See what last weekend did to Cub fans?

It's almost dawn and here I am, online and on the sofa, watching loyal Cub fan Vince Vaughn recreate the role of Norman Bates in Psycho.

I can't sleep.

I'm upset about work -- both in micro (I hate the revisions I have to make to this project) and macro (maybe I should just go along peacefully because the economy's bad and I don't want to lose this job) ways.

I miss my best friend.

I miss the Cubs.

I'm going to watch the end of the movie from bed. If I don't doze off soon, tomorrow morning is going to be brutal.

Why can't we all just think like me?

I have been clashing with a coworker. She is very blonde and very nice (in a completely superficial way, as in, "It's always so nice to see flowers on your desk!"). But she's a chocolate-covered spider -- she's just as willful as I am and wants her way just as badly. She's just sweeter about it.

I am creative and she is account. I am responsible for communicating our message to the public, she is responsible for making sure that I remain true to the strategy. On this project, she thinks I'm difficult and I think she's short-sighted.

I wish we had been able to wave our arms around and scream like the coworkers in this illustration. Hash it out, clear the air, and move on. Alas, that's not her style and so we talked in circles, realizing we reached an impasse. I promised to compromise and consider her input more seriously when I rework the concept tomorrow. And I will. But compromise is not capitulation. I owe our client the best possible product and I intend to deliver it.

Manic Monday #19

What is one thing you admire about each of your parents? My mother loves and respects animals. She showed us by example that our pets were members of the family and should be treated that way. My dad read a lot and enjoyed history. I got that from him.

Which parts of your home do you like best? The view from my living room window. I'm on the fourth floor and I look into a tree top and it's quite cool.

Which would you prefer and why? To have every stoplight turn green upon your arrival for the rest of your life or to have one week of the best sex any person ever had? Since I love the planet and wouldn't want to add to carbon emissions, I guess I'll have to take the 7 days of heavenly sex. That's OK. No need to thank me.

To play along yourself, click here.

Just when I'm in danger of feeling good about myself ...

… I see Kelly Ripa. I don't watch Regis & Kelly, but I am aware that she has 3 young children, a really hot husband (Mark Consuelos), and a great body. I see her on commercials for Wisk and home appliances. She always looks terrific in a natural, girl next door kinda way, even though she clearly has a busy life.

I'm a pudge who was too lazy to work out today. Today I cleaned my tiny kitchen and yesterday it was my teeny-tiny bathroom and was feeling virtuous. Then I saw that I still haven't replaced the shelf paper under the sink, even though I bought the new stuff at Ace Hardware back on July 14 (the receipt is still in the bag). My living room, bedroom and den are all messes.

Kelly Ripa is busier than I am and yet maintains her looks and her life. Kelly Ripa's house is clean. Kelly Ripa works out. I bet even when her hair is in the in-between growing out stage my hair is in, she knows how to blow it out so it still looks sleek.

I hate Kelly Ripa. Almost as much as I hate me.

Today Peggy Noonan didn't annoy me!

This morning on Meet the Press, Ms. Noonan wasn't patronizing nor partisan nor pedantic. Instead, she was another "p" word, "patriotic." She was the voice of calm, of concern, and of consequence. She explained why she feared that John McCain was going to go the "scorched earth" route against Barack Obama, that Obama would then have to respond in kind, and how we would all suffer. She was impressive, not annoying, which is why I am giving her book a plug.

If that angry Noonan lover Steve is still lurking, I'm sorry but this is illustrated with her book cover, so there's no reason to defend her accessories or her lip gloss. Tee hee.

Sunday Stealing -- The Aging Meme

At a certain age women should: cover up the weathered décolletage.

At a certain age men should: make peace with the receding hairline and give up the artful combing.

When I was a kid I thought I would: dye my hair blonde. (Didn't understand that it would make my skin look sallow.)

Now that I am older I wish: I had saved and flossed more.

