Holiday Fare: "Champagne Problems" on Netflix - Approved!

Netflix has made it very clear, this year, that they want to dethrone Hallmark as the King of Christmas movies.

Can they do it?

They just might!

So the #1 rule of being in Netflix's Preview Screening Club is - you can't talk about Netflix Preview Screening Club - UNTIL something you've reviewed is released - then you are encouraged to help hype it, it you liked it.

As an aside, if you're interested in being in the Netflix Preview Screening Club, the thing is - and this is gonna sound snootier than I mean it to -  but you have to be invited?

I have no idea how I was invited, I've never been invited to any special club in my life.  😂

The only thing I know is my watching patterns as a movie geek, my demographic, and sometimes they'd send a blast email asking us what we thought of stuff after watching, and being a former aspiring screenwriter, I'd write them a detailed eyeful 😂 raving about what worked and gently touching upon what didn't. I think they also ping out to see what's being talked about social media (which I'm not on) and blogs, etc.?

So if you want to be in it, I might suggest that you watch a bunch of Netflix (and not just the mainstream stuff), fill out the blast-email review requests afterwards (the more specific and detailed the better) -  not just the thumbs up button, but the random after-premiere ratings they ask for - and review what you've watched on Netflix on your social media or blog.

The caveat being, of course, if you are in NPSC already, you can't write or talk about what you've previewed until it's released, you signed an NDA - but after it is released, you can talk about it all you like, as it helps with promotion.

The really cool thing is, they DO listen to your suggestions and make changes/tweak stuff!

Now, without further ado ... 

I approved "Champagne Problems!" 😂

It's currently #2 on the Netflix Top 10 movie list, just dethroned by Jingle Bell Heist 😂

(FYI, the new Stranger Things is on the the TV show list, rather than the movie list, because it has episodes; thus, it is deservedly #1 on that list.)

So the problem with Christmas Rom Coms is they're usually long on "Rom" to the point of corny, very short on "Com" - and especially 

HOWEVER, this one brings the "com" - mostly due to these 2 members of the supporting cast  ... 

Sean Amring as party starter, Roberto Salazar ...

... and Flula Borg who is NOT that ... as weird, morose, but somehow still loveable Otto Muller ... 

Roberto snaps out the ice-breaking one-liners, and Otto's bizarre tales of his traditional austere German Christmases, which apparently involve Krampus, ashes, dead things, and robotic dancing (think Mike Myers as Dieter from Sprockets on  SNL, but more loveable) should at least bring a smile to your face.

So most of these holiday rom coms are overly formulaic, right?

Quirky, over-privileged white girl, who doesn't realize how good she's got it, is forced by either business or family to visit some idyllic Christmas spot we all only wish we were sent to, but bitches about it, classic fish-out-of-water (or returning fish to water).

She either brings a sister or a best friend or meets one, who convinces her she needs to chill and believe in the power or love and Christmas magic. 

Then there's a "meet-cute" where she like, bumps into what will be her love interest with an entire tray of hot coffee or something, only she doesn't realize it's her love interest until she meets him again later.  

Mayhem ensues, girl gets boy, girl loses boy somehow, girl gets boy back, she realizes her old life elsewhere wasn't so great after all, they settle in new town - boom,  then end.

That is the formula - and if they stray too far from it, the movie won't fly.

So the trick is, how to hide the formula better or at least make it more interesting, and if they can, wittier, funnier - which Champagne Problems does!

BTW, for those unaware, the phrase "champagne problems" means the type of problems rich people have, so it's already kind of a wink to the usual overprivileged people in these movies, but in this case, it really is about champagne as well. 

(There's also a little Pretty Woman hotel concierge moment in there and I'm not sure why, considering the story line, but it works nonetheless.)

TBH, Jingle Bell Heist, is even better at it - it follows the formula somewhat, but you may not recognize it at first, which is why it's #1.

Minka Kelly brings more warmth than quirky as the lead role. In fact, at the beginning, I didn't know if she was gonna pull off the sharp business lady role, the killer deal-closer role, but then I realized - that's the point.

Spoiler alert - though as I just said, you should know the formula  of these things by now anyway - she doesn't really want or need to have a killer instinct to be successful, after all, and success has many definitions. 

And don't even get me started with how much I knew the ladies would love Tom Wozniczka as Henri Cassel.

It's not just the French accent ... okay, it's a lot about the French accent ...


... but his twinkly eyes, his crooked little grin, his understated sense of humor, and controlled passion when he speaks in French, which lets us know what he's saying without even understanding French?

Oui, oui, be still my heart!



And Les Etoiles, the Parisian bookstore they meet-cute in and he wants to own and run?

I know it's just a set, but I want to go wherever it is and live there, forever.

(I couldn't find any decent pictures of it at present, except the hallway between rooms, which doesn't give you the feel - sorry.)

And I learned a French phrase, which I think is a better way of saying "I miss you" than we do - "Tu me manques" - which means "You are missing from me."

Isn't that great?

It's saying "a part of me is missing without you."

Considering it's so personal, I doubt they throw that phrase around as casually and insincerely and as often as we do, either, right? 

Who knows, the French love to be passionate, and they do mean it sincerely, at least for the moment 😂

So is Champagne Problems the best thing I've ever seen?

No - but it's better than the usual Hallmarky Christmas fare. And we do love our Holiday Rom Coms in America 😊

This one was approved by the Netflix Preview Screening club - and me. 😊

Enjoy! 

Sabrina Carpenter VS. Trump - PLUS - Trump Just Pardoned an Actual Honduran Drug Cartel Lord

 *Edited - Sabrina's X tweet added, ER story added

But before I go there ...

So I took a little break from blogging until I had fully extricated myself from an overly competitive, creepy, and intermittently completely unhinged coworker -  then a few days later, my husband got Flu A with pneumonia, for extra fun.

It was weird, because I took him to the doctor the Monday before Thanksgiving because of a 104.2 temp, the flu swabs were negative, but the doc heard crackles in both lung bases, so she pronounced him with pneumonia, prescribed 2 antibiotics, and sent him home.

The temp came down to near normal, then suddenly spiked back up to 103.8 the day before Thanksgiving, he was coughing incessantly, so the doc said to take him to the ER. 

ER doc said she heard crackles in both lung bases, too, but the chest x-ray readout pneumonia had resolved/was resolving, but he now tested positive for Flu A. 

Guess he had both, I don't know, but I haven't seen my husband that sick since his stroke.

Needless to say, Thanksgiving Day was ... quiet. 

I still cooked, though, because damn the flu, I say!

He didn't eat much on actual Thanksgiving Day, though, except the pumpkin pie.

(Hey, I feel like he earned the right to eat whatever he even felt like eating, at that point!)

