2023 Halloween TV/Movie Calendar

15 years …. For 15 years I have prepared this calendar and this note for your holiday enjoyment. I hope that at least once in those 15 years these efforts have made you smile, if you laughed out loud then that’s a bonus for me. 15 years is a long time to anything and while I realize that at some point all things must come to an end 2023 will not be that year. What’s in store for the future … well I don’t know but let’s face it we could all die in a fiery ball thrown from the Sun tomorrow so why stress about that right?!  Kinda puts this calendar in perspective huh?! 

That being said, I was kind of excited about this one. No disrespect to the writers or the actors but I thought ok this is the year that the networks take everything at their disposal and use it since they won’t have fall programing in the way of all that holiday goodness. I thought this is the year that Garfield makes his Halloween come back, or that Nickelodeon dusts off those Alvin and the Chipmunks Trick or Treason, or the Smurfs and the Legend of Smurfy Hollow, Ichabod and Mr. Toad cartoons would fill the void left by all the striking humans. Long live Animation!!!! However that excitement was sadly short in life. While I’ve long since given up hope for the Peanuts to make it back to network TV I was hoping that others might rise and take their place. Heck at this point I’ll settle for Poohs’ Heffalump Halloween gracing my screen. Something …. Really anything … but it looks even worse than in past years and that makes for a very sad Marcy and is the reason for staring this on such a negative note.  

As you will see the calendar is dominated by a few specific networks, the OGs of this calendar if you will. My Halloween Ride or Die. Tho I warn you that I have been unable to find hardly any of the things that I used to find that routinely made the calendar’s of years past and new content well that’s apparently no longer a thing. Each network is associated with a specific streaming service that can air these things without messing with their precious lineups? So why waste the air waves and the advertising dollars. Has it finally happened, has Digital made this thing …. Obsolete ? Maybe so but let’s do it at least one more time cause well I am not ready to let this thing die, and while last year I said it was on life support this year I fear we might soon be calling hospice.  

I admit I’m a little behind on this thing so that’s also not helping, but also seems to be the way my world works these days. I was going to work on it prior to my annual Dragon Con trip over Labor Day weekend but was too caught up in the insanity that was packing for a Con and told myself it can wait. Then when I got back my self said it was too early cause most of the networks weren’t ready to discuss their line ups and I had laundry to do, aka sleeping. Then boom next thing I know it’s the weekend before October and I’m like OH MY GAWD SELF WHAT?! … and now I’m back in College mode cramming for a last minute test I knew was coming but forgot all about. However, it is AU vs GA weekend and as a Tiger fan really … what else do I have to do on this lovely Saturday. WAR EAGLE!  

For those new to this party, and there are several of you, I will re-state the rules, for those veterans out there please forgive me for giving a short explanation and allow your attention to wander freely if you’d like. (thanks for that line Albus! – 10 pts for your house if you can tell me which Harry Potter book that’s paraphrased from…RIP Michael Gambon).  

The Rules:  

• I live in the central time zone, the times on this calendar reflect that, adjust accordingly if you have traveled north of the Mason Dixie Line or spread your wings out West. Don’t call me cause you missed your “favorite” show/movie, that’s not my mess. Be a big girl or boy and crank up that DVR and find out when it comes on again cause odds are it will.  
• Time Zones are hard and sometimes I screw up the conversion from Eastern Time Zone to Central. See Note above for how I feel about you finding a mistake of time on the calendar.  
• Unless otherwise stated the times are PM, this calendar is also geared towards the after work hours of life cause well it’s about me and that’s when I can watch. My office seems to think it’s a distraction if I watch while at work, I mean I still do it but like they expect that. For those WFH peeps or stay at home moms feel free to check out these channels throughout the day for spooky goodness.  
• Lastly this calendar shows things I want to see, movies and specials that take me back to my childhood or that just make me happy. Some are kid themed and some are more adult oriented. PLEASE be mindful of that before you sit down with your little and they can’t sleep cause Freddy might get them. That’s your mess not mine but Kudos to you for showing them a classic. Seriously don’t be that person and there’s always one. This is supposed to be for fun, if you make it not be for fun well you won’t get it next year. PS if you don’t get this one you don’t get the Christmas one either so be sure that’s what you need/want before firing off that e-mail. This isn’t the internet where you can say whatever you want without consequences.   

If you are a digital user the easiest way is to saving it to your phone so you can check it on the fly, I mean who hasn’t gone to the bar keep at the local restaurant to ask them to switch from the game to Friday the 13^th ? Just me …. Yeah, the crowd didn’t think it was a good idea either but I stand by the request. When I print it, and I do, I print it 11X17 but 8.5X11 is often good enough, especially this year with so much additional space on it.  

Now I must warn you … these networks have some kind of dyslexia cause I have noticed that they will show the movies and their sequels sometimes in order sometimes but often not so much …. I’ve only listed one or the ones I want to try and catch in the idea that if you are watching you will also be alerted that the next show after Halloween Town is well Halloween Town 2.  In the case of Halloween or Friday the 13th or even Nightmare on Elm Street when there are more sequels than the Queen had jewels (RIP Liz) they really got dumb. If it’s a full night of say Halloween fun I just put Halloween Marathon and it’s up to you to find what you want to watch, that’s right you don’t get out of doing some work on this thing too.  

As always I’ve highlighted shows I hope to catch in purple but also wanted to alert you to a few items of note below, assuming that you are still with me and if so …. Wow congrats!  

Freeform - 31 Nights of Halloween – They 100% understand the assignment. I will admit when they went from ABC Family to whatever they were then to Freeform I was nervous. However, I think they know what their core audience wants so for the entire Month of October (and for Christmas they do even more (Nov/Dec)) they show seasonal programing all month long. That’s not to say that everything they air is worthy of your time, or that they aren’t re-airing things so much it feels like watching MTV on the weekend, but if you are looking for something the littles can watch while you scroll your phone grab a chair, get a blanket, and some popcorn and enjoy. This is my go-to when I can’t find anything else to watch that particular evening. They rarely disappoint, tho they got close by having a few nights of Twilight marathons which made me shake my head. Their addition of Cruella however allows me to overlook that.    

