I Want Wednesday

I Want ... no more goodbyes!

One coworker has decided not to return from maternity leave. Another is following her husband's career trajectory to Nebraska. While I am happy for the personal fulfillment their decisions promise these women, I am melancholy for myself.

For I don't like goodbyes. I really don't.

And I'm especially haunted the prospect of the BIG ones -- my mother and my uncle. My mother's deterioration has escalated since her first bout with pneumonia in 2009, and it's scaring me. She's forgetful and her perception is way off somehow. Last Sunday she told my nephew that the world we live in today -- two wars and a Recession -- is every bit as bad as it was when she was a little girl. Now, really! Where's our Hitler? Where are the homeless people knocking on the door, asking for food in exchange for work? I asked her if she was serious and she said, "yes." All I can do is shake my head.

Likewise my uncle is fading and fading and fading. The State of Illinois now commandeers his mail and pays his bills for him, and has decided that he needs neither cable nor a cell phone. His response is to be petulant. Just 15 years older than I am, and deemed not able to handle his own affairs. It's rattling.

These two goodbyes -- the inevitable ones, the ones that are moving inexorably closer, are the ones I fear most.

What about you? What do you want this Wednesday?

10 on Tuesday

Ten places I wish I was right now, as represented by postcards on my bulletin board.

1) Chateau Elan in Atlanta. It's a winery, a golf course, and -- my favorite -- a luxury spa. Wouldn't it be lovely to be in a dimly-lit, fragrant room, enjoying a hot-stone massage?

2) Copely Square in Boston. I love this part of town because it's where the past and the present coexist so comfortably. There's a lively shopping center and small storefronts, the John Hancock buildings, which represent current architecture, and buildings like Trinity Church, a gorgeous old building from the 1870s.

3) Hemingway Home in Key West. Papa lived and worked here for more than a decade, and it's a fascinating place to visit. Especially for the cats. I can think of no other museum where more than 50 are welcome and encouraged to roam free. Some are friendly, others aloof, and all have the confidence that comes from knowing they live there while you're only visiting.

4) Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs. A grand old lady, right across the street from "my mountain," Ouachita. Before I discovered Chateau Elan, this was my spa, where I'd come to enjoy thermal water treatments and then wander around on the mountain. A beautiful, peaceful escape.

5) JFK Library and Museum. Just outside Boston, it's an inspiring trip to Camelot. Don't miss the movie that's offered to guests -- it's the President himself narrating the story of his life and sets the tone beautifully. And I'd really love to have a leisurely lunch there -- for the Museum Cafe provides a breathtaking view of the sea.

6) Captain Tony's Saloon. A Key West staple. Rumor has it that it's been a favorite of both Hemingway and Jimmy Buffett. I enjoy it because it's just so freaking ... Key West. License plates and business cards hang on the walls, while bras hang from the ceiling. An enormous tree actually grows from the floor and up through the roof -- rumor has it that this was originally a "hanging tree" and no one wants to disturb the spirits by cutting it down. The upholstery is torn and the drinks are served in plastic cups.

7) The Governor's Palace, Williamsburg. Once home to Thomas Jefferson, it's opulent and fascinating, surrounded by gorgeous gardens (complete with mazes).

8) The Hollywood Sign. I'm not providing a link because what else do you possibly need to know about it?

9) Abraham Lincoln Museum in Springfield. I love feeling this close to the great man. He's become so mythic that sometimes he seems more like Santa Claus to me than a real, flesh and blood man, and it's here that he comes to life for me. That's why I like the Treasuries Gallery best. There you can see intimate items like the tiny framed photo and lock of his hair that Mary carried with her throughout her widowhood.

10) Paris Las Vegas Hotel. Hey! Gimme a break! It was a Manilow-free zone when I visited. Not that it was any less rich and silly when I stayed there. It still had it's very own Eiffel Tower!

Not what he expected

I have been carrying on a Facebook flirtation with a German national who lives England. He approached me with a message about my fondness for vodka -- I have it listed as a hobby, which amuses him.

