DAY 17 -- August 08 Happiness Challenge

Mad Men. This is appointment television for me. It's a potent mix of of nostalgia and my life at the office. Oh, and as mentioned earlier, I love Don Draper.

He lied!

One of my more obnoxious neighbors, Walt, stopped me in the hall last Thursday and told me he was going away for awhile. Hurray! I thought that gave me a week to come in and out of my own home without being ambushed by Walt and his snoopiness. Really, he makes no secret of finding my comings and goings very interesting, and this annoys the crap out of me.

Anyway, yesterday as I was taking my wash down to the building laundry, he opened up his front door and said, "There she goes, doing her laundry again. You wash your clothes more often than anyone else!" What is he? A geriatric version of Rob Schneider's SNL Copy Guy? Who is he doing this play-by-play for, anyway? And isn't he still supposed to be away somewhere? "I wash once a week, Walt, just like everyone else," I said between clenched teeth.

Today we replayed the same damn scene, only I was carrying my garbage out. I came very close to pointing out to Walt that I am not in the practice of laundering my trash, but I remembered that I'm supposed to respect my elders and held my breath until the impulse passed.

I wish there was a way to go out the back door without passing Walt's front door and providing him with free entertainment.

Miss you!

Cubs All-Star Third Baseman and radio voice of the team, Ron Santo is home while the Cubs are away. He's in his late 60s, and he's bravely overcome well-documented health problems, so it was decided it was wise for him to sit this road trip out so he could be fresh and rested for the final stretch (and the playoffs and the World Series).

Be well, #10. I miss hearing your mono-syllabic groans when things on the field go bad, your embarrassed laugh when your parter, Pat Hughes, teases you about hitting on the charter flight attendants, and your insights about what it's like to be a player on the field. I grew up on you, and want to hear how this terrific series ends from you and nobody but you!

DAY 16 -- August 08 Happiness Challenge

Elvis. "Take my hand, take my whole life, too. For I can't help falling in love … with … you!" He's a little overweight, wearing the most ridiculous studded jumpsuit, and after he hits that last note he drops to his knees and spreads out his white cape like some sort of rock and roll caped crusader -- which, of course, he was.

Elvis was just on. The networks are showing concert footage because this is the anniversary of his death. Even when he's corny and campy, like in the clip I just saw, I have fun watching him. And when he's at his best, like the 1968 "comeback" TV special, I adore him. And why wouldn't I? He's The King of Rock and Roll.

Saturday 9: Children and and Ages of Bloggers

1. Do you worry about your next birthday? No. The last one, when I turned 50 on Thanksgiving Day, completely sucked. No birthday will be that bad again.

2. Have you ever lied about your age in the recent past? If yes why? No.

3. Have you ever lied about your age when you were young? If yes why? To get into R-rated movies and to hold the attention of older boys.

4. How much older have you been than a person with whom you were romantically involved? Twelve years.

5. How much younger have you been than a person with whom you were romantically involved? Three years.

6. Have you ever been confused for a sibling, rather than parent of your child? No, because I have no kids.

7. If you have had children, did you factor in age when deciding to have a sibling? I don't have kids.

8. If you have not had children, are you happy with your choice and/or fate? Yes. Happy and peaceful.

9. Do your siblings have kids? Are you close to them? Their ages? Two nephews, 21 and 9. Two nieces, 20 and 16. I adore the 16 and 9 year olds. The older two reside in California, and it's been harder to forge a relationship with them … but we are working on it.

To play along yourself, click here.

How can I NOT love him?

This, ladies and gentlemen, is the face of a 353-game winner, the ninth winningest pitcher in baseball history. I simply adore Greg Maddux. He is the Luke Skywalker to Roger Clemens' Darth Vader.

Clearly he's just a big kid at heart. Maybe he won't retire at the end of this season, after all ...

I Love Greg Maddux

Padres vs. Phillies: Since the outcome of this game will have no impact on the Cubs, normally I wouldn't even have it on. But it's my beloved, future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux and the San Diego Padres battling Jamie Moyer and the Phillies. These two pitchers both began their long, successful careers as Cubs in 1986. My team has the dubious distinction of having traded the inimitable Greg Maddux away twice. Oh, break my heart!

Since I may be watching the end of this baseball legend's career, it's time to review all the reasons why I love him:

His single-minded focus has gotten him into the All Star Game 8 times, 4 Cy Young Awards, a record 17 Gold Glove Awards, and six MVP Awards.

He has the face of a Precious Moments doll, but the body of the Pillsbury Doughboy. I love him for this because it means NO STEROIDS. Unlike Roger Cheater McCheaty Pants Clemens, who he simply must surpass on the all time win list before he retires. (As I write this, Greg Maddux is 9th, one game behind that prima donna fart Clemens.)

