Like being stranded on the prairie

Miss me? I haven't actually been online since Monday evening. (I scheduled my WWW and TT posts in advance.) My modem crapped out, leaving me without any internet at all, no landline phone and no doorbell, which is connected to my wifi. I've felt like a pioneer woman. OK, so I was a pioneer woman with a cell phone and HD TV with just about every channel known to man, but still!

Tuesday morning I had a tooth pulled, so I wasn't up for having the Xfinity tech here that day. There were no appointments available for Wednesday. So Thursday at 1:30, I got my new modem and was reconnected to the world.

PS Shout out to Country Dew: Your explanation of my Anthony Rizzo adoration was letter perfect! Thank you.

Thursday Thirteen #309

300 TT's ago. This is what was on my mind 16 years ago, when I did my Thursday Thirteen #9. That long ago week, the lottery jackpot was $2.2 million. 

Thirteen Things The Gal Herself Would Do if She Won the Illinois State Lottery 

1) Pay off my condo. It would give me an almost sexual thrill to be done with mortgage payments.

2) Redecorate. Fresh paint everywhere, new sofa, new window treatments, new carpet in the living room and master bedroom, new floor and cabinets in the kitchen, new everything in the bathroom …

3) Pay off my Citibank card. The 3.9% fixed APR is for the life of the loan, so it's more than fair, but, as with the mortgage, I tremble and shiver at the thought of finally being done with it.

4) An Albertson's Gift Card with a prodigious balance for my mom. She's always very broke. Partly because she trusted my late father to provide for her as he said he would (big mistake) and partly because she does dumb things with money. But an Albertson's Gift Card could really only be used for food and toiletries, so I wouldn't have to worry about her the way I would with cash.

5) Take my niece and nephew to Washington, DC. It's time for them to learn about their national heritage. And if I don't do it, it won't get done.

6) "Foster" as many pets as possible.I simply can't have any more pets myself. But right now I send checks each month to support a dog at the Northshore Animal League, a cat and Harmony House and another cat at Tree House. I'd love to be able to afford more.

7) Invest for retirement. I know I should have more put away for my fast-approaching Golden Years. With my imaginary windfall I would help rectify that.

8) Regular pedicures. I can do it myself, but it looks so much prettier when I have it done.

9) Regular massages. It would be so good for my skin to have quality massage oils slathered all over my back. And it would be so good for my psyche to chill out regularly in the way that a massage relaxes me.

10) "Gal pal" vacations. One friend keeps saying it would be fun for us to go to a spa together. Another thinks it's time I return to New York. Ladies, if ever that's a winning ticket in my wallet, we're hitting the road.

11) Give a brick. Get a brick. Let me explain. One of the best gifts I ever received is a brick on the donors' walk in front of the local library, praising my dedication to homeless pets. It means a lot to me because my two favorite things are animals and books, and I love the lasting nature of having a brick on the walk. I would love to be able to afford similarly permanent and appropriate charitable gifts for friends and family.

12) All new undies, all the time. I fixate on having clean underwear. Really. Ask my friends in the Keys about the time American Airlines lost my bag. I'm told that at least once an hour I'd wish aloud that I had packed more undies in my carry on. (In fairness to me, this was right after Hurricane Wilma and there really, literally weren't any department stores in Key West that I could turn to.) I try not to be wasteful, so I don't toss underwear aside at the first signs of wear. But if I was a girl millionaire, they would go into the garbage the moment I see a little worn elastic.

13) Take classes. Could I afford to quit working altogether and still do everything listed above? Probably not. But I probably could return to free lancing, which means I'd have time to take classes on the subjects that fascinate me.

Ah, this was fun. But now I can't get that Barenaked Ladies song out of my head. "If I had a million dollars … I'd be RICH."

Since I originally wrote this, my mom has passed away and I am now retired myself, so reading those two gave me little pangs. But the rest sound pretty good to me. Especially the underwear thing.

Please join us for THURSDAY THIRTEEN. Click here to play along, and to see other interesting compilations of 13 things.

 

WWW.WEDNESDAY

WWW. WEDNESDAY asks three questions to prompt you to speak bookishly. To participate, and to see how other book lovers responded, click here. 

PS I can no longer participate in WWW.WEDNESDAY via that link because her blog won't accept Blogger comments. I mention this only to save you the frustration I experienced trying to link up.

