One Gal's Musings

Sunday, August 23, 2015

August Happiness Challenge -- Day 22

Saturday's Happy Cone goes to my new Bissell Aeroswift 1009. It was the cheapest vacuum clearner at Bed, Bath and Beyond (even cheaper because I used one of those ubiquitous coupons they keep sending me), and yet it works very well. It's light, the cup is easy to clean, and it picked up enough fur for me to build a second Reynaldo.

I needed this vacuum because the cord on my ancient Dirt Devil upright was frayed and dangerous. That sucker is easily 12-15 years old, and the technology has progressed so much in that time. It was considered "lightweight" back in the day,
but now I'm dreading the hassle of hauling it down to the dumpster.

I'm also proud of myself for having actually used my new little Bissell Aeroswift 1009. Besides grocery shopping and laundry, I've done precious little that's productive over my extended weekend away from work and The Big Project.

What's that you say? What's the 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.

If you want to play along, just come back here (meaning to this blog, not this individual post) each day in August, looking for the happy chocolate cone. Every day I will try to have a post with the headline: August Happiness Challenge: Day [X]. Leave a comment and then post your own daily happiness, with August Happiness Challenge in the title to make it easy to find.

Guess who came from behind!

Saturday, August 22, 2015

Saturday 9

Hello, Dolly!

1) This song is about a woman returning to the town where she was happiest. How many towns have you lived in? Just two.

2) Crazy Sam played Ernestina in her high school production of Hello, Dolly! and still remembers one of her lines: "Hey, you with the big ears! What are you doing after the show?" Tell us something that you memorized for school that is still rattling around in your brain. "Twas brillig and the slithy toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe." Jabberwocky. Quite possibly the most useless thing rattling around in this old head of mine.

3) This week's featured artist, Louis Armstrong, got his start entertaining diners on riverboat dinner cruises. Have you ever taken a dinner cruise? Christmastime, years and years ago. My friend in the Keys has a December 22 birthday. I was visiting him and we celebrated with a tasty dinner while watching the sunset into the Gulf of Mexico.

4) Armstrong took his nickname, "Satchmo," from "Satchel Mouth" -- a slang term for someone with a wide mouth, which Louis believed was his most distinguishing feature. What do you think people notice first about you? I've been told it's my very green eyes. I suspect it's my multiple chins.

5) In 1936, Louis became the first African American to get featured billing in a Hollywood movie. Have you seen any of this summer's big movies? Inside Out, Spy, Jurassic World, Trainwreck, Man from UNCLE. For what it's worth, I think this summer the ladies have it. Spy and Trainwreck were my favorites.

6) When "Hello, Dolly" composer Jerry was growing up, he was close to an aunt named Belle who encouraged his love of music. Tell us about one of your aunts or uncles. My Aunt Jo was my dad's baby sister and my godmother. She didn't move from the Chicago suburbs to the Tampa suburbs until she was nearly 40, but she considers herself as Southern as Dolly Parton. Her passions include country music, motorcycles and NASCAR!

7) Though famous for composing the scores of Hello, Dolly!, Mame and La Cage Aux Folles, Jerry Herman can't read music. Can you? Nope

8) Now retired, Mr. Herman lives in Miami. This is Miami's "wet season," which lasts into October. When did it last rain where you are? Tuesday night it rained, as my old neighbor would have said, "like a sovunagun."

9) Random question: Have you suffered a sunburn this summer? Not yet. And hopefully I won't.

August Happiness Challenge -- Day 21

Friday's Happy Cone goes to walk in the park. I can't believe it. Here it is the end of August and I strolled through one of our parks for the first time. Really, I hadn't been there since last fall! It was charming. Kids on bikes, moms with strollers, dogs on very long leashes ... everyone enjoying the lush green and the feathery tall reed grass.

Thursday, August 20, 2015

August Happiness Challenge -- Day 20

Today's Happy Cone goes to giving myself permission. Last night, to borrow from "Mr. Bojangles," I drank "a bit." And why not? I wasn't driving and I was celebrating:
1) My birthday (finally) at Wrigley Field
2) the start of my mini-vacation, four days away from The Big Project.

