I Want Wednesday

I want to passed over for jury duty on Friday.

All he gets from me is dirt!

Here's my nephew's Easter gift -- authentic Wrigley Field dirt. I was going to get him an official MLB Cubs watch, but this was the same price and somehow I think he'll like the idea of dirt better.

10 on Tuesday

Ten Thoughts on My Mind as I Worked Out

30 minutes of cardio, 10 on the machines and a girl's mind wanders.

1) Who is pitching at Wrigley Field today?

2) Reconstructed the spa's health club in mind. Doesn't matter that I never actually used it during my vacation last week. I'd prefer to be on their treadmill than this stationary bicycle.

3) I'd also prefer to be on Veronika's massage table, as I was a week ago today.

4) Is it so wrong to want to run my tongue along that man's incredibly muscular upper arm?

5) Her calves are downright bony! I hope it didn't hurt when she got those tattoos.

6) Snickers or Reese's Peanut Butter Cups?

7) I heard a rumor that Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick are splitting. Come to think of it, my best friend hasn't mentioned his massive secret crush on her lately. Maybe poor Carrie Bradshaw is in a slump.

8) New NCIS tonight!

9) I'm burning almost 250 calories!

10) Gawd, it's hard to work out after a week off!

These two cards are NOT interchangeable

I cannot board the el with my company ID. Nor can I get through security with my Chicago Card. It seems like a simple concept, I know, but every morning I mess it up.

Greg Kinnear doesn't suck

I have finally seen the first installment of the "controversial" Kennedy miniseries on Reelz Channel and wonder what all the fuss is about. There's nothing new here: Joe Kennedy Sr. was single-minded, charismatic and morally bankrupt; Joe Jr. was a petulant bully; Rose was a pious doormat; Bobby saw things only in black and white; Ethel was rambunctious; Jack had a weakness for a well-turned ankle; Jackie was aloof and regal. So far, these are all familiar caricatures, with no nuance. But nothing here is shocking.

Greg Kinnear is better than I expected as JFK. He does the familiar accent without sounding like he's doing an impersonation. He transmits intelligence and humor. He doesn't capture the courage, complexity or imagination of the man, but that could be the script. It is pretty pedestrian.

Katie Holmes is just as adequate as JBKO as Roma Downey was as A Woman Named Jackie 20 years ago. Which is to say she wears the clothes beautifully. There's nothing else going on.

Movie Monday

Women and Prison. Share on your blog movies that feature female prisoners, guards, or those who are accused and on their way to the Big House, linking back here.

The first movie to spring to mind was a soft-core effort about a Nazi prison guard named Ilsa. I never actually saw this opus -- an old boyfriend was ashamed of owning it (on Beta, no less), and he should have been. But then, after giving it more thought, I came up with two options that are so good you don't have to be ashamed if they're in your video collection.

Patty Hearst. The late Natasha Richardson was tremendous as the kidnapped heiress, who endured hell -- beatings, rape, humiliation, brainwashing. She did whatever it took to stay alive, and was rewarded with a prison sentence. (Though my friend John still believes she was guilty as sin and should have served her full sentence. Whatever. He initially believed OJ Simpson was innocent.)

I Want to Live! Susan Hayward won an Oscar for her performance in a movie that really rocked my world when I saw it back in the 1970s (I was babysitting). Barbara Graham was basically convicted and put to death for being an unlikeable slut. She may have been guilty, but it wasn't proven beyond a reasonable doubt. This is a true and tragic story, and influenced my early feelings about both feminism and the death penalty.

Promote Reading, Promote Friendship

Kwizgiver turned me on to BAFAB Week, and I'm in.

BAFAB, or "Buy a Friend a Book," is celebrated the first weeks of every January, April, July, and October.

How to participate in BAFAB Week. Just get yourself to a real-life or virtual book store during Buy a Friend a Book Week and, well, buy a friend a book! But here's the fun part: you can't buy your friend a book because it's their birthday or they just graduated or got engaged or had a baby or anything else. You have to give them a book for no good reason. In fact, this present out of the blue from you should shock the pants off of whomever you decide to give it to. And it'll make them happy. And that's the point: promote reading, promote friendships. Just make sure to let them know about Buy a Friend a Book Week, so they can spread the joy in turn.

The friend I chose: Amy, my former admin, now a full-time mom in Pennsylvania. She should be getting her book this week.

