Sunday Stealing

More Questions from Steph

1) Are you the sort of person who can nap or sleep anywhere, any time? I suppose. I have an easier time falling asleep now than I ever have in my life. I think I'm finally (after three years) getting the hang of of retirement.

 

2) Have you ever walked in your sleep? I was quite the sleepwalker when I was a little girl. I was good at unlocking doors while sound asleep. My mom was completely freaked out about this and dragged me to the family doctor, a man she trusted implicitly. He didn't recommend counseling or a change in diet. He prescribed phenobarbital. Yes, a barbiturate for a seven year old! I don't blame my mom – she was doing the best she could with the information she had. But there I was, a second grader, on my way to The Valley of the Dolls.

 

3) Do you chat with your Uber/Lyft/taxi driver? Yes. I find it awkward to ride in silence.

4) Do you remember what you did on Valentine's Day? Not specifically. But I know it wasn't romantic.

 

5) How many laptops have you owned over your lifetime? 5 or 6 (<< estimate).

 

6) How many countries have you visited? 5 (Canada, France, Lichtenstein, Germany, Switzerland)

 

7) Did you/will you go to work today? Nope. I only work on Thursdays and sometimes Mondays.

 

 

 

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Drive My Car (1965)

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

 

1) Who would you allow, without hesitation, to drive your car? I don't have a car, but if I did, I think I'd be very careful about who drives it. I'm not a driver, but I imagine it's hard to get behind the wheel of someone else's car and get the seat right and the mirrors right and get familiar with all the thingamabobs on the dashboard. 

 

2) When you're riding in the backseat, do you use your seatbelt? Usually.

 

3) In this song, a young girl tells her boyfriend she wants to be a movie star. What were your aspirations when you were in your late teens/early 20's? Did you realize them? I wanted to be self-sufficient. I wanted to be a writer (although at the time I wasn't thinking of advertising). So yes, I realized them.

 
4) The song was reportedly inspired in part by the relationship between popular British singer Cilla Black and her future husband. Cilla wanted him on the record label's payroll, so he became her road manager and driver. Have you ever worked for, or with, someone with whom you were romantically involved? Yes. I used to always advise against it because my experiences weren't great. But I compare my romantic history to that of my oldest friend. She met her husband in a martial arts class, and they divorced. She met her long-time boyfriend through their sons, who were classmates, and they eventually broke up. She got involved with her most recent lover after they met on a dating app. Let's just say there have been tears. So I don't think it matters how you meet your partner. All relationships all fraught with risk.

 

5) Although this Beatles song is credited to Lennon-McCartney, it was written mostly by Paul. He recalls showing up at John Lennon's house with the tune ready to go, and lyrics they both agreed were "crap." John gave Paul the car theme, and he took it from there. When has someone recently helped you out of a jam? At the card shop, my manager helped me find something under the register. It seems every time I go in, someone has rearranged the supplies down there and I often find myself staring at but not really seeing what I'm looking for.

 

6) Paul also handles the lead vocals. When you hear a Beatles record, can you tell which band member is singing lead? Of course.

7) When it was first released, this record got a lot of attention for the intricate guitar work by Paul and George Harrison. It's got a lot of percussion on it, too, including cowbell and tambourine. Have you ever played either cowbell or tambourine? (Do you think it sounds like fun?) No. But Davy Jones of The Monkees always made the tambourine look like so cool.

 

8) Lava lamps were already popular in England but they weren't introduced to the United States until 1965. Today Walmart carries more than 20 different lava lamps. Have you ever owned one? I remember I had a little one on a keyring that I attached to my purse (the height of junior high cool).

 
9) Random question: Do you have a recurring dream? I have the same dream when I'm stressed. I get up, get off the train, and after the train doors close behind me I realize I left my purse on the seat. My wallet and my phone are going on to the next stop without me. I feel so helpless. I hate that dream.

 

 
 

Thursday Thirteen #459

Hello? Sometimes when I watch old movies or TV shows from decades gone by, I find myself distracted by and nostalgic for the technology we've left behind. Particularly phones.

