Piling on the perky

I am so saddened by the Travyon Martin case, and by the reaction to the verdict (read Joe Scarborough's near-perfect column, but skip the comments as they unfortunately prove Joe's point), that I have been avoiding the news. That is not like me. But the story that dominates the news depresses me so.

I have, instead, turned to the antithesis and sought out aggressively happy energy. Last night, after work, I watched a DVR'd episode of Katie*, which featured Katie Couric, Jane Lynch and Susan Lucci playing a word game. This morning I turned to ME-TV's rerun of That Girl. Ann and Don went to Connecticut to be maid of honor/best man for Ruthie and Jerry's elopement and got snowed in and havoc ensued.

Gotta remember to put PEOPLE and US in my bag to take to the health club. No serious news for me!  How I wish the Royal Baby would get here. That would truly distract me.

*BTW, I can't believe Couric and I are the same age, but we are. She looks fabulous.

Is it OK if I find this funny?

My oldest friend's erstwhile crush, Archie Bunker, is at it again. Amid all of his rather disturbing -- though, I guess, not surprising -- posts about the Trayvon Martin tragedy are his Twitter rants about customer service at the deli counter of his neighborhood Vons grocery store. The thing of it is, though, he has been aiming them not at @Vons_Pavillions, which is their twitter handle, but at @Vons, which is just a guy named Owen.

Archie doesn't mean to, but he can bring a smile to my lips.

Thank God my friend appears to be over him! I know this means I can stop monitoring him, but then I'd miss gems like this.

Look at My Little Man!

Ok, so he's not perfect. He does begin waking me up at 5:30 AM and he still gets off on knocking things over and howling and scratching the furniture and drapes.

BUT he does do it all less. And, blessedly, the peeing on my paperwork seems to be a thing of the past.

A lot of this turnabout comes from Reynaldo having his own domain. The above kitty condo is his and his alone. Occasionally Charlotte will climb into the bottom compartment, and Joey will playfully slap at Rey to initiate playtime (always welcome), but for the most part the other cats respect this as Rey's territory.

As Jackson Galaxy recommends, for every "no," a cat must have a "yes," and this is Reynaldo's "yes." I appreciate how hard he is working at trying to communicate with and please me. I am hopeful that soon this months-long nightmare period will be behind us.

Lazy Sunday

I was going to do so much today, but I just never got to it. Instead, I did three loads of wash, followed by some serious napping.

Part of it is that, while this summer has been lovely so far, hot weather takes a lot out of me and I was out all day Friday and a lot of Saturday. I actually got a sun burn, despite my best efforts which included lots of sunscreen. I am, as my Grandma might say, "tuckered out."

Part of it is Trayvon Martin. I don't blame the jury that found his killer "not guilty." I understand that "not guilty" isn't the same as "innocent," and I believe they did the best they could with the laws they were handed.

But I'm trying to get my mind around the idea that a man carrying a concealed gun can follow an unarmed kid, after dark and through the rain. And if the kid reacts in anger and fear, the man can shoot him. I walk a lot at night. I have to, because I don't have a car. If I was in Trayvon's position, if I spun around and slapped or kneed the man who was stalking me, I guess FL law says the man can shoot me.

And get away with it.

No wonder I just want to take a nap!

Oh well, I'm also watching the last Cub game before the All-Star break. We're holding our own against a much better Cardinal team, and Wrigley Field looks just beautiful on ESPN tonight, so the Boys in Blue are doing me proud.

Thank God for baseball!

Sunday Stealing

The Wackadoo Meme part 2

30.] What brand of batteries do you usually get? Walgreens' store brand.
 
31.] Are any of your friends pregnant or have kids?  One of my coworkers is about to pop. She's due on Monday.

32.] What is in your medicine cabinet? Qtips and bandaids and my supply of contact lenses

33.] What's your favorite aspect of the natural world?  I'm sorry but I don't understand this question.

34.] What's your favorite man made thing?  Language. It makes everything else possible.

35.] Can you whistle properly?  No

36.] What song do you think is the most widely heard in the world?  "Happy Birthday"

37.] Where's the strangest place a fast food restaurant was located? I remember reading that the McDonald's in Malasia sells chicken porridge.

