Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Cabaret (1972)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Liza Minnelli encourages you to put down "the knitting, the book and the broom." Which of those three were you most recently doing: knitting, reading or housework? Reading. I'm always reading, I'm seldom cleaning and never knitting.

2) She sings that we shouldn't allow "some prophet of doom to wipe every smile away?" Do you know anyone who reliably looks at the downside of life? My kid sister. I've been feeling very guilty lately -- sad, too -- about how glad I am to not be spending the holidays with my family. I wish it wasn't this way, but this is the way it is. My sister infuses so much tension and disappointment into holidays. (I'm not sure she misses me, either.)

3) In 1972, when this recording was popular, so was The Brady Bunch. In the two-part

America's Southernmost Christmas tree

season premiere, The Bradys went to Hawaii. Do you have any warm weather vacation plans this fall/winter? Key West for Christmas! Which makes me both happy and sad. Happy because it'll be nice to wear my Birkenstocks on Christmas Day and it'll be delightful to spend time with my friends down there, who love me. Sad because, well, see #2.

4) Though not her uncle, just a friend to both of her parents, Liza always called  Frank Sinatra as "Uncle Frank." Is there an older person in your life who isn't a blood relative, but who refer to as "aunt" or "uncle?" No, but my oldest friend's daughter always introduces me as her aunt.

5) Liza collapsed onstage during a Christmas concert in 2007. She says she'd been nauseous before she went on and simply fainted. Sam has never fainted. Have you? Nope.

6) People are often surprised when they learn Liza is good friends with Gene Simmons -- the KISS member with the long tongue. Tell us about one of your good friends. Henry is one of my dearest and most interesting friends. He is gay, Catholic and Puerto Rican, which causes a bit of dissonance in his very sensitive soul. He's one of the most compassionate, loving people I've ever met. If you're his friend (or you have fur), he always sees the best in you. He's smart and talented. He's been a professor, a designer, a waiter, a keyliner, a poet and now he's a library assistant. He and his partner have been together more than 25 years now. As a barren spinster and observer of human relations, I can report they have one of the most supportive relationships I've ever seen up close. Knowing Henry has enriched my life enormously. (And, to borrow from #4, he always refers to me as his "true sister," which touches my heart.)

7) Liza told US Magazine that she loves to eat at Olive Garden. Do you? Sure. It's economical, has a nice bar, and there's something for everyone on the menu.

8) She keeps apple juice and yogurt in her refrigerator at all times. Would we find either in your refrigerator right now? Probiotic strawberry yogurt.

9)  Random question: Which would be a more frustrating dinner companion -- someone who won't shut up, or someone who won't say a word? The silent one.

Happy Birthday to Me, Part 2

Cousin Rose sent me a shirt I hadn't seen before! It's a little too tight across the bust, so I'm returning it for a bigger size. But the packaging makes returns look pretty easy.

Today was the first day of my vacation. I took myself out to breakfast, binged on Will & Grace reruns, went to the vet for Connie's prescription kibble, did a little grocery shopping ... and napped and was generally lazy.

I checked my work email and discovered two highly informative things:

1) Our agency president -- a passionate Cub fan -- bought 300 World Series caps, one for each of us in the office. Since he knew I was out, our mailroom guy Clyde let me know he slipped two caps to one of my officemates to make sure I got one. So sweet of him to look out for me!

2) One of our senior vice presidents was canned for "doing something inappropriate." I never liked him. There was something too artificially hip about him -- a man of 40+, a suburban dad, who calls everyone he meets (male or female) "dude" or "girlfriend" just naturally makes my skin crawl. And I thought it was entitled of him to bring his Kindergarten-aged son to the office for our admin to watch. I suspect he hit on one of the very young girls who work for him, but I don't know and will probably never know for certain, but I'm glad he's gone. I wish the agency would let me interview everyone for every position. (I can't tell if they'll be good at the job, but I can almost always tell if they'll be good for the company culture.)