I crashed on the sofa last night and was awakened very-so gently by my big old tomcat, Joey, who wanted me to know that morning had broken and he was hungry. I fed the felines and lay down for just another minute ... and didn't wake up until 11:00! By the time I was showered and dressed it was 1:00. And you know what? That's fine. That's OK.

Yes, my condo is a mess. But I'm off tomorrow, too. (Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love 'ya, tomorrow!) I can do a little housework then.

Yes, The Big Project is in crunch mode but you know what? It was supposed to be done by now and I'm fried. I'm allowing myself to leave it in the capable hands of Phil and Kevin, the team's two other wordsmiths (who both, incidentally, make more than me). I'm giving myself permission to not worry about it (and to try to let it go when worry creeps in).

My grocery shopping is done and my refrigerator is full and the ballgame is on. And I don't have to go to work tomorrow, either! Yea!

August Happiness Challenge -- Day 19

Wednesday's Happy Cone goes to the happiest place on earth. Yeah, yeah, yeah. The Disney aficianados will insist that title goes to one of the Magic Kingdoms, just because they coined the title. Whatever. As a Cub fan, I know I'm happiest when I'm within The Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field.

Ronnie, HOF/radio voice of the Cubs

Last night Kathleen and I finally celebrated my birthday at the ballpark. It turned out to be a ridiculous ballgame, with plenty of sloppy pitching and fielding on both sides. (We lost 13 to 7.) And yet, I was there. Seeing my guys live and in person. Drinking beer (and now they also have vodka!) in the summer twilight.

I love these 2015 guys soooo much, and they really are a special group, but the heroes of my girlhood will always have a special place in my heart. And one of the very best things about Wrigley Field is the way it honors and represents the team's traditions. There are three statues surrounding the outside park, honoring Hall of Famers from the Cubs late 1960s roster: Billy Williams, Ron Santo and, of course, Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks. It was nice to get to the park early enough to be able to snap photos of the first Cubs I ever loved.

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Going to bed with Redford

Oh! I love a man in uniform!

The cable channel Decades has been showing The Way We Were, off and on all day as a tribute to Redford on his (gulp!) 79th birthday. And so I will use my bedroom TV as a nightlight and watch TWWW yet again as I fall asleep.

This is the quintessential Redford/Sydney Pollack collaboration. He's the remote, WASP love object that he also played in his other films with Sydney -- This Property Is Condemned and Three Days of the Condor and Out of Africa -- and he's at his most gorgeous here. It's not my favorite Redford performance, but it is my favorite Redford movie.

And that's because, along with his yumminess, it's got Babs at her best. Noisy, dedicated, uncompromising, right (in her politics and commitment, if not her "style"). Streisand is a force of nature in The Way We Were.

But it's not her birthday, it's his. And so here's to ya, Redford. Happy birthday and thanks for all the dreams and fantasies.

August Happiness Challenge -- Day 18

Today's Happy Cone goes to Leon. He's my new best friend. Actually, he's my new phone, my first smartphone.

I got this LG Leon because I had to. I switched from Sprint* to T-Mobile and needed a phone with a SIM card, so I couldn't use my erstwhile LG Rumor Reflex, which had a groovy slide QWERTY keyboard that I'll miss. But Leon gives me access to email, which I was paying for but not getting (long, techy and not interesting story), so it was time for Sprint and me to part company.

I had asked around to see which providers made switching easy, and discovered that no one changes providers because it's a bitch. I wish I had a happier story to share. The T-Mobile sales rep I dealt with at the store was very nice, but he made a one-letter error when keystroking my name into the computer so it took four phone calls and two store visits between Sunday afternoon to Tuesday evening to get my service successfully switched. (And maybe it's not ... haven't received the first bill, yet.)

But the phone is a fun toy and it made me happy to see how this blog looks on a little smartphone screen. Here's hoping I don't become one of those people who is always and forever looking down at her phone.

*Credo, actually. They're a wonderful company that does a lot of good work, supporting progressive causes. They just didn't have an affordable plan that gave me the services I wanted.

What's that you say? What's the 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.

