Perfect!

It's a sunny evening -- 67º, no wind. If only it could always be like this. No warmer, no cooler. Just like this. All summer. Forever.

Q&A Time

Liberated from Kwizgiver

1. What would you pick as a major, if you could go back to college and do it again? Political science. Or maybe law.

2. Who is the one celebrity with whom you would most like to have an indepth conversation? My go-to answer for this has been the same for nearly 20 years: Bill Clinton. I am forever impressed with his encyclopedic knowledge of everything in the world and his infectious joie de vivre.

3. If you could make a living doing ANYthing, what would that be? I like what being a writer. But I'd love to be a biographer. I have read her books on Kennedy, Lincoln and FDR, and believe Doris Kearns Goodwin had a wonderful time researching and writing them.

4. What’s your all-time very favorite dessert? Mint chocolate ice cream

5. How many pairs of jeans do you own? Five. OK, six if you count the pair I need to hem but haven't. OK, eight if you count the two ginormous pairs I bought for after my surgery and I couldn't allow a zipper fly to touch my incision.

6. What is your favorite flower, and why? Carnations. I love their durability and how common they are. They bring a lot of brightness and joy to a lot of people.

7. What book has most changed your life? Saving Graces by Elizabeth Edwards. She taught me what a gift it can be to allow others to help you. As Rhett Butler once said of a similar gallant Southern woman, "She was a great lady. A very great lady." May she rest in peace.

8. What is your least favorite vegetable? Is there any way you can be persuaded to eat it? Raw tomatoes. Their texture makes me squeamish. And no, I cannot be persuaded to eat them.

9. If you could take a nonstop first class flight to any destination, where would you pick to land? The only thing I hate more than flying is flying over water. (I worry about being some shark's Happy Meal.) So I'll go with London. I'd like to see it, and maybe being in first class would help me get past my fear.

10. If your 15 minutes of fame included a stint on American Idol, what song would be your trademark solo? Chosen because so far this year I haven't had much of chance to sing it.




11. If you could pick one former friend (who has remained elusive in this wild Facebook world) to reunite with, who would you unearth? One of my favorite people got married in 2008 and just kinda drifted away. He moved to a faraway suburb and then they had a wee one and I know he's busy. He also refuses to Facebook! But I still have a photo of us together in my office because I think of him so often and so fondly.

Happy Birthday to My Best Friend

Eeyore turned 46 today. I am affectionately exasperated with him. He feels old ... he misses his daughter ... he's swamped at work ... It's how he is.

I fussed over him as best as I could. I got him a terrific gift -- a batch of baked-to-order and personalized Element Bars. I made sure they arrived on Saturday but he waited until today (his actual birthday) to open them with me over the phone (I heard him tearing the tape). I read him his horoscope. I told him I was playing his favorite recording artist, Marcia Ball, in my office in his honor.



I hope the attention made him happy. I completely adore him, and if you can't convey to a person on his birthday how important he is to you, then what's the point?

Trifecta

This week's challenge: Using between 33 and 333 words, write a response including the third definition of the word:

ALLEY (noun)
3: a narrow street; especially : a thoroughfare through the middle of a block giving access to the rear of lots or buildings

 

“Broad lawns and narrow minds.” That’s how Hemingway denied describing Midwestern towns like the one I grew up in. If he did say it, he wasn’t wrong, at least not as I recall the 1960s. Fitting in and being alike were valued. Every residence was a ranch house. Manicured lawns were mandatory. So were driveways and garages.  

That’s why the people across the alley fascinated me. They lived in the only apartment building in the neighborhood. From my swing-and-slide vantage point, I could spy all six back doors and where they left their cars. No garage! Just concrete parking chocks.

Apt. 1 – Ann and Walt, siblings in their 20s who moved in after their dad died and they had to sell their “nice house.” Their mom also died, back when they were still little. This made Walt especially romantic: An older boy who’d known suffering!

