Sunday Stealing

I want to be famous ...

From genecernan.com

1. Would you like to be famous? In what way? I'd like to be just famous enough to always get a table when I call a restaurant. Like Gene Cernan. He was an Apollo astronaut, one of the few men to actually walk on the moon. I was in line at a popular pizza place in the Chicago suburbs and had to wait a little longer because he was coming in. The hostess had no idea who he was ... exactly ... but she knew she knew the name. I think this would be a good level/kind of famous. No paparazzo and actual accomplishments to be proud of (meaning: far better than any Kardashian) and the ability to get a good table whenever he wants at the local Italian restaurant.

2. Before making a telephone call, do you ever rehearse what you are going to say? Why? Only if I'm calling directly to voice mail -- which I often do when I don't feel like talking to you directly -- and I know it might be listened to more than once.

3. What would constitute a “perfect” day for you? Doing nothing. No appointments to keep. No reason to look at my watch. Naturally, being able to watch my Cubs would be a nice addition.

4. When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else? This morning. I sang along with John Waite in the shower. (Not that John Waite was in the shower with me, except via my shower radio.) "There's a storm that's raging through my frozen heart tonight … I ain't missing you at all ..."

5. If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you want? Mind. I want to retain my mental faculties. Losing them frightens me enormously.

6. Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die? It's not secret. If you read this blog regularly, you know I can see myself dying suddenly and violently in a plane crash. It's my most potent, least rational fear and I have to battle it every time I travel by air. It takes prayer, courage, and three carefully timed .25 mg doses of Xanax to get me into my seat. But I get there!

7. For what in your life do you feel most grateful? That I see humor in most things. I look at friends who have also battled depression and I know they consider me "stronger" than they are. I don't think that's it at all. I think it's a combination of my Christianity and my ability to laugh that has saved me when things have been darkest.

8. If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be? I wish that our household had spent more time with my dad's family than with my mother's. In retrospect, I can see that my mother's family was the one with the toxicity and the ugly secrets that had to be kept, no matter what the personal expense. My dad's family -- while not perfect -- offered a lot more love with many fewer strings attached. I think if we'd celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas, 4th of July, etc., with them, I wouldn't recoil at the notion of a family gathering.

9. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be? I'd love to be able to sing.

10. If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future or anything else, what would you want to know? How long will I keep this job.

11. What does friendship mean to you? Support, love, laughter.

12. What roles do love and affection play in your life? I know this is a daring stand to take, but I'm solidly, four-square in favor of love and affection.

13. When did you last laugh? Earlier today.

14. Are you a morning person or a night owl? Yes. I enjoy both late night and early morning.

15. Seen anything weird lately? This week on the el, I saw a woman of about 30 acting out the scenario of President George W. Bush in a Florida classroom, getting word about the 9/11 attacks, and then going on to read The Pet Goat to the children. She was doing this for the benefit of a girl in her teens who simply didn't believe that could possibly be how it happened. How these two knew each other, or how they happened upon the topic of Bush, 9/11 and The Pet Goat, I don't know. But the woman's performance was really rather good.

The happiest thing that happened all week

I love this sweater. I found it over lunch on Tuesday at Macy's ... for $12. 80% off! And it was just what I needed!

I had tickets to see the touring company of Kinky Boots that night, and had forgotten my little denim jacket at home. The mercury dropped into the low 70's by lunchtime and would undoubtedly go even lower when the play let out around 10:00. The 3/4 length sleeve, blue/white print blouse I was wearing was not going to be enough.

A blue cardigan! My kingdom for a blue cardigan!

First I ran over to Ross. They are new to the Chicagoland area and their commercials are running constantly. I know, I know ... I should know better than to believe advertising. Ross turned out to be quite a disappointment. Not much merchandise, not well organized. I gave up quickly and was sad.

Then I went to Macy's on State Street. I should have gone there in the first place. I can almost always find something at Macy's, and this one was perfect. Just warm enough, just dressy enough.* It had originally been $59.50. Marked down to $41.99. Marked down to $29.39. Marked down to $11.99.

Plus, shopping at Macy's State Street is always pleasant. It's a beautiful old building -- the original State Street Marshall Field's -- with a lovely old fountain in the main lobby. The salespeople are nice, and wrap even a purchase made at 80% off in tissue.

Sigh. When retail therapy works, it feels soooo good!

*My theater buddy, Barb, and I tried a new restaurant before the play and I had no idea how far I could push the "casual" thing and still feel comfortable. This little sweater jacket was a nice little addition. Better than the hoodie I almost invested in from Ross.

