My scent is yummy

Thanks to kwizgiver for the link ...

Your Scent is Pumpkin Pie

Warm, comforting, and a bit old fashioned You've got what men want - believe it or not!

What's Your Girl Smell?

What this blog needs is ...

… another meme!

1. While in a forest, you see a cabin ahead, you_______?
Run up and peer into the windows.

2. In the cabin you find a large chest, you________?
See if it's locked.

3. Suddenly you hear a noise coming from the outside, you________?
Try to hide, like the chickenshit little gal I am.

4. The adventure over, you leave the cabin and________?
Muse about it in this blog.

For more information, or to play yourself, visit The Saturday Special Meme.

God Bless This Man

That incredibly ordinary-looking man is Chicago's Mayor Richard M. Daley. And I say, with all sincerity and no irony whatsoever, that he is in my prayers.

I am watching the news coverage of the Scotland airport "incident." An expert on domestic terrorism said that we -- major cities in the United States -- are "overdue" for a similar attack.

While this bombing, and the one attempted in London yesterday, could have killed hundreds, maimed hundreds more, and broken thousands of hearts, they are not on a scale of the 9/11 attacks. It's a different terrorist tactic altogether, and preventing it depends a great deal on police work. For a variety of reasons (not the least of which is the drain the Iraq war continues to place on our resources), the federal government leaves major cities largely on their own when it comes to protecting "soft targets."

That's why this pudgy, ruddy-faced man is my superhero. Mayor Daley loves this city and will do, has done, and is doing whatever it takes to keeps us safe. Every morning when I get on public transportation and go into the Loop, I place my safety in his hands. Considering the size of Chicago and the state of our world, that is not an exaggeration. The thousands of people at Wrigley Field today, at the Taste of the Chicago, on the lakefront, anywhere that the public congregates in large numbers this weekend, is doing the same. There is no one on earth I trust more with that daunting task than this man.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. People have received high-paying city jobs to drive salt trucks and have never shown up for work. Major no-bid contracts for municipal projects have gone to buddies of buddies of the Mayor. I've lived in Cook County all my life and I've heard all the stories about this mayor and his late (and, by the way, completely unlamented by me) father, King Richard I. Whatever. Maybe corruption is part of their DNA. Maybe it's in our Lake Michigan water. Not interested in the reason why. I don't care.

If something horrific happens in my beloved city, it will be made smaller by this man. If we are spared, it will be because of providence, and luck, and this man.

I know this the same way as I know the sun sets in the West.

I have seen the Chicago police boats in the River, under the bridges that the el travels over. I have seen the police dogs, heartbreaking in their focus and dedication, guarding public trash containers, lest anyone tosses a bomb in. I have seen extra cops patrolling parks and museum entrances in larger numbers. They are there one day, gone the next. No one talks about it, but we all know what it is. Post 9/ll, if the City hears whispers or rumors, the police come out in greater force. We don't change the way we live, we don't do anything different, but we can't help but see those out there to protect us, and wonder about the unseen steps being taken to protect us.

Nothing happens in this city, and very little happens in this state, without the approval of the man you see here.

God bless him.

Just 99¢ a bottle!

With every trip to the store I find something on sale and throw it in the cart for the neighborhood food pantry. ("Food pantry" is misleading; they also happily accept toilet paper, toothpaste, bar soap, etc.) I find I have a grocery bag filled with non perishables in no time, and it's no strain on my budget at all.

What's needed at food pantries changes with the seasons. Oh, there are evergreens, like pasta, rice and cereal. But just as in the winter, people eat more soup, during the summer we consume more sandwich fixings and barbecue condiments. That's why I was so excited to find catsup for just 99¢ a bottle!

It's the hunt. The search. Last week I found Lipton Chicken Rice Sides for just 79¢! I have to admit grocery shopping is not one of the highlights of my week, and finding a bargain that will help others brightens it a bit.

I'm so shallow and low-brow, I should be ashamed

Yeah, but I'm not, so let's get past it.

Our office closes early on Fridays during the summer and so here I am, eating a salad (which I hate), drinking Arbor Mist strawberry zinfandel (yes, I know) and watching (sigh) Judge Alex.

Judge Alex Ferrer is so handsome! I know the from show's opening that he was once a cop, then a trial lawyer, then a criminal court judge, and now, an afternoon courtroom show hottie. He's got great shoulders, beautiful hands, and so many teeth I suspect that he's somehow distantly related to Donny and Marie.

There are so many things I should be doing: scrubbing the tub, a load of laundry (or three), paying my bills ... But I luxuriate in these lazy, stolen Friday afternoons: just me, my wine, and my afternoon courtroom hottie. Life is good! If only I had a cheeseburger instead of this damn salad, my life would be perfect.

Friday's Feast #5

Appetizer
How many pieces of jewelry do you wear most days?
6: a pair of earrings, one ring on my left hand, two on my right, and a watch on my left wrist

Soup
What is your favorite instrumental song? "The Horse" by Cliff Nobles

Salad
Who has a last name that you like? New York Yankee Bobby Abreu

Main Course
Name a popular movie you’ve never seen. Spiderman

Dessert Fill in the blank: Nothing makes me ___________ like ____________. happy, hearing from my best friend

