Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing: The Blue Memory Meme, Part Two

26) Are you happy with the person you've become? Yes

27) What's a sound you hate; sound you love? HATE: The sound of cardboard scraping against cardboard (think packing boxes); LOVE: A cat's purr

28) What's your biggest "what if"? If I hadn't wasted too much time on the wrong man. But it's not productive so I try not to go there.

29) Do you believe in ghosts? Nope.

30) How about aliens? Nope.

31) What is the single best decision you have made in your life so far? To become a writer.

32) What's the worst place you have ever been to? Montello, Wisconsin

33) Can insanity bring on more creativity? Yes

34) Most attractive actor of your opposite gender? Mark Harmon, aka Gibbs, aka My TV Boyfriend

35) To you, what is the meaning of life? To help those less fortunate

36) Define “Art”. A diminutive form of the name "Arthur."

37) Do you believe in luck? Yes

38) In your opinion, what makes a great relationship? Acceptance

39) What's a song that always makes you happy when you hear it? "September" by Earth, Wind and Fire



40) Where were you yesterday? Here and there, busy preparing for Christmas

41) What's the worst injury you've ever had? If it counts as an injury, I'll go with that incision after having a few internal organs removed last September

42) Do you have any obsessions right now? Theo Epstein and the Cubs

43) What's up? Baking cookies, watching the NCIS marathon, preparing for Christmas

44) Ever had a rumor spread about you? God, yes. A couple were actually true.

45) Do you believe in real magic? Yes.

46) Do you ever hold grudges against people who have done you wrong? If grudge-holding was an Olympic event, I'd bring back the Gold.

47) What's your favorite (non-pet) animal? The okapi

48) What is your secret weapon to get people to like you? Apparent candor

49) Where is your best friend? This evening he is watching his youngest daughter perform in The Nutcracker Suite.

50) What do you think is Satan's last name? Bartman

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Drift Away (RIP Dobie Gray)

1. Who or what bores you enough to mentally drift away? I can easily send my mind away to the happy place during staff meetings.

2. How many members of your family not living with you do you see on during the holidays? My (crazy) older sister and her family will be here with us for the first time in more than 25 years. I find this daunting, but I'm determined to roll with it.

3. When spending time with family, how long after you arrive do you begin to feel "antsy" about being there too long? Depends. Thanksgiving wasn't bad at all, but that "gotta move/gotta get out" feeling kicked in after about two hours. Yet I can spend entire afternoons with my mom and nephew. We'll see. I want Christmas 2011 to be a good one.

4. Does your family more generally get along at a holiday gathering or are there generally arguments? Yes. (Depends on the year.)

5. Are you ever embarrassed by your family around friends? No.

6. Of the celebrities that died in 2011, who will you miss the most?


7. When you watch a movie in a movie theater, do you like the theater filled to capacity, halfway full, or nearly empty? Does your answer change depending on the type of movie you're seeing or do you feel the same way regardless of the movie or genre? I don't care. Sorry.

8. What’s one really cool/useful/nice thing you purchased for yourself this year? I splurged a little and stayed in one of the historic houses on the grounds in Colonial Williamsburg. It was more expensive than the perfectly lovely lodge, but it was sooooo cool. (I'm doing it again this spring, too.)

9. Are you in the holiday spirit yet? Yes!

This one is hard for me

This week former Gov. Rod Blagojevich was sentenced to a staggering 14 years for ... well ... he didn't actually accomplish any of his nefarious schemes. But he had them and was trying witlessly to put them in play, and he certainly shouldn't be rewarded for his ineptitude.

But should he spend 14 years in prison? I don't know. I'm not wise enough. I just know it leaves me staggeringly sad.

On the one hand --

• I voted for this turd ... TWICE! The first time, I actually believed in him, so my sense of betrayal is as personal as it is huge. (The second time, the Republican party in Illinois ran a candidate who was simply ridiculous and I felt I had no choice.)
• His predecessors got stiff sentences for corruption, too, and that didn't deter him, so the similar five or six year sentence I wish he'd gotten might not have sent a message to other politicians (Jesse, Jr., are you listening?). I know that the judge was trying to use this sentence as a much-needed remedy to the rampant corruption.

On the other hand, he got twice the sentence that his predecessor, Governor George Ryan, and Ryan's misdeeds were much greater. Really, check out the aftermath of his chicanery and the high prices The Willis Family paid. Perhaps it's only because Blago was such a bad crook, but he never did anything this bad.

Oh well, it's over. The toughest part of this, for me, is that when you visit the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum you see the names of at least three felons -- George Ryan, Rod Blagojevich and William Cellini -- carved into the marble. "Honest Abe" deserves better from his home state, he really does.

I hope this is it for a while. I don't want Jesse, Jr., to be guilty. But if he is, I hope he takes a plea deal and saves us all even more sordid drama.

THURSDAY THIRTEEN #149

THE THIRTEEN 

MOST POPULAR 

CHRISTMAS SONGS

Thanks to Wikipedia for this list (and the pretty tree photo, too).

