Thursday Thirteen #399

 13 Great SNL Castmembers. Sometimes I love the whole show, sometimes I'm just killing time until Weekend Update comes on. Some casts I barely remember because my Saturday social life took precedence. 

But none of that diminishes what Saturday Night Live has accomplished. I'll never sniff at the the talent and dedication that goes into putting 90 minutes of topical comedy, performed live, on air, week after week. And I understand it's like popular music in that every generation thinks theirs was best. While my funniest-ever was Gilda, a younger generation would insist it's Kristen Wiig. 

So I let Cory Woodroof, an entertainment writer at USA Today, rank the top 13 SNL castmembers.

13. Tina Fey.

12. Bill Murray.

11. Adam Sandler.

10. Kate McKinnon.

9. Dana Carvey.

8. Kristin Wiig.

7. Maya Rudolph.

6. Chris Farley.

5. Kenan Thompson.

4. Will Farrell.

3. Gilda Radner.

2. John Belushi.

1. Eddie Murphy.

PS My list would include Dennis Miller, Norm MacDonald and Colin Jost. I love Weekend Update!

Please join us for THURSDAY THIRTEEN. Click here to play along, and to see other interesting compilations of 13 things.

WWW.WEDNESDAY

 

WWW. WEDNESDAY asks three questions to prompt you to speak bookishly. To participate, and to see how other book lovers responded, click here. 

PS I no longer participate in WWW.WEDNESDAY via that link because her blog won't accept Blogger comments. I mention this only to save you the frustration I experienced trying to link up.

1. What are you currently reading? How I Helped OJ Get Away with Murder: The Shocking Inside Story of Violence, Loyalty, Regret and Remorse by Mike Gilbert. I recently watched Netflix docuseries on the murders of Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman and was introduced to OJ's agent and confidant. One of his comments really resonated with me. Gilbert wondered whether OJ was a good man who did a terrible thing, or if he was a terrible man who could occasionally do good. It reminded me of something our minister said while encouraging us to do prison work: Don't judge an entire life by its worst moment.

 

OK, but Gilbert eventually cut all ties with OJ and even wrote this book, which obviously is not a defense. How did he get here? I believe we each have a snapping point -- which is why I'm against citizens carrying handguns -- so I suppose it's possible that I could somehow find myself in his position. How do you deal with it when someone you love does something despicable?

 

I'm ruefully amused that in early 1994, Mike Gilbert didn't approve of OJ golfing with President Bill Clinton. Gilbert was all judgey about Bill while he was proudly representing a man who, within months, was going to commit a double homicide. Okeedokee.

 

Btw, this is a library book. I'm not yet sure of Gilbert's motives and don't wish to support exploitation with my cash.

2. What did you recently finish reading? Saving Graces: Finding Solace and Strength from Friends and Strangers by Elizabeth Edwards. This is a reread for me. I once again found it immensely moving, but it landed differently this time than it did 20 years ago.

 

Back then, I was shaken by Elizabeth's courageous candor about how the death of her son rocked her. She shamelessly recounted how she literally collapsed with grief in the grocery store when confronted with Wade's favorite soda. In 2006, I had to put the book down after that passage. It was too real, too raw. It shocked me that anyone would willingly share something (and she shared much in a similar vein) that made them seem so vulnerable, so wacky. As I made my way through these difficult passages, I realized Elizabeth was teaching me that it's OK to be weak, to struggle, to hurt and to be confused. That weakness, struggle, hurt and confusion are universal and can bring us closer to one another and those connections will ultimately bring us strength. I've internalized that. In the last 20 years, I've been more honest with my friends and loved ones. This past spring, after my friend John died, I very honestly called Joanna and Elaine and told them I was suffering. They each came through for me. I am grateful to them, and to Elizabeth Edwards for being my sherpa.

