Clean Me -- Special Edition

Look how gorgeous my bathroom tiles are now! (I did laundry while he was working in the bathroom, so even the washcloth is clean now.)

Can't stop thinking about it

Peeing, that is.

The workman is cleaning and caulking and grouting in my one and only bathroom, and if I want him to be able to finish in a timely manner, I shouldn't interrupt by asking to use "the facility."

So because I can't, I must.

Could this literally be the last word on Blago?

After all that "I'm innocent of all charges and I can't wait to testify" malarkey, he's not taking the stand. Behold the headline of today's Chicago tabloid.

You never stop learning about people

I think I know my best friend well. One of the most endearing things about him is that his daughters are the centerpiece of his life. The older one -- the one who is more like him, the one he has the more natural relationship with -- is a budding beauty and a dedicated soccer player. The younger one -- the one who fascinates him because she's so naturally artistic and outgoing and he wonders where that came from -- is showing talent in ballet.

He recently learned that her ballet school is having financial trouble. HUGE financial trouble. He can't stand the thought of their going under, which would mean an interruption in something his little girl loves. So he asked me if I had any ideas of how he can help her school raise money ... by July 31.

There's no time to organize and promote a bake sale or car wash. I recommended collection jars at local businesses. And I told him that he and his wife had to hit up all their friends and relatives. To show my support, I contributed $25 myself.

He kept saying, "I'd never ask you to help that way."

I am surprised how reluctant he is to beg for money.

As you all know, I beg for money by including charitable links on this blog all the time. I bully coworkers regularly when it comes to toy drives and even baby and bridal showers. While ballet classes for rich little girls is not high on my list of causes, my friend always is, and so of course I didn't think twice about kicking in $25.

I bet his friends and coworkers wouldn't mind contributing, either. He so adores his girls! And just think about all the boxes of Girl Scout cookies and tins of Boy Scout popcorn you've purchases recently. It's not that big a deal. I wish he understood that.

Soon it begins

Kathleen was sweet enough to call me this afternoon and update me on her first consultation with her oncologist. A date has been set for her procedure -- August 5. She stops by the hospital on August 3 for pre-op tests. She's nervous and scared. But she likes her doctor and felt a bit comforted by knowing what to expect -- and when.

I was a little nervous and scared about her appointment yesterday, too. I didn't call her because she may have wanted her space. I get the sense she doesn't like saying the word, "cancer." So I really appreciated her making the call and sharing her experience with me.

201

That's my total cholesterol. Ideally it should be less than 200, but for me, with my history, this is a reason to rejoice. My HDL is 56, which is OK (less than 40 is bad; over 60 is good). My LDL is 131, and it ideally it should be less than 129. So in all my scores weren't bad. Certainly not as bad as they have been.

Had a variety of tests to assess my risk for stroke, heart attack and osteoporosis. The results will be in within the next two weeks. It wasn't a fun way to spend a morning, but it wasn't painful, either. And it was the wise, grown-up thing to do.

Clean Me

Every day I am going to do something -- no matter how small -- to improve my standard of living at home.

Peapod's plastic grocery bags are terrific, sturdy and roomier than they look. I have hung onto many of them -- perhaps too many of them -- because I have been certain they would come to good use. And today they have! I used one for the toys and books I'm for upcoming toy drives (just because they are for charity doesn't dilute their cluttery qualities) and another two for the bathtub goodies I have to get out of the way before the bathroom finally gets cleaned/caulked/grouted tomorrow.

I Want Wednesday

I Want this to not be happening!

One of my neighbors is an angry and odd old bird. He hates the condo association in general and some of us (including me) specifically. Because he didn't agree with a special assessment or something, he has gone on a wave of vandalism. So far this year, he has:

• Regularly shredded newspaper and left piles of it in the elevator, as though making a hamster bed

• Once urinated in the elevator, then made a paste by adding baby powder

• Stolen the inspection certification from the elevator, causing the condo association to have to pay a fine for not displaying it prominently

• Stolen lightbulbs from the lights on the back stairs

• Scribbled with magic marker on the walls of the first floor hallway

• Written on the washers and dryers in lipstick

• Slashed the screens in the back of the building

• Disconnected the dryer hose

• Begun peeling away the wallpaper in common areas

• Regularly removed the note to the mail carrier I have taped to my mailbox

Last night we had a condo owners' association meeting with a representative of the local police department to discuss how to handle the situation. A file has to be compiled, with dates and times, to construct "a pattern of abuse" of people and property so that he can be evicted, if not forced to sell.

