Am I back for good …

…… no … evil

That’s a little Joke my boss likes to tell when he hears someone ask me if I’m “back for good” at the office. He’ll look at whomever asked that and say “no she’s back for evil!” and he thinks he is funny, I think he’s funny and they think he’s crazy. He’s not wrong btw. I guess I am officially back in the office after working from home for over a year. I’m not overly excited about it but it is what it is. I knew this day was coming, I've been mentally trying to prepare myself .... I'm still working on that. As I’ve mentioned on here a few times I was slowly becoming one of those people that would be perfectly happy to never rejoin the world again. The world is scary yo and I’m not just talking about a virus, or mass shootings or crazy drivers (I swear you'd think I was driving an invisible car sometimes), and the various assortment of people in this world. However put that aside the truth is I get so much more done at home than I do at the office with all the distractions and interruptions, and "Do you have time for a 15 minute meeting?" which always always turns into an hour and a half. EVERY.DAMN.TIME. 

I feel that soon it won’t be my choice and frankly I’d rather go back on my terms than having been told I had to be back on this date. I also needed a change in my routine. I was not in a good place for a long while, and still kind of not but am pulling out of it I guess. Plus it’s kind of an out of sight out of mind thing. My desk has been host to a number of people during my “time away” with squatters from other offices or people needing the room to social distance, to have conference calls etc., but those squatters were always temporary and I’d like to keep it that way. I did spend the first full hour back in the office cleaning it just to be safe. 

One of my staff (that’s right I’m a manager now and I have a STAFF) lost her desk during all this mess. She walked in one day to print/bind a submittal went to her desk and someone else was in her office. They were like yeah this is where I sit now. My coworker looked around and all her stuff was in boxes along the wall. I was like wait what happened as she told me this story?! Apparently, they just assumed she wasn’t coming back and gave her space away, but I’m not buying that. They knew for sure she was coming back cause we’ve talked about it several times. So I had to get to the bottom of that…. Fun times. Turns out this squatter is there cause her area is getting some work done. I'm not sure she realized it is a temporary move. So I’m hoping this is a temporary shift in the matrix but it was still quite unnerving for my coworker, who frankly already has a chip on her shoulder about her longevity with the company, it’s her chip she put it there, we can't knock it off so we have learned to navigate around it. I have another in my staff who lost her space when we moved out for the pandemic and as near as I can tell no one is interested in finding her a new place. Both are cool with this cause they aren't ready to return and not having a place to sit is a good reason to not, so I’m sitting on it for now. However, it kind of pisses me off that they have just been cast aside with no space and we are just supposed to be cool with it. You’d think as part of this remodel that could be corrected at least I think it could be and hopefully by being back I can enter some of those conversations.  

See when we moved to our new office some 3 years ago there wasn’t a space big enough for all of us on one floor. So half of us ended up on the 5^th floor and the rest of us (myself included) ended up on the 10^th floor. There became a big divide of 10^th floor vs 5^th floor people. It wasn’t pretty. A very close tightknit group at our old office was suddenly 2 groups divided who never really talked or saw one another. Keep in mind that the 5^th floor is actually divided into 4 “pods” that aren’t connected so even on 5^th they aren’t intermingling. During the pandemic we went home (for a while) and another organization on the 10^th floor also went home. The other organization has decided to not come back. So my “main” boss swooped in and bought that side of 10^th so that 5^th can move up and we can all be one large happy dysfunctional family again. They move up to 10^th the first of May …. Which should be … interesting to see how that changes the dynamic. It’s definitely going to make the bathrooms more busy.

All that aside my first week back in the office was … interesting. As before the “Safe at work” protocols that were put in place early in the pandemic are not being adhered to at all ….. what really kills me tho is the people who apologize for not wearing a mask when they see me in mine. Which leads me to believe they know they should but they just aren’t going to. That’s fine whatever. I'm beyond giving a shit what others do or don't do. I'll do me ... you do you.  One of my coworkers said “the Gov said we didn’t have to wear them anymore.” I said that’s right but the company hasn’t said that yet. I also had another coworker ask me if I “enjoyed my vacation” and another asked if I “finally decided to come back from my break” I almost went to HR (that’s when my boss came up with his cute joke). The last year or so has been a lot of things, a vacation or a break aren’t even near that list. I was there half a day Monday (I was waiting for the go ahead to print/bind a submittal) then was in the office for a full day Tuesday and Wednesday. I worked from home Thursday (nephew’s b’day and I was leaving early), and was back in the office on Friday. Next week will be my first full week officially back in the office. 

I will state it again for those in the back, if we have in fact returned to normalcy too soon and come the fall are back where we started and I miss a 2nd Dragon Con there will be virtual hell to pay. 

For now ... all that's keeping me moving forward is knowing that in a month I'll be celebrating Golden's birthday, with Golden in a shared space (both of us fully vaccinated) and I can't wait. From what I know she's spent a good deal of time during the pandemic making changes to her house and I can't wait too see all her hard work! 

