Sunday Stealing

The $80,000 Meme

Premise: A philanthropist awards you $80,000 with the stipulation that you must spend half on yourself and half for the benefit of others. 

1. Of the $40,000 you must spend on yourself: 

a. First you throw yourself a lavish birthday party. Tell us about it. This is hard because it's not something I can imagine myself doing. Also, my friends tend to be in factions. For example, my friends Nancy and Paul have never met my friend Elaine. So I think what I would rather do is plan a getaway with just one friend and do New York right. Starting with first class airfare to and fro. We'll each have our own room at The Four Seasons, have spa treatments right there in the hotel, then go to a Broadway show. Dinner at Sardi's because that just sounds so glam. I'd love to see a game at Yankee Stadium, too.

b. Then you take off on a cruise. Where are you headed? I'm not really attracted to the idea of a cruise, either. But I know I'd enjoy the TCM Classic Cruise because it's all about the movies. Because money is no object, I'm booking a deluxe oceanview stateroom all to myself.

2. Of the $40,000 you must spend for the benefit of others: 

a. Who would be on your gift list? What would buy them? I'd love to help my oldest friend find a new living arrangement and get her healthcare ironed out. Her life is a mess, and it would be great if my money could help her find her way out.

b. Which charities would you support? Oh, wouldn't this be fun? I think what I would like to do is sponsor shelter animals. So many organizations have dogs and cats that have been there forever and are, let's face it, not going to be adopted. They're too old, they aren't cute, they have chronic medical issues ... I would find tremendous satisfaction in providing these animals with safety and comfort for life, and enabling the shelters to use their resources to helping more dogs and cats.

 

 

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: This Is A Very Special Day (1953)

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

1) In this song, Peggy sings that she feels good enough to climb a hill. Will you be doing anything athletic today? Just my morning stretches. I may go for a walk later, depending on the heat/humidity.

2) However she was also tempted to climb back in bed. Is a nap in your plans for today? Yes. I'm off to the vet first thing Saturday morning. Even though it's just a check up for my boy cat, it's stressful for both of us and we will likely both benefit from napping.

3) She tells us that she looked in the mirror and told herself it was time to "lose the blues." Do you ever speak outloud to yourself? Not to myself. But I speak to the TV all the time. Especially during Cub games.

4) Peggy wrote this song for the 1953 remake of The Jazz Singer. She performs it in the movie, too. In the 1950s, female singer-songwriters were unusual, but not so today. Can you think of another woman who not only sings but writes her own material? Carole King is the first one to pop into my head.

5) Her co-star in the film was Danny Thomas. Today he is best remembered as a philanthropist and founder of St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, but he was quite a star in his day. He appeared in nightclubs and movie musicals and, from 1954 to 1963, had his own sitcom. Do you know the show? Make Room for Daddy. I saw the daytime reruns when I was home sick or off for the summer. It was one of the few sitcoms where the family lived in an apartment, which seemed quite exotic to little me, who was used to the suburbs and ranch houses and lawns. Hans Conreid played Danny's Uncle Tonoose. He was from "the old country," ate goat cheese and bragged he was "strong, like bull." I was always happy when Uncle Tonoose showed up.

6) When Peggy Lee was trying to break into show business, she supported herself as a short order cook. She was required to turn orders around quickly. Are you fast and efficient in the kitchen? I don't believe I am fast and efficient anywhere.

7) Just when her career started to take off, Peggy had to take a break when she had her tonsils removed. Do you still have your tonsils? Yes.

8) In 1953, when this record was released, Matchbox Cars were introduced and they remain popular today. Did you ever play with Matchbox Cars? No. My parents were very traditional when it came to "girl's toys" and "boy's toys," and never the twain shall meet.

9) Random question: You're walking past a filthy puddle. Floating on top you see a dead bug, a cigarette butt, and a $1 bill. Would you bend over and rescue the dollar? I don't know. Maybe. I'll be honest, though, cigarette butts creep me out.

 

 

Thursday Thirteen #472

Conserving energy. After a certain segment of our population lost their shit when Mayor Mamdani suggested New Yorkers set their thermostats to 78º, using too much power has somehow become an emblem of "freedom." I think that attitude makes you a selfish neighbor who cares more about faux outrage than about anyone else's comfort, but hey, you do you.