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Crazy Little Thing Called Love (1980)

1) In this video, Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury is wearing a leather jacket. Do you have a leather jacket? I used to. I still may have it somewhere. It wasn't a Freddie Mercury-style jacket. It was tailored with knit accents and I used to dress up jeans/slacks.

2) There's a statue of Freddie in Switzerland. There's another statue of him above the Dominion Theater in London. Tell us about a statue or memorial in your town. The one I pass the most often is dedicated to the memory of the soldiers my community sent to WWI and never came home. (I know it was WWI because of their helmets.)

3) Mercury said this song was inspired by Elvis Presley. What's your favorite Elvis song? Oh, I love Elvis. Especially sad, sincere Elvis. "Seven lonely days and a dozen times ago, I reached out one night and you were gone." Breaks my heart every time.


4) This song was covered by the animated Alvin and the Chipmunks. Do you still watch cartoons? Yes. If I happen upon Mr. Magoo or Rocky & Bullwinkle, I still stop and watch.

5) The members of Queen met while attending Ealing Art College in London. Are you still in touch with the friends you had in your late teens and early 20s? I met John and Mindy when I was 23 and they're still my friends to this day.

6) During Queen's hey day in the 1980s, Mercury stayed in shape with tennis and swimming. Are you more accomplished on the court or in the pool? I am a good swimmer. Not fast, but I have endurance. I only played tennis once and it was not pretty.

7) In 1980, when this song was popular, Brooke Shields made a jeans commercial where she said, "Nothing comes between me and Calvins." It actually only aired for a short time because so many viewers called and complained about it. Have you ever called or emailed to protest something you saw on TV? Nope. But I can tell you, working an ad agency, that companies do listen. Your letters and emails are read. As far as Facebook and Twitter go, it's not what you say (since so many people are anonymous trolls), but it's the total tonnage of posts that gets attention.

8) 1980 is also the year the Post-It note was introduced. What's the last Post-It you wrote? "We're still tweaking two of the letters." OK, it's not a compelling answer but it is an honest one.

9) Random question: Do you blush easily? Not so much.

F as in "Foxtrot" ...

... through N as in "November."

We're the citizens who have been called as jurors on Monday. At the Daley Center, which is in the heart of the Loop. As Cook County courthouses go, it's the best place to be assigned. Easy to get to by public transportation, surrounded by lunch places I'm already familiar with, and usually the home of not violent trials.

I can't honestly say I want to do this. I'll probably be stuck sitting in an uncomfortably chilly room all day (with no wifi) and not even be interviewed to sit on a jury. Or if I get through to voir dire, I'll be one of dozens interviewed and therefore not likely to be chosen. Meanwhile, at the office, I have to trust others with my 2:00 presentation, and I hate trusting others with my work.

On the other hand, I can't honestly say I don't want to do this. I still think the system is very cool. I am that corny. "Trial by a jury of your peers." It rocks.

One month later ...

Christine is staying through the end of the month. She's wrangling to stay even longer.

She still annoys me every time she opens her mouth. She's still a freelancer with an agenda. I still hate her. I just get along with her to make my own day easier.

And, it must be said, she's a bit more deferential to me than she was. She's no longer all bossy pants on my ass. Part of it is because she's learned my boss trusts me with The Big Project, and part of it is that she sees that the client likes me. So while I'm under no illusions that she likes me, either, at least there's not a lot of stress.

But here's why I don't like her, won't like her, can't like her.

Mr. Big and Christine

Christine is a mole. She reports to Mr. Big, twice a week, about Long Tall Sally, aka The New Girl,her immediate supervisor.

Long Tall Sally, aka The New Girl, went through a period there where she was, to be honest and fair, nuts. The client complained about her to Mr. Big and Mr. Big freaked out. Long Tall Sally is his first-ever hire, in a high profile position, and it would be very bad for him if she didn't work out.

Right about the time the client complained, Christine showed up. Once a VP, long out of work and available for a much lower position. Hungry to, in her own words, "get back into it." She meets with Mr. Big "on the sly" -- or so they think, one of the downsides of our current open seating arrangement is that everyone sees what everyone is doing, all day long -- twice a week. And reports on LTS.

I don't respect that.

I have no doubt she's done the same to me with my boss, only 1) my boss is lazier than Mr. Big and 2) my work this year really has been very good. So I'm not worried. But I still want her gone.

PS This is why I miss Mad Men with every fiber of my being. That show was so knowing about my world, I found it comforting.

Here we go again

Ok, I admit it. I'm not a fan of Hillary Clinton's. And yet, I find myself defending her and even becoming more enthusiastic about her.

Why? I mean, neither she nor I has changed much since I wrote this post back in June 2014.