 

But in 2025 it hit me differently. I worked on the Kerry/Edwards campaign, and this time it was those chapters that made me the most emotional. We've lost so much in the last 20 years! Elizabeth recounts how shocked she was when, en route to a campaign appearance, a man held up a handmade sign calling her, "Fatso." Today the Oval Office is inhabited by a man who, while being deposed about a rape, said unasked that the female lawyer questioning him was not his "type." Good to know what our Predator in Chief's preferred "type" of rape victim is, I guess. (I'm not making this up. See it here.) After the 2004 election, John Edwards was reluctant to concede because of Republican shenanigans in Ohio. Come to think of it, in 2000 there were shenanigans in Florida. Apparently the Bush campaign was good at shenanigans. So why didn't I go to Washington, storm the Capitol and beat up a cop or two? Because Al Gore and John Kerry were patriots who were more concerned with the peaceful transfer of power than in possessing it by any means necessary. 

So this time around, Elizabeth's words have spurred me to fight for my country, like she did as a Vietnam-era college student. When one of her professors chided her, telling her no one in Washington was not paying attention to peace protests and asking why do it, she said she continued because she had to do something. Well now, I have to do something, too. Something more meaningful than hand-wringing posts like this and Facebook memes. I'm going to raise funds for candidates I believe in and work on local campaigns so that by the mid-terms, Trump's power will be diminished. (Don't worry, Elon. I will do all this legally and peacefully. No reason to shut down my blog and toss me in the Gulag.)

3. What will you read next? I don't know.

 

 

 

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Cupid (1961)
 
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

 

1) In this song, Sam Cooke enlists the help of Cupid, the Roman god of love, to help him get a girl. In Greek mythology, the god of love and lust has a different name. Do you know what it is? Eros.

 

2) Sam Cooke was inducted as a charter member into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The museum and hall are located in Cleveland, OH. Cleveland is proud of the six major museums featured on its website. When did you most recently visit a museum? Before Christmas, Elaine and I went to The Art Institute of Chicago to see a special exhibit: The Great Wave. We also checked out The Thorne Miniature Rooms, and they really bowled me over. And, maybe this is just a corny Chicago thing, but I got to pose in front of the Art Institute Lions, all duded up for Christmas.

 

3) Sam went to Wendall Phillips Academy, the same Chicago high school Nat King Cole attended. Can your high school claim any noteworthy alums? Just me.

4) "Cupid" was released in 1961. One of the major news stories of that year was the death of Ernest Hemingway. Have you read any of his works? Yes. I love the spare and clean prose. I'm not always fond of what he says, but I'm crazy about how he says it.

  
Since February 14 was Valentine's Day...

 
5) Sweethearts, those small heart-shaped candies printed with messages like "Be Mine" and "Kiss Me," are top sellers this time of year. Did you enjoy them as a child? Do you enjoy them now? Didn't like 'em then, don't like 'em now.

 

6) While Valentine's Day is popular in Mexico, it's celebrated a bit differently than it is here. For our neighbors to the south, it's a day for love and friendship, with no distinction between romantic, familial or platonic love. Do you tell your friends you love them? Or do you reserve "I love you" for your partner and family? I tend to find myself saying, "Love you, too." I wish initiating it came easier to me. I think we all need more love these days.

7) In Poland, Valentine's Day, or Walentynki, is often celebrated with a gift of "tea and sweets" -- a tin of black tea paired with candy. Do you more often drink tea or coffee? Tea. I hate coffee. No, really. I hate coffee.

 

8) One of London's top accounting firms did a study and reports that in England, Valentine's Day is a 52%/48% affair. 52% of the participants planned on buying at least one card or gift, while 48% did not expect to spend anything on Valentine's Day. This year, were you one of the 52% or the 48%? I was one of the 48%. But I worked at the card shop yesterday (see post below), so I assisted the 52%.

9) A similar study in Rome showed that today's young lovers would prefer to share a romantic experience on Valentine's Day – a stroll through the gardens of Villa Borghese was a popular choice – than exchange gifts. Would you rather do something memorable for Valentine's Day or receive something you can retain as a keepsake? I'd rather have a keepsake. Which is why, I suppose, my condo is overstuffed and overflowing with stuff.

 

 

 

Hooray for Love!

What I like best about my job at the card shop is the little glimpses customers give me into their lives. Today was the first Valentine's Day I ever worked and I enjoyed it thoroughly for the small part I got to play in their celebrations.

1. The solemn girl. She looked to be in junior high. We get a lot of girls her age in our store but usually they come in as a rowdy pack. This one was alone. She went carefully through the various displays throughout the store. I was surprised to see her lingering so long in the baby shower section before finally landing on a Jelly Cat,  a mother cuddling her duckling. Last one we had in stock. It came to $52 and change. She withdrew her zipper pouch and carefully counted out $55 in haphazardly folded bills. 