He's not just a pitcher, he's an all-around ball player. He covers first base better than any other pitcher I can think of, and he's a decent hitter and base runner, too.

He's still married to Wife #1, Kathy, his high school sweetheart. They have two children, Amanda and Chase. When it looked like his career with the Cubs was ending in 2006, he brought Chase out to play catch ON Wrigley Field. I loved that he shared what Wrigley Field meant to his career, and to major league baseball, with his boy.

For years when he pitched, he wore a Mickey Mouse watch, a gift from Amanda.

He raises money through The Greg and Kathy Maddux Foundation and then donates it to charities that help kids and victims of domestic violence. He also donates Padres tickets to children's groups.

His demeanor on the mound is always the same. Whether he is up or down, he is concentrating on the next pitch, the next batter. He appears imperturbable, oblivous to the crowd. He's just gloriously into the game.

He is always modest in interviews. When he wins, it's because of the good fielders behind him. It's never about him, it's about the team. Etc., etc. There's an edge to it, though. When he speaks softly into the mic, I can almost hear Tim Matheson from Animal House, insincerely pumping pledges' hands and saying, "I'm Eric Stratton, damn glad to meet you."

He respects his parents. I heard this from the Atlanta limo driver who took me to the airport this past spring. He performed the same service years ago for Ma and Pa Maddux, and was impressed that Son Greg brought the bags out to the car himself. (I am ready to discuss Greg Maddux with anyone at any time in any situation.)

Is he perfect? No. All vulgar Cubs locker room stories I've heard over the years involve Greg Maddux. He explains this by saying that, with the exception of a high school stint flipping burgers at Wendy's, all of his professional life has been spent in baseball locker rooms. And he simply cannot hold a runner on base. I hate it when rookies steal off him. (Perhaps more than he does.)

When he retires, he will take a piece of this old Gal's heart with him. I know that when he goes into the Hall of Fame, it will be as an Atlanta Brave. But Greg Maddux will always, ALWAYS be my all-time favorite Cub.

DAY 15 -- August 08 Happiness Challenge

The sky. Today it's a clear, cloudless, bright blue. A perfect summer sky. So beautiful I could just sit here and admire it, peering through the tree leaves. I wish the Cubs were in town, for this sky is made for homerun balls.

Shhh! Don't tell! I should be working.

But instead I'm doing this, once again stolen from Kwizgiver. I believe she may be a bad influence on me.

On a scale from 1 to 10, how good are you at Guitar Hero?
Never played. I know: LOSER!

What tv show do you watch most?
Mad Men. I love you, Don Draper.

Do you have a job?
Yes

If you had a paid vacation to anywhere in the world, where would you go?
New York City. I dream of doing it up right, and on someone else's dime.

Do you think the guy should always pay?
No

Have you ever wanted to be on a game show?
No

Randomly click on a song from your playlist. What's the first line of that song?
"I don't know what it is that makes me love you so. I only know I never want to let you go."

Who was your first kiss?
I know this is awful, but I'm not sure I remember.

Describe your dream house.
Top floor, hardwood floors, a big beautiful bathroom

Where did you last go out to eat?
Brian's Deli

What did you order?
Chicken salad san on wheat, lettuce but no tomato

Have you ever been in a car wreck?
No

What do you plan on naming your baby girl?
My baby ship has sailed, but my girl cat's name is Charlotte

Your baby boy?
My boy cat's name is Joe

What's your musical guilty pleasure?
God! I have many! I live in fear that someone will learn that I downloaded Bobby Sherman songs onto my iPod.

What was the last book you read?
Jack and Lem, by David Pitts

Are you happy with the way you look?
No. And you wouldn't be either if you looked like me.

How long does your morning routine take?
20 minutes if I'm enthusiastic about leaving the house. An hour if I'm not.

What is the dumbest thing you've ever done?
Fall in love with Stevie

Do you return the buggies at Wal-Mart?
I don't shop at Wal-Mart. But I am a religious cart returner.

What is your favorite fast food place?
Parky's

Do you have any plans for tomorrow?
I'm getting a massage! Yea!

Are there any movies you've seen more than ten times?
Wizard of Oz, Sound of Music

What are your biggest pet-peeves?
People who smoke in front of the signs that say, "No smoking within 8 feet of this doorway."

What do you usually eat for breakfast?
Can of Slim Fast (well, I don't actually EAT the can, but you knew that, didn't you?)

Do you like to cook?
No

What music genres could the world do without?
Rap and opera

What do you want to do for the rest of your life?
Write

Do you get along with your siblings?
Sporadically

Are you good at Sudoku puzzles?
See Guitar Hero answer

Are you a pack-rat?
Dear God, YES!

