Friday, March 28, 2025

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Can't We Talk It Over (1950)

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


1) In this song, The Andrews Sisters plead for verbal communication.  Is there someone you'd like to engage in a heart-to-heart conversation? I'd like to talk seriously with my nephew about his professional future. He's in his mid-20s and it's time for him to make more money so he can get out on his own, and for him to experience a more conventional work setting (he's only ever worked remotely).The timing for this talk has just never felt right, though. Oh yeah, and it's none of my business. So there's that.
 
2) They want to sit together for this talk. Think about the most recent personal conversation you had. Was it in person, over the phone, or via Zoom? Phone.
 
3) This week's tune was written by Victor Young. He was prolific, earning 22 Oscar nominations in 18 years. (His one win came after his sudden death at age 57.) Think about your friends and family. Who is the most active, productive person you know? Jen, the woman I used to work with at the card shop. She's a dervish. Her home is spotless, she's always picking her kids up from one after school activity or another, she has her crafting hobbies, her book club, and her part-time job. She's involved with her family and her husband's. Just writing this made me tired.
 
4) The lyrics were written by Ned Washington, who is perhaps best remembered for "When You Wish Upon a Star" from Disney's Pinocchio. Do you believe, like Jiminy Cricket, that dreams come true? I'd like to think that.
 
5) This week's song is performed by The Andrews Sisters -- LaVerne, Maxine and Patty. Do you have siblings? If yes, are you the oldest, the middle child, or the baby? I have two sisters and I'm in the middle.
 
6) With more than 80 million records sold, the Andrews Sisters remain one of the most successful female vocal groups of all time. Name another girl group. The Supremes. It's worth mentioning that Miss Ross just celebrated her 81st birthday.
 

 
7) In 1950, the year "Can't We Talk It Over" was released, we were introduced to the Peanuts comic strip. Without looking it up, do you know who created Peanuts? Charles Schultz
 
8) In 1950, most suitcases were hard sided rectangles, with no wheels and a small handle at the top. They came in colors like tan, copper, green and blue. What does your luggage look like? I love my shiny, hard sided Tumi rolling bag. It's sturdy and is easy to spot on the luggage carousel.
 
 

9) Random question: Who was the last person to phone you? Did you pick up, or did it go to voice mail? My former art director called me on my landline and since I wasn't home, it went to voice mail. I called her as soon as I got back. (She's the one I was thinking about in #2.)
 

 

So why aren't I happy?

My Cubs done good last night. The ball was flying off their bats and out of the park. Nico Hoerner is back from off-season surgery and looked just fine.

And yet ... and yet ... I am sad.

For the first time in 12 years, I watched an Opening Day without Anthony Rizzo. He doesn't have a team. The Yankees dropped him and he was unable to sign with anyone else.

Stroller shopping with his dog, Kevin
Some say he has only himself to blame. For a 35-year-old who is prone to injury, he has an awful lot of demands. His wife is pregnant with their first baby, due June 15, so he wants a no-trade clause. That way he can avoid disrupting his wife and new baby any more than necessary. He'd prefer not to play for a West Coast team because his parents live in Florida and he doesn't want to be that far away, but that eliminates at least five teams from his consideration. And then there's the money: He won't sign for less than $1,000,000. It's the principle.

If it was the money, he would have taken the $750,000 he's supposedly been offered. Also, the Yankees just paid him $6,000,000 to settle his contract. He's made approximately $135,000,000 throughout his career. It's never been about the money for him, anyway. As he said nine years ago while negotiating with the Cubs, "I'm 26 and I'm set for life." 

Anthony Rizzo has always insisted on being paid what he feels he's worth, what he believes he has earned in exchange for what he can contribute. He says he's not only doing this for himself, he's doing it for all the players who come after him. Major league baseball is a big business, with fortunes made off the backs of the players, and Rizz wants the workers to get their cut.

So now, instead of guarding the first base corner, he's at home preparing for a new baby. He's running his foundation, which is recognized for all it's done helping families facing pediatric cancer. He can still sign with a team – there's no rule against it – but it doesn't seem likely.

I hope he's happy. But I am sad.