A Delicious Victory

My niece was one of two students chosen to represent her high school in a district culinary competition. Her assignment was to create an appetizer. She had to prepare it in full chef's regalia in front of judges, who peppered her with questions while she worked. That was the part that made her the most nervous in advance: Would her hair fall out of her hat? Would she get distracted by the questions and cut herself?

She performed like a champion. Literally. Scoring 98 out of 100. (She lost the two points because her cuffs peaked out of her sleeves as she worked.) Her fruit plate -- the centerpiece was a swan carved out of a pineapple -- was deemed "perfect."

She is now one of the students who will represent the district in the state competition. As far as any of us knows right now, she is the only freshman participating downstate.

My niece has caused us all a sleepless night or two. But it's important remember that she's a bright and focused student who gives us much to be proud of, too. (Plus, she's very funny.)

Another victim of the mortgage crisis

My friend Kathy just turned 61 this month. And she's in trouble.

She went into real estate in 2001, when the market was booming. I had finally decided to take the plunge and buy my own place, and I became her first client. We closed the first week in July.

She's been unable to make a go of it. Every time I see her, she tells me she has just "rounded a corner," gotten a handle on it, figured out how to succeed. But it never lasts. If she couldn't make a living in real estate in a seller's market, it stands to reason that she's really suffer now, when there are more homes than buyers.

This week she told me it was so bad that she simply could not talk about it. We were out celebrating her birthday, so I let it go. She had asked in advance that I not give her gifts this year. I was expecting her to tell me it's because she was doing so well. No, the truth is exactly the opposite.

This is not the first time Kathy and I have been in this position. 20+ years ago, when we first met, she was a single mother in her 30s and I was in the wildest phase of my 20s. We were both copywriters and she looked upon me the way people look at puppies who haven't quite grown into their paws yet. "Oh! Look at her antics! Isn't she cute!"

But then, right around my 30th birthday, I began taking myself seriously as an advertising writer. I won a Clio and an Echo and started looking at each new job as a wrung in the ladder as I moved up in my career. This is the time when she decided to go out on her own, representing herself as a free lancer rather than working for an agency.

I tried to be supportive. When I had to take a few days off to have my wisdom teeth removed, I convinced my boss to hire Kathy as my replacement. It didn't go well. I don't know all the reasons why -- my team just told Kathy she didn't need to come in on Friday and begged me to, instead (swollen jaw and all).

Kathy said there no hard feelings, but there were. She resented me, or was embarrassed, and that's when the digs began. I was building a niche for myself as a financial writer, and that was fine for ME, but she was too creative. She couldn't be bound by all those restrictions. She was an artist, really, and was happier pursuing her own, more varied clients. OK. Whatever. I wanted to do a good job, and in a very Becky Bloomwood twist, financial writing actually comes easily to me (even if my personal finances don't).

Shortly thereafter, Kathy had to file for bankruptcy. She made an innocent but incredibly costly mistake on her taxes. The IRS didn't penalize her, but they did insist she pay back taxes with interest -- after all, ignorance of the law is not an excuse. She started having medical problems then, of course, when she had no insurance.

So she took a job at a local supermarket. In the bread department. She went in planning just to log enough hours to qualify for insurance. But it turned out to be much more than that. Kathy was in her element. Because by now she was nearly 50 and a grandmother, she was more mature than a lot of the other checkers and stock people in the store. She was soon a manager, in charge of schedules and new employee orientation, etc. Then she became the store's liaison with the community -- scheduling the charity "shop and share days," making sure that the store was fair to all the Girl and Boy Scout troops when it came to selling out cookies or popcorn out front, giving tours of the store and explaining the value of organics to school children or cooking classes. She was happy and she felt she was contributing.

The store was suddenly under new management, and Kathy had a hard time adjusting. That's when she decided to be her own boss again, so she went into real estate. She lost her group insurance benefits with this move, but she thought that with menopause her health problems were behind her. Besides, real estate was new dot-com. Property values were rising and buyers were in bidding wars for terrific properties. How could she not succeed?

I showed my faith in her by having her handle my condo purchase. This is my first home and the most expensive thing I have ever -- will ever -- buy. And I was her very first client, her first closing.

Yet she didn't make it work. Now she's living in a small apartment with no sofa and no TV. (The sofa was ruined and set broke and she can't afford to replace them.) She has non specific bleeding on and off but can't afford going to the doctor. I have scolded her for that but it didn't sit well. First of all, to her, I'm still that young pup who needs HER advice and on top of that, she likes to politicize the situation: It's OK for me to run to the doctor and take medication whenever something bothers me, but she chooses to become more in touch with her own body, listen to it, etc., without becoming a sucker to the medical establishment. I avoid saying, "What you're really saying is that you're pissed that I have insurance and you don't." But it's hard.

She's in her 60s and she's scared. She's no business woman and she's failed again, now, at a time when she can't afford to. I worry about her. She has plans to get back on her feet. She's taken software courses at the community college and wants to become an administrative assistant, starting out as a temp. It's her goal to be a fill-in at various places until she finds one she really likes, and then to make herself permanent. That will help her with insurance, but I think she accepts the sobering reality that she will never be able to stop working.

She's a good mother. I hope she is honest with her ex-husband and kids about what's going on. I know they will want to help her.

I want to, too, but I wonder if she'll accept it. I think I've come up with a way that she can't refuse. She's a first-time cat owner, and I think I'll get her a Petco giftcard for Mother's Day and sign it from her cats. I know quality litter and kibble can be expensive, and I think if I word the note on the card just right, she'll think it's cute and her pride won't be wounded. I know that right now, she feels like she's failed again and I have to be sensitive to that.

It's "Blah-goy-ah-vitch"

Watching the national news coverage of the DeKalb campus shootings, I've noticed a reluctance on the part of anchors to say the name of our governor, Rod Blagojevich.

I understand the newscasters impulse to skip over it. With all the problems he's been having, his tenure as governor might be shorter than the time it would take to learn to pronouce his name.