Read more Friday's Feasts, or add your own, at www.fridaysfeast.com

Thursday Thirteen #22 -- The 13 most popular movies of all time

THE THIRTEEN MOST SUCCESSFUL MOVIES EVER I love movies and I go often. Yet when I recently saw a list of the box-office champions of all-time, I was surprised that I hadn’t seen any of the Top 5. How could that be? Did I consume all those Sno-Caps, sitting in the dark, watching box-office bombs? No. Here’s the reason: inflation. The average nationwide ticket price today is nearly $7.00, but when Gone with the Wind came out, it only cost 25¢ to get into a matinee. That puts Rhett at a definite disadvantage against Spiderman and Jack Sparrow, doesn’t it? So here are the Top 13 most popular films of all time, adjusted for inflation. I've seen 10, which makes me feel much better about the world. This list is courtesy of Amazon.com, who went ahead and did the math for me. (And, naturally, is willing to sell all 13 DVDs to you.) This is based on box-office receipts. I wonder what the results would be if we factored in sales and rentals. Maybe I’ll track that down for a future TT … 1…. Gone with the Wind (1939) 2. Star Wars (1977) 3. Sound of Music (1965) 4. ET (1982) 5. The Ten Commandments (1956) 6. Titanic (1997) 7. Jaws (1975) 8. Dr. Zhivago (1965) 9. Disney’s Jungle Book (1967) 10. Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs (1937) 11. Ben Hur (1959) 12. 101 Dalmations (1961) 13. The Exorcist (1973) Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. ancsweetnsassygal's 1980s TT will have you humming Huey Lewis all day. 2. Courtney's ambitous TT is up. 3. Pussreboots issues us a reading challenge. 4. Impworks' TT is thrill packed. 5. Crimson Wife's TT is funny, if you're not too stupid to get it :) 6. Maiylah's TT is low-tech 7. Wylie goes beyond Shatner to name 13 famous Canadian actors 8. Sue's TT are 13 quotes she wishes she could claim as her own 9. Susan's f-ing funny TT is up 10. Cordia shares 13 things she dreams of doing 11. Ben introduces himself to us with his TT 12. Nicholas shares some very olden oldies 13. Janet's got 13 things on her mind this week and shares 'em 14. Drew's TT is devoted to the Birthday Boys, Jonah and Jude 15. Amy shares her vacation itinerary (don't worry, she'll be back for Mom's birthday on the 7th) 16. Lene's TT is, well, kinda icky; hope everyone feels better soon! 17. Nancy's TT inspires us to exercise 18. Mommyba's TT is cartoon characters to make you smile 19. Malcolm's TT takes us back to childhood fun and games 20. Gloria's TT is about young love. 21. Darla's TT is filled with "Sniglets." 22. Samulli shares his many and varied favorites, including Walnut Caramel Cream Ice Cream. 23. Starla's TT rhapsodizes about Phoenix. 24. JennieBoo tells us what's in her medicine cabinet, so now we don't have to snoop 25. Starrlight's TT is devoted to Gross Pointe Blank dialog 26. Chris' TT shares the songs on his current Zen rotation 27. Frigga's TT encourages a self exam of your soul, conscience and memory 28. Titania takes us on a tour of Las Vegas 29. Jenny McB is in search of new ways to "torment" her boys 30. Jill shares 13 women characters she likes 31. Sparky Duck is back online with a TT about other TTs (beginning with this brilliant one)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Were that it was true!

Thanks to Gabriella for sending me over to this site. Isn't my card gorgeous?

You are The Empress

Beauty, happiness, pleasure, success, luxury, dissipation.

The Empress is associated with Venus, the feminine planet, so it represents,
beauty, charm, pleasure, luxury, and delight. You may be good at home
decorating, art or anything to do with making things beautiful.

The Empress is a creator, be it creation of life, of romance, of art or business. While the Magician is the primal spark, the idea made real, and the High Priestess is the one who gives the idea a form, the Empress is the womb where it gestates and grows till it is ready to be born. This is why her symbol is Venus, goddess of beautiful things as well as love. Even so, the Empress is more Demeter, goddess of abundance, then sensual Venus. She is the giver of Earthly gifts, yet at the same time, she can, in anger withhold, as Demeter did when her daughter, Persephone, was kidnapped. In fury and grief, she kept the Earth barren till her child was returned to her.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Seems a little harsh to me ...

Thanks to Sparky for posting his. Unfortunately he's been banished to the second level, so we won't be running into one another for all eternity.


The Dante's Inferno Test has banished you to the Fifth Level of Hell!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:

Level	Score
Purgatory (Repenting Believers)	Very Low
Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers)	Very Low
Level 2 (Lustful)	High
Level 3 (Gluttonous)	High
Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious)	Low
Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy)	High
Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics)	Very Low
Level 7 (Violent)	Moderate
Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers)	High
Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous)	Low

Take the Dante's Inferno Hell Test

Yippee-ki-yay! I'm goin' to the movies!

Just received my "movietime email" from the local theater, letting me know the shows and showtimes for this weekend. Live Free or Die Hard starts showing at 11:00 AM and keeps right on until 10:00 PM.

Yes, I appreciate film. Cin-e-ma. But even more than that, I love movies. And my favorite action hero is back and I am SOOOOO gonna be there. Though 11:00 does seem a little early for blowing up buildings, doesn't it? Or am I getting older (just like McClane)?

Good riddance, Tank

Tank Johnson, Chicago's answer to Paris Hilton, has finally been let go by the Bears.

Mr. Johnson has rolled blissfully along, exhibiting hideous judgment and breaking laws and squandering every chance the Bears and the NFL have given him for redemption, blissfully confident that he can get away with anything because he is ... well .. HIM. Rules don't apply to people like HIM, do they?

This sad saga began in earnest last December. His home was raided and the cops found guns and marijuana. The grass belonged to his good friend, roommate and bodyguard. The guns belonged to Johnson, which put him in violation of his probation for a 2005 gun charge. It's important to note that, in addition to grass and guns, there were young kids in the home, because it was Tank's weekend to play Daddy.

The Bears told Johnson that they felt this situation was serious and he had to "clean up his act." Johnson said he would. Then he and his bodyguard went clubbing. Twelve hours later that bodyguard was dead, shot because someone bumped someone on the dance floor.

Now surely this was serious, right? But see, the Bears were in the Super Bowl for the first time in 20 years! And since he is special, the courts gave Tank Johnson special permission to leave Illinois to play in The Big Game.

Tank served 60 days in Cook County Jail this year. He promised that NOW he got it. NOW he knew that he had to clean up his act.

That's why the Bears were unhappy to learn that last Friday Tank had been stopped at 3:30 AM last Friday morning for speeding, and refusing a Breathalyzer test.

I hear murmurs that the Bears will be sorry they cut this guy because he'll be snapped up by another team. Well, God help that team.

In praise of 1940s New York City

I watched the movie Laura over the weekend. (Thanks to Malcolm for making it top of mind for me again.) It's a completely sumptuous black-and-white movie, a famous film noir. But while I have a weakness for murders and whodunnits, that's not why I love Laura.

Everything about it is so idealized, romantic and gorgeous. The crime that sets everything in motion is a hideous murder (I'm not giving anything away here). A woman answers the doorbell only to get a face full of buckshot. At close range. EWWW! Yet the murder takes place offscreen and even as the police investigate the crime scene, there's no blood. Anywhere. There's beautiful furniture and priceless antiques and a beautiful portrait of the title character. There's a bar for cocktails, but there's no blood spatter, no brain matter, no stray teeth stuck in the upholstery.