1. What are you currently reading? New Tricks by David Rosenfelt. Andy Carpenter, lawyer and dog lover and my fantasy boyfriend, is right where he belongs: in a courtroom and looking out for a canine in distress. The book begins with an unusual and engaging premise, with Andy called upon to help decide custody for an insanely expensive Bernese show dog. Andy runs a rescue and (like me!) doesn't value one animal over another because of pedigree. He's going to do right for this dog as a companion, not as a commodity. But then the case starts getting really complicated as people around the dog start getting dead.

2. What did you recently finish reading? Meant to Be by Emily Giffin. This is Kennedy fan fiction, and I hated it. Hated it! I believe books like this are, literally, immoral.

Giffin takes the life of JFK, Jr. and makes only the most minimal changes. Joseph S. Kingsley III captured America's heart when he was just three years old and said farewell to his hero father during a nationally televised funeral. He grows up in the public eye, stalked by paparazzi. He graduates college and law school (barely) and then flunks the NY State Bar ... twice. He gets a low-paying job in the DA's office and has a high-profile relationship with a ditzy blonde actress. His much-admired fashion icon mother doesn't approve of his lifestyle. He adopts a mutt he names Thursday and is often caught shirtless tossing a Frisbee or a tennis ball to the dog in Central Park.

This is fiction because JFK Jr.'s dog was named Friday. See the difference?

He takes up with Cate, a former model who now works as a personal shopper for a major designer. She has a hard time adjusting to the public scrutiny. They take off together for a Kingsley family wedding in his small plane. Want to guess what happens?

Again, this is fiction. So what if Carolyn Bessette was briefly a model who began working as a personal shopper for Calvin Klein ... and suffered the price of fame ... and died en route to cousin Rory Kennedy's wedding?

Then there's the cover. To which I say, "OH, FOR FUCK'S SAKE!"

What are the odds?

The way the Bessette Cooper family is portrayed is deeply offensive. For this is the only area of the book where Giffin actually uses her imagination. It's unreasonable to expect the average reader to appreciate that Giffin strays from reality for Cate but tracks so incredibly close to the truth with Joe. So many will come away believing that the Bessette family was tawdry and scandalous. That's especially cruel when you consider Ann Freeman (Carolyn's mother) lost two of her three daughters in that plane crash. 

Shame on you, Emily Giffin. You're a good writer with a loyal following. You didn't have to stoop to this.

3. What will read next? Elizabeth and Monty: The Untold Story of Their Intimate Friendship by Charles Casillo.

 

 

Sunday Stealing

Stolen from Kwizgiver

And if you don't read Kwizgiver all the time, you should!

1. What is in the back seat of your car right now? Sorry, no car.

2. When was the last time you threw up? In September. I was still working from home and on the phone with my art director. We were on deadline, working furiously on a vanity project for our boss' boss that I knew in my heart was a waste of time. But a deadline is a deadline and a paycheck is paycheck, so I just put the art director on mute and brought her into the bathroom with me. The nausea was my body's reaction to the pain caused by a kidney stone. (This story makes me miss working less.)

3. What's your favorite word or phrase? I like saying "gubernatorial."

4. Name 3 people who made you smile today? Sorry, but it's early and I haven't encountered three people yet.

5. What were you doing at 8 am this morning? Watching the news

6. What were you doing 30 minutes ago? Watching the news (I'm a news junkie)

7. What would constitute the perfect evening for you? A nice dinner and a cocktail or two with good friends

8. Have you ever been to a strip club? In the 1980s, we went to a male strip club in Lake Geneva for a bachelorette party. More than the naked men, I remember that the maid of honor (who was in charge) neglected to make hotel reservations. So there we were,90 minutes from home and too drunk to drive with nowhere to sleep. So not only was that my only trip to a strip club, it was the only time I peed by the side of the road and spent the night in a car. (Ah, youth!)

9. What is the last thing you said aloud? Connie. (She's my cat.)

10. What is the best ice cream flavor? Mint chocolate chip

11. What was the last thing you had to drink? Water

12. What are you wearing right now? This t-shirt in 2XL. Yes, I am a vision of loveliness.

13. What was the last thing you ate? A chocolate cupcake with chocolate icing before bed last night.

14. Have you bought any new clothing items this week? Nope. I mean, when you have an "Anthony Rizzo is my captain forever" shirt, what else do you need?

15. When was the last time you ran? Oh, hell, I can't even recall!

He's a nice boy

My favorite-most ballplayer, Anthony Rizzo, told reporters he had "a slew" of family in the Bronx for the weekend. They're celebrating Mother's Day and Yankees Star Wars night, when the team gave away the Anthony Rizzo Mandolorian Bobblehead.

