Trying not to think about it

There's a certified letter waiting for me at the post office. Aren't these things usually legal? Uh-oh. What have I done?

THIS JUST IN!

While I wish The Bumbles were correct in guessing the contents, the certified letter didn't fill me with delight. Nor with dread. It was just an, "eh!"

The developer who was going to tear down the shops around the block and across the street from my building went bankrupt. So now those store fronts and empty and there are no plans for them. Until September 1. My village recently passed an ordinance that states that, since I live within 500 feet of the property, I have the right to question the new developer who just bought the parcel of land.

Since I can't see that property from my condo, I don't much care. But it's nice to know that the developer is following all the rules and touching all the bases and dotting his i's and crossing his t's.

September Fitness Challenge

Day 9. Self restraint. Lunch at my desk, meeting prep for tomorrow, a new assignment ... It was a busy day. Limited myself to one 20-oz. bottle of Pepsi. That's the only caffeine I had during the workday. The rest of the day I drank water. I heard a can of Red Bull calling my name, but I resisted!

There are no bad ideas, right?

That's what I keep reminding myself as I try to "brainstorm" titles for the client's new promotion. I really am not very good at this, therefore I don't enjoy it, and have put it off all day until now. All the creative pieces for tomorrow's client presentation have been carefully proofread and all the art boards are done. No more excuses, Gal. Time to throw some ideas at the piece of paper and see if anything sticks.

Sorry I won't get to see the President's address on healthcare to Congress in about an hour. I know this is a very important speech. But I'm sure they'll rerun it. And, speaking of healthcare, the reason I'm lucky enough to have good healthcare is that I have this here job, so I guess I better concentrate!

Perfect for the day!

Thanks, Mlle. Kwizgiver.

You Are "Across the Universe"

You are spiritual, deep, and at peace. You try to keep life in perspective. You can't help but realize how small you are in the universe. You're just thankful you exist. You tend to be a stream of consciousness thinker. You just let your thoughts flow, even when they don't make sense initially. You trust your intuition to guide you. You know that whatever is in your heart is right and true.

What Beatles Song Are You?

Blogthings: We'll Tell You The Truth... Someone Has To!

09/09/09 >>> IT'S BEATLES DAY!

I want to buy the boxed set of remastered CDs, because, well, I want them. Even more, I'm enjoying the resurgence of Beatlemania! Look at Amazon's top-selling CDs. It's a whole new British Invasion!

OPRAH-PALOOZA

Oprah Winfrey shut down a few blocks of Michigan Avenue for the taping of Thursday's show. The event attracted quite a crowd and I'm sure it will show off my city beautifully. Ended up on the train home this evening beside a middle-aged man who was thrilled to have attended the taping. It was obvious when he struck up a conversation that he's slow. He couldn't believe his good fortune in getting as close to the stage as he did. He couldn't wait to get home and hopefully see himself on TV. This was the thrill of a lifetime for him and I'm glad I removed my iPod headphones and listened to him. He needed to share and it was uplifting to hear.

September Fitness Challenge

Day 8. Good gal. I knew I wouldn't be able to work out today, but that's OK because I exercised so thoroughly for the last three days my muscles could probably benefit from a night off. But I have stayed well within my 1890 calorie limit, partly because I went with grapes for dessert instead of the cinnamon candy I really wanted. I also walked an extra half hour to Union Station to pick up my Amtrak ticket (client meeting on Thursday). Feeling more virtuous than deprived, which is a good thing.

In case you want to re-indoctrinate your child

Beware, though. This is dangerous stuff!

The Queen's Meme

The Who, What, Where, When and Why Would You Meme

WHO

• is easy to love? My nephew. My niece, too.

• do you just wanna smack? My oldest friend. Sometimes she doesn't act in her own best interest.