Because the people who attack her are so freaking unfair! And sexist. And mean spirited. Here are just some of the things floating round out there:

• Her marriage is a sham (either because she's a lesbian or because she's frigid)

• She "allowed" our embassy in Benghazi to come under attack because she was with her mistress, Huma Abedin (lesbian again)

• She has suffered several "minor" strokes and her deleted emails were all from doctors, advising her on how to conceal her weakened condition from the public

• She only wants to be President so that she can make Sen. Kristen Gillibrand either Vice President or maybe a federal judge, thereby enabling her to make Chelsea a Senator and guaranteeing a third Clinton will eventually be President

• She is paranoid and keeps an "enemies list," a la Richard Nixon's

• She had an ongoing affair with White House Counsel Vince Foster, and his inability to protect the then-First Lady from legal problems drove him to suicide

• She had a brief affair with Vince Foster years earlier, when they were both partners at the Rose Law Firm, and she had him murdered to keep him silent

• She encouraged her brothers to "sell" pardons as her husband was leaving office

I could go on, but I don't have the stomach.

There are a lot of reasons not to support HRC but not a one is bullet pointed above.

People who are so cynical as to spread this toxicity, and those blindly hateful enough to believe it, do not enhance our political discourse and may just persuade me to cut a check to Hillary for America.

PS Plus I'd love to see Bill rock the role of First Lady.

Dreaming of the vaunted Walla Walla-Kalamazoo corridor

This corny bit of Americana heralded the start of  each WGN radio Cubs broadcast of my girlhood, and explains why every time we heard from my cousins in Kalmazoo, I wished we had people in Walla Walla, too.



This song has been on my mind all day because the Cubs are starting two very important series. Tonight we take on the Cardinals -- a team that's been scary good so far this year, and are historically our #1 rivals. After the Cards leave town, the White Sox stop by. My feelings about the Sox are a bit more complicated. I don't actually care about them, and since it's interleague play those games won't have much impact on the standings. It's just Sox fans are so hostile to Cubs fans and our Wrigley Way of Life that I'd really like to see my heroes in pinstripes kick ass.

I'm told there are people who don't love baseball. I'm sad for them. For I wonder if they know the joy that comes when you "cheer ... and boo ... and raise a hullbaloo."

Sunday Stealing

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MASH UP MEME

1. What’s overdue for a good cleaning? My carpets. They're enormously funky.

2. What’s overdue for some kind of professional examination, service, maintenance, or upkeep? I need to go to dentist.

3. Who’s overdue for a phone call or letter to you? My Cousin Rose and my friend Tom. (Tom and his young family just moved to their first house and I want to send him a snailmail Hallmark card, not just an e-card.)

 4. What’s overdue for an appearance in your neighborhood? You mean where should I go that I haven't been? Public library. I don't use it as much as I should.

 5. Who’s overdue for a good comeuppance? So many people!

 6. What’s a gross food you like anyway? Cheetos

 7. Who’s an unlikeable person you like anyway? Nancy Grace. I don't like her, but her show is the television equivalent of Cheetos.

 8. What’s an unpleasant task you enjoy performing anyway? Grocery shopping

 9. What’s a dumb song you enjoy anyway? His life, his love and his lady is the sea. (Even the lyric's grammar is lousy, yet I love it.)

 10. What’s a lousy restaurant you frequent anyway? Red Robin. YUM!

 11. What's your favorite Sci-fi film/program, etc? I'm sorry if you're a fan, but scifi really feels like a tremendous waste of time.

 12. Have you ever had a proper Tarot reading? Yes.

 13. Have you ever used the phrase "back in my time" to someone younger than you? Yes.

 14. Have you ever done something really unbelievable, only to have no one around to see it? Nothing springs to mind.

 15. If you were famous, would you want a statue or a building names after you? Couldn't I please just have the cash?

Independence Day Musings

This happy gent decorates a friend's lawn each 7/4

I love my country. I support my President. I believe in God. So I think "God bless America" sums up my feelings rather nicely.

Happy to see the couple that has taught me so much about being a good American on the cover of this week's People. He's been gone more than 50 years. She's been gone more than 20. And yet here they are, appearing on newsstands just in time for our country's most patriotic holiday.

Sometimes I wish we could just let them, literally, rest in peace. But then again, maybe we need them. Certainly there are times when I do.

"Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country." I can do more. I must remember that. I must allow him to inspire me to do more than write checks. I must do the work required to help improve the lives of my neighbors. After all, JFK was never one to sit back and let others do the heavy lifting.