Thinking of Greg Maddux …

… and I was, because I'm awake and have a pulse, let's take a closer look at this picture. What don't you see? That would be blood seeping through his pants.

As the season starts, my beloved future Hall of Famer is the 9th winningest pitcher in the game, right behind Roger "Cheater McCheaty Pants" Clemens. No, make that Roger "Cheater McCheater Bloody Butt Perjurer and Witness Tamperer Pants" Clemens.

I know there are those out there who don't think the steroids scandal is a big deal. But it's a big deal to me because it's so unfair to Greg Maddux, maybe Glavine, and any other pitcher who wins more than 300 games without sticking a needle in his butt.

Enough baseball. Gotta do some work …

Hello, Boys!

The Cubs pitchers and catchers have been in Arizona for a couple days now. Behold Kerry Wood! Isn't he a sight for sore eyes? The Padres -- and my beloved, future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux -- have just arrived at their training camp. I can think of no better Valentine.

More storms are predicted here this weekend but I don't care. Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow! Look what's just around the corner! Ain't life grand?

Stolen from Kwizgiver

Childhood Stuff

1. Did you play with Barbies or G.I. Joes: Oh, yes! My Barbie used to get dressed up for dates with Paul McCartney. Barbie was so happening, but Ken was such a dweeb.

2. Did you own Treasure Trolls: Yes.

3. Did you watch Beverly Hills 90210: Never. Not my generation.

4. Did you play Simon Says: Yes. Badly.

5. Did you watch Fraggle Rock: See #3

6. Did you wet the bed: Once. I remember little about it, except for my mother's hand wringing. She seemed to think it might become a "phase."

7. Did you believe there were monsters in your closet or under your bed: No

8. Did you wear the underwear with the days of the week on them: Yes

9. Were you shy: No

10. Were you spoiled: In some ways, yes.

11. Were you abused: Yes.

12. Did you go to the circus: Yes.

13. Did you go to the zoo: Several times a year. The okapis are my favorite.

14. Were you in a car accident. No.

15. Did you build snowmen: Yes. But I usually got bored before we finished.

16. Did you cry when you scraped your knee: No. Puh-leeze! I was trained not to cry.

17. Were your older cousins mean to you: I don't have any older cousins.

18. Did you think slinkies were cool: Yes!

19. Did you think the Ninja Turtles really lived in the sewer: See #5.

20. Were you afraid of the dark: Yes, but only in certain rooms. Like my dad's basement workshop. Scary!

21. Did you have slumber parties: Must have, but I don't remember them. My more vivid memories are of parties I attended at other kids' homes.

22. Did you have New Kids on the Block sheets, pillows, pajamas, sleeping bag? Ask me about the Partridge Family instead.

23. Did you tease your hair out like Tiffany: No.

24. Did you believe in the Easter Bunny or Santa Claus or and the Tooth Fairy: Santa, yes. But the Bunny and the Tooth Fairy always seemed bogus to me.

Thursday Thirteen #54 -- A Die Hard Valentine to My Favorite Action Hero

13 THINGS ABOUT THE MOVIE

DIE HARD

This summer will mark the 20th anniversary of when I first met my enduring movie boyfriend, John McClane – the world-weary New York cop with a gift for gab and a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Consider this my Valentine to him.

(Author/screenwriter William Goldman has famously said of the film business, “Nobody knows anything.” Much of this trivia and many of these factoids about Die Hard do seem to back that up,)

1. The original “coming soon” poster for Die Hard didn’t include Bruce Willis’ face. Executives at Fox were worried that the press he’d received recently might turn off moviegoers. These “problematic” news stories included …

2. The many high-profile feuds on the set of the Moonlighting, which was being shot during the day while Die Hard was filmed at night … and

3. The $5 million Bruce received for the movie, a damn near unheard-of salary 20 years ago, especially for a TV actor who had no box office successes under his belt. There was much snickering and smirking (how appropriate where Bruce Willis is concerned) about no actor being worth that much and "who does he think he is" and Fox and Rupert Murdoch must be crazy. But …

4. The studio quickly realized what it had on its hands with Willis/McClane and switched to the poster you see here.

5. When a suspicious LA cop casts aspersions on McClane’s credentials, saying that for all anyone knows “he could be a bartender,” it’s a reference to Willis’ previous profession and the fuss about his Die Hard salary. One of the industry rags had a headline that ran something like, “$5 million & 5 years ago he was tending bar.”

6. Director John McTiernan had worked with Arnold Schwarzengger in the past and hoped Arnold would take the role of John McClane. Happily, Arnold turned it down.

7. Second choice Sylvester Stallone turned it down, too. Rumor has it Stallone thought that the McClane character had too much dialog. (In years to come, Arnold, Sly and Bruce would become partners in Planet Hollywood.)

8. So did third choice Burt Reynolds. Imagine McClane in a dirty, torn t-shirt and a toupee. Shudder!

9. So did fourth choice, Richard Gere – rumored to be a favorite of the studio but not the director.

10. McTiernan encouraged Bruce Willis to ad lib, and among his more memorable unscripted contributions are, (as he crawls through the vent) “Come out to the coast, we’ll get together, have a few laughs” and (as the firetrucks approach Nakatomi Tower) “Come to papa and I’ll kiss your effin’ dalmation.”

11. McClane’s signature line, “Yipee-ki-aye, MF,” was considered too intrinsically American for European audiences and before the movie was released in some countries, it was dubbed in as, “Here, eat this!”

12. All the action takes place overnight, rather than in the afternoon than as originally written, because Bruce was working on Moonlighting during the day. Most of the film was shot on location in an actual LA skyscraper (Fox Plaza), and making the Christmas party an evening affair instead eliminated a lot of lighting problems.

13. Bruce Willis and Demi Moore were married in Las Vegas during the filming of Die Hard. Ashton Kutcher, then aged 10 and not yet able to cross the street by himself, was not in attendance.

