Oh, my sweet Eeyeore

My best friend reminds me of Eeyeore. Sensitive, dear, but gloomy.

Not 10 days ago, he was worried because he didn't think he was getting the important assignments at work. It made him feel vulnerable, as though he was the next logical candidate for a layoff.

Today he shot me a quick email, describing himself as "crazed" and "drowning" because he has four concurrent clients.

I love him more than my next breath, but he does exasperate me at times because I don't think he will allow himself contentment.

Oscar Predictions

Last night my friend Kathleen and I went to a panel discussion on the upcoming Academy Awards. Here are the predictions by Tribune columnist Michael Phillips:

Best Picture -- The Social Network or The King's Speech

Best Actor -- Colin Firth, The King's Speech (sure thing)

Best Actress -- Natalie Portman, The Black Swan or Annette Bening, The Kids Are Alright

Best Supporting Actor -- Christian Bale, The Fighter or Geoffrey Rush, The King's Speech

Best Supporting Actress -- Hailie Steinfield, True Grit or Melissa Leo, The Fighter

Keep in mind these are his "will win" predictions, not his "should win" responses.

"A former lady friend in Chitown I miss"

Stephen Doe has a Facebook page. He made a "friend" request to me last year and I just ignored it. I didn't realize that requests sit there if you don't delete them. So, while I was farting around on Facebook yesterday during my snow day off, I happened to rediscover it. Giving in to that same impulse that makes you probe a cavity with your tongue, I clicked on his page.

And there I was under INFO. His favorite quote was my favorite quote from those long ago days when we were lovers:
"I believe we each get 2 lives. The one we learn from and the one we live after that." The Movie "the Natural"
From a former lady friend in Chitown I miss.

I remember clearly how good he was at manipulating me and I know he chose that quote for my benefit. In case someday I happened onto his Facebook page. I looked at his photo album and saw that it has no bearing on the life he lived here, when we were together. He hunts, is very disrespectful of Obama, has been married 21 years (celebrated their 20th with a trip to Paris; he was a baggage handler for an airline) and has two teenaged daughters,* and is friends mostly with younger women from his work. Not surprising. Oh, and he's lost his hair, which cheers me up because he is vain and I am petty.

In 2008, he reached out to our friend John, out of the blue, asking permission to contact me. Upon seeing how upset I was by the communication, John refused to grant "permission." (John didn't expect me to react so strongly. Weird though this may sound, I always tried to protect Stephen's reputation and never told our friends how bad things were back in those long-ago days when we were together.)

In 2009, he shot an email to my office. While I was completely creeped out that he could figure out the naming convention used by the multi-national corporation I work for, I ignored it the best I could and moved on.

In 2010, he tried Facebook. I suppose I should brace myself for him calling me someday. But, since I have Caller ID at both home and work, I will know it's him and can/will refuse to pick up. He disturbs me, yes, but he doesn't frighten or intimidate me anymore.

What does nag at me, though, is why he cares. Why after more than 20 years did he start contacting me? Why does he miss me?

I remember loving him. I recall the intensity of the feeling. After all, we were together for a decade. I remember good times with friends.

But, for the life of me, I can't recall what we had in common or why I loved him so. He was good looking and charming, yes. But he was shallow and cruel and, in retrospect, I think his greatest gift was being able to become who he believed his audience wanted him to be. I don't think I ever really knew him because I'm not sure there's anyone there to really know.

I know he has re-engaged with his Catholicism and feels guilty about how he treated me. And he should. While he wants my forgiveness, he's not getting it. That's between him and God. My biggest journey over these past decades has been forgiving myself for allowing him to abuse me, for staying and hanging on until it got so bad he literally gave me no choice but to let go.

Which is why I wonder why he "misses" me. Why, after we split in December, 1987, he began reaching out to me in spring 2008. Why he won't let me go.

I'm not speaking to him ever again. He's not trustworthy and there's nothing to be gained from it. But I wonder what he remembers so fondly, because when it comes to that, I got nothing.

*How lovely that he gets to have biological children while one of his more heinous actions resulted in childbearing being difficult for me.

The Queen's Meme

THE AFTERLIFE MEME

1. Have you ever seen an angel? If not, do you believe in them? I don't think I have ever seen one, and whether or not I believe in angels depends on your definition. I do believe in emissaries from God.

