WWW.WEDNESDAY

 

 To participate, and to see how other book lovers responded, click here.  

WWW. WEDNESDAY asks three questions to prompt you to speak bookishly.

1. What are you currently reading? For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing. Belmont Academy is a private school filled with unique, if unlikable, characters. The kids are indulged and entitled. The parents are overbearing. At least one of the teachers is a sociopath. Even the janitor is creepy. So it should not be a surprise that there's a murder. Soon Belmont is known as #Homicide High.

 I'm not very deep in, but so far this book is wicked fun. It's by the author of My Lovely Wife, so I'm not surprised that it's dark, witty and twisty.

2. What did you just finish reading?  Try Not to Suck: The Exceptional Baseball Life of Joe Maddon by Bill Chastain and Jesse Rogers. The problem with reviewing biographies is that sometimes it's hard to separate my feelings about the subject from the book itself. This is one of those times.

Joe Maddon is one of my favorite people on Planet Earth. He not only guided the 2016 Cubs to their first World Series victory in 108 years, he kept fans like me riveted. Highly quotable, very original and ever optimistic, he was a joy to have here in Chicago. He also faced more adversity than I realized, and now (if it's possible) I admire him even more.

So I enjoyed this book because I enjoy Joe, even though at times it read like an exhaustive Google search. Joe didn't cooperate and, with the exception of Cubs World Series MVP Ben Zobrist, I didn't see any unique contributions. I wanted more than this rather simplistic look at a deceptively complicated man. Joe is releasing his autobiography this fall, and I consider this book an appetizer while I wait to devour his.

3. What will you read next? I don't know.

Sunday Stealing

Happier Now.

What flavor Popsicle is the best? Grape.
Do you have a DVR feature with your cable?  Yes, and I love it.
How many drawers does your dresser have? 10, and before this moment I never counted them.
Is your closet a mess? My whole home is a mess.
Have you ever solved a Rubik's Cube? No, I'm not that patient.
Describe your favorite pair of pajama pants. This may be TMI, but I don't wear pajama pants. I sleep in oversized t-shirts.
What color is your wallet? Golden brown.
Do you find flea markets and thrift shops enjoyable? Yes! I love the idea of rehoming and repurposing things in our disposable world.
Have you met amazing people online? Yes.
Would you be happy if I colored a picture for you? Sure! I like presents.
What show do you think 'made' the 90's? The only correct answer.

Are you happier now than you were last year? I suppose so.
What are you currently drinking? Ice water.
Do you trust people easily? No.
What are you looking forward to in the next three months? Looking back on my completed home improvement project. I'm replacing my window frames.

 

 

There's a doctor in LA I hate

The last week in August, my favorite-most ballplayer, Anthony Rizzo, got two home runs. His 29th and 30th of the year, and the season's not over yet. To put that in perspective, he got 22 last year. So he's doing pretty well with the bat.

But there's another aspect to his job. He's very proud of his work as a defender, and he noticed back tightness when when he bent or reached for the ball.

This is nothing new for Rizz. He's been plagued by back trouble for about six years now. When he was a Cub -- as the Good Lord always intended him to be! -- we went to the same chiropractor, which is how I know it was treated with massage, adjustments, and yoga.

But now he's a Yankee. New York is fighting for their position as #1 in the AL East. And so a decision was made during that fateful last week in August. When the Yankees finished their series in LA, Rizz would stay behind to be treated by a "world renowned spinal surgeon."  (I'm quoting the Yankees press release.)

This expert gave Anthony Rizzo an epidural to relieve the back spasms. It went wrong. An otherwise healthy 32-year-old man with back spasms ended up with days of headaches so severe he was unable to move.

It's called a cerebrospinal fluid leak, meaning his spinal fluid was leaking into his brain. He had the migraine to end all migraines. Manager Aaron Boone confirmed to the media that Rizz was unable to move and had to remain flat on his back -- which, by the way, no longer hurt. Excuse me for not feeling like congratulating the "world renowned spinal surgeon." 

