In year's past, I have closed out the year with a "year in review", and still plan to do so - though, it's going to come a couple days late this year. But I figure in the meantime, I'll offer my thoughts on the last twelve months in what should be my final post of ***7, because it truly has been a roller coaster.

This has been a year with some positives. I've been blessed with some great friends. I've been blessed with the fact that, ailments and all, my father has made it through another year. I've been blessed to have my health, for the most part, though it hasn't been easy. There was getting to see my father twice, despite the 1,500 miles seperating us. And, of course, after years of speaking out, I got the news that our almighty Queen is on her way to the Hall Of Fame...

This has been a year of negatives, too. There have been some conflicts (we won't get into those here, though). There was the ill-fated manner in which my trip to Dallas ended. There have been tough spells and emotional valleys and fears.

This has been a year of The Price Is Right. From the amusement of being bear-hugged on national television by a relative stranger, to the thrill of being there for Bob Barker's final prime time special, to the elation of The Handshake, to the heartbreaking finale, to the fear of "Oh no, who are they going to hire to replace him?!", to the thrill of finding out we're getting Drew Carey, to the anxiety over the set changes, to sending Chuck off in grand style, to watching Robert walk away with both Showcases, Television City has provided no shortage of memories and moments for me this year.

This has been a year of reflection. Reflecting on myself, on those in my life, on my past.

This has been a year with loss. So many people who left an impact upon my life - most of whom I've never known - who left this world. I'm left with both gratitude for what they meant to my life, and sadness over the fact they're gone. You can definitely expect a list in the "review" post...

This has been a year of fiascos - corporations selling unsafe food, crooked politicians, and a media more obsessed with stupid, childish, self-destructive celebrities than what's going on in the real world.

But most importantly, this has been a year of love. Dragging my loud ass to Los Angeles to express my love for a living legend. Friends who have been there, and who have had my back. Friends who have been the wind beneath my wings, and friends who made sure I wouldn't spend Thanksgiving or my birthday alone. Friends who have shared my highest highs, and lowest lows, with me.

Once again, I thank each and every one of you.

Happy New Year to you all! May this next one be better.

Labels: Barker Worship, Madge Worship, Mi Vida Loca, That's What Friends Are For

Before I go into what's new, not quite so new, too new, etc., I would like to chime in with something that has been heavy on my mind recently.

I know I haven't done the greatest job of keeping in contact with people this last year. For all the happy moments (The Handshake, the nice visit with my father last month, the priceless moments in Studio 33, and the very kind and thoughtful things others have done this year), this hasn't been the greatest of years. There have been some moments that have really sucked ass and hurt. There have been things that have depressed the hell out of me. And given a choice between dumping everything onto people, or keeping to myself, I felt the right thing was to keep to myself and not inflict my grief upon others.

In a way, I regret it. In a way, I don't. I just know one of these years, things have to get better.

I do want to apologize to anyone I hurt, or caused them to have doubts, over my "Here one day, gone for a month" antics this last year. I do promise to try to do better next year.

Here's hoping things will get better. Maybe how yesterday finished might be a start.

In with the new: After three years of utter embarassment, at least I no longer live in a building that looks like it belongs to Homer Simpson.

I don't know how many of you saw pictures of the old yellow/gold/purple/orange paint scheme (later yellow/gold/orange) here. I know I had the pictures posted here at one point. Then lost them. Then found them again.

Either way, the place now looks like it's occupied by humans again. A few weeks ago, they finished up the new paint job on the place: White, beige, and brown.

Sure, it may sound a bit boring, but believe me - I'll gladly take it after what the hell this place looked like the last three years!

I'll be sure to post the before and after pictures shortly.

Out with the old: Anyone who knows me knows I don't make a big deal about Christmas. My one wish every year is to not spend the day alone. If someone sees something to put under the tree (like Madonna magnets, or a CD, or a certain 49 year old singer from Michigan herself?) that they think will bring a smile to my face, I'm touched. If not, it's not like I think "Yeah. They don't care.". Nor do I compare the "value" of one gift to another and decide who cares more. Some of my favorite gifts over the years have been inexpensive, yet a case where I know someone saw something that they thought I'd like and got it.

After all, isn't that what Christmas should be about?