He's a looney old bastard. He lost his license in 2001 -- he was a security guard but he had filed so many workman's comp complaints that the state deemed him suspicious and it wasn't renewed. He hasn't worked since. His wife left him in the 1990s. He has no friends, no family, no interests (beyond petty larceny and vandalism). The officer was reasonably sure that he could never be formally charged and tried for anything criminal, but that doesn't mean he can't be arrested and held overnight, if caught in the act.

I know this is odd to say about a man who mutters, "bitch" under his breath when I pass, but I feel bad for him. For when the inevitable eventually happens, where will he go? How will he live?

He needs help. But it's hard to help someone so hostile and disgusting.

I can't stand Bob Hope, but the only thing to say is ...

"Thanks for the memory … You may have been a headache, but you never were a bore. How lovely it was …"

Lou Piniella announced his retirement Tuesday and it leaves me so sad. I love Lou. He is the only Cub manager in more than 50 years to string together three consecutive winning seasons. He so spoiled us that fans are bitching and moaning, as if the 2010 season is the worst ever. (Yeah, right. Get over yourselves, you big babies. Cub fandom is about long-term perseverance, not short-term thrills.) Lou has been the saltiest, most exciting and charismatic skipper since that lion of my youth, Durocher.

The team came through for him with a wild one, coming from behind to beat the Astros 14-7.

Even better, my friend Kathleen was at the game. She texted me from The Friendly Confines. Wednesday is an important trip to the oncologist for her. Now this is also what Cub fandom is all about -- the comfort of tradition. Thanks to Sweet Lou and the boys for taking my friend out of herself for a few hours.

Clean Me

Every day I am going to do something -- no matter how small -- to improve my standard of living at home.

Three pairs of jeans remained on top of my clothes hamper. They met three different fates.

1) Regretfully, this overly-worn pair ended up in the garbage, along with one of my purses. I hate to see both of them go, but neither is worth what it would cost to repair them and -- let's face it -- if I'm never going to wear those jeans or carry that bag again, they should just go.

2) This pair almost fits and, I'm betting, will again, now that I'm done with the workout restrictions imposed by my sclerotherapy. So they are at the bottom of my weekend jeans pile in the armoire.

3) This pair isn't gonna fit again for a long, long time. I must accept that. And that's why they're in the Goodwill bag.

Five & Ten ... Again

Retagged by Kwizgiver ...

1. The Long Run -- The Eagles
2. Play with Your Poodle -- Marcia Ball
3. Tears in Heaven -- Eric Clapton
4. Everybody -- Tears for Fears
5. Heaven on a Sunday -- Paul McCartney
6. Instant Karma -- John Lennon
7. Come Rain or Come Shine -- Bette Midler
8. Sweet Talkin' Woman -- ELO
9. Working My Way Back to You -- Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons
10. Jessie's Girl -- Rick Springfield

INSTRUCTIONS
(1) Turn on your MP3 player/iPod.
(2) Go to SHUFFLE songs mode.
(3) Write down the first TEN songs that come up--song title and artist--NO editing/cheating, please (even if letting the world know you listen to crap like "Weekend in New England" will humiliate you).
(4) Choose FIVE people to be tagged. It is generally considered to be in good taste to tag the person who tagged you, since there should be new songs appearing with Shuffle every time.

Considered yourself tagged for FIVE & TEN
Kwizgiver
Snarky Pants
Silver Neurotic
Boliyou
And ... of course ... anyone else who wants to play.

Leave a comment so I can check out your playlist.

The Queen's Meme

The What Would You Do? Meme
A mixed bag of miscellaneous scenarios

1. You start out on your road trip. You are 90 miles down the road with not a care in the world until you remember you forgot the most important ingredient needed for your vacation. What was it and would you turn around and go back to get it? Sunscreen. No, I don't go back. I just buy more when I reach my destination. Which is why I have four tubes of sunscreen within reach right now.

2. You are standing in the checkout line at the grocery store. A homeless man walks by and asks for food from your grocery cart. What would you do? I'm sorry, but I don't understand this question. A homeless man IN the grocery store asks me for food I have yet to pay for from my cart? No, I wouldn't give him food, because that would be like shoplifting and the last thing this gentleman needs in his life is more trouble. I might give him change, or ask him to wait for me by the door after I've paid. I'd try to help, that's for certain.