2. Tell us a real ghost story. Ever seen one? Imagine that it's a late, moonlit night. You are in nearby Justice, IL, driving down Archer Avenue and are just about to pass Resurrection Cemetery. Suddenly a teenage girl appears by the side of the road. She's easy to see, even in the dark, because she has white blonde hair and is wearing a white party dress. It can't possibly be safe for her to be out alone, walking around near a cemetery on a night like this, so you roll down the window and offer her a ride. She wordlessly shakes her head and you start to pull away. Just as you're picking up speed, she somehow appears directly in front of your car! You cannot stop and are sickened by the thud and crunch of breaking bones as you run her over. You get out to see if there's anything you can do to help this poor girl. But there's no trace of her. For it wasn't a real-live girl you encountered … It was Resurrection Mary! (I can't promise this story is true, but I do know it's been repeated generation after generation here in Chicagoland.)

3. Have you ever had a near-death experience? Back in 2008, I almost got creamed by a cab. I still think of it every time I cross the street at that spot.

4. It is midnight in Heaven. You have just arrived. You are told that you can choose any kind of "Heaven" you want. What would that be? I could eat nothing but strawberry cheese cake and drink nothing but Coke but never gain weight or suffer a sugar crash. And the soundtrack would be The Beatles.

5. You have come back to Earth as something or someone else. Describe that entity. Tall and tan and young and lovely: The Girl from Ipanema.

6. It is your first morning in Hades. What fascinating aspect of the underworld will you visit first? I don't believe in Hell. Sorry.

7. Scientists have just created a new pill that induces immediate immortality. You can live forever! What are you going to do with the rest of your life? Probably hang out with that little mouse from The Green Mile.

I Want Wednesday

I want Richard M. Daley to stay Mayor forever!

Last night, when crazy drivers insisted on navigating Lake Shore Drive -- even though we were in the midst of one of the worst blizzards in history and the street is called Lake Shore Drive because it runs along a turbulent GREAT LAKE -- and fender benders stopped traffic, the Chicago Fire Dept. was ready.

It took them about five hours, but firefighters ON SNOWMOBILES rescued literally thousands of people who were stranded in their vehicles on LSD. More than 100 cars and a pair of accordion CTA buses were eventually evacuated and there were no serious injuries.

Today, Lake Shore Drive is closed as the municipal workers try to get all those vehicles to a city college parking lot. But last night, every one was safe.

Take that, New York City!

And Mr. Mayor, I have no doubt (no matter what you say) that this all rebounds to your credit. Please don't leave us!

Reynaldo is confused

He's never seen this much snow accumulate on our 4th floor window sill before.

Uh-oh

Here's something you don't see every day: the roof of Wrigley Field sitting in the snow. That square-ish thing on the left, on the ground beneath the streetlamp, is being referred to as "roofing materials." 55 mph winds will indeed do damage. The reason you only see a squad car and a firetruck is that Addison is now closed.

Twitter is calling this storm SNOtoriousBIG, and now so shall I.

And so it begins

The blizzard they have been warning us about for days has arrived. I left work just before 3:00 and this is how it looked. Now that I'm safe and warm at home, all I can see out my window is white. It coming down so fast and so hard that I can barely see the sky. It's quite exciting!

They say it's snowing at a rate of 2" per hour, which makes it impossible for municipal workers to keep up with. We shouldn't be surprised if we have 2 feet of snow by morning, and with the wind, the drifts will be truly awe inspiring.

Trains are overcrowded. Highways are gridlocked. O'Hare and Midway are virtually closed until Thursday.

Mayor Daley -- God bless him -- says that all we need is common sense and patience. And, may I add, the wisdom to be grateful for TOMORROW'S SNOW DAY!

10 on Tuesday

TV's Ten Most Romantic Couples. I'm combating today's snow and cold by contemplating ten TV couples who generated warmth.

1) Dave and Maddie. Moonlighting. She was the cool blonde model, he was the hothead. She may have been his employer, but make no mistake about it -- no one was the boss of him. She gave him much-needed polish, he gave her much-needed fun. In addition to the undeniable sexual chemistry, we believe that each understood the other like no one else before.

2) Sam and Diane. Cheers. The same as Dave and Maddie, but different. Opposites still attract, and the sexual chemistry was just as palpable. But somehow, while they were undeniably drawn to each other, I never felt they liked one another. So ultimately, when they didn't make it together, I was more relieved than sad.

3) Olivia and Elliott. Law & Order: SVU. Elliott is a former marine, a cop's son, and a Catholic who loves and honors his family. So he probably never even lets himself acknowledge how much he loves his partner. But it shows when he talks about how good she is at her job, insists on what a good mother she would be (good cop + good mom = the highest praise Elliot could give). And Olivia, the fatherless daughter of an alcoholic mother, doesn't trust easily, but she trusts Elliott implicitly. Yet she would never admit to loving him -- it would be so inconvenient. So it could be the only two who don't acknowledge how much these two love one another are Olivia and Elliott.