And then there's JBKO, sharing a cover with -- of all people -- Bristol Palin. Ms. Palin is spilling her guts about her broken engagement and second pregnancy outside of marriage. Jackie would never, NEVER discuss her personal life with the public. Wonder how she felt about The President's infidelities? Curious as to why she married Onassis? We never heard the answers from her lips. Not once. I know there are RWNJs out there who adore the Alaskardashians  but there is no way Jackie would allow her family to be merchandised the way Sarah Palin has sold hers. (I know of two reality series -- Sarah Palin's Alaska and Bristol Palin: Life's a Tripp -- and perhaps there are more.) I think it's obvious JBKO was the real "Mama Grizzly" when it came to protecting her young.

Yet for all we don't know about Jacqueline's internal life, we do know how much she cared about America. How hard she worked on the White House restoration. How seriously she took the architectural restoration of Washington, DC. How badly she wanted this country's schoolchildren to see the Mona Lisa. While her personal papers have been kept private, as per her wishes, just about every piece of paper she touched in her official role as First Lady was preserved and passed along to the JFK Library, also as per her wishes.

Oh yeah, Kendra and Hank are on the cover, too. I wish I could tell you I'm completely unfamiliar with their saga, but I'd soooo be lying. (Shame on me.)

Oh well, Happy 4th! And let's try to think of how we can continue to help our nation on her way to being a more perfect union.

Not a damn thing was accomplished

I have celebrated the Fourth by doing nothing. I feel kinda bad about it, but not that bad ... or I would have accomplished something.

Spoke to my friend from California today. She began the conversation by saying she thinks she's on "a manic swing," and I agree. She was filled with plans for starting her own business on the side. Her son helped her set up a website. She looked into ordering business cards. She was so happy and positive.

Which is why I chose my words carefully. I didn't want her to think I was peeing on her parade. I told her my fear wasn't that she'd fail. I said I was worried that she'd make such a success of it that she'd be overwhelmed.

I pointed out to her that at times (meaning, "usually"), she is so overwhelmed at the office, so tired on weekends, that she never goes to the movies, can't summon up the energy to join a book club, doesn't even stay awake long enough to watch the late night comedy shows. How will she handle it when she hits one of those busy/overwhelming patches and she has extracurricular clients depending on her?

I mean, just last week she was talking about taking a week off work to "decompress" (my word). To eat nothing but healthy food, to exercise, to write in her journal, to get her head back on straight. That was last week. This week she's launching a business in her spare time.

I know this is part and parcel of her bipolar condition. If it's difficult for me to listen to, it must be a million times harder for her to live with. That's why I hope that she heard me when I said I was sure she could do this, that I know she has what it takes to be a success, and that I will help her. I want to sound supportive.

I also hope she heard me when she said she needs to talk to Susan (her psychologist) about all her big plans. I don't want to see her setting herself up to for stress and failure.

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Hungry (1966)
... because it's 4th of July

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) Are you eating anything as you respond to these questions? Nah. I'm answering these on Friday night and I'm quite full right now.

2) Paul Revere and the Raiders performed in Revolutionary garb. Have you ever worked at a job that required you to wear a uniform? When I was in high school, I had to wear a polo that carried the logo of the place where I worked retail.

3) The "Paul Revere" of Raiders fame was born Paul Revere Dick in Boise, Idaho. What else is Idaho known for? Potatoes.

4) The original Paul Revere was a silversmith by trade,  known for making church bells. Can you hear church bells from your home? I live within walking distance to three places of worship, so on Sunday morning it can sound like quite a concert out there.

You go, Abigail!

5) In April, 1775, Paul Revere literally rode into history when he galloped into the night, spreading the word that "the British are coming." Name another Revolutionary War-era hero. I'm gonna go with Abigail Adams. Her letters revealed her to be smart, independent and forward thinking. As she wrote to John,"In the new laws which you will make, I wish you will remember the ladies. Be more favorable and generous to them than your ancestors. Do not put so much power in the hands of husbands."

6) Historians tell us that Revere's famous "midnight ride" actually took place between 9:00 and 10:00 PM. When is your usual bedtime? Whenever I feel like it. I'm a big girl now.

7) Earlier this year, officials from Boston's Museum of Fine Arts uncovered a time capsule buried in 1795 by Paul Revere and Gov. Sam Adams. It included coins and newspapers. If you were to bury a time capsule that reflects American life in 2015, what would it include? A rainbow flag for marriage equality and a smartphone.

8) Will you attend a fireworks display during the 4th of July weekend? Nope. I can see the fireworks from my living room window.

