Is it bad that this made me kinda happy?

Today, while playing Monopoly with my now-10-year old nephew, the subject of my birthday next weekend came up. I told him I was spending the actual day, next Sunday, on the Amtrak with my oldest friend, returning from Springfield, where we will be celebrating. I told him this because he and I went down to Springfield last June and I thought he would want to reminisce about our trip.

Instead, he turned away, saying, "You should be here."

"We always celebrate my birthday on Thanksgiving. We can do that again this year." That's not exactly true. My birthday was always a separate family event. Then my kid sister, his mother, decided about 7 years ago that she was busier than I am and not about to go out of her way for me anymore. (I never noticed her going out of her way for me at all, but never mind. Another story for another time.) I don't argue with her or stand up for myself anymore because I worry that she'll block my access to the kids. Now that I think of it, she hasn't invited me for Thanksgiving yet ...

"Thanksgiving is too late this year! Your birthday is November 22!" As if I don't know my birthday. His frustration surprised me.

"Are you upset about this?" I asked as his glasses came off.

"He's been planning a party for you," my mom said, coming back into the room where he and I were playing. Hearing her say that started the tears.

I explained to him that I was sorry and upset, too. After all, who was missing out on singing and a present? Me! But I told him we had two choices:

1) Celebrate on Thanksgiving anyway
2) Have his party as planned, but the following Sunday

No, he insisted. It's no good if it's not closer to my actual birthday! I showed him my datebook and how my friends had different celebrations planned for me throughout the month. I said, "My birthday is not a day, it's a festival." He wrote his name down on my calendar for Sunday the 29th, we hugged, and went back to Monopoly.

Naturally I'm sorry to see him cry. But it was gratifying to know my special day meant so much to him. He's such a sweet boy.

Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing: The Over the Top Meme

Part One - Describe:

Your hair? Short again, and probably forever more.

Your mother? Doing better, thank you.

Your father? Died almost 20 years ago.

Your favorite food? Burgers. Or maybe cheeseburgers. Yummmm ...

Your dream last night? I don't recall

Your favorite drink? Coke.

Your dream/goal? To restore order to this messy condo!

The room are you in? Living room

Your hobby? Sitting on the sofa, farting around on the Internet

Your fear? Plane crash

Your TV? Showing a Man from UNCLE rerun

Your Pets? Three highly individual cats

Friends? Quite an eclectic collection!

Your life? My own, thank you very much.

Your mood? Slightly unsettled

If you're missing someone? Yes

Your best friend? Yes! How did you know that's who I miss?

Part Two - The Where's?

Where do you want to be in 6 years? Sitting on a new sofa

Where were you last night? Grocery shopping

Where did you grow up? A suburb two or three towns over

One place that I go to over and over? Downstairs to the laundry room

Your favorite place to eat out? Monk's Pub. Great burgers!

Wish list items? Adam Lambert's debut CD, a nice new humidifier for the living room ... that's all that springs to mind right now. Not too glamorous, I know.

Last time you laughed? Watching a clip of Esteban Colberto interviewing Lou Dobbs about immigration.

Last time you cried? At the health club Friday. It had nothing to do with my workout. It's just I had time alone with my thoughts as I strode along on the treadmill. I'm sure no one noticed.

Part Three - The What's?

Something that you aren't? Organized!

Last thing you did? Yelled at Reynaldo, the world's worst cat. I don't know why I bother. It seems only to amuse him, not deter him.

What are you wearing? A nightshirt that says, ironically enough, "She who loves cats."

Something you're not wearing? My watch

Your favorite store? The Body Shop

"Why Me?"

When the movie's main character/narrator, Precious, writes this in her class notebook, she broke my heart. As she considered her young life to this point, how far she had come under the worst circumstances imaginable, and how tragically unfair this latest turn of events was, she wasn't whining. She was defeated. That question, "Why Me?" was almost a cerebral question on her part. For all the extraordinary events she had gone through -- which I won't detail because I don't want to spoil the movie for you -- she began to cry that she had never even had a boyfriend. It broke my heart that she was still just 16, and that her wants and dreams were still so simple and so pure. She wanted a boyfriend.

This movie reaches in and manipulates your guts. There's only one scene of physical violence, but the language is so abusive and harsh it feels like surgery.

