Sunday Stealing

DIY Meme

1. If you were trapped in a TV universe for a month, what TV show would you choose? (Kwizgiver) I'd go back to the 1960s-era nighttime soap, Peyton Place. I love the hair and the clothes. I love the drama and all the scandal. I'd have a hot month-long affair with Dr. Mike Rossi. He's the smiling man under the letter N. He was the kindest, most decent man in that sin-soaked town. He truly cared about every pregnant teenager, battered wife and alcoholic dockworker who crossed his threshold. Yet he could not get laid! Unfair! I'll be there for you, Dr. Rossi. Though at the end of the month I'm pretty sure I'd have to be killed off. Dr. Rossi was simply not allowed to live happily ever after.

 

2. What song instantly revs you up and gets you going?  (Annie) "September," by Earth, Wind and Fire 

3. Are you decorating your home for fall? (Lori) Nope

4. How do you treat a cold? (Syl) Lots of sleep, Advil for head stuffiness, and my trusty Vicks inhaler. I have depended upon these ever since I was a little girl.

 

5. What insignificant thing would you be genuinely annoyed if you lost it or it was taken from you? (Lisa) My white eraser. It was given to me by a vendor who made a presentation at the agency where I worked. Usually companies left behind notepads or pens with their names on them, but this one gave me an eraser. I love it. It's my favorite office supply. It erases completely clean and leaves minimal crumbs. I have never had a better eraser. 

6. What place do you remember vividly, even though you haven't been there in years? (Country Dew) Hot Springs, AR. It's a lovely town with natural mineral springs steaming into the sky. I haven't been there in 20 years and I wonder if it makes sense for me to go back, since the big draw for me was hiking up to the Hot Springs Mountain Tower and my knees just won't get me there now.  

7. Do you have a favorite Dolly Parton song or story? (Roger) I first became aware of Dolly when I was in high school. She appeared on laundry detergent commercials airing during Cubs games, which made sense because in those days all home games were day games and popular with stay-at-home moms. I didn't even know she was a singer until years later when she released "Here You Come Again." I'm so grateful for YouTube, because after Dolly died, I saw no mention of her early days as a TV spokesperson for Breeze and I thought maybe I'd dreamed it. (Though that would be a very weird dream, wouldn't it?)

 

 

  

 

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Don't Take Your Love from Me (1956)

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

1) In this song, Doris Day sings about what happens when you take a petal from a rose. When did you last get or give flowers as a gift? Years ago. Though I am thinking of doing it over the holidays. My niece's in-laws may be hosting both sides of the family on Christmas Day and that's a lot of people! Maybe I'll send something that arrives a few days early so they won't bother with a centerpiece. Or maybe not. They have a cat, and a cat will look at a floral arrangement and say, "Salad bar!"

 

2) This song is about a woman who fears losing her love. What's the most recent thing you lost? (Hopefully it's not as consequential as a great love. It could be as small or unimportant as the back of one of your pierced earrings.) My most frequent request to Alexa is, "Call my phone." I'm always sure I left it either in purse or on the kitchen counter. You'd be surprised how often it gets up and moves itself.

 

3) Doris was known as The All-American Girl Next Door. Who lives next door to you? Across the hall is Zoraida. She works for Chase Bank (and has the most glorious eyelashes you have ever seen). Next door is Mark. Like me, he's on the condo board. I wish he was friendlier – then unitowners would knock on his door and not mine.

 

4) As a young girl, Doris Day was passionate about dance. She recalled that concentrating on her lessons helped distract her from the pain and embarrassment of her parents' divorce. When you want to escape from what's troubling you, what do you do? I read. I fart around on the internet. I cuddle a cat.

5) The maitre d' at one of Doris' favorite restaurants wanted to ask her out. Knowing how she loved her dogs, he impressed her by handing her a bag of meat scraps and bones to take home. They began dating and, in 1976, he became her last husband. What's the best way to your heart? I think I'm with Doris on this one. If I know you adopted a shelter pet, you automatically have a gold star from me.