"One of my favorites," I told her as I put the stuffed duck in a bag. "Glad to know they're going to a good home."

"It's for my mom," she said with quiet pride. I was touched. It probably took her a long time to earn that money. I can't imagine the mother who would not love such a gift from her daughter.

2. The picky husband. This is a generalization, of course, but men just head to our Valentine display and grab a card with a heart on it. But not this hubby. Be perused. He ruminated. He settled on a card that was dotted with Sweetheart candies. "Be Mine," "Kiss Me," etc. But I could tell by the way he dropped it on the counter he was definitely settling. I asked him if he wanted to check out our overstock and produced a small wire basket filled with ones and twos. He was so pleased with the card he found there he actually shook my hand and thanked me for my help.

3. Budget Romeo. This older gentleman was struggling to find a Valentine gift he could afford. I was touched by how frank he was about this. I took him to our sale table. We had some paper poinsettias left over from Christmas, now $2.00 each. We agreed that since red is the color of Valentine's Day, they were just as appropriate in February as they'd  been in December. He was happy that his purchase was less expensive and more festive than a single Valentine card.

4. Cat Daddy. My favorite! This man was checking out our Valentine's table but wasn't excited about anything he saw. Still he kept circling. He was buying a gift for his boyfriend and just didn't like anything we had. I suggested that maybe he was going about this wrong. Instead of trying to make a conventional Valentine gift fit their unique relationship, maybe he should choose the right present and we'll just find a Valentine gift bag to put it in. Voila! Turns out his boyfriend is a cat lover. Well! I knew just where to steer him. He ended up with an "Ask Me about My Cats" desk name plate and a cat mug. Plus a Valentine gift bag and tissue paper (<<< incremental purchase, good for the store's bottom line). 

I love love. I'm just not especially good at it myself. So today gave me pleasure.

Photo by Naomi Irons on Unsplash

Thursday Thirteen #398

The "joyful heart" edition. I'm working on my taxes, which is not the most fun I'm going to have this month. But I do enjoy this part: Reviewing my charitable giving. Every one of this contributions brought me joy. Giving grounds me and presents an opportunity to live my faith. Remember what we learned in Sunday School? "God loves a cheerful giver." 

So, without further ado, here are the 13 charities I donated to the most and most often during 2024. I've included links, if you're interested in giving.

1. My church

2. The local food pantry. To find a food pantry in your community, click here.

3. Harmony House for Cats. Chicagoland has many shelters, but for some reason this one doesn't get a lot of local buzz. That's why I've singled them out for attention and dollars.

4. Doctors without Borders. I'm grateful for this monthly donation because it stops me from being reactive. When I see a tragedy on foreign shores and I want to reach for my wallet, I pause and say to myself: DWB is there, so you've already helped.

5. Feeding America. While I prioritize my neighbors and neighborhood, I don't ignore the rest of the country.

6. Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation. My favorite ballplayer is my hero. Anthony Rizzo is always giving back and his joy is undeniable. One baseball fan said he's so happy, she suspects "Anthony Rizzo is really a golden retriever turned into a man by a good witch."

7. Greenpeace. I like thinking that I've helped leave a better world for the next generation.

8. Hephzibah Children's Association. Provides foster care and daycare for families in need.

9. Marine Toys for Tots. This one is my penance. I worked in advertising for 43 years, which means I did my part in commercializing Christmas and teaching wee ones to expect glorious stuff from Santa. What about kids whose parents can't afford stuff?

10. Fried's Cat Shelter. I do this in my uncle's memory. He was a cat lover and more than that, deeply touched by the Frieds' story. This Indiana shelter was started by Hans and Lucille Fried, Jews who fled the Nazis and ended up here in the Midwest. When they retired, they sold their home and bought a roadside motel, turning it into a no-kill shelter. It was Hans' way of giving back, and often said, "To save a life is more in conformity with God's law than to kill." Between the cats, the Frieds, and my favorite uncle, how could helping them not bring me joy?

11. The Night Ministry. The homeless are my neighbors. I want to help, but I often don't know how. The Night Ministry provides food, health care and human connection.