Because this isn't Martin Scorcese's New York. It's Manhattan in the 1940s, at it's most sophisticated. Women have names like Laura Hunt and Anne Treadwell and they wear hats and gloves. They only leave the island of Manhattan to go their weekend places, in the country or perhaps the Hamptons, or maybe to the Kentucky Derby, to mix with the horsey crowd. All the men wear ties, everywhere. (All the lovemaking, like the violence, takes place offscreen, but I wouldn't be surprised if the men wore ties with their pajamas … no, make that smoking jackets.)

Everyone is smart. Everyone is witty. Each bon mot is better than the last, no matter how many cocktails are sipped.

The women keep journals and diaries. The men write their women letters, even though they live only a short cab ride apart and will be seeing one another for dinner this coming Tuesday. It's not unusual for a lady to commission a portrait of herself (like this one of the main character) and then fall in love with the artist.

I hope I'm not making this movie sound trivial because it's not. It's storytelling of a very high order, with terrific performances from top to bottom. It is also an almost perfect example of filmmaking in the 1940s. It reflects who and what America wanted to be as we came out of The Great Depression and believed there was an end in sight to WWII.

I wonder what current movies will be remembered as classics 60 years from now, and what they'll say about us.

(For those who prefer books to movies, if you can lay hands on Laura by Vera Caspary, read it. It's a great read because it's written in three different voices -- each chapter is told by a different character.)

And they lived happily ever after

This past weekend I went to a friend's wedding reception. It was lovely and, like the Grinch, my small heart grew three sizes that day.

The bride is 51. The groom is 53. It's the first marriage for each, and I think that's because God was saving them for one another.

Of all my friends, she is by far the most successful. She has worked hard on her career and is very, very good at what she does. Unfortunately some age-appropriate men have found her power and salary intimidating.

Yesterday, as I watched the bride and her groom move from table to table at the reception, with him gazing at her as though he had found the Jewel of the Nile, I almost cried. He's not the kind of man she used to dream about -- he's no taller than she is, he's balding, he's quite happy as a middle manager -- but he is the man who has fulfilled all her dreams. Even more than the Cubs sweep of the Sox, her happiness gave me reason to celebrate.

I'm already rated R, so let's go for it

Today was my annual gyne exam. (Now you know the subject. If you keep reading, you have no right to be offended by anything that follows.) This is not the most entertaining, most comfortable day of my year. Yet today wasn't so bad.

The reason? I brought a book with me and I read in the waiting room. Are any of you familiar with Angels by Marion Keyes? The passage I happened to read was about Maggie and Troy's first ... um ... "date."

My subsequent exam went easier.

So, ladies, here's my advice: before you leave for the gynecologist, tuck a steamy book into your handbag.

Proceed with caution

Spotted this on Jenny's site and had to try it for myself. I guess I'm more of a potty mouth than she is.

The picture says it all

Cubs 3, White Sox 0.

I missed today's game, the last of the 3-game Crosstown Classic. I was at a wedding, which I'll write of later. But my boys in blue didn't need me for moral support. They were able to reign victorious all on their own.

What's more, this is the first series we have ever swept in their new(ish) ballpark.

Hey, hey, holy mackarel, no doubt about it: The Cubs are on their way.

The boys in blue reign victorious again

It's always fun to win. It's even better to beat the White Sox. This sign, while adorable, is misleading. The Cubs were deep into enemy territory, winning at the Cell. Took some of the sting out of this morning's trip to the dentist. I enjoyed a "half-mouth periodontal scale/root plane." It wasn't THAT bad. But it certainly wasn't the way I most wanted to start my weekend. That's why I'm extra happy that my Cubbies came through for me.

Right? Moral? Christian?

Every day I see children that no one wants, who have no home. I live next to a licensed, accredited children's home which cares for kids until foster homes can be found. My living room window looks out over their play area. These children laugh, ride bikes, play in the sand box and sit on the swings, just like any other kids in a playground. All races are represented, but according to my unscientific observation, most are white.

No one wants these kids.

Their mothers, for whatever reason, chose to give birth to these children; obviously they were not aborted. Yet they are wards of the state because no one wants them.

That's why these "snowflake adoptions" REALLY piss me off.

People are actually adopting unfertilized embryos from clinics. This "saves" the contents of a test tube from being "destroyed" in order to help find a cure for Parkinson's, diabetes, Alzheimer's, etc.

The contents of a test tube don't know what it's like to be abandoned. Even if your religion teaches that the contents of these test tubes represent life, you have to agree that they don't have to go to school with children who have families. They don't know the pain of being separated from their siblings.

The contents of a test tube doesn't know terror, or loneliness, or confusion, or fear because unfertilized embryos cannot feel.

Yet passionate pro-lifers encourage these "snowflake adoptions" when healthy, lovable and loving children like the ones next door live day after day without anyone wanting them.

Politically, the candidates and office holders who promote these "snowflake adoptions" are also the ones who are anti-choice, who want every pregnancy to end in a birth. They should come look out my window at these children that no one wants and encourage adoption. Adoption of children -- not babies, and especially not pre-babies!


These candidates and office holders maintain that "snowflake adoptions" are the right, moral, Christian thing to do.

My Christian faith tells me something very different, especially when I'm looking out my living room window. Perhaps these good Christians would like to explain to the little girl wearing the hand-me-down windbreaker going down the slide why the contents of a test tube deserve a good home before she can get one.

According to our government (the Federal Citizen Information Center), there are currently 75,000 to 100,000 children in foster care awaiting adoption.

Giving the Diva His Due

Carlos Zambrano gave up only 3 hits in 8 very solid innings at The Cell. Soriano, Ramirez and Pie each had a good game, but Zambrano's was really great.

Today was, of course, more than just another away game. Because it was against the White Sox, it was an away game in front of plenty of hometown fans. Beating the Sox is like beating the Cardinals -- it's important for fan morale and team momentum.

So congratulations, Carlos Zambrano, on a performance that was even more impressive than the box score shows.

Friday's Feast #4

Appetizer
Name a funny habit you have.
It makes me crazy when the toilet paper is in the holder backwards. It should be rolled over the top with the new sheet in the front. If I'm in a friend's bathroom or in a restaurant ladies' room and it's wrong, I fix it.

Soup
If you could instantly know how to play a musical instrument, which one would you pick?
The guitar.

Salad
How long is your hair?
It's short. Julie-Andrews-in-the-Sound-of-Music short.