Marcy 

2020 Christmas TV Movie Calendar

Let’s start by stating the obvious … 2020 has just drained me and I came very close to not doing this calendar cause well frankly nothing else has worked out this year why should this … but then decided A. I needed something to look forward to so looking up these shows and movies made me happy. B. so many people have been asking about this calendar even before the Halloween one went out so the pressure to do it was strong. C. For that reason I knew that many of you were looking forward to was this calendar and I didn’t deliver then well it would have made you sad and I can’t have that on my head. D. by sending out the Halloween calendar I kind of obligated myself to do this one too E. For those indifferent to the calendar I salute you but question your loyalty F. it’s all about me and this calendar makes me smile and wears out my TV … so we must proceed! (My Tivos recently died a horrible death but Xfinity-X1 is in the house …. Literally. Dad blames Xfinity, Comcast whatever they call themselves these days… I am just gonna lay it at 2020’s doorstep, in a paper bag, with other organic matter inside it, and it will be on fire. Just saying.

So … here you go …. I present to you the 2020 Christmas TV Schedule in all its glory! It's best if you save the image below for viewing on the go. By my calculations my digital files of calendars goes back to 2008. However, before 2008 I was horrible about file management (I’m getting better) so who really knows. The Halloween calendar stated the 12^th Edition so that’s what I’m going to go with …. tho I swear I’ve been doing it longer. I also confess that I, who is on the finance committee at the Church, suck at Math so ya know … take that for what you want. Forget Diamonds … Calculators are a girls friend. Cell phones with a built in calculator ... well that’s our bestie.

Another house cleaning item before we dive in …. You’ll notice that I never sent an e-mail about the Charlie Brown goodness that was to have been the airing date of the Great Pumpkin back in October. I confess at the time I blamed ABC … little did I know that they were just as sad about it as me (at least I like to think they were). Well that’s cause Apple's TV+ and Peanuts ruined Halloween for everyone. Just everyone. I mean yeah sure Covid (the Covid, The Virus, whatever it goes by in your respective parts of the world) killed it in many areas of the US … but even those people have to admit that it was truly dead when it was announced that Peanuts had sold out to Apple's TV+  and thus no showing on Network TV (ABC) was to happen this year. Screw those kids whose parents hadn’t bought into the online digital age. Forget the littles who rely on network TV for their wholesome TV (you know after they watch 10 minutes of vomiting on Family Guy). Suck it …kid far away from home for the first time in college who smiles when Charlie Brown gets his rock or when Linus misses the great pumpkin…again. GUYS …the thing I’ve been trying to combat with this calendar is finally happening. They are slowly removing all life as we know it from network TV and moving to Digital platforms. Or…you know something far less dramatic. I blame you all for not watching. For DVRing and then not watching cause it’s a week or two after the holiday and you are trying to free up space for yet another Walking Dead spin off. For not tweeting and facebooking that you were watching when you finally pause long enough to watch. You know who you are. Anyway… once that “news story broke” all haties broke loose, the world descended into anarchy and Apple was like whoa we don’t care for negative backlash (I mean their fan allegiance is usually really high), then Charles Schulz and his halo came down to the Peanut offices all God like and mad demanding answers as he threw footballs at his staff for this very obvious betrayal. I understand, Steve Jobbs decided to not don the Turtleneck and make the trip north in order to get involved (see what I did there?). So, after all that the result was that we get one showing of the Thanksgiving and one showing of the Christmas specials on PBS …. One. Make it count guys. Plan your lives around it cause while I am still mad at them we need to watch. Show them that the backlash was real, explain to them that it is important for it to be on network TV and maybe just maybe next year I get my freaking Great Pumpkin back! I don’t ask for much guys …. I mean honestly.

• ·       A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Nov. 22 – sorry I didn’t get this out in time for you to watch …. that’s on me … but hey if you miss Christmas… that’s .. well that’s on you
• ·       A Charlie Brown Christmas On PBS  Dec. 13 plan accordingly

Now that all that unpleasantness is handled …. Back to our regularly scheduled programing ….

The rules:

• ·       No e-mails about taking Christ out of Christmas, it’s just a really long word and using X-mas allows for extra real estate on an already full calendar. Thanks for your understanding and if you don’t understand that feel free to let me remove you from this list.
• ·       I live in the central time zone thus the times reflect that, adjust accordingly and plan ahead. Unless otherwise stated the times are PM.
• ·       This is about specials and movies, not single one off episodes for scheduled shows. You can watch those all year long, this is about things that other than Hallmark, Lifetime etc., you can only watch this time of year.
• ·       It’s about me… this calendar reflect what I WANT to watch and the channels that I get. There is a mixture of cartoons, children’s programs, and adult themed programs. Some are classics, some are new. I vouch not for their quality or content so don’t be calling me cause your little watched a Lifetime movie with you and now has questions. You made that not me.

Channels you will want to take note of

Freeform has been having a Kick off to Christmas all November and is planning another 25 days of Christmas starting December 1st. If you have littles this is the place for you. There are some classics Home Alone, Miracle on 34th Street, Rudolph, Frosty … that being said just cause it’s airing doesn’t mean it deserves your time. While the offerings for Christmas are a lot better than the Halloween offerings, there are still a lot of repeats. If you have had a bad day or want something for background noise as you bake or wrap gifts, or the kids are being impossible and you just need a break … this is your channel. Let me also add that the LOVE that Freeform is giving to Rudolph and Frosty this year makes for a Happy Marcy! Claymation for the Win!

As a friend of mine so eloquently stated … “Hallmark, Lifetime, Hallmark Movies and Mysteries have been assaulting us with Christmas movies all freaking year” … so I have decided to only include “new movies” or movies that I liked and want to see again are on the calendar. There are frankly too many to show them all and if you are having a night where you want to see the same movie but with a different setting and actors then these are the channels for you. They are predictable but always good for killing a few hours.

On that note …. All new showings (or new to me anyway) are marked all PURPLE.

