I have a crush on Judge Alex

I know these courtroom shows are dopey, but I remain addicted. While Judge Marilyn Milian of The People's Court is still by far my favorite, that doesn't stop me from being secretly and madly in love with her fellow Floridian TV judge of Cuban descent, Judge Alex Ferrer. He just seems like such a straight arrow -- so good and clean and pure and true. And I can't stop fantasizing about what's going on beneath that robe!

My oldest friend is in the grips of a menopausal obsession with (shiver) Barry Manilow. Is this as stupid? Nah. Judge Alex would never wear a ruffly shirt while singing "Copacabana."

In praise of turtles

I love the Slowskys. Bill and Karolyn. The Comcast turtles. I know I probably shouldn't: My agency was in the running for the Comcast account and we lost to Goodby, Silverstein and Partners, who developed the turtle characters. But every time the Slowksys come on, I stop what I'm doing to watch.

If I have only one life …

… let me live it as a brunette. Actually, according to Matrix, my hair is now "dark natural blonde," but what they hey. It's back to a reasonable facsimile of my natural color, which I haven't seen in a quarter of a century. I like how it looks. I'm curious about how it will play with all those who have never seen me as anything but a redhead. But the important thing is that I like it. There's something significant about this change. I don't know why, but it's important to me.

I dislike Kurt Russell

I don't know why exactly. Maybe because he always looks so smug, and it's a smugness he can't back up with charm or talent.

But I'm grateful for my Kurt Russell antipathy today because I have sooooo damn much to do this morning and was in danger of being transfixed by the remake of The Poseidon Adventure. But then I saw Kurt Russell and was able to quite merrily switch it off. So now I'm going to log off, get up off this sofa, fix my face and then it's off to the food pantry,* the post office, the vet, the drug store, and hair stylist. (Is today the day I finally return to my, ahem, roots?)

So thanks for being such a dick, Kurt.

*Don't worry; I'm dropping off, not picking up.

The lads will carry me through

So much to do today! My boss -- who is taking a well-deserved long weekend -- entrusted me a project of his which, along with all my own work, has to be done by eod today. I like my boss so I really want to do a good job. (Did I actually say that about someone in authority? What's going on? Am I mellowing in my old age?)

I'm waiting for the adrenaline to kick in, which always does when I'm in situations like this. I will make my deadlines, I will make my deadlines … And, just to help me fake it till I feel it, I'm going to put the Beatles' HELP! into the CD player. The lads never fail to inspire me.

Hey, Hick!

This is a personal shout-out in a public forum because I don't know how else to reach Miss Hickory …

Thanks for the photos! Haven't gone through all of them yet but so far I love the one of Marina Towers against the blue-gray sky.

Haven't heard from you since the holidays. I hope you're doing well. And if you ever feel like dropping in and giving me an update on what's going on in your life, please know I'm always interested and you're always welcome here.

#8 -- Thursday Thirteen Movie Quotes

THE GAL HERSELF is a big movie fan, and here are snatches of my all-time favorite dialog. (In no order beyond how they occurred to me.) 1) "See ya, Katie." "See ya, Hubbell." The Way We Were 2) "I'll meet you at the place near the thing where we went that time." Broadcast News 3) "She's a drag. A well-known drag. We turn the sound down on her and say rude things." A Hard Day's Night 4) "Practically perfect in every way." Mary Poppins 5) "I won! I won! I won! I'm going! I'm going! I'm going!" Little Miss Sunshine 6) "Jack Dawson saved me in every way that a person can be saved." Titanic 8) "You still think you're the cutest trick in shoe leather." Gone with the Wind 9) "The blues are because you're getting fat and maybe it's been raining too long. You're just sad that's all. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you're afraid and you don't know what you're afraid of." Breakfast at Tiffany's 10) "Neely, you're ob-nox-ious." Valley of the Dolls 11) "Art is art. On the other hand, water is water. And east is east and west is west, and if you take cranberries and stew them like applesauce, they taste much more like prunes than rhubarb does." Animal Crackers 12) "Honey, there's a spider in your bathroom the size of a Buick." Annie Hall 13) "I like to think you killed a man. It's the romantic in me." Casablanca Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. Check out Andrea's list of annoyances (I guarantee you'll find some of your own there!) at write-out.livejournal.com 2. Ravaj's worldview Thursday Thirteen is at http://ravaj.blogspot.com 3. Qtpies' politically correct Thursday Thirteen is at qtpies7.blogspot.com 4. Julia's eclectic and musical Thursday 13 is at hools.wordpress.com 5. Go look at Caylynn's special Thursday 13 at caylynn.blogspot.com and wish her a happy birthday.

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Is Law & Order in danger of cancellation?

