These are the thoughts and observations of me — a woman of a certain age. (Oh, my, God, I'm 65!) I'm single. I'm successful enough (independent, self supporting). I live just outside Chicago, the best city in the world. I'm an aunt and a friend. I feel that voices like mine are rather underrepresented online or in print. So here I am. If my musings resonate with you, please visit my blog again sometime.
Today's happiness: Whiter whites. I did an extra load of laundry today and bleached my whites. As I folded my ankle socks and undies, I nearly went snow blind.
Happy August Happiness Challenge!
Each
day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy.
Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't
want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are
positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.
D. Dogs None. I would have a dog if I could, especially now that I'm mostly retired. But only service and emotional support dogs are allowed in this building.
E. Essential start to your day Stretching
F. Favorite color Pantone 294 (aka Cubbie blue)
G. Gold or silver Silver
H. Hand you favor (righty or lefty) Righty
I. Instruments you play None
J. Job title Part-time sales associate
K. Kids None
L. Live (rural, suburb, city) Suburb
M. Meal plans None yet
N. Nicknames I only have one. I bestow them liberally, though.
O. Overnight hospital stays Two. Overnight in 2004, three nights in 2011.
P. Pet peeves Right now I'm most annoyed with myself. I go over texts from my oldest friend – she has health/emotional problems – as though they were frames of the Zapruder film and maybe I'll find the solution to her problems. Of course I won't. She lives far away on the West Coast and never listens to me, anyway. I need to do what I can and then let it go.
Q. Quote from a movie "Signor Ravelli's first song will be 'Somewhere My Love Lies Sleeping' with an all male chorus." Animal Crackers
R. Regrets I've had a few, but then again, too few to mention.
S. Siblings Two sisters
U. Underwear Right now I'm wearing a bra and undies
V. Vegetable you love Peas
W. What makes you run late Bone-deep laziness
X. X-rays you’ve had Teeth, back, abdomen (lots of my abdomen)
Y. Yummy food Carbs. Breads and potatoes, especially
Today's happiness: Henry's "casserole," baseball and a caturday cuddle. Today, like yesterday, was a quiet day filled with little jolts of joy.
1. I ordered a deep dish cheese and sausage pizza from Lou Malnati's. It reminded me of my late, dear friend Henry. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, deep dish Chicago-style pizza genuinely confused him. "How is this pizza and not a casserole?" he would ask. I miss Henry so much, but remembering his unique way of looking at everyday life makes me happy. I was lucky to have him in my life for 30+ years.
2. The Cubs really haven't been that good since the All Star Break. But tonight, they were very good, beating St. Louis 9-1. If you're not a baseball fan, you might not get how important that is. The Cubs and Cardinals are one of the game's oldest and most ferocious rivalries. It not only makes me happy that my guys finally got hot again, I'm happy that it happened in St. Louis.
3. My Connie Cat watched the game with me, luxuriating in scritches under her chin and belly rubs. The affection that flowed between us was sweet.
So of course I'm happy.
Happy August Happiness Challenge!
Each
day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy.
Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't
want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are
positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.
This month we're going to recall Summer Songs. These will all be records that topped the charts during August.
1)
Number 1 on the charts in August 40 years ago, the lyrics to "Shout"
encourage us to "let it all out." When is the last time you raised your
voice? I raise my voice all the time while watching baseball. Like the old song says, I cheer and boo and raise a hullabaloo.
2) This week's featured artists, Tears for Fears, were a duo
-- Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith -- who met as teenagers in Bath, the
largest city in Somerset, England. Bath has been named one
of The Great Spa Towns of Europe. Popular spa treatments include
massages, facials, body scrubs and wraps, mineral baths, manicures and
pedicures. If you could treat yourself to a spa treatment today, which
would you choose? My pedicure is looking a little rough. But oh, a massage would feel good, too!
3)
When they first met, one of the things Roland and Curt bonded over was
that they were both raised by single mothers. Who was your best friend
during your teen years? What did you two bond over? That was Judy. We were moody, sensitive, artistic nerds. I wanted to be a writer and she wanted to paint. I'm proud to say we both did pretty well in our respective fields.
4)
Curt's wife, Frances Pennington, has had a long career in marketing,
beginning in the record business and transitioning to fashion. Which
industry do you think you'd enjoy more -- music or fashion? Fashion, I think. Imagine the beautiful freebies and samples!
