A Joyous Day in Wrigleyville

I love Greg Maddux. He is my all-time favorite Cub.Yes, even more than Ernie Banks or Ryne Sandberg. I was there that historic rainy night in Wrigley Field when he got his 3000th strikeout.

And today, he earned the right to write HOF after his autograph. I'm massively proud of him.

I am not unaware that The Professor enjoyed his greatest success with the Braves, and that in Atlanta this is viewed as a big day because both Maddux and Glavine were elected on the first ballot.

Whatever. He began his career in Cubbie blue.

My favorite Cub is going to Cooperstown.

Who's a good boy?

Reynaldo! He let me sleep through the night for first time in 2014. No eating my hair or digging at my face, buried in the pillow. No standing on the dresser, yowling and knocking everything over. He was just settled in at the foot of the bed until the alarm clock went off. And then he began eating my hair. But I figure he felt he was on a special mission on behalf of my boss.

WWW.WEDNESDAY

To play along, just answer the following three questions ...

• What are you currently reading? The Last Word, the latest document in the Spellman "case files" by Lisa Lutz. I'm enjoying it, because time spent with our funny and forever badly behaved protagonist/narrator Izzy is always well spent. But I feel like a little of the gas is running out of this series. Brother David, his wife Maggie and their daughter Sydney are not charming me the way the I suspect Ms. Lutz intends. If it wasn't for the fact that this is, nominally, a mystery and I'm afraid I'll miss a clue, I'd blow past those passages. And so far there's very little of kid sister Rae, and she's always been my favorite character. If you're looking for an engaging, amusing mystery series, by all means reach for the Spellmans. But start with one of the earlier books in the series.

• What did you recently finish reading? Nothing new. I have been flipping through and rereading sections of biographies and non-fiction I've read in the past. But, since I didn't settle in and really read any of these, start to finish, I don't think they count.

• What do you think you’ll read next? I don't know. Since today is Elvis' birthday, I'm thinking good ol' rock'n'roll and may reach for Bruce, a bio of the Boss by Peter Ames Carlin.

To see how others responded, click here.

Yum

Getty images, via USA Today

I just saw coverage of Jay Carney's first news briefing of 2014. I think he was talking about Hamid Karzai, but I'm not sure. I got distracted by his adorable new beard.

Thank you, USA Today, for being on top of this story.

Teaser Tuesday

Here's how to play this meme.

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

From The Last Word by Lisa Lutz, page 104.

She looks as she always does, as if someone just murdered her cat and she was contemplating modes of revenge. Sure, she's my grandma, but I'll go to the mat against anyone who thought they had a worse grandmother. Unless your grandmother was a serial killer. Then you win. 

Hello, Gorgeous

Isn't this lovely? It's the view from the back windowpane, out onto the alley. Believe me, it's normally not a pretty view. But look how lovely it is when the windows are covered in ice. I want to remember this day when it's 90º and hot and humid and everything is scorched and brown.

I don't recall this ever happening before

Today was called because of cold. I phoned the main switchboard and heard that the office would be closed today because of the extreme weather. Because it snowed so much last night, the trains are all messed up. Very grateful I don't have to go out in this.

As I write this, I've got Rey on my lap (making keystrokes difficult) and Joey beside me and Charlotte behind me. My heart aches for the strays who aren't as warm, dry and uncomfortable as these three felines.

Sunday Stealing

The Generic Meme

1. What did you want to be when you were little? Either a wonderful singer or a teacher. (That's how I thought of it: "I want to be a wonderful singer.")

2. Would you prefer to have a large group of friends, or a small group of friends? Why? I like having a diverse group of friends. It's fun to mix up the age groups, ethnicities, etc.

3. What is your fashion “style”? Or what type of clothes do you wear on a daily basis? Jeans, sweater and loafers for work. Jeans, sweatshirts and tennies for weekends. So this makes my style casual, doesn't it?

4. If you could live anywhere where would you live? The Palmolive Building on Michigan Avenue.

I love this old lady. Not only are the apartments deluxe (Vince Vaughn has one), this art deco gem has an impressive history. That light on the top is The Lindbergh Beacon. It rotates 360º and, in the 1930s, it was vital to pilots flying into Chicago. Of course, now with aviation being so much more sophisticated, the beacon is not the essential it once was. But wouldn't it be cool to literally see your home from the sky as you were returning from a trip? Oh yeah, and there's a doorman at the front desk who can sign for my packages and make sure I always have a cab waiting for me. How I'd love that!