When we first started chatting, he was all light and rather immature for the 30-something university professor he claims to be, so looked him up to see if he was for real. I found his page on the university's website and found that he is a history/political science professor.

Well! I'm not wasting this golden opportunity to find out how our country is viewed overseas, so I have been peppering him with questions. I still hear from him every evening and I'm learning a lot, but something tells me this isn't the breezy, breathless exchange he was expecting when he friended me.

Movie Monday -- Hidden Gems

Movies You Might Have Missed
Share great films you have discovered that most viewers don't know about. Take an opportunity to share your gems to enhance our Neflix queue, linking back here at The Bumbles Blog.

The Jane Austen Book Club. (2007) Five book-loving friends get together to discuss Jane Austen. They invite a sixth, a hot young man named Trey, who is recruited to be the new love interest of one of their newly-divorced club members. The thing of it is -- she doesn't know that's why he's there and neither does he. And, just like in a Jane Austen novel, the heart leads our characters any which way it wants to. Yes, it's a total chick flick, but it's romantic, sexy and a lot of fun. It's also the first time I was impressed by Emily Blunt, who plays the desperately realistic daughter of a hippie chick named "Skygirl."

This Property Is Condemned. (1966) Directed by Sydney Pollack, screenplay by Francis Ford Coppola, based on a story by Tennessee Williams, starring Robert Redford and Natalie Wood, with a cast that includes Dabney Coleman, Charles Bronson and Robert Blake. And yet, somehow, no one has ever heard of it! Nat is the hottest girl in a small town. Redford is the efficiency engineer for the railroad, who is in town to lay off employees and decimate the town -- do I need to tell you this is a Southern town where everyone speaks colorfully? -- and this will leave Nat without opportunities. She'd hate Redford for what he's doing if she wasn't so attracted to him … An interesting glimpse at icons early in their careers, and it's unfortunately relevant for economic times.

Clean Me -- Keep on keepin' on

Every day I am going to do something -- no matter how small -- to improve my standard of living at home.

Tonight I did more of the same: I bought another padded envelope and resumed collecting items for Operation: Shoebox. Then I tossed two pair of shoes and placed another in the bag for Goodwill.

The past week I felt kinda stalled on the "Clean Me" front, but now I realize that some of the processes I have in place feel like habits, which is a good thing.

I'm not watching the real-time Cub game. I'm now watching highlights of the 1984 season.

WGN TV is rerunning a special that gives me goosebumps -- Cubs Forever, a retrospective of the last 60 years of broadcasts.

I saw the game that rainy night in July 2005, when my best friend and I were there at Wrigley Field to see my beloved future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux get his landmark 300th strike out.

I know the Cubs are losing to the Dodgers right now, but I don't care really. After the All-Star break we begin again, and I'm predicting a winning streak and a third-place finish, behind Cincy and St. Louis. And then I will declare 2011 as The Year. And someday it will be. Because being a Cub fan is about hope and loyalty. Being a Cub fan is a metaphor for life.

An episode I have never seen before!

It's been said before, but I Love Lucy. And I just happened upon an episode that's new to me, "The Great Train Robbery." Original airdate: Monday, 10/31/55. It's the beginning of Season 5, and the Riccardos are returning from Hollywood by train.

A previously unseen -- at least by me -- adventure with the Riccardos and Mertzes! It's like discovering buried treasure!

Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing: Meme Of Many Odd Questions, Part One

Cheers to all of us thieves!

1. First thing you wash in the shower? My face.

2. What color is your favorite hoodie? I despises hoodies and don't own one.

3. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again? Yes.

4. Do you plan outfits? Only peripherally. I plan my PURSES, and then decide what to wear that won't clash with the bag.

5. How are you feeling RIGHT now? Warm.

6. What's the closest thing to you that's red? A can of Classic Coke.

7. Tell me about the last dream you remember having? That I was at a lecture about Jacqueline Kennedy's White House years.

8. Did you meet anybody new today? No.

9. What are you craving right now? A hug from my best friend. I promised I wouldn't tell him what's going on with a friend of both of ours and I'm honoring that. But it's very hard.

