Thursday Thirteen #314

Thirteen characters in the Watergate saga. 50 years ago this summer, the American press and much of the public were consumed by the scandal that ultimately brought down our 37th President. I’m both an old broad and a news junkie, so I remember all these names and most of the faces.* How about you?

1. Richard M. Nixon. POTUS entering his last year in office in summer 1973.
2. John Dean. White House counsel who provided important testimony, served time.
3. Chuck Colson. Special counsel to the President, served time.
4. HR “Bob” Haldeman. Crew cut White House Chief of Staff, served time.
5. John Erlichman. Nixon’s chief domestic advisor, served time.
6. John Mitchell. Former AG, head of Nixon’s re-election campaign, served time.
7. G. Gordon Liddy. Former CIA operative, Nixon loyalist, member of the re-election campaign, served time.
8. E. Howard Hunt. Former CIA operative, author of spy novels, member of the re-election campaign, served time.
9. Fred Larue. Campaign financial guy, the one who handed the burglars the money, served time.
10. Maurice Stans. Nixon Cabinet official turned campaign fundraiser, indicted but acquitted.
11. Robert Mardian. Re-election campaign lawyer who was convicted, and then his conviction was overturned.
12. Jeb Stuart Magruder. Kinda cute campaign operative who testified a lot on TV.
13. Alexander Butterfield. White House aide who gave us our “Perry Mason” moment when he told the Watergate committee, on national TV, that Nixon had an Oval Office taping system.

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

 *Sorry, Bob Mardian, but I only remember your name, not your face.

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 can 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? Confidence Man by Maggie Haberman. NY Times reporter Haberman has been covering Donald Trump forever, long before he entered politics. She's never been predisposed to be sympathetic to him, yet he's always given her access. So I believe this portrait of his rise to fame (his emphasis was always on celebrity, not achievement) and how he parlayed it into the Presidency. I also find it monumentally depressing, especially after ... 

2. What did you recently finish reading? Churchill by Jacob Bannister.What a man! Soldier, reporter, politician and hero. Physically brave and deeply patriotic. He literally helped save the world during WWII and played a major role in the start of NATO in the aftermath. I can't resist commenting that The Former Guy sees no value in NATO or in supporting Ukraine in their stand against Russian encroachment, and I imagine Churchill would be disgusted by Donald Trump.

 

When President Kennedy, a decorated WWII veteran, made Churchill an honorary American citizen for life, he said that Churchill "mobilized the English language and sent it into battle" against the Nazis and it's true. Churchill didn't have much to work with at the beginning of the war, but he used soaring rhetoric to inspire the English people and encourage them to believe they would prevail. It's stirring and inspirational. I also learned that Churchill wasn't a fan of Gandhi's, dismissing him as a poseur. I admit that took me by surprise, though I suppose it shouldn't have considering the role each man played in shaping India's fate in the 20th century. It's just I'm not accustomed to hearing bad things about Gandhi. I mean, what's next? Is Winnie gonna slag Santa? 

 

So Bannister's book was a good intro to the man, and now I want to learn more.

3. What will read next? Something light. I admit Trump seems especially odious and depressing after Sir Winston. So maybe I need chick lit or a cozy mystery.

 

Sunday Stealing

Swapbot – 10 Years of Swaps

1) What is your favorite way to spend a lazy day? I like books, watching movies, and taking walks. In summer, of course, baseball!

2) What do you look forward to every week? Yoga class on Tuesdays. 

3) Name three pet peeves you currently have. a. Retail people who don't answer me. Like yesterday, when I put my canvas bag on the counter and said, "I'll use my own bag." The girl at checkout out said nothing. Did she hear me? How hard is it to say, "OK." Or just "K," if she's limited to the number of syllables she can utter in a day. b. Space hogs. If a train or bus is full, your purse or briefcase does not deserve the seat next to you. Covid is behind us. Scoot over! c. Conspiracy theorists. I know they deserve my pity, but still! Joe Biden was duly elected, Dr. Fauci didn't engineer covid policy for his own profit, the moon landing happened, Lindberg didn't kill his own baby ... Excuse me, but how gullible are you?

4) If you were to win an all expense paid vacation for two weeks to anywhere in the world, where would you choose to go? What are some of the things you would like to experience while you were there? New York. You got me on the "all expenses paid," because NYC is expensive! My home base would be The Plaza (two weeks at The Plaza is well over $10,000, and that's before I hit the spa or call room service). I'd see Broadway plays (there are six I'd like to see, so that's a week right there), go to a Yankees game to see my favorite-most ball player, Anthony Rizzo, and spend a day visiting all the haunts introduced to me during a lifetime of reading about JBKO, from Gristedes Supermarket to Grand Central Station. 

