Capsule #23
Commentary of the year that was in observation and opinion
TRAVELING BACK…
2023— Oh my Goodness, you were trying at times, but I got through. You’ll be a year to remember— the one in which I realized just what the End Times mean and how it is not the end of the world for me and humankind as a whole. The year was also my first fledged adult year living in Virginia. Never mind this year of retail hell, with hard hat and all. My best work performance of the year is best reflected in my writing. It flourished this year like it had not before. Lots of new poems were born, older partial pieces were completed and released at last.
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TOP THINGS I LEARNED THIS YEAR
Your co-best friend is a good pair of walking shoes. I got heavily schooled on running/walking shoe brands on the job. Quite fascinating for since I was never a sneakerhead. BROOKS became my go-to for comfort and style
A good number of political and economic concepts. (i.e. Limited Hangouts- I wrote a little poem on these.)
The Commonwealth of Virginia has a lingo all of its own, a southern tinged Mid-Atlantic American)
Species of birds, insects and trees, in my neck of Virginia woods alone!
(Marveling over the arrival of the dragonflies in the front yard
Aww-ing over the blue-tailed lizards, or skinks, in my area)
MY FAVORITE DESTINATION OF THE YEAR
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FAVE LOCAL HAUNT OF THE YEAR
BUSCH GARDENS, Williamsburg, VA
I felt like a kid again, went during Mardi Gras celebrations. Wonderful times!
(See video review of Mardi Gras event ‘23)
TOPS IN TRAVEL STORIES ‘23
Macchu Picchu closes temporarily- ‘cause of politics, of course.
Brightline grant of 3 bil dollars makes SoCal-Las vegas rail closer to reality
How about that meltdown from the “Crazy Airplane Lady” or “That M F’er aint real” woman on an American Airlines flight! What even was that!?
Las Vegas closing normal Strip goings-on for Formula One
MY STANDOUT POEMS OF 2023
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MEN BACK!
JELLYFISH STING NO MATTER YOUR COLOR
THOUGHTS & OBSERVATIONS AT THE HOSPITAL CAFE
What a productive year, the best yet as far as number of pieces produced!
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WORDS/PHRASES OF THE YEAR (for better and worse)
“Barbenheimer”- the most 2023 term on the list, inspired the first poem here
”stagflation”- thanks, Bidenomics!
”fugazi”- used in a short poem of mine
”Panderverse”- hilarious, See Top 10 Panderverse moments from South Park
”panopticon”- Happens to also be a recent Peter Gabriel song
”vibe”- heard a lot lately but it has gotten overused, esp in sexual connotation, of course
“give flowers to”- a would-be harmless phrase getting tiresome to hear, often directed at people who really don’t deserve them
STANDOUT & BUZZNORTHY ‘23 PIECES ON SUBSTACK THAT “STOPPED ME IN MY TRACKS” in no particular order
The Human Before Me by Franco Amati
Difficult to choose a standout from Franco since there’s a plenty, but if I had to- this! Thanks, Franco, for the shout-out!)Apocalypse Lunchtime with Naomi Wolf Well-captured reaction to the ‘23 wildfire events in New York and Canada
The Blue Heron by Corey Smith the loveliest of reads that captured my heart
Lost in a Forest by David Permutter Thoughtful, candid & informative piece coming from a very personal place
Of the Amish, Punks and Pod People by Mr. Raven Well patched, timely essay
More Than Gravity That Holds the World Together by Carrie Newcomer
Featuring the lush song that made one morning one 2023 day
Sex is like Fire by Christiane Northrup (paid post)
most mouth-dropping, mature discussion on physicality of sex, it’s reason alone to subscribe and payThe Tavistock Institute of Human Relations by Maryam Heinin
Chilling and highly informative; a most significant to understand how modern society and culture came to be
TOP NOTCH PODCASTS VIA ‘STACK THAT MOST CAUGHT MY EAR
The Starfire Codes- Stimulating discussions on a great variety of topics;
visually eye-catching introFree Black Thought- Sharply structured in conversation, intriguing talk of black American POV otherwise not gathered on the net.
