Thursday Thirteen #53 -- The Gal Explains It All

ANSWERS TO 13 QUESTIONS

RECENTLY LEFT

IN THIS BLOG'S COMMENTS

1. How was Juno? (Sparky Duck) This is an adorable movie. Funny and sweet, with a very original heroine. I thought it kinda glossed over the emotional issues associated with teen pregnancy and adoption, but then it is a comedy and not An Afternoon Special.

2. Where did you live in Carpentersville? (Greatfullivin) 133 Austin. I stood up for the first time on my own in that house. My family moved when I was a toddler (and yes, of course they took me along!).

3. How do I add you as a "friend" on Shelfari? (Kwizgiver) a. Go to Explore; b. Key in The Gal H; c. When I pop up, click on Request Friendship. Then we'll be connected, shelf to shelf!

4. Do you have shoes strewn all over your living room? (Technically this is from “anonymous,” but I know who it is and she’s in league with my mother -- the same woman who has been trying unsuccessfully to get me to put my shoes away I was old enough to just kick them off and leave them by the front door.) Yes. But it's really very wise and efficient of me. This snow won't last forever, and in no time, it will be 75º and sunny outside and I'll need all those Birkenstock sandals right where I can see them.

5. Why didn’t you name the Cubs as the best thing about your hometown? (Care) This is a perceptive question because, like most right thinking Americans, I consider the Cubs the best thing about living on this planet. However, for that meme I was considering the village I live in as my hometown. (It's less than 30 minutes away from Chicago.)

6. In the Kay Scarpetta series, does Kay know how Marino feels about her? (Malcolm) Yes. But she cares about Marino and needs him professionally so she pretends she doesn't notice so they never have to address it.

8. Do you have to pay extra for delivery from Peapod? (Jenny McB) Yes. $9.95. When you consider that clients pony up about $85/hour for my services, paying $9.95 for grocery delivery is really quite reasonable because it saves me valuable time. (OK, maybe that logic is tortured, but it helps me justify Peapod.)

9. What games do you like to play at Pogo? (Jenny McB) I am completely addicted to Turbo 21, which is not the same as being good at it. I also like Word Whomp and First Class Solitaire.

10. Which TV Mom do you think you would have lasted longer with – Carol Brady or June Cleaver? (Jenny McB) June Cleaver! She not only never actually disciplined the boys, she was forever imploring Ward to go easy on them. I've never been a fan of being told what to do.

10. You mean you're supposed to wash curtains? (Misty Dawn) According to my mother, who knows these things, you are supposed to wash your curtains twice a year. I don't, of course, but I do feel guilty about neglecting this chore. That counts for something, right?

11. Are you on Facebook? (Misty Dawn) No. I think I spend too much time on Blogger. I'm afraid if I went to Facebook, too, I'd never push away from the keyboard!

12. What is your favorite bar? (Gnostic Minx) Monk's Pub on LaSalle & Wells. Burgers, chili, beer and a decent jukebox.

13. Who did you vote for in your first Presidential election? (Book Mama) Jimmy Carter. Funny you ask this, because it's the only vote I wish I could take back. I was very young and very mad at Gerald Ford for pardoning Nixon. With time -- and since watching the silly Clinton impeachment hearings -- I understand that Ford saved us from something awful. It was a brave, patriotic thing he did and I'm sorry I didn't support him.


Bonus 14! What do you do that people pay you $85/hour? (Susan Helene Gottfried) I'm an ACD/copywriter, and clients pay the advertising agency I work at $85/hour for my services. After subtracting for office space, and computer, and Social Security and benefits, and naturally some profit for themselves, the agency pays me. It's not unlike the hooker/pimp relationship. (Some days it feels more like that than others.)

Leave your link in comments and I'll list you here:

1) Sue lists 13 people who live with thyroid conditions
2) Tink quotes the Dalai Lama
3) Nicholas teaches us how to speak British
4) Pjazzypar's TT is the scourge of evil doers!
5) Sandee's TT is so cute … or is it?

6) Morgan Leigh's TT is even more random than this one!

7) Joy Is My Goal has a lovely TT for a snowy day (sorry, Joy, but blogger kept timing out on me when I tried to leave a comment)
8) Malcolm's TT is devoted to 13 special Grammy winners
9) Mama Geek makes dinner, or tries to
10) Cricket's Hearth pokes fun at lawyers
11) Jenny McB shares today's menu
12) Sandy Carlson takes a closer look at Valentine's Day
13) Susan Helene Gottfried hands her blog over to The Shapeshifter gang this week, and they report in from sick bay
14) Sharon knows her Cars stuff!

15) Lori lists 13 Valentine gift ideas at $20 or less

16) SusieJ shows us how to create Valentine boxes

17) Book Mama worries, and she's not alone in what concerns her

18) Tasha cleverly gives us 13 reasons why she doesn't have a TT

19) SJ Reidhead fascinates us with her Tombstone TT

20) Adelle gives us 13 tips for banishing boredom

21) Ivan Girl shares her resolutions

22) Xakara helps us expand our vocabularies 

23) Angelie has a dreamy TT

24) Maribeth takes us concertgoing

25) Bloggers has a helpful TT about working at home 

26) Kat's TT is brought to us by the letter B

27) OneLuvGirl tells us about her new place

28) Lisa has a heartfelt and heartbreaking TT about her cat, Katie Scarlett

29) The land of Ross goes green this week

30) Yummy has a musical TT

31) Natalie rhapsodizes about her favorite baseball team

32) Tina doesn't have a TT, but her blog is neat so you should check her out

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! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

In praise of mothers and sons

Jenny McB and her almost-grown son have discussed the signficance of this Presidential election.

