Yes, I was. And I can firmly, and without reservation, place the blame on at least one suburban institution: Packy's. It was-- and still is, I think -- an areawide distributor of pre-pubescent deviance.
It's a candy store. (You sickos! What did you THINK I was talking about?!?!)
A real wall-to-wall shop full of penny, three-cent, five-cent and (for the big spenders) 15-cent candies.
I thought of it because a colleague of mine brought in a family-sized bag of what SHOULD be Halloween candy. Yeah, right. Like it's going to last that long!
I'm chewing on Sweet Tarts right now, having already eaten my strawberry Laffy Taffy. I took a small selection which includes Bottle Caps and Runts (oooh! there are not one or two, but THREE bananas in the Runts!!)
My parents taught me to share, so I brought another small selection to other colleagues and the talk began of Charleston Chews, Marathon bars and Slo-Pokes.
Okay, the conversation actually started with Lik M' Ade. Remember the fruity-flavored powder that you ate from the pouch by licking the weird-tasting, plastic-looking and dipping it into the powder?
Do you remember the long strips of strawberry (or were they cherry) licorice that you'd tie in knots before you eat it? What was that called? How about the candy bracelets and necklaces?
How I have ANY teeth left in my head is one of my family's biggest mysteries.
I've heard there's an online candy store where these cheap thrills still exist. Does anyone know the website??
Friday, October 21, 2005
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Things to do....
before I go:
- See all of the continents at least once
- Speak at least one other language fluently
- Write a novel and have it published
- Learn to express myself musically (singing or playing an instrument)
- Fall in love with someone WHO LOVES ME
- Learn how to tune up a car and do an oil change
- Find a satisfying, challenging and lucrative career
- Live, at least for a while, in another country
- Learn to golf reasonably well
- Fly first-class
- Live in a house w/a garden and a huge wrap-around porch
- Own shoes that were hand-made for me
- Do something worthy of a newspaper headline (an obit doesn't count)
- Be there when the Cubs win the World Series (maybe I'd settle for a pennant)
- Spend a weekend at a beach house (not in the Midwest, thank you)
- See my first love again
- Learn to swim (it's the underwater part that gets me)
- Have a hairstyle that both stylish and classic (and that I can recreate on a regular basis)
- Get one of my ideas patented or copyrighted or at least, sold
- Witness the miracle of birth
Bratty little Sox fans
My colleagues, several of whom couldn't name more than one White Sox player and think Ozzie Guillen is still the shortstop, are trying to instigate a dispute with me, a diehard Cub fan. The White Sox have won the American League pennant and are awaiting their rivals for the World Series, which begins this weekend. The Cubs are once again relegated to "waiting until next year" - - a phrase we coined, I think.
Trouble is....I don't care.
I leave for Australia in less than two weeks and for me, baseball season has been over for a few weeks now. I'm busy counting the days till Sydney and then Spring Training.
It reminds me of a situation a few years back with my ex-husband. It was a few weeks after we filed for divorce (amicably, I might add). We were riding an elevator to a courtroom where we could finalize things.
"I'm dating this girl and she told me that her ex-husband calls her Lucy, short for Lucifer," said the ex. (I suppressed the urge to laugh at the fact that my ex would be dating someone that reminds another person of the devil.)
"I have a nickname for you, too." He added, waiting anxiously for me to ask what possible monniker he could have for me when in the company of his (alcoholic, jobless, living-with-their-parents) friends.
A minute goes by...No answer.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see him squirm as he desperately wanted to impart this bit of information.
Just then, the elevator doors open and we arrive at the courtroom and the conversation-- the verbal poking-- is over.
Sox fans don't bug me, neither do ex-husbands.
Trouble is....I don't care.
I leave for Australia in less than two weeks and for me, baseball season has been over for a few weeks now. I'm busy counting the days till Sydney and then Spring Training.
It reminds me of a situation a few years back with my ex-husband. It was a few weeks after we filed for divorce (amicably, I might add). We were riding an elevator to a courtroom where we could finalize things.
"I'm dating this girl and she told me that her ex-husband calls her Lucy, short for Lucifer," said the ex. (I suppressed the urge to laugh at the fact that my ex would be dating someone that reminds another person of the devil.)
"I have a nickname for you, too." He added, waiting anxiously for me to ask what possible monniker he could have for me when in the company of his (alcoholic, jobless, living-with-their-parents) friends.
A minute goes by...No answer.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see him squirm as he desperately wanted to impart this bit of information.
Just then, the elevator doors open and we arrive at the courtroom and the conversation-- the verbal poking-- is over.
Sox fans don't bug me, neither do ex-husbands.
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Cultural enlightenment
In my continuing effort to experience culture on a worldwide (or is it worldwise?) basis, I happily accepted an invitation to a birthday party for my Mexican friend's 9-year-old son. I missed the smashing of the pinata, but I was thrilled to enjoy a margarita and some sinus-blazing mole and chicken. Wonderful!!!
Since I'd already enjoyed my friend's hospitality at a previous function, I wasn't surprised to find myself once again, the token gringa. A great opportunity to practice my Spanish (I can't even claim high-school Spanish since I took French.)
To really expand the whole cultural thing, I found myself heading out the door after having made a tentative date with another non-Mexican party guest (actually, I think we might have been the ONLY non-Mexicans.) You're going to love this - - he's the birthday boy's martial arts teacher, he's younger than me (somewhere between 25-31) and he's Romanian. Oh, it gets better!! He used to be a clothing designer and an exotic dancer.
Now THAT's how you end a weekend!
