Work In Progress Newsletter
Edition 33 | January 2, 2023

WRITE THIS WAY…
Greetings and welcome to the premiere 2023 edition of the Work In Progress newsletter! I’m Ryan McCrary, your emissary of encouragement. For the last 33 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.

Last night while watching Sunday Night Football a story was shared about Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin, who has only played on or coached one losing squad which was a youth team he played on in 1980. That team lost every game except the season finale which spawned an epic pizza party where Queen’s “We Will Rock You” was played on repeat. 

My hope for all of you reading this is that you enter 2023 with that kind of confidence. No matter what happened in 2022 today offers an opportunity to get better and win your next one. Forget the losses and prepare to win the next challenge. I’m ready to play Queen on repeat for you.

WHAT AM I THANKFUL FOR
I am an absolute sucker for year-end top-10 lists. I blame David Letterman, but in truth I am always curious to see what made the cut. This top-10 list by the Good News Network captures some amazing acts of kindness and courage. → READ 

THREE DOTS… GOOD NEWS ONLY
The massive storm that battered the northeast revealed many moments of courage and heroism and people looking after people. Here are two remarkable stories… Meet Jay Withey who was trapped in a Buffalo-area school parking lot with seven elderly people who had run out of fuel and were in danger of freezing to death… Withey broke a window to take shelter in the school and eventually rescued a total of 24 people from the storm… I’m loving it! As 40-plus inches of snow blanketed Buffalo, a staff at an Amherst McDonalds realized they were going to be stranded over the Christmas holiday… the staff elected to stay open and welcomed in more than 50 New Yorkers stranded… Makes a great gift! Anthony Leal figured out the perfect gift for his sister and the Indiana basketball star paid off her student loans, using his NIL (mane, image, likeness) money to finance it… The Hoosier wrote this Lauren: “You’re a spark of goodness brought into the world. You radiate kindness and bring happiness to so many people, including me.” 


BEST THING I SAW ON THE ‘GRAM LAST WEEK
Who you looking at?? →  CLICK

See more

BEST THING I SAW ON THE TWITTER LAST WEEK

I want whatever this popcorn artist is serving up… → WATCH

LIVES LIVED – NEXT ON 2020…
The world lost one of its greatest, larger than life pioneers with the passing of Barbara Walters on December 30, 2022. She was 93. The first female anchor on an evening news program, Walters shattered glass ceilings throughout her distinguished five-decade career in television. A gifted storyteller and a master interviewer, Walters interviewed icons, statesmen, transcendent talents and scoundrels. Her questions were fearless, hard-hitting and unapologetic. When part of ABC headquarters was renamed the “Barbara Walters Building”, Walters said: “People ask me very often, ‘what is your legacy?’ and it’s not the interviews with presidents, or heads of state, nor celebrities. If I have a legacy, and I’ve said this before and I mean it so sincerely, I hope that I played a small role in paving the way for so many of you fabulous women.”  → ABC NEWS TRIBUTE 

OTD – JANUARY 2
Enjoy yet another notable historical snapshot in the latest edition of On This Date… 

Notable Historical Moments… Just straight chillin’… Willis Carrier earned a US patent for the world’s first air conditioner in 1906… The “Epic in Miami” took place on an 85 degree day when the San Diego Chargers beat the Dolphins 41-38 in overtime of the 1982 AFC Divisional Playoff game… 

Famous Nuptials… Mrs. Livingston I presume… Explorer and missionary David Livingstone wed Mary Moffat in 1845.

Famous Birthdays… Science fiction pioneer Isaac Asimov (1920-92)… Schwing!! Wayne’s World star Tia Carrere turns 56… Academy Award-winner Cuba Gooding Jr. turns 55… Victoria’s Secret angel Christy Turlington turns 54. 

Famous Deaths… Innovative jazz pianist Erroll Garner (1921-77)… Baseball Hall-of-Famer and legendary promoter Bill Veeck (1914-86).

Bonus Erroll Garner Performance:  Garner plays “Misty”.

Bonus Bill Veeck Quote: “Baseball is almost the only orderly thing in a very unorderly world. If you get three strikes, even the best lawyer in the world can’t get you off.”

NEVER GIVE UP
On January 1, 1962 a musical group had an opportunity to finally secure its “big break”. The group traveled in a van through winter snow for 220 miles for an audition at Epic Records. The producer reportedly noted: “Groups with guitars are on the way out… the Beatles have no future in show business.” 

SHAMELESS PLUGS
I’ve been working on a Thursday update, called “Thankful”. Think of it as a boost of good news to fuel the end of the week. Latest edition → HERE

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO AS I WRITE
One of the most influential albums in my life dropped in 1991 and I discovered Marc Cohn. In many ways the album, featuring “Walking in Memphis” provided the soundtrack for my college years. I saw him live for the first time in Malibu on a first date with my future fiance, Cristy. It still takes me all the way back! 

WHAT I WATCHED
One of the first books I ever had to pay library fines on, “The Hunt for Red October”, started my history with Tom Clancy and his hero Jack Ryan. I am now three episodes deep into season three of “Jack Ryan” streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime. Starring Jim from “The Office” fame (aka John Krasinski) it is an absolute thrill ride and foreshadows Russia’s insatiable, imperial desire for westward expansion. 

CLIP OF THE WEEK
This croc alert was submitted from the PDX office.  →  SAVOR

MY GIF TO YOU
So happy I finished this New Year newsletter… → WATCH

QUOTABLE
“If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn’t sit for a month.”
Theodore Roosevelt, Statesman

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!