January Vanishing

     A year is going by so fast, and you can tell when the first season vanishes. It's true, we are near the end of the first month of this year.

     How does it happen? We blink, like we do every day, and suddenly, Super Bowl starts, and January vanishes.

   Some people don't believe it already. It feels....as if, another year wants to vanish into thin air, and not much has happened.

     Ok, a few things have happened. Some good and some bad. Having an inauguration that not many people saw to a NFC Championship win in Philadelphia.

   Though, not till February, a team that has already won twice is trying to get a third. I don't want that to happen, and I don't think many people do as well. Because of cheating referees, the Kansas City Chiefs found their way to get into the Super Bowl.

    For us, the Eagles, we had no idea that we had...a secret weapon. And in most of January, we witnessed how fast he was running and that we are now...in the Super Bowl.

    Till then, we'll have to wait, for one month to vanish. It doesn't mean winter is over, it just means...it's near the end. Not all the way, but close. People want the cold to go away, but they will soon bitch about the heat. They can't win.

   January is a month that isn't forgettable but is...sort of...not seen as a a month that is full of happiness unless your birthday is that month.

  Till then, winter will still be here but will be gone before you know it. We are heading to a month...full of love, a month that reminds us to keep our heart healthy, to see a groundhog witness Spring coming or not.

  A month where it is short and will be gone before you know it. Till then.... Goodbye January. We will semi miss this month and let's get ready...for the new one. GO BIRDS!

I Weep-POEM

 

I weep,

for America,

for the choices they made,

that make the next four years,

sad

I weep,

for the fire,

that burns,

out west,

and that we,

have no water,

to end,

Hell's beginning

The darkened clouds,

make me weep,

for no sun,

risen,

no happiness,

to be seen

I weep,

for the next generation,

for they,

will suffer more,

than any of us,

today

I weep,

for anyone,

anyone,

that believes,

a word,

he says,

the tyrant,

that walks among us

The tyrant,

that makes me weep,

when I hear his name,

I'm weeping now,

and I will,

for a long time

Sadness,

will not control us,

It will not,

control me,

I am strong,

and so are they,

in a world,

that believes,

in deranged things

Even though I weep,

I won't weep,

for long,

strength,

courage,

the ability,

to stay strong,

and pray,

every day,

things will get better,

then I will weep,

no more

We miss you, Aaliyah

 

  Her name was Alliyah Dana Haugtan, and I only knew her.... after she died. Why am I blogging about her? Well, today would have been her 46th birthday. But let's just say...I want to talk about how amazing this singer/actress was in her short time here on earth.

   Aaliyah's singing career started to hit around the early to mdi 90's with her first hit "age ain't nothin' but a number", which was her debut album back in the mid 90's. At times, hearing this song makes you think how long we have on this earth. I'm now 40 and well...maybe they're right. 

   Aaliyah would call her type of music "Street...but sweet." Meaning it is still considered rap, but not the kind back in the 90's that would make any parent blush with the lyrics. The kind of music that has one or two swear words but can still bring heart to the lyrics.

  There was a remake of Dr. Dolittle movie starring Eddie Murphy. It was pretty good, had a good story, good actors, and Aaliyah...had the song for the soundtrack called Are you that somebody which had actual baby crying noises (or so I was told). There were other songs in the soundtrack that I bought which were pretty good. The music video was pretty good as well.

 Another one of her songs that she was popular with was One in a million which came out around the same time as the Dr. Dolittle movie. Pretty good. She had other hits, but sadly, one of her albums would become her last.

   Rock the boat was considered the song that would be Aaliyah's last. Well, she also had an album with a few other songs that were in her final album. This music video took place in the Bahamas where she is filmed with back up dancers on a boat singing how it should not be rocked like a Rocky relationship. I guess.

  Sadly, On August 25th, 2001....tragedy would strike as Aaliayh, in her final picture with the crew that suffered the same fate, died in a plane crash not far from the takeoff. It seemed there was too much in the weight as well as the pilot having difficulty steering the plane. They crashed, and everyone on board died. 

 

  She was also known for being an actress.... although she was only known for Queen of the Damned playing the villain. It was an ok movie, and it would have skyrocketed Aaliyah to stardom, but sadly.... because of one plane crash, that star has faded. But it doesn't mean she is still loved even after death with her music and her movie.