Syfy - 31 Days of Halloween – SYFY also understands the assignment. If Freeform is where you go with your littles, SYFY is where you go after your littles trot off to bed. It’s truly the greatest place to watch Halloween fun this time of year cause they don’t hold back at all. They show classics and new movies and everything in between. They are having a love fest with Chucky this year but they are also highlighting their new TV show, which this calendar isn’t about. I’m also mad at SYFY for not giving me back Reggie the Vampire … but I pray that’s a casualty of the strike and will be coming soon cause I love that little Vampire! There is a little too much Mummy on their schedule for my taste but I guess it’s not about me.  They are also gracing us with Pride and Prejudice and Zombies which is a fantastic book and the movie did it justice. Not something you’ll hear me say often. The thing that does sadden me is that SYFY hasn’t released the entire 31 days …. Come on SYFY get your *hit together.  

AMC - Fear Fest starts – AMC is where you go for Classic horror. I admit over the years I’ve had a love hate relationship with Fear Fest over the years cause at one point the Walking Dead took it over and I ranted that it’s not about the Walking Dead or the many spin offs and talk shows it created. However, when that was all winding down I was excited thinking ok let’s get back to business but I understand there was yet another spin off and thus it’s going to be in the way again. Sigh …. However their love to Halloween and the Exorcist makes me want to forgive them.  

Fox – The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror - The Simpson's Halloween special on Fox likely won’t air until Nov … which infuriates me but I’m going to tune in just like everyone else so they can put it where they darn well please. Not much to be told about this up coming season but it looks like the animators get to have some anime fun which should be interesting.  

Disney Channel – Monstober - Halloween themed related movies and shows throughout the month and as the faithful to this calendar know ..that’s not what this is about but they do have a few “original movies” that might be worth your time or just fire up Disney Plus and watch Hocus Pocus. The fact they have not embraced Disney+ and re-aired some of their classics is something I will never understand.  

Food Network - Once again Food Network jumped the Halloween gun by airing most of their programing in September, which totally makes sense. Halloween Baking Championship, Halloween Wars, Halloween Cookie Challenge and Outrageous Pumpkins have already started airing …. If you missed them …. Sorry … yell at them not me.  

Nickelodeon is showing A Really Haunted Loud House which sounds really cute but Nickelodeon is being all secretive about when it airs so good luck finding that one on your own. I think it will be worth the hunt.  

Let’s talk Digital … since that fills me with all the rage …  

I give up guys, Digital and Streaming has taken over, heck there is even a strike cause of it and instead of embracing what’s at their respective disposal network TV has decided ….. to …. Well .. buckle. Heck my nephews don’t even have cable anymore. So, they use the calendar to look up show names as opposed to setting DVRs. I knew it was coming and this calendar was my way of trying to keep it at bay, but it’s still sad to me that we are in fact here. While it’s fun having these shows at our fingertips it also takes away from the anticipation of it, at least to me. That I am sorry I can’t do anything that night cause whatever is on and I don’t wanna miss it moments are now a thing of the past. Heck even most network TV will be on Hulu within 24-48 hours, so go have dinner with that friend after work and don’t worry you can catch whatever online tomorrow, but you won’t cause something else will come up and in 2 years you’ll still be telling people “No I haven’t seen Hubie but its’ on my list” …. Which is one of the last original Halloween programs we were given. Lord protect Adam Sandler with all that you have.   

So for my digital folks, of which I admit I am now one, see the links below but I will admit that all of me believes if we calculated up the “subscriptions” for all these services we’d see that Cable had its advantages. PS rumor has it AppleTV+ is going to have like a free week where people can log in and watch during both Halloween and Christmas …. Thank you Peanuts for that. While you are there check out the Crowded Room, it was and is still living rent free in my head.  

https://www.halloweenmoviesontv.com/stream-halloween/ 

In closing, assuming you are still with me and God only know why you would be, the intention of this calendar, is to get you and your loved ones to pause and spend some time making memories. Maybe carve a pumpkin while watching, create some fantastic Halloween Treats from your various Social Media sites while watching, or work on your costume – don’t forget the props - and RELAX  and unwind from the busy work day, work week.  

So sit back, scare yourself, and have a GREAT Halloween! It’s fall people enjoy it and feel free to share it far and wide ... but remember to tell them the rules! 😄 

Marcy  

Blog with a purpose – DEBRA

Did you miss me ?! I mean I’ve been gone a really really long time … Did you even notice I was gone?! ….. I’ve packed a lot into those months but that will have to wait for another post. Late last year as I pondered the existence of this blog, for lack of a better word (diary might be a better fit), I realized if I’m not going to use this thing as my “creative outlet” like originally intended (and I’m still holding out hope that I might) I’ll use it to spotlight organizations and groups that I’ve discovered over the years that are making a huge difference in this world and could use a boost. Not saying a blog posting by me here would boost anything, but at least I can say I gave it some spotlight if only for a small moment in time and with the tiniest bulb out there. What they do with it after that … well that’s on them!

The first one can be found here  .. Blog with a purpose “Triumph Over Tragedy Foundation” which exists to help families financially, who have had loved ones that have been in traumatic accidents that have left them either paralyzed or severely impaired. They support the family unit through biblical principles from the initial impact of tragedy or illness to the ongoing circumstances faced in the years to come. Thanks to Bryan White for putting them on my radar. Loyal readers know how I feel about him. IYKYK

This one is also one I found through my love of someone else but is still a really great thing they are doing with their star power. I love Tom Holland as Peter Parker …. He’s exactly who I pictured in my head as I read the comics all those years ago. The super not confident when walking but super confident flying through the air quality of how he portrays that character is something special. I will admit tho my favorite Tom Holland outing to date has been Cherry …. But the Crowded Room is a very close 2^nd best at this moment (tho if you log into Apple TV+ for Peter Parker... well just don't). I’ve watched those 3 episodes about 3 times each already and each time I watch I catch something I missed before. The more I learn about this man the more I like about him. 

