Streamed Drama

 Dom and I have several streaming channels that we watch.   Our current roster of primary channels are Netflix, Hulu, HBOMax, Prime, Peacock, and Disney with an occasional honorable mention of Tubi and Pluto.   The honorable ones are actually free of charge while I pay monthly or annual in Prime's case fees to be able to watch.   Prime has become annoying because now they force you to watch Ads (unless you pay a higher fee).   I may need to talk to Dom about dropping that one...LOL.

On our paid channels Dom and I have our own accounts.   This is because our TV styles tend to be different.   I gear more towards reality TV/Competition shows, horror, and shows that can be violent.   Dom is more into history, documentaries, and comedy.   

When we eat dinner together, 99% of the time Dom controls what we watch.   Yeah I'm always the one compromising.  In his defense he'll ask me what I want to watch.   But I tend to stick to what I know he'll want to see.   This is good karma anyway as it should be something we both enjoy so a lot of times it'll wind up being a comedy.   I introduced him to my favorite series Half & Half for example which he wound up enjoying as well.

We do have plenty of shows that we watch together.   But one thing that irks me about Dom is that a lot of times we'll start watching a series and then he'll lose interest and eventually we stop watching.   I tend to be a completist so it frustrates me when this happens.   Eventually if I do want to continue a show he no longer likes, I switch it to my account and finish watching it there.  

For example, he was the one that introduced me to Prime's series The Boys.   He was drawn into the series because of the potential of a Marvel-like show with action.    We made it all the way to maybe half of Season 3 before Dom decided to call it quits.   The show became more graphic with the violence (villains entering people through urethras to blow them up, villains that can explode people's heads).  It got to be too much for Dom and he declared that he was done.   

I eventually forgot about the series but almost two years later I wondered how it progressed.   So I wound up adding it to my Prime account.   I will say the show is now a satirical take on our current Administration that hits almost too close to home.   The violence has become quite disgusting and sometimes silly.  I do understand why Dom was turned off but nonetheless it was nice to see the series again.   I'm currently on the last season with 3 more episodes to go.    Hopefully Highlander (who is almost like Agent Orange in personality not physicality...LOL) gets what's coming to him in the series finale.   Then maybe real life can do the same thing.

Another series Dom lost interest in was another Prime show called Clean Slate.   The series itself was historical in being the first Primetime series to cast a transgender character as the main actor.  Laverne Cox, who got her big break to fame in Netflix's original series Orange is the New Black.   Cox is an executive producer of the show as well.    The series itself is cute though honestly not the best.   It was cool seeing one of my favorite TV Moms from the previously mentioned Half & Half (and also Gimme A Break and Family Matters) Telma Hopkins play as always the Mom character of the closeted preacher who is best friends with Cox's character.    The show while not great definitely is something that is needed in these times.   We made it all the way to Episode 6 before it fell out of Dom's radar.   I just finished the last two episodes earlier this morning on my own.   They tried to make a cliffhanger by bringing Cox's abusive New York boyfriend (who they hilariously hid his face ala Alexis Colby in the Season 1 finale of Dynasty) back to wreck havoc assuming it was renewed for Season 2.  But alas Prime chose to cancel the series, which was Norman Lear's (of All in the Family and The Jefferson's fame) last series before he died at 101 years old.

There are times when I watch something that Dom will listen from the next room (or basement).  For example I was the one that introduced him to Schitt's Creek when it first appeared on Netflix.   Dom kept hearing the flugelhorn in the opening and closing credits and was wondering what the heck I was watching.   Once I showed him the series, he immediately got hooked.   In fact that series along with Big Bang Theory (which Dom introduced to me) are ones that we've both watched on repeat several times.    I believe I watched the series at least five to six times to date.

I also introduced him to a few reality game shows that he now insists on watching on his account.  That's the other annoying thing.   The game shows in particular (The Floor, The Quiz With Balls, and The 1% Club) were originally on my Hulu account.    But since they're on his account I have to remind myself when going to my account not to watch it since I've already seen them on his account.  I know, first world problems.   Nonetheless it shows another interesting dynamic we navigate in our relationship which is going on 12 years together, 4 years married.

This also marks my 250th post.  Woo hoo!

The Heat, The Heat

 Toni Braxton - The Heat

Intro
Yeah
La-da-da-da-da, la, la
Yeah, yeah, yeah

Verse 1
Where's the sand, I'm set
My body? Thumping, going pitty pat
Getting tan and wet
And when I feel the beat, I lose control of it
Oh baby, I'm feeling you, I must admit
Looking tight and fit
And I imagine you and I in...