Leave your link in "comments" and I'll add you here:

1) Sandy Carlson has a thoughtful, inspirational TT

2) Pjazzypar plans to hit the road

3) Chelle's TT Valentine is to Brad Paisley
4) SJ's TT bravely goes where no TT has gone before
5) Nicholas shows off a lovely Siamese cat and his DVD collection
6) Adelle highlights romantic duos
7) Sandee has a cinematic TT (and I love movie lists)
8) Malcolm's TT topic is an interesting choice, esp. for Valentine's Day!
9) Mama Kelly encourages us to visit 13 of her past posts
10) Cricket's Hearth! I'm sorry but I couldn't open your link!
11) Ellen B. has a fantastic TT about The Lads, my favorite group of all time, THE BEATLES
12) Morgan Leigh lists 13 fascinating conspiracy theories
13) Susan Helene Gottfried uses love songs as a kinda Rorschach Test to give us insights into her characters
14) Journeywoman talks to the 14-year-old Journeygirl

15) No Nonsense Girl kicks back and enjoys life in her TT

16) Will Think 4 Wine shares her love of the Swamp

17) Mo says "I love you" every way possible!

18) Sue doesn't have a TT, but she does have a fascinating post about a Canadian champion of women's rights

19) How does Joy Is My Goal love her husband? Today, she counts the ways!

20) Sarai puts on her headphones for this week's TT

21) Lori shares her favorite Firefly quotes

22) OneLuvGirl gets romantic with 13 love songs

23) Maribeth has a love-ly TT

24) Colleen spreads the love
25) Alice Audrey has a most romantic TT
26) bkclubcare doesn't have a TT, but her blog is worth reading
27) Karina has a Valentine's Day Giveaway on her TT!
28) Dane Bramage shares Valentine's Day tips
29)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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My 5 Favorite Posts Meme

Mme. Book Mama tagged me for this meme …

Rules: Go back through your archives and post the links to your
five favorite blog posts that you’ve written.

Link one must be about family
Link two must be about friends
Link three must be about yourself
Link four must be about something you love
Link five can be about anything you choose
Post your five links and then tag five other people. At least two of the people you tag must be newer acquaintances so that you get to know each other better.

Link one: Thirteen Ways that My Mom & I Are Alike

Link two: We Can't Help Being Fascinating

Link three: In praise of … well … me

Link four: I still love Greg Maddux. How could I not?

Link five: 13 Old Movies that Have a Place in My Heart

Well, there you have it -- 5 of my Greatest Hits!

I'm a rule-breaker. A rebel, if you will. And so I'm not tagging anyone. But if you want to play, let me know in comments so I can check out your 5 posts.

Heads & Tails #17

Today's theme is love. And so today, I'm going to send a Valentine to one of the sweetest, most dependable personalities in my life -- my cat, Joey, because he embodies it.

Joey is an enormous gray and white shelter adopt who joined my fur family in 1999 when he was 3. He was oversized even then. His original family put him in a large box, poked holes in it, taped it shut and left him at the local humane society at Christmastime. Their note said they could no longer afford the premium catfood he required because of a propensity for urinary tract problems. Fortunately he was still safe and healthy, though undoubtedly very cold and frightened, when a volunteer found him and brought him in from the cold

I am ambivalent about his original family. Dumping him in the night like that was both gutless and dangerous. Yet Joey has such an open heart, such a trusting manner, so they must have been very good to him. He also is very affectionate with kids, especially noisy little boys, which leads me to believe he was the special favorite of some young fella in that household. I bet parting with him was heartbreaking.

Joey loooooves hearing his name. Now and again I add "Good Boy!" or "Tub of Guts," but that's just to alleviate the boredom on my end. Joey's favorite sentence would be, "Joey, joey-joey, joey-joe."

Joey always comes when called. You cat lovers out there know that usually a feline will deign to respond to your call only if the mood is right. Not Joe. Displeasing me seems to genuinely trouble him.

So do storms. Joey hates them. When the pressure changes, he walks as close to the floor as he can get (looking like a large, moving, furry meatloaf) until he reaches the hallway, where there are no windows. And he decides when the tornado warning is over, thank you very much. He places no faith in TV weathermen. Even if they say the storm is passed, he remains in the hallway until his internal barometer says it's OK to move.

He thinks it's heavenly is you rub the right side of his neck. Of course, he loves any attention and affection he can get, but ah … the right side of his neck! That's the spot!

I'm not sure I've ever heard him emit a genuine meow. He does, however, make this gargling noise -- part purr/part meow -- when he is so filled with love he can no longer contain his joy.

He loves all people, all other cats, and even some dogs. He loves my cat Charlotte, even though she hits him with her paw each and every time he approaches. She has been doing this to him at least once a day since she arrived in 2001, and he still seems confused by it. "I love you, so how could you not love me?"

Joey loves to sit with me, just pressing his enormous body as close to mine as he can. On cold evenings he's better than an afghan.

No one is cuter then Joe when he sleeps. He lays on his back, tummy exposed, legs splayed, and I swear he's smiling.

No matter what kind of day I've had -- good or bad -- Joey will be delighted to see me. He will do figure 8s between my legs, trying to herd me to a place where I will sit and produce a lap for him to jump into. (And brother! Do you ever feel that landing!) He is a treasure, and one of the best cures for the blues I can imagine. His heart is pure and he's always happy (except during storms). So Joey, this love post is for you!

For more about Heads & Tails, or to play along yourself, visit Skittles.

Give Me 5 Monday #4 -- Job Hunting

The 'Give Me Five' Monday meme is designed to share fun information with each other in a simple short list! Here's how it works. Each week, Becca chooses a random topic and you share 5 answers of your choice on the given topic and link back here! 

5 Hints, Tips, Tricks or Advice Related to 

Succeeding in the Great Job Hunt

1) Don't lie. Don't even "embellish." First of all, you wouldn't want the person on the other side of the desk to lie about or embellish the pay or benefits you're being offered, so it's simply wrong to be less than truthful about what you bring to the job. Secondly, it's a smaller world than we realize, and you could very easily get caught.

2) But don't sell yourself short, either. Think about everything you have done well at your current job or in previous positions. Then include it in your resume. If you're being truthful about your accomplishments, you aren't bragging, you're helping a prospective employer choose the right candidate for the job.