Since I'd already enjoyed my friend's hospitality at a previous function, I wasn't surprised to find myself once again, the token gringa. A great opportunity to practice my Spanish (I can't even claim high-school Spanish since I took French.)
To really expand the whole cultural thing, I found myself heading out the door after having made a tentative date with another non-Mexican party guest (actually, I think we might have been the ONLY non-Mexicans.) You're going to love this - - he's the birthday boy's martial arts teacher, he's younger than me (somewhere between 25-31) and he's Romanian. Oh, it gets better!! He used to be a clothing designer and an exotic dancer.
Now THAT's how you end a weekend!
Friday, October 14, 2005
Tough choice
If I've been asked once, I've been asked a thousand times recently...
"If the White Sox play the Cardinals in the World Series, who would you cheer for?"
Before I answer, let me provide some background info for my friends from outside the US. The folks for whom baseball is that "American thing."
Yes, the White Sox are a Chicago team, the hometown heroes (for this season, anyway). But here's the thing about the White Sox: their fans are cretins. Drunken, violent, rude blemishes on the baseball fandom scene. White Sox fans don't attend Sox games and when they do, they scream obscenities at the Sox and beat up parents in front of their children. Okay, we're not even going to MENTION the whole run-on-the-field-and-beat-up-elderly-coaches thing.
'Nuff said.
The Cardinals? Well, let me give you the proper full name of the team from St. Louis? They are the Rat-Bastard St. Louis Cardinals.
I used to attend the Cubs-Cardinals series in St. Louis every year, but stopped after a weekend a few years ago due to the inhospitable nature of the surroundings.
The Busch Stadium announcer gave the St. Louis lineup and I waited for the Cubs lineup to be announced. His voice dripping with condescension, the announcer said "And now, for the Chi-ca-go Cuuuubs."
Later in the game, the flashy electronic scoreboard featured the shell game except with Cardinals hats (three hats, one ball hidden under a hat, the hats fly around and fans guess which hat the ball is hidden under). Fine. Mindless fun for the attention-span deficient in the crowd.
Next on the scoreboard was the Cubs version, Cardinals' style. Three Cub hats and one ball. Except where the hats flew wildly in the Cardinals' shell game, the Cub hats drifted in a humiliatingly (?) slooooow motion with arrows pointing to the correct hat as if to imply that the Cubs were incompetent and simple-minded.
I'm all for rivalries among fans. That's where it should be, between the fans of respective teams. The organizations should stay out of it. Because, as the saying goes, "sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug."
Back to the original question, "who would I cheer for if the White Sox and the Cardinals meet in the World Series?"
My answer? The Chicago Bears! (yep, I'll be a football fan.)
"If the White Sox play the Cardinals in the World Series, who would you cheer for?"
Before I answer, let me provide some background info for my friends from outside the US. The folks for whom baseball is that "American thing."
Yes, the White Sox are a Chicago team, the hometown heroes (for this season, anyway). But here's the thing about the White Sox: their fans are cretins. Drunken, violent, rude blemishes on the baseball fandom scene. White Sox fans don't attend Sox games and when they do, they scream obscenities at the Sox and beat up parents in front of their children. Okay, we're not even going to MENTION the whole run-on-the-field-and-beat-up-elderly-coaches thing.
'Nuff said.
The Cardinals? Well, let me give you the proper full name of the team from St. Louis? They are the Rat-Bastard St. Louis Cardinals.
I used to attend the Cubs-Cardinals series in St. Louis every year, but stopped after a weekend a few years ago due to the inhospitable nature of the surroundings.
The Busch Stadium announcer gave the St. Louis lineup and I waited for the Cubs lineup to be announced. His voice dripping with condescension, the announcer said "And now, for the Chi-ca-go Cuuuubs."
Later in the game, the flashy electronic scoreboard featured the shell game except with Cardinals hats (three hats, one ball hidden under a hat, the hats fly around and fans guess which hat the ball is hidden under). Fine. Mindless fun for the attention-span deficient in the crowd.
Next on the scoreboard was the Cubs version, Cardinals' style. Three Cub hats and one ball. Except where the hats flew wildly in the Cardinals' shell game, the Cub hats drifted in a humiliatingly (?) slooooow motion with arrows pointing to the correct hat as if to imply that the Cubs were incompetent and simple-minded.
I'm all for rivalries among fans. That's where it should be, between the fans of respective teams. The organizations should stay out of it. Because, as the saying goes, "sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug."
Back to the original question, "who would I cheer for if the White Sox and the Cardinals meet in the World Series?"
My answer? The Chicago Bears! (yep, I'll be a football fan.)
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Back to bed, let's start this day over
I just received the second of two calls from the same phone company asking for a guy who hasn't worked in our US office in almost 3 years! No big deal if it's a "cold" sales call, but this was regarding a trouble ticket on a T1 line (tech stuff, which we deal with, in a separate division of our company).
Not wanting to get one of our clients disconnected from us, I took the information. It gets increasingly stranger. The trouble ticket was opened by a guy (from an East Coast company, possibly a client) who gave a callback number. When the phone company rep tried to call him back, the rep was told they never heard of him!?!?
The East Coast guy gave my former colleague's name (RL) and our current phone number as the "on-site" contact person. RL has never worked at our current location, so that phone number never belonged to him.
(Are you starting to hear the Twilight Zone music??)
On a completely separate stage in our bizarre circus, another colleague just cancelled on a group dinner for Friday. It seems his wife's cousin was driving to work yesterday morning in a small town in Illinois and pulled over because he wasn't feeling well.
He was found dead of a heart attack. HE WAS 39!
