With only a few hours left of this tumultuous year, I thought I’d take one last look at the past 12 months as seen through my terribly neglected blog. I’m sorry to say I’ve written here less this year that at any other time in the blog’s seven-year history—yikes, only ONE post in November! When I first started this thing, I somehow found a way to write every single day! Some people say blogging is dead as a doornail, but I don’t accept it. In fact, I vow to write more in here in 2012. My problem, at least in the latter half of the year, was trying to find a balance between my new gig blogging for MSN Movies and my other book editing and writing work. Clearly this blog was a casualty of that but even if no one reads blogs anymore, I still want it all—I so enjoy having a place to write about any and all topics that come to mind so I refuse to let it die!
So let’s take one last jog through the months of 2011…
January
Said good-bye to Honey West aka Anne Francis while reeling at the assassination attempt of Gabrielle Giffords; was repulsed by Sarah Palin’s obnoxious “blood libel” response to Giffords’ Arizona shooting; honored the late Sargent Shriver and confessed to the theft of some of his personal items; made my annual Oscar predictions (unlike the year before, I didn’t fare very well); and marked the 25th anniversary of the horrific Challenger disaster.
February
Found five positive things to say about Ronald Reagan to honor his centennial; deeply mourned the loss of our friend, MGM musical star Betty Garrett; made a rare winter trek to visit family in Chicago, braving subzero temperatures and a major blizzard; continued to make bad Oscar predictions; stalked the Kodak Theatre as preparations were underway; and dissected one of the worst broadcasts in the history of the Academy Awards.
March
Said good-bye to that lovable but self-described “teetotaling, mean-spirited, narrow-minded conservative Christian bigot,” Jane Russell; participated with Charlie in World Read Aloud Day, founded by my friend and colleague, literacy maven Pam Allyn; reviewed my favorite Elizabeth Taylor performances as I tried to accept her death’ and defended Kirstie Alley from pigs like George Lopez who were regaling themselves with unfunny jokes about her pre-“Dancing with the Stars” weight.
April
Examined my gender hang-ups regarding Charlie’s sleepwear; remembered the late, great director, Sidney Lumet; enjoyed a Cecil B. De Mille-inspired Passover seder; and celebrated Charlie’s second birthday with another visit to the NICU.
May
Thought about my mom on what would have been her 77th birthday; went berserk when confronted with a bunch of privileged, smoking teens; and contemplated my lack of a “seven-year itch” on my seventh wedding anniversary.
June
Detailed, far too explicitly, my miserable kidney stone trials; celebrated Charlie’s lesbian film debut; and cried with Debbie Reynolds about her lost costume and movie memorabilia collection (except she ended up with over five million bucks!).
July
Dreamt about Katharine Hepburn and George Cukor; said good-bye to one of my favorite Republicans, Betty Ford; whooped it up for Ginger Rogers’ 100th birthday; followed Charlie ‘from the Redwood forests to the Gulf Stream waters’; started my fun gig writing for MSN Movies; and watched Leah lead the Occupy France movement in a riveting production of “Les Misérables.”
August
Curated a photo exhibit to honor my sister’s birthday; returned to Chicago and visited all my favorite haunts; and got irritated at Snooki as well as snarky online commenters.
September
Admired the success of Charlie’s “speech therapy”; let some scary clowns help me celebrate my 52nd birthday; pondered the 10th anniversary of September 11th; and bid a fond farewell to Erica Kane and her many exes.
October
Attended a joyous reunion of the brilliant “Dick Van Dyke Show”; expressed gratitude to the late Steve Jobs and reviewed my obsession with Apple products; and contemplated the mysteries of Charlie’s brain.
November
Presented a “Day in the Life” exhibition to mark the rare 11/11/11 calendar date.
December
Honored Michelle Williams for her channeling of Marilyn Monroe and took another look at Marilyn’s once-private thoughts; premiered Charlie’s new Hanukkah video which included the latke poisoning of our two dogs; and celebrated the 17th birthday of my amazing daughter by singing one of the most depressing songs ever written.
Hope to see you all more often in 2012—unless, of course, that pesky Mayan prophecy turns out to be true…
Thanks for another year of blogging and sharing your world. Happy New Year.
Posted by: Frances | December 31, 2011 at 03:01 PM
Looking forward to more, Danny...thanks for sharing for all these years!
Posted by: Julie R. | December 31, 2011 at 03:18 PM
Thanks for keeping up your blog--I so look forward to your posts. Let's hope that 2012 is a good year for all of us!
Posted by: Anne | December 31, 2011 at 04:28 PM
Our family's best wishes to yours, with the resolution to check as regularly as you post here, for this is definitely still the place I like most for the friends I made online: their personal blog!
Posted by: Otir | January 01, 2012 at 05:10 PM
I hope you fulfill your New Year's resolution of writing more in your blog because I love reading it. Happy New Year to you and your family. Much love.
Posted by: Laurie | January 01, 2012 at 06:21 PM
Danny,
I still enjoy reading your blogs immensely and hope you will continue writing them. Each and every one has been terrific. Happy New Year to you and your family and all good things for 2012 and beyond. June
Posted by: June Kaiser | January 02, 2012 at 12:36 AM
Happy New Year Danny!
Posted by: therapydoc | January 03, 2012 at 10:41 PM
Because I have been as bad as you about blogging in 2011 (and, like you, plan to improve in 2012 -- see my latest post), I never got around to my wrap up, highlights of 2011 post. 2011 was not a great year for me, but I did plan to include, in that post that never got written, the good things that helped make the rotten things less rotten, like visiting you and your family and seeing "The Parent Trap." Oh well. At least I get the chance to mention it as a highlight here. Bob and I are trying to plan a trip out there together if you-all can stand us.
Posted by: Emily Barton | January 20, 2012 at 09:10 PM