Sunday Stealing

Countdown

[ 15 things that make you smile ] 
1) Hearing a song I love on the radio
2) My cats when they're sleeping
3) When I get the waitress who remembers my name
4) Having a little extra money at the end of the week
5) Checking my mail
6) Getting a seat on the train
7) Anthony Rizzo's joie de vivre

8) Hearing from my niece
9) Having time for a nap
10) Hotel rooms
11) Passing a happy dog and owner on the street
12) Blue skies
13) Payday
14) A good hair day
15) A really sharp pencil with a good eraser

[ 14 things that make you frown ]
1) Feeling too full after a meal
2) Coming home to a bad smell (I have cats, so ...)
3) Throwing food away
4) When people don't use their headphones while listening to music on the train or in the office
5) Commuters who take up a seat for their stuff 

 
















6) Hauling my laundry down four flights of stairs, only to find there's no machines available
7) When I get home from the grocery store and realize I forgot to buy something I needed ...
8) ... or bought something I already had (as in, how many bottles of barbecue sauce do I really need?)
9) Still getting zits at my advanced age
10) Bullies
11) Worrying about money
12) My friend John's attitude these days (and I bet my bossiness makes him frown, too)
13) Fox News
14) Having to replace appliances (like my refrigerator and microwave!)

[ 13 things you see every day ]
1) This blog
2) My cats
3) The train tracks
4) The big tree outside my living room window
5) My day-of-the-week pill case

 

 




6) My Cubs mug 
7) My briefcase
8) The TV
9) My briefcase
10) My phone
11) The cats' food and water bowls
12) My wallet
13) My keys 



[ 12 things you have always wanted to try ]
1) A nice wig, so I could change my look without growing my hair out
2) The Marie Kondo method, Konmari
3)  Negroni, because it was Jackie's favorite cocktail

 


 











4) Crossing Abbey Road
5) Watching a live TV show in person (like Colbert)
6) Taking a cruise
7) Skydiving
8) Cross-country skiing
9) A cross-country train trip
10) Ballroom dancing
11) Singing lessons, so I wouldn't be ashamed to do karaoke
12) Be patient enough to do my own nails ... and have them look really nice


[ 11 objects that mean a lot to you ]
1) My grandmother's Cubs jersey
2) My grandfather's ceramic jewelry box
3) My "Give Peas a Chance" Beanie Baby, because my mom gave it to me

4) My books
5) My ticket stub from Sir Paul in concert
6) My letter from John Kerry, signed in fountain pen, thanking me for working on his 2004 campaign
7) A refrigerator magnet my nephew made for me in art class when he was very young
8) My yellow ceramic egg paperweight
9) My "My Intent" necklaces
10) My little portable DVD player
11) My shower radio 

[ 10 places you have been ]
1) Hollywood
2) Graceland
3) Paris
4) New York
5) Hot Springs
6) Atlanta
7) Colonial Williamsburg
8) Washington DC
9) Las Vegas
10) Key West 

 




[ 9 of your favorite foods ]
1) Rib eye steak
2) Barbecue ribs
3) Eggs over easy
4) Wheat toast, buttered with strawberry jam
5) Pizza
6) Lox
7) Hot chocolate
8) Ice cream
9) Cheeseburger


[ 8 things you would rather be doing ]
1) Listening to the Beatles
2) Reading a good book
3) Swimming (I suddenly want to swim, but it's such a hassle to get to the pool and change and then change back and dry my hair and, oh, I have to remember to wear my glasses and not my contacts)
4) Going to the movies
5) Binge-watching Downton Abbey

 




6) Getting a facial
7) Laughing with my oldest friend
8) NOT worrying! 


[ 7 things you would take to a deserted island ]
1) A generator of some sort
2) My laptop so I could write for pleasure
3) My iPod
4) An impressive supply of Coke
5) Sunglasses
6) Sunscreen
7) Books


[ 6 things you wish you never had to do ]
1) Worry about money
2) Buy stuff that's not fun (like toilet paper and light bulbs and dishwashing detergent)
3) Attend boring meetings
4) That part of the church service where you introduce yourself to the people sitting nearby
5) Using the ice pack on my back like my chiropractor recommends
6) Taking the stairs when my arms are full and the escalator is broken 


[ 5 people that mean the world to you ]
1) John
2) Henry
3) My niece
4) My nephew
5) My oldest friend (I really miss her these days)


[ 4 of your biggest fears ]
1) Plane crash
2) Losing my independence
3) Homelessness
4) Losing John 

[ 3 words to describe how you feel right now ]
Almost done here!