38.] What states surround your state? Or are you not land locked? Missouri and Kentucky and Indiana and Wisconsin. I think that's it. (I'm in Illinois)

39.] Do you own binoculars or monoculars? What do you use them for?  I have binoculars that I've used for ballgames and concerts.

40.] Do you ever wish you had a telescope on the roof or attic to stargaze?  No

41.] What's your favorite chocolate bar?  It changes. Right now, Snickers.

42.] Do you fall asleep easy in cars? How about planes, trains and boats? Trains and cars, absolutely. I don't sail often -- it's been years -- and I'd hate to miss any of it. I do sleep well on planes but that's because I'm tranquilized.

43.] Would you rather live a year of your life in every major country or stay in the same place you live forever without vacations? I'd stay here, but thank you for asking.

44.] What will you not tolerate in a person?  Racism

45.] Do you forgive others easier or yourself? Why is this?  I forgive others more easily. I expect a lot from myself.

46.] How was God made, if He exists? I find this question vaguely offensive and am moving on.

47.] Have you ever done aqua aerobics or polo?  Does Marco Polo count?

48.] What age were you when you learned how to swim? Between fifth and sixth grade I took  swim classes at the high school. I still remember those horrible tank suits and our bathing caps. SHUDDER!

49.] What shows or characters scared you as a child? I don't know if this counts, but I remember being frightened by The Perry Mason theme. Not the show, just the theme.



50.] Do you stay up all night on New Years Eve/Day or go to bed after 12am?  I was in bed not long after midnight. But I did celebrate with friends.

51.] What's something unusual currently in your fridge?  Catnip.

52.] How about your freezer? Chocolate covered bananas

53.] What could you be doing now that is more productive?  Honestly? Anything but this would be more productive. I owe both my aunt and my cousin letters. I should be writing those.

54.] Give me some lyrics from the song that's stuck in your head? "Your job's a joke, you're broke, your love life's DOA ..." Guess what show had a marathon on TBS this afternoon.

55.] What's your favorite type of firework? The Katy Perry kind.

It's Where I Left

I spent today in the village where I grew up. First I went to the dentist (No cavities! Atta, Gal!), then I stopped at the yard/bake sale being held to support the animal shelter that gave me Reynaldo. (I no
longer blame them.) Then I wandered up the street, carrying the coffee cake and kitty water bowl I'd just purchased and had a grilled cheese sandwich at the local fast food restaurant. I still had about 15 minutes to kill before my hair cut (who knew the dental appointment would go so smoothly?) so I went to the park across from my grade school.

It has two tennis courts, two basketball hoops, a sandy area for beach volleyball and a soccer field. There's a covered picnic area, drinking fountains, a porta potty and -- my favorite -- a swingset and slide.

And I had it all to myself!

On a sunny, warm Saturday afternoon, there were no kids playing soccer, no moms passing out sandwiches at the picnic table, no teens playing tennis, no elderly friends chatting on a picnic bench, no one reading under a tree.

It was sad and spooky.

I took advantage of the opportunity to climb onto a swing and fly through the air with the greatest of ease. I watched my K-8 career fly by, too, as I looked at my old school. I remembered which entrance I used for which grade.

Parks like this are used in my current hometown, by people of all ages. I wondered where everyone in girlhood town was. As I swung I heard laughter from a backyard pool party and the distant rumble of lawn being mowed. But I saw NO ONE from my high flying vantage point. I didn't even see any cars in driveways. (Don't parents make their kids wash the family car anymore?)

I don't recall it being like this when I was a kid. I recall riding my bike all over town, playing with jump ropes and hula hoops. And how I love(d) the swings!

At any rate, I enjoyed being outside so much today. I also realized anew I am happier in the town I currently call home.

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Just Give Me a Reason

Thanks to Carielle for recommending this great song.

1) When she first burst onto the scene, Pink was a self-proclaimed tomboy. Now she's glam. Literally. She was on the cover of the June issue of Glamour and is a spokeswoman for Covergirl cosmetics. Does a celebrity endorsement increase your interest in a product? Yes, in that the commercial, display or print ad gets my attention faster. For example, I checked out the Rimmel eye makeup after spotting the Zooey Deschanel poster at CVS. But she didn't influence me to buy their brow pencil. I left the store without any cosmetics. (I was going to say "I left the store empty-handed," but that wouldn't be true. I always find something at CVS that I need. Milk, Kleenex, dishwasing liquid ... you know.)

