Unconscious Mutterings #13

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Illicit :: Naughty
   
2. Go :: Go, Dog, Go! (Dr. Seuss)
   
3. Jacket :: Hood
   
4. Blow :: Cocaine
   
5. Coach :: Mike Ditka
   
6. Effort :: "A" for Effort
   
7. Leadership :: Inspiring
   
8. Snore :: Sleep
   
9. Fearless :: Superhero
   
10. Network :: "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not gonna take it anymore!"
    

For more information, or to "mutter" yourself, visit Unconscious Mutterings.

Is it a cold or is it the flu?

I've taken the Cold and Flu Symptom Quiz on WebMD, and guess what. I can't figure this thing out.

Do you have a fever? No. "Generally a high fever points to flu." Okay then. I'm just a big baby with a bad cold.

A stuffy nose? Yes. "Classic cold," it says. Though congestion "can occur" with flu.

A sore throat? I did at first, but now I don't. A sore throat is "a sure sign it's a cold coming on. Sometimes, however, a sore throat can show up with the flu." Well that was helpful, wasn't it?

Chest discomfort or cough? Yes. "A cough can appear with either colds or flu but is more common with the flu. And a severe cough usually signals the flu." Uh-oh. Sounds like I've got the flu …

Are you exhausted or weak? Yes. I considered curling up on the floor and taking a quick nap while waiting in line at Walgreen's. "Slight fatigue can occur with a cold, but extreme exhaustion is a definite sign of the flu."

Do you have a headache? Yes, on and off. "Generally, headaches are more common with the flu than with a cold." Looks like the flu, ladies and gentlemen.

Are you complaining of an aching body? Well, I wouldn't complain because the cats don't give a shit. But no, I'm not achy. "Body and muscle aches are common flu symptoms." So it's a cold, right?

Or is it? I'm too foggy to decide. Don't they know it's not nice to mess with an old broad with a stuffy head? I think I'll go to Blogthings and find out my vampire name. (It's Jezebell of Macedonia.)

As Fred Astaire sang, "Oh no, they can't take that away from me"

Look what came in today's mail. I may be reduced to watching the Rockies/Dbacks, but I have verifiable proof (what's more credible than an official MLB shirt?) that MY GUYS were the 2007 Central Division Champions. I will save it for my New Year's holiday in sunny Key West. I will proudly proclaim my love for and loyalty to the team that went from worst to first.

No joy here

This post is going to be long and intense. If you're going to comment, please understand how sensitive all of this is. Thanks.

I was raped shortly after my 30th birthday. I was involved in an abusive relationship, and that is what the violence finally escalated to. I remember cataloging my bruises in the shower the next morning and realizing I could no longer be with this man. After years I finally ended it. I was unable to put it behind me, though, because the rape left me with health issues.

I don't think about the rape every day anymore. But it does come up regularly. For example, it was top of mind as I watched The Brave One. It's been part of every relationship I've had since. It's there. It's always there. Like a birthmark or a vaccination scar. It's part of me.

So is my niece. What she's done has confused and hurt me. I'm having a hard time processing it.

This past summer she graduated from 8th grade. The photos are still in my camera. She had a terrific summer with her gang of girlfriends. There's one girl that she's close to, but they have a dramatic, incendiary relationship. We'll call her "Jane."

Jane has had vision problems since birth, and that's a card she often plays to get her own way. One day, when the two of them were alone and arguing, my niece decided she was sick of hearing it. She said something to the effect of, "So what if your eyes bother you? I was raped!"

Jane wanted to know who did the deed. My niece named a boy, known around town because he'd been caught shoplifting and breaking into the school. As the summer went on, Jane kept pressing my niece for details. Rather than admit the lie, she kept embellishing it. She believed it was between her and Jane.

High school starts. My niece is getting straight A's. She seems to be enjoying life as a freshman. We thought she was adjusting well.

Until the call came from the school principal.

Seems that now that they're in high school, Jane's been making lots of new friends. Two of them mentioned how cute that particular boy was. "Stay away from him," Jane warned. "He's a rapist." These two girls, who barely know my niece, went to the principal.

My niece is a 14 year old virgin. She's never had a date. The only boy she's ever been interested in is John Mayer. She's curious about sex certainly, but has no up-close-and-personal experience. She barely knows the boy she named.

She cried and cried in the principal's office when she was confronted, in front of her mother, Jane and Jane's mother about the lie. The school has mandated that she get counseling.

I love my niece. She is very smart, funny as well as clever, and curious about the world around her. She is very gentle and patient with her kid brother (I love him, too, but he can be a handful). She is very sorry that she got caught in the lie, heartsick about the pain it's caused her parents, and unhappy because she's grounded until further notice.

But she doesn't seem to understand the horrible, horrible thing she has done. False rape accusations diminish what happened to all of us who have survived it. She's only 14, so I've never told her what I went through or how it felt, but I'm sorely tempted to. Rape is nothing to aspire to, nothing to joke about, nothing to co-opt. Rape is desperately serious.

Likewise she doesn't seem to understand what she's done to that poor guy. She seems to think that since he has an arrest record, his reputation was already ruined. She doesn't get that what she accused him of is heinous on a whole new level.

She also doesn't seem to realize that her reputation will be forever changed because of this. She's now either the girl who got raped, or she's the girl who lied about rape.

My niece says SHE didn't report him as a rapist, Jane's friends did. She sees herself as a victim in this, embarrassed and betrayed by Jane. (And yet she and Jane remain friends. Go figure.)

I am, quite literally, sick and tired. I don't feel well and I had a busy day at work. I know I should call and talk to my niece but I can't right now. Whatever I say to her will stay with her forever, and I'm too angry.

My niece works in a soup kitchen. She goes to church regularly. She writes well and has a wonderful sense of humor. She's a good student and an avid reader. She's endlessly respectful and helpful to my mother (her grandmother). I am trying to remember all those many good things, all those things that make proud of her.

Because I love her, and can't bear to think of her as a girl who tried to gain the upper hand socially by portraying herself as a victim of violence, as "The Girl Who Cried Rape."

Friday's Feast #19

Appetizer When was the last time you were surprised? Yesterday. My niece, a high school freshman, is in trouble in school. I know every loving adult says this, but I didn't expect this at all!

