An evening in Normal, IL with Idol top-3 finalist Leah Marlene — It felt somewhat…surreal. The top-3 finalist of American Idol said the same herself as she graced the stage. Leah Marlene was met by an estimated 15–20,000 Idol fans during the honorary parade. My daughter and I staked our spot in the crowd at about 6 PM, when the celebration was…

From 1990 hip-hop song to 2022 Racially-Motivated Buffalo Massacre — Back in 1990, Flava Flav was the clown prince of a hit-making hip-hop group called Public Enemy. The group’s single “911 Is A Joke” was a dig at the response time of the emergency services system. From the call for help to the police or firefighter unit response, the song…

The struggle: Should I have taken an internship offer? — The year was 1992. I was in my senior year of college. For those who are unaware of this period of college student life, the junior and senior years of college are critical in developing network skills to find a viable, lucrative job that could become a career. In the…

My impression of *-daily-* notices about your products — Dear relentless online seller, I…hear…you. I see you clearly. Everyday. I remember buying that thingamadoodle from your website…a year ago. It was a timely purchase that has served me or my family member well since it arrived at my door. Kudos all around! I even provided a glowing review for…

Musical Coming Of Age On Saturday Mornings — When I say “Saturday morning”, readers who were preteens from the 1970s thru the end of the 1990s should have instinctual, happy feelings about it. That is because this time was an idyllic period on TV where cartoons and animation ruled! Unlike weekday afternoons which entertained kids who were just…

Well, just one dog, and she’s smart — Back before the pandemic lockdowns, I thought I knew the family dog pretty well. She has only one squeaky toy that she will retrieve for treats. She retreats into her kennel whenever I enter my bedroom. She has a disdain for the delivery people and the mailman in particular! This…

Miles of smiles to the end of the road Dear Hooptie, We’ve been through a lot over the years! The first time I pulled you into the driveway, everyone cheered! They all wanted to pile into your spacious cabin and go for a ride. We’ve crossed many miles from Central…

Tribute poem — My heart may often skip a beat…awed by the variety of ladies who embody and amply endow a color spectrum like no other. Strikingly semi-slim lips; White-cocoa colored skin; Beauty freckles subtly hidden by a sun-kissed complexion lovely as the setting sun. Full facial features and hips augment to a stunning…

Classroom curriculums are being legally “sanitized". Are Broadway & other entertainment avenues next? — Recently, I had the pleasure of watching the 2021 remake of “West Side Story". Because I am naturally drawn to music, and I enjoy a good movie, I tend to appreciate quality musicals. When this “West Side Story” remake premiered at theaters, I was wrestling with the risk of seeing…