Well, I have something okay on my Christmas list this year (okay, so really, I don't), if any of you out there have $11,000 or so just burning a hole in your pocket (okay, so none of you do, which is why I'm totally joking. Well, at least about getting this for me.)

It consists of twelve 10'10" high by 2' wide by 2" deep panels with all sorts of pretty colors (well, twenty four panels, actual, since it comes with it's sister set), and a giant green, rounded frame with gold trim.

Sound familiar yet?

If not, let me also add that a certain 8384 year old television legend walked through that door over 6,000 times until this June.

Yes, boys and girls... They're auctioning off the old doors from The Price Is Right.

(And, yes, I really am joking about getting it. I'd love them, but they wouldn't even FIT in here...)

That said, I kind of have mixed feelings over these auctions (as they are auctioning off all three sets of doors in three seperate auctions)...

On one hand, it's good to know they are being auctioned off, and the proceeds will go to charity. I was honestly worried after they unveiled the new set that the doors were just thrown away. Regardless of whether the frames are 35 years old (yes, those frames dated back to day one), and the doors are 13 years old (they took the doors from the 1994 Doug Davidson version and repainted them after the 1994 series was cancelled), they ARE a piece of television history. It would've broken my heart to find out they just discarded them, figuring they weren't needed anymore. At least I know those pieces of history are safe and sound.

On the other hand? I would've liked to have seen them (or at least door #2, which Bob walked through all those years) go to a museum or something. Archie Bunker's chair is in a museum. The Plinko board has been promised to a museum. Why not Bob's door, too?

All I can hope is that those doors find their way into good homes - that whoever buys them will appreciate them and take care of them (Paging Bob Boden!). That said, if I find out who buys them, I'm going to harass them to let me come over and just touch the doors, just once, like I'd always wanted to do...

While I am happy with the Drew era so far, it's just another sad sign that the Bob Barker era truly is over. Bob just celebrated the big 8-4, and we all know he isn't coming back. And now his doors are about to become the property of someone else...

Thursday the 13th: The thing that occupied my attention most of the day yesterday was George Mitchell's report on the tainting of baseball by steroids. I'm not going to go into a lengthy post here (I'll save that for a soon-to-be-defunct sports blog on why I care less and less about sports all the time). But it did hurt to see some names I respected - even admired - linked to this shit.

I spent so much time focused on that, and worrying about the potential (further) tainting baseball's Hall Of Fame that I didn't find out until this morning about another Hall Of Fame...

In a bit of news I wasn't even expecting for another 3-4 weeks...

John Mellencamp? Check.
The Dave Clark Five? Check.
The Ventures? Check.
Leonard Cohen? Check.

Uh oh... There were two other names mentioned as heavy favorites to go in this year, but only one spot left... Someone is in... And someone got left out. And, it's a real shame, too. I like both artists. I have such fond memories of both the Beastie Boys and Madonna. Both have had amazing careers.

And, it's why it's with some disappointment that I have to say that it's wait until next year for Ad Rock, Mike D and MCA... Because headlining the Hall Of Fame's class of 2008 is everyone's favorite vulgar, controversial, one-named female singer who has been known to expose herself on occasion...



Decmber 13, 2007 - the day that started off so poorly with the Mitchell Report, closed on a far happier note with the report that Queen Madonna is now Hall Of Famer Madonna.

I had little doubt myself, but I know how political the whole damned process has been all these years, and I admit to more than a little relief to know it finally is official, that I won't have to worry about waking up to find out she got screwed because "She isn't rock" (though, some writers are already bitching about THAT), or "She pissed us off too much!", or some stupidity that overlooks the impact she has had over the last 25 years.

How thrilled am I? Yesterday at 7:45 am, I was pouring myself a toast to the one and only, true (blue) queen of music herself. Why not? Not only does she deserve it, but it certainly can't help to lift my spirits a bit after Mitchell's bombshells yesterday...

Fuck Eric Gagne. We have boots! We have champagne! WE HAVE MADONNA! Congratulations, Madge! You certainly have earned it!

It really is true. Cleveland rocks. Cleveland rocks! Cleveland rocks!

Drew Carey: MA-DONNA! ON-NA! ON-NA! ON-NA!

Labels: A world gone mad, Barker Worship, Boot Worship, Cheaters, Corporate Assholes, Madge Worship, The Drew Is Right