Saturday 9

SATURDAY 9: BACK IN THE USA (1978)

Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1) This song lists seven cities -- New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, Chattanooga, Baton Rouge and St. Louis -- that Linda just loves. How many have you visited? 4.  I can't believe I haven't been to Detroit. I have spent a lot of time in Michigan, as my Cousin Rose lived outside Kalamazoo and my niece is now near Holland.

2) The lyrics refer to hamburgers sizzling on the grill. What toppings do you believe make a perfect burger? A fried egg, lettuce, cheese, and ketchup.

3) The original recording of this song by Chuck Berry has always been one of Linda Ronstadt's favorites, one she used to enjoy singing along with in the car. What's the most recent song you sang? "Midnight Confession" by The Grass Roots. It was on the radio when I was putting my makeup on.

4) Linda performed The National Anthem at Game 3 of the 1977 World Series. The New York Yankees won both that game and the series. How is your baseball team doing this season? I follow two baseball teams now, and it really is like a tale of two cities. For the New York Yankees, these are the best of times. For the Chicago Cubs, well, you know the rest. (Though Friday afternoon, the lowly Cubs did beat the Red Sox and I'm proud of them!)

 

The important thing is that this guy is doing well.

 

5) On the sleeve for this record, Linda was photographed on roller skates. Emergency rooms report a spike in wrist injuries, with people falling off skates and skateboards and jamming their wrists catching softballs. Have you recently been to the Emergency Room or Urgent Care?  Not in more than a year. (Knock wood.)

 

6) It's July, so summer is in full swing. Bug bites are a big summer annoyance. Are you itching and scratching this morning? No. (Knock wood.)

Since this is our last Saturday 9 before Independence Day,  

let's ask some questions related to the holiday. 

 

6) The Pennsylvania Evening Post was the first newspaper to print the Declaration of Independence. What's the most recent printed media you have read (newspaper, magazine, newsletter, etc.)? I get the Chicago Sun Times Wednesday through Friday. Mostly in the print edition I check the baseball stats and some of the columnists. The subscription gives me 365 access to the website.

7) In high school, Sam was crazy about American history and got good grades. Science was her worst subject. In high school, where did you shine? In what subject were your grades not so hot? I got very good grades in American history and English. I got very bad grades in math and science. In fact, of my parents' three daughters, I'm the only one who ever got an "F." It was in chemistry. My mother was less upset about the grade than she was about my attitude. I wasn't sorry or ashamed or anything else she expected me to feel. I knew I'd never use chemistry and truly didn't believe it was relevant. She was furious when I posted my one A, one B, two Cs and F on the refrigerator, right next to my older sister's honor roll report card. (Yeah, I was a brat. But as I loved to remind my parents, I didn't smoke or do drugs and was still a virgin, so I felt they should count their blessings.)

8) The first 4th of July parade each year is held at 12:01 AM in Gatlinberg, TN. Will you attend a parade or fireworks to celebrate the 4th? Nope. The parade is at 10:00 am and I won't be up and about at that time. I hope I'm able to see the fireworks from my window. That would be neat.

9) Americans love to celebrate our independence. In fact, there are more than 30 towns all across the US called Independence. There are two in MN alone (one outside Duluth, the other west of Minneapolis). Please google it and let us know: does your state have an Independence? Independence is in downstate IL. The population is approx. 1,120.

 

 

Five Hours!

Just off Michigan Ave

That's how long John and I monopolized the table by the door. It was a long time, I know, but it was comfortable and fun. And important. I needed this feeling of connection.

We have been celebrating his birthday every year over this weekend for more than 40 years. But not last year. He was unwell. I was angry at him for being so cavalier with his own health and well being. I was very afraid of losing him. I love John. He's like my family.

A year later, he's much healthier. Happier. A little discontented. Retirement is turning out to be quieter and less consequential than he thought. The days run peacefully one into the other and he wonders where they have gone. It reminds him in a way of covid lockdown. He had all these projects he was going to tackle and he never got to them. Same now.