I won't apologize for being worried about my job and financial insecurities. I am 52 next week and am my own sole source of support. I have no relatives to lean on, and a couple who depend on me. I am scared, and would have to be beyond irresponsible to not face my situation head on and consider how to make it better.

On the other hand, I have gifts and advantages denied to Precious and kids like her. I am grateful for that, and am humbled by the reminder that, while Precious takes place in Harlem in the 1980s, I know there teens who live hopeless lives less than 20 minutes from where I sit.

I started the day watching good, old-fashioned courage and patriotism in The Fighting Sullivans. I capped the day with Precious, also an American tale of heroism. Film-making is an American artform, and I experienced two excellent examples of it today.

PS Precious got it's launch at this year's Sundance Film Festival, founded by Robert Redford. The Quintessential Golden Boy and Precious. It's hard to think of two movie characters with less in common, and yet they are tied together. I like that.

I need me some corn

I am a connoisseur of corn. When the days grow shorter and winds blow colder, there's only one corny dish I want: Andy Williams. He always sounds so smooth and controlled and easy going. His voice means the holidays to me. Since I realize it's too early for carols, I downloaded some non-Christmas-specific Andy: "Can't Get Used to Losing You," "Butterfly," "Dear Heart" and, of course, "Moon River."

I have errands to do today, and I'm worried anew about my job. On days like this, I needs me some Andy. I just do.

"Our boys are afloat again"

Well, this puts it all in perspective for me. I just watched The Fighting Sullivans, about the brave Iowa boys who enlisted together after Pearl Harbor, served together on the same ship, and died together when the boat went down. The story of the Sullivan family and their sacrifice was the inspiration for Saving Private Ryan.

The photo shown here is of the real Sullivan brothers, while the quote is from the movie. It's what their mother said at the christening of the ship named for her sons.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I must wipe my eyes and blow my nose.

It's that most wonderful time of the year

Yes, it's the 4th quarter. That time of year when those of us in advertising realize how badly our accounts have been managed all year long. There aren't enough hours left in 2009 to bill to make our retainer, which means giving money back to the client. This is a very bad situation.

I'd just begun to relax. Our agency president made no mention of Christmas bonuses but told us we'd turned a corner and could look forward to salary increases in 2010. I'm not complaining because I know this recession has been hard on everyone, but I haven't had a raise in 3 years. With insurance premiums rising, my take-home pay today is actually less today than it was last year.

I suspect we can kiss raises goodbye, at least on this team, and just be glad if we have our jobs in six months.

I am strong! I am invincible! I am woman!

I fixed my own slow-running bathtub drain last night! All I needed was this lovely Turbo Snake (just $9.99 at CVS).

Using the smaller, pointier snake -- not the bigger, flat-headed snake suggested for tubs -- I was able to extricate a clog that was made up of hair and broken pieces of pumice stone. (I wondered where that thing had gone.)

While I am feeling very accomplished, I wish Billy Mays was still here to read this. I believe this fine product was originally his.

Something beautiful amid all the ugly

I am so impressed with Carol Williams.

She is the first wife of Washington DC sniper John Allen Muhammad and the mother of his oldest child, a young man named Lin. She went to Virginia for the execution because she wanted her son, who really never saw Muhammad and considers his mother's long-time fiance his dad, to say whatever he felt he needed to say. Then, she said, she and her fiance would bring Muhammad's body home for burial.

Muhammad cheated on her during their short marriage and left her to raise their son alone. She has no doubt that he was guilty of the attacks that left people dead, injured, and terrified. She does not delude herself that he was ill or misunderstood. She told Larry King, "I'm praying for myself, for my son, and also for the families of the victims."

Yet she made the trip to Greenville Correctional Center so her adult son could find closure, or at least have no regrets about not saying goodbye. Then she and her fiance brought the executed sniper's body home.

I don't know how any of the TV talking heads and politicians who act like only they can define Christianity feel about this, but I believe Carol Williams walks it like she talks it.

Starting with the books

Paper, paper, paper! This condo is overrun with paper and stuff! Something must be done!

So this evening I am going through the books on the floor and in the magazine racks and on/under/beside the coffee table and deciding which ones to part with. I always hate getting rid of books, so to take some of the sting out of it, I'm taking them to Goodwill. Maybe they'll make it out onto the salesfloor in time to be someone's Christmas gift. That would make me happy.