I want to be a part of it, New York, New York!

5) What was one of your favorite toys as a kid? Did you save any special things from your childhood that you still have today? I loved my Lassie dog so much. When her head got floppy, my mother did a little needle-and-thread surgery, filling it out with a sock filled with newspaper. 

Yes, I still have her. She's up on a shelf in my closet.

6) What is your favorite holiday? What is your least favorite holiday? I suppose my answer to both is Christmas. It's a wonderful time of year but it can be lonely and complicated, as well. I miss people so keenly at Christmas.

7) Have you ever met anyone famous? What concerts have you attended? Oh, no you don't! You're just trying to get me to tell the Bruce Springsteen-kissed-me story again from two weeks ago!

8) Are there any expressions that people use that really annoy you? If so, what are they? One of the best things about retirement is I no longer hear "office speak." You know, vacay instead of vacation, recco instead of recommendation, etc. 

9) Do you like your name? Are you named after anyone? Is there a story how you got your name? Would you change it if you could? If so, what name would you give yourself? My name is fine. My mother picked it. That was my parents' deal: she was in charge of girl's name, he'd choose boy names. 

10) It is said that it's the little things that make life worth living. Name five of those little things in your life. I love this question! Here are five things that reliably bring me joy:

• The sky, whether it's clear or cloudy

• When my girlcat, Connie, curls up next to me or boycat, Roy Hobbs, "talks" to me with that tiny, reedy meow

• Singing the oldies with the shower radio

• Baseball sounds: the crack of the bat, the ball landing in a glove

• Laundry day, with fresh sheets on the bed and fresh towels in the bathroom

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Beautiful Boy (1980)

This song was chosen in honor of Father's Day. Hear it here.

1) Paul McCartney has said that "Beautiful Boy" is one of his favorite John Lennon solo songs. What's yours? (This link will take you to his greatest hits.) I'll go with "Watching the Wheels." It's a very wise song. BTW, June 18 is Sir Paul's 81st birthday.

2) Lennon wrote this for his son, Sean. Father and son share an October 9 birthday. Does anyone in your life share your birthday? Nope.

3) John asks Sean to take his hand before they cross the street. Name another song that references holding hands. Since I'm (always and forever) in a Beatles mood ...

 

4) Today Sean Lennon is in his late 40s. He lives in Greenwich Village, creating art and music from his elaborate home-based music and film studio. Are you into the latest in electronics? Nope.

5) In Thailand, Father's Day is observed on the birthday of the current King. Are you celebrating any birthdays this month? Just his.

They say it's your birthday ...

 6) Crazy Sam vividly remembers her long-ago high school days when her father gave her driving lessons. Do you consider yourself a good driver? I don't drive. (I'm really quite boring this week, aren't I?)

7) Sam's dad is a stickler about car maintenance and reminds Sam to change her air filter regularly so her a/c and heater can run efficiently. Share a car maintenance tip. When it comes to oil changes, don't DIY. Let a pro handle it. It's not that expensive and they'll completely drain the oil receptacle (harder than it looks), dispose of the old oil in an environmentally sound and legal way (harder and messier than you anticipate) and refill with the right weight oil (more important than you may realize).

 
8) When he fills up the car, Sam's father also stocks up on his favorite candy: Life Savers. He always has a bag in the glove compartment. What's something you don't leave home without? My keys.

9) Random Question: How long can you go without checking your phone? If I'm not out and about, just hanging around the house, I only check it in the morning and at night. Unless the Cubs and Yankees are playing at the same time. Then I watch the Cubs on TV with the sound off and listen to the Yankees on my phone through the app. (And I get annoyed if anyone calls or texts and interrupts the audio.)

 

Shake Shack with Elaine

Shake Shack is my friend's favorite burger place and so that's where we met for dinner tonight. 

I was happy to get her out of her own head a little. She's on the verge of losing her job and it's really bothering her. She came out of retirement to take this assignment on a freelance basis. She enjoyed it so much that, when they offered her a permanent position, she took it happily. Then the waters got rough. 

They put her on a 60-day probation, giving her specific goals to meet. If she doesn't accomplish them, FWAP! Off with her head. 

I don't know much about the company she works for, but I do know corporate America. It doesn't matter what Elaine does, she's toast. I'd bet anything her boss decided she's outta here and this probation is a charade to appease HR because Elaine is a non-white woman of a certain age.