3. The mailman delivers the wrong mail. It is your neighbor's. You can't stand your neighbor. You realize that inside the small brown package there must be something very secretive, very intriguing and possibly incriminating. What do you do? I'd open it. I'm not proud of this, but I know I'd open it.

4. Photography Class 101. First exam. The slide show you are presenting is the wrong one. You accidentally left last weekend's party pics in the camera instead. The whole class is watching.... I'd try to diffuse the situation by saying something self deprecating.

5. You find your boss's wife on Facebook. She is obviously carrying on with another man in blatant fashion and behind his back. What is the first thing that pops into your head when you see your boss the next day at work? God, I wish I didn't know what I know.

6. Your plane lands in the wrong vacation spot but you like this one better. First I would freak out that I had flown in a plane piloted by Wrongway Peachfuzz. Then I'd view the episode as an adventure and settle in and enjoy.

7. You walk out of the doctor's office. The news after your yearly checkup is very very good but the news for the person you'd been sitting beside and chatting with in the waiting room is very very bad. You see them in the elevator on the way out and they are in tears. You..... follow them out to their car to make sure they're OK to drive.

Clean Me for Monday

Every day I am going to do something -- no matter how small -- to improve my standard of living at home.

It's been in the 90's every day for more than a week. Do I really think I'm going to be wearing my Cubbie fleece anytime soon? I know my long-sleeved cardigans belong on hangers in the big closet in the den. But the den is closed off and HOT because I don't have air conditioning in there. The result is a stack of clothes on top of the clothes hamper in my bedroom that actually makes it hard to lift the lid.

So I spent the less than 15 minutes it took to put things in their proper place. And it makes a difference. I just need the will to DO what I say I'm GONNA DO!

It's called FIVE & TEN

… and I INSIST you play with me!

FIVE people & TEN Songs

INSTRUCTIONS
(1) Turn on your MP3 player/iPod.
(2) Go to SHUFFLE songs mode.
(3) Write down the first TEN songs that come up--song title and artist--NO editing/cheating, please (even if letting the world know you listen to crap like "Weekend in New England" will humiliate you).
(4) Choose FIVE people to be tagged. It is generally considered to be in good taste to tag the person who tagged you, since there should be new songs appearing with Shuffle every time.


1. I Get Weak -- Belinda Carlisle
2. You Really Got a Hold on Me -- The Beatles
3. Neither One of Us -- Gladys Knight & the Pips
4. Knockin' on Heaven's Door -- Bob Dylan
5. You Keep Me Hangin' On -- Diana Ross & The Supremes
6. Golden Slumbers -- The Beatles
7. Wonderful Remark -- Van Morrison
8. Make Me Smile -- Chicago
9. Weekend in New England -- Barry Manilow
10. Let 'Em In -- Paul McCartney & Wings

You've seen my typical baby boomer playlist. Now show me yours. Let's see how you do at FIVE & TEN:

Kwizgiver
Snarky Pants
Silver Neurotic
Boliyou
And ... of course ... anyone else who wants to play.

Leave a comment so I can check out your playlist.

Movie Monday -- Antidotes for Boredom

Share which movies you pop into the DVD player if you're feeling bored. Then link back here to The Bumbles.

Godfather, Parts 1 and 2. To me, these two movies have morphed into one EPIC. And they are non-stop action, even if some of the action is plotting and chicanery. You can call the Corleones many things -- but "boring" is not among them.

Valley of the Dolls. The guiltiest of all guilty pleasures. The clothes! The hair! (Including a wig that memorably meets its demise in the ladies' room.) The sex! The booze! The pills! The horrible songs! The wretched dialog! All this excess is make it the perfect antidote for boredom.

Shall I make this out to myself?

My shrink had to cancel our appointment, scheduled for last Thursday. And that's too bad, because I have been having disturbing dreams. Graphic dreams. Sexually explicit dreams. These dreams are pleasant when they're going on. It's just when I wake up that they upset me.

Because they are about him. The man with whom I had my longest relationship. The one with whom I spent several highly dysfunctional years. Because of the physical abuse that went on, thinking of him sexually is a very complicated issue for me.

We broke up so long ago. I have worked so hard to put him and all he represents behind me. So why am I thinking about him so much now? And in this way? Disturbing and confusing.