How late did you sleep this morning?
No

Are you a creative person?
My employers seems to think so (God bless them, it's payday).

Do you like to sing?
No

How many songs are on your ipod?
2600

What was the last movie you saw in theaters?
Dark Knight

Was it any good?
Yes

What color are your pants?
Blue

What did you do to celebrate last Valentines Day?
Felt bad about myself. Lately it's become a tradition

Is your house clean?
No

How old are you?
I have passed the half century mark

Do you agree with gay marriage?
Yes.

Do you have any plants in your house?
No. The cats view them as a salad bar.

Are you afraid of getting old?
Old, no. Frail and helpless, yes.

What did you have for breakfeast this morning?
Didn't I answer this already?

Who's in the room with you?
Alone in my office. (You don't think I'd be doing this at work if people were in here with me, do you?)

On a scale from 1-10 how's life right now?
8.5

Do you drink coffee?
No

Are you allergic to anything?
Bee stings

DAY 14 -- August Happiness Challenge

OK, it's True Confession time. One of my most shameful guilty pleasures is watching Nancy Grace on CNN Headline News. She's abrasive, obnoxious and about as real as a $3 bill. Yet, like professional wrestling, she makes damn fine television. Once I tune in, I cannot look away, and I am entertained. (I wish they'd quit running promos for Glenn Beck's show during hers, though. There's something disturbing about him that's downright skin crawly.)

I, on the other hand, HATE IT

This weekend is the Chicago Air & Water Show, an event that many in the Midwest look forward to. But I dread it.

The Blue Angels began practicing today. I work on the 37th floor of an 80+ story skyscraper, the second tallest in Chicago and 16th tallest in the world. When those Navy jets buzz by in formation or fly upside down on their way to the Lakefront, I just want to shudder and cry. All I can think of is 9/11.

The fear won't ever completely go away, will it?

Thursday Thirteen #81 -- "She said, she said"

13 WILD QUOTATIONS
FROM WILD WOMEN

Each year, for either my birthday or Christmas, my oldest friend gives me a page-a-day desk calendar filled with “Wild Words from Wild Women.” If one strikes my fancy, I tear it off, leave it on my desk for a while and, when I have collected 13, they magically become my TT!

1) “If you take too long in deciding what to do with your life, you’ll find you’ve done it.” Pamela Shaw

2) “A man’s got to do what a man’s got to do. A woman must do what he can’t.” Rhonda Hansome

3) “Love is or it ain’t. Thin love ain’t love at all.” Toni Morrison

4) “You don’t get ulcers from what you eat. You get them from what’s eating you.” Vicki Baum

5) “It is best to act with confidence, no matter how little right you have to it.” Lillian Hellman

6) “Your passion is waiting for your courage to catch up.” Marilyn Greist

7) “The way to a man’s heart may be through his stomach, but that’s only if you twist the blade and lift up.” Shelia Kay

8) “Character is what you know you are, not what others think you have.” Marva Collins

9) “Self pity in its early stages is as snug as a feather mattress. Only when it hardens does it become uncomfortable.” Maya Angelou

10) “She’s my best friend. She thinks I’m too thin, and I think she’s a natural blonde.” Carrie Snow

11) “My weight is always perfect for my height – which varies.” Nicole Hollander

12) “It takes 20 years of hard work to become an overnight sensation.” Diana Rankin

13) “A nymphomaniac is a woman as obsessed with sex as the average man.” Mignon McLaughlin

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

1) Baby Mama shares 13 facts about her pregnancy
2) Sandy invites us off to sea
3) Anthony North takes on conspiracy theories
4) Hootin' Ani shares her favorite commercials
5) Sue looks back on 1967
6) Claudia shares 13 fascinating weight loss tips
7) Nicole has done a bit of research on the Olympic ceremonies in Beijing
8) Mocha Mom concentrates on the tiny nation of Maldives
9) Nancy remembers her 13 favorite gifts
10) B Boys Mom focuses on the Olympics
11) Lori shares 13 very funny quotes
12) Jackie has an important decision to make
13) SJR's TT is just toooooo cute!
14) Poppingbubbles has collected 13 awful pickup lines
15) Shelia does her first Thursday Thirteen -- go welcome her!
16) Rasmenia shows us Monet's France
17) Toni raises some questions about blogging
18) Lisa finally finishes what she started so many weeks ago
19) Yasmin invites us along to the movies
20) It's Elaine's first TT -- stop by and say hi!
21) Jen gives us surfing destinations
22) Barbara highlights her favorite girls names
23) Popart Diva's TT is positively intoxicating
24) Small Reflections joins me in the art of musing
25) Chris takes us out for fine dining



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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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DAY 13 -- 08 August Happiness Challenge

Retail Therapy. I am considering the purchase of either a new pair of sandals (in some nice shade of purple) or experimenting with different concealers from Sephora. Probably the latter, because it's cheaper and less seasonal. These are small things, I know, but thinking about them, shopping for them and finally making my purchase decision makes me happy.