This went on for days. The New York Yankees doctor prescribed total bed rest for a couple days, hoping the headaches would subside on their own. They did not. 

Anthony Rizzo could not move. His spinal fluid was leaking into his brain. He was at risk for meningitis. This was way bigger than baseball.

Friday, when Aaron Boone met the press, he said nothing coherent about Rizz's condition. I was sure this meant it was even more serious than we knew. It was.

Friday he had a blood patch. Anthony Rizzo's own blood was drawn from his arm and injected into the spot on his spine where the botched epidural was administered. This procedure can take up to four hours. Boone didn't want to comment on this until they knew it was successful. It was. The pressure around his spinal cord was restored and his own blood sealed the leak.

Saturday, Rizz was back in the dugout for the first time in 10 days. His face is puffy (likely steroids) and he can't play. After all, he's been completely immobile for more than a week. But he couldn't wait to get back to his teammates. And he'll be OK. The Yankees are hoping he will be able to return to the field next weekend when they play the Brewers.

Doctors are supposed to help us. Yet this "world renowned spinal surgeon" butchered my baby.

Bad things aren't supposed to happen to good people. Anthony Rizzo is good. So far this year -- in addition to 30 home runs -- he has raised more than $900,000 to help families battling pediatric cancer. Just think about all the patients and parents he has been able to help with rent/mortgage relief, meal allowances, gas cards and parking vouchers. All the toys, personal notes and hospital visits. All the hot meals for nurses, orderlies and other hospital workers. Shouldn't that inoculate him in some way from this medical horror?

One more week, though, and he should be OK. He should be fine for the playoffs.

Should, should, should. None of this should have happened.

I want to see this again. Soon. This is everything.

 

Saturday 9

 No Roots (2017)

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

1) This song is about a woman who has moved a lot and is always packing boxes. Do you have packing materials (boxes, bubble wrap, packing tape, etc.) in your home right now? Do you have them on hand to ship things, or are you preparing for a move? I save padded envelopes, boxes and bubblewrap to send things to friends. My collection of these items is far greater than my need for them. That's why my home is so overstuffed.

 

2) She sings that she moves from place to place, collecting memories. Would you rather travel light and travel often, or put down roots? Put down roots.

3) She can recall all the gates and house numbers of all the places she's lived. Does your current residence have a fence and gate? Did your previous one? I haven't lived in a home with a fence or gate since I left my parents' house about 200 years ago.

4) This week's artist, Alice Merton, moved often as a child as her father's job took the family from Germany to the US to Canada to England back to Germany ... She wrote this song to help her deal with feelings of loneliness and longing. When you're feeling overwhelmed, how do you work through the feelings? I write. I call my friends. I cuddle my cats.

 

5) Alice is still on the move. Soon she'll be performing throughout Europe. Have you ever had a job that required you to travel? If yes, did you enjoy it? Business travel doesn't bother me. I prefer to arrive the night before so I don't have to stress over making the meeting on time, but as companies get cheaper they're more reluctant to spring for those hotel rooms. Too bad. I like hotel rooms. The little soaps! The pillows! The big screen TVs! The wake up calls!

6) "No Roots" is a favorite of Kelly Clarkson's, who has performed it on tour and on TV. When you think of Kelly, is at as a singer, a judge on The Voice, or as a talk show host? I like her best as a singer. Here she is from Season 1 of American Idol. What a charmer!

 

 

7) In 2017, when this song was popular, Faye Dunaway made Oscar history by announcing the wrong winner for the biggest award of the night, Best Picture. It wasn't her fault as she was given the wrong envelope, but she's one who made the on-screen flub seen around the world. Have you recently had an embarrassing moment? I had gut trouble last month when my oldest friend and I were sharing a bathroom. That was pretty mortifying. Fortunately I've known her since Kindergarten. I've seen her through some embarrassing moments, too.

