Tuesday 4

Extremes

1) Besides a house or car, what is the most expensive thing you've ever bought?
I've splurged on vacations, but I think the question refers to something more tangible. So I'll answer with this, a print I purchased and had professionally matted and framed. (To the uninitiated, it's the cover art for The Beatles Anthology.) Klaus Voormann himself signed it! I adore it, and have alerted my niece and nephew to its value. After I croak, I don't want it sold at a garage sale for $5.

2) What is the coldest temperature you've experienced? The warmest?
In January 2019, the mercury dipped to -21º. In July 1995, we saw it soar to 106º. The heat was worse, more uncomfortable and more deadly.

3) Can you name a favorite TV/Radio program that you secretly can't get enough of or one that you will watch every chance you get? Perhaps binge watch?
Now that I'm working from home I spend a little time with him. Every day there's a mini Magnum marathon on the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries channel. I love returning to paradise before 9/11, Trump and the pandemic. Also, Selleck was so charming then, before he became a dour Blue Blood obsessed with reverse mortgages. Smile, Tom! Do the eyebrow thing again!




4) What is very wrong but sounds good to most people at first?
Ending self-isolation. Yes, we're all bored with it! I get it that if you live in downstate IL, western NY or northern CA, you may not see many cases of Covid19 and are eager to get on with your life. But stop being so self-centered and think. How will you prevent people in your town from interacting with Chicagoans, New Yorkers or Los Angelenos? Obviously, you cannot.

Here's your chance to put others first in a very real way. Be patriotic. Think of first responders and law enforcement and give them a chance to keep us all safe. As our governor reminds us, "You can't have a livelihood if you don't have a life."

Tuesday 4

PETS

1. What is your pet peeve of the month, year, lifetime? Protestors (in other states, thank God!) who put their police and first responders at risk by flouting the corona virus restrictions while claiming "liberty." As wise Americans have been saying since the 1880s, "Your liberty to swing your arm ends where my nose begins." Their neighbors, police and local hospital workers have a right to feel safe, too. 

It's funny, but I think the virus may have taken care of my all-time pet peeve: space hogs. I've always resented the people who buy one seat on the train but take two, leaving others to stand, or the women at the health club who believe their gym bags have a greater right to the locker room bench than my fanny. But currently we aren't crowding onto trains or into the health club.

Boo! Hiss!

2. Do you have a pet? Tell us about your pet. A pet? No, I've got these two fur friends. The upper berth is Reynaldo. Connie contents herself downstairs. These two rescues are good friends, to one another and to me. I am so grateful they are in my life. 

3. What are some pet projects in your life? Lately, I'm fixated on finding the perfect little plastic thing to put over my pop-up drain and catch my hair in the shower. The one I purchased at CVS works best, but it's not tall enough to let the water drain quickly. The gray one from Amazon is the perfect height, but the holes are too big. I ordered one from Walmart.com that stays in place perfectly, but lets too much hair through. Geez! I hope my client gives me a meaty project, and soon! I need work to distract me from playing Goldilocks as I search for the perfect little plastic thing.

OK, but not perfect

4.  Do you feed the birds or other animals in the wild? I don't, but this question still made me smile. This was my late mother's passion. She got such joy out of her yard! Not only the flowers and lawn but the critters who lived out there. She had a bird feeder and loved the squirrel pine cones I'd give her for her birthday every year.*

The house I grew up in was built by my grandparents when my mom was in high school. It was the house she left when she married my dad. Then, about four years later, when I was almost two, my grandparents sold the house to my parents, so she was back. Consequently, my mom felt she had a relationship with generations of birds, squirrels and rabbits. 

*A perennial project of the local Girl Scouts. Handmade from a pine cone, peanut butter, birdseed and string. It supported the girls and made my mom happy. The perfect two-fer!

Tuesday 4

About Work

1. Describe the best job you ever had and why was it good? (If it was awful, tell us about that instead.) I had my best job between 1996 and 2002. It was great because that advertising agency was run by a great man. It was a real privilege to know and work for him. He demanded good work from us and I was inspired to do my best because of his example. He was a man of integrity and compassion who put The Golden Rule into practice. He died almost a year ago, and this is what I wrote when I heard the news.

