Friday Music Memoirs

Top 5 albums that you can't stop playing lately, and tell us why you love them!

1) On right now, Silk Degrees by Boz Scaggs. "We're All Alone" popped up when I had my iPod on Shuffle and I was so happy to hear it. It's been a while since I listened to this one, and it's good to get back in touch with my inner blue-eyed-soul-70s chick every now and again.

2) Van Morrison at the Movies. His soundtrack hits. It's a good representation of his entire career in 19 tracks, and really, I can't hear "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven when You Smile)" often enough these days.

3) The Beatles White Album. There may be better Beatle albums, but none with this variety of genres and styles. Whatever mood I'm in, somehow the White Album manages to fit it.

4) Songs about Jane by Maroon 5. Welcome to Hitsville. "Harder to Breathe," "This Love," "She Will Be Loved," "Sunday Morning" …

5) The Very Best of Dusty Springfield. Speaking of "hits," they're all here. At times these arrangements sound corny and stupid, but Dusty herself is always amazing. I didn't know "I Close My Eyes and Count to 10" before I picked this up. Now I love it.

To play along, or check out other answers, click here.

Friday's Feast #33

Appetizer
If you could live on another continent for 1 year, which one would you choose? Europe. Specifically the UK. I've always wondered about life in England, Ireland and Scotland and a year would give me a chance to satisfy my curiosity.

Soup
Which browser do you use to surf the Internet? Mozilla Firefox.

Salad
On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being highest), how much do you know about the history of your country? A solid 7. I'm good with the lead up to the Civil War (I was educated in the Land of Lincoln public school system, after all) and all that follows to today. But with my reading about Abigail Adams, I realize how very much I don't know about the Revolution. Spanish American War, Alamo, etc. Not good on that, either.

Main Course
Finish this sentence: Love is sometimes elusive.

Dessert
Have you ever been in or near a tornado? No. While I've been in, literally, hundreds of tornado watches and warnings, not one ever touched down.

If you want to serve up to your feast, or to sample the meals whipped up by other bloggers, visit fridaysfeast.com.

"Who ARE those guys?"

Butch and Sundance asked one another that when faced with their worthiest, and most deadly, adversaries, the mysterious Super Posse. I've been asking that as I've been watching my Cubs fall to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

A National League Girl born and bred, I pretty much ignore the AL. Instead I've spent the last months worried about the D'backs and the Cardinals. As much as I've been worried, that is. The Cubs have the best record in the MLB and if they haven't quite been VANQUISHING each team that crosses their path, they have been successfully winning each series.

But these Devil Rays. They seem to have uncovered Kryptonite or something. I'll be glad when this series ends. (And those White Sox come across town for a whuppin'.)

Thursday Thirteen #72 -- Dipping my toe into random waters

THIRTEEN UNFAMILIAR FACTS
ABOUT THE GAL HERSELF

I always enjoy it when others write "random thought" TTs, but even after more than 70 Thursdays, I have yet to tackle one. Here’s my attempt at a completely random TT about myself. I believe all 13 are facts never before revealed about This Gal! A breathtaking notion, I know. Whether they’re entertaining or not – well, that’s up to you.

1. I have countless pairs of sandals, but not a single pair of flip-flops. I’m not crazy about that between-the-toes thing.

2. There’s no contest – New England clam chowder is vastly superior to its Manhattan counterpart.

3. One of my prized possessions is a snow globe of Hollywood featuring Mann’s Chinese and the Capitol Records Tower.

4. My greatest strength is just that – my strength. I’m resourceful, think clearly when under pressure and can endure a great deal. I’m the one you want by your side when the going gets rough.

5. My greatest weakness is my complete and utter lack of self-discipline. I can be a such lazy slob! I’m often ashamed of how little I accomplish in a day if I don’t have a client-imposed deadline. (And, since clients don’t care how often I sort through the magazines and files stacked on my floor at home … well, you get the idea.)

6. The last movie I just sat on the sofa and watched is Maybe I’ll Come Home in the Spring. Made in 1971, it stars Sally Field as a hippie-chick druggie and David Carradine as her bare-chested, love-beaded boyfriend. I can be ceaselessly entertained by crap like this. (See #5.)

7. My alarm clock is set for 6:00. I’m a big fan of the snooze button.

8. I swear a lot. My dad used to say that cursing only serves to reveal a limited vocabulary. I say, “Fuck that!” No, really, I have an expansive vocabulary. After all, I’m a writer by trade. I just swear a lot.

