THAT TIME OF YEAR: SOME THANKSGIVING WISHES OF GRATITUDE
By JOHN YOUNGREN
Editor's Note: You're seeing right. "Pop Stew" has now undergone a makeover – I liked this fancier blue and white type and figured Thanksgiving was about time to do an update. But it's still the same "Pop Stew" you know and love – only with my name in the headline (which only seems right. It's my damn website after all, Derek).
And while we're on that topic, I thought I'd let you know of another innovation for 2003: Besides the regular blogspot web address you're used to, you can now also find this website at johnyoungren.com. That's right. My name up in lights, or at least a web browser address bar or two. Type in www.johnyoungren.com and it will automatically direct you here.
Wow, right?
I thought so.
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And I also thought, during this weekend of thanks, that I'd offer my own list of things to be thankful for in this good old wonderful world of ours. (Don't take this too seriously. I have a much more personal litany of items to praise that would be a lot less fun.)
Nevertheless, I'm thankful…
…that Paul McCartney seems to be hot again.
…that "Survivor" seems to be not.
…that Shania and Faith both have new albums.
…for Ross and Rachel's new, healthy baby.
…that they quickly gave up on "Birds of Prey" and "Girls Club."
…that George Harrison got in one more CD before he went to the big bandstand in the sky.
…that the Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw songs I tried to avoid are only running around in my head 23 hours a day.
…for that Toys R Us giraffe, Geoffrey.
…that Buffy still has her fastball.
…for those "Alias" commercials with Jennifer Garner running around in her leather suit.
…that Ann Curry isn't going to be any kind of full-time host of "Today."
…that the fucking "Bachelor" is finally over.
…that "SportsNight" is out on DVD.
…that, however silly it can get from time to time, "The West Wing" can still inspire all of us to be better Americans.
…that older people don't stay up all night afraid of Christina Aguilera.
…that the Olympics pin craze will be left behind in 2002.
…that I got that Roots beret.
…that VeriSign makes it possible for people like me to use my own name in cyberspace.
…that your mama don't dance and your daddy don't rock and roll.
…for Sprint's commercial with that funny little sick monkey with a cold, although they seem to have pulled it out of the rotation, at least for now.
…for Budweiser's commercial with the babbling, embarrassing best man, because I've been that guy.
…that the "Now That's What I Call Music" series of CDs seems to be showing some signs of age.
…that they let Grace get married.
…for that lovely, Magna-bred SHeDAISY.
…that Katie and Matt have natural chemistry.
…for SPAWN toy action figures.
…for Hallmark tree ornaments.
…for Minute Maid Orange Juice.
…for Red Rock Brewing Company.
…for Vodka.
…for Chardonnay.
…for Bud Light.
…for Dr. Martens.
…for celebrity autographs.
…for e-mail.
…for cell phones.
…for baseball caps, low-profile style.
…for Diet Coke.
…for USA Today.
…for leather jackets.
…for the Rolling Stones.
…for sweet memories.
…for Amazon.com.
…for "SportsCenter."
…for VH-1.
…for Saab mechanics.
…for that clever commercial, so simply written, where the announcer just says, "Stamps," and then lists where you'll find them – ATMs, etc.
…for Kermit.
…for pizza.
…for "Hey Jude."
…for David Letterman.
…for Triumph, the Insult Dog.
…for Maxim.
…for CD burning technology.
…for "Friends."
…for cheddar goldfish.
…for Coast soap.
…for Elizabeth Hurley, Sandra Bullock and Sharon Stone.
…for the E Street Band.
…for Derek Jeter.
…for the short rightfield porch.
…that Gore's thinking about it again. (Really.)
…for Entertainment Weekly.
…for televisionwithoutpity.com.
…that no one knows what it's like to be the sad man, to be the bad man, behind blue eyes.
…that Ben finally gave J-Lo that ring, damnit.
…that Favre is still around.
…for Sarah Michelle and Sarah Jessica.
…for Fontanini.
…for the health of my friends and family, colleagues and cohorts, associates past, present and future.
Amen.
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That's it for this time. Tune in again soon for another exciting edition of the one and only, award-winning "Pop Stew!" Or, direct your comments to johnyoungren@earthlink.net