Chorus
Summer bodies shaking to the...
Music's going through ya
Can you feel the heat, the heat?
The heat is moving through your body
Temperature is rising
Can you feel the heat, the heat?

Verse 2
Sleeping in till noon
Been naughty, put bubbles in the swimming pool
Skinny dip for two
And as you feel the rhythm taking hold of you
Ooh Papi, I love it when you ooh-eeh-ooh
And I'm hooked, it's true
I imagine you and I'm in...

Repeat Chorus

This song used to be the bomb when Toni Braxton's album titled by the same name came out in 2000.   The song was supposed to depict the hot chemistry between two people that causes things to get hot.   But as I reviewed the lyrics, I couldn't help but laugh at the one line "Been naughty, put bubbles in the swimming pool".    Did the bubbles derive from some farting that was taking place in the pool?  That's definitely not sexy.   I guess as long as you're not pooping in the pool, all is good.   Maybe that's why the chlorine is needed.

Hemingway the song popped in my head due to the unseasonably hot and humid weather that's descended on Chicagoland this past week.    It's days like these that make me long for the central air I used to have in my first home.    When it reaches 100+ degrees outside, the house feels every bit of it.   I completely hate it.

Dom insisted on visiting his Mom this past weekend and wanted me to go.   I really wasn't keen on going but he kept pushing it.    At least he decided to drive this time which was almost a plus.   But his Mom's place was as miserable as ours and I couldn't get 100% comfortable, especially when I saw ants crawling freely in the home. 

While there Ava told me about a product for ants that can be placed outside to eliminate them around the home.   Something called Spectracide Ant Shield Outdoor Killing Stakes.   I honestly was not sure why she was mentioning those to me.   Maybe she's heard Dom talking to his Mom about my aversion to bugs.

I definitely do want to look into it since our area is plagued by ants and they have come inside the house as well.   I see that Terra has their own liquid bait stakes that they sell for outside.   I actually have bought the indoor ones before and they work so well that you stop seeing ants within 48 hours.   So I may purchase that one as well and start planting them along with some granules around the perimeter of the house.   Anything to keep those buggers at bay.

But anyway the heat has been so unbearable.  I feel stinky and sticky all the time.   Going into the office has been the worst as I wind up being sweaty by the time I arrive.    At least I can wash my face up a bit once I'm in the office.   Only bad thing I notice, the water reeks of the Chicago River smell.   But it makes sense since the water is coming from the Chicago River and our office is near there.

I've been noticing I've been pooping a lot more as well since it's gotten extra hot.   Dom told me that is normal when the temperature gets hot.    But I hope it stops.

Summer is definitely in full effect.   Unlike Toni's song, there's nothing sexy about this heat.   It's going to remain in effect for at least another week.   We did get a bit of relief Tuesday but the temps start rising again.

Speaking of the heat, my stock Blackberry has been heating up in the positive again.   They had an excellent Q1 2026 and their main product QNX is proving to be a short-term and long-term money winner.   Total revenue from QNX was 57.5 million which was up 8% year over year.  The price has been rising again from the ashes again as a result.   I try not to get too excited though because it seems BB just can't keep their price momentum going long.    But the company has also been buying back stock (so far they've purchased 10 million shares) which helps increase shareholder value.   I'm very hopeful that I'm in the right horse and it'll pay off in dividends by the time I near retirement.

This post is officially a milestone post.   It's my 200th post since I've started my second blog.   It's not an overly impressive number considering I started this blog in October 2011, so almost 14 years ago.  I did have a six year hiatus where I didn't blog.    However I've made a lot of positive strides since starting up again in 2021 to try and post more about my life.   It's been nice keeping track once more on my highs and lows.     Here's to another 200 posts ahead.  With the pace I'm going, I hope to get there in another 3 - 4 years (God willing).    I'm grateful to continue to have a place to share my thoughts.   Till next time.

