the horse.   There were some that tried to plot against us.   But things wound up working out for us.

I wish Norbit and Theron well.

In A Detox Mood

 With the new year creeping in, I've been thinking that I'm overdue for doing a detox.   There was a time in the mid-2000's where I had done several of them over a few years.   I did a popular one called the Master Cleanse at least ten times.   The last time I did a Master Cleanse was in 2009 I believe.   I've done a couple 3-day juice cleanses in recent years that haven't been as intense as the Master Cleanse.

I'm thinking of doing a detox cleanse by Dr. Bobby Price.   I first heard about Dr. Price on Youtube when watching an interview that he part of by an investment guru Anthony O'neal who had him as a guest.

Dr. Bobby came across as very insightful about how unhealthy a lot of foods are.   He advocates eating a plant based diet.   Even the so-called vegan processed foods are not healthy either.    He shared his story on how he was diagnosed with high blood pressure and how plant based foods reversed it.   He also has his own Youtube channel where he discusses a lot of topics in relation to improving health.

On his website, he has a link to a 14-day herbal detox that I'm curious to try.   The detox consists of drinking two different 32-oz bottles of tea.   The first tea is called Tummy TeaTox and it consists of various herbs like dandelion, rhubarb, senna (which was the main ingredient in a tea I drank when I was doing Master Cleanse), and slippery elm.   The second tea is called Parasite Candida Cleanse and it contains herbs like neem, burdock, black walnut hull, and oregano.

From what I understand you basically steep the tea overnight and then you alternate drinking 2 oz. of one tea and then the other every 20 minutes.   While detoxing it doesn't look like they mention any dietary restrictions so it seems you can eat regular meals as well.

I'm still trying to research others who've gone through the cleanse.   I have read that it does help clear up a lot of accumulated waste in the system.   Some have said they haven't felt as hungry while on the detox and that it helped eliminate bad eating habits.

I may wind up doing a juice cleanse once more before trying the herbal detox.   The rub is since I have to commute to the office more, I would have to take my juices or tea with me to the office.   It also means that I would be going to the bathroom more frequently which is not good in my current role.   So that'll be something I'll need to navigate.   I've had to do the same years back with the Master Cleanse.  I will definitely blog about it depending on what I decide.

In other news my Dad's birthday is tomorrow.   He would've been 95 years old.   An interesting fact is that my Dad told Trina a year or so before he passed that his birthday was actually on January 4th but they mistakenly put the 5th on his birth certificate.   I'm trying to remember if he said that before.  But regardless of whether it's on the 4th or the 5th, he is still missed.   Happy heavenly birthday Papa!

Almost A Wrap

 My trip to Detroit thankfully was uneventful.   I was Abe's Secret Santa.   He made it easy for me by requesting several baseball caps.   He's a cap person.    Trina wound up being my Secret Santa and she got me a three month subscription to Universal Yums.   They send out a monthly box with treats from a different country.   Dom discovered the company a few years back and we enjoyed a box or two from various countries.   The box actually arrived at my home on the 24th (guess it was good that I stayed home a day) and I decided to take it with me.   She also ordered Mariah Carey's 2020 autobiography that I had on my wish list.  I started reading a bit about Mariah's early life.   She's had it rough but she managed to use adversity to eventually make a name for herself.

Tasha brought over dinner for our Christmas meal that as always was delicious.   We spent the evening watching trashy, badly acted Tubi movies.   

Eugene and I hung out for a bit grabbing lunch at Sweetgreen restaurant, an organic outfit that serves environmentally sustainable meals.   After lunch we went shopping at Nordstrom's (well I did...LOL).  I picked up a new jacket for me and some shirts for Dom.

I decided to drive back home on Saturday after stopping by the cemetery to see Mama and Papa.   Trina, Tasha, and I shipped in to get a bed of flowers for their tombstone and also a wreath for our "Grandma" and hubby as well as "Grandma's Dad" who we knew as "Uncle".  I tried to look for "Uncle" where I thought he would be but had no luck finding him.

My Sunday was spent doing laundry in the morning and then a quick trip to Meijer's in the afternoon and a side trip to Chipolte's for our dinner.

I managed to irritate my nose this morning using the CPAP machine.   I wound up going to the office even though I wished I could've stayed home.  I found myself blowing my nose and sneezing all day.  Fun times.

My New Year's Eve is going to be a quiet one.  Dom and I will keep a low profile enjoying some steak and shrimp (well I will enjoy that).   The plan is to ring in the New Year watching one of the countdowns and praying the crazy folks don't shoot bullets at our house.