12. Metropolitan Community Church of Key West. This was Henry's church. I worshiped there with him many times. How he loved his spiritual home! He died this past year and I felt it keenly that he didn't have a formal service. So I did this, and it brought me comfort.

13. World Wildlife Fund. I do this in my mom's memory. Penguins, seals, elephants ... she worried that her not-yet-born great grandchildren wouldn't get to see those wonderful creatures and every Christmas she donated $10 to WWF. That $10 was a big deal to her. I like to think of how proud she'd be that I'm trying to expand on her good works.

Lest you think I'm a wealthy philanthropist ... I see a receipt here for $3 donated to Petco's animal organization. Yes, I'm deducting it.

Please join us for THURSDAY THIRTEEN. Click here to play along, and to see other interesting compilations of 13 things.

 

WWW.WEDNESDAY

 

WWW. WEDNESDAY asks three questions to prompt you to speak bookishly. To participate, and to see how other book lovers responded, click here. 

PS I no longer participate in WWW.WEDNESDAY via that link because her blog won't accept Blogger comments. I mention this only to save you the frustration I experienced trying to link up.

1. What are you currently reading? Saving Graces: Finding Solace and Strength from Friends and Strangers by Elizabeth Edwards. This is a reread for me. When I first picked it up almost 20 years ago, it had a major impact. I reached for it again now because I long to feel something powerful, something hopeful, again. 

It seems I am shocked anew every day. Our President wants to revoke birthright citizenship and signed that Executive Order on the holiday for Dr. King's birthday. Are Trump and his supporters really that ignorant of US history, or just that insensitive? Then our President mocked the idea of visiting the Washington DC plane crash site, saying, "It's the water. You want me to go swimming?" People who assaulted Capitol police on January 6 were pardoned because violence against cops is just ducky if you're willing to do it for him. And half my countrymen are applauding this! Most disturbing are the ones who quote Scripture all the time. Let's face it: Jesus was a man of color born on the West Bank. If he walked among us today, MAGA would try to deport him.

So I'm returning to Elizabeth Edwards, that gallant lady who endured so much. I recall her teaching me that sharing your fears and pain can strengthen your faith and your relationships and that is a lesson I need to hear again.

2. What did you recently finish reading? Agatha Raisin and the Wizard of Evesham by MC Beaton. The "Wizard of Evesham" is a hairdresser, Mr. John, known for his transformative styling talents and his way with the ladies. Even our hard-boiled Aggie is not immune to his charms. Though drawn to him, she also has reservations. Something about him seems "off." So she decides to snoop around. Is she doing this because Mr. John is up to no good, or merely because she's bored? Doesn't matter which because, soon enough, someone dies in his salon.

This is one of my favorites in the series. Watching Agatha manufacture "a case" at first, just because she wants something to do, was amusing. I've enjoyed her gradual acclimation to retirement. She is grudgingly fond of her more small-town neighbors, though she's snarky about them. Right after I finished this book, I ran into my down-the-hall neighbor. I was carrying a white drawstring trash bag toward the dumpster. "Where are you off to?" he asked. Um ... where did he think I was going? When I stated the obvious, he said, "OK, then." Like I need his approval to take out my garbage? Annoying as he is -- and he is -- I would hate it if something happened to him. Dear God, I'm Aggie!

3. What will you read next? I don't know.

 

 

The Ghosts of Christmas Yet to Come

 

 

-----------------------------

I posted the above to Facebook. I thought those who know me well would find it funny because I'm rather well known for my resistance to change. Most who responded got it. Their comments made me smile. But the one from my Cousin Rose annoyed the living shit out of me.

Be a good Christian and do 1 or 2. 

Oh, for fuck's sake. It was a JOKE! And it makes me wonder where Rose buys her cards.

Her comment burrowed so deep under my skin because of what it represents. As she ages – and Rose just turned 78 – she's more difficult for me to interact with. She picks at me constantly because I do nothing right. (My purse is too big. I worry too much about my friends. I drink at lunch.* I chose a Medicare supplement plan and not a Medicare advantage plan. I'd rather watch old musicals than Star Wars or Lord of the Rings. I could go on, but I'd start screaming.)