I encourage you to participate because it's fun and it feels good. Click here for details.

Purchased at the Golden Ball

Legend has it George Washington bought gewgaws here. And it's where I found a perfect, slender silver scroll ring to replace my the topaz I lost in late March.

Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing: The 5000 Question Meme, Part Three

Cheers to all of us thieves!

51. Make up a definition for the following silly words...

Fruitgoogle: Confirming how to spell "pomegranate" by plugging it into Google

Ambytime: The hour when you take your sleep meds

Asscactus: The imaginary spines that appear on any ass you long to touch but know you shouldn't. For example, in The Thorn Birds, Father Ralph should have respected the asscactus growing on young Meggie because he was a priest, after all, and shouldn't have been fixating on fondling parishioners.

52. What was the last thing you made with your own hands? The bed. I changed my sheets.

53. What was your favorite toy as a child? My Lassie Dog

54. How many TV’s are in your house? Two

55. What is your favorite thing to do outside? I enjoy long walks. They help clear my head.

56. How do you feel when you see a rainbow? I miss my best friend. We have a running joke about rainbows that stemmed from a comment I once made which he thought was stupid but I still maintain was just ill-phrased. I'd repeat it but it was a "you gotta be there" moment.

57. Have you ever dreamt a dream that came true? No. Which is unfortunate because I have had more than one revolving around either administering or receiving a massage from late-80s vintage Bruce Willis, aka "David Addison," my ultimate TV boyfriend.

58. Have you ever been to a psychic/tarot reader? Yes, indeedy.

59. What is your idea of paradise? Either administering or receiving a massage from late-80s vintage Bruce Willis, aka "David Addison," would be nice.

60. Do you believe in God and if so what is he/she/it like? I believe in God because God believes in me and He is love.

61. Do you believe in hell? Yes. But I think we make our own hell here on earth. Then, when we die, we all go to Heaven. As with Question #60, I know this to be true, like gravity, and am not interested in any discussion.

62. What one thing have you done that most people haven't? I kissed Bruce Springsteen, and even better, he kissed back.

63. What is the kindest thing you have ever done? I can't think of anything specific.

64. Have you gone to WTIT's facebook page and hit "like" yet? If not, why not? (No pressure.) Are you sure Leo asked this in the original meme?

65. What holiday should exist but doesn't? World Beatle Day. It should be observed around this time -- during the first week in April -- because in April, 1964, the Lads held the Top 5 positions of the Billboard Top 100. No artist or band has accomplished this before or since. The songs, included here only to impress Bud, were Can't Buy Me Love, Twist & Shout, She Loves You, I Want to Hold Your Hand, and Please, Please Me.

66. What holiday shouldn't exist but does? Presidents' Day. I think we should celebrate Lincoln's and Washington's birthdays individually. What the hell, they both rocked. Besides, February can be a dreary month and two days off would be nice.

67. What's the best joke you ever heard? A grandmother is watching her grandson playing on the beach. A huge wave comes and takes him out to sea. She pleads, "Please, God, save my only grandson. I will live a blameless life if only you return him to me. I beg of you, bring him back." And a big wave washes the boy back onto the beach, good as new. She looks up to Heaven and says, "He had a hat."

68. Where is the most fun place you have EVER been? Wrigley Field.

69. Is your hair natural or dyed? Yes. It's natural now, but I dyed it Lucy Riccardo red for decades.

70. Do you have any deep dark secrets or are you pretty much up front? Yes

71. What is under your bed right now? All manner of shit I probably don't need and should throw out.

72. If you were in the Land of Oz would you want to live there or go home? I think I'd stay.

73. If you drive do you frequently speed? N/A

74. What is the world's best song to dance to? The Macarena. See?



75. What song was on the last time you danced with someone? I remember dancing with my friends John and Steve to this last summer. Liquor was involved.

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Hey Nineteen

1. What was the best thing about being 19? Everything was a little perkier

2. Where would you go if you wanted to spark your creativity? Water. Even just washing my hair gives me a fresh perspective.

3. Complete this sentence: I am embarrassed when... my stomach growls

4. Name 3 fads from your teenage years. The Bee Gees, Boone's Farm, Charlie cologne

5. What's the best birthday present you've ever had? My friend Kathleen works for The Chicago Tribune and she gave me the press plate for the front page announcing Obama won the Presidency. Looking at it again, I can see how much the last couple years have aged him.

