Three Nice Things about Myself -- Day 7

My blogging buddy, Kwizgiver, wrote a post that really resonated with me. She detailed how self-care helped her helped her prevail during a (ridiculously) tough month. Her tips were very wise and so doable! So she has inspired me to take one and integrate it into my own life.

Since I can be a pretty harsh self-critic, this is the one I chose. I hope I can do this every day during March. By then it should be a habit, right?

Three nice things about myself -- March 7:

1) I was patient. I was fiddling around with the online scheduling tool for the store and saw that after March 15, I'm not scheduled for any hours. Other people are, but not me. Although no one is scheduled for my particular shift (10 to 2), there is a crazy quilt of sales people scheduled and there will be coverage. There could be many reasons for this, but the first one that came to mind is that Store Manager CeeCee can no longer afford me. After all, I was hired in late October with the understanding that the job would be over on January 1. "Seasonal Sales Associate" is my title. Or it could have to do with spring break, the vacation of my regularly-scheduled manager Jen, or ... or ... or ... I see Colleen (whom I've yet to meet) isn't scheduled either. ANYWAY, when I noticed this, my first impulse was to text CeeCee and say, "What gives?" If she is letting me go, I'll certainly understand. I just hate having stuff like this hanging over my head, unresolved. My initial impulse is to get it all out in the open. I was going to text her and ask her to call me and then I remembered: she's taking this week off. She worked inventory at another store and she's tired. It would be enormously selfish of me to put my comfort before hers. I liked myself for realizing I can, indeed, wait until Monday, when she and I are face to face to ask, "What gives?"

I'm sorry but I don't have a 2 or 3 today.

Thursday Thirteen #351

The last 13 TV commercials I saw. I love TV. If I'm home, it's likely on. Because I spent decades in advertising, I pay attention to how networks and marketers target me and what TV commercials I see. 

So I made note of what was promoted to me on a random Thursday night.

1. JP Morgan Wealth Management. I'm already a Chase customer, and Chase is the #1 bank in Chicagoland, so it makes sense I'd see this commercial.

2. Voltaren. I'm a lady of a certain age, and I am creaking a bit more every day, so this OTC arthritis cream commercial seems appropriate.

3. Intuit QuickBooks. Financial software. I'm neither self-employed nor a small business owner, so nah.

4. Indeed. An employment website. I'm neither looking for a job nor hiring anyone, so nah.

5. Mando. You know that Lume Deodorant you see all the time? Now there's one for men. I don't care.

6. Angi. It used to be called Angie's List. If I needed a new contractor, I might use it.

7. Ro. An injectable weight management med. This commercial wouldn't interest me at all except she says "little prick," and I'm juvenile so it gets my attention.

8. Mtailor. Tailored clothes made by measurements taken from your phone. I love this idea and I think the commercial misses the point. It only shows men, while mtailor does make jeans for women, as well. Yoo-hoo! Woman here!

9. Xfinity. "Discover unmissable shows and find what you love." I owe my soul to Xfinity. They already have my internet, cable and landline phone service. So yes, I can see why people like me see this ad.

10. Pooph. An odor remover spray. I keep meaning to try this because I have two cats/two litter boxes. In the commercial he sprays Pooph directly into his mouth. It's kinda creepy, but it addresses my concern about product safety around my cats.

11. Lerner and Rowe.  "Lerner and Rowe are the lawyers for you. Call 222-2222." You see similar spots for your own local injury lawyers, don't you?

12. Mando again. I'm still not a smelly man.

13. Granite stone cookware. I'm sure these are lovely, but I have pots and pans I bought in 1980 that are good as new because ... well ... I never use them.

Do you find that the commercials and web banners you see are for products/services you would actually purchase?

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

 

Three Nice Things about Myself -- Day 6

My blogging buddy, Kwizgiver, wrote a post that really resonated with me. She detailed how self-care helped her helped her prevail during a (ridiculously) tough month. Her tips were very wise and so doable! So she has inspired me to take one and integrate it into my own life.

Since I can be a pretty harsh self-critic, this is the one I chose. I hope I can do this every day during March. By then it should be a habit, right?

Three nice things about myself -- March 6:

1) I wasn't a bitch. Both my friend Elaine and I find ourselves exasperated by Betty, also in our movie group. Betty is over 60, attractive but mature. She cannot resist mentioning to us that she was Miss Chintatown Chicago back in the day. That day was decades ago, and it's not like it was a national title. And it really seldom comes up organically in conversation. Betty has to shoe-horn it in, which she always manages to do. Anyway, she sent me a video of her teenage self singing in the Miss Chinatown Chicago talent portion. She found a tape of it, had it converted to DVD, played it on her TV, filmed it with her phone, and texted it to me. How very Betty! I have never once expressed interest in this, mind you. I was dying to share it with Elaine, along with a snarky comment. But I didn't. I reminded myself that it seems the highlight of her life happened when she was a teen. Maybe sharing it with me made her feel closer to me, which is something of a compliment, right? Instead of forwarding it, I responded by saying I didn't know she could sing, and that her daughters must love seeing her so young and beautiful. Betty thanked me profusely. I like myself for how I handled this.