Main Course
When was the last time you forgave someone, and who was it?
This past Tuesday. A former coworker I haven't heard from in a while emailed me out of the clear blue, asking for help with his resume. I was kinda busy at work so I set it aside for a free moment. In the interim, he shot me an "are-you-there/when-can-I-get-it?" email. At first I was pissed. I mean, this was all pretty presumptive on his part, wasn't it? Then I realized that, for him to act in such a thoughtless way, he must be under a lot of stress, so I forgave him.


Dessert
What is your favorite kitchen appliance?
The microwave! I'm into immediate gratification, and this makes it almost possible.

Read more Friday Feasts, or add your own, at http://fridaysfeast.com/?cat=2

Thursday Thirteen 21 -- You can only LOVE one each

Thirteen Either/Ors that THE GAL HERSELF has definite feelings about In Pulp Fiction, Mia (Uma Thurman) opines that when it comes to Elvis and the Beatles, you can like them both, but the odds are that you only LOVE one of them. When last week, Mo asked if my iPod playlist included Dean Martin in addition to Sinatra, I realized that was a similar situation. You can like them both, but you can only LOVE one of them. And so here's where I come down on 13 important “either/or’s.” 1…. Beatles or Elvis? I respect the King, but I LOVE the Lads. 2. Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin? It’s Frank’s world. Still. 3. Katharine Hepburn or Audrey Hepburn? The Great Kate 4. Chicago Cubs or White Sox? Let’s see … I have no visible tattoos and don’t drink beer at breakfast. That obviously makes me a Cub fan. 5. Thin crust or deep dish? Thin crust 6. Cats or dogs? Dogs make fine pets, but I simply must cohabit with at least one cat at all times 7. Turkey or ham? If it’s not turkey, it’s not a holiday meal 8. Coke or Pepsi? Coke 9. City or country? City 10. Angelina or Jen? I’m strictly Team Aniston. 11. Today or GMA? Today 12. Sandals or flip-flops? Sandals 13. Mac or PC? Mac Extras: My male friends assure me that no list like this is complete without ... Ginger or Mary Ann? Boxers or briefs? Beil or Alba? Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. Gabriella takes us on a tour of US sites she's like to see 2. MommyBa takes us all around the world on her fantasy trip 3. Impworks invites us to look at both his TT AND his landmark 500th post 4. Pussreboots has a romantic, rosey TT 5. Visit the characters of Trevor's Song by visiting Susan's TT 6. Joan shares inspirational lyrics on her TT 7. L^2 has a Google-inspired TT 8. Andrea shares her most watched (& rewatched) movies 9. Jenny's TT is the Songs of Her Life 10. Vader's Mom reflects on her paths not taken 11. Nancy's timely TT is about the Sumer Solstice 12. Titania's TT is about movies so funny they can cure whatever ails you 13. Courtney's TT tells us how surfers found her blog 14. Young Mommy's TT keeps kids cool 15. Tinkerbell's TT fills us in on Litha 16. Nancy shares her yummy cookout menu 17. Mo, who inspired my TT, has a musical one of her own 18. Miss Frou Frou gives the Southern Hemisphere equal time with a TT about the Winter Solstice 19. Gattina compares and contrasts childhood and adultshood 20. Mammalee invites us into her home with her TT 21. Nicki's TT is her vacation planner 22. Cindy's TT are the top movies according to the AFI 23. Bernie's TT is seaworthy 24. Qtpies lets us know why she needs a job

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Together again!

Michael Barrett, my beloved's Cubs battery mate, has been traded to the Padres. Which means Barrett and Maddux will be together again.

I'm sorry to see Barrett go, but I understand the reasoning. After the unfortunate dugout/lockerroom fight with Zambrano, either Barrett or Zambrano had to be traded … fast. Zambrano is worth more and comes with a bigger price tag, and it's possible no team offered us enough to give up our (gulp!) best pitcher.

And if Barrett had to go, I'm glad he's reunited with my beloved future Hall of Famer. "Reunited and it feels so good ..."

Ah! Al!

I'm watching the American Film Institute tribute to Al Pacino. Lordie, I love him. He's both a terrific actor and a charismatic movie star. It's a powerful combo platter, and I'm grateful to him for all those hours of pleasure in the dark. (Yeah, I know how dirty that sounds but I'm leaving it as is. Consider it a tribute to the crush I had on Al as Serpico. You could dive into those deep brown eyes!)

The Godfather saga, Frankie & Johnnie, Donnie Brasco, Dog Day Afternoon, The Devil's Advocate, And Justice for All ... All good movies made even more memorable by Al's magnetic presence.

The only one I don't get, frankly, is Scarface. Tony Montana a pathetic loser who is too stupid to see that there's only one way his story could end. Al's performance is so far over the top I couldn't possibly care about this thug and I found myself getting bored. And yet I know men who can recite lines to this movie as if it was Caddy Shack or Top Gun. I see kids wearing Tony Montana t-shirts and snapping up posters. People, this man was an unredeemable idiot!

I think Scarface might be like The Three Stooges ("a guy thing").

I accept no substitutes

My different friends play different roles in this little reality show I call a life. And I find they are most definitely NOT interchangeable.

My oldest friend, the one I've known since Kindergarten, is my touchstone. She knows my history, my secrets, and how I got here. She went through a bad patch recently but is emerging from it with both her genial mood and awesome sense of humor restored. But she's not the same as my best friend.

There's the man I've referred to on this blog as John. We've known one another a quarter of a century and in some ways, he raised me. His sensitivity to, and genuine interest in, others makes him the soul of tolerance. He also REALLY ratcheted up my party threshold over the years. But he's not the same as my best friend.

My best friend trusts me and shares with me. He encourages me to do the same with him. He sees me as I am and accepts me. When he is busy and unhappy and distracted like he's been lately, I miss him. HIM. If I simply wanted company, I'd be completely content spending time with my oldest friend or John. But as wonderful as they are, they aren't my best friend. And sometimes, no one else will do.

5 Reasons Why I Blog

Jenny McB tagged me to share 5 reasons why I blog. My initial response is, "FIVE? I don't know that I have 5 reasons!" So I'll guess we'll find out together as I compose my answer ...

1. It's a journal that I keep for myself. Now that I've been doing this for over a year, it's interesting to look back 12 months and see who I was and what I was up to. It's easier for me to keep a journal this way -- as opposed to moving pen and ink across paper -- because I can do this almost any time. I can quickly begin a post anywhere, including at work, save it and finish it later. It's harder to do that with a bound journal. Also I can type faster than I can write, which makes the act of getting my thoughts down less frustrating. And lastly, Blogger keeps it all neat and tidy for me. If I had a journal, God only knows how I'd organize it, where I'd leave it, and if I'd ever find it again!