Bookmama has explained to her little boy how important it is that for the first time a woman and a man of color have a real chance of being President.

A friend of mine recounted that her son, a high school senior, spent the car ride to Target trying to explain why his friends were really pulling for Ron Paul. She said it was the longest they had spent on one topic in quite some time and she really enjoyed it.

I love these stories! Mothers imparting their social awareness and involvement to their sons, exchanging ideas with them. This is so great.

I wonder, though, how come I haven't heard any similar mother/daughter stories … Anyone have one to share?

I admit it. I was verklempt.

This morning, when I went to vote and saw the names of a woman and an African American on the Presidential ballot, I was amazed and thrilled. Yes, I knew I'd find Clinton and Obama there, but actually seeing it had an undeniable impact on me. We have come such a long way during my lifetime, and I am very proud of the Democratic Party and of my country.

As Barack Obama just said tonight: "We are who we've been waiting for." My party now reflects my community. How cool is that?

Heads & Tails #16

Today's theme is "first and last." I'm going to write about my very first and most recent trips to a movie theater.

First: 1964. Mary Poppins. It was a magical experience. Back in those days, movies opened downtown only and, after a few weeks or months, came to the local theaters. So my time spent with Mary Poppins was special not only because it was my first-ever trip to a movie theater, it entailed going into Chicago's Loop. I remember that it was raining and my father was angrily complaining because he couldn't get a parking space closer to the theater. But then we took our seats and the lights went down, the curtain opened and I was transported to the Banks' home in Jolly Old England. I've been in love with going to the movies ever since.

Last: Saturday, 2/2. There Will Be Blood. I think a better title would be, There Will Be Explosions and Fires, for instances of that kind of mayhem outnumbered the bloody kind. I wrote about this movie before, and while it's true that I appreciated it and am glad I saw it, I can't honestly say I liked or recommend it. Still, I loved the experience of going to the movies, of sitting in a dark theater with my oversized pop and my Raisinettes and traveling to another place and time.

For more information about Heads or Tails, or to play along yourself, visit Skittles' Place.

The sweetest-looking award I could ever receive

See that face? That's Maggie May, one the Dogs that Keep Misty Sane. But she's only one of the things that make this award special.

Misty Dawn referred to me as one of the bloggers who has, "been my cheering squad and shared your own lives with me." She says this has honored her.

Well, Miss Misty, the honor is mine. Whether she's falling in the mud, ceaselessly craving a new camera or strapping a most-bizarre purple mask onto Hubs' face, her heart and humor shine through in every post.

And how can I not respect and admire the woman who rescues puppies like Maggie?

Thanks, Misty. I'll leave a note on your blog when I can. (Blogger is not letting me open your comments link this morning.)

Now is the time for all good bloggers to come to the aid of this gal

Here's the thing: In the past month people have left questions for me in the "comments" that I haven't answered. I know that's rude, so I was going to handle them all in this week's Thursday Thirteen.

BUT I don't have 13 questions yet.

So, what do you want to know?

My favorite Beatle? Political party? Baseball team? Oh, wait! If you've been here before, you know the answer to those questions already.

Please help me round out my TT.

And the Oscar goes to …

For those of you who participate in the office Oscar pool, I know which movie will win the nude gold dude: No Country for Old Men. How do I know this? Because it's the one of the 5 nominated flicks I won't have seen by Oscar night.

This weekend I saw There Will Be Blood. It's impressive … long and sweeping and gorgeous to look at. The performances draw you in, too. But I'm not sure what the point was. Not that money corrupts -- for I believe Plainview was a monster even when he was poor. Perhaps it's that power corrupts. Or maybe it's the single-mindedness required to acquire money and power is what corrupts us. Or … Thinking about the ending leaves me vaguely annoyed, so I'll stop.

At any rate, I appreciated this movie, but I didn't like it. Of the four I've seen, I liked Michael Clayton best. I also hope it wins a lot of Oscars because that will mean more shots of George Clooney in a tux. Yum!

Saturday in Galtopia

Our population has grown and we have our first high rise. I am terribly proud of my subjects … I mean, I am terribly proud of our citizens. Please be sure to come by for a visit. Be sure to bring a pet. We like pets far more than people in Galtopia.

You big babies!

Ok, so it snowed last night and all morning. Depending on where you are in the Chicagoland area, you received between 8 and 12 inches altogether. It happens. It is winter in Chicago, after all.

Literally 2/3 of the office called in "snowed in." There was so much hysteria about the white stuff that management decided to let us all work from home. The thing of it is, though, they shared that information with us via office email. Which means if, like me, you don't have a Blackberry, you had to come into the office to find out it was virtually closed.

I arrived at work late of course. Not because of the snow, but because I had a hard time tearing myself away from truTV coverage of the Julie Jensen Murder Trial. So I get to work at my usual 9:45 to see my boss standing in the hall near my office, smiling. "We don't have to be here today," he said.

Because we stout-hearted marketers had the agency nearly to ourselves, we got a ton done without interruption and hassle and I left, feeling quite satisfied with myself, at about 1:15. Spent my free afternoon being oh-so productive: watching TV, watching snow, and eating Cheese Nips … and feeling proud of myself for the pioneer woman toughness it took to walk two blocks down a ploughed street, stand on a covered el platform, and board a heated train. Yep, I'm tough as they come.