1  "The Christmas Song" (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) – Mel Tormé, Robert Wells 

2  "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" – Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin

 

3  "Winter Wonderland" – Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith

 

4 "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" – J. Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie

 

5  "White Christmas" – Irving Berlin

 

6  "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" – Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne 

7  "Jingle Bell Rock" – Joseph Carleton Beal, James Ross Boothe 

8  "The Little Drummer Boy" – Katherine K. Davis, Henry V. Onorati, Harry Simeone

 

9  "Sleigh Ride" – Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish 

10  "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" – Johnny Marks

 

11  "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" – Edward Pola, George Wyle 

12  "I'll Be Home for Christmas" – Walter Kent, Kim Gannon, Buck Ram

13  "Silver Bells" – Jay Livingston, Ray Evans

I'm not surprised to see #12 on the list. I think I have heard "I'll Be Home for Christmas" performed by everyone from Karen Carpenter to Lou Rawls this year. I'm starting to wonder where the singer is that he or she won't be home for Christmas. Prison? The military? Working the holiday shift at a hospital? The backstory on that one changes for me depending on who is doing the singing.

For more about the Thursday 13,
or to play along yourself, click here.

Wow!

Had an impressive session with my shrink last night. I told her that I'm really pretty happy these days, and that makes me feel bad because my oldest friend is suffering and just keeps on suffering, no matter what I do.

The doc started by pointing out the obvious -- that there isn't a finite amount of happy in the world, and that when I'm feeling good it's not like I'm preventing her from being happy. I know that. That doesn't mean I don't feel that way, but I know it's not true.

And then there's the fact that it isn't up to me to make my oldest friend happy or whole. It's unrealistic. It's undoable. It's dopey. I know that, too. I just need to be reminded.

Now here's the revelation: my need to fix her life may actually be harming and not be helping. This part I didn't get until my shrink pointed it out to me.

When I tell my best friend to join a congregation … to eat healthier … to stop smoking … to reach out to her friends and family more authentically … to enforce boundaries with her kids … etc., she's probably not hearing the love and support I intend. Heard through the filter of her overwhelming vulnerability, she may just hear, "Why didn't I think of that? I suck."

Instead, when she's blue, I should just say, "I'm sorry. How can I help?" And then, instead of solving, I should shut up and just listen.

Wow. Just wow.

My favorite traditional carol

Peace on earth and mercy mild. God and sinner reconciled.

I love "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!" It makes me happy whenever I hear it. It encapsulates the religious side of the holiday for me: Peace, mercy and unconditional love.

It also reminds me of George Carlin's joke that it's really about listening for the LA Herald's softball team. And that always makes me smile, too.

A great honor for a Cub great

I only wish Ronnie was alive to see it!

I adored Ron Santo. I grew up on him! He wore the #10 in Cubbie Blue for 14 seasons, encompassing the seasons from when I was in pre-school and continuing through my junior year in high school. On the North Side he had a career batting average of .279 and more than 335 home runs. These stats are not earth shaking today, but remember, this was in the 1960s and early 1970s -- NO STEROIDS. He also played in four consecutive All-Star games, including his rookie season, and won five consecutive Gold Glove Awards at third base.

He did all of the above while battling diabetes. Think about that.

In retirement, he became the voice of the Cubs on the radio and was a complete delight. I loved having Ronnie in my head every summer as I wore my headphones and listened to him add passion and knowing observations to each game. He was also a tireless and influential fundraiser for JDF.

He wanted this honor badly. It came a year too late. As always, baseball holds life lessons for me. I must thank the people I appreciate NOW, when I can.

Only as sick as our secrets

When I was at my mom's yesterday, I happened to see the Christmas card she received from my oldest friend. It was a lovely, very conventional affair with a touch of glitter on the front, and the inside was a form letter detailing how well everything is going for her in Beverly Hills.

Huh? What? Her life is a mess and has been since she arrived on the West Coast! She even goes on and on about how good it is to be so close to her cousin, Sharon. Yes, the same cousin who won't lift a freaking finger to help my oldest friend or her two troubled children.

I don't know who all is on my friend's card list, but my dear old mother has known her since she was 5 and could certainly handle, and lovingly welcome, the truth. I'm sure that there are others who received this sugar-coated nonsense who, like my mother, would rather hear an unpleasant truth and try to help than be lulled by her lies.

No, wait. "Lies" is unfair. Everything my oldest friend wrote was completely accurate, and just as untrue.

Denying her situation will not help her improve it. Seeing that Christmas card frustrated and saddened me enormously.

Celebrating my mom's birthday

This intense and soulful looking man is Chaz Dean. He has a line of haircare products, sold on one of the shopping networks, that has completely captivated my mom. It's rather pricey, and when she hit this latest financial bump in the road, her Wen was economized away. So I was happy to find two new and sealed bottles of the cleansing conditioner (her favorite product) on eBay for her birthday gift. One of them was even one of 2011's special 2011 holiday scent: vanilla mint. I'm confident this part of my gift was a hit with her, and I'm glad.

Another portion of my gift to her -- a pair of $10 giftcards to Olive Garden -- were less so, and it makes me sad. Here's the deal: Whenever I buy giftcards, I always include the a portion of the receipt so just in case there's a problem when it's redeemed, there's proof that the card was activated. I bought these Olive Garden cards at Walgreen's, so it was Walgreen's that I taped to these cards.

As she examined the giftcards, holding them under the table lamp, I said, "I got two $10s instead of one $20 so you can use them separately and together. I know you enjoy going with your friend Shirley and with your granddaughter." My mom will be at the mall with Shirley and my niece will be home for Christmas soon, and I know visits to Olive Garden will be on her mind and her already thin budget. She thanked me.