Apt. 2 – Mr. and Mrs. Morris. He carried a briefcase, so he worked in an office. She taught history at our school! It was thrilling to see a teacher come and go. The grownups wondered why they never went anywhere together.

Apt. 3 – Mr. and Mrs. Bray owned the building. Her glass frames made her look like a cat. She was friendly and always waved. I seldom saw him, but still hated him because of a dispute with my mother over garbage cans. I wondered if they made themselves pay rent.

Apt. 4 – The Harringtons were old folks raising their grandson. Michael was younger than me and had a harelip. The grownups whispered that Michael’s mother abandoned him because of his lip and so, since a dad obviously couldn’t raise a child, he lived with his grandparents.

Apt. 5 – For some reason, no one stayed here long.

Apt. 6 – The Rosses. Linda Ross was in my class, so she was my passport inside and around the apartment building. My favorite thing to do was to go to the Ross’ mailbox with Linda because opening it required a key.

At my local Burger King

I had a quick lunch at Burger King today, and it was eventful. There were these two charming senior ladies, and I loved eavesdropping on their conversation. Their two conversations. They were happily each in their own little world, but sharing a booth. One was talking about church, the other replied with information about her garden. They were adorable.

Then their attention shifted to another woman, sitting alone in a bigger booth. She had a purse, a straw tote and a bag on wheels. A lot of luggage to bring with you to Burger King. She passed out and knocked her Coke onto the floor. The poor teens working at BK took turns standing over her saying, "Miss! Miss!" and getting no response. Then the paramedics arrived and said, "Miss! Miss!" before hauling her out on a stretcher and working on her in the ambulance in the parking lot.

Then the police came in and asked the two old ladies what they saw. They were completely into it. They described a young man who came in with her but disappeared -- either into the men's room or through the back door. As one cop went looking for the companion, to no avail, another went through the lady's purse, found her wallet, and extracted an out-of-state license. He called it in, and it turns out there was a BOLO for her! ("Be on the lookout" -- I have learned a lot watching episode after episode of NCIS.) The police assured the older ladies that our victim's fugitive status would not have any impact on the care she received at the hospital. I thought that was very nice of them.

Then they took her bags out to the ambulance, which pulled away with the lights on but not the siren. I assume that means she had come to and they didn't want to frighten her with the noise.

Sunday Stealing

 Sunday Stealing: The Imaginary Meme, Part Four

61. Ocean or pool? Pool. Lakes are nice, too.

62. Fridays or Ruby Tuesdays? Please don't make me.

63. Did you want to go to college? No

64. What did you last time at a mall? Last Saturday

65. Which close friend have you known the longest? The one I imaginatively refer to on this blog as "My Oldest Friend." We met in kindergarten.

66. Why do you like the music you do? Because it has a good beat and it's easy to dance to.

67. Do you read much? Yes

68. Favorite country? I love the USA! So join in the chorus, loud and strong, and sing to the land where we belong. I mean it when I say, "I'm glad to be alive and live in the USA!" (I learned that song in Girl Scouts)

69. What is something you wish you were better at? Singing. I'm completely tone deaf.

70. What’s your favorite album/CD? It changes. Lately I have been listening to Wingspan a lot.

71. What's a good dinner order? Salmon is always good, with a cooked vegetable. Maybe soup as an appetizer.

72. Planes or boats? Are we going somewhere?

73. One rumor that’s been spread about you: Oh, it seems I'm forever sleeping with this or that coworker. If I was getting as much from the boys as they say I am, I would enjoy out of town trips so much more.

74. Who is your newest friend? Tom. He's a coworker I've been mentoring and I find I really miss him when he's not there. He was also very thoughtful when I was in the hospital last fall. (Perhaps if you ask around, someone will tell you we're sleeping together!)

75. Have you ever sat on a rooftop? Yes.

76. Was your last text useful? No. I don't even remember it. Please don't make me check.

 

77. Favorite soda? Coke. Like most women, drinking it delights me.
 

78. Do you like yourself? At times

79. The worst weather: Hot or cold? Hot! I really suffer when the mercury rises to 85º or higher.

80. Do you play an instrument? No.

The really scary thing ...

