Have a fun but safe New Year’s celebration and may this year be fantastic for all of us!
Much Love,
PS Please don’t drink and drive!
Happy New Year 2024
11
A Fond Farewell to 2023 and Those Who Have Entertained Us
It’s been a long year. We made it! It’s been rough but I’m grateful for all that I have and thankful to those who have been here for me. I’m thankful that YOU have taken the time to read my blog! I hope 2023 has been kind to you and yours.
We said goodbye to many wonderful actors, athletes, musicians, and public figures this year. I have compiled a list from various sources but it’s an incomplete list since I keep finding another name to add! It has taken me most of the day to do this so I figured I’d better quit!
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Alan Arkin, born 1934 Actor and Filmmaker
Heather Armstrong, born 1975 Blogger and Internet Personality
Clarence Avant, born 1931 Music Executive and Producer
Burt Bacharach, born 1928 Composer and Songwriter
Bob Barker, born 1923 Gameshow Host
Jeff Beck, born 1944 Guitarist
Harry Belafonte, born 1927 Singer and Actor
Richard Belzer, born 1944 Actor
Tony Bennett, born 1926 Singer
Jane Birkin, born 1946 Actress and Singer
Robert Blake, born 1933 Actor
Tori Bowie, born 1990 Track and Field Athlete
Andre Braugher, born 1962 Actor
George Brown, born 1949 Drummer
Jimmy Buffett, born 1946 Singer and Musician
Colin Burgess, born 1946 Musician
Dick Butkus, born 1942 Football Linebacker and Sports Commentator
Rosalynn Carter, born 1927 Former First Lady of the US
Pat Casey, born 1993 BMX Star
Tyler Christopher, born 1972 Daytime Actor
Carole Cook, born 1924 Actress
James ‘Buster’ Corley, born 1951 Co-Founder of Dave and Buster’s
David Crosby, born 1941 Singer and Songwriter
Kamar de los Reyes, born 1967 Daytime Actor
Melinda Dillon, born 1939 Actress
Dianne Feinstein, born 1933 US Senator
Michael Gambon, born 1940 Actor
Astrud Gilberto, born 1940 Singer and Songwriter
Mark Goddard, born 1936 Actor
Bo Goldman, born 1932 Screenwriter and Playwright
Len Goodman, born 1944 Ballroom Dancer
Johnny Hardwick, born 1958 Actor
Steve Harwell, born 1967 Singer and Musician
Jim Hines, born 1946 Football Player
Bobby Hull, born 1939 NHL Hall of Famer
Barry Humphries, born 1934 Comedian and Actor
Rudolph Isley, born 1939 Singer and Songwriter
Glenda Jackson, born 1936 Former Member of Parliament
Al Jaffee, born 1921 Cartoonist
Ron Cephas Jones, born 1957 Actor
Robbie Knievel, born 1968 Daredevil and son of Evil Knievel
Marty Krofft, born 1937 Film Producer
Denny Laine, born 1944 Musician
Piper Laurie, born 1932 Actress
Norman Lear, born 1922 Screenwriter and Film Producer
Michael Lerner, born 1941 Actor
Gordon Lightfoot, born 1938 Singer, Songwriter, and Guitarist
Gina Lollobrigida, born 1927 Actress
Lisa Loring, born 1958 Actress
Laura Lynch, born 1958 Former Member of The Dixie Chicks
Mark Margolis, born 1939 Actor
David McCallum, born 1933 Actor
Cormac McCarthy, born 1933 Author
Randy Meisner, born 1946 Singer, Songwriter, and Musician
Billy Miller, born 1979 Daytime Actor
Richard Moll, born 1943 Actor
Sandra Day O’Connor, born 1930 Former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court
Sinéad O’Connor, born 1966 Singer and Songwriter
Ryan O’Neal, born 1941 Actor
Billy Packer, born 1940 Basketball Player and Sports Commentator
Lara Parker, born 1938 Daytime Actress, Dark Shadows
Tatjana Patitz, born 1966 Model
Chris Peluso, born 1983 Broadway Actor
Matthew Perry, born 1969 Actor
Lisa Marie Presley, born 1968 Singer and Songwriter
Otis Redding III, born 1964 Singer and Songwriter
Willis Reed, born 1942 Basketball Player and Coach
Jamie Reid, born 1947 Visual Artist
Paul Reubens, born 1952 Actor and Comedian
Adam Rich, born 1968 Actor
Bill Richardson, born 1947 Former Governor of New Mexico
Brooks Robinson, born 1937 Baseball Player
Pat Robertson, born 1930 Broadcaster, Commentator, and Minister
Robbie Robertson, born 1943 Musician
John Romita Sr., born 1930 Comic Book Artist
Gary Rossington, born 1951 Guitarist
Richard Roundtree, born 1942 Actor
Julian Sands, born 1958 Actor
Iron Sheik, born 1942 Professional Wrestler
Tom Sizemore, born 1961 Actor
Tom Smothers, born 1937 Comedian and Actor
Suzanne Somers, born 1946 Actress and Singer
Arleen Sorkin, born 1955 Daytime Actress, Screenwriter, and Comedian
Frances Sternhagen, born 1930 Actress
Stella Stevens, born 1938 Actress
Ray Stevenson, born 1964 Actor
Barrett Strong, born 1941 Singer and Songwriter
Lee Sun-kyun, born 1975 Actor
Inga Swenson, born 1932 Actress
George Tickner, born 1946 Musician
Chaim Topol, born 1935 Actor and Singer
Tina Turner, born 1939 Singer
Raquel Welch, born 1940 Actress
Annie Wersching, born 1977 Actress
Fred White, born 1955 Musician and Songwriter
Tom Wilkinson, born 1948 Actor
Cindy Williams, born 1947 Actress
Mike Williams, born 1987 Former Football Wide Receiver
Treat Williams, born 1951 Actor
Gary Wright, born 1943 Musician and Songwriter
Burt Young, born 1940 Actor
Jacklyn Zeman, born 1953 Daytime Actress
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It’s surprising to see so many daytime actors and actresses. I remember them all, either from years ago or more currently. Yes, I am a soaps fan! I grew up watching shows like General Hospital and Dark Shadows. Then I grew into All My Children and the slew of soaps that came later. I am now back to only watching General Hospital and Dark Shadows! My Dark Shadows collection is nearly complete!
