As 2023 comes to an end, I kind of want to just slam the top of the coffin and bury 2023.  Here's to a better 2024.    

It occurred to me about 20 minutes later that the correct expression is "put the nail on the coffin."

I've never really paid much attention to Dr Phil, but he's on the ball here.  

 

20 albums I was into from this year.

 Some universal favorites in there....and some albums which have been criminally overlooked!

I spoke to actual supporters of terrorism today.

 I've been going back and forth with people on Youtube comments.  I've posted along the lines of, "I've never really expected in my life to really be able to tell my friends and family that I am communicating with people who support mass murder of my people," But here I am.

Then there's those who are just confused, like those who support Palestine because they like "supporting underdogs," yet they have no idea who these people are.

I've thought about things, like if  I would ever shake hands with a Palestinian.  I'd say yes, but only if they condemned Hamas and what they did on October 7th first.  

Perfect song title for when I meet a member of Hamas.  Notice I didn't say for when I meet a Palestinian.  

Worst year ever

This year has just been really bad, between health issues with family members, loss of my grandma, and October 7th.  This, for me, is worse than having Trump as president, worse than dealing with Covid protocols, etc.  I sometimes feel like I don't want to talk to anyone unless I hear them publicly condemn Hamas.  

Sadly enough, I have been fighting with people through YouTube comments over the last few days who believe that the October 7th attacks were justified.  According to a survey done by Birzeit University, it was found that 98% of Palestinians felt more proud to be Palestinian after the October 7th attacks.    

 Another day of mourning my grandma.  I could not be at the Israel rally in D.C., but my aunt said it best at my grandma's funeral when speaking about the horrors my grandma experienced in Auschwitz.  "Never again" is now.  We all must play a part in fighting anti-semitism.  

We said goodbye to my grandma yesterday.  It was really hard.  Visiting her was a really big part of my life.  I would always start by saying "Grandma, I am so happy to see you today," and she would reply with "I am happy to see you too."

 

If it was obscure and on at random times, long before Youtube and Pitchfork and Apple Music, when you had to watch MTV-2 for the buzz bin videos or hear it on Y100 alternative rock radio, I probably heard it at my grandma's house in Vineland, way back when.  I am grateful I was given that kind of freedom to explore the exhilarating and joyous highs of teenage-hood when I went there.  

Not only that, but where else would I be allowed to watch the entire NFL draft? All seven rounds.

One last squeeze

11/09/2023.  My grandma passed away today.  On Sunday, she wasn't able to communicate with us because she was in so much pain.  The people who take care of her at the nursing home helped put her into her bed.  I reached out and held her hand.  She squeezed my hand one last time.  I like to believe she knew it was me.  

A soon to be published obituary:

Regina Pretter, 98, of Voorhees, New Jersey, formerly of Vineland, passed away on November 9, 2023 after a very short illness.

Regina “Ruza” , (Rifka) was born in Michalovce, Czechoslovakia and was a Holocaust Survivor having been on the first transport of Jewish women sent to Auschwitz . She was married to Elias Pretter, and they co owned the Happy Hen Farm until his death in 2003. 

She is survived by three daughters, Esther Pretter Kober, (Peter), sons Michael and Daniel; Belle Petter Liss, (Jonathan), sons Joshua and Benjamin; and Celia Petter Ginsburg, (Dr. Kenneth) and daughters, Talia and Ilana. She is also survived by three great grandchildren, Charlotte, Jakey, and Elliot.

Services will be held at graveside at Alliance Cemetery, 970 Gershal Ave., Pittsgrove Township, NJ on November 12, 2023 at 3:30 PM. The family requests any donations be made to the United States Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., the Jewish National Fund, or Magen David Adom.

 Rashida Tlaib got censured by the House of Representatives.  Finally, something being done.  She showed no empathy and would not acknowledge the hostage situation after the October 7th attacks.  She claims that what she says is not supporting the destruction of Israel, but it is.  "From the river to the sea"  is a screed calling for the destruction of Israel and Jews.  

 I don't understand when the woke agenda became hatred of Jews.  I've been voting democrat for a while, but not sure why my political party has  now seemingly excused the Jew-hatred in its own ranks.  I'm not about to vote for Trump or DeSantis (look which Jew-haters they've sat down with and things they've said and done), but I'm really questioning who I can trust these days.   