First of all, I long for telephone conversations. You know, where you can listen to someone's voice instead of punching out abbreviated words with your thumbs. Second, I like the phone being rooted in my home or workplace, and away from me when I'm at a restaurant or walking up the street or in a car or bus. When I'm home or at work, I like to be connected. When I'm away, I enjoy being disconnected. Now it's almost the opposite. People text me when I'm home and my cell is in my purse or charging on the kitchen counter. Yet when I'm in public and I have my phone in hand, I see it right away. That's not how I prefer to communicate! I'm out of sync with my times.

And so I'm wandering down memory lane and posting a Valentine to all the phones I've loved before. 

 #1 The first phone I remember in my parents' kitchen. The first call I remember receiving was on a phone like this. It was from May, the cleaning lady who came by once a week. She called me on Sunday afternoon – she asked for ME – to tell me The Beatles were going to be on Ed Sullivan that night. I was 6. I was no only thrilled about seeing The Lads, I felt very grown up that I had gotten a call.

#2 A few years later we upgraded to this phone with buttons. It was either the late 1960s or very early 1970s. The one in the kitchen was yellow. It was at this point we became a three extension family ...

 

#3 Phones almost identical to this one also appeared in my parents' bedroom and the basement. It was easier on my mom because we had a 4BR ranch with the laundry in the basement, so she was able to answer the phone pretty much wherever she was during the day.

#4 In 1975, when I began working in an office immediately after high school, the phone on my desk was like this one, except mine was black and had only 5 lines. 

 #5 Rows of payphones like this were in train stations and hotel lobbies around the Loop. I used them often. It's from one of these phones that I generally let someone know that I was running late.

#6 Pay phones like this were all over, too. I seldom used them because they always seemed filthy. (So much old gum! Ick!) At least cleaning the ones in hotels and the train stations was someone's job. I don't know who, if anyone, was responsible for the upkeep of these phones.

 #7 The phone in my first apartment, ca 1978. My place was so tiny I didn't need an extension. It had a really long cord so I could carry it around with me. 

 #8 My 1980s boyfriend had one of the first cordless phones. He got it at Radio Shack and was wildly proud of it. He never liked talking on the phone until he got one like this.

 

 

 #9 In 2001, when I moved into this condo, I had two of these phones – one just inside the front door and one in the master bedroom.

 

 #10 These phones were, for a time, on the back of airline seats. I never used one, but I received many a call from one, always from bosses who were in love with idea of calling from mid-air.

 

 

 #11 My first flip phone. I found snapping it shut very satisfying, especially if I was displeased with whomever I was speaking to.

 

#12 My current landline phones. Still the best way to reach me at home. They are placed where the original ones were when I first moved in – by the front door and next to my bed. If it's not broke, don't fix it.

 

 #13 My current phone is not really a phone. It's mostly a camera and a vehicle for sending/receiving texts and summoning rideshares.

Do any of these phones look familiar to you? 

 

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? Suitable for Framing by Edna Buchanan. Britt Montero is a journalist on the crime beat in Miami. In the mid-1990s, when this book was written, there was a tension between City Hall and the press, because telling the truth about what was going on in the streets was not always good for the tourism Miami depended on.* Britt loves her hometown but she is also a good reporter so she is always, always about getting the story. That's why Britt is upset that she may be losing her journalistic edge as she covers a string of armed carjackings. 

I'm rereading many mysteries – including this one – as I dedicate myself to purging my book collection. I recall little or nothing of the plot so I'm happy to have Buchanan carry me along one more time. This series is too intense to be called "cozy" – this one starts with a graphic description of a fatal car accident – but I like Britt and her best friend, a news photographer named Lottie. So I'm hoping this will be a good read.

*Is it still like this? I don't know. 