Naturally I stole this

And of course it was stolen from Kwizgiver. I have 33 minutes until my next meeting and it seems like an absolutely FABULOUS use of my time!

If you got trapped in an elevator with someone, who would you want it to be?
Someone from Building Maintenance. Or someone who doesn't have a lot of ailing, hospitalized friends. I was stuck with such a woman -- Ruthie. She spent the whole time we were trapped describing her elderly friends' maladies. (I still remember her tsking and saying, "Her skin feels like paper!") If we hadn't been rescued soon, I was going to start screaming.

What is your favourite cereal?
Post Great Grains -- the one with nuts and raisins.

Do you own any cowboy boots?
No

What is something you would never do in public?
Pick my nose.

Have you ever had really strange dreams?
oh yeah

Name a friend or loved one who has passed away?
Grandpa

What's your earliest memory?
In the living room, in front of the picture window, trying unsuccessfully to climb onto the red ottoman. I've mentioned this to my mom and because of the red ottoman, which she got rid of when we moved, she estimates I was almost two.

Have you ever broken a bone before, and if so, how?
Clavicle. Fell down the stairs at my cousin's house.

Have you ever stepped in dog poo?
Yes.

Ever bitten your toenails?
No. Is this even possible?

Who is your all time hero?
I wish I was like Jackie Kennedy Onassis. And I'm not.

What colors do you think mix well?
Royal blue and black.

What did you eat recently?
Pizza

What was your favorite cartoon movie as a child?
Mary Poppins. (Dancing penguins, the horse race ... there were animated scenes in that so I'm sticking with it.)

What's your favorite movie now?
The Way We Were

Do you paint your toenails?
Technically speaking, they were painted for me by Marie at Salon 212.

Is your computer a fast and awesome computer?
At work, yes. At home, not so much. But that's because I (I'm embarrassed to even say this) still have dial up.

What do you do, or want to do for a living?
I am an associate creative director.

If one of your long lost exes called you and asked for you back, would you take them back?
One I would. Sigh.

Have you ever been a Heartbreaker?
I hope not.

What's your favorite instrument?
Sax or piano

What is a country you want to visit badly before you die?
Ireland (Kwizgiver's answer, but it's good)

Have you made a bucket list?
No

What things in history amuse you the most?
Elections

Have you ever eaten lipstick?
No

What are 3 accessories you have to be equipped with when you go out?
KEYS (I am obsessed with not being locked out), iPod and purse.

Have you ever licked a window before?
No

If someone dared you to run across a busy street for 1 thousand dollars, would you?
Yes, and I wish someone would.

Would you kill someone for 9 million dollars?
No

Who is your worst enemy right now and why?
Rhonda, my downstairs neighbor. She's a rude bitch.

Have you ever been in a physical fight with anyone before?
Yes, in my late teens with my older sister. The whole thing was skin crawly and I never want to go through it again.

What brand of cell phone do you have and what service provider?
LG and AT&T

Do you wear slippers or socks?
Neither

Do your feet stink?
No

Have you ever picked your butt in public?
Well, it was during a movie so it was really dark and I don't think it should count.

What is the strangest pet you've ever owned?
My cat, Reynaldo. He is very, very strange indeed.

Do you love life or hate it?
Love it

Who is the hottest person in the entire universe in your opinion?
I don't know definitively, but his name is Bruce (either Springsteen or Willis).

What do you do every night before bed?
Pee

This leaves me with 12 minutes to go.

DAY 12 -- August 08 Happiness Challenge

Technology. I love air conditioning … microwaves … iPods … MacBooks … Roomba … voicemail ... the Internet … and, most of all cable!

Between Mad Men and I Love Lucy, I have gotten an extended view of life in the 1950s and early 1960s and don't think I'd do well back then. It occurred to me this evening, as I slipped a frozen pizza into the microwave, that my gadgets make my work easier and my life happier and I am taking a moment to appreciate them.

Tuesday Tunes #8

Pick a music related word and do a google image search.
Post the picture the captures your eye the most and three songs that relate back to it.

This was fun, and easier than I thought it would be. I did a search for the word, "Pop." The image above was the one that captured my fancy, and here are the songs to accompany it.

"Missing You," John Waite
"Another Night," Aretha Franklin
"This Love," Maroon 5

For more about Tuesday Tunes, or to play yourself, click here.