3) Say "References Available Upon Request" at the bottom of your rez, and then be sure to bring your references along to the interview. It's impressive to be able to hand them across the desk to the interviewer right then and there if you're asked.

4) If possible, include both bosses and coworkers as references. Employers often like to see that you got along well with your comrades, as well as with your bosses.

5) Ask for business cards from everyone you interview with. That way you can make 100% sure you get their names and titles correct for your thank you notes.

Good luck, Job Hunters!

A very popular young lady

As covered by Media Matters (shown below), correspondent David Shuster's comment that Chelsea Clinton is being "pimped out" by her mother's campaign has gotten him suspended. I didn't think this was that big a deal, but then, I'm a potty mouth. My mother was furious about the comment. Never a feminist, she was nevertheless upset that vocabulary associated with prostitution was used in conjunction with a female candidate and her daughter. And besides, she said, Chelsea's behavior has always been above reproach. Like Caroline Kennedy, she's America's Daughter. We've watched both Caroline and Chelsea grow up, slim down (and discover the importance of a flat iron) and consequently the American public has become fond of these women.

I think my mom is right. So, apparently, do the many other women who complained to NBC. It was tin-eared at best of Shuster to use language like that in discussing the campaign of the first serious female Presidential candidate and the former First Daughter. And there's no comparison between Chelsea and, say, Jenna Bush. I am sooooo tempted to include the photo of Jenna holding a gin and tonic in one hand as she put the "ball" into her father's last Inaugural Ball, or tumbling onto the floor on top of a college chum, cig in one hand and drink in the other. I'm not going to because she does seem to have grown up. But this does get me thinking about the "family values" question. Somehow Laura Bush is considered in some quarters to be saintly because she stayed at home and concentrated on her girls while Hillary Clinton worked. I think the results of this very narrow study show that ALL mothers should work.


From Media Matters: Specifically, while discussing Chelsea Clinton's campaign work with nationally syndicated radio host Bill Press and online columnist and former CNN correspondent Bob Franken on Tucker, Shuster asserted: "For most of the Bill Clinton presidency, then-teenager Chelsea Clinton remained out of public life. Political opponents like Mike Huckabee have credited the Clintons for raising such a poised and self-possessed young woman. Now, just shy of her 28th birthday, Chelsea is out and about on her mom's behalf, campaigning in Nebraska as Saturday's caucuses approach. What is the Chelsea factor?" Shuster then said to Press: "Bill, there's just something a little bit unseemly to me that Chelsea is out there calling up celebrities saying, 'Support my mom.' And, apparently, she's also calling these super delegates." After Press responded, "Hey, she's working for her mom. What's unseemly about that? During the last campaign, the Bush twins were out working for their dad," Shuster asked: "But doesn't it seem like Chelsea's sort of being pimped out in some weird sort of way?" He then said: "I will give Chelsea Clinton a break when she sits down and gives an interview to somebody like ... Bob Franken, because if she ... wants to do all this stuff, then she should face the questions, right?"

Ew! Ick!

Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey are everywhere promoting their second cinematic collaboration, Fool's Gold. Maybe I'm too old to respond to their appeal, but I am convinced they are both hygenically challenged. It's as though my TV is equipped with smellovision. I just know if I got within a foot of either of them, I could detect stale cigs and pot mixed with too much hair product and perspiration. The thought of them kissing makes me a little nauseous.

Enjoy Fool's Gold, moviegoers.

I Miss Him

Yesterday I watched the primary results and the Jefferson-Jackson Day speeches. Obama did well, Hillary kept pace and their speeches were fine. My candidate(s) took aim against McCain and it was spirited.

But I miss Blue Eyes. Not just because of the aforementioned eyes and the famous hair. Or the smooth accent. Or that he looks equally great in jeans or a suit. Not that those aren't reasons to miss him. Sigh …

But even more, I miss his sense of the good fight. The pugnacity. Not toward his Democratic teammates, nor toward the other party, but toward a system gone very wrong.

Caroline Kennedy famously said that in Barack Obama, she's finally found a candidate who inspires her the way her father inspired previous generations. Similarly, I miss hearing a righteously indignant voice, dreaming about things that never were and asking, "why not?" We need impractical voices like John Edwards' and Bobby Kennedy's in our politcal discourse.

A sobering observation

In the past month and a half, since my last trip to the neighborhood food pantry, I have collected a large, heavy bag filled with canned veggies and soups, pasta and baby food. Every time I go to the grocery, convenience or drug store, I pick up something on sale for $1 or less to add to the bag. It makes me happy to hunt down the best possible bargain each trip. (Like the can of beets I picked up yesterday for just 55¢.)

I carried it all over to the food pantry, which is open every Saturday from 9 till noon. I was pleased by the amount and selection of food I was donating.

As I got closer to the food pantry, I began passing people who were leaving with their bags of food. These folks live here in town and belong to one of our participating neighborhood churches; their ministers puts their names on the list. Then, every week they get a bag of food. (It's done this way so as not to interfere with any other aid they may be getting. And to help people who are suffering but don't meet the requirements for aid.)

At that moment I realized that the food I was dropping off -- the bag it took me 7 weeks to fill -- is equal to what each of these citizens carries out every week. And I'd been proud of my contribution! It's really just a drop in the bucket.

My village is pretty representative of suburban America, I think. We're racially mixed (68% white, 22% black, 10% "other"). 42% of the children under 18 are growing up in 2-parent households. The average HHI is just over $59,000. Yet the line at the food pantry is always long, with people willing to wait in line for a bag of free groceries. My neighbors are having trouble making ends meet.

I guess I'm the muscle around here

I got in this morning and my boss told me about new revisions we needed to get out ASAP. Noon would be nice. Definitely before eod. I knew I could handle my portion of the program, but I was concerned about my art director partner. She doesn't always handle stress especially well and we already had other deliverables scheduled. I explained to my boss that I didn't see how this was doable for her. He said, "Oh, I asked her already and she said it wouldn't be hard."