2) I didn't hit "send." Similarly, I wasn't bitchy to my oldest friend. Though I wanted to be. Her last two emails were silly, superficial affairs that read more like those mass letters you get in a Christmas card than real correspondence between close friends. She annoys the shit out of me when she's like this. I started to tell her that if she doesn't want to talk, then don't, but don't bother me with this drivel. Instead I just deleted her email and my reply. I love her. I liked myself for remembering that and curbing my tongue. (Or fingertips.)

3) I didn't just sit here. I signed up to write more postcards encouraging Democrats to vote in the fall. I like that I'm not one of those people who just yells at the TV when I don't like the news.

Three Nice Things about Myself -- Day 5

My blogging buddy, Kwizgiver, wrote a post that really resonated with me. She detailed how self-care helped her helped her prevail during a (ridiculously) tough month. Her tips were very wise and so doable! So she has inspired me to take one and integrate it into my own life.

Since I can be a pretty harsh self-critic, this is the one I chose. I hope I can do this every day during March. By then it should be a habit, right?

Three nice things about myself -- March 5:

1) I haven't lost my shit ... yet. An inspector has decided that our building has structural issues that we must present a plan for correcting -- pronto. Right now, that's all I know. I have been running the numbers in my imagination, based on my assumptions, and think I will soon owe an additional $3,000 to $8,000. I am not happy about this. It's almost heartbreaking, because I have been working so hard to crawl out of debt. But here's the thing: I don't know what's going on and I won't for a while. I've made some contingency plans in my head to reassure myself that I'll be OK. But beyond that, there isn't anything else I can do. I have accepted that. No tears, minimal obsessing. Maybe all that therapy has been paying off!

2) I can do this job. Oh, the cash register is still often my nemesis and I take too long handling returns and exchanges. I know that, and I'm grateful customers are so patient with me. But here's the thing: I know the store better now and I have learned how to talk to shoppers. Today a woman was asking me specific questions about the different types of stationery in the back of the store and I answered her, but in talking to her I discerned that conventional stationery isn't what she needed at all. She wanted 2"x3.5" cards to create her own business card. As I steered her to a different part of the store and set her up with our collection of card stock in that size she could make a considered choice, I thought to myself, "Look at me! After three months, I know how to do this job with little help!"

3) I can be a comfort. Today my boss Jen (she of the green ribbon) told me that her 7-year-old daughter self harms. The girl picks at her fingertips until they bleed and bandages and antibiotic ointment are required. Her parents love her and are trying to help. Teachers are involved, a therapist is seen weekly. I was shocked not only by the situation but that Jen, a woman who seems so very in control and proud of it, was confiding all this in me. Especially because we've only known one another three months. I like that about myself: she sensed that I would have compassion for her little girl, and I do. I could tell she felt better after confiding in me. I like that about myself, too.

Three Nice Things About Myself -- Day 4

My blogging buddy, Kwizgiver, wrote a post that really resonated with me. She detailed how self-care helped her helped her prevail during a (ridiculously) tough month. Her tips were very wise and so doable! So she has inspired me to take one and integrate it into my own life.

Since I can be a pretty harsh self-critic, this is the one I chose. I hope I can do this every day during March. By then it should be a habit, right?

Three nice things about myself -- March 4:

1) I didn't spend any money. Oh, I wanted to! It was unseasonably warm today (69º in March!) and I wanted to wander up to my favorite hot dog stand to celebrate this single day of spring. But I have a budget and I like that I'm sticking to it.

2) I made the dull, boring phone call. It wasn't just the cash that kept me from walking to the hot dog stand this afternoon. I had to straighten out a discrepancy on my dental insurance EOB. Would I rather walk in the sunshine or sit on hold? I like myself for showing some discipline.

3) I was kind. When I interviewed for the job at the card shop, my boss CeeCee said her top requirement of me is that I "be kind." Today, I was. An elderly lady was trying to find thank you notes that would fit her budget. I went through our sale bin for/with her -- her vision isn't great -- and found a selection for her. Then, right after I rang her up, she got buyer's remorse and wanted to exchange two of them. I told her not to worry about it, this is what I'm here for.

Three Nice Things About Myself -- Day 3

My blogging buddy, Kwizgiver, wrote a post that really resonated with me. She detailed how self-care helped her helped her prevail during a (ridiculously) tough month. Her tips were very wise and so doable! So she has inspired me to take one and integrate it into my own life.

Since I can be a pretty harsh self-critic, this is the one I chose. I hope I can do this every day during March. By then it should be a habit, right?

Three nice things about myself -- March 3:

1) I'm a Swiftie. Little girls were selling friendship bracelets from a card table in their front yard. "1$" said the sign. I bought one. The girls were unutterably adorable and I think I was their only customer. I like that I notice things in my neighborhood and that I'm willing to stop. 

2) I'm a good cat mom. Connie and Roy Hobbs are comfortable, with me and with one another. I believe that's because I let them be cats and don't try to train them or change them. As I watch a friend attempt to make her cats conform to some preconceived notion of how they should behave, I am grateful that I have such respect for their feline idiosyncrasies and spirits. (I think I inherited this from my mom.)