Not wanting to get one of our clients disconnected from us, I took the information. It gets increasingly stranger. The trouble ticket was opened by a guy (from an East Coast company, possibly a client) who gave a callback number. When the phone company rep tried to call him back, the rep was told they never heard of him!?!?
The East Coast guy gave my former colleague's name (RL) and our current phone number as the "on-site" contact person. RL has never worked at our current location, so that phone number never belonged to him.
(Are you starting to hear the Twilight Zone music??)
On a completely separate stage in our bizarre circus, another colleague just cancelled on a group dinner for Friday. It seems his wife's cousin was driving to work yesterday morning in a small town in Illinois and pulled over because he wasn't feeling well.
He was found dead of a heart attack. HE WAS 39!
Going (away) for broke
I'm one of those people who tries to pay off her credit card every month. Annoying, isn't it? I get frequent flier miles from one credit card, so it's fun to see the miles pile up (and plan yet another trip to use them!).
A few days ago, I had a bit of a scare when I opened my Visa bill. AARRGGHH!! Twenty-seven hundred dollars?!?!?! OMG! Where the hell did THAT come from?
Okay, tickets for Cubs games, sure I can see that. I wish I could say that that was money well spent except that the rat-bastard St. Louis Cardinals and the "other" Chicago team are still playing! Yeesh!
But I digress..
Oh, now I see it. Plane tickets! And, what's this? Asiarooms.com? Hmmn..oh, that's where I made my hotel reservations for my three-city Australia trip. (I leave soon!!!)
Some people have a talent for music or for painting, I have a talent for shopping, online shopping. No, not eBay (not much anyway). I shop for travel deals. I guess it's no coincidence that I didn't travel much pre-Internet. Without these websites, I don't think I could afford to go anywhere and boy! would that make The Writer a freakishly dull person!
Travelzoo.com, Kayak.com, Globester.com - - you name it, I've been there. And yes, I also utilize print mags, mostly Budget Travel.
Aside from the coronary caused by the Visa bill, the travel planning is just how I'd like it to be. By the time I leave for my trip, I will have all of my flights and three of my four hotels already paid for!! Of course, I usually plan this trip several months in advance, so my credit cards don't melt, but I was quite slothlike this year.
Get the bills paid, get the packing done, hold the mail service, pre-pay mortgage, etc. etc. It's hurry up and wait.
Is it time to leave yet??
A few days ago, I had a bit of a scare when I opened my Visa bill. AARRGGHH!! Twenty-seven hundred dollars?!?!?! OMG! Where the hell did THAT come from?
Okay, tickets for Cubs games, sure I can see that. I wish I could say that that was money well spent except that the rat-bastard St. Louis Cardinals and the "other" Chicago team are still playing! Yeesh!
But I digress..
Oh, now I see it. Plane tickets! And, what's this? Asiarooms.com? Hmmn..oh, that's where I made my hotel reservations for my three-city Australia trip. (I leave soon!!!)
Some people have a talent for music or for painting, I have a talent for shopping, online shopping. No, not eBay (not much anyway). I shop for travel deals. I guess it's no coincidence that I didn't travel much pre-Internet. Without these websites, I don't think I could afford to go anywhere and boy! would that make The Writer a freakishly dull person!
Travelzoo.com, Kayak.com, Globester.com - - you name it, I've been there. And yes, I also utilize print mags, mostly Budget Travel.
Aside from the coronary caused by the Visa bill, the travel planning is just how I'd like it to be. By the time I leave for my trip, I will have all of my flights and three of my four hotels already paid for!! Of course, I usually plan this trip several months in advance, so my credit cards don't melt, but I was quite slothlike this year.
Get the bills paid, get the packing done, hold the mail service, pre-pay mortgage, etc. etc. It's hurry up and wait.
Is it time to leave yet??
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Thought for the day
I must admit that I saw this on a the blog of a young fellow in India. I guess location doesn't matter because we are all the same, no matter our area code or the color of our skin.
"To be popular, live your life so that a blind person would like you."
So much of acceptance is tied to appearance. It's unfair, but true. They say that attractive people make more money in their lifetimes. Geez! Who needs a master's degree when all a person really needs is a nose job?
"To be popular, live your life so that a blind person would like you."
So much of acceptance is tied to appearance. It's unfair, but true. They say that attractive people make more money in their lifetimes. Geez! Who needs a master's degree when all a person really needs is a nose job?
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Unintentional humor..
If I didn't already mention it, I'm a really good shopper. By that I mean, I'm often able to find really good deals. Case in point: I found 1,000 threadcount (!) sheets on a clearance sale on a website called Bluefly.com. Hell! I've never even HEARD of 1,000 threadcount! OOOH, the luxury! the softness!
Anyway, I bought two sets: one queen set for me and one king set for my 77-year-old mom (because I am such a good daughter and I think my mom deserves such luxury! and also, she's the only person I know with a king-sized bed). About my mom: she's old-school, widowed, married in the 1940s, very prim and proper, considers "crap" a swear word. My mom recently remodeled her bedroom, so I thought the new sheets would be perfect for the new look in her room.
I asked my mom if she's used the new sheets yet.
"Not yet," she said.
"Oh, you're waiting for a special occasion?" I asked semi-seriously.
"What would be a special occasion for sheets?" my mom asked in all seriousness, mulling over Christmas with a decorative bedspread.
"Umm..." Could I name names in front of my mom or would that be tacky?
