Posting daily at 1pm central about all kinds of subjects. One day it's dating, the next is TV commercial info. I hope you're entertained. Professional photos on SmugMug – https://benwilder.smugmug.com
If you would’ve told me last year that I’d be roller skating a few times per week I would’ve shrugged and said, “You must be on the crack.” And yet here I am, 44 years old, rocking Chaya roller skates and South Bay Board Company skate pads.
50 shades of blue.
To tell you the truth, I LOVE skating. Do I fall? Yes. Does it hurt? Yes. Will I keep trying to get better? Absolutely. I feel about skating the same way I did when I started riding bikes again. I wish I had started skating again sooner!
One of Amazon’s latest commercials, this one advertising products (but not shaving kits?) as well as their media offerings (like the movie playing on the tablet Coming 2 America, or the music – Queen’s “Cool Cat”), includes a couple of vintage 80s wardrobe choices that really stand out. Take a look at the jacket in the ad…
The jacket in the commercial appears to have gold stripes going diagonally upwards, which has been hard to find online. But a very similar jacket can be found on Amazon by clicking here. They are replicas of the jacket Freddie Mercury wore for Queen’s Wembley Stadium concert in 1986.
The Boots. The footwear in this commercial is pretty awesome! Take a look at the wrestling style kicks then scroll down for where to find them.
These are Pony brand vintage 1980s high top boots. I couldn’t find them on Amazon but there are some on eBay (at the time of this post, listed here). Notice in the pair worn for the commercial how the brand name is subtly hidden with some type of fabric matching the shoe. I guess Amazon didn’t want to “pony” up to the fact they don’t have those shows for sale. 😏
Are you going to throw some money down for either the jacket or the boots? Whichever you choose, they’re sure to be a conversation starter at your next 80s trivia night.
You think I’m going to say there are those who watch “Love is Blind” and those who don’t, don’t you? Well, you’re SO wrong!! That isn’t the best way to categorize humans on earth. Although, this idea I’m about to tell you popped into my head during an episode of that show (which makes me part of the group that watches “Love is Blind” *ahem* season 4 is available on Netflix now). One of the lovebirds who went to jump in a resort pool leaped from the side and as she floated through the air, she reached to her face and squeezed her nose.
There are two types of people in the world. Those who jump into water holding their nose… and those who don’t. There is no in between. You either do it, or you don’t. I’m a non-nose-holder and I don’t exactly understand what the nose-holders think pinching their nose does that just holding their breath won’t do, but I have nothing against them… the nerds! 👃👌
I’m sure I could write quite a bit about the recent school shooter in Nashville. But I’m not going to write anything except this… Mourn with the family and friends of those affected. Cherish the heroes who kept the tragedy from being worse. Thank God for the Nashville Police Department. Without hesitation, officers went in when most of the rest of us would be looking for a way out.
The image below was painted and mounted on the brick siding of a 2nd Avenue building (Hard Rock Cafe, I believe) for just a temporary amount of time back in 2021. It was to honor the police department in their hasty work on Christmas morning, 2020, when a bomb went off further down 2nd Avenue. Now, 3 years later, the country is reminded again that life is precious, of course, and also that the Nashville Police Department is made up of all kinds of heroes.
A contestant named Cam Amen auditioned on a recent episode of American Idol and picked a song that might be the best song ever written. It’s “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen. Here’s the version from Cam…
A great song, right? In fact, and not to take away from Cam’s talent which appears to be very high, I think the song is touching, emotional, incredible… almost no matter who sings it. That’s how good of a song it is, just in its original, lyrical form from Leonard Cohen. Should Cam go through to Hollywood? Absolutely. However, a few other contestants they sent through (*ahem* one with a famous dad who played guitar for her during the audition) weren’t as deserving. I’m sure there are other factors in the judges decision about who gets the golden ticket (*ahem* that girl with a famous dad who played guitar for her during the audition), like for instance that Lionel Richie wants to maintain an acquaintance-type friendship with the famous dad who played guitar for his daughter during her audition and to NOT send her to Hollywood would’ve been super awkward for the daughter who’s famous dad played guitar for her during the audition. The dad is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame so OF COURSE his daughter has to make it through to Hollywood. Meanwhile, the judges who unanimously gave her a “yes” are thinking they can quietly send her home during the group stages while maintaining a working friendship with her famous dad who played guitar for her during the audition. Here’s Lionel’s reaction during her performance with a look that says it all.
That look when you don’t like something but can’t say it out loud.
ANNNNYWHOOOOO….
“Nice” judges aside and not to mention I miss Simon Cowell, who would’ve sent her home without a golden ticket in spite of her Hall of Fame father, I’ll just leave you with the one “Hallelujah” performance that I can still remember where I was when I heard it the first time… (and also a list of my favorite “Hallelujah” performances here)
Take 5 minutes and listen to Jeff Buckley singing this great song…
Out of the Wilderness 