I'd love to be wrong about this, but I don't think I am. 

But I enjoy riding the rails into the city, and with my senior discount, my ticket is only $2. Shake Shack is good food at a reasonable price. It was a lovely summer evening. I distracted Elaine from her problems. So in all, it was a good night. Or a good enough night. 

In Baseball News ...

The Cubs swept the first-place Pirates! Yes, the Pirates are in first place in the MLB's shittiest division, but they're in first place nevertheless and my guys won three of three. Just when I think this season is going to be a wrenching, soul crushing waste of my time, magic happens. That's why I love baseball.

Meanwhile, in New York: My favorite-most ballplayer was injured in a collision at first base on May 28. He missed a few games with a sore neck and now that he's back, he's off somehow. His glove work is still exceptional, so I don't think the trouble is with his vision. But his timing at the plate is messed up, and nothing has seemed to go right for him on the basepads.*

Here's a photo of him in the dugout after another strike out. It breaks my heart. I wish the Yankees had officially put him on the IL so he could go down to AAA for a rehab stint and face minor league pitching for a few days. You know, like a lab to get his swing back. But with Aaron Judge injured and a rookie shortstop, I guess they need his maturity and steady glove on the field. And so he struggles.

But then there's Kevin. His dachshund is still a fan!

*Though it must be said he has never been a fast runner and has always looked graceless and silly when he tries. (But he does try!)

Thursday Thirteen #313

Greatest hits edition. I resumed participating in Thursday Thirteen back in January 2022. It's a fun exercise: I enjoy letting my mind wander and see what I'll come up with. I'm often inspired by seeing what y'all come up with, as well.

Since I like obviously like lists, this week's TT is a list of my most popular Thursday Thirteen posts since January 2022. Popularity is determined by the number of visits each post received.

1. Books I enjoyed in 2021

2. Items on my grocery list

3. Amazon's top sellers

4. Christmas gift ideas

5. Ways to prepare potatoes

6. Christmas songs

7. Pet names

8. Popular songs from 40 years ago this month

9. Charities I support

10. Things I'm grateful for

11. Most profitable movies

12. Facts about Titanic

13. Musicians we love

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

Thank you for hearing my voice

I don't often respond to comments on this blog, but that doesn't mean I don't see what you've said. Or that I haven't taken it to heart.

Deb J, Stacy, Country Dew and Bev ....

This is who she is

I have known my oldest friend since Kindergarten. I was 4 years old. So we've known one another, literally, a lifetime. We listened to the new Beatle albums together. We dreamed of our fave raves together (Bobby Sherman for me, Donny Osmond for her). We knew each other's families. We know each other's secrets. 

No one can make me laugh harder.

So our bond is deep and important, though not mutually beneficial.

She's been a terrible friend lately. She hasn't been returning my calls because her voicemail is always full and she refuses to empty it.* She wasn't reaching out to me. She was busy with medical tests (imagine how easy it would be to get the results if you had voicemail). And there was Robert, her foray into online dating. 

Actually, she's been a terrible friend for quite some time. It began when she promised to stay with me after my 2011 hysterectomy. At the last minute she didn't come through because no one would stay with her daughter. I called her, shattered, the following year after my mother's death. I was in my family home for the last time and I wanted to talk to someone who had been in that house with me. She never picked up. It's continued over and over, right up to earlier this month, I was confused about test results on MyChart and hoped she help me chill out until I heard from my doctor. She never picked up. I could go on and on, but why?

She always has a reason. She's sick -- and her health is legit worrisome. She needs to get a new state ID -- never mind that she's had three years to do this. Again, I could go on and on, but why?

I confronted her about all of this, and she's sorry. She promised to be better, to work harder at maintaining our connection. Of course, she'd just broken up with Robert, so that freed up some time. 

And then she went into the ER. She suddenly "blew up like the Hindenburg." Congestive heart failure. She's home now with a list of commonsense things she can do to: quit smoking, exercise moderately,  restrict salt, avoid extreme hot temperatures. I have no confidence she will do any of these things.

This is who she is. She's been bipolar for about 15 years now. Getting through day-to-day life can be very hard for her. So I am hanging on. Because she is my oldest friend and I honor that. Because she is broken and can't help it.

I have to accept this. I have to love her for who she is.

But I also have to expect less from her. This can't be an equal partnership. She is who she is. If knowing that, I continue to let her hurt me, well,  that's on me.