If you want to play along, just come back here (meaning to this blog, not this individual post) each day in August, looking for the happy chocolate cone. Every day I will try to have a post with the headline: August Happiness Challenge: Day [X]. Leave a comment and then post your own daily happiness, with August Happiness Challenge in the title to make it easy to find.

August Happiness Challenge -- Day 17

Today's Happy Cone goes to luck. Intellectually, I don't believe in luck. But sometimes shit happens that reinforces my less mature, more pagan instincts. Like Monday and Tuesday, when I happened to pass safely through my front door just as big summer storms hit. And the way the oppressive heat wave and storms are predicted to be out of town just in time for my trip to Wrigley Field tomorrow night. If it's not luck, if it's not a cosmic, karmic reward from Mother Nature, what else could it be?

(Don't tell me. I just want to enjoy the delight/relief that comes from feeling lucky.)

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Sharp Dressed Men

So I saw the new Man from U.N.C.L.E. movie today. I enjoyed it when it was going on. After all, it stars two very handsome men engaging in derring-do while wearing beautifully tailored clothes (Napoleon/Henry's wardrobe is especially impressive).*

I also remember little or anything about it.

I grew up on the TV show and am watching a Me-TV rerun as I post this. It was better. It simply was. There was greater chemistry between the agents and it relied less on violence and more on cheeky charm.

The movie does have exceptional production values and a few plot twists I didn't see coming. But it doesn't have these two. The movie Illya is a damaged soul with a scary temper. David McCallum's Illya is a geek who, while capable of great athleticism, would rather use his head than his hands. While both the movie and TV Napoleons share their love of a good woman and a fine suit, Robert Vaughn's is more optimistic about his ability to get out of whatever dilemma he may be facing at the moment, and the fate of the world at large.

So save your money and watch the reruns.

*The women's wardrobe is distracting, though. The movie is unwisely set in mid-1963, as established by the speech JFK is shown delivering. The women are all shown wearing Carnaby Street/Twiggy style threads, which didn't come into vogue until 1967. (If there's an era I know cold it's the 60s.) Which isn't to say I didn't love seeing all those big beautiful sunglasses and swinging, dangling earrings. They just weren't appropriate.

August Happiness Challenge -- Day 16

Today's Happy Cone goes to creamed spinach. Because I really like creamed spinach. Yes, I realize it's high in saturated fat. But it's also rich in calcium, fiber and Vitamin C. And it's yummy. I'm trying to eat better, and while salad often feels like punishment, creamed spinach is always a reward.

Now #1 in my heart

I want Joe Biden to run for President ... again.

In 1988, when he ran, he was my second choice. In 2008, he was my second choice. But today, he is my first choice. Wouldn't be ironic if now is when he didn't run?

When he talks, I hear him. When Hillary talks, I shut off. Where he sounds sincere, she sounds programmed.

He's proven himself, more than once during the Obama Administration, to be the compromiser who understands how things get done in Congress. And we need to see things done.

He understands the mess in the Middle East (he was so right about Iraq). He appreciates the need to improve our national infrastructure (in ways Obama hasn't demonstrated he does).

Obama himself has said that choosing Joe as his Veep was the smartest move he's ever made in public life. I take that as a tacit endorsement, one that any Dem not named Clinton will need to earn cred with voters of color. While I don't think African American and Hispanic voters will vote in large numbers for the Republican candidate, I also don't think they will ever come out for Bernie Sanders.

I can see Joe Biden saying he's running for a single term, and meaning it. I hope he will do it.

Run, Joe, run!

Saturday, August 15, 2015

Sunday Stealing

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Sunday Stealing: I Want You to Be Free from Me

Are your nails painted a dark or light color? You be the judge.

Have you ever order pizza online? Once. It's easier to just call.

What color was the last candle you lit? I don't recall.

Is there something written on your shirt right now? "Brookfield Zoo"

Is there a bookshelf in your room? There are four bookshelves in the den, but none in this room.

Do you own a treadmill? I own a stepper similar to this one. It's covered in dust. I'm such a lazy slug.

Have you ever signed up for a gym membership? Yes. I used it this week, too!

Is there a garbage can in your room? What color is it? I have a garbage can in the kitchen and wastebaskets in the bathroom and master bedroom. They're all white plastic.