… is how much I'm enjoying this piece of crap. Campy horror movies were made for Saturday nights.

The PEOPLE Meme

I bought myself a Kindle Fire, and I'm loading it up with magazines. Hopefully this will help me get a handle on my wicked clutter problem because if I don't read one magazine before the new one arrives, I'll toss it but download it onto the Fire. That's how I came to carry four virtual issues of PEOPLE in my purse.

Reading them back-to-back-to-back-to-back, I discovered that "Chatter/One Last Thing" actually doesn't ask the same five questions each week -- though they do repeat "The Last Thing I Cooked" quite often. Anyway, since I am both a celebrity in my own mind and a fan of hard-hitting journalism, I am answering PEOPLE's probing questions here.

1) The Last Thing I Cooked was cornflakes as a late night snack


2) The Last Thing I Splurged On was my Kindle Fire

3) The Last Time I Drank Too Much was the first day of my vacation. Frosty lime rum punch at lunch and then a couple vodka crans with dinner.

4) The Last Gift I Received was brunch and a book from my old friend Kathy. She and I have decades of tortured history and I don't want to get sucked back into all the drama. I just saw her because I didn't want to be mean.

5) Last TV Show Obsession Is this not the most tumultuous season of Mad Men yet?


6) The Last Thing I Watched on TV The Today Show is on right now

7) The Last Junk Food I Ate I had a cheese dog for lunch yesterday

8) The Last Time I Laughed A coworker and I got the giggles yesterday over all the advice I have for Jennifer Aniston. What? Isn't she everyone's imaginary friend?


9) The Last Time I Cursed was when my cat Reynaldo dumped a box of corn flakes (see question #1) off the counter into his water bowl.

10) The Last Song I Sang was "Another Night." Fortunately Aretha drowned me out.



11) The Last Thing I Bought was a navy belt


12) My Last Workout was two days ago -- 25 minutes of cardio and 10 minutes on the Nautilus machines


13) The Last Time I Forgot My Wallet was two weeks ago, at the coffee shop I frequent. They were very nice about it -- I didn't have to wash dishes like Lucy and Ethel when they couldn't pay at the French restaurant -- but it was sooo embarrassing.


14) The Last Time I Said "I Love You" was in an email to a friend. I think that counts.

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Changes

1. Do you believe people can truly change? If we want to.

2. Do you think there is anything wrong with being average? Nope.

3. Do you believe in fairy tale love? I think every love story is a fairy tale at some point. As Orson Welles said, "Any story can have a happy ending. It depends, of course, on where you stop the story."

4. Has anyone ever spread something malicious about you? Dear God, yes.

5. Have you ever done something at a party that you've ever regretted? Dear God, yes.

6. How do you go about setting your goals? I don't. Maybe I'd be more accomplished if I did.

7. Do you believe you deserve everything you want? Yes. I'm a very nice person.

8. Do you have people in your life you could always count on? Yes. I'm lucky that way.

9. Did you ever make a close friend from someone that you've dated? No. Generally their next girlfriends don't want me around. Which is sad. After loving someone, I'd like to be able to like him.

Thinking back to 1998

When my niece was almost 6, she was obsessed with the animated Anastasia. She had a dream where she walked into an Anastasia store that only sold Anastasia stuff. As her dream went, she could purchase everything Anastasia for $100, and she had exactly $100 in her purse.

I went on eBay and purchased Anastasia memorabilia from all over the world (my favorite: plastic Anasastia medallions that had been packaged in cereal boxes in Ireland). I spread them out all over my apartment and put a sign on the front door: Anastasia Store -- Everything $100. The look on her face when she came in the door, the way she clasped her hands together under her chin and looked around the room in wonderment at the Anastasia dolls and books and puzzles and pillowcase, etc. ... I'll never forget it. How often in life do you get to make someone's dream come true?