3) I remembered. When I got out of bed this morning, my back felt creaky. I haven't been able to attend yoga class and I haven't been doing my morning stretches and now I hurt. But instead of beating myself up for forgetting the stretches, I shall avoid the negative self talk and celebrate that today I remembered. I did my stretches.

 

Sunday Stealing

 CRAFTY, FROM SWATBOT

1. What (if anything) are you doing to celebrate St Patrick's Day? I don't know. It's a couple Sundays away.

2. What is your least favorite color (to wear, to craft with or to decorate with)? I don't look good in yellow. It makes my skin look sallow.

3. At a yellow light - do you speed up or slow down? I don't drive. I like to think, though, that I'd slow down because I'd be a cautious and defensive driver.

4. How many pairs of scissors are in your craft room? I don't have a craft room

5. What are the first three items you have 'saved for later' on Amazon? 1) Arm and Hammer Cat Litter 2) Viralys L-Lysine Supplement for Cats (out of stock) 3) Fexofenadine Allergy Relief. Glamorous, huh?

6. Did you plant any springs bulbs in your garden and if so, have any of them come up yet? No yard.

7. What book, if any, are you reading right now?

Learn about it here

8. Do you prefer ball point pens, gel pens, or thin tip markers to write with? Ball points are my first choice because they are so dependable. These Stabilo markers are my second choice, for color.

9. What is your favorite crafting item - the craft item thing you use the most or can't live without? (Exclude basic items like scissors and glue). I don't craft.

10. What are the first 3 items on your grocery list and what is your favorite grocery store? Paper towels, Coke, Gerber baby food meats (for my cat, Connie). I tend to grocery shop at Target.

11. What unfinished craft projects are you working on (or not:) at the moment? I don't craft. Really, I don't.

12. What was the last item you pinned on Pinterest? Or hearted on Instagram. I don't use those social media platforms.

13. What is the biggest tourist attraction where you live? According to Tripadvisor, it's The Art Institute of Chicago.

14. What color is your favorite sweater? Blue

15. How does your family react when you get a big pile of mail? I live alone. Sorry. (I'm not at all sorry I live alone, I'm sorry I don't have a good answer to this question.)

 

 

 

Three Nice Things About Myself -- Day 2

 

My blogging buddy, Kwizgiver, wrote a post that really resonated with me. She detailed how self-care helped her helped her prevail during a (ridiculously) tough month. Her tips were very wise and so doable! So she has inspired me to take one and integrate it into my own life.

Since I can be a pretty harsh self-critic, this is the one I chose. I hope I can do this every day during March. By then it should be a habit, right?

Three nice things about myself -- March 2:

1) I maintain my sense of humor. A lot went wrong today, all before 1:00. My dental insurance carrier seems to have forgotten me and denied a claim, my LYFT driver's car smelled like Swisher Sweets, I placed my lunch order at the wrong location and ended up forfeiting my $20.00 tab* ... But I'm still smiling. It helps to imagine myself Lucy Ricardo for the new millennium. Sometimes I swear I can hear the laugh track.

2) I spread the wealth. When grocery shopping yesterday I saved a little of my budget for the little mom'n'pop on the other side of town. I knew I'd be nearby today for a stop at the vet and I want to support them. I bought my paper towels, canned goods and a container of mashed potatoes from the deli counter. Independent stores like this one are important, if inconvenient for me, and I want to help them succeed. I like myself for noticing what makes my community special and, as they say, putting my money where my mouth is.

3) I have pretty handwriting. I put it to good use, encouraging voters to sign up for Vote by Mail.

 

*Completely my fault. I didn't look at what I was doing on the site and clicked the wrong box. The manager of that location couldn't have been nicer but explained that $20 wasn't enough for their minimum delivery and besides, even if he waived that, the food would be cold by the time he could get it to me. I said 5 miles is an awfully long walk and to give my lunch to the kitchen staff with my compliments. The manager took my name and told me to come in for anything I want "next time, on the house." Yeah, that's gonna happen. But I deserve this. I should pay a price for not paying attention. However, when the Mastercard bill comes, Ricky will tell me I have some 'splaining to do.

Saturday 9

 
Saturday 9: Blame It on the Bossa Nova (1963)

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

1) This week's song tells the story of a girl who found love at a dance. Share a happy memory from a party, prom or dance you attended. The first thing that popped into my head was a surprise party I threw in high school. Ann's birthday was November 1. I told her I was having a Halloween party and asked her to please come in costume. I'll always remember Ann's surprised and delighted face -- covered in clown makeup, complete with red nose -- when she realized the party was really for her, and that she was the only one in costume. I bet it's something she still remembers fondly to this day.

2) This record was a big hit for Eydie Gorme, which surprised her. When she first heard the song, she disliked it and had to be convinced to her record it. Tell us about a pleasant surprise you had recently. My tax refund came earlier than I expected. Direct deposited cash is always pleasant.

3) "Blame It on the Bossa Nova" is about love at first sight on the dance floor. Eydie's husband Steve Lawrence maintained he fell in love with her the first time he heard her sing. Have you ever felt a sudden, powerful attraction to someone? If yes, did you act on it? Yes and yes.