A few airings of note ….

• ·       Die Hard …. I tried guys, I really did, mostly for you Joe (stay safe out there, and come home soon sir!). The only place I can find it on is HBO, and I don’t have HBO and well remember the rules. I was really surprised AMC didn’t jump on the Die Hard is a Christmas movie bandwagon. It would fit really well with their line up but maybe HBO has the rights?! Who knows. At least I’m finally conceding that it can be conceived by some as a Christmas movie.
• ·       How the Grinch Stole X-mas – look I love the original….the cartoon … with all it’s wonderful Seussiness …. I like the Jim Carey version but it comes on like 62,986,529,862 times on Freeform. This calendar shows some of those but if you miss it well you have been warned. There is also a showing of the new Grinch cartoon (2018) Dec 18^th at 8 on Freeform (you know the new one from Illumination (Minions Fame) that has Benedict Cumberbatch voicing the Grinch-which I haven’t seen yet so that’s exciting), but the OG Cartoon with Boris Karloff as your narrator comes on once … on NBC Dec. 25^th at 7  …. It’s marked as TOON and in true NBC fashion it’s MUST SEE TV!
• ·       It’s a Wonderful Life – we get one shot at this one this year …. Dec. 24^th NBC 7  … Don’t blow it. What’s up with NBC showing stuff once and then moving on ?! Like really?! 
• ·       The Grinch Musical – I don’t know much about this one ….. I know it stars Matthew Morrison as the Grinch …. And frankly I don’t have high hopes for it, however I love me some Broadway and anything that puts Broadway on my TV gets a win in my book, tho I’d love to have been in the pitch meeting for this musical. It airs on NBC Dec. 9^th at 7.
• ·       The Sound of Music – This is just an iconic story that a dear friend of mine loves and thus I love it too. Definitely worth watching at least once in your lifetime, more if you are so blessed to do so. Released in 1965 it is about Maria (Julie Andrews), a young Austrian postulant (candidate to be a nun) in 1938 who is sent to serve as a governess to the 7 children of a naval officer (Christopher Plummer), when it’s clear the life of a Nun is not for her. It features music, puppets, dancing, costume changes and Nazis. The 2^nd half of the movie is stupid dark for as light and fun as the first half is. Catch it Dec. 20^th on ABC at 6 (it’s a long movie 172 minutes to be exact. Or nearly 3 hours).
• ·       Kennedy Center Honors – we could all use a pick me up and watching a special that highlights wonderful people doing wonderful things for others is a good start. This is the 42^nd showing and it airs on Dec. 15^th at 7 on CBS.
• ·       CNN Heroes on well … CNN … is also a great pick me up and a reminder that there are people out there who care about others airing on Dec. 13^th at 7 well on CNN.

Digital Options for you …….. cause I love you guys that much … can be found at the following links …. The 2^nd link breaks it down by service and days which was super nice of someone

Netflix, other streaming services add more Christmas movies and specials, from 'Lego Star Wars Holiday Special' to 'Charlie Brown Christmas' (msn.com)

 

Everything Coming To Netflix, Disney Plus, HBO Max, Hulu And Prime Video In December (wegotthiscovered.com)

Anyway, the intention of this calendar, much like the Halloween one is to get your family to pause and spend some time together making memories. In this season where we spend so much time rushing around we forget to enjoy the down time and enjoy the family time. Great specials come and go and if we don’t watch they will go forever.

Today’s “classic Christmas special” may be next year’s no show on the calendar. That’s the other reason for this calendar, if we stop watching they will stop showing, I present Exhibit A …. Charlie Brown. Exhibit B Yes Virginia once again not showing up on CBS …. For reasons I don’t understand. Like seriously can someone explain this to me? Exhibit C What happened to Yes Virginia … I can’t even find the movie airing anywhere. So please take the time to watch it with your family as it airs so that it will air for years to come.  If not for me do it for the children, as they are our future, according to some nice lady who sang really really loudly but also really beautifully.

So sit back, laugh, smile, and cry (some of these are sad, I mean who doesn’t cry when George Bailey is standing next to the tree with Mary holding little Zuzu and his friends are coming in to save the Bailey Savings and Loan, oh no did I give the end away ?!) and have a GREAT Christmas season!

Marcy

Rona ……. you scary!

So …. This weekend I did a thing. I packed a bag …. I got in a car and I traveled to the other side of my state. A good 340 miles, a little over 5 hours (give or take traffic/my brother’s lead foot etc.) and a crapton of anxiety about this decision. See my nephew is a JR. in High School. He’s run cross country in the past but over the last spring/summer he got really into it. Like almost annoyingly into it. It was all he talked about, all he thought about, all he did. Not that I’m complaining, the truth is if he’s going to be obsessed with something it might as well be this. So one day last spring he says to me, “One of my goals is to make it to State” I said I’m sure you will, you are definitely putting in the work. He said, “If I go to State will you come?” I was sitting in my chair, working from home cause of this damn virus, and he was at our house during the week cause he was out of school (doing virtual school) and helping my dad with a project. However it only took a moment for me to say, “Of Course! You make it to State and I’ll be there!” 

The way I see it he and I won’t have a lot of these moments left and well if it weren’t for this damn virus I’d have definitely been there. Little did I know that as a Country we’d suck at Pandemics. That we’d have a leader in the White House that convinced everyone it was fine when it was most definitely was not. That not only would we still be in the throws of it but in some parts of the world Round 2 would be getting underway. Nah oh that Spring afternoon looking into his excited face I just wanted to watch him run. Damn if he didn't call my bluff and make the State Championship, which resulted in one of the best but most stressful trips of my life.