I've got a pair of "power stations" (aka teeny-tiny generators) ready to use but I haven't lost power once yet during the summer heat and storms. I'm grateful, and in that spirit I spun around the internet looking for ... 

13 ways to save electricity

1. Turn off lights when you leave the room.

2. Take shorter showers so you use your water heater less.

3. Don't charge your devices overnight, instead keep an eye on them unplug the charger when your phone or laptop hits 100%.

4. Tumble dry your clothes or, even better, let them air dry.

5. Use ceiling fans to circulate the air conditioned air.

6. Consider installing solar panels, and check to see if your municipality offers rebates for this.

7. When cooking on a stovetop, cover your pans. Lids can minimize heat loss, shorten cooking time and help keep your kitchen cooler.

8. Clean your refrigerator's condenser coils. 

9. Don't overload your freezer, because air needs to circulate through the unit if it's to run efficiently. 

10. Unplug home office equipment you don't use constantly. Example: printers and shredders often use power even when they aren't in use.

11. Draw the blinds and keep them closed all day.

12. Go old school and use battery-operated alarm clocks and radios.

13. Don't be an ass. Set your thermostat to 78º.

How about you? Can you add any I've forgotten? 

Please join us for THURSDAY THIRTEEN. Click here to play along, and to see other interesting compilations of 13 things.

 

Sunday Stealing

The Alphabet Meme

A is for Age. I'm 68. I like telling people how old I am now. It's always followed by, "No! You're not!" The first time it isn't, I will stop being so forthcoming.

B is for your Booze of choice. These days, tequila because I like margaritas. However I admire vodka for it's versatility and how well it plays well with others.

C is for Career. I had one for decades. Today I have a job: four hours/week and I don't have to worry about advancement.

D is for your Dog's name. Lassie. This is how she looked in her prime during the early 1960s, when she went everywhere with me. Now she rests comfortably on a shelf in my closet. 

E is for Everyday Essentials. That would be electricity! It makes my other essentials – icy beverages and air conditioning – possible.

F is for your Favorite Food. Beef. I like burgers and prime rib and steak.

G is for your favorite Game. Canasta.

H is for your Hometown. I watch this video and it washes over me that it's a privilege to live here.

 

I is for an Instrument you play. I recently volunteered at the library book sale and thrilled audiences with my performance on the tape gun. When I build and seal a carton of books, it stays built and sealed!

J is for your favorite Jam or Jelly flavor. Strawberry is #1, with grape a close second.

K is for Kids. I have no issue with them.

L is for the Last show or movie your watched. This week's movie group movie. It's a sentimental favorite of mine because it's the first film I watched with this group back in 2013. I had no idea then that the people I met would become a huge part of my life.

M is for your Most prized possession.This condo. I'm a terrible housekeeper and I hate doing homeowner things (I still need to get that wall patched and repaint the room), but buying was the wise thing to do financially. Rents being what they are, I couldn't get a studio for what I pay for this 2 BR, I love my neighborhood, and if I outlive my savings, I can sell it at a profit.

N is for the Name of your first crush. Sir Paul McCartney.

O is for what you Observe from your window. Rooftops and trees.

P is for Phobias. I hate airplane travel. 

Q is for your favorite Quote. "Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim." Nora Ephron

R is for Regret. I wish I'd taken better care of my teeth decades ago. 

S is for Sweets. Yes, please.

T is for the Time you wake up. Any time between 6:00 and 8:00 AM.

U is for Underwear. I am wearing underwear right now.

V is for your favorite Vegetable. Cooked peas. I love them as a side dish with butter, and it makes me happy to find them in casseroles and pot pies.

W is for your Worst habit. Procrastination. Laziness. Sloth. (You get the idea.)

 X is for X-rays. Most recently, I had a set of dental x-rays taken in the spring.

Y is for your Yummiest recipe. OK, this may not rock your world, but during this heatwave when it's simply too hot to cook, it's keeping me fed and alive. I take a cup of Minute Rice and add stuff – usually tuna but often marinara sauce and parmesan, or occasionally sweet and sour sauce. It's easy to digest and doesn't overheat the kitchen. Note to self: Minute Rice sells cups of brown rice which would be more nutritious and higher in fiber. Pick up some.

Z is for your Zodiac sign. I'm on the cusp between Scorpio and Sagittarius, so it depends on which horoscope I'm reading.