TONIGHT'S TOTAL: 8 paperbacks and 9 hardcovers.

Lordie, but I'm a geek!

Last night, on the way home, I was able to shake off my blues. The reason was two-fold.

1) I knew I was on my way to see my shrink, God bless her. I see her monthly, so I had this appointment scheduled for weeks and I'd forgotten about it. But the timing couldn't have been better. Just knowing she was going help me put all this in perspective put it in perspective, if that makes sense.

2) I listened to Mickey and Judy sing "How About You?" on my iPod. It's from the 1941 film, Babes on Broadway. There's even an interlude toward the middle where they tapdance! I love listening to these two put on a show. Though I know I am undoubtedly the only woman on the el Green Line last night with Mickey Rooney downloaded on her iPod. Yes, I'm a geek. But they made me so happy!

A nice pick-me-up to battle my bad mood!

People Love That You're Kind and Compassionate

You're the kind of gal who really enjoys putting other people first. You enjoy pitching in and making a difference. Your heart really goes out to anyone in need. In fact, it's difficult for you to turn your back on someone who's struggling. As long as you have friends who don't take advantage of you, your empathy is only a good thing. If there were more people in the world like you, you wouldn't feel like you have to look out for everyone.

What Do People Love About You?

I'm in a weird mood

I think it's because I didn't get to work out on lunchtime. A coworker, pregnant and in her fourth month, came by just as I was off to the health club. She had been to the doctor this morning and I sensed she needed to be fussed over a little. OK. When it comes to fussing over your baby bump, I'm your girl. However, that 20 minutes prevented me from making it to the club in time. The result is that I feel just ... blah. Fat and blah.

The project upon my plate has an inflexible template and I have to tell everything there is to know about this checking account in less than 250 words. This isn't creative. This is like doing a puzzle. I'm not inspired. I am, however, annoyed.

I'm also annoyed that I still haven't received my expense reimbursement. I'm tempted to say, "It's only $50," but that's not how I feel. Do I look like Ivanka Trump? I can't just turn up my nose at this money. It's $47. MY $47! And I want it!

My best friend is interviewing, I just know it. He's in remote mode again, and I'm sure it's because he knows how I feel about all this. He's 43 years old -- if he doesn't get out of financial marketing (which he really no longer cares for) now, he may never get out of it, and that makes me sad. He lives in an enormous house that he couldn't unload now if he wanted to, and I know his wife is happier as a stay-at-home mom, and I know this isn't my business anyway, but I'm sad nevertheless.

There's no Cubs baseball anymore until Spring.

If one more person comes in here, I may scream.

I wasn't in this mood this morning. I don't know why the bottom fell out. But it has. And I hate it.

Tuesday Tunes

It's November and this month is about giving thanks, tell us a few of the musical things that you are thankful for, be it albums, shows you've seen, electronics you've bought etc. Whatever has made your musical life better in the last year.

This year it's been all about Amy. It took me a while (too long) to get into her because her life is such a tabloid-magnet/train wreck. But I love her voice, her lyrics and her sensibility. I love Frank and Back to Black is on right now and my favorite songs are "F-Me Pumps" and "Tears Dry on My Own." I hope she gets it together and keeps it together and makes more music soon.

To play along yourself, click here.

Movie Monday -- Life Changers

What movies had such an impact that they caused a change in our behavior, beliefs, or exposed us to a new passion?

The Way We Were (1973). For all my classmates, HE was the main attraction, and it's easy to see why. I don't think Redford has ever looked so good. But that was part of why this movie had such an enormous impact on me. He was better looking, more talented, more popular ... and, in the final analysis, quite the scumbag. She, on the other hand, was abrasive, noisy, idiosyncratic, and, in the final analysis, happier. Barbra Streisand gave me permission. She showed by example that I could be an outsider who marched to my own drummer and still get the guy -- if only for a little while. And if he can't handle all that goes with being with ME, as I am, maybe he's not worth being with.

If you happen to run into Streisand, thank her for me.

To play along with the Bumbles, click here.

Sometimes ...

As introduced by Snarkela:

The “Sometimes” Meme: All you have to do is finish the sentence…

Sometimes I just need: to have a quick touchpoint with my best friend.

Sometimes I want: everyone to do what I want them to do!