[ 2 things you're excited for ]
1) Finding out who the new Cubs manager will be
2) My niece's birthday is coming up

[ 1 thing you want to say to someone ]
As long as there's tomorrow, there's hope.

 

October Challenge -- Day 6

I'm joining Ms. Kwiz for her October blogging challenge.

Day 5: A luxury I can't live without. Xfinity on Demand. I have just about every channel known to man and my DVR is 94% full. When the power goes out, I freak out most about not having the TV.

 

Saturday 9

(Dear Mr. Gable) You Made Me Love You (1938)
 
1) This version of "You Made Me Love You" is the teenaged Judy Garland's fan letter to Clark Gable. Tell us about one of your teen crushes. "Dear Mr. Redford, I am writing this to you." The Sting, The Candidate, The Way We Were, The Great Gatsby ... It's impossible to overestimate what a big deal Redford was during my high school years. Every weekend, it seemed, we'd slip away to the mall multiplex and just swoon.

 2) Garland sang to this to Gable at a birthday party thrown for him at MGM. Who is the last person you sang "Happy Birthday" to? I can't recall. Just last weekend I celebrated my nephew's birthday over pizza, but I didn't sing.

3) Thinking of birthdays ... Judy received an engagement ring from the man who would be her first husband, David Rose, for her 18th birthday. Are you wearing a ring, or any jewelry, as you answer these 9 questions? Not just now.

4) It's said Judy's favorite dish was steak and kidney pie. If you could have anything at all for dinner tonight, what would you choose? I dream of a nice, juicy rib eye steak.

5) Judy was ambidextrous, writing with her left hand but playing tennis with her right. Are you equally comfortable using your right and left hands? No. I can't even brush my teeth or comb my hair with my left hand. Oh, well, at least I'm not ambisinister, which means equally clumsy with both hands.

6) To relax between takes of her most famous movie, The Wizard of Oz, Judy read comics in the newspaper. Do you still read a printed newspaper? Yes. I take the Sun Times with me on the el most mornings. But it seems that every day, there are fewer and fewer or us who aren't looking at our phones as we ride.

7) She could also knit. Judy was known to make blankets and caps for the children of crew members on her films. Do you knit? Nope.

8) In 1938, when this record was popular, the March of Dimes founded. Do you have any dimes in your wallet (or pocket) right now? A couple. I have a protocol for my coins: I put any pennies I get in a piggy bank, and hoard my quarters for laundry, but dimes and nickels stay in my wallet for spending.

9) Random question: Catsup puddle next to your fries, or a drizzle of catsup on your fries? Puddle.

October Challenge -- Day 5

I'm joining Ms. Kwiz for her October blogging challenge.

Day 5: Celebrity crushes I've had. Good goobies, I've had so many!

When I reached the ripe old age of six, I met the love of my life.

But in my heart, I have cheated on Sir Paul. Most notably with Bob and The Bruces.



via GIPHY

 My, but this was fun!

 

The vase of my lunch table

These flowers look how I feel today. I'm afraid I may be approaching the end of my career. I don't know for certain what's going on, but suddenly it seems my agency's relationship with my client isn't as solid as we were led to believe.

All of this is going on at a level that is far, FAR over my head. So there is nothing I can do to rectify the situation. But I can worry. I'm good at worrying.

I still haven't paid for my September dental work. I need new windows. I'm looking at years of special assessments for this condo to pay for a new boiler and a new roof. My a/c got me through summer 2019 but I have no confidence it won't crap out before spring. My niece is getting married out of town next fall.

This is not a good time for me to find myself involuntarily retired. And I do suspect that's what will ultimately happen. I'm going to turn 62 next month -- I'm at a dangerous age in the advertising business.

