18 or so times 2018 was great for me!

Happy almost new year!

I know 2018 was a tough year for a lot of people, and it is definitely a tough time in our country right now, so I get it. But for me 2018 had a lot of great times, and I definitely want to celebrate those. I hope even if you had one of the worst years of your life you are able to make your own list and find some good from the past 365 days.

So here are my 18 times in 2018 that life was great.

1. Game changing movies: I see a lot of movies so they are rarely a highlight of the year but twice at the beginning of the year as I sat in the theater, I sat in wonder as I saw something in our culture had changed and we will hopefully never go back. Once was sitting in a crowded movie theater watching Black Panther. The audience I saw it with was predominantly non white and there were many kids in the movie theater. I could not help but wonder if this was the first time they had ever seen themselves in so many ways on a movie screen and then I wondered if their parents and even grandparents were feeling that same way. It was a great moment and I hope Hollywood gets the message loud and clear as Black Panther was the number 1 grossing movie of the year in North America

On a more personal note I watched the movie Love, Simon with a theater full of young people, and I will never forget their enthusiasm and hope they know how fortunate  they were to be able to sit in a movie as teenagers  with a same gender love story as the center of the movie. I grew up watching John Hughes movies. They were my Love, Simon, but LGBTQ kids had to "hope" that some of these characters were possibly gay when they grew up (see Duckie in Pretty In Pink and Watts in Some Kind of Wonderful), but none of them ever were actually queer in the movie. So it brought me to tears to sit by a young woman of no more than 11 or 12 who cheered when the two boys in the central love story kissed at the end. Even if that had been in a movie when I was a teenager we never would have cheered!


The game has changed. We can't and won't go back.

Ok the rest of these are shorter. :)

2. Quebec City:  I went on a weekend trip to Quebec City. I had been wanting to go for a long time and it was charming and cold as I expected.

3. NYC:  I usually go to NYC at least once a year and it never gets old This year I saw the Donna Summer musical and hung out quite a bit in Hell's Kitchen. I sense there will be a lot of NYC for me in 2019.

4. The girls come for a visit: one of  Devon's nieces, a couple great nieces and his sister came for a visit this past winter. We took them to Harvard, I bought them some candy and ordered them a whole fish for dinner.

5. President's Day Weekend Day Trips:  I like to travel pretty much any time I have days off but this past February I had not planned anything. So I decided to take two day trips to nearby towns I had not hing out in. One day I went to the famous Salem, Massachusetts and the other day I went to the underrated Providence, RI. Great experiences and proof that you don't need a lot of money or time off to have an adventure.

6. Devon got a new job:  Devon got a new job at Wegmans that he likes a lot and it definitely made a difference in the house this year. This job  should create a lot of excitement in 2019.

7. I started a different job in my company: This year I started a new position in my company. It requires a lot of travel, but I like it a lot and look forward to see where it takes me in the future.

8. Iceland: I had a lot of adventures this year and Iceland was one of the biggest. New experiences, new food and drink and I actually got out of my city comfort zone and got out into nature and discovered perhaps the most beautiful place I have ever been

9: Jennifer: I got to hang out with my friend Jennifer on a work trip in January and then again at the end of the year in Atlanta.

10. Wendy: My friend Wendy came to see me in Boston and we saw the Moulin Rouge musical and then in November I got to visit her in St. Louis for her birthday weekend.

11. Ptown: In August I went to Province town to for Carnivale with Frank, Kyle and Amy and we watched a great parade, went whale watching and saw James Franco eating dinner at the table next to ours.

12. Concerts: I saw a loooooooot of concerts this year. Let's see there was Brandi Clark, P!NK, Brandi Carlile, Richard Marx, Kesha (and Macklemore but eh), Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Jay Z, Beyonce, Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker, and Crazy Ex Girlfiend the concert!

13. Seeing our old friends who live near NYC: We took a day trip to the Cape (Falmouth) and we saw our friends Selwyn and Gary who we had not seen for several years.

14. Hamilton: I saw many musicals this year including Summer, Moulin Rouge and Jagged Little Pill but Hamilton was easily the pinnacle experience of it all. Points off for the parent who let her child rap loudly along with the show next to me and my my very expensive seats.

15. Seeing more family on work travel: I got to see another of Devon's nieces and her children and his sister on one of my work trips.