2.  How did you learn to do your job? I'm a writer, and words have always come easily to me. But I've also been lucky to have some very good teachers. One boss, Ed, taught me that writers have to be concerned with formats and layouts, too, and work closely with our art directors if we are to get the message across. Another boss, Barb, taught me how to balance art and commerce. I'm not paid to serve my muse; I'm supposed to serve my client.

3. You are now in charge of your town's public relations committee ... Tell us why we need to move to your town. We work hard making everyone feel included and welcome. The following sign appears all over town (though not all lawns look this good).

4.  It's lunch time! Build your perfect sandwich for us ... What's in it and on it and what's in our cups? How about ham on wheat? With mayo, lettuce and pickle slices or relish. Potato chips on the side. I'll have ice water or a Coke with my sandwich.

Tuesday 4

This week, let's talk about  home.

1. Do you like the way your home is decorated, or would you tweak things a bit if budget allowed? Oh, I'd tweak! Boy, oh, boy would I tweak! I need new windows. I want to replace the carpeting with hardwood floors.

2.. Do you have any plans/dreams to change anything about your home? Well, see #1. Beyond that, sometimes I think I'd like to move to a new space and start over. Maybe rent next time. Then if something goes wrong, I can just ask Fred Mertz to come over and fix it.

via GIPHY

3. What style of furniture do you have or want  to have in your home and why? Lately I have been thinking that a rocking chair would be nice. One with a cherry wood finish. I like cherry and blond wood, not heavy, dark pieces.

4. Tell us about your ideal dream house or dream kitchen if you prefer. I really don't cook very much, so I don't fantasize about my dream kitchen. My dream apartment, though, would have exposed brick. I'd love a counter separating the kitchen and dining room. A patio would be nice. I don't want to live on a low floor. I haven't been on ground level for decades. I think seeing people walking by would creep me out. I like looking out the window and seeing treetops and rooftops.

Tuesday 4

Odds and Ends
 

1. Ever been to a Drive In Theater? Would you like to see Drive In Theaters make a come back?  One of my happiest childhood memories was going to see HELP! at a drive in. I was 7. My dad switched cars with a coworker, getting a station wagon, so my classmate and I could have lots of room to bounce around and scream and cry and sing along. It was an unusually thoughtful thing for my dad to do. I appreciate it more with time.

I don't drive, so I wouldn't take advantage of a drive in. But I'm all for people seeing films on the big screen, so if there's an appetite for drive ins, I hope they come back.

2.  Should towns provide community entertainment like bands in the park, fireworks on the 4th, community picnics or is the cost just too much? Yes. I'm all for things that foster a sense of connection and community.


3.  What would you change about your town if you had the power? I'd like the school district to pay closer attention to the high school's infrastructure. Every ballot seems to have a referendum for a remodeled pool or bigger stadium. But the cafeteria and bathrooms are a mess! I'd be more likely to vote "yes" if the money was going to the building itself.



4. My  little high school offered 3 courses of education:  Business, University track and General education where you could also major in shop , carpentry, home economics and metal working, etc. Would you like to see schools bring back business courses, shop classes and home economics? I think that's a great idea.

Tuesday 4

The Sky Above Us! #10

1. Some people have a pet planet or a planet they think is cool. What about you? Not really. I always do look up and check out the moon. It looks so cool against the skyscrapers.

2. Whether you believe in astrology or not, you do have a "sign". What is yours and do you fit the description in any way? I'm a Scorpio-Sagitarrius cusper. I'm told this means I'm passionate, capable and ready to fight for what I think is right. I'll accept that. (Though doesn't everyone view themselves that way?)


3. Do you stay up late to watch meteorite showers or crane your head to see the clouds in the daytime? Not the clouds but the color of the sky. I just snapped this a couple Saturdays ago, because the sky looked Cubbie blue and I figured that was nature's way of telling me spring (and baseball) must be around the corner.