5. What is your biggest hope for the next year? To feel healthier and livelier.


6. When you pass by reflective surfaces do you check yourself out? Yes

7. Favorite genre of movie as well as TV show? On TV, I like "procedurals," like Law & Order and NCIS. I like movies that make me think, and that can be of any genre.

8. Top favorite books? (limit of 5) JFK: Reckless Youth by Nigel Hamilton, Saving Graces by Elizabeth Edwards, Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, Heartburn by Nora Ephron, Historic Conversations with Jacqueline Kennedy.


9. Have you ever taken a cooking class? No.

10. What three words would you use to describe yourself? Loyal. Smart. Funny.

11. Favorite animal? Cats

12. What is your dream job? I wish I could afford to be a catsitter or dogwalker. I have a way with critters.

13. If you could go back in history to any moment that you did not live, what would it be and why? The 1850s in Illinois. I have visited the Lincoln sites downstate so many times and I wonder what kind of life I'd have. Would I be a spinster schoolmarm? The second wife to a widower with many children? Would I handwrite long letters and read by gaslight? Would I love looking through my stereoscope (the precursor to my beloved Viewmaster)? I'd have to be a northern woman, though. NO fucking way would I live through southern heat and humidity in all those clothes! And then there's the scourge of slavery.

14. If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Why? I'd like to do housework the way Samantha did on Bewitched.

15. What is your favorite movie? The Way We Were


16. What is your best childhood memory? Well, because the holidays are so top of mind, I'll have to go with Blaze. The Christmas I was four years old, I asked Santa for only one thing -- a Mattel rocking horse named Blaze. I wished and hoped and was very good, and there he was, under the tree! Thanks, Santa!

17. What is your favorite part about blogging? Creating an accurate snapshot of my life at any given moment. Memories can be tricky. It's good to get it down as it happens.

18. What is your favorite quote? Edward Gorey: "Books. Cats. Life is good."

19. What song do you feel like describes your life the best? Why? "You Don't Know Me" by Jann Arden (among many, many others)


20. Would you describe yourself as shy or outgoing? Yes. In public, I can be very blabby. I can also very comfortably go days without speaking to a soul.

Trying not to worry too much

Yesterday was the last day of Buy a Friend a Book Week (thanks for reminding me, Kwizgiver) and I quickly sent off a book to my 13-year-old nephew. A young fan who takes his Beatles seriously, I thought he'd be fascinated by the Paul-Is-Dead conspiracy so I ordered him  The Walrus was Paul. Even with shipping, it came to $4, and I know it will make him happy. Easy! Inexpensive!

His sister, on the other hand, is another matter. Her boyfriend, with whom she's living, lost his job with the railroad last August. While he loves trains, he didn't really like the job very much. Since then he's been an unpaid apprentice in a bike shop, hoping it will turn into "something." He's receiving unemployment, but my niece is doing all the heavy lifting when it comes to supporting the household. With her parttime, minimum wage job at Culver's and some rebate from her grant.

My niece is 21. He's 31. It would be easy to assume he's taking advantage of her.

But she's happy. He is certain "something" will come up before February 28, when his unemployment benefits expire* and their financial situation becomes dire.

I would like to help them except ...

1) She hasn't asked me -and-
2) There is much about this situation that makes me uncomfortable -and-
3) I really can't afford it -and-
4) I'm still upset with my niece that she seems to hold me responsible for the ugliness with my older sister, who we all agree has behaved abominably regarding our mother's estate. Once again, within my family, anyone is allowed to treat me any way they wish and there is no downside. If I don't just go along to get along, if I don't simply accept abuse, somehow I'm the problem. This was a family tradition I had hoped would end when my mom died, but clearly it hasn't.

OK, I really don't want to help her.

But still, I worry. I wish the solution to this situation was easy as a $4 used book.

*Unless Congress extends benefits.

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Believe

1) In 1998, Cher became the oldest woman to top the Billboard Hot 100 with "Believe." She was 52 at the time. At what age do you think you did hit/will hit your prime? Looking back, I liked my mid-late 30s. I was still in very good shape, I was seeing some very nice men and my career was finally taking off.