Still wounded

I keep thinking about the Edwards scandal. (Perhaps because there was no ballgame today.) It occurs to me that what hurt John Edwards most during the primaries is that he was "same old." A white, 50-something male millionaire. Why go with the status quo when you can be part of a campaign that makes history?

But what if Barack Obama had decided not to run this time around? Conventional wisdom was that Hillary Clinton was unstoppable, that she had the big money donors, the celebrity and the Washington pedigree. It would be completely understandable if Obama had been intimidated by the Clinton Machine and decided to wait until 2012.

That would have left John Edwards to represent change, and these days, change infuses the atmosphere. It's very possible that in this scenario, he would be the presumptive nominee. A nomination he would be more than happy to accept in Denver later this month.

And then this awful story comes to light, just weeks before the convention. Where would this have left the party? The country? He was willing to gamble with more than his career. He was playing chicken with the two party system.

I don't care how blue his eyes are. Handsome is as handsome does. John Edwards is defined by a monstrously ugly ego. What's the word I'm looking for here?

Oh, yeah: "Bastard."

DAY 11 -- August 08 Happiness Challenge

I love Pogo. Scrabble, Turbo 21, solitare, slots, Word Whomp ... I don't care which game I begin playing, I never want to stop. If/when I end up with carpal tunnel syndrome, I am certain the cause will not be my job. It will be the hours of fun at Pogo.

Manic Monday #13

How would your friend describe you to someone who has never seen you? Short, pudgy, lively and funny.

Do you trust anyone to protect you? Who, and why? I believe my oldest friend and my best friend would both protect me, to the best of their capabilities. And I can protect myself, because like the Bible says, "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me."

If you died or went missing, who would miss you? Monday through Friday: my boss would definitely miss me. If they experienced radio silence for a few days, the aforementioned oldest and best friends would miss me. After about a week, my mom would miss me.

If you want to see how other bloggers responded, or to play yourself, click here.

DAY 10 -- August 08 Happiness Challenge

Sleeping in. I did not get out of bed until 10:15 this morning. That is SO not like me. I generally don't need a lot of sleep and used to get bored, just laying in bed doing nothing, unable to sleep. But lately I've been allowing myself the luxury of sleeping in and have begun to enjoy it. Just as there's something delicious about waking up in the morning and not NEEDING to be anywhere at a specific time, it's also a delight to let nature take its course and just wake up when my body thinks it's ready, regardless of what the clock says.

DAY 9 -- 08 August Happiness Challenge

It's no secret to anyone who even knows me slightly that I love the Beatles passionately, Paul most particularly. This weekend my oldest friend and I went to The Fest for Beatle Fans and Saturday I was thrilled to go carrying a wish list from my niece. She recently discovered the Lads herself and requested that I buy her entire birthday (November) and Christmas gifts there. She has all the CDs, but she wants Beatle books, Beatle clothes, Beatle DVDs, Beatle "accessories." Her Lad of Choice happens to be George.

I had so much fun picking out a tshirt, a pin, a necklace and the DVD Concert for George especially for her. It makes me happy for us because it gives us something else to talk about. And it makes me happy for everyone that the Beatles and their music and their message are still popular with high school students, decades after the first Beatlemaniacs screamed over them in 1964.

DAY 8 -- August Happiness Challenge

Today I'm taking a moment to appreciate my boss. As authority figures go, he really is a bright spot -- which is saying a lot, because I have always chafed when confronted with authority.

He treats me like an adult. I come and go as I please because he knows my work is important to me and I won't miss a due date. If he needs me to be in the office at 9:00 AM, he mentions it the afternoon before, and always with humor.

He respects my opinion, and brings me into his confidence on some management issues. He encourages me to defend my work and his critiques are always about the project at hand -- he is confident about his power and position so he never feels he has remind me who's boss.

Do I get annoyed with him? Yes. Of course. We're both human and we work in a high-pressure industry. Plus, let's not forget, he IS my boss. But, if things go as badly for this agency in the fourth quarter as some have predicted, I can't think of anyone (except maybe Don Draper) I'd rather have let me go.

Pardon me while I puke

When you're married to an angel, and a dying one, at that, you would do well to remember to KEEP YOUR PANTS ZIPPED.

John Edwards, you suck.

Song for Your Mood

I picked this up at Kwizgiver's, of course.

