Friday, November 18, 2016
Happy Birthday to Me, Part 1
I haven't been feeling very birthday yet. Part of it is that baseball (blissfully!) ran into November and it threw off my schedule for obsessing. Part of it is that the mercury his 70ยบ today and this unseasonable warmness is also confusing my schedule for obsessing. And then there's the election, which I keep trying to move on from, but everyone I run into keeps insisting we revisit it.
So today I was happy to slip away from work with a coworker and try this new restaurant (at least new to us). It was a little pricier than I was comfortable with, since she was picking up the tab, but she's the one who chose it, so ...
We split the most heavenly appetizer: lobster deviled eggs. Then I had the chicken dip and she had the fish sandwich. We each had drinks, which may have been unwise considering we had to go back to the office. But still, it was lovely. Because it was so warm and sunny, we were able to sit outdoors and watch the city go by. It seems everyone was out, eager to enjoy this last gasp of summer, and as always, Chicago's diversity fascinates and energizes me.
So today I was happy to slip away from work with a coworker and try this new restaurant (at least new to us). It was a little pricier than I was comfortable with, since she was picking up the tab, but she's the one who chose it, so ...
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Still, I'm glad we did it
Today is the birthday of Will, the moderator of our classic movie group. Last night we had a little celebration -- cupcakes, salsa/chips and a birthday card. It took him by surprise and made him very happy.
I was disappointed by how small the group was. There were Joanna, Betty and me -- the party organizers -- and Norman and his wife. And Will. That was it. Usually we have between 10 and 30 film lovers in attendance.
I blame it on the movie. Unfaithfully Yours is another one of the Preston Sturges comedies Will (and so many other classic film buffs) are so terribly fond of. I don't think these movies have aged well. The comedy is too broad and the performances lack the airy charm of other screwball comedies. (How I wish Cary Grant
had played the Rex Harrison role!) I don't think I'm alone in my antipathy, as attendance has dwindled throughout this series.
But Will works very hard on these screenings. He leads the discussion with the same enthusiasm whether there are five of us, or 15 or 25. So I'm glad we took this opportunity to show our appreciation.
I was disappointed by how small the group was. There were Joanna, Betty and me -- the party organizers -- and Norman and his wife. And Will. That was it. Usually we have between 10 and 30 film lovers in attendance.
I blame it on the movie. Unfaithfully Yours is another one of the Preston Sturges comedies Will (and so many other classic film buffs) are so terribly fond of. I don't think these movies have aged well. The comedy is too broad and the performances lack the airy charm of other screwball comedies. (How I wish Cary Granthad played the Rex Harrison role!) I don't think I'm alone in my antipathy, as attendance has dwindled throughout this series.
But Will works very hard on these screenings. He leads the discussion with the same enthusiasm whether there are five of us, or 15 or 25. So I'm glad we took this opportunity to show our appreciation.
As if more proof is required
The best people love the Cubs. Yes, that's the Holy Father with a cap and a ball signed by the whole team. (He's with Cardinal Blace Cupich).
WWW.WEDNESDAY
To participate, and to see how others responded, click here.
1. What are you currently reading? Till the End of Tom by Gillian Roberts. Amanda Pepper is an English teacher at Philly Prep who skips out of a particularly dull all-school morning meeting because she's dying of boredom. Moving down the school's majestic marble staircase, enjoying freedom from assembly and thinking about her upcoming lesson plan, she literally stumbles upon a dead man. And the mystery begins. Who is he? Did he trip and fall on his own or did he have help? I began this book years ago and put it aside, bored after a few pages. Clearly I've changed because printed pages between two hard covers can't, but now I'm enjoying it. I used to devour the books in the series -- the Philadelphia setting is unique and carefully drawn, Amanda is multidimensional, and I can relate to her relationships with her boyfriend CK and her best friend Sasha. The murder mystery is unfolding slowly over pages/days, but that feels appropriate to the circumstances of the case.
2. What did you recently finish reading? Paul McCartney: The Life by Philip Norman. Exhaustive, entertaining and surprisingly emotional. While the first 28 years of Paul's life have been explored almost day-by-day in other books, this book takes him beyond the Beatles to the 74-year-old grandfather he is today. For me, the most interesting parts of the book aren't the passages devoted to the music -- I have all those songs in my headphones and know how I feel about them -- but how he dealt with the overwhelming curves life threw him. For example, he meets the love of his life and is finally ready to settle down with one woman after bedding literally thousands. At the same time, The Beatles break up and his career begins to unravel with cruel speed and in full view of the world press. Likewise, years later when he is honored with knighthood by the Queen, his wife can't attend because she's dying of cancer. So this book is not only the chronicle of an event-filled public life, it's a highly personal story, too.