2. I like the window it gives me into other people's lives. I always thought that it would be fun to be a mail carrier because I'd know what magazines my neighbors read and I'd learn from the postcards where their friends went on vacation. Blogging gives me a harmless way to indulge in voyeurism.

3. Getting it off my chest. Sometimes things weigh on me, or delight me, that my day-to-day acquaintances aren't interested in. Writing it here, watching the words go from brain to fingertips to the white screen, seeing it in front of me, helps me deal with it and get past it. Or, if it's something happy, it helps me appreciate it more.

4. Communication. I didn't expect this -- it's a delightful bonus. I knew when I started blogging that there was a possibility that people would read this thing. I never considered how it would feel. I like it. I enjoy knowing people are listening. It's a good experiment in self-exploration because I can say things here without concern for the impact it would have on my family, friends or coworkers. Here I'm just another anonymous gal.

5. It's kind of a "bus man's holiday" for me. I'm a writer by trade. I work for an advertising agency and I get assignments from clients. "Write a brochure about this or that by eod Friday." Consequently I'm never at a loss for words; they're my job. But I never get to choose the subject! Thanks to this blog, I have rediscovered how pleasurable writing for writing's sake can be.

So I could come up with 5 after all! Why not circle back and check Jenny's response to this same questions so you can compare, contrast, and think about your own 5 reasons. If you'd like, leave word in the comments that you've posted your response.

Highly uncomfortable

My beloved future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux is pitching against my guys. Within the beautiful confines. I'm almost in pain.

Of course I want Derek Lee to have a spectacular day after what happened yesterday. Of course I want Jacque Jones to snap out of his slump. But why, oh why, do they have to do it against my beloved? How could fate be this cruel?

In my heart of hearts, I'm pulling for Maddog. I will not have many more opportunities like this to luxuriate in his performance. Besides, it's Father's Day! Last I heard, Rich Hill was engaged but as of yet childless, and Greg Maddux is the father of Amanda and Chase.

Handicapping the field

Like many of us, I've got the 2008 Democratic Presidential nominees on my mind. On balance, I like my choices. Certainly any one of the Top Tier Dems would be a refreshing change from the current administration and offer me far more positive, inclusive options than the Republicans.

It's important to note that I was a proud Clintonista in 1992 and 1996. I worked even harder and was more dedicated to John Kerry's campaign. I believed in the Senator so much that his defeat didn't even seem like a possibility to me, and the outcome of that election quite literally broke my heart. I was so dispirited that while I want to back another candidate with all I have, it could just be that my heart is a bit more impenetrable this time. That could explain why I see as many weaknesses as strengths in the current field.

Hillary Clinton. On the plus side, she is a much better debater than I expected her to be. She's strong, she's certain and she's smart. She appears to be in control and highly competent, instead of inflexible or shrill. But when she talks about health care, when she talks about her husband's administration, she reminds us that she's the Establishment. While the Clinton years were very good for many of us, it's days gone by, pre-9/11. Will Clinton policies work in today's world, without Bill at the helm? Also, the Clinton years were scandal-ridden, and while the Lewinsky affair was indeed just that, and easy for the public to grasp, the murkier, financial issues were all hers. While I believe that Whitewater never should have been examined the way it was, I also doubt that Hillary's financial dealings were altogether honest and legal. Perhaps spending her entire adult life with the original Hakuna Matata Kid necessarily made her someone who believes that the ends justify the means. Maybe as far as venal sins go, I understand lust (Bill) more than greed (Hillary). But her past behavior is a constant little annoyance to me, like a pebble in my shoe.

Barack Obama. I'm a proud Chicagoan, so I'd love to see him go all the way and land in the White House. I get such a kick out of watching the enthusiastic crowds he draws. It would be terrific if we had someone in the White House who made us feel like we could be more and better than we are and who, as Dallek said of JFK, appealed to our better angels. But his performance gets a bit worrisome when it comes to policy and details. And, as a Chicagoan, I know Obama's political background and while there's nothing there that I think should disqualify him as President, there's a lot that may make him mighty uncomfortable when the national press grabs onto it. (Remember these names: Alexi Giannoulias, Tony Rezko, Dorothy Tillman and Todd Stroger.) Cook County politics can sound much more tawdry when discussed by Tim Russert or George Stephanopolous, and I worry that Obama may have a glass jaw. He's gotten very far without ever having seriously been challenged and I'm not sure he can take it with grace.

John Edwards. First of all, I think he's completely delicious, and I may be holding that against him. I never imagined I'd have a crush on a candidate, and it kinda gives me the willies. I love that Edwards doesn't allow Iraq to dominate every conversation about 2008. I love that he so forcefully discusses Katrina and poverty and the environment in moral terms -- I'm so sick of the other side pretending to be "better" or "more Christian" because of their narrow views on reproductive freedom and gay rights. The Edwards approach gives us moral leadership without beating us over the head with his internal relationship with his God. So far this century, I have felt as though my Christian faith has been hijacked and our proud American tradition of the separation between church and state has been assailed. John Edwards gives us a sound, decent, spiritual alternative and I think for that reason his candidacy is very important. But as with Hillary, when it comes to John Edwards I feel like there's a pebble in my shoe. It bothers me that The Boys from Boston (Senators Kerry and Kennedy) aren't supporting him. These are the two legislators who know him best, and yet when it comes to endorsing Edwards, they're both mute. If John Kerry believed he was qualified to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency in 2004, what's going on now?

Al Gore. I'm not crazy about his little striptease about running. It's an honor to hold the office of President, and we shouldn't have to BEG him to go for it. But he is knowledgeable about world affairs and highly regarded internationally and even though he's the Establishment, too, his passionate involvement with the global climate crisis makes him seem equally as much about the future as the past. I don't think, though, that he's going to run.

Whew! I am long-winded, aren't I?

So I guess that right now, I'd be comfortable voting for any of these four candidates. But I want to be passionately FOR one of them. I want to be comfortable nagging my friends for money, I want to be comfortable working the phones and writing letters. And while I'm hopeful that one of them will woo me and win my heart, we aren't there yet.

My fantasy dad

My father died more than 15 years ago. We had a sad, tempestuous and unfortunate relationship and, to be very honest, I don't miss him. I'm no longer angry at him -- I accept that while he may not have been the father I deserved, he's the one I got. But just because I don't miss HIM, it doesn't mean I don't miss having a kind, empathic father.