Boy, this took longer than I expected it to. I think I prefer my Sunday Stealings to be shorter and snappier. Who's in charge of this thing, anyway?

 

 

 

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Kung Fu Fighting (1974)

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

1) Have you ever taken a martial arts class? Nope. Interestingly, though, my two most serious relationships were with devotees. One was a brown belt, the other made it to a lower stripe of black. The brown belt bragged about his expertise more than the one who was more successful. I didn't even know he was a black belt until I found some of his trophies in the laundry room while I was looking for dryer sheets. I think there's a lesson in there somewhere.

2) In this song, Carl Edwards sings about funky Chinatown. Many cities – including San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Vancouver, London and Antwerp – have a Chinatown. Have you ever visited Chinatown? Not in decades. My favorite uncle used to take me every summer when I was a kid, but I haven't gone back on my own. My late friend John and I were "gonna go" since he and I had each separately made friends with deep ties to the Chinatown community and it might be fun to arrange a visit for the four of us. But as often with me and John, we'd start to make plans and abandon them when they seemed too complicated. What if my friend and his friend don't like each other? John and I were retired but our friends weren't, so would we have to go on a Saturday when it's busy? You do realize it's an extra bus ride, don't you? John and I shared both laziness and a fondness for just hanging out together, blabbing and drinking and arguing over whether to order entrees or just split a couple appetizers. I miss those lazy evenings terribly.

 

The gate that welcomes visitors to Chicago's Chinatown

3) Many Chinese restaurants give out fortune cookies. Can you recall one of your fortunes? I seldom get fortunes about my future. I get proverbs, like "an inch of time is an inch of gold."

4) This week's featured artist, Carl Edwards, was born in Jamaica, spent his childhood in the US, and relocated to England. Have you ever lived abroad? Nope.

5) In 1974 he became the first Jamaican to have a #1 hit in the US with this song. Have you been to Jamaica? Nope.

6) When this week's song was on the charts, ABC TV had a hit with the show Kung Fu. Today it's available to stream. Were you a fan? Nope.

7) Also in 1974, the FIFA World Cup was played in West Germany. Have you been following the FIFA World Cup this year? Nope. I'm not especially fascinating today, am I?

8) Two of 1974's most popular toys were popular with adults, too. Would you prefer a Rubik's Cube or a Magic 8 Ball? Magic 8 Ball.

9) Random question: Have you ever cut someone else's hair? Nope.

 

 

Thursday Thirteen #471

It's stupid hot. The heat index is 100º again. The weathercasters aren't even pretending that it's cooler by The Lake. And so I shall turn to Farmer's Almanac for ways to beat the heat and stay healthy during this heat wave.

1. Check a/c ducts for proper insulation and clean the filters.

2. Consider awnings to manage the amount of sun entering your home. 

3. Keep drapes closed to keep the heat out.

4. Add weather-stripping under your front and back doors to keep the cool in and the heat out.

5. Have a home generator on hand because summer power outages are common.

6. Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water, even if you're not thirsty.

7. Add fruits to your meal because they're high in water content.

8. Avoid alcohol because it will dehydrate you.

9. That goes for caffeine, too. 

10. Never leave pets or children alone in a hot car.

11. Avoid strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest part of the day (generally between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM).

12. Wear loose fitting, light colored clothes.

13. If you feel too hot indoors, try placing a cool, wet washcloth around your neck.

How are you holding up in the heat?

 

Please join us for THURSDAY THIRTEEN. Click here to play along, and to see other interesting compilations of 13 things.

 

 

Sunday Stealing

What Is Your ...

1. ROCK STAR NAME (current pet and first car)? Example: If you have a dog named Max and your first car was a Chevy Malibu, your rock star name would be Max Malibu. Connie Impala.

2. RACECAR DRIVER NAME (the first names of your grandfathers)? Roy Al. Until this very moment, it didn't occur to me that their names spelled "Royal."

3. SOAP OPERA NAME (your middle name, town you were born in)? Ann Elgin. That does sound like a good soap opera name, doesn't it?

4. WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAM NAME (your parents' middle names)? Ruth Carl.

5. ROMANCE AUTHOR NAME (favorite flower, favorite season/holiday)? Carnation Autumn. Do you think "Autumn Carnation" sounds more writer-ish?