 

6) Over her long career, Doris received Golden Globe and Grammy Awards and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She was also inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame, honored for being one of the most celebrated women to have been born there. Name a famous person born in your home state. Illinois can claim four presidents: Reagan, Grant, Obama and, of course, our greatest President, Mr. Lincoln himself. Of those four, only one was born here – Ronald Reagan. He lived here through college and then went off to California to become an actor. 

 

He was born in Tampico, IL, but grew up in Dixon (about a half hour away)

7) She was frank about her financial difficulties, yet some people are uncomfortable discussing money. Are you one of those people? No. I've learned to be more circumspect because I know other people are kinda weird about money, but it doesn't bother me. Here's a true story: I was waiting in line at the bank. Two women were talking and one was wondering aloud if the dental hygienist could tell that she had recently performed oral sex. She was discussing her penchant for blow jobs but kept her thumb over the dollar amount of her cash deposit, lest I learn that about her. Go figure.

8) In 1956, when Doris released this song, The Wizard of Oz was shown on network TV for the first time. What movie have you seen multiple times? I've seen this at least a dozen times. Albert Finney is my Poirot. I love the idea of a luxury train. I love the costumes. I'd rather have just the cuisine and the clothes, but if I have to ride along with a dead body to get them, so be it.

 

9) Random question: Would you rather have a chef or a chauffeur? Oh, a chauffeur! 100%. I don't drive and it would be such a relief to never wonder how I'm getting from hither to yon.

 

 

 

Thursday Thirteen #481

Ouch! This summer I had sinus headaches for the first time in ages. In the past I've had migraines. So this got me thinking about that most ordinary ailment.

13 facts about headaches.

1. It's estimated that 96% of adult Americans have at least one headache a year.

2. Most common is the tension headache, characterized by pressure starting at the temples and wrapping around the head.

3. For tension headaches, most of us reach for Advil (ibuprofen). This could be because we already have it on hand. Advil is also popular for muscle aches, menstrual cramps and arthritis, as well. I know I also  have prescription strength ibuprofen in my cabinet for relief after my dental work. 

4. Deep breathing and meditation have been effective for tension headaches. They don't work for me, but I think that's because the inside of my head is like an old-school pinball machine and I have a hard time quieting it.

5. Sinus headaches became my new and not-at-all-welcome companions. For me they were triggered by allergies. They can also be viral or bacterial.

6. Antibiotics are often necessary to cure bacterial sinus headaches. Neti pots and saline sprays are popular for the other types. I treat mine with Allegra (fexofenadine). 

7. Migraines are so prevalent and debilitating that there's actually an American Migraine Foundation.  They refer to migraines as, "a disabling disease that affects over 40 million people in the United States."

8. Many sufferers say they are tipped off to the onset of the migraine by seeing lights or dots. Not me. Mine were preceded by nausea, which is also rather common.

9. Sufferers report cold packs help with the pain. OTC medications containing acetaminophen and caffeine (like Excedrin) are popular. I found naproxen (Alleve) swallowed with Coke most effective.

10. Cluster headaches are concentrated around the eyes and temples. Sweats often accompany the pain. 

11. In addition to OTC meds, magnesium can help cluster headaches. Bananas and almonds are also popular. 

12. Ice pick headaches sound just awful! They involve brief but intense moments of sudden and intense pain. 

13. Meds are not effective for ice pick headaches because, by the time you swallow the pain killer, the pain has passed.

Of course, I'm just a well-meaning blogger Gal. If you have recurring headaches, you should most definitely consult your doctor and not the internet.

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

 

 

 

WWW.WEDNESDAY

 WWW. WEDNESDAY asks three questions to prompt you to speak bookishly. To participate, and to see how other book lovers responded, click here. 

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

1. What are you currently reading? 50 Movie Nights by Dave Karger.  I love movies, but I'm not always crazy about "best ever films" lists. I'm not into Ingmar Bergman or Stanley Kubrick or Akira Kurosawa. Maybe it's because I like movies and not "cinema."