I still long to have a dad like Andy Taylor.

Remember the episode about Mr. McBeevee? Opie comes to the courthouse and the dinner table with tales of his new friend, a man who jingles when he walks along the tops of the trees. Aunt Bea, Andy and Barney are all amused by Opie's imaginary friend ... until Opie comes up with money he claims McBeevee gave him. Barney recommends discipline. Andy asks Opie again, one more time, to look him in the eye and tell him where he got the money. Opie again, tearful with frustration, insists the source was Mr. McBeevee. Andy says OK then, if Opie says the money came from McBeevee, it did. Barney is astonished. "Do you believe in McBeevee?" he asks. "No," Andy replies, "but I believe in Opie." That moment is the episode highlight for me. Before the end of the half hour, Andy gets to meet Mr. McBeevee. He's a repairman for the telephone company, working on the lines, which explains how Opie saw him "walking along the top of the trees."

Or my favorite, "Opie the Birdman." Opie acquires a slingshot and, like Atticus in To Kill a Mockingbird, Andy warns Opie not to shoot at the trees. Opie ignores the admonition and accidentally kills a mother bird. Opie impresses his father by making good and adopting the dead bird's babies. Naming them Winkin, Blinkin and Nod, he keeps them safe in a cage and feeds them worms. Finally, tenderly, Andy explains that it's time to let the birds go. That their ability to fly and care for themselves means that Opie did a good job of raising them. Opie does the right thing, but it's painful for him. After the birds take off, Opie looks at the cage and comments sadly that it sure seems empty. Andy replies that may be true, "but don't the trees sound nice and full?"

Andy taught Opie (and in a way, this gal) life lessons with tenderness, humanity and understanding. He was a wonderful male role model. Strong enough to have a gun but not carry it, wise enough to trust what he couldn't see.

I don't know anything about the real Andy Griffith, whether he has kids or what their relationship is. I don't want to know. I'd rather cherish the idealized version we can still see on TvLand.

Even more than Jackie O

Here's the one lady I admire beyond all others: Charlotte A. Cavatica. She was a true friend and a good writer, two lofty goals to which I aspire.

She saw the best in everyone from a runt pig to a sarcastic rat. Her warmth and generosity transformed her in the eyes of her barnmates and she went from being scary and creepy to beautiful. She took her promises seriously and used all her tenacity and imagination to keep the one she made to Wilbur.

My mom read Charlotte's Web to me when I was a little girl. I can still hear her voice saying, "Some pig!" It's one of my dearest memories. And to this day, I have never intentionally killed a spider. If I find one at home, I wrap it in a tissue and carry it downstairs. It's the least I can do in tribute to one of my earliest and most enduring role models.

Friday's Feast #3

Appetizer
Fill in the blank: The best thing about where I live is the second place/just beat the Mariners/did I mention I love Lou Pinella Chicago Cubs.

Soup
Create a new name for a deodorant (like “Flower Fresh” or “Shower Scent”).
Completely Inoffensive

Salad
What was the last piece of software you installed onto your computer?
Mozilla Upgrade

Main Course
If you were to receive a superlative award today beginning with the words ”Most likely to…”, what would the rest of the phrase say?
"Most likely to be the hub that connects my network of friends"

Dessert
What two colors do you like to wear together?
Forest green and blue denim (what I'm wearing to work today)


If you are still hungry for more Feasts, or want more information about the Friday Feast meme, click here.

So hello, Gorgeous!

Last night I went to a $15/head fundraiser for John Edwards at a Loop bar. I'm still undecided as to who I'm for, but it was only $15. Considering how expensive campaigns are, and how long we have to go before a single Iowan casts a vote, $15 doesn't seem like much of a commitment, does it?

The Edwards campaign is very smart. Hillary grew up in the Chicagoland area, and Bill is still much beloved around these parts. Obama is our senator. And yet the evening news showed that Edwards drew an overflow crowd, with supporters waiting outside, waiting patiently but ultimately unsuccessfully, to get in. Of course, it helps that the bar the campaign chose only held about 200.

John Edwards is the best-looking man I've ever seen (in real life). I was just about 3 feet away from the stage so I got a very good look at him. He's not Hugh Grant or Benjamin Bratt handsome, but then who knows how good they look within 3 feet? Edwards has completely beautiful eyes, improbably wrinkle-free skin and yes, the hair is gorgeous. He may not be movie/tv star handsome, but he's definitely anchorman handsome.

Handsome is as handsome does. I admire Elizabeth so much and am so grateful for her book, her wisdom, and her example. But blue eyes and a terrific wife are not reasons to elect a man President! I just wish Edwards, or Hillary, or Obama would do something that would make me believe with all my heart. I don't want to be undecided. Come on, Dems! INSPIRE ME!