Have you ever read in the bathtub? No

Have you ever had to wear a hairnet? Once, for a costume party. I wore a loudly printed housecoat, fuzzy slippers and a wig with curlers, topped by a hairnet.

Do you know how many pages the last book you read had? 296. (I just looked.)

What day of the week does the laundry usually get done? Sunday

Do you use the Facebook chat often? Never

Do you have any baby pictures of yourself on your computer? I have photos where I was a toddler, but not a baby.

Do you eat onion rings? Nope

What flavor of tea did you last have? Pomegranate. It was fragrant and yummy.

Do you own a bathrobe? A comfy but too-well-worn green terry affair.

Did you/will you have coffee or some other form of caffeine today? Yes! Today and every day.

Do you have a mailbox or do you collect your mail from the post office? I have a mailbox, which, come to think of it, I have not checked today.

What was the last animal you saw, and was it a pet? I have a skinny beige cat named Reynaldo by my side as I answer these questions.

What was the last documentary you watched focusing on? I'm going to watch the new one on Chris Farley.

Is there anything you need to remember to do before the day ends? Eat dinner. I think there's some chicken in the frig.

Is your car messy, or do you like to keep it clean? No car

Are you the type to wake up before the sun has even risen? Yes

Do you get uncomfortable when people stare at you? Yes

Have you ever been admitted to the hospital for a long period of time? Once I was hospitalized from Friday to Monday when I had surgery. Does that count as a long time?

August Happiness Challenge -- Day 15

Today there's a tie for the Happy Cone. In this corner, we have Mother Nature. Today was hot and sticky. Really ugh weather. Hate it. And as I lumbered through the humidity to Trader Joe's for paper towels, milk and other various and sundry, I recalled walking down this same sidewalk in December to buy the Christmas wreath for my front door. I had only a narrow path to walk then because of the snow. My hands were thrust into my coat pockets because despite the gloves, my fingers were still feeling frosty.

I thought of my friend in California, my family and friends in Florida, and I felt sorry for them. We get the bonus of four seasons, the opportunity to experience our lives in wind and rain and snow and cold and heat. It really is a gift, isn't it? Made me happy.

And in this corner, we have Groucho Marx. The man always cracks me up, and yesterday was his day on TCM's Summer Under the Stars. As they did with Hepburn, TCM ran an episode of the old Dick Cavett Show that was devoted to Mr. Marx. I DVRd it and watched it this morning and was delighted by this. Ole!

It wasn't ALL a waste

I had a wasted day. I took myself to brunch at my second-favorite coffee shop, picked up a few things at Trader Joe's, came home, closed my eyes for just a minute ... and woke up four hours later, in time to watch The Game.*

I think I needed the sleep because last week was stressful at work and I don't believe my slumber has been restful. Next week promises to be just as tense, though it will be a short week. I'm taking Thursday and Friday off for two reasons: 1) I'm fried and 2) I have soooo much vacation time stored up that if I don't begin taking it a little at a time now, I'll be out for much of November and December and my boss says he doesn't want that. So somehow the agency will have to survive without me for a day and a half. They can do it. I'm good, I admit it, but I'm not essential.

I'm pleased to report that my second-favorite coffee shop is making strides. Owned by the same family since forever, a new generation has taken over and given it a much-needed face lift. Pendant ceiling lights, new upholstery in the booths, a fresh coat of paint ... it really helps. Nan, the old-but-still-hustling waitress who has been waiting on me at least since 1997, tells me she's worried many of her regulars won't like newer, healthier menu that's being debuted soon. Fewer skillets at breakfast, fewer burgers at lunch and no more veal, ever. I only go there for breakfast, and never have the skillets (too many potatoes), so I don't care.

And I discovered something about myself. After I dropped off a bag at the local food pantry, I stopped at the bank to see how the school supply drive is doing. So far this month I've donated Crayolas -- both crayons and markers -- because I remember how declasse it was to bring off-brand supplies to school. I wanted to see what else was needed because I have a CVS coupon for "office supplies," which are often the same as school supplies. The box was gone, the drive was over, and I was surprisingly sad. I was actually disappointed because I don't get to spend money on folders and pens and pencils for children I've never met, who are no relation to me whatsoever. What's that about?

