Friday, September 20, 2019

Saturday 9

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

1) This song is from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, starring Gene Wilder. The movie was remade as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, with Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka. Which Wonka did you prefer? 
Not even close
By the way, two castmembers from the original Wonka film went on to appear on gameshows. Leonard Stone, who played the father of "blueberry girl" Violet, won a trip to Bermuda on Wheel of Fortune. Just last year, Mike Teevee (Paris Theemen in real life) came in second on Jeopardy! and left with over $6,000.
 
2) In the movie, this song is sung by Bill, the candy store shopkeeper. Think about the last counter person you dealt with. We know that he or she likely didn't break into song, but did you two engage in conversation? Friday was the first day of a neighborhood food/music fest. As I was placing my order at one of the food booths, the band began their soundcheck. It was earsplitting. (And I'm from the "if it's too loud, you're too old" school.) The young man behind the counter told me that he was sure by end of day Saturday, he'll be used to the volume and won't even notice it anymore.
 
3) The lyrics tell us that The Candy Man can make the world taste good. What's the last thing you ate? Was it delicious, or just OK? At the aforementioned fest, I got barbecue ribs and a side of mac-and-cheese. It was pretty damn good. It was especially satisfying because it smelled so yummy.
 
 
4) The most popular recording of this song was by Sammy Davis,  Jr. Sammy was in a horrific car accident when he was 29 years old. His cheek and nose were broken and he lost an eye. That he survived at all left him reflective and after his hospitalization, he converted to Judaism. Do you still worship in the faith you were raised in? I was raised a Lutheran. I now worship as a Unitarian. My fundamental Christian belief hasn't changed, I just feel more comfortable observing my faith in a different setting.
 

5) Sammy was proud of the honorary college degrees because he received because never formally attended school. As a child, he performed on the road with his father and uncle. In addition to depriving him of an education, that lifestyle kept him from kids his own age. He would later describe his childhood as, "in a word, 'lonely.'" Give us a one-word description of your childhood. I've struggled with this because it's hard to find a single word that conveys what I mean. I'll go with deceptive. The way our life looked outside our home did not reflect the reality within.
 
6) Because he spent so much of his youth on the road, living on buses, trains and hotel rooms, he loved eventually having his own kitchen and being able to cook his own meals. This weekend, will you spend much time in the kitchen? As little as possible. (Maybe I'll go back to the food/music fest and visit the booth of my favorite pizza place.)

 
7) Sammy enjoyed experimenting with clothes and jewelry. What about you? Do you consider yourself conservative in dress or are you fashion forward? I'm casual in my work wardrobe and lazy in my dress away from the office.

8) When he died, Sammy was in debt to the IRS. Do you handle your own taxes, or do you use the services of an accountant? I use an accountant.
  

9) Random question: If you had to tell nothing but the truth (not even the tiniest white lie) for 24 hours, do you think

you'd get yourself in trouble? Yes.




Every time the phone rings

Whenever the phone rings, I'm agitated. Usually it's NAME UNAVAILABLE, so I can ignore it with impunity.

But I wonder why it's not my oldest friend. She and I exchanged texts back over Labor Day weekend -- more than three weeks ago. I told her then I was rattled and sad and could really use a touch-base. She explained that her daughter was staying with her but that we would talk "soon." When, exactly, is "soon," do you suppose?

And is she not calling me because she simply forgot? Is she adjusting to retirement and her new life with her cousin and consequently just doesn't have time for me? Or is she battling the blues again? When she goes dark, it often means she's been enveloped by heavy depression. And how awful it is when those are my two choices: my irrelevance or her depression. Which am I supposed to root for?

And I'm glad it's not Henry. He's been talking to other people lately. Rosa and Katie, specifically. This amuses me, in a way, because they were romantically involved when Henry and Reg first hooked up, back here in Chicagoland in the mid-1990s. Rosa and Katie had an ugly breakup around the 2000, with Katie moving to Washington DC. Each lady has found new love and both are in committed relationships with others. Henry knows this, but when he thinks of one, he automatically still thinks of the other.

Anyway ... as he continues complaining about his sleeplessness and pains, I told him he should reach out to Kate. She and I are Facebook friends, and she often posts about CBD oils as an alternative to OTC pain relievers. Then I IM'd Kate with Henry's phone number. I know she's only spoken to Henry a time or two since the accident, but I nudged her in that direction. They spoke for a while Wednesday afternoon. Then I learned through Reg that Henry called Rosa last night.

I am grateful that Henry has people to talk to who aren't me. I am not trained to deal with some of his issues.

Right after his accident, all I wanted was for the phone to ring and to hear Henry's voice. It isn't that I don't want to talk to him anymore. It's just that I am happy to share him with Katie and Rosa. I think it's healthier for both him and me.






Good news -- bad news

Good news. HE IS RIZZEN. Anthony Rizzo was not only in the lineup of tonight's game -- less than a week after his sprain -- he got a home run, too! To put this in perspective, he was supposed to be in a boot and using a scooter until Sunday, and then his ankle would be "re-evaluated." But no, he was out there tonight, swinging and fielding!

Photo taken tonight (9/19)

With real showmanship, his return to the line up wasn't announced until 20 minutes before the game. Many fans were already in their seats before they knew they'd get to see #44. He changed his walk up music to The Undertaker's Theme, tweaking all of us who thought he was done for the year.

Bad news. An extra innings loss to the Cardinals. I am a Cub fan. Naturally I would like to see my guys in the post-season again this year. But we made it in 2007, 2008, 2015, 2016 (!), 2017 and 2018. That's a shitload of glory. If we aren't play-off bound again this year, I'll live.

What will break my little Cub-loving heart is what will inevitably happen in the off-season. Manager Joe Maddon will likely be gone. Many of my favorite players, too. I love this team, and I don't want to see them loaded up onto the back of a truck, like the leftover junk after an estate sale.