She won't see the change in me, but the change will be there. I'm not going to open myself up and allow  myself to be vulnerable to her anymore. I doubt she'll notice, and I'll be stronger for this.

 *I suspect that she's either behind in payments or ducking her landlady, who wants her out of that apartment.

 Photo by Caroline Hernandez on Unsplash

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 can 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? Churchill by Jacob Bannister. I admit it: I know very little about Winston Churchill. Yet in reading about men as diverse as JFK and former Cubs manager Joe Maddon, he pops up as an influence. So I've decided to take myself to school and get to know Winnie.

 

This is only about 250 pages, so I'm not expecting a deep dive into his life as statesman. But it's well reviewed, so I'm looking forward to a credible, straightforward overview of a big, impactful life.

2. What did you recently finish reading?  Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I've been hearing about this book forever (here's Kwizgiver's review from 2019) and I've just now gotten around to it. Glad I did. I loved it!

 

It's the story of an iconic, fictional 70s band whose mercurial rise to stardom could only be topped by the way they suddenly, mysteriously broke up after winning the Grammy for Record of the Year. It unfolds as an oral history, which is an interesting device. It took me a while to get into it and really get to know who was who.

This book had four main female characters and I was captivated by them all. Daisy, who was beautiful, talented and damaged. With her wealthy, high-profile family* and out-front sexuality, she reminded me a bit of Carly Simon. There's her best friend, the disco diva, Simone, the kind of ride-or-die buddy every woman needs. Karen, the keyboardist, who knows her mind and trusts her stuff and is just trying to make a living in a man's world. And Camila, the wise wife of a bandmember who is so much more than a camp follower. 

These women were very real to me, and now that the book is over I miss them.

 

3. What will read next? Something light.

 

 *Speaking of high-profile families, in the Amazon mini-series, Daisy is played by Riley Keough, granddaughter of Elvis Presley.

Sunday Stealing

Stolen from SwapBot

*Have you tried anything new this year? Yoga. It's really made a positive difference.

*What would you do if you didn't have wifi for a week? I was without it for a couple days last month and it was harder than I anticipated. I didn't realize how often I say, "Alexa, what/when/where ...."

*Do you like summer, why or why not? Yes, I like it because it requires less thought; I don't have to consider which shoes, which boots, which jacket, which gloves, etc. And, of course, BASEBALL. No, I don't like it because hot weather is oppressive and makes people grumpy.

*What’s one restaurant that you like in your city? what food do they sell? I have spent a great deal of time here lately. I choose it because it's centrally located in terms of public transportation, the bartenders are generous, and while it's nominally an Irish bar, the menu is varied so all my friends can find something they like. Just yesterday, our table had nachos, charcuterie, and a burger.

Emerald Loop Bar & Grill

*Do you prefer digital book or real paper book? Real paper

*What’s one thing that you are interested to buy, but it’s a bit expensive, so you haven’t bought yet? There are some spa services I would love to indulge in, but there's not much budge in my budget right now.

*What tea brands do you like? Celestial Seasonings

*What’s one food that you can binge eating a lot? Pizza! Just about any Italian, really.

*Write one random thing that happened to you this month. I went to Wendy's for the first time in ages. There was a flash summer storm and I didn't have an umbrella so I ducked in to eat lunch and wait for the skies to clear. The burger was fine, the fries were bleh, and I'm glad I always have a book in my purse. (Maybe I should throw an umbrella in there, too.)

*How many long-term penpals do you have right now? (people who pen pal with you for more than 3 years) I suppose my Cousin Rose, though I don't think of her as a pen pal. I've been writing to her since I learned to write, which is waaaaay longer than three years.

*If you own a small food trailer, what food do you want to sell? I wouldn't do this. I generally don't trust the food available from the truck or cart (I've never seen a "food trailer"). 

*What’s one handmade gift that you received and really liked? Nothing comes to mind (at least since my niece and nephew graduated from grade school).

*What’s your ideal Saturday like? Yesterday was good. Lunch with friends (at the restaurant shown above) and home in time to watch the Cubs Kyle Hendricks pitch a masterpiece. 

*What things do you like to buy on Etsy? Just the right gift.

*What kind asian food do you like? Crab rangoon is my favorite! I also tend to like the pork dishes.

Saturday 9

 Saturday 9: Big Spender (1966)

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

 
1) In this song, Peggy Lee invites a gentleman to join her for fun, laughs, and a good time. What will you be doing for fun this weekend? I'm meeting my former coworkers for lunch. First time we've been together since we were let go back in October. Should be fun to catch up.