As I was leaving, I made reference to Olive Garden and she said, "But I thought those giftcards were for Walgreen's!" She was fixated on the black and white cash register receipt on the back, not the glossy, brightly colored logo on the front? Didn't she hear me when I mentioned either using them separately or together, with either Shirley or my niece? I mean, who enjoys trips to the corner drugstore with friends and family?

It's this evidence that she doesn't get stuff anymore that makes me sad. I hate it that my mommy is getting old. (She will be 78 this week.)

Christmas Meme

Purloined from Kwizgiver.

1. Worst Christmas song? "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer"
 
2. If you were a Christmas character, who would you be? Mary Bailey from It's A Wonderful Life.
 
3. What type of decoration should stop being made? Voice-activated Santas, the ones that startle me as I walk through Walgreen's 

4. Tastiest holiday treat? Anything with cinnamon

5. Favorite pop culture/stereotypical Christmas icon? Scrooge

6. Know how to make cookies/brownies/cake from scratch? Now I do

7. Ever cut your mouth on a candy cane/candy? No
 
8. What other culture would you like to experience Christmas with? London. I'd like to see if there's still a Dickens-y vibe.

9. What kind of pattern/pictures do you like on your wrapping paper? Small, so that it's still pretty on smaller packages.

10. Will you make a Christmas picture for your blog/website/profile? nope

11. Three best things about Christmas? The decorations, the music, the contagious and charitable spirit

Point. Click. Give.

This made me happy. I was able to donate a copy of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever to the annual Today Show Toy Drive … WHILE STILL BAREFOOT AND IN MY PJs! How cool is that? All I had to was click here and I was at the Amazon Wish List.

I chose this book because my nephew is such a fan of the series and because I like giving children books. But I almost chose the mini NBA baseketball.

Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing: The Blue Memory Meme, Part One

Cheers to all of us thieves!

1) If the whole world were listening to you right now, what would you say? We're all alive! It's a gift. Now do something with that gift.
 
2) If you could meet anyone on this earth, who would it be? Hillary Rodham Clinton. She's from here in suburban Chicagoland and look at the life she's had! I have so many questions for her (plus she considered my all-time idol, JBKO, a friend.)

3) You just got a free plane ticket to anywhere. You have to depart right now. Where are you gonna go? Hot Springs, AR, so I can visit the spa at the Arlington Hotel again. It's a perfectly charming little spa in a historic old hotel, right next to a beautiful national park. Not great, mind you. But I always enjoyed my stays there and for some reason my times there keep popping into my head. 

4) What do you think about most? Two of my friends -- the ones I have imaginatively christened My Best Friend and My Oldest Friend. I think of him with longing because he's such a comforting presence in my life. I worry about her because she is frequently so troubled.

5) You have the opportunity to spend a romantic night with the music celebrity of your choice. Who would it be? The Boss. A fine figure of a man at 60.
 
6) You can erase any horrible experience from your past. What will it be? None. I am not crazy about many of the things that happened to me, but they all helped make me the woman I am today. And I like me!

7) What's your strangest talent? Wiggling my ear.

8) What would be a question you'd be afraid to tell the truth on? This one.

9) Ever had a poem or song written about you? No. Though a lover once told me that he wished he had written Bob Dylan's "Emotionally Yours" for me. I hope that was about the impact I had on him, and not a yearning for royalty checks.

10) When is the last time you played the air guitar? Never.

11) Do you have any strange phobias? No. I think fearing clowns, air travel and squirrels is completely understandable.

12) What's your religion? In a macro sense? Christian. In terms of the worship services I attend, I'm a Unitarian Universalist.

13) What is your current desktop picture? This.

14) When you are outside, what are you most likely doing? Walking somewhere, while wearing headphones.

15) What's the last song you listened to? "Let It Snow" by Michael Buble.
 
16) Simple but extremely complex. Favorite band? The Beatles. The Fab Four. The Lads from Liverpool. The Moptops. The Maestros of the Mersey. (If you had to ask, you don't visit here often.)
 
17) What was the last lie you told? "Thank you. Got it. I'm watching it now." Last night my mom told me NBC was rebroadcasting It's A Wonderful Life, and no, I didn't watch it.

18) Do you believe in karma? Yes.

19) What is a saying you say a lot? "The thing of it is ..."

20) What is your greatest weakness; your greatest strength? My greatest weakness? I'm like a dog with a dirty sock -- I don't let go. My greatest strength? I'm very loyal. I often think these traits are two sides of the same coin.

21) Who is your celebrity crush? Oh, good goobies! My mind is like a motel! Most frequently I dream of the aforementioned Bruce and Mark Harmon, my TV Boyfriend.

22) Give me the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word: heart. "Everybody's got a huh-huh-hungry heart."

23) How do you vent your anger? I can have a sharp tongue.

24) Do you have a collection of anything? Books.

25) What is your favorite word? Gubernatorial. One good thing about living in Illinois, the Land of Blago and George Ryan, is that word comes up a lot. Unfortunately, often in indictments.

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Lies

1. “Everybody lies. But it's alright because nobody listens.” is one of Bud's Law's. What do you lie about? My social calendar. I often make up events to get out of doing stuff I just don't want to do. I'm afraid the truth ("I'd rather sit home and watch Law & Order reruns than go out with you") might hurt feelings.

2. When you purchase a DVD, what besides the the movie itself, what do you enjoy the most? Is it the director's commentary, the deleted scenes, the bloopers or the behind-the-scenes documentary? Deleted scenes. These extras are what I miss about streaming videos and ONDEMAND.