 

8) Wonder Woman was 2017's most popular movie. She was originally introduced in a 1941 DC comic book. Comic books remain a big business. Have you ever been to a comic book store? I've walk past one regularly but I have never been tempted to go in.

9) Random question: Is your skin itchy this morning? Nope. Ask me again in the winter. I guarantee my answer will be different.

 

 

So proud of Chicago's very own

The Obamas finally got to unveil their official White House portraits, and I'm popping my buttons with pride and joy. As we watch the Brits say farewell to Queen Elizabeth, I find myself clinging more tightly to our graceful traditions and norms. Donald Trump, petulant fuck that he is, denied the Obamas this ceremony. Joe Biden hosted his old boss instead, and I'm swooning.

They are Chicagoans, and they represent the best of my city. The biracial son of a working mom and the descendant of slaves who earned Ivy League degrees, found each other, and made history. As Michelle herself said, "A girl like me, she was never supposed to be up there next to Jacqueline Kennedy and Dolley Madison." Well, now she is, and the Obamas are an example to every little kid in America. If you work hard, you too can achieve great things!

And, since Michelle mentioned JBKO, let's look at how the Kennedys' White House portraits were unveiled. It demonstrates how important the unveiling ceremony is historically, and how civil we as a people can be.

Once Jacqueline Kennedy left the White House in December, 1963, just weeks after her husband's murder, she only returned once. For the unveiling of their presidential portraits.

Richard Nixon was President when the paintings were finally completed in 1971. He could have gotten quite a bit of political mileage out of Jackie's return. By now, she was Jackie O, and everything she did was news. 

Instead, the Nixons did something unexpected and beautiful. They invited Jackie and her children to come back "home" in secret. The two families -- the Nixons and their adult daughters, Jackie with 13-year-old Caroline and 10-year-old John -- had dinner together in the private residence. Caroline got to see her old classroom (The Kennedys had a Kindergarten onsite in the White House Solarium for Caroline and 19 other children). Then they viewed the portraits.

It gave Jackie an opportunity to come back to the White House quietly, away from the prying eyes and cameras that recorded her when she and her children left. It gave the children a chance to revisit the last place they lived with their father, and helped them understand how important their parents had been to the country.

No official photos of the evening were taken. The media received a press release the next day, after JFK's widow and children were back in New York. Here is Nixon's official diary entry for the event.

 Sometimes I think Donald Trump exists simply to make Richard Nixon look better by comparison.

 

THURSDAY THIRTEEN #274

Thirteen top reasons people call in for a last-minute day off.

1. Family emergency
   
2. Sick (non-specific)
   
3. Religious commitments/holiday
   
4. Doctor's appointment
   
5. Family event/celebration
   
6. Burn out
   
7. Bad weather
   
8. Car accident/can't drive
   
9. No babysitter
   
10. Back pains
    
11. Upset stomach
    
12. Household emergency (broken a/c or refrigerator)
    
13. Pet got lost

Now I can't tell you how many of these people are fibbing.

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

 

 

WWW.WEDNESDAY

 

 

To participate, and to see how other book lovers responded, click here.  

WWW. WEDNESDAY asks three questions to prompt you to speak bookishly.

1. What are you currently reading? Try Not to Suck: The Exceptional Baseball Life of Joe Maddon by Bill Chastain and Jesse Rogers. If you live in Chicago, you know the rallying cry, "Try not to suck." It gave us faith. The 2016 Cubs team was good, and could win it all -- their first World Series in more than a century -- all they had to do was "try not to suck." Nothin' to it. "Try not to suck" was on bumper stickers, in store windows and on t-shirts all over town, and it was the brainchild of Joe Maddon, the Cubs colorful manager. 