Now she's almost 20 and has just moved into her first place with her boyfriend. It's a one BR cottage. He is happy because, even though it is small and old and has crappy floors, it's one of the few stand-alone rentals they could afford. She is happy because it has a fireplace and she thinks it's the Taj Mahal.

I am happy that she is enjoying her college life so much. She is getting great grades, and has made friends and has fallen in love. Hooray for her.

But you have to forgive me if sometimes I miss the little girl who laced her fingers together under her chin when she was (so easily) delighted.

My first early Friday

The office closes at 12:30 on Fridays in summer. I stayed a little late and got in my front door at 2:00. I made myself a hotdog and took a nap. It felt sooooo luxurious!

Now I'm going to wash clothes, while most of the other tenants are still at work so I anticipate I'll have the laundry room all to myself. Bliss!

Trifecta

This weekend's challenge: Using up to 333 words, recount a time of life that can be clearly identified by the number three. The story should be be true-ish, and an artistic creation, not just a play-by-play account. Think less "blog post" and more "creative writing." 


The landlord’s tour didn't take long because the apartment was only 650 square feet. Just a three-room walk-up on the top floor of a “vintage building,” which is real estate speak for “real old.” As we moved from living room to dining room to bathroom, I was indifferent. All I  saw were badly damaged hardwood floors,  a tub but no shower, and steam heat but no air conditioner.

“Ok,” I thought. “It’s not great but it’s what I can afford.”

But when we got to the narrow galley kitchen, I fell in love.

A wide, shallow pantry took up half one wall, a sink with exposed plumbing  took up the rest. There was an old Frigidaire that would require defrosting with pans of boiling water and my blow-dryer set on high, and a gas stove that would have to be lit with matches. The heavy backdoor had a transom! And there was an odd little set of three shelves, waist high and recessed into the wall.

“What’s up with this?” I asked.

“This building is from the 1920s,” the landlord explained. “That was the door where the iceman made his deliveries.”

Suddenly I was enchanted. It was no longer a dingy old apartment, no longer just what I could afford. Now it was a home where generations of women before me had lived. I could imagine one wearing a house dress, standing right here, preparing dinner while hearing about the Crash of 1929 on the radio. Maybe another had come in through this big back door after seeing Casablanca on a date with her boyfriend. All at once I saw beauty and heritage in this kitchen, as only a highly-romantic 18-year-old girl can, and I believed I belonged with those women I imagined had stood on this old linoleum before.

"I'll take it." The three magic words sprang from my lips and Apt. 3A was mine. I lived here happily for more than 20 years.

Thursday Thirteen #174

THIRTEEN GREAT 
TIME WASTING WEBSITES

Here's where I go when I don't feel like working, whether I'm at home or at the office.

1) Amazon. "Online retailer of books, movies, music and games along with electronics, toys, apparel, sports, tools, groceries and general home and garden items."

2) Facebook. "Facebook is a social utility that connects people with friends and others who work, study and live around them."

3) Twitter. "Follow your friends, experts, favorite celebrities, and breaking news."

4) IMDB.com. "The biggest, best, most award-winning movie site on the planet."

5) WebMD. "The leading source for trustworthy and timely health and medical news and information."

6) The Perpetual Kid. "Home to the largest selection of fun & functional gifts for the young at heart!"

7) Life Photo Archive. "Search millions of photographs from the LIFE photo archive, stretching from the 1950s to today."

8) Pogo. "A great place to play free online games."

9) Morning Joe. Clips from this Gal's personal favorite news show.

10) CNN. "The latest breaking news and information on the latest top stories, weather, business, entertainment, politics, and more."

11) John F. Kennedy Library. "The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is the presidential library and museum of the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy." The archives are a treasure trove that makes my geeky heart beat faster.

12) Trip Advisor. "Unbiased hotel reviews, photos and travel advice for hotels and vacations." A great place for research or daydreaming.

13) MLB.com. Everything baseball. You can even watch games in real time with MLB Gameday.

What about you? Where are your cyber hideouts?