3. What would you most like to accomplish before the year is over? Nothing springs to mind. Which is a good feeling. While I could stand to part with more shit, I think I may just have that Clutter Monster under control.

4. What is your current percentage of online shopping? Is it going to be more this year than last? I was told there would be no math involved. It's probably a little more than half, and it feels the same as last year.

5. What's left to do at your place (or where you are going)? Is the tree up? ...or maybe you're just happy you found that fave Christmas coffee mug and are calling that good? My tree is up. My cards are in the mail. My shopping is just about done. Time for the paper, tags and tape! I have been considering a fresh wreath for the front door. Maybe this weekend.

6. If you could get worry free, cost free plastic surgery, would you? If yes, where? Yes. In a hospital.

7. Do you think the child you were growing up, would like the adult you've become? For the most part. I can be short-tempered. But I'm also imaginative and supportive. My niece and nephew and my friend's daughter all think I'm pretty cool for some reason.

8. What will you miss about 2011? Long-time Cub players. With a new manager and new front office personnel, it stands to reason that some changes will be made. But I've grown very fond of some of my heroes in Cubbie Blue.

9. What is something you'd love to see invented? The laundry room is in the basement, and I share those two washers and dryers with the tenants of 11 other units. I wish there was a way to know -- without going down the four flights of stairs with a ton of clothes -- if the machines are in use.

A Tale of Two Teeth

A surprising and unwelcome part of my birthday celebration was my chipped molar. It's been more than a week and there's no pain, so I'm going to wait until January to get it looked at. Why work fruitlessly toward my deductible this late in the year, only to have the meter reset on January 1?

I realize I'm lucky to not be in pain, to have the chip in a barely visible spot, and to have dental insurance at all.

My friend from the Keys called to tell me how happy he was with the progress of his wrongful dismissal claim. But he was distracted by vodka -- partly because a cocktail is part of his after-work routine, mostly because he was in pain. He, too, has a broken tooth. But he can't afford to get it fixed because he doesn't have dental insurance. So he's going to self medicate and eventually get something done, but not the root canal/crown he predicts would set him back $1,400 he doesn't have. (I don't know what they cost, since I have the insurance, which I'm suddenly more grateful for.)

I'll know it when I feel it

On my way back from the post office where I mailed paperbacks to the soldiers, I spotted a book fair. For just $3.81 (including tax), I was able to pick up this Nancy Drew book. I left it in the drop box for the children's home my office building assists each year. I loved Nancy Drew as a young girl, and it makes me happy to think of another little gal enjoying her adventures this Christmas.

My nephew and I have already shopped for Sebastian, the 12-year-old in the after-school program for the less privileged in my own neighborhood. And I dropped off the goodies I have been collecting all year for Toys for Tots. There's a box conveniently located at my local Walgreen's (and there's probably one at yours, too -- hint, hint).

I try to contribute to good causes all year because it's the right thing to do. As JFK said, we should work toward a world where "the weak are safe and the strong are just," and to that end, I should do my part. It's what's expected of me as a Christian.

But at Christmas, when it comes to kids, there's more joy and less obligation in my giving. I think it's because I love thinking of the absolutely perfect toys I got from Santa when I was little. Or the scented lotions, barrettes and patterned knee socks in my stocking from my parents when I got older.

It wasn't so much the stuff that make the memories special. It was the wonder and the magic. The joy and surprise. It's that excitement and happiness that I'm trying to recapture and pass along to another young person.

After Sebastian and Toys for Tots, I thought I had given "enough" and was done for the season. Then I saw Nancy Drew looking out at me from the book rack and I knew I still had a ways to go. When I can look at a potential gift and a collection bin and not feel the irresistable need to bring them together, that's when I'll be done for the year

One last gift

I think I am almost done with my Christmas shopping! All that's left is a Chicago Bulls cap for my young nephew.

I didn't pick one up for him earlier because he's not really that much of a basketball fan and with the lockout dragging on and on, I was afraid there wouldn't be a season. For him, when the Bulls are out of sight, they are out of mind. (After all, they aren't the Cubs.)

But my mom is a huge fan and it will make her happy to see him wearing it. And, like many other 12 year old boys, it makes him happy to switch caps every day or so. Win/win.

About comments

Every now and again I read one of you blogging buddies o' mine wondering wistfully why you don't receive any more comments. To which I ask, "Do you really want strangers venting their voluminous spleens on your blog?"

Every once in a while I'm accused of being an unsympathetic bitch for holding Betty Broderick responsible for shooting two people while they slept, pre-dawn on a Sunday morning, in their own beds. I'm too thick to understand that somehow it was self defense.

Now it seems I'm hard-hearted because I don't feel sorry for Joe Paterno after the role he played in the Penn State scandal.

Because I have Statcounter for this blog, I know that the Betty fans and the Paterno apologist arrived here the same way. They do searches for these hot button topics and then troll the web to tell complete strangers like me how wrong we are.

I don't get it.


It feels a more than a little sad, and it very annoying.

Pressing my "dad" button

My dad was like Archie Bunker. He used to say grumpy shit that didn't make sense, that he didn't even mean, just to hear himself being grumpy.

"If [insert Democrat's name here] becomes President, we're moving to Canada."

"I'm never buying anything from Japan again." (Even though the TV he had just bought me for my room was by Sanyo.)