He responded in fine fashion. In 9 at bats, he got 5 hits and scored 4 runs -- including two homers. And this was against the powerhouse Tampa Bay Rays! During that two home run game, fans demanded a curtain call, which I gather is a big deal at Yankee Stadium.

From the New York Post

Every home run he hits is worth $3,300 in pledges from fans like me to his charity, which helps families facing pediatric cancer. 

Here's hoping his hot streak continues and he can deliver more hits and runs on Mother's Day. Everything about this makes me happy.

Try not being deplorable

I caught enough of Donald Trump on the CNN Town Hall to hear him disparage E Jean Carroll (again) and our legal system (again) and a woman reporter who tried to hold him responsible for his own actions (again). While his ignorance/arrogance cocktail no longer shocks me, it's still very icky.

No, it was the audience laughing at him. Cheering him. They shocked me. But here's what that enthusiastic MAGA crowd taught me:

1) If a woman doesn't report sexual abuse right away, it didn't happen. I was molested by a relative in 1974 and date raped by a boyfriend in December 1987. I didn't tell authorities about either incident because I was humiliated, frightened, and sure I wouldn't be believed. Feel free to tell me it didn't happen. Laugh at me, too. Go ahead. Prove to me that I was right to feel humiliated, frightened, and sure I wouldn't be believed. If I finally screw up the courage to come forward now and name names, perhaps to help other women, be sure to say I'm indulging in "a vendetta."

2) We should dismiss the E Jean Carroll verdict because the judge was "Clinton appointed." There's massive evidence on this blog that I am beyond contemptuous of Donald Trump. Therefore, if I am ever a litigant or defendant, I should be able to ignore any verdict overseen by a judge appointed by a Republican, right?

3) Call anyone who asks you to explain yourself "nasty." This is not rude or boorish. This does not make you a sociopath. It's called "owning" the person who has the temerity to hold you responsible for your own actions.

4) Engage in what-about-ism. Do not for one moment acknowledge the urge to throw up in your mouth while watching Donald Trump and his MAGA supporters because you know about Hunter Biden's laptop and "the swamp."

5) By all means, wrap yourself in my Christian faith. Laughing at assault victims, name-calling and any other form of antisocial behavior is all OK because you say you read the Bible regularly. I don't recall the passages where Jesus indulged in or endorsed any of this, but it's fine because of Hunter Biden's laptop and "the swamp."

Hillary Clinton once called Trump supporters "deplorable," and they objected strongly. Perhaps, if they find that term offensive, they should try acting less deplorably.

I shall leave you with this photo of peaceful tourists preparing to tour the Capitol on January 6. MAGA supporters think these people should receive pardons. Sure, why not? I mean, they're predominantly white and at least they didn't do anything really dangerous, like taking a knee before a football game.

Saturday 9

 Saturday 9: Mama Said (1961)

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

1) This week's song is about a girl who remembers wise advice she received from her mother. Tell us about someone who advised you years ago and to this day you think, "They were right!" This is recent, but I'm going with it: My shrink keeps reiterating that everything bad that happens to those I love is not my fault. I try to protect people from harm and unhappiness and, for the most part, it's out of my control. I can give advice. I can worry and pray. But the doc is right: ultimately I can't keep them out of harm's way if they're determined to go there.

2) She sings about hearing chapel bells. Can you hear church bells ringing from your home? When the windows are open, yes. I live three blocks away from a corner that has three churches (including my own).

 
3) This week's featured artists are the Shirelles, a group formed in New Jersey in 1957. They are credited for beginning the girl group genre. Name another popular girl group. The Supremes! In the orgy of grief after Michael Jackson's death, it made me crazy to hear people refer to him as "the first crossover superstar." Nope. Not by the longest shot. The Supremes sold more records in the 1960s and got more airplay than the Beach Boys and The Rolling Stones. The only group that consistently outsold the girls from Detroit was the lads from Liverpool, aka The Beatles. 

4) In 1961, when this song was popular, Jacqueline Kennedy appeared on the cover of Ladies Home Journal three times. Is there a printed magazine in your home right now? If so, who is on the cover? Diane Keaton is on the cover of the AARP magazine. Caricatures of Rupert Murdoch and his family adorn Vanity Fair.

5) This song was chosen in celebration of Mother's Day. More phone calls are made on Mother's Day than any other day of the year. Who was your last phone call from? The local animal shelter. They returned my call about donating bath towels. (Yes, they need them. The bigger, the better.)