4. Do you think money is wasted on the space program that might be better used on earth? No. I don't always understand science, but I believe we have to keep exploring. Though I don't see why we need Trump's Space Force when we already have NASA.

Tuesday 4

Food Glorious Food!

 

1. How often do you find yourself shopping for groceries? Weather permitting – I don’t drive so I'm walking to the store – I usually bring home as much as I can carry on Saturday, and pick up what I still need on Sunday.

2. Do you have a favorite night time snack? It changes. It used to be crackers (graham if I want something sweet, Ritz if I want something salty) but now it’s breakfast cereal.

3.  Do you buy in bulk and what kinds of tips do you have to save money on grocery shopping? I don’t have room for bulk. I do look for sales. 

4. Let's have a picnic in the park. What foods are we packing and will we cook anything there or is it all prepared ahead of time? Isn't it nice to think picnic on such a chilly day? I’ll bring the potato salad and chips. It’s just not a picnic without potato salad and chips. I’ll leave the grilling and beer to others. I know people who take grilling and beer very seriously.

Tuesday 4

Odds and Ends Tuesday 4 # 8

1.  You're having a lovely dinner party for friends and family.  What will you serve for appetizers, main course and dessert? I'm never having a "lovely dinner party." I'm simply not that girl. But last time I had people over for dinner, I served green salad, two different types of pizza (plain cheese or sausage), and yellow cake with vanilla frosting.

 2. Snow storm!  You've got house guests and you're all stuck inside for the night. What do you prepare for dinner.  Will you watch a movie? Which? The menu would be soup (one that sticks to your ribs, like beef barley or New England clam chowder) and salad. Rather than a movie, I think I'd take this opportunity to play Monopoly or Scrabble.

3. We are going into New York City for the weekend. Where do you want to go? I'd take my own personal Jackie tour. My all-time idol spent most of her adult life in New York, and I'd love to visit her haunts.
•  1040 Fifth Avenue (her home for decades)
•  The Russian Tea Room (her favorite lunch spot)
•  Grand Central Station (which she saved from the wrecking ball)
•  The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir in Central Park (where she jogged)
•  A Broadway show and a late dinner at P. J. Clarke's (her regular night out)

Read about her Grand Central Station preservation efforts here

4. You are going to night school.  They offer courses in writing short stories, painting,  piano  or guitar lessons, simple home repairs, baking, and gardening. Which do you pick (or make up one of your own) and why? Short story writing. I write for a living, but I deliver on assignments and it's never fiction. It would be fun to use different muscles.

Tuesday 4

Toiletries and Cosmetics 

 

1. What brand of shampoo do you think works best for you and what does it do for you? Four days/week I use Nizoral. At my dermatologist's recommendation. The bottle says it's a dandruff shampoo, and I wish I had dandruff, because there are far cheaper alternatives out there! Nizoral is the only OTC shampoo that contains ketoconazole, which helps control my scalp oil and irritation.

 

2. Do you have a favorite brand and shade of lipstick and blush? Nope. I don't wear them anymore. I think they age me. But when I was younger, I never left the house without wearing blusher.

3. Is soap your favorite for face washing or do you use other products? I use Aveeno Face Wash.


4. Do you have an all time favorite perfume or scent that you wear? If you don't wear perfumes, is there a scent that you love in general? I'm with Liz. Black Pearls, to be exact. It's been discontinued, but I have a secret stash. 

Tuesday 4

Reading Is Fundamental

1.  Do you have some favorite books to share?
My all-time favorite book is the one I learned the most from:  JFK: Reckless Youth.  It takes our future president from birth to the Senate. He was born with many gifts -- charm, wit, looks, intelligence, wealth. He was also lonely, sickly, and pegged from birth as the lesser son to his older brother. Within the Kennedy clan, Jack was isolated, a brainy, bookish boy in a family that valued action over intellect. Plus, he and his mother never "clicked." There are reasons: Rose Kennedy's complicated marriage, the demands of raising a special needs child (Rosemary) at a time when little was known on the subject, and the basic differences in their personalities. But those reasons are hard for a little boy to grasp. He just knew his mother was remote and this was the beginning of his lifelong difficulty connecting with women on a real level.