3. What will you read next? Hercule Poirot's Christmas. I picked it up at the library's used book sale back last summer, but now it's time has come.
Saturday, November 12, 2016
Sunday Stealing
Ask, ask, ASK--part 2
26 - Did you have an accident last year? No. I've had health problems and money problems during 2016, but no accidents. (Knock wood.)
27 - Do you have any famous relatives? No.
28 - Did you ever had a kiss under the moonlight? Yes. Memorably beside the Schuylkill River in Philly.
29 - Have you ever been jealous? Oh, yes.
30 - How can you prove your love to someone? Access. I try to be available for people I love.
31 - What are you thinking right now? That my left eye is particularly itchy this evening. (Sorry it's not a more thrilling answer.)
32 - Have you ever sacrificed something important to you for someone you love? Yes. Toward the end of my mother's life, I let things go that were very, very important to me. But I made the decision that we weren't going to argue, that she was going to leave this world with a little less stres and tension if I could help it.
33 - Can you live without internet? Not happily.
34 - Have you been so emotional that you can’t find words to explain how you feel? I'm a Cub fan! How to describe the glory of Game 7?
35 - Did you ever badmouth someone? Too often. I try to be sweet like Melanie Hamilton, but my tart tongued, less than charitable Scarlett side comes out an awful lot.
36 - What do you prefer, jeans or skirt? Jeans.
37 - Do you have trust issues? Good goobies, yes! My erstwhile shrink once told me my root problem was a fear of genuine intimacy. And she was right. People I've never met who read this blog probably know me better than those I spend time with in real life.
38 - What's something that you made all on your own and are incredibly proud of? My career. I'm a junior college drop out, and yet I work at a major advertising agency on the account of a Fortune 500 Company.
39 - Who’s the person who first comes to your mind when someone mentions “love”? Wow. The first answer that popped into my head surprised me. I think I'm gonna keep it to myself but stew on it awhile.
40 - Who was the last person you hugged? A coworker. Her exhusband's aunt died. She cared about the older woman very much, but the divorce situation complicated mourning.
41 - Do you believe in the phrase “If it’s meant to be, it will be”? In romance, yes. In work, no.
42 - Do people praise you for your looks? I get, "I can't believe you're that old!" a lot. Which is good, I guess.
43 - Do you believe in destiny? See #41.
44 - Have you ever thought “I already found my soulmate”? In the heat of the moment. Unfortunately, the moment always cooled.
45 - Do you like nicknames that are from your name? No. It's the one reason I wished I'd married.
46 - Could you ever be a vegan? No.
47 - Do you currently have bruises on your body? I always do. I'm a klutz.
48 - What should you be doing right now? Housework.
49 - I read in a magazine that shoulder pads are coming back. Are you happy to hear this or do you not find them to be very attractive? It would make me happy because broader shoulders would balance out my too-broad hips.
50 - Did you ever feel like you’re not good enough? Only on days that end in "y."
26 - Did you have an accident last year? No. I've had health problems and money problems during 2016, but no accidents. (Knock wood.)
27 - Do you have any famous relatives? No.
28 - Did you ever had a kiss under the moonlight? Yes. Memorably beside the Schuylkill River in Philly.
29 - Have you ever been jealous? Oh, yes.
30 - How can you prove your love to someone? Access. I try to be available for people I love.
31 - What are you thinking right now? That my left eye is particularly itchy this evening. (Sorry it's not a more thrilling answer.)
32 - Have you ever sacrificed something important to you for someone you love? Yes. Toward the end of my mother's life, I let things go that were very, very important to me. But I made the decision that we weren't going to argue, that she was going to leave this world with a little less stres and tension if I could help it.
33 - Can you live without internet? Not happily.
34 - Have you been so emotional that you can’t find words to explain how you feel? I'm a Cub fan! How to describe the glory of Game 7?
35 - Did you ever badmouth someone? Too often. I try to be sweet like Melanie Hamilton, but my tart tongued, less than charitable Scarlett side comes out an awful lot.
36 - What do you prefer, jeans or skirt? Jeans.
37 - Do you have trust issues? Good goobies, yes! My erstwhile shrink once told me my root problem was a fear of genuine intimacy. And she was right. People I've never met who read this blog probably know me better than those I spend time with in real life.
38 - What's something that you made all on your own and are incredibly proud of? My career. I'm a junior college drop out, and yet I work at a major advertising agency on the account of a Fortune 500 Company.
39 - Who’s the person who first comes to your mind when someone mentions “love”? Wow. The first answer that popped into my head surprised me. I think I'm gonna keep it to myself but stew on it awhile.
40 - Who was the last person you hugged? A coworker. Her exhusband's aunt died. She cared about the older woman very much, but the divorce situation complicated mourning.
41 - Do you believe in the phrase “If it’s meant to be, it will be”? In romance, yes. In work, no.