This is one of those biographies where I'm not sure if I'm enjoying it because of the writing or the subject. I am unabashedly in love with Joe Maddon. I adore how his mind works, the way he believes motivating players as individuals and as teammates is as important as the baseball fundamentals.  

If you enjoy baseball -- I do! -- you'll like this book. But it also has a lot of life lessons. I didn't realize till now that Joe never made the major leagues as a player. He simply wasn't good enough. But he would not be deterred. He had faith in himself, insanely good people skills and imagination, and made baseball his career. From scout to minor league manager, to bench coach to (my fearless prediction) hall of fame manager.

2. What did you just finish reading?  Dog Tags by David Rosenfelt. This book begins when two former cops turn to a life of crime. Billy went to Iraq and came back disabled, no longer able to serve. Milo was his partner, a German Shepherd retired by the force for being too old. Together they get by committing petty thefts. One of their capers go horribly awry and someone dies.

Andy Carpenter -- non-conformist defense attorney and dog lover extraordinaire -- takes their case(s). The deeper he gets into it, the more complicated it becomes. And, frankly, that was my problem. Too many characters, too many double crosses. I admit I stopped caring who really was behind the murder. I just wanted Billy and Milo to be OK. So while I enjoyed this book, it's not my favorite in the Andy Carpenter series.

3. What will you read next? I've landed on a thriller set in a private school, For Your Own Good.

No Joy in Mudville

 I hate this news so very much!

I do not wish to go 10 more days without my favorite-most person on Planet Earth ballplayer, but I do wish him healthy and whole.

SUNDAY STEALING

MOVIES

1. Best movie you saw during the last year. Elvis by Baz Luhrman. I went in with low expectations because I'm not fan of Baz, but he hit it out of the park. It's affectionate without devolving into hagiography and it gives the King his due. (Tom Hanks is more than a little over the top, though.) It's streaming now.

2. The most underrated movie. Holiday (1938). Cary Grant and the Great Kate Hepburn.

3. Favorite love story in a movie. So many! I'll go with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. No, I am not implying there is anything sexual between them. But the penultimate scene, where a dying Butch and Sundance crack wise and pretend they have a future to give each other hope, is terribly moving. Friends can love, too, you know.

4. The most surprising plot twist or ending. The Sixth Sense. (I really didn't know.)

5. A movie that makes you really happy. It's a Wonderful Life

 
6. A movie that makes you sad. Old Yeller. I will never watch it again, and you can't make me.

7. Favorite made for TV movie. Maybe it's a Chicago thing, or a 70s thing, but the story of Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers had a tremendous impact on me when I was a kid. I like thinking that in Heaven, James Caan got to meet Brian Piccolo.

 

 
8. A movie you’ve seen countless times. Murder on the Orient Express (1974). I love Albert Finney as Hercule Poirot.

 
9. A movie with the best soundtrack. A Hard Day's Night. I mean, The Beatles! C'mon!

10. Favorite classic movie. Gone with the Wind. Yeah, it is in TCM's Ben Mankiewicz' favorite term, "problematic." But that doesn't stop me from loving it.

11. A movie that you hate. The Wolf of Wall Street.

12. A movie that changed your opinion about something. Casablanca. Sometimes the  bravest, most noble thing you can do is say good bye.

13. A character you can relate to the most. Jane Craig in Broadcast News.

 
14. A movie that is a guilty pleasure. Valley of the Dolls. I love every wretched frame.

15. Favorite movie based on a book/comic. To Kill a Mockingbird. Great movie, great book.

16. A movie that disappointed you the most. Anything with Garbo. I just don't see what all the enduring fuss is about.

17. A movie from your favorite actor/actress. The Way We Were. Streisand and Redford are both my favorites.

18. Favorite movie from your favorite director. George Cukor directed more than 60 movies, including my favorite, Holiday (1938).

19. Favorite action movie. Die Hard.

20. A movie you wish more people would have seen. A Face in the Crowd (1957). Andy Griffith is extraordinary in this dramatic role. He plays ... Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Tucker  Carlson, insert media demagogue name here. Bad Andy is a revelation, and every American adult should see this.