Sometimes I like to: just blab with my mom on the phone

Sometimes all it takes: is a walk, wearing my headphones, looking at the sky through the trees (or, now that it's fall, through the branches)

Sometimes I picture: myself in 15 or 20 years. Which Golden Girl will I be most like? Dorothy, I know.

Sometimes I wish: I had as much focus domestically as I do professionally.

Sometimes I find: times races by faster each day.

Sometimes I take: a really long look at my complexion in the magnifying mirror. At least that hard work has paid off!

Sometimes I look: for that crazy guy from the train platform who went off on me way back last March. I really hate how much space he takes up in my head.

Sometimes I hate: that things are so terribly divisive in this country. (Snarkypants' answer, and it's just right for me, too.)

Sometimes it’s nice: to just soak in the tub.

Sometimes it hurts: when I think of how much I'll miss special people in my life.

Sometimes it makes me happy: to just be grateful.

Sometimes it’s sad: that I don't feel wiser or more sophisticated by the time I'm this age.

Sometimes I listen: to Sir Paul, just to remind me of who I've been and who I am. He's the soundtrack of my life.

Sometimes I sleep: by just dozing off on the couch. Then I wake up hours later!

Sometimes I like to watch: Nancy Grace. That madwoman just cracks me up. Especially when she talks about "the twins."

Sometimes I feel: like my home is being engulfed by paper. How can this be? We're moving toward a paperless society! Will someone please tell the piles of mail on my diningroom table and the magazines on, under and beside the coffee table?

Sometimes I rant: while taking a shower.

Sometimes I never: believe I'll finish the books in my TBR pile.

Sometimes I really: get desperately sad for no real reason.

Ok, I admit it!

Every time this Ally financial commercial comes on, I try to make the noise he does to summon the "real pony." I always fail miserably.

This is why it's good I live alone.

12 years already!

Yesterday I bought a bargain book called Diana: Unseen Archives. What a beautiful investment of $4.99!

Most of the book is photos, and that's fine because really, what more do we need to hear about her short, tragic life? Instead I found myself enchanted by her again. She wasn't the most beautiful woman in the world -- the nose was too long for that. But she certainly was one of the most charismatic ever. Charming whether in a gown and tiara or on her knees to accept flowers from a child, every photo radiates warmth.

I miss her, and sometimes wonder what she would have done with the last 12 years.

Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing: The Strange Question Meme, Part 2

26. What color is your watch? I have several watches. The one I think I'll wear today has a silver band and a blue face.

27. What do you think of when you hear “Australia”? Nicole Kidman. I have just been reading about her on TMZ.

28. Would you strip for money? I am more curious about who would pay me for this service.

29. Do you go in a fast food place or just hit the drive thru? Not having a car limits my options.

30. What is your favorite number? 7

31. Who’s the last person you talked to on the phone? My mom

32. Any plans today? Yes. I especially hope Sunday includes a trip to the gym.

33. In how many states have you lived? Just one.

34. Biggest annoyance right now? Mildew on my shower curtain liner.

35. Last song listened to? "1985" by Paul McCartney & Wings (Band on the Run CD)

36. Can you say the alphabet backwards? No. Should I?

37. Do you have a maid service clean your house? I have in the past but don't now.

38. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time? My Roxy flats. I love them.

39. Are you jealous of anyone? Any woman with smaller hips than mine.

40. Is anyone jealous of you? With this fat ass? Not likely!

41. Do you love anyone? Yes.

42. Do any of your friends have children? Almost all of them do.

43. What do you usually do during the day? Write.

44. Do you hate anyone that you know right now? Not now.

45. Do you use the word hello daily? Yes.

46. What color is your car? I don't have a car ...
47. What size wedding ring do you wear? Nor do I have a husband.

48. Are you thinking about someone right now? Yes.

49. Have you ever been to Six Flags? Yes. I love a good roller coaster.

50. How did you get your worst scar? The acne scars on my chin.

My color for fall/winter

#161 = Teak Rose. Yes, I got a pedi today, first one in ages! Going from sandals all day/everyday to tennies and flats and even heels every once in a while has been hell on my tootsies.

