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

Thankfulness Challenge – 2019 Christmas TV/Movie Calendar

I present to you as your present the 2019 Christmas TV Schedule! See the bottom of this post. Once again, the calendar is set up in 11X17 format but if you have to print it 8.5x11 it is readable – hopefully you have glasses - but if you can print it 11X17 your eyes will thank you. I have also found that saving the PDF to your favorite portable device is the best way to keep the calendar handy and as an added bonus you can zoom in and out to read that ever so small type. The jpeg breaks up the more you zoom so if you can the PDF is the way to go. 

So, they’ve done it …………. They’ve broken me. Hallmark and Hallmark Movie and Mysteries has been showing movies nonstop since June. I’m done. So, for the calendar the only Hallmark Movies that show up are A. The classic ones I want to see again and B. New movies/specials that, again, I want to see. After all as I’ve said on other occasions this is about me and I just share the wealth. You are welcome! 

Most of this calendar this year will focus on network specials, AMC, TCM, Freeform, and Lifetime. Hallmark has taken over this calendar for the last year …… so yeah if you can’t find anything on my list flip over to Hallmark or Hallmark Movies and Mysteries (why they insist on having two non-stop Christmas channels is beyond me – just rename them Christmas 24-7 and be done with it) and see what they have going on. Spoiler alert the dude who the girl hates at the beginning of the movie … will get the girl by the time the credits roll, at some point there will be a huge misunderstanding that a 5 minute conversation could solve and there will be snow, even when the movie is set in a state that traditionally does not partake in snow... Just saying. 

• Freeform started their Christmas holiday in November with a “Kick off to Christmas” before they had 25 days of Christmas (starting Dec. 1), but since they gave so much love to the Claymation of my childhood, I’m going to let it slide. I’m very excited to see what their lineup has to offer this year tho it concerns me a little their recent connection with The Simpsons. I love it but am also concerned. 
  
• TCM hits the holiday fun on Dec 1^st with classics like It Happened on 5^th Avenue, Remember the Night, The Greatest Story Ever Told, A Christmas Carol, those movies and shows that made the Christmas special magical. If you are wanting nostalgia Christmas this is the channel to check out. This is especially true should you have an older loved on in your house. These are the shows Grandma or Grandpa with Alzheimer’s remembers. Let them relive her childhood a few times too.
  
• AMC started their holiday on November 25^th which runs through Christmas Day featuring over 60 films and specials airing all day every day in what they are calling the “Best Christmas Ever!” However as with Halloween they are not releasing said Schedule cause they don’t care about me or my calendar and that’s just fine …. I mean ……. It’s rude but … fine. I found some of them but I’m sure not all of them. 
  
• Lifetime is like Hallmark in which they are turning into a 24-7 holiday, they did at least limit it to starting October 25^th and they don’t take over the calendar they get to stay another year, but I’m watching you Lifetime. Get it together man! Also keep in mind if you are looking for G rated Lifetime is not the place for you, I’m not saying you’ll get NC-17 mind you but if the kids are watching too then you might want to  head on over to Hallmark instead if you are concerned. Better yet go to TCM or Freeform and show them something fun. 
  
• Food Network is back in the game with all kind of Holiday themed competition shows. Frankly however all the Halloween ones made me mad so I’m not showing them on my calendar. That’s their punishment. Take note Lifetime. They typically air Sunday, Monday and Wednesday nights so yeah find them….. Holiday Wars, Gingerbread Showdown, Kids Baking Championship, etc., There is one exception, a Hanukkah Challenge that will air on the 21^st at 8, which frankly made me smile. Nice to see them giving some love to the other side of this holiday for once. It’s not all Santas, Snowmen, and Mangers (oh my!) after all people! 
  

For those that do digital Might I suggest Season 2 of Magic for Humans from Justin Willman, which will appear on Dec 4. Keeping with the spirit of the calendar there is a holiday themed episode there you will want to watch. Also there’s a Christmas movie Holiday Rush which started playing Nov. 28^th, I’m sure it’s still around check it out. If you are a Million Little Things fan Rome stars in that movie and if you are a MLT fan I don’t have to tell you how wonderful he is. My boss swears by A Very Murray Christmas which came out in 2015. So if it is still out there (I don’t understand how Digital stuff works) then check that out.