2. What did you recently finish reading? The Spellmans Strike Again by Lisa Lutz. Isabel Spellman, the eldest daughter of the San Francisco clan of private investigators, has a lot on her plate just now. She's investigating the disappearance of a butler whose wealthy old employer wants him back, and who Isabel suspects of defrauding the elderly gent. She believes a rival PI is dirty, and she wants to expose him. Her mother dislikes Isabel's sexy Irish bartender boyfriend and keeps calling the INS on him. Someone is stealing the doorknobs and towel racks from the Spellman home, but Izzy's parents insist this is normal and no big deal.

 

I love these books. They are wholly original, very funny, and filled with heart. Lisa Lutz obviously feels great affection for the insane little troupe she created. 

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

 

  

April 14 – Gratitude Challenge

 

I am joining Kwizgiver in this. That's even her graphic I stole! In her words, "This isn't about perfection or keeping a streak. It’s just about noticing." I need to focus and, in using shrink's word, "unhook." 

 

The Prompt: Recall a brief interaction with a stranger this week. What was a small moment of human kindness you witnessed or experienced?

 

This may not have, strictly speaking, happened within the past week. I've spent so much time at the vet with my Connie Cat lately that the visits have become a blur. But I found myself in the waiting room twice with a cat owner who also had a feline friend in distress. It's funny, I couldn't tell you what he looked like but I remember his green soft-sided cat carrier. Anyway, as we were leaving, I passed him and smiled in acknowledgement. He leaped up and got the door for me and Connie (in her bulkier carrier). It was a moment of connection, of camaraderie, of two people in the same difficult situation and I appreciated it.

 

 

Sunday Stealing

Tell Us Something

1. Can you touch your nose with your tongue? No.

2. What foreign language did you study in school? How much of it do you still remember? Hablo un poco español.

3. What recipe did you most recently prepare? Where did you get the recipe and how did it turn out? I microwaved a cup of Bob Evans mashed potatoes. I got the recipe – instructions, really – from the cardboard sleeve. They turned out predictably.

4. What song have you listened to over and over and over again? This one never gets old.

5. Are there currently any pets in your household? Are you considering adding another? I share my home with two cats. We're a happy household now and I'm not planning on any additions just now.

6. As an adult, have you ever performed with a drama group? (Student productions don't count.) No. 

 

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Leather and Lace (1981)

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

1) As you answer these questions, are you wearing leather, lace, or both? There's a little lace on my undergarments.

2) This song is a duet between members of two superstar groups – Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac and Don Henley of The Eagles. Which band do you listen to more often, Fleetwood Mac or The Eagles? The Eagles.
 

3) In this duet, "lace" tells us she is stronger than we know and "leather" admits that sometimes he's vulnerable. Do either side of this lyrical equation apply to you? Do you think you're either tougher than people realize, or more sensitive than they know? More sensitive.

 
4) Both Stevie and Don are born Westerners. Stevie spent her early childhood in Arizona and Don was born in Texas and stayed there through college. Today Stevie has two homes – one in Pacific Palisades and another in Phoenix – while Don has a beautiful home in Dallas. Do you feel rooted where you are? Or can you see yourself moving to another city or state in the future? I'm rooted.

 

5) Stevie and Don were romantically involved in the 1970s, but after they broke up they remained friendly. Not only did they record this song in 1981, they went on tour together in 2005. Have you recently heard from an ex? Yes. I get a Christmas card every year and he chimes in on my Facebook page every now and again. He's a grandfather now and, I'm happy to report, he's shaved his mustache. When I knew him, he wore a mustache because he was self conscious about an acne scar. I love that he doesn't care about that anymore. 

6) Stevie admits a lifelong passion for Animal Crackers, those little cookies shaped like tigers, bears and elephants. Is your go-to snack sweet, like Stevie's, or is it salty? I'm pretty equal opportunity. Right now I'm very into cheese crackers, but I've got some butter cookies in the kitchen, too.

7) Don likes Velveeta on his burgers. Describe your ideal cheeseburger. Medium well, with lettuce, mayo, ketchup and American cheese. I'd prefer no seeds on the bun.