When I was 16 and she was 27, Rose was my goddess. My role model. My champion. I couldn't spend enough time with her. Now I avoid it. I maintain our relationship but I do it online or through the mail.

This makes me sad. I know Rose loves me. When she's not ragging on me, she can be enormously thoughtful. For example, for Christmas she made a $50 donation in my name to The Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation. It was so sweet, so perfectly Christmas-y, it made me cry.

Plus she's one of only two people left on the planet who held me as a baby. That's important. I honor that. So it upsets me that she's changing like this. 

She's not the only one. My friend Kathy, also 78, is in such cognitive decline that we haven't communicated for more than a year. Both her phone and her laptop now perplex her. I don't miss her. The last few years of our friendship were difficult and, I suspect, brought me more agita than they brought her pleasure. I doubt she misses me, or even remembers me anymore.

But wait! There's more! Bonnie died. She was a staple in our movie group, and it was hard for me to interact with her because she always lost the thread of every movie. But she was one of us and truly loved classic films, even the ones she didn't understand. I looked up her obit, hoping to find a charity listed that our group could contribute to in lieu of flowers. I was shocked by what I found. Bonnie, who died one day shy of her 74th birthday, had a master's and worked her way through school as one of Illinois Bell's only female telephone installers. She went on to teach journalism at one of Chicago's best colleges. Gloria Steinem once crashed in her apartment. I wish I'd known that woman, instead of the one who got confused by Little Women. But age robbed her of her energy and concentration.

I'm 67. What do my 70s hold? Will I be humorless and joyless, like Rose? Will my skull be filled with oatmeal, like Kathy's? Will people be shocked that I once had it going on, as I was shocked about Bonnie?

I don't want this to be happening. I hate change. I've had enough change already.

 

*I only have three drinks/week. I don't see how it matters if I consume them at noon or after six. I have explained this to her. She doesn't agree.

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: But Beautiful (1947)
   

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

 

1) The lyrics encourage us to take a chance on love. What's something you've done recently that took you outside your comfort zone? How did it turn out? I'm slowly taking on more responsibility at the card shop: Pricing sale items, choosing the cards that go on the rack, etc. I do have an extensive marketing background, so it makes sense. So far, so good.

 

2) Bing Crosby introduced "But Beautiful" in the 1947 film, Road to Rio. Name another movie song that became a hit. "The Way We Were."

 
3) Bing's leading lady in Road to Rio was Dorothy Lamour. When she was a teenager, she worked as an elevator operator. With the advent of user-operated/push-button elevators, few elevator operator jobs remain. What's another job that was once commonplace, but has virtually disappeared? I always kinda thought it would be neat to work in that FotoMat booth.

 

 

 

4) Road to Rio was one of seven Road movies Bing Crosby and Bob Hope made together. They were one the most financially successful comedy teams in history. What movie or TV show always makes you laugh? Animal House.

5) Crosby's given name was Harry but he acquired the nickname "Bing" because as a kid he was a fan of a comic strip character named "Bingo." As a child, did you read the newspaper? Yes. The Chicago Sun Times in the morning and Chicago Today after school. They were both tabloid style, so I could easily read them back-to-front, starting with the sport page, and then the comics, the entertainment section, the local news and the international news. I admit I was usually bored by the time I got to the front page.

 

6) His 1942 version of "White Christmas" is still one of the best-selling records of all time. He was a movie star, nominated three times for the Oscar, winning once. Can you name another performer who has been successful both acting and singing?

 

My queen

7) Bing loved golf and enjoyed traveling the world, playing at different courses. If today you were to receive an airline ticket to any city in the world, what destination would you choose? What would you be certain to see/do there? There are many places I visited years ago that I long to see again. Graceland, Colonial Williamsburg, New York City, Key West ... I enjoyed them all and would love to do it all again.

8) In 1947, when "But Beautiful" was a hit, Farrah Fawcett was born. She became famous for her bathing suit poster, her blonde hair, and a 70s TV show. Without looking it up, do you know the name of that television series? Charlie's Angels

9) Random question -- Are you someone who makes things happen, or someone things happen to? I'd like to think I'm the latter, but in reality I'm probably a mix of both. Things may happen to me, but how I respond is up to me.