And then there were two

Tonight's CNN debate was civil and focused and once again I was pleased with both my choices. I lean toward Obama because he thinks bigger -- an intellectual with a vision for his country. Hillary sounds like a talented, dedicated bureaucrat -- and after watching George W. Bush bungle Katrina, I certainly don't think a talented, dedicated bureaucrat would be a bad person to have in the White House. Still, when faced with our weakened position in the global community, an inequitable economy and healthcare system and the prospect of Supreme Court appointments that will have an impact on my civil liberties and every woman's right to choose, I think Obama is who my country needs right now. (Also, I worry about the irrational hatred many Conservatives have for Hillary, and how that might help them rally around and support a candidate they may not be enthusiasic about otherwise.)

But what I missed while watching the intellectual with vision debate the talented, dedicated bureaucrat was passion. A scrappy and uncompromising insistence on reminding that our fellow Americans are suffering, and that we as citizens we are responsible to one another. I missed John Edwards.

Friday's Feast #29

Appetizer

What is your favorite kind of cereal? Post Great Grains

Soup
When was the last time you purchased something for your home, what was it, and in which room did it go? A really sturdy and powerful flashlight that went into the linen closet

Salad
What is the funniest commercial you’ve ever seen? I always laugh at the Bill and Karolyn Slowski, the Comcast turtles.

Main Course
Make up a name for a company by using a spice and an animal (example: Cinnamon Monkey). Fennel Feline.

Dessert
Fill in the blank: I haven’t washed my livingroom curtains since I don't know when. (Don't judge me too harshly; they're such a drag to take down and rehang.)

If you have questions, or to whip up your own feast, visit fridaysfeast.com

THURSDAY THIRTEEN #52 -- Sites to cybershop

MY THIRTEEN FAVORITE

ONLINE SHOPPING SITES

I love shopping from my laptop! Point, click, buy. Then, within days, one of the nice young men from the mailroom shows up in my doorway with a package. There is no easier way to treat myself to a little retail therapy.

Here are my 13 favorites. Now may be a good time to visit them because, after a dismal holiday season, you may find some bargains. If you have a favorite I don’t know about, please share. 

(No, this isn't a pay-per-post entry; to prove that I get nothing for mentioning these sites, I haven't included links from my blog.)

1) Perpetual Kid. My new favorite for wacky, silly stuff. If ever you find you need a monkey key ring or a bottle of Play Doh-scented cologne, go to perpetualkid.com.

2) Amazon. My first and most enduring online shopping love affair. They sell just about everything now, but I still prefer them for books, music, DVDs and computer games. Also, if Amazon itself doesn't have something in stock, I'm not crazy about ordering from "these sellers." However, that's a small quibble about a site I truly loooove.

3) eBags. Purses! Laptop cases! Luggage! I love the wide range of choices they offer, and how often the merchandise turns over. The prices are good, but they get even better on return visits when you use your "thanks for shopping with us" coupon.

4) Sephora.com. After you choose from just about every kind of cosmetic available, you get to select a couple free samples. And they send your stuff in lovely drawstring bags. 

5) Overstock. Books, clothes, linens, electronics … it’s all here, and the shipping cost is always $2.95. I can spend forever on this site. 

6) Just Give. Just there today! A friend of mine has a birthday coming up, and she asked me not to buy her a gift. Sorry, unacceptable to this Gal, who loves gifting. So I found a loophole in her request and went to justgive.com. I bought her a gift certificate that she can then donate to one of a million participating charities.  (justgive.org)

7) Sundance. My favorite jewelry is here. This is where I got my fabulous green hooded jacket, too. The stuff Sundance sells is unique and they always have neat stuff in their "clearance" section. It's also a great place to shop for gifts. (Just bought my mom a birdhouse that I'll give her for Mother's Day.) sundancecatalog.com

8) Zappos. A tremendous selection of shoes and bags and belts, etc., at great prices, with reasonable shipping/handling rates.

9) One Hanes Place. I am very particular about my underwear. I have my style, I like my style, and that’s that. One Hanes Place always has exactly what I’m looking for (though the shipping costs are kinda steep). onehanesplace.com

10) Expedia. I like this one better than Orbitz, Travelocity or Priceline. No particular reason. I just do.

11) ebay. Because it’s ebay! For cosmetics, collectibles and gifts, this is my first stop. 

12) Peapod. Laundry detergent, 12-packs of Coke, jugs of cat litter … Every prohibitively heavy item on my grocery list is at my fingertips. Best of all, it’s delivered directly to my front door.

13) Drugstore.com. Just about everything you can find at a brick and mortar drugstore. With their weekly specials and free shipping on orders over $50, it’s as affordable as shopping in a drugstore and waaay more convenient.