According to the interwebs, which are totes never wrong there were over 2,000 kids at this meet. So say each of those kids has 2 parents with them and then throw in a few siblings, some grandparents, aunts and uncles, not to mention volunteers, vendors, concession stand workers so conservatively I’m guestimating there was at least 6-8,000 people at this meet. Give or take cause I suck at math. I saw masks and social distancing but also tons of hugs, lots of people using port a pottys, high fives (some as they left the port a potty), and well the recipe for putting my state back on the national map everywhere I looked. I was standing in the middle of a super spreader waiting to happen. When I think about the number of schools participating from all over the state and how this thing has the possibility of getting way out of hand I gives me heart palpitations.  

I’ve done everything I was supposed to do. I wore a mask. I used hand sanitizer. I social distanced. Every time someone got too close I faked needing to look for something and walked away from the conversation around me, not that anyone noticed. Yet here I sit feeling like a ticking timebomb about to go off cause frankly I just don’t fucking know. My nephew made a similar statement when I meet up with him at the course (I could tell his anxiety had already ramped up just like mine was). I looked at him and said “We are here now, nothing we can do about it so enjoy it. Run your little heart out and have fun. Make this trip worth every second of it!” However inside I wanted to grab him by his hoodie high tail it back to the car, get a hotel room for the night and take a hand sanitizer bath for about 4 hours. He did look at me and say “well we know one thing, if we don’t get it today, it’s just not in the cards for us to get it at all.” Which both made me laugh and scared me that he felt that way. Every day is a new battle so just cause we missed the shrapnel from today (God willing) that doesn’t mean we won’t be hit tomorrow.

Here’s what has me totally freaking out ….. the inevitable contract tracing to come. I traveled with my brother and sister in law. We checked into the hotel and went straight to our room. We ate dinner Friday night. After going to three other restaurants and not wanting to wait the 45-50 minutes on their tables ended up at a Mexican place near the hotel. So you have that waiter, plus the lady who took payment for said delicious dinner, and the ladies we spoke with at the other two places before deciding to move on. On the way back to the hotel the Nephew requested a milkshake from Chick-fil-a, so add the kid who took our order and the kid who brought our order to the list. Plus whomever all of these people served the rest of the night/weekend. Also keep in mind I couldn’t begin to tell you where those two restaurants were located cause it was dark and my brother was driving. My nephew visited us once we got there, and he had 2 roommates, not to mention his coaches and other teammates that he ate dinner with that night and traveled on a buss home with. Plus the buss driver, you gotta add him to the mix. Plus notice I'm not including anyone that we walked by on Saturday, talked with etc. cause it was a crapton of people. On the way home Saturday we stopped for a bite at a Wendy's, again only God knows where, and dealt with the window lady. Plus add two rest area stops, one stop at a gas station in which we all got out and stretched our legs. So lady behind us in line for the potty that stood far closer than she should have good luck cause I don’t even know your damn name. Then upon returning home you have my parents to add to the mix. This morning I got up and went to Church where I counted the money as part of the treasury with another lady, cut a check for one of the members, had several conversations with our preacher throughout the day. While waiting on me mom and dad went to Winn Dixie for a few items so whomever they dealt with there counts I guess. All while wearing a mask but still. That’s just me. That’s just my list of where I was and what I did. That doesn’t include who my brother saw today, whom my SIL saw, or my nephew. That’s how this shit gets so damn out of control so damn fast and that’s what has me all freaked out. This is the aspect of this entire virus situation that people don't think about.  Plus all of that is just from say Friday to Sunday ..... what about the week ahead? Do we count them too? it's quite overwhelming to think about. 

Since March I’ve been good. I’ve stayed home from work (working from home), I’ve left the house only when it was absolutely necessary. I've worn masks, I've used the hand sanitizer, ....  I’VE DONE EVERYTHING RIGHT. I had one lapse in judgement and I pray with everything I have that it doesn’t ruin everything. Especially when all I needed to hear that day was "I really am glad you came, I know these kind of things freak you out now." I'd do anything for that kid, even get RONA I just pray he doesn't get it or I don't give it to others during the process. I also pray that should we get it he doesn't blame himself tho he's enough like me that he will. 

Marcy (whose more scared of Big Rona than Rona is of me but that scares me even more)

Random Thoughts by Marcy

I’ve been wanting to make a post for a while now but every time I think about one I have about 12 things bouncing around in my head that I feel deserves my voice …. And it all ends up being a jumbled mess in my head. In those cases, I have done a “random thoughts post” so I’ve decided it’s time to bring out the Random Thoughts posts if for on other reason so I can generate some content on this blog. 

Mental Health

I’m not going to lie …. I’ve been better. I’ve fallen into a pretty bad rut lately where I get up, work 8-10 hours, sometimes skipping lunch and then have supper, and sit in my chair watching TV praying for a time when I can go to bed then when I get in bed I lay there watching crap on youtube or some other digital platform until about 1 before finally giving up and falling asleep only to get up the next day and do it all over again. Saturday tends to be my only day where I can sleep in and sadly that’s 10am cause by then I’m usually wide awake. I have a tendency to stay in my bed long after I woke up cause I know the second I hit the floor I’m going to be going until I can get back into that bed. I wish I could walk into a room without hearing “I need you to…” or “oh good I have a job for you ….” I know they need me and I appreciate that but it sometimes becomes too much and I just want to be left alone for 3 seconds. That’s usually when I go to bed early or take a “bath.” I spent some of last weekend cleaning up my space just cause I needed to do that. For as little time I spend in there it is amazing how quickly it can become awfully messy with “stuff” everywhere. Mostly clothes. I’m real bad about washing clothes then not putting them away. Taking back control of my “space” helped me very much, tho it also made me see what else needed to be done. That is the problem with cleaning ………. It always makes you see how much more needs your attention that you don’t have the energy to give it.