9. Cinnamon is one of my favorite scents and flavors.

10. Since I love both movies and baseball, I guess it’s only appropriate that I confess: Redford’s Roy Hobbs (The Natural) is my ideal baseball player, Cooper’s Lou Gehrig (Pride of the Yankees) is inspirational and heroic, but Costner’s Crash Davis (Bull Durham) is hotter than either of them. “I believe there ought to be a constitutional amendment outlawing Astroturf and the designated hitter. I believe in the sweet spot, soft-core pornography, opening your presents Christmas morning rather than Christmas Eve and I believe in long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last three days.” As Annie breathlessly replied, “Oh, my …”

11. Thinking of opening presents: My favorite grandma liked to give me bedroom slippers for Christmas, even though I never wear slippers. It didn't happen every year, but it occurred often enough. I didn’t think about it much at the time, but now that she’s gone I am sooo curious: Did she not know that I don’t wear slippers? Or did she know but was concerned that my feet would be cold?

12. Please, no nuts in my brownies. Ever.

13. At times, when I behave especially badly, I chastise myself because Miz Melanie Hamilton Wilkes would never act this way. Of all the books I’ve read, Gone with the Wind and the contrast between Scarlett (the one I completely get) and Melanie (the one I wish I was) may have had the biggest impact on me. Go figure.

Include your link in the comments and I'll add you here:
1) Chelle Y. takes us on a tour of her purse2) Malcolm has a timely tribute to Get Smart
3) SJR's TT is operatic
4) Get out your hankies! Michelle's TT is 13 chick flicks.
5) Susiej tempts us with a lemony treat
6) Nicholas takes us on a genuine UK-style cyber pub crawl
7) Kay celebrates "Take Your Fellow Bloggers to Work" Day
8) Jenny McB rejoins the Thursday 13! It's been too long!
9) Claudia shows us how Denver is preparing for the convention
10) B Boys Mom shares dieting tips
11) Susan Helene Gottfried updates us on her "Progress"
12) Sandy Carlson shares facts about an American treasure
13) Carol, I'm sorry I couldn't follow the link to your TT. I tried!
14) As they say on Sesame Street, Lisa's TT is brought to us by the letter P
15) Lori has a musical TT
16) Adelle's TT will leave you a little breathless
17) Journeywoman must think it's time to play the music and light the lights …
18) Winter's TT is "frickin' brilliant."
19) Sorry, Perpstu, but I couldn't follow your link. And I wanted to see what that last-minute idea was!
20) Mistress of the Dark is up for some good, old-fashioned retail therapy
21) Hootin' Ani's TT is positively poetic!
22) Lori is filled with thoughts of Serenity
23) Chris' TT is really an important public service announcement
24) Clara takes us along on vacation


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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Happy Birthday to a gentleman and a scholar

Literally. He is. Paul McCartney earned his knighthood years and years ago, and just last month he received a doctorate from Yale.

So today he turns 66. Happy Birthday, my liege.

Ok, so it does bother me now and again

Being fifty, that is.

I'm reasonably unlined for my age (thanks to a slavish devotion to moisturizer and exfoliation). I don't have gray hair. Yes, it's easier to put weight on and harder to take it off, so I won't claim to look great for my age. But I do assert that I look pretty damn good for fifty. That's not what makes me uncomfortable.

It's the number itself. A FIVE and a ZERO. I don't like looking at it. I don't like entering it as my age on surveys. When I see it, it doesn't feel like it has anything to do with me.

For example, just now, I thought I'd kill the time before my 2:00 meeting by visiting the San Diego Union-Tribune's website and catching up on the exploits of my beloved Future Hall of Famer, Greg Maddux. There was a little "tell us about yourself" pop up that appeared on the site. All they wanted to know were gender, zip code, and … um … age. Ick. (It doesn't help my mood that my beloved's record is 3-5, either.)

Tuesday Tunes

Oh, I'm all over this one!

This week we're all about The Beatles aka The Fab Four.

Who is your favorite Beatle? James Paul McCartney, who has a birthday tomorrow.

What is one of your favorite Beatle songs? Depends on my mood, but these days I lean toward "I Will" from The White Album.

Best/Worst cover of a Beatles song. This is easy! Best: I loved Chikeezie (sp?) and his totally original, soulful rendition of "She's a Woman" on American Idol; Worst: Barry Manilow singing "Yesterday."