5)
Roland married his childhood sweetheart, Caroline Johnston. They were
together for 35 years, until her death. Do you know whatever became of
your childhood sweetheart? When I was in Kindergarten, I wanted to marry our next door neighbor's son, Billy, who had shiny black hair and always wore black t-shirts. He came over on weekends to visit his parents and would often wash his car in their driveway. He let me sponge the hubcaps and told me I did such a good job he wished he could marry me. LIAR! He married a hair-sprayed bitch named Sandy and my mean parents actually dragged me along to the wedding! To her dying day, my mom loved telling the story of how I pouted all day and complained about losing the man I referred to as, "my husband."
Let's look at the summer of 1985.
6) That summer, Chicago teenager Balu Natarajan won the National Spelling Bee. Are you a good speller? Most of the time. Spell check has to rescue me on the word "occasion." I stubbornly add a second "s."
7)
Tinker Bell took her first nightly flight at Walt Disney World in
Florida. Do you recall which Disney movie introduced us to Tinker Bell? Peter Pan.
8) Derek Hough was a baby in the summer of 1985. In 2007 he became a regular on Dancing with the Stars, acclaimed for his ballroom dancing. Are you good on the dance floor? Not in the least.
9)
In 1985, Michael J. Fox became the first actor to have the #1 movie at
the box office and the #1 TV show in the ratings. The movie was Back to the Future and the TV show was Family Ties. Have you seen the movie? Were you a fan of the show? I know people loved the Back to the Future franchise, but I only saw the first one. I did enjoy spending time with the Keaton family.
Today's happiness: Lots of happy! Let's see now ...
1. Preliminary results from Tuesday's tests appeared in MyChart today. My specialist hasn't reviewed or weighed in yet, but from what I can tell, not much is different this year from last year – and he said last year that we didn't need to take any action. I'm feeling good about this and I'm not worried about him recommending anything drastic.
2. Today is Anthony Rizzo's birthday, and the GloryDaze podcast dropped their Rizzo episode today. An hour of Anthony looking good and sounding happy. No one deserves it more. (Happy 36th birthday to my forever Captain!)
3. I watched this week's movie group film: The Blue Dahlia (1946). I enjoyed it! This is noteworthy because last week's movie was kind of a dud. Best of all, I was delighted to see Hugh Beaumont – Beaver Cleaver's dad – in a supporting role. He was smart and honest but also streetwise. It was kind of like seeing what Ward was like before he married June.
4. I knocked off one book and started another. No reflection on Dark City Dames. I've been enjoying it. But I got Contents Under Pressure from the library and it was calling out to me.
With so much glory, no wonder I'm happy.
Happy August Happiness Challenge!
Each
day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy.
Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't
want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are
positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.
Today's happiness: Chinese food. I worked two consecutive days this week. It's not unusual for me to work two shifts in a week, but usually they are days apart. I admit that consecutive afternoons in that card shop with no a/c was a bit much. I just could not bear the thought of going home and cooking. And so I treated myself to Chinese carryout: shrimp fried rice and vegetable egg rolls. I curled up on the couch with a plate on my lap and I was the happiest I'd been all day.
Happy August Happiness Challenge!
Each
day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy.
Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't
want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are
positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.
Today's happiness: Accomplishment. It was uncomfortable at the card shop today because the a/c is busted. When I got home, all I wanted to do was veg out. Not only was I worn out from work, but it was Judy Garland Day on TCM Summer Under the Stars!
But at about 9:00 tonight, I looked over my evening and instead of feeling relaxing, it felt like an opportunity wasted. So I got off my fat ass and took some Dawn dishwashing liquid into the bathroom. Using a toothbrush reserved solely for this purpose, I cleaned the caulk around the tub. Then I soaked my bathtub drain stopper.
Even though it only took about 20 minutes, I'm happy that I overcame my lazy tendency and did something. Feels good.
Happy August Happiness Challenge!
Each
day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy.
Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't
want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are
positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.
Today's happiness: Kindness, and a nap. Today I had a retroperitoneal ultrasound, which is a fancy way of saying a tech slathered gel just under my belly button and checked my kidney and bladder to compare this year to last year and see if anything changed. The test itself is non-invasive and really, no big deal. It was the prep that made me nuts. For the test to be useful, I had to have a full bladder and was told to drink 30 ounces of water an hour before the test. I was required to check in 30 minutes before the appointment. So I left my home at 10:00 and chugged water all the way over to check in at 10:25 for an 11:00 ultrasound. To say I was uncomfortable would be an understatement.
At 10:30, an imaging tech came out and welcomed a walk-in ahead of me. I suppose I get it. My appointment was scheduled for 11:00. Maybe another patient was in the room they intended for me. But DAMN! As per direction, my bladder was full.