Halloween

How come when I’m available to watch all the Halloween movies and fun all that’s on is Back to the Future … or anything from the Chucky series (which I just can’t get into), The Mummy, the Nightmare Before Christmas fine films mind you but not the Halloween goodness I want to fill my eye holes with during Halloween fun time. Where the hell is The Texas Chainsaw Massacre? Halloween 2? Little Shop of Horrors ? Why does it seem all the good stuff is on when I’m not available to watch it? Friday I did turn on the Friday the 13^th marathon as my work background noise … one of the joys of working from home. I just feel like I’m missing so much of it all and that makes a sad Marcy.  

Justin Willman

Speaking of Halloween did you hear that Justin William is doing virtual magic shows based on his Magic for Humans Netflix show. He’s doing two special shows on the 30^th and 31^st. The entire show is a Live Interactive hour of mind-blowing (spooky) magic and surprises via Zoom. I mean everything else on the planet is done by Zoom why not this. Ticket’s are $25 per household and you can sign up at  https://www.justinwillman.com/virtual

I’ve already gotten my ticket for the 30th Halloween Eve! Better hurry they are going fast!

Politics/Election

Just one time …one time before I die I want to vote for someone cause I truly believe they have the answers that will make this Country great …. Not again … but to the potential that the super power that used to be the United States could really live up to. It’s been a long time since we were that. I’m honestly surprised that the other countries still let us play with them at the big summits. This dates back several presidents ago ……. Not just the most recent train wreck. The truth is I really wanted him to do well. I wanted him to dig his head out of his own ass and his advisors to do the same and really get to work for this Country. It could have been a good thing it could have kept alive the idea that anyone could be president that anyone could rise to that level, but now that seems to be a dead dream. Don’t get me wrong this is not a Democratic love post cause at the moment I’m just as sick of them as I am “him.”

What really kills me tho …. Is that no one has figured out how to work with his crazy ass. Even his own people don't know how to get him to do anything or talk to him in a way that would make a sane person you know listen. It’s not a United as a Country thing anymore it’s an us vs them thing and that’s just sad. It’s been that way before “him” but it seems like it’s now so more than ever. I am so tired of the back and forth bullshit and nothing getting settled or accomplished and the people who put them in those positions are the ones that suffer for it. My biggest fear is that he will win ….. that there’s too many like me who feel that this is all just a giant waste of time but my bigger fear is that he won’t leave and then there’s that fight. What really scares me is I’m not even sure the Democrats are confident in their choice. This is the first election in my lifetime that I have seriously considered not voting at all. What’s the point?! No matter what I vote the outcome in my state will be the same …. Therefore all these people telling me I have a voice couldn’t be more wrong, and that’s the saddest thing ever.

COVID-19

I have personally known a good dozen people that tested positive for the Virus, one of which died. Yes he had underlying medical conditions but at the end of the day those were aggravated by Covid and the end result is the same. He’s gone. His wife is now living without him and struggling to pay bills, his daughter accepted the flag for his service to our country and he’s gone. I had given serious thought to not voting at all … cause well as started above …. What’s the point anyway. Turns out all I needed was a push. I got that push after “he” got out of the hospital, after getting the best medical care in the world, and told said world that this Virus was no big deal. I’m currently working from home because my coworkers have decided that it’s no big deal and now the LEADER of the FREE WORLD has validated that belief. This is not a joke. This is something that we should have had under control by now. That other Countries figured out long before it got here and instead of watching what they were doing and paying attention we decided to go our own way and here we are. Still in the throws of it with numbers not declining and not even evening out but still rising. That’s messed up. The idea that Biden would have had all the answers is of course insane but it can’t be worse can it? I mean honestly how far as we going to let this fucking go before we say enough is enough? Meanwhile this Covid shit still doesn’t get under control. That is not a world I want to live in at all.

So those are my random thoughts ……… they are not endorsed by Golden (@theonlygolden) they are my thoughts and my thoughts alone.

Thanks for reading,

Marcy

@beaslma

2020 Halloween TV Movie Calendar

Let’s be honest … 2020 is very much like the big bad wolf … it blew in super hard but then was told it couldn’t cause it might spread the COVID, and good lord man wear a mask! I came really close to not doing this calendar cause well frankly nothing else has worked out this year why should this … but then decided A. I needed something to look forward to so looking up these shows and movies made me happy. B. what if the thing you guys was looking forward to was this calendar and I didn’t deliver then it would have just been one more thing in this crappy year that disappointed you … and well I can’t have that on my head. C. it’s all about me and this calendar makes me smile and wears out my Tivo and so we must proceed!

So … here you go …. By my calculations the 12^th Edition of the Halloween Calendar is here for your viewing pleasure, tho I swear I’ve been doing it longer. Found below is a JPEG (for your phone for quick reviews of shows on the go). If you'd like a PDF of it drop me a DM on my twitter @beaslma

PS I have found that when you are at a restaurant or sports bar pulling our your phone and asking the waitress to switch from the football game to SYFY for some Halloween goodness does not win you a free appetizer but then again this year it just might.

