Sunday Stealing

Conversation Starters

What are some small things that make your day better? Singing with a long-forgotten oldie as I wash my hair, the chance to read my book on the train in the morning, a blue sky.

What shows are you into? The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Pawn Stars.

What TV channel doesn’t exist but really should? Diana

and Her Boys TV. If it can be even tangentially connected to these three, I want to see it.

Who has impressed you most with what they’ve accomplished? I am so crazy about The Cubs' Anthony Rizzo, and how he uses his power and fame. For a kid who had cancer to be a major league first baseman and an All Star is a big deal. 

But then there's his charity work. He built the new family waiting room at Lurie Childrens Hospital, so that no other parent will be as uncomfortable as his mother was, waiting to see how her child is doing. He worked with traumatized teens after the Parkland shooting (and faced down the Breitbart crowd, who criticized his efforts). He appears at fundraisers and if he can't be there, he sends signed jerseys and balls to be raffled off.

And there's his sportsmanship. I've seen him apologize to an umpire when he displayed too much attitude. Because "it's never good to show anyone up." I hope kids take note of that as well as his homeruns.

I wish everyone in the world was more like Rizz.

 
What age do you wish you could permanently be? 35. I felt sexy and healthy and completely on it when I was 35.

What TV show or movie do you refuse to watch? Seinfeld. Or Game of Thrones.

What is something that is considered a luxury, but you don’t think you could live without? As many cable channels as I can get.

What’s your claim to fame? Bruce Springsteen dipped me back and kissed me.

What’s something you like to do the old-fashioned way? Read bound books.

What’s your favorite genre of book or movie? I read a lot of biographies. I like just about any kind of movie except epics.

How often do you people watch? Every morning on the el.

What have you only recently formed an opinion about? I don't know. I'm pretty opinionated.

What are you interested in that most people haven’t heard of? Lucille Ball's early film career.

A full career before Lucy Riccardo

What’s the farthest you’ve ever been from home? I went to Europe once and Hawaii twice. I can never remember which one is farther from Chicago, but they're both soul crushing flights.

What is the most heartwarming thing you’ve ever seen? Critters. Dogs and especially cats melt me.

What is the most annoying question that people ask you? I was annoyed by an Uber driver who asked me, "Do you still work?"

What could you give a 40-minute presentation on with absolutely no preparation? The Kennedys.

If you were dictator of a small island nation, what crazy dictator stuff would you do? Light bulbs would be standard issue. I hate buying them because they're so boring. OH! And I would ban choose-a-size paper towels. Life demands we make too many choices. Enough already!

What is something you think everyone should do at least once in their lives? Travel by train. Stop, breathe, enjoy the view.