 

2) Peggy was blessed with perfect pitch. It's estimated that just 1 in 10,000 has this gift. Tell us about something that comes naturally to you. This writing thing is easy for me.

 

3) Peggy was an influential performer whose fans included singers as diverse as Carly Simon, Petula Clark, and Joni Mitchell. Bette Midler even did a Peggy Lee tribute album. What songstress do you listen to most often? It changes. But my affection for her is eternal. This is how I sound in my dreams.

 

4) Paul McCartney was also a big Peggy Lee fan. In the 1970s he was invited to meet her in her London home. He arrived with a carefully chosen hostess gift: a bottle of champagne and an original song ("Let's Love") which she recorded and he produced. Have you more recently given or received a gift? Received. My friend Elaine is so thoughtful! I shot her an email letting her know I finished the jar or body butter she gave me months ago for my birthday -- just wanted reiterate how appreciated her gift was. How did she respond? With another jar of body butter!

5) Cy Coleman wrote the music to "Big Spender." Unlike Peggy Lee, who never took a music lesson, Coleman was classically trained and studied composition, conducting, and orchestration at New York City’s High School for the Performing Arts and at the New York College of Music. If you could take classes in anything that interested you, what would you choose to learn more about? Maybe I'd like to try Spanish again. Or American history. As much as I know about the Civil War and WWII, I don't know much about The Revolution or WWI.

6) Coleman met lyricist Dorothy Fields by chance, at a party. Though Fields was more than 20 years his senior, they hit it off immediately and he invited her to work with him. Their collaboration resulted in two Broadway shows including Sweet Charity, which featured "Big Spender." Think about the person you spent the most time with last week. Were they older, younger or about the same age as you? Last weekend it was my nephew, who is quite naturally younger. This week has been spent with people about the same age.

 

7) In 1966, when disc jockeys were playing this record, consumers were discovering garage door openers. These transistorized devices weren't cheap. Typically about $150 in 1966, that would be more than $1,000 in today's dollars. These days garage door openers are far more affordable and common. Can you think of something that was a luxury item when you were a kid that today you take for granted? Air conditioning. Back in the 1970/80s, I knew people who didn't even have window units. Midwestern summers are miserable, humid affairs. I'm grateful a/c is now commonplace.

 

8) 1966 found Jacqueline Susann atop the best seller list with her steamy novel, Valley of the Dolls. Though it was savaged by critics, countless Americans enjoyed the book. Do you have a similar guilty pleasure? Is there a book, movie, TV show or song you enjoy, even though you know it has little artistic merit? I'll go with the movie version of Valley of the Dolls. It was just on TCM tonight! It is ridiculous, over-the-top trash and I love every wretched frame. Terrific, campy fun.

BTW, I read the book for the first time not too long ago. It really was awful. I only finished it out stubbornness. It was so stupid I believe I may have lost IQ points while reading it.

9) Random question: When at a Mexican restaurant, what's your go-to order? Quesadillas. I can't tolerate Mexican food, but quesadillas tend to be bland enough for me to nibble on without enduring hours of anguish later.

Thursday Thirteen #312

Thirteen myths about menstruation. I recently read that when Elizabeth Taylor was a teen actress under contract to MGM, her mother convinced her that if she worked while she was menstruating, it would "endanger her health." Consequently when she was in her late 20s and able to negotiate her contracts, she always insisted on a clause that stated she couldn't be filmed during her period. 

I rolled my eyes at the absurdity of it. Then I remembered that my own mother (about 4 years younger than Taylor) truly believed that tampons were "bad" for me. So I got thinking: What other fallacies have girls been taught over the years about our periods?

I'll get Liz and my mom out of the way first ...

1. You shouldn't exert yourself physically during your period.

2. Tampons negatively affect fertility.

3. You shouldn't use a tampon or menstrual cup if you have an IUD.

4. You can't get pregnant during your period.

5. You can't get an STD if you have intercourse while menstruating.

6. The worse your menstrual cramps, the more likely you are to be infertile.

7. Don't bathe, only take fast showers, during your period.

8. Swimming in cold water during your period can affect your fertility.

9. There's something wrong with you if your period lasts more than 7 days.

10. PMS isn't real and women just use it as an excuse for bad behavior or ...

11. Women shouldn't be in the C-Suite because they can't be trusted to make decisions while PMS-ing.

12. You won't get your period while you're breastfeeding or ...

13. Your period will reduce/spoil your breast milk, so be sure to pump more the week before.

Remember: None of these is true! Now let's all sing ...

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