8) In 1981, when this song was popular, both Maserati and Mercedes Benz introduced luxury convertibles. Have you ever owned a convertible? Would a convertible be practical for your lifestyle? I'm not a car person, but still, I can't imagine myself with a convertible. Really, isn't there only one person whose lifestyle calls for a convertible?

 

9) Random question: What are you most looking forward to this week? On Friday I'm getting a hair cut, and on Saturday my Connie Cat is freed from The Cone. 

She had surgery last Thursday

 

 

Thursday Thirteen #458

April is kind of a big deal.

1. T.S. Elliott wrote that it's "the cruelest month."

2. For more than 100 years, we've been singing about the April showers that come our way and bring the flowers that bloom in May. 

3. Twenty years ago, Sugarland also sang about "April Showers" and reassured us "we've seen rain before."

4. Stevie Wonder mentioned that April rain in "I Just Called to Say I Love You."

5. Pat Boone crooned about "April Love."

6. Simon & Garfunkle's "April Come She Will" always annoyed me. I don't know why.

7. In a 1952 movie, Doris Day found romance in "April in Paris."

8. Count Basie and Ella Fitzgerald performed a legendary duet of "April in Paris," too.

9. Three Dog Night sang about "pieces of April on a morning in May."

10. Sinatra sang he'd "Always Remember April."

11. Women searched for happiness in the book The Enchanted April.

12. V.C. Andrews began her "Shadows" series with April Shadows.

13. Captain Robert April commanded the Enterprise in an animated Star Trek series.

 

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? The Spellmans Strike Again by Lisa Lutz. Isabel Spellman, the eldest daughter of the San Francisco clan of private investigators, is on the case again, digging up dirt on a competitive PI. Thirtysomething Izzy is immature and passionate about grudges, so this ought to be good.

 

This is a reread for me. I know because I found it in my den. But I remember little about the case at the center. No matter. I enjoy time spent with this wacky clan. They are witty and idiosyncratic but they also love one another and they make me laugh. I could use some laughs!

2. What did you recently finish reading? Twilight of Camelot: The Short Life and Long Legacy of Patrick Bouvier Kennedy by Steven Levingston. In August 1963, Jacqueline Kennedy became the only First Lady of the 20th century to give birth while living in the White House. Her baby only lived two days. It was a trauma she and the President had to endure under the public's gaze, however it was nothing compared to the trauma and scrutiny she would withstand alone, three months later, when her husband was assassinated in Dallas.

 

This sensitive and well-meaning book covers Patrick's short life in detail and puts it in the context of their family and the nation. I learned some interesting things: Jackie only saw her son for minutes and may never have held him, since she was recovering from an emergency c-section in one hospital while her baby was rushed to another for neonatal care; while she was in the hospital, she actually had a cancer scare on top of everything else (!), her doctor removed/biopsied a suspicious mole on her foot; the President was with Patrick when he died, but was unable to hold him because the baby was in a hyberbaric chamber; these chambers were considered experimental at the time; Jackie was too ill to attend her baby's funeral, but the President was there. He even designed the headstone.

 

JFK grew up with a developmentally challenged sister, Rosemary. He understood that, due to lack of oxygen, Patrick may have faced the same fate. This was deeply personal to him and during the last months of his life, he authorized hundreds of millions of dollars (billions in today's spending) for improved neonatal research and care. 

 

Dr. Robert deLemos treated Patrick Kennedy and was inspired to devote his career to neonatology. Dr. deLemos played a critical role in developing more sophisticated ventilators for babies born with underdeveloped lungs. Today's CPAP machines were born of research done at this time. Patrick Kennedy, like his Aunt Rosemary, inspired John F. Kennedy to do good, and his rhetoric and example inspired American citizens. 

 

Wouldn't it be nice if we had a President who spoke to our better angels, encouraging us to add to mankind rather than subtract, to do something more humane with our energies than storm the Capitol, demonize immigrants and deny marriage rights to consenting adults? This book not only made me sad for the nuclear Kennedy family living in the White House, it made me sad for all us today.