Thursday Thirteen #20 -- The Gal's iPod on Shuffle

Thirteen Songs that were chosen at random by THE GAL HERSELF'S iPod This week I’m letting my iPod do all the work. Here are the first 13 songs that came up when I put it on “shuffle.” (I know this seems very lazy. But remember, I had to download all the songs!) When I’m on “shuffle,” I like to pretend I’m listening to WGAL, the radio station that broadcasts just for me. None of these tunes are that embarrassing, and fortunately, no Andy Williams Christmas songs popped up. (And yes, as my boss likes to point out, my dream playlist doesn't include anything from this century.) 1. She’s Got You. Patsy Cline. “I’ve got your picture that you gave to me. And it’s signed with love, just like it used to be. The only thing different, the only thing new, I’ve got your picture, she’s got you.” 2. You Don’t Own Me. Leslie Gore. “Don’t tell me what to do, don’t tell me what to say. And please, when I go out with you, don’t put me on display.” 3. Whatever Gets You Through the Night. John Lennon. “Whatever gets you through the night is alright, is alright. Do it wrong or do it right, it’s alright, it’s alright. Don’t need a watch to waste your time, oh no.” 4. Try (Just a Little Bit Harder). Janis Joplin. “I’m gonna try just a little bit harder so I can give, give, give him every bit of my soul. I’m gonna try just a little bit harder so I can love, love, love him with no control.” 5. In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning. Sinatra. “When your lonely heart has learned it lesson, you’d be hers if only she would call. In the wee small hours of the morning, that’s the time you miss her most of all.” 6. Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me. Mel Carter. “Hold me, hold me, never let me go until you’ve told me, told me what I want to know and then just hold me, hold me. Make me tell you I’m in love with you.” 7. I Call Your Name. The Beatles. “I call your name, but you’re not there. Was I to blame for being unfair?” 8. Another Day. Paul McCartney. “Slipping into stockings, stepping into shoes, dipping in the pocket of her raincoat. It’s just another day.” 9. It Had to Be You. Barbra Streisand. “For nobody else gave me a thrill. For all your faults, I love you still. It had to be you, wonderful you, it had to be you.” 10. Even the Losers. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. “Baby even the losers get lucky sometimes. Even the losers keep a bit of the pride. They get lucky sometimes.” 11. Authority Song. John Mellencamp. “Growing up leads to growing old and then to dying. And dying to me don’t sound like all that much fun, so I fight authority and authority always wins. I been doing it since a young kid and I come out grinning. I fight authority and authority always wins. ” 12. Chain of Fools. Aretha Franklin. “You told me to leave you alone, my daddy says come on home, my doctor says, ‘take it easy.’ But your loving is much too strong. I’m added to your chain, chain, chain, Chain of Fools.” 13. Sweet Blindness. The Fifth Dimension. “Let’s go down by the grapevine, drink my daddy’s wine, get happy. Oh sweet blindness! A little magic, a little kindness." Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. Crimson Wife shares 13 things she misses about her "pre-mom" life 2. Impworks shares his colorful dice collection 3. Mama Kelly shares the chilling/fascinating things she's learned in anthropology class 4. Jenny McB jumps in to help a certain heiress with a list of "what Paris needs" 5. Thomma Lyn raises the curtain on the writing process and shares 13 elements of a really good novel 6. Wylie takes us up to Canada and proudly explains what Canadians have given the world 7. At least one of The Raven's 13 trivia tidbits will make it into your conversation tomorrow, I promise! 8. Check out 13 of Michelle's own paranormal titles. 9. Christine takes us through Jack Kerouac's writing process in her 13 10. Janet's 13 all begin with the letter Q, and if you play Scrabble, you'll love this. 11. Dorothy's 13 introduces us to her cat Gretchen. 12. Babe's 13 is both funny & practical: things to do with a corpse. 13. Go Inside Mo's Mind for her Flag Day TT. 14. Samulli's TT is musical, too.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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My mini Thursday 13 rant

It's Wednesday so I'm contemplating my TT. And I find myself getting pissed anew at a certain fellow blogger who will go nameless (unless I change my mind before I reach the end of this post).

She only reads me on Thursday. Never comes by any other time. And leaves annoying comments on my TT like, "I don't know any of those songs," or "I haven't heard of any of those people." Then she leaves her link.

What a rude little snot! I refuse to be pimped, used just to publish her link!

Especially since her recent TTs were about Calvin & Hobbs! Maybe if she read something in the newspaper beyond the comics, she would have heard of some of the people mentioned in my TT's.

Sigh. I feel better now. Thank you for listening.

All I wish I was, but aren't

Jacqueline Onassis. JBKO. She's my idol.

She was so self contained. No one knew what she was thinking or how she felt. Once she went out in public, wearing dark glasses that I suspect kept out much more than the sun, her demeanor was even and inscrutable. As one who blurts and wears her heart on her sleeve, I wish I was more like Jackie.

She did so much well. She was fluent in French and conversational in Spanish and Italian. She knew all the best gossip (she read voraciously about the Woody/Mia scandal), yet could discuss Baudelaire and Oscar Wilde, too. She had a soft voice, exceptionally good manners and an iron will, which proved to be a powerful combination and enabled to almost always do just about whatever she wanted. While she appreciated the best food, fine art, and classical music, she was also an animal lover, happy and comfortable on horseback or romping with a dog.

Effortlessly elegant, Jackie chose simple clothes in feminine colors that are still influential in fashion today. She liked accessories, but they never overpowered her look. You always noticed Jackie, not her outfit.

Her style wasn't limited to wardrobe. She had an unerring visual sense at home, too. In her book Living History, Hillary Clinton wrote of Jackie's apartment: "The first thing I noticed was that it was overflowing with books. They were stacked everywhere -- on and under tables, beside couches and chairs. Books were piled so high in her study that she could rest her plate on them if she was eating at her desk. She is the only person I've met who literally decorated her apartment with books -- and pulled it off." I know if I tried the same thing, I wouldn't be viewed as a trendsetter. I'd be the crazy-cat-lady-pack-rat.

Most of all, she was a profile in courage in her own right. Yes, everyone has seen the photos of Dallas and at Arlington Cemetery in November 1963. One of the most moving stories I've ever heard, though, takes place after JFK's funeral. After Jackie buried her husband before a worldwide TV audience, after she met privately and accepted condolences from world leaders at the White House. This woman -- who had been fired upon in an open car, who washed her husband's brains off her face, who mourned almost tearlessly before the nation, who had to face life not only without her husband, but without a home -- somehow managed to throw a birthday party for her 3 year old boy. I can't imagine what it must have been like for her, that day, after all she had been through, to adjust cone-shaped party hats on Kennedy cousin heads, express wonder when John-John unwrapped Mr. Potato Head and other toys, play pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey, serve cake and ice cream and sing. She had to appear to be having fun and convince her nieces and nephews that it was OK to do the same, too. After all, her son was only 3, and he didn't understand death but he did understand birthdays. She was his mother, she sucked it up and had the party. My throat closes a bit just thinking about the bravery involved in that preschool birthday party. I suspect most of us would have been in bed, behind closed doors, crying our eyes out in pain and loneliness and terror. But not Jackie. At least not until the last little Kennedy reveler had gone home.

She made it all look easy. It wasn't, of course. Underneath that impervious exterior, she was human and very vulnerable. That explains the chainsmoking and nailbiting. Knowing that doesn't make me admire her any less. I find it comforting that she may have appeared perfect, but she wasn't perfect.

School's out, and I still feel like I got a bad grade!

This Is My Life, Rated
Life:	6.5
Mind:	6.5
Body:	5.9
Spirit:	7.5
Friends/Family:	4.4
Love:	4.3
Finance:	8.4
Take the Rate My Life Quiz

Oh well, the average for a woman my age is 6.3, so I guess I'm pretty ordinary. EWW! Ordinary! That makes me feel even worse!

May I speak seriously about ... Paris Hilton?

I admit it: I'm a news junkie. And unless you were watching CSpan, if you were watching cable news on Friday you were watching Paris coverage. And, believe it or not, this rather silly celebutant has alerted me to something serious.