Maybe it's time. I still often enjoy my job, but I also fantasize a lot about what my next chapter will be. I'd like to stay home and work on apartment. I'd like to do volunteer work, but I can't afford to do that exclusively. What kind of part-time work will I get?

It's the lack of control that is making me nuts. I want to know what's going on. I want to know what's on management's radar for me. I want to know how my world will look six months from now. I'm not good at not being in control. That's why I'm feeling all droopy and purple, like the flowers on my table at Soprafina today.

October Challenge -- Day 4

I'm joining Ms. Kwiz for her October blogging challenge.

Day 4: Concerts or gigs I've watched. Nothing will ever touch Sir Paul at Wrigley Field, Summer 2011. My favorite guy in the world at my favorite place in the world. I bought the best seat I could lay my hands on, so I was actually on the infield, where my Cubs play, listening to Paul sing "All My Loving." Bliss!

What's more, he showed up here just as I was panicked over my upcoming surgery. So he delivered me respite, just as my most enduring romantic hero should.

 

In praise of ...

... well, me. I kept my head Tuesday night.

I wanted a midnight snack. I popped a frozen, breaded chicken breast in the microwave. I buy these by the bag from Trader Joe's, so I know the drill: Microwave-safe plate for four minutes.

Well, Tuesday night, my microwave went rogue. Before the four minutes was up, the chicken breast melted onto the plate and started smoking. It wasn't a fire, exactly. But it certainly smelled like one. And once I opened the microwave door, smoke flooded the kitchen ... and dining room ... and living room.

I unplugged it. I felt the sides to make sure they were cool. So was the socket plate, so I deduced there was no danger of fire. I opened the windows and got out a pair of fans. I turned on the air purifier. I farted around on the internet for a while, just killing time until I was sure everything was safe.

I did not lose my head. I did not freak out.

When you're alone, it's good to know you can count on yourself.

The microwave is about seven years old, and it was less than $100 new, so this weekend it will be retired and replaced. I'm relieved, actually. So many of my unexpected outlays lately -- refrigerator, dental work -- have been expensive. I see a trip to Kohl's or Sears in my future.

October Challenge -- Day 3

I'm joining Ms. Kwiz for her October blogging challenge.

Day 3: Most recent creative pursuit. Nanowrimo. Aka National Novel Writing Month. According to Wikipedia: National Novel Writing Month, is an annual, Internet-based creative writing project that takes place during the month of November. Participants attempt to write a 50,000-word manuscript between November 1 and November 30. Well-known authors write "pep-talks" to keep them motivated throughout the process.

 
Yes, I know the meter doesn't officially drop until November 1, but I've already set up my page @ nanowrimo.org and my story is taking shape. It's the tale of a trial that captivates a small town. I haven't decided which woman will be at the center of the saga: Frankie, the 50+ heiress whose body is found at the foot of the stairs, or Tracy, the 20-something trophy wife of a big-city lawyer who comes to town to defend Frankie's ne'er do well husband against murder charges. Will I become more interested in flashbacks of Frankie's life, or in Tracy's fish-out-of-water story?

Just for contrast: at the office these days I've been working on a project called BVL (bank vehicle loan). My client has a predictive model that indicates when a customer who financed their current ride with us will be likely to buy a new one, and it's up to me to remind them of how smooth the loan process was with us.

I like what I do. My client appreciates my efforts. They are an honest company that delivers on what I promise. I feel good about being a compensated cog in their Fortune 500 wheel. But writing fiction can be liberating and fun.

October Challenge -- Day 2

I'm joining Ms. Kwiz for her October blogging challenge. I missed Day One, but I forgive myself and am enthusiastically picking it up on Day 2.

Day 2: Favorite piece of clothing -- why? My Style & Co. (Macy's) denim jacket. Because it's reasonably stylish, and because it's the emblem of the changing seasons. I wear it most at the end of summer and beginning of spring.


Now, here's a peak at the prompts to come. See you tomorrow!

The Raisinettes were excellent

During my extended weekend, I slipped away and went to the movies. Downton Abbey, specifically.