Put your link in the comments and I'll add you here:

1) Chelle has been to the movies (and I love movie TTs)

2) I couldn't find Sandy Carlson's TT, but that doesn't mean you won't be able to (sorry, Sandy, sometimes I'm tech-challenged)

3) Ellen's TT is colorful and so comforting on a frozen day

4) Nicholas has another one of his entertaining book TTs

5) Michelle takes us out to her birdfeeder

6) Claudia's very funny TT is about new words/phrases

7) Cricket's Hearth has a fascinating word-related TT

8) Shesawriter has a romantic movie TT (and I love movie TTs)

9) Natalie longs for Utah

10) SJR lets her imagination run wild as she puts together her dinner guest list

11) Mommytoj has a tasty TT

12) Adelle's TT is devoted to generosity and involvement

13) Journeywoman has a thoughtful TT devoted to Barack Obama

14) Kristi doesn't have a TT, but her blog is cool so you give her a visit anyway

15) DrillerAA lists her favorite hymns

16) In the interest of equal time, Tasha's TT is about why she's so very anti-Hillary (& I'm patting myself on the back for being open-minded enough to include her link here)

17) Maribeth has a lovely TT about life's "little" crises

18) Jenny McB's TT introduces us to the web beyond Blogger

19) Nancy shares tidbit about a subject she is the undisputed expert on

20) Joy Is My Goal celebrates bridegrooms.

21) Mama Bear has a hilarious Family Guy TT

22) Emerald City Guy gives hilarious awards to his high school classmates

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! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

"So long, farewell, Auf wiedersehen, good night …

… I hate to go and leave this pretty sight."

If I sound like I'm being flip about the end of John Edwards' campaign, I'm not. First of all, I love The Sound of Music, so invoking it is a sign of affection. Secondly, I am drawn to his populist message and will miss hearing him speaking up and fighting the good fight in the next debate. Thirdly, I am an enormous fan of his wife. Elizabeth Edwards' story has touched me deeply, and I will miss seeing her.

But I'll also miss the way his blue ties played up his blue eyes … and yes, that shiny, touchable hair … and that moonlight and magnolias accent. It's always kinda creeped me out to be this hot for a possible President. I mean, lusting after the President just seems so wrong. But now I guess I'm freed from that and can fantasize away.

If I ruled the world …

Hey, wait! Now I DO rule the world! Or at least my own little corner of it. Please stop by my own special little haven: Galtopia. Be sure to bring a critter. Pets are not only allowed in Galtopia, they are mandatory.

Heads & Tails #15

Today's theme is Who Would You Like to Meet? This topic, the news of the day, and Ms. Skittles' own post, all combine to make me say this: there is no celebrity I would like to meet.

Almost four years ago I was thrilled at the prospect of meeting Caroline Kennedy. She was appearing with her Uncle Ted at fundraisers all around the country on behalf of my candidate, Senator Kerry. Before the big $500/plate dinner, the Kennedys were good enough to speak at a more intimate, campaign workers only reception.

Then I met her. It had a huge impact on me, but not in the way I'd anticipated.

As she made her way through our small group (less than 200), she hung on to her uncle's arm for dear life. If somehow she lost him, even for a moment, he would reach for her. They seemed to know one another very well and he appeared sensitive to how important it was to her to have him there.

She didn't seem to hear anything that was said to her as she approached the podium. It wasn't that she was ignoring the well wishers or was behaving imperiously. It was as though she'd willed herself to not hear as a form of self protection. It made me sad about the savage, insensitive things strangers must have said to her over time.

Remember, we were John Kerry campaign workers. She would never be in a crowd as friendly as supportive as this one. Yet she seemed afraid of us. The big money doners she'd be dining with after our little reception would expect much more of her. I wanted to throw my arms around her and whisper, "You don't have to do the dinner. We already have their money. Say you're sick and go back to your hotel."

There's also something unspeakably weird about meeting someone that famous. I had watched her bury her parents and brother, and she had no idea at all who I am. It cured me of the desire to meet another celebrity ever again.

(It's important to note, though, that once she was in front of the microphone, Caroline Kennedy was poised and eloquent. I don't think it's public speaking that freaks her out, but crowds.)

Now Skittles answered that someday she would like to meet herself. I love that notion. I wonder how I appear and sound to others. I'm curious if I would like myself. Would Me and I get along?

For more Heads or Tails responses, or to play along yourself, visit Skittles' Place.

A Reason to Believe

Mayor Daley is helping Barack Obama raise money.

John Kerry has endorsed him.

Caroline Kennedy wrote a heartfelt opinion piece in the NY Times referring to Obama as the candidate who could be "A President Like My Father."

Senator Ted Kennedy not only endorsed Obama but chastised that other political family, The Clintons, in no uncertain terms.

Tomorrow I half expect to see that God has written, "GAL, vote for this man" across Barack Obama's forehead. That's really the only endorsement left that could influence me.

I've been a Clinton girl since 1992. Back then "The Gov'nuh" was a breath of fresh air. A Baby Boomer after 12 years of Reagan/Bush. I believed he would finally -- FINALLY! -- address what was relevant to me and my friends. Once Bill was elected, I felt that the sun came out again, the music began to play again, and the forest animals emerged once more, just like in an old Warner Bros. cartoon.

So it's been hard to close the book on the Clintons. I would never diss what he did and what he meant. But this past week, I've seen the Bill Clinton that I conveniently forgot. The thrill and attention junkie who creates trouble so he can get out of it. The one who wore me out by the time he left office in 2001, amid a flurry of last-minute scandals of his own creation. I realize that it's Hillary's name on the ballot, but let's not kid ourselves: She either can't, or doesn't want to, diminish Bill's star power and influence on her campaign. Therefore I have no reason to believe she'd reign him if she wins the Presidency.

These endorsements from people whose judgment and patriotism I trust, these endorsements that evoke not the myth of Camelot but the enthusiasm and idealism of the New Frontier, convince me that it's time to close that book. It's time for politics to once again encourage us to, in Caroline's words, "believe in ourselves, to tie that belief to our highest ideals and imagine that together we can do great things." President Kennedy represented the Presidency as the pinnacle of public service. As soon as the Barack bandwagon slows down, I'm jumping on.

