Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing: The Crafty Fifty Meme, Part One

Cheers to all of us thieves!

1. Introduce yourself. "I'm a man of wealth and taste."
Rolling Stones - Sympathy For The Devil Lyrics @ LyricsTime.com

5. Did you ever get into a bar and drink before you were 21? I can honestly say I never drank in a bar before my 21st birthday.

6. What countries have you been to? 6 (counting the US)

7. Do you watch MTV anymore? No

8. What do you think about Oprah Love the magazine. I'm over the woman and her show, though.

10. You need a new pair of jeans: what store do you go to first? Old Navy

11. Did you ever watch The O.C.? No

12. What kind of car do you drive I don't have a car

13. Honestly, is that car insured? My imaginary car? Yes, it's insured.

14. Do you like sushi? No.

15. Have you ever been to Tiffany & Co. or Saks 5th Ave? Yes, Saks.

16. Did your parents spoil you growing up? I don't think so.

17. Do you like roller coasters? Yes.

18. What magazine(s) do you buy regularly or subscribe to? Time, Newsweek, Glamour, Allure, US and People.

19. Do you remember the old WB show “Popular”? No

20. When you go out do you prefer to go to a dance club or to a bar? Bar

21. What do you think about gay marriage? I think it's not my business who someone else marries.

22. Who do you think will be the next president? After Barack Obama completes his second term? It's too far off to even speculate. My instinct tells me it will be someone who isn't a household name yet.

23. Are you registered to vote? Yes

24. Do you own an iPad? No

25. Is your bathroom filled with beauty stuff? Yes

August Happiness Challenge 2010 -- Day 7

Today I'm happy that I have so much to be grateful for:

• As I went to the post office to send paperbacks to the troops, and then to the food pantry to contribute a variety of canned goods and pastas, I am grateful that I have the resources to do these really rather small things

• As I went to the vet with my beloved Charlotte, I was grateful for both her clean bill of health and that I can afford to give the furry souls that depend on me the care they deserve

• While doing laundry I encountered The Saddest Boy in the World. I was so grateful that if I'm alone on a Saturday night it's because I relish a little solitude after a week with an office full of people, and not that I'm lonely

I'm happy that I'm such a lucky old broad.

Sometimes the credits set the mood perfectly

Here's the rendition of "Solitary Man" that opens the Michael Douglas movie of the same name. In the movie, we see Douglas navigating a New York City street alone, and Johnny Cash's aching vocals prepares us for everything we are about to learn about this man.

I mention this in case you are tempted to avoid Solitary Man for fear of hearing Neil Diamond drone in your head over and over. You won't, I promise.

If you haven't heard of this movie, I'm not surprised. It's not in wide distribution and doesn't seem to have any major studio backing. Yet I found it very moving.

Michael Douglas plays Ben, a once successful businessman just a little shy of his 60th birthday. He still compulsively hits on every young woman who crosses his path. Sometimes he gets lucky, sometimes they find him pathetic. He's in a foot race with aging and death. It scares him so shitless he can't stop himself, can't even accept the real love offered him by family and friends.

Susan Sarandon plays his ex-wife, and while her part is small, their scenes together are treasures. She's the only woman in the film who is Ben's contemporary. Yet she looks warm and serene and alive, compared to his graying and wrinkled desperation. It's not plastic surgery or witchcraft, it's acceptance of -- and enjoyment of -- life as it is.

As the movie continues to get well-deserved Oscar buzz, I hope it becomes more available.