So. Mr. Augie from Jets.com continues to send me enticing emails trying his best to convince me that I need a private aviation choice in my future, and he really wants to be the person that signs me up with my very own Jet Card, allowing me the freedom to fly where I want to… when I want to. What a deal! Most recently he offered me one FREE hour with the purchase of a 20-hour Jet Card. These guys are pretty flexible and just want to ensure that I purchase the best program for my needs. 😊 Oh, did I mention there is no added taxi-time, no expiration date, and no de-icing fees, along with guaranteed availability. Do you think I should let them know that I’m pretty satisfied for now, just jetting around town in my trusty 2012 Buick with 120,000 miles.
Sunday clears away the rust of the whole week. – Joseph Addison
If you are presently doing your part and trying to stick with sustainable seafood, don’t buy mackerel. Northeast Atlantic mackerel is now unsustainable (upsetting the ecological balance by depleting natural resources). According to the Marine Conservation Society’s (MCS) Good Fish Guide, “Populations of mackerel in the past have been large enough to withstand fishing, however, in recent years the population has been in steady decline,” so mackerel is no longer a sustainable choice. The problem is the ocean ecosystems, already pressured from the climate crisis, needs mackerel, because tuna, whales and dolphins all rely on it for their diets. Wild-caught Pacific salmon and North Sea herring are both good mackerel replacements. Then there is eel. Japan consumes more than 70% of the global eel catch, but the population has declined by as much at 95% in the past decade, so now is the time to stop eating eel. Period.
Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on Saturday May 13th. Place a bag of nonperishable food next to your mailbox and your letter carrier will manage the rest. #StampOutHunger. This is your last reminder.
Although the Ticketmaster platform website crashed immediately after presale started on November 15, 2022, over 2.4 million tickets to the Taylor Swift Eras Tour were sold that day, breaking the record for the most concert tickets sold by an artist in a single day. Taylor Swift describes her new concert as a journey through the musical eras of her career past and present. It was also her first concert tour since 2018 because of covid. Needless to say, my college kids were more than excited that they were able to get tickets. So, following a four-hour storm delay in Nashville on Sunday, Taylor Swift delivered the full 45–song (yep – 45 songs) Eras Tour performance that ran until 1:30 in the morning. I know all this because my daughter was in Nashville with friends at the stadium, sheltering-in-place (the bathroom) through an unbelievable thunder and lightning storm, until they were finally given permission to find their seats. It was Taylor Swift’s third and final show in Nashville, and it sure looks and sounds like the group got their money’s worth. A concert to remember forever. Ahh, but to be young again, sitting in the rain and loving it. My son will attend one of three concerts outside Boston next week. Lucky kids.
This past weekend was the 149th Kentucky Derby. But did you know a total of seven horses died the week of the race at Churchill Downs. The first death occurred April 29. Three-year-old Code of Kings appeared to be fixated on lights at a nearby DJ booth, fell and flipped repeatedly, breaking his neck. Then Take Charge, Briana, and Wild on Ice were euthanized after being hurt. Two more horses; Parents Pride and Chasing Artie, also died this past week under mysterious circumstances. Their trainer has been suspended indefinitely for the “unexplained sudden deaths,” and was suspended indefinitely from all state tracks (can’t wait to hear more about that story). On Saturday, two more horses, Chloe’s Dream and Freezing Point, were euthanized after sustaining race injuries which appeared irrecoverable. The deaths of all the horses are currently under investigation. Track conditions were not to blame. Hmmm.
RECENT BIRTHDAYS: TV personality Willie Geist of Today Show is 48. Actor Christina Hendricks of Mad Men is 48. Actor Dule’ Hill of Psych is 48. Country singer Stella Parton is 74. Younger sister of Dolly. Singer Jackie Jackson of The Jacksons is 72. Singer-actor Pia Zadora is 71. Actor Mary McDonough of The Waltons is 62. Newsman Brian Williams is 64. Singer Bob Seger is 78. His recording of Old Time Rock and Roll was named one of the Songs of the Century in 2001. Singer Jimmie Dale Gilmore of The Flatlanders is 78. Singer and comedian Lulu Roman of Hee Haw is 77. Actor Roma Downey of Touched by an Angel is 63. Actor George Clooney is 62. Country singer Tim McGraw is 56. Singer Lou Gramm of Foreigner is 73. Actor Christine Baranski of Momma Mia! is 71. Wrestler-actor Dwayne Johnson aka The Rock is 51. Singer Frankie Valli of The Four Seasons is 89. (I saw him about 5 months ago – he still puts on a great concert – thank you, Redford). Sports announcer Greg Gumbel is 77. Singer Mary Hopkin is 73. Her 1968 hit, Those Were the Days My Friend. Singer Christopher Cross is 72. Ride Like the Wind and Sailing.
Jim Harithas died at 90. Along with his late wife, he co-founded the Station Museum of Contemporary Art and the Art Car Museum, changing Houston forever. He was considered to be the most influential force on the Houston art scene over the past 50 years.