 

6) Salons see a bump in appointments around Mother's Day every year. Partly because moms want to look good for their day, but also because hair, spa and nail services are a popular Mother's Day gift. When did you most recently go to a salon, and was it for your hair, complexion, or nails? Hair. Though my pedi is looking really rough these days and deserves professional attention.

7) Similarly, restaurants experience a spike in reservations on Mother's Day. Where did you last dine out? Was a reservation required? This past week my friend Elaine and I went to Italian Village. Open since 1927, it's one of Chicago's most venerable restaurants. My parents had their first official date here 69 years ago. Since May is Mother's Day and my dad would turn 90 this month, it seemed like a nice way to remember them. And yes, Elaine made a reservation.

Sinatra ate here. If it's good enough for Francis, it's good enough for me.

8) The most popular Mother's Day gift is still the greeting card. Where do you card shop: drugstore, bookstore, card shop, etc.? My first stop is the bookstore, because I like to support them. Next I try the card shop, because their cards crack me up.

9) Sam is celebrating Mother's Day with her mother's favorite, Hershey Bars. Would you prefer classic milk chocolate, dark chocolate or chocolate with almonds? Milk chocolate with almonds.

All Hail the Mandalorian!

Tonight was Star Wars Night at Yankee Stadium and they celebrated by giving the first fans who arrived an Anthony Rizzo Mandalorian Bobblehead.

How did my favorite-most ballplayer respond to this honor? With two home runs, including the game winner. Don't you just love baseball?

In addition to vanquishing the first place Rays, Rizz' heroics raised $6,400 for families battling pediatric cancer. His foundation sponsors a challenge and fans like me pledge a few bucks for every home run. Don't you just love Anthony Rizzo?

 

Care Down There

I just took baby wipes and toilet paper to the bank. It was part of the "Care Down There" drive for the local homeless shelter. In addition to baby wipes and TP, they were accepting diapers and sanitary products. 

The collection bin was only at the bank for two weeks, and today is the last day. That makes me sad because it's something I would support every time I go to the bank.*

I've been a supporter of the local food bank all along but this was different. The food bank is for people facing hunger. They may be temporarily unemployed, or paychecks don't stretch far enough. While they are my neighbors and I am happy to help, these people have roofs over their heads.

It occurs to me I don't even know where my local homeless shelter is. I know that the location of the home for domestic abuse victims is a secret -- for obvious reasons -- but I should know where the homeless shelter is. Especially now that the good State of Texas is so generous in sharing migrants with us.

This is the dilemma: So many in this community need help! And I only have so much to share. I'm retired now, and my money has to last the rest of my life.

So what I do is fill up on things at The Dollar Store. I give "blessing bags"† to the homeless I encounter. Every time I shop I add something to my bag of canned goods for the food pantry. If I knew where to take items to the homeless shelter, I'd pick up a pack of baby wipes with every trip.

I have some research to do! So far, all the Google Machine has been able to find is the site of the new, improved shelter that's under construction, not the site where people in need go now. Maybe my church has this info ...

*I visit this branch twice/month to deposit in the quarters from our laundry room into the condo association's bank account. 

†A zip-lock bag with a tissue pack, a breakfast bar, a mask, chapstick, cough drops, and $1 bill. 

Thursday Thirteen #308

 

Thirteen things I would never say. Let's say we meet. How will you know if it's really me and not a plant-like alien pod who has snatched by body? If you hear "me" say one of these things, you'll know it's the pod.

1. Where we go one we go all. (Haven't you always suspected that QAnon followers are soulless pods?)

2. Let's watch NASCAR.

3. I need coffee to get started in the morning.

4. Barry Manilow is my favorite!

5. The Beatles are over-rated.

6. I love the heat and would thrive in a tropical climate.

7. C'mon over! I love it when people drop by.

8. A place for everything and everything in its place.

9. You should taste my recipe for chilaquiles.

10. Trust me! My sense of direction is flawless.

11. You voted for Donald Trump? Me, too!

12. I'm afraid of cats.

13. The Cubs suck.

Please join us for THURSDAY THIRTEEN. Click here to play along, and to see other interesting compilations of 13 things.

WWW.WEDNESDAY

WWW. WEDNESDAY asks three questions to prompt you to speak bookishly. To participate, and to see how other book lovers responded, click here. 

