These are the thoughts and observations of me — a woman of a certain age. (Oh, my, God, I'm 65!) I'm single. I'm successful enough (independent, self supporting). I live just outside Chicago, the best city in the world. I'm an aunt and a friend. I feel that voices like mine are rather underrepresented online or in print. So here I am. If my musings resonate with you, please visit my blog again sometime.
Today's happiness -- "2 Double Beds Private Balcony." My oldest friend is so excited about our get together next August that she's already made the reservation and sent it along! OK, so the balcony will look out onto either the highway or a massive parking lot because the hotel is smack dab between O'Hare Airport and convention center, but it will be private.
We'll be attending the Beatle fan convention, an event we've shared and she (especially) has loved for more than a decade. She is very broke and began saving for the 2022 convention ever since the 2021 event was cancelled last spring. Airfare and hotel will cost her about $900, but she's very confident and enthusiastic. She struggles so with depression that I'm delighted to see her so upbeat and optimistic.
I also miss her sooooo much. Plus, the 2022 fest will be celebrating Sir Paul's 80th birthday. If that doesn't deserve a Happy Beatle Button, nothing does.
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.
1)
In this song, Barbra dreams of love. What's something you've been
dreaming of, or wishing for, lately? (It doesn't have to be romantic.) Pizza. Lou Malnati's has the best thin crust cheese pizza, and since I've been a good girl, I think I deserve one.
2)
She sings that she and her lover are oceans apart. Tell us about someone
who is far away, and that you wish was nearer this Saturday morning. My oldest friend. I don't laugh with anyone like I laugh with her. 3)
This was a #1 hit for Streisand, so popular it knocked Queen's "Another
One Bites the Dust" out of the top spot on the charts. Are you a Freddie
Mercury/Queen fan? I like individual songs but I wouldn't say I'm a fan.
4)
This song was written specifically for Barbra by Barry and Robin Gibb
of the BeeGees. During the late 1970s, when the BeeGees were riding high
on the success of the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, she let
them know she was a fan and would love to record one of their songs. The
collaboration went so well that they ended up writing not one but
nearly a dozen songs for her. Tell us about something that went way
better for you than you predicted it would. My relationship with my new boss (though he's been my boss nearly a year I don't know if I can still call him "new"). He was hired without my knowledge or input, which annoyed me. But he's very collaborative, very much about teamwork. Right now, I am happier with my job than I've been in years, and it's largely because of him.
5) Barbra traveled to Miami Beach to record this song in Barry's favorite studio. Have you ever been to Miami Beach? Until this week's Saturday 9, I didn't know there was a difference between Miami and Miami Beach. Now I know, and no I haven't.
6) Barbra went to Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn. She had a mad crush on one of her classmates. That boy was Bobby Fischer,
who grew up to be an international chess champion. Do you remember one
of your big high school crushes? Do you know whatever became of him or
her? I just googled him. He married a woman named Maureen and they have two daughters, Kaylie and Rachel. Kayle is in human resources and Rachel is finishing college in Dayton. I can find nothing about him, though. Still, it appears he's happy and so I'm happy for him.
7) Barbra is responsible for the Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center at Cedars-Sinai. It's
dedicated to the study of heart disease, its impact on women, and the
search for more effective treatment. If you could fund a not-for-profit,
as Barbra has done, what cause would you champion?I would care for unadoptable dogs and cats, like Grandpa Mason. As the woman says in this video, "Even an old, battle-scarred, terminally ill cat has value" and deserves to "live his sunset months in comfort."
8) In 1980, when "Woman in Love" was popular, Macaulay Culkin was born. He's best known for the Home Alone movies. Have you seen them? If yes, did you enjoy them? I've never seen a Home Alone movie. They just don't look funny to me.
9) Random question: On social media, people keystroke LOL all the time. When is the last time you literally laughed out loud? Friday, a coworker and I were discussing an article I have to write about high beam headlights. We invoked with some bra-and-t-shirt references that I will spare you.