• do you trust? My best friend.
• do you talk to when you're alone? James Lipton of The Actor's Studio

WHAT

• dangerous things do you do while driving? Considering I haven't driven since Reagan was in office, the very act of my getting behind the wheel would be dangerous.
• are you allergic to? Bee stings. My epipen is with me at all times between May and the first hard frost.
• is Satan's last name? Ono

• is the last thing that moved you? In For The Thrill of It, the book I just finished about 1920s thrill killers Leopold and Loeb, I was moved by how badly their parents wanted to save these two little creeps from the death penalty

• is the freakiest thing in your house? Define "freaky."

WHEN

• is it time to turn over a new leaf? Spring, the time of rebirth.
• will you be all that you can be? I like to think it will happen someday.
• is enough enough? "101." This response was inspired by a favorite oldie of mine, "This Old Heart of Mine" by The Isley Bros. "But if you leave me 100 times, 100 times I'll take you back." When we hit 101, enough is enough.
do you go to the dark side? When my train of thought jumps the tracks

WHERE

• are your pants? Carmen Sandiego took them.
• is your last will and testament? My safety deposit box.
• is your junk food stash? Kitchen counter, right out in plain sight. I believe we should each have the integrity of our junk food.
• is Carmen Sandiego? I don't know. But if you see him, please ask him to return my pants.

WHY

• was the Lone Ranger alone? Because there are so many things about him we don't know anything about. That we couldn't understand. That we shouldn't understand ... NO, WAIT! That was Pee Wee Herman! I don't know why the Lone Ranger was alone.
• was The Scarlet Letter scarlet? Inspired by Miss Scarlet in the game of Clue. Duh.
• are musicians sexy and plumbers not? I don't know that's true. After all, I'd rather do Mike Delfino from Desperate Housewives than Charlie Watts.
• are there no seat belts on school buses? There should be!

WOULD YOU

• Channel for a doughnut and coffee? If not that, what? Nah. I hate coffee.

• forgive someone who deliberately hurt you? I have.

• rather believe a lie if it hurt you less than the truth? Yes.

• you still be alive if you were sucked out of an airplane window? Would you just float around in space for while? Gee, thanks Your Highness. Anything related to botched air travel terrifies me. So yes, I'd be alive for a few, terrifying, excruciatingly painful moments as I desperately and unsuccessfully try to breath.

If you'd like to play along, click here.

September Fitness Challenge

Day 7. My legs are delightfully achy. 35 minutes of cardio followed by leg curls and leg presses will do that. Did more than a dozen reps on my new love, the fixed lateral. Gulped 12 oz. of water during the workout, too. I do feel better when I hydrate. (Old dog, new trick!) I rewarded myself with a brownie and yet am still within my 1890 calorie limit. Think it's because I resisted the temptation to stop at Five Guys on the way home. (Bows deeply.)

Tribute to Nailah Franklin

I never knew this young woman, but her story touched me deeply back in September 2007 and I haven't forgotten her. When she was first reported missing, her friends and family leaped into action. Her mom and sisters were on TV, making sure her name and face and Impala were known to everyone. Nailah had worked at a competitive ad agency, Leo Burnett, and her former coworkers were out in force, handing out "Have You Seen Me" flyers to people like me as we boarded the el trains.

When her body was found a few days later, I was so sad for those who loved her. Nailah Franklin must have been a very special woman to have engendered such love, respect and loyalty from those whose lives she touched.

The Chicago Tribune recently (August 17) ran a story updating us on the case. I'm not including a link because the story necessarily mentions the suspect in her murder case. I am not a newspaper, I don't have to be fair or balanced or complete in my reporting. I want to shine the spotlight exclusively on this special woman. I owe much to Dawn Turner Trice's column, but if you want to read it yourself, you'll have to find it yourself.

Nailah Franklin was one of 5 daughters.

She graduated first from Homewood Flossmoor High School and then the University of Illinois.

She spent 5 years at the prestigious ad agency, Leo Burnett.

She moved to Eli Lilly in 2006 because she believed a sales job would help give her greater control over her finances and career.

She loved "all things Oprah."

She loved clothes and had a terrific sense of fashion.