10. Do you floss? Yes, indeed. I'm a conscientious little flosser.

11. What comes to mind when I say cabbage? Corned beef.

12. Are you emotional? Every time I think of you.



13. Have you ever counted to 1,000? Yes. But it's a talent I don't call upon very often.

14. Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it? No. I prefer to enjoy my ice cream from a cup rather than a cone, so I use a spoon.

15. Do you like your hair? Sure. It's a little too long in the back just now, but I like it fine.

16. Do you like yourself? More often than not.

17. Would you go out to eat with George W. Bush? Depends on what's on the menu and who's paying.

18. What are you listening to right now? The closing theme from Law & Order: SVU.

19. Are your parents strict? No.They were more bark than bite.

20. Would you go sky diving? I'd consider it.

21. Do you like cottage cheese? Yech! No!

22. Have you ever met a celebrity? Met? Hell! How 'bout kissed? I kissed Bruce Springsteen, and even better, he kissed back.

Why baseball matters

Today's Cubs-Dodgers game had everything -- good pitching, clutch hitting, homeruns and even Lou Piniella getting ejected (first time this season; 65th time in his career). My heroes in pinstripes won 7-3. It was never even close, and a fine time was had by me.

The finest time I've had all week.

During a week that presented me with illness and death, there's something so comfortingly dependable about baseball, so predictably joyous about the Cubs coming through when they really had to -- if not for their playoff chances, then to salve this particular fan's spirit.

Like the Beatles, I can always count on the Cubs to take me out of myself for a while. That's why I count myself lucky.

Neon around a void

I purchased The Killer Inside Me from On Demand because I heard wonderful things about Casey Affleck's performance. And he is very good. Lou is 99.44% pure psychopath, hiding behind a bland babyface. He seems to believe he does what he does because of "the killer inside of him," while he himself is blameless.

But I don't care how much praise it's received at indie film festivals. The Killer Inside Me is not very intriguing. There's a lot of sex, but it's pretty creepy and not at all erotic. There's a lot of scheming and double dealing, but it doesn't add any tension.

Bad Influence may not have been as beloved by the critics, but it covers much of the same territory and is a lot more fun.

Saturday 9: Go Your Own Way

1. When was the last time you were told to go your own way? I don't have to be told. I'm a pretty independent traveler by my own preference. Like Sammelah, "I gotta be me."

2. What one experience has strengthened your character the most so far? My relationship with my father has colored much of my life. His sudden death and the emotional journey I've taken to make peace with that complicated relationship has strengthened me.

3. What's your favorite thing to do on a rainy day? Watch a great movie.

4. How long can you go without your cell phone? Days. I really only use it to call out whenplans change.

5. Do you wish you were somewhere else right now? No. Though I wish someone else was somewhere else right now so we could be together.

6. Of all the people you've ever known, who have you most feared? Last spring, a crazy man went off on me at the el platform. He called me the "c-word" and a "douchebag." I was very angry and frightened, but was determined not to let him see that he got to me. So I responded, as evenly as I could, "I prefer twat." He kept raging at me. It was very upsetting and scary. I realize I'll never know what set him off, I'll never see him again and I don't care what he thinks of me, but I hate when people like that burrow their ways into my life and my memory. Women on the el platform were very nice to me and said things like, "Your day will get better," and "Don't worry, he's just nuts."

7. Do people tell you that you look your age? Not yet. I'm very lucky that way.

8. Your ex shows up randomly at your house, what do you say? Depends on which ex. To most I would say, "Hi! How are you?" To one I would say, "Don't make me get a restraining order."

9. Do you believe everyone deserves a second chance? Almost everyone. I know I have appreciated being granted second chances.

Thank God you're there

Blogosphere, I'm reeling. I promised I would not tell anyone this -- not even my best friend -- and I'm going to honor that. But I use words. It's what I do, it's how I process information. And so I'm telling you so I can work it through.

Kathleen has cancer.

She just told me. I literally just hung up the phone.

It's breast cancer. She found out Wednesday afternoon. She told her husband immediately. She told her kids yesterday. She told me today. She's telling her mom later this evening. I am honored that she told me before her mother or her siblings (she has a big family).