2) This song is about a woman who feels her lover slipping away. Do you believe a couple can repair a relationship once it starts to sour? I haven't been able to, but then maybe I just haven't met the right guy yet.

3) As a little girl, Pink wanted to be an Olympic gymnast. If you could excel (or, if you do excel) at any sport, which one? I'd like to run. You can do it anywhere, it keeps you healthy, and people who do it seem to really enjoy it.
 

4) Pink is married to motorcycle pro Carey Hart. Have you ever ridden really fast on a motorcyle? Not since junior high.


5) When she found out she was pregnant, Pink says she gave up whiskey and cigarettes … but admits she misses the whiskey. Do you have a habit you know you should break? I drink way too much Coke.

6) In 2010, she fell out of the aerial harness that was supposed to carry her across the stage. Are you afraid of heights? Nope.

7) Pink enjoys showing off her tattoos. Do you have any body art? Nope.

8) Pink can be very salty in her language. When was the last time you cursed? Friday afternoon.

 

9) On her website, Pink sells 10 different t-shirts. Do you have a favorite t-shirt? What does it look like/say? My That Girl t-shirt because it makes people smile.

He REALLY likes pizza

My nephew and I got to The Taste of Chicago today just before 1:00 … and spent six hours there! It was impressive how he could put it away. We hit all three pizza booths (returning to one of them twice), as well as Billy Goat Tavern (twice), The Fudge Pot, Eli's Cheesecake and Rainbow Cone.

We had a good time. He's a very bright and sweet boy. At 13 he has discovered staying up late and sleeping in and really enjoys it. He's spent the summer on the computer, playing basketball with his buddies and flopping around in the above ground pool in the backyard. He likes creative writing and thinks he's good at it, and that's the class he's looking forward to most when school starts.

He can stubborn. We both got sunburned, but then I can get sunburned waiting for the bus. Six hours in the summer sun can toast anyone. I kept trying to get him slather on the sunscreen but he was very resistant. Especially about his face. I finally got him to put some on his arms, but it was a battle.

The Taste itself was fun for me, too. It's smaller this year -- fewer, but better, vendors and just 5 days instead of a week. The crowds, while still prodigious, are smaller and less ... well ... ganged up.

My highlights: (1) Every time I visit the Taste I try to sample something new. This year I went to the Kasia's Deli booth and got the strawberry/cheese blintz with chocolate sauce. I also really loved the peach cobbler from BJ's, but I had that last time. (2) Some CPS high school kids interviewed me for their class project, thinking that I was the happy mother of a student. Also, we rode the train downtown with my nephew's best friend, who didn't believe that my kid sister is actually younger than me. So that took some of the sting out of last Tuesday night's "senior moment."

Here's something you don't see every day

This morning I rode the el with a young man who kept talking to himself -- perhaps even arguing with himself -- repeating over and over, "They're going to finish me. They're going to fuck me."

Unfortunately, this in and of itself is not unusual. People are forever carrying on monologues these days. Perhaps more often than I even realize. I bet that many people I just assume are talking on their cell phones are really conversing with the voices in their heads.

Two things made my companion this morning unusual:

1) He looked so fresh and clean! Solid shoes, clean jeans and t-shirt. His teeth looked like they could use a little work, but there are lots of people out there who are afraid of the dentist and don't go as often as they should.

2) The catalyst for his paranoid tirade was -- wait for it -- a Quill catalog. He muttered his "finish me/fuck me" mantra as he thumbed through the pages and toner cartridges and Sharpies flipped by.

I've been thinking about him all day. Was he off his meds? Is there anyone who cares that he's off by himself, riding the rails and talking to himself? Of all things to be tormented by -- OFFICE SUPPLIES?

Trifecta

This week's challenge: Create a 33- to 333-word response using the third definition of the word:

FLY (intransitive verb)
1a : to move in or pass through the air with wings

  b : to move through the air or before the wind or through outer space
  c : to float, wave, or soar in the air
2a : to take flight : flee
  b : to fade and disappear : vanish
3a : to move, pass, or spread quickly   

  b : to be moved with sudden extreme emotion   

  c : to seem to pass quickly

Last night was a first, but I know it won't be a last.
 