Jail overcrowding.

Yes, it's one of those phrases that politicians bandy about during election campaigns -- or when they're making an argument for or against placing an incarceration facility near where you live. But the ramifications of overcrowding are seldom discussed.

Until Paris. Kathy Hilton's sweet, sheltered little girl may actually have done public a favor. I look at this photo and feel that anything positive she does is done by accident, but that's not the point.

Judges sentence convicted offenders, and the LA County Sheriff routinely lets them go after serving 10% of their sentence. And it's not because he believes the sentences are too harsh; it's because LA County doesn't have the resources to merely house -- much less rehabilitate -- these people. The results are far more serious than getting Paris back out onto the celebrity party circuit. According to the LA Times, "In the last five years, the Sheriff's Department has released more than 200,000 inmates early, including some who ended up committing murders and other serious crimes when they otherwise would have been behind bars."

I don't know what the answer to this is. I'm just now getting my mind around the problem. The issue used to be whether jailtime should be about justice, or punishment, or rehabilitation. Now I'm adding public safety to this syrupy stew. If convicts aren't even in jail, justice isn't being served, they aren't being punished, and they certainly aren't being rehabilitated. This brings us to taxes, and how we choose to spend those tax dollars on both a federal and a municipal level.

re·ha·bil·i·ta·tion
in·car·cer·a·tion

Wow! Such big words for a post about Paris Hilton!

I want an Elliott/Olivia romance

I've been watching the SVU Marathon off and on all day, and I'm convinced Elliott Staebler and Olivia Benson are in love and completely right for one another. Ah, romance against the backdrop of pedophilia, arson, and rape. I know it sounds kinda sick, but I think it would also be very life affirming. Isn't that a Buddhist proverb? Something about a lotus that grows out of the mud and blossoms above the dirty water? Amidst all this sin and degradation, Elliott's and Olivia's love could blossom and something beautiful could be borne.

Oh, I know, I know. It's just a TV show. But I can be such a cornball mush when it comes to romance.

(BTW, my cat Reynaldo seems to be gripped by the spectre of sexually-based offenses. He's actually being QUIET as I watch!)

A delicious little movie

Just saw Waitress, starring Keri Russell. It's funny and quirky and moving and touching and very original. If it's playing near you, get over to see it … fast, before the Pirates and Danny Ocean's con men and the knocked-up Grey's girl take over all the summer screens.

Keri Russell is completely charming. Best of all, Andy Griffith is in it. Not a cameo, a real part. It's lovely to see him again, even if he says things about one of his wives that Andy Taylor would never say about Helen Crump.

My movie-going experience was tinged with sadness, though. Adrienne Shelly wrote, directed and costars in this adorable little movie. (That's her in the glasses.) Unfortunately she isn't here to see it be well reviewed and appreciated by audiences. Her pointless murder last November was dramatic enough, and tragic enough, that it touched me, captured the attention of New Yorker's and already inspired an episode of Law & Order.

".... But then again, too few to mention"

I responded to a meme last week and one of the questions has really stayed with me:

"Name 3 minor regrets in life."

The three I listed were three of the biggest heartbreaks of my life. I don't have minor regrets. I try not to regret anything. I think it's a wasted emotion. If you make a mistake, you should try to learn from it and move on. In that way, I guess, I am like Frank. (Though I read somewhere that he really didn't like "My Way" very much.)

Isn't that an interesting thing about blogging? As you communicate with others, you end up learning about yourself.

I wish I could preserve memories in a Ball jar

My best friend was in town on Tuesday and Wednesday night. He had to attend focus groups that ran until 9:00, then entertain his clients a bit, so these were really late nights. (On Tuesday we didn't even meet until midnight.) We were both dead on our feet and the reasonable thing would have been to just agree that seeing one another this trip just wouldn't work. But we didn't.

After all, who knows how many visits like this we'll have? He really doesn't care for this job. I love him and I want to be happy, so naturally I support him 100% when it comes to finding professional fulfillment. But we both know a new job will mean no more regular business trips to Chicago. I may someday go visit him and his family in Colorado. I'm sure we'll still email and talk regularly, but it won't be the same. Soon enough there will be no more late nights, laughing and strolling up Michigan Avenue. I'm so comfortable with him. I'll miss our time together so much. The trick, of course, is to not let my worrying about the future deprive me of our fun in the moment.

"Mom!"

LOS ANGELES - Screaming and crying, Paris Hilton was escorted out of a courtroom and back to jail Friday after a judge ruled that she must serve out her entire 45-day sentence behind bars rather than in her Hollywood Hills home.

“It’s not right!” shouted the weeping Hilton, who violated her parole in a reckless driving case. “Mom!” she called out to her mother in the audience. -- MSNBC

Is it OK if I find this funny?

Paris Hilton cried a lot in her cell. Paris Hilton developed a rash in jail. Paris can't stand being incarcerated.

Aw ... She's right, this is sooooo unfair! The girls from Compton she was so comfortable making fun of on tape are far more likely to go to jail so they probably are used to the idea! But Paris is special. The idea of prison makes her sad, being there makes her cry and feel all itchy. She's right. Her mommy should get her out of this.

So proud of her

My niece graduated from 8th grade yesterday. I knew that she was enjoying much about this major event in her life: a class trip to Great America, a dance at her new high school, a party at the school she was leaving ... She's been with many of her classmates since Kindergarten (one since preschool) and developed a dedicated posse of good friends (for some reason they all wore superhero capes to their last day -- ever! -- of school). After the graduation ceremony, she and her closest friends were literally the last kids to leave because they were taking pictures of one another in their cap/gown in front of their lockers, inside their "favorite" girls' bathroom, in the stairwell, with their favorite teachers, etc.

What I didn't realize was how terribly IMPORTANT she felt this day was. She showed me her memory book (an 8th grade class project) and saw that she referred to it as "the end of my childhood" and "the beginning of a new chapter." Her writings were very poignant. She wishes she could just stay in 8th grade forever. I wish she could, too.

Each 8th grader was asked to provide a quote that accurately reflected them. I was surprised and quite tickled by her choice. She mentioned that she began to listen to Bob Dylan, but I didn't realize how into him she's become. Her quote was from "Positively Fourth Street":

"I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes/And just for that one moment I could be you/Yes, I wish that for just one time, you could stand inside my shoes/You'd know what a drag it is to see you."

She is smart and witty and curious and perceptive and sensitive and I couldn't be more proud of her.