4) Will and Grace. More than friends, less than lovers, but in love nevertheless. Each was his/her most authentic self with the other.

5) Mac and Sally. MacMillan and Wife. When I was in high school I didn't understand how the rumors about Rock Hudson could possibly be true. After all, he was the dashing, indulgent husband of young, wild Sally. He loved her and protected her and seemed to truly admire her funky, hippie ways.

6) Bob and Emily. The Bob Newhart Show. Most sitcom couples have kids. Not Bob and Emily. They were sophisticated, accomplished professionals (shrink and schoolteacher) who supported one another and seemed to find fulfillment simply in their relationship with one another.

7) Rob and Laura Petrie. The Dick Van Dyke Show. They were one of the first couples I saw on TV that I thought made being a Mom & Dad glamorous. They kissed a lot, they commented on one another's appearance, and sang "You, Wonderful You" and "Mountain Greenery" at parties. That more than made up for the single beds.

8) Morticia and Gomez. The Addams Family. How he loved it when Tish spoke French! I mean, really, the man just couldn't keep his hands off of her! But, just as they thought of Lurch as a member of the family, respected Grandmama's wisdom and years and encouraged their kids to think for themselves, Morticia and Gomez truly valued one another as equals. That just seemed to be how they rolled. In that way, they were always less "weird" than a lot of couples I've seen in the "real" world.

9) Carrie and Manhattan. Sex and the City. Whenever Carrie entered Central Park, or a boutique, or an Off Broadway theater or a hot, new club, you felt how much she loved that town. Her town. Her home. Sure, she loves Mr Big. But she loves Manhattan most of all.

10) Lucy and Ricky. I Love Lucy. "I love Lucy and she loves me. We're as happy as two can be. Sometimes we quarrel but then again, how we love making up again ..."

That was weird

I had a long dream last night that found me performing an elaborate song and dance number in drag, a la Judy Garland. Carl Reiner was coaching me, and Ashton Kutcher gave me the hat. Conventional dream analysis says that the performance part of the dream indicates my longing to be at the center of someone's attention, or of a specific situation.

How can anyone be asked to explain the unlikely and perhaps even unholy convergence of Carl Reiner and Ashton Kutcher?

I'm so tired of being broke

With all the dire predictions of a major snowstorm heading our way, I find myself not worrying about warmth or food. I am sweating how much I'll owe for snow removal over at my mom's house.

"How much I'll owe" ... it's a familiar theme here. I haven't had a raise in more than three years. Yet everything -- insurance, taxes, assessments -- has gone up. Plus I have been spending too much money.

And I simply must stop.

I have a cushion in that my mortgage is paid through August. I've done that intentionally in case I lose my job. I may find myself skipping my next payment and using that money to pay down my credit cards. Gulp.

I am so sick of worrying about money.

Movie Monday -- Leave It to the Locals

Share movies that feature accents so bad, they might as well have not bothered at all. Then link back here at The Bumbles.

Robert Redford in Out of Africa. Where is Denys from, exactly, anyway? And why does the strength of his accent depend on which scene Redford is playing? Regular readers of this blog know I'm a Bob-o-phile, but (except for this scene ... sigh) this is his worst performance.

Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins. I have never been to England and to my knowledge the country has just three accents represented by Ringo Starr, Mary Poppins and Bert the Chimney Sweep. HOWEVER a friend of mine, a loyal subject who grew up in London, tells me that one of his fondest childhood memories was going to the theater with his friends and mocking Dick Van Dyke's performance.

We have come a long way

.... and not necessarily in the right direction.

I'm watching Kennedy Home Movies on TLC and am enjoying it thoroughly. (Thank you for the heads up, Kwizgiver.) However, the commercial breaks feature "home movies" of what appears to be America's latest first family, The Kardashians.

I'm afraid of what this says about us.

Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing: The Ace Meme, Part Two

Cheers to all of us thieves!

34. HAVE YOU BEEN OUT OF YOUR HOME COUNTRY? Yes. I've seen Canada, Germany, France, Switzerland and Lichtenstein.

35. WEAKNESSES? Sloth.

37. FIRST JOB? Does babysitting count?

38. EVER DONE A PRANK CALL? Yes. I wonder if Caller ID has made pranking harder for today's young slumber party attendees.

39. DO YOU THINK EVERYONE OUT THERE HAS A SOUL MATE? Yes.

40. WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE YOU DID STEALING? Finishing a slice of pizza.

41. HAVE YOU EVER HAD SURGERY? Yes, a uterine fibroid embolization.

42. WHAT DO YOU GET COMPLIMENTED ABOUT MOST? My green eyes.

43. HAVE YOU EVER HAD BRACES? Yes.

44. WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY? To bask in the afterglow of a successful Cubs season.

45. HOW MANY KIDS DO YOU WANT AND WHAT DO YOU WANT THEIR NAMES TO BE? (OR IF YOU HAVE KIDS, TELL US ABOUT THEM.) I'm a barren spinster.

46. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Nope.

47. WHAT IS THE BIGGEST TURN OFF OF THE SEX(ES) YOU'RE ATTRACTED TO? I do not understand this question.

48. WHAT IS ONE THING YOU LIKED ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL? Graduation

49. WHAT KIND OF SHAMPOO DO YOU USE? Aura Rosemary Mint

50. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yes

51. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Ham

52. ANY BAD HABITS? I'm lazy, messy and struggle with my temper.

53. ARE YOU A JEALOUS PERSON? Oh yeah, and I'm jealous, too.

54. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I don't know. After all, I'm lazy, messy, jealous and struggle with my temper.

55. DO YOU AGREE WITH FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS? In theory, yes. In practice, I'm not so sure.

56. DO LOOKS MATTER? Yes

57. HOW DO YOU RELEASE ANGER? Loudly

58. WOULD YOU RATHER GAIN 58 POUNDS OR LOSE 58 POUNDS? Lose! Yes, please!

59. WHAT'S YOUR MAIN GOAL IN LIFE? To be content.

60. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A CHILD? A plush Lassie Dog, not unlike this one.

61. HOW MANY NUMBERS ARE IN YOUR CELL PHONE? About a dozen

62. WERE YOU A FAN OF BARNEY AS A LITTLE KID? Of course. I mean, look at him. He's hot!

63. DO YOU USE SARCASM? Moi? No!

64. MASHED POTATOES OR MACARONI AND CHEESE? Mac & cheese

65. WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A LOVER? Nice hair

66. WHAT ARE YOUR NICKNAMES? None currently

67. FAVORITE SUPER POWER? Mary Poppins could slide up banisters. I always thought that would be cool.

Lazy Day

Met my old friend Mindy and her husband for breakfast (and complimentary donut holes) at Lou Mitchell's, a Chicago institution that is not only one of our old haunts but a local favorite of what's-his-name. I haven't been to Lou's in close to 10 years, but was glad to see it hasn't changed much. (In addition to the donut holes, they also give you a tiny box of Milk Duds as they seat you). It was also good to see how happy and healthy my friend and her hubs are.

Then I came home and took a long nap. I'm definitely feeling better after this past week's sinus issues, but I think a day of doing nothing but relax was probably just what my body needed to complete the healing process.

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: What a Fool Believes

1. What celebrity do you think is the MOST foolish? At this moment, I'd have to say Charlie Sheen. I hope that this time, rehab works and he can save his own life.

2. What are 5 things you don't care about? The Kardashians, the Twilight series, weather where I'm not, where people can/can't use their iPhones, the NCAA

3. What 'issue' do you think your opinion is so right about that you end up trying to sway others to your point of view? Sarah Palin

4. What personality do you like to listen to on the radio? I don't have one any more, and it makes me sad. Local legend Steve Dahl has been contractually unable to broadcast until this summer, when his contract with his last station expires. They took him off the air because his ratings were low, yet they won't let him broadcast anywhere else. Doesn't make a lot of sense, does it?

5. What culture are you fascinated by? Ours.

6. You are alone with your lover's diary. What do you do? How much time do I have? Enough to argue my conscience, lose and start skimming the pages?

7. What frustrates you? Ism's. Sexism. Racism. Etc.

8. Do you remember the first time you were on the internet? What did you do first? I don't remember. It was AOL, so it was probably one of those chat rooms.

9. What was the biggest fight you have ever had with someone? Oh, Lord! The ongoing battle of wills with my cat Reynaldo. Six years and counting.

The chapter she wrote herself

I just finished Jackie as Editor by Greg Lawrence, the first book I have read in a long, long time that has anything new to offer about the life of JBKO.

Lawerence's spin is an interesting one: She was married to John F. Kennedy for 10 years and lived in the White House for less than 4 years. She was the world's most revered widow/heroine for 5 years and then Mrs. Onassis for 7. Then she spent more than 15 years as a book editor. This means that the longest period of her adult life is the one that mostly ignored by the press, the paparazzi and her biographers. Which is, I suspect, exactly how she wanted it.

Up until Ari's death, she had lived her life completely defined by powerful, charismatic men. Then, at age 46, she found herself single again. Her children were getting ready to go off to college. Financially she was set for life. Now what?

She went back to work. For the first time in 22 years. And she created a career for herself that made good use of everything that came before: the society girl who lived in Paris, the First Lady who restored the White House, the jet set celebrity whose calls were always returned by everyone. As an editor she was able to champion projects about ballet and Versailles and make sure that books about heroines she admired got published and read.

