Saturday 9

Yeah, I know it's Friday. But I'm killing time until my pizza is done and I begin watching my movie (see post below).

 Saturday 9: Call Me Maybe 

1) Do you owe anyone a phone call? Yes. I was supposed to have lunch with an old friend today and I blew her off. I left her a vm and an email in advance (I mean, I didn't stand her up), but still, I should try to talk to her in real time so I can explain. 

2) Do you still have a landline phone? Yes, indeedy. I'm old school. It's still my favorite mode of communication.

3) When was the last time you looked up a number in the phone book? Last autumn when my modem went out. I was so freaking HELPLESS without internet access.

4) Do you receive more calls or texts? Calls. I don't really like texts. Call me or email me.

5) Carly Rae made the Final 3 on Canadian Idol. Can you name another cultural import from Canada? Michael Buble.

6) Sam grew sick of this song by hearing it too often on the radio. Where do you listen to the radio most often? Car? Work? Somewhere else? I start each morning singing badly along with a shower radio like this one.

7) Mother Winters can work wonders with an iron and a can of spray starch. Every blouse and shirt she presses looks good as new. Is there a domestic chore you excel at? I can pretty well remove any stain from any piece of clothing. Oh yes, I can!

8) Do you consider yourself competitive? I am at canasta. I am a wicked good canasta player.

9) Tell us your superhero name -- as determined by the color of your shirt and an item to your right. For example, Crazy Sam now fights crime as The Light Blue Coffee Mug! Addy set this up beautifully and I'm stealing it: By day I am the mild-mannered Gal Herself…but by night I take to the streets to spank the criminal element and save small kittens in my crime fighting alter ego The Green Striped Tissue Box!

Wasn't she something?

Forget Angelina Jolie and her silly leg pose. THIS, ladies and gentleman, is a star.

Tonight I'm kicking off Oscar weekend by watching Butterfield 8. It's a fairly run-of-the-mill soapy movie that's elevated by a positively electric performance by Elizabeth Taylor, who (obviously) won the gold statuette that year. When she was good in a movie, when the role fit her unique talents (and Gloria Wandrous was one of those roles), you can't take your eyes off her.

I'm ready! Yes, I am!

I'm ready to make my final Oscar predictions.

BEST PICTURE: ARGO (Saw it, loved it)
BEST ACTOR: ABE (I mean, Daniel Day Lewis)
BEST ACTRESS: JENNIFER LAWRENCE
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN (in that movie that has nothing whatsoever to do with Scientology!)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: ANNE HATHAWAY (I believe this is by acclaimation)
BEST DIRECTOR: STEVEN SPIELBERG

We'll see Sunday night how brilliant I am.

I met a girl who sang the blues

And she was me!

Yesterday we lost another coworker to layoffs. Lana. I really liked, respected and depended on her. She and Tom were the two I willingly spent the most time, socially, as well as the two I had the most in common with professionally. They are gone and I am hurting.

One of my officemates is blissfully unconcerned about the human toll of these layoffs and really, I couldn't bear to be around her another moment. Perhaps her attitude is, ultimately, healthier because this is advertising and it happens a lot. But the insensitivity of it really, really rankles.

So, last night, as I was packing up to go home, I decided not to come in today. My work for the week was already done, I was at the end of my tether, and I thought the alone time would rejuvenate me.

I was wrong. I remain slothful and sad today. All I've done is fart around on the computer, wash some clothes and take myself out to brunch. And, of course, fought with my cat Reynaldo, who believes that if I'm going to be home I should be doing his bidding.*

My mail was a bummer. Two (count 'em, two!) letters from the reverse mortgage company regarding my late mother's house -- even though it was never my property and they're on notice to speak directly to my attorney, not me.

My oldest friend is making plans to visit me this summer -- for more than a week (Friday to Sunday). That's a lot of togetherness with no alone time. I'll put a bullet in my brain! We've negotiated it down to Friday to Wednesday. I don't want to hurt her feelings -- I know she loves me and I'm grateful -- but I'm hoping we somehow have to scale it back even further.

I've got to get my mind right.

I miss baseball.

*I'm trying a new behavioral tack with him. Every time he does something to get my attention, I give it to him. I pick him up and kiss his nose, which he hates, and announce into his face, "I am giving you attention!" He really loathes this. It hasn't deterred him yet, though. Maybe it takes a while for cause/effect to penetrate his cranium. Or maybe, once again, resistance is futile and he will get his way.