Naturally now she's freaking out. "I'm slammed," she says, shaking her head. "I wish they would set priorities for me." "It would be nice if I had time to do a good job."

I pointed out to her that I tried to get the date moved to Monday, but she told our boss it wouldn't be hard. "What do you want me to do now?" I asked. She just welled up. I felt a real tear onslaught coming on, so I skedaddled.

I told my boss that it was, indeed, impossible to do today and why. An agreeable chap, he said he would talk to the client and explain that we would send out all the copy revisions, but for the new graphics, we'd appreciate it if we could have another day so we could do the level of work they deserve. Our client is also very, very nice and I expect they will say Monday is fine.

But this means that once again, I was her "muscle." Bad cop to her good cop. No wonder I came up as Christina on the Grey's Quiz. I either have to stop speaking up for her, or not resent her when I do.

Romney suspends campaign

Damn! I had wagered on him choosing Michael Vick as his running mate. 

As a good and loyal Democrat, I would have preferred to run against Romney than McCain. But as a loyal animal lover, I think this has turned out exactly the way it was supposed to.

Thursday Thirteen #53 -- The Gal Explains It All

ANSWERS TO 13 QUESTIONS

RECENTLY LEFT

IN THIS BLOG'S COMMENTS

1. How was Juno? (Sparky Duck) This is an adorable movie. Funny and sweet, with a very original heroine. I thought it kinda glossed over the emotional issues associated with teen pregnancy and adoption, but then it is a comedy and not An Afternoon Special.

2. Where did you live in Carpentersville? (Greatfullivin) 133 Austin. I stood up for the first time on my own in that house. My family moved when I was a toddler (and yes, of course they took me along!).

3. How do I add you as a "friend" on Shelfari? (Kwizgiver) a. Go to Explore; b. Key in The Gal H; c. When I pop up, click on Request Friendship. Then we'll be connected, shelf to shelf!

4. Do you have shoes strewn all over your living room? (Technically this is from “anonymous,” but I know who it is and she’s in league with my mother -- the same woman who has been trying unsuccessfully to get me to put my shoes away I was old enough to just kick them off and leave them by the front door.) Yes. But it's really very wise and efficient of me. This snow won't last forever, and in no time, it will be 75º and sunny outside and I'll need all those Birkenstock sandals right where I can see them.

5. Why didn’t you name the Cubs as the best thing about your hometown? (Care) This is a perceptive question because, like most right thinking Americans, I consider the Cubs the best thing about living on this planet. However, for that meme I was considering the village I live in as my hometown. (It's less than 30 minutes away from Chicago.)

6. In the Kay Scarpetta series, does Kay know how Marino feels about her? (Malcolm) Yes. But she cares about Marino and needs him professionally so she pretends she doesn't notice so they never have to address it.

8. Do you have to pay extra for delivery from Peapod? (Jenny McB) Yes. $9.95. When you consider that clients pony up about $85/hour for my services, paying $9.95 for grocery delivery is really quite reasonable because it saves me valuable time. (OK, maybe that logic is tortured, but it helps me justify Peapod.)

9. What games do you like to play at Pogo? (Jenny McB) I am completely addicted to Turbo 21, which is not the same as being good at it. I also like Word Whomp and First Class Solitaire.

10. Which TV Mom do you think you would have lasted longer with – Carol Brady or June Cleaver? (Jenny McB) June Cleaver! She not only never actually disciplined the boys, she was forever imploring Ward to go easy on them. I've never been a fan of being told what to do.

10. You mean you're supposed to wash curtains? (Misty Dawn) According to my mother, who knows these things, you are supposed to wash your curtains twice a year. I don't, of course, but I do feel guilty about neglecting this chore. That counts for something, right?

11. Are you on Facebook? (Misty Dawn) No. I think I spend too much time on Blogger. I'm afraid if I went to Facebook, too, I'd never push away from the keyboard!

12. What is your favorite bar? (Gnostic Minx) Monk's Pub on LaSalle & Wells. Burgers, chili, beer and a decent jukebox.

13. Who did you vote for in your first Presidential election? (Book Mama) Jimmy Carter. Funny you ask this, because it's the only vote I wish I could take back. I was very young and very mad at Gerald Ford for pardoning Nixon. With time -- and since watching the silly Clinton impeachment hearings -- I understand that Ford saved us from something awful. It was a brave, patriotic thing he did and I'm sorry I didn't support him.


Bonus 14! What do you do that people pay you $85/hour? (Susan Helene Gottfried) I'm an ACD/copywriter, and clients pay the advertising agency I work at $85/hour for my services. After subtracting for office space, and computer, and Social Security and benefits, and naturally some profit for themselves, the agency pays me. It's not unlike the hooker/pimp relationship. (Some days it feels more like that than others.)

Leave your link in comments and I'll list you here:

1) Sue lists 13 people who live with thyroid conditions
2) Tink quotes the Dalai Lama
3) Nicholas teaches us how to speak British
4) Pjazzypar's TT is the scourge of evil doers!
5) Sandee's TT is so cute … or is it?

6) Morgan Leigh's TT is even more random than this one!

7) Joy Is My Goal has a lovely TT for a snowy day (sorry, Joy, but blogger kept timing out on me when I tried to leave a comment)
8) Malcolm's TT is devoted to 13 special Grammy winners
9) Mama Geek makes dinner, or tries to
10) Cricket's Hearth pokes fun at lawyers
11) Jenny McB shares today's menu
12) Sandy Carlson takes a closer look at Valentine's Day
13) Susan Helene Gottfried hands her blog over to The Shapeshifter gang this week, and they report in from sick bay
14) Sharon knows her Cars stuff!