4) While this was a solo success for Eydie, she was also known for recording and performing with Steve Lawrence. He was just 22 and she was 29 when they married. Eydie admitted she was self-conscious about the difference in their ages. Do you think age matters in a romantic relationship? I suppose. But I don't think 7 years is big enough to have a real impact.

5) Eydie was fluent in Spanish, which enabled her to pay for her classes at City College by working as an interpreter. Tell us about one of your early jobs. I loved babysitting. It was great. The kids went to bed before 9:00 and then I got paid to drink pop, eat potato chips and watch old movies on TV.

6) In 1963, when this song was popular, The Rambler was Motor Trend's car of the year. It was a 9-passenger station wagon, perfect for families. What do you remember about your childhood family car? It was a red Lincoln Continental. My dad loved that car so much and was quite proud of it. I didn't give it much thought at all, except that it looked like a big boat, which made it easy to find in parking lots.

The municipal flag of Berne features a bear

7) Also in 1963, President Kennedy made a state trip to Ireland. Have you visited the land of your ancestors? Yes, I did. My paternal grandfather was from Berne, Germany, and I visited it during my one and only trip to Europe. Berne was impressive, but I didn't feel any great attachment to it. Perhaps because Grandpa was so patriotic and always referred to Germany as "the place we left."

8) The pilot for Gilligan's Island was filmed in 1963. Were you a fan of the show? Nope. But I can still sing the theme. "Sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip ..."

9) Random question: Crunchy, smooth or organic peanut butter? Just not organic. I hate that oil at the top of the jar. Shudder.

 
 

Three Nice Things about Myself -- Day 1

My blogging buddy, Kwizgiver, wrote a post on Tuesday that really resonated with me. She detailed how self-care helped her helped her prevail during a (ridiculously) tough month. Her tips were very wise and so doable! So she has inspired me to take one and integrate it into my own life.

Since I can be a pretty harsh self-critic, this is the one I chose. I hope I can do this every day during March. By then it should be a habit, right?

Three nice things about myself -- March 1:

1) My checkbook is balanced. This means I identified the adult things I don't like -- math and attention to detail -- and did them anyway because if I don't take care of me, no one will.

2) My passion is infectious. Sometimes when I geek out about things I love, I worry that I'm too much, but I recently got feedback that's not the case. My friend Gregory gave me four big beautiful coffee table books about The Golden Age of Hollywood because he knows how much I love old movies. Then he texted me about Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries, a PBS series set in the 1960s, a time I have great affection for. So I guess my enthusiasm can be kinda charming.

3) I put in the time. My friend Elaine is going through some shit. She wants to unretire and find another full-time job in her chosen career, and it's hard. She has added a second cat to her household and it's not going as she expected. I've been here for her as a sounding board regarding her career and a source of information about being a cat mom.

Worry, worry, worry

I do this to myself, you know. This tension, this stress. I worry about things that may happen but may not.

For example, about a month ago, Gregory invited me to lunch. He's sorting through his books and came upon some big, beautiful coffee table tomes about Hollywood he thought I would like, and he wanted me to have them before I go to the TCM Classic Film Festival in April. Sounds simple, right? And nice.

But I turned it into "a thing." I worried myself mad because in the 40+ years we've known one another, Gregory and I have never been alone together. For all the Thanksgiving dinners and summer lunches and birthday parties we've enjoyed together, we have always been part of a group. 

So what was up? Why did he really want to see me? Would we get along?

We met yesterday. I had a burger, he had clam chowder. The books are beautiful. We never ran out of things to talk about.

Why did I waste all that time worrying?

Then there's the mess with the condo board. Our building is in violation. We have the wrong smoke detectors. Some light bulbs in the hallways are out. There are cracks in the pillars in the parking lot. Etc., etc., etc. Jeremy in "Code Enforcement" sent the SECOND NOTICE to me. Just me. There are three of us on the Board but mine is the only name on the letter. I'm not even president!

I completely freaked out. 

Then I realized that 1) I cannot be solely responsible, since we have a management company and there are two other board members and 2) I never received a first notice. Neither did the management company. So that may buy us time in rectifying these situations.

Breathe, Gal, breathe.

Besides, it's Friday evening. Nothing of consequence is going to happen this weekend. I've texted the Board president (haven't heard back) and emailed everyone involved on our end, asking for ideas about next steps. I've done what I can do.

I have to try to let it all go, at least till Monday. 

Thursday Thirteen #350

MY 13 Favorite TV Shows of All Time. Last week I did a TT based on the list of the 100 best shows appeared in Variety last year. I only listed the top 13 because, after all, this isn't the Thursday 100. 

Below is the list as I would have compiled it, with Variety's rank in parens. PS If you still have questions about the Variety list, I'm including the link again.