I don't know how she is waiting a week for the next step -- a Wednesday meeting with an oncologist. About a year ago I had a "suspicious mammogram" and I practically jumped out of my skin as I waited for the (blessedly) benign results.

Here's what we know now: the lump is small and in the center of her breast, not too close to the nipple or the armpit, which is good news. Her gynecologist suggests that she will "probably" have a lumpectomy, followed by meds but not chemo. Of course, that's only her gyne's best guess.

She's been dizzy lately, overworked and overemotional weeks even before she got the results. I wonder if her body hasn't been subtly, or not so subtly, sending her signals that she should go to the doctor.

I need to call the doctor about my annual mammogram, too.

Kathleen knows I'm here for her. I reminded her that I will be there for her to give her anything she needs, even if it's a friend to take a day off and sit with her at home.

There isn't much else I can do. Except, of course, pray and worry.

I don't want this to be true. But it is, and I have to accept it.

The mercury's rising

I really don't like hot weather. It makes me grumpy and lazy and ... um ... hot. Like today, on the el. I'm coming home from a sclerotherapy treatment (possibly my last). I'm not feeling especially attractive -- the post-treatment support hose don't help.

A guy had fallen asleep on the train. He was wearing a tank top that showed off well-toned arms in the sweetest tan color. My first thought was, "I wonder how his tattoo would taste?" I shocked myself. But not as much as I'd shock him if he was awakened by a pudgy old stranger licking his tattoo on the train!

Now THIS was a party

Look who joined Ringo on stage to celebrate his 70th birthday. Look what he sang!

As seen at Kwizgiver's

She got a different result than I did.

You Could Use Some Purple

It's hard to put your finger on it, but something about your life probably feels incomplete right now. You are restless and a bit aimless. You could do with some direction. Tap into some purple energy to find wisdom and true understanding. You need to gaze inward in order to truly solve your problems. Don't be afraid to introspect.

What Color Would Help You Right Now?

Look who I met today

A coworker brought her baby boy into the office for the first time. It was fascinating to see him. Born mid-April, he's already so long and lean and friendly! It's a curious phenomenon to see the bump I spent day in and day out with as a fully-formed human being. And, after the loss we found out about earlier this week, it was heartening to see a baby, good to see life renewing itself.

Don't know if Mom is going to come back from maternity leave. We certainly need her, though she doesn't seem especially eager to leave him.

(This photo wasn't taken today. It's about 10 days old. Mom sent it to me because, well, guess who gave him the outfit!)

"Let's continue."

So said our fearless leader, Lou Piniella, after Wednesday's sweep of Diamondbacks. Our win streak has reached three! And trust me, this season that is cause for celebration!

I just wish the Dodgers -- our next opponents on this West Coast jaunt -- weren't so good this year. And I wish these weren't all night games! The late starts screw with my schedule -- I eat too much and forget to do my evening "Clean Me." I guess that means that the 2010 Gal is about as consistent and disciplined as her 2010 Cubs.

Amazingly enough, I saw a former coworker in the stands. I heard he'd retired to Arizona and there he was, sitting behind some Cubs fans in full Cubbie regalia whom the camera lingered on for a long moment. The Diamondbacks only pull less than 30,000 fans this year but still, what are the odds that I'd be able to recognize someone I know in the stands?

Oh well, it's time to sing myself to sleep with, "Go, Cubs, go ..." I shall dream of my team continuing their hot streak into the All-Star break.

Retirement becomes him

Doesn't my beloved future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux look happy in this picture? He met the press this evening after the Cubs game in Arizona. As assistant to the Cubs' general manager, he said all the right things about Zambrano, but then, he's always been perfectly appropriate with the press, so that's no surprise.

Now water coolers are another story ...

(I've missed you, Professor.)

The Queen's Meme -- The Firsts Meme

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought? "My, how many chins do you have goin' there?"

2. Where did you go on the very first vacation of your life? Duck Lake in Northern Michigan. I remember being embarrassed because, since the cottage only had a shower, my mother gave me a bath in the sink.