Anyway, I bought two sets: one queen set for me and one king set for my 77-year-old mom (because I am such a good daughter and I think my mom deserves such luxury! and also, she's the only person I know with a king-sized bed). About my mom: she's old-school, widowed, married in the 1940s, very prim and proper, considers "crap" a swear word. My mom recently remodeled her bedroom, so I thought the new sheets would be perfect for the new look in her room.
I asked my mom if she's used the new sheets yet.
"Not yet," she said.
"Oh, you're waiting for a special occasion?" I asked semi-seriously.
"What would be a special occasion for sheets?" my mom asked in all seriousness, mulling over Christmas with a decorative bedspread.
"Umm..." Could I name names in front of my mom or would that be tacky?
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
um...what was the question again?
You know how you never come up with the appropriate response until the question is too far in the past?
Most of the men I'll meet from here on out will be divorced with children and the conversation will, no doubt, go something like this:
Me: "So, how many kids do you have?"
Him: "Two" (or three or whatever) And you?"
Me: "I don't have any."
Him: "Oh? Do you want to have kids?"
Me: "Can we have dinner first?"
If he doesn't laugh, it means, a) he left his sense of humor in the car or, b) he's freaked out at even the THOUGHT of having more kids or c) in his mind, he's jumped ahead to the MAKING kids part.
I'll let you know when/if I get to use this.
Most of the men I'll meet from here on out will be divorced with children and the conversation will, no doubt, go something like this:
Me: "So, how many kids do you have?"
Him: "Two" (or three or whatever) And you?"
Me: "I don't have any."
Him: "Oh? Do you want to have kids?"
Me: "Can we have dinner first?"
If he doesn't laugh, it means, a) he left his sense of humor in the car or, b) he's freaked out at even the THOUGHT of having more kids or c) in his mind, he's jumped ahead to the MAKING kids part.
I'll let you know when/if I get to use this.
Monday, October 03, 2005
No news is good news
Remember Teddy Bear? the Cubs employee with whom I had dinner not once but twice? (Sorry, but I had to write it with correct grammar to illustrate just how mismatched we were.)
I haven't heard anything from him and today is the day he drives back to Miami (where he lives WITH HIS PARENTS AT 43 YEARS OF AGE!!!!) He said that he prefers to drive at night, so he just stays up till about midnight or so and then takes off. Yeah, that's safe!
While they played in Houston, I left a voicemail message on his cell phone that went something like this, "Hi, it's xxxxx, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry things didn't work out with us, but I hope that doesn't mean we can't be friends. I know you've already got about a thousand friends in Chicago, but if you'd like one more, that would be great. If not, I guess I can understand that. Be safe driving home and have a good off-season. Bye."
You knew I'd HAVE to finish this, if not in person, at least on voicemail. And, actually, he was very interesting to talk to especially since he did almost ALL of the talking (including juicy stuff about his colleagues).
Of course, the only guy I've met in the last few years that has an interest in baseball and he turns out to be a Cro-Magnon. Are sports fans and educated men separate species or what?
I haven't heard anything from him and today is the day he drives back to Miami (where he lives WITH HIS PARENTS AT 43 YEARS OF AGE!!!!) He said that he prefers to drive at night, so he just stays up till about midnight or so and then takes off. Yeah, that's safe!
While they played in Houston, I left a voicemail message on his cell phone that went something like this, "Hi, it's xxxxx, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry things didn't work out with us, but I hope that doesn't mean we can't be friends. I know you've already got about a thousand friends in Chicago, but if you'd like one more, that would be great. If not, I guess I can understand that. Be safe driving home and have a good off-season. Bye."
You knew I'd HAVE to finish this, if not in person, at least on voicemail. And, actually, he was very interesting to talk to especially since he did almost ALL of the talking (including juicy stuff about his colleagues).
Of course, the only guy I've met in the last few years that has an interest in baseball and he turns out to be a Cro-Magnon. Are sports fans and educated men separate species or what?
A little light reading
My living room is illuminated by the lights of Wrigley Field although I know no game is being played there. The construction crews must be there, planning and scheduling the new bleacher seats that were finally approved.
For everyone else, it's fall. For me, it's the off-season. My plan for the next 190-odd days until Opening Day 2006 is to become a total baseball geek. Toward that end, I just bought the Cultural Encyclopedia of Baseball, an 888-page tome of baseball facts, figures and great stories. No, that was not a typo, it is almost 900 pages of minutae about my favorite sport.
Did you know that slugger Jose Canseco was voted to the All-Star team in 1990 despite HAVING NOT PLAYED AT ALL THAT YEAR DUE TO INJURY.
Another thing...when the Giants and the Dodgers moved out to the west coast in the 1950s, Major League Baseball instituted a rule that stated that in the event of a plane crash, the remaining teams would have to volunteer a player to make up for the missing team. MLB still have a version of this rules in the books somewhere. Just creeps me out thinking about it!
Okay, I'm a total dork.
One more....in the Venezuela winter leagues, the fans have been known to throw iguanas at the players! Maybe that's why our shitty centerfield Corey Patterson doesn't want to play winter ball!
How many more days till Spring Training?
For everyone else, it's fall. For me, it's the off-season. My plan for the next 190-odd days until Opening Day 2006 is to become a total baseball geek. Toward that end, I just bought the Cultural Encyclopedia of Baseball, an 888-page tome of baseball facts, figures and great stories. No, that was not a typo, it is almost 900 pages of minutae about my favorite sport.
Did you know that slugger Jose Canseco was voted to the All-Star team in 1990 despite HAVING NOT PLAYED AT ALL THAT YEAR DUE TO INJURY.