I'm a true believer. Not in Barack Obama just yet, but in the politics of hope and possibility as opposed to "the ends justify the means." I so want Obama to be the real deal.

It doesn't surprise me

It may not necessarily please me, but it doesn't surprise me.
Thanks to Cupcake for the link.

I WAS going to be so productive today …

Organizing all my tax paperwork … sorting through a stack or two (OK, three) of magazines … vacuuming … washing the bathroom floor … replenishing the cat litter and kibble supply … 3 loads of wash … I WAS going to do all those things today.

I've gotta run down and get clothes out of the dryer. I managed to do the laundry, at least. Oh yeah! And I actually SAVED on a 28-lb. tub of Fresh Step at Petco! (I used both my PALS card and a coupon!)

But, for the most part, I remained on the sofa. I played POGO Turbo 21, watched the Sunday political shows and a couple episodes of the Dick Van Dyke Show, and came up with a headline I'm very proud of for a project at work. It's such a good headline, in fact, that I don't believe I thought of it myself. I've been Googling and Yahooing and Dogpiling and, it appears, that if I did subconsciously "co-originate" it, at least it's not trademarked nor still in use.

But I'm pretty full of self-loathing right now. I think at the very least I should go through these magazines before I retire to my bedchamber.

But I don't wanna!

Every year at this time -- like a swallow mindlessly returning to Capistrano -- The Gal Herself returns to the movie theater to see as many Oscar-nominated movies as possible. Of the 5 Best Picture nominees, I've seen Michael Clayton, Juno and now, today, Atonement.

That leaves No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood. I don't really want to see either of them.

I'm sure they're both terrific movies. But the imdb.com plot summary for Old Men says, "Violence and mayhem ensue after a hunter stumbles upon some dead bodies, a stash of heroin and more than $2 million in cash near the Rio Grande." Didn't Sweeney Todd deliver all the violence and dead bodies I need for a while? There Will Be Blood is an epic tale "about family, greed, religion, and oil, centered around a turn-of-the-century prospector in the early days of the business." That's not gripping me, either.

Which is not to say I won't see those two movies after all. When it comes to the Oscars, I have no mind of my own.

I'm IT!

Cricket's Hearth tagged me, and that makes me IT. I think it's neat to invoke a summertime kids' game on a frozen winter night.

4 Jobs I have had …

1. Babysitter (in high school; paid to eat potato chips and watch TV while the wee ones slept)

2. Receptionist at a real estate office

3. Secretary at Sears when it was still in The Sears Tower (I worked on the 6th floor of what was then the world's tallest building)

4. Associate Creative Director (my current job)

4 Moves I watch over and over …

1. Laura (a classic film noir from 1944; everyone in it is pretty and elegant and witty)
2. The Godfather (Spike TV has made it almost a weekly show, and I watch it dutifully watch)
3. The Way We Were (Poor Katie! Hubbell is beautiful but he is soooo not worth it!)
4. The Sound of Music (Loved it when I was a little girl, still love it now)

4 Places I have lived …

1. Carpentersville, IL -- where my basinette was located

2. Brookfield, IL -- where my family moved before I was 2; the house I lived in until I ran four towns over to …

3. Oak Park, IL -- where I still live now

That's it. Only 3. Sorry.

Cricket's Hearth had much better answers; she even met Elvis!

4 Shows I watch …

1. Law and Order:SVU (I keep hoping Elliott and Olivia will notice that they're in love)

2. Grey's Anatomy (McDreamy! Sigh.)

3. American Idol (But only after the finalists are chosen)

4. Hardball (HAH!)

4 Places I have been …

In acknowledgement of my geekiness:

1. The Truman Presidential Museum in Missouri

2. The Kennedy Presidential Museum in Massachusettes

3. The Clinton Presidential Museum in Arkansas

4. The Lincoln Presidential Museum in Illinois

4 People who email me …

1. My oldest friend

2. My best friend

3. My former boss

4. Robert Redford (OK, it's really spam from the Sundance catalog; just wanted to see if you were still reading)

4 Favorite things to eat…

1. Thin crust pizza

2. Burgers

3. Eggs Benedict

4. Salmon (esp. lox)

4 Places I would rather be …

1. Capt. Runaground, looking out onto the sea in Key West (aka "wasting away again in Margaritaville")

2. Chateau Elan Winery and Spa (see ticker below)

3. The friendly confines of Wrigley Field

4. Anywhere with my best friend (I miss him)

4 Things I look forward to this year …

1. A winning Cubs season (it's our centennial -- 100 years since our last World Series)

2. Longer hair (I'm letting it grow out and I'm at that awkward in-between stage)

3. FINALLY reaching my savings goal (to have 8 months' living expenses in the bank; I'm frozen at 7 but damn it, I will so save that last months' worth)

4. Being healthier (I figure losing weight and better skin will follow, right?)

I'm not tagging anyone because I did this meme before (I wonder if my answers were similar). But if you wish to play along, please let me know so I can read your responses.

SO, Cricket's Hearth, how did I do?

Friday's Feast #31

Appetizer
How many times per day do you usually laugh? Well, I have my "go along to get along" laugh, which while insincere, does come in handy at work. Then there's my genuine laugh, which I'm fortunate to do at least a couple times a day. My oldest friend always makes me laugh, so does my nephew, so do the cats … I'm lucky. 