"I'm never going to another baseball game again." After the first baseball players' strike in 1981. OK, that was true. But because no one ever invited him to another game, not because of his heroic anti-labor stance. Anyway, you get the idea.

I HATE IT WHEN ANYONE PRESSES MY "DAD" BUTTON!

Unfortunately, my oldest friend is flirting with a man who is leaning heavily on my dad button. They met through some SoCal dating service and have traded emails and spoken on the phone. Because I am very protective of her -- and because she doesn't need anymore shit or heartache -- I have been cyber stalking this guy. Between Twitter, Facebook and his blog, he gives me a lot of material.

At first he gave me pause because he wrote that he was so sorry that Joe Paterno is a victim of this Penn State mess. What the fu ... Oh, well, the guy used to be a sportscaster. Maybe he can't stop looking at the world through that prism. A little baffling for a father and a grandfather regarding the subject of child abuse, but I'm a barren spinster, what do I know?

Then he complained about Black Friday and how he will never shop at Wal-Mart or Best Buy again, since those two retailers pander to our lowest instincts and encourage us to act like animals.Really? Really? You will never shop at Wal-Mart or Best Buy again? HONK! HONK! Dad button goes off loudly.

He's done with Bette Midler because of something she tweeted. He guesses she doesn't want conservative fans like him.  HONK! Dad button again.


Today he's mad at OWS because they have taken over parks paid for with tax dollars and he wonders what's next. Are they going to camp out all night in affluent neighborhoods to protest people who work for a living and earned what they have?  HONK! HONK! Yes, Dad, that's exactly what's next. They're pitching their tents on Kirk Kerkorian's lawn right now.


Like my oldest friend, he has had a lot of health problems lately. Perhaps they are weighing heavily on him, and that explains the dearth of joy in any of his posts.


But still, he sounds like an angry man and I'm getting a very toxic vibe from him. With everything my friend has been dealing with, I don't know that Archie Bunker is really who she needs right now.

Therefore, as mean as this sounds, I hope he cancels on her. I really do. I know how sad and lonely she is, but she's already looking at this man as her "soul mate" and talking about which cologne she's going to wear for their first meeting. I'm scared for her with this guy. Not physically, but emotionally.

I hope I'm wrong. I'd love to be wrong. Please let me be wrong and please let her have her happy ending.

Thursday Thirteen #148

THIRTEEN COMMON, INEXPENSIVE ITEMS 

THAT COULD BRIGHTEN A SOLDIER'S LIFE

And not just soldiers. These things would be valued by troops in the Air Force, Marines and Navy.

Operation Shoebox is a volunteer organization that puts together shoeboxes filled with gifts from home for our troops overseas. Here are just some of the things they suggest we donate. These items are so small, so mundane, that they humble me. THIS is what our troops are asking for, in exchange for defending us? If you can, please do what you can to pitch in and help by donating these items:

1) Twizzlers
2) Dental floss
3) Instant coffee
4) Girl Scout Cookies
5) Playing cards
6) Ramen noodles
7) Hand sanitizer
8) Paperback books
9) Batteries (esp. AA and D)
10) Plastic spoons
11) Sugar packets
12) Disposable razors
13)Travel-sized shampoo and conditioner



Many of these items will fit into a padded envelope. That's what I do: collect the items in an envelope and then send them off to Operation Shoebox. I also have a collection box at work for items like these. It's easy!

Contributions can be sent to:
Operation Shoebox
PO Box 1465
Belleview, FL  34421-1465


For more about the Thursday 13,
or to play along yourself, click here.

I *was* happy

My last day off and I pampered myself to a facial. I enjoyed it while it was happening. The cleansers and lotions and potions all had a nice, citrusy scent and felt good. But now my face feels as parched as the Sahara. I know that often, after a facial, redness is to be expected. But I've never felt this dry before.

Ah! The problems I wrestle with!

Permission to vent

I hate my oldest friend's cousin, Sharon. There, I said it. And it felt gooood.

My oldest friend moved to California -- more than 2000 miles away -- to be near her only blood relative. That's how important Sharon is to her. The move has been a disaster, for a variety of reasons that I've chronicled on my blog but simply don't have the stomach to revisit right now.

Anyway, Sharon, who originally encouraged this badly-planned move and was so happy about she wept, has been no support whatsoever to my oldest friend now that she's there.

My friend has had two major surgeries on her elbow this past year, and her cousin hasn't once driven in to see her during her recuperation, much less visited her in the hospital. My friend is depressed and unemployed (well, on disability) and she needs encouragement and support!

Sharon has also refused to watch my friend's troubled daughter, even for a few days, to give my friend a break. I'm not kidding -- my friend has asked her cousin to help with her daughter and Sharon has actually said, "no."

Sure, Sharon goes on the occasional shopping trip with my friend and has her over for a late lunch/early dinner every Sunday. But everything has to be in her neighborhood, which is 90 miles away from Beverly Hills, where my friend lives.
Most telling, I checked Sharon's Facebook page and saw lots of pictures labeled, "Family." My oldest friend and her two kids don't appear in any of them.

I am so sorely tempted to call the bitch and say, "Yes, my oldest friend is a neurotic mess and her kids can be completely awful. But she's your cousin and she needs you! Time to step up! You're not only her only living relative, you're all she has within 2000 miles and you encouraged her to make this move. Do the right thing!"