He did later, though, that entire turkey was gone by Saturday lol.

I'll be honest -  it was a little harder to find my gratitude that day, but I'm pretty practiced at it already, so I still found a few things, like ...

For starters, good food, Ziggy, and having each other, as well as all who called, texted, or wrote us to wish us a Happy Thanksgiving/check on Mark.

Then there's the ER staff at the brand new Baptist Health Lexington Hamburg facility that just opened last Spring- they were AMAZING!  

The Hamburg location is an ER/acute care hospital, as well as Baptist's new cancer treatment facility; however, Lexington is very slow to change/anything new and apparently still prefers to go to the main hospital?

Listen up, Lexington - GO HERE - it's so much better than the old Baptist Health Main, it's fantastic!

(Or actually, no - keep going to main, because then the rest of us can get in and out faster at the new one😂)

I figured I'd take him to this new one instead of main, as greater incentive for him to go 😉

Brand new, super clean, super swanky, and the entire literally smiling team greets you as soon as you're taken back to your ER room - doc, nurse, EMT, phlebotomist. 

(And yes - built after COVID, they are actual individual ER rooms with sliding glass doors - no more of this contagion separated only by curtains stuff anymore.)

No waiting on the doc, labs, vitals - all immediate.  They x-ray image at the bedside immediately.  I was super impressed, I've never seen such efficiency, all done with smiles.

In fact, the staff had great senses of humor. 

For instance, I told them I had a hard time getting him to do as the doctor ordered, come to the ER, not just because of his prior stroke, but because we'd just watched the "Murder by Medic" series on Hulu.

So ... although the show includes all medical professionals who murder, it's mostly about medical serial killers. Mark developed a sudden half-hearted irrational fear about someone accidentally or on purpose injecting him with something as a 60+ man! 😂

So on the way there, he says ... 

Mark: "And if someone comes in with a shot of anything the doctor didn't order?" 

Me:  "Then I will punch a bitch - in the face  😂    

 

"No, not really -  but what I WILL do is what I did when the hospitalist doc accidentally ordered you the standard stroke protocol regimen which included Eliquis (powerful blood thinner) on top of aspirin, despite a heavy active bleed.

I said, Whoa, wait, hold up... so ... he has a heavy active bleed from a kidney stone also passing, right now. If we give him Eliquis plus the aspirin, couldn't he bleed out? That's the reason he didn't get tPA at onset. Can someone please check? "

"And those medical serial killer stories are ultra, ultra, ultra rare, Honey. Even fatal medical accidents are rare." 

"Also, you should know that ever having to take you to the ER again has switched me over from Ripley-hiding-from-the-world-under-the-covers-with-her-cat mode into hypervigilant, kick-ass Ripley overdrive mode. Nothing gets past me, right now." 😂

When  I told the ER team about his watching this show just beforehand and it freaking him out, and they got a kick out of that, and then said: 

"What we'd put in this IV bag - is it really D5 saline or is it a bunch of insulin though you're not diabetic?  You'll never know and neither will the coroner. Mwahaha!"

Nyaaak! 

😂😂😂

Gotta love that morbid sense of humor in the medical field as a coping skill.

Mark's eyes widened, then even HE laughed - and yes, he came home sufficiently rehydrated and breathing better. 

No long wait for discharge either, but at this point, Mark actually didn't want to leave yet, he was so warm, comfortable and pampered.  In fact, we took a picture and sent it to his family, calling it his "spa day." 😂

And a special thanks and shoutout to our friends and former neighbors, Rico and Angelie,  who actually surprised us by dropping off a bottle of authentic coquitos that they special-ordered from Puerto Rico for us, after I fell in love with coquitos after spending last Thanksgiving with them, but we were unable to do so this year - love you guys 🩷

I actually teared up at that surprise, it happened at a perfect moment - we had returned from the ER, I had just gotten Mark bundled in bed, medicated up, and settled, and I was in the middle of baking the cornbread for the dressing the next day, so I was pretty stressed, exhausted, and overwhelmed - so what a great surprise!

So I did end up getting the flu too, this past weekend, one week after him, but it's milder, despite being a smoker.

The difference?

I got the flu shot, Mark didn't - so get your flu shots, people!

Just like COVID shot, the flu shot doesn't necessarily keep you from getting the flu (especially mutated/new strains), but it does keep it from getting too severe - I could tell at onset it wasn't going to be as severe.  Also helping was I took Tamiflu the 2nd day, it shortens it/mitigates the severity.

He's going back to work tomorrow, and I'm almost better, so there's that. 

But I'm grateful that I'm a week behind him, so I could care for him properly and still cook his favorites for Thanksgiving, even if it was just us, this year, and even if he could only handle a small slice of pumpkin pie at first. 🥰

And one more thing to be grateful for - I found out last week that I was accepted into the program I applied for at the University of Cincinnati! 

(From UK Wildcat to UC Bearcat😊)

In other news, singer Sabrina Carpenter blasted the White House administration via X today, over ICE using her song "Juno" for a video about ICE arrest raids.

Considering she's 4'11" and still at the beginning of her career, it's like watching David and Goliath - Go Sabrina, work that slingshot!

Then Abigail Jackson, a White House spokesperson responded via statement: 

“Here’s a Short n’ Sweet message for Sabrina Carpenter: we won’t apologize for deporting dangerous criminal illegal murderers, rapists, and pedophiles from our country. Anyone who would defend these sick monsters must be stupid, or is it slow?

Hahaha! 

So what's actually funny about that is that you think that's a good clapback, Abigail.

I guess it could be -  if you were mentally incapacitated in some way  - AND  ... 

1) IF if your sentence - "deporting dangerous criminal illegal murderers, rapists, and pedophiles from our country" - even made sense. 

Are there murderers, rapists, and pedophiles who aren't "criminal illegal?" 

And  ..."criminal illegal?!?"

How proud the Trump administration must be to continually put on public display their superior command of English grammar and punctuation! 

(Cough, cough)

So much for stupid and slow. 

 

2)  IF you managed to even accidentally stumble into capturing and deporting even just 1 legitimate murderer, rapist, or pedophile during your ICE raids, instead of just poor families with children, just trying to survive, who simply have darker skin.

At what point, do you think, will Trumpists finally realize their 3rd-grade bullying tactics of calling us "libtards," stupid, etc., are ineffective at turning us to the dark side?  

I mean, maybe that stuff works on themselves and other weak-minded, gullible individuals, but we're immune. We don't feel stupid or ashamed or whatever they're trying to bully us into feeling - we just roll our eyes, walk swiftly away, and avoid them like the plague.

Also, I couldn't help but notice that the top rationale of "drug-cartel trafficking" that had been previously used to justify ICE raids is curiously missing from that sentence.