While I was happy to see Downton again, as well as the familiar faces, upstairs and down, I was disappointed in the movie itself. There was slapstick involving the Royal visit that just seemed very out of character for this franchise, and it didn't even make me smile. Oh well, at least nothing tragic happened to Bates and Anna. They are my favorite couple, and it seemed that during the show's original run, they suffered a new Nietzche nightmare every week (murder trial, rape, more murder accusations ...). I'm happy to report that they, and their little boy, seem fine and happy and even a little delightfully dull for a change. And there were some kisses that left me swoony, and I "met" a new Royal  -- Princess Mary, the sister of The King who gave the speech and the Prince who gave up the throne for the woman he loved.

And I just love going to the movies. I love sitting there in the dark with my movie food, this time it was Raisinettes, waiting for the show to start. It was such a delicious way to spend a day off!

I love you, Skipper

Yesterday was Joe Maddon's last game at the helm of the Chicago Cubs. He gave the classiest farewell press conference before Sunday's game, appearing beside Theo Epstein, the man who let him go, saying, "There’s nothing to denigrate. There’s nothing to bemoan. There’s nothing to lament. It’s been fabulous."

The players loved him, and I loved him. His mantra, "Try not to suck," made everybody smile and helped bring us to a World Series. Since baseball is all about the stats, here are Joe's Chicago numbers:

471 Wins vs. 338 Losses (.582)

37 post-season games over 4 seasons

Oh yeah, our FIRST WORLD SERIES in over 100 years!

And he made it all fun. Even the losses. I'm gonna miss saying, "What will Joe do next?"


via GIPHY

Sunday Stealing

Deep, Thought-Provoking Questions


If you could instill one piece of advice in a newborn baby’s mind, what advice would you give? Pick a baseball team and love it for life!

What is the most desirable trait another person can possess? Compassion

What are you most grateful for? My health. And I'm grateful that my problems are first-world problems.

Is stealing to feed a starving child wrong? I need more context.

What do you want most? Right now? I'd like it to stop raining!


Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things? Oh, doing the right thing. Every day, I strive to be more Melanie and less Scarlett.

What has life taught you recently? That growing old is not for sissies. Many of my friends are having real health/life problems, things we thought would never happen to us.


What is the one thing you would most like to change about the world? More tolerance.

Where do you find inspiration? Judging by my Melanie/Scarlett answer, I'd say the movies.


Can you describe your life in a six word sentence? No thanks, I don't want to. (<<<< Six words.)


If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake? Because they can be painful and embarrassing.

What impact do you want to leave on the world? I want to have helped others.


What is the most defining moment of your life thus far? Good goobies! We are deep and thought provoking today, aren't we!

In the haste of your daily life, what are you not seeing? The beauty in the moment. My mom was so good at that. I wish, in that way, I was more like her.

If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do? Because, to borrow from Harry Chapin, we have planes to catch and bills to pay.

What lifts your spirits when life gets you down? I'm always happier after a shower.



Have you ever regretted something you did not say or do? I've wondered "what if" quite often.

Has your greatest fear ever come true? No. Because I haven't died in a plane crash.

Why do we think of others the most when they’re gone? I don't know that's true.

What is your most beloved childhood memory? The year I found Blaze under the Christmas tree.

   

I found myself in a ghost town

My nephew goes to Western Illinois University, and I went down to visit him for his (gulp!) 20th birthday. I stayed at the university union hotel, right on campus.

This is what greeted me at 10:30 AM on a Saturday morning.

Apparently he's not alone in his love of sleeping in!

The hotel itself was no frills. It was also $20 cheaper than even the Super 8. So I'll excuse having to carry my bag up three flights of steep cement stairs, and the smell when I turned on the heat. The bed was comfortable, the bathroom was clean, and I knew I was home when I turned on the TV and the first words I heard -- literally -- were "WELCOME TO THE PARTY,  PAL!"

I LOVE John McClane.

My nephew and I had a good visit. We talked baseball -- LOTS of baseball. And politics -- he's working on Elizabeth Warren's campaign. And religion -- he's questioning his belief system, which is not unusual for a college sophomore; I suspect he'll come back.

He enjoyed his gifts. I have him a TYT cap, a book, and a giftcard to Burger King. We also had a hearty lunch of pizza, lots of pizza, at a buffet in his adopted hometown of Macomb.