Christmas Cookies -- Chapter 1

My best friend is a foodie, so I committed myself to giving him a homemade Christmas gift. Since he knows I am domestically challenged, I know this will mean a lot to him.

First step: I found the easiest recipe ever. Bonus: it's made with tons of peanut butter, which my friend loves.
 

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 tablespoons any flavor jelly or fruit preserves

Preheat oven to 350º. Mix peanut butter, sugar egg and vanilla until well blended.  Drop by spoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet.  Make a few holes/dents into the top of each cookie and fill with the jelly.  Bake for 8-12 minutes or until lightly golden brown.  Cool. 

Second step: Buy ingredients. I thought that organic, all-natural peanut butter would be best. I was wrong. Here's why:

Third step: First batch. So runny, oil actually spilled off the cookie sheet onto the floor when I took the cookies out of the oven.

Fourth step: Running to CVS for Jif Crunchy Peanut Butter.

Fifth step: Perfection! Well, almost. The holes I made for the preserves were too deep and the jelly seeped through one or two of the cookies. I must try again.

But I admit I am sick of the process now. It took me more than two hours to whip up these two batches yesterday. (Yes, I know it's pathetic. One person commented of the recipe that her 7 year old daughter makes these cookies all by herself. Gulp.) And I am beyond disgusted by the thought of peanut butter and sugar right now. Maybe I'll experiment more later today, but not now.

Weekend Update with The Gal Herself

My nephew was with me from Saturday afternoon until Sunday afternoon. By the time we parted, I was exhausted! Seriously, Moms, I don't know how you do it.

We went to the local Whole Foods Market for milk (which he drinks by the gallon) and to choose a child to help from their store tree. He selected Sebastian, a 12 year old boy who wants a "hand-held travel game." We found him a baseball game that fit the bill at CVS, loaded him up with some batteries (which are almost as expensive as the game!) and a fleece pullover at Old Navy which my nephew assures me will be a hit. I'm glad we did this because I want him to remember that there are 12 old boys, just like him, who aren't as fortunate.

Then we put up the tree. That's Sebastian's gift you see there. My nephew was a lot of help.

We read books and ate burgers and pizza and played with my cats (very gentle with Joey, very patient with Reynaldo) and laughed a lot. I am glad we had the time since, now that he's 12, I'm not sure he will always be so willing to hang out with his old aunt.

Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing: The Bud is Back Meme
Cheers to all of us thieves!


1. Why did you sign up for writing your blog? I wanted to create a snapshot of my life as it felt at that particular moment. I like journaling but am so unorganized. Thankfully blogger does all the organization for me!

2. Why did you choose your blog's name? What does it mean? It was available. It doesn't mean more than this is a place for my musings.

3. Do you ever had another blog? Nope.

4. What do you do online when you're not on your blog? Read other blogs. Fart around on FB. Look stuff up. Etc.

5. How about when you're not on the computer? I work I read. I watch TV. I yap on the phone. I party with my friends. I tend to my critteres. Etc.

6. What do you wish people who read your blog knew about you? I think they know everything they need to know! I'm pretty frank here.

7. What is your favorite community in the blogosphere? Don't have one.

8. What is your philosophy on your blog layout? To revel in my love of book.

9. Tell me about your picture you use to represent you on your blog. I am the star of my own universe.

10. Pick 3 random blogs from your blogroll and tell us about them. Hail, Hail Galtopia is my own city. Please visit it. Kwizgiver is a teacher and a book lover. Snarkypants is a fan girl who loves David Cook.

11. What features do you think your blog should have that it doesn't currently? I'm very pleased with my blog.

12. What do you consider the 10 most "telling" interests that we would infer from what you blog persona? Baseball, books, my friends, movies, current affairs, my family, politics, my job, TV,  memes.

13. Do you have any unique interests that you have never shared before? What are they? Nope. It's all here on the ol' blog.

14. The best thing about blogging is all of the friends that you make, Beside from those folks, do you think your blog has fans? I am always surprised how many readers I have! Grateful, too.

15. What's your current obsession? What about it captures your imagination? Leroy Jethro Gibbs. He's my TV boyfriend.

16. What are you glad you did but haven't really had a chance to post about? Lost my virginity.


17. How many people that first became a blog friend, have you met face to face? Book Mama and Snowbird.

18. What don't you talk about here, either because it's too personal or because you don't have the energy? There isn't much. My life is pretty much here.

19. What's a question that you'd love to answer? Was there a second gunman behind the grassy knoll?

20. Have you ever lost a blogging friendship and regretted it? No

21. Have you ever lost a blogging friendship and thought, “Was that overdue!” No

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Turn Back the Hands of Time

1. There's a Time Genie. She can put you back in time to relive a day that you loved. If you could turn back the hands of time, what day would you relive if given this opportunity? This is the first one that comes to mind: Summer 2005 -- My best friend and I were within the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field the night my beloved future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux got his 3000th strike out. I love the Cubs, I love my best friend, I love Greg Maddux.

2. What did you do yesterday? Ate too much and lolled around too much.

3. You've been given 3 parachutes, but there are 4 people who need them. Who will you not give one to: Mel Gibson, Charlie Sheen, Kim Kardashian, or Simon Cowell? Why? Mel. Because he's a violent, racist pig.

4. Where are you going and where have you been? Eastbound and down, loaded up and truckin'. I've got a long way to go and a short time to get there.