16. Election Day:   Sure the Democrats lost 2 net seats in the Senate but short memories forget they were expected to lose way more. The bright side is we got the House back and hopefully the next two years everyone will be working full force to get the Trump tragedy out of the White House. 2020 is coming.

17. Copenhagen Denmark: Going to Denmark during the end of fall ended up being a great idea! The highlights were Christmas markets, the walking tours and an amazing 6 course dinner

18. Stockholm Sweden: It was darker than Denmark but Sweden in the almost winter ended up being a good plan as well. Highlights included the ABBA museum, Christmas Markets and the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo walking tour. I also had a beautiful hotel here!


I wish you all a happy 2019 with lots of great adventures. I wish only the best of everything for all of us.

18 songs I loved in 2018!

It’s that time again. President Barack Obama and I release our favorite songs of 2018 which you have waited for with bated breath. So herethey are.


This is Me Keala Settle and also recorded by Kesha from The Greatest Showman

A few of my songs were actually released at the end of 2017, but I counted them if I caught onto them in 2018.  I wasn’t a fan of the movie, but it had some good songs. Especially this Oscar nominated one!

Mystery of Love Sufjan Stevens from Call Me by Your Name

Another Oscar nominated song, and in my opinion it should have been the winner. It was a good year for songs in movies (as you will see). 

Every Time I Hear the Song Brandi Carlile

President Obama and I have 3 of the same songs on our lists. This is the first and the next 2 will follow. I love the lyrics to this one especially where she fits in "By the way, I forgive you" 

I Like it Cardi B (featuring Bad Bunny and J Balvin). 

Another Obama favorite and the song of the summer. 

Apeshit The Carters

The final Obama share! The surprise collaboration album between Bey and Jay was mostly underwhelming with the exception of this standout. 

Havana Camila Cabello

I know it really really really was from 2017, but I am old. It takes me awhile to discover things sometimes. #shrug

Stop Me From Falling Kylie Minogue

Kylie went a little country on her Golden album this year with mixed results, but her best song was straight from her playbook which has made her an international phenomenon since the 1980s. 

Missing You Robyn

Robyn was back....finally

Perfect Duet Beyonce and Ed Sheeran

I don't like Ed Sheeran's  music to be totally honest. I am not infatuated with white boys sitting around on guitars being sensitive (except for maybe Harry Styles but for different reasons). But adding Beyonce to this song turned it from normal adult contemporary radio fare to something special. It was special enough for her to sing it on her tour without him. 

Make Me Feel Janelle Monae

The first of three strong women making strong statements in song. Janelle Monae had a great 2018! This take on Prince's style was my favorite. 

Fall in Line Christina Aguilera featuring Demi Lovato

2018 was a tough year professionally for an Xtina comeback and a tough year for Demi Lovato personally, but this song was a high point for both

Milkman The Pistol Annies

Surprisingly my only country song this year. Anyone rebellious raised in a conservative family can relate. 

Pray for Me The Weeknd and Kendrick Lamar from Black Panther

The first of four more movie songs (for 6 total). Black Panther was a cultural milestone in many ways in 2018, and this was my favorite song from the soundtrack. 

Fernando Cher from Mamma Mia Here We go Again

Sure it is a remake, but it made me rediscover Cher in a new way all over again and after all of these years I did not think that was possible. 

I'll Never Love Again Lady Gaga from A Star is Born

Speaking of rediscovering someone who I didn't think I could possibly rediscover again! Sure Shallow is the magical part of the movie but this is the one you are going to be hearing at karaoke for years to come. 

Alfie's Song (Not So Typical Love Song) Bleachers from Love, Simon

An underrated cultural milestone was the "normal" teen same sex relationship in the movie Love, Simon and this not so typical love song. 

Nothing Breaks Like a Heart Mark Ronson featuring Miley Cyrus

This was a surprise Christmas gift to Miley Cyrus fans, and I hope it is an indicator of things to come. 