That was a lovely evening

I took my niece, she who dreams of a career in culinary arts, to Eno -- a restaurant that specializes in cheese and chocolate flights. Everything was yummy, of course, but the part I really enjoyed was chatting with her. She's 17, and very focused. She knows what she has to do to get into the right colleges for her chosen profession and is doing what's within her power in terms of ACT/SAT scores, advanced classes, etc. She has discovered something she's good at, she enjoys it, and she can make a living at it. I'm so happy for her, and hearing about her life is so exciting.

She's still a kid, though. I heard about her Halloween costume, her friends, how much she enjoys George Harrison's music … (Not Paul! Where did I go wrong?) Her major problems with her mother, too. I was relieved because they don't seem like unusually serious problems, but I wanted her to know that I heard her, that I took her feelings seriously.

It was a nice way to end a very, VERY long week!

This is Fracheska Velez

She is one of two local soldiers killed yesterday at Fort Hood.

By Andrew Greiner

As details continue to emerge about the carnage at Ft. Hood, it appears a pregnant Chicago woman was killed in the fray that claimed the lives of 13 soldiers Thursday.

Francheska Velez, 21, had just finished a tour in Iraq and returned to Ft. Hood three months pregnant. The Army had granted Velez, a 2006 graduate of Kelvyn Park High School, a maternity leave of abscence.

She was just weeks away from rejoining her family in Chicago.

What's going on?

I'm scared. Seriously. First Fort Hood. Now this. What's next? Another Oklahoma City?

Two dead, 17 injured in shooting reported in downtown Orlando

A former employee of a business located in a downtown Orlando building where a deadly mass shooting took place today is suspected in the attack.

Two people are dead and at least 17 were shot in the incident, which took place about noon today.

Not today! Not ever!

My Peace Globe celebrates The Blog Blast for Peace by imagining a world without gun violence. Meanwhile the horrifying scene at Fort Hood was unfolding:

Fort Hood gunman alive and in custody, commander says

• Twelve people killed and 31 wounded
• Injured gunman identified as Nidal Malik Hasan
• He was a psychiatrist, worked at Walter Reed
• Military earlier said gunman died

Too ugly, too awful, and just wrong.

Imagine no handgun violence. It's easy if you try ...

Long, LONG Day

I'm frigging exhausted. It's not the work that has gotten to me. I enjoyed doing the work. It's the politics and procedures that wore me out. My boss brought a pair of freelancers in to help with the project we're presenting tomorrow, and the writer is such a douche. My boss was in meetings all day and I was left to manage him and it's just made me so tired.

Apparently everything we have been doing for years is wrong, according to the freelance writer, and the two on-staff creative teams should change our work to be consistent with his. I could and did explain and reiterate and then it hit me: he understood me, he just didn't want to make the changes.

So I told him to email his work and I would revise it myself, adding 2 hours to my workday.

Oh well, most of the work I will present tomorrow is very good, and that's always satisfying. I'll just go to bed early and try to put this long-ass day behind me.

Tuesday Tunes

What is the oldest album in your collection? (oldest as in you've had it longer than the others) Meet the Beatles. I still have it on vinyl somewhere.

What albums have you bought recently? Frank by Amy Winehouse, Love Is the Answer by Babs, and I Look to You by Whitney Houston.

Where do you buy the most downloads? iTunes

If you were to get a gift card from one music store, which one would it be and why? Border's, because I could change my mind and get a book. I can't wait to lay my little hands on the new bio, Paul McCartney: A Life.

What do you have more of; physical albums for downloads? If you add the vinyl to the tapes and the CDs, the answer is albums by far.

If you'd like to play along, click here.

Break my heart!

There was a cat just sitting on the front porch, as though she was waiting for me to return home from work. She saw me and she dashed into the thick bushes beside the porch. I called out to her a couple times, thinking that if I got close to her I could see how healthy she was, how clean, if she let me handle her maybe I could spirit her upstairs and close her in my den until I could get her to my vet or the local animal shelter.

Alas, she stayed out of sight, deep in the bushes. I didn't pursue her because we're surrounded by a busy street and a driveway and I didn't want her to race out and risk getting hit.

It's going to be colder and colder each evening this week. I worry about that cat. I pointed out to my cats that they are lucky to be warm and dry and fed.

Movie Monday

This week's movie topic is all about Mobsters...

I hate to be so damn predictable, but I must go with the Corleones. I saw The Godfather for the first time at a highly impressionable age and my primary takeaway was that you could have sex standing against a door. Who knew?