 

 

Saturday 9

 Saturday 9: There'll Be Some Changes Made (1962)

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

1) In this song, Ann-Margret sings that she's going to change her way of living. If you could simply snap your fingers and change something in your life, what would it be? I would ditch my icky old carpeting and have hardwood floors instead. It's so hard to change your flooring when your home is full of furniture and stuff!

2) She tells us she's going to change her name. Have you ever changed your name, or asked people to refer to you differently? (Example: "Don't call me Betty anymore. I want to be Elizabeth.") No.

3) Ann-Margret was born Ann-Margret Olsson in Sweden and when was 5, her family moved to Winnetka, Illinois. She is fluent in both Swedish and English. When did you last converse in a language other than English? Never.

4) Olivia Newton-John was a big Ann-Margret fan. When she was cast in the movie Grease, Olivia asked that her character's name be changed from "Sandy Dumbrowski" to "Sandy Olsson" in tribute. Grease is one of the most profitable movies ever made. Have you seen it more than once? I've only ever seen the whole thing – start to finish – once. I've seen all the musical numbers several times though. 

5) Ann-Margret celebrated her 85th birthday earlier this year. Back in 2024, Ann-Margret told a reporter that she planned to celebrate her 83rd birthday with a spin on her motorcycle, a lavender Harley-Davidson. "I love speed," she explained. Do you always observe the speed limit? Or have you been known to zip along a little faster? I don't drive. 

6) This week's song was written in 1921 and over the last 100+ years it's been recorded more than 400 times. Before today, had you heard it? Yes.

7) The lyrics were written by William Weldon Higgins, who was better known as vaudeville comic Billy Higgins. When did you most recently laugh out loud? Friday afternoon at the card shop. My favorite co-worker, Zoey, always makes me laugh.

8) The music was composed by William Overstreet. In addition to writing music, he was a respected director at Chicago's Grand Theater. When did you last see a live performance (concert, play, etc.)? Seen? That would be Sir Paul last November at Chicago's United Center. But heard? That would be last week. There was a neighborhood fair with a local band and I could hear them when I had my windows open.

9) Random question: Do you have more or less than $20 cash in your wallet right now? More. I went to the bank on Friday to get $100 in fives and tens. Next week the junk removal guys are hauling away my current bedframe, mattress and box spring and my old, completely unusable 50-lb. TV. Then the next day, the furniture store is delivering and assembling my new mattress and bed. It will be about 90º both days and I want to be able to tip generously. Yeah, I've got a/c but it never gets that cool in here and what about when they leave my front stoop? To borrow from Donna Summer, these guys work hard for the money. Note to self: Pick up bottled water for them.

Here's my new bed. Isn't she lovely?

 

Thursday Thirteen #470

Inspired by my eraser. I have a favorite eraser. It's white. It was a freebie from a vendor back in my working days and it's probably a decade old, yet I treasure it because it removes pencil marks cleanly, no crumbs. The other day, when I thought I'd lost it,* I was legitimately sad. 

This got me thinking about office supplies. I love them. Even though the world is increasingly more digital than paper-based, I still get excited in the office supplies aisle.  

Here are 13 of the most popular items ordered from a nearby Staples store.

1. Compostable packing peanuts

2. Recycled manila file folders

3. Academic year (July 2026 to June 2027) planner

4. Pentel RSVP ballpoint pens

5. Ruled canary yellow notepads

6. Corrugated cardboard file box with lid

7. Sharpie permanent markers

8. BIC Wite Out correction tape

9. Post-It "sign here" message flags

10. Astrobrights colored papers in pink

11. Anti-slip faux leather desk pad 

12. Staples One Touch Stapler (on sale)

13. Self-seal security #10 envelopes

While I appreciate the above 13 workhorses, none of them makes my heart skip a beat the way pencils, erasers and binder clips do.

How about you? Do you like shopping for office supplies?

 

Please join us for THURSDAY THIRTEEN. Click here to play along, and to see other interesting compilations of 13 things.

 

 *Though where could it have gone? Truly baffling. Glad I found it in the sofa cushions.