Feeling The Pain

 

Sade - Feel No Pain

VERSE1:
Mama been laid off 

Papa been laid off 

My brother's been laid off 

For more than two years now 

Ooh can't get a job 

Billy can't get a job 

They gotta listen to the blues 

REFRAIN:

Help them to strive 

Help them to move on 

Help them to have some future 

Help them to live long Help them to live life 

Help them to smile 

Don't let them stay home 

And listen to the blues 

VERSE2:

Papa been laid off  (Oh Papa)

Mama been laid off (Oh Mama)

Billy can't get a job 

For too long, too long 

Don't let them lose 

We gotta give them a chance 

It's gonna come back on everyone 

If you don't make them dance 

Don't let them stay home 

And listen to the blues 

BRIDGE:

There's nothing sacred 

Breathing hatred 

We have to face it 

No one can take it 

And feel no pain

I had forgotten about this song.  Feel no pain was my life for a few years after I got laid off from my long-term job.   It didn't seem like I would ever find another job.   Looking for a job is quite the humbling process.  I've had to bite my pride through it all.  I even had a brief stint as a food delivery driver for a local Chinese restaurant in early 2019.   One night was enough for me though.   I shortly wound up finding temporary work at Amazon that lasted almost three years.   But thankfully someone gave me a chance and I was able to work in corporate America again.  So far I'm hanging in there (some days are crazy but that's with any job) and am able to breath again.

I used to love listening to Sade.  Even though when you think of Sade, you think of the individual lady that graced us with her singing, Sade actually is a band.   In fact there's often a male voice that can be heard singing occasionally in the background, sometimes briefly as lead.   I found out his name is Leroy Osborne.   His voice definitely compliments Sade's.   It's cool to know that they've performed together over the years.

Sade has that unique ability to make you feel her pain in all her songs.   I find myself grooving to the beat when listening to her.   But I listen sparingly so when I recently ran into a video highlighting her hits, I was reminded of some like the aforementioned Feel No Pain.   Her last song was released in 2018 on the Soundtrack of the movie Widows starring Viola Davis.    It's called The Big Unknown.   The melody reminds you of what makes Sade great.   One of the comments on the video best describes Sade's last effort.   "Sade comes out from the shadows. SINGS. Drops the mic. Back into the shadows like a Boss!"

This was six years ago.   LOL come back from the shadows once more Sade and Leroy.

Litterbugs

Wham! - Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go

INTRO:

Jitterbug
Jitterbug
Jitterbug
Jitterbug

VERSE:

You put the boom-boom into my heart
You send my soul sky-high
When your lovin' starts
Jitterbug into my brain
Goes a bang-bang-bang
'Til my feet do the same
But something's bugging me
Something ain't right
My best friend told me
What you did last night
You left me sleeping in my bed
I was dreaming
But I should've been with you instead

REFRAIN:

Wake me up before you go-go
Don't leave me hanging on like a yo-yo
Wake me up before you go-go
I don't wanna miss it when you hit that high

Wake me up before you go-go
'Cause I'm not planning on going solo
Wake me up before you go-go
Take me dancing tonight
I wanna hit that high, yeah yeah

I've definitely been in a blogging mood these days.    I'll see if this keeps up.   Today's blog is a historical first for me.    It's the first time I've used the same song lyrics in two different posts that I'm aware of.   The last time I referenced Wham's Jitterbug (well...I mean Wake Me Up Before You Go Go) was in one of my January 2022 posts where I was nervously anticipating Day 1 at my not so new job.   It'll officially be 18 months I've been working there when the end of July hits.   Despite the stress I am so grateful to have a decent wage and I am on track to officially pay off all of my credit card debt with my next payment this month.   I'm so excited to hit that milestone and will be working to tackle the mortgage next.    My goal with the mortgage is to ideally pay it off within three years.   I don't have an exact date but I'm hoping sometime in 2026 to completely pay it off (and that's assuming life doesn't kick me in the butt to derail those plans).

So today's entry will be of a rant nature.   It's about the damn litterbugs that are among us.   I don't get people who feel like the Earth grounds is their personal dumping grounds.   I see it when I drive, idiots that toss their cigarette butts out the window.    It's okay for them to pollute their bodies with nicotine but heaven forbid they have to clean up the ashtray in their car.    I see garbage whenever I walk anywhere in town.      Worse there are idiots that dump their trash in front of our house.   The one that makes me scratch my head is the bottles of liquor that I'll occasionally find right near the grassy area by my garage.   I don't know if it's haters that are living in the apartment complex a few blocks down.   There is a liquor store near the main part of town.    Are these idiots buying some vodka and just drinking it on the way back to their apartments and then they just happen to finish it near our home and dump the bottle there?    Is it some idiot driver that is throwing garbage out the window as they speed their way down the block?