You're keenly aware that when the book ends, he's 35, with just 11 years left to live.

So while the world saw a war hero, a Pulitzer Prize winner, and the youngest man ever elected to the Presidency, his personal reality was very different. From Reckless Youth I learned that, no matter how a life may look from the outside, you don't know how it feels on the inside.

2.  When looking for a book what things do you look for?

Something different from what I just read. After I finish something involving or complicated, I'll reach for something light. Kinda like sorbet to cleanse the palette.

3.  Does the cover of a book make a difference or help you choose?

Depends on how I come upon the book. If a book is recommended to me (Kwizgiver is a good source), then I'm already convinced I want it, regardless of the cover. 

But so many books that I read come from our neighborhood used book sale. This event is a major fundraiser for the public library, and I help out by sorting the books. We volunteers are rewarded after the sale by being allowed to have as many remaining books as we can carry. I admit that when I go in to the high school gym on that Sunday morning, I am attracted by covers and titles.

4.  What is your favorite genre of book? That is, is it science fiction, romance, mystery, true story, or biography?  

I have three reading "food groups" -- biography, chick-lit, and mysteries. I bounce comfortably from genre to genre.

Tuesday 4

HOME WORK

1. Are you an impulse buyer or do you weigh the value/cost/necessity before you buy? Impulse

2. What do you really resent having to pay for?  Duller-than-dull necessities, especially light bulbs.

3. Do you have  favorite brands of household cleaners, detergents, soaps? Can you tell us why you like them? Maybe you will give us better ideas. (1) I have two cats, and it seems I'm always cleaning up after them, so I take my paper towels very seriously. My go-to is Viva. They don't tear or fall apart, and they don't leave "lint" behind. (2) I've tried many ways to clean my toilet bowl, and have decided old school is best: Comet cleanser and a brush. (3) For protein-based stains -- like blood or chocolate -- shampoo makes a good pre-treat.

4. What is a typical day of housekeeping for you? Procrastination and avoidance.

 

Tuesday 4

Do You Wanna Build a Snowman?

1. Have you built snowmen, women or even entire families of snow people like little sister Tootie did in Meet Me in St. Louis? Did you use a carrot for the nose? Tell us all about how it. We had a big backyard to play in during our long Chicago winters, so I'm sure we built snowmen. I only specifically recall one, though. We gave him a gray scarf. His eyes were lumps of coal and his nose was a potato that had seen better days.

2. Are you hoping for snowmen to melt soon in hotter weather? Tell us about your favorite time of year and please let us know why you love it. List some ingredient of that season that make it special for you. I enjoy living where we have four distinct seasons, and there are things to appreciate in each one. But I am eager for April because I want baseball to start. I miss my Cubs!

Soon, Rizzo will be thrilling me again every day

3. Remember bundling up as a child? It took so long to do then you had to go potty and all those layers had to come off again! Is dressing up something you enjoy doing? Why? In this way, I'm like a toddler. I don't mind being dressed in layers. I just hate the process of putting the layers on and taking them off.

4. In Frozen, the little girl desperately wants to reconnect with her sister and reminds her of the

Not us, but it could be

happy times of building snowmen.  Are you disconnected from anyone you'd love to reunite with? What happy times with friends and siblings brings you fond memories and smiles to you? I miss my oldest friend all the time, but these questions have piqued particular longing. We've been friends since Kindergarten, and her dad used to take us sledding and then for hot chocolate. Those sunny winter Sundays are among my most cherished girlhood memories. Alas, she moved to Southern California about 8 years ago, and distance and circumstances make it hard for us to remain as close as I'd like.

Tuesday 4

HOBBY GIRLS
 
1. Do you have a hobby or a special interest?  Do you quilt, crochet, cook, sew, collect things, sing, play an instrument, love dolls , politics, learning, reading, biking, hiking, camping, swimming, flower arranging, watching TV? Do you love to entertain, set a beautiful table or just take a walk? Share it with us won't you?
  Why do you enjoy it? Can you tell us how you became interested or what particularly interests

you about your hobby.
Would you share some photos or pictures of your hobbies or interests or lovely things you've seen along the way?