6. What's your oldest possession? My plush Lassie Dog, not unlike this one, though she's not so much plush anymore.

7. Do you have any phobias? Air travel (or, more precisely, not surviving a crash). I'm also none too crazy about squirrels and clowns.

8. This is pretty much the start of Spring (regardless of the snow in the east this week!); what's on your to-do list for the next few weeks to transition away from this long Winter we've been having? Sorting my clothes as I put my sweaters away and bring my blouses and t-shirts out. I'd say I'll be doing the same things with my shoes, boots, and sandals but let's face it, I never put my sandals away from fall.

9. Which of the 50 states in the U.S. would you rather die than live in? While my feelings about it aren't that drastic, I'd have to say Ohio.

Retail in Williamsburg

I love shopping in Merchants Square. I was only able to spend three hours there, but I know there are tourists who happily spend a full day traversing the little shops just up the street from Bruton Parish and all the other historic sites.

This year, my favorite shop was Shirley Pewter, opened in 1962 by a silversmith and Korean War vet named Shirley Robertson (a gentleman who, unlike Leslie Nielsen, must not have minded being called "Shirley"). It's not a big shop but it is a beautiful one. I found I appreciate pewter more than its hoity-toity cousins, silver and platinum. It all looked more substantial and had more character -- the same reasons why I'm more drawn to stoneware than china.

As a result of my time at Shirley Pewter, my friend Kathleen (the proud breast cancer survivor) will receive a pink ribbon charm, my best friend will get a nice, heavy horseshoe (to accompany his turtle, acorn and clover talismans) and I now have a lovely peace symbol pull for my wallet.

At the Colonial Garden and Nursery, I bought garden seeds for sturdy indigenous plants (Joseph's Coat and strawflower) for my mother's backyard. And at Everything Williamsburg I got everything else -- a sweatshirt for my oldest friend, a t-shirt for myself, a cap and a book (George Washington as action hero) for my nephew, sweet potato muffin and gingerbread mixes for my niece, and their choice of magnets or little canons for the folks at work. (I know it's crap, but I firmly believe that bringing tchotchkes back to everyone, and having everyone display them on their desks, makes us look and feel a bit more like a team).

There were boutiques I wish I had time to visit, too. Maybe next year ...

Let us pray

As one who worships in a church that is also a building of public interest, I felt a great kinship with the congregation of Bruton Parish. The pews are elevated from the floor and have doors because it got so cold in the church, back in the days before central heat. Stones were heated and placed in a big bucket in the pew and then the doors were closed to keep the heat in. Because the Capital was in Williamsburg, VIPs from all over the colonies would visit and they had "reserved" pews for when they were in town.

I've included the current service announcement to show that this beautiful building is still an important part of the Williamsburg community.

We interrupt this vacation for breaking news

Hey, hey! Holy mackerel! No doubt about it! The Cubs are on their way!

Happy Opening Day! And it was an emotion-packed one at Wrigley Field. First the official 9/11 flag was presented. It's touring the country to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the loss of the WTC. Then schoolchildren recited The Pledge of Allegiance. Misty yet? How about a twin spin of "God Bless America" and "The National Anthem." But wait, there's more. When the players were presented, Kerry Wood was among them! Yea! Kerry Wood never should have worn any other uniform than this one. And all the guys were wearing these #10 caps in honor of late Cub great Ron Santo. After his playing days were over, he was the voice of the Cubs on WGN radio for twenty years. I grew up on him, and now he's gone. His death came on the morning my uncle was buried, so I'm not sure I fully realized it until today. Now I miss him more than I can express.

And then, oh my God! ROY HOBBS threw out the first pitch. Yes, Robert Redford, The Natural. He made it over the plate but it was way high. What the hell. It was amazing to see Roy Hobbs pitch at Wrigley Field, chat up Mr. Cub himself, Ernie Banks, and give an autograph to his catcher for the day, an obviously star struck Kerry Wood.

Gulp. I admit it, a tear or two was shed here today.

So what if the Pirates won today? BFD. It's a 160-game season. And this one got off right. The wins will come. You just watch.

Pumpkin. It's not just for pie anymore.