However, this blog isn’t really about Tom Holland but it kind of is. See his family started The Brother’s Trust as a way to use his "star" power to do some good. They support charities that are doing great work but don’t get a lot of love. They are helping the every day person and doing the best they can and the Brother’s Trust exists to boost them up, give them a platform like no other to allow them to continue to do good works in the world. One such organization is DEBRA a registered UK charity that supports people affected by Epidermolysis Bullosa Also known as EB.

The Brother’s Trust also works with Epidermolysis Bullosa ResearchPartnership which is a USA Based non-profit organization dedicated to funding research to treat and ultimately cure EB. What is EB you may be asking yourself ? Cause that’s what I asked myself the first time I heard about it. It’s basically where the skin doesn’t function as skin. It tears and rips at the slightest touch and often results in large gaping, painful wounds all over the body. This of course also affects the inside that the skin is supposed to protect. It's a pretty debilitating disease and pictures i'm sure don't do it justice but they are also very graphic. Look them up to see but just know that while it's hard to look at, imagine living with it. Especially  when you realize there is no cure for this life limiting and often fatal condition.

However today the focus is going to be on DEBRA, which was established in 1978 by Phyllis Hilton whose daughter, Debra, who suffered from EB. DEBRA is a support group for people living with EB supporting patients, family members, healthcare professionals and researchers as they work to live and fight EB.

Just before The Crowded Room press tour started a fundraiser was established in which Graeme Souness, famous UK football star (soccer for those of us on this side of the pond) is swimming a 21-mile stretch known as the English Channel to raise awareness about EB, raise money for DEBRA, and support those living and fighting EB daily. Tom has mentioned it in several of his interviews and that's how it ended up on my radar. They are over halfway to their goal of over 1,100,000 raised in support of this swim (his jersey number was 11). The more I learn about this charity and EB I can support anyone who is supporting any effort to make the effects of this disease less painful for those living with it and supporting thos watching people living with it.

So I encourage you to learn more about it … donate to the swim if you can and support this effort links are below.

Donate directly to Graeme Souness and Andy Grist swim of the EnglishChannel

Media coverage of the swim     

I hope you like these ..... I am enjoying writing them up cause I always learn something new about the organization I am highlighting so they will continue even if you don't enjoy them. If you know of an organization I should spotlight drop it in the comments below or hit me up on Twitter @beaslma 

If you haven't watched The Crowded Room yet on Apple TV what are you waiting for !? Get on that now. Next episode comes out next Friday! 

Thank you,

Marcy

Random Thoughts

Over the years I’ve had thoughts for various blogs but nothing worthy of a “full blog” in my opinion so I held them back until they pilled up into a ball of randomness that would equal what I call a “full blog” posting. I’ve called these posts a variety of things …. “Time for a catch up” ...  “Jumping onto my soap box”  …  “venting” … “Random Thoughts”  …   “What Grinds my Gears”  but most have their own problems. They all basically allow me to talk about randomness that really doesn’t connect together and get them out of my head. Time for a catch up implies that you know the background of what I’m talking about, sometimes you will sometimes you won’t if you’v been paying attention. Jumping on my soap box, venting and what grinds my gears implies that what I’m talking about has passion about a particular subject usually things that annoy me or frankly piss me off. However in this particular instance that is not the case. I have decided however to go with “Random Thoughts” from here on out… so here we go.

Birthday … A week ago dear readers I turned well …. Yeah I’m gonna say it …. 44  and let me tell you lately I’ve been feeling all of those years. More on that in a moment. It was a good birthday. Pretty low key, which is how I like em. The day before my work peeps took me to lunch. On my actual birthday the boss and my department took me to lunch (It was a Friday and many of my work peeps are doing the 10 hour days so they can have Friday’s off thing to save “gas”) So I was treated to lunch on two days and it was very nice. I didn’t necessarily have “time” for it but it was nice to get out of the office and enjoy some fellowship, comradery, and good food and a break from the insanity that was a Friday at work. That night my parents and brother and Sister in Law took me to dinner. All I really wanted for my birthday was a nice Steak. I got it and enjoyed the haties out of it.  Don’t get me wrong I enjoy celebrating my birthday I just as I’m getting older don’t want the attention. Not because of the number but because … well…. I don’t give the same energy back to my friends on theirs and that makes me feel really shitty. I want to give that energy but I’m just exhausted from giving my energy to so many things. Yes I am well aware of how lame that sounds …. Just give it to me ok.  

Doctors/Kidney Stone … Around Thanksgiving my back started bothering me really bad. During “Covid” my General Practice doctor left his practice and started a practice for 65 and older crowd focused on I guess Medicare/Medicaid ? AKA I was out cause as I stated previously, I am well under that number. I wasn’t “needing” a doctor and didn’t want to venture into the places where the sick people might be mingling so I didn’t do anything about it. A few times I masked up and went to an urgent care for a steroid shot or an antibiotic and went on with my life. So when I called the old place that I used to go to with my old GP and was like “I have done something to my back” the nice lady on the phone basically said go fuck yourself. With people out with the Flu and vacations being scheduled for holidays the earliest I could get in would be January. I was like are you kidding me right now? She said no. I said bye. I suffered through it taking an anti-inflammatory pills that I had from when I had hurt my knee and some “over the counter” pain relievers to help me sleep but every morning it was like I’d get out of bed and someone would shank me in the lower part of my back in the exact same place every single day. At one point I even thought I had Sciatica and would try to do the “exercises” I found online for it. FIRST OFF WHY DOES EVERY BACK REMEDY START WITH GET YOUR ARSE ON THE FLOOR. If I could get off said floor that would be different but cheese and rice man I can’t do that. I’d try and I’d fail every time. There were a few times that I almost threw up from the pain and several other times that I let the pain get the best of me and had to clean up the results of that. I’ll spare you those details.

