I think this a GOOD thing

Update on my friend, Kathy -- the one whose life completely got away from her and she ended up broke, unemployed and crashing with her daughter's family (and her daughter's house is being foreclosed upon sometime this summer).

I have done what I can to help her -- primarily finding a good, temporary home for her two cats until she finds somewhere permanent to live. Her two gray tabbies are being fostered by the animal shelter where I adopted my cat, Reynaldo, in exchange for Kathy volunteering her time. The cats get to stay together, are well cared for in terms of food and vet attention, and get time out of their cages every day so they get exercise. Plus Kathy helped with the shelter's rummage sale and will handle other projects for them, so she doesn't feel she's accepting charity. In all, I think this was the happiest circumstance we could have hoped for.

I had breakfast with Kathy yesterday and was encouraged by the change in her attitude. Up until now, she was simply overwhelmed. I completely understood that. She was in dire circumstances herself and was worried about her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren. That must have been terrifying.

What I didn't understand, though, was her point-of-view on her situation. She kept saying that she ended up this way "through no fault" of her own. Or, "I know there's no one to blame here." I wanted to slap her, a la Cher, and shout, "Snap out of it!"

She knew her real estate business was going nowhere for more than a year. She must have spent many a sleepless night crunching numbers, knowing how much debt and how few assets she had left. She let it get far, far too bad before she abandoned ship and got an administrative assistant job which, by all accounts, didn't perform well at. While I have nothing but compassion for her, and realize we are capable of making very bad decisions, I also try to have at least one foot in reality at all times. If these circumstances are not her fault, whose fault are they? And as long as she feels like a victim of what life has handed her, what hope does she have of turning it around?

But yesterday she actually said, "I know I screwed up." In her follow-up email this morning, she mentioned how important it was for her to get her cats back because "they trusted me and I let them down." I don't think it's a coincidence that, now that she has accepted some responsibility for what's happened, that she feels empowered enough to plan.

She has gotten a job laying out ads for a suburban newspaper. She wants to get back into writing, and this is a wonderful first step. She realizes that while she has a free roof over her head and free food for the next few months, she has to maintain her own cell phone, car payments and health/auto insurance. She's also using this opportunity to get a little ahead so that, when her daughter's family rents a house, she can rent an apartment and be independent again. I was so happy to hear all this!

I'm not saying that we should all spend hours beating ourselves up for our faults and missteps. I also realize that Kathy is not responsible for escalating health costs and a real estate market that crashed around her. But when you're a complete victim of circumstance, then you don't have any power to improve your own lot. I believe we must OWN our lives, must admit our responsibility and then we must try to shape what we can. That's what she's doing now, and it makes me very happy.

"Hey, Chicago, what do you say? Cubs are gonna win today!"

I was going to mention the White Sox in the title and illustrate this post with a broom, but that would be sooooo tacky. I'm so happy right now, I can be compassionate toward those tragic loser fans on the South Side. It's been a great weekend!

It's bugging me

My mom is doing well since her hospital stay, and I'm grateful. She swears up and down she hasn't had a cigarette in over a month. She is adhering to her med regimen -- remembering when to take her pills and when to use her inhaler. She's taking it easy but still becoming more active day by day, week by week. She felt strong enough to clean up her own backyard after one of our recent wicked thunderstorms (removing a branch so big it was really a hunk of tree) and I was so proud of her! Her doctor is so pleased with her recovery that he is giving her July off -- allowing her to skip next month's appointment and wait till August to see him again.

But here's the thing: She's getting vague. The first time I noticed it, I thought it was funny. She asked me something about my friend, John. SHE brought him up. I answered. She replied with an anecdote about my brother-in-law. I said, "You're right, that sounds just like John." She said, "John? John who?" I teased her about it and she laughed.

It happened again Friday. It was more subtle, and I didn't even mention it to her. But it did happen and it's been bothering me, little a pebble in my shoe. She told me something cute my older sister said. Only it wasn't my older sister. She was telling me a story about me.