This is America Childish Gambino

Music is often only an audio experience but I dare you to listen to this song and not imagine the video (if you have seen it, and if you have not take care of that!). This is America was the most relevant and true song of the year.  Below is the link because the original video is the one that needs to be seen. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYOjWnS4cMY

A Star is Reborn: My Top 25 Songs performed by Lady Gaga

Something that you may know about me is that I LOVE Lady Gaga. I have now seen her 5 times in concert and have been anticipating the opening of her first starring role in "A Star is Born" since the day they showed the first trailer and announced the opening date. In anticipation of seeing that movie next week, the dropping of her new song "Shallow", and the release of the soundtrack next Friday, here are 25 favorite Lady Gaga songs that are pre "A Star is Born"

25. Til It Happens to You- This song was Lady Gaga's first but probably not last Oscar nomination. She lost to an inferior James Bond song by Sam Smith.

24. The Cure- a surprisingly upbeat song considering it is for Lady Gaga's close friend who was dying and has sense died of cancer. 

23. Million Reasons- The finale to her big Super Bowl performance

22. Venus- This song is not loved by everyone, but I like the campy space age vibe to it.

21. Donatella- Another camp favorite from the underrated, in my opinion, Artpop album. 

20. A-yo: Perhaps the most danceable song on Gaga's Joanne album

19.  Judas-the video with Darryl from The Walking Dead in it

18. The Edge of Glory- This wasn't one of my favorites when it came out, but it definitely has grown on me

17. Boys Boys Boys: One of her few non hits off her first album that doesn't fill like album filler. It is a lot of fun. 

16. Dance in the Dark: Another early non hit. It reminds me of Madonna's Vogue, but it is basically about dead people. 

15. Telephone: A collaboration of two of the greatest modern pop artists. 

14.  Joanne: Another song that grew on me. i especially like the more piano driven acoustic version. 

13. Scheibe- She will always have some songs that compare to Madonna even if their careers have taken different paths. This one reminds me of Rescue Me by Madonna

12. Bloody Mary- Born This Way is my favorite album of hers. It has so many great songs. This is one of them. 

11.  Dope- This was one of the standouts on Artpop which is unfortunately considered a flop. 

And now my top 10 Lady Gaga songs!

10.  Diamond Heart- Some of the best songs on Joanne were not the singles. Including this one. 

9. Love Game: Thanks for giving us disco stick as a new vocabulary word. 

8. Grigio Girls- The best song off of the Joanne album

7. You and I- My love for this song always depends on the version. I prefer the piano version over the Shania Twained up radio version. 

6. Hair- Another great empowerment anthem off of Born This Way

5. Born This Way: The best song off of the best overall album. One of the most earnestly pro queer songs to ever become a huge hit. 

4. Just Dance; The song that started it all is also one of her true classics. 

3. Gypsy: The best song off Artpop. If it had been the first single it might have been a bigger hit. This is my ultimate travel song. 

2. Paparazzi- That video. Those sunglasses and Alexander Skarsgard

1. Bad Romance- An obvious choice but a worthy one. Lady Gaga was obviously influenced by Queen and this is her Bohemian Rhapsody

My Favorites of the 2017/18 TV Season- My winners now included!

I watch a lot of TV! Here are my favorites of the last television season.

Best Supporting Actress in A Comedy Series

Zazie Beetz Atlanta

Alex Borstein The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel-WINNER

Donna Lynne Champlin Crazy ex Girlfriend

Jenifer Lewis blackish

Laurie Metcalf Roseanne

Natasha Rothwell Insecure

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Joseph Fiennes The Handmaid’s Tale

David Harbour Stranger Things

Justin Hartley This is Us

Noah Schnapp Stranger Things

Holt McCallany Mindhunter-WINNER

Richard Schiff The Good Doctor

Best Supporting Actress in a Mini Series, TV Movie or Special

Sara Bareilles Jesus Chris Superstar

Penelope Cruz American Crime Story- The Assassination of Gianni Versace

Laura Dern Twin Peaks

Nicole Kidman Top of the Lake: China Girl

Judith Light American Crime Story- The Assassination of Gianni Versace-WINNER

Naomi Watts Twin Peaks

Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series

Cameron Britton Mindhunter-WINNER

Ron Cephas Brown This is Us

Joseph Cross Mindhunter

O.T. Fagbenle The Handmaid’s Tale

David Haig Killing Eve

Gerald McRaney This is Us

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Tituss Burgess Unbreakable Kimmie Schmidt

Daniel Levy Schitt’s Creek-WINNER

Tony Shalhoub The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Bryan Tyree Henry Atlanta

Henry Winkler Barry

Zach Woods Silicon Valley

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Alexis Bledel The Handmaid’s Tale

Ann Dowd The Handmaid’s Tale

Domique Fishback The Deuce

Susan Kelechi Watson This is Us

Chrissy Metz This is Us

Yvonne Strahovski The Handmaid’s Tale-WINNER

Best Supporting Actor in Mini Series, TV Movie or Special.