 I just got back from an exhilarating Depeche Mode show.

XPN did a nice recap.

https://xpn.org/2023/10/26/depeche-mode-wells-fargo-center-2/

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/depeche-mode/2023/wells-fargo-center-philadelphia-pa-5ba0c338.html

 I've been working, trying to just keep doing what I do.  It is hard for people to understand how Jewish people around the world feel right now.  I've had one or two people approach me about it...

 My thoughts are only with Israel right now.  

Fellow Cherry Hill East alum and Jew...

 The Jewish Holiday Yom Kippur is a time where I usually try to purify my mind.  I am generally a good human, but one thing that I do have is lot of perverted jokes.  

During my lunch break at work, I often go to Shop Rite to sample the buffet.  It is located right near the Aqua Tots Swim School, which in my head, I re-named the Aqua Tits swim school.  Sometimes you just cannot help these thoughts from popping up.  

  I think I might get punished by the big man in the sky.  

However, it is right near Dick's sporting goods, so I am sure all the girls drive by Dicks and have  thoughts about how much they enjoy Dick's (the sporting goods store) as they go by there too.  So it is not just me.  That along with the "rock hard concrete" service, which I re-named the rock hard dick service".  

Have a meaningful fast, for those who are doing it, and make sure not to think about Aqua Tits Swim school  too much (I know, I'm terrible)!

A couple more clips from the show have been surfacing...

 Just got back from my first concert in a while.  Beck was fantastic as expected and Phoenix was also solid.  Unfortunately missed out on Weyes Blood.

Many highlights, including when Thomas Mars from Phoenix ran out into the audience with a very very very long microphone cord, and I was amongst the people who were able to hug/touch/high-five him.

                                                                            Beck

Phoenix

Beck doing a gorgeous performance of "Golden Age".

Setlists can be found here: 

Beck Setlist

Phoenix Setlist

The Rolling Stones are releasing new music!

I've been having too many days where the sounds of things that I like make me feel like vomiting.

I never would have guessed when this song came out that the Sixers would sign him.  Welcome to Philly, Mo Bamba!

 I'll just say it.  I've been in a rut.  

In my new role, though I think I am doing pretty well, I am experiencing the following:

Imposter syndrome is the condition of feeling anxious and not experiencing success internally, despite being high-performing in external, objective ways. This condition often results in people feeling like "a fraud" or "a phony" and doubting their abilities.

To counter these feelings, you might end up working harder and holding yourself to ever higher standards. This pressure can eventually take a toll on your emotional well-being and your performance.

Welcome to the Sixers coach Nick Nurse.  Helllloooooo Nurse.

Song from the new Barbie movie.

The new Depeche Mode album is miraculous.  

One of my favorites is back.

Happy birthday Miles Ruben Garson, born 5/11/2023 to Stacy and Jeremy! I can tell already that this kid is going to be a winner!

"The improbable is sometimes possible"- Joel Embiid, MVP

 I am approaching 37 years of life.  This has been the hardest and possibly worst year of my life thus far with the sickness of my younger brother and best friend, the one person I always had.  Trying to go on, but it is just really hard.

When this guy was a coach on the Patriots, I deemed him the UGLIEST PERSON IN THE WORLD, extremely vehemently.  Now the Eagles just hired him, so I guess he is now okay looking since he is one of us.

 

When supergroups really are that super...I love these ladies.  

The past couple of weeks have not been good to me.  But there is a Good Burger 2 in the works.

Depeche Mode is back and I am hoping to see them on tour this year.

I saw these guys live a while back.

My first reaction was Liars did stuff like this in the first decade of the 2000's way better, but then I changed my tone on this and said this is good in its own right...

Another offering from Feist.  

I'm very excited about the prospect of a new Feist album. 

 I would like to disclose that something has happened in my life.  Not sure how to proceed from here.

Primed for a big year...

"It's amazing how much good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit." -A fortune cookie I got today.

Belle and Sebastian is back with a surprise album.  I saw them at Pitchfork Festival back in the day.  

I'm hoping to see these guys on their upcoming tour.

New Miley Cyrus song is surprisingly good.

I've been seeing comments like the ones described in this video everywhere.  I think the reaction for me is just that I need to work harder, to show people that we are NOT THAT and that everything they say about us is NOT TRUE......Evaluate me based on my work, not my religion or race.