2) Cher is as well known for her outrageous outfits as for her singing. What's the latest piece of clothing you added to your wardrobe? A wine-colored sweater with a deep v-neck from Kohl's. I was originally attracted by the price, which was $7.99. When I got home and peeled away one yellow sales sticker and after another, I saw that it had originally been $98. It wasn't worth $100, but it's a bargain at less than 10% of that.

3) Cher credits her unique looks to her diverse ethnicity. Her father was Armenian and her mom is English/German/Cherokee. From where did your ancestors come? I'm German and Irish, which accounts for both my pale skin and my stubborn streak.

4) When she was a little girl, Cher produced and starred in a schoolyard production of Oklahoma. Were you involved in drama or theater in school? Nope.

5) Cher is open about her plastic surgery, speaking freely about having had her breasts 'done', her nose bobbed and her teeth straightened. If you could change one physical feature about yourself, which would it be? And what would you never change, under any circumstances? I'm not crazy about all my chins, so if there was a safe and inexpensive way to fix those, I'd consider it. (Wait, is that Debby Boone I hear? What IS a "Lifestyle Lift" anyway? Is there a scalpel involved?) I have pretty green eyes and a nice nose.

6) There's a stubborn rumor, often denied, that Cher had a rib removed so that she could maintain her long and lean silhouette. What's the most outrageous thing anyone has said of you? Somehow by changing jobs I went from being a slut who slept with every male coworker to a lesbian. I wish I was having as much sex as Rumor Mill Gal gets.

7) When she was a kid, Cher practiced her autograph. Do you have a clear, legible signature? Or is it more of a scrawl? My handwriting is the prettiest thing about me.

8) Cher asks, "Do you believe in life after love?" Crazy Sam's question is easier and less profound: Do you believe in luck? Yes.

9) Did you make any resolutions for 2014? Eat less. Move more.

Is 2014 the Year of the Happy Friend?

My oldest friend moved to California three (or is it now four?) years ago and has had nothing but bad luck. Fired from three jobs. Her oldest son was robbed at gunpoint and then, in a completely unrelated incident, had to spend the night in jail. Her daughter has had emotional problems and quit going to school, which brought the law to her front door yet again. She broke her elbow and has required multiple surgeries and much physical therapy.


Oh yeah, and before leaving for Los Angeles, she abandoned her suburban Chicagoland home, resulting in a major blow to her credit rating.

The much-adored cousin she moved 2000 miles to be near has been no support whatsoever. This has left her feeling worse than vulnerable. She's disillusioned and abandoned, too.

Until Now! I hate to jinx it, but I think I feel comfortable saying her life is finally turning around.

•  A good job. Her fifth since she's been out there. (The Los Angeles economy has to be much, much better than Chicago's!) And so far, they seem very happy with her. Yea!

•  $14,000. The place where she was employed when she fell and broke her elbow finally ponied up with a settlement that will pay off her medical bills and maybe leave enough for a down payment on a much-needed new car.

•  A nice boyfriend. Regular readers will remember "Archie Bunker," the former sportscaster that my friend dated briefly and was so smitten with. He was angry and insensitive and an all-around ass. Through the website Christian Mingle she met a lovely man, not as "glamorous" as Archie, but very good to her.

•  Her kids. They're still all drama/all the time. But her son (now 23) may be finally be preparing to leave her nest. The first step is paying to get his car fixed and drivable. Then he hopes -- sometime in 2014 -- to move out and share an apartment with a friend. He has anger issues and the sooner he's out of there, the better.

She is a funny, warm person and deserves to be happy. I hope 2014 continues to bring her victories, large and small.

3 days

That's how long it's been snowing off and on. I don't know how much has fallen, but it's a lot. Yet it's not an epic storm, like 2011's SNOtoriousBIG. No schools have closed, no drivers have been stranded on Lake Shore Drive. Just lots and lots of the white stuff. Enough snow and cold to make me grateful for the city's network of pedways and my own stocked larder.*

In short, it's winter in Chicagoland.

At least it's gotten people off of Obamacare and that ignorant douchebag from Duck Dynasty. Sometimes I think Mother Nature just does stuff to make us recalibrate when we get too far away from what really matters.

*So I don't need to venture out into the elements for the essentials (Coke, cat litter and Bailey's Irish Cream).

Saving Mr. Banks

How I loved this movie! The story of how P. L. Travers' book made it to the screen was tailor-made for me.