                                               

Needless to say I finally had enough and right around Christmas/New Years drug myself to the Urgent Care cause there was no way this was “just a strained back” anymore. I started having dreams about the pain I was in. Like full on technicolor dreams about going to the doctor getting an x-ray only to discover a broken hip, or a broken back, or that I was in the middle of a heart attack and the nightmare that followed. I had been resting it and babying it and lathering up in the muscle spasm creams and sprays just to be able to walk across a room. Jokes on me it was January before I could see anyone anyway. Well played nurse … well played.

The Urgent care discovered that I had a UTI and also took an x-ray that upon review revealed that I also had what appeared to be a LARGE Kidney Stone. They sent me to a Urologist. The first thing he did was take a urine sample then send me for a CT where I had to lie on my back perfectly still for like 10 minutes. When I went to get up I almost passed out the tech did too. She said I got super pale and made me immediately sit back down. I was glad it was angry so that they could really see it in all it’s pissed off glory. Then…. I went back to work.

Two days later he called, during my staff meeting, to say I had a 7mm kidney stone at the base of my kidney. It seemed logged in there and then he said the thing that scared me more than anything else … I don’t know that this is going to solve your back problem, but it needs to be dealt with. I almost burst into tears but regrouped and said ok so now what. He was going to schedule my surgery to have Non-Invasive Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) cause he didn’t believe I’d be able to pass it. That long ass word is basically the use of sound waves to crush the kidney stone into smaller pieces so that they can more easily pass through the bladder.

The immediate unknown hit me hard and frankly scared the shit out of me. However, it got scheduled and I prepared myself for my first ever surgery just after my 44^th birthday (that’s right it would be on Feb 1^st … so we are now 4 months into this process). Sure, I had had my wisdom teeth removed and done a colonoscopy before but nothing like this. It was going to be an outpatient surgery at the hospital with IVs, a medical bracelet with my name on it, and wires and stuff and I was to be put to sleep for it. I had a male work friend who was trying to walk me through all of it cause apparently, he does this like every 3-6 months. I told him I hope that will not be me.  The day of the surgery came the first thing they did was a scan of my kidneys and lower abdomen I guess to make sure nothing had moved. Then I told my father goodby and  was taken to the back, and they did a pregnancy test, which was Negative of course. Then … I waited and watched some TV, that is to say I flipped the channels. I made the mistake of leaving my phone at home (one more thing to deal with I told myself) I missed it so during that hour and a half or so.

                                                      

Next thing I know we are waiting on the anesthesiologist who eventually showed up and spent about 10 minutes telling me how small my mouth/throat was and that he couldn’t believe I don’t have Sleep Apnea and suggested I see a doctor about it. I was like um… ok can we focus on the task at hand please. Next thing I know they wheel me down the hall, I transition from the bed to this table thing, I shift into position….  and then…. I woke up in recovery. Like I have zero recollection of anything in between. Which I guess is a good thing. I woke up in the middle of my colonoscopy and I threw up on my dentist during my wisdom teeth removal.

My small throat was killing me …. The nurse lady kept asking if I needed or wanted ice chips and I thought are you crazy my throat doesn’t work. I could barely swallow. I asked if it worked, she said sure honey it did. I didn’t believe her. I just wanted to go home. I stayed there a little while longer while the nurses talked about Rihanna and if she had ever performed at the Super Bowl before. One of the nurses was sure she had and the others were like nah she hadn’t. Then they talked about last years Super Bowl halftime show naming all the hip hop stars, and they couldn’t remember Mary J or Eminem. They kept saying you know it had Snoop and Dr. Dre and those other people and when I yelled out Mary J they were shocked I was even sitting there. Ice lady came over to see if I was ok but one of the other nurses said she’s right Mary J was there and proceeded to round out the guest list. Then the nurse that was sure Rihanna had went to the all mighty google to confirm she was right only to lean she was thinking of the Grammys and played Disturbia at near high volume for much longer than I feel she should have.

That was my cue to leave. No offense to Rihanna but yeah it was time. I got dressed and was wheeled out of the hospital to my dad’s car. He stopped to pick up medicine at Wallgreens (that was not mine – he’d have to go back later for that) and we finally made it home. Mom had asked earlier in the week what I might want to eat and I requested plain white rice with a little butter. I promptly thew that up and went to bed. I slept for the next 9 hours. Got up, ate some saltines and took the only pain pill I’ve taken so far and then went back to bed where I slept in 2 hour intervals that night. The next day was more of the same. I’d wake up be groggy as hell, sit there for 15-20 minutes and pass out for about 2 hours and start the cycle again. I guess around 6:30 that night I finally got up and ate something real and stayed up the rest of the night in hopes of a better night’s sleep that night. I was proud to report that my back pain was nearly nonexistent unless I had a full bladder then it was more of the same. However, I was considering it a win.  In all of this I only missed 2 days of work. The day for the surgery and the day after. I’m not sure if I’m proud of that or not to be honest. I have spent the last few days trying to pass these things so I can move on with my life to hopefully never do this again.