42 - Do people praise you for your looks? I get, "I can't believe you're that old!" a lot. Which is good, I guess.
43 - Do you believe in destiny? See #41.
44 - Have you ever thought “I already found my soulmate”? In the heat of the moment. Unfortunately, the moment always cooled.
45 - Do you like nicknames that are from your name? No. It's the one reason I wished I'd married.
46 - Could you ever be a vegan? No.
47 - Do you currently have bruises on your body? I always do. I'm a klutz.
48 - What should you be doing right now? Housework.
49 - I read in a magazine that shoulder pads are coming back. Are you happy to hear this or do you not find them to be very attractive? It would make me happy because broader shoulders would balance out my too-broad hips.
50 - Did you ever feel like you’re not good enough? Only on days that end in "y."
Class
This photo was taken in September at the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. It shows once again what we will be losing when the Obamas leave the White House.
Of course, George W. Bush must have done much over the years to encourage such a warm display. The Bush family has also managed to build a solid and enduring bridge to former President Bill Clinton. Even the often prickly Barbara Bush has often expressed her personal affection for The Big Dog.
I hope Melania Trump makes good on her stated intention to help children maneuver the online world and stop cyber bullying. Her husband is the one who so cruelly mocked a disabled reporter and referred to his political opponents as "Lyin' Ted" and "Little Marco" and "Pocahontas." Mrs. Trump could go a long way in leavening the ugly message Donald Trump's victory may have sent the nation's children.
As one who enjoys learning about the First Ladies, I know that not every woman who has been in this role has been as naturally tactile as Michelle Obama. Bess Truman was very reticent and painfully shy. Eleanor Roosevelt had to literally force herself to reach out and touch people, but she did it like she was born to it. And while Jacqueline Kennedy handwrote eloquent and affectionate letters to both LBJ and Nixon, she privately expressed how uncomfortable she was with all their public touching. Jimmy Carter actually held and kissed her every time their paths crossed, to the point that she complained to Arthur Schlessinger he seemed to feel as he had droit de seigneur.*
*The first time I read it, I had to look it up. In medieval days, feudal lords believed they had the right to have sex with their subject's brides on the wedding night.
Of course, George W. Bush must have done much over the years to encourage such a warm display. The Bush family has also managed to build a solid and enduring bridge to former President Bill Clinton. Even the often prickly Barbara Bush has often expressed her personal affection for The Big Dog.
I hope Melania Trump makes good on her stated intention to help children maneuver the online world and stop cyber bullying. Her husband is the one who so cruelly mocked a disabled reporter and referred to his political opponents as "Lyin' Ted" and "Little Marco" and "Pocahontas." Mrs. Trump could go a long way in leavening the ugly message Donald Trump's victory may have sent the nation's children.
As one who enjoys learning about the First Ladies, I know that not every woman who has been in this role has been as naturally tactile as Michelle Obama. Bess Truman was very reticent and painfully shy. Eleanor Roosevelt had to literally force herself to reach out and touch people, but she did it like she was born to it. And while Jacqueline Kennedy handwrote eloquent and affectionate letters to both LBJ and Nixon, she privately expressed how uncomfortable she was with all their public touching. Jimmy Carter actually held and kissed her every time their paths crossed, to the point that she complained to Arthur Schlessinger he seemed to feel as he had droit de seigneur.*
*The first time I read it, I had to look it up. In medieval days, feudal lords believed they had the right to have sex with their subject's brides on the wedding night.
Saturday 9
Saturday 9: Ballad of Gilligan's Island (1964)
1) This is about the fateful cruise of the S.S. Minnow. If you had a boat, what would christen it? This reminds me of one of the first jokes I remember. From The Flintstones. Fred and Barney go in on a boat and can't agree on what to call it. Fred likes The Nautica, Barney wants Sea Queen. So they compromise by taking the first three letters of each name and christen the boat Nausea.
2) "No phone! No lights! No motorcar! Not a single luxury!" To Sam, those sound more like everyday essentials than luxuries. If you were shipwrecked with the gang, what standard amenity would you miss the most? Fresh, running water. I recall reading about JFK's crew after PT109 was sunk. They ended up on an island, surrounded by nothing but salt water, and licked morning dew off the leaves to stave off dehydration. How sad and desperate that sounds!
3) The uncharted isle was in the Pacific, near Hawaii. Have you ever been to our 50th state? Yes. Twice. I've seen The Big Island, Oahu, Kona and Maui. All gorgeous.
4) Natalie Schafer, who played Mrs. Howell, refused to divulge her age. Are you honest about how old you are? Or do you fudge it? I haven't fudged intentionally. But sometimes I've genuinely forgotten. I don't feel as old as I am.