That's the buzz. I don't like it, because the original Law & Order is the one that got me hooked on the genre. But I can't complain, because since it moved to Fridays -- and with all these cast changes -- I haven't made watching it a priority. Still, it's a shame to hear of a show struggling after almost 17 years!

I love how formulaic it is. As a writer, I enjoy watching them squeeze and shape each story to fit their template. It starts with typical New Yorkers caught in the act of doing something very ordinary … until they stumble upon a body, emphasizing the randomness of it all. Then the first half of the show is the investigation and the second half is the prosecution. More than once I've been surprised by the jury's verdict, too. I love being surprised. And who can resist the audacity of their "ripped from today's headlines" plotlines? I wonder how close they've come to being sued …

The cast changes were once the show's strength. I have my favorite L&O lineup. I believe it's ca. 1995.

DA -- Adam Schif (the conscience of the series)
Exec. ADA -- Jack McCoy
ADA -- Claire Kincaid
Police Lt -- Anita Van Buren
Detectives -- My beloved Lennie Briscoe and that hottie Reynaldo Curtis

For plot twists, character development and dialog, I know that SVU has moved passed the original. But still, I'd hate to see L&O go … even though I suspect it will live on eternally on cable.

At least one cast member probably wouldn't care if it's cancelled though. Sounds like Fred Thompson has his next career move mapped out already.

There's rich, and then there's RICH

Rich: If the rumors are true, Heather Mills will soon be a wealthy woman. $50,000,000 in cash and an $8,000,000 home. (This doesn't include child support.)

RICH: The $58,000,000 settlement is roughly 3% of Paul's fortune.

When he marries me, I'll sign a pre-nup that promises me no more than airfare home (and the accompanying meds) when it's over. I think it would be great fun to be married to a Beatle. No further remuneration required.

Memories for sale

My mother has three daughters. We're all very different, and always have been. Patty, the oldest by a year, liked baby dolls and puzzles. Kate, the youngest by 8 years, preferred Barbie and Stacy and Ken, re-enacting her favorite TV shows (usually The Partridge Family) with her dolls. In the middle was me. I wasn't much interested in dolls. I had plush animals and books, usually about horses or dogs.

As we grew, my mother kept our favorite toys in the basement, along with some of hers (she favored teddy bears). All of this is top of mind because, in addition to her own toys and those of her daughters, now has the playthings of two grandchildren down there and her basement is now well beyond full.

She's gone through everything, spending two days dusting and wiping and brushing and buttoning. She invited a toy collector to come over and review her stash. Over the phone she happened to mention my rocking horse, Blaze, and he practically salivated.

Blaze was my Big Gift from Santa, Christmas 1961. He not only rocked forward and back, I could get him to trot by bouncing up and down in the saddle. Like other Mattel toys of the day, he "talked" (neighed and whinnied) when you pulled the "magic ring."

I loved Blaze beyond measure … until I didn't anymore. My mother enjoys remembering me in a straw cowboy hat, racing through meadows in my mind but actually bouncing up and down on my sturdy plastic pinto in the basement, so she never parted with Blaze. He's been through a lot during the ensuing decades, including an altercation with my late father, who got mad at Blaze for being so big and unwieldy and accidentally broke off one of his front hooves. But Blaze retained enough appeal to be my nephew Nick's playmate. Nick not only rode Blaze but went through a Sunday afternoon ritual of making sure he had plenty of water and sugar cubes. But now Nick has moved onto cars and Cars (both Matchbox and movie).

The toy collector, who had been so thrilled at the prospect of purchasing Blaze, was disappointed by his condition. Blaze no longer "talks," and it's obvious where his leg was repaired. The man paid my mom $80 for my father's old slot cars and a few miscellaneous dolls … and left Blaze behind.

My mom and I are surprised by how glad we are about that.

Relaxed and happy

I was productive today, writing a brochure about the various risks and rewards of the three major asset classes. (Riveting, huh?). Watched Mario from American Mattress repair my bedroom fan. Walked my 10,000 steps in the refreshing spring sun. And now I'm curled up on the sofa, already in my pjs, watching Snapped on Oxygen and playing Turbo 21 on Pogo (which I suck at but enjoy). Before bed I'm going to redo my pedi. Sigh.

It's good to be able to enjoy the little things again. Sometimes, when I'm depressed, I miss me.

I'm lovin' it

Doris Kearns Goodwin has done it again. Team of Rivals is a terrific book. Her study of the Lincoln Presidency is evocative, well-written and so relevant.

I'm enjoying it so much that I'm reading is slooooowly. I don't want it to ever end. (Especially since I know how that evening at Ford's Theater came out.) So I'm putting it aside for my vacation. I hate to fly, so Honest Abe will accompany me and perhaps take my mind off aviation.