Another thing...when the Giants and the Dodgers moved out to the west coast in the 1950s, Major League Baseball instituted a rule that stated that in the event of a plane crash, the remaining teams would have to volunteer a player to make up for the missing team. MLB still have a version of this rules in the books somewhere. Just creeps me out thinking about it!
Okay, I'm a total dork.
One more....in the Venezuela winter leagues, the fans have been known to throw iguanas at the players! Maybe that's why our shitty centerfield Corey Patterson doesn't want to play winter ball!
How many more days till Spring Training?
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
And the rains came..
As I look out at the blue "L" flag that waves over the centerfield bleachers, it seems that today's rain-soaked loss was actually a fitting end to the Cubs' home season at Wrigley Field. Trailing 3-2 in the ninth inning, the Cubs managed to load the bases but couldn't squeeze in a single run and lost the final home game of the 2005 season.The Cub fans, thousands of whom joined yours truly in their seats despite the pouring rain, gave a collective sigh as yet another disappointing season nears its close.
This game was especially indicative of the inconsistent Cubs season; Mark Prior, one of our aces, hit one batter and walked two more to load the bases in the first inning (but miraculously emerged unscored upon); Derrek Lee, our top hitter, could not take advantage of the wind blowing out to center field and went homerless; Nomar Garciaparra, the former Red Sox icon and our substitute third baseman, threw away a routine groundball, giving away a run.
The only highlights for me were 1) the Wrigley Field groundscrew sang "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" in the seventh inning and 2) rookie pitcher Roberto Novoa was hazed by his teammates and appeared from the postgame locker room dressed in the white and gold robes and high hat of the pope!
It's hard to explain...this end-of-season sadness. Of course, it isn't nearly as shattering as in
2003 when the Cubs were in the playoffs. That year, it was exciting, thrilling...and heartbreaking.
The pieces never quite fit the puzzle for this year's team, so not qualifying for post-season isn't as disappointing as in 03. This feeling, this my-friends-are-all-going-on-vacation-without-me has become an annual melancholy for me. So much of my summertime fun is tied into days and nights at Wrigley Field.
For so many years now, I've watched the ivy turn from April's dead brown vines to thick, lush green in June and (in that magic/tragic season of 03) to October's red! Watching the grounds crew draw the foul lines on the field and the batter's box the old-fashioned way - -no automatic anything here! Hearing Wayne Messmer sing the national anthem (can we make a Wrigleyville home-rule law that states that no one else can sing it?)
And, of course, Wrigley Field would not be the same without the people who work there. The people who have become my 6-months-a-year friends. The security guards (with whom I've PROMISED to have a beer in the off-season), the ticket sellers, the beer guys (one of whom bought ME a beer today!) and of course, my favorite employee, my adopted Cubs grandma who works behind home plate. It's always hard to say goodbye to her, as she's in her mid-80s now and I always leave with the fear that next spring will start without her.
Well, my boys go to Houston now, to try to spoil the Astros' post-season hopes. And on Monday, they pack up and go home, wherever that may be. They scatter to the wind and in the spring, some will be back and some won't.
Pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training in February 2006. I'll be there in March.
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Me and Rudolph
Looking down at my polka dot tennis shoes (which I call my "Island of Misfit Toys shoes"), I remembered the story of Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer. Me and Rudy, we have a lot in common. We both want to be accepted and loved for who we are, not who people think we should be.
Allow me to explain...
Teddy Bear and I went out to dinner two nights in a row, both times to restaurants of my choice because his choice was not open. The first night, I fixed my hair the same way it was when he first saw me (a few hours earlier...hot day..needed a shower) and dressed nicely but not too fancy.
We had a nice time and he told me TONS about himself and his coworkers. The former sports writer in me was thrilled! He also told me several times how surprised he was about our meeting; he usually leaves work early and this time he stayed late; he'd never seen me at the game until that day; he usually eats at the park and didn't this time (the reason for our dinner). He was so pleasantly surprised that I called.
After talking to me for about an hour, he asked if I might be able to join him at a charity event that the Cubs were having in November. (Okay, he's planning a date 2 months in advance?!?!)
He wanted to go out again the next night and even offered to pick me up from work! (no thanks)
The next night, I wore my hair as I normally do with a bit of wave in it and I'll have to admit that I wasn't as dressed up as the first night. (Probably because I'd already decided that this relationship wasn't going anywhere).
I got into his car and he immediately asked if I cut my hair.
No.
But it looks a lot shorter.
That's because it's a bit wavy, but no I didn't cut it.
Really?
Yes.
I noticed that he was dressed nicer than I was. I apologized for not being so dressed up (but, jeez, it was a Monday night!). I told him I didn't want him to have to wait for me.
I hate being late.
That's okay, I would've waited.
(Does that mean that I should've dressed better? Or that he's not impatient? Or that he expected me to be more high-maintenance?)
Whatever, it was a nice evening. Well, as nice as it can be with a man with whom I'll have no future.
He mentioned that he has some friends coming into town over the weekend. I wasn't invited to join them. Kinda strange since he was already inviting me to a public event in November.
Anyway, I ran into him on Friday (did I mention that he lives in the building next door?) He said he'd call me later.
Friday night comes and goes. No call. Saturday comes and goes. No call. Went to both Cubs games and he saw me both times.
Sunday, I go to the Cubs game with Firecracker and as she and I are chatting with Security Guy after the game, Teddy Bear pulls up and chats with SG. (That's good because I pretended to be very involved airing out my umbrella and not seeing him.)
After TB drives away, SG (who originally set me up with TB) said that he told Teddy Bear how he's making SG look bad by not calling me. TB comes back with something about telling me he had friends in town. (Great! Now I look needy!)