Soup Fill in the blanks: My eyes are a pretty shade of green, but I wish they were not so very, very near-sighted!

Salad If you were a Beanie Baby, what would you look like and what would your name be? I'd be a tiger cub, and my name would be McAndrew. When I was a little girl, I slept in a tiger costume. My dad's nickname for me at that time was McAndrew. (I don't remember why he called me that, but I liked it.)

Main Course Name two things you consistently do that you consider to be healthy habits. I walk and take the stairs whenever I can. I have begun swapping out cans of cola for bottles of water.

Dessert What brand of toothpaste are you using these days? Do you like it? Why or why not? AIM. It's fine, but I don't have an undying loyalty to it. I chose it because it's formulated with baking soda.

For more information, or to serve up your own feast, visit www.fridaysfeast.com.

Thursday Thirteen #37 -- The Most Recent Books I've Read

Thirteen Books

THE GAL HERSELF

Has Read in 2007

(I Enjoyed 12)

As luck would have it, I just finished the 13th book I've read this year. That inspired me to steal this idea from Thomma Lyn, who did the very same TT on October 4. I’m sure she’s honored, since imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

1. Where There’s a Will by Rex Stout. This Nero Wolfe mystery is a joy. I loved it as a whodunit and as a period piece, a stylish valentine to long-ago Manhattan. Oh, and there’s that desperate crush I have on narrator Archie Goodwin. What made this even more charming is I got this particular edition at our local book fair for 25¢. It’s an original paperback from 1940. I love the cover, with the hot pink and bright yellow type against the black background and the illustration of a femme fatale.

2. Reclaiming History: The Assassination of John F. Kennedy by Vincent Bugliosi. Another murder mystery, this one solved once and for all by the passionate former prosecutor. Not at all exploitive, it’s a serious, important work. I must admit I’m not done with it yet. It’s massive – more than 1600 pages. It’s beside my bed and it’s taking months but I’m chipping away at it slowly but surely. Maybe I should rethink when I turn to it, as this isn’t exactly the stuff of sweet dreams, is it?

3. Last Chance Saloon by Marion Keyes. I loved this book. A warm and affectionate story of three long-time friends who move from small-town Ireland to London in search of romance and success. The characters are carefully drawn and believable, and the plot took some unexpected but credible twists. Yes, it’s chick lit. But it’s chick lit of a high order, and at times it really touched me.

4. The Natural: The Misunderstood Presidency of Bill Clinton by Joe Klein. The 1990s feel so long ago. Pre-9/11, the world and the political landscape were completely different than they are today. Klein is careful to place Bill Clinton, his accomplishments and failures, in the proper (and fair) context.

5. Bookends by Jane Green. This novel started strong – introducing us to a group of friends at the beginning of their university careers – but then ran out of gas after they graduated. It’s harmless, but there are so many better books out there I don’t recommend you spend your time on this one.

6. The Diana Chronicles by Tina Brown. I observed the Dianaversary by reading this detailed biography. It’s hardly a love letter to the Princess, as it details her infidelities and petty publicity ploys. But as I was finishing it, I still felt great compassion for her. I don’t know if it’s because of Brown’s writing or Diana’s spirit, but I kept hoping that last night in Paris would end differently for her.

7. Spare Change by Robert B. Parker. A Sunny Randall mystery. I have a love/hate relationship with Parker. What he does well – unusual plotlines, spare dialog, and action – he does very, very well. But his attitude toward women can be soooo exasperating, and it’s never more obvious than when he writes a female heroine.

8. Angels by Marion Keyes. Not as stong as Last Chance Saloon, but still warm, funny and entertaining. A Dublin divorcee runs off to Southern California to heal. It’s filled with amusing, astute observations about LA, as well as about love, sex, friendship and forgiveness.

9. High Profile by Robert B. Parker. A Jesse Stone mystery. Everything I wrote about Spare Change (#7) applies here. It isn’t that I didn’t like it, really. It’s just that I found some aspects positively infuriating. I wonder why I stick so stubbornly with Parker when he so often disappoints me.

10. Short and Tall Tales by Lilian Jackson Braun. A brief, completely adorable history of Moose County written in the voice of Braun’s “Cat Who” narrator, James Mackintosh Qwilleran. I am 110% City Mouse, and would never even consider living “400 miles north of everywhere.” But I certainly enjoy visiting this corny, imaginary rural haven.

11. Camelot at Dawn: Jacqueline and John Kennedy in Georgetown, 1954 by Ann Garside. The Senator and his new bride open their home to a magazine photographer. The b/w photos show one of American history’s most famous couples in a more innocent, more unguarded way than we would ever see them again.

12. Saving Graces: Finding Solace and Strength from Friends and Strangers by Elizabeth Edwards. This book, written before the recurrence of her breast cancer, had a tremendous impact on me. Not really about politics, it’s Mrs. Edwards explaining how the death of her son taught her to open up and reach out to others. Her reminiscences about those horrible days are shockingly, breathtakingly honest. She got through to me and encouraged me to have the strength to be vulnerable. I’m grateful.

13. I Feel Bad about My Neck by Nora Ephron. Nora is the wise, witty and wonderful older sister I always wanted. She writes essays about aging, treating everything from facial hair to love and money with her own brand of gentle, sophisticated humor. I finished it quickly and Nora left me wanting more.

PS -- Do you like the new banner? I got it from Harlekwin.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

1. Ellen B's TT is both spiritual and visual

2. Chelle Y takes us shopping

3. Works for Mom gives us 13 facts that we'll want to work into conversation to impress our friends

4. Nicholas revisits his book shelf and comes up with 13 (more) books with one-word titles

5. Malcolm bravely shares his musical guilty pleasures

6. Susan Helene Gottfried lets us watch Kerri pack for a road trip

7. L-Squared gets inside the heads of some adorable critters

8. Damozel has examples of bureaucratic waste that will make you laugh, cringe and scream

9. No Nonsense Girl had a roller coaster week and she recounts it for us

10. Writing in Faith finds the beauty in street art

11. Lori shares 13 of her favorite songs

12. Harlekwin (creator of my new banner) vents about her 13 pet peeves

13. Janet shares 13 of her recent Halloween photos

14. Claudia's TT is 13 reasons why she's glad that paparazzi don't follow her

15. Wolfie's personality is revealed through 13 tests

16. Hootin' Ani has 13 terrific Halloween recipes

17. PJ lists 13 popular teen TV shows

18. Bloggers quotes from Napoleon Dynamite

19. Carrie Lofty lists 13 unusual titles

20. Sparky Duck takes flight with 13 faeries

21. Joy Is My Goal has a bright and brilliant TT

22. Samantha K brings the game of Clue to life

23. Laura shares her 13 all-time favorite movies

24. Bermudabluez lists her 13 favorite TV shows

25. Go to Denise's Den to see 13 works by her favorite artist, Franz Xaver Winterhalter

26. Vixen tells us 13 reasons why she blogs

27. Mama Pajama recommends some soundtracks for your listening pleasure

28. Karen has a highly admirable TT

29. Nicole's TT is all TT's!


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



Smile!