What she sees when she looks at me

I attended the latest meeting of our community film club to see and then discuss a great old movie. Our moderator, Will, had a new assistant, a girl of about 15, to help him with the cash box.

In the past, Will handled both the cash box and the registration/nametags. I would give him $5 and he he'd hand me the sheet of peel-and-stick nametags he had prepared in advance. I assumed that was still the system last night, only with the new girl in charge.

So I handed her my $5 and waited for my nametag. She looked at me a moment and very politely asked, "So do you want change? Do you get the senior discount?"

"Huh?" I said. At least that's what I thought I said. It may just have been that sudden exhale that accompanies being socked in the gut.

"I'm sorry. I mean, you look a little young." So now she is apologizing for not being faster as she forks over my pension-stretching $2. I must say she was very deferential. Her parents did a wonderful job teaching her to respect her elders.

"No, no, we're good," said I. "I'm afraid I didn't I understand what you were asking." A senior moment, perhaps? I grabbed the sheet, slapped on my nametag and scurried into the auditorium, grateful that Will was blabbing about Robert Mitchum and didn't hear the embarrassing exchange.

I am 55, old enough to be the grandmother of the girl with the cashbox. But I can remember so clearly what it was like to be her, when everyone between 40 and 75 looked the same. I can recall thinking, upon receiving word of Elvis' sudden death, "Well, he was 42. I mean, he'd had a life."

It does fly by doesn't it?

FLY (intransitive verb)
1a : to move in or pass through the air with wings

  b : to move through the air or before the wind or through outer space
  c : to float, wave, or soar in the air
2a : to take flight : flee
  b : to fade and disappear : vanish
3a : to move, pass, or spread quickly   

  b : to be moved with sudden extreme emotion   

  c : to seem to pass quickly

- See more at: http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/#sthash.ozjMwpAt.dpuf

FLY (intransitive verb)
1a : to move in or pass through the air with wings

  b : to move through the air or before the wind or through outer space
  c : to float, wave, or soar in the air
2a : to take flight : flee
  b : to fade and disappear : vanish
3a : to move, pass, or spread quickly   

  b : to be moved with sudden extreme emotion   

  c : to seem to pass quickly

- See more at: http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/#sthash.ozjMwpAt.dpuf

a 33- to 333-word response using the word:

a 33- to 333-word response using the word:

FLY (intransitive verb)
1a : to move in or pass through the air with wings

  b : to move through the air or before the wind or through outer space
  c : to float, wave, or soar in the air
2a : to take flight : flee
  b : to fade and disappear : vanish
3a : to move, pass, or spread quickly   

  b : to be moved with sudden extreme emotion   

  c : to seem to pass quickly

- See more at: http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/#sthash.ozjMwpAt.dpuf

a 33- to 333-word response using the word:

FLY (intransitive verb)
1a : to move in or pass through the air with wings

  b : to move through the air or before the wind or through outer space
  c : to float, wave, or soar in the air
2a : to take flight : flee
  b : to fade and disappear : vanish
3a : to move, pass, or spread quickly   

  b : to be moved with sudden extreme emotion   

  c : to seem to pass quickly

- See more at: http://www.trifectawritingchallenge.com/#sthash.ozjMwpAt.dpuf

About the photos: Life Magazine makes a library of their archive images available for free to use for “non-commercial personal purposes."

I hate the Trayvon Martin case

An unarmed teenage boy is dead. Shot while en route to his father's house. And it appears that no laws have been broken.

The armed neighbor who admits pulling the trigger was asked by the authorities to stay in his vehicle and he didn't. Apparently that's not against the law, either.

I do not envy the jury. This case is completely awful. It's very possible that, for them, doing their duty and following the law will mean not doing the thing that feels right.

There are those who believe this case is about race. From where I sit, it's about guns. It's been my experience that the people who want to carry guns are the very ones I wish couldn't.

I hate guns.

Obsessing and cyberstalking

I'm the one who's doing both.

My best friend from high school, Judy, was unusually close to her older sister. I spent a lot of time with the woman over the years, too, and while my relationship with Big Sis wasn't always smooth I always admired her. Therefore I was sad to learn that she had suffered a massive heart attack and was being kept alive by machines until she was strong enough to endure hours of surgery.