 

Sunday Stealing

4th of July Questions

 
1) If you could attend a 4th of July fireworks display anywhere in the United States, where would you choose? I hate to sound poopy, but I have no interest in watching the fireworks at a major event. I did that once, years and years ago. My friend Kathy and I went to Navy Pier to see the fireworks over Lake Michigan and they were pretty and all. But we had to get there really early – hours early – to be able to sit. On the cement. We were stuck there because if we got up we'd lose our place. On the cement. The show itself lasted 15 minutes. It was cool to see the colors reflected on the Lake. But it wasn't worth it. Where I live now, I can see the fireworks display from the suburb 3 miles southwest. All I have to do is look out my living room window. I know it's a mundane answer, but I'm good with this.

2) What book are you currently reading? Trail of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz. It's 5th in this series of entertaining cozy mysteries about a quirky family of private investigators. I'm enjoying it immensely.

3) What have you been listening to? Lots o' podcasts, Cubs-Cardinals.

 4) What shows or movies have you been watching? This weekend I'm going Presidential. I've found documentaries about FDR and JFK on Hulu. Then I'll watch Daniel Day Lewis as Lincoln. All these programs have two things in common: the participation of historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, who is my imaginary BFF, and they reassure me we can do better than the orange-hued convicted felon who tore down the East Wing and made a shit-ton on bitcoin.

 

Saturday 9

SATURDAY 9: God Bless America 

Unfamiliar with Connie Francis' version of this song? Hear it here.

1) Irving Berlin's lyrics celebrate our mountains, prairies, and oceans. Which of these geographical features is nearest your home? I'm a midwesterner, surrounded by prairies. When I used to travel to downstate Illinois to visit my client, I would look out onto vistas of soybeans.

2) Berlin donated his royalties from "God Bless America" to the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of America. Were you ever a Scout? Brownie, Junior and Cadette. 

3) While this week's song has been recorded many times, we're concentrating on Connie Francis' 1959 version. It was never intended to be a hit, released as the B-side to her popular "Among My Souvenirs." But it took off when it was played at school rallies and patriotic events. Do you know all the lyrics to "God Bless America?" Could you sing along with Connie? Yes.

4) After she wrote her autobiography, Connie said she wanted Valerie Bertinelli to play her in the movie. Even though Valerie isn't known for her singing, Connie liked that they were both Italian-American and 5'5". If we made a movie of your life, who should play you? My stock answer to this was Carrie Fisher. Now I'll say Jamie Lee Curtis because we are exactly the same age.

 

5) Connie had a passionate romance with Bobby Darin, and their relationship is included in the Broadway show about Bobby's life, Just In Time. While Connie expressed her support for the production, she never saw the show because hip problems made flying difficult. How about you? Are you dealing with any aches or pains today? Nothing major, which is fabulous because I've been battling Achilles tendonitis. To not have anything special bothering me is a delight.

6) The Fourth of July means we're in the middle of summer. Are you careful about applying sunscreen? I thought I was, but I guess not. I was just at the dermatologist this past week and he spotted rosacea on my nose.

7) More beer is purchased for the 4th of July than any other holiday. What beverage will be served with your July 4th meal? Just ice water. Maybe Coke.

 

8) Emergency rooms expect an increase over the July 4th holiday. The most common causes are sports injuries (like jammed wrists and wrenched knees) and the unwise use of home fireworks. Have you  been to the ER or Urgent Care during 2026? No, knock wood.

9) New York is home to Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest every year on the 4th. Will hot dogs be consumed in your household this weekend? I'm going with hamburgers this year.

 

 

 

Thursday Thirteen #469

But not George M. Cohan. When I hear the phrase, "born on the 4th of July," I think of "Yankee Doodle Dandy." Only the songwriter who claimed he was that Yankee Doodle Boy was actually born on the night of July 3, 1878. So he doesn't make my list.

13 Americans born on the 4th of July:

1. Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804)

2. Hiram Walker, who gave us good hooch (1816)

3. Stephen Foster (1826) 

4. James Bailey, of Barnum & Bailey (1847)

5. President Calvin Coolidge (1872)

6. Actress Gloria Stuart (1910)

7. Daytime talk show host Virginia Graham (1912) I grew up on her here in Chicago. Was Girl Talk national? 

8. Advice columnist Ann Landers, aka Eppie Lederer (1918)

9. Advice columnist Dear Abby, aka Pauline Lederer, and yes, the twin sister of Ann (1918)

10. Playwright Neil Simon (1927)

11. Yankees owner George Steinbrenner (1930)

12. TV personality Geraldo Rivera (1943) 

13. First Daughter Malia Obama (1998)

Please join us for THURSDAY THIRTEEN. Click here to play along, and to see other interesting compilations of 13 things.