 

So I'm enjoying this book by TCM's Dave Karger. It's a compilation of titles named by 50 celebrities as their all-time favorite movie. These are movies that most intrigued or delighted or inspired them. It's a book about pure joy. 

 

2. What did you recently finish reading?  Candy Apple Red by Nancy Bush. Our narrator Jane Kelly is a thirty-something California girl who follows her lover to a smallish town in Oregon. The man moves on without her but she stays. She was rudderless in SoCal and hopes to find some meaning/direction in Lake Chinook. She's been a bartender, now she's a process server, and through her legwork for local attorneys, seems to be slowly evolving into a PI. The case that she's investigating, almost against her will, is an icky one: The scion of Lake Chinook's richest family killed his wife and kids and disappeared. It's believed that if Jane gets in good with the suspect's dad and follows the money, he can be found.

 

I really wanted to like this book. Jane is a relatable heroine. (Maybe because, like Jane, I had a great love I always referred to by his Irish surname.) I did like Lake Chinook, a town on the water where people routinely go to restaurants and park their boats on the pier. But boy! It started slooooow. It should not have taken me weeks to finish this one. Maybe because it's #1 in a series and Nancy Bush takes her sweet time introducing characters that will be pivotal in future books? Also, Jane and occasionally other characters behave in inexplicable ways, just to move the plot along. It's an odd book. Until about the 75% mark I was considering DNF-ing, and then it ended like a house afire.

 

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

 

  

 

Sunday Stealing

Four Superlatives

1. Your MOST overused word or phrase: Probably "fuck." It's not my fault it's so versatile. It can be an adverb, an adjective, a noun and, yes, even a verb.

2. Your BIGGEST expense: Right behind my mortgage there's my Xfinity bill. It covers my landline, my internet/wifi, and cable and just about every streaming service. (Except Paramount.)

3. Your WORST fear: That I will lose my independence.

4. Your BEST memory of Summer 26: In late August I was at Wrigley Field for the Cubs' 150th anniversary. It was a thrill! First the greatest surviving players – including many of my girlhood heroes – came onto the field. Then this year's team won. My nephew and I had such a good time.

The team gave us fans this pin. I love it!

 

 

Saturday 9

 Saturday 9: Everybody Loves a Clown (1965)

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

1) Not everyone loves clowns. "Coulrophobia" is the irrational fear of clowns. Do you have any fears or phobias? I am scared of clowns. I'm also afraid of flying (or, to be more precise, crashing).

2) This week's featured artist, Gary Lewis, sings that he jokes a lot at parties. In social settings, are you more a talker or a listener? Talker. Though my friend Patrick said I could take over for Kelly Clarkson because I ask such good questions.

3) He's dreaming of a special girl. Do you often daydream? All the time.

4) Gary named his band The Playboys because they were always late to rehearsals and Gary joked that they would rather play than work. Do you tend to be early, late, or exactly on time? On time or late. I'm never more than 5 or 10 minutes late, but it happens. I think it's a passive rebellion to being slave to train schedule for my nearly 50-year working career.

5) Gary Lewis had first-hand knowledge of clowns. His father was famous funny man Jerry Lewis. Who always makes you laugh? My late uncle always made me laugh. When I was a little girl, I thought he brought magic into every room he entered. I miss him. Today, my nephew reliably makes me laugh. 

6) In 2017, Gary was in the news when it became known that Jerry disinherited all six of his sons from his will. Have you ever attended the reading of a will? Until about 20 years ago, I didn't believe this was a real thing. I thought it only happened in Agatha Christie murder mysteries. But then in about 2005, my boss had to go to Nevada for the reading of his mother's will. He was gone for days ... delightful, productive, peaceful days. Then he came back. I hope he'd inherited enough to allow him to quit and get out of my way but alas, that wasn't the case.

7) This past summer found Gary Lewis on The My Generation Tour, performing with other acts from the mid-1960s, like The Lovin' Spoonful, The Hollies, and Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels. Do you enjoy listening to "the oldies?" Oh yes. Every morning I start my day with my shower radio, tuned to the oldies.