I'm not sick exactly. I just feel crappy. Scratchy throat, achy, weak … Can't sleep because of the lovely cough I just developed. I turned on the TV and believe I heard that the Banquet Pot Pies I just bought cause salmonella. (But how can that be? Is there anything on earth more benign than a Banquet Pot Pie?)

Then I logged on and discovered that Tina gave me this award for making her smile.

Well, Tina, thank you so much for making me smile when I feel so icky!

"You say it's your birthday. It's my birthday, too, yeah."

No, it's not my birthday. But it would be his, were he still with us. Happy birthday, John.

He was a giant, and his career cast a long shadow over music, over his generation, and over me personally. John was never one of those artists who was afraid to let his world view inform his art. He was aware that there were those out there who just wanted him to stay a "mop top" forever, to do fun music that didn't make them think. But he understood that the role of the artist always has been to challenge the status quo. I loved him for his uncompromising courage in this area.

Just because he knew how to articulate what he saw around him and set it to music doesn't mean that's all he did. Not by a long shot. Now that I've given him his props for his message music, I want to shine a spotlight on one of my favorite (and lesser known) Lennon CDs, Rock'n Roll. If this CD has a message, it's simply that early rock can fill us all with joy. I still miss the old boy, but I'm grateful I can still hear these 13 songs through my iPod headphones whenever I feel like celebrating his life.

1. Be-Bop-A-Lula
2. Stand by Me
3. Medley: Rip it up/Ready Teddy
4. You Can't Catch Me
5. Ain't That a Shame
6. Do You Want to Dance?
7. Sweet Little Sixteen
8. Slippin' and Slidin'
9. Peggy Sue
10. Medley: Bring It on Home to Me/Send Me Some Lovin'
11. Bony Maronie
12. Ya Ya
13. Just Because

I'm not moving from this spot. Ever.

Left work at 12:30 today. Stopped for snacks and coughdrops and juice on the way home and now I'm settled in. For the duration. My throat is sore and I'm weak and my thought processes are fuzzy (OK, fuzzier than usual). I'm grateful I don't have a fever, and that I do have a cat. My very own Miss Thing, Charlotte, is fascinated that I'm home this early and is happy to keep me company.

A sinfully snatched quiz

Check out Kwizgiver's original "7 deadly sins" post

Wrath
Who did you last get angry with?
My boss

What is your weapon of choice?
Words. The pen is mightier than the sword.

Would you hit a member of the opposite sex?
Only if I had to

How about the same sex?
See above

Who was the last person who got really angry at you?
My best friend

What is your pet peeve?
Commuters who take up two seats on the train. If you didn't pay a separate fare for that tote bag, it shouldn't get its own seat.

Do you keep grudges, or can you let them go easily?
If grudge carrying were an Olympic event, I could win the Gold for the old US of A


Sloth
What is one thing you're supposed to do daily that you haven't?
Straighten up my livingroom

What is the latest you've ever woken up?
10:30

Name a person you've been meaning to contact, but haven't?
Edgardo

What is the last lame excuse that you made?
Truly, I can't think of any

Have you ever watched an infomercial all the way through?
Yes! Love them.

How many times did you hit the snooze button on your alarm clock this morning?
Three times

Gluttony
What is your overpriced yuppie beverage of choice?
Bottled water

Are you a meat eater?
Yes

What is the greatest amount of alcohol you've had in one sitting -outing -event?
Three appletinis and a beer. Yes, I knew better. And yes, I got sick.

Are you comfortable with your drinking and eating habits?
Yes

Do you enjoy candy and sweets?
yesyesyes

Which do you prefer: sweets, salty foods or spicy food?
Always, sweets. Salty is wonderful when I'm PMS-ing. Don't like spicy foods.

Have you ever looked at a small house pet or child and thought, "lunch"?
No, Silly!

Greed
How many credit cards do you own?
OMG! Too many to count!

If you had a million dollars, what would you do with it?
Redo my condo, begin a foundation, take care of my mom

Would you rather be rich or famous?
Rich!

Would you accept a boring job if it meant that you would make megabucks?
Yes. And if anyone out there has a boring job that pays megabucks, feel free to call me.

Pride
What's one thing that you have done that you're most proud of?
I have a way with critters.

What's one thing you have done that your parents are most proud of?
My mom is proud of my toughness.

What thing would you like to accomplish late in your life?
I'd like to be as organized personally as I am professionally

Do you get annoyed by coming in second place?
No. I'm not that competitive.

Have you ever entered a contest of skill, knowing you were of much higher skill than all the other competitors?
See above

Have you ever cheated to get a better score?
No

What did you do today that you're proud of?
I came up with a clever tagline

Lust
How many people have you seen naked (not counting movies, family, strippers, locker rooms)?
5

How many people have seen you naked (not counting physicians, doctors, family, locker rooms, or when you were a young child)?
The same 5

Have you ever caught yourself staring at the chest/crotch of a person of your chosen sex during a normal conversation?
Yes

What is your favorite body part of a person of your gender choice?
Hair

Have you ever had sexual encounters (including kissing/making out) with multiple persons?
No

Have you ever been propositioned by a prostitute?
No

Envy
What item of your friends would you most want to have for your own?
Barb's Steve Madden bag

Who would you want to go on "Trading Spaces" with?
No one. Decorating is rather intimate and I wouldn't trust anyone with it.