I've mentioned several times that Mary Poppins is the first film I ever saw on the big screen and it ignited my lifelong love affair with going to the movies. I remember the big, heavy red curtains opening to reveal the rooftops of London. And that was when the magic started. Mary Poppins slid up banisters, went to tea parties on the ceiling, jumped into a chalk painting, and descended from the skies holding an umbrella with a talking parrot handle.

We saw it as a family downtown, which was a huge ass big deal at the time. The Loop was only a half hour away from our suburban home, but my father was allergic to making the drive. The city offered too much traffic, too much diversity. And yet I wanted so badly to see it. The commercials and promotions during Wonderful World of Disney had enchanted me. I was one obsessed little girl, and so my parents went out of their way to make the movie happen and give me such an important memory. (Of course, my dad -- being my dad -- had to make it toxic. It had started to rain and he was upset that there was no parking available in front of the theater. I had caught sight of the marquee and had begun bouncing around in excitement. For once my enthusiasm trumped his negativity.)

So the slow, inevitable reveal that P. L. Travers felt Mary Poppins, the magic nanny, arrived at the Banks home not to rescue the children but instead their father had real resonance with me. I wish my father had enjoyed his family more, had enjoyed his life more. I admit I cried more than once during the conversations about the "Let's Go Fly a Kite" number.

Then there's the character of Mrs. Travers herself. She reminds me so much of the cousin I visited last month in Tampa! So little interested her, so little made her happy."I couldn't care less" was the phrase she snapped out over and over and over again.

I don't want to end up like my dad or my cousin. I want to hang onto to my warmth and humor and humanity.

Maybe I need to fly a kite.

Starting anew by looking back

Let's look back on Christmas 2013.

The opening salvo was a celebration at Miller's Pub. Under the el tracks, this Chicago institution has been run by the same family since the 1930s. It's all dark wood and signed photos of celebrities. I don't remember what I ordered, but I had a side of mashed potatoes which was really good. Anyway, it was Mindy and her husband and me and John. I've known Mindy and John for (gulp!) 32 years, and they knew one another before I came on the scene. I see John often and talk to Mindy regularly, but John and Mindy are seldom in contact, so I was the hub. Mindy and Alan gave me this lovely "gratitude bracelet." It has four beads, and whenever I put the bracelet on I should assign something I'm grateful for to each of the beads. I think it was my favorite present this year. I felt bad that I got annoyed by what a snob Alan can be. I mean, here are people who are happy to see me, and brought me a really nice and thoughtful gift, and I'm biting my tongue. I must stop being so judgmental. I've really got to work on that in 2014.

Then on Monday, it was off to Key West. Flight down -- through Tampa -- was very uneventful, 

which left me grateful and relieved. The hotel was wonderful! In addition to a nice, clean little pool, I had my own patio with a view of the sweetest little coy pond. They also had a happy hour every night, with free hors d'oeuvres. The Swedish meatballs were a mistake. I spent the Christmas Eve service worried about ... intestinal distress. Still, it was a lovely Christmas Eve. I was worried that no hope for a White Christmas would make me sad. But no. I was good with starting the day with a dip in the pool and ending it dangling my sandals at the bar. As long as I can gaze upon a Nativity scene and sing carols, I've got my Christmas.

Christmas Day we went to the beach so my pedi could dip into the Atlantic Ocean. Then we exchanged gifts -- I got a trio of Key West t-shirts, one I'm wearing now as a nightie. Then we ate outdoors, which is certainly a Christmas Day first for me, and watched the boats at the marina. The dinner was so big I left with a doggie bag. Fortunately my hotel room had a microwave, so I finished my Christmas dinner for lunch the next day on my little patio table, looking at the coy pond.

I was on my own on the 26th, since both my friends had to work. I went to the Truman White House. It was only my second time there and my first this century. How I love my Presidential history! I loved being in the house where JFK met with Prime Minister MacMillan and seeing the desk where Truman signed the order to desegregate the military. The Carters and Clintons have also stayed here, post-Presidency. I also enjoyed wandering around the surrounding neighborhood, aka the Truman Annex. I must remember to return there next year. I really, really enjoyed it.