I read. Books and magazines and blogs and newspapers and anything that falls into my hands. I prefer reading pages I can turn to a screen I can scroll. 

I like the escape of reading. It's a personal and private adventure. It's a way to learn. And, as one who spends a great deal of her life on public transportation, it provides me a little armor.

2.  Gardening is a hobby for some.
Do you garden or grow house plants?
 What do you like about it? What are your favorite plants inside or out? Pictures? We'd love to see  photos of you house or garden plants or hear about ideas you have for growing things or creating beauty with plants around the house.

I have two philodendrons -- one large and one massive. They used to be in my office but now they're dominating my den. My dream is to figure out how to drape them around the room, safe from the cats' curious paws. My model for this -- as she is for many things -- is Katharine Hepburn.

From Desk Set

3. If you could design a dream garden or park , how would you do it? What would it contain.? Maybe include a picture from the net of one you think closely fits your dream garden.

One of my favorite places is Hot Springs National Park in Hot Springs, AR. It's one of many vacation spots that I've visited and long to return to. It's green and lush, with a winding trail up to the top of Hot Springs Mountain and an observation deck. Plus it has its own waterfall. Which is all my way of saying that my dream park would be anchored by a waterfall.

A waterfall of natural hot spring water.

4. Do you like being outdoors? If so, what attracts you to the great outdoors and if not, what keeps you inside?
Do you walk in the rain?Are there parks near you that you like to visit?

The thing I like best about being outdoors is checking out the color of the sky. I love all the shades of blue and grey and black. There's a little park by the library that I cut through when the weather is good (and I have time).

Tuesday 4

Around the House

Thanks to Annie for picking up the mantle.


1. Do you have pets ? What kind of pets do you have? Photos?
I have two cats. Crafty old Reynaldo and affectionate little Connie.

Don't let Rey's pacific demeanor fool you

Whenever I can't find the remote, I look under Connie

2. Do you have a weekly menu you plan out? Would you share it with us, or perhaps a short list of meals you make often? It gives other people ideas! Not really a "meal plan." But I'm defrosting some pork chops right now. They will be my main dish throughout this week.

3.Where do you do your grocery shopping? Do you like that store or do you go to others to fill in the gaps? Target has the widest selection and most convenient hours. I also like Trader Joe's.

4.  What kind of house do you live in or is it an apartment. Describe it. What changes would you make to it if you could? I live in a 2BR/1BA condo. I need to replace my living room windows.

Tuesday 4

A Repeat ~ Just Wondering
1.   When was the last time you tried something new? Last week I took my coworker to lunch at a restaurant we'd never tried before. The soup was meh but the burger was fantastic! The onions were caramelized in beef fat. That may sound a little creepy to you, but it made a difference and enhanced the flavor.

2.   Who in your family do you compare yourself to? I think I'm most like my Aunt Joanne, in ways good and bad. We're both short. We're both opinionated. We both like to read and we're both loyal. I even have her fair skin and round face.

3.   What lesson in life did you learn the hard way? If you find yourself repeatedly getting the short end of the stick from someone, don't believe him when he says he didn't mean it. He did.

4.   What can you do today that you weren't able to do before? I just figured out how to use the cropping tool on my phone! Until recently, I had to download photos to improve them before posting them. I'm not the most tech savvy gal in the world, so this was a big deal.

Tuesday 4

About Thanksgiving
1.   What is your favorite Thanksgiving show/animated show? I don't really have a favorite Thanksgiving show, but I do like to catch at least a few minutes of each televised parade (Chicago's and New York's).

2.   What is there about Thanksgiving you like the best? The feasting! When I was a kid, and my icky grandmother hosted Thanksgiving, there was always so much tension. She really didn't enjoy preparing the meal but insisted on doing it because it was tradition. You could try to help her, but I promise you that you were doing whatever it was wrong and making everything harder for her. By the time we sat down to eat, I wished I was anywhere else.