She worked hard and learned about the publishing industry -- and office politics. She began in a cubicle and worked her way up to an office with a window.

She also fell in love with a man who adored her and was willing to put her first, letting her shine instead of expecting her to bask in his reflected glory. She watched her children begin careers and she became a grandmother. She bought a home all her own, Red Gate Farm, on Martha's Vineyard. She surrounded herself with artists and writers and working girls, her sister "Brides of Doubleday." She was proud of herself and fulfilled.

Greg Lawrence worked with her on Dancing on My Grave, so many of his observations are first hand and all of it is credible. I especially enjoyed the juicy parts about Michael Jackson (let's just say she began as a fan but by the end of their ordeal -- his autobiography Moonwalk -- she thought he was a tacky freak) and imagining her in her office, muttering "Oy! Vey!" when confronted with a daunting task and triumphantly proclaiming "Hot spit!" when things go her way.

Thanks to Snarkypants for gifting me with this terrific book. It was inspiring to read about how Jackie created a world for herself where she was able to find peace, contentment and satisfaction.

I like her

This is Sarah Shahi. She plays Kate Reed on the new USA legal dramedy, Fairly Legal.

I like her. I didn't expect to. The promos for the show had her teetering forever on heels and looking slutty/seductive. There's more to her character than that. She's got a lot of quirky to her, and she's a wee bit unwise in some of her choices, and these make her more dimensional and endearing.

Be still my heart

Jay Carney is going to be Obama's new press spokesman. He's a primo example of geek chic. Sigh.

A tale of two friends

Two important friends have been on my mind a lot lately. Today I got information about them and learned that one is doing well, better than I suspected, and the other ... well, not so much.

First, him. My best friend. He works very hard in a profession he's not that great at. Oh, he does his job well -- better than competently. I can say this objectively and honestly because I was his colleague for a couple of years. He's conscientious and very good at reaching consensus and making both his clients and internal team feel appreciated and happy. However he's not an especially strong strategist. I suspect this isn't where his heart is, anyway. But he's nearing 45, has a family and a million dollar home and it's hard to follow one's heart with an enormous mortgage hanging around your neck. ANYWAY, he had a victory at his office this week. His bosses have entrusted a new client to him, I think exclusively. He's handling the focus groups today. While his soul may not be singing with this new assignment, I know his pride and self confidence are bolstered. The path he's on may not be his heart's desire, but it's the one he's chosen. And because he's a good man and a good friend, I want it to go as smoothly as possible.

Now, her. My oldest friend. Her move to California is looking more and more like a disaster. So far this month: she learned her 14-year-old daughter hid pot in her suitcase when she traveled to Chicago for the holidays with her father. Then my friend's weak ankles (which she refuses to get looked at because she's sure a doctor will embarrass her by telling her to lose 50 lbs) gave out and she slammed her shoulder into a wall, losing a few days of work because of bursitis. Yesterday her bosses "bumped" her from her job at the hospital to a new one because the doctors she works with don't have faith with her. She shouldn't have made this move when she did and how she did, but now that she's out there, we have to figure out a way to make it work somehow. I'm glad she's begun seeing a shrink again, and she has a general practitioner who can help her start getting well. I researched a community action group that devotes their Saturdays to food/coat drives, cleaning up parks etc. Hopefully her daughter will get involved with those volunteers and begin concentrating on something beyond popularity and partying.

Knowledge is power. Now that I know what's going on with these two that I love, I feel stronger. Even if, in her case, I wish the news was better.

Mmmm .... bacon

I have discovered Oscar Meyer turkey bacon and I am in love. This gooey grilled cheese/bacon sandwich is just what I need on this stolen day off.

I haven't been sleeping because of my sinus headaches. This morning, it finally caught up with me. I called in sick and then slept this morning for seven uninterrupted hours. I feel like a new woman.

A new woman who put bacon on her grilled cheese sandwich.

The Queen's Meme -- Board Games

Pretend you're 12, pop a big bowl of popcorn, stretch out on the carpet or set up the card table and let's play!

1. Twister

Who would you like to get your arms and legs tangled up with?
My TV boyfriend, Leroy Jethro Gibbs from NCIS.

2. Monopoly

You have just landed on Boardwalk and collected a nice sum in rent payments.

Which Monopoly token do you want to be when you grow up?
The scottie dog reminds me of Toto,
and Toto was clearly the bravest of the five who travelled down the Yellow Brick Road.