PS I can no longer participate in WWW.WEDNESDAY via that link because her blog won't accept Blogger comments. I mention this only to save you the frustration I experienced trying to link up.

1. What are you currently reading? Meant to Be by Emily Giffin. The book begins with Joseph S. Kingsley III telling us that he has no real memory of his namesake father, an American hero laid to rest in Arlington Cemetery during a nationally televised funeral when he was just 3 years old. He has grown up with the weight of a country's expectation that he will pick up his late father's mantle and be a hero, too. It's heavy, and he compensates by being physically reckless. The public is obsessed with his romances, especially his relationship with a stunning, super-stylish blonde. Why, she's almost as beautiful as Joe's fashion icon mother!

Sound familiar? Don't be silly! The Kingsleys can't be the Kennedys. The elder Joseph S. Kingsley smoked a pipe and JFK preferred cigars.

Still, Emily Giffin is a very good writer. So far her prose is carrying me past my skepticism about this whole venture.

2. What did you recently finish reading? Golden Girl: The Story of Jessica Savitch by Alanna Nash. In the late-70s, Jessica Savitch was breaking into local news. The ridiculous, rampant sexism she faced inspired the character of Veronica Corningstone in Anchorman. Look at Christina Applegate's hair. Look at her suits. You're looking at Jessica Savitch as she was beside Mort Crimm in Philadelphia. 

Jessica's ambition drove her to NBC where she became a superstar, and promptly imploded. In the space of a year, she broke up with her soul mate, married and divorced, remarried and buried her second husband. Yes, you read that right: All that in 12 months. All that chaos while she worried about maintaining her place in the NBC food chain (even though Connie Chung was nipping at her heels). Soon she would be dead in a tragic car accident.

 

This book is compelling, heartbreaking, and terrifying. Published in 1988, it's also dated. Back then, it was shocking -- shocking, I say! -- that Jessica slept with a black man and palled around with lesbians. An interesting time capsule.

I admired Jessica Savitch. She was a talented broadcaster. Here she was as I remember her, every night. Take a minute to look at this cool, smart and sophisticated woman who stood out among a sea of old white men. RIP, Jessica.

3. What will read next? Time for a mystery.

 

 

That didn't go well

Monday is reserved for my movie group, but tonight I skipped it. I got a pleading email that our community hospitals need blood so I responded and got a 7:15 PM blood drive appointment.

Right now I've got an ice pack on my arm. I was told to expect pain and bruising. I've given blood often over the years, but this has never happened before.

The tech could not get the blood to flow properly. He found the vein, put a cuff on my arm, and inserted the needle. So far, so good. But my blood was coming out too slowly. Another tech came over and manipulated the needle, which hurt. I'm not used to feeling anything once the draw has begun.

The second, more senior tech told me that perhaps "clot and tissue" was interfering. They thanked me a lot, but sent me home.

I'm not as upset about this as I might be. Having Covid within 60 days is a reason not to give blood. It occurred to me that I don't know for a fact that I didn't have Covid last month. So I suppose it's possible that, once my donation was screened, it would have been tossed anyway.

Photo by Nguyễn Hiệp on Unsplash

SUNDAY STEALING

FROM SWATBOT

If any of these songs is unfamiliar to you, just click on the link.

1. a song with a food name Strawberry Fields Forever

2  a song with an animal in it Wildfire

3  a song about a bird Rockin' Robin

4  a song about a dog Me and You and a Dog Named Boo

5  a song mentioning a cat Year of the Cat.  (OK, it's really about the movie Casablanca, but it has "cat" in the title)

6  a song listing a character from wizard of oz Tin Man

7  a late night driving song Prove It All Night

8  a song from a movie 

9  a guilty pleasure song Julie, Do Ya Love Me

10 a song about friends I'll Be There for You

11 a song that is about summertime In the Summertime

12 a song that needs to be played more on the radio September

13 a song about drugs or alcohol Mama Told Me Not to Come

14 a song you would sing at karaoke I Love Rock 'n Roll

15 a song from year you were born in Jailhouse Rock

I gave this no thought. Each of these songs is the first one that came to mind. The results peg me as what I am: a boomer.

Saturday 9

 Saturday 9: Come On-A My House (1951)

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

1) In this week's song, Rosemary Clooney offers us candy, peaches, pears, grapes, cake, etc. What tasty treat are you craving this morning? Right now I'm craving oatmeal. When I have these cravings, I respond and so I shall whip up a bowl.