 

 

Sunday Stealing

Meme Schmeme

Complete the thought:

I LOVE TO be lazy. 

I SOMETIMES wish there were more hours in a day for TV, books and baseball. 

I FEAR losing my independence. 

I MISS my friends Henry and John. They died within two months of one another in 2024 and not a day goes by that I don't wish I could pick up the phone and talk to one of them.  

I CRAVE savory more than sweet these days. I wonder why.  

I CHERISH my cats, Constance MacKenzie and Roy Hobbs.

I AM IMPATIENT WHEN I feel misunderstood.  

 

 

Saturday 9

 
Saturday 9: Cadillac Ranch (1981)

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

1) In this song, Bruce Springsteen sings about taking his father and his aunt to see The Cadillac Ranch. Have you recently taken a road trip? If yes, where did you go? Golly, it's been years since a friend and I hit the road by car. I've flown to Grand Rapids and Los Angeles in the past six months, but I don't think I've traveled any real distance by car since my friend Elaine and I drove down to New Salem in 2023.

2) The Cadillac Ranch is real. It's an outdoor art installation in Amarillo, TX. Tell us about a statue, mural, or other piece of outdoor art in your community. We have so much here to choose from! The Picasso at Daley Plaza, the Chagall Mosaic, Cloudgate (aka The Bean) in Millennium Park ... But those are all well known. This is smaller, more intimate. It's the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fountain on the Chicago River Walk. Tucked away at the end of the bars and restaurants, it gives us a quiet moment to reflect on those who sacrificed for us.

3) Not only is Bruce singing about a real place, he mentions three real people. The first is "James Dean in his Mercury 49." That refers to the 1949 Mercury driven by James Dean in his first starring role, Rebel Without a Cause. Though he remains a legendary star, Dean made only three movies before his death at age 24. Have you seen any of his films? I've seen two of the three. I know this is an unpopular opinion in some quarters, but I think he's staggeringly overrated.

4) The second is "Junior Johnson runnin' through the woods of Caroline." Junior Johnson was a folk hero, famous as a NASCAR driver and notorious for running moonshine through North Carolina. He was the inspiration for "Midnite Moon," an animated old Ford in the 2017 Disney movie Cars 3. What Disney movie did you enjoy when you were growing up?

5) The third man Bruce sings about is "Burt Reynolds and his black Trans Am." This is a reference to Burt's biggest hit, 1977's Smokey and the Bandit. Burt also had success as a restaurateur. He co-owned Burt and Jack's, a popular steakhouse at Port Everglades, right on the water. Tell us about a restaurant that offered both good food and a memorable view. I had a great lunch in Washington, DC at the KC Cafe. It's the cafeteria at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. I had soup and sandwich, my favorite on a rainy day and it hit the spot. But oh! The views of the Potomac! I wasn't expecting to have such a lovely time on such a gray day.

6) For decades, Cadillac was the gold standard of luxury. For example, an eatery referred to as "the Cadillac of restaurants" would be best or most prestigious. Think about your neighborhood. Tell us about a restaurant, hotel or business that is "the Cadillac" of your community. There's an old-school steakhouse not far away called The Golden Steer. It's wood paneled and cramped and noisy. But the prime rib and onion soup are to die for!

7) Since he's been singing about America and cars for decades, it should come as no surprise that Bruce Springsteen has a collection of classic American cars. For the cover of his autobiography he chose a photo of himself leaning on his favorite, a 1960 Corvette convertible. Think about your favorite photo of yourself. What are you doing? It was last Christmas. I am holding my little great niece, Violet.

8) In 1981, when Bruce released this recording, Dolly Parton had a hit with "9 to 5." What's your favorite Dolly Parton song? I get a kick out of this one. "Better keep your hands off my potential new boyfriend."

 

9) Random question: When did you last DIY and fix something around your home or yard? I was tempted to call Comcast/Xfinity for a service call, but no, I set up my new TV all by myself! (Bows deeply.) I love my voice remote and all the cable channels and streaming services, but I do kinda miss the olden days where all you had to do with a new tv was turn it on.