5. They say that books read as a child make more of an impact on a person than books read at any other time in life. Are there any books that you particularly loved, that shaped the way you think when you were little? Charlotte's Web. She's still my hero. I try to live up Wilbur's eulogy of her: a true friend and a good writer.

6. What do you look forward to most in the next six weeks? My best friend is coming in, and I'm ringing in the New Year in Key West.

7. What was the last text message you received? My best friend sent me a photo of the biggest fish he caught this week. It weight 9 lbs. (or so he said).

8. Do you prefer to call or text? Eh. They're equal to me. I prefer email.

9. What were you doing at 9PM last night? I was in a Thanksgiving food coma.

It was fine

Thanksgiving, I mean. Minimal stress, no arguing. Wonderful sweet potato pie. In all, nothing memorable -- which, in the case of my family, is a very good thing.

Fishing? Really?

When my best friend told me he was going to New Orleans so spend Thanksgiving week with his in-laws, I assumed he was going to enjoy the white run hurricanes and the award-winning Creole cuisine he loves so much. For my best friend is a haute kinda guy.

So imagine my surprise when I got a chatty little email last night, wishing me a belated happy birthday and telling me he would have called but there was no cell phone coverage at their out of the way fishing lodge. He caught almost a dozen fish, too.

I almost rubbed my eyes in disbelief. I don't see him roughing it.

Back with family, he handled cooking the Thanksgiving meal. Now THAT sounds like him.

Makes me so happy to hear he's happy.

Thursday Thirteen #147

THIRTEEN THINGS
I'M THANKFUL FOR

1) I don't have cancer. Every day I remind myself to be grateful that both biopsies taken on 9/9 came back benign.

2) My cat, Charlotte, is fine. Unbeknownst to her, she had her own cancer scare this year. The vet warned me the lump on her tongue could be malignant. Thankfully it was just allergies!

3) Time with my mom. When I think of her, I think of the Beatles song, "Two of Us." You and I have memories longer than the road that stretches on ahead .... I realize that because of her age, our time together is short, and it makes me appreciate it more.

4) Shared history with friends. My oldest friend and I have known one another more than 45 years. I'm still in regular contact with a group of buddies I met in 1981. I have known Barb and Kathleen since 1995. The newbie of my circle, my best friend, has been around since 2004. I am thankful that they have stuck with me so long and through so much!

5) My cat Joey's open heart. He is such a loving a tub of guts.

6) My cat Reynaldo. His energetic approach to life can be a challenge. OK, at times he's a demon of destruction. But he teaches me patience. Every day.

7) My imagination. Yes, I can be all day-dreamy. But it serves me well. I am blessed with a creative mind, and I think it springs from this difficult-to-harness trait.

8) Books. I am a reader, and it's expanded my world enormously.

9) Music. I'm utterly tone deaf and can't sing a note, yet certain songs can change my mood instantly. I avoid the sad ones and am grateful for the happy ones.

10) Movies. I am in love with the process of going to the movies -- from buying the ticket to sitting in the dark and watching the coming attractions and then the main feature. I am thankful that for $10 I can so easily be transported to a new world.

11) My niece and nephew. It's been a joy to see how different they are from one another, how individual, how special.

12) My career. It's taken some twists and turns but it has always kept a roof over my head and has provided me with valuable benefits that let me get good healthcare.

13) The tree outside my livingroom window. It's on my neighbors property, and when I saw the tree service was cutting away at it, I was afraid we were losing it for good. No, they were just trimming away, and I'm so grateful. For this tree, bare now, symbolizes the four seasons for me -- watching it go from green to gold to bare and back again is one of the joys of living in the midwest.

For more about the Thursday 13,
or to play along yourself, click here.

Happy Birthday to Me, Part 7

Met my old friend Mindy for dinner. I had a burger, she had a salad. She looks terrific and was full of tales about her younger son, which made me happy because has ADD and that has caused her and her husband quite a bit of worry.

She also gave me the DVD of her favorite show, The Good Wife, which I really haven't seen. I've caught an episode now and again, but I'm not really familiar with the series. Here's my chance to catch up.

Mindy wants John to join us for our Christmas get together. If they work it out, I'll agree. We all met at work 30 years ago. But John and I have stayed close, Mindy and I have stayed in touch and John and Mindy have drifted apart.

They have made that choice, in a dozen different little ways, over the years. It's not hard to sign a holiday or get well card and drop it in the mail, or to shoot an email with a link to a newspaper/magazine article that reminds you of someone, or to pick up the phone and say "happy birthday." And yet over the years, these two haven't done it. It's something I don't really understand and so I'm confused by her sudden desire to see John.

If they work it out, I'll be there. But I'm not going to move heaven and earth to make it happen. It might be awkward and besides, I see this as their business. I'll show up to be the bridge between them after all these years, but while I'm willing to be their conduit, I'm not going to be the catalyst.

Happy Birthday to Me, Parts 5 and 6

Yesterday was my actual birthday. First celebrated with coworkers at the Wildberry Pancake House, and I had eggs benedict. Then my friend John took me to Italian Village, Chicago's oldest landmark Italian restaurant (open since 1927).

He also got me Barbra Streisand's coffee table book about her home -- something I love having but could not justify purchasing for myself. As he said, that makes it the perfect gift.

Things have slowed at work somewhat -- the calm before the storm. So I'm burning off some of my remaining vacation days (Wednesday through Thursday). Yea!