13. The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson. NBC, 1962 to 1992. I grew up believing that this is how affluent adults behaved. Johnny dressed well, smoked, was articulate and very, very funny. In fact, he was funnier when he ad libbed after a joke bombed. BTW, for all you whiners who insist Kimmel and Colbert are "too political," as though picking on the POTUS is anything new or unique, watch the Carson reruns on Antenna TV. Johnny's monologues were full of derisive Watergate references, yuks aimed at Jimmy Carter's economic policies, and jokes about Reagan's acting career. Why do y'all insist on pretending Trump is a victim? Oh well, that's another post for another time. (Variety rank: 52 of 100)

12. Magnum, PI. CBS. 1980 to 1988. I love Tom Selleck's man-child with his pranks, his giggle and that rubber chicken. I wish he would return to comedy. On a more serious note, I appreciated that Vietnam vets were shown as loyal, functioning/recovering and productive -- not messed-up victims. I've been to Hawaii twice and enjoy how lovingly it's portrayed. It's like another character. (Not in Variety's 100)

11. M*A*S*H. CBS. 1972-1983. In a way, this one is like Magnum in that it used humor to deliver a very serious message about how war affects the combatants. While I had a mad crush on Hawkeye in real time, when I rewatch, my favorite character is Col. Potter. He was so wise and multi-faceted. (Variety rank: 24)

10. Saturday Night Live. NBC. 1975 to present. From Gilda and Chevy to Michael Che and Colin Jost, this show makes me laugh. Some casts have been better than others, but still, when something happens in the news I often wonder, "What will SNL do with this?" (Variety rank: 15)

9. Columbo. NBC.1971-78; ABC 1981-83. I'm new to this and I don't think I've seen all of them yet. Following Columbo as he figures out what we already know is a delight. As a lover of mystery novels, I wonder if this reverse story-telling would work as well on the page as it does on TV. (Variety rank: 85)

8. Will & Grace. NBC. 1998-2006. I love my friends, including the gay ones, and this show is about loving the people in our lives, regardless of who they love. No one on this show is anywhere near perfect and everyone is over the top, but I see them in my friends and me -- like Grace, I am tone deaf, unable to resist saying "I told you so," and I love TV waaaaay too much. After all, I've now done two consecutive TTs about it! (Variety rank: 93)

7. I Love Lucy. CBS. 1951-57. At a time when it was unusual for beautiful women to do physical comedy, Lucille Ball was fucking fearless as Lucy Ricardo. She was the very definition of "all in," stomping grapes, shoving chocolates into her bra and hawking Vitametavegamin. I also loved how much the four main characters loved one another. What good company the Mertzes and Ricardos are! (Variety rank: 1)

6. The West Wing. NBC. 1999-2006. I'm still a believer. I don't accept the paranoid notion of The Swamp and I consider politicians both public servants and my employees. This show recalls Washington DC before MAGA made it acceptable to storm the Capitol while waving the Confederate flag, and the Bartlett administration is balm for the aching soul of this idealistic Kennedy girl. (Variety rank: 25)

5. Sex and the City. HBO. 1998-2004. Last week I mentioned that I hate, loathe, despise and abominate Seinfeld and this show is everything Seinfeld isn't. The characters are three-dimensional and they actually like one another. Yes, they get on one another's nerves and of course, they can be snarky, but without the full-throated cynicism and contempt of Seinfeld. At one point, Mr. Big tells Miranda, Charlotte and Sam that they are the true loves of Carrie's life. Friendship: that's what this show is about. (Variety rank: 6)

4. Law & Order. NBC. 1990-2010 and 2021 to present. See my comments on The West Wing. While I know rogue cops exist and that policing is often unfair, I also believe being a policeman is very hard and most of them are heroes. While I know the justice system is imperfect and can be improved, I also respect it. I can hold all these thoughts in my head at the same time. I love how Law & Order reflects that. I also have my favorite cast members and named my cat after Det. Reynaldo Curtis. (Not in Variety's 100)

3. The Dick Van Dyke Show. CBS. 1961 to 1966. I think Dick Van Dyke may be the most extravagantly talented American ever. Really. At physical comedy he's as good as Lucille Ball and at delivering a line, he's as good as Johnny Carson. He can sing, he can dance, he can romance his lovely wife Laura as well as any leading man. There is literally nothing he can't do. The scripts are timeless and sophisticated. I like Laura's clothes, too. Very White House-era Jackie. I never tire of this show. (Variety rank: 45)

2. Mad Men. AMC. 2007-15. I know this show. I lived this show. It is, to borrow from All the President's men, both accurate and true about advertising, capitalism, and sex and romance. (Variety rank: 2)

1. Friends. NBC. 1994-2004. "Miss Chanandler Bong." "He's her lobster." "Pivot! Pivot! Pivot! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" "We were on a break." Oh. My. God! Could this show be any more quotable? I love Friends. I just do. Of course much of it has to do with the writing. But my enduring affection is also for the cast. Like SATC, this show is the anti-Seinfeld in its legit affection for the characters. (Variety rank: 29)

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

 

Sunday Stealing

SWAPBOT

1. Have you ever smoked cigarettes? Nope. I've never smoked a joint, either. I am so entirely creeped out by the idea of taking in smoke and releasing it through my nose. I mean, ICK! EWW! Why? Plus smoking cannot not bother the people around you. It's just rude.

2. What do you think of hot dogs? I think of them often and consume them a couple times/month.

3. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Milk. I hate the smell of coffee almost as much as I hate the smell of cigarette/pot smoke.

4. What's your favorite piece of jewelry that you own? I like my My Intent necklaces. I rotate them depending on what I think I need that day. I choose from GRATITUDE, COMPASSION, FOCUS and NOW.

5. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? Milk, water, Coke.

6. Like to travel? Yes and no. I like to see new places and long to return to dear familiar vacation spots from years gone by. I really enjoy hotels. But I hate flying and don't much enjoy road trips. I wish I could take Amtrak everywhere.

7. What should you be doing right now? According to my Connie Cat, who is right here beside me, I should be filling those food bowls.

8, Your phone rings. Who do you want it to be? I would give anything for it to be my friend, Henry.

9. Do you like to ride horses? Yes. I took riding lessons in junior high and would love to ride. But it's expensive and rather remote.

10. In a social setting, are you more of a talker or a listener? Talker. I'm like Chandler on Friends. I've got to fill the silences.

11. What's in your pocket right now? Nothing. Right now I am wearing an oversized t-shirt as pajamas and there are no pockets.

12. Last thing that made you laugh? Last night I watched Born Yesterday, a delightful comedy from 1950, that we're discussing at this week's movie group. You can watch it, and see Judy Holliday's Oscar winning performance, for free here on YouTube.

13. How many TVs do you have in your house? Two. I think I'm going to have to replace the one in the bedroom soon. It's ancient, nearly 24 years old. But I don't like to add to the landfill until absolutely forced to.

14. Who's your loudest friend? My boss, CeeCee. Her voice really carries.

15. Favorite sports team? (If you don't have one, just state that ...) I don't have one. HA! I am told there are people who don't like baseball generally -- and the Cubs more specifically -- and I feel sorry for these people. Baseball is beautiful. It's symmetrical (everyone gets the same number of outs; no "sudden death" in America's past time). It can be as complex or simple as you let it be. It's iconic: you may not like sports but you know who Babe Ruth is, you've heard the phrase, "It ain't over till it's over," you know it's three strikes and you're out. Being a Cub fan is in my DNA. During the tumultuous 1960s, the only "safe" topic at family gatherings was Ernie Banks. My grandmother loved Ryne Sandberg. Anthony Rizzo's passion on the field and tireless charity work are an inspiration to me. My nephew's Cubbie love led him to become a baseball writer. We are Cub fans because that's how the Good Lord made us.

 

Saturday 9

 
Saturday 9: Shambala (1973)

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

1) This week's song refers to the mythical kingdom of Shambala. Can you think of another song that mentions to faraway, mythical land? "Puff the Magic Dragon lived by the sea and frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honalee."

2) "Shambala" is performed by Three Dog Night. The name is derived from an Aboriginal Australian legend. In the outback, hunters would sleep with a dog beside them. If it was very cold, they would sleep between two dogs. If it was freezing -- you guessed it -- it was a three dog night. Was it cold last night where you are? I'm answering this Friday night, and the mercury will dip below freezing. But it's February in Chicagoland, and that's to be expected.

3) The lead singer is the late Cory Wells. Early in his career he was a member of the house band at the famous Sunset Strip nightclub Whiskey-A-Go-Go. Cory was a bit of an anomaly at "The Whiskey" because of his sober lifestyle. When did you most recently enjoy an adult beverage? It's been more than a week.

4) Bandmate Danny Hutton auditioned to be a member of The Monkees TV show. He didn't get the part. While he was a talented singer-songwriter, NBC was looking for musicians who could also act. Have you ever fantasized about a career as a performer? When I was a very little girl, before I realized I am clumsy and tone deaf.

5) Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys was an early supporter of Three Dog Night's. What's your favorite Beach Boys song? I'm not much of a Beach Boys fan, but I like this one.

 

6) In 1973, when this song was popular, one of the best-selling toys Curious George plush doll packaged with a Curious George book. Can you recall a favorite book from your childhood?

7) The Exorcist was in theaters, terrifying audiences. It's still ranked among the scariest movies of all time. Have you seen it? Did it scare you? Yes, I saw it once and yes, I was scared. So much so I can't watch it again.

8) Roller skates were a big seller in 1973. While most rinks had skates available for rent, committed skaters had their own pair. Are you better on roller skates or ice skates? I'm better in bare feet on carpeting.

9) Random question -- Here's $100. What will you spend it on? My Mastercard bill. I purchased everything in my Amazon cart, and there's going to be a reckoning.

 
 

Thursday Thirteen #349

 The 13 Greatest TV Shows of All Time. A wholly subjective list of the 100 best shows appeared in Variety last year. Here are the top 13. I don't agree with many of the rankings, but what the hell. It's all good fun.

13. Succession. HBO, 2018-2023. I watched the beginning of the first episode twice but just couldn't get into it. Every character was so unlikable! But a lot people love it.

12. Sesame Street. PBS. 1969 to present. I was too old for the show myself, but I watched it with my kid sister, and then with her children. I appreciate the artistry, the sterling intentions, and all the good it's done in the world.

11. Cheers. NBC. 1982-1993. The bar where everybody knows your name. I like the show, but I wouldn't rate it this high. Ted Danson appeared in every episode as Sam Malone and I think he's the best thing about it. I don't always like Sam, but he's always good company.

10. Roots. ABC. 1977. I admit I never saw it. This was before VCRs, DVRs and streaming, I was 19, and simply too busy being 19 to commit to watching a mini-series. However its power is undeniable. I never saw the miniseries or read the book, yet I know the bare bones of Kunta Kinte's story. It was everywhere, like air.