  In honor of her 46th birthday, posthumously, she is being rewarded as becoming a Barbie Doll. Yes, this is happening. Aaliyah is going to be a Barbie doll in honor of all she had done in her short life. But today... we all honor her and her legacy. Happy Heavenly Birthday to Aaliyah. A star, who's still shining bright, in the heavens

The end of party city

  A lot of stores have gone downhill. Some even end up closing their doors for good. Circuit city, Big Lots! Blockbuster, Wet Seal, Frys Electronics and many more. Now....added to the list is Party City. A store where they sell party supplies for anyone throwing a birthday party or any sort of celebration.

  Now, Party City is on the chopping block of a long list of stores being liquidated. When will the last Party City be closing? Who knows, nobody does. The economy has not been kind to many stores that are suffering due to Amazon's on-line shopping craze.

   I remember, when I was young, going to stores like Radio Shack, Blockbuster, even Toys R Us when that huge toy catalog would come in around the holiday season. I would circle which toy I would want for my birthday/Christmas. Those days are now gone. With a click of a simple button, you, or kids can buy anything from toys to movies to electronics.

  I wasn't a huge fan of Party City unless we needed supplies for an upcoming birthday or Anniversary. They would have so many balloons on the ceiling. Themed party accessories and even a few other things that you would find in a Dollar Tree store.

  

    If you have ever been inside a party themed store, you would find things like a themed birthday or 50th Anniversary mugs to huge balloons that would not cost a fortune back when I was young. Now, Party City is joining the list of other stores going under. What will happen to party stores like this, and will there be more around after this one is gone?

   There are other supply chain party stores that aren't as memorable as Party City is. There was another Party chain supply store that was a copycat of Party City. I forgot the name of it, but it vanished before I went to college. I think we might have shopped there more than Party City. Then again, we might have went to a dollar store to get our party supplies.

   It's sad Party City is announcing their closing right around the end of the year. Many people will be without jobs and the economy is not what it used to be since the pandemic. Getting a job now...is like finding a needle in a haystack. Even jobs that require a college degree is harder these days.

  What will replace Party City? Five Below? If so.... how long is that store going to last before it closes too. Times are getting tough, and many stores are throwing in the towel. Party City is now one of them. Since 1986 to 2025, this store helped families with their party supplies; now, it'll just be another empty store.

What is fading away? - POEM

 

 I blink,

and something I love,

is gone,

in a blink of an eye,

what is....

fading away

from our childhood,

remembering the past,

and what is,

gone

Remember DVDS,

\Video games,

and phones that have a wire attached,

Remember your friend's phone number,

Floppy discs came,

before CD's,

and CD's,

are no more

Everything,

will be obsolete,

when something new,

comes along,

remember iPods?

Not many do

The past,

is so far away,

drive in movie theaters,

of yesteryear,

now,

are empty parking lots,

for nothing

When I was young,

the mall was the place to go,

shop,

and hang out with friends,

technology,

took control of our lives,

and made shopping 

on-line,

the new norm

No one,

uses,

phone books,

anymore,

nothing,

is needed,

that involves,

yellow pages

We stream,

networks,

instead of watching,

it,

on tv,

which is only use,

in streaming,

a show

remember cameras?

Not without using your phone,

flash,

a picture,

is revealed,

cameras,

are too,

fading away

renting videos,

on cassettes,

dvds,

and even video games,

they are too,

gone,

except,

for one Blockbuster,

that hanging,

by a thread

Empty phone booths,

back before cell phones,

we had to call on these,

if we were lost,

in time,

now,

another relic stands,

on empty street corners

Time is flying by,

things we love,

are gone,

and some,

are still here,

but....

for how long,

will it remain,

before it vanishes,

like time,

in a bottle

No more celebrating- POEM

 

It is January,

It means,

no more,

celebration,

of holidays,

all combined,

is done

It looks beautiful,

around the holidays,

but now,

as we get closer to ending,

the holidays,

it is time,

un-decorate

the tree,

is always,

the hard part,

to dispose of,

is it fake,

or is it real

and with the end of celebration,

you realize,

someone you might know,

having a birthday,

in very early January,

are they screwed,

will they get a celebration,

aren't you tired of all the celebrating

It feels as if,

we are done,

decorating,

singing carols,

having Christmas music,

blasting at all hours,

It's time,

to turn,

Christmas,

off

Let's try to enjoy the year,

with Christmas,

in the back of our minds,

and going forward,

into a new year,

praying,

we make it,

to the next,

Christmas celebration