 

 

 

Thursday Thirteen #397

 13 jolts of joy. Here are 13 things that never fail to make me smile, no matter what. With the nation going the way it is, it's important to cling to these little moments.

1. Seeing a friend's name on my landline caller ID. Everybody texts these days. I love it when someone carves out a little time to talk.

2. Getting off the train and realizing I'm in The Loop. Ever since I was a little girl I believed there was magic and excitement downtown. It doesn't disappoint.

3. Seeing my building as the train pulls in. I'm lucky to live so close to the station. Catching sight of my building, peering into the lobby, as the train slows to a stop always make me happy because in about 5 minutes, I'll be home.

4. When the three of us curl up together. My two cats are very independent and unpredictable. They go their own way for their own reasons. Yet about once a day, they both settle in around me on the sofa or in my bed. I can feel the comfort they take from one another and from me. I love this.

5. Starting a new book. Especially if it's one I know little about. It could teach me anything and take me anywhere.

6. Rewatching a favorite movie. It's like seeing old friends again. It surprises me how much faster the time goes by with a rewatch.

7. American Airlines e-shopping. How I love earning extra miles for shopping as I would anyway! I know I have earned enough to fly one way to LA this spring for the TCM Film Festival. Depending on which flight I book, I may have enough to fly round trip for free. YAY!

8. Singing with the oldies in the morning. My little shower radio is the best $20 I've ever spent. It brings me joy every morning.

9. A dash of cinnamon. I add it to my hot chocolate and to my applesauce. I do it as much for the scent as the taste.

10. The sound of a Coke can when I pop it open. Soon I'm going to feel cold bubbles on my tongue!

11. The crack of the bat. Especially if I'm listening to the ball game on the radio. Sometimes I know right away if it's a base hit.

12. Reaching that spot with the back scratcher. A couple weeks ago, when I dedicated a TT to dry skin, Liz A. and Kwizgiver recommended I get a back scratcher. How right you ladies were!

 13. Freshly sharpened pencils. It's a delight to see that thin line on paper.

How about you? What always coaxes a smile out of you?

Please join us for THURSDAY THIRTEEN. Click here to play along, and to see other interesting compilations of 13 things.

 

WWW.WEDNESDAY

 

WWW. WEDNESDAY asks three questions to prompt you to speak bookishly. To participate, and to see how other book lovers responded, click here. 

PS I no longer participate in WWW.WEDNESDAY via that link because her blog won't accept Blogger comments. I mention this only to save you the frustration I experienced trying to link up.

1. What are you currently reading? Agatha Raisin and the Wizard of Evesham by MC Beaton. My first three books of 2025 were heavy and it's time for something light. I don't know what it says about me that to me, light means murder. But here I am.

My heroine Agatha tries a DIY dye job and mucks it up. We all know how bad bad hair makes us feel. So to remedy the situation she turns to a new stylist, Mr. John, who is hailed as the Wizard of Evesham. He not only leaves her looking great, his flirtations lift her spirits. Yet she senses something is "off" about him. Why is someone so talented languishing away in Evesham when he could make more money in London? Why does he insist on staying in this small town? Is he hiding from something? Should she embark on a relationship with this charming and attractive man, or should she trust her suspicious gut?

Then, as always happens around Aggie, someone at Mr. John's salon gets dead. And we're off!

2. What did you recently finish reading? Leo Durocher: Baseball's Prodigal Son by Paul Dickson. I grew up on Leo. He was the ferocious manager of the Cubs when I was a little girl. He managed the heroes of my youth. He was at the helm when the Cubs folded in 1969, breaking the hearts of everyone in my family. But he was an old man when he got to Chicago. I had no idea who he was before. He led a huge, entertaining life and even after 350+ pages, I wanted more.

Leo Durocher was charismatic. Eisenhower was a fan. Garbo thought he was adorable. When movie star George Raft was in New York, he didn't stay at a hotel, he stayed with Leo. During the winter he played poker with his California neighbor, Frank Sinatra, and vacationed with Dean Martin in Acapulco. His third wife was a film actress, and Leo's jealous behavior on the set pissed off John Wayne. He was good enough at billiards to go pro. During the 1940s he was regularly named one of America's best-dressed men.

