Sunday Stealing: The Bungalow 26 Questions
1. Which living person do you admire the most, and why? My friends in Key West. Right before Christmas they took in a woman they barely knew. She'd had a stroke, which left her unable to work, and that cost her the rented room where she'd been living. Here we are, two months later, and she's still sleeping on their couch and attending rehab. She literally has no money, so she contributes nothing to their household financially. They know they may have this woman in their living room for years to come. That's how long it could take her to learn to use her arm again, get another job, and make enough money to get another rental. I try to be kind and giving, but I know this level of altruism is beyond me.
My friends are gay. It makes me angry when "Christians" look down their judgemental noses at them. For in so many ways, important ways -- their fidelity to their relationship, their generosity to their neighbors -- they are living the faith the judgemental espouse.
2. When were you the happiest? In my mid-late 30s. I felt mature and sexy and accomplished and in love.
3. Besides property, automobile or furniture, what is the most expensive thing you have bought? My vacations. The holidays in Key West costs me about $2000/year, and I've been doing it for nearly 20 years. That doesn't count spa getaways, trips to Las Vegas, etc.
4. What is your most treasured possession? A ceramic cable car that had belonged to my Grandpa. He kept his dress watch, cuff links and favorite licorice lozenges in it. When I was little, he let me play with it. It's now in my den.
5. Where would you like to live? The Palmolive Building in Chicago. It was completed in 1929, not long before The Crash, and is known for the Lindbergh Beacon. It was added in 1930 to help guide Lindy himself.
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| The early 1940s |
In the 1960s it was home to Playboy magazine. Today it's condos. I think it would be delightful for this old-school, unreconstituted feminist to hang her hat in Hef's offices. Also, it has tremendous views of the Lake and the Gold Coast. A 1BR rental on the lowly 8th floor goes for $4,500/month. The purchase prices can go up to $7,000,000+. So all I can do is dream.
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| Today |
6. Who would you get to play you in a film of your life? This is hard for me because my stock answer was always Carrie Fisher. Virtually the same age, and with a similar worldview, she seemed like the perfect, albeit idealized choice.
7. What is your favorite book? The best book I've read recently is the two-volume biography of Sinatra -- The Voice and The Chairman -- by James Kaplan. That gave me about 2000 pages worth of Frank, and after having him in my head like that, I miss him. He was a peerless recording artist, a tender lover, a loyal friend, a compulsive womanizer, a cruel bully, a superficial social climber, a beloved father, a quick intellect and a Mafia groupie ... sometimes all in the same chapter! Absolutely everyone else ever is less interesting than Frank Sinatra.
8. What is your most unappealing habit? Laziness.
9. Twitter or Facebook? (Or if both share the differences in your opinion.) Facebook, I suppose. I check it the most. But it's not so much fun anymore. People can be so fucking mean, angry and dumb.
10. What would be your fancy dress costume of choice? This, by Lanvin. Meryl Streep wore this to the Oscars a few years ago and I love it. It's glittery, but grown up, too.
11. What is your earliest memory? Trying to stand up in the living room of the house we lived in when I was born. It's not much of a memory, just a moment, but I do remember looking at my hand, pressed flat on a red checked ottoman, and trying to push myself up. My mom told we moved away from that house -- and left that ottoman behind -- when I was just over a year old.
12. What is your guiltiest pleasure? Bad TV. I can watch stupid TV for hours and hours.
13. What do you owe your parents? From my mom I got my patience with and love for animals. From my dad I got my love of history.
14. To whom would you most like to say sorry, and why? Coworkers. Because we've been very busy at work lately, and as activity increases, so does the opportunity for mistakes.
15. What or who is the greatest love of your life? The man I was thinking of when I answered questioned #2.
16. What does love feel like to you? Consuming. When I'm in love, it's first thing I think about when my feet hit the floor in the morning and the last thing I think about when I drift off to sleep.
17. What was the best kiss of your life? Someone I had no business kissing. I knew he was Mr. Wrong, but he was very enthusiastic about wooing me. I remember saying, "OK, so kiss me." Oh, my.
18. Which words or phrases do you overuse? I'm sure I say, "fuck" too much.
19. What's the worst job you have done? I was secretary to a man I really didn't like or respect. I remember being the last person off the train one morning, and thinking that it would be better to just ride back and forth, back and forth, all day than to go into that office.
20. If you could edit your past, what would you change? Less time in an abusive relationship.
21. What is the closest you have came to death? In 2008, I almost got creamed by a speeding cab. I think about it whenever I pass the spot.
22. What do you consider your greatest achievement? Sometimes I'm very proud of myself for what I've overcome. My childhood was not good, and it set the table for some unwise choices. I went into therapy and worked at it. I built a career and a network of good friends.
23. When did you cry last? Tears of joy.
24. How do you relax? Fart around on the internet.
25. What single thing would improve the quality of your life? Staying focused. If I concentrate on my home and my finances, I can make my own life better.
26. What is the most important lesson life has taught you? To reach out, and let people love and help me. I'm still working on it.