I fantasize about how much fun it would be to have Ms. Goodwin's career. Her books are so balanced and so successful that she gets extraordinary access to letters, archives, etc. But that's not all that makes her books so good. She somehow manages to put a new spin on the familiar history we thought we knew. For example, instead of just writing a biography of JFK, she developed The Kennedys and Fitzgeralds, and presented the Kennedy Presidency as the apex of an American immigrant saga. No Ordinary Time concentrates on the unique way the Roosevelts lived during WWII, and how their imaginative approach to life helped save the free world. And now Team of Rivals.

What's more, Doris is married to a genuinely cool guy, Richard Goodwin. If you've seen Quiz Show, you've seen him. He's the lawyer (played by Rob Morrow) investigating the quiz show scandal.

And I feel a kinship with her because she's a Red Sox fan. Cubs fans and Red Sox fans understand oen another on a very deep level.

Let's talk family values

Bill Clinton was impeached because he committed perjury, not because he committed adultery. But sex will always be sexy, so it's the adultery that people remember. I've heard commentators and regular folk ruminating on the state of the Clinton marriage. How could he cheat on her? How could she stay with him? It's a marriage of convenience, they can't possibly be in love. He made her a lesbian. Etc., etc., etc. I guess that, as a country, we're simply too cynical to believe that the Clintons love each other and have worked through this painful time in their relationship.

Yet the Republican party, the party of "family values," offers us declared Presidential candidates whose lives are riddled with divorce. Rudy Guiliani is on wife #3. John McCain is on wife #2. Newt Gingrich, who recently admitted to an adulterous affair as he was drawing attention to Bill Clinton's, is on wife #3.

Ironically, it's the Mormon Republican candidate, Mitt Romney, who has had only one wife.

It's almost as if many on the Right would have respected Hillary Clinton more if she left her husband. Why is it that the Clintons get all this scrutiny for staying married, while Guiliani, McCain and Gingrich seem to be getting a pass?

Look! I'm smiling!

I've been battling the blues lately, and I've been very generous about sharing my bleak moods on this blog. Now that it's passed (for a combination of interpersonal and hormonal reasons), I'd like to luxuriate in the happy for a change.

So here's why I'm as sunny as the Chicago skyline just now …

It's Friday already! This week has just raced by. I think it's because I've been productive at work and because my best friend was in town. And if today's Friday, then that must mean …

Tomorrow is Saturday! And on Saturday the temporary dental work gets replaced with the permanent dental work and, as Marilyn Monroe would say, my smile will be Dazzledent Bright. And of course, after Saturday comes Sunday, when …

My ceiling fan is going to be replaced free of charge! Now I hope Mario from American Mattress remembers that the fan he ruined is white and has three bulbs. I also hope Mario from American Mattress is adept at installation and that his efforts won't result in a neighborhood black out. But I'm going to try not to concern myself with that today because why harsh my happy buzz?

Greg Maddux said nice things about his recent stint as a Cub. He said everyone in Chicago treated him "great." I know that's a message to me, since my best friend and I were in the stands in July 2005 when he got his 3000th strike out. The photo accompanying the article showed him in good form, even though his outing yesterday wasn't stellar. I am quite confident that at this stage in his career, The Professor knows what to do spring training to prepare for the regular season.

I'm into American Idol. This is only my second year watching. I resisted for quite a while because the last show that was a national phenomenon like this (Survivor) was too stupid to sit through. But I'm enjoying Idol, and am into all the little dramas. Like why, oh why, was Sundance sent home?

Oh well, gotta get to work. Enjoy your day! I'm enjoying mine!