3. Candyland

This game is based on The Legend of The Lost Candy Castle. Did you know that? The object of the game is to reach the Candy Castle. But in my game, the object is to avoid the dungeon that is in the Candy Castle. You must swim through the Ice Cream Sea to be victorious.
What is your flavor?

Mint chocolate chip. The more bright and atomic the green, the better.

4. Operation
You are the surgeon. You have the tweezers in your hand. It is time to remove the most irritating person or thing in your life.
What is the name of this organ?

The Kelluranus. Normally it's a cute, pink, girlie little organ, but it is very sensitive and easily irritated -- at which point it becomes tenaciously, perhaps even chronically troublesome.

5. Sorry!

I often say that success is the best revenge. Lucky for you!
Sorry! is a game of sweet revenge.

What is your strategy for success today?

Keep my head down and play my own game, not letting myself get all distracted by the machinations of the other tokens.

6. Wheel of Fortune!

It's your spin. You have just landed on a surprise vacation package.
It's yours if you can name the destination with 3 vowels and 2 consonants.

Adana. It's a town in Turkey, and it has a Hilton.

7. Clue

Miss Scarlet (that's you) is in the Library with the knife. Who did she kill and why?

A certain cute little coworker Kelly. Because she's nowhere as benign as she looks. (I actually took her out in the Xerox room with that big heavy stapler. I moved the body and staged the scene in the Library to throw off the authorities.)

Play along yourself by clicking here.

I Want Wednesday

I want to overcome being ashamed by my love of bubblegum music. At Pandora.com, I set up my very own "Bobby Sherman" channel, which plays the most fabulous saccharine retro crap from the SherMan himself, as well as The Partridge Family and, right now, The Grass Roots. I know why they call this music "bubblegum," it's all forgettable and in no way enriches the soul, it's just an instant, short-lived frivolous high. But on some days, like this one, I really enjoy it. But I'm too self-conscious and snobby to really BLAST "Julie, Do Ya Love Me?"

No need to thank me

It's my pleasure

10 on Tuesday

At the Oscars, most doesn't always mean best

Today The King's Speech was honored with the most Academy Award nominations. But history shows us that doesn't necessarily mean it will win Best Picture.

2010 -- Avatar tied with Hurt Locker, with Hurt Locker winning Best Picture

2009 -- Curious Case of Benjamin Button got 13 nominations, but Slumdog Millionaire won Best Picture

2008 -- No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood tied for nominations, with No Country for Old Men winning Best Picture

2007 -- Dreamgirls got 8 nominations, but The Departed won Best Picture

2006 -- Brokeback Mountain earned 8 nominations, but Crash was Best Picture

2005 -- The Aviator got the most nominations and the most awards, but Million Dollar Baby got the top prize

2004 -- The Lord of the Rings: The Return of King received the most nominations, the most awards, and the Best Picture Oscar

2003 -- Chicago received the most nominations, the most awards, and the Best Picture Oscar

2002 -- The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring got the most nominations and the most awards, but A Beautiful Mind got the top prize

2001 -- Gladiator received the most nominations, the most awards, and the Best Picture Oscar

God, I love this stuff!

Baby, Take a Bow

Kwizgiver has declared this blog as Fabulous. Therefore it must be, because I never argue with Teacher.

So five fabulous facts about me ...

1) I have always written, and am fortunate enough to get paid for it. I won $10 when I was in third grade from the village newspaper. It was a prize for an essay I wrote nominating Mrs. Kessell as Teacher of the Year.

2) I happen to know that $10 would be worth over $70 today. That's because I discovered Tom's Inflation Calculator. It's one of the handiest links I've ever come across and am happy to share.

3) I don't get lonely, per se. I miss certain people, but I don't get bored with my own company. My shrink tells me this is unusual. I consider it a blessing.

4) My uncle, niece and I all just happen(ed) to be a little compulsive when it comes to food. Like my uncle, I eat everything on my plate one thing at a time, meaning I won't touch my fries till I'm done with my burger. Like my niece, I have to eat the broken chips or crackers first. I believe this is genetic.

5) I wear one fragrance exclusively -- until I am forced to move on to another. I wore Black Pearls until 2007, when I could no longer find it anywhere but eBay. That's when I switched to Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker, but it's been discontinued, too. Damn! When my stockpile runs out, I'll have to switch to another scent.

Now, to pass the award on to five other Fabulous Bloggers:

Book Mama, who generously shares her life and adorable towheads with us (but hasn't been posting enough lately and may need this little inspiration/bur-under-her-working-mom-saddle)

SnarkyPants, whose blog blends fangirldom with pet parenthood and "woo woo"

SilverNeurotic, because she writes from the heart and does it so well

Vivian, who inspires just by being true to herself as a friend and a Christian and a grandmother and a daughter and an artist

The Bumbles, because Molly and Andy love movies and baseball and TV and each other

HEY, YOU FIVE! Let me know when you share your five fab facts about yourself so I can learn more about you.