21. Favorite documentary Get Back.

 
22. Favorite animation Oh, I don't know. I do love watching Dick Van Dyke with the penguins in Mary Poppins.

23. Most hilarious movie you’ve ever seen Animal House

 
24. A movie that you wish you had seen in theater. Psycho. I have seen it in a theater and it's beautifully made, better than a slasher horror film needs to be. But I wish I'd seen it the first time in a theater.

25. Your favorite movie of all time. I suppose I have three -- The Way We Were, Holiday, and Gone with the Wind.

Saturday 9

Blue Collar Man (1978)

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

1) In this week's song, we hear a job equated with security. Tell us something that gives you a sense of security. Money. I know that sounds shallow, but it's true. I've had big dental bills lately and am looking at a home improvement project this month and I've been able to make these incremental bills without touching my emergency fund. I'm grateful. Besides, this answer gives me a chance to listen to this again. One of John's best vocals.

 

 

 

2) Lead singer Tommy Shaw hopes someone will make him an offer he can't refuse. That's a reference to a famous movie quote. Without looking it up, can you name the film? The Godfather, one of the greatest movies ever.

3) Shaw recalls that this song was inspired by a friend of his, a blue collar worker who had been laid off and was frustrated by the process of job hunting. His friend wanted to work, not fill out forms and job applications and wait days for a response! Do you quickly become impatient? Depends on who I'm dealing with. If you have fur, I am endlessly patient. If you walk upright and have no tail, you'll find me less so.

4) The name "Styx" wasn't the top choice of anyone in the band. As founding member Denis DeYoung recalled, "It was the only name none of us hated." Tell us about a recent compromise you made (which TV show to watch, toppings on your pizza, etc.). Working with Jamie on Friday morning. He and I agree on very little philosophically. But he is so enthusiastic and has such integrity that I'm always happy to meet him halfway.

5) Labor Day was introduced to celebrate the achievements of the American worker. How many different employers have you had? Ten. It's a good thing this will be my last job, since I am now out of fingers.

6) The first Waffle House was opened on Labor Day, 1955. What's your preference: waffles or pancakes? Waffles.

 

7) Labor Day mattress sales are a big business. Experts tells us we can expect to spend $1,000 for a good-quality queen-sized mattress. Will you be buying a new one -- or perhaps making another big ticket purchase for your home -- before year end? I'm having my living room window frame repaired later this month. It's about $750, I'm not unhappy. I didn't know repairing the frame was possible, and I was afraid I'd need new windows.

8) Will you be attending a Labor Day picnic or barbecue? Nope. I suppose I could reach out to Nancy and her husband, Paul, but I don't feel like it. I've been stressed at work and would like some solitary time. I'm kinda looking forward to sleeping a lot, going for long walks, and watching a lot of baseball.

9) Labor Day is the unofficial start of fall. Have you had any pumpkin spice yet? Not yet.

 

 

How lovely to be him

This morning I woke up to find my internet was out. No ethernet, no wifi, and back-to-back Zoom meetings beginning at 10:00. I either had to get the get service restored or get to the coffee shop and hope it was quiet enough to hold my meetings there.

I realize I sounded very stressed while talking to the Comcast/Xfinity IT specialist. I kept apologizing to him -- "I'm upset, but I'm not upset with you" -- but I needed him to let me know if he could get me back online right away. Otherwise I've got to move.

The tech told me his name was Jordan. I suspect he was in India. I could hear a roomful of his similarly accented coworkers. He asked if he could put me on "a quick hold" while he tried something. Then he proceeded to work while I could still hear him. This shook my confidence. It he couldn't figure out the hold button on his phone, how could he restore my internet?

As he was clacking away he began to sing to himself. "Yesterday, all my troubles seem so far away ..." 