5) Gilligan's Island featured many dream sequences. (Like the one where Gilligan dozes off and dreams that he's Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk.) Have you had any vivid dreams lately? No. My sleep lately has been fitful but dreamless.
6) The pilot was filmed in November, 1963, in Honolulu. The cast and crew were actually onset when they learned of President Kennedy's assassination.* Because on location filming was so expensive, they couldn't afford to take any time off. Tell us about a time when you had to work, even though your heart and head weren't in it. Wednesday morning was hard. The election results were a shocking and disappointing way to harsh our World Series buzz. But I'm continuing to wear my array of Cubs t-shirts until I feel better, or until weather prohibits it.
7) During the show's run, Mary Ann (Dawn Wells) was the clear fan favorite, receiving twice as many love letters as Ginger (Tina Louise). Have you ever written a fan letter (or posted a fan tweet or Facebook post)? When I was six years old, I wrote a letter to Paul McCartney. I told him that I liked it that we saw the same sun and the same moon. I was sure that my wise insights would capture his imagination. My mother said she would stamp and mail the letter, but years later confessed she threw it away. If she had done as originally promised, I might today be Lady McCartney.
8) Sam chose this week's song because it was going through her head, over and over again! Tell us a song that burrows into your head and stays there. "Easy Lover" by Phil Collins and Philip Bailey. And now that I've thought of it, here it goes again. "She'll get a hold on you, believe it!"
9) Random question: You went to a discount store and got an amazing bargain -- a pair of dress shoes for just $4.99. You go to a formal event and someone compliments you on those great shoes and asks where you got them. Do you tell the truth? Yes. I think I'd feel very proud of treasure.
1) This is about the fateful cruise of the S.S. Minnow. If you had a boat, what would christen it? This reminds me of one of the first jokes I remember. From The Flintstones. Fred and Barney go in on a boat and can't agree on what to call it. Fred likes The Nautica, Barney wants Sea Queen. So they compromise by taking the first three letters of each name and christen the boat Nausea.
2) "No phone! No lights! No motorcar! Not a single luxury!" To Sam, those sound more like everyday essentials than luxuries. If you were shipwrecked with the gang, what standard amenity would you miss the most? Fresh, running water. I recall reading about JFK's crew after PT109 was sunk. They ended up on an island, surrounded by nothing but salt water, and licked morning dew off the leaves to stave off dehydration. How sad and desperate that sounds!
3) The uncharted isle was in the Pacific, near Hawaii. Have you ever been to our 50th state? Yes. Twice. I've seen The Big Island, Oahu, Kona and Maui. All gorgeous.
4) Natalie Schafer, who played Mrs. Howell, refused to divulge her age. Are you honest about how old you are? Or do you fudge it? I haven't fudged intentionally. But sometimes I've genuinely forgotten. I don't feel as old as I am.
5) Gilligan's Island featured many dream sequences. (Like the one where Gilligan dozes off and dreams that he's Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk.) Have you had any vivid dreams lately? No. My sleep lately has been fitful but dreamless.
6) The pilot was filmed in November, 1963, in Honolulu. The cast and crew were actually onset when they learned of President Kennedy's assassination.* Because on location filming was so expensive, they couldn't afford to take any time off. Tell us about a time when you had to work, even though your heart and head weren't in it. Wednesday morning was hard. The election results were a shocking and disappointing way to harsh our World Series buzz. But I'm continuing to wear my array of Cubs t-shirts until I feel better, or until weather prohibits it.
7) During the show's run, Mary Ann (Dawn Wells) was the clear fan favorite, receiving twice as many love letters as Ginger (Tina Louise). Have you ever written a fan letter (or posted a fan tweet or Facebook post)? When I was six years old, I wrote a letter to Paul McCartney. I told him that I liked it that we saw the same sun and the same moon. I was sure that my wise insights would capture his imagination. My mother said she would stamp and mail the letter, but years later confessed she threw it away. If she had done as originally promised, I might today be Lady McCartney.
8) Sam chose this week's song because it was going through her head, over and over again! Tell us a song that burrows into your head and stays there. "Easy Lover" by Phil Collins and Philip Bailey. And now that I've thought of it, here it goes again. "She'll get a hold on you, believe it!"
9) Random question: You went to a discount store and got an amazing bargain -- a pair of dress shoes for just $4.99. You go to a formal event and someone compliments you on those great shoes and asks where you got them. Do you tell the truth? Yes. I think I'd feel very proud of treasure.
Friday, November 11, 2016
Photo by Bill Clinton
A young mother named Margot was walking in the woods near her home in Chappaqua and guess who she encountered. The Clintons, walking their dogs together in the woods. Margot was so excited to see Hillary, to be able to introduce her baby girl to Hillary, that she handed the phone to Hillary's husband and asked him to take a photo. It wasn't until later that she'd wished she'd asked a Secret Service agent to snap it so she could get a picture with the former President as well as the Democratic nominee.