Repeated viewings, however, convinced me that I and II are among the best movies ever made. The lush soundtrack, the meticulous attention to detail, the performances (no one in this movie has been better elsewhere -- except Keaton, she kinda sucks as Kay) and, oh, the dialog:

"Leave the gun. Take the cannoli."
"I made him an offer he couldn't refuse."
"Read the papers! That's your husband! That's your husband!"
"Today I settled all family business."
"I don't want my brother coming out of the john with his dick in hands."
"I don't need to wipe out everybody. Just my enemies."
"I know it was you. Fredo, you broke my heart!"

The dark side to these masterpieces is, of course, how quickly we are seduced into abandoning our own moral compasses and cheering for the bad guys. Make no mistake about it -- everyone in these movies is a bad guy. Even the ones, like Sonny and the Don, that we come to feel affection for.

To play along, click here.

I don't like you, but I love you

I spent my extra, "fall-behind" hour with Tom Cruise as Jerry Maguire. The scene with Dorothy on the front porch, when his fingertips lightly dance over bare neck, back and shoulders ... sigh.

I know, I know ... the couch jumping was weird. It bugged me that he was so judgemental about Brooke Shields and depression. I admit there's something more than a little creepy about his relationship with Katie Holmes.

But when he's playing a part in front of a camera, I am completely charmed by Tom Cruise.

Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing: The Strange Question Meme, Part 1

I recall answering this meme recently. Let's see if my answers are different this time.

1. What is the color of your toothbrush? Purple and white.

2. Name one person who made you smile today. A little boy who was so exhausted from Trick or Treating that he lay down on the floor.

3. What were you doing at 8 am this morning? Sleeping

4. What were you doing 45 minutes ago? Writing checks

5. What is your favorite candy bar? Butterfinger

6. Have you ever been to a strip club? Yes. But since the strippers were men, they preferred to be called "dancers."

7. What is the last thing you said aloud? "I'm sorry."

8. What is your favorite ice cream? How to choose? Mint chocolate chip. How did I choose? I like the taste.

9. What was the last thing you had to drink? Coke

10. Do you like your wallet? Yes. But the zipper pull fell off and I'm making due with a paperclip. Looks very cheesey.

11. What was the last thing you ate? Town House crackers. My stomach still isn't as settled and strong as I'd like.

12. Have you bought any new clothing items this week? Only if my new black Gemma bag counts.

13. The last sporting event you watched? The World Series (Go Yankees)

14. What is your favorite flavor of popcorn? One doesn't come to mind.

15. Who is the last person you sent a text message to? My niece.

16. Ever go camping? Yes. But not since the Clinton Administration.

17. Do you take vitamins daily? Yes.

18. Do you go to church every Sunday? Not every Sunday.

19. Do you have a tan? No. I'm of German-Irish descent and I live in Chicago. A tan would be unnatural.

20. Do you prefer Chinese food over pizza? Sometimes.

21. Do you drink your soda with a straw? Only when it's a fountain drink.

22. What did your last text message say? "See you next Fri."

23. What are you doing tomorrow? I hope to hang out with my nephew. I haven't seen him in a couple of weeks.

24. Favorite color? Blue

25. Look to your left; what do you see? A heap of magazines and books.

You know it's Halloween when ...

Passed a 6' tall Stewie trying surreptitiously to scratch his (?) ass. Poor thing. I imagine it's hard to be discreet when dressed as a ginormous cartoon baby.

I'm watching it

I'm welcoming Halloween with Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates (and his mother) in Psycho. It's scary, all right, but it's also such a wonderfully made movie. It wasn't just the sex and violence that made it shocking for 1960. Crafty old Hitch took a unique approach to the narrative -- killing off the heroine early on, thereby forcing his audience to identify with the villain.

I'm not worried about being frightened by this horror classic. I have my big old tub of guts, Joey, purring beside me for comfort and company.

Friday night

I'm already in my pjs, farting around on the Internet and eating Town House crackers. My gut has been upset again all day and I'm really happy to be sitting here, curled up on my sofa, catching up on Monk and trading emails with my best friend.

I'm feeling very content, if a bit poopy. We made a lot of progress on our latest project -- my boss was inspired by something the other team creative did and, as a result, suggested changes to ours. I wasn't expecting our concept to move in this direction, but I'm fine with it. My art director seemed more than a little threatened by or pissed off about our boss' suggestions, but I'm all for making something better.

