Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Susan

Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here. When I was a little girl, I loved this song.

1) In this song, our hero tells Susan that "no other girl could ever take the place of you." Crazy Sam feels that no other earmuffs could ever take the place of the ones she left in restaurant coat room last month. Tell us about something you recently broke, lost or misplaced. My other earring. It doesn't matter which pair we're talking about, I have misplaced one of them. I bought this fabulous jewelry organizer but I'm too lazy and sloppy to use it. So every morning begins with the search for the other earring.

2) When this song was first released back in 1968, the name Susan was very popular. According the Social Security Administration, it was one of the top 10 baby girl names of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. Today it's not even in the top 100. Do you know anyone named Susan (or Suzanne)? I work with a Suzanne. I'm guessing she was born around 1970.

3) The Buckinghams were Chicago's attempt to get in on The British Invasion begun by the Beatles. (Hence the silly suits.) But they took their name from Chicago's famous Buckingham Fountain. If Crazy Sam visited your neighborhood, what local site would you recommend she check out? The Fountain is a good choice, but I'd direct you to The Chicago Cultural Center. It's a grand old building, right in the center of everything (literally across from Millennium Park and the Bean) and yet tourists often miss it. Built around the turn of the last century, it always has neat free exhibits. I pass the building every day twice a day and it never fails to impress me. You should check out the stained glass and domes. Oh yeah, the the gift shop is great, too. In fact, now that it's top of mind, I must go there over lunch one day next week.
 

4) Chicago is known for deep dish pizza. Describe your dream pizza. (Calories, carbs and gluten need not be a factor because it's dream pizza!) Depends on my mood. Sometimes I like a nice, crispy thin crust sausage pizza. Other times I want a gooey, thick spinach deep dish. They're both good!

5) The Buckinghams got their big break by winning a local "battle of the bands." Do you often go to concerts or bars to listen to live music? Not anymore. I now find that more tiring than fun. I'm so old!

6) The best-selling book in 1968 (the year "Susan" was released) was Airport by Arthur Hailey. It was set during a snowstorm at Lincoln International, a fictional airport based on Chicago's O'Hare. What's the most recent airport you flew to? Why were you there? It was O'Hare. I was coming home from my Christmas trip to the Keys.

7) Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls, Cubs, Sox ... Chicago is a big sports town. What's your favorite pro team? Hey, hey, holy mackerel, no doubt about it, THE CUBS ARE ON THEIR WAY! Spring training has begun in Mesa, AZ, and soon it will be Opening Day at Wrigley Field.

8) Thinking of sports, did you watch the Olympics? If yes, which events? I didn't watch any of the Olympics. If it's not the Cubs, I don't much care about sports.

9) Do you consider yourself an idealist or a pragmatist? JFK used to describe himself as an idealist without illusion. I think that's a good way to be.