8) In 1965, when this song was popular, Muhammad Ali defeated Sonny Liston to become the heavyweight champion of the world. Have you ever attended a boxing match? Professional? No. But my longest-standing relationship was with a guy who was obsessed with the gym and kick boxing. It's hard to watch someone you care about be pummeled. (Just because he was committed doesn't mean he was good.)

9) Random question: What color is your toothbrush? White.

 

Thursday Thirteen #480

Next in line. Many Brits are up in arms because Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have returned to the UK and may be trying to return to royal life. Much of the public unhappiness has to do with money. Mr. Henry Mountbatten-Windsor wishes to be a "non-working royal" – meaning a private citizen and not a representative of The Crown or kingdom – yet he seems to feel entitled to security at tax payer expense. Around-the-clock protection for the Sussex family could cost up to $4 million a year. More if the family also moves to a tax-payer funded royal home, which would be easier to secure.

Unpopular as Harry and Meghan are they are still likely to get all this, and here is why. The King is head of state in the UK constitutional republic. Until their constitution is changed – and no one sees that happening any time soon – the monarch is a legal requirement for the continuity of government. And Harry is still in the Top 10 in the line of succession.

In fact, so is his uncle, the highly discredited and even more unpopular Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (no longer Prince Andrew). It takes an act of Parliament to remove him, and that is not likely to happen until/unless he is convicted of a crime. The reasoning is that his expulsion would influence a jury if is he brought to trial. Anyway, it's super complicated and time-consuming because Andrew's removal would involve, at least peripherally, all 15 Commonwealth realms. But it has been discussed. Once the process begins, King Charles is not expected to intervene on his brother's behalf.

But Harry is higher up in line, and that makes him relevant. Constitutionalists argue that King Charles is not well. Were he to die soon, Prince William would become King, and next in line to the throne would be Prince George. Who is 13. If for some reason William became incapacitated, Prince George could not become King because he's too young, and Harry would be designated Regent. Harry would hold the throne until George comes of age.

An awful lot of bad things would have to happen in the next five years for Harry to assume the throne. It's highly unlikely, but it is possible. And a Parliament who has yet to expel Andrew for being an Epstein perv is not going to remove Harry for being snippy and having a wife no one likes. And if they tried, King Charles could and likely would throw roadblocks in their way. So in a weird way, Andrew is Harry's job security.

Confused? Maybe this list of 13 will help. 

The current line of success behind King Charles III.  

1. Prince William, Charles' son, born in 1981

2. Prince George, William's son, born in 2013

3. Princess Charlotte, William's daughter, born in 2015

4. Prince Louis, William's son, born in 2018

5. Prince Harry, William's brother, born in 1984

6. Prince Archie, Harry's son, born in 2019

7. Princess Lilibet, Harry's daughter, born in 2021

8. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (yes, he's still here), Charles' brother, born in 1960

9. Princess Beatrice, Andrew's daughter, born in 1988

10. Sienna Mapelli Mozzi, Beatrice's daughter, born in 2021

11. Athena Mapelli Mozzi, Beatrice's daughter, born in 2025

12. Princess Eugenie, Andrew's daughter, born in 1990

13. August Brooksbank, Eugenie's daughter, born in 2021

If Andrew is kicked out, his daughters and their children would move up, and Ernest Brooksbank, Eugenie's younger son, would take the 13th slot. 

Princess Anne is currently #19 in succession. Charles' sister is kinda neat. Virtually scandal free, she's fusty in the way a Queen should be. 76 years old and reportedly in excellent health, she has lived a life of service and kept a busy schedule representing the Crown all over the world. She currently serves as patron for more than 300 charities, with a special emphasis on helping children and veterans. She would be the logical choice, if for any reason a Regent was required to guide future King George. But that can't happen because, at least to this Yank, logic doesn't have a shit-ton to do with any of this.

 

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

"... If that's what's bothering you"

Yesterday my shrink and I were discussing my recent, and increasingly more frequent, bouts of irritability. I have infinite patience with my cats. I never lose my temper with customers at the card shop. I can comfortably chat up a seatmate on public transportation. But Christine from movie group, my neighbor at the end of the hall, they exasperate me. Perhaps beyond proportion. 