So… here’s what Netflix has in store for you …cause I love you and I want you all to be happy too …

https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/10/8574620/netflix-christmas-movies-tv-shows-2019

I post this today cause tomorrow on ABC you can find A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and well dear readers you know how I feel about that lovely Charles Shultz movie but you might find it interesting so here you go.

Marcy
@beaslma

Halloween Wars Is BACK!!!!

The premise:
A Pumpkin Carver, a Candy Craftsman and a Master Cake Artist (AKA rice Cereal Treat Artist) team together to create a cohesive show piece that wows the judges and keeps them in the game. It’s a 4 part series of AWESOME and my all-time favorite thing on the earth. This is the 4^th year of this series and I hope It NEVER ENDS!!!!! Each episode, each year is so different because the competitors are different. Even those who are returning they come with a new team and thus add a different dynamic.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/halloween-wars.html

A quick rundown of the show ….

There are 5 teams. As I previously stated each team has a has a pumpkin carver, candy maker, and a cake decorator, tho they often use rice cereal treats instead of cake which bugs me more than I'm sure you care to know. At the end each episode one team is sent home and the rest live to fight another week. There are 4 weeks of competition with an eventual champion crowned in an epic $50,000 battle.

The 2014 Teams:

Orange –Dead Reckoning
Blue –Spooktacular
Green –Malicious Intent
Purple –Sweet Nightmares
Yellow – Corpse Crushers

The setup:

The show has 2 rounds. Round 1 - is the Small Scare challenge (45 minutes) in which the winner gets an advantage going into Round 2 - the Spine Chiller challenge (usually about 5 hours) which includes a tasting element that the judges will taste and will factor into their score. Unlike other shows he hosts on the network Justin gets to taste the treats as well tho he gets no say in who goes home!

There are two main judges, who remain through all the competitions, and a guest judge, who is a fresh pair of eyes every week, which dictate the fate of these teams. The main judges include Shinmin Li a pastry chef, and Brian Kinney a make up artist known for the movie Dark Skies. Guest judges for this season includes: Episode 1: Naomi Grossman, known as Pepper on American Horror Story: Asylum. Episode 2: Adi Shankar, known for producing The Grey and Killing Them Softly. Episode 3: Francia Raisa known from The Secret Life of the American Teenager. Episode 4: Lew Temple from The Walking Dead.

Justin announces the theme of the challenge and the teams get to work. They have a few moments where they talk strategy and come up with the "design" then they all get to work. It’s fascinating seeing these guys take these highly different mediums and get them to all work together to create a fantastic show piece. The successful teams are the ones who make it all look like a single piece and it's hard to tell which medium was used for which piece. Seamless integration of all mediums is a must. Sometimes they have EPIC wins and other times epic fails, but watching the steps it took to get there is great. Getting to see their creativity come to life and how working as a team or not working as a team as is sometimes the case ends up hurting them in the end. One wrong move from one of them could ruin them all and send a qualified and creative team home.

2014 Spine Chiller Challenge Themes:

Week 1 – The Haunted Farm
Week 2 – Don’t Go Into The Forest
Week 3 – Mummies VS Werewolves
Week 4 – Haunted Carnival

Each team has a “leader” but all 4 have to come together to make it to the next week. Some of the contestants have been on previous years of Halloween Wars yet so far haven’t learned from their past mistakes. It's interesting to see dynamic of the team especially when things are NOT going well and who steps up and who melts down.
 

 

It does not hurt that the show is hosted by Justin Willman who is my all-time favorite person on earth. Seriously guys Justin is fantastic. He’s a magician who also hosts things to help pay the bills. I talked Golden into going to see him a few years back (she took the picture above) and it was a fantastic night. I can't wait until the next time. If he comes anywhere near your house you need to check him out. Here’s a link to his website and his tour schedule. Upcoming shows include the states of California, Arizona, Florida, Indiana, and Missouri.

http://www.justinwillman.com/#home

Episode one is in the can and a team has been sent home, did you agree? I think they were just over ambitious about what they could do in the timeframe they had. That’s the key, you can have the greatest concept but if you can’t deliver it then it’s just a sketch on the page. This is definitely a show where “go big or go home” usually means you are going home.