He has a "job," of sorts. The bar where he's long been a regular lets him eat and drink for free in exchange for being there Friday at opening to sign for deliveries from the liquor vendors. He needs a real job, one that pays cash, but he doesn't want to do anything physical. At 67, he can't do anything physical. He gets winded easily and requires a cane. 

But he's happy. He feels connected to his bar "family" and is going to spend a little time this weekend visiting a fellow barfly who is in the hospital. The prognosis is not good -- the man had a stroke concurrent with his course of chemo. He may never come home. John is visiting him, even though this isn't how he envisioned celebrating the holiday. He spent a lot of time in this very hospital and it's disturbing to be there. But he's going to do it. I am proud of him.

I told him all about Henry and Reg. He heard this sad tale only through the lens of how it's affecting me. I appreciated that. He told me I'm a good friend to Henry and it's all I can be.

He liked his gifts. I got him a gift card to Walgreens, his pharmacy of choice, because I know that, even with Medicare his prescriptions cost him, and a DVD of Hacks, the Jean Smart/HBO series because as I watched it, I kept thinking to myself, "John would love this."

BTW, I don't know why I'm giving Emerald Loop a plug. We did not receive the best service. OK, we received rather crummy service. The server never brought my water. He forgot which beer John ordered. We had to ask for napkins and utensils! I'm not sure it was his fault. He was handling tables both inside and outside. But still, I liked my turkey and pear wrap. He got mac and cheese with brusells sprouts. Yeah, not my choice either. But he seemed happy and he's the birthday boy!

 

One less molar

A week ago today I had my molar pulled. The surgeon was deft and the procedure was quick and successful -- not a surprise because he's also a facial trauma surgeon  at a major Chicago hospital. I'm lucky my dentist recommended him.

But I have felt awful for a week. Compounding my physical discomfort is knowing that people deal with far worse than this every day.

1. I'm a freak. My roots are unusually thick and deep. This is not news to me. I can recall two different dentists commenting on it as they reviewed my x-rays. But I didn't understand the ramifications until now. Removing my molar had to be done carefully and completely or my sinuses would be compromised. So while the procedure itself was uneventful, the recovery has been a bitch.

2. I'm bruised. From my left jaw to the side of my nose, my face has been my own personal pride flag for June. Yellow, green, blue, and purple. It fades a wee bit every day, but the surgeon warned me I'm only halfway healed. I shouldn't be surprised if the bruising is still visible for another week. I miss covid masks.

3. Antibiotics are not my friend. They made me sick after the dental procedure I had in April, they made me sick after the tooth extraction in June. I ping pong between bloating and diarrhea. It's miserable. I spoke to the surgeon about this on Monday and he told me to stop taking the amoxicillin immediately and begin eating lots of Chobani. But here it is Friday and I still feel crappy. This should clear up "any day." When it's behind me, I want to sit down with my PCP and discuss this. As I get older, more and more is going to go wrong with my body and what are my treatment options, exactly? Amoxicillin and erythromycin not only don't help me fight off infection, they play for the other side.

One more week of this, Gal. One more week and this should all be a memory.

Thursday Thirteen #264

Thirteen knock-knock jokes. Can you tell I'm running out of topics?

1. Knock knock. Who's there? Denise. Denise Who? Denise are above de feet.

2. Knock knock. Who's there? Nobel. Nobel Who? Nobel. That's why I knocked.

3. Knock knock. Who's there? Beets. Beets Who? Beets me!

4. Knock knock. Who's there? Alice. Alice Who? Alice fair in love and war.

5. Knock knock. Who's there? Tank. Tank Who? You're welcome!

7. Knock knock. Who's there? Goat. Goat Who? Goat to the door and see for yourself.

8. Knock knock. Who's there? A little old lady. A Little Old Lady Who? I didn't know you could yodel.

9. Knock knock. Who's there? Voodoo. Voodoo Who? Voodoo you think you are?

10. Knock knock. Who's there? Orange. Orange Who? Orange you going to open the door?

11. Knock knock. Who's there? Butter. Butter Who? Butter open the door and see for yourself.

12. Knock knock. Who's there? Anita. Anita Who? Anita borrow $50.

13. Knock knock. Who's there? Iran. Iran Who? Iran all the way over here, and I'm tired.

Please join us for THURSDAY THIRTEEN. Click here to play along, and to see other interesting compilations of 13 things.