On second thought, just disturbing. I'm no longer confused because I realized why my ex is suddenly so top of mind …

The Mel Gibson tapes. When he drank, he sounded not unlike Mel (though without the heavy breathing). If we were on the phone and I could sense his mood change, I'd listen carefully for the sound of ice. For if he was switching from beer to something stronger, I knew I'd better sleep alone at my own place that night. Woe be to me if I read the signs wrong and went to his place instead.

So now that I know where the dreams are coming from, they have less power to upset me. And, perhaps, they will stop haunting me.

I'm rather proud of how I worked this through on my own. So do I cut myself a check for $75?

Clean Me -- Keep on keepin' on

It's been a while since I've done anything that I felt was worthy of the coveted broom and dustbin. But this afternoon I revisited the dining room table, which was starting to disappear under paper again. So this evening I organized, and shredded and acted upon. And I feel better for having done it!

I intend to repair the hem on my jeans and shorten the straps on a cami ... like the papers on the dining room table, these are things I'm "gonna" do. Once I actually repair the hem and straps, these items will go into the armoire instead of on the clothes hamper, and just a little more clutter will disappear.

Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing: Meme Of Many Odd Questions, Part Two

23. Do you rent movies often? If ordering from Comcast On Demand counts, then yes.

24. Is there anything sparkly in the room you're in? The silver ring I was wearing, now sitting on the coffee table.

25. How many countries have you visited? Five, if you count Lichtenstein. And I do.

26. Have you made a prank phone call? Not during this millennium.

27. Ever been on a train? At least ten times/week, to and from work.

28. Brown or white eggs? I don't care.

29. Do you have a cell-phone? Yes.

30. Do you use Chap Stick? Yes. Cherry is a particular favorite.

31. Do you own a gun? NO!

32. Can you use chop sticks? No.

33. Who are you going to be with tonight? With one of my favorite men

34. Are you too forgiving? No. In fact I'm rather adept at carrying grudges.

35. Ever been in love? Yes.

36. What is your best friend(s) doing tomorrow (or the next soonest week day)? Toiling away at a job he unfortunately hates.

37. Ever have cream puffs? Yes.

38. Last time you cried? Thursday, June 24

39. What was the last question you asked? "Do you have egg salad?" I'm pleased to report they did.

40. Favorite time of the year? Autumn.

41. Do you have any tattoos? No

42. Are you sarcastic? Moi? Jamais!

43. Have you ever seen The Butterfly Effect? I thought only Ashton Kutcher's mom saw that.

44. Ever walked into a wall? No. That would be stupid. Now a sliding glass door, that would be totally understandable!

Don't ask

… why I hate the damn support hose and hot, hot weather. I mean it: don't ask. I am soooo not in the mood.

I have lost my will to live

OK, that may be an overstatement. But I have lost my will to move, de-clutter, do laundry, or work out, or vacuum or anything.

What with missed connections en route home from my hair cut, the 90+º heat, and the Cubs heartbreaking fold in the 9th, I just want to sit here ... in the cool ... enjoying the feel of lotion on my neck where the little shed hairs on my shirt collar were making me nuts.

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Love Hurts

1. Tell us about the last time that you got hurt in the arena of love. I was seeing a younger guy who, I thought, was desperately in love with me. When our relationship inevitably ended, I missed the genuinely imaginative sex, and the feeling that I had rocked his world. That's why I was as hurt by his quick recovery -- within weeks he started dating the woman he would soon marry and have a son with -- as I was by our break up. To be honest, I missed the fantasy of seeing myself as the center of his world as much I missed him.

2. Have you ever been part of the wedding party, other than your own? Yes. I'm very familiar with bridesmaid duties.

3. Let's say you find yourself in Hell after you die. Think about everyone you've known in your life. Who would be the one person that would least likely to surprise you by being in Hell with you? I have an ex who was, without a doubt, the worst thing to ever happen to me. I'm sad to report I'm not the only woman who can make that claim about him. Plus, he believes in Hell (I don't), so he's the most likely candidate.

4. What brings you good luck? I believe my Hollywood snowglobe is good luck. Or at least it helps me send my mind to the happy place.

5. Do you have a photo blog? If so, feel free to share the link with us! Nope. Sorry, no photo blog.

6. What is your biggest source of news? (Internet? Newspaper? Television? Radio? The Daily Show? Other?) TV. If I hear about a story that interests me, I follow it online and in print.