Rest…. I suck at rest. When I’m resting I’m thinking about all the thousands of things I should be doing while resting which means 1. I’m not enjoying the rest … 2. I’m not really resting at all and 3. I’m also not accomplishing the thousands of things I'm thinking about which amps me up even more. Even on typical weekends I know there are things I should be doing but I don’t do them and instead watch mind numbing TV or play games or scroll on my phone kicking myself for not doing all the things instead of “wasting time” when “wasting time” is what my body is telling my brain I need to be doing but then my brain isn’t letting me enjoy it. Golden was quite proud I took 2 days for my surgery she wanted me to take more but I think also understood my need to make sure things at work were handled. I did at least work from home (more cause I had to than by my choice) so it wasn’t quite as grueling but still. That being said on Monday I’m going to sell back 40 hours of Vacation to my work. I’m not going to use it and I might as well get paid for it instead of losing it. So what I am saying is I’m still learning what “rest” is and how to use it.

Music/Convert Tickets…. Buy the freaking concert tickets or don’t. Just stop with the bitching. Is it stupid expensive to go to a “concert” yes …. Are these acts jumping through more hoops than ever to make shows even happen, also yes. It’s not ticketmaster, it’s not scalpers, it’s the fact that when they put an insane price on a pair of tickets (and we aren’t even talking a decent pair of seats at this point) people are still buying them. Taylor Swift fans weren’t bitching about the price they were bitching that they sold out before they could get in to buy them at that stupid price. Beyonce fans were the same way, bitching about the price as well as how quickly they sell out. Get the tickets or don’t. Honestly I don’t care but be pissed off about the right thing. Complain to the right people. The idea that Congress is going to possibly take this up is just blowing my mind. Congress hasn’t and can’t solve a damn thing but yeah let’s focus on this. Let a Beyonce tour not sell a ticket, let an Ed Sherran sell out half a stadium, let Taylor not fill the seats and see if those prices don’t come down but that’s not going to happen. There is always going to be someone perfectly happy to pay the insane price for your seat. When I saw Ed a few years ago in TN I admit I overpaid for my seats. When I got there, I was damn proud to have done so. Am I lining back up to see him on his new tour, frankly no. It’s a stadium tour, outside, in the south, during the summer. So many things to factor in…the weather, the heat, the uncomfortableness of the day. I love the new album and I still love the man but I’ve seen him do his thing in really great seats and now I’ll just watch youtube clips. Let someone else have my seat. However, if I did decide to jump back in the ring I’d pay the extra money for the decent seats. You will too. Sop acting all high and mighty as you pull the credit card out of your wallet. 

Now if we are talking about Bryan White just take the wallet do what you need to do and return it afterwards cause I'd pay anything the man asks me to pay and I'd even buy the boy a burger for his troubles. Have I told you guys how much I love that man ?! If not I should do that. 

                                                 

 

Lent is coming ……. Which means giving things up …….. which for me typically means social media and soda. Last year I did caffeine in general which also took out tea and with my recent Kidney stone issues I think I’m going to do that again. However Lent 2023 starts Feb. 22^nd and ends April 8^th. My nephew is getting married the first week of March so I’m not planning to give up social media but I also don’t plan to be on it as much either. I frankly look forward to this “break” and Lent is a good excuse for it. However in the lead up to and the aftermath of the wedding I want to see the messages, the pictures that are shared the fun surrounding it all and to do that I need to be on all the social sites. Maybe I’ll find something else to give up along with Caffeine but that’s another post.

                                   

Well there you have it …. random conversations from me about very random things I needed to get out of my head. Hope you enjoyed that. There were several other things I'm dying to talk about but those will come in another post.  

Marcy (@beaslma)

Blog with a purpose : Triumph Over Tragedy Foundation

A few weeks before Christmas I got an e-mail from someone whom I consider one of my favorite people on this planet and I started looking into the organization he was telling me about so that one day I could share it with you all. Today is that day. Let me start by saying … I was going to say friend, which I suppose he is but we don’t see one another on a consistent basis, tho I wish that were true. I’d say I am his biggest fan but his wife might tell me otherwise…. He calls me a “blessing” but he’s by far blessed me more than I have him …. so I’m going with my favorite person.

This fella, who shall be named later I assure you, is a member of an organization that is called “Triumph Over Tragedy Foundation” which exists to help families financially, who have had loved ones that have been in traumatic accidents that have left them either paralyzed or severely impaired. They support the family unit through biblical principles from the initial impact of tragedy or illness to the ongoing circumstances faced in the years to come. Often organizations are all in at the beginning and the individual comes home alone to “figure things out.” This organization, based on what I’ve learned about them, is the opposite.

The organization was born out of necessity, as most often are, when a young man of 9 named Wesley was playing with his friends and fell 20’ from a makeshift zip line breaking his neck and becoming a quadriplegic. Wesley spent 6 months in the hospital with his parents and older brother, Reggie, by his side. In the aftermath of the tragedy, they thought of all the people who helped them during this difficult time and Triumph Over Tragedy Foundation was born. They knew they had to give back and a foundation that focused not only on the injured party but on the entire family unit was the way to go. They focused not only on the physical impairments but on the emotional scars that the entire family now faced as well as financial assistance. From guilt, to anger, frustration, and down right panic about what was to come, and depression it all needed to be addressed and attended to in different ways.

Their assistance is broken down into 3 main categories:

• 1.       The initial onset of illness or injury
• 2.       Adapting to life after the illness or injury
• 3.       An escape from the stress caused by the illness or injury

That escape part is how my favorite person initially learned about this organization. Bryan White, who loyal readers to the Blog know is one of my heroes, was invited to come and play music and participate in their annual golf tournament in Conyers, Georgia several years ago and now sits on the Advisory Board and is helping raise awareness about this organization. So of course, he reached out to me, and several others around the holidays to talk about this organization. Then I looked into it and here we are.