While I have put my toe into the “digital world” by using Disney Plus, Amazon Prime, Peacock, and by having access to Netflix (thanks to someone who shall remain nameless so that the Netflix gods don’t come after her), I have to admit my main source of entertainment is still my television and thus this calendar reflects that, so deal with it digital nerds! Wait … wait don’t go ….. digital shows are highlighted below just not in the same loving way …. Don’t turn your back on me pls…totes love ya.

The highlights:

• Freeform: ok let’s get the obvious out of the way, if you read nothing else in this dissertation …. Read this ……. if you have littles this is the channel for you. If you are young at heart …. this is the channel for you. If you are having a horrible day and just want to vege and watch something fun …. this is the channel for you. That being said not everything on their list deserves or needs your eye balls. 31 Nights of Halloween started many years ago and quickly grew to be competitive in this market. That said … the line-up includes a LOT of repeats and frankly shows that have very little to do with Halloween. It also includes shows/movies that you won’t find elsewhere so it’s well worth checking out and checking out often.
• AMC: I would call Fear Fest the greatest thing to ever happen to Halloween IF they didn’t insist on so much Walking Dead insanity I mean aren’t all those people Zombies yet…honestly how is that show still on the air? Is it even a story at this point or are they all just killing one another for lack of having something better to do?! They redeem themselves a little bit by their selection, which starts Oct. 1^st and runs through the end of the month … but only a little bit. I’m watching you AMC don’t turn into Food Network (see below).
• Syfy: is once again doing their 31 days of Halloween, starting Oct. 1^st with all the blood and gore and awesomeness that one could wish for in a Halloween line up. I am going to ignore the fact they have added Harry Potter to their lineup cause I just don’t have it in me to rant about that yet again, nor do I feel the need to point out that Gremlins is a Christmas movie cause a friend has already pointed that out to me and I don’t entirely disagree. However Gizmo’s are adorable and we all need more of that in our lives. 
• Disney Channel: Disney’s Monstober starts October 1^st but let’s be honest it’s more Disney Channel Halloween themed episodes than anything else and that’s disappointing to me. With all that is at their disposal, cause let’s face it I’ve seen what they have in their arsenal on the Disney+ ap, the best they can come up with is Descendants, Disney Fan Jam, it’s just real disappointing but hey what do I know those could be the classics that your kids will one day be ranting to their peers about.
• Turner Classic Movies: The Godfather of classic movies will begin their programing on Oct. 2^nd and include original classics like Dracula, House on Haunted Hill, Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Devil Doll, The Mummy, The Blob, so many great movies this year on their schedule, if you are lucky enough to get this channel of course.
• It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown  - ok look we all know ABC is gonna show it, usually the Wed before Halloween but for some reason the powers that be at ABC feel the need to keep that crap under wraps for as long as they can. I get it … you have a pandemic going on and your fall schedules have been messed with cause your actors and writers and their staffs didn’t wanna die by coming in to film so you are all scrambling. Maybe announce this one … check one thing off the to do list ….. would that be so hard? It is like they don’t even care about my calendar. So rude.

You might notice that Food Network isn’t on this list, and usually they are. However this year I’m mad at them. They started showing their Halloween fun in SEPTEMBER … like what?! Who do they think they are Christmas at Walmart in August ?! Unacceptable. Who do they think they are Christmas at Walmart in August ?! Unacceptable. I will admit that Outrageous Pumpkins with Alyson Hannigan (of Buffy and How I met your mother fame) is giving me life at the moment but not enough to earn them back their bullet. Nice try Food Network but frankly, the last few years they have angered me with their content and this year they have angered me by showing that horrible content so early. That’s right … Halloween Wars aint what it used to be. You may be wondering to yourself ... why would they start showing this stuff so early ….. to make room for a “Halloween Edition” of Worst Cooks, and some show called Freakshow Cakes. So watch Food Network or don’t … entirely up to you. Get in the corner Food Network and think about what you have done!

So ok …. Digital Nerds as I so lovely called you guys earlier (still with me?) here’s your moment to shine ……  cause I love you guys …… here’s some links for your favorite digital platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime. Use some of these btw to look for those shows we all grew up with and fall back in love with them, like Halloween Town, any of the Olsen Twins stuff like Double Double Toil and Trouble, Young Frankenstein, Scary Stories, Little Shop of Horrors, Twitches, Spooky Buddies, Bednobs and Broomsticks, Donald Ducks Trick or Treat, and of course The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad a classic for sure.

Check out the following links to see their various line ups that you shouldn’t miss. DISCLAIMER: I have seen some of these but not all of these … I vouch not for their goodness, their quality or their creativity but I do vouch for the fact that they carry the Halloween torch and that’s good enough for me. 