This makes me happy for so many reasons. First of all, look at her. No makeup, hair mussed, and smiling. Say what you will about HRC, she knows how to take a punch and keep on going.
And, after 41 years of marriage, she's still taking long walks with Bill. I'm a spinster who knows nothing of marriage, but I'd like to think that somewhere there's someone who I'd still be interested in and comforted by -- and who would still be interested in and comforted by me -- after so many years.
So I'm going to take comfort in this and try to keep positive about the curious turn the world has taken.
This makes me happy for so many reasons. First of all, look at her. No makeup, hair mussed, and smiling. Say what you will about HRC, she knows how to take a punch and keep on going.
And, after 41 years of marriage, she's still taking long walks with Bill. I'm a spinster who knows nothing of marriage, but I'd like to think that somewhere there's someone who I'd still be interested in and comforted by -- and who would still be interested in and comforted by me -- after so many years.
So I'm going to take comfort in this and try to keep positive about the curious turn the world has taken.
Thursday, November 10, 2016
So proud of my President
Yesterday President Barack Obama said he was heartened by Donald Trump’s call for unity and added, “we are now all rooting for his success in uniting and leading the country.” In his Rose Garden post-election statement he called for the peaceful transition of power from one president to the next.
What a gracious display from a man who had his faith, his citizenship and his own legitimacy as President questioned by Donald Trump! I admit I'm not as mature as my years-younger President. If I were him, I'd meet Trump on the White House steps and demand to see his driver's license, college transcripts and long-form birth certificate before allowing him in the door.
President Obama gets it. The White House is not his house, it's our house. The Presidency is not a prize or a game but a solemn responsibility.
I keep hoping ... hoping ... hoping that Donald Trump surprises me and exhibits that he understands that, too.
Wednesday, November 09, 2016
The morning after
 |
| John F. Kennedy, 1961 |
After the shock wore off, I was offended. The thought of Donald Trump sitting in the same office as Lincoln, FDR and JFK gave me a visceral shudder.
I have to believe that those giants of inclusion and eloquence still inhabit the Oval Office. I hope they can deftly influence my new President to behave like the great man the office demands.
I pray the angels of our better nature alight and land on Donald Trump.
Sunday, November 06, 2016
Sunday Stealing
Ask, Ask, Ask
1 - Who was the last person you texted? My friend, John. He's so funny. Quite possibly the last person to get a smart phone, he's now reluctant to put it down.
2 - When is your birthday? It's coming up! 11/22. (I love my birthday.)
4 - What sports do you play? None well.
5 - Who is the first person in your blogroll? Now don't be lazy. You can look over there yourself.
6 - What is your favorite song at the moment? Eddie Vedder's "Go All the Way." When you're born in Chicago, you're blessed and you're healed the first time you walk into Wrigley Field ...
7 - If you were stranded on an island, who do you wish to be with? Matt Damon. If he can figure out how to get by on Mars, I imagine he'd be very handy on an island.
8 - What do you feel right now? A little hungry. Rice Krispies? Raisin Bran? Yogurt? I can't decide.
9 - What chocolate is your favorite? Lately I've been leaning to dark chocolate (with coconut).
10 - How many boyfriends/girlfriends did you have? Oh, hell, I'm not counting this morning.
11 - Why did you create a blog account? To create an ongoing diary of my life as it happens.
12 - Who is your favorite blogger? I feel a great kinship with Kwizgiver.
13 - Where do you want to be right now? I'd like to be in bed for a bit more sleep. But I have a lot to do today.
14 - What do you want to be in the future? Here. Just healthier and more organized.
15 - When was the last time you cried? Why? I'm a Cub fan. What do you think?
16 - Are you happy? I'm a Cub fan. What do you think?
17 - Who do you miss? I come from a family of Cub fans. I miss the ones who weren't here to see this.
18 - If you were given a chance, would you like to have a different life? Sometimes, but not really.
19 - What was the best thing you were given? A key opportunity early in my career.
20 - Who was the last person who called you? It was a political robo call.
21 - What is your favorite dish? The manicotti at La Cantina.
22 - Who is your best friend? It depends on the situation. I'm blessed with very good friends.
23 - What is your biggest regret? Wasting too much time in a bad relationship.
24 - Have you ever avoided your partner? I don't have a partner. Which, I guess, means I've been exceptionally good avoiding him.
25 - Who do you spend crazy moments with? My oldest friend. Or John. I've laughed a good deal with both of them.
Look at me, all happy
I returned to my movie group Saturday night for the first time in ages ... well, at least since the Cubs began their glorious playoff run. I've missed the classics and my fellow film fanatics, and this week we watched one of my all-time favorites, 1944's Laura.