Suddenly I felt better. A Beatle person could come to rescue!

Then I thought of Sir Paul. A kid halfway around the world knew all the words to a song he likely introduced before the kid's were born. How cool for him. It must be wonderful to have created something so lasting, and with such universality and reach.

August Happiness Challenge -- Day 31

Today's happiness -- My neighborhood

This is definitely a glass-half-full kinda happy, but it's sincere.

My temporary cap fell off! I had a hole in my mouth and the tooth we're trying to save was vulnerable. I needed to get to the dentist.

He is literally across the street. The bank and movie theater are around the corner from him. Three grocery stores are within the next few blocks. So is the drug store. And the book store. An oh! The dining options! If I turn and walk the other way, I've got the post office, the library, and my church.

I am so very fortunate that almost everything I need on a regular basis is within walking distance. I do love living here.

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.

 

THURSDAY THIRTEEN #273

13 successful people who once worked at McDonald's. In honor of Labor Day, let's look at some famous names who clocked time at the fryer and drive-through window.

1. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos

2. Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill

3.  Renaissance man Lin-Manuel Miranda

4. TV's Judge Mathis

5. Tonight Show host Jay Leno

6. Oscar nominee Sharon Stone

7. Vice Presidential nominee Paul Ryan

8. Olympic swimmer Amy Van Dyken

9. Olympic track star Carl Lewis

10. Singer Pink

11. Race car driver Tony Stewart

12. Country star Shania Twain

13. Actress/model Andie Macdowell

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

WWW.WEDNESDAY

 

 

To participate, and to see how other book lovers responded, click here.  

WWW. WEDNESDAY asks three questions to prompt you to speak bookishly.

1. What are you currently reading? Dog Tags by David Rosenfelt. Milo, a highly trained police dog, is retired by the force for being too old. He is given to Billy, his former partner who was injured in Iraq. Together the two unemployed ex-cops embark on a life of crime, supporting themselves by committing petty thefts. Of course, Milo has no idea what he's doing is wrong. He's a dog who loves his master and willingly follows his commands. One of their capers goes horribly wrong and someone is killed. Billy ends up in jail and Milo is in police custody. 

Lawyer Andy Carpenter likes dogs better than people and donates his services to freeing Milo. Yes, he goes to court in an attempt to get Milo released on bail. So far, his legal maneuvers on Milo's behalf are my favorite part of the book. Everyone he encounters along the way, including the judge to the DA, is amused by how seriously Andy takes freeing this dog. You'll be amused by Andy's quick wit. (He has what my dad would call "a smart mouth.")

The more Andy learns about the shooting, the more complicated it becomes, and the deeper he is drawn in. He ends up defending Billy on a murder charge, and finds the forces Billy is facing are far darker than he imagined.

2. What did you just finish reading?  Too Much and Never Enough by Mary L. Trump. Donald Trump has one niece, his older brother Fred's daughter. She puts her uncle in the context of their family. A trained psychologist, Mary explains the Trump clan and their motivations, and it's chilling.

Patriarch Fred Trump Sr. is really at the center of this book. Successful, smart and morally bankrupt, he bullied his wife and children and taught them that might makes right. Money was worshiped, kindness and sensitivity were mocked in that household. Donald Trump became what his father wanted him to be and in time, the student surpassed the teacher.

Just as Donald Trump makes Richard Nixon look better as a President, Fred Trump elevates Joseph P. Kennedy in the presidential parent ranking. Yes, JPK was a ruthlessly ambitious businessman and a unrepentant womanizer. But he loved his children and pushed them because he believed they were exceptional. There is very little love or faith in the Trump family saga. 

A very readable but terribly sad book. As I hear about the criminal shenanigans at Mar-a-Lago, Trump's motivations make more sense now, but that doesn't make them any less heinous.