Best song by a Beatle after the breakup. Oooh, this is hard! A toss up between "Watching the Wheels" by John (Double Fantasy) and "My Brave Face" by Paul (Flowers in the Dirt).

To see other answers, or play along yourself, click here.

Is it me, or does everyone struggle with this?

I'm sitting here at my desk, trying very hard to behave like the responsible professional they take me for, but it's so hard! You see, Diana Ross' "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" is sailing through my powerful little white iPod speakers.

Keep your hands on the keyboard, Gal! Do not reach for the sky (ain't mountain high enough) and then drop your hands earthward (ain't no valley low enough) or spread your arms as far as they'll go (ain't no river wide enough) or point to your heart (to keep me) and then point away (from you).

Uh-oh! If this is the playlist I think it is, "Midnight Train to Georgia" is next!

Manic Monday #12

If your personality had to be summed up as a sandwich, what kind of sandwich would you be? A burger, because it's always casual and a little messy, like me. And it can be simple and straightforward, or complicated by a lot of condiments, also like me.

If you knew that someone was dying, but they didn’t know, would you tell them the truth or deceive them about it? Wow! Of course this is a very serious situation (one I hope I never find myself in) and a lot would depend on individual circumstances (like if that someone has young ones that need to be planned for), but my first impulse is to say I'd deceive them. Death is ultimately between you and God, and I don't need to be involved.

Do you dress the same when you are depressed as you do when you are very happy? Yes. My uniform always begins with jeans, unless I have some professional thing to do or I'm going to the theater. Then it begins with dark slacks. So while my destination has an impact on my clothes, my mood never does. My choice of purse might, but not my mood.

To play along yourself, visit the official Manic Monday site.

I took this quiz while wearing an I LOVE LUCY nightshirt

… so how profound can I really be?

You Are Disturbingly Profound

You're contemplative, thoughtful, and very intense. Taking time to figure out the meaning of life is a priority for you. Because you're so introspective, you often react in ways that surprise people. No one can really understand how you are on the inside... and that disturbs them.

Are You Disturbingly Profound or Profoundly Disturbing?

It was nice to see him

Dick Van Dyke just appeared on the TV Land Awards. Watching him walk on stage made me smile. He looks good -- all white-hair and distinguished -- but was he lisping? Oh well, so what? He must be 80 by now and he's brought us all so much joy.

The one I love to hate

TV Land has a new reality show, She's Got the Look. It's a search for an over-35 supermodel. One of my favorites, Sharon, a 63-year-old widow who entered the competition because her late husband always told her she was beautiful, was just eliminated and that's sad. I thought she was inspiring … and warm and completely charming.

But my real favorite is the one I love to hate: Paula. She's got terrific bone structure and her muscles are amazing. But she wears her hair in a spiky do and is tattooed all over the place. Naturally the judges, photographers, stylists, etc., explain to her that these are things she has to work on and overcome. (Just as another contestant, Hope, hears all the time that her height -- or lack thereof -- will be a liability.)

But on this morning's episode, Paula spun out. It was great, both angry AND tearful. Paula doesn't want to be judged for her look! It's her STORY that makes her special and beautiful. She's suffered, people! She cannot believe how shallow all the judges, photographers, stylists, etc., are to mention her appearance.

Um … excuse me, dumb ass, but it's MODELING competition. If you don't want to be judged on your appearance, you shouldn't have entered. It's called She's Got the Look, after all, not She's Got the "Story." Also, those muscles didn't just crop up. She may be naturally muscular but she's ripped thanks to hours in the gym. I doubt fairies landed on her headboard one night and cut off all her hair. Was she somehow mysteriously tattooed without her knowledge? Highly unlikely. Therefore she's being judged for the decisions she made about her look (which is different than poor Hope, who clearly wishes she was taller).

Her breakdown was so completely inappropriate and irrational that I suspect it was fake and designed to grab camera time. I can't wait for the next episode -- both of the show and of Paula's lunacy.

A SATC observation

Everything is really Miranda's fault.

(Spoiler follows.)

I saw the Sex and the City movie again last night and while I still stand by my earlier "loved it" assessment, the repeated viewing gave me this insight -- Miranda Hobbs really is a budinski, isn't she? First she wanted Carrie to marry Big so that she would have some legal rights to their stunning new penthouse. Then she said she they were crazy to get married, which triggered Big's crisis. For a woman so smart, Miranda can be awfully dumb at times. But then again, can't we all?