NY detective Mark McPherson is assigned to solve the summertime murder of Laura Hunt, a glamorous Manhattanite who had appeared on the society pages on the arms of a variety of suitors. As he interviews her mentor, her fiance, her maid and and her aunt, as he reads her diaries and letters, he finds himself falling for the ultimate unattainable object: the murder victim herself.
It's romantic, it's twisty, it's well-acted (especially by Clifton Webb as the divine Waldo Lydecker). The clothes are beautiful. I've seen it about a million times, but this was the first time I've viewed it with an audience. That made it all the more fun.
The other thing that made Saturday night special for me is that three of the regulars: Will, Betty and, of course, Joanna, made a point of telling me how they thought of me throughout the World Series.
Baseball, classic movies and friendship ... how great is this!
 |
| Mark meets Laura |
NY detective Mark McPherson is assigned to solve the summertime murder of Laura Hunt, a glamorous Manhattanite who had appeared on the society pages on the arms of a variety of suitors. As he interviews her mentor, her fiance, her maid and and her aunt, as he reads her diaries and letters, he finds himself falling for the ultimate unattainable object: the murder victim herself.
It's romantic, it's twisty, it's well-acted (especially by Clifton Webb as the divine Waldo Lydecker). The clothes are beautiful. I've seen it about a million times, but this was the first time I've viewed it with an audience. That made it all the more fun.
The other thing that made Saturday night special for me is that three of the regulars: Will, Betty and, of course, Joanna, made a point of telling me how they thought of me throughout the World Series.
Baseball, classic movies and friendship ... how great is this!
Saturday, November 05, 2016
Saturday 9
Saturday 9: Hold It Against Me (2011)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) Britney Spears addresses this song to a dance partner when she hears her favorite song. What song always makes you want to get up and dance?
2) She sings that she needs a vacation. How about you? If you could escape anywhere for an affordable three-day weekend, where would you go? Graceland. I don't know why, exactly, but I've been wanting to go back to Memphis for a while now. And this year I'm finally going to do it! I'm giving myself a stay at the brand new Guest House in Graceland for my birthday.
3) Britney shows off her dance moves in this video. Her coordination shouldn't be surprising, since she was already an accomplished gymnast in grade school. If we asked you to turn a somersault right now, could you do it? Don't want to and you can't make me.
4) Britney's first and only feature film was Crossroads, written by Shonda Rhimes. Ms. Rhimes is famous for writing popular TV series including Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, The Catch and How to Get Away with Murder. Have you watched any Shonda Rhimes shows? I used to love Grey's, even cried when poor George died, but I lost track of it. Tried, but just couldn't get into Murder.
5) Britney admits to smoking and biting her nails. Do you share either of these bad habits? Not those two.
6) Britney prefers Margherita pizza to thin slice or deep dish pizza. What's your pizza preference? Pizza and I are such good friends because I take pizza any way I find it. Just please, no peppers. (Burp!)
7) In 2011, when this song was popular, Prince William's wedding to Kate Middleton was big news. Are you a royal watcher? Pretty much. I'm so excited that Harry is keeping company with an American actress. (Now that baseball is over, I need something new to distract me from Donald Trump.)
8) Apple co-founder Steve Jobs died in 2011. Do you have a Mac, and iPad or an iPhone? I'm answering this on a MacBook Pro. But my phone is an Android.
9) Random question: Which friend annoys you more, the one who interrupts you all the time, or the one who is never on time? The one who is never on time. I suspect this is because I'm the one who interrupts all the time.
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) Britney Spears addresses this song to a dance partner when she hears her favorite song. What song always makes you want to get up and dance?
2) She sings that she needs a vacation. How about you? If you could escape anywhere for an affordable three-day weekend, where would you go? Graceland. I don't know why, exactly, but I've been wanting to go back to Memphis for a while now. And this year I'm finally going to do it! I'm giving myself a stay at the brand new Guest House in Graceland for my birthday.
3) Britney shows off her dance moves in this video. Her coordination shouldn't be surprising, since she was already an accomplished gymnast in grade school. If we asked you to turn a somersault right now, could you do it? Don't want to and you can't make me.
4) Britney's first and only feature film was Crossroads, written by Shonda Rhimes. Ms. Rhimes is famous for writing popular TV series including Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, The Catch and How to Get Away with Murder. Have you watched any Shonda Rhimes shows? I used to love Grey's, even cried when poor George died, but I lost track of it. Tried, but just couldn't get into Murder.
5) Britney admits to smoking and biting her nails. Do you share either of these bad habits? Not those two.
6) Britney prefers Margherita pizza to thin slice or deep dish pizza. What's your pizza preference? Pizza and I are such good friends because I take pizza any way I find it. Just please, no peppers. (Burp!)