9. The Mary Tyler Moore Show. CBS. 1970-77. This show had a massive impact on me in real time. Mary Richards had a tiny apartment, money woes, a fabulous wardrobe and a work family. My first apartment was a studio, I was barely getting by, I spent too much on clothes, and my closest friends and confidantes were the people I met at work (at that point I was a secretary at Sears Tower). After Mary herself died in 2017, our associate minister remembered how reruns of The Mary Tyler Moore Show inspired and comforted her through her loneliest days away at college. A nice legacy for the lady to leave.

8. Seinfeld. NBC. 1989-98. I hate this show. No, really. I loathe it. It's worse than just not funny. It's hostile. I know that humor is subjective, and if you like Seinfeld, enjoy the reruns. But truly, I'd rather have dental work that endure 5 minutes of it.

7. The Wire. HBO. 2002-08. Never saw it. Maybe I'd enjoy it. After all, I love Law & Order and this sounds very similar.

6. Sex and the City. HBO. 1998-2004. My girls! I loved that Carrie was a writer who was bad with money but great with her girlfriends. Plus, she loved living in the city and brooked no criticism of it. Just as Mary Richards made me feel understood in the 1970s, SATC took me into the new millennium.

5. Breaking Bad. AMC. 2008-13. I tried, I really did. But after a couple episodes, I realized I just didn't give a shit about these characters.

4. The Simpsons. Fox. 1989 to present. I've only seen it once or twice. I know this must sound unAmerican, but I just never cared about this show one way or the other.

3. The Sopranos. HBO. 1999-2007. I watched the first season and then gave up on it. It's not that Mafia dramas turn me off; I've seen The Godfather so often I can recite it. I just never got into this one. Maybe, now that it's streaming, I should give it another shot.

2. Mad Men. AMC. 2007-15. Trust me, this is a docudrama. I spent 43 years in advertising and I know these characters and these situations. Like Peggy, I started as a secretary and worked my way up. Like Peggy, I only knew men from the office and slept with the wrong ones. Like Peggy, I became a creative director and won awards. There were weeks I simply couldn't watch Mad Men. It reflected what was going on in my life so closely that it didn't feel like entertainment. That's how good it is.

1. I Love Lucy. CBS. 1951-57. No argument from me. It premiered before I was born and it still makes me laugh. I think Lucy Ricardo appealed to me when I was little because she acted and responded just like I would, if only I was able to cross the street by myself. Then I came to have crazy respect for Desi Arnaz. A refugee from Cuba, he came to America with nothing and built an empire. Above all, there's Lucille Ball. She was beautiful, tough, ambitious and steadfast. Insanely talented and oh, how she loved Desi!

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. 

PS I no longer participate in WWW.WEDNESDAY via that link because her blog won't accept Blogger comments. I mention this only to save you the frustration I experienced trying to link up.

1. What are you currently reading? Mary Lincoln: Biography of a Marriage by Ruth Painter Randall. I love the premise of this book: Mary Lincoln deserves a "new hearing." So much of what has been said and written about her has been negative, or cruel, or out of context. 

 

Ms. Randall gives a new (newish; the book was published in the 1950s) and exhaustively researched look at the First Lady. So far it's sympathetic but not white-washed. (Mary's sharp tongue and impulsivity are often referenced.) And while it can be scholarly, the information is shared in a linear, easy-to-understand manner.

2. What did you recently finish reading?  Laura by Vera Caspary. This novel tells the story of The Laura Hunt Murder Case, a sexy and lurid news story that captivated New York one August in the 1940s. To solve the case, Detective Mark McPherson spends time with, and closely observes, Laura's fiance Shelby Carpenter, her mentor and confidante Waldo Lydecker and her elegant aunt, Susan Treadwell. 

Part of the fun of this book is hearing the story told by different narrators. Writing in such distinctly different voices couldn't have been easy for Caspary but she does it very well. It's an entertaining, evocative book.

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

 

Sunday Stealing

Stolen from Pinterest

Name a song that...

1. You enjoy, in another language. "Moja droga jacie kocham means that I love you so." That's from My Melody of Love by Bobby Vinton. I often hear Polish spoken around here, and even though this song is silly, I like the sound of it. 

2. Recently introduced you to a new singer. I had no idea who Luke Combs was until he covered "Fast Car." I love his version.

3. You listen to to energize. "Hang Fire." I usually can't stand the Stones but I enjoy this one. Funny that I listen to it to energize because it's about how nobody ever works and nothing ever gets done.

4. Is your favorite song from a musical. Oh, this would change every time you ask me. Right now, at this very moment, I'll go with The King.

5. Reminds you of an old love. Long, long after "Just the Way You Are" was popular, I loved a man who told me it reminded him of me because I was someone he could really talk to and communicate with. So now whenever I hear it, I think of him.

6. Make you think of one of your children. Barren spinster here.

7. Makes you smile when you hear it. No question! This one. Ba de ya!

8. You love but is quite unknown. "Peaceful" by Helen Reddy.

9. That annoys you. Anything and everything by Barry Manilow, but especially "I Write the Songs." No, "Could It Be Magic?" His overwrought come-come-on-come's in that song make me want to punch him. No, it has to be "Copacabana." He's so obnoxious it's hard to choose!

