It is what it is (8.28.24)– Jen Brien

by Jennifer Brien, contributing writer, commentary

BACK TO SCHOOL

Isn’t it unbelievable that it’s that time of year… AGAIN!!!??? KIDS are already heading BACK TO SCHOOL and DANNY ZUKO is headed back to RYDELL HIGH! Just a few months ago I called my best friend and lamented the fact that we have to suffer through the HOT MONTHS until its PUMPKIN SPICE season again. We were both disgusted. She hates summer as much as I do. I have NEVER really been an “I LOVE SUMMER” gal, since I was a kid, as fall and winter have become my favorite seasons… spring gets the bronze and SUMMER doesn’t even medal.

If I was living up in the mountains in NH like I’m planning on doing soon, I don’t think I’d hate summer as much… but this SUPER DENSE NEIGHBORHOOD I’m in with all kinds of “riff raff” and the traffic I deal with ALL THE TIME because of the WASH BRIDGE DISASTER makes me hate it.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I do love warm summer mornings and beautiful summer evenings sitting on the porch listening to a ballgame on my radio, but it’s the IN BETWEEN, during the day, I HATE. Everyone hiding in their homes with the AC on… dogs miserable because they can’t play outside or swim over here. (THIS CRAP filthy water NEAR MY HOUSE is disgusting and I worry about the body of AL CAPONE floating by… seriously). You’ve got to get that long run in early AM, unless you want to stroke out with a run at 12pm with the sun beating down on you in 100% humidity… awful.

I know, I know – there’s a whole boatload (can you still SAY THAT or is THAT RACIST, NOW? Someone tried to correct me the other day and said that phrase is insensitive (my response, “kiss my A$$”) of people probably disgusted that I’m complaining about this… but hey, walk in my shoes for a week and you’ll get it. Inner city living is for the birds in the dead of summer… ugh.

ANYHOW, here we are, kids headed back to school, and it makes you think. I got melancholy remembering going to “McCarthy’s” up at Diamond Hill in Woonsocket with my mom for clothes and “SEARS” for sneakers, when she would dress me and get me all “fly” for day one of the new school year.

Then I got to thinking how I wished I had been a good student, a better athlete, had not started smoking weed in high school… etc., etc. After a few minutes, I stopped pummeling myself for all I didn’t do, and instead said, “Hey, I was young and stupid, and it was hard, and I was definitely dealing with a lot in my home and personally as a kid, so I refuse to allow “regret” to take a foothold in my life and mess with my mind”. We all make mistakes, fall short, and maybe missed out on people, or things, or life experiences because of bad decisions or the wrong ones. Oh, well. Life goes on. Don’t do that to yourself.

As kids head back to the lunch lady, homework, book projects, and passing notes in class, reflect on those days when you were a little human, and reminisce with a full heart about the good things during that time of YOUR life.

I LOVE HEARING FROM YOU! So SHARE it with me in the “comments” section below if you have time! YOUR OPINION COUNTS! SO, USE IT!

P.S make sure you go the speed limit in school zones!

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CAN SOMEBODY TELL ME WHY:

A WASH POST columnist said that DOUG EMHOFF (KAMALA”S HUSBAND) is a “MODERN DAY SEX SYMBOL”.  He cheated on his first wife, knocked up the babysitter and had her abort their baby. THAT’S SEXY?

WE NEVER heard another peep about that CHEF who died under “weird” circumstances on Barack Obama’s MARTHA’S VINEYARD ESTATE…

It’s OK for the FLORIDA SEMINOLES to still have their name, and an “INDIAN MASCOT”, when the WASHINGTON REDSKINS and CLEVELAND INDIANS had to go WOKE and change things for the irrationally sensitive among us. 

“WHITE CHICKS” the movie is on 24-7 all over cable and the film literally bashes a “perceived stereotype” many minority groups often lash out about when It’s done to them…

PEOPLE ruthlessly openly mocked CHRISTIANS and or people of faith for getting offended during the opening ceremonies of the 2024 PARIS OLYMPICS, but 3 years earlier these same people were deeply, deeply offended by PANCAKE SYRUP and BUTTER. I’m still mystified by that ONE. 

PEOPLE in STOUGHTON, MA are upset with the BUSING situation? YOU ALL VOTED to be a SANCTUARY STATE.

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REAR WINDOW

I recently went to a theater in RI that was showing the old ALFRED HITCHCOCK film, “REAR WINDOW”, on the big screen. What a PHENOMENAL experience! It’s absolutely one of my favs. A close second would have to be “VERTIGO” with Kim Novak, but “REAR WINDOW” tops them all. HITCHCOCK was way ahead of his time and although somewhat peculiar, he made great pictures. His technique of “releasing information” in crumbs to the movie goer was brilliant. Many of his films still have a “fresh and modern feel to them”. When you watch a HITCHCOCK film there’s often little sentimentality, but plenty of murder, messed up psychology and “weirdness”. I think that’s who he was as a man and that man NEEDED A THERAPIST! 

BTW, it’s incredible that old movies are being shown again on huge screens with MASSIVE DOLBY SOUND SYSTEMS to compliment them. YESTERDAY AND TODAY collide for something special, that’s for sure. I feel so many films lose their luster on a small MacBook or even 50-inch flatscreen, because that’s not how they were intended to be seen. James Stewart played the lead in “REAR WINDOW” and his supporting actress was the ridiculously perfect GRACE KELLY.

Rumors have floated around for decades that not only was she “cold as ice” but bedded many of her co-stars who happened to be married. Her royal title covered up the many scandals that could have befallen her and lot of people said she slept with mostly “OLDER MEN” because she had “daddy issues”. YUCH! Coincidently, HITCHCOCK was madly infatuated with KELLY himself, which is why he shot her the way he did in his films. Do yourself a favor and check out his work if you’re not familiar with him. You won’t be sorry.

Oh, lastly, Lincoln MALL in RI is showing a whole host of old classics from the 40’s 70’s and 80’s over the next 4 months so go to their website and check out what they’ll feature if you want to have some fun and see some retro movies and reintroduce yourself to timeless classics! I promise it’s worth it, gang!  

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FAST FUN FACTS

THE NATIONAL ANIMAL OF SCOTLAND IS THE UNICORN

JAPAN IS HOME TO ABOUT A DOZEN “CAT ISLANDS” (CATS OUTNUMBER PEOPLE)

A MALE GIRAFFE DECIDES IF HE WANTS TO DATE A FEMALE BY TASTING HER URINE (WTH)

BEN AND JERRY ORIGINALLY WANTED TO START A BAGEL COMPANY

CRIME NOVELIST JAMES PATTERSON CO-WROTE THE “I’M A TOYS ARE US KID” JINGLE

THE FIRST ITEM SOLD ON EBAY WAS A BROKEN LASER POINTER

IN COLONIAL AMERICA LOBSTER WAS SO PLENTIFUL IT WAS SERVED TO PRISONERS

ELTON JOHN NAMES HIS PIANOS 

45% OF AMERICANS SAY THEY BELIEVE IN GHOSTS

THE STATUE OF LIBERTY WEARS A SIZE 879 SHOE

FISH COUGH.

That’s all I got this week gang – IT IS WHAT IT IS

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Jen Brien has over 20 years of radio broadcast experience having hosted shows on WPRO and WHJJ with Ron as well as her own shows on WRKO and WBZ in Boston, WXTK on Cape Cod and WHAM in Rochester, New York. Jen was born and raised in Woonsocket and served six years in the Army MP Canine Unit.