Sedition, Treason & Subversive Activities: I could use a laugh about now, how about you?

Here, in the year of our Lord 2021… how shall I continue to write my blog?

It’s hard to believe, but I am starting my 16th year of this blog.  For many of those years I wrote for myself only, as I didn’t have an audience.  I knew some of my blogs were too long, or childish—what did I care?  I was happily surprised if I got 2-3 visits total in as many days.

Eventually I got tired of hearing myself talk and began looking for blogs similar to my own.  Personal blogs that didn’t focus on model airplanes or 1960’s television or early retirement, just people like myself, sharing their lives. 

I was fortunate to find several I’ve enjoyed reading, it’s been great getting to know these kindred souls.

But I can’t deny that as I’ve gotten more attention here, it’s had an impact on what I share (or how I share it).  For example, the other week I was watching the news (ABC News, hope that’s real enough) and there was a segment on Donald Trump’s latest effort to overturn the election, which got me fired up enough to come on here and share some of MY feelings about him, before he rides off into the sunset. 

Then I worried I’d offend one or two Conservatives that visit my blog, so I wrote about a childhood bully instead (and uitimately how the two relate). 

I was able to get some of my feelings out, but I definitely stifled the dingbat in me.  (Darn it, I don’t like to stifle my dingbat!)

More & more lately I’m questioning everything I share; I saw an old tv-movie a couple nights ago that surprised me and I wanted to write about it here.  Am I going to bore people to tears if I do?  I’m guessing probably.  I’ve started it—stopped it—started it 2-3 times already.  What to do, what to do…

This reminds me of something that occurred a year or so ago, when I saw a young woman in my apartment building’s lobby in her underwear.  (I wrote about it here.)  A friend of mine saw my blog about it and accused me of sounding more & more like a grumpy old man; I made myself a promise to write “younger”. 

And then the next couple weeks I wound up feeling stymied.   Darn it, grumpy old man or middle aged nerd, I gotta be me.

Trump, Pence, McConnell, Trump… Cruz, Trump, Flynn, Trump… TRUMP TRUMP TRUMP TRUMP!!!

NOW I feel better! 

I always assumed people that visited here more than once or twice knew who I was: a single man nearing 60, a moderate manic Democrat with liberal leanings, an agnostic with a flair for the dramatic!

And (until Trump came along) believed I could get along with just about anyone.  I know now that’s not the case. 

I just want to share my feelings on here without having to listen or provide a soapbox for people who’s political beliefs differ from my own.  Everything else… great!

Do you really believe alien beings are coming to swoop you off planet Earth with the next comet?  Fascinating, tell me more!  

Do you honestly think the human female form is a higher step in the evolutionary process and human males are still Cro-Magnon?  I’m beginning to think so too! 

Are you really a Trump supporter after all the diabolical crap he & the GOP have pulled these past 4 years?  Amazing, now go away.

Where was I going with all this?  I’m not even sure anymore.  I guess I’m just posting a disclaimer that topics here in 2021 may be anti-Trump, mental and/or boring.  As Sammy Davis Jr sings below… you know!

Shopping on Ebay: Looks like I’ll be spending New Year’s Day with Bob & his gang

A lifetime ago when we only had 3 or 4 channels on TV, I lived for Saturday nights on CBS.  All in the Family & MASH from 8-9pm, Mary Tyler Moore at 9, The Bob Newhart Show at 9:30.  Oh and The Carol Burnett Show at 10pm, that was my sister Shawn’s favorite.

Often, my mom would send me upstairs to tell my older brother Duke his favorite show was about to start.  I’d knock on his bedroom door, the clacking of his typewriter would stop.  I’d yell thru the wood “Duke, All in the Family is about to start…”  He’d bark back “I’m busy!  I have to finish writing my novel or I’ll never become a celebrated author and get the hell out of this rural sh-thole!” 

I’d yell back “But tonight’s the episode where Archie meets Mike’s study partner who’s a liberal AND a homosexual!  You missed it the first time ‘round!”  He’d yell “Oh!  Alright, I’m coming!”

My favorite was Mary Tyler Moore (who I loved and still do) but when I grew up I wanted to be Bob Newhart more than anything.  Well, his character Bob Hartley.  Live in a big city, work in an office downtown and come home to my modern high-rise apartment and sexy as heck wife Suzanne Pleshette. 

Well, I didn’t get Suzanne but I DID wind up moving to the city and working in some nice offices downtown for 30 years… and I’m typing this from my high-rise apartment!

• What’s in the box:  All 6 seasons from 1972-1978, a bonus disc containing the unaired pilot, a ‘Making Of’ documentary, a blooper reel and two anniversary specials.  25 DVDs total.
• Did you know:  Do you remember how primetime tv shows had a ‘Christmas episode’?  The Bob Newhart Show had one for each of it’s six seasons.
• Anything else?  Yes, a surprisingly nice book on the history of the show
• Price: $43.18 (the “Buy it Now” price which included shipping)
• Bought at:  Ebay.com
• Who should I thank:  Shout Factory, who produced the set and I suppose my sister Shawn too, who inspired me to look on Ebay.  A few weeks ago she asked if I still had an active Ebay account, there was a rare Helen Reddy CD she wanted but didn’t want to reactivate her account.  (I said I was sorry, closed my own account years prior.  Her daughter-in-law Jessica purchased the CD.)  But it made me think, I’ve had this Bob Newhart boxed-set in my Amazon cart for 5-6 months, waiting for the price to drop.  I looked on Ebay and sure enough, a seller had 3 of these (factory sealed) at less than HALF of Amazon’s price!

Well, I hope everyone out there has a Happy, Healthy New Year and a much better year ahead.  As for me, I’ll be spending the day in my robe, on my couch watching Bob here in his robe, on his couch.  I’ll probably be wearing the same expression too, knowing we have 20 more days of you-know-who!