#7 -- Thursday Thirteen Favorite Charities

THE GAL HERSELF loves these do-gooders! And each meets the standards set by the Better Business Bureau at www.give.org. They're listed alphabetically, not by my preference. Whatever tugs at your heartstrings, you should find someone here you can feel good about helping. 1) ASPCA. American Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. 424 East 92nd Street, New York, NY 10128, www.aspca.org 2) America's Second Harvest. Their purpose: "to create a hunger-free America." 35 East Wacker Drive, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60601, www.secondharvest.org 3) American Diabetes Association. 1701 North Beauregard Street Alexandria, VA 22311, www.diabetes.org 4) American Humane Association. Their purpose: "to prevent cruelty, abuse, neglect, and exploitation of children and animals …" 63 Inverness Drive East, Englewood, CO 80112, www.americanhumane.org 5) Covenant House. Their purpose: "to serve suffering children of the street …" 346 West 17th Street, New York, NY 10011, www.covenanthouse.org 6) Goodwill Industries. 15810 Indianola Drive, Rockville, MD 20855 www.goodwill.org In addition to their retail locations, Goodwill supports their programs through donations. 7) Girls Inc. Their purpose: "To inspire girls to be strong, smart and bold." 120 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005 www.girlsinc.org 8) Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. 715 Broadway Street, Suite 300, MCA Annex, Quantico, VA 22134, www.toysfortots.org 9) Muscular Dystrophy Association. 3300 East Sunrise Drive, Tucson, AZ 85718-3208 www.mdausa.org 10) Planned Parenthood Federation. 434 West 33rd Street, New York, NY 10001, www.plannedparenthood.org 11) St. Jude's Children's Hospital. 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, www.stjude.org 12) World Wildlife Fund. Their purpose: "to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth and the health of ecological systems." 1250 24th Street, NW Washington, DC 20037-1132, www.worldwildlife.org 13) USO. Their purpose: "to enhance the quality of life of the personnel within U.S. Armed Forces military communities and to create a partnership between U.S. Military and civilian communities worldwide" 2111 Wilson Blvd, Suite 1200, Arlington, VA 22201 www.uso.org Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. Christine -- a big fan of the American Diabetes Assoc. -- has a Thursday 13 devoted to her favorite mags. http://arewethereyetmom.com 2. Armywife is a fan of the USO and recommends we check out www.volunteermatch.org. Check out her Thursday 13 at http://everythingshouldbefun.blogspot.com 3) Check out Raggedy's highly caffeinated TT at http://its-a-raggedy-life.blogspot.com 4) JennyMcB supports the SPCA and the American Cancer Society. Check out her Thursday 13 list of important conveniences she can't live without at http://jennymcb.blogspot.com 5) Nancy has adopted from, and sent money to, the ASPCA (SPCA in Canada). Her Thursday Thirteen of things "cluttering" her desk (I can relate!) is at nancybond.blogspot.com 6) Robyn says that she and her husband support Covenant House and even though she's in Canada, she's heard about the scandal at Walter Reed Army Hospital. (For more on that, see my 3/3 post.) Check out her literate, funny and fascinating Thursday 13 at www.robynsppp.blogspot.com 7) Caylynn is Canadian and naturally supports causes closer to home, like the Canadian Cancer Society and organizations that support military personnel. Check out Caylynn's Contemplations at http://caylynn.blogspot.com 8) Jenn I Am works for, and contributes to, the United Way. Her cinematic Thursday Thirteen is at http://jenniam.com/?p=622 (leave your link and your own favorite charity in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

I'm still against the death penalty. Even now.

That convicted sex offender has been found guilty in the murder of Jessica Lunsford. I use her name and her photo here, because she is the one this should be about. He doesn't deserve a name.

I would call him an animal, except that wouldn't be fair to animals because they do not kill with the depravity that he did.

He kidnapped 9 year old Jessica from her room, raped her, and buried her alive to cover his crime. She asked if she could bring her stuffed dolphin (a gift from her daddy) with her to her death. Look at that face. She experienced terror and suffering for no better reason than that this man doesn't respect life. I hate him.

Because the crime took place in Florida, it's possible and even likely he will get the death penalty. As a citizen and as a Christian, I believe that's wrong.

Still.

But at times like this, it would be very easy to forget my responsibilities as a citizen and a Christian and give into the temptation to demand Jessica's killer be destroyed.

Didn't think I'd react this way

When the Scooter Libby verdict came in, my friend Andy shot me an email with a very simple subject line: "Happy?"

Well, no, I'm not. I kinda feel sorry for Libby. And this kinda surprises me. So I've been giving it thought.

First of all, the poor SOB fell on his sword to protect his boss. That was obvious and very sad. A man that I am willing to assume is at heart patriotic and decent is now a convicted felon. I watched a C-Span interview with one of the jurors (yes, I am that geeky) and he feels the same way. I'm not saying he didn't commit perjury -- and clearly the jury believes he did, too. But the reason for the perjury was painfully obvious and it's hard to watch someone twist in the wind like that.

While I may be partisan, I do want the Bush Administration to do well and do right. They are running my country. If they succeed, we all succeed. So finding out how incredibly vindictive and petty they were regarding Wilson and Plame is disappointing. Seeing them held accountable for this is comforting, but not an occasion for rejoicing.

Lastly, it was Scooter Libby, not Karl Rove. I hate that pig-faced hate monger. Watching him go down -- that would be an occasion for rejoicing. (You didn't think I could actually stay on the high road, did you?)

In praise of a mythological goddess

Marilyn. Kids who weren't even born yet when she died recognize her image.