3. Open the door of your refrigerator. What is the first thing you see? The Dean's Milk Chug (for my cereal).

4. Tell us about your first kiss OR your last first date. I'm sad to report I don't remember either. So instead I'll tell you about my last great first kiss. We were sitting on his sofa, watching the godawful movie that followed Mystery Science Theater. It was closer to dawn than midnight and still he was resisting taking me home. I must have dozed off on his shoulder because I was awakened by the greatest kiss in this history of tongues and lips.

5. If you had wings to fly about the universe, where is the first place you'd land? Someplace cool, with a lot of shade.

6. What is the first thing you do when you get in your car? I don't have a car.

7. What is the first thing you ever said to your firstborn? Don't have one of these, either.

8. What is the last thing you heard about your first love? My mom mentioned that he was in town for his father's funeral and reported that his glasses were "funny looking." I didn't ask her to elaborate.

9. If you had created the world in seven days yourself, what would you have created on the First Day? Baseball

10. What is the first song in your IPOD or song list? "A" by Barenaked Ladies. Not surprising, since my song list is alphabetical.

11. What is the first tangible thing you lost that you could never find again? I'd say, "my virginity," except I know exactly who took it. (See Question #8.)

12. Who is your favorite First Lady of all time? Has to be JBKO, my all-time hero.

13. Post a link to your first blog post. Good goobies, but you're bossy today, My Queen. You know how to scroll. If you're that curious, you can find it yourself.

14. When was the last time you needed FirstAid? When trying to liberate my new camera from all it's packaging, I cut my left index finger.

15. Can you explain the first down in football? No. Sorry.

To play yourself, and avoid incarceration in the dungeon, click here.

I Want Wednesday

I want it all to slow down.

Sometimes moments seem to crawl along, while years are zooming by, and I'd like that to change, please.

Not only is Ringo Starr now 70, but one of my clients died over the weekend at 71. He was a terrific man, one of my favorites because he was always lively and enthusiastic. His death was sudden, a massive heart attack. I suspect that was a blessing for him, but difficult for his family.

As I looked over his obituary and saw the richness of his life, I wasn't surprised. He seemed like one who would be involved, not on the sidelines. But I also saw a life that may have looked ordinary. A tour of duty in Vietnam, followed by an associate degree and a career in finance with a handful of companies right there in the hometown he never left. He married young and is survived by that same wife, as well 4 children and 7 grandchildren. At the time of his death, he'd already lost his parents and two sisters (one was his twin). For 25 years he refereed the high school's home football games. He went to work every day, sitting in his cubicle, doing his job day in and day out with integrity. I find much to admire about the way he conducted his "ordinary" life. And this past weekend he died.

I wonder if he felt it went by too quickly.

I look at my mom and know that, while virtually his age, she no longer has the stamina or mental acuity he demonstrated as recently as last week.

I think of my own life -- how the All-Star break is almost upon us, June 2010 is but a memory, and how my vacation in Williamsburg feels like it was just yesterday.

I want it all to slow down.

What about you? What do you want?

Happy 70th, Ringo!

Ringo is the first Beatle to reach this milestone. And, since the ranks of the Fab Four have tragically diminished, attention must be paid to this auspicious event.

So here are some facts about The Funny One. Take a moment today and send an affectionate birthday wish his way.

• Born Richard "Richie" Starkey to Elsie and Richard in Liverpool.

• His parents divorced when he was very young and his mother was remarried to Harry Graves, who encouraged young Richie's love of music and enjoyed Beatlemania immensely.

• Was a member of Rory Storm and the Hurricanes when the Beatles persuaded him to join their group in 1962 (being the first Beatle born but the last to join the band makes him both the youngest and the oldest Beatle).

• Twice married -- to Maureen, a local Liverpool girl and the mother of his children (Zak, Jason and Lee) from 1965 to 1975, and to Barbara Bach, the actress he met while filming Caveman, since 1981.