Move Monday -- Sickos

Share movies that contain a form of illness as its theme or feature a character who is sick or diseased, linking back here at The Bumbles. And don't forget to visit your fellow participants!

I'm watching Sex and the City as I write this, and if a broken heart counts as an illness, I'd be happy to include it here. But instead I'll be true to the Bumbles' intent and go with more conventionally-defined diseases.

One True Thing. Renee Zellweger plays the successful daughter of author/professor William Hurt and housewife Meryl Streep. She moves back home to care for her cancer-stricken mother and learns some hard truths about the reality of her parents' life together and discovers how strong and resolute her mother really is.

Love Story. The Orca of the disease-weeper genre. I cried over the book and had this poster on my wall and could not wait to see the movie with my junior high girlfriends.Oliver begins the film by asking, "What can you say about a 25-year-old girl who died?" Therefore everything that follows -- including frolicking in the snow and being carried across the threshold -- is deliciously tinged with impending tragedy. I haven't seen it as a woman and have no interest in doing so. It was so perfect for me when I was 12, I don't want to wreck the memory by discovering it's really not very good.

Pride of the Yankees. Lou Gehrig was the perfect hero -- he respected his parents, was both a loving husband and one of the greatest ballplayers ever, and accepted the cruel fate life handed him with ultimate grace. When he declares himself "the luckiest man on the face of the earth," I bet even those passionate Red Sox fan Bumbles choke up a little.

Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing: The Ace Meme, Part One

Cheers to all of us thieves!

1. ONE OF YOUR SCARS, HOW DID YOU GET IT? I have a scar on my left thigh that dates back to The Earthquake of 08. There was a 5.2 tremor in Southern Illinois and we felt it up here in Chicagoland. I don't know if it was the quake that awakened me or my cat's reaction, but we were both frightened and as he leaped off the bed, he scratched me.

2. WHAT IS ON THE WALLS IN YOUR ROOM My favorite is this limited-edition print of the Beatles Anthology artwork, signed by Klaus Voorman.


3. DO YOU SNORE, GRIND YOUR TEETH, OR TALK IN YOUR SLEEP? I'm guilty of two out of three.

4. WHAT TYPE OF MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO? Pop/rock, especially those lads from Liverpool.

5. WHAT TIME WERE YOU BORN? I've told this many times, and am glad to report that the fuss about revisions to the astrological signs won't deprive me of my freakazoid birth saga: I was born at the stroke of midnight between November 21 and 22. The stroke of midnight does not exist legally, so the hospital told my mom she had to choose -- 11:59 or 12:01. She was still quite doped up (I was a big baby) and confused about what she was asked, but she chose 12:01, which made it 11/22. Astrologers love this story because I was born on the cusp of a cusp.

6. WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING RIGHT NOW? To feel better (see the tragic post below)

7. WHAT DO YOU MISS? Long phone calls to my best friend

8. WHAT IS YOUR MOST PRIZED POSSESSION(S)? Right now, I am loving the Hempz® butter I am applying to the chapped skin under my nose.

9. HOW TALL ARE YOU? 5'2

10. DO YOU GET CLAUSTROPHOBIC? No

11. DO YOU GET SCARED IN THE DARK? No

12. THE LAST PERSON TO MAKE YOU CRY? I don't remember.

13. WHAT'S YOUR WORST FEAR? Losing my autonomy, being dependent on others for day-to-day things.

14. WHAT KIND OF HAIR/EYE COLOR DO YOU LIKE ON PEOPLE YOU'RE ATTRACTED TO? Brown on both counts, though lately I find myself drawn to men who have the salt/pepper thing going

15. WHERE CAN YOU SEE YOURSELF PROPOSING? I don't

16. COFFEE OR ENERGY DRINK? Coke. Caffeine and plenty of sugar.

17. FAVORITE PIZZA TOPPING? Sausage

18. IF YOU COULD EAT ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Actually, now that it's top of mind, sausage pizza

19. FAVORITE COLOR OF ALL TIME? Cubbie Blue

20. HAVE YOU EVER EATEN A GOLDFISH? No. To borrow from Janis Joplin, "and furthermore, I don't intend to."

21. WHAT WAS THE FIRST MEANINGFUL GIFT YOU'VE EVER RECEIVED? There was a red dress that I got in junior high that meant the world to me. It had gold buttons on the sleeves and a gold belt. It made me feel kinda pretty.