After she died, my kid sister took over the tradition ... including the martyrdom. She wanted to host Thanksgiving at her house -- so her kids would have those memories -- but then she wanted her husband to be able to have dessert with his family, at his mother's house, so we had to be done by a certain time. It was a lot of pressure for a mother with little kids. I remember recommending a restaurant near her in-law's home or letting Boston Market at least handle the sides, but no. Tradition. Again, I felt like she was begrudging me every mouthful because I took so long to chew! I would have gone elsewhere, but I didn't because it was important to me to spend the day with mother. I went where she went.

Since my mom died, I've been having what my friend John calls "Orphan Thanksgiving." I guess now we could call it Friendsgiving. John, Gregory and I get dressed up, meet at a restaurant, enjoy a leisurely meal and are grateful for what we have. This year, we're dining at the Millennium Park Grill, which will give us a lovely opportunity to see Chicago's official Christmas tree, and to watch all the skaters twirling around on the rink. I'll linger over good food and not worry about doing anything wrong in the kitchen!

3.   Favorite Thanksgiving/holiday song? I love so many Christmas songs! But this morning, I'll choose "Silent Night."

4.   If you have an all holiday music radio station when do you start listening to it? I don't switch to the station that plays 24/7 holiday music. But I'll begin listening to carols on Friday. Love them!

Tuesday 4

Holiday Favorites   1.   Favorite Holiday Of Yours? I'll say Thanksgiving, because it's coming up next and I'm excited about it.

2.   Favorite Holiday Character In A Movie? Scrooge. Have you seen Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol? I adore it!

3.   Favorite Holiday Dish Or Dessert To Make? I'm sorry, but I don't have anything for this because my friends and I eat Thanksgiving dinner out. I spend Christmas with different friends. Sometimes we cook, often we go out. Last time we cooked, I brought ice cream for dessert, and obviously I didn't make that!

4.   Favorite Holiday Weather You Wish For? Depends on the holiday. For Thanksgiving, I will be here in Chicagoland and I'd like it to be cold, but not freezing. The restaurant where we're dining offers a view of the Millennium Park Rink, and it's fun to watch skaters spinning around.

Now Christmas will find me in Key West. My friends don't have air conditioning, so if we eat in, I'd prefer it to not be too hot.

Tuesday 4

    Ghostly Tell Tales
1.   Believe in ghosts, spirits, or the supernatural? Not really. I believe in Heaven, and know that the spirits of my loved ones reside there and sometimes I feel them reaching out to me. But I don't consider that "supernatural."

2.   Ever had a supernatural experience? Nope.

3.   Favorite horror film? I saw The Ghost and Mr. Chicken at the movies when I was a little girl, and it truly did scare me. Now I go out of my way to watch it whenever it's on, because it brings back fond memories, and because it's fun to pick out the actors from other sitcoms ("Look! It's the second Darrin from Bewitched!") And the good guys win! (Atta boy, Luther!)


4.   Finish this line: Silently I walk in the moonless night____? Silently I walk in the moonless night, fingering my keys in my coat pocket.

Tuesday 4

Over and Over Again

1.   One Movie You'd Watch Over & Over Again? The Way We Were

2.   One Book You'd Read Over & Over Again? This one is harder, because my to-be-read pile is so high with books I haven't read yet but want to. But I'll go with this one.

Reckless Youth takes John Kennedy from birth to his first run for office at age 29. It introduces us to a gifted, charming young man who demonstrates great courage at times and an incredible appetite for risk at others.

It also portrays him as damaged -- by phenomenal health challenges and a very complicated family dynamic. At the end of the book, he's already overcome a great deal, and only has about 15 years left to live.

I learned a lot about life from reading this book. For, while he appeared to have it all (wealth, looks, big family, hero's war record), he suffered a great deal. No matter how a life looks from the outside, you don't know how it feels from the inside.

3.   One TV Series You'd Watch Over & Over Again? Law & Order

4.   One Song You'd Listen To Over & Over Again? Here it is the very first time I heard it.

Tuesday 4

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