 

 

WWW.WEDNESDAY

WWW. WEDNESDAY asks three questions to prompt you to speak bookishly. To participate, and to see how other book lovers responded, click here.  

1. What are you currently reading? Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano. Finlay is an author, newly divorced, struggling financially, and stressed to the limit. Her life goes irretrievably off the rails during a quick and decidedly unglamorous lunch with her literary agent at Panera. As she describes the plot of her new murder mystery, a diner at a nearby table overhears and mistakes Finlay for a contract killer. Suddenly she finds herself involved in a real-life murder.

So far this is a very funny book. Finlay is likeable, sympathetic, and harried. Nothing goes right for this girl. You've had days like that? Her whole life is like that! 

To enjoy it, I've done more than merely suspend disbelief. I've put disbelief in a big trash bag and left it outside. I don't imagine anyone would behave the way Finlay does. Elle Cosimano has made her so charming that still I want go along on this adventure with her anyway. We'll see if Finlay's considerable charm is enough to carry me to the last page.

2. What did you just finish reading? The Palace Papers: Inside the House of Windsor by Tina Brown. This book covers the last 25 years of Queen Elizabeth's reign and how the House of Windsor is slowly preparing the monarchy for its next chapter ... without her. 

There's a lot of drama here: Diana's death and the Queen's controversial reaction, Charles and Camilla, the maturing of Diana's Boys -- William and Harry -- and the very different women they've chosen, the mess that is Prince Andrew. Sure, as a royal watcher I've watched each of these stories unfold in real time, but I appreciate how Brown frames it. There's the reality of the situations, the way the powerful British press covers them, and how that press perception colors the way history will view these very fallible people.

Everyone -- from Elizabeth to Diana through to Meghan -- comes off as three-dimensional. These people are flawed, to be sure, but this is not a hatchet job. Brown consistently makes an interesting point: the women are expected to behave in a certain way, and if they stray from script, they're handled harshly. There's more than a whiff of misogyny here, and I appreciate the way Brown lays it out.

3. What will you read next? A book about film by my imaginary TCM BFF, Alicia Malone. I believe she has two. We'll see which one the library has waiting for me.

Sunday Stealing

Stolen from the Book "IF"

1.  If you were to be granted one wish, what would it be? That my friend Henry would be restored to good health.

2.  If you could spend one night alone with anyone in the world who is currently alive, whom would you select? Assuming that we mean this in a completely non-sexual way, I'd like to spend the evening watching and then discussing the new Elvis movie with Paul McCartney. I saw it Saturday and it occurs to me he is the only one alive who lived anything approaching Elvis' story.

3.  If you could spend one night alone with anyone in history, whom would you choose? Assuming again that we mean this in a completely non-sexual way, I'd like to spend the evening with JFK. First of all, he was funny. He'd wear well for 8 hours. Second, he was brilliant. His personal writings and public speeches reveal an imaginative mind. Third, what a life! Sickly child, son of the Ambassador to the Court of St. James during the run up to WWII, war hero, Pulitzer Prize winning historian, Senator, cold warrior, President, martyr. I'd love to know how he feels about how he's remembered. Does it matter to him who killed him and why? I'd ask him his point of view on the sins of Trump and Nixon. How does it feel to be co-opted by the lunatic WWG1WGA crowd? And then there's the Mrs. ... I am convinced Jackie loved him. Did he love her?

I'd ask him: What's the worst thing about dying young?

4.  If you could physically transport yourself to any place in the world at this moment, where would you go? Hesperia, California. Yeah, I know. It sounds like a wasted opportunity, doesn't it? But my oldest friend is struggling these days and I'd like to see if I can help.

5.  If you could have lived through any war in history (without actually fighting in it), which would it be? The Civil War. First of all, Mr. Lincoln! Secondly, I'd love to ask Southerners why they think this slavery thing is a good idea, an idea so good it's worth dying for.