Since we've only been out twice, we can't be expected to know each other's signals. When he says "later," that must mean later this week or next week or next lifetime. Who's to know?
I guess it doesn't really matter since I was planning to let this whole thing die a natural death in the off-season. And besides that, he seems to want me to fit this mold of the player's wife/girlfriend. Dressy outfits to baseball games, perfect long blond hair (in a rain delay??), always smiling and laughing (after a one-run loss?). Or maybe I'm just imagining that last one. I don't know.
I really don't think he'd dig the "Island of Misfit Toys shoes."
Allow me to explain...
Teddy Bear and I went out to dinner two nights in a row, both times to restaurants of my choice because his choice was not open. The first night, I fixed my hair the same way it was when he first saw me (a few hours earlier...hot day..needed a shower) and dressed nicely but not too fancy.
We had a nice time and he told me TONS about himself and his coworkers. The former sports writer in me was thrilled! He also told me several times how surprised he was about our meeting; he usually leaves work early and this time he stayed late; he'd never seen me at the game until that day; he usually eats at the park and didn't this time (the reason for our dinner). He was so pleasantly surprised that I called.
After talking to me for about an hour, he asked if I might be able to join him at a charity event that the Cubs were having in November. (Okay, he's planning a date 2 months in advance?!?!)
He wanted to go out again the next night and even offered to pick me up from work! (no thanks)
The next night, I wore my hair as I normally do with a bit of wave in it and I'll have to admit that I wasn't as dressed up as the first night. (Probably because I'd already decided that this relationship wasn't going anywhere).
I got into his car and he immediately asked if I cut my hair.
No.
But it looks a lot shorter.
That's because it's a bit wavy, but no I didn't cut it.
Really?
Yes.
I noticed that he was dressed nicer than I was. I apologized for not being so dressed up (but, jeez, it was a Monday night!). I told him I didn't want him to have to wait for me.
I hate being late.
That's okay, I would've waited.
(Does that mean that I should've dressed better? Or that he's not impatient? Or that he expected me to be more high-maintenance?)
Whatever, it was a nice evening. Well, as nice as it can be with a man with whom I'll have no future.
He mentioned that he has some friends coming into town over the weekend. I wasn't invited to join them. Kinda strange since he was already inviting me to a public event in November.
Anyway, I ran into him on Friday (did I mention that he lives in the building next door?) He said he'd call me later.
Friday night comes and goes. No call. Saturday comes and goes. No call. Went to both Cubs games and he saw me both times.
Sunday, I go to the Cubs game with Firecracker and as she and I are chatting with Security Guy after the game, Teddy Bear pulls up and chats with SG. (That's good because I pretended to be very involved airing out my umbrella and not seeing him.)
After TB drives away, SG (who originally set me up with TB) said that he told Teddy Bear how he's making SG look bad by not calling me. TB comes back with something about telling me he had friends in town. (Great! Now I look needy!)
Since we've only been out twice, we can't be expected to know each other's signals. When he says "later," that must mean later this week or next week or next lifetime. Who's to know?
I guess it doesn't really matter since I was planning to let this whole thing die a natural death in the off-season. And besides that, he seems to want me to fit this mold of the player's wife/girlfriend. Dressy outfits to baseball games, perfect long blond hair (in a rain delay??), always smiling and laughing (after a one-run loss?). Or maybe I'm just imagining that last one. I don't know.
I really don't think he'd dig the "Island of Misfit Toys shoes."
Monday, September 19, 2005
Weirdness is all its forms
Am I in the right office? What's going on here? It's past noon and so far everyone here has been polite, friendly and downright HELPFUL! What's up with this? Am I dying and no one told me? Have I been fired??
OMG, someone just said "thank you!"
This is freaking me out.
Actually, the past 24 hours have been pretty weird. Not the tiniest of weirdness is that fact that I had a DATE!! last night! Yep, don't faint, but a guy saw me outside Wrigley Field yesterday and gave his phone number to a mutual friend and asked that I call him. (yes, we're back in high school.)
More out of curiosity than anything else, I called him. He seemed nice, but a bit rough around the edges (uses words like "ain't"). Okay, so I'm a grammar snob, sue me.
He suggested I come over to his place (he lives in the building NEXT DOOR!) I declined, but offered to go someplace for a drink. He asked if I'd eaten dinner yet, since I hadn't we agree to grab something to eat.
Of course, I didn't know what he looked like, so this could've been problematic. I peeked in the window of the white Cadillac Escalade that pulled up outside my building and he's: a few years older, but not much; dark hair and goatee; kinda teddy bear-shaped.
The restaurant he chose was closed (Sunday night), so it was up to me to pick a place. I found a tiny cafe that's hidden under a Gold Coast apartment building. It was quiet with (I hoped) decent food.
My friends know that I am never at a loss for words (to put it nicely), but this guy is positively chatty. I learned quite a bit about him, but apparently I didn't bore him because he wants to go out again tonight. He even offered to pick me up from work because he doesn't work today.
Oh, did I mention that his employer is my favorite baseball team?
OMG, someone just said "thank you!"
This is freaking me out.
Actually, the past 24 hours have been pretty weird. Not the tiniest of weirdness is that fact that I had a DATE!! last night! Yep, don't faint, but a guy saw me outside Wrigley Field yesterday and gave his phone number to a mutual friend and asked that I call him. (yes, we're back in high school.)
More out of curiosity than anything else, I called him. He seemed nice, but a bit rough around the edges (uses words like "ain't"). Okay, so I'm a grammar snob, sue me.