Another shocker to me is that Julian Sands went hiking alone and encountered some kind of trouble. It was 5 months later before his body was found; the cause of death was undetermined. No one should ever go hiking alone! Such a shame.
Anyway, as we say goodbye to 2023, let’s remember those who have entertained us throughout the years.
Au revoir, Adiós, Sayonara, Adeus, Auf Wiedersehen, Namaste, Shalom, Arrivederci, Ciao!
See you next year,
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Merry Christmas, My Friends
Although today is Christmas Eve, my Christmas is over. Dad and I had ours yesterday with my son and his beautiful family. We had a nice visit and our family’s traditional Christmas Eve with pizza, pizza balls, and popcorn cake. We opened gifts and after a great afternoon, we left.
The only thing missing was our tradition of watching Christmas movies, as we did when my kids were little. The Santa Claus, Trapped In Paradise, Bad Santa, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, and the originals Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas were among our favorites. Of course, the list changed over the years as movies such like Bad Santa were inappropriate for little ones!
It’s been a rough couple of months and it was nice not to worry about a holiday meal or cleaning for guests. I think my days of hosting family get-togethers are over. Last year, I put out a charcuterie board and even that was hard on me. So, I really appreciate my son and his wife having us over this year. No stress, no mess. I wish I could say no pain, but I’ll always have pain to deal with.
Have a wonderful Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, my friends. I hope your celebration is filled with peace, love, and laughter!
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Friday’s Funnies – My Faves This Last Week Before Christmas
It’s been a long, miserable month and I will write about that at a later date. I’ve been trying to stay positive but it’s been very difficult. I could sure use a few laughs about now so I figured maybe you could, too. I’m glad I had a few funnies saved to share with you!
On with the show, my friends! I hope you enjoy this collection of funnies!
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I hope you found a funny or two that you really like. I think my fave in this bunch is the one about the Amazon Driver! It’s so true at my house! Our poor driver is probably so sick of coming to my house! He’s been here every day this week and will probably be here two more times before Christmas!
I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas. Be safe and don’t forget to laugh a little.
May Peace and Joy be with you in the New Year!
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Holiday Depression
I won’t be spending much time online until after the holidays. I may pop in at times to read a blog or two, perhaps even comment. Facebook is my go-to for staying in touch with friends and family but during the holidays it’s just depressing. It’s depressing to see posts and photos of family get-togethers, grandkids having fun, and all that good stuff. Why? I’ll explain.
When I was in my 40s and my kids were nearing the age of adulthood, I always envisioned my 50s and 60s with grandkids all around me during the holidays with good food, laughter, and gift-giving. But that didn’t happen. I’m in my 60s and disabled so I can’t travel to see the grandkids, contrary to what some may think. They don’t travel to see us, so I feel even less important and lonely. I have 4 grandchildren within 20 miles and rarely see them. One I haven’t seen in years. One I saw last year and didn’t even recognize her because it had been that long since I saw her last. I see the other 2 (brothers, one is a baby) mostly during the holidays for a few hours. The baby I have seen only once. I will see them this coming week if everything goes as planned.
I don’t know. Maybe I’m taking things too personally but I feel like everyone else gets to enjoy my grandkids while I sit on the sidelines. And poor Dad. He doesn’t even have a relationship with any of his great-grandkids! I see photos of them on Facebook and I love seeing those photos but damn, it’s so depressing! So that’s why I’m going to stay off Facebook until after the holidays. I hate the holidays. I truly, truly hate the holidays.
I’ve not been doing well physically for the past few weeks. I did some major chores and really messed something up. I have pinched nerves as a result. I can’t sit still any longer than I can walk or stand. My rotator cuff injury has been bothering me off and on as well. I’m a hot mess.
Dad is doing ok, aside from falling twice in less than a week. He didn’t hurt himself except for a bruise on his arm. I’m really worried about him and that’s leading to a lot more stress and sleepless nights.
The 3 furbabies are doing well and believe it or not, Jack and BobCat are actually getting along quite well these days! I think they may have had a scuffle or a powwow one day while we were gone because there are times that Jack cowers down to BobCat. Maybe they have come to an agreement of some kind?! Or maybe Alice told them to knock off the horseshit.
I’m making a ham in the instant pot on Thanksgiving, and I’ll whip up some mashed potatoes (the day before) and gravy. I bought pre-made frozen pies because my oven is dead and well, I can’t stand in the kitchen for long. My son and daughter-in-law are bringing the sweet potatoes, rolls, and green bean casserole, (and the 2 grandkids!). My bestie is bringing appetizers. I hope my pain level will allow me to enjoy the day or at least a few hours.
I won’t be blogging until after the holidays so I will wish you a Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year all at once! Thank you for following my blog!
Peace, Love, and Rock n Roll,
Being Aunt Debbie 