If you missed this week’s episode check it out in repeats then meet back on twitter for next week, it’s on every Sunday 9/8 central but only for 4 weeks so jump on the Halloween Wars bandwagon now!

There is a ton of chatter on Twitter about this episode so join the conversation by Tweeting #HalloweenWars and also hit @FoodNetwork so they will continue this yearly event next year.

 

-Marcy  @beaslma

 

By the way we just celebrated our 2nd month Blogaversary !! :D We also recently passed 1,000 views and Golden (AKA @theonlygolden ) and I thank you all for joining us on this trip, hopefully we have entertained you and made you smile.
 

Halloween is near....

This is NOT the post you are looking for ….

So earlier today I started a piece of fiction. Yeah that’s right I’m writing again. I’m still pretty medicated and after reading it again decided it wasn’t ready to post. It’s far too long, and way more ramble like than I’d like for it to be as it goes onto the interwebs for anyone to find. So I’m going to keep working on it and will share it with you all one day, just not today, maybe not tomorrow and frankly maybe never. However if it’s not this piece it will be another, that’s the thing about writing as you write it you either get a good vibe from what you wrote or you delete the file and pretend it never existed. That’s the great thing about writing. IF I don’t tell anyone I’m doing it then no one is disappointed when I don’t produce. Mental note to self don’t tweet that you are writing cause then the pressure and expectation is on and writers block takes over.

Since Dragon Con I’ve been sick, not as bad as Golden but then I’m not a Medical Marvel. Between my cough medicine, the 4 shots, and the 3 antibiotics I’m on it’s amazing I can even string a sentence together. I’m felt more human this weekend than I have in the last two weeks. I had to get up this Saturday and run some important errands which wore me out by the end of the day. This sickness is getting old. Like Golden as of Sunday I was still looking at suitcases with un-worn clothes still in them, I just haven’t had the energy or time with a crazy work schedule to get them unpacked. I did do laundry this weekend and changed the sheets on my bed so that’s a win for me.

As I said I also ran some errands … and what did I discover as I ventured back out into the world … HALLOWEEN had sprung. Ok sure most of it was CANDY but still I like candy. Walmart had some costumes out, ironically some of the adult sizes. Nothing was on the floor yet, everything in a neat and tidy place cause little hands hadn’t found the isle yet. I also discovered the Spirit store is set up and has started loading all their Halloween goodness into the stores. That’s a small parking lot, it’s going to be a nightmare and I can’t wait for it. I haven’t ventured to Party City yet, the mecca of all things costume but yes I can feel that trip coming and coming soon.

What I’m most excited about is that TV Networks are starting to post their October plans. I’m looking at you ABC Family, AMC, and Syfy. I LOVE IT! This is the earliest they’ve revealed this information. Usually this time of year they are focused on their season premier week and promoting their “new shows” hoping they will be the next big thing. Truthfully with no How I Met Your Mother premier who cares what’s coming on. However last night …. FOOD NETWORK HAD A COMMERICAL FOR HALLOWEEN WARS!!!!! It returns October 5th !!! It's by far my most favorite thing on earth. It’s a pumpkin carver, a sugar artist, and a cake decorator who will work together to make a cohesive design for the given theme of the week. IT’s by far the best reality competition show on TV seriously … watch it…fall in love with it. It doesn’t hurt that Justin Willman is the host of the show, he’s awesome and fantastic. BTW he has a new show coming up on Comedy Central Sleight of Mouth but don't worry i'll tell you all about that when he does. It too will be must see TV!

So why all this interest in October TV, cause I create a Halloween TV schedule. It’s funny cause it started out as something I did for Golden and myself, then I gave it to my Sister In Law for my nephews, and she gave it to a few people and then they gave it to a few people and now there’s an huge email list of people this thing goes to. People who I work with send me an e-mail asking about it, people I used to work with who send me e-mails reminding me to put them on the list. Heck Golden starts asking about it in August. Ha! It’s a mixture of Movies, Halloween themed TV shows, cartoons both classic and new and a little adult/kid mix. I also make one for Christmas but it’s gotten insane with Hallmark and Lifetime doing everything they can to extend the season well before Halloween.

So stay tuned cause this year I’ll be posting it here so that you can enjoy it, if interested. There are rules…as always but we’ll deal with those later!

Happy Monday! Have a fantastic week! - Marcy