Wednesday was steam heat day for me at the spa. First I had a very energetic hot stone massage. Veronika, the massage therapist I'd had on Tuesday, knew where my knots and kinks were and she stretched and pressed and manipulated me back to alignment with trained hands and careful placement of hot stones. Then I had a custom facial. Yes, there was exfoliation and moisturizing and (ouch!) extracting, but my favorite part was the pumpkin mask. Rich in antioxidants and enzymes, it absorbs quickly into the skin to refresh and protect. It felt so good I bought a tube to use in my very own bathroom.

Though I miss the quiet, elegant, relaxing atmosphere of the spa. If I go to Williamsburg again next year, I think I want an extra day, or at least an extra half day. I could use a little more pampering.

The Randolph House

One of the most impressive homes in Williamsburg, and my favorite tour. Peyton Randolph and his wife were childless so they lived alone here, with their orphaned niece, and were served by up to 20 slaves.

Peyton Randolph was an influential citizen during these times. So much so that he was right up there with his buddy George Washington on the list of Virginians that the Crown wanted to capture and hang. The Randolph family was large, well-connected and related to everyone, including George's wife Martha and young Thomas Jefferson. After Peyton's death, he left his entire law library to Jefferson.

A note about slavery

Looking at the way the Randolphs lived vs. their slaves left me feeling skin crawly and ashamed.

Peyton Randolph was a true patriot and did many important things that helped found this country, and yet he kept 20 human souls as property. Look at these photos and see how different life was between them that's got and them that's not. Six slaves slept in, and 16 ate in, that one room -- the drastically smaller one you see in the in rear view of the house . All but one slept on the floor. The slave who got the bed was the elder. This decision was made strictly in the slave quarters. The Randolphs left such matters to their slaves.

The Ewing Shop

This little (200 sq. ft.) slice of heaven is where I stayed in Colonial Williamsburg. 220 years ago, the building on this spot was a dry goods store run by a Scottish immigrant named Ebeneezer Ewing. Today it has a gorgeous four-poster bed with curtains, a working fireplace, and just enough modern touches (plumbing, TV) to make it comfortable but not enough to ruin the vibe. I even had my own little backyard!

One of the coolest things about staying right there in one of the historic houses on the grounds is that it was convenient. After touring one of the exhibits, I could just run home and use my own bathroom instead of the public restrooms. The little sign on the front door discouraged any tourists who thought my humble abode was an attraction.

I loved every moment I spent here.

(Sick of my trip yet?)

I'm Indi-a Mood for Love

That's the name of the OPI polish I got during my spa pedi. Prior to my luxury soaking, exfoliating, moisturizing and painting, I got a reflexology massage. Veronika, a Russian lass, worked wonders on my neck, wrists/hands, and especially my feet. Which is why I think of Tuesday as Tootsie Day at the Spa at Colonial Williamsburg.

Home

I picked these as my first posted photos from my four-day sojurn to Williamsburg because people-watching, especially kid-watching, was one of the great joys. Student groups seem to be high on their own independence, being away from their parents. Younger kids, there with their parents, got swept up in making believe that they live back in the 1700s. I noticed a lot of Beatle t-shirts, more on young people than baby boomers. I view this as England's revenge for the Revolution.

More later. Lots more. I predict you'll all just plead with me to quit posting about about Williamsburg before too long!

Food coma

Just finished the most luscious hunka pork roast I have ever been served, along with some delectable potato concoction and green beans .... and, OK, a pair of pomegranate cosmopolitans. Which means I am now ready for bed at an hour earlier than any time in my life since grammar school. But it's a good, comfortable exhausted. Part too much food, part fabulous facial and hot stone massage, part three solid hours of shopping. (Who knew I would love pewter so much?)

I have had a lovely trip. I am relaxed and only think about my oldest friend and her daughter and what they're doing to my brochure back at the office occasionally. The only real dark cloud on my horizon is worrying about the exceptional young people I flew here with. On my flight from O'Hare to Richmond were more than half a dozen kids en route to deployment at Langley Air Force Base. On the one hand, flying with them was a comfort because when we hit turbulence, they couldn't have been more nonchalant. Here I was, surrounded by young people with exceptional reflexes and relevant knowledge of planes and they didn't think our rocky flight was worthy of notice. Hurray! On the other hand, though, as one young man leapt from his seat to help me (unasked) slip my suitcase into the overhead, I thought, "Please, God, don't let him die." It's weighing heavily on me. But that's life, and as my shrink reminds me, "bad is part of life." I can't let the bad obscure the good.