She's getting old. She's over 70 and she endured a bout with pneumonia and is recovering slowly, but recovering all the same. Maybe this is to be expected as her body adjusts to all her meds. But I will remain vigilant. If it happens again between now and her August doctor visit, I'm going to insist she mention it to him.

Sunday Randomness

This week's questions are book related....

1. Who are your favorite authors? Non-fiction: Doris Kearns Goodwin; Fiction: Marian Keyes; Mystery: Sue Grafton or Robert Parker

2. What are your favorite books? JFK: Restless Youth, Gone with the Wind

3. What kind of books do you tend to read? Sci-fi, Romance, Mystery...etc...? Biography, chick-lit, mystery

4. Do you prefer to borrow books from the library or buy them? Buy them

5. Do you prefer hardcover or paperback? Hardcover

6. What was the last book you read? What are you reading now? Last book: Shopaholic and Baby. Currently: Abigail Adams. (They're both on my Shelfari shelf at right)

7. Do you read everyday? Yes. I read on the train, at the health club or over meals.

8. On average how many books do you read per year? From June 07 to June 08, I've read 21 books.

9. Do you belong to any book clubs? Nope.

10. Recommend a good book. Saving Graces: Finding Solace and Strength from Friends and Strangers by Elizabeth Edwards. This book had a tremendous impact on me. Elizabeth Edwards faces grief, mourning and recovery head on. She spares nothing. Her unflinching honesty taught me many things, not the least of which is to graciously accept help from others when I need it.

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

"It's (snap) competition, Bay-buh!"

The TV Land modeling/reality show, She's Got the Look, had given me a freakazoid that I loved to hate, Paula. Striking and beautiful, she's also highly muscled and very tattooed. Oh, and she has virtually no hair. She had a memorable freakout last week, saying that she resented being judged on her appearance. OF COURSE YOU DO, Paula! You entered a modeling competition to show us your intellect. She also lied. She explained away her less than glam portraits by saying she was uncomfortable because she's never been photographed professionally before. Then how do we explain this portrait of "Whip Snap," her alter ego on the Sci-Fi Channel's "Who Wants to Be a Superhero? Sorry, but I don't believe it was snapped with a disposable camera picked up at CVS. And while I could describe her look in this shot as many things, "self conscious" is not one of them.

But this week, my heart went out to her. It was a runway competition and this poor woman could not walk in heels. Could not. She was so awkward, so frightened, so pathetic that I couldn't even bring myself to laugh at her. It was a relief when she was voted off.

So now I'm left with Chicago-girl Celeste as my show villain. More conventionally beautiful than Paula, she's graceful and has decades-ago modeling experience. She's positioning herself as the tough-as-nails, battle-hardened one to beat. When one of the women expressed sadness that her best "show buddy" had been eliminated last week, Celeste pooh-poohed it. "It's (snap) competition, Bay-buh!" And when the women had to reveal something about themselves no one knows, one talked about putting her modeling aspirations on hold for her kids … one talked about a miserable marriage … another was stabbed when she was in junior high … But it was Celeste who really opened up. Yes, she bravely ponied up with, "I play a mean saxophone." I wept.

I'm still pulling for Hope. She's real, she's funny, and she's short (like me). Best of all, I admire how willingly she throws herself into each challenge and changes her look. She's loves fashion and she's going for her dream, and it's fun to watch her.

Another win on the North Side

As Snowbird noted in a comment on my entry below, the Cubs' glory just keeps growing! We still have the best record in MLB. We are still unbeaten in an even dozen games at home.

Yet to gloat over today's decisive 11-7 victory over our inner-city rivals would be tacky, South Side behavior. So instead I'll just show the W for Win pennant. The "W" is like a single strand of pearls or a simple black dress ... in its elegant, understated way, it says it all.

My, what a lovely afternoon!

1) I got the afternoon off.

2) The Cubs beat the Sox -- in the bottom of the 9th! At home in the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field, no less.

3) I got my brows waxed for the first time, and contrary to my fears, I do not look like a perpetually surprised cartoon character.

4) I celebrated with a cup of Ben & Jerry's Coconut Almond Fudge.

All this and heaven, too!

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."