15) Lori lists 13 Valentine gift ideas at $20 or less

16) SusieJ shows us how to create Valentine boxes

17) Book Mama worries, and she's not alone in what concerns her

18) Tasha cleverly gives us 13 reasons why she doesn't have a TT

19) SJ Reidhead fascinates us with her Tombstone TT

20) Adelle gives us 13 tips for banishing boredom

21) Ivan Girl shares her resolutions

22) Xakara helps us expand our vocabularies 

23) Angelie has a dreamy TT

24) Maribeth takes us concertgoing

25) Bloggers has a helpful TT about working at home 

26) Kat's TT is brought to us by the letter B

27) OneLuvGirl tells us about her new place

28) Lisa has a heartfelt and heartbreaking TT about her cat, Katie Scarlett

29) The land of Ross goes green this week

30) Yummy has a musical TT

31) Natalie rhapsodizes about her favorite baseball team

32) Tina doesn't have a TT, but her blog is neat so you should check her out

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

In praise of mothers and sons

Jenny McB and her almost-grown son have discussed the signficance of this Presidential election.

Bookmama has explained to her little boy how important it is that for the first time a woman and a man of color have a real chance of being President.

A friend of mine recounted that her son, a high school senior, spent the car ride to Target trying to explain why his friends were really pulling for Ron Paul. She said it was the longest they had spent on one topic in quite some time and she really enjoyed it.

I love these stories! Mothers imparting their social awareness and involvement to their sons, exchanging ideas with them. This is so great.

I wonder, though, how come I haven't heard any similar mother/daughter stories … Anyone have one to share?

I admit it. I was verklempt.

This morning, when I went to vote and saw the names of a woman and an African American on the Presidential ballot, I was amazed and thrilled. Yes, I knew I'd find Clinton and Obama there, but actually seeing it had an undeniable impact on me. We have come such a long way during my lifetime, and I am very proud of the Democratic Party and of my country.

As Barack Obama just said tonight: "We are who we've been waiting for." My party now reflects my community. How cool is that?

Heads & Tails #16

Today's theme is "first and last." I'm going to write about my very first and most recent trips to a movie theater.

First: 1964. Mary Poppins. It was a magical experience. Back in those days, movies opened downtown only and, after a few weeks or months, came to the local theaters. So my time spent with Mary Poppins was special not only because it was my first-ever trip to a movie theater, it entailed going into Chicago's Loop. I remember that it was raining and my father was angrily complaining because he couldn't get a parking space closer to the theater. But then we took our seats and the lights went down, the curtain opened and I was transported to the Banks' home in Jolly Old England. I've been in love with going to the movies ever since.

Last: Saturday, 2/2. There Will Be Blood. I think a better title would be, There Will Be Explosions and Fires, for instances of that kind of mayhem outnumbered the bloody kind. I wrote about this movie before, and while it's true that I appreciated it and am glad I saw it, I can't honestly say I liked or recommend it. Still, I loved the experience of going to the movies, of sitting in a dark theater with my oversized pop and my Raisinettes and traveling to another place and time.

For more information about Heads or Tails, or to play along yourself, visit Skittles' Place.

The sweetest-looking award I could ever receive

See that face? That's Maggie May, one the Dogs that Keep Misty Sane. But she's only one of the things that make this award special.

Misty Dawn referred to me as one of the bloggers who has, "been my cheering squad and shared your own lives with me." She says this has honored her.

Well, Miss Misty, the honor is mine. Whether she's falling in the mud, ceaselessly craving a new camera or strapping a most-bizarre purple mask onto Hubs' face, her heart and humor shine through in every post.

And how can I not respect and admire the woman who rescues puppies like Maggie?

Thanks, Misty. I'll leave a note on your blog when I can. (Blogger is not letting me open your comments link this morning.)

Now is the time for all good bloggers to come to the aid of this gal

Here's the thing: In the past month people have left questions for me in the "comments" that I haven't answered. I know that's rude, so I was going to handle them all in this week's Thursday Thirteen.

BUT I don't have 13 questions yet.

So, what do you want to know?

My favorite Beatle? Political party? Baseball team? Oh, wait! If you've been here before, you know the answer to those questions already.

Please help me round out my TT.

And the Oscar goes to …

For those of you who participate in the office Oscar pool, I know which movie will win the nude gold dude: No Country for Old Men. How do I know this? Because it's the one of the 5 nominated flicks I won't have seen by Oscar night.

This weekend I saw There Will Be Blood. It's impressive … long and sweeping and gorgeous to look at. The performances draw you in, too. But I'm not sure what the point was. Not that money corrupts -- for I believe Plainview was a monster even when he was poor. Perhaps it's that power corrupts. Or maybe it's the single-mindedness required to acquire money and power is what corrupts us. Or … Thinking about the ending leaves me vaguely annoyed, so I'll stop.

At any rate, I appreciated this movie, but I didn't like it. Of the four I've seen, I liked Michael Clayton best. I also hope it wins a lot of Oscars because that will mean more shots of George Clooney in a tux. Yum!

Saturday in Galtopia

Our population has grown and we have our first high rise. I am terribly proud of my subjects … I mean, I am terribly proud of our citizens. Please be sure to come by for a visit. Be sure to bring a pet. We like pets far more than people in Galtopia.

You big babies!

Ok, so it snowed last night and all morning. Depending on where you are in the Chicagoland area, you received between 8 and 12 inches altogether. It happens. It is winter in Chicago, after all.

Literally 2/3 of the office called in "snowed in." There was so much hysteria about the white stuff that management decided to let us all work from home. The thing of it is, though, they shared that information with us via office email. Which means if, like me, you don't have a Blackberry, you had to come into the office to find out it was virtually closed.

I arrived at work late of course. Not because of the snow, but because I had a hard time tearing myself away from truTV coverage of the Julie Jensen Murder Trial. So I get to work at my usual 9:45 to see my boss standing in the hall near my office, smiling. "We don't have to be here today," he said.

Because we stout-hearted marketers had the agency nearly to ourselves, we got a ton done without interruption and hassle and I left, feeling quite satisfied with myself, at about 1:15. Spent my free afternoon being oh-so productive: watching TV, watching snow, and eating Cheese Nips … and feeling proud of myself for the pioneer woman toughness it took to walk two blocks down a ploughed street, stand on a covered el platform, and board a heated train. Yep, I'm tough as they come.