Feeling the pinch

Since I live alone and my cooking consists of slitting the top crust of the pot pie before I put it in the microwave, I haven't much noticed how food prices have risen. Until yesterday.

Every time I go to the grocery or drug store, I pick up something that costs $1 or less and put it in the bag for the local food pantry. This way I collect a big bag of non-perishables without placing a strain on my budget. If I'm in a hurry or don't feel like roaming the aisles for a bargain, I have some old faithfuls that I would grab because -- on sale or not -- they were never more than $1. Specifically generic tomato soup or storebrand spaghetti. Hey! Now both products are over $1! (I ended up with Rice-a-Roni, reduced this week from $1.69 to $1.00.) For me, it really isn't that big a deal. But it got me worrying …

I understand that packaged foods travel by truck or rail and now fuel costs more. But this is so sad. More of our neighbors need help from the food pantry, yet it will be harder for local families to contribute groceries because their food dollar doesn't go as far as it used to.

Good for what ails me

I miss my best friend something fierce …
I am vaguely yet naggingly uncomfortable about my current client project because I can't trust the dillweed I'm stuck working with …
My former boss is healing slowly, so slowly that he actually said he'd "prefer the cancer" to the painful and tenacious stomach malady he's dealing with …
I feel ridiculously sad that "Big Russ" and Luke Russert will have to spend Father's Day without Tim Russert …
my head feels all stuffy …
I am distinctly not happy with the way my mid-month finances are going …

So I'm coping by curling up on the sofa with a big bowl of breakfast cereal, watching the Cubs. Sure, Soriano is hurt again. OK, so Gallagher gave up three runs in the first. What of it? This glorious team is never completely out of the running. We've gone from a hopeless 3-0 at the end of the first to an extremely winnable 3-1 at the end of the fifth.

I feel sorry for everyone who doesn't have a team.

I didn't even know him!

I feel so incredibly bad about Tim Russert's passing. He was a serious journalist and he held to his standards. He also loved what he did and who he covered. He understood that journalism provides a rough draft for historians, as evidenced by this exhibit he did (and that I enjoyed) for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield, IL. As described by Springfield's State Journal Register:

"His videotaped likeness can be seen on a regular basis at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, where he appears in the Campaign 1860 exhibit, which features Russert hosting a Meet the Press-style discussion of the candidates in the presidential race of 1860."

My Sunday mornings will never be the same, because if it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press.

Well, excuse the begeesus out of ME, your highness

By the imperious behavior he's been exhibiting, this must be the true identity of the art director I'm currently saddled with -- I mean, collaborating with. And here I thought he was just some guy named Chuck with lots of tattoos who wears black all the time. Sorry. My mistake.

I need a drink.

THURSDAY THIRTEEN #71 -- June Is Adopt-a-Cat Month!

THIRTEEN REASONS TO
ADOPT A CAT
FROM A SHELTER …

… rather buying your next feline companion from a pet store, a breeder, or through an ad in the paper.

I got these 13 facts from the Humane Society of the United States and the American Humane Society. Check their websites for even more information about their good works -- and the importance of pet adoption. Then visit Petfinder (I've perpetually got the link there at the right) if you decide to add a feline to your household.

1) Between 6 and 8 million dogs and cats are turned in at animal shelters each year

2) Half (3 or 4 million) are euthanized

3) That doesn’t include all the cats that are abandoned or let to run free, and end up starving, freezing, being hit by cars, and suffering other fates too cruel to contemplate.

4) By adopting from an animal shelter, you are literally saving lives. Not only the cat you bring home, but also the cat who can replace yours in the shelter and will therefore also enjoy a shot at a happy, indoor life.

5) Shelters routinely examine the cats and kittens and get to know their personalities a bit BEFORE they are put up for adoption. So you can be confident that your new family member is healthy.

6) Shelter cats are a bargain. They already come spayed/neutered and have their shots, saving their new owners a lot of money. Many shelters also include food, toys or a litter box with the adoption fee. Breeders and those who are willing to give their cats away “free to good homes” seldom offer such a good deal.

7) Many shelters include microchipping with the adoption fee. Really, it's one-stop shopping! How economical and convenient is that?

8) You’ll have a trusted resource for pet information. The animal shelter where you adopt your cat will usually be happy to help you for years to come, providing the names of vets in your area, education about claw clipping vs. declawing, tips for choosing a vacation cat-sitter, etc.