Then I came home. (This time through Ft. Myers, also a very easy trip.) I arrived Monday night and left Friday afternoon and that was just long enough. One of my friends was really getting on my nerves. Shame on me, I know, because he was so welcoming and loving. For more than a year he's been working on a novel. It's not to my taste,  but his heart is in it and so I've been reading it and helping him with the editing. As have two other women and his writer's workshop. It was monumentally annoying to me to hear how he ignored most of my suggestions. And not just mine -- he's blown off just about everyone he's asked for advice. First of all, why solicit advice if you're not going to listen? And secondly, he's never been published. What makes him so sure his work cannot be improved upon? But, it's like my reaction to Mindy's husband the previous Sunday. I let comparatively small things burrow too deep under my skin. It serves no good purpose except to make me unhappy. Stop judging, Gal! STOP! Give people a break!

Monday I celebrated Christmas with my niece and nephew. It was fine. They liked their gifts from me and their presents to me -- an umbrella from her and a pedicure set from him (his first-ever trip to the cosmetics aisle!) -- were appropriate and thoughtful. My niece's boyfriend was getting on my nerves. He kept whining about the time change (just an hour; I mean, really!) and referring to his iPad for local news from Michigan instead of participating in our conversation. I was very proud of my gift to him -- a framed antique postcard from the hometown he loves so -- but he rather blew it off. So in all, I was happy to get out of there. And again, shame on me! He's her boyfriend, after all. She loves and he's very good to my nephew. Why am I always such a bitch?

Well, that's most of my update. Gonna take a break now and work out my resistance cords. It's a new year, after all, and it's time to take my annual stab at being healthier!

Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing: New Year's Reflection


1. What was the single best thing that happened this past year?  The best was nothing bad. I look back and am grateful for a good report from my mammogram, safe air travel, no serious illnesses for me or my loved ones (furry or otherwise). I feel fortunate for all of it.


2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened? Reynaldo's health/behavior

problems. I've always been a devoted pet owner, but the amount of time, care and money this little beige demon extracted from me was really ridiculous. It was as though this little guy was my avocation in 2013! (He's curled up like a little fur shrimp right next to me as I post this.)

3. What was an unexpected joy this past year? My movie Meet Up group. I didn't expect to enjoy it so much. It's great to see the classics from decades gone by on the big screen with fellow movie lovers.

4. What was an unexpected obstacle? The ongoing worry about my employment status. I'm feeling rather confident right now. But, with advertising being as it is, that probably means the axe is gonna fall.
  
5. Pick three words to describe 2013.  State of flux

6. What were the best books you read this year? My favorite was Johnny Carson by Henry Bushkin. Maybe it's a Baby Boomer thing, but I can't get over how powerful and pervasive Johnny was for a very long time and then, POOF, he's gone from the public consciousness. (Also, it was fun to learn that "Bombastic Bushkin" of Johnny's nightly monologs was a real person.)


7. With whom were your most valuable relationships? I treasured the long-standing ones most. I've known my Oldest Friend since Kindergarten, and John for more than 30 years. The friends I spend Christmas with in the Keys have been in my life since the 1990s. I really am blessed in this regard.

8. What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year? This has been the first full year without my mom, so it's been a time of healing and building new traditions.


9. In what way(s) did you grow emotionally? I ended therapy last spring. I am tending to myself now. Reminding myself to move on when the toxic, angry, unproductive thoughts take hold.

10. In what way(s) did you grow spiritually? "We are the clay, you are the potter, we are all the work of your hands." It's a Bible verse I return to time and again when I feel myself becoming judgmental. We are each as God created us. We each have our own relationship with God. It's not up to me to remake anyone.


11. In what way(s) did you grow physically?  Ha! I discovered this year that I now weigh more than Abraham Lincoln did. Most of that is around my middle.



12. In what way(s) did you grow in your relationships with others?  See Question #10. I'm working on being more accepting. I work on it every day.



13. What was the most enjoyable part of your work?  Every now and then I hit it out of the park. That's good because I like and admire our client and enjoy helping them move their business. I also like writing the first draft of anything. I admit I get bored when the revisions come through. But I enjoy the writing.


14. What was the most challenging part of your work? Worrying about being let go. I'm an old broad and advertising is a young person's industry.

15. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year? Farmville 2! In fact, this could be the second year in a row when this is my biggest time waster.

16. What was the best way you used your time this past year? Paying closer attention to money.

17. What was biggest thing you learned this past year? Patience! I'm learning it, but have yet to master it.

18. Create a phrase or statement that describes 2013 for you. To borrow from the Lads from Liverpool, "I have to admit it's getting better, it's getting better all the time."