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-to-netflix-in-october-2020-bly-manor-and-more-horror-movies-tv-shows-and-original/1100-6482549/

https://comicbook.com/movies/news/disney-plus-halloween-collection-streaming-movies-list-2020/

https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/g32748070/disney-plus-halloween-movies/

https://collider.com/best-halloween-movies-on-amazon-prime/

One thing that never changes is of course … the rules … I’ve told you about the kid who watched Michael Myers and couldn’t sleep and his mom had the audacity to blame me (don’t do that, he did not and does not have my DNA which means …. He’s not my problem…good luck with what you created), I’ve told you about time zones (I’m in Central, if you aren’t adjust accordingly) and font sizes (printing it 11X 17 is good for your eye holes), so I’m not going to bore you with those again. If you don’t want this calendar feel free to opt out …. Reply all will not be your friend …. Just giving you a heads up. For the newbies figure it out, for the veterans to this calendar game anyone want to make a bet on who breaks the first rule and which one?! Can they break a rule if I haven’t told them what the rule is ? Yeah…yeah they can and they likely will. 

The intention of this calendar, much like the Christmas one is well normally to get you to slow down and spend time with your family, friends and loved ones (which sometimes overlap) but I’d imagine you all might be sick of that. So take some time for your self do something fun … carve a pumpkin while watching, create fantastic Halloween snacks to eat while watching, or work on your costume – don’t forget the props – and RELAX from the horrors that have been 2020 cause let’s face it trick or treating might be cancelled but awesome Halloween specials are always in season. Feel free to share ……. If you dare! 😃

Marcy

Sigh.......

Sigh ……. that is all I have for a title.  

So …… it’s Sunday …. before the Wed that I should be leaving for Dragon Con, which is going virtual this year incase you didn’t know. Honestly I could care less about that. Granted I’ll watch the virtual parade, I might check in on some of the panels they are preparing and I will look at all the cosplay that should have been seen in person but what I really miss is …. Well …. Golden. Since 2014 I’ve packed my car with all the things … driven to Golden’s house and packed the car with all her things and then headed to Atlanta for a 5 day festival of all things Geek but in all honesty the Geek festival was just the destination. For 4 days it was nothing but laughter, pizza, buss trips,  exhaustion, “can I take your picture?” talking to new people while waiting on the buss, eating, shopping, posting our various finds online, walking, waiting on the buss, drinking, standing, pizza, uber rides, talking to new people in lines, sitting, Waffle House, talking to new people while on the buss, and one really great meal at the Hard Rock usually on Saturday or Sunday after the vendor hall.

That’s what a virtual con can’t give me but God love Dragon Con for trying.

To be honest Golden offered to let me come up there anyway spend 4 days farting around her house watching movies and just chilling something we both desperately need but while it sounds like HEAVEN I’m sacred to do it. I show no signs of the virus but who the hell knows what I’m walking around with without my knowledge. My Medical Marvel isn’t going to be taken down by me, no that’s for the lady at Walmart standing to close while in line for prescription to handle. Not me. PS lady at Walmart BACK THE FUCK UP MAN, that goes for you to dude side eyeing me from the band aid display she don’t need you in her air either.

So I sit here with the most exciting part of my day so far being that our drive in Church was cancelled due to bad weather and electronics not liking rain. HIGHLIGHT OF MY WEEK if I’m being honest. I have a submittal due Wed but there are also two hurricanes coming that could potentially screw that up, but we aren’t going to get this job anyway. I also have two more coming up the following week that we actually DO have a shot at so that is my next focus. Since I’ve been working from home since March for it will be business as usual at least until I lose power, assuming that I will. So I am kind of glad to not be leaving the family behind to deal with the hurricane mess, tho at the moment we don’t seem to be in the eye of the cone but we are on the wrong side of it so it could get interesting.

My parents are getting ready to celebrate their 50^th anniversary which is pretty cool so I’m also kind of glad to be around to see that but I wish they would stop snipping at one another. I don’t know if it’s the combination of the pandemic stress, or the inability to go out in the world and get away from one another for a few minutes but my mom is the angriest that she’s ever been in life (I think she’s stopped taking her depression pill) and my dad dosen’t know when to back off which makes him the brunt of her wrath at the moment. I don’t know how to help them cause I totally get where my mom is coming from with my dad. However I also think mom is letting the little shit get to her (again due to lack of taking her medicine correctly) which is making it worse. I personally feel like the only “downtime” I get is when I’m laying in bed at night. I know from the second my feet hit the floor if it’s not work stuff to deal with it’s going to be dealing with mom and dad and trying to keep that bomb from exploding, or at least detonating so that it does little damage. Sometimes I feel like nothing I do is enough, or right, or correct and honestly wonder sometimes why I even try.

So …. in all reality this isn’t a great time for me mentally and I could have used the time with my bestie but I’m gonna be ok.

Stay safe out there guys ……. It’s crazy stupid.

Marcy

Dragon Con Love Note

You guys know that on Holiday’s I tend to Blog more. Not really sure why if it’s the unscheduled time that I have on my hands, if it’s the ability to think about something other than work, or if it’s just cause I’m reminded that the blog while neglected still exists and a holiday is a good time to post cause people are on their devices. It might also be that subconsciously knowing that if I blog on holidays that will give me some decent content on this thing scattered throughout the year if nothing else. 

However today is more than just a holiday post, I know you guys know it’s Independence Day which is way more than just a movie starring Will Smith and some Aliens. I know fireworks and BBQs are in the air literally and so I’m not going to bore you with that since everyone else will be. I will say if you go out, if you are in a group, please be careful, wear a mask even if others are not. Be vigilant. But nope today’s not about that. Today is a post to Dragon Con specifically, I mean the rest of you feel free to read on. 