9) Shelters give seniors a break. Both senior cats and senior citizens. Hundreds of shelters all over the country participate in programs like Pets for People, which adopts adult cats to senior citizens at a reduced cost.

10) Shelters provide a vital neighborhood service and they deserve your support. Cats who are allowed to roam can frighten birds, kill rabbits, destroy plants, and defecate wherever they please. Of course, it’s just cats doing what cats do and they should not be blamed – yet homeless, abandoned cats can be a nuisance and a health hazard. Shelters help get these poor cats off the streets, out of alleys and away from your garden.

11) Having a cat reduces your blood pressure and can help prevent heart disease.

12) Cats are more independent and more flexible than dogs when it comes to the schedule of a busy owner.

13) I have only ever shared my home with rescued cats, and there is no way anyone can convince me that an expensive, purebred kitty would be any more loving or lovable than my feline roommates have been.

SORRY, EVERYONE! I WAS COMPLETELY SWAMPED AT
WORK AND COULDN'T VISIT ANY OF YOUR TT's.
THIS GAL IS A BAD GAL AND IS ALL-APOLOGETIC.

Leave your link in comments and I'll add you here:
1)

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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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May God Bless the Coolest Guy in the Universe

This sad news is from the LA Times …

Paul Newman is reportedly very ill with cancer

According to reports, Paul Newman, 83 and a former chain-smoker, has been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.

The acclaimed actor is said to have been diagnosed at New York’s Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, where he is currently receiving outpatient treatment and is under a leading New York oncologist's care. One of the few to know about Newman's illness is his "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" costar and good pal, Robert Redford.

As well as being an acclaimed actor, Newman is also the founder of Newman's Own, which offers spaghetti sauce and salad dressing. The company donates all its earning to charity, with earnings reaching more than $100 million since its creation.

Newman has made major contributions to those less fortunate, including being on the board of directors for the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, an organization that creates camps for terminally ill children.

No confirmation from the hospital or from Newman's camp.

Tuesday Tunes

"Too Darn Hot," as Cole Porter wrote so let's go with a bit of word association this week.

Remember tell us the first artist/song/album etc that comes to mind when you see the following words

jazz: Chicago's own Judy Roberts

cool: "Get cool, boy!" from West Side Story

swing: "You tell me that you've heard every sound there is, and your bird can swing," "And Your Bird Can Sing," The Beatles

club: Culture Club

street: The E Street Band

thank: "Thank You, Girl," The Beatles

rose: "Second Hand Rose," Streisand

party: "Tonight we're gonna party like it's 1999," Prince

sex: "Why Don't We Do It in the Road," The Beatles

water: "Smoke on the Water," Deep Purple

For more information, or to play along yourself, click here.

Kiss & Tell -- TMI Tuesday #1

It's my first time. Be gentle.

1. If you're in love with your partner, does it make the sex better?
Yes. Corny though that sounds. Although I have learned that if you enjoy sex with someone you're NOT in love with, God doesn't strike you dead, watches don't run backward, and the sun still sets in the west.

2. What is the most expensive sex toy you've ever purchased?
I paid about $20. But the most expensive sex toy I own was a gift. (Sigh. MasterCard was right; some things really are priceless.) I haven't used that one since we broke up. I can be very sentimental about sex.

3. If you knew ahead of time you would not have an orgasm, would you still have sex?
Depends on him. Am I in love? If I'm in love, it's always fun, even if it's not ideal. (See Question #1.)

4. What celebrity would you most like to have sex with if given the chance?
I have quite the active fantasy life, so I have two answers at the ready: Bruce or Bruce. Willis or Springsteen. Willis because anyone who is that confident and comfortable in his own skin simply HAS to be good in bed. Springsteen because he has both a great bod and the soul of poet, and I wonder if it's different with a poet.

5. Have you ever had sex while an audience watched?
My first answer was, "No! Of course not!" And then I remembered something and decided to amend it to, "Well, kinda sorta." A boyfriend/coworker and I were rather swept away at a conference happy hour and ducked out into the hall. We thought we were alone and private but discovered too late that we were facing the hotel employees' break room. He reasoned that hotel employees see that sort of thing all the time. He liked the idea of an audience but I didn't. I tried hard not to look over there because it would distract me, so I don't know for sure if anyone saw.

To play along yourself, and maybe even answer the Bonus Question (I chickened out), click here.