He suggested I come over to his place (he lives in the building NEXT DOOR!) I declined, but offered to go someplace for a drink. He asked if I'd eaten dinner yet, since I hadn't we agree to grab something to eat.
Of course, I didn't know what he looked like, so this could've been problematic. I peeked in the window of the white Cadillac Escalade that pulled up outside my building and he's: a few years older, but not much; dark hair and goatee; kinda teddy bear-shaped.
The restaurant he chose was closed (Sunday night), so it was up to me to pick a place. I found a tiny cafe that's hidden under a Gold Coast apartment building. It was quiet with (I hoped) decent food.
My friends know that I am never at a loss for words (to put it nicely), but this guy is positively chatty. I learned quite a bit about him, but apparently I didn't bore him because he wants to go out again tonight. He even offered to pick me up from work because he doesn't work today.
Oh, did I mention that his employer is my favorite baseball team?
Friday, September 16, 2005
Another Walk Home Day completed. Every week, I something different...or at least differentLY.
I came to a pond near Lincoln Park Zoo and spotted a collection of pointy little aquatic arrows like a geometric landscape frozen into the water. But it's September and there is no ice. Then I heard it...the honking of a gaggle of geese leaving a wake as they cruised determinedly (sp?) toward some park visitors that maybe? had some food??
A bit later, I came across the tiniest of dirt beaches on which lay perfect granite statues, only feathered. Some ducks sat flat on the dirt but most stood completely motionless on one foot with their bill tucked neatly under one wing, SLEEPING! How incredible!
As I got closer to home, I noticed that shadows had long ago shaded my path and a cool breeze had kicked up. The days were getting shorter.
I don't plan to discontinue my WHDs, but the calendar may call for changes.
I can A) leave work earlier; or B) walk faster or, dare I say it? RUN; or C) shorten my WHD.
Since work is getting busier, leaving earlier is a "no can do. " As for B, I walk pretty fast to begin with (as most of my friends and ex-boyfriends will attest to) and running??? I do not runn* unless someone is chasing me...and they're armed! (*it should be a four-letter word).
So that leaves me with C, shortening my WHD. I'm thinking I could cut about 30 minutes off by taking a bus or L train to the north end of the loop. It's cheating, I know, and not as much exercise. And I'll miss daydreaming over the gorgeous stone mansions just south of North Avenue.
We'll see.
I came to a pond near Lincoln Park Zoo and spotted a collection of pointy little aquatic arrows like a geometric landscape frozen into the water. But it's September and there is no ice. Then I heard it...the honking of a gaggle of geese leaving a wake as they cruised determinedly (sp?) toward some park visitors that maybe? had some food??
A bit later, I came across the tiniest of dirt beaches on which lay perfect granite statues, only feathered. Some ducks sat flat on the dirt but most stood completely motionless on one foot with their bill tucked neatly under one wing, SLEEPING! How incredible!
As I got closer to home, I noticed that shadows had long ago shaded my path and a cool breeze had kicked up. The days were getting shorter.
I don't plan to discontinue my WHDs, but the calendar may call for changes.
I can A) leave work earlier; or B) walk faster or, dare I say it? RUN; or C) shorten my WHD.
Since work is getting busier, leaving earlier is a "no can do. " As for B, I walk pretty fast to begin with (as most of my friends and ex-boyfriends will attest to) and running??? I do not runn* unless someone is chasing me...and they're armed! (*it should be a four-letter word).
So that leaves me with C, shortening my WHD. I'm thinking I could cut about 30 minutes off by taking a bus or L train to the north end of the loop. It's cheating, I know, and not as much exercise. And I'll miss daydreaming over the gorgeous stone mansions just south of North Avenue.
We'll see.
Do I need this?
I met a guy, actually two guys, while I was at the Cubs game the other night. One wanted my complete attention and the other wanted my money.
No, I wasn't robbed.
At least I don't think I was. Okay, on second thought, I probably was.
The first guy I'll called the Unfan, walked past me in the ballpark, but stopped and came back. I was sitting in the first row of the aisle next to a bunch of empty seats. He asked if they were taken (what is this, a movie theatre?) and I said that I didn't know. He sat down two seats from me and started talking to me and NEVER STOPPED!
His name is Matt and he's at the game because a friend of his gave him these tickets at the last minute. Does he go to a lot of games? No. He doesn't really think of it (his words). He doesn't really like to watch games. He then proceeded to tell me that his favorite baseball player was Roberto Clemente (what? when you were about 2?, I was thinking)
That's when I stopped listening.
Attention male sports event spectators!!! If a woman is attending a sporting event alone, she is probably a big fan of that sport and WANTS TO WATCH THE GAME so shut the F up!
After the fourth inning, I really had to go to the loo, so I excused myself, saying "bathroom break" and did just that. Of course, I didn't come back to my seat, instead searching out a Wrigley Field employee who allowed me to sit closer to homeplate (since it wasn't a sellout).
Whew!
After the game, things got really weird. While walking home, I met an East Coast guy who told me that he was supposed to get a ride to the airport from a friend of a friend, but that guy got arrested and his car is impounded (with Bahston guy's luggage, wallet and cell phone in it). He needs $12 to get this guy bailed out because the jailee has $82 and bail is $100.
As I write this, I'm thinking it was a scam. God is getting back at me for delaying my contribution to the Katrina recovery. (There are so many ways to contribute, I'm trying to decide whether to just give $$ or volunteer at the Red Cross or what.)