I realized I feel closer to God when I'm doing for strangers. Helping coworkers, friends and family is good, of course. We should all do what we can to bring others up. But there's something purer about helping a school drive or a food pantry. We don't get thanked. We don't get to see the happy face of the final recipient. We don't even get a receipt for the IRS. Our only reward is the satisfaction of having done it, of having helped. Of doing what Christ wants me to do.

*An important game: Cubs-Sox.

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Stay with Me

1) Sam Smith explains that this song is about just not wanting to wake up alone. How about you? Are you comfortable being by yourself? Very. I find alone time rejuvenating.

2) Last year a lawsuit filed by Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne, who maintained that "Stay with Me" was really just "I Won't Back Down." Petty and Lynne won. Have you ever served on a jury? Just last month. It was a civil case, with a woman suing the City of Chicago because she tripped in a pothole and messed up her leg. I'd be lying if I said I enjoyed the experience, but I feel strongly that if we're called, we should serve.

3) Smith performed this on The David Letterman Show. Did you watch Dave's final episode last May? Yes. I remember being happy to see Steve Martin and Bill Murray with Dave.

4) Smith says his style was influenced by ladies with "massive voices," including Adele, Amy Winehouse, Chaka Kahn, and Whitney Houston. Of those four, which do you listen to most often? Amy. Here she is singing one of my all-time favorite songs.

5) Speaking of style, Mr. Smith is a smart dressed man who looks comfortable and dapper as he walks the red carpet in a tux. Do you enjoy getting dressed up for special occasions? Ugh. No.

6) "Occasions" is a word that makes Crazy Sam stumble because she can never remember how to spell it correctly. Are you a good speller? Good, but not great.

7) Sam Smith was born on May 19, which makes him a Taurus. When did you last check your horoscope? It's been ages.

8) Tauruses are supposed to be reliable, organized and ambitious. Do any of those three adjectives describe you? I'm reliable and I have been ambitious. I don't think I've ever been organized.

9) Random question: Look at the floor. Do you see carpet, rug, hard wood or tile? Carpet.

Flying the W flag

That's W for win, which is what the Cubs did vs. the White Sox today. Caught the last 4 innings after treating myself to a ice cream shake. Victory made sweeter by mint chocolate chip.

August Happiness Challenge -- Day 14

Friday's Happy Cone goes to teamwork. Life at the office has been tense, to say the least. The Big Project is sucking the life out of me. Long Tall Sally's brief but chaotic tenure took its toll. Some but not all of us are being moved to even worse offices as our agency management tries to bolster our bottom line via sublet. What to do?

I sent out an email asking my coworkers to help me put together a box of stuff and things to send the troops. I was impressed and pleased by how much we collected. I bought a couple paperbacks at last week's book fair and added a travel-size shampoo from a recent hotel stay. Christine the Mole -- a most unexpected contributor -- added candy and tampons and tissues. My boss brought a dozen packs of dental floss. One of our creatives brought heavy socks and travel toothbrushes. One art director brought Twizzlers and the other gave me $10 to defer the cost of postage. Alison from the research department brought Pop Tarts and individual cereal boxes. It was enough to fill a very large box (so glad I got the $10 to for postage!) and it brought us all together for a brief time this morning.

All these little things have been specifically requested by our soldiers and will be packed into shoeboxes and sent over to Afghanistan. It makes me happy to know I've helped make them happy, and that we were able to collect these day brighteners as a team.

Friday, August 14, 2015

August Happiness Challenge -- Day 13

Thursday's Happy Cone goes to free food. Decades ago, when I was just beginning my advertising career at Sears, Roebuck and Co., we writers had an in-joke. I don't recall much about how it got started, but when things got tough we'd say to one another, "There are no free lunches at Sears."

Well today, many years and 8 jobs later, I work at place that offers free lunch quite often. There's always bread, peanut butter and jelly in the refrigerator. There's always fruit in the wire basket. And once a month there's a 4:00 party with food and beer and wine (which counts as lunch if you can wait till 4:00).