There is a pillow in my office that my sister gave me many, many years ago. It says, “God made us sisters. Heart made us friends.” The pillow is tattered and worn, but I still keep it close to me because it speaks the truth. My sister is three years younger, and much tougher than me. She works for the sheriff’s office in Georgetown, drives a big truck and raises chickens in the country. Our politics are different… but we agree to disagree, as everyone should, but doesn’t. Last night as I pulled into my driveway before dark, I sent her a message, “Are you going to sit on the porch tonight?” We sit on our porches several times a month. I even ordered a new porch chair because I wanted to be comfortable on these impromptu evenings. So, I walked Teller until she sent me a text asking if I was ready yet. As I walked back to my house, I sent her pictures of beautiful things I saw… a shrimp plant, a magnolia tree and a single fragrant flower from that tree, a gorgeous picture of the creek, white roses, a friend’s creatively planted backyard, my yard full of flowers and a single, very vibrant red poppy; then I poured myself a glass of wine. Teller and I hurried to the front porch to visit. Dani and I sent pictures of our kids, and her grandkids happenings this week, old pictures that completed or complimented parts of our conversations, along with a can of Big Red from my refrigerator. Our Grandma always said as we arrived at her house to visit, “well, go out to the garage and get you a Big Red.” And we did! For the most part, our conversations last night were entirely about our grandparents, where they lived when we were growing up and how much we would love to own that house… a very simple place, well arranged, on a lake, situated on an old golf course from the 1920’s. The best place to visit and enjoy. But mostly we talked about how much we miss the two best grandparents in the world and how much we wish they were here to see us and our families. Grandma died of breast cancer in her 80’s and grandaddy died of the flu at almost 96. They were absolutely the best – not ever replaceable by any current members of our family, if you know what I mean. My suggestion to you is to do the same. It doesn’t have to be family; it could be a friend or neighbor. Let the washing machine, dinner, and clean sheets on the bed wait. Find someone you adore and sit on your front porch talking and texting on your phone. It’s so close to actually having them right next to you, except the driving time is not as bad and you don’t have to brush your teeth. 😊
Lionsgate Television is currently developing a TV adaptation of Stephenie Meyer’s best-selling Twilight series. Sinead Daly (The Walking Dead) has been hired to write script for the series. Yes, I read them all. The first Wicked film won’t appear in theaters until November 2024, but it will be exciting to see Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard, Arianna Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, as they tell the story of the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch of the West, with songs like Popular and Defying Gravity. It’s now officially the fourth-longest running Broadway show of all time, surpassing Andrew Lloyd Weber’s Cats. 79-year-old Robert DeNiro just revealed that he is now a dad of seven after recently welcoming his seventh baby. No baby-momma mentioned. After massive lay-offs (25%), parent company Paramount shut down 36-yr-old MTV News, blaming “pressure from broader economic headwinds.” Remember, I Want My MTV.
A US health panel now recommends that women get every-other-year screening mammograms at age 40 instead of age 50. Senator Dianne Feinstein’s office announced that she is returning to Washington following an absence of more than two months because of complications from shingles. Rep. George Santos has been arrested on federal criminal charges including fraud and lying to Congress. About time.
BuzzFeed: “A good friend of mine who had just moved to the US kept hearing about ice cream sandwiches, but never actually saw one in person. He decided to try one on his own by putting ice cream between two pieces of Wonder bread. He didn’t care for it.”
A 44-yr-old California man, falsely claimed to be a licensed doctor for years, treating thousands of people. An undercover investigator scheduled a consultation in 2022, noting that “the doctor” failed to address abnormal levels of hormone that would indicate a serious medical condition. He has been released pending an investigation but cannot practice medicine. Giggle. Really?
A jury has found Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming E. Jean Carroll, journalist, author, and advice columnist, awarding her $5 million in damages. Trump’s fall was probably mistaking Carroll for one of his wives, Marla Maples, in a photograph, after saying E. Jean Carroll was not his type during a taped deposition, and after being caught on a hot mic talking about how he likes to kiss and grope beautiful women without waiting for them to consent… because he is a star. The judge gave Trump an opportunity to change his mind and file a motion to request to testify in his defense, but no motion was filed to do so.
This sounds like fun. The Spring Wedding Oak Wine Train (Austin Steam Train) leaves Cedar Park, then weaves (2 hours) through the South San Gabriel River area while you enjoy conversation and a tasting-sized flight of 5 wines from the Wedding Oak wine family. Upon your arrival in Burnet, there is a 2-hour layover at the Wedding Oak tasting room along with food and wine for purchase, then relax and get ready to enjoy the train ride back to the Cedar Park Depot. Ages 21 and up. Departs 11 – Returns 5pm. 512-915-2340.
Life doesn’t come with a manual; it comes with a mother. Unknown
Happy Mother’s Day to all the good moms out there. Thank you for reading and shopping with us this week, and every week. We appreciate you. Don’t forget that you have until May 15th to protest your property taxes. That’s Monday. We must ALL do this! Please.
Lisa
Send comments to Lisa Baker at lisa@thesourceweekly.com
