It’s the last day of November 2023. My nephew, Fredrick “Freddie” Lee Haas, son of my younger brother, is sixteen, today. Freddie shares his birthday with the legendary British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill.

I learned former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger has died at age 100. WHile at Ball State University, I got to escort Mr. Kissinger around campus during his visit for a speech in Emmens Auditorium. He was a very kind man, and incredibly brilliant.

The early part of Wednesday was productive with writing. By 3:45 PM, I was on Bus 17 to the Schuster Center. The A DRAG QUEEN CHRISTMAS had a pre-show meet and greet for specific patrons and several house managers were called in to assist with the event. Mama Kay, Laura, and Laura’s two daughters, Katrina and Jozi, all attended the performance, and I rode home with them. That was especially nice since the pooches did not have a potty break.

Today, I want to complete the two rooms that I swapped and exchange my closets. I am hopeful this will be it for this project.

On this date in history: (2018) American politician George H.W. Bush, who was the 41st president of the United States (1989–93), died at the age of 94. (2007) American motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel—who was known for his death-defying stunts, which included a spectacular jump over the fountains at Caesars Palace Hotel in Las Vegas (1968)—died at the age of 69. (2001) The hunt for the Green River Killer ended as Gary Ridgway was arrested in Washington, and he later pled guilty to killing 48 women, though he claimed to have murdered as many as 80; he was the deadliest convicted serial killer in the United States. (1996) block of gray sandstone known as the Stone of Scone was returned to Scotland, 700 years after it had been taken to England as war booty by King Edward I. (1982) American singer and songwriter Michael Jackson released Thriller, which became the best-selling album in the world and won a record-setting eight Grammy Awards. (1936) A fire virtually destroyed the Crystal Palace, the giant exhibition hall that housed the Great Exhibition of 1851. (1874) British statesman, orator, and author Sir Winston Churchill, who as prime minister (1940–45, 1951–55) rallied the British people during World War II and led his country from the brink of defeat to victory, was born in Oxfordshire, England. (1782) Britain and the United States signed the preliminary articles of the Treaty of Paris as part of the Peace of Paris, a collection of treaties concluding the American Revolution.

Make it a great day!

PHOTOS: Henry Lissinger; Winston Churchill; my nephew, Freddie, at age 7