Her mother told the Tribune that she wondered why Nailah "always seemed to be in such a hurry to live life. I think her spirit knew she had such a short time on this Earth and she had to cram in as much living as possible."

An older sister remembers her "little baby voice that she never grew out of, but she was bold and spirited, headstrong and beautiful."

Her father recalls "an exceptionally smart woman" and says that not a day goes by that he doesn't miss her.

A younger sister smiles when she remembers CD/DVD collection because "it was such a reflection of her -- a combination of old school songs by Luther Vandross and Tae Bo exercise DVDs."

Her youngest sister tried to follow Nailah to Urbana but she wasn't accepted. She treasures Nailah's words of encouragement as she applied to other schools. "When we learned she had died, I considered quitting the nursing program. But I remembered how much she believed in me and I thought it was important to keep going."

She volunteered at the Chicago Urban League.

She was eulogized as "not a star, but a superstar."

She was just 28 when she died.

I watch so you don't have to

Telethon Update: There's an Ethel Merman impersonator singing a medley of Ethel's big hits. She doing a credible job, which is to say she's really annoying. (Ethel Merman is like Milton Berle -- I have no idea why these people become stars.) It occurs to me as she belts out "There's No Business like Show Business" that this may be the first time I've ever seen Ethel Merman impersonated by an actual woman. Go figure.

Remember, you can't mock the Telethon if you don't give to MDA. Here's that link again.

Monday Movie Meme

This week's movie topic is all about Work...

In honor of the Labor Day holiday here in the U.S. we thought we'd focus this week's topic on movies centered around work - finding a job, getting a job, loving a job, hating a job - you get the idea.

The Bumbles already included Baby Boom, the Diane Keaton movie that popped into my head first. So count this as me seconding their vote for that one. Now here are my other choices:

Broadcast News. Ah, Jane Craig! Holly Hunter personifies how heady the most socially accepted addiction can be -- the need to be "the go-to girl" at work. The exhilaration of pulling it off, right on deadline. The tearful and very private exhaustion. The dependency on a more-than-friends/less-than-lovers "office spouse." The purpose work gives your life. There's a lovely bit of dialog that I keep reminding myself is meant to be funny, but I struggle because it's been echoed in my own professional life countless times. BOSS: It must be nice to always believe you know better, to always be the smartest person in the room. JANE: No, it's awful.

What Women Want. Mel Gibson plays the creative director at a Chicago ad agency. Like me. So where are my two secretaries and expansive expensive account? While this movie contains little nuggets of truth, mostly I enjoy it for all it gets wrong. My favorite: a multi-media presentation for running shoes that takes your breath away. In real life, the computers wouldn't be compatible, or the plug would require an adapter that someone forgot to bring, or the sound wouldn't sync and no one from IT would be available ... No matter how big the account or how famous the client, I always insist on going retro: art boards!

The Best of Everything. An ancient (1950s) soap opera. When I first saw it, in junior high, I thought this is what the adult world would be like. Caroline (my favorite) starts out as a secretary at Fabian Publishing in (of course) Manhattan and eventually works her way up to editor with a wall office. Along the way she meets a suicidal, lovelorn struggling actress, a dumbass, lovelorn country girl, a barren, lovelorn career woman, assorted married men/pigs and a fantabulous, albeit alcoholic, sensitive hero who understands her. It's the kind of movie where women wear white gloves and hats to work and remove their clip-on earrings when they answer the phone. I love it, love it, love it.

To play along yourself, click here.

Ah, the Telethon

The act that's on now is a ventriloquist that had a big old Sir Paul puppet and he performed the duet, "The Girl Is Mine." It was delightfully wretched. You don't see stuff like this every day. I hope I get to see a plate spinner before I switch it off for the night!

Remember, keep your karma in check. If you make fun of Jerry and this corny cast of characters, you gotta contribute to MDA. It's only right.

September Fitness Challenge

Day 6. Pushed the cardio to 45 minutes! And I discovered a new machine -- the fixed lateral. It works well with my usual lateral pulls. I also did sit ups. That hurt a little bit, not in the abs but because my bum knee makes it hard to get up off the floor. Maybe tomorrow I'll devote my workout completely to cardio ...