Thursday Thirteen #468

Platinum edition. Within the world of classic film nerds, Marilyn Monroe has been all over the place this month in honor of her 100th birthday. I am fascinated not only by Marilyn, but why she endures. Even if you've never seen a Marilyn Monroe movie, you're familiar with her image. Children not yet born will see the picture of Marilyn on the subway grate, her white dress blowing up.

Yet Jean Harlow is not recognized or remembered outside the classic film world. That's not only too bad – because she was luminous and funny – it's confusing because her filmography is of much higher quality than Marilyn's. Marilyn made quite a few high-profile, crappy movies, Harlow did not.

So here are 13 facts about the original Platinum Blonde. 

1. Jean Harlow was born Harlean Harlow Carpenter, but throughout her life, friends and family called her "The Baby." 

2. She dropped out of high school at 16 to marry a very wealthy boy when he turned 21 and came into his inheritance. They moved to Beverly Hills, where she envisioned life as a socialite. But they were very young, with too much time on their hands and too much money. The union lasted less than two years.

3. As her marriage was ending, she helped out a friend who needed a daily ride to work at Fox Studios. Her good looks got her noticed and she was invited for a screen test. At first The Baby refused, but her friend called her "chicken" and bet she wouldn't go through with it. You know what happened. 

4. She was renamed Jean Harlow and today she's #22 on the American Film Institute (AFI) list of greatest film actresses of all time. 

5. She became a star at age 19 in 1930's Hell's Angels, where she uttered the famous line about slipping "into something more comfortable." 

6. She was famous for her curves, her pencil-thin eyebrows and most of all, her platinum hair. While the studio refused to reveal how this white-and-bright shade was achieved, rumor had it that a combination of ammonia, Clorox bleach and soap flakes. Unfortunately, fans tried to do this at home, with predictably disastrous results. 

7. She was among the most profitable stars of the decade, ranking as one of the top box office draws 5 times between 1930 and 1937. She was making $4,000/week at the time of her death. That's $5,000,000/year in today's dollars. (And remember, Jean was making $4,000/week during The Depression. That was the annual income for couples back then.)

8. Jean Harlow made many top quality films, and in 1933, 1936, and 1938, her movies were nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. She was paired with the biggest stars of her time – James Cagney, Spencer Tracy, William Powell and Clark Gable. Though never romantically involved in real life, she and Gable were a great screen team and made six successful films together. She was working with him when she died.

9. Reading about her, I'm struck by how beloved "The Baby" was by those who worked with her. Directors praised her professionalism. Crews found her approachable. With other actresses of the period, especially Carole Lombard and Myrna Loy, she was friendly and not at all competitive. There's little if any gossip/controversy surrounding her professional life. Which I guess balances out the plethora of scandal and tumult in her private life.

10. She and actor William Powell were engaged at the time of her death. He would have been her fourth husband in 10 years. The first was Charles McGrew (see #2). Her third husband was cinematographer Harold Rossen. Naturally so many trips to the altar caused pearl clutching and tsk-ing. But it was her second husband that caused an earthquake of a scandal that reverberates to this day.

11. Her second husband was studio executive Paul Bern. Balding and more than 20 years her senior and, even though they made an odd-looking couple, she adored him. Just two months into their marriage, he was found dead in their home. Nude and shot in the head. It was officially ruled a suicide but, since Jean was one of the biggest stars in the world, rumors abound. Is it true he killed himself because he couldn't perform sexually with The Blonde Bombshell? Was the long-time lover he tossed over for Jean really the one who pulled the trigger? To this day, there is controversy.

12. Jean was the world's premiere sex symbol when she died of kidney failure at the age of 26. While her death seemed sudden to the public, she had been ill for months (though she continued to work). As with Bern, rumors blazed about Harlow's death. Could she have survived but for her mother's adherence to Christian Science and refusal to get Jean medical help? Did all those years of dangerous hair dye damage her kidneys (see #7)? The likely truth is less sensational: Like many in the 1920s, she had scarlet fever as a kid. As a result, she suffered from high blood pressure for the rest of her life and it's not unusual for scarlet fever to damage the kidneys. However, since forensic medicine wasn't that advanced in 1937, it's impossible for us today to know for sure what killed The Blonde Bombshell.

13. When I watch her movies (and I've now seen three), I'm impressed by her way with comedy. She delivers rapid-fire monologues with perfect diction and just the right emphasis. And her walk! She enters every room like a force of nature. Onscreen, she's a sweet, smart, funny dame. I'm just sorry that The Baby didn't find more joy in her own short life.