And he does enjoy Macomb. In fact, he seems generally happy. He loves three of his classes this semester (creative writing, philosophy* and biology). He loves his time in Iowa, working for the Warren campaign, and can't wait to resume his poli/sci studies next semester.

I just wish he was making more friends. I never went away to school myself, so I harbor this perhaps unrealistic fantasy that everyone who does makes a Big Chill group of lifelong friends.

*It's the philosophy class that has inspired him to articulate his doubts about conventional religion.

Saturday 9

Shake It Off (2014)

Unfamiliar with this week's song. Hear it here.
(BTW, I can't believe this song is five years old already. I know it's a cliche, but "my, how time flies!")
 
1) This song makes Crazy Sam want to dance. What song inspires you to get on your feet? This answer won't surprise Kwizgiver. She gave me a very merry shoutout earlier this week.



2) Paul McCartney met Taylor Swift at the SNL 40 Anniversary special and told her he really enjoys playing and singing this song. What's the last song you sang along with? Well, before I started chair dancing and singing with the above clip ("Ba de ah de ah de ahhhhhh!"), it was "Shake It Off."

3) The lyrics tell us Swift "shakes off" nasty gossip and unfair criticism. What about you? Do you worry about what others think of you? More than I should. I ought to make like Taylor and just accept that haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate. That's not my responsibility, and there's nothing I can do about it.

4) Her parents are big music fans, and were going to name their baby (boy or girl) "Taylor" after their favorite artist, James Taylor. Can you think of a singer that your mom and/or dad really enjoyed? My mother loved Engelbert Humperdinck. When I lived at home, I found him virtually unlistenable. Now, when I happen upon him, I still cringe but then I smile because he makes me think of her.


5) She grew up on an 11-acre Christmas tree farm. Do you get a fresh tree every year, or do you have an artificial tree, or do you not put up a tree at all? I tend to go out of town at Christmastime, visiting my friends Henry and Reg in Key West, so I don't put a tree up. I do try to make my hotel room look Christmas-y. These three make their way into my suitcase each year.

That's a teeny-tiny Nativity in a Bottle

6) Taylor Swift is 5'10". According to the CDC, the average American woman is 5'4" while men are, on average, 5'9". Are you taller or shorter than average? My State ID says I'm 5'2. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

7) She enjoys good, old fashioned mysteries, especially those by Agatha Christie. Are you currently reading a book for pleasure? I always am. Right now it's Little Gloria, Happy at Last about the Gloria Vanderbilt custody trial in the 1930s. The second-hand paperback I have is almost 40 years old and in very bad shape. Too bad, because the story is so compelling. I'd love to be able to pass it on when I'm finished, but, even though I've got it encased in a leather book cover, I'm afraid it's just about done for.
 
8) Her brother Austin is a freelance photographer who took the official pictures for her 2008 concert tour. Who took the last photo of you? My friend John. We went to the Chicago History Museum for his birthday in August, and he snapped me on the restored original el car on exhibit. It's funny because in July, I went with my friend Joanna and she took a picture of me on the 19th century steam engine. My enthusiasm for trains is obvious!

9) Random question: What's your go-to comfy outfit? My pjs -- aka an oversized t-shirt. I change into it every evening as soon as I get home.

 

That was fast

I spoke to Henry last night. It was one of our two-hour calls, with a twist.

We were, for the most part, fine. He was in a mood to debate -- we're on the opposite sides of term limits -- but that's nothing new. He enjoyed a good back-and-forth even before his accident. But then, at the 90-minute mark, he interrupted the call to take his meds.

Within minutes he was teary. Talking about how much he hates taking his medication. How tired he is of the pain and his disturbed sleep patterns. Soon he was out-and-out weeping, telling me how much he loves me and how he couldn't get through this without me.

I thought, dear God, does he ride this mood roller coaster every night? As disturbing as the call was for me, I can't imagine what this turbulence is like for my darling Henry.

Time for a revisit

I originally posted this in January, 2017.  As we carom into impeaching Donald Trump, I've been thinking about Richard Nixon again. Once the gold standard for crazy/corrupt in my world, he's been supplanted. In fact, compared to Donald Trump, Nixon is beginning to look like George Washington.