6.  If you could eliminate one type of insect permanently from the earth, what would you get rid of? Bed bugs. They really serve no purpose, except to infect, infest, and annoy. I'm not kidding. Flowers don't need them. They aren't a major source of food for any other critter, and they don't prey upon any being that would run rampant if they weren't here. Honestly, I don't know why we have them.

7.  If you had to eliminate any single type of animal forever, which would you choose? I wouldn't.

8.  If you could have an elegant dinner alone with anyone presently alive, whether you know them or not, who would you want it to be? Her Maj. I mean, if you want to have an elegant dinner, go with the girl who really knows how to do it. Plus, I'd love to meet her. She's living history!

 

 

BTW, in 1939 when Princess Elizabeth was 13, she had tea with Ambassador Joseph Kennedy's 22-year-old son, Jack. Oh, what the future held for those two!
 

9.  If you could alter one physical characteristic of your mate, what would it be? I do not have a mate.

10. If you could change one thing about your childhood, what would it be? Something awful happened to me while I was in high school. I still think about it every day. I would be a different woman if that hadn't occurred.

11. If you could have any room in the world become your bedroom, which room would you choose?

 

 

This is from the Colonial Williamsburg Lodge. I love the wood and the clean lines.

12.  If you could alter one thing about your physical appearance, what would it be? It's a toss up. I'd either like a waist or cheekbones.

13.  If you could have stopped aging at any point in your life up to the present, how old would you wish to remain? I liked being 35. I felt sexy and smart.

14.  If you could suddenly possess an extraordinary talent in one of the arts, what would you like it to be? Oh, I'd love to sing!

15.  If you could have permanent possession of any single object in the world, what would you want it to be? I got nothing for you on this. Sorry.

 

 

The Sunday Salon

This weekend, I'm remembering memories. Every week I play a meme called Saturday 9, which is nine questions inspired by a song. Anytime a question about childhood comes up, one of the Sat. 9 regular dismisses it by saying, "That was a long time ago. Who remembers?" This 60-something woman always offers up the same response, whether the question is about childhood songs, birthdays, school teachers, TV shows, or toys. 

Well, I do remember. This week, apropos to nothing (I was cleaning the microwave), a jingle popped into my head. "Come to 5727 South Ashland Avenue. It's Ferrill-Hicks! Ferrill-Hicks!" Suddenly I was a little girl again, transported by memory into the backseat of my parents' car, hearing a commercial from the radio broadcast of The Cubs game.

Through the wonder of the internet. I looked up 5727 South Ashland Avenue in Chicago. It's now a vacant lot, but in the 50s and 60s it was a popular Chevy dealership. I even found this postcard of the dealership. (Postcards seem to be disappearing from our landscape, as well.)

From the early 60s

So how about you? Can you recall any jingles from your childhood?

Check out other Sunday Salon participants here.

 

Saturday 9

 
Saturday 9: Better Now (2018)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Post Malone tries to assure his ex that he's better now ... but he's not. He's still hurting. Have you recently told someone you were fine when you weren't? All. The. Time. I have not posted about my dear friend Henry because it is too difficult. But his condition is not good and he's on my mind constantly. My heart is broken. But ask me how I'm doing and I'll respond, "Fine. How about you?" We just have to keep going, don't we?

 

2) He and his girl were so close he introduced her to his extended family, and now his aunts and uncles wonder where she's gone. Have you remained close to an ex's friends/family? Nope.

 

3) He sings that he never meant to let her down. What about you? Have you recently encountered anything -- big or small -- that didn't live up to your expectations? The mysteries I've read recently have let me down. I would be willing to accept responsibility for this (maybe I'm just in a bad mood) except I'm enjoying the non-fiction I sandwich in between.

4) Post recently announced he will soon become a father for the first time. Do you know anyone who is currently expecting a baby? Nope.