Marilyn. Sex goddess. Her babykins voice, cotton candy hair, tremulous lips and hip-swinging, wobbly walk are all still recognized as attributes of a sexy woman.

Marilyn. Ultimate tabloid queen. Every now and again she can still reclaim the front cover, even more than 40 years after her death. How did she die? Did the Kennedys kill her? Did she curse Anna Nicole from The Great Beyond?

Marilyn. Feminist icon and cautionary tale. Look closely, girls. This is what happens to you if you sublimate your own character and live your life to please men. You'll end up dead at 36 and by your hand, just like her.

Marilyn. Extraordinary comedienne. Her line readings were unique and very, very funny. Only Marilyn could ring a laugh out of the line, "Story of my life. I always get the fuzzy end of the lollipop."

Marilyn. Charismatic screen presence. Even in bad movies (Prince and the Showgirl, for example) you simply cannot take your eyes off of her.

I'm remembering her today because of all the Anna Nicole hubbub. The late Ms. Smith may have idolized Marilyn, but she couldn't/can't/won't hold a candle to her. Marilyn had a real, genuine, unique talent. Even in her short career she managed to compile an impressive list of credits, films that are shown on TV and rented today. Compare that to, "Trimspa, Baby!"

Amazon lists more than 13,000 titles devoted to Marilyn. I'll leave it to serious authors to decide what her enduring impact means. I just wish to take a moment to acknowledge it.

My favorite headline

TOPLESS WIFE PHOTO ENDS MAN'S POLE PROTEST

Sorry that I can find no photos to accompany this. But I'm sure that whatever you're imagining is funnier than the reality anyway.

news.aol.com/strange/story/_a/topless-wife-photo-ends-mans-pole/n20070302092409990012?cid=936

Well, that's done

The clouds have dissipated and the sun is shining. At least within my heart.

My best friend and I are back where we ought to be. My oldest friend is rolling with the punches a little better and consequently feeling a little better about her life, too. While my workload has been a blessing, it's also manageable. I have a bitchin' new mattress, which amazes me anew each morning as I awaken several inches higher than I was last week. I sense that things in my life are going to continue moving along on a higher plane. I hope so, at least.

It's not depression if I get sad when bad things happen. It's life. I hope that I was able to maintain my sense of humor, if not my sense of proportion, while the thick, dark clouds were casting a shadow over me.

Thanks, Ann!

In a weekend when John Edwards would have to set his gorgeous hair on fire to take any attention away from Bill/Hillary and Obama, Ann Coulter has put him on the front pages. Here's what the ignorant, angry blonde said at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Friday, "I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, but it turns out you have to go into rehab if you use the word 'faggot,' so I -- so kind of an impasse, can't really talk about Edwards." Isn't she witty? Forget Dorothy Parker or even Nora Ephron. We've got Ann Coulter to amuse us and keep us in stitches.

So Romney, Guiliani and McCain denounced her and Edwards' campaign sent links of her hate speech to contributors as part of a plea for more cash. Did she intend to make him relevant?

She also threatened to support Romney. What terrific news for Giuliani and McCain! Romney's spokesman referred to Coulter as "offensive" and added that "Governor Romney believes all people should be treated with dignity and respect."

Oh, and by the way, Ann, Michelle Phillips ca. 1967 called. She wants her hair back.

"What I wouldn't give for a sock filled with manure."

That quote from Annie Hall is going through my head as I watch a Time/Life infomercial hawking "Soft Rock of the 1970s." I am gripped by an overwhelming desire to slug someone. Like Bread, Al Stewart, Gino Vanelli, Air Supply, America, Rupert Holmes, Eric Carmen, or the Little River Band.

People actually want to revisit this drivel? Wasn't it bad enough the first time? My teeth are starting to hurt again, and it ain't the faulty dental work. Where's that remote?

No, really! This is an emergency! I either need to lay hands on the remote or a sock filled with manure. STAT!

In all, not a bad role model

There's a line from the book, Gone with the Wind, that I don't believe made it to the film. It inspires me, even as I mangle it. Grandma Tarleton compliments Scarlett's courage and pragmatism, saying (something like) "you take your fences clean, like a good hunter."

I try to do that. I'm in a ditch, a rut. Nothing large nor small is going my way these days. When the big goes bad, it's easy to let the small things really weigh me down. Whether it's the waste of time/money on my hair, or the way my teeth keep falling out of my head, or how today, as the mattress delivery man was carrying away my old bedding he managed to completely decimate the ceiling fan.

His first comment wasn't "oops" or "sorry," it was to say, "that can't be fixed." While I thought that was odd, I ruefully responded that this "free delivery/haul away" was going to be expensive for me. He is coming over Sunday with a new ceiling fan, which he will install for free in the hope that I won't report the incident to his bosses. We shall see what he brings over, and whether he can install it it without shorting out the electricity in Cook County.