The easiest way to help is to earnestly pray for the Care Team, who make the initial touch with the family in the aftermath of the event, the grief counselors and pastors who are trained to sit and listen and talk with family members in their time of need, the Adapt Team who helps readjust the houses for wheelchair accessibility, and of course individual families forever changed by the event. By raising awareness in the community about the foundation so that others might know of the organization and what they can provide. Most importantly is by giving to the foundation so that they can continue their efforts and provide financial support to the families as they adjust to their new normal. Triumph Over Tragedy Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All contributions are tax deductible, but most importantly can impact a family for a lifetime.

One of the planned initiatives for the coming years is the building of an “event center” near Mansfield, Georgia (east of Atlanta). The event center, a short drive from one of the best rehabilitation centers in the Country, will serve as a retreat for those families and serve as a place to hold fundraising events, weddings with wheelchair access and eventually a concert venue to entertain guest and families in an effort to take their minds off of their troubles if only for a few hours.

If you are interested in learning more about this organization or in donating to their cause, check out the Triumph over Tragedy Foundation website (links below). From the stories on their facebook page, to what I’ve read about them they really are restoring hope by restoring families and I’m happy Bryan put them on my radar.

Links about the organization:

https://givetotriumph.org

https://www.facebook.com/TriumphOverTragedyFoundation/

https://givetotriumph.org/#donate

I've decided that this blog does not exist in a vacuum and after some soul searching decided that while it's purpose is to provide me a creative outlet when I need it it's also going to exist to lift up organizations, groups, or individuals that are doing good in the world from time to time. So, consider this the first "blog with a purpose" and it was a great one to start out with. 

Marcy

 

 

 

NEW YEAR ….. frankly same blog

I've been thinking a lot about this blog since posting the other day. About its original purpose, to be a creative outlet when the world was sucking the very soul out of my body. A Place I could come to play, vent, challenge myself and well share some insights on the world. However, i'm not really using it for any of those things. I'm not really being creative, yes I'm writing things but am I being creative. No. I'm not challenging myself, nor encouraging others to do anything in particular to make their lives better or different. Frankly the world is scary enough without my useless 2 cents being involved. It is scary out there yo!

So has the focus on this blog shifted, does it need to. I don’t post to just post. It’s usually I have something I want to say or something relevant to what’s going on in the world at the moment. I’m never going to be a blog a day kind of person. There are just too many things pulling on me that allow me to have a goal like that. I might could keep it up for a week, I did a month once, but for long-term posting I know that’s not a realistic goal. If I can’t meet said goal I’m not going to set it. See I’ve watched Social Media “influencers” and I use that term very very loosely set those kind of goals for themselves and spend most of their time apologizing for not meeting said goals. An Influencer I am not … tho if you want a chuckle the latest episode of the Simpsons in which they basically mock the influencer is hilarious and one you should flock to Disney+ to watch ASAP.

We also barely advertise the thing, we post on Twitter, and that’s pretty much it. That’s right the platform that was on death’s door is still kicking, likely Elon wishes it were doing better but if he’d leave it alone it might be. I’ll post and tag Golden she will RT it and that’s where it dies. So, the fact that we get any views at all is pretty impressive to me. Imagine what would happen if we actually promoted the darn thing. However, then I’d feel like I have to deliver. I kind of like the obscurity of this blog. No one really expects anything so if I deliver at all I’ve already surpassed those expectations.

However, I would like to get my creative side flowing again. I really enjoyed writing the Haley and Michaels series (Part I, Part II, Part III, and Part IV can be found here) and let’s face it the Royal Family could use some attention. Who knows maybe I’ll find a new muse and get to going or come up with an original idea something that Hollywood can’t seem to do but maybe…just maybe I can. I’d also like to get Golden back on this thing cause she’s way better at it than I am, I mean did you see the words she strung together for Betty White last year ?  I still pull up Golden's blog about her eye surgery when i need a good chuckle to get me through a crap day. PS she did eventually have the surgery and while it didn't go perfectly it went well and she does not in fact look like PAtchy the Fucking Pirate. I don’t really make New Year’s Resolutions anymore but those are things I’d like to accomplish for 2023.

The point is … if you have stuck around this long, stick around a little longer 2023 should be fun and It will be more fun if you all take the Journey with us.

 

Marcy (@beaslma)

Golden (@Theonlygolden)

2022 YEAR END REVIEW

It’s New Year's Eve … who knew. Not me at least not until someone sent me a text telling me to be safe tonight, and I was like why where I am going. They said you know if you go anywhere for the holiday. I responded with you mean tomorrow. They were like um…no tonight. People celebrate New Year's tonight, since it’s New Year's Eve. I again responded with tomorrow. They wrote back with a screen shot of the date, like my devices don’t also have that. Turns out … guys they were right today is New Year's Eve. The last day of 2022, the last day of the year, tomorrow starts a brand-new chapter full of wonder, excitement and pretty much the same shit that 2022 had but with a different date at the end … if I’m being honest.

New Year's has just never been a thing I celebrate. I mean yeah sure it’s an accomplishment to get from point A to point B I guess and not everyone got to make that circle, heck I went to 2 funerals just this week alone, so I see why people celebrate this “milestone” but I’ve just never been interested in it. Even as a little Marcy I wasn’t concerned with staying up to watch the ball drop. Seemed like a lot of fuss over not much and you spend the night wandering around going from place to place finally landing somewhere to count backwards from 10 then it’s over and everyone goes home or leaves to head to yet another place. I’d rather stay home, sleep at a decent hour and just get up the next day. I will admit I do like seeing how everyone chooses to usher out the current year and welcome the new one, but it’s all become a bit much. Every single town now has a thing. Hell, mine has a Moon Pie Drop. They take a LARGE Moon Pie strap it to the side of a building downtown and at midnight lower it to the ground because nothing says New Year like getting ready for Mardi Gras.

