Hello, Goodbye to the Memories
2024 is gone, and 2025 is almost here.
Welcome back, Substack friends to the final Sunday of 2024, as we move into 2025. Where did 2024 go?
There’s just something special about vintage signs, especially Coca-Cola ones.
Usually when a summer camp closes, it’s not something to be happy about, but when it’s one that was started for kids with HIV/AIDS, it’s both bittersweet and hopeful. From the Minnesota Star Tribune:
“The ashes of 12-year-old Chris Edwards are buried on the grounds of a Pine County camp, where his mother insisted his memorial service be held after his HIV-related death in 1999.
It’s one of the reasons former campers are saddened by the news that One Heartland in Willow River, Minn., about 40 minutes southwest of Duluth, is for sale. The 80-acre site is home to a camp that has served kids living with or affected by HIV/AIDS for more than 30 years. But the number of babies contracting the virus through their mothers has declined to the point where such a camp no longer needs to exist.
In the United States, the perinatal HIV transmission rate, or the rate of a mother passing the virus on to a child through pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding, is now less than 1% thanks to antiretroviral medications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The World Health Organization says that globally, new HIV infections among children up to age 14 have declined by 38% since 2015 and AIDS-related deaths have fallen by 43%.”
Have you wanted to start volunteering in your community but don’t know where to start? GoodGoodGood has the information with over 39,000 nonprofits that need volunteers.
“In 2023, 75.7 million people — more than one in four Americans — volunteered their time through a formal organization or nonprofit, with September, October, November and December being the most popular months to volunteer.
And 2024 might be on course to rival those numbers.
According to Google, searches for “places to volunteer on Christmas day” doubled this December.
For those looking to volunteer this holiday season, Nathan Dietz, research director at the Do Good Institute at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy, said that the best way to get involved is to do it in your community — and in-person.
Points of Light engages more than 3.8 million volunteers across 38 countries.”
Those hoping to donate their time this holiday season can visit the organization’s website to see over 39,000 active volunteer opportunities in Points of Light’s network.”
As we leave 2024 behind, you can impress those about 50 2024 Random Trivia Facts at Good Housekeeping, such as:
“Kraft Foods once surveyed hundreds of Oreo eaters (check out these cookie butter Oreos!) and sussed it out: Biters are easy-going and self-confident, while dunkers displayed more energetic and adventurous qualities. Twisters, on the other hand, are sensitive and trendy.”
After a fun, late New Year’s Eve night, you may need something special to wake you up the next day. These 4-Ingredient Sweet Rolls over at The Kitchn may hit the spot.
How to Make Shortcut Cinnamon Dinner Rolls
Grease a baking dish well. Sugar is sticky, so either grease a baking dish well with butter or spray liberally with vegetable oil spray.
Make the cinnamon-sugar mixture and melt the butter. The amount you make depends on the number of rolls you’re baking. For six rolls, I use 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, and 1/2 cup granulated sugar. Melt the butter and transfer to a wide bowl or shallow dish. Mix the cinnamon and sugar together in a second bowl or shallow dish with a hefty pinch of kosher salt. (You should be able to taste the salt, but it shouldn’t be “salty.”) Reserve about 1/4 cup of the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
Prepare the rolls. Dredge each roll in melted butter, covering all sides. Then coat the buttered roll in the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Repeat with the remaining rolls.
Arrange and bake the rolls. Depending on the rolls you’re using, you may need to leave a bit of space between them so they have room to grow in the oven. It is totally fine (even preferable) for them to wind up touching. Bake the rolls according to the package directions.
Make cinnamon-sugar butter. While the rolls are in the oven, combine any leftover melted butter with the reserved cinnamon sugar. You only need a few tablespoons of butter here (if you didn’t have enough left over, feel free to melt some more).
Finish the rolls. When the rolls are done baking, use a pastry brush to brush the tops with cinnamon-sugar butter.
Hello, Goodbye by The Beatles is a perfect song to end 2024….
One final book recommendation… with much more to come next year!
From 2016, The Rule Book by Jennifer Blackwood.
Starr Media Second-Assistant Survival Guide
1. Don't call your hot boss the antichrist to his face.
2. Don't stare at hot boss's, um, package or his full sleeve of tattoos. (No. Really. Stop!)
3. Don't get on the malicious first assistant's bad side.
4. Don't forget to memorize the 300-page employee manual.
5. If you value your cashmere, steer clear of boss’s dog.
6. Boss’s dimples are lust-inducing. Do. Not. Give. In.
7. “The elevator ate your clothes” is not a valid excuse for showing up to important meetings half dressed.
8. Don't break seven of the rules within the first week of employment if you, ya know, are in dire need of money to support your sick mom.
9. Whatever you do, don’t fall for the boss. See rule eight about sick mom.
10. Never forget the rules.
Why I’m recommending this book: The Rule Book is very enjoyable and entertaining. Lainey is a real hoot, an optimist even though her mother is very sick, and her relationship with Brogan can be stressful. Lainey is so generous and giving that people take advantage of it, which Brogan does, but not intentionally. She's like a big ball of sunshine, which Brogan needs. Some of his, oh woes me, daddy issues may annoy some readers, especially a specific plot device thrown in toward the end to cause friction for Lainey and Brogan that may annoy readers. But the way it's resolved fits, especially when Brogan tries to make things right for Lainey. It's along the lines of a hero groveling, which Brogan does more in the terms of actions than words.
Recommended for adult and teens that has a very meet cute scenario between the hero and heroine. It also has the cross genre appeal for those who enjoy New Adult and Adult Contemporary Romance.