9) What's your preferred way to celebrate Independence Day -- a parade, a picnic, or both? Picnic

It's like coming home

My first trip to Wrigley Field since the renovation! I admit I was a little apprehensive. I love this place sooooo much and I hate to think of anyone messing with it. But it's that great old, hand-operated scoreboard beneath flags flapping in the breeze that really means home to me, and as you can see, she's still there in all her glory.

My friend John and I were celebrating his (gulp) 60th birthday. The weather was beautiful and the park was awesome -- we sang the stretch with former Cub Ryan Dempster and Cub legend, the late Harry Caray. I shot this rather blurry photo with my own little camera. Here's how the scene looked to those watching at home.

Unfortunately, the good guys lost 2-1. But I'm a Cub fan, so I won't let the outcome steal my joy. Besides, I know tomorrow we'll filet those damn Marlins.

Jealous!

These are Cub fans who made the pilgrimage. To New York. To see the Cubs play our lifelong nemeses, The Mets. I love how confident they were -- they packed our iconic "W" flag. By the way, the Cubs not only won today, they swept the Mets. I would have loved to have been there among the traveling faithful.

Tomorrow John and I are going to Wrigley Field, my first trip to The Friendly Confines this season.  We're celebrating his 60th birthday. I've dug out my Greg Maddux jersey in preparation. I have a Cubs necklace and Cubs sunglasses ready, too.* (I'm on the fence about whether to carry my Cubbie handbag.) It occurs to me that this lady is my own personal Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.

 

*Thanks, Snarkela.

Farewell to Chicago's rainiest June

That's me on the left

We broke a record for precipitation last month. I realize, when some parts of the country are suffering from drought, that there are worse problems we could have. I get that.

But do you have any idea what this most humid June has been like for my hair?

WWW.WEDNESDAY

This meme is no more. And yet I persist in answering the three questions it asked each week. Stubborn, ain't I?

1. What are you currently reading? Being Nixon by Evan Thomas. I just started it, but I'm confident I'll thoroughly enjoy it. First of all, I have a massive geek crush on Evan Thomas. He's whip smart, savvy, and his writing style is crisp and knowing. His biography of Robert Kennedy is one of the best I've ever read.

Then there's Nixon. I mean, really! The man is fucking Shakespearean. If I hadn't lived through his Presidency, I'd accuse reporters of making him up. More Americans voted for Richard Nixon than any other politician. What does that say about him ... and us? I'm hoping Evan Thomas will help me understand.

2. What did you just finish reading? Edith Head's Hollywood by Edith Head with Paddy Calistro. I wanted this book to include new information about old movies that I love, and it did. I loved the details of Head working with La Liz throughout her career, and how this iconic dress from A Place in the Sun came to be. How Newman and Redford ("the boys," as Edith Head referred to them) were dressed off the rack from the studio's Western costume department for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, except for their hats. Redford's hat, especially, was important to how his not yet familiar face photographed because of his very square jaw.

What I didn't expect was how clear-eyed this book is. It began as Edith Head's autobiography, but she died before it was published. Ms. Calistro took it over and is very balanced about Head's career. The final verdict: Edith was a better business woman than she was a designer. That's just as fascinating as her work.

Edith Head's real genius was the way she promoted/marketed herself. She intentionally attached herself to one of the "it girls" of the moment: first Mae West, followed by Barbara Stanwyck, then Elizabeth Taylor, finally Natalie Wood. She made herself well known to the public by appearing first on radio shows and then daytime TV. She lobbied the Motion Picture Academy hard for a category for costume design, and then campaigned relentlessly to get herself nominated frequently and to win as often as possible. It was rumored she was very comfortable taking complete credit for popular films that she had only worked on tangentially -- including her second film with "the boys," The Sting, for which she accepted her final Oscar. (Significant as the only film to date with a primarily male cast win the costume design Oscar.)

I came away thinking Edith was a woman before her time. If she could figure out how to build a career like that in the 1930s through 1970s, imagine what she could have accomplished in today's more female-friendly workplace.

3. What will you read next? I don't know.

Poignant

Watching the documentary I'll Be Me on CNN. It's about Glen Campbell's battle with Alzheimer's.

It's not easy to see him diminished. It reminds me of my uncle's battle with Parkinson's -- though with my uncle, his mind stayed sharp while his body deteriorated. But it's the same pain of watching someone disappear, bit by bit, and to ache along with their frustration and struggle.

Plus, Glen Campbell was one of my uncle's favorite recording artists. He used to play this song all the time. The sound of the guitars reminds me of my uncle. When I got older, I began paying attention to the lyric (written by John Hartford). I hope that the men who once held me in their arms still keep me in the backroads by the rivers of their memory, ever smiling, ever gentle on their minds.

