What! Sept. 21, 2017
By Lisa Baker • 09-21-17
September 28th is National Good Neighbor Day. This annual event was first proclaimed by President Jimmy Carter in 1978 as he announced that good neighbors help achieve human understanding and build strong, thriving communities. Think about it…you buy a house and move in. You don’t ask about the neighbors…nothing. You only see your relatives at Christmas time, but neighbors…you’re just stuck with them and they’re stuck with you. You may have Mrs. Kravitz living next door during the day, but remember how she asked if you needed anything during Harvey. The kids across the street may be rowdy, but they picked up sticks in your yard after the storm. So, bake some cookies or banana bread or pick up a bottle of wine and scoot on over to your neighbors this week and say hello. Who knows, they may start bringing in their barking dog, let you know when your kid is sneaking out at night and mow your grass.
In a state like Texas, neighbors rely on neighbors. Please remember that our businesses need you to Shop Local and continue to support one another, especially in times like these.
My mother taught me about justice. “One day you’ll have kids, and they’re going to do the same thing you’re doing, then you’ll see what it’s like. What goes around, comes around.”
So far, this year the Secret Service has spent over $60,000 on golf-cart rental, to protect the President at two of his resorts. Hmmm. On the outside looking in…it would make more sense to buy the carts.
I bet you are familiar with the song “Dancing Queen” by Swedish pop group ABBA. We all know the words. Well, back in 2016, ABBA got together for the first time in 30 years and NO ONE REMEMBERED TO RECORD IT. Now, all the original members (who are ALL still alive) are planning a 2019 global tour, but they won’t be there in person, instead they will be recreated as “digital avatars” for a virtual reality tour. Wait, that’s what they do for Michael Jackson. Band members say it will be just like you’re back in 1977, with a live band, live backing vocals, a great set design with lights and sound…just like a live concert, except for the fact that the band members will be back at home walking their dogs. Hmmm. I wonder if I could do that at my office.
Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! is the follow-up to the original 2008 film, which was based on the ABBA-inspired musical of the same name, and is expected to hit theatres in July 2018.
Hasbro is now offering a “Star Wars” Monopoly set that includes the female character Rey. Their previous version had only male characters, prompting an 8-year-old girl to write them a letter and ask why, woohoo.
Legos were invented in Billund, Denmark. An architecture firm has designed a real structure (130,000-sq-ft) of larger interlocking, Lego-like blocks for an official Lego museum and theme park of sorts that will open on September 28th. There will be play zones, restaurants, stores, rooftop terraces and a gallery of Lego masterpieces. Then today I read that the toymaker will have to cut 1,400 jobs because after years of rising sales, revenue dropped 5% in the first six months of this year. Hmmm.
A Canadian woman discovered her mother-in-law’s long-lost engagement ring when she pulled up a carrot from her garden. The carrot had grown around the ring. The picture was great. A big fat carrot with an engagement ring on it!
“The trouble with being in the rat race is that even if you win, you’re still a rat.” Lily Tomlin
HAPPY BIRTHDAYS: Director Brian DePalma is 77. Carrie and Mission Impossible. Singer-actress-dancer Lola Falana is 75. She was the first African American spokeswoman for a major perfume, Tigress, made by Faberge. My mother wore that scent when I was in high school. Broadcast Journalist Morton Dean is 82. Actress Valerie Harper is 78. Actress Cindy Williams is 70. Laverne & Shirley. Actress Barbara Eden is 86. Actor-singer Rick Springfield is 68. Cartoonist Mort Walker is 94. Beetle Bailey. Rock singer-musician Al Jardine is 75.
Musician Mickey Hart is 74. The Dead. Basketball Hall of Fame Yao Ming is 37. Singer-actress Jennifer Hudson is 36. Actor Keanu Reeves is 53. Comedian-actress Lily Tomlin is 78. Edith Ann and her very large rocking chair. Singer Barry Gibb is 71. Talk show host Dr. Phil McGraw is 67. Singer Kenny Rogers is 79. Actor Clarence Williams III is 78. The Mod Squad. Johnny Appleseed was born September 26, 1774. That’s 243-years ago.
DEATHS: Thomas Meehan, three-time Tony-winning co-writer of Broadway hits including Annie and Hairspray, died at age 88. African Spotted Yard Wolf, Buster, an occasional guest columnist at The Source Weekly died last week. He was 14 which is 78 in dog years. We will miss him.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says that she will not pursue the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination… “I’m done with being a candidate.”
Apple has released their new iPhone X (10) which sells starting at $999. Yikes. My first car was a ’66 Mustang that cost $800. But that was a long, long time ago. If someone had told me that a phone would cost over a thousand dollars and it would talk to me by looking at my face…nah!
An 89-pound alligator snapping turtle wandered out of his home in Buffalo Bayou and onto Memorial Drive recently. The turtle is believed to be around 70 years old and after being treated for dehydration, was returned to his home on Buffalo Bayou.
Did you ever watch Psych? Yes, I’m a Psycho-O. I just loved the show. The series about phony psychic Shawn (James Roday) and Gus (Dule Hill) ended in 2014 but I just heard that a two-hour, Psych: The Movie, will be airing on USA in time for Christmas. The special will pick up three years after the series ended.
Twitter ”#hashtag” celebrated its 10th anniversary. In 2007, Chris Messina sent a tweet asking Twitter users what they thought about adding a pound sign before a topic.
New at Blue Bell: Pink Camo ‘n Cream…strawberry, chocolate and cream cheese ice cream swirled together in a camouflage pattern. Banana Split Sundae is creamy banana ice cream with crushed pineapple, maraschino cherries and chopped roasted almonds, surrounded by swirls of strawberry and chocolate sundae sauces. And Rainbow Sherbet is back.
Take a break from social media. A recent study found that people who gave it up for a week felt more content.
Twenty-four years after her death, there is a live and online auction of items from Audrey Hepburn’s personal collection. Go to www.christies.com. She was one of the most famous screen actresses of the 20th century. My personal favorite.
“Nothing is impossible, the word itself says, I’m possible.” Audrey Hepburn
– Lisa