Why?

Oh,  wait, I know!

Maybe it's because Trump just pardoned convicted Honduran cartel drug lord Juan Orlando Hernandez - the former President of Honduras - currently serving sentence in a West Virginia prison.

BTW, JOH is is also a Christian Evangelical cult leader, who blames the "radical left" and "deep state" for "setting him up" and crediting God for his release. 

Hmm, I'll take things cult leaders say for $1,000 Alex?

(Tack on calling others corrupt in deflection/projection of their own, tack on cult leaders also calling other people "pedophiles, rapists, and murderers" when methinks, in their case, the smellers are the fellers.)

Also, Trump et al calling anyone that doesn't agree with him corrupt, a murderer, rapist, or pedophile is starting to lose its effect. 

The sad thing is, the pedophile accusation in particular has become so frequently used that I fear society may become desensitized to it  or wave it off like wolf-crying and people stop taking it seriously anymore.

And why would the U.S. government go to all the trouble and expense just to set up a president from a small country and actually bring him here for conviction and imprisonment, as some sort of setup, hmm?

All of this to say, this is proof positive that Trump doesn't actually care if you ARE a "dangerous criminal illegal murderer, rapist, or pedophile (or cartel drug trafficker)" - as long as you support him -  especially if you made a ton lot of money doing so, which he can use to support himself. 😉

Erm - that IS the definition of corruption, Ladies and Gentlemen.

Oh my, aren't you glad I'm back, folks? 

Don't answer that 😂

Thank You ...

 

... to whomever hit this post from 2023  multiple times yesterday.  

Not sure if that was pure coincidence or someone's way of reminding me, but either way, thank you 😊

I didn't see it beforehand, but it's still good to remember when self-doubt creeps in. 

My tracker shows general location, not specifics, and there's more than 1 person it could be - so if you were trying to to draw my attention to it, let me know who you are through private channels so I can thank you personally?

Whatever the outcome, I faced a major life fear yesterday!

PS - I Did It :)

 

I wouldn't say I conquered my fear, but I faced it ... not gracefully, somewhat awkwardly, somewhat rambly ... but at least I didn't pass out or throw up ... I did it.

It was virtual, and I did this awkward little wave goodbye at the end, I'm not sure why I did that. Just because I always do that on Zoom or Teams or FaceTime. 

Then I thought to myself "What are you doing?  That was weird."

OMG, I can be so neurotic -  like Monica on Friends is sometimes, only minus the OCD about cleanliness - or the beauty, talent, or nearly as funny. 

Oh, well, at least I did it. Nobody ever said I was smooth lol.

She was professional-nice, no grilling, no interrogation, just the facts (what I could prove).

Thank you, to friends and family with me in spirit today ... including Marian (or at least I like to believe she's with me, in true meaning of the word "spirit")  😂

Why I Fear Reporting Anything at All to HR, While Still In the Workplace ...

This is my blog and has been my voice years ago, when I otherwise didn't have one and was completely powerless - so whatever happens, this stays up - because it's truth.

This is something that happened 17 years ago that even my daughter doesn't know, because I shielded her from more than she will ever know - but at 31, she might need to know - because once upon a time, this was the reality for women in the workplace, and it still is, in some places, even after #metoo.

Also, I want her to know, if/when she reads this, that after the "trial" part happened and I quit - it happened to be the same day of her 14th birthday party. I went on and had her party with 20 people at my second job at a restaurant, acting like nothing happened, and she was none the wiser.

Because that's what you do as a mom.

This was just after we left Granny's for Northern Kentucky - just after leaving/divorcing Jon in Florida (the other person who these words below in light yellow bold).

Being that US-MT contract companies had already begun falling before the recession, with the advent of offshore outsourcing and check-the-box EMR/EHR systems, I took temp jobs in the day and waited tables at night, until I could find something permanent. This was the first permanent, corporate job I took.

But before I go into that, I thought of Nietzsche, this morning, who said "That which does not kill us makes us stronger."

Oh, yeah? 

I disagree.

In fact, ask even once bad-ass war veterans if they feel 'stronger' after their war experiences and injuries, inside and out.

Not only would most say "No," but they would also likely punch Nietzsche right in the face, if they could lol. 

I think "once bitten, twice shy" is more accurate.

Then I thought of my "spiritual mom," Marian, who was killed by a drunk driver in 2023, who often said something like:

"The thing you fear most in life is going to keep coming back until you overcome it, you can't outrun it/avoid it, as hard as you try." 

"Because it's an opportunity from God for you to learn and grow, for you to feel you handled it more successfully than the last time." 

"It may look different, talk different, act different, and the situation itself may be different - but in the end, it's the same fear you will have to face, until you finally conquer it. " 

I've found that's true, whether you want to blame or credit God, your subconscious choosing it because it wants to make peace with your fear, or it's just random and plops in your lap out of nowhere, you will have to face the things you fear most in life again and again until you overcome them.

I would like to believe she's with me today, even if it's not true, because it makes me feel better.

Now - here we are today, trying to conquer a major fear  - so this is a letter that I just wrote to my current HR, last night, about why I feared speaking with them about anything while still in the workplace ...

___________________________________________

Okay, so ... 17 years ago, I was sexually harassed in the workplace by the head of the company. I mean, it was a real Fantine situation (Les Miserables). When I told HR, I realized HR wasn't there for us, they were there to protect the company.


I felt like I was on trial instead of him.

"Did you say no?" "Did tell him to stop? " Why didn't you say it louder so people could hear or ask for help? Did you ever wear anything that could be construed as provocative? Isn't the truth that you were in a relationship, he broke it off, and you're bitter?"

That was almost more traumatic than the harassment itself.

Of course there was no relationship - he asked me out 1,000 times and I turned him down 1000 times, he just launched a preemptive strike before I got to HR. 

I told nobody, being professional - he told everybody this lie that he could.

So I ended up quitting, because nobody believed me, I was retaliated against and was bullied beyond belief, including physically.


But here's the good news ...


He did it again, 6 months later - another new girl in town, another single mom without support - she reported it, too, and then he was fired.


That is what I was hoping for here - I could report it, instead of going through "the trial," the disbelief, the false rumors to discredit me - someone could file it away, you could think I was a Karen or a nut - but when it happened again with somebody else, you'd know then I was telling the truth and that person wouldn't have to go through all of it.


But most people, including my therapist, say HR has changed, and it depends on the company - that it's possible to both protect the company AND you, not either/or.


So I would like to believe this about ______ and give it a shot?


Also, just an FYI, I was afraid if I mentioned this to management as the reason I didn't go to HR like they initially suggested, they'd think I go to HR habitually or something, like Karen, right?


