Sunday, December 11, 2016

Sunday Stealing

What is some of your favorite music? Pop, of course. Vintage, old-school rock. The great American songbook. And, thanks to Hamilton, we can now add rap to the list. Could I love Lin-Manuel Miranda more? (Stops to think.) No, I could not.



List your three favorite scents. Cinnamon. Lavender. Black Pearls.

How do you ground yourself or recharge? Alone time.

Any ways you treat or spoil yourself? I reward myself every week for a job well done by taking myself out for breakfast. (This past Saturday it was steel-cut oats and hot apples and cinnamon and brown sugar.) I enjoy it solo, just me and my book.

Besides your blog, do you have a creative past-time? No. I write for a living.

Share something difficult you've been through. 2016 was without a doubt the worst year 
of my life. It began with 90 days of tenacious tummy trouble, which took my doctor forever to first diagnose and then cure. Then my vision was messed up and now we're trying to get to the bottom of my fatigue/hair and nail issues. I can you what I don't have -- diabetes, kidney or thyroid disorder. But what do I have? Fuck if I know. Maybe it's sleep apnea ... maybe it's some type of autoimmune condition ... I see a dermatologist who specializes in these things on the 15th. Sigh. And that's just me. My dear friend John was severely ill last June; he was hospitalized and lost a toe. Mindy's mother died. Both Barb and her husband faced cancer. Henry and Reg totaled their car. My nephew is battling migraines and depression. This isn't even all of it. Really, it's gotten to where I'm afraid to answer the phone or open an email! If it wasn't for my Cubs, I'd be a basket case right now. HEY! YOU ASKED!


     What helps you fall asleep? Rumchata.

What is one strength and one weakness of yours? Strength: I can handle whatever comes my way. Weakness: I completely lack self discipline.

Have you ever received a letter or written one to someone else? Oh, come on. Of course. I've got a letter here from my cousin that I should answer today, while I'm snowed in. I have another letter from a friend of my late mother's that I ought to answer, too.

What makes you feel powerful, what breathes life into you? Little victories at work. I am energized by those presentations that leave me saying, "I can do this job." I get off on helping my client build their business.

What's your favorite thing to do at night?  Drinks with friends.

If you could go back to any era, what would they be? Midcentury. 1800s or 1900s, they both fascinate me.

Your favorite things to wear at home? Jammies. 

If you could be immortal or have an extremely long life span which would you pick and why? I'd like to be immortal because the implication is that I wouldn't be aging rapidly. I'm not crazy about the decay that comes with aging.

Tell us about something positive you have done for yourself or someone recently.
Yesterday I donated Chloe the Cat to the local toy drive. I like thinking of Santa handing her to a happy kid who will hug her tight.


One thing you like about your appearance? I have pretty green eyes.

     Something that makes you feel better after a hard day? Cuddling a cat.

If you have one, name a favorite book and movie. 






Things improved as the day wore on

Saturday afternoon was a pretty average affair. I stocked up at the store because a snowstorm is predicted. I finally put my summer clothes away and dragged out the winter ones. Yawn.

Saturday night was our last movie group meetup of 2016. We saw My Reputation, an enjoyable enough Barbara Stanwyck soaper that takes place in Chicagoland and has Christmas and New Year's scenes. Not many people showed up -- every TV station's "storm team" was a little hysterical about the white stuff -- but in a way I prefer that because we had a better post-movie discussion. Our moderator, Will, loves these old films so much and knows so much about them. It's a pleasure to talk to him about his passion.

After the movie, Joanna and I went for drinks and wished one another a Merry Christmas as we watched the snow fall.

I am home and I'm happy. I feel like we have officially kicked off the holiday season.