Good News!

Even if I still felt about Michael Jackson the way I did when I insisted my birthday party start late so I could watch the premier of the "Black or White" video, it would bug the living shit out of me that The Gloved One has the rights to the Lennon/McCartney catalog. Especially now, with the launch of The Beatles: Rock Band game and the release of 14 remastered Beatles CDs. (9 of Amazon's Top 20 Bestselling CDs are by The Beatles, and they won't even be released until Tuesday!) The glory and the profits from Beatlemania Redux should go to the Beatles, especially the Lennon/McCartney families.

Nine years from now, in 2018, the songs may begin becoming the property of Paul McCartney again.* According to US copyright law, 56 years after music is originally published, songwriters can move to regain their lost rights. So "Please, Please Me" and "I Saw Her Standing There" and other songs written in 1962 can be returned to Paul. (Exactly where the songs will be returned from is still shrouded in mystery. The Jackson estate is so deeply in debt that it's not known if the songs will be used to settle with creditors.)

Paul McCartney will be 76 years old in 2018. I hope he's still here to enjoy getting his own songs back.

*John Lennon's death in 1980 complicates his situation a bit. His widow has to negotiate a separate agreement.

Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing: The Random Dozen Meme

1. When you go to Wowmart, what one thing do you get every single time, besides a funky-wheeled squeaking cart full of frustration? 12-pack of Coke

2. What is something that people are currently “into” that you just don’t get or appreciate? Last week the Entertainment Weekly cover was devoted to a Seinfeld reunion. Yawn.

3. What is something that really hoists your sail that other people might feel “ho-hum” about? This week the Entertainment Weekly is devoted to the Beatles and discusses the 14 album reissues.

4. Favorite song to sing in the shower or car? Dancing in the Moonlight ("It's such a fine and natural sight ...)

5. A really great salad must have this ingredient: Cucumber slices

6. What advice in a nutshell would you give to new bloggers? Post often. It's more important to capture the moments of your life than to agonize over every syllable.

7. What was the alternate name that your parents almost named you? Do you wish they had chosen it instead of the one they gave you? John. I would have had to have been born a boy to get it, and I like being a girl.

8. What in your life are you waiting for? To have enough money put aside to redecorate this condo

9. You get a package in the mail. What is it, and who is it from? It's a present from my Cousin Rose. I'd have to open it to know what's inside, and I promised her I'd wait until my actual birthday (which isn't until November).

10. Today–what song represents you? My Tears Dry on Their Own by Amy Winehouse

11. What is one thing that blogging has taught you about yourself? How lucky I am. Yes, I have been known to battle the blues. But by chronicling my life I have discovered how many things lift my spirits each and every day.

12. How are you going to (or how did you) choose the clothes you’re wearing today? What do they say about you in general or specifically how you’re feeling today? My Inspi(red) Gap t-shirt was a gift from my friend Mindy back in 2007. I chose it because I hadn't worn it much this summer and soon it will be too chilly to wear it.

September Fitness Challenge

Day 5. A full 40 minutes of cardio! Split between the bike and the elliptical. Then I went on to do lats and leg curls and leg presses. I wasn't completely worn out yet and was tempted to do a little more. But I don't want to do any damage to my banged-up right leg. So I reminded myself I'd be back tomorrow and headed for the locker room.

A good day

Let myself awaken naturally, without the alarm clock.

Donated a bag of non-perishables to the food pantry -- arriving just before they closed, which is better for me.*

Had me a lovely lunch at Cosi, then went, at the spur of the moment, to the movies (Extract; just OK, but Ben Affleck is a riot).

Sent four boxes of Christmas cards to Operation Shoebox. (I want the troops to get them in time to send them back stateside to family and friend.) This is not only a do-good, it was housecleaning because every year I buy more charity Christmas cards than I can ever send and they are nearly overrunning me.

Worked out, getting in tons of cardio and strengthening my legs and my core. I feel great.