Sunday Stealing

Unusual Things

1. Who was the last person of the opposite sex you laid in a bed with?  Sprawled out with my friend in the Keys when I was down there at Christmas.

2. Where was the last place you went out to eat? My second-favorite coffee house. I miss my favorite coffee house, but apparently it's everyone's favorite because these days it seems there's always a line.

3. What was the last alcoholic beverage you consumed? The usual -- vodka/cran.

4. Which do you prefer - eyes or lips? For viewing, I prefer eyes. For whistling, I'll go with lips.

5. Medicine, fine arts, or law? I think I would have been a good lawyer.

6. Best kind of pizza? Sausage.

7. Is your bedroom window open? Open

8. What is in store for your future? Laundry. Today I bleach my white. Woo hoo!

9. Who was the last band you saw live? The E-Street Band. BROOOOOCE!

10. Do you take care of your friends while they are sick? Of course.

11. Any historical figures that you envy? Not really envy. But there are many I admire.

12. How many songs are on your iTunes? Lots

13. What brand of digital camera do you own? My little Kodak Easy Share M350


14. When was the last time you got a good workout? It's been too long. Lately I've just been doing cardio, and I haven't done near enough of that, either.

15. Are you experienced? Sure.

16. If you need a new pair of jeans, what store do you go to first? Old Navy

17. Are you a quitter? I suppose so

18. What are two bands or singers that you will always love? I've already shown Bruce, so now, of course, I honor Sir Paul. Seeing him at Lolla at the end of July. Yea!

19. What of the seven deadly sins are you guilty of? All of them, at one time or another.

20. Did you just have to google the seven deadly sins to see what they were? Yes, because I always forget gluttony.

Saturday 9

I Miss You (1997)

... because Smellyann suggested it

1) In this song, Bjork knows what she's looking for in a mate, she just hasn't met him yet. If you are/were still looking for The One, what two qualities would you hope he/she possessed? Integrity and humor.

2) The lyrics ask if you believe "that a dream can come true." Do you believe that dreams come true if you wish hard enough? If they did, you'd be referring to me as "Lady McCartney."

3) Bjork turns 50 this year. Do you treat "milestone" birthdays differently? Or to you, is your age just a number? I love all my birthdays. (It's in late November, by the way. My favorite color is blue. It's never too early to start shopping.)

4) Bjork was always highly musical. At the tender age of 6 she began studying classical piano and flute. Sam is impressed because at the age of 6, she was still trying to master tying her shoes. Do you consider yourself musical? I don't. And neither does any unfortunate soul who has ever heard me sing.

5) She was born and raised in Reykjavik, Iceland. While the city is known for its bar scene, beer was banned there until 1995. How often do drink beer? I can't recall the last time I had a beer. I find I'm less likely to get a headache from a mixed drink.

6) 66ºNORTH is one of Iceland's biggest employers. This clothier makes quality outdoor wear and this time of year they sell a lot of durable rainwear. Do you have a raincoat? Yes. And I should have had it with me Friday but I didn't. The mercury barely touched 70º and I was stuck waiting for the bus in a downpour. My little blue hooded anorak would have come in handy.

7) In 1997, when this song was popular in clubs, Titanic was popular in theaters. Sam saw it and yes, she cried. How about you? Have you seen the saga of Jack and Rose? Did you enjoy it? Saw it when it first came out. Rented it when it came out on video. Saw it again at the theater when it was released in 3D for the 15th anniversary. And I've seen parts of it countless times on cable. I guess this makes me a Titaniac.

8) Also in 1997, singer John Denver died. Name a John Denver song. "Annie's Song." You fill up my sen-ses like night in a forest ...

9) Random question: If you had the opportunity to sky dive, would you take it? Maybe. While I'm terrified every time I fly in a plane, sky diving kind of intrigues me.

 

What he said

Marriage equality is the law of the land. So says the Supreme Court. 

It's a great day.

 

Love

Not my family. Turns out maybe it could have been my family.

My aunt/godmother was back in Chicagoland for the first time since my mother's funeral back in 2012. She was here to visit her son, my very talented cousin Ryan, and his family -- especially her granddaughter, who is home from New York for the summer.

She also wanted to see me and my kid sister, and so I set up a Tuesday night dinner in LaGrange. My aunt went to high school in LaGrange, and I wanted her to see the beautifully restored movie theater, where I knew she spent many hours during her teen years.

So Ryan, his wife and daughter, my sister and her husband, my nephew and I joined my aunt and

her husband at a burger place in LaGrange. There was much laughter and so much affection. After dinner, four of us peeled off and walked up the street to the theater. The high school students who work there very kindly welcomed us, even though we weren't seeing a film, and encouraged us to look around.