3. What will you read next? I don't know.

 

August Happiness Challenge -- Day 30

Today's happiness -- Roy Hobbs

As soon as he sensed I was awake this morning, Roy Hobbs hopped onto the bed, curled up and pressed his big feline body next to mine and began to purr.

Last year at this time, Reynaldo was still here with me but he was dying. That was an aching time for me. My skinny beige demon cat was special -- smart, adrenaline-driven, and very loving. The pain of saying goodbye was indescribable.

Last year at this time, Roy Hobbs had a different name and lived in an abusive home.

I am happy that I am able to provide Roy Hobbs with a safe home where he can be calm and content. I am grateful that he (and Rey-Rey) taught me a lesson about accepting the natural order of things, and how life goes on.

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.

 

August Happiness Challenge -- Day 29

Today's happiness -- My movie group

This week we were so blabby, we ran long. We were discussing The Best Years of Our Lives and somehow our moderator Will wooed an author to join us. Alison Macor wrote a "making of" book which I admit I haven't read, but she was a wonderful special guest. Also, we were all on our best behavior, the way family is when a visitor is present.

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.

 

August Happiness Challenge -- Day 28

Today's happiness -- That was a surprise

My DVR is always 90%+ full and I'm forever having to delete things I don't want to. Now, suddenly, my DVR reads less than 40%, and I haven't deleted a thing. Xfinity upgraded me! I had no idea. This made me happy.

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.

Sunday Stealing

UPSTREAM LIFE

1. Your favorite sport. To borrow from Robert Redford in The Natural, "God, I love baseball." Here is my current favorite picture of my favorite player, Anthony Rizzo of the (gulp!) Yankees. I will always wish he was still a Cub.

Isn't he lovely? Isn't he wonderful?

2. A quote to live by. "Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim." Nora Ephron.

3. A city in the US you would like to move to. I really don't want to live anywhere other than Chicago. I belong here. If I could live anywhere in Chicago, it would be The Palmolive Building. It's an art deco jewel, built in the 1920s. Sometimes, when I fly into O'Hare after dark, I can see its beacon. That was added to help guide Lucky Lindy in 1930. It offers really spectacular views. Now all I need is the $1,000,000 to buy in.

4. 3 beautiful little things in your life. I'm defining "beautiful" as things that lift my heart. 1) My cats; 2) day baseball; 3) buttery mashed potatoes.

5. What made you laugh today? I didn't laugh, but Willie Geist on Sunday Today did make me smile.

6. A good deed you did today. My you're demanding! I'm still in my pajamas! I just signed up to write for Letters Against Isolation.

7. Activities you like to do when you are bored. Fart around on the internet.

8. Are you a procrastinator? Good goobies, YES!

9. Your thoughts about dying. I hope it will be peaceful.

10. What super power would like to have? I would like your basic Samantha Stephens complement of powers: Teletransportation between locations, snapping my fingers to do housework, twitching my nose to make time stand still.

11. Top 3 Netflix series. Mostly I watch individual shows and movies on Netflix, not series. Sorry.

12.  Things you want to do before you die. I don't think in those terms.

13. Your biggest fears. Dying in a plane crash. Wouldn't teletransportation be much better?

14. What makes you angry? Conspiracy theorists. The election was not stolen. Donald Trump is an elite, the scion of a New York real estate family, and not the victim of elites. Barack Obama was born in the United States. Bill Clinton did not put out a hit on Jeffrey Epstein. Ted Cruz' dad had nothing to do with the JFK assassination. And while we're talking about JFK, his son died in a plane crash before the turn of the millennium and he's not coming back. Just recounting this drivel gives me a headache. Can you imagine how desperately sad life must be like for people who believe this shit? 

15. Do you listen to podcasts? Sometimes. One I recently enjoyed was Born to Rule, about Prince Charles and the monarchy's next chapter. 