7. What's the hottest you've ever been in your life? By "hot," do you mean like sexy? Then I'd have to say it was a New Year's Eve back in my thin days, when I was wearing a little gold tank under a tuxedo jacket. Of course, that was many years and several dress sizes ago.

8. If you had to choose a theme song for your blog, which would would you choose and why? Well, I do like to think I'm gonna make it after all.



9. Who was the last person you had an online conversation with that you've never met or talked to on your phone? The Cub fan on Twitter who agreed that Fox sportscaster Joe Buck is a waste of space.

Grrrr!

I hate hot weather. I hate hot weather. I hate hot weather. I hate hot weather. I hate hot weather. I hate hot weather. I hate hot weather. I hate hot weather. I hate hot weather.

Have I made myself clear?

It was 94º today when I left work early to get a pedicure at a high-end Oak Street salon ... at a discount! Normally such an event would delight me. Out of the office at 1:00, an excuse to go to the toniest/trendiest part of town, and a luxury pedicure for just $16 (including tip!).

And yet when I got home, all I wanted was a Coke and some solitude. Because hot weather drains me and leaves me so friggin' grumpy!

A cool thng to do on a hot day

I just ordered my American Humane Christmas cards. A good reminder that it will be cold enough, soon enough. If you want to do a good deed, to help kids and cats and dogs as you spread holiday cheer, click here.

My world is righting itself

The Cubs are back from the All-Star break and beating the Phils decisively. The bats are finally awake, making this is a game that's been worth waiting almost a week for!

And, even though it hasn't been a full week since my last vein treatment, I gave up on the support hose. It was over 90º again today and I simply cannot bear all that compression in this weather. It made everything feel just suckier than it was.

And, while I know it's not forever, it still makes me happy to look at that live feed and check on how that seal is holding in the Gulf (see below). That spill and its impact bave been on my mind so much!

And work is suddenly going more smoothly. I don't know what's going on to make it better, but I'm not questioning or examining it too closely. I'm just going to ride with the tide and go with the flow.

And I spoke to Kathleen last night. She still has no real news about her condition or treatment, but her mood has improved. She's thinking about things like the impact the meds will have on her hair, and whether she'll have to reschedule her vacation with her husband and kids -- which is far more positive than worrying about death!

And she gave me her permission to discuss her condition with my best friend. So I did. I felt bad about burdening him with the bad news, but I knew he'd want to be told about it. Plus, from a purely selfish POV, it was a relief to discuss her condition with someone who cares about her as much as I do. These calls, from and about Kathleen, were more uplifting than they sound.

It's OK. You can tell me.

I can't believe it's really over, so I keep checking back to the live feed of the BP oil spill. There's no sound, and little movement, just the well deep under the sea. But it comforts me to NOT see oil spewing forth.

Am I not the geekiest woman ever?

(Yea, sealife! Yea, sandy beaches!)

'Go, Cubs, Go' musician to be honored - chicagotribune.com

CHICAGO — A post office in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood is one step closer to being named after the man who wrote the song "Go, Cubs, Go."

The U.S. Senate voted Wednesday to name the post office near Wrigley Field after musician Steve Goodman. U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley sponsored the resolution to rename the post office the "Steve Goodman Post Office Building." President Obama must now sign the resolution.

Goodman was a Chicago native, folk singer and Grammy winner. He died in 1984 at age 36. He also penned "A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request."

Senate OKs 'Go, Cubs, Go' musician post office - chicagotribune.com

Note to Self

Let's see now ... I have a pedicure scheduled for Friday, a massage booked for the 30th, even a vet appointment for Charlotte the first week in August. The one call I dread making is to the hospital to schedule my mammogram.

Last year it was an ordeal. It took weeks of worry to find out that my "suspicious" films were really "benign," with "no follow up required." I expect that, once again, my initial films will be "suspicious" and I'm really not up for replay of all that drama.

Especially not with the news I received about Kathleen last week.

But I'm a grown up. I can't rely on anyone but myself, after all, and so I have taken a big sheet of paper and written the phone number of the hospital's Comprehensive Breast Center on it. I will call tomorrow and make the heinous appointment. It's the only smart and responsible thing to do.

I Want Wednesday

I Want ... no more goodbyes!

One coworker has decided not to return from maternity leave. Another is following her husband's career trajectory to Nebraska. While I am happy for the personal fulfillment their decisions promise these women, I am melancholy for myself.

For I don't like goodbyes. I really don't.