Dragon Con incase you don’t know is a Geeky little convention, founded in 1987, that features science fiction, fantasy, gaming, comics, TV/Movies, literature, Cosplay, art, music, and for some weird reason wrestling that starts the Thursday (Wed for some) before Labor Day every year in Atlanta, Georgia. Loyal readersof this blog know that Golden and I have been attending Dragon Con with various crew members in tow since 2014. Dragon Con brings in over 80 thousand people to an already packed Atlanta on a holiday weekend and takes over 5 “host” hotels as well as other “overflow” hotels throughout downtown Atlanta. It’s owned and operated by a private for profit corporation and wouldn’t be able to do any of it without a huge staff of volunteers who deserve way more credit than they get. Also … it’s in trouble. Damn Covid-19 and damn people not doing what they should have done back in March/April/May and now July/August/September are in jeopardy. 

This year’s guest list so far features voice actors from Steven Universe, actors from Resident Evil and Star Trek Enterprise, as well as a host of comic book artist, writers, animators, and vendors from all over the US and sometimes across the pond as well. With I’m sure more to come as we get closer to the convention. Much like the ap the guest list isn’t fully announced until about a week or two out from the convention. I’ve always been fascinated by the people that Dragon Con can bring to the table since most of the actors/actresses/writers etc., are back at work on their various projects by that time of the year. However the convention being in ATL which is a stones throw from one of the busiest airports in the country might help with that. 

If you follow Dragon Con on Facebook or any of their other social media, Twitter, Instagram etc., they have recently announced the ability to roll over your 2020 membership (that’s right it’s not a ticket it’s a membership) to 2021 if you are concerned about your health and safety. There has been an increase of people saying they are taking Dragon Con up on that. Several of the hotels are also offering this as an option, tho I’m not sure I trust that cause the Dragon Con Hunger Games to get a hotel are fascinating and a huge money maker for these establishments. Then again everything is different this year, so why not this too. I want Dragon Con to know that many are also holding out hope that this years convention will move forward as anticipated. Not to mention that all of this fun is surrounded by a lot of good, there's a Dragon Con Blood Drive and they choose a charity that each panel takes up money for and at the end of the convention give money to that charity. My fear is that the people not going are louder than those that are and Dragon Con might see that and think no one is willing to show up. those of being quiet and waiting for the decision by the powers that be before making decisions are silently saying we aren't coming. That's not the case at least for me and my crew. 

I really want Dragon Con to happen this year. I NEED it to happen this year. I travel with an already comprised partner in crime Golden who has an auto immune disorder so I better than anyone else on the planet know in my brain the struggle a convention like this, right now, has to be for the powers that be at Dragon Con to make. I know what’s at stake likely more than most. That said we are both still willing to jump into the fire. If they hold the convention we’ll wear masks take the extra precautions and show up with our geek flag waving high. 

The truth is if they decide to go forward they make a lot of people angry should everyone get sick on the back end of this thing. As if we weren’t all going to get the Dragon Con Crud anyway. If they decide to bail on it they make a lot of people mad who will see it as another thing the “establishment” is taking from them during this insane year. They can’t postpone it and say try again in January. That’s now how it will work. It’s either do it this year or wait until next year. They are in a literal lose lose situation. I pray for them daily as I know the decision, they are going to have to make, will not be an easy one. 

However with all that said I repeat that I still really really really really want to go to Dragon Con this year. I’m also not saying all of this cause for the first time Golden and I are gonna be in a host hotel, and not any host hotel the mega hotel that houses 90% of the fun … the Marriott. I’m a little devastated that trumpets and angels didn’t ascend when I typed that.  It’s the holy grail of Dragon Con staying. It’s the ability to Con all night and get in bed sleep and get back out there without waiting on a buss or getting an uber. It’s the ability to attend more panels and possibly find the all elusive members only room with snacks and fun stuff in it …. We will find you one day and we will partake in your goodness. It’s the ability to be all in on the convention while also providing Golden with the ability to relax and recover when she needs to. We’ve often stayed at Overflow hotels in the past and they were awesome and the shuttles were great (when they run) but guys A HOST HOTEL with Dragon Con TV and just being in the thick of the 24-7 party come on! That’s the dream! I’m also kind of excited about the idea of a pared down con, with fewer members, fewer drunks, awesome Cosplay and to be surrounded by people who really really want to be there. 

The truth is that the convention is second to me. I cherish those 4-5 days hanging out with Golden. There’s no obligations like family dinners, no gotta rush home to let the dog out and pee, no work responsibilities (ok an occasional phone call or text but for the most part no work responsibilities) it’s 4-5 days of her, me, food, laughter, and walking … lots and lots of walking.  We always show up ready to roll and by about day 3 start dwindling down. By the time I’m back in my car heading home I’m exhausted but also elated to have spent 4-5 days with the person whom I love most in this world. That’s what it is all about for me. Sure that time we got to meet and talk with Nathan Fillion was really cool, watching Alton Brown walk by cause for some reason he chose Dragon Con to announce that Good Eats was coming by was fun, and that time we got to party with the cast of Wynona Earp and all their fans was pretty bad ass, oh and giving freaking Big Bird a hug as he walked to his car as grand marshall of the parade was something I’ll always cherish (RIP Caroll Spinney). 

So I hope the convention holds steady but I’m also preparing for it to not. I hope the organizers do what they know is right for the members, the various hotel staff members, the City and for all those that still want this event to happen. I also hope that should it not the disappointed be just that disappointed, but shift focus to 2021. I know this decision won’t be an easy one to make, matters of the wallet rarely are but I know that no matter what decision is made I’ll be back in 2021 lord willing. 


Marcy