It's so hard to believe 2024 is coming to an end.   I will say that I am glad that I continued to blog about various events that have happened throughout the year.   With this post I'll have made 50 entries which is 10 more than I made in 2023.   The big highlight for me workwise was getting my promotion, which was my first promotion at a job since 2006.   Work has been nutty as usual but I'm pushing my way through it best way I know how.    I was happy that Dom and I managed to take a couple trips this year, one related to my work and the other related to his hobby.   It is nice that we were able to travel together and try to enjoy life.

For 2025 I do hope I continue to work towards paying off our mortgage.   At the same time I need to start thinking about getting another car.   I hate the thought of a car note (it's been nice not having one for a couple years) but I know Dom has a hard time getting into my Passat.   I'm thinking about the mini-SUV's like the Subaru Forester or the Mazda CX-5.    There's a few other crossover SUV's that I'm looking at as well.    I'm going to have to try to juggle that with getting the mortgage paid off.   I hate to replace one bill with another but I know it's about time to think about it.   I've been blessed that my Passat has been hanging in there since March 2014.    Cars are so expensive these days as well.   We shall see.

Perhaps my stock Blackberry may help me in achieving one or both of the financial goals.   They've had some good news in recent weeks that seems to have helped the stock recover some.    Their product QNX may finally be ready to start making the stock profitable again in 2025.    They plan on featuring QNX heavily at the upcoming Las Vegas held Consumer Electronic Show on January 7, 2025.   I'm very hopeful that things will be looking up there.

Here's to a happy, healthy 2025 for us even with the uncertainty of America's future.   

The Holiday Shuffle

 I was "roped" into driving to see Dom's Mom and family this past weekend.   I hoped Dom would drive but his minivan currently is in need of a thermostat replacement and he didn't want to risk the 4 hour round trip drive.   To be honest Dom scares me when he drives especially when he starts getting aggressive.  I do know it's in defense of the crazy drivers out there but he is constantly yelling and swinging his hands in frustration which gets me riled up.   I really wasn't feeling driving but I find it less stressful when I drive.    

On the flip side he freaks when I drive because he feels like I don't react quickly enough to cars breaking.   I'm aware of the other cars and do react in time but in his mind I cut it close.    What it comes down to is that neither of us are in control when the other person is driving and that is scary.   As much as I didn't relish driving since I'll be more driving in the near future, I felt it would be better if I did the driving.   

I caught a really bad cold last Wednesday as well.   Part of the issue could be that I'm not getting enough sleep as Dom reminded me.  I have been commuting to the Chicago office three days a week and typically I force myself to get up by 4am (alarm goes off at 3:50 am) and then I'm out the door before 6am so I can catch the Southshore train to get to downtown before 7:30am and in the office before 8am.   I then make every effort to leave the office by 3:30pm so I can catch the 4:05pm Southshore train that manages to get me home around 5pm.   I need to go to bed before 10pm but typically I go to bed or fall asleep watching TV after 11pm only to have to repeat the cycle (though for the days I work home I get to sleep an extra 2 hours if my bladder doesn't wake me up around 4 to pee...LOL).

My schedule has been rough on my body and of course I'm in my 50's.   That and the flip flopping weather has wreaked havoc on me and most likely led to my cold.

So I was recovering from my latest cold and didn't want to spread anything to his Mom who's currently battling cancer.   I was starting to feel better last Saturday when we originally was planning to visit but decided to just do a half day trip on Sunday.   I also decided to wear a mask while visiting.

Dom's sister Marie and her family including all the grandkids and great-grandkids were already at Dom Mom's house when we arrived.   For the most part the visit when well though the addition of the great-grandkids was taxing on Dom's Mom.   The great-grandkids were 7, 4, and 2.   For the most part they were behaved but they are a lot of energy.

Marie's husband and daughter bought back KFC for a late lunch.   After the family did some quick gift exchanges, their brood took off for another house and a "pizza" party leaving Dom and I to be alone with his Mom and Lexie (Dom's younger sister Marina's daughter - R.I.P.).  Marina's other daughter, Ava and her partner Ronnie were at work.   They both work retail at a small Mom and Pop store so have to work all kinds of hours.   I don't miss my retail-like days at Amazon.   At least I didn't have to deal with customers...LOL.

Dom's Mom calmed down a lot once the great-grandkids left.  She was stressing seeing them moving and hoping about.   Basically it was too much stimuli for her to handle.   They were well behaved for the most part but kids are kids.   It was much quieter once Marie's family left.