And then there were two

Tonight's CNN debate was civil and focused and once again I was pleased with both my choices. I lean toward Obama because he thinks bigger -- an intellectual with a vision for his country. Hillary sounds like a talented, dedicated bureaucrat -- and after watching George W. Bush bungle Katrina, I certainly don't think a talented, dedicated bureaucrat would be a bad person to have in the White House. Still, when faced with our weakened position in the global community, an inequitable economy and healthcare system and the prospect of Supreme Court appointments that will have an impact on my civil liberties and every woman's right to choose, I think Obama is who my country needs right now. (Also, I worry about the irrational hatred many Conservatives have for Hillary, and how that might help them rally around and support a candidate they may not be enthusiasic about otherwise.)

But what I missed while watching the intellectual with vision debate the talented, dedicated bureaucrat was passion. A scrappy and uncompromising insistence on reminding that our fellow Americans are suffering, and that we as citizens we are responsible to one another. I missed John Edwards.

Friday's Feast #29

Appetizer

What is your favorite kind of cereal? Post Great Grains

Soup
When was the last time you purchased something for your home, what was it, and in which room did it go? A really sturdy and powerful flashlight that went into the linen closet

Salad
What is the funniest commercial you’ve ever seen? I always laugh at the Bill and Karolyn Slowski, the Comcast turtles.

Main Course
Make up a name for a company by using a spice and an animal (example: Cinnamon Monkey). Fennel Feline.

Dessert
Fill in the blank: I haven’t washed my livingroom curtains since I don't know when. (Don't judge me too harshly; they're such a drag to take down and rehang.)

If you have questions, or to whip up your own feast, visit fridaysfeast.com

THURSDAY THIRTEEN #52 -- Sites to cybershop

MY THIRTEEN FAVORITE

ONLINE SHOPPING SITES

I love shopping from my laptop! Point, click, buy. Then, within days, one of the nice young men from the mailroom shows up in my doorway with a package. There is no easier way to treat myself to a little retail therapy.

Here are my 13 favorites. Now may be a good time to visit them because, after a dismal holiday season, you may find some bargains. If you have a favorite I don’t know about, please share. 

(No, this isn't a pay-per-post entry; to prove that I get nothing for mentioning these sites, I haven't included links from my blog.)

1) Perpetual Kid. My new favorite for wacky, silly stuff. If ever you find you need a monkey key ring or a bottle of Play Doh-scented cologne, go to perpetualkid.com.

2) Amazon. My first and most enduring online shopping love affair. They sell just about everything now, but I still prefer them for books, music, DVDs and computer games. Also, if Amazon itself doesn't have something in stock, I'm not crazy about ordering from "these sellers." However, that's a small quibble about a site I truly loooove.

3) eBags. Purses! Laptop cases! Luggage! I love the wide range of choices they offer, and how often the merchandise turns over. The prices are good, but they get even better on return visits when you use your "thanks for shopping with us" coupon.

4) Sephora.com. After you choose from just about every kind of cosmetic available, you get to select a couple free samples. And they send your stuff in lovely drawstring bags. 

5) Overstock. Books, clothes, linens, electronics … it’s all here, and the shipping cost is always $2.95. I can spend forever on this site. 

6) Just Give. Just there today! A friend of mine has a birthday coming up, and she asked me not to buy her a gift. Sorry, unacceptable to this Gal, who loves gifting. So I found a loophole in her request and went to justgive.com. I bought her a gift certificate that she can then donate to one of a million participating charities.  (justgive.org)

7) Sundance. My favorite jewelry is here. This is where I got my fabulous green hooded jacket, too. The stuff Sundance sells is unique and they always have neat stuff in their "clearance" section. It's also a great place to shop for gifts. (Just bought my mom a birdhouse that I'll give her for Mother's Day.) sundancecatalog.com

8) Zappos. A tremendous selection of shoes and bags and belts, etc., at great prices, with reasonable shipping/handling rates.

9) One Hanes Place. I am very particular about my underwear. I have my style, I like my style, and that’s that. One Hanes Place always has exactly what I’m looking for (though the shipping costs are kinda steep). onehanesplace.com

10) Expedia. I like this one better than Orbitz, Travelocity or Priceline. No particular reason. I just do.

11) ebay. Because it’s ebay! For cosmetics, collectibles and gifts, this is my first stop. 

12) Peapod. Laundry detergent, 12-packs of Coke, jugs of cat litter … Every prohibitively heavy item on my grocery list is at my fingertips. Best of all, it’s delivered directly to my front door.

13) Drugstore.com. Just about everything you can find at a brick and mortar drugstore. With their weekly specials and free shipping on orders over $50, it’s as affordable as shopping in a drugstore and waaay more convenient.

Put your link in the comments and I'll add you here:

1) Chelle has been to the movies (and I love movie TTs)

2) I couldn't find Sandy Carlson's TT, but that doesn't mean you won't be able to (sorry, Sandy, sometimes I'm tech-challenged)

3) Ellen's TT is colorful and so comforting on a frozen day

4) Nicholas has another one of his entertaining book TTs

5) Michelle takes us out to her birdfeeder

6) Claudia's very funny TT is about new words/phrases

7) Cricket's Hearth has a fascinating word-related TT

8) Shesawriter has a romantic movie TT (and I love movie TTs)

9) Natalie longs for Utah

10) SJR lets her imagination run wild as she puts together her dinner guest list

11) Mommytoj has a tasty TT

12) Adelle's TT is devoted to generosity and involvement

13) Journeywoman has a thoughtful TT devoted to Barack Obama

14) Kristi doesn't have a TT, but her blog is cool so you give her a visit anyway

15) DrillerAA lists her favorite hymns

16) In the interest of equal time, Tasha's TT is about why she's so very anti-Hillary (& I'm patting myself on the back for being open-minded enough to include her link here)

17) Maribeth has a lovely TT about life's "little" crises

18) Jenny McB's TT introduces us to the web beyond Blogger

19) Nancy shares tidbit about a subject she is the undisputed expert on

20) Joy Is My Goal celebrates bridegrooms.