Brandon Victor Dixon Jesus Christ Superstar

Cody Fern American Crime Story- The Assassination of Gianni Versace-WINNER

Edgar Ramirez American Crime Story- The Assassination of Gianni Versace

Jason Ritter The Tale

Jimmi Simpson Black Mirror: USS Callister

Finn Wittrock American Crime Story- The Assassination of Gianni Versace

Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Vanessa Bayer Will & Grace

Anne Bedian Roseanne

Tovah Feldshuh Crazy Ex Girlfriend

Jane Lynch The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel-WINNER

Laurie Metcalf Big Bang Theory

Molly Shannon Will & Grace

Best Episode of a Drama Series

Episode 10 Mindhunter

God, I’m Tired  Killing Eve-WINNER

June The Handmaid’s Tale

Number Three This is US

Smart Power The Handmaid’s Tale

This Big, Amazing, Beautiful Life This is Us

Best Reality Show

Queer Eye-WINNER

Rupaul’s Drag Race

Shark Tank

Survivor

Top Chef

Best Episode of a Comedy Series

Chapter IV Dear White People

FUBU Atlanta

I Never Want to see Josh Again Crazy Ex Girlfriend-WINNER

Know Your Truth Barry

Pilot The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

R-E-S-P-E-C-T blackish

Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series

Joy Brunson This is Us

Kate Burton Scandal

Viola Davis Scandal

Cherry Jones The Handmaid’s Tale

Marisa Tomei The Handmaid’s Tale

Samira Wiley The Handmaid’s Tale-WINNER

Best Lead Actor in A Comedy Series

Anthony Anderson blackish

Iain Armitage Young Sheldon

Donald Glover Atlanta

John Goodman Roseanne-WINNER

Bill Hader Barry

Matt Leblanc Episodes

Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Jodie Comer Killing Eve

Maggie Gyllenhaal The Deuce

Laura Linney Ozark

Mandy Moore This Is Us

Elizabeth Moss The Handmaid’s Tale-WINNER

Sandra Oh Killing Eve

Best Lead Actor in a Mini Series, TV Movie or Special

Darren Criss American Crime Story- The Assassination of Gianni Versace-WINNER

John Legend Jesus Christ Superstar

Kyle McLachlan Twin Peaks

Al Pacino Paterno

Evan Peters American Horror Story- Cult

Jesse Plemons Black Mirror: USS Callister

Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Alec Baldwin Will & Grace

Daveed Diggs blackish

Chris Messina The Mindy Project

Nick Offerman Will & Grace

Robert S Powell Atlanta

Wallace Shawn The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel-WINNER

Best Lead Actress in a Mini Series, TV Movie or Special

Laura Dern The Tale-WINNER

Anna Deveare Smith Notes form the Field

Rosemary Dewitt Black Mirror: Archangel

Elizabeth Moss Top of the Lake: China Girl

Cristin Milioti Black Mirror: USS Callister

Sarah Paulson American Horror Story- Cult

Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Jason Bateman Ozark

Sterling K Brown This is Us-WINNER

James Franco The Deuce

Jonathan Groff Mindhunter

Freddie Highmore The Good Doctor

Milo Ventimiglia This is Us

Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Rachel Bloom Crazy Ex Girlfriend

Rachel Brosnahan Marvelous Mrs. Maisel-WINNER

Logan Browning Dear White People

Tracey Ellis Ross blackish

Catherine O’Hara Schitt’s Creek

Issa Rae Insecure

Best Mini Series, TV Movie or Special

American Crime Story- The Assassination of Gianni Versace-WINNER

American Horror Story- Cult

Black Mirror: USS Callister

Jesus Christ Superstar

The Tale

Twin Peaks

Best Comedy Series

Barry

Blackish

Crazy ex Girlfriend

Dear White People

Insecure

Marvelous Mrs. Maisel-WINNER

Schitt’s Creek

Best Drama Series

The Deuce

The Handmaid’s Tale-WINNER

Killing Eve

Mindhunter

Rise

Stranger Things

This Is Us