It's been another year of hard work and some appreciation for both Golden and I. I do wish she got more appreciation but there's very little I can do about that. I just completed my first year at the helm of the ship at my work, which has been a learning curve. I'm proud of what we got accomplished this year and know there's more we can do so that's the goal for 2023. Once gain I'm gonna lose some of my vacation time, I hope that next year I do better about that. Golden and I are trying to come up with our next big trip (other than Dragon Con) because it's been a few years since we did that. I think the two of us just need something to look forward to if I am being honest. 

Last year on this day it was 84 degrees and sunny, which was just dumb. I rang in the new year in shorts and a t-shirt. Less than 24 hours later it was raining and in the low 50s. tell me the south isn’t always sick for no reason and I’ll explain all that again. It’s been ridiculously cold the last week or so which was nice to have a Christmas holiday where I could wear my Christmas sweaters without sweating through them for a change. Today it’s 67, cloudy and wanting to rain. We had a wicked storm blow through on Friday afternoon and it was supposed to hold over until today, but it was moving faster than originally thought and we are left with a dreary, cloudy, warm day instead. Tomorrow it’s supposed to be in the high 70’s low 80’s. So basically, back to normal.

I’ve spent the majority of my “time off” for the holidays (Christmas and now New Year's) cleaning. Throwing things away, purging my life of the things I don’t “need” I have 5 bags of things to take…. somewhere. It’s mostly clothing that I can’t or don’t wear, some of which still have the tags on them. I’m really bad about that, it’s the downside of online shopping it looks better on the screen than in my house.

While I wasn’t looking this blog turned 8 years old. Since 2014 we have had 261 entries that have been viewed 27,526 times by ….. someone. We average about 29 post a year, but I credit most of that to the first two years when I did blog challenges and then in 2019, I did kind of a resurgence of the blog in an effort to bring it back to life. I will admit that with this blog I’ve not been trying to set the world on fire, teach anyone anything in particular, or even study specific subjects for a greater understanding of a higher universe but I have tried to stay consistent in my posting. Here lately it’s felt more like a journal or diary than an actual blog with a purpose or passion. Like this isn’t a lifestyle blog, or a blog trying to sell my various projects or causes, or a blog that is used to promote anything or generate likes and collaboration with companies. It’s just me, my little HP laptop that’s still kicking (knock on wood), and sometimes Golden just sharing various thoughts with people who might be interested. It tuns out that while most of our views come from the US, we also get a large portion from Russia and Ukraine (haven’t those people suffered enough) with France and Germany rounding out our top 5 countries. Sorry Canada you just missed the top 5.

I did just learn that our blog with the most views has changed … it used to be the “Royal Welcome” my Real Person fiction about Haley and Michaels working with the Royal Family. However ironically the post now with the most views of 314 is “He is Risen” posted in April 2019 … I just re read it and it’s nothing to special so I’m not sure why so many have felt the need to click on that particular one but it’s gonna be hard to pass that many views. But I’ll do my best.

Have a great 2023 and a safe New Year’s Eve, which is apparently tonight in case you didn't know.

Marcy (@beaslma)

2022 Christmas TV Movie Calendar

 Good news fellow lovers of random TV specials, the Crimmus Calendar (that’s how my bestie spells it and now I it looks weird spelling it the “right” way), unlike the Halloween calendar, was much easier tho Hallmark, Freeform, and Lifetime have done their best to overtake the darn thing once again this year. I would however argue that if you start showing Christmas shows in April on a loop 24/7 then maybe you don’t have much else to offer and might wanna review your strategy – just saying. 

I admit … This calendar has been burning a hole in my file structure for about a week, but since I didn’t put anything on it for the week of Thanksgiving I decided to hold it. I also didn’t want it getting lost in the shuffle that is yall’s inbox during the holiday. Then like 3 weeks in people are like did I not get your calendar and they have missed out on so much awesomeness. I mean that’s not my fault, I know that but still I’ll feel bad for you and your disorganized self.  

As many of you may know GAC is also trying to get into the holiday specials mix, Great American Country for those that don’t know, but I don’t have that channel. As I’ve said for the last several years if I don’t have it … it won’t appear on this calendar. I’m selfish that way. Plus, I don’t wanna be all political but if Candace Cameron Bure is how you plan out your TV watching time then just turn the thing off and read a book. Seriously. DJ is great but yeah calm down it’s just a Crimmus movie you aren’t saving the world.   

Before we dive in … I think it’s important to repeat the rules, cause without rules there is chaos and we can’t have that with Santa in the air and all. . . .  

• NO E-MAILS about taking Christ out of Christmas, it is there you all know it just stop being difficult..... I mean honestly, it’s just a really long word and using X-Mas allows for more shows on the already full calendar.  
• Thanks for your understanding.  
• For those that don’t understand I’ll be glad to remove you from the list just let me know.  
• I live in the central time zone, the times on this calendar reflect that, adjust accordingly.  
• That said unless otherwise stated the times are PM 
• Very special episodes need not apply. This calendar does not focus on established show “Christmas special episodes” so watch out for those … Psych for instance has a great one and Friends had some touching Christmas specials, however, that’s not what we are here for. 
• NASFL – Not all is safe for Littles … This calendar contains shows I want to see, some are new, some are classics, and some are just downright dumb but I like em so back off! There is a mixture of adult themed shows/movies and kid themed shows/movies cause I’m just a kid at heart. PLEASE be mindful of what is on before you sit the kids down with popcorn to watch. 
• Don’t call me cause your little one watched some holiday movie on Lifetime or and now has “questions”. . . . that’s your mess not mine.  
• Late Hour Focus, but hour round fun. For you work from home people, stay at home mom’s, or employers who have access to good wifi ….  they run these specials all day long, and while my calendar focuses on the after-work hour times, since that is when I can watch, fire it up as background noise for that meeting that you are totes paying attention to. Then you can thank me later.  
1. That’s right it’s all about me!  