When the going gets tough ...

… the tough go to the movies.

I have so much blogging to do, so many emails to answer, so much housework to do, so many month-end bills to pay, that yesterday I did the only thing a girl could do: I fled. I ran to the movies and saw American Hustle.

David O. Russell could well be my favorite movie maker. I love the sensitive, eccentric alternate universes he has created in Silver Linings Playbook, The Fighter and now American Hustle. The performances are funny but masterful. The clothes and the music were both accurate and hideous (the 70s have to be the ugliest decade I have lived through). I had a fine time.

But the suitcases still have to be unpacked, crap still needs to be put away, and photos downloaded. But there's still time. And if it overwhelms me, I may run back to the theater. (Still need to see Saving Mr. Banks.)

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Baby, It's Cold Outside

1) How cold is it where you are? Not right now. 53º. Which is freakishly warm for December 28 and accounts for my windows being open, and my being able to hear the kids next door playing outside. I haven't seen the weather report, but I would bet this means snow tomorrow. We must be punished for this sunny warmth!

2) This familiar song was introduced in a 1949 film called Neptune's Daughter. (watch a clip here). Name another movie song. "It's been a hard day's night, and I've been working like a dog."

3) Who was the last person to call you "baby?" You know, I can't recall anyone calling me "baby."

4) This time of year is important to college football fans. Have you watched/will you watch any bowl games? Nope.

 
5)  Are you sad to see the holiday decorations begin to slowly disappear? Or do you think they should all come down right away? I'm still feeling a little Christmas-y, so I still like seeing the decorations.

6) Did you tell the truth about your weight on your driver's license, or did you shave off a pound or two? Neither. I just made up a number because weighing myself makes me sad. 

 
7) Crazy Sam swears that the Echinacea she takes every morning keeps her healthy. Her boyfriend tells her she's wasting her money. Do you take any herbal supplements? Nope. I take a multivitamin in the morning and up the Vitamin C if I feel a cold coming on.

 

8) The average restaurant in the US tip is 18%. Are you a generous tipper? I guess I'm an average tipper. I double the 9% sales tax, so I tip 18%.

 
9) This is the last Saturday 9 of 2013. Do you know the lyrics to "Auld Lang Syne?" Yes. Here is my favorite version from the Sex and the City movie. This, ladies and gentlemen, is why we have good friends. We take trains through the snow for one another and we may be alone but never lonely.

Sunday Stealing

A Christmas Meme


1.The Christmas song I can listen to even in June is... "River" by James Taylor.

2.Hot Chocolate, Egg Nog or Mulled wine? Hot chocolate

3.When do you put your decorations up?  Right after Thanksgiving

4. What are you having for Christmas dinner?  I don't know. I'm having my first-ever Christmas dinner with my friends and I'm joining in their tradition.

5.What is your favorite Christmas tradition?  Choosing my cards from the American Humane Association and getting them into the mail right after Thanksgiving.

My 2013 card

6. Have you ever gone Carol singing?  No. I'm tone deaf and don't sing in public.

7. When did you learn the truth about Santa?  I figured it out between first grade Christmas and second grade Christmas.

8. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?  No tree of my own this year, but my friends in the Keys have one. I'm thinking of bringing my new Chicago Cubs ornament to hang on theirs.

9. What's the best thing about Christmas?  The happiness and good will.

10. All I want for Christmas is... happy memories.

Saturday 9

Happy Holidays!

1. If you could ask Santa for anything at all, right now, what would it be? I know how busy The Big Guy is this weekend, so I'll make it easy on him. I'd like a $1,500 giftcard from American Airlines (it's the largest amount you can get for me online, Santa). I've got three trips planned for 2014, Mr. Claus, and this would really, really help. A giftcard fits under the door, so you don't even have to waste valuable time coming in. Don't bother with a gift tag. I'll know who it's from.

2. Are you currently on the Naughty or Nice list? How did you get there? I think I'm on the Nice list because I've worked at being more patient this year.

3. Are you traveling this Christmas? If so, are you going by car, plane or train? I'm flying to Key West through Tampa and from Key West through Fort Meyers. I'm hoping my connections go smoothly.