It made my aunt so happy to be in the old neighborhood. She bubbled as she told her husband about the parade floats she rode down the main drag, so many years ago.

She loves me very much, was very big on hugging me and seemed to like just looking at me. I think part of it is that I remind her of her late parents. I inherited my rabid Cub fandom from them, and my dad. I said that, if this is the year when the Cubs return to post-season play, I'll wear my grandmother's Ryne Sandberg #23 jersey to a game. It cracked my aunt up that my team is in third place and I'm already getting the jersey pressed in celebration.

Much of my antipathy toward family comes from hostile relations with my mother's mother -- a very bitter, very angry alcoholic -- and the tension in my parent's marriage, and my older sister's violent rages. Then there was the family patriarch, always in attendance, who never tired of reminding me that he molested me ... and enjoyed it. Family gettogethers were either ugly, or fraught with the potential for ugliness. I never felt like I was welcome, like I belonged or was even safe.

Those were the people I "celebrated" Christmas Eve, Thanksgiving, Easter and Fourth of July with until my early 20s, I unfortunately allowed their toxicity to ruin how I feel about family. The bad memories crowd out the extended family, the relatives I saw at other times. I forget how much my oft-mentioned Cousin Rose loves me, how much my late uncle (my mom's kid brother) loved me, how much this aunt loves me, how much I have in common with my artistic cousin, how happy my nephew always is to see me.

I do have a lot of love. I just have to let myself feel it.

"Yes, Boss?"

The client was in town this week. It was an all-day meeting, during which we recapped our work for the first six months of 2015.

My boss presented a board depicting our work to date on my Big Project. After giving an overview, he tossed it to me. I blabbed and answered questions without notes. One of our clients said, "I always get a kick out of your enthusiasm."

I realized as the day wore on that I was doing a lot of the talking. I wasn't on the agenda, I had no predetermined part of the agenda. It's just that I know my shit.

So much so that, this morning, when I went to my boss' office to discuss next steps, he looked up and said, "Yes, Boss?"

I was flattered, of course, but also cognizant of the role Long Tall Sally (aka The New Girl) has played in my career renaissance. Yes, her personality is too big. Yes, there's too much drama and volatility in her wake.

But when her predecessor, The Chocolate Covered Spider, chaired December's similar client meeting, I wasn't even invited. Spidey didn't share the spotlight. Spidey didn't want others to shine.

So I'm enjoying this new chapter in my work life.

Image courtesy of iosphere at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Let's get our facts straight

I'm not a Southerner. I've vacationed in the South -- Atlanta and Little Rock/Hot Springs, specifically -- and enjoyed it. I feel far more comfortable there than I ever have in Los Angeles. But I am not a Southerner. I grew up in the Land of Lincoln, and am proud to hale from the state that gave us the man who saved the Union.

That's why I don't get the affection anyone feels for the Confederate flag. At best it stands for secession. At best, flying that flag flies in the face of "one nation, under God." So I don't understand why it's flown on any day, anywhere, after 1865.

But if you want to know why it flies over South Carolina today, it's more about this man than it is about Robert E. Lee.

In January 1961, a Federal court upheld the right of black students to attend the University of Georgia. That didn't play well in the South. "Two four six eight, we don't want to integrate!" Then, in March, 1961, President Kennedy signed an executive order prohibiting segregation in the federal workplace.

The Confederate flag went up over the South Carolina statehouse just weeks later. In April 1961. Ninety six years after the end of the Civil War.

If the GOP wants to truly own the mantle, "The Party of Lincoln," it's time for them to join statesmen like Sen. Lindsay Graham, and Jeb Bush and Mitt Romney and call for the removal of the Confederate flag.

Sunday Stealing

THE GET IT ALL DOWN MEME 

Are you a good dancer? No, I'm a very bad dancer.

Are you a good singer? No. It's one of the few things I do worse than dance.

Are you a good cook? Oh, come on! Is this meme designed to make me feel bad about myself?

Are you a good artist? So now I'm 0-4.

Are you a good listener? Ding! Ding! Ding! I finally got one!

What's your favorite clean word? "Gubernatorial." It's just fun to say.

What's your favorite swear word? The "f word" is very versatile, and I appreciate that in a word.

What's your least favorite word? I'm beyond sick of the work vernacular. Especially "recco" instead of "recommendation." It's not like, at the end of my life, I'll say to myself, "I could have accomplished so much more if only I'd abbreviated 'recommendation' to 'recco.'"