If you're happy, the song you find yourself loving is?
"September" by Earth, Wind and Fire

If you're thinking about that special person, that song is?
"No More Lonely Nights" by Paul McCartney

If you're totally pissed off the song is?
"Move Over" by Janis Joplin

If your getting ready to go out that song is?
"Wild Night" by Van Morrison, or by Martha Reeves from the Thelma & Louise soundtrack

If you're trying to learn about yourself, that song is?
"Nothing Ever Happens" by Del Amitri

Your favorite movie song?
"You Don't Know Me" by Jann Arden in My Best Friend's Wedding and (now that it's running through my mind), "Wild Night" by Martha Reeves in Thelma & Louise

If you're feeling let down that song is?
"Stoney End" by Barbra Streisand

If you just want to bust out in some sick dance moves?
"The Boss" by Diana Ross

If you are feeling like you want to just mellow out that song is?
"Sunday Morning," by Maroon 5

DAY 7 -- August Happiness Challenge

I had dinner tonight with my old friend, Mindy. We've known each other since 1979. Tonight she wanted to discuss her sister's tragic illness. I was sorry to hear it, for I've known her sister for years, too. Naturally, that's not my happiness moment.

Today's happiness is the gift of long-standing friendships. Mindy and I have suffered through boy trouble, celebrated her marriage with me as her bridesmaid, we saw our first Bruce Springsteen concert together, we watched Prince Charles marry that kindergarten teacher together from a motel room near Disneyland, we mourned our fathers together, welcomed her sons, have been through career upheavals and promotions together … What brought us together tonight is very sad. But the history we have shared, the easy rapport we have enjoyed since we met decades ago, THAT is what I highlight because it brought me happiness today.

Thursday Thirteen #80 -- COMING SOON to my Shelfari Shelf (at left)

THIRTEEN BOOKS
IN MY TBR PILE

I got almost half of the books that make up my TBR (to be read) pile from the recent library book fair. The majority are light summer reads, yet Labor Day is less than a month away! Can you please see what you can do about getting summer extended so I can finish my reading?

1) The Cat Who Moved a Mountain by Lillian Jackson Braun. Further adventures of Koko, Yum Yum and their human, Qwill. I like reading about the good, gentle people of Moose County more than I enjoy the mysteries.

2) The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern by Lillian Jackson Braun. Even MORE adventures of Koko, Yum Yum and Qwill.

3) Legal Tender by Lisa Scottoline. A mystery thriller built around lady lawyer “Bennie” Rosato, a character I met and liked in another Scottoline book.


4) Lord of the Flies by William Golding. A classic that I read during my own turbulent adolescence; wondering if I’ll still enjoy it now.


5) Boy Meets Girl by Meg Cabot Chick lit, trying a new author. (At she's new to me. I know she has many best-sellers under her belt.)


6) Blonde Ambition: An A List Novel by Zoey Dean. Chick lit, trying a new author.


7) Jemima J by Jane Green. People who love Jane Green (and so far, I’m not one of them) point to this book as her best, so I’m giving her one last chance.


8) Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner Chick lit, trying a new author. Jennifer Weiner has many fans out there, and perhaps I shall end up among them.


9) The Other Side of the Story by Marian Keyes. She’s my favorite chick-lit author. I loved Angels, Last Chance Saloon and Sushi for Beginners, so I’m looking forward to this.


10) Mary, A Historical Novel by Janis Cooke Newman Promises to be a compassionate look at the much-maligned Mary Todd Lincoln. (But it’s more than 700 pages! I should have waited for the paperback and avoided the hernia.)


11) Lily by Paulina Simons. A waitress who lives a quiet life on the sidelines suddenly finds herself embroiled in an NYPD missing person’s case.


12) Accessory to Murder by Elaine Viets. A mystery shopper becomes involved in a designer’s murder; looks like fun – “the mall moll is back.”


13) Till the End of Tom by Gillian Roberts. Another in the entertaining Amanda Pepper mystery series, love the Philadelphia setting.

As I begin each book, I'll put it on my Shelfari shelf. We'll see if I stick to my TBR ile or if a new book seduces me.

Include your link in the comments and I'll add you here (unless your comment annoys me, in which case I'll delete it as quickly as I can):

1) Chelle shares her summer loves
2) Speaking of summer loves, Anthony North shares his definition of the word "love."
3) Hootin' Ani shows us what's under the hood -- and she knows
4) Open Grove Claudia has a great list of free software
5) Sandy Carlson brings us along on vacation
6) Baby Mama has a very happy TT
7) Lori gets ready for fall
8) Lilibeth teases us with 13 odd-looking items from around the house
9) Meju takes us back in TV Time
10) Journeywoman has a very imaginative TT
11) Lisa is working way her through the alphabet and she's reached W
12) Adelle has a taste-tempting TT
13) Poppingbubbles highlights her favorite blogs
14) Go check out Danielle's first TT
15) Nina's TT is a scrapbooker's dream
16) Yasmin shares her favorite summer memories
17) Chris has a funny, revealing gay-themed TT
18) Lori tells us what Lori needs.
19) Heather takes us to the zoo
20) JC's TT is about a subject JC is THE expert on
21) Storyteller touches on grief and letting go
22) Yummy tells you what NOT to look for in a fitness coach

P.S. MAJOR APOLOGY FOR LAST WEEK! Sorry I was unable to visit many TTers. First things got mega-busy at work. Then the Blogger Bots locked me away from my own dashboard! But this week I promise I'll do better.