I went over to the lovely young woman who checked me in and explained my predicament. I told her I really, really had to go to the bathroom and asked her if there was a drinking fountain where I could refill my water bottle and resume chugging. She was so sweet and said she understood completely. She sent a message to the imaging center, asking if they couldn't take me earlier. If they couldn't, she promised me I could relieve myself and she'd get me a bottle of water "somehow."
A tech came out and, as we walked back to the room, asked me all those questions (like date of birth) so I could just immediately climb into the table and we could get started. She worked fast, and then let me go to the bathroom. Then she completed her imaging, because she needed to get pictures of me when the needle is on E, as well.
Thanks to the kindness of these strangers, I was out of there at 11:00. YAY!
To call this stressful would be an understatement. Then I went to Walgreens and discovered that they had messed up my (completely unrelated) prescription. By the time I got home at noon, I was exhausted. When the going gets tough, the tough go to sleep. I gave myself the gift of a two hour nap and when I woke up, I felt like a new gal. All that's left of this agita is the hospital bracelet on my right wrist.
So I'm happy the two women at the hospital were so kind to me, and that I was kind to myself.
Happy August Happiness Challenge!
Each
day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy.
Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't
want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are
positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.
Today's happiness: PHEW! I was upset today, and then I wasn't.
• First, I called bank-by-phone and found I was (gulp!) about $1,000 short in my checking account. OhmyGodOhmyGodOhmyGod! Because the money I have now really has to last me the rest of my life, I try to keep track of every penny. It is soooo not like me to "misplace" $1,000! I logged into my online banking and discovered the money was indeed there, just not where I wanted it. Instead of moving money from savings to checking, I had transferred it from checking to savings. (On two separate occasions. I'm an idiot.) All I had to do was move it back. PHEW!
• Then there's my favorite Elvis nightshirt. It's an oversized t-shirt with a picture of The Lisa Marie (his plane) and the words: FLY LIKE THE KING. I love this souvenir from my 2016 trip to Graceland because I just do, that's all. I was quite concerned when dribbled ketchup on it. Fortunately, after double pre-treating (first with shampoo, then with OxyClean) and washing it in warm, not cold, the stain is little more than a faded pink shadow. PHEW!
Happy August Happiness Challenge!
Each
day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy.
Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't
want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are
positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.
Today's happiness: I treated myself and I'm still on budget. I've spent an awful lot of money lately and am trying to reverse the trend. I had $35 in my wallet this morning. Instead of just popping over to Target for the incidentals left on my shopping list, I took advantage of the not-too-hot day and walked a half mile to Dollar Tree. To celebrate my frugality, on the way home I picked up a small order of rib tips (small side of potato salad included in the $9.95 price). Even after shopping and lunch, I've still got $6 in cash! I'm not only happy and satiated, I feel downright virtuous.
Happy August Happiness Challenge!
Each
day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy.
Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't
want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are
positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.
1. When are you at your blogging best – a.m. or p.m.? I am at my blogging best when I feel like blogging. The impulse hits me at different times.
2. How many blogs do you have? Please include the links in your answer. In addition to this blog, I am part of the massive team that helps Crazy Sam with Saturday 9 and Sunday Stealing.
3. Do you prefer silence when you compose your posts and write your comments? No. I have tinnitus, and when there's silence I'm distracted by the whooshing. It sounds like I'm forever holding a seashell to my ear. I don't notice it at all if there's the TV or music on.
4. What's the grossest thing you've ever spilled on your keyboard? Let's see, it wasn't gross and, technically speaking, I'm not the one who spilled it. Years ago – I believe the statute of limitations has expired – my cat Reynaldo was jealous of the time I was spending on my work laptop and spilled a nearby margarita. I thought I got most of it before it reached the computer. I was wrong about that. About 12 hours later, when I was back at the office, it started to crap out. IT replaced it with no questions asked, which obviously made me happy.
5. Ever posted while intoxicated? Posted on my blog? No. Which is not to say I've never written under the influence. I was in advertising for 43 years. At my last job, we had a beer keg in the kitchen (our biggest client, a beer company, sent a new one regularly) and wine was served every day at 4:00. I had a bottle of vodka in my bottom desk drawer at all times and, well, there was the aforementioned margarita incident. But no, I have never posted to this blog while intoxicated.
Now that I'm no longer in advertising, I realize this is not de rigeur in other work settings. For example, we don't pound 'em back at the card shop. But watch Mad Men. It's just how it is. It's hard to come up with creative concepts on demand and work with a team to deliver them to a timeline. And once I agreed to a deadline, I never missed it. (I've been retired since 10/22 and almost three years later, I still have nightmares about the stress of that job.)