• As a Beatle, some of his best-known vocals include "Boys," "I Wanna Be Your Man," "Act Naturally," "Matchbox," "Yellow Submarine," "Octopus' Garden" and, perhaps most famously, "With a Little Help from My Friends."

• As a solo artist, he had hits with "It Don't Come Easy," "Photograph," "You're Sixteen," and "The No No Song."

• Paul McCartney is not the only one who feels Ringo is underestimated as a musician, since his post-Beatle career has included successful collaborations with rock luminaries like Todd Rundgren, E-Streeters Clarence Clemons and Nils Lofgren, Levon Helm, Dr. John, and Dave Edmunds.

• He's my nephew's favorite Beatle, owing to the years he spent as Mr. Conductor on Thomas the Tank Engine.

Clean Me

Every day I am going to do something -- no matter how small -- to improve my standard of living at home.

If I still had shame left re: this, I'd be embarrassed to report that, while cleaning under my bed, I discovered a phone that's in better shape than the one currently on my nightstand, and a never-worn pair of shoes that, after I remove all the Charlotte fur (I suspect she's been resting her head on one of them), will be good as new again.

It occurs to me that I'd spend less on earrings, and sunglasses, and watches, and shoes if I kept track of the earrings, sunglasses, watches and shoes I already have.

I want one!

The covergirl of the latest Signals catalog is The Waving Solar Queen. As described by the good people at Signals:

Invite the Queen of England to a windowsill, flowerpot, or anyplace that gets some sun. A solar panel on her handbag powers the Royal Wave, her famously discreet "changing the lightbulb" gesture. Add a regal touch to your home or office without adding batteries. 6 ½" high. Note: Your queen's dress might be blue, pink, or orange. Please allow Her Majesty to choose.

Yes, it's silly. Yes, it's stupid. Yes, it's completely useless. And if I weren't devoted to getting my home and finances in order, I'd be calling Signals to get one.

10 on Tuesday

Inspired by Kwizgiver, who shares 10 great summer quotes,
I celebrate a man for all seasons with 10 quotes from

GROUCHO MARX

1. If you want to see a comic strip, watch me take a shower.

2. Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

3. Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read anyway.

4. Last night I shot an elephant in my pajamas. And how he got into my pajamas I’ll never know.

5. Don’t gulp that poison! It’s $4 a bottle!

6. Any man who can see through women is missing a lot.

7. I don’t want to belong to any club that would have someone like me as a member.

8. I have here an accident policy that will absolutely protect you no matter what happens. If you lose a leg, we'll help you look for it.

9. I intend to live forever or die trying.

10. I’ve known and respected your husband for many years – and if you’re good enough for him, you’re good enough for me!

The good thing about a bad season

The Cubs beat the Diamondbacks this afternoon! It was a good, competent game. And I'm happy, happy, happy.

My expectations this season are so low that every victory is cause for celebration ... and song!

"Go, Cubs, go. Go, Cubs, go.
Hey, Chicago, what do you say?
The Cubs are gonna win today!"

Movie Monday

This week's movie topic is all about Special Effects...

Here are my choices for movies that contain wicked awesome special effects. Share yours on your blog and back here at The Bumbles. And don't forget to visit your fellow participants!

JFK. I have a ton of problems with this movie in terms of narrative and content, but as an exercise in film making, I genuinely admire it. Oliver Stone interwove the real Zapruder film with actual news footage with stuff he made up, and he did it seamlessly. So seamlessly that by the time you it's over, you're not sure what you believe anymore. Likewise with the autopsy photographs. Now we could debate the movie's veracity and even its morality, but not its impact. It's a special effects tour de force that won multiple awards for its editing.

Die Hard. One of my favorite movies, a delightful thrill ride. Individual action sequences are still vivid in my mind's eye -- floors of Nakatomi Plaza being blown out, windows shattering and John McLane stepping through the broken glass with bare feet, and Hans' shocked face as he falls 35 floors to his death. Not unlike what the Bumbles said of Gary Sinise in Forrest Gump, I know that Alan Rickman probably only fell a few feet onto a mattress, but watching Hans descend sure as shit looked real!