Regardless, whatever happens, I would like to make it clear that I did NOT report this to them simply because "she yelled at me" - I'm not that precious! lol


It's because of what she said to me on the phone that day: Not verbatim, but close:

"Go ahead and try to tell anyone about this call, they won't believe you, they love me here. You're new and have no proof."

That gave me chills - and I never thought I'd hear those words again in my life - especially from another woman.

(*This isn't of a sexual nature.)

I didn't have any support, last time, as a single mom in another city, I do now and wanted them with me, but I respect your wishes.


And I don't mind your questions, but please - if we're going to put me on trial again, instead of her - can we just ... not?


Because if that's the plan, I'd prefer you believe what you like, file away what little I have told you (the quote above in bold), chalk me up to being a nut or a Karen - until it happens to somebody else. Then you'll know I was telling the truth, right? And she won't have to go through the disbelief, the doubt, the trial on top of the stuff X does.


Thanks for your time. Let me know?

Better Women - Cynthia Erivo (and Michelle Yeoh), Protecting Ariana Grande

 

Yesterday, I posted about Megyn Kelly, hair-splitting the definition of pedophile, in what appeared to be semi-defense of Epstein for what reason we don't know (but could guess, since Epstein's emails allege that her own pimp, Trump, knew all about the underage-girl trafficking).

Today, however, we're gonna talk about the sort of women who don't throw other women under the bus so they can shine. 😊

For those who haven't seen this yet, this is Ariana Grande's costar, Cynthia Erivo, jumping into action immediately to protect her costar, who was charged and grabbed by a fan, at the premiere of "Wicked: For Good" premiere in Singapore.

Because security was not in proper place, it took several seconds for them to even react - but Cynthia Erivo jumped into action immediately.


She began forcibly prying the attacker's arms from her, pushing him towards security, while Michelle Yeoh wrapped her arms around Ariana like a mother, as did Cynthia after dealing with him, both with their arms around her and shielding her.

Then -  as this video shows you - because security didn't throw him out afterwards  - HE DID IT AGAIN -  until security finally turned him over to authorities and arrested him.

This man does this serially for attention on social media and thus shall remain nameless.

In fact, he jumped on stage with Katy Perry last summer. 

And that's the thing -  if there's no consequences for this boundary-less behavior, they'll do it again - they don't stop themselves, because they can't stop themselves - so they have to be stopped. 

And Jeff Goldblum? 

I love you, but ... so disappointed in you, just standing there, doing nothing, letting the women deal with being ambushed themselves.

As you can see in Ariana's eyes, she's checked out completely, floating around in a full PTSD bubble (she has openly revealed she has PTSD from the terrorist incident in London).

THAT is what you do as a costar, teammate, fellow woman, and a human being.

There's a saying "character is what you do when no one's watching."

It's also a true test of character if you put yourself in harm's way to protect a friend from an immediate threat, without hesitation, regardless of the audience.

Unfortunately, women are particularly skilled at behaving one way when people are watching/the cameras are on versus off/no one's watching. 

They spend a lot of time and energy trying to control public perception of who they want to appear to be, rather than authentically being that person.

However, note that in this situation, though everyone was watching, Cynthia didn't even have time to think about appearances or care - , she put herself immediately in harm's way to protect her costar.

It's times like these where you can see that some women really are the person they appear to be.

Fellow women - in moments like these, do you protect your costars, other women, or do you throw them under the bus so you can shine?

Cynthia Erivo and Michelle Yeoh both proved their character by instinctually jumping into action to protect her, putting themselves in harm's way to do so, and wrapping their arms around her.

And they're actresses, supposedly the most competitive, cutthroat women on the planet!

Go Cynthia and Michelle - especially Cynthia - willing to put yourself in harm's way to protect you costar and friend!

Women?

Please believe other women when they try to tell you something is wrong or you can see something is wrong -  until you have a reason not to - whether the threat to them is male OR another female. 

Because sometimes, like in this situation where security failed her, all we have is each other. 

_______________________________

PS 

And by "gives you reason not to believe them" I do NOT mean using efforts to discredit the person like smear campaigns and their associated pile-ons, etc. -  that is not proof, and mob rule rarely makes the mob right.

Though this doesn't necessarily apply in this particular situation, especially because it's all on video, it does when women try to tell someone what happened, whether the perpetrator is male or female.

If you're ever not sure who to believe in a situation, remember these general guidelines as to what to watch for  ....

Victims ....

Initially question themselves or even blame themselves for bringing it on themselves somehow, stop talking, isolate, and even quit or leave because they fear not being believed (until they learn to fight back). 

They also enter therapy, at some point, which is when they learn how to fight back.

Perpetrators ...

Never doubt or blame themselves for bringing it on themselves, even initially - and they never isolate -  in fact, they usually do the opposite and try to rally support for themselves by playing the false victim, sometimes even enlisting others to help them attack on this false premise.

They almost never enter therapy, unless their lawyer advises them to for appearance sake or they are court-ordered to do so.  

Even then, they don't stay in therapy, especially if a therapist questions or confronts them (which any good therapist will do with every client, at some point, trying to better understand behaviors).

These are not hard-and-fast rules, but general guidelines of how to tell a victim from a perpetrator, when both are claiming victim.

You Know You Wrong, Megyn Kelly ...

... splitting hairs on the definition of pedophile regarding Epstein.

Who does that, on either side of politics?

Especially considering that she, herself, is the mother of a 14-year-old girl?

WHY would she do that?

Read on ... 

So Megyn Kelly - desperately trying to stay relevant after being fired from every legitimate news source in America, to include even Fox News - has found herself a new career in podcasting, in which she panders exclusively to the worst kind of white males in America.

(I mean, damn - how dishonest and ethically challenged ARE you, if even Fox News won't ever work with you again? 😂)

Not even posting a picture of her or linking to her podcast, because that's why she says this inane, ignorant stuff, to get attention for her podcast.

So after this post, I will never mention her again, hoping she once again falls into disgrace and obscurity.

Because this week, after the Epstein emails were released, she said:

"He was into the barely legal type. Like, he liked 15-year-old girls. And I realize this is disgusting. I'm definitely not trying to make an excuse for this.  I'm just giving you facts, that he wasn't into, like, 8-year-olds. But he liked the very young teen types that could pass for even younger than they were, but would look legal to a passerby."

“We have yet to see anybody come forward and say 'I was under 10, I was under 14.' There’s a difference between a 15-year-old and a 5-year-old.”

What the ???

Um - 15 is NOT "barely legal" - it's unequivocally illegal!

In fact, it's still 3 years away from legal!

There's also a "world of difference" between a 15-year-old girl and an 18-year-old girl, Megyn - physically, emotionally, and intellectually.