Oh, and I didn't take how thick the fabulous new mattress is into consideration when I bought it. Of my six sets of sheets, only one has pockets deep enough to accommodate the new bed. Oh, good! Linens is just what I want to spend money on these days!

And the art director I'm stuck in double harness with is still letting her marital problems compromise her day-to-day performance and productivity, even though her husband has been either having an affair or not* for at least 10 months now! A baby could have been conceived and delivered -- an entire new human being could have joined us in this world -- in the amount of time she has spent sniffling and staring into space.

All of this keeps going on against a backdrop of illness and affairs of the heart in my own life. It seems unfair and a little tiring that the little shit keeps pummeling me as I wrestle with the BIG ISSUES.

But I'm trying to keep my sense of humor and my sense of proportion. The first has always been a strength. The second? Um … not so much. But I'm trying! And I ask myself, "WWSD?" What would Scarlett do? She'd take this fence clean, like a good hunter. And so I grasp the reins tightly, lean forward in the saddle, and just try to keep going.

*I have avoided sharing the observation that it's true of every adult isn't it? Aren't we all -- from Queen Elizabeth or Zsa Zsa Gabor's husband to the woman who makes my sandwich at the Bread Factory -- either having an extramarital affair, or not?

Worse than waking up with a hangover!

Dozed off on the sofa last night (perhaps it was my happy visit to the beer cart at work yesterday afternoon) and stumbled off to bed after midnight. Got up the morning and saw the remnants of last night's dinner …

An empty Chips Ahoy box and a ton of crumbs!

Experiencing a high degree of self loathing just now.

Rodents, rot, and a nation's shame

Every time I turn around it seems someone else has lost his job over the Walter Reed flap. Good!

After 6 years, I never expect to agree with anyone in Bush 43's Cabinet. But Defense Secretary Gates rocks. Once the problems at Walter Reed came to his attention, he started making changes. And, unlike the way predecessor Rumsfeld handled heartbreaks such as Abu Gharib and Gitmo (first ignore it, then blame low-ranking officers), Gates has been demanding accountability from those in power.

It recently came to light (courtesy of the Washington Post) that Walter Reed Army Hospital has been infested by mold, mice and rot. Those wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq were being treated as though they were a burden, forgotten by their country. It's horrible.

What bothers me most is that this President and his administration, claim that their #1 priority is the "War on Terror." That non-binding resolutions "undermine the troops." What hypocrisy!

These soldiers volunteered to come between us and danger. They go where they are sent and they serve with courage. Those who come back wounded deserve the best we can give them. I refuse to believe that's mold, mice and rot.

There are those who say Gates should have known this was going at Walter Reed. I don't disagree with that. But once indisputable evidence came to his attention, he acted. And acted swiftly. He deserves a lot of credit for that.

There! Now I feel better!

On Tuesday, my oldest friend sent me an SOS email about her current depression. She said her "tried and true ways" of springing back just weren't working anymore. As I've been battling a case of the blues myself, I decided it would be a good time to take a closer look at my own "tried and trues."

I mean, we've all got them, right? The things we turn to for a reliable little jolt of happy on a sad day.

For me, it's the sky. Always the sky. Night, starry sky. Clear blue sky. Violent, stormy sky. It's always beautiful, always awe-inspiring to me.

Chocolate is good, too. Dark chocolate, or maybe crappy Hostess cupcake chocolate frosting. Or, if I'm cold or especially sad, hot chocolate. Or perhaps just a good old fashioned Hershey's with Almonds. It always feels like a treat, like something nice I'm doing for myself.

Responsibility has been a godsend these past two weeks. If I didn't have this big project to keep me focused, I may have descended into a hideous, obnoxious pity party. My coworkers would have undoubtedly strangled me, and no jury in the country would have convicted them. Also, being worried about my oldest friend helped. Took me out of myself a bit.

Paul McCartney. Paulie. Sir Paul. Macca. Whether it's Beatle Paul ("And I Love Her" is on right now) or Wings Paul or solo Paul, he's been the soundtrack of my life. I've loved him unquestioningly since I was 6 years old. His voice, his face, they've become as comforting as a letter from home.

The Cubs. Now don't laugh. Yes, they break my heart on a regular basis. But it's the fact of the Cubs, of Wrigley Field, that I love. The tradition. The continuity. And all the little distracting dramas! How will Kerry Wood do in the bullpen? Will Soriano be the piece of the puzzle we've been missing? I love this rite of spring like no other.