21) Mama Bear has a hilarious Family Guy TT

22) Emerald City Guy gives hilarious awards to his high school classmates

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

"So long, farewell, Auf wiedersehen, good night …

… I hate to go and leave this pretty sight."

If I sound like I'm being flip about the end of John Edwards' campaign, I'm not. First of all, I love The Sound of Music, so invoking it is a sign of affection. Secondly, I am drawn to his populist message and will miss hearing him speaking up and fighting the good fight in the next debate. Thirdly, I am an enormous fan of his wife. Elizabeth Edwards' story has touched me deeply, and I will miss seeing her.

But I'll also miss the way his blue ties played up his blue eyes … and yes, that shiny, touchable hair … and that moonlight and magnolias accent. It's always kinda creeped me out to be this hot for a possible President. I mean, lusting after the President just seems so wrong. But now I guess I'm freed from that and can fantasize away.

If I ruled the world …

Hey, wait! Now I DO rule the world! Or at least my own little corner of it. Please stop by my own special little haven: Galtopia. Be sure to bring a critter. Pets are not only allowed in Galtopia, they are mandatory.

Heads & Tails #15

Today's theme is Who Would You Like to Meet? This topic, the news of the day, and Ms. Skittles' own post, all combine to make me say this: there is no celebrity I would like to meet.

Almost four years ago I was thrilled at the prospect of meeting Caroline Kennedy. She was appearing with her Uncle Ted at fundraisers all around the country on behalf of my candidate, Senator Kerry. Before the big $500/plate dinner, the Kennedys were good enough to speak at a more intimate, campaign workers only reception.

Then I met her. It had a huge impact on me, but not in the way I'd anticipated.

As she made her way through our small group (less than 200), she hung on to her uncle's arm for dear life. If somehow she lost him, even for a moment, he would reach for her. They seemed to know one another very well and he appeared sensitive to how important it was to her to have him there.

She didn't seem to hear anything that was said to her as she approached the podium. It wasn't that she was ignoring the well wishers or was behaving imperiously. It was as though she'd willed herself to not hear as a form of self protection. It made me sad about the savage, insensitive things strangers must have said to her over time.

Remember, we were John Kerry campaign workers. She would never be in a crowd as friendly as supportive as this one. Yet she seemed afraid of us. The big money doners she'd be dining with after our little reception would expect much more of her. I wanted to throw my arms around her and whisper, "You don't have to do the dinner. We already have their money. Say you're sick and go back to your hotel."

There's also something unspeakably weird about meeting someone that famous. I had watched her bury her parents and brother, and she had no idea at all who I am. It cured me of the desire to meet another celebrity ever again.

(It's important to note, though, that once she was in front of the microphone, Caroline Kennedy was poised and eloquent. I don't think it's public speaking that freaks her out, but crowds.)

Now Skittles answered that someday she would like to meet herself. I love that notion. I wonder how I appear and sound to others. I'm curious if I would like myself. Would Me and I get along?

For more Heads or Tails responses, or to play along yourself, visit Skittles' Place.

A Reason to Believe

Mayor Daley is helping Barack Obama raise money.

John Kerry has endorsed him.

Caroline Kennedy wrote a heartfelt opinion piece in the NY Times referring to Obama as the candidate who could be "A President Like My Father."

Senator Ted Kennedy not only endorsed Obama but chastised that other political family, The Clintons, in no uncertain terms.

Tomorrow I half expect to see that God has written, "GAL, vote for this man" across Barack Obama's forehead. That's really the only endorsement left that could influence me.

I've been a Clinton girl since 1992. Back then "The Gov'nuh" was a breath of fresh air. A Baby Boomer after 12 years of Reagan/Bush. I believed he would finally -- FINALLY! -- address what was relevant to me and my friends. Once Bill was elected, I felt that the sun came out again, the music began to play again, and the forest animals emerged once more, just like in an old Warner Bros. cartoon.

So it's been hard to close the book on the Clintons. I would never diss what he did and what he meant. But this past week, I've seen the Bill Clinton that I conveniently forgot. The thrill and attention junkie who creates trouble so he can get out of it. The one who wore me out by the time he left office in 2001, amid a flurry of last-minute scandals of his own creation. I realize that it's Hillary's name on the ballot, but let's not kid ourselves: She either can't, or doesn't want to, diminish Bill's star power and influence on her campaign. Therefore I have no reason to believe she'd reign him if she wins the Presidency.

These endorsements from people whose judgment and patriotism I trust, these endorsements that evoke not the myth of Camelot but the enthusiasm and idealism of the New Frontier, convince me that it's time to close that book. It's time for politics to once again encourage us to, in Caroline's words, "believe in ourselves, to tie that belief to our highest ideals and imagine that together we can do great things." President Kennedy represented the Presidency as the pinnacle of public service. As soon as the Barack bandwagon slows down, I'm jumping on.

I'm a true believer. Not in Barack Obama just yet, but in the politics of hope and possibility as opposed to "the ends justify the means." I so want Obama to be the real deal.

It doesn't surprise me

It may not necessarily please me, but it doesn't surprise me.
Thanks to Cupcake for the link.

I WAS going to be so productive today …

Organizing all my tax paperwork … sorting through a stack or two (OK, three) of magazines … vacuuming … washing the bathroom floor … replenishing the cat litter and kibble supply … 3 loads of wash … I WAS going to do all those things today.

I've gotta run down and get clothes out of the dryer. I managed to do the laundry, at least. Oh yeah! And I actually SAVED on a 28-lb. tub of Fresh Step at Petco! (I used both my PALS card and a coupon!)

But, for the most part, I remained on the sofa. I played POGO Turbo 21, watched the Sunday political shows and a couple episodes of the Dick Van Dyke Show, and came up with a headline I'm very proud of for a project at work. It's such a good headline, in fact, that I don't believe I thought of it myself. I've been Googling and Yahooing and Dogpiling and, it appears, that if I did subconsciously "co-originate" it, at least it's not trademarked nor still in use.

But I'm pretty full of self-loathing right now. I think at the very least I should go through these magazines before I retire to my bedchamber.