(In fact, being that I was underweight, I was underdeveloped and didn't have my period until I was 16. I developed by leaps and bounds by the time I was 18, physically, emotionally, and intellectually.)

So pray tell, Megyn -  WHY are you playing the semantics game in semi-defense of Epstein?

Could it possibly be that Epstein's emails clearly state that your pimp, Trump, knew all about it? 

What if somebody took your now 14-year-old daughter to a private island, gave them illegal drugs, sold them to the highest bidder, then dared them to tell anyone or their life would be destroyed?

Would you nitpick the legal definition of a pedophile then?

I don't think ya would. 

(Well, in your case, you might, if someone paid you enough.)

Go former Hollywood child stars, Melissa Gilbert, Valerie Bertinelli, and Christina Ricci for taking her on!

However, at the same time, I think we should all just start to ignore her, because we're giving her what she wants  - more publicity for her white-male-power-abuser- ass-kissing podcast, because no credible news source will hire her.

Speaking of Melissa Gilbert and Megyn Kelly, Megyn Kelly imagines she's good at clapbacks, but she always ends up embarrassing herself.

Because the truth is -  she's not very bright.

She seems to only comprehend the literal, almost incapable of thinking outside of the box, or thinking through her own arguments very well, before she says them. 

Case in point, what she said about Netflix's forthcoming Little House on the Prairie reboot:

Kelly: "Netflix, if you wokeify Little House on the Prairie, I will make it my singular mission to absolutely ruin your project." 

 

Gilbert: "Ummm…watch the original again. TV doesn’t get too much more ‘woke’ than we did. We tackled: racism, addiction, nativism, antisemitism, misogyny, rape, spousal abuse and every other ‘woke ‘ topic you can think of. Thank you very much."

Doh! True.

Go Melissa Gilbert!

But go ahead and imagine you even have the power behind you anymore to "ruin" it, Megyn Kelly - from your tiny little whiny podcast that no one listens to until you say something awful.

I'd like to see you try - you, and your tiny band of pedophile, rapist, and other misogynist nobodys who even listen to you? 

Whatever you want to call Epstein - OR his enabler, Trump - those underage girls from poor, troubled homes were tricked, sold to the highest bidder, then threatened with destroying their lives if they told.

YOU - an over-privileged, 54-year-old woman from a wealthy, supportive family - CHOOSE to be a political whore,  enabling and protecting your Pimp In Chief! 

God, there is little more nauseating than the type of women who  unnecessarily compete with, betray, sell out, bash, and/or throw other women over either male attention or their own ambition, currently on a delusional power trip - even preteen/teenage girls?!?

Again ... ewwwwwww!

God, that is so early last century - and gives the rest of us a bad name.

______________________

PS

I admit it, I'm finally pissed about my personal situation.

It's taken me a while to get here, but I am.

And it felt good to take it out on Megyn Kelly, as the worst-case-scenario poster child for the type of woman who dismisses the concerns of other women, or worse, throws them under the bus, to  get ahead or to get what she wants.

And guess what?

I'm not sorry. 

In fact, I feel better!

Thank you, Megyn Kelly, for being an absolute sh*t of a woman and human being, so that I could use you as my verbal whipping post and feel a little less powerless in my own situation? 😂

Have I Overreacted or Is This As Bad As I Think?

 

*Edited, content added.

Since I closed my comments years ago - ironically, due to the last time these extremely rare words were spoken to me -  feel free to email/chat/call me and let me know your answer/thoughts? 

So if someone says to you essentially "If you try to tell anyone, no one will believe you, they love me here. And where's the proof? There's no proof. "

Is that as scary to you as it sounds to me or does it sound like no big deal?

When I heard those words before, I didn't take them as the red flag I should have, and bad things happened.

(Well, to be fair, I started to doubt myself, which I'm doing again now.)

That was in my personal life though - this time, it was a coworker. 

She's been there 2 years. Me, only 6 months. And it's remote.

She's right, though, I don't have proof - it was a call to my personal cell.

I wondered at first if I'd overreacted based on the last time someone said that to me and tried to separate that out. 

I called EAP and got back into therapy.

They said my body's reaction to it (shaking) were based on past experience and may be an overreaction and just proof of my PTSD diagnosis,  but it really is a scary thing to say, too, it's not normal.

My therapist and I went over it and over it, because I told her I am the common denominator here. 

After a few sessions, the gist - NOT VERBATIM - of what my therapist has said overall was:

Therapist:  "Sure, you are the common denominator, but maybe not for the reasons that you think." 

 

"What comes off you is you're very kind, funny, and smart - but you also clearly doubt yourself, don't think very much of yourself, make fun of yourself a lot, apologize a lot, blame yourself a lot. Bullies take note of that and use it. They see it as weakness."

 

"What we do know about people with even covert bullying qualities is that they do what they do because they're insecure and unaware of it."   

 

"So here comes you, doing extremely well at your job, right out the gate - but you're also very open with your insecurities, apologize a lot for things you don't need to.  And she can probably sense damaged boundaries from childhood and will push them like a test. You're openly aware of your flaws and insecurities, she has no idea of hers. So she's gonna work yours to feel superior." 

 

"Did it ever even occur to you this may have happened not because you did something wrong, but because you're doing something right?" 

"Not because you ARE better, but just because she's AFRAID you're better?"

Me:  "Um .... no. You mean like she's jealous? I guess I realized she had some sort of competition with me only going on in her head, but actual jealousy? I'd have to think about that. It's really hard to believe that anyone could ever be jealous of me. I mean, look at my life, who would be? lol"  

 

"The only person ever in my life, that I know of, who was ever jealous of me was my older sister, but I didn't even realize that until we'd been estranged for years, why she did the horrible things she did,  particularly trying to drive a wedge between myself and  daughter. It's obvious now, of course, looking back, but it wasn't at the time."    

 

"In fact, that's really hard for me to even let myself think about, because anytime my mother had a problem with anybody, it was always because they were jealous of her lol. It just seems like a narcissistic thing to even think about."

Therapist: "Yeah, but sometimes, it's true. And the difference between you and your mother is, you didn't come in here saying that - instead, you said "What's wrong with ME?"  

"Your mother never even considers anything is her fault, doesn't doubt herself, she doesn't even wanna look -  but that's the first place you go."

 

"And even when someone tells you it isn't your fault, this person did this out of their own issues, you still don't believe it lol."

Good point lol. 

My review was glowing, And I do have the highest quality scores and am second highest in productivity, and I do tend to crack people up in tense moments?

Regardless, both EAP - and my therapist later - said I should at least try to tell somebody rather than run immediately, and wait and see if I'm believed -  if for nothing else, so they have it on record in case it happens to somebody else. 