Unfair

I recently saw a Trump supporter refer to those who voted for the next President as, "the silent majority." That phrase was, of course, made famous by Richard Nixon, whose Presidency ended in scandal and the only resignation in our history. It makes me wonder why Trump supporters would so willingly wrap their arms around that legacy. Maybe they don't know?

But it got me thinking about the similarities between Richard M. Nixon and Donald J. Trump. They include:

•  Law and order. Both Nixon and Trump exploited fear about violence by promising that the Federal government could help curb street crime. This has always seemed cynical to me: Men who decry Federal interference in our lives suddenly try to inject themselves into local issues when it helps them earn votes.

•  Demonization of the press. Trump's "dishonest media" is easier to remember but not as musical as the way Nixon's Vice President Spiro Agnew referred to the press: "nattering nabobs of negativism."

•  High-profile daughters. Before Ivanka tried to convince us all that her father cared about women's rights, Julie tried to soften her father's image.

•  Secret plans. Trump doesn't want the bad guys to know how he's going to defeat ISIS, just as Nixon touted a "secret plan" for an end to the Vietnam War. We were in Vietnam for another 7 years. Just sayin'.

There are some very important differences. With time and maturity, I've begun to view Nixon as a multi-dimensional man and think of him with more compassion. Therefore I realize that in some very important ways, the Trump-Nixon comparisons are very unfair to Nixon.

•  Military service. Nixon enlisted in the Navy during WWII. Trump was eligible but avoided military service during Vietnam (even though he was comfortable making fun of John McCain's time as a POW).

•  Public service. Instead of practicing law, which would have been more lucrative, and perhaps easier on his basically introverted nature, Nixon went into politics as a young father and was still in his 30s when he served in the House and the Senate. When Trump was in his 30s, he was starting his own real estate business, seeded by a $1 million loan from his father.

•  Marriage. No matter what other sins one may wish to put at Nixon's doorstep, there has never even been a whisper about infidelity in his marriage to Pat. Trump was already married to third wife Melania when he made his infamous Access Hollywood comments about how easy it is for him to fondle women.

Oh yeah, and Nixon voters actually were in the majority.  
If Trump would like to enjoy a smoother ride than Nixon, he might want to remember that Hillary Clinton got 3 million more votes than he did.

The last to give up

Behold Bryzzo when Pirates scoreboard flashed that the Brewers had clinched a playoff berth -- thereby eliminating the Cubs  -- Wednesday night.

They're both injured. Rizzo's foot is still the color of an eggplant, but he's been playing on his Grade 2 sprained ankle. Bryant and the trainers were more cautious with his sprain. But look at their faces and see the pain and the pride and the guts.

God, I hope I see both of them again in spring!

Channeling my Inner Ernie

Ernie Banks embodies Cubdom. Watch the beginning of his Hall of Fame induction speech: "We've got the setting: sunshine and fresh air. We've got the team behind us, so let's play two." It's important to note that he maintained the positive, baseball-loving spirit even though, over his entire 18 year career, he never once played in a post-season game.

Of course I am disappointed that my guys will not be in the playoffs this year. I would love to watch several more weeks of baseball. I enjoy adding to my collection of post-season t-shirts. But I refuse to act as though this team sucked, just because we won't be bathed in 2016 World Series glory.

This Cubs team was good. Admittedly not great, but good. And better than most. Diamondback, Reds, Pirates, Giants, Padres, Rockies, Mets and Phillies fans* would love to cheer for a team of the Cubs caliber.

We saw Javier Baez come into his own, making magic with both his bat and glove. Kris Bryant had a comeback year, making the All Star game again. Yu Darvish's stats don't show it, but he proved he got that $125 million contract.

And of course, Rizzo. 27 home runs. 295 batting average. Oh yeah, and he rose from the dead, coming back from a possible season-ending sprain to hit a home run and rally the fans. Ernie would be proud that Rizzo is standing where he once did, guarding first base.

Baseball is a wonderful game and the Cubs gave us an entertaining season. So I refuse to join the Cub fans who are whining like entitled Yankee fans. I am going to be grateful for the thrills and chills and, as we used to say before 2016, "Wait until next year."

 *I purposely left out the Marlins because they have no fans.