I learned this completely by accident. Judy and I haven't spoken in 25 years. The story of our rift is complicated. If you feel like reading it, click here.

Today was Big Sister's surgery. Judy is maintaining a blog on the hospital's "Caring Bridge" wehsite, and both she and her sister's partner have been updating Facebook. I have been checking the sites obsessively for updates.

I am happy to report that Big Sis Carol came through surgery and, though she's not out of the woods, this critical first step went well.

I also learned that Judy is as I remembered her, and I am glad that I chose not to reach out to her.

While Carol's long-time lover, Bill, posted photos of Carol and thanks for prayers. Judy posted in exasperation on her Facebook (didn't she already tell us that her updates would appear on the hospital's Caring Bridge blog?) and keeps mentioning that Carol and Bill are going to need help with their rent and utilities. She's working on getting a special fund set up at Chase. This bothers me because, after college, when Judy was unable to work, it was Carol she lived with and Carol who supported her.

In short, Bill's posts are about Carol and Judy's posts are about Judy.

Judy was like that when we were kids. She was like that in 2008 when she tried to reconnect out with me. In her world, her interests and desires supersede everyone else's. Judy is a complicated person -- having suffered from agoraphobia and myriad health problems. Explaining her behavior does not excuse it, though, and I'm not interested in getting enmeshed in all that again. So while my first impulse is to pitch in and help, I'm resisting out of self-protection.

Carol will stay in my prayers. She played a role in my growing up and I respect that. But I'm going to continue sending my positive thought anonymously.

I won't forget Nailah Franklin

This beautiful young woman was killed in 2007. It will be six years ago this September! And the man arrested for her murder -- a former boyfriend who threatened to have her "erased" -- is still sitting behind bars, no trial date set. I refuse to use his name in this post, but if you want to read more about the case, click here.

I prefer instead to concentrate on Nailah. I never met her, but our lives intersected. The advertising agency she once worked for is just up the street from the one where I work, and after she went missing, her heartbroken coworkers were on the el platforms, leafletting and making sure we were all familiar with their friend's face, her car and her license plate.

The search for Nailah was big news for over a week, but then her body was found, a suspect was arrested, and life went on.

But I haven't forgotten. I have an old lover in my past who mistreated me physically, so when I read about the suspect's arrest it stirred deep feelings in me. I was also moved by how much former her coworkers loved her, how hard they worked on her search. Nailah Franklin must have been very special. And so, in tribute ...

Nailah Franklin was one of 5 daughters.

She graduated first from Homewood Flossmoor High School and then the University of Illinois.

She spent 5 years at the prestigious ad agency, Leo Burnett.

She moved to Eli Lilly in 2006 because she believed a sales job would help give her greater control over her finances and career.

She loved "all things Oprah."

She loved clothes and had a terrific sense of fashion.

Her mother told the Tribune that she wondered why Nailah "always seemed to be in such a hurry to live life. I think her spirit knew she had such a short time on this Earth and she had to cram in as much living as possible."

An older sister remembers her "little baby voice that she never grew out of, but she was bold and spirited, headstrong and beautiful."

Her father recalls "an exceptionally smart woman" and says that not a day goes by that he doesn't miss her.

A younger sister smiles when she remembers CD/DVD collection because "it was such a reflection of her -- a combination of old school songs by Luther Vandross and Tae Bo exercise DVDs."

Her youngest sister tried to follow Nailah to Urbana but she wasn't accepted. She treasures Nailah's words of encouragement as she applied to other schools. "When we learned she had died, I considered quitting the nursing program. But I remembered how much she believed in me and I thought it was important to keep going."

She volunteered at the Chicago Urban League.She was eulogized as "not a star, but a superstar."

She was just 28 when she died.

Sunday Stealing

The Wackadoo Meme

1.] What age is your youngest aunt?  Between 65 and 70.
 
2.] Do you miss someone right now?  Oh, yes.

3.] What can you see North West to you? A framed illustration of Lombard Street in San Francisco.

4.] Do you like bowling?  Don't hate it.

5.] Can you pronounce Italian words? Well enough to order at La Cantina.

6.] Do you prefer black or beige coloured jackets? What else am I wearing and where are we going?