D Lee had an exquisite day at the plate.

Now I'm watching The Sound of Music. This movie is always hitsville with me.

As they say, "it's all good."


*Obviously I like helping my neighbors or I wouldn't do this, but it upsets me to see how deep the need is. By arriving just before closing, most people have already been helped and the parking lot was mostly empty.

My cats amuse me

This morning, I was putting my clean bras away in the drawer. I machine wash them in a mesh bag with a long drawstring. While performing this little task, I was (tunelessly) singing the tune to the theme to the old Green Hornet tv show. (I don't believe it had lyrics.) I was watching a Batman rerun and found myself thinking about the less successful comic-to-TV crime fighter.

Anyway, my cat Reynaldo was watching my every move with bright eyed enthusiasm. I thought to myself, "Does he wonder what I'm singing? Why I'm singing?"

Then I realized he wasn't watching me, he was planning his attack on mesh bag's drawstring.

My cats aren't confused by my more eccentric behavior because they really don't care. Cats tend to treat us with a certain noblesse oblige that comes with descending from Egyptian gods. It makes them good roommates.

September Fitness Challenge

Day 4. No excuses. At least, no legitimate ones. I not only stayed well within my calorie limit today, I took care of my major weekend chores -- laundry and grocery shopping. I checked the local health club's weekend hours and they are open until 6 Saturday and Sunday and until 3 on Monday. So my goal is to get over there three times over the next days. Wish me luck!

HEY, LAY-DEEE!

There may be celebrities that I enjoy mocking more than Jerry Lewis, but none that I have enjoyed making fun of as long. Jerry Lewis is corny, vulgar, maudlin, nasty and often just plain nuts. His massive ego and complete lack of self control make the Telethon one of my favorite TV events of the year.

The sublime ridiculousness that is Jerry Lewis' stage persona doesn't take away from the wonderful work he has done for MDA, and that MDA does to help those neuromuscular disease. Now in his 80s, after winning humanitarian awards and raising over $1 billion for MDA, he certainly doesn't have to put his snarky old self out there for the amusement of smart asses like me.

That's why I already donated $70 to MDA, before the show starts. I want to make sure I do my part to help the charity that has done so much good for so many over the years. Then I can just sit back and enjoy Jer's dopey hijinks in peace.

If you're going to watch the telethon, eager to see how many minutes into the show it takes Jerry to insult someone, I suggest you do the same.

Even if you're not going to watch it, consider making a contribution. They really do help the people who need them. Here's their website.

Genuinely befuddled

This is the 43rd President, George W. Bush. Take a look at his face in this, his commissioned White House portrait. Does he look evil to you? An enemy of the very Constitution he was elected* to defend and protect?

Most of all, does he look like a man out to indoctrinate your children and twist their impressionable minds to follow his radical right wing agenda?

After all, in 2001 he addressed children directly, asking them to send at least $1 to help children in Afghanistan. The funds were going to be distributed in conjunction with (get this!) the United Nations!

I know, I know. You're shocked. What a bastard!

Of course all of this is silly. GWB was right to appeal to children. Just as the hubbub about Obama speaking to schoolchildren is silly and Obama is right to appeal to children.

Aside from the hypocrisy of those who freak out over Obama's speech but not Bush's, there is another element of this that bothers me ...

When are the vocal minorities who protest Obama's speech going to accept it -- this man IS the President?* What is to be gained by encouraging schoolchildren NOT to listen to him? I mean, there are parents actually threatening to keep their children home rather than have them exposed to Barack Obama!

I live in a neighborhood where kids proudly wear Obama t-shirts as they skateboard around, so I find all this rather shocking and confusing. I had no idea how vitriolic this has become in other parts of the country.


*Tempted though I am to talk about FL 2000 and OH 2004, I am going to take the high road here.

In case I need a career change

Sent here by Kwizgiver.

You Should Teach Third Grade

You are good at dealing with many types of personalities at once. You are an excellent multitasker. You can teach a group well, but you're also able to help people out one on one. You see everyone as individuals, and you're able to meet them where they are. You don't judge or push. You know how to ask interesting questions and point people in the right direction.