I have not been having "bad days." I'm feeling well. There is nothing going on that I can attribute my snappishness to.

Christine is a kind, well-meaning woman who is trying to expand her social circle. There is no shortage of online articles that will reinforce how difficult this can be for women of our age. Yet planning and spending a movie day with her left me ill-tempered and worn out. No, I didn't say anything to her about it. I try not to be mean. But she was high-maintenance and intellectually incurious and I couldn't wait to get away from her. Even though she had a lovely time, brought me a book she found at a library sale, and followed up with texts the next day. She seemed to enjoy the same day that left me exhausted. What's wrong with me?

My neighbor at the end of the hall has disabilities. He has to wear a brace on one of his legs. He has some form of Tourette syndrome that causes him to yell loudly when he's alone. He is lonely and has trouble with boundaries. He is always asking me where I'm going, what's in that shopping bag I'm carrying, etc. I don't think he means to be creepy, but he is. Last week he banged and banged on my door, demanding I answer even though I was busy doing something more than a little private.* When I finally answered, what he wanted was not remotely urgent or even my issue. He asked what I thought we should do about the Amazon package that had been delivered here by mistake. I yelled at him, telling him I'm not on-call 24/7, not his employee. He looked as though I'd stricken him. Yes, I raised my voice and made a man with disabilities feel bad. What's wrong with me?

"There's nothing wrong with you, if that's what's bothering you." So said my shrink. OK, so let's work on what's wrong with these situations ...

Regarding Christine: Maybe I just don't vibe with her. If you can't talk politics, baseball, or pop culture, or if you don't make me laugh, we're not going to click. That's no one's fault, it's just chemistry. Also, compared with recent get togethers with friends that I have enjoyed, Christine and I were together for nine hours. That is too much for me. I'm not that social anymore and my introversive streak has gotten wider. Christine is a nice woman who is trying to make friends so I'm not going to snub her. That would be mean and I refuse to do it. But I can limit the length of time we're together when we see each other.

Regarding my neighbor: He suffers from neurodiversity. He does not respect boundaries and cannot pick up subtle cues. I wasn't being a reactive bully, I was doing what was necessary. If I hadn't yelled at him, he would continue becoming more intrusive. That is simply the way it is. His very real issues, which I see and have compassion for, do not give him the right to make me uncomfortable in my own home. 

I am an old dog but I am still learning. I guess at core, what I have been struggling with is how to live my Christian faith. I want to be a kind person. I want to treat everyone as I wish to be treated. I want to end each day knowing the way I behaved toward others is a way that would please Him.

But sometimes I lose myself in the equation. Christ's plan for me is not that I be inherently unhappy, is it? So I will develop a relationship with Christine that works for both of us. I will be nice and gracious to my neighbor but insist he respect my privacy.

Therapy is worth the time and worth the dime.

  

*I had just applied prescription cream to a rash that I'd rather not talk about, but let's just say I wasn't dressed to welcome visitors. So I had to smear the expensive cream to get dressed to answer the door and yes, this really pissed me off.

 

Sunday Stealing

TRUE OR FALSE

1. I'm married. False

2. I'm raising a teenager. False

3. I recently vacationed in California. YAY! I got one. True.

4. I have traveled to Asia. False

5. I have a dog. False

6. I received money from a class action settlement. I got about $30 from the Facebook settlement.

7. I've been in the waiting room when a family member had surgery. False

8. I have attended a convention. True

9. I subscribe to my local newspaper (either print or online). True

10. I recently had work done to the exterior of my home. True. We got a new roof this past spring.

 

Saturday 9

 
Saturday 9: Devil in the Bottle (1974)

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

1) This song begins with T. G. Sheppard taking off his shoes to slip into the house with disturbing his sleeping wife. Are you wearing shoes as you answer these questions? No. I'm barefootin' around the house.

2) His wife hears him anyway. Are you a light sleeper? Kinda sorta. I live near train tracks and a busy street and those sounds I snooze through. But let one of my cats knock my hairbrush off the sink and I'm up.
 