7.] Do you own a hoodie?  Nope

8.] Do you like roasting marshmallows on a bonfire? Well, I've done it. Which is more than I can say for roasting chestnuts on an open fire.

9.] Do you like cheesy puffs?  Sure.

10.] What's your name without vowels?  Thglhrslf

11.] How many layers of clothing are you wearing?  Layer one: Undies  Layer two: shorts and t-shirt

12.] When was the last time you got a take away? What did you have?  Boston Market. Sliced turkey and some way yummy sides. My love for their hot cinnamon apples borders on the obsessive.

13.] If you could climb any mountain or range which would you choose?  Ouachita Mountain in Hot Springs, AR. It's beautiful up there.

14.] Do you alphabetically arrange anything in your room? What? My books. Because I have a lot of books and it would be impossible to find anything otherwise.

15.] Have you ever visited fat-pie [dot] [com]? Well, inspired by this question I just did. 

16.] Do you prefer sweet or sour fruits? Sweet

17.] Do you like Flo Rida? Which song of his? Not familiar with the man or his music.

18.] How are your dancing skills?  I suck

19.] What is your favorite number?  7 or 22

20.] Describe your best friend to me?  Just a shade under 6', with dark hair that's going gray too fast. He tries very hard to do the right thing. He loves his daughters and is a good and thoughtful dad. Because I respect his opinion so much, it makes me happy that he finds much in me that's admirable.

21.] What is your favorite alcoholic drink? It changes. Lately I've become reacquainted with Jose Cuervo.

22.] Do you do any sports or have you done any sport professionally? HA!

23.] What is your ringtone?  Fleur de Lis for calls, an annoying honk for texts.

24.] Do you like chilli flavoured chips/crisps?  No, thank you.

25.] Do you curl or straighten your hair? No

26.] What's the nicest smell of shampoo? Fruity

27.] What smell turns you on? How about turns you off?  Cinnamon apple turns me on; tobacco smell turns me off

 
28.] Who's your favorite comedian? He's my favorite motivational speaker, too.



29.] RnB or Reggae? R&B

I don't like plane crashes

Obviously. I mean, no one likes plane crashes.

So I should have said, "Plane crashes terrify me." Or, more accurately, "NOTHING scares me more than the thought of a plane crash."

And there was one today. In San Francisco. Lives were lost. I feel bad that instead of thinking about the victims, I am fixating on my own fear. Plus it's stirred vague feelings of hopelessness and depression.

My oldest friend had to put her cat to sleep. I haven't seen/won't see my best friend. The sister of an old high school friend has been on life support for nearly a week now.

I had such high hopes for accomplishment today, and then I let myself get deflated. I cleaned out the area under one of my dressers, filling a trash bag and taking it to the dumpster, but that's it.

I need to listen to His Lordship (in his Grammy-winning performance) and "Accentuate the Positive":
•  My cats Joey and Charlotte are both so charming, loving and dear. Reynaldo has been making progress, too.
•  I get along so well with my friend John and celebrating with him last night reminds me again of the value of long-standing friendships.
•  Tomorrow is a free day and another opportunity for me to accomplish more.
•  The Cubs upped their game and beat the fantabulous Pirates.
•  It completely melts me when Paul adds an "r" and sings about "Joner and the whale."




Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Dedicated to the One I Love

-->

1) The lyrics include the line, "Love can never be exactly what we what it to be." Are you happy with your love life?  HA!

2) Another lyric is, "Each night before you go to bed, whisper a little prayer for me." Do you say your prayers?  I talk with God every day but it's more like an ongoing conversation, rather than clasping my hands and going down on my knees in prayer.

3) Mama Michelle and Papa John were married in real life. It didn't end well -- not for the couple and not for the band. Do you believe you could work successfully with a romantic partner? I actually tried this and it didn't work well. For the most part, he and I were fine with it. Our coworkers were very uncomfortable, though. He and I would be talking about something, someone else would come in and then back away with an embarrassed, "OH! Sorry!" As though we were about to do it on the desk and they interrupted. Also, our supervisor used to not-so-subtly manipulate me into helping her manage him. So while I think a partner and I might be able to run our own mom-and-pop business together, add a third person to the mix and suddenly there's a passel of weird.