You know you are too old to party when: the boys who ask you to dance are exactly that -- boys.

You know you are too young to retire when: you have only 53% of the money you need to maintain your lifestyle!

When I was in high school I listened to the music of: The Beatles

Nowadays I find I like the music of: The Beatles.

On my last birthday I: was miserable, because I shared the momentous occasion with Thanksgiving.

On my next birthday I want to: have a better time.

The best birthday present I ever got was: flowers from former coworkers, delivered to my new office. It was so thoughtful and the timing was perfect! (I have received many terrific gifts over the years, this was just the first one to pop into my head.)

The first time I felt grown up was: when my dad died.

The last time I felt like a kid was: when the Cubs clinched the division title.

When I read Saving Graces, by the inspiring Elizabeth Edwards, it changed my life.
Last year was: OK

Next year I hope: to see the beginning of the Obama Administration.

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

This wasn't the year

Right now, at this very moment, being a Cub fan hurts like hell. It's hard to watch the team with the best record in the NL not hit, not field, and pitch badly.

But this was a terrific season. I love Lou. I learned how to pronounce "Kosuke Fukudome." I watched Geovany Soto decisively take over the catcher's role. I saw Reed Johnson make the catch of the year. And we were the Division Champions for the second year in a row. That was certainly very cool. As Fred Astaire sang, "They can't take that away from me."

As for the World Series … Maybe next year.

Don't vote

Watch this video: Don't Vote (It was produced by young Leo here)

Then register to vote (find out how at http://maps.google.com/vote ), and pass this information along to your friends.

Fellow bloggers, will you help to get out the word? Tag five of your friends and ask them to share this information about the “don’t vote” meme.

I was tagged for this by BookMama, and I really tried to download the video, but I couldn't! Forgive me.

Now for the tags …
Kwizgiver
Snarkypants
Philly Transplant
Jenny McB
Cupcake

Is my glass 49% full or 51% empty?

I filled out an online retirement calculator and discovered that I have 7% chance of meeting my own retirement goals and will most likely hit 65 with just 49% of the money I'll need to maintain my current standard of living after I stop working.

My best friend, who is very knowledgeable about these things, tells me that 1) I'm doing better than most Boomers, and 2) I better start socking more away.

THIS JUST IN! If I include my "emergency fund" (8 months' worth of living expenses) as an asset, I will most likely hit 65 with 53% of the money I'll need. These new numbers make me feel 4% better about my financial future.

My senior moment, courtesy of Tim Allen

There were two sets of TVs on at the health club today. One group aired CNN, and the others showed Home Improvement. As I switched my attention back and forth between the sitcom and the Congressional vote on the bail out, it occurred to me that I could not remember Tim Taylor's real name. His "wife" was played by Patricia Richardson, I knew that. But I could not remember Tim! I could recall that he was the voice of Buzz Lightyear, that he wrote a book with a title about standing next to a naked man, that he'd done time for coke before he became famous.

It was making me crazy! Not because I care -- I don't believe I've seen an entire episode of Home Improvement from start to finish -- but because I could not remember his name! This went on for about 10 highly-distracted minutes. Then, as I left the cardio area of the club and headed toward the machines, "Tim ALLEN" popped into my head.

Oh well, I feel better for the physical exercise, and I got to move my excercycler (bottom of the page).

Tired and sad

I got home from my nephew's birthday party and immediately turned on the TV. I watched the five-run second inning. I saw the errors. I stayed with it as long as I could ... then I began toggling back and forth between the game and the VP debate. I found myself eating handsful of carmel corn (my nephew is selling tins of the stuff for his scout troop), and decided to look away. I had worked pretty hard to reduce my sugar/sweets intake, and while I had to BUY the caramel corn, no one said I had to eat it all -- and in one sitting, no less.

I cannot believe my Cubs lost, and lost so decisively.

It's exhausting.

Birthday Boy!