The cats. I have three, each with a distinct personality and a unique way of relating to me, which always amuses and fascinates. Charlotte, my Miss Thing, demands her time with me in the morning. Specifically after my shower, when I am putting moisturizer and makeup on. Her attention to my ritual is always rapt. Does she realize she's a female, and is that why she insists on sharing this girly activity? Joe is my affectionate old tom. He hates it when I leave him. When I put on my coat or grab my purse, he does figure 8's between my legs, trying to convince me to stay. Or maybe he's marking me with his scent, so no other big old toms try to claim me as their human. And Reynaldo, the kid. My skinny beige bundle of energy. He races about yowling at me, and won't stop his loud singing until I answer. I wonder what my neighbors think as they walk up the hall and hear me answering his noisy "meeeooows" with, "Rey, you're so brave, up there on top of the bookcase!"

Just thinking of this stuff makes me happy. Whatever it is that you have that yanks you out of the doldrums, I hope you treasure it and that it never fails you.

Enter at your own peril

It's addictive!

HowManyOfMe.com

There are: 5 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

#6 -- Thursday Thirteen Guilty Pleasures

Thirteen Things that THE GAL HERSELF thoroughly enjoys If asked, I'll deny it, but I really do love: 1) Court TV and Snapped on Oxygen -- where I find the real "girls gone wild" 2) Popping bubble wrap 3) "Celebrities are just like US" in US Magazine 4) Pumicing my heels while wearing a facial mask as I soak in a bubblebath (I've caught sight of myself as I do this and trust me: I look waaaay stupid) 5) Doris Day movies 6) Big Macs and hotdogs with ketchup 8) reading about Jackie Kennedy and Princess Di … still 9) Jerry Lewis 10) Playing Turbo 21 on Pogo until I can't take it anymore 11) Shopping for a life I don't have as I daydream through mail order catalogs 12) Extra, Entertainment Tonight, The Insider (vast wasteland, indeed!) 13) Eating in "dives," restaurants with red/white check plastic tablecloths, laminated menus, paper napkins, and bowls of peanuts in the shell to nosh on while you wait for your order Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. Check out Gabriella's nostalgic Thursday Thirteen at http://www.gabriellahewitt.com/blog 2. Shiloh's amusing, but not too ambitious, Thursday Thirteen is at shilohwalker.wordpress.com/2007/03/01/thirteen-things-i-have-no-desire-to-learn

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Only 70%? What's wrong with you people?

Mayor Richard M. Daley was reelected yesterday with 70% of the vote. I don't understand why it's not 100%.

Yes, there's corruption in City Hall. I know I should be more upset about it than I am, but truth to tell, there has always been corruption in City Hall and I'm just used to it. Besides, until someone finds $800,000 in shoe boxes under his bed,* I simply do not believe Mayor Richie is making himself rich at the expense of tax payers. And as long as he isn't personally benefiting from it, I'm willing to turn a blind eye to it.

The city is cleaner than it's been in years. There's new construction and new business and new jobs. Yes, the CTA is dirty and unreliable. Yes, the school definitely have room for improvement.

But we're safe here. And it's because of Richard M. Daley.

A political pundit recently said that midwesterners don't really worry too much about terrorism. That may be true of the folks who live and work in the suburbs or downstate. But I spend half my life in this city, and I worry about it every day. I can't help it because reminders crop up all the time. Some mornings there are cops with dogs on el platforms or near the garbage cans in the commuter train stations. Then the next day the cops and dogs are gone. Or there will be police boats in the river under the el tracks in the morning but gone for evening rush. No one discusses it, but we all know why they're there. (An unintentional benefit of the war on terror -- crime is down on the el these days.)

Who puts those cops there? Mayor Daley. The same man who decided I needed to be evacuated from Illinois Center on 9/11. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

A major snowstorm kicked in early afternoon a few weeks ago. The Mayor's office contacted the major office buildings and asked them to close early so the streets wouldn't be clogged and dangerous during afternoon rush. I believe that's more forethought and communication than Mayor Nagin shared in New Orleans before Katrina.

It's a dangerous world, and I'm glad Richard M. Daley is looking out for us.

*Paul Powell was Illinois Secretary of State when I was a little girl. When he died, it was discovered that he had $800,000 cash in shoe boxes.

Ick! Pfui!

ANOTHER YEAR, ANOTHER HEARTACHE. SANTO DENIED AGAIN.

By Paul Sullivan
Tribune staff reporter

February 27, 2007, 1:04 PM CST

The nine-time All-Star was denied entrance into the Hall of Fame on Tuesday in voting by the Veterans' Committee, who once again declined to allow any former major leaguers into their exclusive club.