Today's happiness: Cat Video Fest 2025. For the third year in a row, my friend Elaine and I went to the beautiful old Music Box Theater to watch cat videos on the big screen. It's a delightful fundraiser for a local animal shelter. There's something so positive about being in a theater surrounded by others who are as into the experience as you are. Because it started at 11:30, there were a ton of kids in attendance and we were happy to see a little girl who brought her plush cat along to enjoy the movie. Afterward, Elaine and I had lunch at a new-to-me bar, Toons, and she offered to help me get a new faucet for my kitchen sink. That's Elaine. She's always ready to help.
Also, it was just a great Chicago day. On the train over this morning, I was surrounded by jersey-clad Cub fans off to Wrigley Field (I was happy there were still a couple Rizzos among my fellow passengers). The Lyft driver took Lake Shore Drive from the train station to the theater and so I got to see happy Chicagoans enjoying the beautiful lakefront – jogging, boating and a lot of volleyball. As I entered the train station to go home, Lollapalooza festival goers were arriving for tonight's concerts. Honestly, this is the best place to live! 💙💙
Happy August Happiness Challenge!
Each
day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy.
Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't
want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are
positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.
This month we're going to recall Summer Songs. These will all be records that topped the charts during August.
1)
Number 1 on the charts in August 50 years ago, "Jive Talkin'" was
originally called "Drive Talkin'," because it was inspired by the
"chunka-chunka" sound the Bee Gees' car made as it rolled over the
bridge from Biscayne Bay to Miami every morning. Tell us about a drive
you make regularly. What do you love, or hate, about it? I don't make any drive regularly – no car – but I do walk 7 minutes to my job at the card shop. I enjoy going through the local business district as the stores are opening. It's neat to see awnings adjusted and A-frame chalk signs coming out. Before I had this job, I never paid attention to how retailers wake up to start the day.
2)
Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb always enjoyed singing together and as
kids, practiced their harmonies in the bathroom because that's where the
acoustics were best. Do you sing in the shower? Yes. Badly.
3)
Early in their career, the brothers wrote and recorded a radio jingle
for Coca Cola. If we were to peer into your refrigerator right now,
would we find any carbonated beverages? Always. I allow myself two mini (7.5 oz) Cokes each day.
4)
Though their sound depended on tight harmonies, all three Bee Gees were
heavy smokers, which is bad for the throat. Do you smoke? Are there
smokers/vapers in your life? One of the girls at the card shop says she is a "social smoker." My oldest friend vapes, even though she has heart trouble.
5) Robin Gibb agreed to perform on the CD Sesame Street Fever so his kids could meet Cookie Monster. Who is your favorite Muppet? Cookie, of course. Here he is singing the 7th inning stretch at Wrigley Field, to which I say, "Bravo!"
6)
In addition to younger brother Andy, who also scored hit records, the
Bee Gees have a sister, Lesley. Unlike her siblings, she didn't go into
show business. Instead she became a dog breeder. Tell us about a dog who
holds a special place in your heart. My late friend Henry's dog, NouNou, was very dear. He was a mixed breed black mop of fur and love. Henry also had two big dogs, and short-legged NouNou had to run so hard to keep up, but he did his best.
Let's look at the summer of 1975.
7) That
summer, producer Lorne Michaels was auditioning talent for the Not
Ready for Prime Time Players. This band of comedic performers would
premiere that October in a new show called Saturday Night Live. In the days before DVRs and streaming, Saturday Night Live
was considered "appointment television," a show you wanted to catch
when it aired so you made sure you were in front of a TV to hear "Live
from New York, it's Saturday Night!" Is there a show you go out of your
way to watch when it airs? Or is most of your viewing either recorded or
streamed? The only programs I have to watch as they air are the news, baseball and awards shows. Everything else can wait till it's convenient.
8) The top movie at the box office that summer was Jaws. Have you seen it? Yes. I think the real star of the movie is John Williams' score. I heard Speilberg say that all it took was two notes to scare us all out of our skins, and he's right. As you read this, you can hear those two notes in your head, can't you? Bum bum. Here comes the shark! Shudder!
9)
In 1975, Jim Palmer of the Baltimore Orioles was having a career season
and won the second of his three Cy Young Awards. In 2012 he put all
three trophies up for auction. As proud as he was of the awards, he
said, "My priorities have changed," and the money would help pay for
college for his grandchildren. Think about your belongings. Is there
anything you would never part with at any price? I treasure a ceramic cable car that belonged to my favorite grandfather. He kept it on the nightstand on his side of the bed. He used it for his watch, his tie clasps and cuff links and his favorite licorice throat lozenges. Every time I think of my grandpa, I smile. It can't possibly mean as much to anyone else as it does to me.