We stayed for another 2 hours before Dom and I headed home.   Before doing so we made a dinner stop at Chili's where we both ordered various combo meals that were filling.   I wanted to get a molten lava cake so ordered that to go.

So now I am prepping myself for the longer drive to Detroit.   I was originally planning on going today (12/24) but decided last night that I needed today to relax.   I worked from home yesterday but the new process the company is pushing on us in handling customer issues has been stressful.    In a nutshell they are turning my role (Tier 2) into a Tier 1 role.

As a Tier 2 engineer, cases that I received are either ones created previously by the customer or it was after they "chatted" with a Tier 1 engineer to get the additional details.   Tier 1 engineers typically "chats" live with the customer initially to get details of issues which if the Tier 1 is not able to resolve, gets a case created that gets passed to the Tier 2 engineer (me).    Now they are wanting us to "chat" with the customers as well in the hopes of getting issues resolved faster.   If I were a Tier 1 engineer, I admit I would be worried about my role.   Hell even as a Tier 2 I'm concerned.

As I mentioned previously, they have closed an office which resulted in a number of engineer roles being removed.   Plus the company has no plans to hire for additional engineers in 2025.   Again that's why I am trying so hard to focus on cutting costs in my home.   Then who knows how truly fucked things will get once Trump and his cronies get into office less than a month from now.   That's all the more reason to get my personal house (which includes Dom) in order.

So getting back to work, I just needed a day today to relax and recover before venturing out again to Detroit.   I now am planning to go on Christmas Day.   Thankfully the weather looks like it'll cooperate for the most part, including the typically risky weather locations of New Buffalo and Kalamazoo that I pass through.

I plan on staying till either Saturday or Sunday.   It'll likely be Saturday as I'll want to have Sunday to relax and prepare for my work reality next week.  I also will be working from Detroit on Friday the 27th.   I'm praying that it won't be too busy.   We shall see.   

The Fall Of The River

 I spent last weekend in Fall River, MA visiting my friend Eugene.   Eugene's gone through some life changes since I was last in the area.   He's become a tenured professor at his university sometime in 2021.   Also after living in a number of different apartments, he finally became a homeowner last year.   So I got to see his new place.   He's in a townhome and at one point he had a roommate.   His former roommate Demetri was a student of his whom he befriended once the semester ended.   At one point they even messed around with each other.   But now they've maintained a great friendship.   Demetri moved out earlier in the year and is living back home with his father while in a relationship with another beau.

Eugene filled me in on the latest guy that's tickled his fancy.   It's a guy that works at his local post office that he recently befriended.   Apparently he's been working there a number of years and they've been playing a game of cat and mouse for years.   Things came to a head when the postal guy and he chatted extensively in the main hallway.   I got to meet him while in town since Eugene wanted a chance to chat with him again.   Only thing his he had no reason to be there so he had me buy a book of stamps.   Luckily it just so happen that he was free so I got to briefly chat with him in person.   He kind of reminded me of actor Terrell Tifford.   I forgot to look to see if he had a wedding ring.   But hopefully Eugene figures something out there.

So Eugene finds himself almost in the same situation that I was in when I lived in my old townhome.  He's the only black person in the building.   He's already been a rebel as well.   The association requires each resident to give a copy of their key but he refuses to do so.   He's also had some interesting encounters with some of the neighbors.   I don't miss being in that situation.   Interestingly enough there's a large Portuguese population that lives in Fall River.   He also does not live too far from Providence, Rhode Island, which we went to check out the Eagle leather bar. 

I also got to meet Demetri and his partner Aiden at Legal Sea Foods in Boston.   I've been to Legal Sea Foods once before way back in 2004 when I was in Providence, RI for a co-worker/friend wedding.   So that was actually over 20 years ago.   How time flies.

Demetri was definitely a yummy guy and I laughed how when Eugene went to the bathroom how Demetri and I quickly agreed on Eugene's flaws.   It was the same ones when I talked to his other friend privately.    Anyone who knows him has to take it or leave it when it comes to Eugene.   Basically Eugene always thinks he's right about every situation and thinks he single-handedly turns things around in every situation.   He can be a bit of a know-it-all at times too.   But he does have mostly pure intentions.

Demetri's partner Aiden seems like a cool guy too.  Interestingly enough Aiden also has a Salesforce connection so he knew what I was talking about when I mentioned the product.

Surprisingly Eugene didn't push too many of my buttons this weekend.   Usually he does something that he knows will set me off.    But this trip wound up being a nice one.   We may see each other next week while in Detroit.   This New Year's Eve he'll be in CA instead so I won't get to hang with him in Chicago even though I hadn't in a couple years due to various life circumstances.