4) After the band broke up, Michelle tried her hand at acting and eventually became a regular on the nighttime soap, Knott's Landing. Of course, she could live off of her music royalties while she learned her new craft. If money was no object, what career would like to try? I'm good with animals, so I'd like to try being a pet sitter or dog walker.

 
5) There is a rumor – completely false – that Mama Cass died while eating a ham sandwich. Can you name another urban legend? Jerry Mathers (Beaver Cleaver) was killed in Vietnam. Which, of course, is as true as the Mama Cass/ham sandwich story.

6) In the 1960s, every high school girl wanted to wear her hair like Michelle and Cass -- long and straight. Can you recall a fashion trend from your school days? FRINGE! Especially fringed purses and vests. I recall braiding and rebraiding the fringe on a purse just like this one when I was bored in class.

7) With the Fourth of July falling on Thursday, are you able to enjoy a looooong four-day holiday weekend? It was a little weird to have Thursday off, work on Friday and be off again this morning. In fact, many of my coworkers took yesterday off to enjoy four uninterrupted days. But since I may be losing my job soon, I'm hoarding vacation days so I can get paid for them along with my severance.

8) Many communities have parades to celebrate Independence Day. Have you ever ridden on a float or marched in a parade? In junior high, I marched in the local July 4th parade with my Girl Scout troop. In high school I helped build homecoming floats by stuffing colored paper into chicken wire, but I didn't ride.

9) In honor of the Fourth of July, name your favorite Founding Father. I'm going to go with John Adams because he gave us Abigail. Abigail Adams completely rocked.  

SHOUT OUT TO KATHY W: I can't comment on your blog because Google Chrome or Plus or whatever won't let me log in. But I read your answers and now fear you because, well, you "know shit." :)

Ah, the good old days!

This evening my friend John and I went out to celebrate his birthday. We had drinks at his place and he seemed to really like his gift -- The TCM Natalie Wood Collection. (We love Nat.) Then we went to the Fireplace Inn for dinner and ate way too much heavy food. But it was so good!

We wandered around the old neighborhood for a bit. John has lived there for nearly 30 years, so we have seen a lot of changes together.

Then I hopped in a cab, made the 9:40 train and was in the front door by 10:00. Has it been that long since 10:00 was when we were just getting started?

On my day off ...

I had promised myself that I'd spend my July 4th being productive: primarily, cleaning out and organizing my bedroom. I didn't get anywhere near as much done as I wanted to (lazy, lazy, LAZY) but let's take a moment to review what I did do --

•  Discovered Castle. I don't watch this show regularly and can never remember when it's on. But there was a marathon on TNT and I enjoyed it. The mysteries are kinda "eh," but I enjoy the interplay because Castle and Kate, and Castle and his daughter and mother. One thing I found confusing -- he's a best-selling author, and single, and really attractive. So why is SHE the one with the outside relationships, making HIM jealous?

•  Divested myself of a stack of magazines that had been sitting, untouched, in my bedroom. Including a Playboy from 1977. That gave me a moment's pause. Why did I even have it, much less what was it still doing in my room all these decades later? It included a long, sad article about the death of Freddie Prinze, who I had a major crush on back in the day. It also featured an interview with Robert Blake. It might be interesting to read what he had to say then, knowing what we know about him now. The magazine also might earn me something on eBay. But I threw it out anyway. I was afraid if I let myself get distracted by it, I'd lose more hours of my day.

•  I finally hemmed the jeans I got for crazy cheap from Old Navy. It occurs to me that if I never wear them, they aren't really a bargain after all.

•  Threw that light blue blouse I wore last week and discovered was now too short (I think I may have dried it too many times at too warm a setting) into a bag for Goodwill. Then I added a trio of t-shirts that I bought online and found too thin and too tight. I stupidly lost the receipt and can't return them, so perhaps a smaller busted woman might enjoy them.

•  I went to Boston Market and used my coupon for a family meal for 3 for $10. I have refrigerated those yummy sides and will spread them out over the weekend. The sliced turkey's not bad, either, but it's the creamed spinach, hot apples and sweet potatoes that have captured my imagination. (Yes, I know they're starchy and calorie laden, but the deal I made was to watch what I eat Mon-Fri.) And it will spread out my grocery budget.