So while I plot ways to help those serving us, I will also curl up in my fantabulous four poster bed, eat Fig Newtons, enjoy American Idol, and relish every moment spent here in Colonial Williamsburg thus far. More details and photos when I get home. (I promsie, Kwiz!)

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go

Windy City Limos is set to pull up to my front door in less than an hour. I am nervous and happy and excited and scared. I don't fly well, I really don't. My best friend is supposed to be back from celebrating spring break with his family today -- hope I am able to reach him before I board the plane. I could use a text of commonsense "dad talk." If I can't have that, I still have my Xanax!

Once I land in Richmond, all will be fine. I am eager to get to Colonial Williamsburg and settle into my "authentic historic accommodations." There are museums to explore and grounds to wander through and stores to pillage. (I need a new ring for my right hand -- I lost my beloved topaz last week but I didn't freak out because I know Williamsburg has terrific shopping and wouldn't a replacement be a great souvenir?)

Monday Movie Meme

Movie Madness. Share on your blog movies that feature maniacs, lunatics, psychos, crazed behavior or mentally tortured souls. And be sure to link back here to The Bumbles.

Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood. Vivian Abbott Walker is such a big personality that it takes two actresses -- Ashley Judd and Ellen Burstyn -- to play her. She's the ringleader of the Ya Yas, a group of Louisiana neighbors who grew up together from girlhood to through their teens and motherhood and beyond. Their rallying cry, "Ya Ya!" does make them seem more than a little crazy. Vivian is a lot crazy. At times her approach to life seems wild and unique and liberating. But at other times, it's indulgent and Vivian seems as immature as her children. One incident, when Vivian was being treated with a dangerous but very popular barbiturate called Milltown, is very dark and we see how quickly a colorful personality can slide into a dangerous one.

Nuts. Barbra Streisand plays Claudia, a high-priced New York call girl. She kills a very nasty, abusive john, Leslie Nielsen. (I guess she called him "Shirley.") Claudia has issues. She's rebellious, stubborn, pushy and, well, nuts. Yet she insists she's fine, it's the rest of the world that's nuts. Richard Dreyfuss plays the attorney who defends her sanity in court.

Finally, in tribute to the late great Elizabeth Taylor, here's her greatest loony role: Cathy from Suddenly, Last Summer. It was quite shocking for 1959, and if not for the considerable artistic credibility of Katharine Hepburn and Liz's star power, it never would have been made. Hepburn is wealthy matriarch Violet Venable. She promises to donate a ton of money to Dr. Montgomery Clift's mental hospital if only he will lobotomize her troublesome niece, Liz Taylor. Hepburn tells Dr. Clift that Cathy is horny and hostile and keeps spouting "crazy talk" about what happened last summer, when she went traveling with Cousin Sebastian, an incredibly talented writer and Hepburn's beloved son. Sebastian died tragically last summer, but the story Liz recounts is so gothic, so sordid, so scandalous and nuts that it can't possibly be true, can it? Of course it can! After all, this is Tennessee Williams!

Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing: The 5000 Question Meme, Part Two

Cheers to all of us thieves!

26. Who has done something today to show they care about you? My mom asked thoughtful questions about my life

27. Do you have a lot to learn? Hell, yeah!

28. If you could learn how to do three things just by wishing and not by working what would they be? Become proficient in Spanish, ballroom dance, and the InDesign software program

29. Which do you remember the longest: what other people say, what other people do or how other people make you feel? How people make me feel.

30. What are the key ingredients to having a good relationship? Compassion, respect and fun

31. What 3 things do you want to do before you die? Run a 10K, lose weight, get organized

32. What three things would you want to die to avoid doing? Gain weight, become dependent, lose my teeth

33. Is there a cause you believe in more than any other cause? I'm a big fan of the American Humane Association. They protect kids and critters from neglect and abuse.

34. What does each decade make you think of:
1950s: Elvis; 1960s: Beatles; 1970s: Elton John; 1980s: Bruce; 1990s: The Clinton Era; 2000s: 9/11 & The Recession

35. Which decade do you feel the most special connection to and why? The 1960s. I love the Beatles and the clothes and the idealism

36. What is your favorite oldie/classic rock song? "Close your eyes and I'll kiss you, tomorrow I'll miss you ..." The Lads from Liverpool, of course

37. What country do you live in and who is the leader of that country? I live in Galtopia, and, as The Gal Herself, I lead it.