What Grade Should You Teach?

Blogthings: Our Quizzes Weren't Written By Bored 12 Year Olds

Done!

I stayed late and plowed through and finished developing two different concepts for introducing specific 2010 tax law revisions to the public. It didn't come easily and it wasn't fun, the way my job often is. My difficulty didn't spring from the subject matter -- over my career I have written glowingly about tube socks and mud flaps. No, today the problem was that I just couldn't get into the groove.

I'm pleased with the final result, which is only right. I mean, my clients don't get a special, reduced rate for work done when I'm not into the groove. And now I get to eat dinner and enjoy what's left of my evening, knowing that my four-day Labor Day weekend won't involve working from home. Yea!

September Fitness Challenge

Day 3. Planning ahead. I am looking at my day differently now, giving more thought to what I consume and even anticipating my day ahead of time. For example, today is Beer Cart day. On a day like this,* I KNOW I will want that brewski. So I had a lighter lunch -- hard-boiled eggs, grapes, cheese and crackers. My Bud Light is guilt free, and, in fact, acting as my muse, and I'll still be able to have whatever I want for dinner without going over my 1890 calorie-allotment.

*Writer's block AND a Cub loss to the White Sox!

This is so sad

My word well has run dry. No matter how hard I pump, no words come forth! I have to write tons of copy about the 2010 IRA tax laws, and make it (if not fun, at least ...) interesting and accessible. And I am hopelessly STUCK!

I shall now check the Illinois State Lottery ticket in my wallet. If I am not suddenly a freshly-minted millionaire, then I'm afraid I can't quit this job and must finish this project. So then I'll get some lunch. Maybe having some grub will inspire me.

Therapy? Did someone say "therapy?"

I found The Therapy Survey over at Kwizgiver's.

When was the last time you cried?
Months ago, while watching Marley & Me ("You were a great dog, Marley." "Goodbye, Clearance Puppy.")

What made you angry this week?
Over lunch on Tuesday, a coworker compared and contrasted Chicago and LA by explaining that at least the homosexuals here stay in the closet. Reminded me of why I shouldn't go out to lunch with coworkers.

What was the happiest day of your life?
I've had many. The first one that comes to mind is an evening in summer 1976 at the old Chicago Stadium when I first saw Paul McCartney live.

Have you ever laughed until you cried?
Yes

Have you ever laughed so hard you peed your pants?
No

Have you ever been suspicious of someone?
Yes

What was the last thing you envied?
How nice this woman on the street looked in her belted sweater.

Are you sarcastic?
Who, me?

Have you ever had your heart broken?
Oh, yes.

What is the last thing that disgusted you?
A scene in a Wednesday rerun of NCIS: a murderer cut out her victim's eyes

Have you ever been truly afraid because of a scary movie?
Yes. Dressed to Kill.

What is you biggest regret?
Not flossing when I was younger.

Have you ever had an obsession?
Other than the Cubs? (They play the White Sox today.)

Do you feel pity others who have less than you?
Yes

What is your biggest fear?
Suffering through a firey plane crash

What was the last lie you told?
I can't recall. Not that I'm ubertruthful. I just can't remember the last lie I told.

Have you ever cheated in a game among friends?
Not as an adult

Who was the last person you flirted with?
I don't even remember. Isn't that sad?

Have you ever seen an image that made you physically ill?
No. Several have come close, but none has succeeded.

September Fitness Challenge

Day 2. 35 minutes of cardio followed by leg presses and leg curls. It'll be close, I admit, but I just might stay within my calorie intake goal today, too!

I Saw Her Standing There

OK, she wasn't standing. She was walking toward me up the street, but too involved with her cell phone conversation to recognize me. She's a former coworker of mine, one I haven't seen in more than 10 years. She'd be in her middle 50s now.

She was reed thin, in denim from head to toe (including her bedazzled jeans). Her long, straight hair was very thin (was that scalp peering through?) and she had circles around her eyes.