And if/when they make her apologize or she does on her own, it's okay to be skeptical. She could even be sincere, but just not self-aware enough to understand why she's doing this stuff. 

Because how many times did my ex apologize sincerely, and I went right back, only to have it happen again?

So I did try to tell - not HR, just management.

I didn't want a bunch of drama by going to HR, plus she's right, I had no proof but my call log, not what she said.

I'm pretty sure I wasn't believed - because I thought they'd been monitoring her communication with me since, but it's clear they weren't.

My team leader has literally said "She would never say something mean to anybody." 

To be fair, though, I wouldn't have believed she was capable either, until she called me on my personal cell when the boss was away.  Shocked the shit outta me.

Best job of my life in a field that's being replaced by AI and I'm 56. 

It sucks not being believed. 

You look like a paranoid nut and a joke, even though you stayed calm and were telling the truth.

Like I said, I've been there 6 months, she's been there 2 years (all remote). I mean, ya can't fight that as a new person - it only makes you look like trouble.

All you can do is wait until they do it to somebody else new, I guess.

Well, at least I tried to tell someone this time, stayed calm, didn't doubt myself like previously - NOR just run away immediately based on past experience, like I wanted?

Not that it makes a difference either way. In fact, it's almost worse - had I just quit the day it happened and let them wonder, I'd feel better than feeling like the nut job and the joke now.

I tried, but she was right - no one believed me and I had no proof.

Thus, the self-doubt is starting to creep in again - not that she didn't really say that, because I'm 100% sure she did. 

But maybe I did do something else to bring that on myself that I'm not self-aware of?

Or that what she said isn't that bad and I overreacted?

Let me know what you think through private channels.

Just Gonna Plop This Screen Shot of The Letter Featured in the Lexington Herald Leader Today

 *Edited

I didn't plan on posting again today, after my Eddie Murphy post below, but just saw this in our local news.

I'm just gonna plop this screen shot, right here ...

The letter is from an article in the Lexington Herald Leader, today, from the lobbying contractors who lobby for Fayette County Public Schools to the state legislature, terminating their contract with them, and why.

So .. can I just tell you that 3 months ago, my husband, a former data analyst for FCPS,  transferred out of that department, taking a giant pay cut, and is now going to retire in January, for a reason (s)? ;)

NOT because he did anything wrong - but he knew others were.

Also, he did NOT have anything to do with the budget and financial data she mentions  - but his department would be the other data she refers to, here, that a lobbying firm would need to be accurate, consistent, and not manipulated when presenting it to legislature.

Even his ex-boss wasn't over input of financial data, but he is over both the IT and Data in general - data submission/presentation -  to the district, the school board, and for outside open-records requests.

She also says in the letter that someone - whom she believes is a school board member - has been smearing her to the press days before making this public announcement.

Interestingly, check the 1st and only comment under the article, at present - it's very clearly someone trying to discredit her.

I mean ... who else would write that comment, right? 😂

We didn't even know who she was, until today, even my husband didn't, so whoever wrote that apparently doesn't realize doing so is actually helping her case by providing proof someone IS doing that!  😂

What a world we live in now and the lengths people will go to cover up their own wrongdoing, technology actually making it easier in some cases to deceive, right? 

So here's the history, for those not following the local news the last few months -  FCPS is being audited and is in serious trouble.

The public first became aware the budget was in serious peril when the superintendent had an emergency board meeting to beg for an emergency contingency fund as the budget was in crisis.

Since then, we now have a state financial audit questioning literally millions of dollars in luxury travel and other strange spending sprees. 

Then the bombshell - local press reported the new budget director was placed on unpaid leave in July without explanation, curiously just after she sent emails to the superintendent and school board chair regarding budget inconsistencies and reckless spending.

So she got a lawyer and sued, citing retaliation and protection under the Whistleblower Act, then took a press tour - providing press with the emails proving she tried to flag everyone, then placed on leave in retaliation. 

And here we are today.

So this was validating for my husband, but considering the letter doesn't mention directly what the "other data proven inaccurate," is, only partially so. Also, no action/consequences yet.

Though just like at any other government institution or bureaucracy, here have always been some issues there - but it's become absolutely toxic the past 5 years.

In fact, though most of my neighbors work for the schools and say  the same, 3 others besides my husband - in different departments - have done the same as Mark - quit, retired, or switched to a lower-paying job. 

(One actually went back to teaching, though previously in administration leadership).

This is what happens when the toxic people are put in charge, then all the qualified, good people quit, retire, or switch out of departments. The toxic people then hire in unqualified crony buddies, who all protect each other.

BUT - don't we love it when truth finally comes out, or starts to?  😊

The Epstein thing, too - I've been saying since 2015, somebody should check into his ties with Epstein, based on his strange quote in New York Magazine in 2002 that resurfaced - but no one would listen.

And now, Trump is trying to get the DOJ to go after Clinton, I guess as some sort of distraction from what Epstein said about Trump himself.

I will not be blinded by what political hat child sex traffickers and those who enable them wear - so investigate both Clinton AND Trump

Because the fact is, Epstein's email said neither Clinton OR Trump participated in the sex-trafficking of underage girls - but only mentioned Trump as knowing about it for certain - but both need to be questioned.. 

But again, people will believe what they want to believe, and they have to be willing to even view the proof, without wearing rose-colored glasses - which many won't,  because it's contrary to what they need to believe.

That is, if they even know about it. Fox News STILL has yet to mention what Epstein said about Trump knowing for a fact what Epstein was doing.

Regardless, there is nothing like telling the truth about what you witnessed or experienced with a person, but no one believes you - nothing. 

And sometimes it's not even a matter of believing you or not believing you - they just don't want to deal with the whole investigation process and rehire someone.

I speak from personal experience.

The worst, however, is when you actually DO have proof, but no one wants to look/listen, because they're so sure whoever you're talking about isn't capable of whatever it is.

(My husband was in this situation, he actually recorded someone on several occasions  - and yet it made no difference.)

But the fact that the tip of the iceberg is now starting to show publicly is at least somewhat validating for him.

It brings me hope, too.

In fact, both situations brought me hope this week - that even it may take months, years, decades, or even centuries (in Trump's case?), the truth will come out, even if it's after we're gone - because it always does. 😊

But one thing I know is this ... a watched pot never boils.

You have to let it go or it can consume you.

Because it's not about what happens to them - it's about what happens to you because of what they did.

Can't catch their disease, lest you be just like them - and you also let them continue to have that much power over you  😊

"Being Eddie" And The People Who've Made Us LOL By Decade ...

 *Content being added, as I watch the second half.