10. That your parents used to listen to. My parents didn't have the same taste in music, so I don't have a single song for this. 

11. From your early years of childhood. "Stirring and stirring and stirring our brew. Woo woo. Woo woo. Stirring and stirring and stirring our brew. Tip toe, tip toe, tip toe. BOO!"

12. That has a color in the title. "Yellow Submarine."

13. That needs to be played loud. "Helter Skelter."

14. That is perfect for a road trip. "Good as Hell" by Lizzo.

15. That reminds you of yourself. "Free Falling" by Tom Petty. I was in a Key West bar named Cap'n Tony's with my friend Henry and this came on the jukebox. Henry looked at me and said, "She is you." I kind of get it. I am a good girl, I did love my Mama. I am crazy about Elvis and do love Jesus and America, too.  I miss my friend Henry so much!

Saturday 9

 
Saturday 9: Paper Doll (1943)

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

1) The song is about a fellow who is exasperated by men flirting with his girl. Do you have a jealous streak? Yes. I wish I didn't, but when it comes to romance, I do.

2) He's blue after a quarrel with Sue. Did you exchange harsh words with anyone recently? Well, there's someone I was dying to exchange harsh words with, but I resisted. On the 7th, we had a condo association meeting. Gwendolyn attended and, presumably, heard the update on conditions in the laundry room. 

•  The machines would be up and running by noon on the 8th

•  They will not be in their customary spots for a while because work still needs to be done on the baseboards, but they are available for use.

An email went out to everyone Friday morning, restating all this.

On Sunday, Gwendolyn sent an officious bitch-o-gram to those of us on the board, complaining that the laundry room looks a mess with the machines pulled away from the walls and will they ever be available for use? Please advise, because she's "too busy" to try to use the washers and then find out they aren't operational. I wanted to reply that I'm "too busy" to explain the situation three times for wretched nitwits like her, but I bit my tongue. I just asked the management company to resend Friday's email to her. Did she apologize for not only being wrong but for treating us like employees? Of course not.

3) "Paper Doll" was #1 for 12 weeks in 1943-44, sold 11 million copies and remains one of the best-selling singles of all time. Had you heard it before today? Yes.

4) As kids, the Mills Brothers worked on their harmonies in front of their father's Piqua, OH, barbershop, much to the delight of passers by. Do you often encounter street musicians in your neighborhood? When I worked in The Loop, I saw them every day. But in my little neighborhood it's just not done. I don't know why.

5) The Mills Brothers were a long way from that street corner when, in 1936, they became the first African Americans to perform for the British Royal Family. It's about 4,000 miles from Piqua to London. What's the farthest you've ever been from home? It's 4,500 miles from Chicago to Munich, which I visited decades ago. I have friends and family who travel to Europe regularly -- my cousin Rose is saving for a trip to Italy right now to visit her favorite grand nephew who is studying there -- but I admit I'm far more parochial. There are many places in the United States I'd love to see for the first time or long to return to. (Like Honolulu, 4,250 miles from Chicago.)

6) In the early 1930s, the Mills Brothers not only performed songs on radio, they sang jingles for Standard Oil and Crisco. What commercial can you recall having seen (or heard) lately? There's a new Jardiance commercial and I'm disappointed. I liked the original better.  

7) In 1943, when "Paper Doll" was popular, WWII was raging and the US Mint began producing steel pennies because copper was needed for ammunition. Do you have any pennies in your pocket or wallet right now? I have a piggy bank on my kitchen counter, filled with pennies and nothing but. One of these days I'm going to roll the pennies and take them to the bank. Honest, I am.

8) Also in 1943, a bottle of Coke was a nickel. When did you most recently have a soft drink? What was it? I have Coke every day. When I worked at the office, the refrigerator was filled with Pepsi so I took advantage of that, but only because it was free. Coke is always my first choice.

 9) Random question: Have you learned more from your successes, or your failures? Successes. I respond better to positive reinforcement, and find myself dispirited by failure. 

Photo by Andre Taissin on Unsplash
 

Life imitates art

The first thing I heard on the news this morning was that Alexi Navalny was dead. I was livid. Just this week, Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) had said that Putin is "on the top of his game." Hard right darling Tucker Carlson had given Putin airtime to spread propaganda. The GOP is slow to help the people of Ukraine because ... well ... I guess we like dictators now. Putin is, in Trump's words, "a strong leader."

I wanted to scream. I felt like Connie Corleone at the end of The Godfather. She stormed into Michael's office and waved newspapers with headlines about her brother's murderous reign. She confronted her sister-in-law, yelling, "That's your husband! That's your husband!" 

 

 

And so I scream to Tuberville, Carlson, and the MAGA faithful: "This is Putin! This is Putin!" He's a murderer. He's a tyrant. His Russia is the nation Donald Trump is willing to tell that it's OK to "do whatever the hell they want." Remember all this immoral, scandalous, criminal bullshit. Vote in November. VOTE, VOTE, VOTE! It's obvious. Democracy is on the line and it rests on you.