It seems everyone has a gimmick or a brand they are selling, It’s a Wonderful Lifetime, on well … Lifetime, 25 days of Christmas on Freeform, Miracles of Christmas from Hallmark Movies and Mystery (which was a missed opportunity for them for sure) Best Christmas Ever from AMC (which is debatable but their love of Claymation makes up for it) and so on. Marketing departments have been working overtime for their various channels, but it kept them employed so … good for them. I do question a network that does 25 days of anything but when you really study their programing realize that they are really replaying the same 10 movies over and over and I wonder if their time couldn’t be better spent.  

Especially when you look at their line ups in their various Aps and see that there is so much more out there than a Burnt out executive who leaves the big city to help her parents shut down the ranch she grew up on but shunned and left for bigger things only to find the love of her life tending to {insert your animal here} with a plan to save the ranch but only if she agreed to leave the hustle and bustle of the big city to pick up where her aging parents have left off and agree to marry him on the spot or the deal is off. Or you know … something of that nature, over and over again.  

So, with that thought in mind, the focus of this calendar is on NEW specials and returning movies I want to see cause I mean frankly there is not enough paper and ink in the printers around the world to include them all. Trust me, I’ve tried. I meant if you haven’t seen a Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen in their hey day trying to get to Grandmas’ house have you even lived?! PS it only comes on a few times and for some reason at the arse crack of dawn each and every time. Don’t ask me why …. just be happy it’s still on the air. I mean they have to be what in their late 30’s or something by now? I also admit that Die Hard didn’t make the cut again this year, which is not my fault. I just can’t find that it’s airing anytime in the next 25 days. I tried Guys I promise!  

A Few suggestions for your holiday viewing:  

• Ralphie Love !!!!! Both TBS and TNT are showing 24 hours of a Christmas Story starting Christmas Eve … and you should also check out the A Christmas Story Christmas on HBO if you have it cause it’s everything little Marcy wanted in life!  It pulls at all the same heart strings that the original pulls on …. once in a while a little too hard.  
• The Star – appears several times on Freeform this year. I admit I didn’t give this special the notice it deserved when it first came on in 2017. I fell in love with it hard a few years ago and it’s now must see TV for me every year. Make sure you check it out. Your kiddos will LOVE this animated special and they just might learn something too.  
• A New Orleans Noel on Lifetime is well a NEW Christmas movie that is set in New Orleans and bring Rudi back to our television screens and I’m all for anything that does that. If it also brings Patti LaBelle then that’s just a bonus. The Big Easy at Crimmus what could be more fun !?  
• Lifetime: speaking of Lifetime they are working to end the reign of Hallmark as the place for Holiday fun by airing NEW movies EVERY Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights at 7 central. Sure they all have a similar pattern to them but that didn’t bother you when Hallmark did it, so tune in cause did I mention they are NEW !  
• CNN All Star Tribute at 7 on CNN Dec. 11^thI have talked about this before … it’s an annual special that highlights some pretty amazing things being done around this planet to try and make it a better place. It’s a very uplifting night and reminds you that maybe .. just maybe the world has some good left in it.  
• Claymation Love – Both AMC and Freeform are giving us the Claymation love this year and I’m 100% for it. Now if they can just bring back the Claymation Christmas I will be the happiest Marcy ever! Bring the kiddos to the TV, make them watch it and explain just how much effort it took to bring that awesome to the screen.  
• Beauty and the Beast LIVE – will air on ABC Dec. 15^th .. and god love them no matter how bad these have been over the years they keep trying. Eventually they will get one of these right maybe it will be this one.  
• Hanukkah on Rye airs on Hallmark on the 18^th … which is the only Hanukkah movie on my calendar and it makes me sad that is a thing. I mean 8 Crazy Nights should air yearly but alas I can’t find it.  

Another programing note …. unlike Halloween where they are just all over the map with the order, Christmas specials tend to keep the flow going, so if they were say … showing The Santa Clause, The Santa Clause 2 and the Santa Clause 3 back to back on the same channel I didn’t list all 3 cause well A. Space is limited, B. If you want to watch one you’ll likely watch them from the beginning and C did you not read about having limited space to make this happen!? I mean if you don’t have an afternoon to devote to it then well just walk away, be a quitter … see if I care. I do… I care a lot … cause Tenderheart tells me I need to. That’s right I worked a Care Bears reference into this year’s calendar and if that’s not a Win… then what is. *does Happy Dance in my chair!* 

Digital Media is taking over and I’m no longer going to fight it … No, before you get all excited, I’m also not dropping it into my calendar, but I do admit that it is the week of Thanksgiving and I have watched A Christmas Story Christmas at least 3 times and loved every single second of it each and everytime I watched it. So, if you are interested in what’s happening in your various streaming services check out the links below. I admit I am proud to see all the original programing that’s dropping on the various streaming services and sad that networks don’t have enough faith in them to show them “offline.”  

New Christmas Movies to Stream: A Holiday 2020 Streaming Guide | Den of Geek 

New Christmas Movies in 2022 and Where to Watch Them (people.com) 

90+ Christmas movies to stream for holidays on Netflix, Hulu, more (usatoday.com) 

Where to Stream the Best Christmas Movies of All Time (2022) – The Streamable 

So go get your digital on and you won’t hear from me how the medium is killing the holiday special for cable providers and how Apple TV has already claimed Charlie Brown as theirs and how you can’t watch Mickey’s Christmas Carol without a Disney+ account or how Ralphie’s new special is only on HBO MAX  but yeah you go ahead stream to your hearts content and sit back and enjoy. It’s fine …. No really … go ahead it’s fine. Seriously why are you still reading this … go watch your programming … and Merry Christmas have a wonderful New Year and here’s to an even better 2023 for us all!  

Have a wonderful and safe holiday season so we can do this again next year!  

If you can't save the image above hit me up on twitter @beaslma and i'll send you the PDF/JPEG combo. 

Marcy