And I'm especially haunted the prospect of the BIG ones -- my mother and my uncle. My mother's deterioration has escalated since her first bout with pneumonia in 2009, and it's scaring me. She's forgetful and her perception is way off somehow. Last Sunday she told my nephew that the world we live in today -- two wars and a Recession -- is every bit as bad as it was when she was a little girl. Now, really! Where's our Hitler? Where are the homeless people knocking on the door, asking for food in exchange for work? I asked her if she was serious and she said, "yes." All I can do is shake my head.

Likewise my uncle is fading and fading and fading. The State of Illinois now commandeers his mail and pays his bills for him, and has decided that he needs neither cable nor a cell phone. His response is to be petulant. Just 15 years older than I am, and deemed not able to handle his own affairs. It's rattling.

These two goodbyes -- the inevitable ones, the ones that are moving inexorably closer, are the ones I fear most.

What about you? What do you want this Wednesday?

10 on Tuesday

Ten places I wish I was right now, as represented by postcards on my bulletin board.

1) Chateau Elan in Atlanta. It's a winery, a golf course, and -- my favorite -- a luxury spa. Wouldn't it be lovely to be in a dimly-lit, fragrant room, enjoying a hot-stone massage?

2) Copely Square in Boston. I love this part of town because it's where the past and the present coexist so comfortably. There's a lively shopping center and small storefronts, the John Hancock buildings, which represent current architecture, and buildings like Trinity Church, a gorgeous old building from the 1870s.

3) Hemingway Home in Key West. Papa lived and worked here for more than a decade, and it's a fascinating place to visit. Especially for the cats. I can think of no other museum where more than 50 are welcome and encouraged to roam free. Some are friendly, others aloof, and all have the confidence that comes from knowing they live there while you're only visiting.

4) Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs. A grand old lady, right across the street from "my mountain," Ouachita. Before I discovered Chateau Elan, this was my spa, where I'd come to enjoy thermal water treatments and then wander around on the mountain. A beautiful, peaceful escape.

5) JFK Library and Museum. Just outside Boston, it's an inspiring trip to Camelot. Don't miss the movie that's offered to guests -- it's the President himself narrating the story of his life and sets the tone beautifully. And I'd really love to have a leisurely lunch there -- for the Museum Cafe provides a breathtaking view of the sea.

6) Captain Tony's Saloon. A Key West staple. Rumor has it that it's been a favorite of both Hemingway and Jimmy Buffett. I enjoy it because it's just so freaking ... Key West. License plates and business cards hang on the walls, while bras hang from the ceiling. An enormous tree actually grows from the floor and up through the roof -- rumor has it that this was originally a "hanging tree" and no one wants to disturb the spirits by cutting it down. The upholstery is torn and the drinks are served in plastic cups.

7) The Governor's Palace, Williamsburg. Once home to Thomas Jefferson, it's opulent and fascinating, surrounded by gorgeous gardens (complete with mazes).

8) The Hollywood Sign. I'm not providing a link because what else do you possibly need to know about it?

9) Abraham Lincoln Museum in Springfield. I love feeling this close to the great man. He's become so mythic that sometimes he seems more like Santa Claus to me than a real, flesh and blood man, and it's here that he comes to life for me. That's why I like the Treasuries Gallery best. There you can see intimate items like the tiny framed photo and lock of his hair that Mary carried with her throughout her widowhood.

10) Paris Las Vegas Hotel. Hey! Gimme a break! It was a Manilow-free zone when I visited. Not that it was any less rich and silly when I stayed there. It still had it's very own Eiffel Tower!

Not what he expected

I have been carrying on a Facebook flirtation with a German national who lives England. He approached me with a message about my fondness for vodka -- I have it listed as a hobby, which amuses him.

When we first started chatting, he was all light and rather immature for the 30-something university professor he claims to be, so looked him up to see if he was for real. I found his page on the university's website and found that he is a history/political science professor.

Well! I'm not wasting this golden opportunity to find out how our country is viewed overseas, so I have been peppering him with questions. I still hear from him every evening and I'm learning a lot, but something tells me this isn't the breezy, breathless exchange he was expecting when he friended me.

Movie Monday -- Hidden Gems

Movies You Might Have Missed
Share great films you have discovered that most viewers don't know about. Take an opportunity to share your gems to enhance our Neflix queue, linking back here at The Bumbles Blog.