Today is my nephew's 9th birthday. I took the day off so I can be at his house when he gets home from school. I am very excited about seeing him with his gifts -- these remote-controlled "Karts." Mario and Yoshi are each about a foot tall, so you can imagine the size of the box. He's still at the age where he's wowed by the size of the gift, as well as the contents, so I think he'll be very excited.

He's a new Cub fan, though, so I must suck it up and put on a happier face for when we talk about last night's game. We must keep the faith!

Well, this was cruel

I cannot believe how tonight's Cubs/Dodgers game went! Not only did Ryan Dempster give up walk after walk, which isn't like him, the offense could only come up with two runs, which isn't like them. Worst of all, guess who came in as the Dodger closer, efficiently getting three outs in Wrigley Field.

Go ahead, guess ...

I know this is most likely Greg Maddux' last post season. I always consider it a privilege to watch him pitch.

But come on! This was soooo hard for me. Must I watch my all-time favorite Cub finish off the Cubs in the first game of the play-offs?

Thursday Thirteen #88 -- The Home of the Chicago Cubs

THIRTEEN FACTS
ABOUT WRIGLEY FIELD

As Eddie Vedder sings in his Cub tribute song, “Someday We’ll Go All the Way:”
When you’re born in Chicago you’re blessed and you’re healed/every time you walk into Wrigley Field.

You don’t have to be a Cub fan to enjoy the ambience, the beer and hotdogs. Here are just some of the things that make Wrigley Field so special:

1) Built in 1914, it’s the second oldest park in the majors (Boston’s Fenway is two years older)

2) It’s pretty. The vines were added in 1937 and they make Wrigley Field feel more like a park than a stadium.

3) That’s the original scoreboard! The inning-by-inning scores are still changed by hand from inside the board.

4) Four Cubs have had their jerseys retired, and their numbers fly on flags above the park (14 – Ernie Banks; 10 – Ron Santo; 26 – Billy Williams; 23 – Ryne Sandberg).

5) The park was christened "The Friendly Confines" by Cub great/MVP/Hall of Famer, Ernie Banks.

6) Ernie’s nickname is "Mr. Cub." A statue of him was unveiled in front of the park at the beginning of this season.

7) Ernie hit his 500th career homerun in this park.

8) Sammy Sosa hit his 60th homerun here during three separate seasons (1998, 1999 and 2001)

9) Perhaps the most famous player of all time, Babe Ruth, added to Wrigley Field’s legend, and his own. In 1932 he pointed to the bleachers, indicating exactly where he would hit the next pitch, and then made good on the brag with a homerun.

10) When one of baseball’s most infamous, Pete Rose, got the base hit that tied him on the all-time list with Ty Cobb, he did it in Wrigley Field.

11) A “W” or “L” flags flies over Wrigley Field at the end of each game. Before the Cubs added lights, all Wrigley Field games were played during the day. The “W” for win flag (and “L” for loss) were flown for commuters on their way home who were unable to watch or listen to the game.

12) Another Wrigley Field tradition is for bleacher fans to throw back any homerun hit by an opposing player. I’ve heard that sports memorabilia collectors actually weep when think of the money that right-thinking Cub fans toss back onto the field.

13) The first night game at Wrigley Field took place in August 1988, and was suspended because of a torrential rainstorm. Some of us believed it was God’s way of saying baseball is meant to played under the sun.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


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

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

A music meme with specific directions

Stolen, of course, from Kwizgiver. I'm glad that the rules and procedures are spelled out so plainly, as I'm having trouble concentrating on anything but THE CHICAGO CUBS today.

1. Grab the nearest CD.
2. Put it in your CD-Player (or start your mp3-player, I-tunes, etc.).
3. Skip to Song 3 (or load the 3rd song in your 3rd playlist)
4. Post the first verse in your journal along with these instructions. Don’t name the band, nor the album-title.

