Saturday 9

Saturday 9: No One's Here to Sleep (2013)
 
1) This song is the theme of How to Get Away with Murder, the legal drama that premiered in 2014 and airs on Thursday nights. Are you a fan? Nope. I watched it once but it seemed crazy complex. Still, I know the show has rabid fans, so maybe I should give it another chance OnDemand.
 
2) The song's refrain says, "I'll never catch up with you." Behind the wheel, do you carefully observe the speed limit? Or do you have a lead foot, making it hard for anyone to catch up with you? I don't drive.
 
3) How to Get Away with Murder is about Annalise Keating, a law professor at a top Philadelphia university. She has a reputation for being tough, demanding and able to turn her students into successful defense attorneys. Tell us about a teacher who helped prepare you for life after graduation. I wish I had a great, inspirational answer for this, but I don't. One of my teachers back in high school taught me how to look at what I'm watching and reading with an objective eye. We studied and dissected the coverage of the 1968 Democratic Convention. What we discussed in that classroom has made me a more careful consumer of news.

 
4) The students she feels show the most promise -- and are recruited to help her solve murders -- are known as The Keating Four. Did you ever sense that you were your teacher's favorite? Not since junior high.
 
5) Viola Davis was just nominated for an Emmy for playing Professor Keating. Ms. Davis was born on a farm in SC. Have you spent more of your life in a rural, suburban or urban setting? I'm a City Mouse.

 

6) Next to Annalise Keating, Viola Davis is best known for her Oscar-nominated role as Aibileen in the movie, The Help. Have you seen it? Yes. Both at the theater and on TV once or twice.
 
7) In 2014, the year How to Get Away with Murder premiered, we lost two famous comedians: Robin Williams and Joan Rivers. Who was the last person to make you laugh out loud? (This means actually, literally laughing out loud, not just keystroking LOL.) The woman I sit next to at the office. I bought her a box of tissues to deal with her sneezes -- she'd been using paper towels! After she blew her nose she told me they were the softest, strongest tissues ever, and a pleasure to use and they were so delightful she was actually glad she got sick. I get such a kick out of her.
 
8) The 2014 Olympics were held in Sochi. Have you ever been to Russia? If not, is it a dream destination of yours? I've never been to Russia, and there's nothing about it that beckons to me.
 
9) Random question: The sign on the railing says, "Wet Paint." Do you touch the railing to see if it's really wet? I might not touch it, but I admit I'd be tempted.

August Happiness Challenge -- Day 23

Today's happiness -- An afternoon nap.  One of my last early Fridays. I had a steak sandwich for lunch, watched the Cub game (until they fell back 7-0!) and then took a nap. It was all delicious -- okay, maybe not the game -- in a bittersweet, end of summer way that made me appreciate it all the more.

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.

Second time this month!

I ran into Caleb, Randi and Napoleon in the middle of Michigan Avenue. It's the second time I've seen him the month, and the first time I've been able to catch up with the whole family in months. 

 

Napoleon is fine. He's a very big cat, but lean and muscular. He's been fixed and he's up to date on his shots. It cost them more than $500, but they're glad to report he's healthy and shouldn't need to return to the vet for a year.

 

Mom and Dad aren't faring as well. If I didn't know Randi had a stroke earlier this month, I wouldn't notice anything amiss. Her speech is fine and so are her motor skills. But her arms looked a little bloated. Still, her spirits were good. She's stopped wearing her earrings for some reason and the massive hole in one ear, where a disk used to be, is unsightly. I worry about that when she starts looking for work again. 

Caleb was laid off. Not "let go," not "fired." Laid off. He expects to return to work in a few days or weeks. He drives a forklift for a food distribution warehouse. They still have their little apartment but are panhandling to make ends meet.

 

They mentioned "friends who have air conditioning." The context was that, when it was so hot, Napoleon spent a few nights with them. This made me happy. Not because of how spoiled Napoleon is, though that did make me smile, but because they have friends they can visit. One of the things Randi said to me once was that, being homeless they had to carry all their belongings with them at all times. This made it impossible to visit non-homeless friends or go to the movies, "like normal people." Even with setbacks, it looks like they are well on their way to being "normal people." 

 

May they live happily ever after!

August Happiness Challenge -- Day 22

Today's happiness -- Easy resolution.  Lately I have felt like Calamity Jane. Just last month, my refrigerator crapped out and had to be replaced ($575). Then this week, my through-the-wall air conditioner has become rebellious, and making noises like it needs to be replaced! Let's not forget that I have expensive dental work scheduled for next month, and I know that there's going to be a special assessment in 2020 for the roof. My emergency fund is pretty anemic right now.

So imagine how unhappy I was Wednesday night when, after preparing a salmon filet on my George Foreman Grill, the plug felt crazy hot to the touch. Oh good! Another thing I have to replace!

I ordered a new one from Amazon before I went to bed Wednesday night, and Thursday afternoon it was already available for pick up at my local Whole Foods! Thursday night I picked it up, wiped it down, and made dinner per usual.

Even better than the convenience was the price: $16.37 (including tax). It's smaller than my old one was, but it's plenty big enough for a salmon filet, a pork chop or a chicken breast.

Happy, happy, happy!

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.