Dom and I live in a corner home on our block.   It's a blessing and a curse.   The good part is we only have one neighbor to the left of us.    There's a home across the street but it's mostly vacant.   There's a gentlemen that periodically checks on the house but noone is living there full time.   But the bad part is when idiots throw their garbage, it usually makes its way to our area.     It pisses me off everytime I head out and there's a lovely piece of garbage that is floating somewhere on the lawn.    It makes me hate people all over again.   I wish these idiots weren't such litterbugs.   Sure the garbage has to ultimately go to a landfill somewhere but that doesn't give these idiots the right to just toss the garbage anywhere.    What is wrong with people?   The list, no doubt, will be too long.

Speaking of idiots, unfortunately one of our neighbors was affected by another neighbor idiot the evening of the 4th.   Some idiot was blowing fireworks (which no doubt provides more litter) in the area and the sparks from one of them burned down the neighbor's garage.   Dom and I were in bed that night and from my window I was seeing red flashing lights from the fire department.   Normally the lights disappear but these lingered.    I got up and saw there was a scene on the block with several fire trucks and other folks lingering around watching the chaos unfold.

I tried to watch it from the mud room but we have a bunch of trees that provide nice privacy but was blocking most of what was going on.   I wasn't about to go outside to see what was happening.  I eventually went to bed and then walked around the block the next morning to see the neighbor's garage burned down.    Apparently the neighbor had a bunch of tools and furniture there.   There's already a GoFundMe account that was set which I donated to but I'm hoping the neighbor had insurance on the home that would cover repairs.    The good thing is that noone was injured but I hope they can find the idiots who did it and make them pay.

Gotta love America...LOL!

When Will It Be Me?

 There have been quite a few of my former classmates who have successfully landed jobs in the Salesforce ecosystem.   It's been great seeing all this and it gives me hope that maybe I too can finally get a corporate job again.    But part of it has been frustrating.   I hate the interviewing process and it seems I have yet to find that right person who wants to give me a chance.

I had a decent Zoom interview with some folks at a local university.   Actually it sounded like a great opportunity to learn some new things and quickly make an impact.     And best of all I wouldn't have to drive on the days I go in the office.   I would be able to hop on the Southshore line and only walk a few feet to the office building.   So no driving...yay!    The other good thing is that all the team seems to be long-termers (meaning they've worked there for at least ten years or more).   For me that's a win since theoretically I have about 10 - 15 working years left in me before retirement and it would be nice to find a stable place to get through those years.    I'm waiting to see if I'll get extended an offer or get another rejection.   The whole process is frustrating.

However I believe I may have a tentative offer for a 12 week internship.   It won't happen until mid-February though so I'm still trying to find other options.    But if nothing pans out, it'll be good to have this to fall back on.   The caveat is I have no idea what company the internship would be with.    But if it goes well, they get the option to hire me full-time.

I have another potential interview next week before Christmas as well.   So I'm still searching for that next gig.   I hope one day it'll be my turn to say I found a job in the Salesforce ecosystem and I can say bye, bye, bye to the Amazon Warehouse.

In other news it's holiday time and I have a full driving schedule.    On Saturday Dom and I head outside of Indianapolis to see Ross's Christmas show.   Dom's starting to ask more questions about Ross which is fine.   I haven't gone as far as saying we had an interest in each other but I feel like Dom can read between the lines.   He's asked two or three separate times in the last week how we've met which I've explained several times.   I had to check myself not to snap at him when he asked the third time.  *LOL*.    We've had some crazy winds in our area and Amazon hit the news when a small warehouse in Edwardsville, IL had their roof get torn off and six employees lost their lives.    Thankfully the weather should be decent for our road trip.

Then I have to gear myself for traveling to Detroit before Christmas.    Eugene's actually traveling to Detroit tomorrow and for some reason he thought I was going at same time.   Hopefully we'll get to hang out but I'm not sure if it'll happen.    Also I don't know if he and his friend plan to hang out in Chicago for New Year's Eve.   I've hung out with them in the past but this year New Year's Day falls on my workday and I'm not sure if I get that off or not.     But if I do have to work, it's holiday pay....yay!

So my car will be put to the test once more.   Here's hoping everything goes well.   Stay tuned!

P.S. Jamie never did reach out to me as far as hanging out.   I have a whole different rant on that but I'll spare the details...for now.