Billy Ray was a preacher's son and when his daddy would visit he'd come along
When they gathered 'round and started talking, that's when Billy would take me walking
Through the back woods we'd go walking
Then he looked into my eyes
Lord knows, to my surprise

If choose to play, come back and let me know. Kwizgiver stumped me with hers and I'd like to redeem myself.

My heart is so full of love, it encompasses all Chicago baseball fans

The White Sox won their special tie-breaker game and are now officially in the play-offs. Good luck to them and their fans. (Did I really just say that?) They will need it, since Tampa is a scary-good team.

It's almost here!

Remember how you felt as evening approached and then night fell on December 24? How you KNEW it was impossible to think about anything else but the magic of Santa and Christmas Day?

That's how I feel right now. The NLDS begins tomorrow within the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field!

This photo is from today's post-season rally at Daley Plaza. I skipped it because, well, I already have TONS o' spirit. But isn't it great to see all that Cubbie blue? I wanted to preserve that shot of the Picasso. Doesn't the cap complete her?

Isn't this going to be the BEST OCTOBER in the history of Octobers?

Go, Cubs, Go!

Tuesday Tunes #13

Word associations this week: Tell us the first, song, band/artist, album or anything music related that comes to mind when you see these words:

Space: 2001 (Also Sprach Zarathustra) -- and Elvis, of course
Party: like it's 1999 (Prince)
Darkness: on the Edge of Town (Bruce)
Reading: "If You're Reading This" (Tim McGraw)
Touch: "Human Touch" (Springsteen again)
New: "You Make Me Feel Brand New" (Stylistics)
Gone: "Already Gone" (Eagles)
Jazz: "All that Jazz" (from Chicago)
Song: "The Song We Were Singing" (Paul McCartney)
Bag: "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" (James Brown)

To play along yourself, click here.

DAY 30 -- September Fitness Challenge

You may not be able to tell, but our jump-roper is not smiling. At the end of the September Fitness Challenge, I don't believe I have lost a frigging ounce, which could be because I only moved my exercyclist seven spots toward my ultimate goal (which is to be in noticeably better shape by December 1).

This makes me sad.

I will try to focus on the bright side. It's been a source of amusement to some of you commenters, but I am VERY PROUD of the fact that I have virtually eliminated candy from my diet. Throughout the entire month of September, my candy/bakery intake has been:

• One chocolate chip brownie
• One package of Twizzlers (which I had at the movies, and since I consider Twizzlers or Sno-caps a part of the film-going experience, I'm not sure I regret it)
• One scoop of mint chocolate chip ice cream

I have a prodigious sweet tooth, and have instead been satisfying it with yogurt and fruit. That makes me happy. Therefore I will concentrate on that as my September Accomplishment, and try to stay on the wagon, as it were.

I'm a fan

I'm watching Laura Linney right now as Sean Penn's hard-as-nails wife in Mystic River. Hard to believe this is the same actress who was so majestic, so wise as Abigail Adams (right) on HBO … and so sweetly twitterpated over her coworker (below) in Love, Actually ... and so earnest and confused in You Can Count on Me … and so sleek and ambitious in Primal Fear.

It has just occurred to me that I don't think I've ever seen this versatile actress be anything but very good.

This just in: Cubbie Blue to prevail over Dodger Blue

It's all in place: the Phillies will play the Brewers and, in an all-blue matchup, the Cubs take on the Dodgers. I'm feeling strong and confident. Of course, it's more important that the Cubs feel strong and confident.

This series will be an emotional one for me, as there are Dodgers I feel genuine affection for: My beloved future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux and Nomar Garciaparra, who was a Cub briefly. So, while naturally it's vitally important that the Cubs defeat the Dodgers, I don't want them to humiliate the Dodgers.

Unless of course, Joe Torre has the temerity, the insensitivity, the complete and utter lack of respect to not carry Greg Maddux on his play-off roster. There should be no dissing the 7th winningest pitcher in the history of the game. Should that happen, I hope my Cubs frigging annihilate the Dodgers.

