Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Goodbye to You

1. Have you had to say goodbye to a good friend or lover because they were moving? I had a lover up and move on me because he got a job offer that was simply too lucrative to refuse and we embarked on a long-distance love affair, which, I learned, suited me fine. We spoke every day but saw each other only four days/three nights a month (unless there was a holiday or special occasion). I liked the combination of feeling connected yet still independent.

2. Have you ever wanted to use personal information about someone to sort of "blackmail" them? If yes, tell us about it. Ew! Ick! No!

3. What two things influenced the choice of your present job or to stay at home? The location and the benefits package were both superior to the other offer I received.

4. Do you like warm weather? How warm does it get where you live? What is the best way to spend a hot, summer day? I hate the heat and humidity! When it gets over 85º, I just kinda shut down. The best way to spend such a day is indoors, enjoying the air conditioning, a beer, and a Cubs game.

5. What do you find "hot" in a man/woman? What is the first thing you notice about someone who is hot? Do you ever think of yourself as hot? I love a guy with great hair. I think it's because my first-ever crush was Michael Landon. (I don't actually remember this, but my mom reports that when I was pre-school aged, I would cry inconsolably whenever an evildoer invaded the Ponderosa and hurt Little Joe Cartwright.) I have had my "hot" moments.

6. Are you quick to anger? How do you react when you are angry or frustrated? What do you do to cool down? Yes, I am quick to anger. I can be rather sharp tongued. I need alone time to cool down. Vodka helps.

7. In your family, who is the least like the rest of you? Me. I sometimes feel like Marilyn Munster.

8. What are a few great books that you've taken along to the beach or on vacation in years past? If you aren't a big reader, what do you do to while away the lazy hours? This year I took Game Change on vacation with me. Last year, my vacation books were Ted Kennedy: The Dream that Never Died and Oxygen. This list makes it appear as though I'm not much on light beach reads, huh?

9. Do you like going outside during a thunderstorm and watching the lightening? No. I don't care much about thunderstorms one way or the other. Now snowstorms! I think those are awesome and beautiful to watch!

Clean Me -- "I Always LOVED Those!"

Every day I am going to do something -- no matter how small -- to improve my standard of living at home.

I continued sorting through the junk jewelry in my bedroom and discovered many, many pairs of earrings I thought I had long-since discarded (forgetting that I got into this predicament because I never discard anything). Finding them made me very happy. I also added more than a dozen pairs of earrings and some pendants (when did I ever wear pendants?) to the Goodwill bag and tossed more broken/solo earrings.

Duh!

"Couldn't you just take the Pedway?" my best friend asked when I told him I was unable to cross Michigan Avenue (see below).

Damn! He's right. I could have gone into Macy's, taken the escalator to the lower level, and then follow the Pedway under Michigan Avenue. No Black Hawk fans would have been crowding the underground footpath because you can't see the street from there!

It never occurred to me. It never occurred to the policeman I spoke to, nor to the fan who overheard the cop and I in conversation. Yet my best friend, who lives in Denver, suggested it. I told him he's smarter than he thinks.

This was a first

I skipped work today because of a parade. I am not kidding. I could not get into the office because of a parade.

I began trying to cross Michigan Avenue to get to my office at about 9:45. I kept trying until after 10:00, walking up north, but barely making it a block. There were that many people waiting for the Black Hawks parade/rally already!

I asked an officer where I should go to cross Michigan Avenue. "You can't," he said simply.

"But I have to get to my office over there," I said, pointing at the way-tall building not far away in feet but very far away in terms of crush of humanity.

"You can't," he repeated. "We don't expect anybody to move outta here until 12:30."

"But my office closes at 12:30 on Fridays!" I said, as if a cop concerned with controlling two million Black Hawk fans cared about my agency's Summer Hours policy.

"Call your boss," he said, his eyes crinkling into a smile, "and tell him you can't get into the office by order of the Chicago Police Department."

I realized I had taken up too much of his time already and just stood there, people jostling me, trying to figure out what to do. A very nice man shook me out of my confusion by saying, "Yeah, call your boss. Want to use my phone?" He seemed thrilled to be helping me play hookey.

I thanked him but told him I had one of my own. Then I slooooowly worked my way over to the doorway of a not-yet-open steakhouse and called the office to ask if anyone needed me.

I had a hard time reaching anyone. Bet my coworkers were either stranded or out in the celebration. I left word with Ann, the only one I could find who told me being at the office for just 3 hours with a massive parade/rally going on right outside our windows was "a waste anyway" and advised me to go home.

Just so you can see what 2 freaking million people look like (double what the White Sox drew for their World Series celebration) and what I was stuck in, I included these photos from The Chicago Tribune.

I wish we could do this for Ernie Banks

I'm watching the Black Hawks victory rally live on TV and, while no longer even remotely a hockey fan, I once was, so I choked up a bit when Bobby Hull was introduced and cheered by the crowd. The old boy looked sooooooo happy.

I'm not sure if I'm happy for Bobby Hull, or melancholy because this isn't the Cubs the city is celebrating. Ernie Banks is 80 years old now, and has a little trouble walking without a cane. Then there's Ron Santo, the all-time great third baseman and radio voice of the Cubs. He's had a staggering number of health problems and yet still is at most games, cheering his team on victory.

I wish Ronnie and Ernie could experience the kind of elder statesman love and reverence Bobby Hull is reveling in right now.

Clean Me

Every day I am going to do something -- no matter how small -- to improve my standard of living at home.

I realize this is going to sound really small, and literally it is, but it got me over a certain emotional hurdle about my stuff. I noticed that my current favorite pair of earrings -- teeny, tiny bird posts -- are tarnished. I made myself throw them out, along with about 8 other pair that are unwearable for one reason or another. The most expensive pair probably cost $15, their value was emotional. Hanging onto tarnished, broken or solo earrings just adds to clutter, though. So out they go.