Thursday's free lunch was provided by a local hero, Mike Ditka. "Da Coach." And it was fabulous. There was salad and steamed vegetables and rotini with tomato sauce and chicken and salmon and cookies and brownies and two kinds of beer. Ditka himself brought it over and very graciously posed for photos for about an hour.

His restaurant was doing a promotion with Chicago-based Groupon and they wanted to film Da Coach interacting with the fans. Our agency wanted to do something enhance morale and since this evening was the first Bears pre-season game, this free lunch seemed like a mutually beneficial situation.

I'm not really a Bear fan (and to be honest, I've always suspected Mike Ditka to be hygienically challenged), so I didn't want to take a true football fan's place in the photo line. But the the food was pretty good (except the chicken was a little veiny) and very free. And it was so nice to be surrounded by excited and happy coworkers wearing their Bears t-shirts and jerseys in anticipation of their audience with Da Coach.

Thursday, August 13, 2015

It does a body good

My 11:00 meeting ran long, of course. (Meetings with Christine the Mole always do.) I didn't have time to do my full workout -- 10 minutes of floor exercise or machines and 20 minutes on the bike. Normally I would then blow off exercise and go to lunch.

For some reason, though, yesterday I went over to the health club anyway and just did the 20 minutes on the bike. Though I kept my heart rate over 100 the whole time, I didn't work up a major sweat and was able to just give myself a little sponge bath before getting dressed and returning to the office in time for my next meeting. Because I didn't exert myself, I wasn't sure the workout had been worth it.

It was! I felt so much better all afternoon. I've got to remember that doing something is better than doing nothing when it comes to exercise.

August Happiness Challenge -- Day 12

Not even close. I worked a little late, stopped at CVS on the way home, and consequently missed the first few innings of the Cubs-Brewers game. But I managed to catch this.

And, oh, what a catch to catch!

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

August Happiness Challenge -- Day 11

Tuesday's Happy Cone goes to my movie group. Last night we saw To Catch a Thief, a Hitchcock movie starring Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. You'd think with that pedigree it would be one of my new favorites, but I really didn't care for it much. (Not that much suspense, not that much at stake for the main characters.)

So why the Happy Cone? Because of our Meetup group. It's so cool to get my geek on among other geeks. All the comments before and after the movie were smart and informed. Will, our moderator, goes out of his way to include everyone, which enhances the vibe.

I discovered this group by accident (I was researching Meetups in the LA area for my oldest friend, who is having a hard time making friends in her adopted hometown). But I find myself looking forward to it every month. I'm happy it's a part of my life.

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

August Happiness Challenge -- Day 10

The entire day of Monday gets the Happy Cone, because chocolate custard is nice and smooth and so was August 10.

No drama at work, just productivity. I got in a decent workout, which felt good. (I believe physical activity is missing from day-to-day.) I brown bagged my lunch. I cooked myself an economical yet nutritious dinner. There was no Cub game, but I found a PBS American Experience documentary on JFK, which kept my brain occupied.

All good!

Monday, August 10, 2015

August Happiness Challenge -- Day 9

Sunday wasn't an especially good day.

I didn't get anything done that I planned to (because I am a lazy slug) and what I thought would be the highlight of my Sunday wasn't. I had my last pedi of the summer, and found myself taking shit from the nail tech! She couldn't believe I wore socks and tennies. IT WAS RAINING! I am not wearing flip-flops in the rain. She kept insisting that I couldn't wear my socks. We were alone in the nail area. It's not like she needed the drying station for someone else. Why was she being all bossy pants on me? Perhaps it was simply a communication problem because English isn't her first language, but I thought, "Not a way to get tips, Irena."

So to whom or what on such a day do I give my Happiness Cone? I could give it to the Cubs, who led by Jake Arrieta swept the Giants. But even that was tainted because there as a BOMB THREAT after the game! A bomb threat within the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field. It was that kind of day.

Looking back on Sunday, the thing that made me smile was watching Strangers on a Train on TCM Summer Under the Stars while live tweeting at #TCMParty. The first time I've seen this Hitchcock classic start to finish, and I got to watch it with fellow film lovers who were witty, sharp, and easily dismissable. All I had to do was log off.