I say a little prayer for you

The anniversary of President Kennedy's death was yesterday, my birthday. Because this dramatic event felt like it happened to me personally, it had a tremendous impact on me. I began learning about the man who ruined my 6th birthday and came away with a hero.

From studying about JFK, I developed a lifelong love of reading and joy of discovery. I came to appreciate his dispassionate approach to conflict -- it was never personal -- even as I find myself unable to emulate it. I appreciate his appreciation of language. I admire his physical courage and his grace under pressure. I learned the valuable lesson that great men are not necessarily good men. Most of all, I admire the elegant and sophisticated way his mind worked, the way the idealism melded with pragmatism.

So amidst all the celebration of my 54th birthday, I want to take a moment to remember the man who became a part of my life on my 6th birthday and taught me so many wonderful things. It's humbling to realize God has given me more time than he got.

Why, you'd think I'm a Cub fan or something!

Happy Birthday to me, Part 4: Celebrating with my mom and my nephew. My mom got me a Cub garden gnome (who knew there was such a thing!) and a retrospective of all my heroes who wore the uniform (Few and Chosen). We talked a moment about our favorite Cub players -- Grandma Ruth (no longer with us) loooooved her Ryno (Ryne Sandberg), my mother's favorite was Fergie Jenkins, my nephew can't decide between D Lee or Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks, and I, of course, still claim my beloved future Hall-of-Famer, Greg Maddux, as my fave rave. We are Cub fans. It's who we are. And it has been acknowledged that since my grandmother died, I am the one who now most proudly waves the banner.

My nephew, God bless him, contributed $10 of his own money to my Facebook birthday cause. I was touched.

We had pizza and my favorite, mint chocolate chip ice cream. It was a lovely afternoon.

Happy Birthday to me, Part 3

Lou Mitchell's with Kathy. Thirty years ago -- yes, 30 years ago! -- when Kathy, John and I first started hanging around together, we used to visit this Chicago institution all the time. It's not so much that the food is great (it's absolutely fine, hearty breakfast fare), it's the other stuff. The "circus" aspect of the "bread and circus" that makes it famous. If you're stuck in the line* that often stretches around the block in all weather, the owner comes by with a Longaberger basket filled with donut holes. As you're seated, you're presented with a tiny box of Milk Duds. Every meal is served with a slice of orange and a prune, and everyone gets a tiny cup of softserve ice cream (always vanilla) for dessert. I do not know the derivation of any of these traditions. I just know they began before my merry little band of friends began going there, and have continued without us.

I was thrilled that Kathy was willing to drive in to the city on Sunday to celebrate my birthday. In addition to a pecan waffle, she got me a satin pillow case. I had mentioned once to her that the folds of my pillow case stayed stuck into my face for a while when I first wake up, one of the signs of aging I really hate. This way, I won't be reminded of being ancient every morning. I was touched that she remembered.

I wasn't so thrilled that I somehow chipped one of my molars. I don't know if I chipped it, or if the valiant old tooth just gave out. No matter, it was an unwelcome sign of impending decay, during my otherwise happy birthday celebration, no less!

*And I wasn't, because I'm the Birthday Girl! As soon as took our place at the end of the line, among tourists and families in after-church attire, the owner called out, "Anyone need a table for 2?" Amazingly, we were the only table for two in line. Yea!

So this means the Recession is over!

Must be, since all anyone who doesn't have a job has to do is "go out and get one." Good to know. Thanks for sharing, Newt.

TV Addict's Meme

Liberated from Kwizgiver

1. Name a TV show series in which you've seen every episode at least twice: The Dick Van Dyke Show

2. Name a show you couldn't miss: Mad Men

3. Name an actor that would make you more inclined to watch a show: Ted Danson

4. Name an actor who would make you less likely to watch a show: Roseanne

5. Name a show you can, and do, quote from: Friends

6. Name a show you like that no one else that you know enjoys: Chicago Tonight on the local PBS station.

7. Name a TV show which you’ve been known to sing the theme song: Friends, The Brady Bunch, The Beverly Hillbillies, Gilligan's Island, The Mary Tyler Moore, That Girl

8. Name a show you would recommend everyone to watch: Morning Joe on MSNBC

9. Name a TV series you own: That Girl

10. Name an actor who launched his/her entertainment career in another medium, but has surprised you with his/her acting choices in television: Sarah Jessica Parker. She was initially so resistant to playing Carrie!

11. What is your favorite episode of one your favorite series? Friends -- The One with the Prom Video. "He's her lobster!"

12. Name a show you keep meaning to watch, but you just haven’t gotten around to yet. Prime Suspect

13. Ever quit watching a show because it was so bad? Gray's Anatomy Haven't watched it since George died and/or Izzie saved the deer. (Can't remember which came first)

14. Name a show that’s made you cry multiple times: thirtysomething

15. What do you eat when you watch TV? I've always got the TV on, so everything

16. How often do you watch TV? See above

17. What’s the last TV show you watched? A rerun of Alfred Hitchcock Presents

18. What’s your favorite/preferred genre of TV? News

19. What was the first TV show you were obsessed with? Batman!

20. What TV show do you wish you never watched? Can't think of anything

21. What’s the weirdest show you enjoyed? Suze Orman

22. What was the single most memorable program you ever saw on TV? The Lads with Ed Sullivan

23. What TV show scared you the most? Twilight Zone

24. What is the funniest TV show you have ever watched? Friends

25. What show was canceled too early into its run? Cybill. Christine Baranski's MaryAnn was fantastic.