If you could be anyone who existed in the world, who would you be?
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

Have you ever been cheated on?
Yes

Have you ever wished you had a physical feature different from your own?
Yes

What inborn trait do you see in others that you wish you had for yourself?
Patience

What deadly sin...
Do you do the most often?
Lust, sloth, pride, envy and even more lust

Do you do the least often?
Wrath, greed, gluttony

"Know thyself"

My best friend called me this evening. He needed to speak to me right then. Immediately. He was in the car, en route to an impromptu dinner with his boss. His boss usually works out of the Chicago office, had just arrived in Denver for a meeting tomorrow (unrelated to any of my friend's projects), and wanted to take my friend out to dinner when he was in town.

My best friend was freaking out. What did his boss want? What was it that could only be said, face to face? Was he in trouble? What had he done, or hadn't he done, that would cause his boss to arrive in Denver on Monday night for a Tuesday afternoon meeting? His self doubt was really sad.

I told him what I truly thought, "Your boss thinks it would be weird to be in Denver and not see you." I waited by the phone for about 90 minutes, just to make sure I was right. I was.

He's good at his job! He's not the best marketer I've ever worked with, but he's solid. He has very good people skills. I tell him this all the time. It's never enough.

I have a lot of faults and many weaknesses. But I know what I can and can't do. I know that just because someone says something to me, it doesn't make it true. I'm neither as good, nor as bad, as bosses have told me over the years.

If I could give my friend anything, it would be a little more self confidence, a little less self doubt, and a bit more self knowledge.

But I can't, can I? All I can do is support him as best I can.

I enjoyed it. Is that a good thing?

Made an effort to finally see The Brave One. This film has been out for more than a month and received uniformly good reviews, so I wanted to catch it at the theater, before it goes to DVD.

It's a vigilante drama with a highly relateable heroine. Jodie Foster's Erica is smart, a serious broadcaster who loves New York and discusses it weekdays on NPR. She's healthy and happy, with a loving doctor fiance, a wedding to plan, and a beautiful dog named Curtis. And she's little. This last one struck a particular chord with me because I'm 5'2 -- and that's if I'm on my toes.

She becomes the victim of a horrible, violent crime. It destroys her life and devastates her soul. She tries to get past it, but how exactly does anyone do that? Can anyone do it? Or does unimaginable tragedy leave us forever changed … and changed into what?

As you can tell by the trailers, Erica becomes something of a vigilante. But, unlike Travis Bickle or Charles Bronson, she doesn't enjoy it. She's compelled to avenge the violent crime she encounters, even seeks out, but she's surprised and appalled by what she's done. At one point she asks, "Why doesn't someone stop me?"

Similarly, I was disgusted by the cathartic thrill I got when she took out those who "deserve" to go. Intellectually, I understand how wrong her actions are. We are a nation of laws. The criminal justice system works more often than it doesn't -- and it can't work at all without the support of our citizens. No one has the right to play judge, jury and God. I know all that. I believe all that.

But I am also a short, pudgy, middle-aged woman who works in a major city … a wonderful city that I love. I get frightened and intimidated, especially if find myself on the el after rush hour. (Something I work hard to avoid.) I keep hearing how Chicago is safer and that violent crime as down, just as Erica often reminds us about her beloved New York. So why do I still feel vulnerable? Is it smart self-preservation that fuels the fear? Or is it paranoia? And what to make of the thrill I got watching Erica switch into vigilante mode?

This movie is serious, not exploitive. The issues it raises are real. But, like Erica after that horrible night in the park, I don't know what to do with the feelings it inspired.

Unconscious Mutterings #12

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Cluster :: headache
   
2. Announcement :: morning announcements over the old PA system at my high school
   
3. Respect :: Aretha
   
4. Incident :: "There were incidents and accidents, there were hints and allegations." (Paul Simon)
   
5. Accordion :: "Lady of Spain"
   
6. Drunk :: Ow! Hangover!
   
7. If :: " If I fell in love with you, would you promise to be true?" (Beatles)
   
8. Dexter :: Showtime series (I keep meaning to rent the DVD)
   
9. Wedding :: singer
   
10. Gambling :: boat
    

For more information, or to play along yourself, visit Unconscious Musings.

I'm tired and disappointed … but ultimately grateful

It was a bright afternoon and a clear, lovely night. Ernie Banks threw out the ceremonial first pitch, and Ron Santo sang during the 7th Inning Stretch, so I relived the glory days of my Cub fan girlhood. I ate Cracker Jack and a hot dog and drank two beers. I saw Kerry Wood pitch in the post season. We waited around for Lou Pinella doff his cap at the fans in the stands. I was there.

No, it didn't end the way I wanted it to. I resent the Diamondbacks and the Rockies both for being so nouveau and yet still doing so well. (It would be easier to take if was the Phillies who prevailed, it simply would.) From this moment on, I'm pulling for the Red Sox.

I wanted this badly and the roller coaster of emotions has left me exhausted. I'm one of the 41,000+ who entered the park with high hopes and left broken hearted (and that doesn't count the countless millions throughout Chicagoland who feel the same way). But this season has been a party. I'm not prepared to say "Wait till next year" yet because I'm still looking back at all the entertainment and happiness this team gave me this year.

Update on Nailah Franklin

This post is about the local woman who disappeared on September 19. Her legion of friends and family searched for her and kept her story front and center until, unfortunately, her dead body was found 9 days later.

Ms. Franklin's funeral was held last Wednesday. Hundreds were in attendance. A pharmaceutical sales rep for Eli Lily, she was remembered fondly as "not a star, but a superstar."

A week before her disappearance, Ms. Franklin contacted police about threatening phone calls from an ex-boyfriend. A man who once dated her was arrested Friday for "misdemeanor battery" (he allegedly threatened a gas station attendant). I'm not including his name or photo here because the authorities have not officially tied him to Ms. Franklin's death. Let's just say that I hope that talking to him brings police closer to solving the mystery of Nailah's murder.

The bunting is going up … AND I'LL BE THERE

Saturday's game, the Cubs first Wrigley Field play-off appearance in years, has long been sold out and scalpers are getting $2000/seat. But this is of no concern to me.

I'll be there. FOR FREE.