MOMENTOUS IN ‘23 MUSIC WORLD NOT TAYLOR, BEY OR HIP-HOP
‘23 fave song, most spins on my player
’23 Albums Most Worthy of a Spin:
*Most Timely and Best Overall Produced Effort: Peter’s IO
*Best and Most Apropos for Traveling/Road Trips: Grace’s Mother Road
*Most Intriguing & Poetic Effort: Depeche’s Memento Mori
Other top spin albums of ‘23: Amanda’s Heavy Lifting (my tops via Spotify) Darius’ Carolyn’s Boy & Chris’ Higher (tops in contemporary country)
Winery D’s III (tops in rock)
Colbie’s Along the Way (tops in adult contemporary)
Emerging Acts Who I Newly Discovered and Enjoyed: Elder, Caroline, Leela James, Louis York
Out of Nowhere Music-Related Headlines: Oliver Anthony, from Virginia, shot to the top of Billboard like a rocket; Other viral political songs top Billboard;
Barbie the movie becomes a major music phenomenon; A “new” Beatles song “Now and Then” was released
It’s the 80s again: Depeche Mode, Rick Astley, Duran Duran, Pet Shop Boys, Winger, Natalie Merchant with new music album releases
On the Rock Lane: ”Old Geezers” incl. Rolling Stones, Peter Gabriel, Yes, Jethro Tull and Alice Cooper do comeback albums; Kiss announces retirement as actual in-the-flesh rock musicians, transform as avatars; Mike Portnoy rejoins the band, Dream Theater
File Under Country: Morgan Whallen drops 36 track album; Fast Car redux by Luke Combs
Shout-Outs: I subscribe to Carolyn Newcomer & Kimbra (who had an album released in January)
If you enjoy good “dad music”, particularly classic rock, metal, prog variety, hard jazz/fusion, follow Sea of Tranquility
CRAZIEST PSYOP OF THE YEAR
Travel-related! How about that blondie “That M F’er aint real” woman!
Is she sincere? Just a panic attack?
Alien/UFO Government reveal - Is it a psyop?
Taylor Swift pushed as a “major sports figure” by sports media
Sports commentators make more references to Taylor as they do to Tight End, Travis Kelce. Even sensational Running Back D’Andre Swift of the Philadelphia Eagles has to compete with Taylor for attention in the NFL.
CULTURE FAILS OF THE YEAR
Overall Disney decline, including film flops, Disney +
The downfall of superhero movies
From Marvel and DC. Yikes for The Marvels, Ant Man, Blue Beetle…Decline of sports media as a whole
Objective sports journalism all but gone, everything corporatism in mainstream Seek out alternative sports talkBud Light marketing
MOST OVERHYPED CULTURAL HYPE TRAIN OF THE YEAR
Chat GPT
Maybe not earth-shattering, indeed human shattering…
So-Called “Return of Covid”
Well, Covid, however you may define it, never really left. Also could be under Craziest Psyop. Covid 2.0 inspired “Covidian Buns”Barbenheimer
Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce “Swelce”
Coach Prime Deion Sanders
NOTABLE FINAL FAREWELLS IN ‘23
Primarily, the countless “died suddenlys” of common folk to mention, as well as the famous. We know who they are — though some hate to admit. Some famous died suddenlys are included here.
Cultural Legends Pass On
Tina Turner- my fave soul & rock n roll star; Jim Brown- venerable NFL legend
Tony Bennett; Jimmy Buffet; Richard Roundtree- aka Shaft; Bob Barker
More Passings in Music
Sinead O’ Connor; Charlie Robison- Singer/songwriter of a fave song of mine,
“El Cerrito Place”
Foreseen it coming?
Lisa Marie Presley- you could just see it her eyes just before she passed that she was going to die.
Matthew Perry- Batman imagery, last Instagram pics quite eerie before death
Lovely Leading Ladies Pass
Raquel Welch- Classic beauty in and out
Suzanne Sommers- Genuine soul of Three’s Company & Thighmaster fame
Oddball Pop Culture figures Gone
Paul Reubens- aka Pee-wee Herman
Jerry Springer
Faves from the Soaps pass…
Elizabeth Hubbard- Lucinda, As the World Turns (I loved Lucinda!)
Billy Miller- Billy, Y & R & General Hospital (a fave character of mine)
From the Political World
Henry Kissinger; Sandra Day O’Connor; Supreme Court Justice; Diane Feinstein
From the Literary World
Milan Kundera-author; Recommended Read: Slowness
Cormac McCarthy- American author, dystopia America Read: The Road
Charles Simic- poet; Read: Hotel Insomnia
Saskia Hamilton- poet and editor; Read: Inside
Other authors who died in 2023 and suggested reads by them
BEST FASHION TRENDS OF THE YEAR
Utilitarian wear- cargos, blue-collar look
Why didn’t I realize that nurse scrubs were so comfy before?Barbie clothes and Barbie pink
Nautical wear- Sailor chic. Always a chic look in the Marinarena book
Lavendar- WGSN’s 2023 color of the year thanks to its ability to project a sense of calm in a world that feels increasingly hectic.
Mermaid Core- Always an in-look for me.
Sequins- (pictured)
PHYSICAL RELICS TO LEAVE IN THE TIME CAPSULE #23
Barbie and Ken dolls
Lei (to represent the tragedy of Lahaina, Maui)
CDs/Vinyl records of music albums mentioned above
Coronation memorabilia of King Charles
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