The Wonder Years – Back in Black!

The popular show from the late 1980s is making a comeback, this remake featuring a cast of mostly black characters, including Dulé Hill (who played a favorite character from one of my favorite shows – Psych)! In this reboot, he plays the role of father to the main character. In the 80s sitcom, the protagonist, if you will, was played by Fred Savage. Fred’s character, Kevin, had a dad that really scared me! I remember that, even though I was only about 10 yrs old when the show debuted.

Here’s a teaser for the 2021 season…

I can only be honest here on this blog, so I have serious doubts about this show’s success. It may be great, but it will always be compared to the original – which must be considered by most, a classic. I tend to lean towards the idea of leaving those alone… however, I understand Hollywood takes no such stance. This will also take place in the 1960s, as did the original, so that in itself might polarize viewers in 2021. I can say this with almost 100% certainty: if there is a political vibe to the show, it will come crashing down. And let’s be honest- it’s Hollywood, so you KNOW they’ll try sneaking some BS in there somewhere.

I wish all the best to the cast and crew, though. We all gotta work, ya know? I’m interested if I can separate Dulé Hill from his awesome character in Psych – a hard task for him, since that’s an iconic role in the show beloved by many.

How do you feel about this show being recreated for a new audience in 2021? Do you think it will soar as a runaway hit? Comment below with your thoughts…

Thanks for stopping by!

-Out of the Wilderness

Football is back and better than ever?

Football is back and better than… 2020, for sure! Remember last year when there were no fans at any games and they had to create fake crowd noise? Besides the obvious devastation of lives lost and businesses closing, the manufactured crowd noise will go down in history as being the worst idea anyone had in 2020, and that includes the idea some genius had of wearing 7 COVID masks while you’re driving in your car alone.

But the fake crowd noise, whoever had that idea, they needed to be fired then, and they need to be fired now! Even if they’ve already moved on and now they’re managing a Publix somewhere, fire them. Because you know when they started working at Publix, they probably fabricated fake scents of flowers, or teased us with the aroma of fresh baked bread but it was all fake! What an imposter.

Gosh, sorry about that. I get all worked up about that fake crowd noise. But just watching a few college and NFL games already in the past week or so, it’s so clear to see how much better it is with fans in the stadium. There was a moment in the Ohio State game Thursday night when the home crowd (Minnesota) was in a frenzy because their boys were hanging with the #4 Buckeyes and I thought to myself how great it is to hear the roar of the crowd and see a full stadium. So satisfying and in a way, a relief. 

This weekend features some big matchups in both college and professional football and as the kids say, I’m here for it.

In fact, I was talking with a friend yesterday asking about plans on Sunday and I just said, “Football. From noon to about 10pm… football.” I’m not sure how well that response was received and I’m also not sure I care. Sorry, I’m not perfect. 

Speaking of perfect, do you think any college team in Division I football or the NFL will have a perfect season? I would say Alabama might have a chance, Ohio State didn’t look so hot Thursday so I predict they will have a loss this season. NFL… very doubtful because it’s so difficult to win for the entire season, especially with a 17-game season (previous years have been 16 games). 

Are you excited about football? Do you know someone who you won’t be able to speak with on Sundays? Chime in below with your thoughts, I’ll chat with you… probably not on Sundays though 😉

-Out of the Wilderness

Two favorite quotes from C.S. Lewis “Mere Christianity”

I found “Mere Christianity” at a local thrift store here in Nashville and while I’m not one to do anything at the time that thing is popular, I didn’t read the book in college when everyone else did. Dadgumit, I should have! I’m so stubborn sometimes, and sometimes it comes at a cost. Such is the case with this book. I can’t recommend it highly enough for every single human out there, no matter your spiritual beliefs, thoughts on God, or lack thereof. 

I won’t get into the details of the book because after reading such insightful and perceptive thoughts from C.S. Lewis, I can’t even fathom how I would sum up what he presents, unless I just typed it out word for word. I will say this, though– he presents the complexities of humanity in such a simple way BEFORE he even gets to anything about faith/religion/Christianity, that in itself is worth the read. 

So I think you should check it out, but for now (and I wish I had done this sooner so I’d have more quotes to list), here are a couple of my favorite quotes from the last few chapters I read. 

From chapter 10 Hope. 

“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” 

From chapter 11 Faith.

Speaking about faith being based on reason, not emotion… “The battle is between faith and reason on one side and emotion and imagination on the other.” 

These thoughts, and many others from the book, are rocking my world. I love it so much I will probably need to read it twice just to soak in the wisdom as much as I can, and to record a few more favorite quotes from the book.

Have a great weekend!

-Out of the Wilderness

A tree falling on my fence was the best thing that happened to me

I’m not sure why today is the day I’m writing about something that happened over a year ago, but here I am talking about trees that busted up my fence early in 2020, like before the pandemic early. It was one of the best things to happen to me in 2020, and in my life, if I’m being honest. 

I know a setback isn’t usually something someone is happy about but this particular event was something that often worried me. So much so that I had consistent dreams about my fence being broken or destroyed. Why that matters is that I have dogs that LOVE to explore and without a fence they can go anywhere they want. This is not good! Some dogs behave when they’re off-leash and then there are beagles. My oldest pup is almost 12 so for almost 12 years I’ve had the constant fear of her running away and getting injured, lost, or worse. Having a fence built in my backyard has been the best decision I’ve ever made in my entire adult life. It gives a lot of peace when I can count on it to keep my dogs contained. So imagine these dreams I had where the fence broke and the dogs could get out! 

Well, in 2020 a tree fell on part of the fence. It was difficult in the days after the tree fell because there were so many branches and leaves, I had to be Crocodile Dundee– g’day, mate!– to even get to the fence beneath the tree. I remember thinking, “If it’s this hard for me to get to the fence, my dogs surely won’t climb over limbs and branches and through all the debri to find a way out.” 

I was wrong. They escaped at least 293 times.

So how is any of this good, you might be asking? Trees falling. Damaging property. Dogs escaping. Not good. Well, this big fear of mine– the fence breaking down– happened in real life (not just in my dreams) and so I was faced with a challenge. I am not handy at all. I haven’t really ever built, renovated, repaired, or jerry-rigged anything in my entire life in regards to home, house, yard, etc., and to be honest, I’ve never wanted to. I’m just not that kind of manly man. Repairing the fence was daunting. 

But with the help of my neighbor and my insurance company, I was able to do something I never really thought I could do. Talk about feeling empowered! A fence was broken and now it’s fixed. From this accomplishment, even as small as it may seem, I feel more confident in my ability to do things I didn’t think I could, or would, do. Now when I look out at the backyard and see the replacement boards, the new chicken wire, it gives me such a sense of confidence and joy. 

I’m also grateful the damage wasn’t worse because it could have easily been and then I would’ve called a professional man. 

Have there been any tasks you thought you were unqualified to do, or just that you didn’t think you had the ability to do well? Comment below, I’d love to hear about how you tackled the tasks. 

Here is a video of some of the damage from that day in 2020.

-Out of the Wilderness