A friend of mine works for the Tribune, the company that owns the team. The Tribune had an employee lottery and she won 2 seats for Saturday and 2 seats for Sunday. She and I are going Saturday, her son and his best friend go on Sunday.

I'm excited, naturally. In my whole life I've never been to a play-off game. I believe the team will stay alive to play on Sunday, but even if they don't, I'll consider it an honor to be there. There were weeks this past summer when I wrestled with the blues, and this team was one of the few reliable bright spots, one of the only things I could depend on to distract and cheer me. I'm tickled to be one of the 40,000 fans who will be there to welcome this team home and thank them for the wild ride.

I'm also honored that my friend chose to share her prize with me. After all, I'm bumping her husband and her parents! I don't know what I've done to deserve this, but I'm grateful all the same.

Heartbreak!

I admit that when I went to bed last night, I was desperately disappointed with Cubs ace Ted Lilly. He simply wasn't very good, and in the play-offs, no one can afford to have an off night. In a single inning, he gave up 4 runs and that's just not acceptable.

But then, this morning, I saw this photo. Look at the pain etched in his face. I no longer have the heart to be upset with him. Not when fate has sentenced him to reliving that inning for the next 50 years or so.

Friday's Feast #18

Appetizer. On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you look forward to your birthday? Ten. I love my birthday.

Soup. What is one word you don’t like the sound, spelling, or meaning of? "Occasion." It always looks like it's spelled incorrectly.

Salad. Do you wear sunglasses when you’re outside? If so, what does your current pair look like? This is a little embarrassing to admit, but I'm a sunglass-a-holic. This week I've been alternating between three pair of blue glasses. I also have quite a few black pairs, a green pair and a purple pair. I know, it's silly. But it's fun, too!

Main Course. If you were to write a book, to whom would you dedicate it? Wow! What a great question! I think it would depend who was most supportive and/or inspirational as I worked on this book.

Dessert. Name a beverage that you enjoy. I have a tasty can of Classic Coke right here.

For more information, or to serve up your own feast, visit fridaysfeast.com.

Me, Me, Me, MEME

I've been tagged by Kwizgiver for this and I couldn't be more glad! The Cubs didn't exactly win last night, and the big meeting planned for today was canceled, and I could really use a memey diversion to occupy me.

THE "5 ME" MEME

List 5 things about yourself that you have never shared before.

1) I think I've been in love -- really in love -- twice. Three times if Paul McCartney counts.

2) I am afraid of squirrels. I know this is a silly fear and I bear squirrels no ill will. It's just that when I was a little girl, my father told me about a kid who was bit by a rabid squirrel, and that has really stayed with me.

3) I'm also afraid that Peter, who lives on the second floor of my apartment building, is going to ask me out.

4) I bite my nails not when I'm nervous, but when I'm bored.

5) My favorite evenings are the ones where I get home early, know I'm in for the night, and can change into my jammies right away.

No meme is complete without tags. Hmm … who will I choose? Here are three ladies I don't think we know enough about:

No Nonsense Girl
Lori
Harlekwin

Thursday Thirteen #36 -- Celebrity Cub Fans

THIRTEEN FAMOUS FOLKS

who Frequent

the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field

As we enter the playoff chapter of this storybook Cub season, there's something that needs to be said: I’m pissed at former First Fan Hillary Clinton. In her autobiography and through her years in the White House, she maintained her Cub fandom. But during the recent debate in New Hampshire, she spewed something so entirely unacceptable that I don’t believe she can be regarded as a fan ever again. When asked by Tim Russert which team she’d root for in a Cubs-Yankees World Series, she replied, “I guess I would have to alternate.” Huh? What?

So poof! She’s gone from the list. Here are 13 perhaps lesser known celebs who also root, root, root for the Cubbies … but unlike Hillary, they don’t “alternate.”

1. Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins fame has thrown out the first pitch at several Cub games and has sung “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” during the 7th Inning Stretch. A real Chicago sports fan, he also attends Bulls and Black Hawk games.

2. John Cusack, famous for holding that boombox over his head in the rain in Say Anything, is a Wrigley Field mainstay who has sung “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and hangs out in the WGN broadcast booth. There are ugly rumors that two years ago he “groveled” for Sox Series tickets and even denounced the Cubs to get them, but I choose to believe that story has been exaggerated.

3. John Dillinger. One of the Depression’s superstar bank robbers, Dillinger was a loyal Cub fan who risked arrest by openly attending a game at Wrigley Field less than a month before his demise at Chicago’s Biograph Theater.

4. Dennis Franz is best known as Detective Andy Sipowicz on NYPD Blue. Franz was a creative force behind the wise and witty Bleacher Bums play about Cub fans, and appeared in the documentary about the Cubs All-Star third baseman Ron Santo, This Old Cub.

5. Steve Goodman. Famous for writing “The City of New Orleans” (Good night, America, how are you? Don’t you know me? I’m your native son), Steve was an uber fan. His cheerful “Go, Cubs, Go” is sung by fans as they file out of Wrigley Field after a victory (Lou Pinella says this makes him cry). Steve lost his battle with leukemia just days before he was scheduled to sing The National Anthem at the Cubs post-season home game in 1984. Jimmy Buffet took his place and, rumor has it, spread some of Steve’s ashes around home plate.

6. Bernie Mac. He is so a fan! I know there are those out there who blame him for what happened in 2003 because he referred to the team as the “NL champs” on TV long before it was a done deal. But that’s just silly. We all know 2003 was Bartman’s fault. Plus, Bernie is much funnier than Jim Belushi, who I’m not including on this list because he annoys me.

7. Joe Mantegna. Born in Chicago, he’s been nominated for three Emmys and a Golden Globe award. He’s appeared in at least two different productions of The Bleacher Bums (and, like Franz, has received a writing credit) and shows up in the bio of Cub legend Ron Santo, This Old Cub.

8. Bugs Moran. It was Bugs’ gang that suffered famously in that unfortunate little incident in February, 1929. But Bugs never entered the garage that fateful Valentine’s Day. At the last moment, he saw what he thought was a police car (it was really Capone’s men) and kept going. Such luck is unusual for Cub fans. It was no different in the 1920s than it is today – while Moran was a Cub fan, Capone was a White Sox fan. Never the twain shall meet.