For more information about the Thursday Thirteen,

or to play yourself, click here.

I didn't expect to care

Just saw Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, come out onto the balcony to officially wave at her subjects as they celebrate her Diamond Jubilee. The Royal Air Force is flying overhead, trailing red, white and blue vapors. She looks so delicate and dignified and grateful that I want to cry.

Sixty years is a long time and she's reigned through a lot of history. Congratulations, old girl.

God Save the Queen!

Trifecta

This week's challenge: Using between 33 and 333 words, write a response including the third definition of the word:

NEW (adjective)

3: having been in a relationship or condition but a short time  

It wasn't an alarm clock that woke her. It was the sun streaming through the bedroom blinds. Her feet hit the floor and, for once, she wasn't in any particular hurry to get anywhere. 

She ran a warm, scented bath and relaxed, finally using her deep-cleansing, ultra-firming facial mask. The tube had been sitting on the side of the tub, untouched, for months. Because really, until now, when had she the luxury of 20 minutes for letting "an exclusive blend of vitamins and co-enzymes smooth away fine lines and wrinkles?"

Wrapped in her bathrobe, she settled onto the sofa to watch the fourth hour of the TODAY Show. There were Kathie Lee and Hoda, goofing and sipping boxed wine, just like the parody on SNL. She was surprised – the first half hour, from 7:00 to 7:30, was always so intense. Watching these two silly women laugh about the Kardashians was much more pleasant than the footage of wars and plane crashes and natural disasters that had begun her weekdays. She propped her fuzzy-slippered feet onto the coffee table and noticed the cardboard Hallmark crown she'd casually tossed there when she got home from yesterday's office party.

Yesterday. When she woke up yesterday, she was somebody's employee. As she had been every morning for 42 years.

This morning, she was a new retiree. She put the crown on her freshly-shampooed head, sat back and smiled. This felt gooooooood.

She's waking up in Quito

She is my best friend's oldest daughter, and Quito is the capital of Ecuador. She's on a 17-day school trip that will take her through city markets and small local farms (she's helping with the crops) and even horseback riding around a volcano. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and he's thrilled for her ... except ...

As soon as she gets back in the United States, she has to take off for a three-day, previously scheduled basketball camp at the local university. So now he won't see her now until Sunday night, June 25. She's missing his birthday, her birthday and Father's Day.

He says he's more lonesome than worried (which amused me, since she just left this morning). Never mind that she's being supervised every step of the way, that she's going to have the best month of her young life. He's bummed. Because in his mind, she hasn't just finished her freshman year of high school. In his heart, they still look like this.

Knowing how bad he feels about not having her with him on their birthdays and Father's Day, I'm proud of him for sending her off with a kiss and a hug but no guilt.

He actually said this in an email

From the CCO: "Our office manager will be letting people know when the move will happen and where their new desk is later this week."

My new desk? What? Am I in third grade?

I am trying soooo hard not to be grumpy about moving to Tiny Cube City.

Lunch at my desk

I have to get my own work, plus my freelance project, done. And I will. It just won't be pretty. Fortunately one of my real projects has hit a snag that makes continuing difficult. So I'll crank on the freelance.

$300 more

That's the difference in upfront price between Key West 2011 and Key West 2012. New Year's in the Keys is an expensive proposition to begin with. Waiting two months -- usually I book in April -- makes it even more so. I went ahead and did it -- even though the friend I am going to visit is still pretending he may not be there -- because the longer I put it off, the more it will cost me.

My friend down there is very dear to me and loves me very much. I want to support him in every way I can as he struggles through this difficult process of finding another job as a college professor. The thing of it is, there's only one college in Key West and his position has been eliminated. So he has to relocate, no easy task since the real estate market down there is moribund and he has an enormous mortgage on a house he can't sell. He and his lover are now each working two jobs (together they currently represent accounting, security, hospitality and publishing) to avoid filing bankruptcy. Meanwhile, my friend keeps applying for teaching jobs. But the 2011-12 school year is over. If he finds himself at one of the colleges he desperately wants to join, it won't be until autumn. There's no way they can unload that house at a decent price by then. So whether he's willing to admit it to himself or not, he's going to be there for Christmas break.