Sunday Stealing #5

SundayStealing: The "More About Me Me Me" Meme

My favorite age: 35. It felt very attractive, very womanly.

My best friend(s): The one I have referred to on this blog as, creatively enough, My Best Friend.

My celebrity crush: Current -- Don Draper from Mad Men; Eternal -- Paul McCartney

My defining characteristic: I'm very verbal

My most evil moment: I regret something very mean that I once said to a lover, something I said just to hurt him -- I'm not even sure I meant it.

My favorite food: Beef

My grossest injury: Uterine fibroids. C'mon, who really wants to hear about 'em?

My biggest hatred: Adults who CHOOSE to be uninformed voters. The government is everyone's responsibility.

My most illegal activity: I'm really very dull in this area. I can't think of a one.

My need for justice: I hate bullies. If I can dive in and even the odds a little, I will.

My most knowledgeable field: Beatle lore. Or maybe movie trivia.

My life’s goal: To be content.

My mother’s influence: Love of animals

My nerdiest point: I love the database/demographic aspect of advertising. Really.

My oldest memory: Trying to stand up next to the red ottoman when I was a toddler. It's only a split second I can recall, but it's very clear.

My perfect date: A movie and dinner

My unanswered question: Why?

My random fact: I was born at the stroke of midnight between the 21 and 22. That makes me on the cusp of a cusp -- a fact that freaks astrologists out

My stupidest decision: To stay with Stevie as long as I did.

My favorite television show: Mad Men

My style of underwear: Hanes white cotton panties -- I accept no substitutes

My favorite vegetable: Corn

My weakest trait: My temper can make me impulsive

My X-men power: I'm depressingly normal

My strongest yearning: Love

My moment of Zen: Soaking in the tub, singing along with the oldies on my shower radio

Saturday 9: You've Got a Friend

1. Who is your best friend? A gentleman who appears often in this blog, referred to as My Best Friend.

2. How did you meet? At an agency where he already worked and I joined as a freelancer. He's an account executive, I'm a creative.

3. How long have you known each other? 4 1/2 years.

4. Have you traveled anywhere together? When we were still coworkers, we went on a few business trips together. When he was on an extended assignment in Los Angeles, I traveled out there and stayed a few days. We went to a Dodger game and had a terrific time.

5. Did you ever have a problem over a romantic interest that you shared? No, since he's a married straight guy and I'm a hetero woman.

6. Have you ever not liked your best friend’s choice of lovers? No. He's been married since I have known him, so we never will have this problem, either.

7. How long since you have seen your best friend? It's been months! It looked like he might be in next week, but alas, the meeting is being handled via conference call instead.

8. Do you remember each other on birthdays and holidays? Yes! He gave me my best birthday gift last year. He researched the best-selling book on the day I was born (The Scapegoat), the year's Oscar-winning movie (Bridge over the River Kwai), a print-out of the Time magazine cover from the week I was born, etc. It was thoughtful and creative.

9. What is the biggest fight that you have ever had? Oh golly! We have argued many times! It generally starts when one of us teases the other, and we go too far. We always make up, though. We seldom go more than a day or two without communicating.

To play along yourself, click here.

The Bluest Eyes in Heaven

I have said it before -- I thought Paul Newman was the coolest guy in the universe. I'm so sad to hear he died yesterday, and only hope his passing was peaceful. The coolest guy in the universe deserved no less.

He was an electrifying film presence. If you haven't seen Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid or Cool Hand Luke, get yourself to Blockbuster right now! It was more than his movies that made him so cool, though …

He was married to the same woman for half a century, a woman who is pretty damn cool herself, Ms. Joanne Woodward. He used his fame for good, whether he was marching with Dr. King in Washington or raising hundreds of millions of dollars for charity with his Newman's Own products.