Soup
What do your sunglasses look like? I have many, many pairs. My current pair have black frames and very dark, dark lenses -- important when the bright sun hits the fresh snow.

Salad
You win a free trip to anywhere on your continent, but you have to travel by train. Where do you go? Hmmm … I don't know if Amtrak goes there, but my choice would be Key West. The drive to the island from Miami is tiresome, and the flight is scary. A nice, long, relaxing train ride would be nice.

Main Course
Name one thing you consider a great quality about living in your town/city. We're diverse. Four definite seasons (and boy, are we ever in winter now!), blacks/hispanics/asians/whites all live together (right on this floor of my condo building) … we even have 7 screens on our movie theater.

Dessert
If the sky could be another color, what color do you think would look best? Blue is my favorite color, so I'm keeping the sky blue. But a specific bright, pale blue with only a few clouds. Summer sky. A sky meant to have baseballs sailing through it. (Alfonso Soriano, I miss you!)

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

What a happy trio!

Bookmama knows how I worry, and was good enough to send me this photo. It does make me feel better, because I want a united party going forth and kicking ass after the convention.

Looking at this photo, I feel proud. An African-American, a woman and a millworker's son are all in the running. Isn't this what they taught us in school -- that anyone can grow up to become President? It's finally true.

Thank you, Bookmama.

We can't help being fascinating

Last night, a friend and I had a quick dinner before going to see the latest touring company of My Fair Lady. (Yes, it was loverly.) Anyway, as we snarfed our food in 45 minutes so we could get to the theater before the curtain rose, we noticed that the couple at the next table was hanging on our every word. They were brazen about it, too. I caught the hubby's eye and he just kept staring at me!

I wasn't especially profane and our conversation wasn't especially juicy. Topics covered included:

•  My friends, who recently split

•  Her 80 year old mother's recent bicycle accident (nothing serious, but Mom's really gotta wear a helmet)

•  My lack of gray hair

•  Her 30th college reunion

•  How her husband really has to stop texting her because she doesn't know how to retrieve the messages

You know, I know us and didn't think we were all that interesting. But I guess we just have so much native charm, style and panache that it's not what we said, but how we said it. Or that those two just don't get out that much.

THURSDAY THIRTEEN #51 -- Recently viewed DVDs that I haven't put away

THIRTEEN DVDs 

THAT STILL 

CLUTTER MY TV STAND

I have a hard time putting things away. I put something down and know – just know – I will pick it up again in a minute. And then a month or two goes by. That’s why I have such a vast and eclectic collection of movies and TV shows cluttering my living room. I enjoy and recommend them all.

Here they are in the order of their appearance in stacks around my TV:

1. Laura. (1944) A completely gorgeous black and white mystery about the murder of a glamorous Manhattan “party girl” (she’s my ideal because, like me, she works in an ad agency) and the three men who claimed to love her.

2. A Hard Day’s Night. (1964) The Beatles’ first, and best, movie.

3. HELP! (1965) The Beatles second movie, the sillier one that’s in color.

4. Valley of the Dolls. (1967) The hair, the clothes, the sex, the bad production numbers, the cheesy dialog … It’s hideous. It’s wretched. And I can’t watch it enough.

5.The Aviator. (2004) Leonardo DiCaprio breathes life into the legend of Howard Hughes, humanizing a man it would be easy to dismiss as a nut. Plus it’s got Cate Blanchette as The Great Kate Hepburn and Alan Alda playing against type as a very bad man.

6. Moonlighting, Seasons 1 and 2. (1985 and 1986) Dave and Maddie and comedy and sexual tension. Oh yeah, and some detective work, too. I adored this show. It’s when I fell deeply, profoundly and everlastingly in love with Bruce Willis. Now, watching it decades later, I have a new appreciation for Cybill Shepherd flair for physical comedy. I’d forgotten what a funny girl she could be.

7. Guys and Dolls. (1955) I love Marlon Brando and Jean Simmons in this! Like Dave and Maddie, they’re the last to know they’re in love. My favorite moment is their duet of “I’ll Know.” Sigh.

8. Law and Order Crime Scenes. A compilation DVD of popular episodes. My favorite stars Julia Roberts – then involved in real life with Benjamin Bratt/Rey Curtis – playing a chillingly convincing evil manipulator.

9. Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid. (1969) The harmonic convergence of Robert Redford, screenwriter William Goldman, director George Roy Hill and the peerless Paul Newman. Redford looks glorious, but in recent viewings I have come to enjoy Newman’s timing more and more. (“Never hit your mother with a shovel, for it leaves a dull impression on her mind …”)

10. That Girl, Season 3 (1968). I was 10 when these shows first aired and I wanted to BE Ann Marie. I wanted her wardrobe, her bangs, her cool apartment, and her sweet but completely non-threatening boyfriend, Donald. Watching it now, I appreciate what a groundbreaking series it was.

11. The Dick Van Dyke Show. (1961) Six episodes from the first season. I love Rob and Laura together. And Laura and her next door neighbor/best friend, Millie.

12. This Old Cub. (2004)  A star-studded tribute to the Cubs All-Star third baseman, the legendary Ron Santo. It covers his playing days (highlighted by the famous, heartbreaking 1969 season) as well as his brave struggle with diabetes and his current, glorious stint as Cubs radio announcer. Joe Mantegna, Bill Murray, William Petersen and Gary Sinise all appear to express their admiration for Ronnie. So do Ronnie's fantabulous Cub teammates -- Beckert, Kessinger, Williams and, of course, Ernie. Seems the only ones who don't love him are affiliated with the Hall of Fame. (Bastards.)