3) This is the first of 22 consecutive #1 hits for T. G. Sheppard. Not bad for a high school dropout. What's the last year of education that you completed? 12th grade. I took a half-hearted stab at community college a couple times but was easily distracted. 

 

Look! A squirrel!

 

4) He was born William Browder and chose the stage name T. G. Sheppard just because he liked the sound of it. He says "T. G." doesn't stand for anything, and he gets a kick out of fans who insist there's some secret meaning behind the initials. Since most of us didn't choose our names: Is there a story behind your name? Did your parents tell you why they chose it? (If you did choose your name, share what influenced your decision.) My mom always liked my first name. She also disliked my dad's aunt, who had the same name, so my mom chose a different spelling. She didn't want that woman to think I was named for her. (I'm told I met my non-namesake once, but I don't recall it.)

 

5) It was after hours at a Memphis roller rink when he first met Elvis and his entourage. As T. G. was leaving, Elvis was entering and asked if he wanted to stay and skate longer. T. G. was confused because he knew the place was closing for the night. "Not for me," Elvis replied and T. G. skated with Elvis and his buddies until dawn. Are you good on roller skates? No. I am the clumsiest human you will ever meet.

6) T. G. loves NASCAR and was an associate sponsor of the Folgers Chevrolet. He enjoyed the collaboration with the coffee company and has performed the familiar jingle – "the best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup" – in concert. Are you loyal to a particular coffee brand? No. I don't drink coffee.

 

7) T. G. understands the lifestyle of his fans. That's why he named his live country music venue Guitars and Cadillacs. If you were going to name a business after two of your favorite things, what would you call it? Cubs and Cats.

 

 
8) In 1974, when this week's song was on the country charts, Linda Ronstadt was getting a lot of radio airplay with "You're No Good." That song is about a real cad. Let's turn that around: Who is the nicest person you know? My former boss, CeeCee. She has a smile and a hug for everyone, and always emphasized to our team that we be kind to one another.

 
9) Random question: Have you ever had your palm read? I don't recall. Maybe? But this question has that wonderful old song going through my head. "Much More" is from the musical The Fantasticks. 

 

"I'd like to swim in a clear blue stream where the water is icy cold,

Then go to town in a golden gown and have my fortune told,

Just once, just once, just once before I'm old ..." 

 

 

 Photo by Caleb Martin on Unsplash 

 

And yet, I feel bad

One of my neighbors has a hard time with boundaries. I appreciate that the man at the end of the hall must be lonely.  He is on disability, always wears a brace on his leg, and has some and some form of Tourette syndrome that causes him to yell loudly when he's alone. (I can hear him swearing up a storm when I'm waiting for the elevator. The doors open and he comes out grinning, as though nothing was amiss.)

While I certainly don't seek him out, I'm always pleasant whenever we meet. His questions are always annoying and nosy ("Where are you going?" "What's in that big Target bag?" "What's on that pizza?") but harmless. He's obsessed with our building's Amazon deliveries. He brings our packages from the lobby up to our front doors, which would be nice except he bangs on the door and expects a thank you ... and a conversation. He also bangs on my door frequently to discuss condo association business because I'm on the Board. 

I try to be nice but he's making it impossible. Last month, there was the day when, after I took my packages, he blocked me from closing my front door so we could chat longer. I could feel his eyes surveying my living room. It was creepy and intrusive.

This week I yelled at him. Yes, I yelled at a lonely man with a disability.

I have a rash. Don't worry, I won't tell you about it, but it's not somewhere you can see when I'm in my bathing suit. I had just applied the (expensive) cream when my neighbor began banging on my door.

I had the TV on, so he knew I was home. I thought I could brazen it out, but no, he kept pounding. I peered at him through the peep hole. What if he was in some distress? When he appeared fine, I resolved to ignore him.

He wouldn't be ignored. Pounding ... and pounding ... Perhaps hearing me approach the peep hole made him more determined. 

"I. AM. COMING!" I shouted, smearing the (expensive) cream as I reached for clothing.