Today's happiness: A lazy day. I had nothing I needed to do today. I began the day by waking up on my own – no alarm clock – and rolling over and going back to sleep. I took a leisurely shower and shaved my legs. I watched the game (Cubs win!) and took advantage of the beautiful weather. The ungodly heat has finally broken so I walked to the big grocery store, where the selection is greater and the prices are lower. On the way, I stopped by the card shop to say "hi" and shoot the breeze. Nothing that happened today will matter or be remembered a year from now. Doesn't matter. I love days that unfold as they will, as though they have a mind of their own and are taking me along for the ride.
Happy August Happiness Challenge!
Each
day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy.
Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't
want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are
positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.
Making laundry Real Simple. I wouldn't go so far as to say I enjoy doing laundry, but it is the one domestic chore I'm good at. Just because I'm good doesn't mean I can't get better, and I found these laundry tips on the Real Simple website.
1. Choose a top-loading washer and leave lid up between uses to help reduce prevent mildew.
2.
Clean the lint trap after every dryer load. This will improve air flow,
making your dryer more efficient. Never let the lint trap become full,
because that can be a fire hazard.
3. Pre-treat stains ASAP, especially if you aren't going to wash the item for days. This way you won't waste time trying to remove a set-in stain.
4. Read garment labels. If it says "dry clean only," then take it to the cleaners. If it's "dry clean recommended" or "dry clean" without the "only," then you may be able to hand wash.
5. Always wash and dry your towels separately. They shed lint, which can cling to your clothes.
6. Always wash bras in a mesh bag. It's not only better for the bra, it's safer for the washer. If the underwire happens to come lose, the mesh bag will help prevent it damaging the washer drum.
7. Mesh bags are good for socks, too. It helps keep them together and helps prevent being stuck with those lonely single socks.
8. Change your sheets at least once/week – more often if you sweat at night. Even if they still look clean, your sheets and pillowcases are collecting sweat and oils from your skin and hair.
9. Wash blankets at least every other week. Heavier fabric retains food crumbs, pet hair, etc.
10. Wash your bath mat weekly. They can quickly become breeding grounds for germs and mildew.
11. Unless there's a visible stain on the lap or one of the legs, turn your jeans inside out before you wash. This will help keep your jeans looking better longer.
12. Wash your bathing suit after each use. Beach salt, pool chemicals and sunscreen can damage swimwear.
13. Wash mittens, scarves, and gloves at least 3 times each winter.
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?Dark City Dames: The Women Who Defined Film Noir by Eddie Muller. Eddie is TCM's Czar of Noir (and, sigh, my TV boyfriend) so it's hard to imagine a better host as we meet 15 of the most influential actresses in the genre of film noir.
When as a teenager I discovered film noir, I dismissed it as misogynistic. The femmes fatales were all so dark, so hostile. In my enthusiastic but unsophisticated feminism I missed an important point: the films themselves were violent and cynical by definition, and within the world created by film noir, these women had clear power, motivation and agency – dimensional qualities they often don't have in sunnier comedies and musicals of the 1940s and 1950s. Today I'm more receptive to learning about these actresses, their films and their lasting cultural impact, and not just because I'm in love with Eddie.
2. What did you recently finish reading?The Guest List by Lucy Foley. Oh, what a thrill ride this was! A rich, beautiful and ambitious publishing exec is about to marry her rich, handsome and ambitious reality TV star fiance in an exclusive wedding on a secluded Irish island. On the surface, it looks perfect. The closer we look, the more fissures we see, and the more dangerous the wedding becomes.
Someone has been sending the bride anonymous warnings not to marry the groom. Who? Why? The groom is concerned that his best man is a bit too much of a loose cannon and too fond of booze and coke for such a high-profile role. For his part, under his hard partying facade, the best man is jealous of the uber-successful groom. The bridesmaid is beautiful but achingly fragile and as she tries to overcome trauma in her recent past, she's afraid she could crack under the pressures of her wedding party role. The "plus one," her husband a close friend of the glamorous bride, feels miserably out of place in this fast company. The wedding planner is valiantly trying to keep this disparate group on track.
Then a storm hits. The generator goes out. It's hostile and windy outside, pitch black and maybe just as dangerous inside. One of the waitresses screams that there's just "so much blood." Is someone dead? Who? How? Is there a killer loose? So many suspects, so many motives.
I really enjoyed this worthy homage to Agatha Christie.
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