Sunday Stealing

THE GET IT ALL DOWN MEME 

Are you a good dancer? No, I'm a very bad dancer.

Are you a good singer? No. It's one of the few things I do worse than dance.

Are you a good cook? Oh, come on! Is this meme designed to make me feel bad about myself?

Are you a good artist? So now I'm 0-4.

Are you a good listener? Ding! Ding! Ding! I finally got one!

What's your favorite clean word? "Gubernatorial." It's just fun to say.

What's your favorite swear word? The "f word" is very versatile, and I appreciate that in a word.

What's your least favorite word? I'm beyond sick of the work vernacular. Especially "recco" instead of "recommendation." It's not like, at the end of my life, I'll say to myself, "I could have accomplished so much more if only I'd abbreviated 'recommendation' to 'recco.'"

What was the last film you saw? Jurassic World

What football team do you support? I have a passing interest in the Bears. But my massive Cub obsession takes up all the sports space in my cranium.

Have you ever been bobbing for apples? Once, when I was in Girl Scouts.

What's your most expensive piece of clothing? I'm sure it's my winter coat.

 

What's the last thing you took a picture of? My cat, Connie.

What's the last thing you drew a picture of? I did a crude sketch at work, a schematic of how I wanted a brochure to unfold.

Have you ever bought anything from eBay? Yes, the last thing was this new Miche. (Without the little "new" pennant, of course.)

Have you ever invented a fairly unique meal or drink? No.

Do you have any secret family recipes? No.

A day in my village

A lot of little things made me smile today.

 •  Stopped by the food pantry again today, dropping off cans of soup, tuna and vegetables, as well as some no-longer-needed-but-still-sealed feminine products. The women who took my contribution were so friendly and I could tell that they treated those who need this service with utmost respect. On the way out, a school bus pulled up. About a dozen junior high school aged kids got off, ready to help the pantry pack up/shut down until it reopens next Saturday. It made me happy to see kids giving their time on a summer Saturday.

•  Went to the bank to buy a roll of quarters for laundry. I was surprised to see a line. There's so seldom a line anymore because really, how often do you need to see a teller anymore? Well, it seems that beginning in July, Chase banks in the Chicago area will no longer have coin counting machines. I hadn't heard about this, and the others in line very generously explained it to me. I told them where the nearest Coinstar machine was, and how they could avoid the Coinstar fee. It made me happy that everyone was so friendly and helpful.

•  Then I had brunch in my second favorite coffee shop. (My favorite had a line and I didn't want to wait.) While I was enjoying my eggs and bacon, I eavesdropped on the family in the next booth. Mom and Dad sat on one side, Son and Daughter sat on the other. I'm guessing the kids were 10 or 11 and 11 or 12.

They were dining before the matinee at the movie theater, where the kids were using their own money to buy Dad his popcorn and a Coke for Father's Day. They were discussing whether to see Jurassic World or Spy. Son wanted to see Jurassic World because "Melissa McCarthy is fat."

Dad told his son that he only sees her that way because he's still young. "When you grow up," Dad said, "you'll look at Melissa McCarthy and see a woman who is smart and successful and funny, and those things are all very attractive. Those are the things you'll look for in a woman."

I don't know if he said it to get in good with his wife, or to help his daughter grow up feeling empowered, or if he truly felt that way. Doesn't matter. His kids were hanging on his every word, and it was so lovely it made very, very happy.

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Daddy's Little Man (1969)

1) This song is about an afternoon visit between a father and son. What are your plans for Saturday afternoon? I don't have any specific plans. Just general ones, that include laundry, naps and The Cubs vs. Minnesota.

2) The lyrics talks about enjoying an ice cream cone. Do you have any ice cream in your freezer right now? Not ice cream. Outshine frozen fruit bars. They're "berry delicious," you know.

3) Sam's father hates it when she swears. When is the last time you cursed? Friday afternoon. Specifically, I said, "What the fuck?" I wasn't angry. I was genuinely confused.

4) In a recent ranking of movie dads, Mufasa (Lion King) and Atticus (To Kill a Mockingbird) got very high marks. Who is your favorite movie or TV father? Mayberry's Andy Taylor would be my choice. He has to be a great dad. Look how well Opie turned out.

5) Sam's own father often traveled for business, and always remembered to bring her the little complimentary soaps, shampoos or body lotion he got from the hotel. When you take a trip, do you bring back souvenirs? I'm big on sending postcards. It's a dying custom. My 14-year-old nephew recently told me that I'm the only one who has ever sent him one. It's cheaper and easier to post vacation photos to your Facebook feed. But I can be very sentimental, so I continue sending postcards.

6) Back when Sam was in high school, it was her father who gave her driving lessons. Who taught you how to drive? Coach Brown. Neither of us wanted to be in that driver's ed car.

7) Sam's own father is easy to buy for: every year he wants a new pair of loafers, so every year for Father's Day she gives him a DSW gift card. Would you rather receive a gift that someone chose, even though it might not be just right, or do you prefer a gift card or cash so you can get exactly what you want? I appreciate gifts, no matter what!

8) For family barbecues, Sam's dad dons his "Kiss the Chef" apron and mans the Weber. What's the last thing you cooked on the grill? A rib eye on my George Foreman grill.

9) Sam's father satisfies his afternoon sugar craving with an almost endless stream of Butter Rum Lifesavers. When you crave a snack, do you usually want something sweet or salty? Lately it's been salty. Cheesey and salty. Like Cheetos.

I will not

After the Charleston massacre, pro-gun advocates were defensively in front of the cameras, explaining how it's gun laws that somehow make us vulnerable to gun violence.

Schools like Sandy Hook and churches like Emanuel AME are "soft targets" because guns are currently not allowed. Mr. NRA reasoned that, if crazy-hateful killers knew Kindergarten teachers and parishoners were armed, they wouldn't open fire. 

I will not bring a gun to church.

I remember after 9/11, when our church became a sister congregation to a mosque to help combat anti-Muslim sentiment, some were concerned that the choice would make us the target of hate. I was OK with that.

I will not own a gun. And I will certainly never, ever bring a gun to church. The very thought is repugnant.

Now I cannot think about this anymore. It hurts my heart too much.