He wanted to know what he should do about the Amazon package in the lobby. It was delivered here by mistake.

"I don't know," I said tightly, trying not to scream.

"Have you been downstairs? Have you seen it?"

"No. I know nothing about it. And I am not on call 24/7. If I don't answer my door, it means I'm busy."

"Were you eating or something?"

"No, I was getting in the shower." I lied, determined to keep at least my rash private. "But it doesn't matter! I'm not an employee! I don't have to be always available!"

"I'm so sorry." He looked stricken. He extended his hand for a fist bump but I refused it. 

"OK, fine," I snapped, and closed the door.

I know that he has mistaken my mere politeness for a willingness to be his sidekick, so I had to be harsh. I had to set boundaries.

But his face! He looked like I'd slapped him.

 Photo by Mario Heller on Unsplash

9/11

25 years ago everything changed. Forever. I say a prayer that today we mourn and honor those who were lost with our kindness and empathy.

 

 

 

When I wander

Tuesday my friend Gregory and I spent a lovely day at The Chicago History Museum. I enjoy this museum but the real reason for the outing was Gregory. He and I were both satellites who orbited around John, and since John died in 2024 I've been afraid of losing Gregory, too, so these get togethers are important to me. 

I got to the Museum about 20 minutes before Gregory and I used the time to stroll the grounds. I think this is what I like best about retirement – I take the time to notice and appreciate the stuff that's always been there but I was in too big a hurry to see.

THE FOUNTAIN 

I just happened to be sitting there when the Chicago Park District guy came to service it. I was amazed to discover that he does this not by touching the fountain itself at all, but by going down a hole several feet away.

 

Down he went

 

And the water stops!

 

THE PATH

The Jaffe History Trail runs behind the Museum. As I meandered among the trees and plants that are native to Chicagoland, I soon found myself with one of my favorite people of all time, Mr. Lincoln. That's the great thing about living in Illinois: You're never far from a reminder of Abe. 

 

 

It's called Lincoln: The Man

 

Hello, Mr. Lincoln

I know people live elsewhere and I'm sure they're happy. But I really think I'd have a hard time living anywhere else. We have four seasons. We have parks peacefully waiting for us just off the busiest streets. We have museums and theaters and ballparks. We sit on a Great Lake. I'd miss it all.

 

 

Thursday Thirteen #479

Spilling the tea. You know how you can go days (weeks!) without hearing or reading about something, and then all of a sudden you see it everywhere? That's me and tea. I don't drink it often and yet today I saw a sale flyer promoting the teas at my local grocery store and later saw an article about it.

OK, Universe. I get the message. 

13 facts about tea.

1. Next to water, tea is the most consumed beverage in the world.

2. We've been drinking it for a long, long time. In 2015, archeologists discovered tea in the tomb of a Chinese emperor who had been dead more than 2,000 years. 

3. English mystery author par excellence Agatha Christie drank black tea as she wrote.

4. So it's not surprising that her most famous creation, Hercule Poirot, also drank tea and credited it for stimulating his "little gray cells" as he solved mysteries.

5. Secret agents like tea, too.  Two actors who played James Bond – Sean Connery and Pierce Brosnan – were known for drinking tons of tea between scenes while filming.

6. Black tea is the most popular tea in the world. It balances a little caffeine boost with health benefits, like lowering cholesterol levels

7. Organic dandelion leaf and root tea is on sale this week at my local health food store, and the promotion says it is "traditionally used to support kidney function."

8. Ginger tea may help combat nausea.

9. Green tea has been called the tea that's best for your health because it contains antioxidants and can reduce inflammation.

10. Some find drinking chamomile tea before bed enhances sleep.

11. When it comes to tea, Americans are contrary. In Turkey, China and the UK, hot tea is tops but here, our preference is overwhelmingly for iced tea.

12. Hot tea may help with appetite suppression and weight loss. Or maybe it doesn't. One study showed that women who drank hot tea every day had lower BMIs than women who don't. However there haven't been many follow up studies to confirm this. 

