Work In Progress Newsletter
Edition 31 | December 19, 2022

WRITE THIS WAY…
Greetings and welcome to an exclusive happy holiday edition of the Work In Progress newsletter! I’m Ryan McCrary, your yuletide yeoman of joy. For the last 31 weeks and counting I’ve been scouring the news, interwebs and the occasional archived MySpace page to share stories of hope and joy and triumph.

A Work In Progress Public Service Announcement: During this holiday season please check in with your loved ones. If you are thinking about someone you haven’t seen or talked to in a while, reach out with a text or a call. You just never know how much it is needed during a time of year that can be awash in emotion. 

May you and your family and loved ones have a joyous and peaceful holiday season.

WHAT AM I THANKFUL FOR
I am not a sophisticated soccer/football fan, but I do recognize greatness when I see it and Sunday’s FIFA World Cup Final showcased the drama of sport at the stratospheric level in a truly awe-inspiring way. Trailing 2-0 to Argentina, France rallied for two goals late in the second half behind the brilliance of Kylian Mbappe. The match went to overtime and Argentina took a 3-2 lead on Lionel Messi’s second of the match. Mbappe would equalize to complete the hat trick. Argentina captured its third World Cup – and first since 1986 – winning the penalty shootout 4-2. I am so thankful to have seen it. Highlights → WATCH

THREE DOTS… GOOD NEWS ONLY
Although the Golden State Warriors departed from its longtime city of Oakland a few years ago, two-time MVP and 4-time NBA Champion Stephen Curry continues to be a force in the community…  His “Eat, Learn, Play” Foundation hosted its 10th Annual “Christmas With The Currys” event for 2,000 people, including 500 children in need at Oakland Bridge Yard… One of the best point guards to ever play the game of basketball, Chris Paul can add “college graduate” to his long list of career accolades… The 11-time NBA All-Star flew cross country to walk with his graduating class at Winston-Salem State University and he presented each member in his class with a $2,500 check…  Former NBA guard Luol Deng continues to give back as the president of the South Sudan Basketball Federation and has  his home country on the brink of qualifying for its first FIBA World Cup in 2023… In other news, Curry was named the 2022 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year based on his outstanding play on the court and his immeasurable impact in the community… Meet Tracy Peck, who made a remarkable gift to two teenagers fleeing a war… Back in 1999 Ida and her sister were sent on a flight from wartorn Yugoslavia to stay with family in the U.S. and were sitting next to Tracy, who slipped them an envelope with $100 in it, sparking Ida to make a career of paying it forward. Now, two decades later, they reunited.

BEST THING I SAW ON THE ‘GRAM LAST WEEK
Just two GOATS watching their kids compete… → CLICK

BEST THING I SAW ON THE TWITTER LAST WEEK
A BELATED DOWN PAYMENT ON THE TUCK RULE? Yesterday the Raiders beat the Patriots 30-24 on the final play. The how is almost indescribable, but well worth 90 seconds! Warning: may trigger the angsty New England fan… → WATCH

TIKTOK YA DON’T STOP
This paper plate tambourine player provided all the “Feliz” for this! → WATCH

THE GREATEST
It’s rare to be inspired by a commercial, but this ad by Apple is a powerful reminder of the positive, transformational power of technology. → WATCH

OTD – DECEMBER 19
Enjoy yet another notable historical snapshot in the latest edition of On This Date… 

Notable Historical Moments… Youth is wasted on the younger? William Pitt the Younger became the youngest British Prime Minister at the age of 24 in 1783… The Iron Lady bends… British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher signed the British Joint Declaration to transfer Hong Kong back to China in 1997… Christmas came early for the Philadelphia Eagles in the “Miracle at the New Meadowlands” in 2010 as the Eagles scored four touchdowns in the final seven minutes to beat the New York Giants.  

Famous Birthdays… Charmed, I’m sure… actress Alyssa Milano turns 49… Academy Award nominee Jake Gyllenhaal turns 41

Famous Deaths… “Wuthering Heights” scribe Emily Bronte (1818-48).

Famously Excessive Nuptials… Did she get a volume discount on dresses? Theresa Vaughn confessed to being married 61 times over five years in 50 cities in three countries in 1922.

(Very) Famous Divorce… Queen Elizabeth II asked Prince Charles and Lady Diana to divorce in 1995.

Bonus Margaret Thatcher Quote: “Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren’t.” – Margaret Thatcher, Statesman

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO AS I WRITE
I won’t bore you with details, but it is an obnoxious amount of classic Christmas music. Bing, Burl, Chuck, Dean, Elvis, Frank, Judy, Mel, Nat, The Ronettes, etc. → CLICK

WHAT I WATCHED
I hosted a “Work In Progress” staff meeting at a screening of “Violent Night”. I have no regrets. I have been trying to come up with the proper words to describe what happened in this veritable feast of festive carnage. The best I’ve come up with so far is if Die Hard’s John McClane was dressed in a Santa suit trying to rescue a house of dysfunctional hostages.  

CLIP OF THE WEEK
Later Dudes… One of the most underrated scenes in Christmas Vacation.  → SAVOR

MY GIF TO YOU
Still impatiently waiting on Santa to deliver this…  → WATCH

QUOTABLE
“I start early and I stay late, day after day, year after year, it took me 17 years and 114 days to become an overnight success.”
Lionel Messi, Icon

THIS WAY OUT
Thanks for reading the latest edition of my Work In Progress newsletter. My goal is to spread inspiration and hope in a world that needs both more than ever. My goal is to release these newsletters each Monday – because who doesn’t need a shot of good news to start the work week? Look for a new article on my timeline later this week. Special thanks to Kim Kaupe and Terry Rice for encouraging me to launch this into the universe. As always, feedback is welcomed!