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DAY 06 -- August Happiness Challenge

That I can. This morning, when I was moving into my new wallet, I realized how much nickels annoy me. They don't belong in my penny piggy bank, I can't use them for the coin-operated laundry machines downstairs, they are often rejected by the vending machines at work … You see my point. So I moved the offensive coins from my wallet to my jeans pocket and dropped them into the cup of the homeless man I always see next to the newspaper vending machines. "Blessings to you, young lady!" he smiled. I made him happy. With just 30¢ or so, I made another human being happy.

Today at lunchtime I'm going to swing by CVS and pick up some crayons or maybe a glue stick to accompany the packet of #2 pencils and the ruler I have here for the school supplies drive my office building is having this week. I enjoy thinking of the backpack they are going into as some enthusiastic kid starts a NEW school year with NEW supplies.

There are many reasons to give. As Bruce Springsteen says, "Nobody wins unless everybody wins." There's the old Golden Rule. Karma and/or Christian faith. But there's also the sheer joy you can get, thinking about the impact your little act of kindness can have on another person. It's the cheapest high you can get.

Also, it reminds me to be grateful that I can give.

DAY 5 -- August 08 Happiness Challenge

My cat, Miss Charlotte. She doesn't get much attention in this blog because her feline style doesn't lend itself to anecdotes. She isn't noisy and wild, like Reynaldo. Nor is she a big, old charmer like Joey. But she has a valiant little spirit, and she helps make each morning brighter.

We have our own routine, she and I. After my shower, I sit on the side of my bed and slather on shea body butter. She sits on the bed beside me, chatting a bit. Then I go into the bathroom and begin applying my makeup in that brighter light. Charlotte hops onto the toilet seat and observes this process carefully. This is our time. The boys -- Joe and Rey -- are frequently racing around up and down the hall. Charlotte doesn't go in for such noisy and reckless behavior. She's happy to watch me apply eyeshadow and mascara, occasionally sharing her thoughts on cosmetics and skin care.

Charlotte and I have an evening ritual, too. After I get home from work, she sits beside me as a I sort the day's mail. While I set the envelopes aside for recycling, she butts me gently with her head and fills me in about what she did all day -- which, I imagine, consists mainly of napping on the sofa, sitting on the window sill and watching the tree move in the breeze, batting the ball with the bell around a bit, and then sleeping more seriously under the bed.

Neither as tough, nor as brave as the boys, Charlotte is shy around strangers. But with me she is friendly and affectionate. She came here terrified and homeless, first abandoned by her original owners and then displaced because of a fire at the animal shelter. But she's made this place her home, and having her here makes each day a bit brighter.

Tuesday Tunes #7

What have you been listening to the most lately? and why?

Marcia Ball. She's not a new artist, far from it, but she's new to me. She writes most of her own stuff, she plays a great boogie-woogie piano, and her voice is warm and bluesy. My best friend turned me on to her and so far my favorite songs are "My Heart and Soul" (Peace, Love and BBQ) and "The Right Tool for the Job" (Live! Down the Road).

To play along yourself, click here.

DAY 4 -- August 08 Happiness Challenge

Keyser Söze. That arch-villain makes me happy.

It's a stormy night, one that's been marked by lightening and tornado warnings. The Cub game was called because the weather is so violent. But I'm safe and dry, wearing my pjs, curled up on the sofa, watching The Usual Suspects yet again. Gabriel Byrne is yummy and Kevin Spacey has never been better. The script is delicious. Knowing this movie as well as I do makes the repeat viewings more satisfying. So right now, at this moment, I'm enjoying the happiest moment of my day.

Manic Monday #17

Using no more than 10 nouns, and ONLY nouns, describe yourself. Daughter, sister, aunt, friend, writer, loner, activist, partisan, dreamer, "hormone hostage."

If you owned your own store, what would you sell? Predominantly books, with a stack or two of greeting and notecards.

If you were to name the most comforting thing for you to hold in your hands, what would it be? My ginormous gray and white tomcat, Joey. Only technically speaking, he doesn't like to be held if that involves lifting him up. He does adore being petted and hugged, and it's incredibly comforting when he just comes over to be near me. He presses his warm old furry bod against me and purrs. In those moments, we are both the picture of "contentment."