5) Before making it big as a musician, he supported himself as a wedding DJ. Think back to the last wedding you attended. Did they have a live band or a DJ? DJ

 
6) Not satisfied being a successful musician, Post has branched out and introduced his own rose wine, Maison No. 9. Will you replenish your beer/wine/spirits this weekend? Nope. I had a tooth pulled Friday morning and will be on painkillers all weekend. Opiates and liquor are not a good combo.

 
7) Post Malone has more than 70 different tattoos. He designs them himself and is so into ink that he has tattooed his friends. Would you trust a friend or relative to do your body art (tattoo or piercing)? Or would you go to a licensed professional? Only a pro. And even then I'd be nervous. (It amuses to see tattoos on the arms of anti-vaxxers. Um, did they know for a fact what was in the ink injected under their skin?)

 

8) In 2018, when this song was popular, Sears filed for bankruptcy. In the 1970s, Sears was known as the place "Where America Shops." As of 2021, there were only 23 Sears stores left. Did you ever shop at Sears, either at the store or through the catalog? Of course, because I got a 15% discount. I worked at Sears for 10 years beginning right after high school. First I was a secretary and then I got my first writing job. I began writing about men's workclothes for the Sears Catalog. My first-ever headline was: "BLUE CHAMBRAY SHIRTS ... every way you like them." I saw someone lugging the big catalog home on the train and was so proud!

I got published the first time here

9) Random question: What's your favorite way to spend an evening at home alone? Watching baseball. 

 

The King to the Rescue

Had a tooth pulled this morning. While the oral surgeon was sure and deft, it was a little complicated because the roots bumped right up against my sinuses. And of course, having someone cut into your jaw and remove bone is never fun.

But you know what is fun? Jailhouse Rock. TCM showed it this afternoon for no particular reason, except to make me feel better.

 

 

 

Thursday Thirteen #263

Thirteen Americans who have recently been honored with a First Class US Postage Stamp. Why have there already been more just 6 months into this year than in all of 2019, 2020 or 2021? I don't know. (Sorry.)

1. Eugenie Clark. 2022. Pioneering marine biologist.

2. George Morrison. 2022. Painter of abstract landscapes.

3. Shel Siverstein. 2022. Author and illustrator.

4. Edmonia Lewis. 2022. Mid-19th century sculptor.

5. Yogi Berra. 2021. Baseball legend.

6. Chien-Shiu Wu. 2021. Nuclear physicist.

7. August Wilson. 2021. Playwright. (I'm still using these. They're "forevers.")

8. Arnold Palmer. 2020. Golf great.

9. Gwen Ifil. 2020. TV journalist

10. George H. W. Bush. 2019. Former President.

11. "Little Mo" Connolly Brinker. 2019. Tennis champion.

12. Lena Horne. 2018. Actress and singer.

13. Mr. Rogers. 2018. Your TV neighbor.

Please join us for THURSDAY THIRTEEN. Click here to play along, and to see other interesting compilations of 13 things.

WWW.WEDNESDAY

WWW. WEDNESDAY asks three questions to prompt you to speak bookishly. To participate, and to see how other book lovers responded, click here.  

1. What are you currently reading? The Palace Papers: Inside the House of Windsor by Tina Brown. The well-connected Brown conducted more than 100 interviews to tell us how the House of Windsor has evolved over the last 25 years. It's an entertaining read.

It amuses me that there are four women on the cover: Camilla, Elizabeth, Kate, Meghan. Good enough. But it's the one not shown that still fascinates the most. Diana's shadow is a long one, and yes, there's plenty of her in this book.

2. What did you just finish reading? Dirty Blonde by Lisa Scottoline. Judge Cate Fante has a blonde mane, wears Manolos, and is no one's idea of a judge. So she attracts a lot of attention on the bench. Which is why her compulsive bar and bed hopping is so risky. Every time she goes out, her conduct unbecoming puts her career in jeopardy.

You'd think that would be a great premise for an adult thriller, especially in the hands of a pro, like Scottoline. Well, this is the most disappointing book I've read this year. There isn't a lot of sex, but what's here is smutty. For a woman who suffers from a compulsion, she's able to curtail her behavior quickly and easily as soon as the plot requires. The origin of her behavior is only hinted at, never explained. And oh! There too many characters and too many subplots plots! I literally stopped caring about any of them.

