Monday Madness

WHAT'S SO SPECIAL QUESTIONS

1. Tell us about a special piece of cookware, dinnerware, or kitchen item in your home that has sentimental value. It's a little wooden cat ornament I have hanging from the pull on one of my kitchen cabinets. I originally brought it home to my mother as a souvenir from Key West and someone (my sister or my niece) found it among her things when they were preparing her house for auction. Every time I look at it, makes me happy that it made her happy.

2. Is there one piece of jewelry you always wear that reminds you of someone or brings back a special memory? If so, tell us about it. My niece is getting married this weekend. Anyway, when she was a little girl, she was fascinated by my pierced ears. She spent her own money at some school fair to buy me some truly wretched dolphin earrings for my birthday. I have never worn them, but I wouldn't part with them for the world. They've been on my earring tree for 20 years now and they, too, make me smile when I see them.

3. When you go out for a meal (yes, folks, those were the good 'ole days) do you make special requests having to do with food choices, extra condiments, seating arrangements, special instructions for how your food is cooked and the like? What are your special requests? Please, no onions on my burger. Thank you.

4. What makes your home special to you and your family? Me!

5. We've had a lot of time to think up ways to make our lives more interesting while on lockdown. What do you do to make an otherwise ordinary day/night more special?  In other words, what does your "special night" look like? A phone call from Henry or John, or a zoom get together with my movie group.

6. You are waiting for an exciting special delivery! What's in the box? Funny you mention this. My Cubs 2020 playoff t-shirt was supposed to arrive Sunday night by 9:00 PM but FedEx texted that "no updated estimated arrival time available." I WANT MY SHIRT.

7. When is the last time you went on a special assignment? I'm a creative director at an agency. I tell my clients every assignment they give me is special.

8. If you were saving a bottle of wine for a special occasion, what would the occasion be and who would be in attendance? I don't know because I wouldn't be there. I give any wine I receive away. Since menopause, even a sip of the stuff gives me the worst headache in the history of heads.

9. What is the last "special report" or "breaking news report" you heard? Perhaps you've heard that our President has contracted the corona virus. WEAR YOUR MASKS!

10. Who or what in your life gets special treatment? My cat Reynaldo. He is nearly 17 years old, which makes him about 80 in human years. He gets whatever he pleases. We are going to enjoy our remaining time together. 

Monday Madness

"FINISH THE SENTENCE" MEME

1. My uncle once... sent me a check for $160. It was 1978, I was in ongoing, miserable pain and needed a root canal and crown. I didn't have dental insurance, nor did I have the $160 to get the procedure done. To put the $160 in perspective, that was more than my entire week's take-home pay. My rent in those days was $300. I was trying very hard to be independent, but my mom called one night and I started to cry because of the unremitting agony. She didn't have the money just sitting around, either, but she knew who did. She called her brother and voila! A check showed up in the mail with note that just said, "Happy Birthday/Merry Christmas." I called and told him I couldn't accept it because I could never pay it back. He told me that's why he was happy to give it to me -- he knew I wouldn't advantage of his generosity.

Over the years, both my older and younger sisters clashed with my uncle over money. He was at that time a rich man and they thought he was selfish and cheap because he didn't share the wealth with them. I can tell you that isn't true. He just didn't want to be taken for granted.

2. Never in my life have I... smoked a cigarette.

3. When I was five my parents ... had a Lincoln Continental convertible. My dad loved it, my mom hated it. (Her hair!)

 4. High school was... as bad as the tooth ache referenced in #1.

 5. I will never forget to... feed my cat Reynaldo. He won't let me forget! 

 6. Once I met 7... That would be Pit Martin. At the time he played center for the Chicago Black Hawks. He wore #7 and I met him at an autograph event.

7. There’s this boy I know ... who was bullied in school. His classmates called him "gay" because he prefers cats to dogs and likes to hold babies. He was only 9 years old and didn't really know what "gay" meant. Anyway, his mom moved him out of that school district and he's doing better. He now lives downstairs from me.

8. Once, at a bar, I ... was asked if my drapes matched the carpet. I was en route to the ladies room, more than a little tipsy, and didn't understand why this stranger would be interested in how my apartment was decorated. While I was washing my hands and checking my makeup in the mirror, it dawned on me what he was asking. I was so angry, I went looking for him in the bar but couldn't find him.

9. By noon, I’m ... done with lunch.

10. Last night I ... fell asleep with the TV on.

Monday Madness

 

 MONDAY MADNESS: THE HODGEPODGE

1. You are at a party in a very bad mood. There is an obnoxious guest with a camera snapping pictures of everyone in sight. Do you allow the photographs or ask them to stop? Since I'm not the hostess, I  wouldn't feel comfortable telling another guest what to do. I think I'd just try to avoid the snapper. Or, since I'm in a bad mood already, I might use this as an excuse to go home.

2. You are on your way to a formal affair and running late. You are the guest speaker at this event and everyone is waiting for you. A police officer pulls you over for speeding. Do you make up a story or tell him where you are going and try to talk your way out of the citation? Or do you make up a wild excuse? If so, tell us your tall tale! Well, I don't drive, so this isn't anything I have experience with. But I guess that, since I'm in a hurry, I'd just say, "Sorry, Officer," and take the ticket so I can be on my way.

3. When you drive down memory lane for the last two years of your life and look in the rear-view mirror, do you see a happy journey or a bumpy ride? Bumpy. Especially this year. I've posted this before because it sums up how I feel during the pandemic. Some days I'm fine. Other days, I'm not fine at all. I know I should feel lucky to be healthy and working, but I'd be lying if I didn't admit to sometimes really battling the blues.

 

The complete irresponsibility of online conspiracy mongers especially depresses me. No, you stupid fucks, wearing a mask won't make you sick, but it does protect me. No, you paranoid nut jobs, Dr. Fauci doesn't profit when Remdesivir is prescribed. I could go on, but why? The people who cotton to and perpetuate these theories are obviously both reason- and conscience-free.

4.  Who makes you laugh when no one else can? My oldest friend. We met in Kindergarten, when her family moved in across the alley from mine. In those days, we made each other laugh until we peed a little. Guess what: 55 years later, we can still make each other laugh until we pee a little.

5. What are your superpowers? Grudge carrying and worrying unnecessarily.

6. What is the last thing you memorized? Yet another computer password. (Yeah, this is a vast improvement over, "What's the last song you heard?" 😜)

7. Tell us something you once took that you wish you could give back? I once spooned a ton of avocado onto my plate, but it was wasabi. You do not want to dip your chip in wasabi, but you cannot give it back.

8. The iPhone just gave birth to the next generation of phones. What would you name them? 

      The i_____? The iGotNothingforThisQuestion

9.  How much mystery should be in a relationship? Is it a good thing or not? To me, everything about enduring love relationships is a mystery. People speak freely about their break ups but really, I find happily married people more interesting.

10. What is your weekend blogging routine? I'm a loyal acolyte of Bud's: Saturday 9, Sunday Stealing and now Monday Madness.