4. Did you buy yourself a gift this year? Yes. I finally got My Name is Barbra and My Name is Barbra, Two on CD. I bought these albums on vinyl decades ago and love them. I have downloaded favorite individual selections on iTunes. But there were still songs I didn't have. Amazon had them on sale for $6.99 each, so Merry Christmas, Gal!

5. What's your favorite holiday-themed movie or TV special? Have you seen it yet this year? Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol. I check around for it each morning but don't see it scheduled. I'll probably end up digging up the DVD and watching it tonight.

6. Which do you prefer: candy canes or gingerbread? Gingerbread. Love it, love it, love it.

7. Close your eyes and tell us the first carol that comes to mind. "… And so I'm offering this simple phrase to kids from 1 to 92. Though it's been said, many times many ways, Merry Christmas to you."

8. What's your favorite winter beverage? I like Bailey's. But not yet. Let's wait until afternoon before we start pouring.

9. What will you remember most about 2013? For me, this was The Year of Reynaldo. All of a sudden, my 9-year-old cat spun out on me. Peeing all over,
singing and screeching at all hours, alternating between demanding attention and being destructive. It

went on for months! I didn't want to get rid of him -- a return to the shelter would be so sad for him because, at his age and with his history, he'd be virtually unadoptable. After many trips to the vet for a series of shots, a switch to prescription cat food, and an herbal supplement, he's much, much better. He's still a little madman -- that's just the warp and woof of his personality. But now he's more peaceful, more comfortable and happier. He even sleeps every once in a while!

Holidailies -- Day 21

Today's prompt: Today is the winter solstice. What do you do to mark the occasion?

Well, I'm getting my last hair cut and color of the year. Does that count?

The Last Meeting of the Year

Thursday we had a meeting at our client's downstate offices. I presented six (count 'em! 6!) pieces of proposed creative. As expected, they chose two for April 2014. They seemed very enthusiastic about one and pleased (enough) with the other, so I think it went well.

Presenting on December 19 is never ideal. Everyone's head is more into Christmas than into work. That my client's chairman gave his annual holiday address in the building atrium right before my meeting just emphasized this.

Also, my boss had just given his own presentation -- which used up a ton of our resources and left me with the leftovers for mine -- on Monday. And it didn't go especially well. So I felt a bit as though I started behind the eightball. This added to the pre-meeting stress, but made it the mostly positive reception more satisfying.

I went down on Amtrak but came home in the car with my account team. The Chocolate Covered Spider drove. She told us all about her fractious family and how difficult her childhood was with an older half-sister who began partying and got pregnant very young. I'm glad to have heard these tales. They make Spidey's control issues more understandable. She's still always got to be "the good sister." Knowing this will probably make it easier for me to deal with her in the future.

Of course there's more. There's ALWAYS more.

My late mother's home sold at auction on December 9, so I thought the hassles about her reverse mortgage had to be over. I created a spreadsheet that cataloged the assets and debits, made copies of each receipt listed, carefully composed a cover letter and sent a packet off to each of my sisters -- first class mail and tracking. My heinous older sister's packet includes a check. (Of the $14000+ that was required to handle my mother's final expenses, she contributed $1000. Of that, she's getting $333.49 back.) According to USPS's tracking service, the package was delivered to Ms. Heinous at 3 PM today. So I should be able to sit back and say to myself, "Yea! It's finally over!" More than a year after her death, I can now think of my mother exclusively as my mother, and not as a legal entity, right?

Not right.

I got a notice from the IRS, saying that I owe $537 on the MetLife stock I deposited into my checking account when we collected on our mother's life insurance at the end of 2012. I'm not sure I do owe it -- in the past, whenever I have heard from the IRS, it has turned out that they were wrong and my accountant was right and it was resolved amicably and in my favor. But it has never been resolved quickly, and the IRS insists they need to hear from me by January 8. With the holidays, I didn't even bother to call my accountant, I just cut the check. According to the paperwork, I can always appeal it in the future.

The impossible part would be squeezing another penny out of my heinous older sister. If I do owe the $537, $179 is her fair share of the tax liability. Yeah, right. Life "fair share" has ever meant anything to her.

I have given up hope that this will EVER be over.

Holidailies -- Day 20

Today's prompt: Share your holiday crafting skills.

 

Well, there are my fabulous Christmas cookies, made with a great deal of love for my best friend. I was endlessly proud of them. It took several batches, but I finally got a dozen cookies that were absolutely perfect.