•  Ran to Walgreen's for a bottle of bleach and got verbally abused by a helmet-haired old biddie. I called her a "bitch," and I'm not sorry.

•  I did three loads of wash: mixed, darks and my freshly-bleached whites. So that's two hours I can spend doing something else this weekend.

•  Watched the Cubs play the Oakland As in Oakland. They lost yesterday but it was a close game and the boys have done very well in interleague play this year. This road trip was entertaining, too, with my heroes winning 6 of 10.

•  Fought a little with Reynaldo. Of course. As the vet explained it to me, having me home gets him worked up, as protecting me and interacting with me seems to be his furry reason for being. When he gets too wired, I have begun locking him alone in the bedroom for a while. And the Scat Mat has an impact -- he's so upset that he runs away in horror when I touch it. But he sleeps right next to me, quietly, for hours at a time. I can't tell you what a relief it is that we're making this work. I take my responsibility to him seriously. I adopted him. I took him on. I'm the human, I have opposing thumbs, the responsibility is mine, not his.

Doing it old school

I found out through Facebook that a once close, highly disappointing, former friend is suffering through a family tragedy. The last member of her nuclear family -- an older sister she is very close to -- suffered a massive heart attack. "She is on machines to keep her alive in hopes she strengthens enough for open heart surgery to replace mitral valve. Please pray for her."

And so I did.

Growing up with Judy, I naturally knew her older sister. I am genuinely sorry this is happening. I've learned that massive heart attacks are hideously painful and life changing, and I wouldn't wish one on anyone. I humbly ask God to help her be comfortable.

I find it ironic, though, that Judy beseeched the Facebook community to pray for her sister. For Judy and Carol were among the first people I ever met who made me feel as though my conventional approach to religion was small minded and naive. 

But that was decades ago. Life kicks all our asses, I guess, and it's at times like this we return to God. It's His gift to us that we're always welcome back.

A big, heaping serving of corn

Yeah, I know it's corny. But it gets me every time. Ever since I was a little girl. I used to worry that I'd miss this number when we went to the fireworks. Yes, I'd rather be indoors watching him dance up the wall than at the park with my family watching the village fireworks. (Of course, that might have more to do with my father bitching about everyone and everything en route to and from the event, but that's something I'd rather not dwell on today.)

Enjoy your 4th!

She shouldn't get to me

A really rude old biddie snapped at me today at Walgreen's and made me sad. It's the same store where a pushy younger man snapped at me a couple Easters ago.

Must remember not to go to Walgreen's on holidays. People are not at their best.

Let it ride!

I just won $3 in the Illinois Lotto. I reinvested it more lottery tickets.

Balance of Power

It's not optimal, but the way the local food pantry works is that it's open for donations during the very hours that they distribute the groceries to neighbors in need. On the one hand, I think it's good -- important, even -- that I see the faces of those who benefit from my contributions because it is a community funded charity that serves this neighborhood and I should know and be sensitive to who it is that's in need.

On the other hand, it's always awkward. I pass people on the stairwell who are there to pick up the food I'm dropping off. We always avert our eyes. On occasion, people have been rude. I don't like it, but I have learned it's not unusual for people to feel hostility toward those they find themselves dependent on.

Likewise, last evening on the train, an oddly dressed woman sat down beside me. It wasn't that her clothes were mismatched or dirty, it's that they were inappropriate for the first day of July. Too many layers. She was intrusively chatty, asking about my day and the book I was reading. Then she told me she was homeless and off to a shelter that would charge her to stay for the night. Oh, so she was wearing most of the clothes she owned. That explained it! She didn't ask me for money -- I gave her what change was in my pocket. That was the point, after all, and her stop was coming up soon. But once I gave her the silver, she looked away, and quit speaking to me. I did wish her luck as she left the train and she thanked me, but ....

We were both embarrassed. I wish it wasn't that way. Who knows? Someday I might need help, and I hope that someone comes through with it.

No guilt today!

Some evenings, while I'm on the el platform, waiting for the train, I gaze into the health club windows and feel bad as I watch the legs pedaling through spin class. Well, tonight I won't have to feel a bad. Not even a wee bit.

For I got July off to a good start by both working out and bringing my lunch. Healthy and economical, that's me!