I live next door to recipients of his good works. In addition to providing sliding scale daycare for my community, the building next door is home to anywhere from a dozen to twenty kids who are waiting for placement in foster care. I didn't realize how often these children are separated from their siblings, but when this sad situation came to the attention of Paul Newman's foundation, a happy tradition began. Each summer, the kids next door and their siblings (whether already placed in foster homes or living in another communal children's home here in Chicagoland) spend the day together at a nearby amusement park, courtesy of Newman's Own.

Paul Newman touched so many hearts, with his movies, with his dedication to social causes, with those blue eyes. I'm grateful for film, so that in a way he'll always be with us.

As I watch tonight's debate ...

... and as I listen to Obama and McCain go back and forth about which foreign leaders it's OK to meet with and which ones aren't, I think about a quote from John Kennedy's Inaugural Address:

"So let us begin anew - remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate. "

Everyone knows that address for, "Ask not what your country can do for you ..." but it's filled with passages that sound as relevant today as they did more than 40 years ago.

"Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce."

'The trumpet summons us again - not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need; not as a call to battle, though embattled we are - but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, 'rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation' - a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself."

He inspired us first to dream and then to act, and reminded us what makes America the greatest nation on earth. Reading voraciously about JFK has informed my politics and world view, and I'm proud to be his acolyte. Naturally this has led me to Barack Obama today.

P.S. My prayers are with the youngest Kennedy brother tonight. As I post this, Ted Kennedy is back home and resting comfortably.

Maybe love IS all you need

TEL AVIV (Reuters) - Paul McCartney gave his first concert in Israel on Thursday before tens of thousands of cheering fans, 43 years after the Beatles were barred from singing there because of fears they could corrupt youngsters.

Security was tight at Yarkon Park in Tel Aviv and media reports in Britain said an Islamist militant had threatened the ex-Beatle, while some Palestinians urged him to cancel his trip over Israel's occupation of the West Bank since 1967.

The 66-year-old ignored the demands, but delighted Palestinian fans during his visit to the region when he went to the West Bank city of Bethlehem, lit candles at the Church of the Nativity there and wished for peace for Palestinians.

McCartney opened the Tel Aviv gig with Beatles song "Hello Goodbye," and addressed the 40,000 fans in Hebrew and Arabic as well as English throughout the evening.

"Shalom Tel Aviv!" he said, using the Hebrew word for "peace" and "hello." The ex-Beatle also wished the crowd a happy new year in Hebrew ahead of Jewish celebrations next week and wished Muslims a good Ramadan, the month of fasting, in Arabic.

McCartney, who wore a dark suit over a pink shirt, dedicated Wings track "My Love" to Linda, his wife who died of cancer in 1998, and also paid tribute to late Beatles John Lennon and George Harrison.

Teenaged girls were reduced to tears and the crowd waved its arms in the air as the star performed some of his biggest hits during two hours of almost non-stop music.

Among the favorites were "Give Peace a Chance" and "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," the closing number.

Top 5 on Friday

Top 5 songs that this image reminds you of:

1) It Had to Be You (Diane Keaton from Annie Hall -- if her audience ever really paid attention to her)

2) As Time Goes By

3) More Than You Know (Streisand, because early in her career she had a similar haircut)

4) Takin' a Chance on Love (Streisand again, see above)

5) Don't Know Why (Norah Jones)

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

DAY 25 -- September Fitness Challenge

Haven't eaten much today. Haven't felt hungry at all. (Maybe doing a TT about candy bars cured me of my chocolate lust.) Anyway, what I have had today (two hard-boiled eggs, cheese, crackers and green grapes) was all nutritious. So even though I didn't work out, I am awarding myself the coveted jump rope again today.

Thursday Thirteen #87 -- 13 sweet pals I miss dearly

THIRTEEN SWEET
SNACKTIME FAVORITES
I’M SUFFERING WITHOUT

I miss you guys! Most of all at about 2:00 in the afternoon.