9. Bill Murray. Oscar-nominated and a veteran of Saturday Night Live, Murray recently lent the Cubs moral support by visiting the dugout during their final series with the Marlins. Fond of Cub announcer Harry Caray, he spent quite a lot of time in the booth … and once rather famously left Harry speechless on air. When Harry asked Bill about his mother (also a great Cub fan), Bill replied, “She’s dead. And don’t ask about my dad, because he’s dead, too.”

10. Bob Newhart. Born in my hometown of Oak Park, he’s best known for his self-titled sitcoms. When it comes to baseball, he wisely stated that “being a Cub fan prepares you for life.” Truer words were never spoken.

11. William Peterson of CSI. Well-known on the Chicago theater scene before going on to TV and movies, Petersen is a life-long Cub fan who has both sung during the 7th Inning Stretch and thrown out the first pitch.

12. Gary Sinise. Oscar-nominated as Lt. Dan in Forrest Gump, the star of CSI:NY grew up in the Chicagoland area and is no stranger to Wrigley Field. He’s tossed out the first pitch and also appears in This Old Cub.

13. Vince Vaughn grew up on the Cubs, shot scenes of The Break-Up at Wrigley Field and then brought co-star/girlfriend Jennifer Aniston to the ballpark. Having the year’s hot couple within The Friendly Confines was one of the highlights of the dismal 2006 season. What a difference a year makes!

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. AF Wife has a very important TT about domestic violence

2. Ellen shares 13 facts about California

3. Impworks explains his Wordless Wednesday photo, and it's a great story.

4. Malcolm tells us which 13 shows he has on DVD

5. Secret Agent Mama has a very large TT

6. Janet's TT is both musical and scary

7. Follow Yen to 13 of her favorite sites


8. Jenny muses, and her musings are always interesting

9. Works for Mom shares 13 important facts about breast cancer

10. Susan Helene profiles Daniel the Drummer

11. No Nonsense Girl has a thankful TT

12. Lori has a sexy and romantic TT


13. Check out Harlekwin's gorgeous TT banners!

14. Ann has a wonderful, supportive TT all about her author-friend Carrie

15. Thomma Lyn offers up a very worthy reading list

16. Xakara indulges her love for Halloween and the supernatural

17. Bloggers has an exhaustive list of pay-per-post blogs

18. Mom not Mum shares 13 of her kids' cutest quotes

19. Joy shows us whimsical objets d'art

20. Sparky Duck sets the wayback machine for 1972

21. Carrie Lofty celebrates the exciting news about her book deal with anagrams

22. Even though she's a (GASP!) Cardinals fan, visit Erin's TT

23. Denise's TT is devoted to Pearl herself, Janis Joplin

24. Vixen has a very moving TT about Ladybug

25. Journeywoman offers up 13 ways to fix what ails US



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


Nobody, no nobody is gonna rain on my parade!

I mean it, people! Like my idol Babs, I insist that life's candy and the sun's a ball of butter! The Cubs enter the post-season fray tonight and I am going to enjoy it, no matter how many Dark Forces conspire to ruin it for me.

Before the game begins (9:00 CST), I must attend a condo association meeting. I know what this means -- a special assessment which will separate me from my money. Fine. Whatever. I will not allow the association board to bring around a cloud to rain on my parade.

I'm growing my hair out and it's a mess. I went to the health club for the first time since introducing this new style, and the humidity in the shower area has caused Dennis the Menace cowlicks to spring up anywhere they damn well please. Fine. Whatever. I will not let these stubborn locks bring around a cloud to rain on my parade.

My best friend has been decidedly pissy about this round. He just moved to Boulder last year and has never been much of an MLB fan. Yet when the Rockies bandwagon slowed down, he climbed aboard. He seems to feel this makes us equals when it comes to the personal investment we have in these playoffs. Never mind that I think I've watched more Rockies games this year than he has. Never mind that I'm a third generation Cub fan. Never mind that I want this more than I want my next breath. Fine. Whatever. I am not getting drawn into stupid conversations about this. I will not let Eeyore bring around a cloud to rain on my parade.

Go, Cubs, Go.

Just like me, they long to be Close to Lou

The Chicago press loves Lou Pinella. He answers even awkward questions with amusingly mangled English (a sport mastered by Mayor Daley) and without picking fights with reporters or tossing homophobic slurs (a far uglier sport mastered by his South Side opposite number).

I love Lou Pinella because the Cubs are there, boys and girls! Tonight -- a night in OCTOBER! -- the playoffs begin and we're in it.

So here, with help from the Tribune, is my humble tribute to our manager, our hero, our court jester and fearless leader, Lou Pinella:

What Lou said vs What Lou meant

Ivory: Ivy

Michigan Mile Magnificent Mile

Karmac the Magician: Carnac the Magnificent

Stevie Eyre: Scott Eyre

Scott Ire: Scott Eyre

Stevie Ire: Scott Eyre

Vim and vinegar: Vim and vigor

"Go, Cubs, Win": "Go, Cubs, Go"

The Lou/Star Trek Connection

Dr. Bones shouted, "Damn it, Jim, I'm a doctor, not a mechanic!" This season an exasperated Lou has announced, "I'm a manager, not …

• "… a hygienist."
• "… the air conditioning man."
• "… a meteorologist."

My 2¢ worth re: Britney

I'm not a mother. I've never been a mother. So I can't say with complete conviction that losing physical custody of her two kids is the most wrenching thing that could possibly happen to Britney Spears.

In fact, I believe it's possible that she's relieved that she no longer has physical custody of those boys. After all, she wasn't legally required to give them up until tomorrow, and since I've seen photos of them near K-Fed's house already, I guess she handed them over yesterday. That doesn't sound like a woman who is agonizing about missing quality time with her boys.

Maybe Britney Spears realizes that she's a mess … knows that she is overwhelmed by demons … senses that her sons would do better with their less famous, less scrutinized, less complicated dad. It could be that handing them over to their father (that's their father, not some bureaucratic foster care system!) is the most loving thing she could do for those kids right now.

Heads & Tails #6

The theme for this week's Heads and Tails is "stacks." The primary stacks around my home are magazines and books and paper. I am forever heading downstairs to the "Paper Only" recycle bin with back issues of Time, Newsweek and Entertainment Weekly, as well as shredded credit card statements and empty envelopes. I try to be neat, but I have come to believe that this condo is paper self-generating.