And I'm happy to be in contact with him more often. Because my best friend and I work in the same industry, it's good to run things past him. Everything makes more sense after I hear from him.

The scariest thing I could find for Halloween

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Glenn Beck.
(Thanks to Daniel Kurtzman of About.com.)

People actually watch him. People who vote. For legislators in our country. Where we live. Shudder.

1. "This president I think has exposed himself over and over again as a guy who has a deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture....I'm not saying he doesn't like white people, I'm saying he has a problem. This guy is, I believe, a racist." –on President Obama, sparking an advertiser exodus from his FOX News show, July 28, 2009

2. "I'm thinking about killing Michael Moore, and I'm wondering if I could kill him myself, or if I would need to hire somebody to do it. ... No, I think I could. I think he could be looking me in the eye, you know, and I could just be choking the life out. Is this wrong? I stopped wearing my What Would Jesus -- band -- Do, and I've lost all sense of right and wrong now. I used to be able to say, 'Yeah, I'd kill Michael Moore,' and then I'd see the little band: What Would Jesus Do? And then I'd realize, 'Oh, you wouldn't kill Michael Moore. Or at least you wouldn't choke him to death.' And you know, well, I'm not sure." –responding to the question "What would people do for $50 million?", "The Glenn Beck Program," May 17, 2005

3. "When I see a 9/11 victim family on television, or whatever, I'm just like, 'Oh shut up' I'm so sick of them because they're always complaining." –"The Glenn Beck Program," Sept. 9, 2005

4. "The only [Katrina victims] we're seeing on television are the scumbags." –"The Glenn Beck Program," Sept. 9, 2005

5. "I think there is a handful of people who hate America. Unfortunately for them, a lot of them are losing their homes in a forest fire today." –on why people who lost their homes in forest fires in California had it coming, "The Glenn Beck Program," Oct. 22, 2007

6. "I have been nervous about this interview with you because what I feel like saying is, 'Sir, prove to me that you are not working with our enemies. ... And I know you're not. I'm not accusing you of being an enemy, but that's the way I feel, and I think a lot of Americans will feel that way." –interviewing Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), the first Muslim U.S. congressman, Glen Beck's show on CNN's Headline News, Nov. 14, 2006

7. "Al Gore's not going to be rounding up Jews and exterminating them. It is the same tactic, however. The goal is different. The goal is globalization...And you must silence all dissenting voices. That's what Hitler did. That's what Al Gore, the U.N., and everybody on the global warming bandwagon [are doing]." –"The Glenn Beck Program," May 1, 2007

8. "So here you have Barack Obama going in and spending the money on embryonic stem cell research. ... Eugenics. In case you don't know what Eugenics led us to: the Final Solution. A master race! A perfect person. ... The stuff that we are facing is absolutely frightening." –"The Glenn Beck Program," March 9, 2009

9. "You have the artwork of Mussolini there, here in New York at Rockefeller Plaza." –analyzing the artwork decorating Rockefeller Plaza, which he said contained a hammer and sickle, Glenn Beck show on FOX News Channel, Sept. 2, 2009

10. "O-L-I-G-A-R-H-Y." –misspelling "oligarchy" on his chalk board while claiming he had deciphered a secret code that he said was proof President Obama was trying to create an "Oligarhy," Aug. 27, 2009, Glenn Beck show on FOX News Channel

Bonus Quote

"You know, we all have our inner demons. I, for one – I can't speak for you, but I'm on the verge of moral collapse at any time. It can happen by the end of the show." –"The Glenn Beck Program," Nov. 6, 2006

Friday 5

Friday 5 for October 30: At the Movies

1. What’s your favorite sports movie? The Natural. "Welcome to the majors, Mr. Hobbs."
   
2. What’s your favorite romantic comedy film? The Way We Were. "See 'ya, Hubbell."
   
3. What’s your favorite animated Disney movie? 101 Dalmations. I feel it's far superior tot he live action version.
   
4. What’s your favorite non-Disney movie musical? A Hard Day's Night. No surprise to regular readers of this space: I love Sir Paul
   
5. What’s your favorite stranger-in-a-strange-land / fish-out-of-water movie? Die Hard. New York Street cop John McLane trapped in an LA highrise.

To play yourself, click here.