Me and my camera

The view of the fireworks from my 4th floor living room window is perfect ... and unphotographable. I kept getting my own reflection and the weave of the drapes in each shot. So I went downstairs to the front steps and the lighting and angle were all wrong.

So this is the July 4 that I will remember for spending watching the fireworks through my camera (which I obviously still haven't mastered) instead of in the sky. Here's the best I could do, trying to capture the rockets' red glare over the treetops.

About the Cubs Curse

The Cubs were ahead 2-0 and then, somehow, ended up losing 14-3. I watched the game and still, am somehow not sure how it happened. Believe it or not, things may be looking up, since Friday we lost 12-0.

So it got me thinking about
The Curse.

According to legend, it dates back to 1945, the last time the Cubs made it to the World Series. Sam Sianis, owner of The Billy Goat Tavern*, brought a goat named Murphy to the ballpark. He even bought a ticket for Murphy. It was a warm day, Murphy's unique goat-y scent began to annoy other fans, and word came down from Cubs' owner PK Wrigley himself that Sianis and Murphy were to be ejected from the park. As he left the ballpark, Sam loudly placed a curse on the team and the park itself: "The Cubs will never win a World Series as long as a goat isn't allowed in Wrigley Field!"

The 1945 Cubs lost to the Tigers and haven't appeared in a Series since. They haven't won a championship since 1908.

Then, of course, there were the 1969 Cubs. I actually remember this. The line-up of that team can still tug the heartstrings -- Ron Santo, Fergie Jenkins, Billy Williams and Mr. Cub himself, Ernie Banks. They were up by 9 1/2 games in September. Somehow a black cat made it's way onto the field in New York and the Cubs lost to the Mets ... that day and consistently until they somehow blew the lead completely and watched the Mets take their place at the top of the NL and win the World Series.

And, of course, there's Fucking Steve Bartman. (Yes, I have been told that "Fucking" is not his real first name, but I have seen no proof.) In 2003, when the Cubs were in the playoffs against the Marlins, that fan reached out of the stands at Wrigley Field, trying for a souvenir and interfering with the game, preventing left fielder Moises Aloe from catching the ball. And making the out. The Cubs lost momentum, and the playoff series, and their chance for glory.

We have tried to Reverse the Curse. Many Greek restaurants serve goat as a special during the season, often performing exorcisms. A goat has also been ceremoniously welcomed into the park, brought by one of old Sam's descendants. As you can see below, the Bartman Ball was actually exploded publicly at Harry Caray's Restaurant.

And yet ... we continue to lose unloseable games under ridiculous circumstances. I don't believe in The Curse, exactly. But sometimes it seems like the only logical explanation left.




* The Billy Goat Tavern also claims to be the inspiration of the "cheezburger, cheezburger" skit made famous by John Belushi on SNL.

Keep our soldiers in your prayers today

Enjoy your 4th, and remember who makes this long weekend possible.

I'm asking God to keep each of them safe until they come home ... whether it's individually because their tours are over or collectively because the conflict has been resolved.

Inspired by Mimi.

No one won the Illinois State Lottery last night

That includes me, of course. But I prefer to look at it as the pot will be even higher for tomorrow's drawing!

I realize there are those who believe that playing the lotto is a waste of money. But I prefer to look at it as $2 for four grids means hours of fantasies, which is a good deal.

Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing: The Eighty Meme, Part Two

23. Are your days fast-paced? Not lately.

24. What did you do last night? Took my friend out to a movie and his birthday dinner.

25. Do you use sarcasm? Me? Never!

26. How old will you be turning on your next birthday? 53. It hurts to see the numerals. Fifty-three. There, that's a little better.

27. Are you picky about spelling and grammar? Less so than other writers I know.

28. Do you get along better with the same sex or the opposite sex? It depends on the individual.

29. Do you watch the news? Almost obsessively.

30. How did you get one of your scars? I have a scar on my left thigh that dates back to The Earthquake of 08. There was a 5.2 tremor in Southern Illinois and we felt it up here in Chicagoland. I don't know if it was the quake that awakened me or my cat's reaction, but we were both frightened and as he leaped off the bed, he scratched me.