Is it evil, or conceited, to say plainly right here that I am glad I look better than she does? Please say it's OK. It doesn't happen often.

"I Want" Wednesday

This week's question is:

What meal do you want at this very instant?

I just had lunch, so I'm not hungry. But I am craving something cinnamon-y. And warm. Comfort food. So let's say a gi-normous bowl of oatmeal with warm cinnamon apple slices. Since it's my fantasy, I'll sprinkle EXTRA cinnamon on top, too! Just to make sure I have more sugar coursing through my system than anyone needs, I'll take a Coke with that.

To play along, click here.

September Fitness Challenge

Day 1. I'd like to be able to say that I started this month on the treadmill but alas, I'd be lying. We took our consultant, Maggie, out to lunch to wish her a fond farewell, so I couldn't work out during the day and I didn't get home until late. BUT I did do something to aimed at keeping me healthy. Because I had such a yummy, albeit calorie-laden, lunch, I opted to have a nutritious dinner. Apples and cinnamon oatmeal. Just 250 calories and 24 grams of fiber. It tasted all the better because it made me feel so virtuous!

I must learn to be more patient

One of my coworkers is, quite possibly, the nicest man in the world. Kind and sincere. He also stutters and is hard of hearing. I hate myself for becoming impatient with him when he doesn't get something or I find myself repeating myself. I hope he doesn't sense my frustration. After all, I should only be as nice as he is!

The Queen's Meme

Bloggingham Love Shack (aka The Romance Meme)

1. What is the craziest thing you've ever done in the name of love? I actually almost quit my job and left my family and friends to move to Fremont, California, with the most toxic man to ever draw breath. No, really, he is. You may think you've dated some repulsivos, but trust me, I wasted a decade with the real title holder.

2. How much mystery should there be in a relationship? Is it a good thing or not? I should be enveloped in mystery, and yet be able to know every damn thing I want about the man in my life.

3. Is there someone in the blogosphere you'd like to get to know more intimately? Have you been too shy to ask? Let me help you. Write a 3 sentence anonymous blove letter to them in this meme.
Leave a link if you dare. (I promise not to tell!)

Dear John Mayer, I love how sensitive you are on "Waiting for the World to Change" and "Daughters." I love how vulgar and silly you are on Twitter. I want to eat cereal in bed with you.www.johnmayer.com

4. Describe a "perfect evening" with the one you love. Watching a movie at home, sitting on the floor, drinking beer and eating pizza. Then lots of sex, please.

5. If you are in a relationship, describe the one thing that makes it work well for you. If you are not in a relationship, do you want to be? If so, what type of romance are you looking for? What would it look like in your life? To borrow from The Boss, I long for someone who will "guard my dreams and visions." Then lots of sex, please.

6. If you had to choose between having good s*x (I told you not to let your mother read this) OR intelligent conversation on a regular basis, which would you choose and why? Why? Why must I choose? Oh, my Queen, you are a cruel despot!

7. I've got the Bloggingham Blues. What type of man is right for Queen Mimi Pencil Skirt? Do any of you see love in her foreseeable future? What do you suggest I do to spice up my love life? What am I doing wrong????!
I object to the basic premise, for I don't believe you are doing anything "wrong." So much of love is timing. A coworker and I were discussing Gone with the Wind (and, yes, come to think of it, Rhett Butler would be great for you). We both read it for the first time in high school and loved it. But if we read it for the first time now, would we love it as much? The book remains the same but we evolve. So you just haven't found the right man for this time of your life yet. And why would any woman ask ME for advice on love? Are Liz Taylor and Jessica Simpson both busy?

09 August Happiness Challenge -- Day 31

Monday. Beautiful sky, perfect weather. The sky is blue and clear, except for a few puffy white clouds. The sun is bright and the mercury just grazed 70º. Simply gorgeous.

Now it's time to bid that Get Happy Girl, Judy Garland, "adieu" because, just like Christmas decorations, she's going to be tucked away until next year.