13. Beach Party (1963) A birthday gift from a dear friend who understands my connoisseur’s appreciation of the finest in cinematic camp.

Include your link in the comments and I will list you here:

1) SJR invites thirteen great funny girls over

2) Monday through Sunday has a serious, moving TT about what not to say to grieving parents

3) Ellen b takes us on a photographic tour of the oldest operating McDonald's

4) Greatfullivin shares Hoosier wisdom with us

5) Sandee reminds us of songs of 1970

6) Nicholas' TT is almost like mine, except it's different (check it out and that statement will make sense)

7) Sandy Carlson rhapsodizes about the sound of silence

8) Cricket's Hearth explains the origins of 13 phrases you hear every day

9) Natalie has a movie-related TT, too

10) Open Grove Claudia shares 13 inspirational quotes

11) Adelle's TT is cuh-ra-zee!

12) Missy looks at this date in history

13) Pjazzypar shares her viewing habits

14) Journeywoman salutes the creative forces behind her favorite shows

15) Proud mom Courtney throws a spotlight on her most active daughter

16) Susan Helene Gottfried shares her photos of Yellowstone … and some pointed commentary from Trevor

17) Not Afraid to Use It lists Girl Power anthems

18) LibAnn answers the question, "Why Blog?"

19) Especially timely after what happened to Heath Ledger, Maribeth looks at those who left us too soon

20) Zenmomma looks at fonts

21) Nancy banishes regret and looks back on her goofier moments

22) Angelle takes us through her morning routine

23) Patti shares all about herself -- brought to you by the letter C

24) D Pop Tart takes a closer look at life on the homefront during WWII

25) Sarai goes on vacation (in her fantasies)

26) Nancy J. Bond's TT will give you the shivers!

27) Tasina's TT was called early due to illness

28) Lori gives us the low down about today in Cincy

29) Celticlibrarian takes us back in time to old, OLD Scotland

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It made me laugh, but I hope it's not true

Last night, on Letterman, John Edwards was asked how the three candidates really get along. You know, when the audience can't hear and the cameras aren't on. He laughed and said, "We hate each other."

Yeah, so?

So during last night's debate, Hillary Clinton finally uttered the name I have been waiting to hear, "Rezko." Antonin Rezko is a staple in the Chicago papers. He's an unsavory character whose federal corruption trial begins next month. He has ties to many Illinois politicans -- including Barack Obama, who represented Rezko in a matter regarding a slum apartment in 1994. The two men have been friends for years and Obama accepted tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from Rezko. I believe Obama returned the money, but that's not my point:

OF COURSE HE HAS TO ANSWER FOR THIS!

So it was Hillary that brought it up. Big fuckin' deal. Someone was going to. Obama simply has to learn how to take a punch. I think this has gotten so much attention because both of these candidates have achieved celebrity status and because we're not accustomed to seeing a woman land such a solid shot to the jaw. But trust me, folks, Rezko is a sleaze, and it's not out of line to question Obama's judgment in getting involved with him.

I've heard comments about how good the Clinton "machine" is, how carefully they scoured Obama's past to find this. Oh puh-leeze! Stories about Antonin Rezko are not hard to find. All you have to do is type the word "Rezko" in the Chicago Tribune's search engine and you find more than two pages' worth of articles.

This is what's bothered me about Obama from the beginning. He ran virtually unopposed for his Senate seat. (His opponent was Alan Keyes, for heaven's sake.) He doesn't appear battle hardened. I hope he toughens up fast.

Please, please resolve the writers' strike!

Some of the Best Actor nominees clean up really well. They also won't cross the picket lines. I do not wish to be deprived of my eye candy. Please give the writers what they want!

Oh yeah, and the writers do seem to be on the right side of this deal. But I never cared until this morning when I heard about both Johnny and George being nominated.

Heads & Tails #14

Today's theme is the 5 senses.

My favorite sight: The sky. I never get tired of the different blues and grays and shades of black it offers up. Then, of course, there are the clouds and stars that punctuate it. I always love to check out the sky.

My favorite sound: Paul McCartney's voice. Since I was a wee one, seated in front of the TV, watching the Beatles for the first time on the Ed Sullivan Show, Paul has provided the soundtrack of my life.

My favorite taste: Chocolate!

My favorite touch: Fur. But only when it's attached to a warm, living and loving critter. NOT A FUR COAT.

My favorite smell: Black Pearls by Elizabeth Taylor. Apparently I'm a cult of one, because it was only on the market for a short time. But I snapped it up and hoarded it and enjoy wearing it on special occasions.

To play along yourself, or to check out the other participants, visit Mememistress Skittles.

Manic Monday #9

If you had to be named after one of the 50 states, which would it be? That's easy: Georgia.

Where do you go for advice? Depends on the topic. Family or feline problems: my mom. Romantic troubles: my oldest friend. Everything else: my best friend.

What is the sickest you've ever been? My first migraine, about a year and a half ago. It hit me so hard, and made me so ill, that I had to curl up in a little ball on the floor of the fitting room at Carson, Pirie, Scott for a while. Got home and just collapsed into bed. I would have been frightened if I wasn't so nauseous, motion-sensitive and just plain miserable. Thank God for Relpax -- better living through pharmaceuticals! One little pill and the agony is vanquished.