 

2) The song was co-written by a pair of cousins more famous for their other jobs. William Saroyan was a Pulitzer Prize winning author and Ross Bagdasarian created Alvin and the Chipmunks. Tell us about one of your cousins. My favorite cousin is so cool! Talented on the trombone, he taught music at the community college and played in the orchestra pit when Broadway shows came to Chicago. When he turned 50 and both of his kids were on their own, he decided to make a change. He's switched to art. When he's not painting himself, he's renting himself out as a "curator for hire" (who knew there was such a thing?) for art shows. I admire his creativity. And his marriage. He and his wife seem happy and supportive.

3) The song was inspired by the cousins' recollection of their Armenian relatives encouraging friends and family to visit by promising lots of food. Who most recently invited you to their home? What was the occasion? My friends Nancy and Paul invited me over because we hadn't been together in a while. I flipped it a little and treated them to lunch at a dive bar near me. I wanted to celebrate her birthday, and it seemed crappy to expect her to cook for herself.

 

4) This was a big hit for Rosemary Clooney. She got her start singing live on Cincinnati's WLW radio station. Today WLW is an all-news station. When you were a kid, what radio station did you tune into for the hits and new music? WLS. Musicradio 89. I listened to Larry Lujack as I got ready for school and did my homework to Bob Sirrott. Alas, now it's conservative talk radio (Mark Levin, Ben Shapiro). 

5) Rosemary was also an actress, appearing in motion pictures and made-for-TV movies. The most famous is 1954's White Christmas. Have you seen it? Yes. It's not a favorite, but it's ubiquitous at Christmastime.

5) Yes, Rosemary Clooney is related George Clooney. She was his aunt. She appeared with him on ER and received an Emmy Award nomination. Do you enjoy doctor shows? Not really. I don't know why.

7) In 1951, when this song was #1, Yankees superstar Joe DiMaggio retired from baseball. He remained in the public eye, endorsing products and acting as Major League Baseball's ambassador around the world. His second marriage, a few years after his retirement, was almost as legendary as his baseball career. Without looking it up, do you know who his bride was? Yes. Perhaps you recognize her.

 

8) Also in 1951, I Love Lucy premiered and has never been off the air since. That's right: for 72 years, without interruption, viewers have been entertained by the Ricardos and Mertzes. When you think of I Love Lucy, what's the first thing that comes to mind? Lucy and Ethel want to bring home the ultimate Hollywood souvenir: John Wayne's cement footprints from in front of the Chinese Theater on Hollywood Blvd. When I was out there last month, waiting in line to see movies for the TCM Classic Film Festival, I passed Wayne's footprints often  and every time, I thought of the girls.

 

My photo from last month

9) Random question -- You're playing roulette and suddenly doubled your winnings. Do you walk away when you're ahead, or do you stay at the table to play your winning streak? Neither. I'd make one more modest wager. If I won, I'd assume my streak was continuing and play on. If I didn't? I walk away.

Thursday Thirteen #307

13 movies based on books: Which do I like better? I admit I shamelessly stole this from Kwizgiver.

1. To Kill a Mockingbird. Both are beautiful.

2. The Godfather. To paraphrase Clemenza, "Watch the movie, skip the book."

3. Gone with the Wind. Don't make me choose. I simply cannot.

4. The Horse Whisperer. Until the end, I give the book the edge. The horse, Pilgrim, is a real character on the page. But the movie concludes correctly, the book's ending just rings false to me.

5. The Princess Bride. The movie is darling, but the book has more layers. William Goldman wrote both. I adore him.

6. Magic. A young Anthony Hopkins is impressive, but the book! Oh my God! It took my breath away. If you haven't seen the movie yet, snag the book and let William Goldman shock you.

7. IT. That book terrified me. Neither the theatrical movie nor the made-for-TV version had anywhere near as powerful an impact.

8. The Exorcist. Just the opposite of IT. Seeing the nightmare world of Regan's bedroom is more shocking than reading it.

9. All the President's Men. The movie is better. Woodward and Bernstein are better reporters than narrators. (BTW, William Goldman wrote this script, too.)

10. The Diary of Anne Frank. While I'm all for her story reaching everyone in every way possible, I give the edge to Anne herself.

11. Little Women. I've seen four different movie versions of this story. What a testament to the talent of Louisa May Alcott!

11. Valley of the Dolls. The movie is glorious over the top fun. The book is just stupid.

13. The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. I like the book much better.

Please join us for THURSDAY THIRTEEN. Click here to play along, and to see other interesting compilations of 13 things.