BTW, things about the main character annoyed me. Example: If you spell your name "Cate," you really shouldn't be snarky about an ex who goes by "Marc" instead of "Mark." Made me wonder if Judge Fante was really intended to be that unlikable, or if Scottoline needed an editor.

3. What will you read next?  Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano. I hear it's funny and it's time for a giggle.

The Sunday Salon

In praise of Atticus and Andy.  In honor of Father's Day, I'm reflecting on my two favorite fictional fathers. (Say that three times fast!)

Atticus Finch was created by Harper Lee in To Kill a Mockingbird. A small-town Southern lawyer, he's admired by the neighborhood and loved, but taken for granted, by his two children. They trust their father will care for them and know what to do the same way they know they will have lemonade to drink and a soft bed to sleep in at night. Their casual attitude makes that moment toward the end of the story -- when a courtroom observer admonishes the daughter, "Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father's passing." -- even more moving. It's the dawning, when she begins to realize how special her father is, and how lucky she is to have him.

 

I've seen the movie about 10,000 times, beginning in high school, when we watched it as a class after finishing the book. I most recently re-read the book in 2020, during the covid lockdown. There's a character in the book I'd completely forgotten, a judgemental aunt who doesn't approve of Atticus' parenting techniques. Reading that he sometimes questioned how he was doing as a single dad touched me and made me admire him even more.

I wish every little girl could have a father like Atticus, who carefully allows her to feel her emotions but then teaches her how to reign them in, and who shows her right from wrong by his words and his examples. (No, I haven't read Go Set a Watchman. I don't need any more Atticus. He's perfect in To Kill a Mockingbird.)

Andy Taylor is the sheriff of fictional Mayberry. The Andy Griffith Show was a joint creation of director Aaron Ruben, producer Sheldon Leonard and Griffith, but everyone agrees Andy was the force behind his character.

Andy was a sheriff who didn't wear a gun. "When a man carries a gun, the respect he thinks he's getting might be fear. I don't want the people of Mayberry to fear a gun. I'd rather they respect me." How refreshing in a culture that fetishizes guns!

Andy is an involved "pa" to his son, Opie. He helps with homework, doles out advice, and makes sure Opie knows his father is available for both serious chats and fun (usually down by the fishing hole). 

 

There's a famous father/son episode reminiscent of To Kill a Mockingbird. Opie disobeys Andy and accidentally kills a mother bird with a slingshot. He punishes his little boy -- who has also lost his mother -- not with a spanking but by making him listen to the mournful, hungry baby birds chirping outside his window. This inspires Opie to take the baby birds in and raise them himself. When the time comes, with Andy's help, Opie makes the painful decision to let the birds go. The episode ends with Opie ruefully observing that his birdcage sure looks empty, but Andy encourages him to look up and see how full the trees look. It's lovely, but it's not my favorite.

 

I love the one where Opie comes home with tales of his new friend, Mr. McBeevee. He describes this character as a magic man who wears a shiny hat, walks atop the trees and jingles when he moves. Everyone encourages Andy to discipline Opie for telling tale tales. Andy refuses.

"You don't believe in Mr. McBeevee, do you?" Barney asks.
"No," Andy says carefully. "But I do believe in Opie."

 

Then Andy happens upon Mr. McBeevee himself. McBeevee works for the phone company. He wears a hard hat and a tool belt  and works up in the trees to check on the phone lines. Andy's faith in his boy was justified.

What about you? What fathers have you read or seen that made a lasting impact on you?

Check out other Sunday Salon participants here.

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Yesterday (1965)

Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

Chosen because June 18 is Paul McCartney's 80th birthday. 

1) Paul McCartney sings that yesterday all his troubles seemed so far away. Can you recall a time when your life seemed carefree? I don't think life is ever carefree, it's just that your cares are proportional to your stage of life. One of my coworkers has a 3-year-old son and he's been acting up lately. This new demand for constant attention coincides with the birth of his first cousin. His mother suspects the little man is feeling insecure because he's not "the baby" anymore. That's a major issue when you're three and don't have a lot of words to ask questions or express yourself. He hardly feels "carefree." He's dealing with some serious toddler shit!