For more information, or to play along yourself, visit the Heads and Tails meme-mistress at Skittles' Place.

Happy as a hog in slop

It's embarrassing. How much I enjoy this stupid show, I mean. But I love it. There's crusty old Len and insanely hyperbolic Bruno. Tom Bergeron is so slick he could swim without getting wet. This show always has the trippiest collection of celebrities. (Mark Cuban, Marie Osmond and Wayne Newton!) It's a pleasant diversion until the playoffs start on Wednesday.

"Attention must be paid"

As the city rejoices in the Cubs, there's also a very different story soaking up a lot of airtime and ink -- the disappearance and death of Nailah Franklin. This beautiful young pharmaceutical company exec was deeply loved, and her family and friends demanded that she not just become another "missing black woman" statistic. On both a large societal level, and an intimate and deeply personal level, Nailah Franklin's story struck a nerve and that line from Death of a Salesman keeps running through my head. For the full nine days that she was missing, the people who loved Ms. Franklin made sure attention was paid to her case.

Her family appeared in front of every newscamera they could, reminding us of what Nailah looked like and what model car she'd been driving. Friday evening, as I boarded the el, I was one of many commuters stopped by meticulously groomed young women who rather forcefully pressed flyers about Nailah into our hands, begging us to be on the lookout for their friend. (I wasn't surprised to learn that Nailah had once worked at nearby Leo Burnett; these gals had that enthusiastic, not-yet-burnt-out ad agency account exec air to them.) I got home to learn from a local newscast that Nailah's body had been identified. Even as her friends were recruiting volunteers to search for her, she was dead.

It's so sad, yet there's something positive and life-affirming about how people of different ages and races came together to search for and pray for Nailah Franklin.

This woman must have been very special. And, since attention must be paid, here are details about her life that go beyond the tragic circumstances of her death:

Nailah Franklin was one of 5 daughters. She graduated from Homewood Flossmoor High School and went on to the University of Illinois.
Her sisters, with whom she was very close,
held out hope until the very end
that their sister was alive, saying,
"her spirited and strong personality would help her endure."

She was just 28.

Unconscious Mutterings #12

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Crook :: Cop
2. Career :: Going OK, I guess
3. Freckles :: Nose
4. Scramble :: Carnival ride
5. Mistake :: Error
6. Telephone :: "Oh, telephone line, give me some time, I'm living in twilight"
(ELO song)
7. Thank you :: "You're welcome"
8. Obstruction :: Construction (as in Chicago's torn-up highways)
9. 24/7 :: Around the clock
10. SciFi :: Star Trek

For more information, or to play along yourself, visit Unconscious Mutterings

Not as exciting as the Cubs, but exciting all the same

Meet my new sofa. I ordered it from Crate and Barrel. Alas, it won't be here for about 8 or 9 weeks.

The style is Troy, and the color is "seafoam." It's an apartment sized sofa, but it still feels sturdy and substantial, like a real piece of furniture. I went to Wickes, Room and Board, Bloomingdale's and even Macy's, but ended up back at Crate and Barrel. Everything else I saw cost too much or just wasn't quite right. Still, I'm glad I comparison shopped. Reinforces that I made the right decision.

Savoring it

What more needs to be said?

The late Steve Goodman ("The City of New Orleans") is the emblematic Cubs fan. So tonight, when my head hits the pillow with the Cubs as the NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL CHAMPIONS, I leave you with the words of anthem he wrote …

Baseball season's underway

Well you better get ready for a brand new day

Hey, Chicago, what do you say

The Cubs are gonna win today.

They're singing ...

Go, Cubs, go

Go, Cubs, go

Hey, Chicago, what do you say

The Cubs are gonna win today

Go, Cubs, go

Go, Cubs, go

Hey, Chicago, what do you say

The Cubs are gonna win today.

They got the power, they got the speed

To be the best in the National League

Well this is the year and the Cubs are real

So come on down to Wrigley Field.

We're singing now ...

Go, Cubs, go

Go, Cubs, go

Hey, Chicago, what do you say

The Cubs are gonna win today

Go, Cubs, go

Go, Cubs, go

Hey, Chicago, what do you say

The Cubs are gonna win today.

Baseball time is here again

You can catch it all on WGN

So stamp your feet and clap your hands

Chicago Cubs got the greatest fans.

You're singing now ...

Go, Cubs, go

Go, Cubs, go

Hey, Chicago, what do you say

The Cubs are gonna win today

Go, Cubs, go

Go, Cubs, go

Hey, Chicago, what do you say

The Cubs are gonna win today.

The Magic Number Is 2

Which means any combination of Cubs wins/Brewers losses that equals 2 gives us the Division Championship.

Just to make this the most fantastically dramatic season end ever, guess who is pitching against the Brewers tonight. Go ahead. Guess.

Yes, my beloved future Hall of Famer, the ninth winningest pitcher in the history of the game, Greg Maddux. C'mon, Professor! Repay my long-term, unconditional love for you by kicking a little Brewer butt tonight and bringing your former team one game closer to The Promised Land.

The Gal Herself does the Middle Name Meme

I've done the Middle Name Meme with my real name. But Nancy tagged me so I'll do it again, this time with my nom de blog. Which would make my middle name "Gal."

First, the rules:

1. You have to post these rules before you give the facts.
2. Players - You must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name. If you don't have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had.
3. At the end of your post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag.

G = Garrulous. Isn't that a much nicer word than "blabby?"

A = Allergies. I have a couple: certain chemicals (like those used in paint thinner and to treat carpets) and bee stings.

L = Last Chance Saloon. A novel by Marion Keyes, I just finished it today.

Because I've played before, I'm not tagging anyone this time. But if you choose to play, let me know so I can check out your response.

Friday's Feast #17

Appetizer
How are you today? OK. If this slight headache would go away, I'd be fine.

Soup
Name 3 television shows you watch on a regular basis. Grey's Anatomy, L&O: SVU, and Today

Salad
What’s the scariest weather situation you’ve experienced? About a month ago we had a tornado warning in The Loop. Between the skyscrapers and the proximity to Lake Michigan, that rarely happens. I work in one of the city's tallest buildings and we were all herded into the hallway and stairwells, away from windows. It was scary because it happens so seldom.