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

 

  

 

The Podcast Post

I mentioned that I listened to many podcasts, and both Country Dew and Kwizgiver asked which ones. I've never listed them out like this before, and as I review them it looks like a lot. 

Here they are, listed by how I prioritize them. 

The Daily Beast. I love Joanna Coles, chief content officer for The Daily Beast. She's replaced Nora Ephron as the sister I believe the universe meant for me to have. She knows fashion (former editor of Marie Claire, and I love how she pairs graphic tees with blazers), pop culture (former editor of Cosmopolitan), politics and media (New York magazine). She's so smart and sophisticated and witty and I wish she would take me under her wing over happy hour at some chic water hole. These podcasts make me feel I'm getting the inside stuff about Trump's America from the most connected people.

The Lovable Reunion. My all-time favorite-most ballplayer and all-around 14K human begin, Anthony Rizzo,  is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Cubs World Series win by interviewing all this teammates, coaches and manager Joe Maddon (see below). Rizzo tells the story of how the Cubs went from "lovable losers" to world champions the way he does everything: with joy and good will. I'm surprised by how often Rizz says "fuck." I'm not judging, considering I toss f-bombs freely. It just always gives me pause.

The Book of Joe. Former Cubs manager and genuinely original thinker Joe Maddon and SI's Tom Verducci talk baseball ... and how analytics dominate all aspects of our lives ... and Seinfeld reruns ... and whatever pops into that funhouse that is Joe's head.  

The Rest Is Politics (US). The Rest Is Politics has been a popular podcast in the UK for a while, and Katty Kay and Anthony Scaramucci have launched it here. Katty Kay is well-informed and polished. Anthony Scaramucci cracks me up (though I don't know that he intends to). I believe I understand the world better after I listen to them.

Two Angry Men. Harvey Levin of TMZ and superlawyer Mark Geragos take on legal cases in the news. I am always surprised by how smart and sensitive Levin is and I appreciated his coverage of Nancy Guthrie and Rob Reiner.

Please note: I am not recommending these podcasts. While I find them entertaining and credible and quality, they reflect my passions, and I don't expect everyone to enjoy them.

 

April 7 – Gratitude Challenge

 

I am joining Kwizgiver in this. That's even her graphic I stole! In her words, "This isn't about perfection or keeping a streak. It’s just about noticing." I need to focus and, in using shrink's word, "unhook" 

The Prompt: What is one "background" object in your house that you are grateful for today? We're talking about something that is strictly functional, but we'd miss it if it was gone.

The hot water heater is my background hero. My morning shower reliably brings me joy. I spend too much time under the spray, yet the water heater has never let me down.

 

 

Easter Love

This morning our minister called upon us to listen to our hearts and ask ourselves, "What is love calling us to do?" DO is the operative word here, isn't it? On Easter Sunday, and beyond, I must think about what I can do to make our world a more loving place.

Sunday Stealing

F.A.B.

F. Film: What movie or tv show are you watching? Ferris Bueller's Day Off is on as I answer this on Saturday night.

 

A. Audio: What are you listening to? I've got so many podcasts to catch up on! 

B. Book: What are you reading? The Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz. So far I am completely charmed.

 

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Easter Parade

Revised and revived from the archives

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

1) This song is best known from the 1948 movie of the same name, but it was originally written for a 1933 Broadway play called As Thousands Cheer. In the play, a young man reads about the parade in a New York newspaper and decides to go and show his lady love off to parade goers. What's the most recent parade you attended? The No Kings protest in October. I wish I could have gone last weekend, too, but my Connie Cat was sick and I took her to the vet.