That's why I just went ahead and booked the trip without telling him. I want to be there with him for the holidays. I also send gasoline gift cards to him whenever I can. $25 is two hours' pre-tax salary for him now, and with gas $4/gallon, I know he appreciates it. But he's very proud, so I must be careful not to be too generous because it might embarrass him.

And besides, I really can't afford to be all that generous myself these days. I keep recalling what flight attendants always tell us -- we must make sure we're wearing our own oxygen masks before we can assist the traveling companions who need our help. If I allow my own finances to deteriorate, I can't help anyone else.

God, I'm sick of thinking about money!

Should have done more

Laundry ... grocery shopping ... bills ... donated a dozen pairs of jeans to Goodwill and bought new dress slacks at Catherine's (after trying unsuccessfully at Kohl's and Burlington Coat Factory to find a pair to cover my burgeoning ass). Played Scrabble with my nephew. Napped. Watched the Cubs do well enough (though I recognize this will not be a winning season). It was a nice, laid back weekend and I enjoyed most of it (except the Super Sized pant part).

Didn't, however, make a dent in the new freelance assignment I promised to have done by noon on Tuesday. That was stupid. But after all these decades in advertising, I need a looming deadline to be motivated.

Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing: The Imaginary Meme, Part Three

 
41. Growing up, who was the easier mark: Mom or Dad? Mom. Dad was a hard-ass.

42. What is the stupidest pet that you ever saw? Nothing springs to mind. Sorry.
 
43. Tell us about a band whose every CD is a “must have”. She wasn't a band, but Amy, Amy, Amy. I'm so gonna miss her.

44. Where you surprised when Jim Parsons came out? Kind of. I mean, he seems rather asexual.

45. Have you ever shoplifted? No.

46. We currently have a person who plays both this meme and Saturday 9 who signs in to Mr. Linky every week. Yet, if you click on that link, you are told that only “members” can read the blog. Why do you think that person even bothers to sign in or for that matter, do the meme? (Don't misunderstand, we have no rules and we aren't angry. But it is damn peculiar, no?) Who is it? I wanna know! This leaves me as frustrated as when I read a blind item on Gawker. 
 
47. Have you ever driven a Ferrari? No. But I have driven a 1971 Chevy Impala. I don't imagine the experiences would be similar.

48. What do you call those little plastic things on the ends of shoelaces? Ah ha! I KNOW THIS! Aglet.

49. Have you ever walked more than a mile? Yes. It's not that big a deal.

50. Do you believe in magic? I could tell you about magic, it would free your soul. But it's like trying to tell a stranger about rock and roll.

51. Have you ever been arrested? No.

52. Have you ever skinny dipped? No.

53. Explain what you think about hippies. The same as I think about rotary dial phones and antenna TV.

54. New York or California? New York.

55. Have you ever been dumped? Yes. It was not fun.

56. What are you wearing right now? A little something from John Paul Gaultier's Spring line. It's so very me.

57. John Edwards had a mistrial. How do you think he conducted himself after the verdict? Well, I was glad that he finally publicly acknowledged little Quinn. And while I'm glad he believes God isn't done with him, I'm afraid I am. Exit Stage Left, sir.

58. Did you watch the series finale of House? Nope.

59. You may need to go back a long way if you are old like Harriet. Who was the last person who asked you out? (Or that asked you out. Same dumb question either way.) A cab driver who heralded from a foreign land asked me if I felt we had "a love connection." Does that count?
 

60. Do you have any collections? I have accumulated a lot about the 1960s. I suppose we could consider that a collection.

"Only if I can call The Gal."