Main Course
If you could wake up tomorrow morning in another country, where would you want to be? England.

Dessert
What do you usually wear to sleep? A long nightshirt.

For more information, or to serve up your own feast, visit fridaysfeast.com.

Thursday Thirteen #35 -- Mommy & Me

THIRTEEN WAYS
The Gal Herself
& Her Mom
Are Alike

My mother never worked after marrying her first serious boyfriend, my dad. She was very content as a homemaker and a mother. She loves gardening, drinks coffee by the gallon, doesn’t travel, hates going to the movies, and reads perhaps one book a year. So on the face of it, we have very little in common.

Yet as I grow older, I find more and more similarities between us. Nature? Nurture? Genetics? Who knows? But every time I find another commonality, it surprises me. And, since in addition to loving my mom I also like her, being alike doesn’t make me unhappy.

1. Talking on the phone. We’re both natural-born blabbers. Fortunately we have each other to blab to.

2. Blurting. We’re both very blunt. There’s no malice. We just think we’re stating the obvious, and we’re both surprised when we find this isn’t the case.

3. Cats. We’re both feline aficionados, and every detail of their furry lives fascinates us. We have been known to discuss hairballs and litter preferences ad nauseum.

4. Gift shopping all year around. If I see something in December that would be perfect for a friend’s June birthday, I pick it up in December. I might not think of it again, or it might not be available, come June. She’s the same way. In mid-July, one of our marathon phone calls was interrupted because she had to sign for my birthday gift, which had just arrived via UPS. My birthday is in November.

5. Willfulness. Our styles are very different. She’s more gracious and stealth (OK, manipulative), while instead of being passive-aggressive, I'm just aggressive-aggressive. But no matter how you slice it, generally we get our own way. We recognize this about one another, which is why we seldom clash. (As in, "She's just gonna do what she wants anyway, so what's the point?")

6. Bargain hunting. I learned my coupon clipping/comparison shopping skills from her. Whenever I give her a gift, she’s pleased and proud if I can tell her I got it on sale. I have taken to telling her, “They practically paid me to take it out of the store!”

7. Photo-album phobia. We both have stacks of pix tucked away here and there, not organized in any way. This one is weird, because both of my sisters are very into scrap booking. Somehow that talent escaped Mom and me.

8. We both order our eggs over easy. Note I said “order” because …

9. Neither of us cooks unless absolutely forced to.

10. We both prefer Thousand Island dressing.

11. JBKO. We both revere Jackie Kennedy. When the exhibit of her clothes arrived at The Field Museum in Chicago, I was thrilled to go with my mom on the opening day. It was her Mother’s Day present.

12. Neither of us wears hats. In any weather.

13. Our handwriting has become almost identical.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

1.Special K-Toni catalogs her impressive life skills


2. Nicole Austin is packing up and heading to San Fran

3. Malcolm has an exceptionally cool TT about an exceptionally cool (and timeless) movie star

4. yh tells us which movies she could watch and rewatch again and again

5. Nicholas offers an unconventional reading list, where all the books have numerals in their titles

6. impworks vents about cold calls (and who can blame him)

7. Chelle tells us all about a very important young man: her nephew, Jared

8. Behold the Tinkerbell Collection!

9. Thomma Lyn does a little self exploration

10. Jenny McB displays her brand loyalty

11. Lori answers the question: "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

12. Buck Naked Politics takes us back to the bad old days of Iran-Contra

13. Works for Mom lets us know what her other half is doing while she's blogging

14. Susan gives us 13 reasons to stop by her blog, even on days that aren't Thursday!

15. No Nonsense Girl shares 13 reasons why she's nervous about her job interview -- stop by and voice your support!

16. Gattina shares her wisdom about men

17. Grace muses on life in 2007

18. Bermudabluez brightens our days with colorful Halloween crafts

19. Xakara is in love with 13 other wordly literary heroes

20. Mom not Mum has a musical TT from 1973

21. Harlekwin takes us on a tour of Crater Lake (and she even has a Crater Lake-appropriate banner)

22. Vixen gives us 13 very persuasive reasons why we must visit her 365 day project

23. Nancy researched and found 13 rather unfortunate, but real, names

24. Joy Is My Goal has a highly visual TT about hands

25. DoubleDeckerBusGuy has a year's worth of TT



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



Heads & Tails #5

Today's theme is PETS

I have been blessed by the company of some really phenomenal, loving cats. A turtle named Bobby Jo, too, but the cats have really been the stars. Rather than just toss a spotlight on one, I'm going to walk down memory lane and list them all. Except for the last three, they are all waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge, and I look forward to seeing them happy, healthy and whole again.

BIG TOM -- a pure white tomcat who, after his untimely death at age 4, became known as "Big Tom" because of the arrival of …

TOMMY -- a smaller white tomcat with a black ear and black tail and my best friend when I lived at home

SNOOZER -- a calico who was one of the most curious, chattiest cats ever

TROUBLE -- an all-black cat, kinda dumb, but very even tempered

ANNIE -- an enormous gray and white long-hair who held everyone but me in disdain

WILMA -- a skinny calico, completely crazy, completely friendly and terrifically patient with me as I gave her a thyroid pill each morning

ALLISON -- The most affectionate cat I've ever had. You could wake Allie out of a sound sleep by scooping her into your arms and she'd still purr, even as she checked who was holding her through half-closed eyes

TARA -- a valiant soul. Tara bore the scars, both physical and emotional, of abuse when I got her. Considering how she'd been treated, the dignity with which she carried herself was enormously touching. Helping her learn to trust humans again, and giving her a peaceful life through the end of her days, is one of my proudest achievements.

BILLY -- Big, big hearted, melancholy and quite beautiful. Along with Tommy and Wilma, he was an all-time favorite and still a little hard to talk about.

JOEY -- As gentle as he is enormous

CHARLOTTE -- My girly-girl, she not only is always grooming, she loves to sit on the toilet seat and chat while I'm putting on my make up each morning

REYNALDO -- A whirling dervish with a huge appetite for life

For more information, or to play Heads and Tails yourself, go to Skittles Place.