13. Foodies are discovering tea in a big way. There's a trend toward tea sommeliers who can recommend the right tea/meal pairing.

How about you? Share your tea habits. 

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

 

 

I do this, you know

I am happy to be invited or included. Then I go and I can't wait to get away on my own. It happened this weekend. 

Noir City Chicago! TCM's Eddie Muller has replaced Jerry Lewis as my annual Labor Day date, hosting this film festival of classic noirs at Chicago's Music Box Theater over the holiday weekend again this year. On Saturday, eight of us from my movie group got together in person to see Black Angel. I enjoyed the movie thoroughly – it was short and twisty – and the company. I had drinks with my compadres before the film and posed for an apres movie picture with (sigh) Eddie himself and went home very happy.

Then Sunday happened. Weeks ago, when the Noir City schedule was announced, I said I was excited to see my favorite Elvis movie, King Creole, on the big screen for the first time. Christine, a group member who is making an effort to be my friend, said it was her favorite, too, and she wanted to go with me. I don't know why she didn't come to the group event on Saturday. 

Now let me be clear: I was going anyway. I knew none of the group regulars shares my affection for The King or this movie. I am perfectly happy watching a movie in the theater alone. It's also not hard for me to get to The Music Box. I take a 15-minute commuter train into the Loop and then a cab or rideshare. (I could take the bus, it would be cheaper, but that's a long-ass ride with lots of stops.)

Anyway, Christine seldom comes into the city. In the run-up to the Sunday movie, I got emails and texts from her. Since she lives in a faraway suburb and is afraid to drive in the city, would I mind if she parked near my place and we ride the train in together? I told her that was fine. Then she wondered exactly where she could park near me, and would I split the parking with her? Now why would I pay for her parking? I told her that if she could wait a while – this was days before the movie – I would send her photos of the metered parking near my home. But, it was raining, so "stay tuned." She kept on messaging me, asking about this parking garage or that one she researched online. No, I said, there is metered parking closer to my building and I would send her photos ... just please give me a few hours until the rain stops.

No, she kept messaging. She told me she's afraid to drive in the dark. OK, I can help her with parking and public transportation but not with the sun and moon. King Creole started at 4:00. With Sunday train schedules being what they are, we wouldn't get from the theater to my place until after 8:00. So it would be dark when she was on the road to her home. It just would. It's unavoidable.

More messages. There's a commuter train from her faraway suburb into the city. Maybe she should just take that? HELL, YES! I said I'd meet her train and we could take a rideshare together to the theater. We agreed we'd grab a bite to eat after the movie. She asked what she would owe me for the rides. I told her not to worry about it – I was going to pay for the rides anyway. But it would be nice if she paid the tax and tip at dinner. 

I met her train and felt like such a bitch. She brought me a book about JFK she found at her local library book sale. After all, she said, she knows I love him and I support libraries. How thoughtful of her!

Before the movie we had a drink in the theater lounge. She told me how she always loved Elvis, how she watched this movie many times with her sister. I agreed that it's his best movie and was excited to see it with a theater of people who enjoyed it and took it seriously. We took pix of each other in the lobby.

Except afterward Christine confessed she'd never seen King Creole before. She thought it was Jailhouse Rock. Oh, you mean the movie where he sings "Jailhouse Rock?" So much for being a lifelong Elvis fan. We also didn't have that much to talk about. She loves her dog and her yard. But she doesn't watch the news and doesn't know anything about current affairs. 

I'll be honest, by the time we got to our separate trains, I couldn't wait to get away from her.

Then Monday there were more and more texts! She didn't like any of the photos I'd taken of her in the lobby, so she'd manipulated them using AI. She shared them with me, including one she'd taken of me where I looked (literally) like a cartoon.

Leave me alone!

I realize I sound like a bitch. I feel like a bitch. Here's a perfectly nice woman who keeps making overtures to be my friend. I realize that might be hard for her, and understand that it's a compliment to me. Friendship is, after all, a gift. 

But maybe I'm like Groucho Marx: I don't want to belong to any club that will have me as a member.