Manic Monday #11

What is your ideal age? I was happiest, strongest (emotionally and physically), and in the best health at 35.

What is your best excuse for being late? That the trash bag broke on my way to the dumpster and I had to clean up the mess I left in the common hallway (I live in a condo building). It's a very good excuse and I've used it more than once. Of course, it was only true one of those times I used it …

If you had to give yourself a nickname what would it be? Wanton Vixen. I'd also love the opportunity to live up to it.

To play along yourself, or to read more answers, visit manicmondaymeme.blogspot.com.

Way to go, Woody!

Jason Marquis got the win, but Kerry Wood got the save tonight in LA. He started a little slow this season, and there were some (but never, ever this gal) who questioned whether he could successfully move from starter to closer. He's a proud pro with something to prove, and he works hard at proving it every time he picks up that glove. I just love watching him!

Not happy here!

If I haven't been moving a lot, my left heel hurts when I stand up. I know what this means.

THE RETURN OF THE DREADED PLANTAR FASCIITIS!!!

Aka "heel spurs." Caused by my having incredibly flat feet. I battled it once before, in the summer of 1999. In those days, a combination of cortisone shots and ultrasound therapy was required. Since then I have sworn off heels altogether and in warm weather wear only Birkenstocks or other sandals with reinforced heels.

I hope that I've caught it early enough that I can treat it on my own with Advil, ice and calf exercises. If not, I predict that this summer, a very grumpy gal will be spending way too much time reading back issues of Redbook in her podiatrist's office.

Happy Birthday, Baby!

I checked at USPS.com and my best friend's birthday gift arrived at his house yesterday! I believe he and his family were already gone for the weekend, so it will be there when he returns tonight. His actual birthday is Thursday, and I hope he waits to open it, but I also didn't want him to think I'd forgotten.

This book should be great for him because (1) he appreciates good hootch and (2) his neighbors in Boulder are also Austin transplants and this should help him entertain, and help the two couples to bond. I know he's been more than a little lonely out there. I am hoping the husband of this couple will be his "bromance."

I also have a personalized cutting board, a cookbook and a chef's mitt that's covered with yellow signs that read, "CAUTION! Men cooking." But that stuff was too big to mail. He has to come to town to get those.

I love birthdays!

Is it OK if I never move from this spot?

It's already hot and humid outside, but in here it's 75 glorious, climate-controlled degrees. USA is running back-to-back episodes of Law & Order: SVU and I love watching Elliott and Olivia solve crimes and resist falling in love. I have a strong urge to never, ever move from this spot on the sofa.

I must take a shower, of course. And I should go to CVS to pick up my prescription and a six pack (there's only one can of brew in the frig -- more will be needed for the Cubs/Dodgers game tonight at 7:00). And I promised, PROMISED myself I'd do my floor exercises on those summer days (like this one) when it's too hot, too humid, or too stormy to go out for my 10,000 steps.

But it is Sunday, the day of rest. I wouldn't want to overdo it. So yes, shower (no, make that a bubble bath) … beer run … leg lifts and Elliott and Olivia sounds about right. I can accomplish all that.

My Hero!

Yesterday, when I got home from work, it was obvious that my through-the-wall air conditioner wasn't working well. It was really just a 10,000 BTU fan. I called around and was told by most HVAC services that they only repair central systems. AARGH!

I didn't want to just buy a new one. First, replacing it would cost $575. Secondly, I didn't believe THAT MUCH was wrong with it -- it's only about 3 years old and the motor was clearly still OK. And lastly, buying a new one and having it installed would take at least a week and a day off work and dammit, it's hot in here!

One of the very last listings in the Yellow Pages was for a service that also repaired window and through-the-wall units. The guy who answered was soooo rude and abrupt. He was, however, willing to come over the next morning (today, Saturday), pick it up, service it and have it reinstalled the same day. I was suffering, so I took Mr. Rude up on it.

He was 2 hours late getting here. I called his cell to confirm that we were indeed on and he said, "yeah, uh-huh," as though nothing was amiss. No apology, no explanation. I was really starting to dislike him.

Then I met him. Very polite, very patient with his young apprentice, and not bad looking. While we were chatting, it was obvious that he was squeezing me in among his regularly scheduled jobs because he knew how uncomfortable weather like this can be. He's really a champ, he just has the world's worst phone manners.