7) In 2011, when this song was popular, Prince William's wedding to Kate Middleton was big news. Are you a royal watcher? Pretty much. I'm so excited that Harry is keeping company with an American actress. (Now that baseball is over, I need something new to distract me from Donald Trump.)
8) Apple co-founder Steve Jobs died in 2011. Do you have a Mac, and iPad or an iPhone? I'm answering this on a MacBook Pro. But my phone is an Android.
9) Random question: Which friend annoys you more, the one who interrupts you all the time, or the one who is never on time? The one who is never on time. I suspect this is because I'm the one who interrupts all the time.
Hey, Chicago, what do you say?
We know how to celebrate.
We've had nothing but clear, Cubbie blue skies and 60ยบ+ days since Game 7. So it's been like Christmas, but with much better weather. I've been wearing my wardrobe of celebratory Cub gear pretty exclusively for a week now, and the most amazing thing is we all smile and greet each other. "Go, Cubs!" "At last!" "Cubbies!"
This city has its problems. (Like more shootings than New York and Los Angeles combined.) But this has brought us all together. This has made us proud.
God bless my guys!
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| This is what 5 million people wearing blue looks like. |
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| The Chicago River is Cubbie Blue. |
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| Art Institute Lion and a W. |
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| ORD |
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| Banners for the parade. |
We've had nothing but clear, Cubbie blue skies and 60ยบ+ days since Game 7. So it's been like Christmas, but with much better weather. I've been wearing my wardrobe of celebratory Cub gear pretty exclusively for a week now, and the most amazing thing is we all smile and greet each other. "Go, Cubs!" "At last!" "Cubbies!"
This city has its problems. (Like more shootings than New York and Los Angeles combined.) But this has brought us all together. This has made us proud.
God bless my guys!
Thursday, November 03, 2016
Dona Nobis Pacem
In the last speech he ever gave, Robert F. Kennedy said:
"We can end the divisions within the United States. I think it's quite clear that we can work together ... We are a great country, an unselfish country, and a compassionate country."
And then, moments later, he was shot with a handgun.
I live in Chicago, a city awash in guns, and awash in the bloodshed those guns make too, too easy.
Instead of dwelling on what we lost when we lost Bobby, let's instead dedicate ourselves into living up to his faith in us.
Let's agree that guns kill people, and let's do what we can to keep guns out of the hands of terrorists, domestic abusers, and other violent criminals. Let's vote for candidates who will stand up to the gun lobby and close the loopholes that allow guns to end up in the wrong hands.
Come on, America! We can do this!
For more about the Blog 4 Peace movement, please click here.
So it finally happened
Last night's game had it all: home runs, fielding gems, stolen bases, wild pitches, big leads, bigger rallies, a rain delay and an extra inning.
And the Cubs won! They prevailed!
Of course I have a bad cold. Nothing this good comes easy. I napped before the game and slept in this morning. I didn't get dressed until 3:00. Then I belatedly got dressed and walked across town, gazing up at the clear, Cubbie blue sky, as I voted for our first woman POTUS.
What a day!
My sinuses are stuffed and I can't breathe but I don't care. Know why? Look at this marquee!
Wednesday, November 02, 2016
Exhausted but very, very happy
I am so lucky to live in a great city and to be cheering for a great team.
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| Jake was great & Russell got a grand slam! |
Monday, October 31, 2016
We live to fly the W one more time!
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| Photo courtesy of The Chicago Tribune. |
This is a shot of the overflow in front of Wrigley Field Sunday night. Fans (and police) are milling about outside the stadium, cheering the Cubs' improbable victory over the Indians.
Now the series is 3:2. My boys in blue have won two in a row before.Go, Cubs, Go!
PS And if they don't win two in a row in Cleveland, well, this season has felt like a gift and I'd never complain. My team is in the World Series!
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Sunday Stealing
Halloween Meme
1. What is the worst treat to get when trick-or-treating? Anything that came unwrapped while bouncing around in my bag. My mom was a stickler for going through our stashes and ruthless when it came to tossing the unwrapped/unsealed.
2. What character from any horror film would you most like to play? The title character in She Wolf of London. She's a pretty, very well dressed heiress who fears she's picked up the family gene for going all hairy and killing people. It's especially kitschy because she's played by June Lockhart (Lassie's mom) and her boyfriend is played by Don Porter (Gidget's dad).
3. Would you rather be a zombie, alien, or psycho? (why) An alien. From Mexico. Because I would annoy Donald Trump.
4. How many Halloween, Friday the 13th, or Nightmare on Elm Street movies combined do you have on dvd? None.
5. What is the scariest movie you have ever seen? Psycho is by far #1. Gravity is #2. The idea of being so small and vulnerable in the infinite expanse of space makes me want to wet my pants. And while it wasn't a theatrical release, IT is #3. I don't like clowns. Really, I don't.