Here's the lady herself. I look forward to seeing more of her work.

 

Please join us for THURSDAY THIRTEEN. Click here to play along, and to see other interesting compilations of 13 things.

 

Sunday Stealing

Shopping Day. What's on your shopping list from ...

1. Target or Walmart, or other superstore? I need new underwear, and Walmart carries my preferred brand.

2. Dollar Tree or Dollar General, or poundstretcher/99p store? Dollar Tree carries my favorite toilet paper. (Toilet paper and underwear! Such a glamorous shopping list!)

3. Best Buy or any other electronics/appliance store? I just bought a new TV, so I'm good there.  I suspect my refrigerator is on its last legs, so maybe this would be a good opportunity to check my options.

4. Book/music store? The buzzy new Maggie Haberman/Jonathan Swan book.

Bonus question! Where do you want to stop for lunch? Unlike the subject of the Haberman/Swan book, I haven't had McDonald's in forever. Let's do that.

 

 

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: The Men in My Little Girl's Life (1965)

 

 Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here. Chosen for Father's Day.

1) In this song, a father shares the story of his daughter's life through first the boys, then the men, she brought home. The first is Rod, a little kid who wants to play in the backyard. Who were your playmates when you were young? Did you find it more fun to have them over to your home, or to go to theirs? I preferred going to their homes because I was curious about how other families lived. Example: Mail. My oldest friend lived in the apartment building across the alley and I enjoyed it when we went all the way downstairs and outside and then used a key to unlock their unit's mailbox. My other favorite playmate's family had a really cool mailbox on their front door frame and the mail slid directly onto their living room carpet! Our mail was shoved through a slot in our screen door. Our front door was so thick that I never even heard it. Ah, the stuff that fascinated Little Me!

2) Then his daughter asked if Lee could carry her books on the walk to/from school. During your junior high years, how did you travel to school (bus, bicycle, car pool, shoe leather)? We walked to school. It was only a couple blocks away and took about 10 minutes if I wasn't distracted. My older sister was a year ahead of me and policed me. She was a drag.

 

3) Throughout this song, the father recalls that his daughter alternately called him "Daddy," "Dad," "Popsie," "Pop" and "Father." How did/do you address your father? Dad.

 

4) The song ends with the daughter asking her father to babysit. When did you last look after someone else's child? About 20 years ago. My nephew was still very young (like 5 or 6) and heard me say I didn't put my Christmas tree up because it was too much of a hassle. He offered to help and I was so touched by his eager little face that we had a sleepover and made a night of assembling my tree and trimming it.

 

5) This record was a Top 10 hit in the US and it made the Top 20 in Canada. Much of its success was attributed to Mike Douglas' TV popularity. From 1965 to 1981, he hosted a daytime talk show. Do you watch much daytime TV? I've got the news on most of the day. Shit moves fast these days and everything feels important.

 

6) Mike Douglas was a father himself. He had three daughters, including twins. Are there twins in your family? Nope.

 

Now about Father's Day ... 

 

7) Retail chains like O'Reilly Auto Parts, Auto Zone and Jiffy Lube are all promoting gift cards and car-related gifts for Father's Day. If you got a gift card from one of those stores, how would you upgrade your ride? I don't have a car. But if the gift card was from O'Reilly or Auto Zone, I'd use it to stock up on wipes. Really, you can get the most effective multi-surface wipes and glass cleaning wipes at auto stores. Jiffy Lube doesn't really have much of a retail section so I'd regift that one.

 

Trust me on this.

8) Dick's Sporting Goods also enjoys a spike in gift card sales around Father's Day. Have you more recently given or received a gift card? At Christmas, I sent my oldest friend a Domino's gift card. Because that's her favorite. (Don't ask me why. She grew up in Chicagoland and should know better.)

 

9) In days gone by, ties were the #1 Father's Day gift. But as today's workplace has become more casual, fragrance has taken over the top spot. Dove Men+Care offers gift sets with shampoo/conditioner, body wash and antiperspirant. Think about your shower routine. Are your shampoo, body wash and antiperspirant all the same brand or the same scent? Nope. Right now I've got lavender shampoo and mint conditioner. Oatmeal body wash. My deodorant is "powder fresh." All different brands.