He was as good as his word -- he repaired and reinstalled my unit before today was over. It was about 9:30 PM, but it was still Saturday. And it was only $150. I know you're not expected to tip repairmen and certainly not owners, but I added $20 because he didn't have to go the extra mile for me -- a total stranger.

Isn't it nice when something starts out bad but ends so well?

My dream team can inspire ANYONE

Richard Lewis just announced the Cubs and Dodger line-ups on Fox and extemporaneously added that, "if the Cubs win [the World Series] after 100 years, I'm quitting therapy."

Row 4, Row 4, Row 4!

I pulled whatever slender strings are within my reach and used my meager influence to get the best seats for my nephew's first-ever Cub game. Next month we will be in the fourth row behind the dugout! I am so excited I cannot stand it!

He said, "cool," because he's never been in the park and doesn't realize that he will be closer to the action than more than 30,000 people. He'll get it when we enter The Friendly Confines, though. His face will be something to see.

I must remember to bring a disposable camera so he can take his own pictures of the field.

I still can't shake it

It was 40 years ago today that Robert F. Kennedy died and it still saddens me.

Bobby Kennedy represents hope, immediacy and the capacity of people to change. As a prosecutor and campaign manager, Bobby was a tough SOB who saw the world in black and white. You were either for him (and his family) or you were against. You were good or you were bad. If you were "bad," by his lights, he was very comfortable contributing to your demise.

Once his brother became President, he was exposed to the nation and the world in a different way and it changed him. He was impressed by the power of the Presidential "bully pulpit" to inspire, he was introduced -- in a very visceral way -- to racism and poverty and their impact on different parts of the country. He learned how superpowers could avert disaster through negotiation. He was involved in the ramp up in Viet Nam.

Then his brother died and the transformation was complete. Bobby now knew that it was a mistake to assume that any of us has time. The Kennedy Brothers were going to act more aggressively on civil rights after the 1964 election. Coulda, woulda, shoulda …

The fragility of life, the arrogance of of long-range planning (as if any of us has power over fate), and inscrutability of God's will, the corrosive nature of regret … coming to terms with these issues made him familiar with anguish and helped the millionaire's son connect to the poor, the disenfranchised and the idealistic as no other politician of the time could.

During the 1968 campaign he spoke his mind. He was both awkward and eloquent. He didn't condescend to his audiences, he challenged them. Can you imagine any candidate today quoting Shakespeare and Aeschylus in his stump speech? The crowds rose to the challenge and were moved by his message. They understood him and responded a real, tactile way. I'm always moved by photos of blacks, Hispanics, blue-collar workers and anti-war activists (really, an amazing constituency) all trying to touch him.

I have outlived Bobby Kennedy, but his capacity to change inspires me. I hope I can, as he did, continue to be a better person.

Greetings from the other side

I believe that my depression is behind me. I know it's not a coincidence that it passed as soon as my period began.

It was awful. I felt isolated, misunderstood and completely unloved. My life was meaningless. I was fat and ugly and would never have sex again. I felt I was always on the verge of tears -- and trust me, I'm no crier.

I have spoken to both my shrink and my GP about this. I think it helps that they are both women and older than I am, so they have already traveled down this Hormone Highway themselves. As my mood darkens, I'm supposed to remind myself this isn't real … it's not my fault … it's hormones. I should carry my Xanax in my purse and remember, it's OK to pop one if I feel "the fury of the broken thunder come to match my raging soul."* My two doctors conferred on what meds to prescribe, and I have to remember that 3 Xanax pills a month won't make me dependent or turn me into Courtney Love. It will just alleviate my suffering.

In addition to Xanax and realistic self-talk, I worked out, avoided sad songs and stressful situations, and reminded myself that as long as I have my doctors and God looking out for me, I'll eventually be fine.

But don't ever let anyone tell you depression isn't serious. That hormones aren't powerful. That you can dismiss someone else's pain with, "It's all in your head." I've come out the other side and I can tell you truly, depression is all-encompassing and MISERABLE.

*From Laura Nyro's 70s classic, "Stoney End." Barbra Streisand's rendition of it sums up how I felt exactly.

Thursday Thirteen #70 -- About legs

THIRTEEN FACTS ABOUT LEGS

Yes, legs. I've been thinking about them a lot lately …

• The Cubs Alfonso Soriano has been steadily recovering from a calf injury earlier in the season. As both outfielder and lead-off man, speed is important to his performance.