As part of my self-proclaimed September Fitness Month, I have tried to work out more, eat better, and live without candy altogether. It’s been harder than I thought it would be. While I have only fallen off the wagon once – and since it was while at the movies, I’m not sure it should count – I find that I constantly want to go to the vending machine and grab one of these economically priced, readily available, always dependable sugar fixes.

1) Hershey’s Milk Chocolate with Almonds
2) Butterfinger
3) Three Musketeers
4) Hershey’s Special Dark
5) York Peppermint Patties
6) Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
7) Peanut M&M’s
8) Mary Janes
9) Bit o’ Honey
10) Tootsie Rolls
11) Sno-caps (but only at the movies)
12) Twizzlers (see above)
13) Starburst (original flavor only)


If you had to give up candy, which would you miss most? Include your answer in comments and I’ll add you here:

1. Kwizgiver can't "divorce herself from any yummies"
2. Poor Anthony North has had to give up all sweets!
3. Malcolm is a fan of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
4. Hootin' Ani would miss Butterfingers most of all
5. SJR prefers Godiva Truffles
6. Nicole Austin would "go crazy" without Dove Dark Chocolate
7. Jenny McB would miss jelly beans and Mike & Ike
8. Sandy's cravings depend on the day -- and she bounces between fruity and chocolatey
9. Shannon is a woman of definite taste -- CHOCOLATE
10. DK votes for dark chocolate
11. Megan is saving a candy bar for me
12. Yen is a dark chocolate lover
13. Likewise, Adelle would long for chocolate14. Meju would miss jelly beans
15. Lori is inclusive -- practically the whole list got her mouth watering
16. Journeywoman prefers Milky Ways or Life Saver Fruit Chews
17. Tammy keeps dark chocolate stashed away
18. Popping Bubbles is with me on Bit o' Honeys
19. Meg would miss Sour Patch Kids
20. Qtpies7 would AGONIZE over the loss of Hershey's Symphony Bars!
21. Yummy would miss Gummy Worms/Bears
22. Siteseer is a fan of peppermint patties.
23. Debbie goes for Peanut Butter Cups
24. Starrlight couldn't live without Twix




Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


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

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

A new meme! Wednesday Weirdness

Well, at least it's new to me. Here goes.

1. Would you rather join the Ghostbusters to hunt ghosts or join the Sesame Street bunch? Why? Oh, Sesame Street! I like Mr. Noodle, and Cookie Monster, and Dorothy the Goldfish.

2. What is the most you are willing to do to get out of a police officer giving you a ticket? Just give me the damn ticket and let me be on my way. (Of course, it should be noted I haven't driven since the Reagan Administration, which is why I'm not worried about having too many moving violations, watching my insurance rates go up, and maybe even losing my license.)

3. What popular movies do you find to be overrated? Brokeback Mountain!

4. What is in (and/or on) your bedside table? Two alarm clocks. Amazingly, I manage to be late for work every day anyway.

5. Have you ever had or fantasized about having sex with a boss before? Have you ever acted on that fantasy? Yes, my former boss Ed because when we worked together I sensed he found me attractive so I wondered what it would be like. And no.

6. If you had a personal assistant, what would you have them do? Take care of my mail, my photo albums, my insurance claims and tax stuff ... you know, the paper that seems to have taken over my home.

7. Have you ever faked static, loss of cell phone reception or anything else on the telephone line to get out of a conversation? No. But I did pretend my answering machine was broken (back in the days before voicemail) to get out of returning a call. Does that count?

To play along, or see how other bloggers responded, click here.

I almost died today

I can't stop thinking about it.

After I worked out at lunch today, I was on my way back to the office. The sidewalks were full. There were several of us waiting for the light on the corner. When the light changed to yellow, three or four of us started to cross. There were cars on the other side of the intersection, but there was no way they could even get to corner before the light changed. I was last, on the outside.

A cab driver hit the gas to beat the light and leaned on the horn to scare me out of his way. I stepped back and he swerved at the same time and so I am still able to write this. The cab was closer than arm's length when it sped in front of me.