Santo finished first on the ballot with 57 votes, five shy of the total needed to make it. Santo said last week he was keeping a low-profile on the voting this year, but added: "Let's be honest, I want this badly, mainly because (the voting) is every two years. To me, two years, because of what I have with the diabetes and (getting) older, it's like eternity. If I do get in, I'd like to enjoy it."

Santo, who turned 67 on Sunday, and said he's not interested in gaining the honor posthumously. In 2005 he tied for first on the ballot with Gil Hodges, but was still eight votes shy of induction.
________________________________________________________

Look out! It's spreading across the countryside!

The blues, that is. Here's an email I received this morning from my oldest friend:

"I have dipped into the dark place and can't pull myself out. Since Sat., my bucket is empty and I don't have the energy to figure out how to fill it up myself. My tried and true means of yanking myself from the dark place are failing. Is it the dreaded evil of hormones? I felt so blue that this morning I woke up and was shocked I was still alive. I mean isn't it the deal that God doesn't give you more than you can handle? Well, what if you are over quota? What happens THEN?"

The part of me that is objective and enjoys irony realizes it's funny that anyone would turn to ME for help with a problem like this.

What's going on? Are evil-doers poisoning us with odorless, depressive gasses through the vents of major office buildings? What can we do to combat this epidemic of depression?

Naturally, dear blog, I will not be this flippant with her. I will remind her of her children and how much they need her, that this will pass, and how much she is loved. But it's not like my bucket is especially brimming, as she would say, and I can't help but find the humor in this.

Today's inspiration: B. B. King (and the lovely Lucille, too)

I have a lot to do today. Actual work. An assignment given to this agency by a long-standing client, one that I really enjoy working with.

I also have a necessary, albeit expensive, dental appointment which means that I have to leave early. I will have to somehow figure out how to make the deadlines and tend to the gaping hole in my mouth.

Normally I would be stressing about this, but today I'm grateful for it. I have a lot of things on my mind right now … big things that are making me sad and sapping my energy. I don't mean to sound like Scarlett O'Hara, but I simply can't afford to think about them today. And it's not like anything will be resolved in a day by my fixating or ruminating or awfulizing.

So I will gratefully concentrate on my work. I will try to remain in constant motion so I won't be tempted to fixate or ruminate or awfulize. And I will take inspiration from my favorite old B.B. King recording. The one where he sings:

"Better not look down, if you want to keep on flying
Put the hammer down, keep it full speed ahead.
Better not look back, or you might just wind up crying.
You can keep it moving, if you don't look down."

If I voted for Oscar …

Miss Abigail Breslin would wake up tomorrow with the golden nude dude on her nightstand. First of all, look at that face! Secondly, Olive Hoover was the most completely endearing character in Little Miss Sunshine, or maybe in any movie last year. And lastly, Jennifer Hudson played Effie in Dreamgirls, which was really a starring role, not a supporting one.

Plus if, when the winner is announced tonight, little dressed-up Abigail Breslin looks sad, it will break my heart.

Who knew?

When I was a little girl, I read obsessively about Abraham Lincoln. My first 100+ page book was a Lincoln bio (the page count made me feel quite adult) and then I worked my way through the school library's Lincoln collection. In Illinois, there are many, many books about Honest Abe available for young readers.

So I thought I knew just about all I needed to know about Abe. I read Jean Baker's scholarly, sensitive study of Mary Lincoln a few years back, but beyond that I thought I had moved on from the Lincolns.

I'm watching an episode of Biography devoted to Lincoln and I'm fascinated. I had no idea he had such a complicated, bitter relationship with his father! I'd heard about his "melancholia," but never get it a lot of thought. There was a fiancee, Mary Owens, that I'd never heard of. His feelings about slavery were more complex than I knew. I now realize what I should have seen all along: the Lincoln books I read were written for pre-adolescents, and there would have to be much more to this extraordinary man.

My TBR pile is pretty deep right now, but I think I shall run over to the bookstore and pick up Doris Kearns Goodwin's Team of Rivals. I'm suffering from more than a touch of "melancholia" my damn self and perhaps retail therapy is called for.

I have lots to do today

And I'm glad. I'm very sad. It's too complicated to go into right now, and besides, I'm at work and I'm trying to hold it all together. The Reader's Digest condensed version is that I feel a bit like Addison on Grey's Anatomy. I'm pretty sure I could go missing for three days and no one would even notice.

There are times that my autonomy and fierce independence feel positive. And then there are days, like today, when "freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose."

But I have a huge project in front of me. (Literally.) And I'm grateful. It will occupy me and keep me focused. I may switch from Bruce Springsteen to Motown. All his poetry about "dreams and visions" might not help right now. Because today's top order of business is holding it all together.