• Now that warm weather is here to stay, legs have come out of hibernation. The good news: few things in life are lovelier than the sight of a toned and healthy man in shorts, pedaling his bike or running. The bad news: I have to remember to shave my legs on a regular basis.

Apparently I'm not the only one with legs on the brain. I liberated these 13 facts from the May issue of Allure (the one with Hillary Duff on the cover):

1) In Victorian England, the sight of a woman's ankles was considered pornographic.

2) In 1939, actress Betty Grable's famous legs were insured for $1,000,000 by Lloyd's of London.

3) There are 36 dancers -- and, therefore, 72 legs -- in the Radio City Rockette's kickline.

4) Calf augmentation surgery is rising in popularity. 49% more procedures were performed in 2006 than in 2005.

5) Coco Chanel wore trousers very publicly in Venice because they made it easier for her to climb in and out of a gondola. This act of practicality sparked the slacks trend that continues today.

6) Katharine Hepburn is also frequently credited with making pants acceptable for women.

7) In 1964, miniskirts were introduced on fashion runways.

8) In 1971, Hanes introduced the L'eggs Egg.

9) A university study in Poland revealed that both men and women prefer long-legged mates.

10) 45% of women say they cross their legs almost every time they sit.

11) 70% of men believe a woman looks sexy when she crosses her legs.

12) The second most common place for a woman to have a tattoo is the ankle (#1 is the back).

13) 30% of women believe cellulite is their main leg flaw. (I agree with that.)

Leave your link in the comments and I'll include you here:
1) Malcolm (who got here FIRST!) has photos of some of the prettiest pretty boys you'll ever see
2) Pussreboots focuses on detective book covers
3) Mamapajama relives this last AI with us
4) Hootin' Ani shares a multimedia tale of woe
5) Tink will introduce you to your very own goddess (mine is feline, naturally)
6) Find out more about Sue with this T/F TT
7) Pjazzypar tosses a spotlight on thirteen women immortalized in song
8) See how many activities Chelle squeezed into her week
9) SJR's link won't open for me! Like the Magic 8 Ball recommends, I'll try again later.
10) Cheerio celebrates summer with photos of the world's largest pool
11) Claudia has 13 items on her "Bucket List"
12) Buck Naked takes us to the zoo
13) Sandy concentrates on Lao-Tzu
14) Wylie shows us what happens to a book AFTER the writing is done
15) Lost Hemisphere takes a closer look at the kids
16) Adelle's TT is beautiful in black and white
17) If Lori ruled the world, here are 13 things we'd never have to deal with again!
18) Random Ramblings takes us back to 1972
19) Alison spills the beans about Alison
20) B Boys Mom shares 13 quotes
21) Kay takes a look at leadership
22) Lucy whets our appetite for pasta
23) Winter rhapsodizes about her favorite un-undead
24) Marcia's TT is most comforting
25) Peter Plum provides bloggers with 13 excuses
26) Surfer Girl shares some literary memories from childhood
27) Lori has an ambitious summer to-do list
28) Chris introduces us to blogs we might not see otherwise

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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Both my teams won yesterday!

Let's hope they can both maintain their winning ways through Autumn!

Wishing you were here

Friday is the 40th anniversary of Robert Kennedy's death, all the more poignant because it was last night (just days shy of that sad anniversary) that Barack Obama became the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party … the first African-American to come so close to the office Bobby died seeking.

If Bobby had lived to be a white-haired 80-something elder statesman, last night he'd have been very proud of us as a country, the Democrats as a party, and Barack Obama as an orator. A shy man, he was nevertheless a very compelling public speaker who never spoke down to his audiences. On the night Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated, it was Bobby who informed the Indianapolis crowd of the tragedy, saying:

"What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence or lawlessness; but love and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country, whether they be white or they be black."

I believe in Heaven so I believe that somehow he did see Barack Obama deliver that speech last night.

Oh, Good! I Still Can Blame Bartman!

Richard Nixon and Steve Bartman. Those two have been enduring scapegoats for anything that ever has or ever will go wrong. Therefore it was with some regret that I read recently that Moises Alou let Bartman off the hook for infamously interfering with that play in the 2003 series with Marlins, breaking my heart and ruining my life.

Ah, but on this rainy, gloomy day -- with my hair curling every which way, with my feelings of isolation escalating -- I got good news:

Report: Alou says he would have caught Bartman ball

Yes, according to ESPN, I can go back to blaming Bartman!