The Jane Austen Book Club. (2007) Five book-loving friends get together to discuss Jane Austen. They invite a sixth, a hot young man named Trey, who is recruited to be the new love interest of one of their newly-divorced club members. The thing of it is -- she doesn't know that's why he's there and neither does he. And, just like in a Jane Austen novel, the heart leads our characters any which way it wants to. Yes, it's a total chick flick, but it's romantic, sexy and a lot of fun. It's also the first time I was impressed by Emily Blunt, who plays the desperately realistic daughter of a hippie chick named "Skygirl."

This Property Is Condemned. (1966) Directed by Sydney Pollack, screenplay by Francis Ford Coppola, based on a story by Tennessee Williams, starring Robert Redford and Natalie Wood, with a cast that includes Dabney Coleman, Charles Bronson and Robert Blake. And yet, somehow, no one has ever heard of it! Nat is the hottest girl in a small town. Redford is the efficiency engineer for the railroad, who is in town to lay off employees and decimate the town -- do I need to tell you this is a Southern town where everyone speaks colorfully? -- and this will leave Nat without opportunities. She'd hate Redford for what he's doing if she wasn't so attracted to him … An interesting glimpse at icons early in their careers, and it's unfortunately relevant for economic times.

Clean Me -- Keep on keepin' on

Every day I am going to do something -- no matter how small -- to improve my standard of living at home.

Tonight I did more of the same: I bought another padded envelope and resumed collecting items for Operation: Shoebox. Then I tossed two pair of shoes and placed another in the bag for Goodwill.

The past week I felt kinda stalled on the "Clean Me" front, but now I realize that some of the processes I have in place feel like habits, which is a good thing.

I'm not watching the real-time Cub game. I'm now watching highlights of the 1984 season.

WGN TV is rerunning a special that gives me goosebumps -- Cubs Forever, a retrospective of the last 60 years of broadcasts.

I saw the game that rainy night in July 2005, when my best friend and I were there at Wrigley Field to see my beloved future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux get his landmark 300th strike out.

I know the Cubs are losing to the Dodgers right now, but I don't care really. After the All-Star break we begin again, and I'm predicting a winning streak and a third-place finish, behind Cincy and St. Louis. And then I will declare 2011 as The Year. And someday it will be. Because being a Cub fan is about hope and loyalty. Being a Cub fan is a metaphor for life.

An episode I have never seen before!

It's been said before, but I Love Lucy. And I just happened upon an episode that's new to me, "The Great Train Robbery." Original airdate: Monday, 10/31/55. It's the beginning of Season 5, and the Riccardos are returning from Hollywood by train.

A previously unseen -- at least by me -- adventure with the Riccardos and Mertzes! It's like discovering buried treasure!

Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing: Meme Of Many Odd Questions, Part One

Cheers to all of us thieves!

1. First thing you wash in the shower? My face.

2. What color is your favorite hoodie? I despises hoodies and don't own one.

3. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again? Yes.

4. Do you plan outfits? Only peripherally. I plan my PURSES, and then decide what to wear that won't clash with the bag.

5. How are you feeling RIGHT now? Warm.

6. What's the closest thing to you that's red? A can of Classic Coke.

7. Tell me about the last dream you remember having? That I was at a lecture about Jacqueline Kennedy's White House years.

8. Did you meet anybody new today? No.

9. What are you craving right now? A hug from my best friend. I promised I wouldn't tell him what's going on with a friend of both of ours and I'm honoring that. But it's very hard.

10. Do you floss? Yes, indeed. I'm a conscientious little flosser.

11. What comes to mind when I say cabbage? Corned beef.

12. Are you emotional? Every time I think of you.



13. Have you ever counted to 1,000? Yes. But it's a talent I don't call upon very often.

14. Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it? No. I prefer to enjoy my ice cream from a cup rather than a cone, so I use a spoon.

15. Do you like your hair? Sure. It's a little too long in the back just now, but I like it fine.

16. Do you like yourself? More often than not.

17. Would you go out to eat with George W. Bush? Depends on what's on the menu and who's paying.

18. What are you listening to right now? The closing theme from Law & Order: SVU.

19. Are your parents strict? No.They were more bark than bite.

20. Would you go sky diving? I'd consider it.

21. Do you like cottage cheese? Yech! No!

22. Have you ever met a celebrity? Met? Hell! How 'bout kissed? I kissed Bruce Springsteen, and even better, he kissed back.