2) On Broadway, the song was performed by Clifton Webb. He'd had a busy stage career, appearing in musicals as well as plays by Oscar Wilde and Noel Coward, but when he was in his mid-50s, he was considered too old to be a leading man. Broadway offers stopped coming. He was unexpectedly cast by Otto Preminger for the film noir Laura and a new career was born. He worked steadily in Hollywood for 20 years and earned three Oscar nominations. Tell us about a time you were grateful your life took an unanticipated turn. In 2013, I attended my first meeting with classic film group. It was a lark. I had no idea I would meet friends for life there. There's just something about being surrounded by people who love what you love.

3) Today he's fondly remembered by the students at UCLA who have benefited from The Clifton Webb Scholarship of the Arts. If you could give an endowment to a school or charity, what would you like it to be used for? I would make funds available for pet owners who can't afford veterinary care. According to Capital One, the average American pet owner spends more than $2,000/year on their furry companions. What happens if an owner loses his job, or his dog or cat requires expensive surgery? I'd like to help them out.

 

4) The biggest chocolate Easter egg was made in Italy, measured 34 feet tall and weighed a staggering 15,000 lbs. Do you think it's possible to have too much chocolate? No. I suppose if I really gorged myself I might get sick, but that's never happened yet.
  

5) After chocolate, the top-selling Easter candy is Peeps Marshmallow Chicks. They're so popular that they were once the subject of a Jeopardy clue. Do you often watch Jeopardy? No.

6) Jelly beans are also popular this time of year. In a 2024 poll, jelly bean fans responded that black licorice is their favorite flavor. It's Crazy Sam's least favorite. How about you? What jelly bean flavor is at the top of your list, and which is at the bottom? Cinnamon is my fave. I gravitate toward the red ones and avoid the black ones.

7) We've been talking a lot about sweets this morning. The only holiday that generates more candy sales is Halloween. When do you eat more candy: Easter or Halloween? Halloween.

 

8) According to the National Retail Federation, Americans are doing more of their holiday shopping this year at discount "dollar stores" than at department stores like Target and Walmart. Do you often make trips to the "dollar store?" If yes, what do you usually pick up there? I go about once/month. It's the only place I can find my favorite toilet paper.

 

 
9) Easter is considered the season of rebirth. What makes you feel refreshed or rejuvenated? My morning shower.

 

 

When who you have isn't who you want

I have been completely freaked out over my cat Connie. See post below for an episodic recitation of our travails.

I love her very much. I have had to make expensive and consequential decisions about her care. Now that she's home, I have had to administer meds – something I am clumsy at. I have handled it all as best I can and I believe I've done a good job. I have reason to believe that within two weeks, she'll be fine and this will be nothing but a bad memory.

Which is not to say I couldn't have used some support. I wish this was 20 years ago. In 2006, my mom was still alive. She's the one from whom I inherited the pet gene. She would have listened to me work through my worry. She's dead now though.

In 2006, I still had Henry. He, too, was a huge pet lover, so he would have understood my panic. But here's the thing about Henry: he loved me unconditionally and would tell me I'm doing fine. Because of course I am. I miss having someone in the world who only saw the best in me. He's dead now, too.

In 2006, I still had my oldest friend. She's a crazy cat lady, like I am. Plus she could always make me laugh (don't underestimate that). But since about 2010, her life has been off the rails. She's got so much of her own stuff going on that she can't be of any real comfort to me, beyond sending me AI slop and memes. Who she is now makes me miss who she was so much. 

So I turned to my friend Elaine. She has two cats she dotes on. We just saw one another for her birthday last week on Wednesday and had a nice day. When I called, she picked up immediately and we talked for about an hour. But it's not what I wanted. Elaine can be humorless. And when I explained to her that I was overwhelmed to learn that Connie needed surgery, especially when I thought my cat had turned a corner and was doing better, she said, "You've just go to get over that." I was annoyed. I understand the wisdom in what she was saying. She's right in that Connie can pick up on my tension and fear. But as I said to her, "How do I do that, exactly?" Does she think I want to feel overwhelmed and outmatched by life at this moment?

I realize I'm not being fair to Elaine. I'm just mad at her because she'd not my mom, or Henry, or my oldest friend.