To participate in Manic Monday on your own, or to read more answers, visit the official site.

In just two months …

… I will be relaxing in this French Country Suite at the Chateau Elan in Atlanta. I'm treating myself to two solid days of solitude and pampering. Manicure, pedicure, massages, hydrotherapy, facial and makeover.

Last year, I only had one full day of spa treatments and it wasn't enough. However, I'm trying (really trying!) to be sensible with money since things are still kinda tenuous at work. So I made a deal with myself: if I could pay for the airline ticket with miles, I could have the second day. Eureka! I did it.

You like me, you really like me!

That's my tribute to award shows, which are in jeopardy this season because of the writers' strike. It's also my way of celebrating the award I just received from Harlekwin. She rates this blog as "E for Excellent," and coming from her this is very, very neat. For Harlekwin's blog is one of the more eclectic, entertaining and excellent I've found. If you haven't checked her out, by all means do!

And thanks, Harlekwin, for thinking of me for this award.

Peggy Noonan annoys me

She's not hateful, like Ann Coulter. She's not alternately silly or cruel in the guise of "humor," like Rush Limbaugh. She's not ridiculously self-aggrandizing, like Bill O'Reilly. But still, Peggy Noonan annoys me.

I think it's because I want to learn from listening to her. Yes, she conservative to the core, but when presented in a coherent, clear way, I can learn how and why the other side feels the way it does. I've learned a great deal from paying attention to Joe Scarborough and Bill Kristol. For I don't like believing that conservatives are simply ugly and wrong, though with the Coulters and Limbaughs and O'Reillys on the air, it's easy to make that assumption.

Because Peggy Noonan is a woman of a certain age, a woman who is elegant (and avoids the Ann Coulter traps of playing with her mane or showing up for the Today Show wearing a black cocktail dress), and astonishingly well spoken, I want to listen to her and follow her logic.

Yet every time I see her, Peggy Noonan annoys me.

It's because she's so damn pedantic. She speaks sooo slowly and uses her hands so pretentiously when she makes her points. It's clear that if we are getting our news from the outlet that gives her a platform (instead, I'm guessing, from her Wall Street Journal), we are sad, benighted little creatures. We need Miss Margaret to explain it all to us. So she speaks slowly, to make sure we "get" the wisdom she is good enough to share with us.

I imagine that immediately after appearing on network TV, she collapses gracefully upon a chaise lounge in the Green Room and calls out for a damp cloth to place upon her forehead. It's sooo exhausting to try to communicate with us tiny brains!

This magic moment

I'm watching The Godfather for the umpzillionth time and during this particular viewing, I am struck by James Caan as Sonny. He is sexy and tough and confident and charismatic. It is by far his best role. He was never this good before, and certainly hasn't been this good since.

Naturally I appreciated him in Brian's Song. But there was no sex appeal or danger in his performance as doomed Chicago Bear Brian Piccolo (nor should there have been). But I never found him likable again. Not even in the movies I've seen almost as often as The Godfather and Brian's Song (those would be Misery and Elf).

I wonder how it feels to be James Caan and to see himself in The Godfather. Is it comforting to be reminded of his prime? Or does he long for days gone by?

Makes me glad that my life has not been captured on film.

Now I know why no one likes Mitt Romney

It's been said that all the Republican Presidential nominees are actually grudgingly fond of one another -- except for Mitt Romney. They all supposedly hate him. This made me feel sorry for Mitt, because if there's anything in this life I hate, it's bullies. I didn't like the idea of all the candidates ganging up on one.

Then I found out Mitt Romney is a bully himself. And, by my lights, the worst kind. I believe anyone who mistreats a child or an animal is the lowest form of human life. For pets and kids have no power -- they're like corks on the water, going where the waves (or adults) take them. Shame on anyone who would ever mistreat someone smaller and more powerless. I hate that!

Which leads us to ol' Mitt, and a story that's been covered by both The Boston Globe and Time magazine …

While driving his family from Boston to Ontario (a 12 hour drive), Romney put Seamus, the family's setter, in a dog carrier and then attached it to the roof rack. Once they hit the highway, Romney's sons reported a brown liquid running down the back window. Seamus literally had the shit scared out of him. How did Romney react to Seamus' discomfort? He stopped the station wagon, hosed down both dog and car, strapped the poor canine back on the roof rack and kept going.

I'm so disgusted I have nothing more to say on the subject. And for those of you who read this blog regularly, you know that's a rare occurrence.

PS Thanks to Mo for bringing this to my attention in the first place. And yes, that really is Seamus, allowing kittens to use him as a jungle gym. The photo was provided to the Boston Globe by Romney's sister Jane. Seamus looks like he was quite a guy, doesn't he?

I'm in love with him, and he feels fine

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Paul McCartney has reassured his fans that he feels fine and has no medical problems, despite recent reports to the contrary.

In a message posted on his Web site Thursday, the former Beatle said he was puzzled when people started asking him about his health. Then he realized their questions stemmed from a report this month that he had undergone a heart operation.

Sir Paul, 65, said the story was "entirely untrue" and that he was fine. "What happened was, over a year ago during a routine medical examination, there was a minor irregularity which I needed to have tests for and which I have now been assured is completely fine," McCartney said. "The media have only just recently reported an exaggerated version of this."

He added: "I'm happy to say that I feel great and I have passed my most recent medical with flying colors."

Sometimes I think the worst thing about being 50 is that it makes him 65. I simply hate this conversation.