 

He was also an asshole. He bullied three of baseball's best good guys -- Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, and Mr. Cub himself, Ernie Banks. Even as a little girl, I hated how he treated Ernie. I was surprised by how emotional I got when I revisited his time here. The '69 Cubs went from 8 games up in August to watching the Mets take the pennant in September because Leo fucked up. He never rested his players, even though the Cubs were the last team to play all their home games during the day in the dog days of summer. He mocked them if they showed fatigue. They came to hate the manager who publicly blamed individual players after each loss (contrast this with Joe Maddon, who "praised publicly and criticized privately"). 

But he showed courage and integrity when he helped integrate baseball. His clashes with Jackie Robinson came later; Leo could not have been more supportive of him at the start. He was a warm and sensitive mentor to the great Willie Mays and Roy Campanella. Baseball and the nation owe him a huge debt of gratitude for that.

I enjoyed this well-written book, even if I didn't always enjoy the man himself.

3. What will you read next? I don't know.

 

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Rikki, Don't Lose that Number (1974)
   

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

 

1) In this song, a man asks a girl to spend more time with him and suggests they go out for a ride together. Do you ever take a leisurely drive, just for relaxation and pleasure? Or do you always have a destination in mind when you get behind the wheel? I don't drive. But every time I leave the house I have a destination in mind. Even if I'm just going for a walk. If I want to enjoy the sunshine and sky I'll head off for the post office branch that's farther away or the bigger grocery store, but I never just wander.

 

2) He repeatedly suggests that she could have a change of heart. What's something you've changed your mind about recently? Abigail. She's the manager I work with most often since Jen left the card shop. She's the youngest manager and I'm the oldest employee so I was worried about how we'd get along. She's lovely. Supportive and funny and we have a lot to talk about. Also, I love how amused she is when she hears me refer to her as, "my boss." For those 4-6 hours, that's exactly who she is, and I want her to own it.

3) This week's featured artists are the duo Steely Dan. They earned the reputation as perfectionists, requiring take after take in the studio until they got their sound just right. Do you consider yourself a perfectionist? Or do you more often find that "good enough is good enough?" Depends on what I'm doing. At my previous job I could be rather demanding of myself and others. I'm less so at the card shop because having a job I could leave behind when I go home was kinda the point of getting it. At home? I've always been "good enough is more than good enough." (Meaning I'm a slob.)

 

4) The Rikki of the title is a writer/poet who met Steely Dan's Donald Fagan when they were both students at Bard College. He had a crush on her and gave her his number, which she refused to call because she was married. She went on to teach in the English Department at the University of Denver, where her students would probably be surprised to learn she was the inspiration for a famous song. Is there something we would be surprised to learn about you? Yes. And I'm not sharing it here.

5) Another woman who played a role in Steely Dan's success is Barbra Streisand. She recorded one of their early songs, "I Mean to Shine," for her 1971 album, Barbra Joan Streisand. It was her thirteenth album and though 13 is often considered unlucky, it reached #11 on the Billboard charts and was certified as a gold record. Do you have a lucky number? 7.

 

6) In 1974, when this song was a hit, The Magic 8 Ball was still a top-seller at toy stores. It retailed for just $1.99, and promised that all you had to do was gaze at it, concentrate, and wait to learn your fate ... "if you dare!" If you could get an answer to one question about the future, what would you ask? Where will my beloved Anthony Rizzo be playing in 2025?

7) Also in 1974, Good Times premiered and the character JJ (played by Jimmy Walker) became a sensation with the catchphrase "Dy-no-mite!" What's another phrase that is forever connected to a TV character? Could Chandler be any funnier?

8) 1974 was the year Barry Manilow became a household name with his first major hit, "Mandy." Do you have a favorite Barry Manilow song? I gotta be honest: I cannot stand Barry Manilow. But even I like "Even Now." Heartbreak makes me sappy.

9) Random question: Imagine a beautiful little church on a hillside. Quiet, with stained glass and lovely pews. Well-maintained grounds with plenty of parking nearby. Seats 150. Perfect for a wedding ... or a funeral, because it's located in a cemetery. Would you consider getting married at a cemetery? Of course. A house of worship is a house of worship. The physical location doesn't matter. Besides, the fact that I was getting married at all would be more shocking than the cemetery thing.