So we started watching this late, then went to bed, so watching the second half tonight - and we're really are enjoying it -  despite the poor reviews, mostly about how we're not really getting any insight into being Eddie Murphy at all.

What did y'all expect?

This is how Eddie Murphy survived his super stardom without falling into addiction or drugs (he has never drank or used drugs), having a mental breakdown, or losing all his money - by NOT allowing us to have that part of himself. 

He'll hint at more vulnerable parts of himself, but he's not going to let you actually see it, so quit trying. 

It's a huge deal that he even let us see his house, his kids and grandkids, revealing that he prays and meditates, and especially that he was diagnosed with OCD a long time ago, right?

We're lucky Eddie Murphy let us in at all, frankly - he is well known to fiercely protect his privacy.

Because Eddie Murphy is a rare gift, straight from God (if there is one) - much like Robin Williams was.

And at the same time, he has this ability to tell you about everyday, mundane stuff, so that you feel like you're sitting right next to him at Thanksgiving. 

Eddie Murphy could sit there and could tell you what he had for breakfast this morning and have you laughing until you cried.

That is, if he wants to - he's actually known to be a pretty introverted person when not on stage, always observing. 

He's not going to allow the public to use HIS childhood to feed your "black trauma porn" addiction.

The important part is, he survived - and thrived!

In fact, he's remarkably well-adjusted, not just for having survived hints at his childhood, but his skyrocket into fame at 21 years old, and the fact that most comedians are privately bitter people.

No drugs, no drinking his entire career (with the exception of weed now and then, which he didn't even try until his 30s).

No rehab, no mental breakdowns, and has has made good financial choices - still worth about $200 million - and above all, no bitterness.

It's really quite remarkable, especially considering the level of fame he was at and being the first black box-office blockbuster draw - everyone wanted a piece of him - and he was 21 years old!

His experiences in early life taught him to find the humor in everything, literally everything - and without being mean.

Everything is curious to Eddie, everything is fodder for jokes later, and not in a mean way, but just like "That's some crazy shit, man, you know that, right?" - while giving you a wink at the same time.

People often credit Seinfeld with observational comedy  - but Eddie Murphy is actually the king of it - because not only does he joke about what he observes in real-time, he acts it out for you, with dead-on impressions, from celebrities to the person that served him Starbucks this morning.

I'm gonna sound like a granny here, saying this, but it's true - I wish "the kids" today could understand what a huge deal Eddie Murphy was, back in the day. 

I remember watching the old VHS tapes of "Delirious" and "Raw" over and over again, with my boyfriend and his huge family and our friends, like big groups of people, crying from laughing so hard, though we'd seen it 20 times already.

Built on the foundation Richard Pryor built of tackling racism from the black perspective, and making us laugh - Eddie Murphy took that ball and ran with it, to the degree that even White Supremacists laughed and liked Eddie Murphy.

Eddie Murphy taught us not only to laugh at white racists, but laugh at the everyday dumb stuff we white people do, and often what other black people do - Eddie Murphy taught us to laugh at ourselves.

In short, after literally centuries of white people putting their cruel racist humor on center stage and daring people of color to even blink, here came Richard Pryor, then and Eddie Murphy, not just laughing in the face of racism, but getting even racists to laugh at themselves-  getting ALL of us to laugh at ourselves, white, black, or other -  with a wink while he did it.

Eddie Murphy had the power to actually make us forget race for a while, if he wanted to - he had the power to unify - in a way that very few entertainers - very few people - can do. 

The show mentions an LA critic who pointed out, at the time, that his movie Boomerang had not a single white cast member and that Coming to America only had one.

So?

Were you counting?

And you know what, I didn't even notice what race people were, and I definitely didn't count, at the time, expect that, or even care - all I knew if Eddie Murphy was in it, I was going to laugh.

I didn't even think about or care about the race ratio - why did you?

And what, you're uncomfortable because you're not seeing people with your complexion all over a movie?

Welcome to their world.

Then we were talking about when was the last time someone made us laugh until we cried, like literally wiping our eyes we laughed so hard, doing stand-up or on TV or in movies?

It's been a while. Nobody currently seems to have that ability do they?

I mean, I laugh really easily at everything, but wiping my eyes from laughing so hard I cried?

It's been a minute. 

I can't even remember. I think it was certain SNL skits a couple of times (NOT this season) in the past 10 years.

(BTW, what's missing this season from SNL are the OTT impressions of people, which made the show, and its actors, famous.  Nobody in this cast is apparently capable of doing them?)

So then we started to talk about who made us laugh until we cried, each decade.

1970s

Carol Burnett.

Tim Conway.

Lily Tomlin

Red Foxx

Flip Wilson

Phyllis Diller

Paul Lynde

Mary Tyler Moore

Valerie Harper

Cloris Leachman

Ed Asner

Ted Knight

Betty White

Monty Python cast (John Cleese, Eric Idle, Graham Chapman, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Michael Palin)

The entire original Saturday Night Live cast (John Belushi, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, Garrett Morris,  Jane Curtin, Chevy Chase, and Laraine Newman).

Richard Pryor

Gene Wilder

George Carlin

Andy Kaufmann

Woody Allen

Diane Keaton

Tim Curry

Charles Grodin

Mel Brooks

Madeline Kahn

Alan Alda

Polly Holliday

Sally Field

Burt Reynolds

Danny Devito

Steve Martin

Bill Cosby

Bette Midler

Robin Williams

SCTV cast (John Candy, Martin Short, Rick Moranis, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Dave Thomas, Joe Flaherty)

1980s

Eddie Murphy

Robin Williams

Bill Murray

John Belushi and Dan Akroyd

Chevy Chase

Goldie Hawn

Charles Grodin

Lily Tomlin

Bette Midler

Billy Crystal

Robin Williams 

Whoopi Goldberg

George Carlin

Jerry Seinfeld

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Bill Cosby 

Tom Hanks

Michael Keaton

Leslie Neilson

John Candy

Rick Moranis

Steve Martin

Martin Short

Danny Devito

Dana Carvey

Kevin Nealon

Dennis Miller

Al Franken

Phil Hartman

Nora Dunn

Jan Hooks

Billy Connolly

Roseanne Barr

John Goodman

Ted Danson

Shelly Long

Woody Harrelson

Kirstie Alley

Steve Guttenberg

Michael J. Fox

Bruce Willis

Matthew Broderick

Anthony Michael Hall

John Cusack

The Kids in the Hall cast (Dave Foley, Mark McKinney, Kevin McDonald, Scott Thompson, Bruce McCullough)