Music to my ears! My friend Kathleen took a new job (I think her title is "Goddess of All She Surveys") earlier this year and I'm happy to report she believes that this little ol' gal is essential to her being able to get everything she wants accomplished. How flattering is that! Since her company's offices are currently located in some suburb with an area code most foreign to me, it's out of the question. But, when their lease is up sometime over the next 9 months or so, Kathleen is confident that they will be moving closer in to civilization. They are an international company, and being this far away from O'Hare is inconvenient for everyone involved. Depending where their new offices are, I'm interested in talking about the move.

In the meantime, I am doing some freelance assignments for Kathleen's company. It helps me out because I have stupidly let my credit cards get away from me ... again! It helps her out because it helps her make the argument that there are more efficient ways to handle creative than how they have been doing it. I don't work directly with Kathleen, though. I'm dealing exclusively with her new assistant, a mid-level marketing manger named Becky.

I'm happy to report that this arrangement is working well for both of us. The first project we have collaborated on has already netted me $900 (though, as is the way with freelance work, I don't have it in hand yet) and I may make up to $750 more.

And Becky is so happy with the work that she called me yesterday for another quick job. Kathleen told her they needed to get something written, produced and mailed fast.  Kathleen asked her, "Becky, can you get this done?"

Her response: "Only if I can call The Gal."

 Cha-ching! Here comes another (approx.) $500.

Even better, it's good to know my efforts are appreciated. I'm an old woman in a young person's game. The positive reinforcement is very welcome just about now!

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Crown of Creation

1. Do you understand a belief model based on creationism? Not really.

2. Is your house run more like a dictatorship or a democracy? I live alone. The only policy debate is among my personalities.

3. Are you likely to forgive a transgression and give someone a second chance? Depends on the person and the transgression.
 

4. Is religion a big part of your life? Yes

5. Do you feel your job (or your spouse's if you work at home) is safe? Yes

6. Do you believe in gay marriage? Why? Yes. Because the arguments against it are dopey. For example, if "marriage" is really only valid because God wants us to have children, then all marriages between people who are childless or where the woman is over 50 should be annulled.

7. Do you think the current U.S. war will lead to a more peaceful world? No.

8. Do you like people with swagger? I have been attracted to men with a certain air of confidence and cool, typified by Los Bandidos Yanquis.

9. What kind of budget do you live on, is it tight or carefree? Tight. I am working on that, though. I'm trying not to spend so much, and I have accepted a few freelance assignments to bring a little more in.

Our favorite son returns

I admit that, as I watch his administration unfold day by day, I'm less than completely enamored with Barack Obama. I thought his support for gay marriage was bloodless and politically motivated. I am disturbed that his foreign policy is really just a continuation of George W. Bush's.

But in the abstract, I am so proud of him. I believe in what he represents. Like Bill Clinton, but even more so, Barack Obama proves that we are in control of our own fates in this country. His childhood was unconventional and chaotic. But he was smart, driven and talented and he made the most of his gifts.

And in the best ways, he represents the City of Chicago. He's at once idealistic and pragmatic. He's tough. And tonight, he's home.

He attended a fundraiser at one of my favorite buildings -- The Cultural Center. I pass it every workday but it's one of those sites that's so majestic I really never tired of looking at it. Over the past 100 years, it's been a Civil War Memorial and a public library and now it's the home to concerts and art exhibits.

And tonight, it plays host to our favorite son, President Barack Obama, and it was exciting to see the sidewalks filled with people, all their camera phones pointed at the building, hoping to see him enter. The el platform was full, too -- not with the usual Friday rush commuters but instead with citizens wanting an elevated view of the Prez.

It was inspiring and fun.

Trifecta

This weekend's challenge: Using exactly 33 words, write something that begins with the words in bold --

It wasn't the first time. And, alas, it probably wouldn’t be the last, either. Yes, it felt lonely at times, always being the one who loved more. But she couldn’t help it. It was just how she loved.

My record is broken

For the first time in 2012, I didn't hit my goal of 13 workouts this month. I only made it over there 11 times. Oh well. Tomorrow begins a new month and the counter goes back to zero.







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