If you could say any sentence to the current leader of your country what would it be? Why are we in Afghanistan?

38. What's your favorite TV channel to watch in the middle of the night? The Hallmark Channel. I am enjoying the old Cheers episodes with Sam and Diane

39. What Disney villain are you the most like and why? Shenzi, the girl hyena from The Lion King. Because she clearly doesn't think she's bad. She's just fallen in with a "bad boy," Scar, who then blames her for everything. So then naturally she eats him alive. (Yes, I'm still in therapy. Why do you ask?)

40. Have you ever been a girl scout/boy scout? I was a Girl Scout and had badges all the way up the back of my sash. So there!

41. If you were traveling to another continent would you rather fly or take a boat? I'd rather stay here. But thanks for offering.

42. Why is the sky blue during the day and black at night? Why do birds sing so gay? Or lovers await the break of day? Why do we fall in love?

43. What does your name mean? "She who loves the Cubs"

44. Would you rather explore the deeps of the ocean or outer space? I'd rather stay here. But thanks for offering.

45. Word association

What is the first word that comes to mind when you see the word:

Air: Space

Meat: Ribeye

Different: Drum

Pink: Flowers

Deserve: "You get what you ...."

White: Whine

Elvis: King

Magic: Kingdom

Heart: of Gold

Clash: "London Calling"

Pulp: Fiction

46. If you could meet any person in the world who is dead who would you want it to be? JBKO, my all-time idol. Sister, I need some advice!

47. What if you could meet anyone who is alive? My beloved future Hall of Famer, and current Cubs consultant, Greg Maddux. Let's talk 2011, shall we?

48. Is there a movie that you love so much you could watch it everyday? The Godfather

49. You are going to be stuck alone in an elevator for a week. What do you bring to do? My laptop so I can fart around on the Internet

50. Have you ever saved someone's life or had your life saved? I saved my kid sister from drowning when we were swimming together. I was in high school, she would have been about 8.

Aw ...

This scene gets to me every time. I realize it's a retro/male rescue fantasy and I should reject it on a psycho-sexual, gender stereotype basis. But instead, I yell, "Way to go, Paula!"

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: A Long December

1. Looking back at it now, how were your holidays and your time on New Year's Eve? I rang in 2011 with a very good friend in Key West. What's not to love about that?

2. Do you have any unusual collections? I suppose I collect purses. I guess what makes it unusual is that I never intended to have "a collection." I just bought bags that made me happy. And many, many bags make me happy.

3. If you could train a machine to do one thing for you whenever you wanted, what would you have it do? I live on the top floor, and the laundry room is in the basement. Nothing bugs me more than hauling all my dirty clothes, as well as the detergent and fabric softener, etc., and finding all the machines are already in use. If there was a machine that could somehow tell me which washers and dryers were available before I make that long trek, I would be happy. Well, happier.

4. What is one thing that makes you cry? I'm not much of a crier.

5. What do you love to do on the weekend? Go to the movies.

6. Do you and your family get along? Ha! I'm getting along well with my mom these days. As for the rest of 'em? Eh.

7. Have you ever gotten kicked out somewhere? If yes, do tell. The Nixon Presidential Museum. I corrected the docent a time or two and she objected to this. Specifically in the section regarding the 1960 election. She didn't appreciate my help. Actually, I am rather proud of this event. Presidential Museums should not deal in rumor and innuendo. Too bad I never made it to the exhibit regarding Cambodia ...

8. Who do you normally turn to when you need to complain about something? My friends.

9. What is the last thing you ordered on-line? Burberry short winter boots. (Half off, end of season sale!)

He was gorgeous

I'm watching a golden oldie, Destry Rides Again, starring James Stewart. I am surprised anew by how sexy he was. For some reason, my first thoughts of him are always the silly, stammering old man I saw on talk shows when I was a kid. But in his prime he was lithe, graceful, smart and sensual. Remember that lovely scene in It's a Wonderful Life when George and Mary are sharing the phone, listening to the "Hee-Haw" guy from New York? Watch him respond to the smell of her hair, to her body next to his, and you can see him falling in love. Yes, James Stewart was sexy back in the day.