What was the last film you saw? Jurassic World

What football team do you support? I have a passing interest in the Bears. But my massive Cub obsession takes up all the sports space in my cranium.

Have you ever been bobbing for apples? Once, when I was in Girl Scouts.

What's your most expensive piece of clothing? I'm sure it's my winter coat.

 

What's the last thing you took a picture of? My cat, Connie.

What's the last thing you drew a picture of? I did a crude sketch at work, a schematic of how I wanted a brochure to unfold.

Have you ever bought anything from eBay? Yes, the last thing was this new Miche. (Without the little "new" pennant, of course.)

Have you ever invented a fairly unique meal or drink? No.

Do you have any secret family recipes? No.

A day in my village

A lot of little things made me smile today.

 •  Stopped by the food pantry again today, dropping off cans of soup, tuna and vegetables, as well as some no-longer-needed-but-still-sealed feminine products. The women who took my contribution were so friendly and I could tell that they treated those who need this service with utmost respect. On the way out, a school bus pulled up. About a dozen junior high school aged kids got off, ready to help the pantry pack up/shut down until it reopens next Saturday. It made me happy to see kids giving their time on a summer Saturday.

•  Went to the bank to buy a roll of quarters for laundry. I was surprised to see a line. There's so seldom a line anymore because really, how often do you need to see a teller anymore? Well, it seems that beginning in July, Chase banks in the Chicago area will no longer have coin counting machines. I hadn't heard about this, and the others in line very generously explained it to me. I told them where the nearest Coinstar machine was, and how they could avoid the Coinstar fee. It made me happy that everyone was so friendly and helpful.

•  Then I had brunch in my second favorite coffee shop. (My favorite had a line and I didn't want to wait.) While I was enjoying my eggs and bacon, I eavesdropped on the family in the next booth. Mom and Dad sat on one side, Son and Daughter sat on the other. I'm guessing the kids were 10 or 11 and 11 or 12.

They were dining before the matinee at the movie theater, where the kids were using their own money to buy Dad his popcorn and a Coke for Father's Day. They were discussing whether to see Jurassic World or Spy. Son wanted to see Jurassic World because "Melissa McCarthy is fat."

Dad told his son that he only sees her that way because he's still young. "When you grow up," Dad said, "you'll look at Melissa McCarthy and see a woman who is smart and successful and funny, and those things are all very attractive. Those are the things you'll look for in a woman."

I don't know if he said it to get in good with his wife, or to help his daughter grow up feeling empowered, or if he truly felt that way. Doesn't matter. His kids were hanging on his every word, and it was so lovely it made very, very happy.

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Daddy's Little Man (1969)

1) This song is about an afternoon visit between a father and son. What are your plans for Saturday afternoon? I don't have any specific plans. Just general ones, that include laundry, naps and The Cubs vs. Minnesota.

2) The lyrics talks about enjoying an ice cream cone. Do you have any ice cream in your freezer right now? Not ice cream. Outshine frozen fruit bars. They're "berry delicious," you know.

3) Sam's father hates it when she swears. When is the last time you cursed? Friday afternoon. Specifically, I said, "What the fuck?" I wasn't angry. I was genuinely confused.

4) In a recent ranking of movie dads, Mufasa (Lion King) and Atticus (To Kill a Mockingbird) got very high marks. Who is your favorite movie or TV father? Mayberry's Andy Taylor would be my choice. He has to be a great dad. Look how well Opie turned out.

5) Sam's own father often traveled for business, and always remembered to bring her the little complimentary soaps, shampoos or body lotion he got from the hotel. When you take a trip, do you bring back souvenirs? I'm big on sending postcards. It's a dying custom. My 14-year-old nephew recently told me that I'm the only one who has ever sent him one. It's cheaper and easier to post vacation photos to your Facebook feed. But I can be very sentimental, so I continue sending postcards.

6) Back when Sam was in high school, it was her father who gave her driving lessons. Who taught you how to drive? Coach Brown. Neither of us wanted to be in that driver's ed car.

7) Sam's own father is easy to buy for: every year he wants a new pair of loafers, so every year for Father's Day she gives him a DSW gift card. Would you rather receive a gift that someone chose, even though it might not be just right, or do you prefer a gift card or cash so you can get exactly what you want? I appreciate gifts, no matter what!

8) For family barbecues, Sam's dad dons his "Kiss the Chef" apron and mans the Weber. What's the last thing you cooked on the grill? A rib eye on my George Foreman grill.

9) Sam's father satisfies his afternoon sugar craving with an almost endless stream of Butter Rum Lifesavers. When you crave a snack, do you usually want something sweet or salty? Lately it's been salty. Cheesey and salty. Like Cheetos.