6. Lamest costume you have worn on Halloween? One of the store bought ones my mom picked out without consulting me.
7. Favorite Halloween treat? Mary Janes and popcorn balls.
8. Friendly-faced jack o’lantern or scary one? If I were to carve one, this is what it would look like. I just wish the Cleveland Indians saw it as more scary than friendly.
9. Have you ever had nightmares about a scary movie character chasing you? No.
10. Best thing about Halloween? I can have a taffy apple for breakfast. And I shall.
11. Strangest Halloween custom you’ve heard of? Strange but kinda cool: I've heard that in some Latin countries, it's not unusual for families to picnic on Halloween at the cemetery so they can visit with their loved ones.
12. Person in your family who most likes Halloween (not counting yourself)? I got nothin' for this one, either. Sorry.
13. Are you superstitious? If so, name at least one superstition of yours. I remember what shirt I was wearing when the Cubs lost a playoff game, and then I'm careful not to wear it on game day again.
14. What's your best Halloween memory? My oldest friend's dad -- a really great guy -- drove us to another town to trick or treat. We still got the same Snickers and Kit Kats, but still, they felt exotic.
15. At what age were you allowed to go trick-or-treating by yourself? I think I was about 12. But I don't recall, for sure. My mom was a worrier when it came to Halloween, so it was probably later than most kids.
1. What is the worst treat to get when trick-or-treating? Anything that came unwrapped while bouncing around in my bag. My mom was a stickler for going through our stashes and ruthless when it came to tossing the unwrapped/unsealed.
2. What character from any horror film would you most like to play? The title character in She Wolf of London. She's a pretty, very well dressed heiress who fears she's picked up the family gene for going all hairy and killing people. It's especially kitschy because she's played by June Lockhart (Lassie's mom) and her boyfriend is played by Don Porter (Gidget's dad).
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| FYI: "Lycanthropy" is the study of werewolves. |
3. Would you rather be a zombie, alien, or psycho? (why) An alien. From Mexico. Because I would annoy Donald Trump.
4. How many Halloween, Friday the 13th, or Nightmare on Elm Street movies combined do you have on dvd? None.
5. What is the scariest movie you have ever seen? Psycho is by far #1. Gravity is #2. The idea of being so small and vulnerable in the infinite expanse of space makes me want to wet my pants. And while it wasn't a theatrical release, IT is #3. I don't like clowns. Really, I don't.
6. Lamest costume you have worn on Halloween? One of the store bought ones my mom picked out without consulting me.
7. Favorite Halloween treat? Mary Janes and popcorn balls.
8. Friendly-faced jack o’lantern or scary one? If I were to carve one, this is what it would look like. I just wish the Cleveland Indians saw it as more scary than friendly.
9. Have you ever had nightmares about a scary movie character chasing you? No.
10. Best thing about Halloween? I can have a taffy apple for breakfast. And I shall.
11. Strangest Halloween custom you’ve heard of? Strange but kinda cool: I've heard that in some Latin countries, it's not unusual for families to picnic on Halloween at the cemetery so they can visit with their loved ones.
12. Person in your family who most likes Halloween (not counting yourself)? I got nothin' for this one, either. Sorry.
13. Are you superstitious? If so, name at least one superstition of yours. I remember what shirt I was wearing when the Cubs lost a playoff game, and then I'm careful not to wear it on game day again.
14. What's your best Halloween memory? My oldest friend's dad -- a really great guy -- drove us to another town to trick or treat. We still got the same Snickers and Kit Kats, but still, they felt exotic.
15. At what age were you allowed to go trick-or-treating by yourself? I think I was about 12. But I don't recall, for sure. My mom was a worrier when it came to Halloween, so it was probably later than most kids.
I admit this isn't good
But here's the thing: this season was magic. They got to the World Series for the first time since Harry Truman was in office.
So no matter what happens tonight, I'll always be grateful to these guys for 100+ wins and for getting us this far.
Oh! And btw, it ain't over. Go, Cubs, go!
Hmmmm ....
Saturday I had my regularly scheduled, once-every-two-years appointment with my gyne. While naturally I didn't leave with my test results, he told me everything in his jurisdiction looks normal.He asked me what else was going on, healthwise. I told him. C. diff ... thinning hair ... fatigue ... vision change ... He and my GP are in the same practice so he has access to all my test results and saw that diabetes and thyroid disease were eliminated. He suggested that -- if the medicated shampoo doesn't work -- my GP and I discuss autoimmune diseases.
Last time I spoke to my GP, she thought these things were all unrelated. She suspects my fatigue is a result of sleep apnea and my hair loss is some sort of fungal infection.
We'll keep trying things her way for a while. But after January 1, I think I'm going to consult an endocrinologist.
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