At the time it didn't bother me. It really didn't. I kept going, picked up my lunch and went back to the office. Finished my day. Took the train home. Never skipped a beat. Never cried. Never even felt my heart race.

But I can't stop thinking about it. Considering the speed the cab travelled at, I'm sure I would have died at impact.

My mom and sister would have found this condo in a HIDEOUS mess. There's the vibrator in my armoire that I'm not crazy about them discovering. At least I don't have to worry about my cats -- my oldest friend agreed to care for them if something ever happens to me.

When something happens to me.

We're all going to die. Today is the first time I got a glimpse of my own. Being hit by a cab would not have been so bad. Sudden, maybe even painless.

But I know today I'm not ready to die. So tonight I said a prayer and thanked God for not taking me yet.

It's weird how capricious it all is.

DAY 23 -- September Fitness Challenge

I have been a bad gal lately, not maintaining my focus on health. But today I redeemed myself a bit -- 35 minutes on the stationery bike (all the treadmills were full), 16 reps on the tricep machine, 8 excruciating reps on the pec machine, and 16 leg lifts (each leg). I felt very healthy as I left the health club ...

And, ironically, almost got creamed by a cab that was running a yellow light. Isn't life funny?

Oh well, since I made it back alive, I get to eagerly move that excericon at the bottom of the page.

Because it's fun

Behold the official MLB locker room t-shirt as worn by the Division Champion Chicago Cubs. Got one for me, got one for my nephew. Wore mine to work yesterday, he wore his to school. I'd sleep in it, too, if only it was a little longer.

Isn't this season just so much fun?

Take 5 Tuesday

I don't think I've ever played this meme before ...

5 things that make you happy. My cats, talking to my mom, hanging with my niece and/or nephew, the Division Champion Chicago Cubs, talking to my best friend.

5 things you would do for a million dollars. Give up a kidney, buy lottery tickets, enter a sweepstakes, sing in public (which would be more painful for me than the kidney thing because I'm very embarrassed about my voice), give up my cable.

5 things you would do with a million dollars. Pay off and redecorate my home and then redo it every couple years, live it up on a luxury vacation to first Manhattan and then London, take care of my mom's bills for her, support as many homeless critters as I could, have my own car and driver.

5 things you do every morning. Shower, make-up, blow-dry my hair, feed the cats, brush my teeth.

5 things you do every evening. Read, go through my mail, yak (either online or on the phone), feed the cats again, crawl into bed (or crash on the couch).

They FEEL like necessities!

I have been on a shopping tear lately. If I remember properly, the three prescriptions I picked up on Friday came to about $70. I have no room to complain, since without my insurance they may have cost three times that. It's just ... another $70.

My DVD player broke and I got another one at Sears for just over $100. Buying this made me grumpy, but what was I to do?

On Sunday I bought jeans, a sweater, cologne and a purse. All were on sale and terrific deals, and I could argue that I needed the jeans and sweater and that they will become an integral part of my fall work wardrobe. The purse and cologne ... I just wanted them. This came to $170. That's good for all that I bought, but still, it's $170.

Then there were the Cubs 2008 Central Division Champion tshirts I bought for myself and my nephew. That was $50.

Today I went to The Body Shop for the Vitamin C capsules that contribute to my dewy complexion. I left with a two month supply, as well as bottle of bubble bath and the Shea Body Butter I simply cannot live without! The total for my lunchtime errand: $68.96. It sounds like a lot, but I saved $30.45 by redeeming my "points."

That's about $460 dollars from Friday to Monday. If I have many more weekends like this, I won't be able to afford my own life. None of it seemed extravagant, like when I have indulged in retail therapy as a quick fix for a bad mood. But in this economy, with the news the way it is, I have to look at these things more closely and try to be more disciplined and frugal.

(But it is such a sweet green 9 West satchel, and it was almost half price!)