22. DO YOU HAVE A CRUSH? Always.

23. ARE YOU DOUBLE JOINTED? Yes.

24. FAVORITE CLOTHING BRAND? Jones New York

25. WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE FEMALE/MALE CELEBRITY? Paul McCartney

26. DO YOU HAVE A PET RIGHT NOW? My dear old fat tom, Joey, is snoozing beside me right now. The other two are within sight. Yes, I'm a crazy old cat lady.

27. WHAT KIND IS IT? See above

28. WOULD YOU FALL IN LOVE KNOWING THAT THE PERSON IS LEAVING? Yes. I mean, I never felt I had a choice as to who/when I fall in love.

30. SAY A NUMBER FROM ONE TO A HUNDRED? 37

31. BLONDES OR BRUNETTES? For what?

32. FAVORITE QUOTE? "He who has health has everything." Did I mention that I feel really crummy right now?

33. FAVORITE PLACE? The Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field. Cub pitchers arrive at spring training in less than a month, so despite what you see outside your window, baseball is just around the corner!

I don't feel good

Headache, fatigue, stuffy nose, puffy eyes ... ladies and gentlemen, I give you a sinus infection. In fact, I'd love to give it to you, thereby getting rid of it myself.

I took a nice, four-hour nap and am feeling a bit better. Tomorrow I will visit the drugstore for some Advil Cold & Sinus.

This is not how I planned to spend my weekend. However, tonight there's an NCIS marathon on USA, and tomorrow the Bears play the Packers, so I'll be entertained during my hibernation.

It's that most wonderful time of the year

According to my archives, I have had the sniffles in mid-late January 2008, January 2009, January 2010 and yes, now.

I have a fabulously unorganized life. I am grateful that Blogger keeps my memories in order for me.

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: My Woman From Tokyo

1. Have you ever been to Japan? If not would you like to travel there? I've never been, and it's really not a priority. I have nothing against Japan, mind you. It's just there are places I'd rather see first.

2. Have you ever played a game that required removal of clothing? No.

3. Have you ever dated one of your best friends? No.

4. Have you ever kissed someone you didn't know? No. This meme is making me feel as though I've led a very dull life.

5. What is your secret guaranteed weeping movie? Marley & Me. "Goodbye, Clearance Puppy." He was a great dog, wasn't he?

6. What feature are you most insecure about? My unutterably, inexorably round face.

7. What do you miss most about being young? My waist.

8. Who is the most annoying musical artist EVER? Barry Manilow. "I feel glad when you're glad, feel sad when you're sad ..." Barf.

9. Have you ever applied for a job that was an internet hoax, asking for credit history and your social security number? No.

Yes, it's cold

It's 9º outside my window, with a windchill of zero. Do you know why? BECAUSE IT'S JANUARY!!!! To all the people of Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, Milwaukee, and all the other millions enduring the arctic freeze, please remember that this happens every damn year, suck it up and quit complaining. If you don't have a big warm coat and serious boots yet, why don't you? All the stores have sales. Now please, shut up!

The next best thing

They don't have a "Bring Your Cat to Work Day," which is a loss for everyone here because my Reynaldo really is an experience. And who couldn't use a little furry therapy during their workday?

In lieu of that, I have been visiting firefoxlive.org, a 24/7 live feed of two firefoxes at play at the Knoxville Zoo. Thanks to Mozilla for providing me with some seriously warm and fuzzy entertainment when I'm here at the office.

The firefoxes in question are Spark and Ember, shown here in their younger days. They're growing pretty fast, and right now I am looking at Spark's ass (he's not very camera savvy) as he wrestles with a tree branch. He's working hard to first subdue and then, I presume, eat it. His coat looks soooooo soft! His more tranquil sister, Ember, is napping on a perch in the corner.

To anyone walking by the office, it looks like I'm working ...

Yesterday was Dolly Parton Day in Illinois

And I celebrated accordingly.

My friend Barb and I went to see the Chicago premiere of 9 to 5: The Musical and the lady herself was in attendance. Here's the Chicago Tribune photo of her arrival. She also appeared on stage before and after the performance. She really is adorable and gracious. Since yesterday was also her 65th birthday, we serenaded her. It was fun.

More fun than the actual show. Maybe because it was opening night, but the staging seemed really ragged for a road show production of a major Broadway musical. Dolly wrote all the songs -- music and lyrics -- and they were charming. Here's my favorite number, "One of the Boys," as performed by Alison Janney as Violet (Lily Tomlin in the 1979 movie) on The Great White Way.

I Want Wednesday

I want the easy assignments to not become such huge, hairy-assed deals. Our client asks us to do simple things and somehow we manage to make them all so complicated on our end.

I also want to not stress over this. It is what it is. As long as the work gets done, and done well, I guess it's all OK.