To play along yourself, or to see how others answered, click here.

What's the status of the death penalty in this state?

Thought I'd check before I strangle my coworker with my bare hands.

These offices officially close at noon at Fridays in the summer. Whether or not an employee gets to leave is dependent upon work load and deadlines. Friday at about 10:30 our boss gave us his input on a project that's being presented to the client tomorrow morning (meaning it has to be done by end of day today). She didn't like his changes because they made the copy too long for her pre-established layout. The thing of it is, the new copy was all quotes. It's unethical and (perhaps) illegal for us to edit the quotes as extensively as she'd like. She didn't want to revise her layout too much because, well, she had a hair appointment at noon.

Did she come back to the office after her hair appointment? No. Did she take the work home with her so she could work on it over the weekend? No. As soon as she left the office Friday, she forgot all about it.

Well, now it's Monday. The morning she just kinda figured would never arrive has. No, she didn't come in at dawn to catch up. And she forgot that we have a meeting that will run from 10:00 to 11:00. We were originally supposed to present it internally immediately after that meeting ends. I don't know how she will incorporate the revisions -- and do the good job our client deserves-- in less than an hour.

I hate this! My work -- the words -- is done. But I have to sit here, helplessly worrying about quality control and getting stress stomach waiting on her. She, naturally, is the victim in all this. All those pesky words have ruined her layout, she has to do it over again, and there simply isn't time!

My boss, God bless him, got us until 1:00 to present it internally. I asked him when he was going to tell her. Crafty old dog that he is, he smiled and said, "Not now but soon. I just want to push her a little this morning."

You know, if it was really a jury of my peers -- writers who have endured art directors like her -- I may just get off with a light sentence.

"I don't like you, but I love you"

Much has been written about how atmospherically correct AMC's Mad Men is, how true to the era the sets and the clothing are. The mores, too. I appreciate the attention to detail and it does make the show more fun to watch.

But for me, Don Draper is the biggest draw. He's fascinating. Not just because of his self-made man, Gatsby personal history. Not only because I cannot, for the life of me, figure out how he really feels about his wife … or his boss … or anyone, for that matter. That tantalizing remoteness that both attracts and repels me in real life does the trick on TV, too. But it's not his backstory that makes Mad Men appointment viewing for me.

The thing that draws me most to Don Draper is that when he's shown with clients or his creative department, I sense he could be dropped into an agency today and be an effective leader. He has those vaunted "big ideas," but they're rooted in good business sense, and he has just enough integrity to inspire loyalty.

For better or worse, Don Draper is true to life.

DAY 3 -- August 08 Happiness Challenge

There was the most completely adorable couple on the bus today. They were each easily 80 and very fit. He had snow white hair and wore a dark polo shirt and khakis. She was a symphony in light green -- slacks, scarf, and sweater set (even though it's August and over 80º). When they reached their stop, he rose first and held out his hand to help her from her seat. I watched them walk up the block, arm in arm, and noticed they were in step with one another. They were also chatting animatedly. They were a real matched set.

They cared about how they looked -- I assume, to remain attractive to each other. They still had a lot to say, even after what I guess is decades together. And he was so gentlemanly toward her.

Think about all the holidays they have spent together, or perhaps apart, if he served overseas. All the sleepless nights they shared, worrying first about sick little ones and then over teenagers who were out with the family car after dark. All the conversations and arguments about money. The college educations and the weddings they may have provided for. The grandchildren they have seen christened. All the election returns they watched together, perhaps having cancelled one another's votes. The parents and now friends and neighbors they have mourned.

Yet, as they walk arm in arm up the street, their eyes still meet and they still have much to say.

I don't know these two, but whoever they are, observing them brought me real joy today.

"The check is in the mail"

So my new freelance client tells me. It better be, because today I spent the money.

I took a writing assignment for the friend of a former coworker. It was fun, a nice respite from the financial services I write at my straight job. Plus it made me happy and proud that I was able to make my former coworker look so good.

Oh, and there's the incremental $412.50. That's nice, too.

Today I spent just over half of it. I bought a Roomba 415 (newer than my current, two year old, much loved, but no longer working well Roomba) and got a pedi at the local salon that is good enough to be open on Sundays. (Puerto Vallerta Violeta again. Maria the manicurist complimented me on how soft my heels are! I feel like I got a gold star on my homework.)

I'm having lunch on Tuesday with the former coworker who set this up. I've already done a couple of quick assignments for her this year, too. I wonder if Tuesday will be business or social. With the agency world as it is right now, I should snap like a turtle at any incremental income that's offered to pay for luxuries like vacuum cleaning robots and Sunday pedis.