31. Who was the last person to make you mad? My mom. Sometimes she sees problems where they don't exist.

32. What is the last big thing you purchased? My new camera. I used it to take the above photo of Joey.

33. Who would you want to be tied to for 24 hours? My TV boyfriend, Leroy Jethro Gibbs.

34. What is a rumour someone has spread about you? That a coworker and I were lovers. We weren't.

35. What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator? Depends on who I'm with. (Nudge nudge, wink, wink)

36. T or F: All’s fair in love and war? T

37. Do you know how to use some words correctly, but not know the meaning? Nope.

38. Do you know which US states don’t use Daylight Savings Time? Nope.

39. Do you want a bright yellow ‘06 mustang? Nope.

40. What’s something you’ve always wanted? A winning lottery ticket.

41. Would you rather swim in the ocean or a lake? Lake.

42. Do you wear a lot of black? Yes. More than I should, according to Stacy and Clinton.

43. Describe your hair: short and reddish brown.

44. Where is/are your best friend(s)? Boulder, CO

I'm a lucky girl

I'm still not feeling great. It's my tummy. I'm languid and a little weak. And yet, I'm happy.

And I feel fortunate, because it's the little things in my life that give me joy. Like the Cubs victory. Against first-place Cincinnati! Plus, today marked the exact halfway point in the Cubs' season, which means they are entering the second half on a high note!

I know this doesn't really make a tangible difference to the state of the world, or the Gulf, or even Chicagoland, but it does have a visceral impact on my mood.

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Make Me Say It Again, Girl

1. Do you feel that you need to keep repeating yourself when talking to a particular person? Yes. One of my coworkers either doesn't listen or doesn't hear, and even after all these years in the business I have to keep explaining and explaining to him. Fortunately, he's a really sweet man, otherwise it would go old very fast.

2. It's July. Do you have anything special planned? Later in the month, I'm having someone come in to rescue my hideous, horrible bathroom -- he'll regrout all the tiles, replace the caulk around the tub and toilet and sink, steam clean the floor and scrape/sand/killz prime the area around the shower. I cannot wait!

3. Who is your big celebrity crush? It changes. Right now, Mark Harmon is my TV boyfriend.

4. Tell us about a local restaurant you are sure we'd love. Opera serves delicious Asian-Indian fusion food, and the decor is pretty cool.

5. Tell us about the shyest person that you deal with regularly. I don't know if she's shy, exactly, but one of my coworkers suffers agony before she speaks to the client.

6. What is your vision of heaven and hell? Heaven is all things good. We are restored to health and we're happy and we're surrounded by God and love. We make our own hell here on earth.

7. What is your neighborhood like? We enjoy diversity, good schools and lovely little parks.

8. What's your favorite cook-out food? Hot dogs. They don't take very long, and I love seeing those little grill lines.

9. When was the last time that you saw fireworks? I can see them from my livingroom.

Observing tradition

Last night my friend John and I celebrated his birthday the way do -- dinner and a movie, both chosen by the celebrant.

The movie he chose was Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work, the well-received documentary that makes Joan the woman more interesting than Joan the comedienne. I never thought I'd say this, but I think if I knew her I'd like her, and both John and I certainly felt great compassion toward the old girl.

Then we went to dinner at Wilde's, an Irish pub devoted to the memory of Oscar. I had a huge dish of macaroni and cheese, which was delicious then but not so great now (see below). We ended the evening with a nightcap at a tiny dive bar John knows.

At one point in the movie, Rivers bemoans having to fire her long-time manager. They have been together so long, he's the only one she can turn to and ask, "Remember when ....?" and know he does. After 30 years of friendship, we're like that. And while we can frustrate one another to distraction, we can't fire each another.

This is why I bought ginger ale

My tummy hurts. Yesterday, throughout the day, I had a bagel w/cream cheese, popcorn, a big, heavy dish of macaroni and cheese and a pair of martinis. Oh yeah, and a salad, too. And it's all just sitting on my tummy this morning like a big brick.

As I look at that list, I wonder what I thought would happen.