2) He has always insisted the melody to "Yesterday" came to him in a dream. Did you dream last night? Not that I recall.

3) The lyrics were inspired, in part, by the death of Paul's mother when he was 14. Thirteen years later, he named his daughter Mary after her. Are you named after anyone? If you're a parent, did you name your children in honor of anyone? No. In fact, my dad had an aunt with a name very similar to mine and my mom didn't like her, so she changed the spelling of my name slightly. She didn't want anyone to think I was named after his toxic auntie.

4) Over the years, Paul has performed on bass, acoustic and electric guitars, keyboards and drums, but not the first instrument he owned: the trumpet. A present from his dad for his 14th birthday, he exchanged the trumpet for a guitar because, "you can't sing while playing the trumpet." Have you more recently a) exchanged a gift, b) donated a gift you didn't want to charity or c) regifted? Probably "b" or "c." I don't do "a" so much because it can be a hassle.

5) Paul grew up seeing how much his dad enjoyed placing a bet and then listening to the horse race from his favorite armchair in the living room, so he took his salary from making the film A Hard Day's Night and surprised his father with a racehorse. After father and son proudly watched Drake's Drum win at Liverpool's Aintree Racecourse, the horse retired to Paul's farm in Scotland. If money were no object, what gift would you give a loved one? I would handle ongoing prescriptions for my friend John. He doesn't like to talk about it so I don't know the details, but I know he finds paying for his daily heart meds a challenge.

6) Paul is considered one of the world's wealthiest entertainers, worth an estimated $1.2 billion. This month, as he approaches his 80th birthday, he is winding up a 16-city North American tour, during which he performs 30+ songs in a 2 hour, 40 minute show. If you had all the money you needed, would you continue to work? Or would you kick back and relax? I wouldn't work for salary anymore, but I'd borrow another page from Paul and devote myself to project I believe in. Paul took the abandoned building where he went to high school and turned it into the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. LIPA's mission is to "provide education for performers and those who make performance possible." Though instead of performing arts, I'd like to support work with animals. That's where my passion lies.

Sir Paul and the Queen @ the opening of LIPA in 1996

7) Paul first joined the Beatles when he was recruited into the band by John Lennon. They met as teenagers when Paul showed up at a church picnic where John's band was performing. Paul recalls pedaling over on his bike to hear them, his guitar flung over this back. When did you most recently ride a bike? Probably more than a decade. Unless a stationary bike counts, but I haven't been on one of those since February 2020 when covid hit and the health clubs closed.

8) Paul met his first wife, Linda, at a London club and then again four days later when she was a photographer at a press party for Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band. Think about one of your romances. Where did you meet? At work. He was very, very smart but was deficient in people skills. Everyone was so critical of him that I felt I had to be on his side. I'd tease him that he was a cyborg who looked human but behaved like a machine. We didn't become romantically involved until the company went under and we were both unemployed.

9) TV journalist Barbara Walters played matchmaker for Paul and his current wife, Nancy. During the summer of 2007, when Paul was vacationing in The Hamptons, Barbara repeatedly and intentionally invited them to the same parties and picnics. Have you had any success in a matchmaking scenario -- as either the matchmaker or one of the dates? Nope.

Oh, to be a New Yorker!

First my favorite-most ballplayer, Anthony Rizzo, has a stellar day in the Bronx. He got the only two Yankee RBIs, including a walk-off homer. (His 16th HR of the season, and it's still just June!)

A few hours later, at MetLife Stadium*, Sir Paul gave the last concert before his birthday this weekend and was joined on stage by Bruce Springsteen.

 

Much as I enjoy "Glory Days," I was more interested in "I Wanna Be Your Man," which starts at 4:55. It's an old Beatles song Paul and John wrote for Ringo to perform. Paul seldom does it himself. Enjoy! They certainly seemed to.

 

 

*Yeah, I know it's in Jersey, but it's where the Jets play.