Christopher Guest

Fred Willard

Martin Mull

Michael McKean

Harry Shearer

Bette Midler

1990s

Eddie Murphy

Robin Williams

Billy Crystal

Whoopi Goldberg

Jerry Seinfeld

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Martin Lawrence

Jim Carrey

Adam Sandler

Chris Farley

David Spade

Mike Myers

Dana Carvey

Will Ferrell

Molly Shannon

Ana Gasteyer

Nora Dunn

Jan Hooks

Norm MacDonald

Kevin Nealon

Phil Hartman

Sarah Silverman

In Living Color cast/The Wayans brothers (Damon, Keenan-Ivory, Marlon, and Shawn)

David Allen Grier

Tommy Davidson

Martin Lawrence

Rosie O' Donnell

Chris Rock

Ellen Degeneres

Roseanne Barr

John Goodman

Fran Drescher

Jeff Bridges

Steve Buscemi

Friends cast - Matthew Perry, Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc

"Frasier" cast -  Kelsey Grammer, David Hyde-Pierce, Jane Leeves, John Mahoney, Peri Gilpin

Margaret Cho

Janeane Garofalo

Nathan Lane

Brett Butler

John Lithgow

Jane Curtin

French Stewart

Kristen Johnson

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Christopher Guest

Michael McKean

Harry Schearer

Eugene Levy

Catherine O'Hara

Parker Posey

Fred Willard 

Martin Mull

Conan O'Brien

Kevin James

Danny McBride

Jamie Foxx

Simon Pegg

Nick Frost

2000s

Jim Carrey

Robin Williams

Dave Chappelle

Sasha Baron Cohen

Mad TV cast (Nicole Sullivan, Michael McDonald, Stephanie Weir, Alex Borstein, Debra Wilson, Will Sasso)

Friends cast - Matthew Perry, Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc

Jack Black

Adam Sandler

Drew Barrymore

Reese Witherspoon

Ellen Degeneres

Jon Stewart

Stephen Colbert

Conan O'Brien

Will Ferrell

John C. Reilly

Ben Stiller

Vince Vaughn

Owen Wilson

Steve Carell

Chris Rock

Tina Fey

Amy Poehler

Will Arnett

Maya Rudolph

Jimmy Fallon

Seth Meyers

Megan Mullalley

Sean Hayes

Nathan Lane

Ryan Reynolds

Jimmy Kimmel

Jason Bateman

Kevin James

Tracy Morgan

Andy Samberg

Kristen Wiig

Maya Rudolph

Bill Hader

Fred Armisen

Jason Sudeikis

Dane Cook

Taran Gillam

Jamie Foxx

Seth Rogen 

James Franco

Paul Rudd

Jonah Hill

Jason Segal

Zach Galifianakis

Ed Helms

Ken Jeong

Bradley Cooper

Neil Patrick Harris

Danny McBride

Jason Bateman

Jeffrey Tambor

Michael Cera

Jane Lynch

Eugene Levy

Catherine O'Hara

Parker Posey

Jennifer Coolidge 

Simon Pegg

Nick Frost

2010s

Ryan Reynolds

Kevin Hart

Ricky Gervais

Sasha Baron Cohen

Melissa McCarthy

Ellen Degeneres

Kate McKinnon

Maya Rudolph

Kristen Wiig

Leslie Jones

Andy Samberg

Jack Black

Jamie Foxx

Wanda Sykes

Jimmy Fallon

Jimmy Kimmel

Stephen Colbert

John Mulaney

Tina Fey

Amy Poehler

Alec Baldwin

Tracy Morgan

Chris Pratt

Nick Offerman

Patton Oswalt

Aziz Ansari 

Aubrey Plaza

Seth Meyers

Fred Armisen

Jason Sudeikis

Conan O'Brien

Bill Hader

Henry Winkler

Dax Shepard

Kristen Bell

Steve Carrell

Seth Rogen 

James Franco

Paul Rudd

Jonah Hill

Zach Galifianakis

Ed Helms

Bradley Cooper

Ken Jeong

Danny McBride

John Mulaney

Bill Burr

Rebel Wilson

Key & Peele (Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele)

Ty Burrell

Julie Bowen

Eric Stonestreet

Jessie Tyler Ferguson

Sofia Vergara

Kate McKinnon

Cecily Strong

Kenan Thompson

Tiffany Haddish

Issa Rae

Ali Wong

Kumail Nanjiani

2020s

Most of the following have made me laugh out loud, by not so much to tears, with the exception of Melissa McCarthy, several episodes of Ted Lasso, Schitt's Creek, Jennifer Coolidge, Parker Posey, and Nate Bargatze's skits on SNL (and some of his standup).

(Also, I don't care for Bill Burr or Shane Gillis, but they did make me laugh out loud a time or two; regardless, they both are hot right now.)

Ryan Reynolds

Kevin Hart

Paul Rudd

John Mulaney

Jimmy Fallon

Jimmy Kimmel

Stephen Colbert

Dan Levy

Eugene Levy

Catherine O'Hara

Awkwafina

Zack Galifianakis

"Ted Lasso" cast (Jason Sudeikis, Brendan Hunt, Brett Goldstein, Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple, Jeremy Swift, Nick Mohammed, Phil Dunster, Cristo Fernandez, James Lance)

Aubrey Plaza

Jennifer Coolidge

Parker Posey

Wanda Sykes

Righteous Gemstones cast (Danny McBride, Walton Goggins, John Goodman, Adam Devine, Tony Cavallero, Edi Patterson, Tim Baltz)

Aziz Ansari

Pete Davidson

Issa Rae

Nate Bargatze

Leeanne Morgan

Taylor Tomlinson

Ali Wong 

Michelle Buteau

Fortune Feimster

Michael Cera

Steve Martin

Martin Short

Adam Sandler (and the Sandler family).

Hannah Einbinder

Jean Smart

"Abbott Elementary" cast (Quinta Brunson, Tyler James Williams, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Lisa Anne Walter, Janelle James, Chris Perfetti, William Stanford Davis)

"Ghosts" cast (Rose McIvor,  Utkarsh Ambudkar, Brandon Scott Jones, Devan Chandler Long, Richie Moriarty, Rebecca Wisocky, Sheila Carrasco, Roman Zaragosa, Danielle Pinnock, Asher Grodman, Betsy Sodaro)

"What We Do In The Shadows" cast ( Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, Natasia Demetriou, Harvey Guillén, Mark Proksch, and Kristen Schaal."

Tiffany Haddish

Kumail Nanjiani

Shane Gillis

Bill Burr

___________________________

PS - I have just submitted my transcript to the University of Cincinnati, for the Online Oncology Registrar Program, so wish me luck?

My prior cumulative GPA of 3.77 will probably get me in, no issue there - the problem is the finances needed. I was going to delay this a term, after Mark retires, but have decided to go ahead, so we shall see.