Things happening these days..
* More stupid TV commercials I've seen recently..
-A Pizza Hut ad where some girl/woman/ lady dresses in different characters- an old man, as a guy lifting weights in a gym, etc.. while singing the praises of Pizza Hut pizza. Really stupid and pointless, obviously a millennial-driven commercial. Not funny or clever at all. Makes me not want to go to the Hut.
- Another dumb car commercial ( they make the worst!) whereas this young girl is dribbling a basketball alone in her driveway. She is fantasizing taking the last shot in a big, championship game,swishing the jumper as time runs out to win the game as she exalts "She shoots, she scores!"
Suddenly the scene dissolves into a car dealership as she is standing by a new car, and a dopey car salesman standing next to her says , "Yes Erin, you cans core with a new deal..."
It's totally stupid because why would a young girl fantasize about hitting a game-winning basketball shot while she is out looking for probably her first new car? Is this girl hallucinating, perhaps schizophrenic? Is she having delusions, right there in the showroom, next to a salesman who equates her sickness into getting a new deal on the car of her dreams?
The marketing and writing people on 5th Avenue in New York City must really think the American public are morons and will buy anything.
- Herr's potato chips, well, in this case, Herr's Pub-Style Pretzels. I try not to eat junk food anymore, but if I did, I wouldn't buy Herr's just for this goofy ad alone.
The owner of Herr's( who should be ashamed of himself) goes to English to meet a real English pub owner, thick British accent and all, where they sit around, nothing better to do, and bullshit about pretzels. The English guy claims the pretzels ( or Herr himself, I'm not sure which), is a "duck". They trade the word "duck" a few times ( "are you saying 'duck'? .. as in the animal? Quack, quack?").
It's the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen, a total embarrassment, and not cute, clever or funny at all..
* This August marks 45 years since me and my family traveled to Lourdes, France. My parents always wanted to take me to the place where the Blessed Virgin appeared to St. Bernadette in 1858. It was a three-week vacation, with prayer and dreams that I may be physically cured form my disability by the powerful and famous Lourdes baths.
I remember it was a really long trip over. We left at night, catching a flight from Philly to Boston, then on to Paris.
We spent several weeks in Lourdes, a lot of rosaries said and masses attended. We took part in numerous processions, of which they had both day and evening candle-light events. I remember the sea of wheelchair and stretchers lined up along the great open space in from of the massive Basilica, whereas different priests, bishops and even cardinals would bless the sick.
We also met privately with a really nice lady at the center where miraculous cures were validated by the Lourdes medical staff. We saw pictures of cures, which apparently happened quite frequently. Cures of diseases such as Diabetes and Cancer, and yet there were more dramatic and profound healings too, whereas someone afflicted with, let's say, a tumor in the face was suddenly, instantaneously and miraculously cured.
The part I will personally never forget was a quick bath in the miraculous waters of Lourdes. Freezing cold, mountain water, which I was immersed in for only a few seconds, that water splashed on my legs, as prayers were said. You weren't allowed to dry off with a towel- it happens naturally. I also vividly recall touching the smooth rock in the grotto under the niche where Our Lady stood and seeing hundreds of crutches hanging form the ceiling of the Grotto, evidence of the many unexplained cures that happened there over the years.
Before we left Lourdes, my mom filled up a jog of the precious holy water to bring back home. She would give out small bottles to people she knew who were sick. In fact, about 1/3 of the container remains to this day, 45 years later.
Even though I was not cured physically, I was healed in other ways. I saw that my affliction could be much worse, as it touched me greatly, seeing the sick around me, and how truly lucky I was, especially to have such a wonderful family and people who loved me.
I also found my calling in life- as a social worker, wanting to help others. Lourdes gave me hope, faith and a new-found purpose in life.
From Lourdes we spent an overnight in Paris before catching a jet for home. We took a taxi tour of the city, and it truly was "The City of Lights." Looking up at the awesome Effel Tower was a sight I'll never forget, and seeing all the little bridges glowing with light int he dark, crossing the sparkling River Seine was also memorable.
We flew back to America, missing home ( I missed my Baseball that summer- most of the french newspapers only had a one-inch blurb and a score of the previous day's game), but fortunate to make a trip of a lifetime, 45 years ago this August.
* In yesterday's paper, there was a list of the top 10 people in all of television- daytime shows, nighttime, cable , you name it, who are the highest paid . Annual earnings included income from additional activities such as producing, non-TV performances, endorsements and merchandising. Here's the list:
1. Dr. Phil, $79 million ( Psychologist)
I like Dr. Phil and learn a lot form his shows. He is also into producing and internet stuff now. I was surprised he was cashing-in that much coin, however.
2. Ellen DeGeneres, $77 million (talk-show host).
Ellen is just so-so in my book, but I can easily see how most women can relate to her, both young and old.
3. Jerry Seinfeld, $69 million (comedian, long-ago sitcom star)
I was never into Seinfeld, believe or not. I just didn't think it was hilarious. I do respect that concept of making a show out of nothing at all.
4. Gordon Ramsey, $60 million ( angry celebrity chef).
I know of him but never watch him.
5. Ryan Seacrest, $58 million ( TV Mr. Everything)
From hosting a daily morning radio show, to a weekly music countdown show, to co-starring with Kelly Ripa every morning on TV, to his New Year's Eve gig in Times Square, to recently being announced as hosting the renewed American Idol on ABC, Seacrest is a busy guy. He also has his own line of suits, and he hosts red carpet events like the Oscars pre-show stuff.
6. Louis C. K., $52 million ( sitcom start, comedian).
Really don't know who this guy is- yet he made over $ 50 million last year?
7. Judge Judy Sheindlin , $47 million ( courtroom drama queen)
If Judy Judy can make this much money in a year, I wonder what old Judge Wapner on The People 's Court would've been worth in his day?
8. Kim Kardashian West $45.5 million ( "reality" show star).
Don't get me started on the Kardashians. What can they do? They can't act, sing, dance, tell jokes. They are all wealth.They are a joke, Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner included.
9. Simon Cowell, $43.5 million.( record executive and talent evaluator/judge)
I love Simon. American idol was never the same without him. I hope they sign him for the new version in the fall. I'm sure much of his fortune is also form being a record executive.
10. Steve Harvey, $42.5 million.( host, TV and radio guy, author)
Another guy who does it all. I don't find him as funny as others do. I do give him credit for his work ethic. But his so-called "advice" books are a joke. He screwed-up the Miss Universe Pageant when he announced the wrong winner ( how is that still possible?), and he seems to be on every freakin' ABC night game show.
* Finally, I attended a birthday party for my girlfriend's cute little puppy, Katie, over the weekend. She turned 1. It was a fun affair, and i helped plan it. Hard to believe that Party City has a small section devoted to dog'd birthdays ( sorry, nothing on cats). Everything form tablecloths with paw prints to cups, napkins and paper plates.
Yes, we had hot dogs at the cook-out celebration. And the song "Who let The Dogs Out" was played. Katie had three different outfits that she wore thru-out the festivities, including a short that read "Party Animal" on the back.
Presents? She got furry toys, squeaky toys and chewable treats. About 30 people showed up, and it had to be a kick when they were asked, "What are you doing Sunday afternoon?"
All in all, a fun time, proving once again that this world has truly gone to the dogs...
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