August Happiness Challenge -- Day 27

Today's happiness -- Marilyn

August is Summer Under the Stars on TCM. Every day a different star gets the spotlight for 24 hours. Today was Marilyn Monroe. I DVR'd one I've never seen before (Ladies of the Chorus) and watched Some Like It Hot in real time.

She is such a delight.

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.

Saturday 9

She's in Love with the Boy (1991)

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

1) This song tells the story of Katie and Tommy. She waited for him to pull up in his beat-up Chevy truck. Tell us about your wheels. I don't drive.

 

My wheels

2) Katie and Tommy stay out until 12:30 AM. What time did you go to bed last night? About 10:30 PM

3) The lyrics tell us, "What's meant to be will always find a way." Do you agree? Yes. I have faith that everything happens for a reason. Just because I don't know that reason doesn't mean there isn't one. I have faith that when I get to Heaven, all my questions will be answered.

4) This was the first big hit for Trisha Yearwood. While she's found her greatest success in music, she's also written top-selling cookbooks. Are you a better singer or cook? I'm a better cook, and I'm a terrible cook.

5) Trisha also appeared in six episodes of the TV drama, JAG. She played a medical examiner and forensic pathologist, which means her character had a medical degree and (at least) one year of additional training. That's (at least) five extra years of higher education. Do you enjoy taking classes? I haven't taken a class in so long that I'm not sure.

6) In real life, Trisha earned a degree in Business Administration before going into music. She uses what she learned in school, keeping a close eye on her finances and those of her superstar husband, Garth Brooks. She says she likes and trusts the people hired to their money, "but I check on them." Do you keep a careful eye on where your money goes? Yes. Now I feel guilty because I have weeks worth of transactions to enter into Quicken. It's just I've been dealing with a blessedly mild case of covid and I have the attention span of a gnat.

 

7) In 1991, when this song was popular, Dances with Wolves was a hit in the theaters. Have you seen it? Yes. I liked it well enough at the time, but not well enough to see it ever again.

8) Also in 1991, Seinfeld was a big deal on the small screen. It's still popular in syndication on cable channels and on streaming services. Do you more often watch broadcast TV or streaming/on-demand channels? I watch broadcast a lot for the news and reruns of my favorite old shows. (Sex and the City is on as I write this.)

9) Random question: Have you ever gone a day without laughing? No. I'm really lucky that way. Something happens every day, even in the worst of times, that makes me laugh. I'll see a baby make a funny face, or my cats will charm me, and I'll get a momentary respite from heartache. I remember sitting in the funeral director's office, planning my mother service. I was completely overwhelmed ... by missing my mommy, by being responsible for her estate, by how fractious my family can be. The funeral director asked about music and said sometimes people choose to play the deceased's favorite songs during the visitation. My mom's favorite was so cheesy: "After the Loving" by Engelbert Humperdinck. Can you imagine? The thought of that ode to post-coital bliss at her wake just made me lose it. I couldn't stop giggling. 

 

This is for you, Mom!

 

August Happiness Challenge -- Day 26

Today's happiness -- Texting with my nephew

No matter what pops into my head -- politics, baseball, Beatles -- I can spontaneously share it with him. It makes me happy that we speak the same language.

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.

August Happiness Challenge -- Day 25

Today's happiness -- Taking a break

I've been struggling. Nothing big. The work drama and money trouble I'm currently facing are made worse by the fact that covid has sapped my strength. Really, the only symptom that's bedeviling me this time is fatigue. Anyway, when I was hopelessly slogging my way through a blog post I decided to do something I seldom do: I called my oldest friend during the work day. We talked for about an hour. She made me laugh. I felt rejuvenated.

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.

 

August Happiness Challege -- Day 24

Today's happiness -- The 2016 Cubs

That team really was magic. I loved their personalities as much as their play. I love how they delivered for us. Anyway, when I was feeling run down I conjured them. I played their visit to the Obama White House on YouTube. It lifted my heart. That Obama, he was pretty magic, too, wasn't he?

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.