Anyway, this guy used my cell phone to call the friend who set up the ride (and leave him a nasty message about his situation). And yes, I did check the number and got a pre-recorded message about the party not being available. Totally suspicious.
Okay, yes I did give this idiot some $$ (not much) and directions to the Belmont/Western police station (where the jailee was supposedly being held).
Oh, and Bahston guy told me he just signed a rental agreement in the highrise across the street from me and is moving to Chicago to open a bar in Wrigleyville. He asked me to write down my name and cell phone number so he can call me and return the money. Yeah, right!
Great, just what we need...more bars in Wrigleyville and more men with no common sense...or even worse, more scam artists!
If this is what's out there on the singles scene, maybe my mom was right: I should've become a nun!
No, I wasn't robbed.
At least I don't think I was. Okay, on second thought, I probably was.
The first guy I'll called the Unfan, walked past me in the ballpark, but stopped and came back. I was sitting in the first row of the aisle next to a bunch of empty seats. He asked if they were taken (what is this, a movie theatre?) and I said that I didn't know. He sat down two seats from me and started talking to me and NEVER STOPPED!
His name is Matt and he's at the game because a friend of his gave him these tickets at the last minute. Does he go to a lot of games? No. He doesn't really think of it (his words). He doesn't really like to watch games. He then proceeded to tell me that his favorite baseball player was Roberto Clemente (what? when you were about 2?, I was thinking)
That's when I stopped listening.
Attention male sports event spectators!!! If a woman is attending a sporting event alone, she is probably a big fan of that sport and WANTS TO WATCH THE GAME so shut the F up!
After the fourth inning, I really had to go to the loo, so I excused myself, saying "bathroom break" and did just that. Of course, I didn't come back to my seat, instead searching out a Wrigley Field employee who allowed me to sit closer to homeplate (since it wasn't a sellout).
Whew!
After the game, things got really weird. While walking home, I met an East Coast guy who told me that he was supposed to get a ride to the airport from a friend of a friend, but that guy got arrested and his car is impounded (with Bahston guy's luggage, wallet and cell phone in it). He needs $12 to get this guy bailed out because the jailee has $82 and bail is $100.
As I write this, I'm thinking it was a scam. God is getting back at me for delaying my contribution to the Katrina recovery. (There are so many ways to contribute, I'm trying to decide whether to just give $$ or volunteer at the Red Cross or what.)
Anyway, this guy used my cell phone to call the friend who set up the ride (and leave him a nasty message about his situation). And yes, I did check the number and got a pre-recorded message about the party not being available. Totally suspicious.
Okay, yes I did give this idiot some $$ (not much) and directions to the Belmont/Western police station (where the jailee was supposedly being held).
Oh, and Bahston guy told me he just signed a rental agreement in the highrise across the street from me and is moving to Chicago to open a bar in Wrigleyville. He asked me to write down my name and cell phone number so he can call me and return the money. Yeah, right!
Great, just what we need...more bars in Wrigleyville and more men with no common sense...or even worse, more scam artists!
If this is what's out there on the singles scene, maybe my mom was right: I should've become a nun!
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Phrase of the day
Here's the situation: two new people work in our office and, little by little, they are screwing with everyone's work; calling external contractors who have already been called; telling longtime colleagues how to do their jobs; creating conference schedules that already exist - - you get the picture.
I'm calling it "blind polka."
Toes will be stepped on, bruising will occur. The best thing to do is stay out of their way and wait until they get tired of the dance and sit down.
I'm calling it "blind polka."
Toes will be stepped on, bruising will occur. The best thing to do is stay out of their way and wait until they get tired of the dance and sit down.
Sunday, September 11, 2005
Grab and go
Today is September 11 and I don't know anyone who needs to be reminded of what this day means to Americans. Watching the TV movies showing the collapse of the Twin Towers and the destruction at the Pentagon makes one think of what's important. Thousands of people left for work in the morning, just like any other day. But they never came home.
For more than a week now, we've been hearing the stories of the evacuees from Hurricane Katrina. People in Louisiana and Mississippi left behind their clothes, family photos, all of their wordly belongings and even their beloved family pets to escape the water and save their lives.
If my life were being threatened by wind, water, fire or manmade hostilities, what would I take with me?
What would you take?
For more than a week now, we've been hearing the stories of the evacuees from Hurricane Katrina. People in Louisiana and Mississippi left behind their clothes, family photos, all of their wordly belongings and even their beloved family pets to escape the water and save their lives.
If my life were being threatened by wind, water, fire or manmade hostilities, what would I take with me?
What would you take?
A change in the air
What is it about a change of seasons that makes a person want to change other things??
Of course, I recognize that it's normal for me to get antsy at this time of year; the school kids are buying supplies and new clothes and preparing for a new school year; the level of busy-ness at work escalates; and I finalize plans for my annual birthday trip.
But this year, with a lot of help from HGTV (Home and Garden television, for those out-of-US folks), I've been planning some remodeling. Okay, let's be honest: I've been "planning" to remodel my 1950s-era bathroom for the entire three years that I've lived in my condo. Until lately, this "planning" has been entirely confined to the small, crowded space between my ears. But this weekend, I actually went out to price a new tub, sink, shower doors, etc.
I have one thing to say: AAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
Those people that know me will not be at all surprised to discover that pretty much everything that I liked was the MOST EXPENSIVE item available! i.e. the tub is $1200, the shower door(s) is $1900 (plus $350 for nickel finish instead of chrome), the sink.....okay, don't even get me started on sinks!
Did I mention that my bathroom is the smallest bathroom known to man? I call it the "mini pee."
I haven't even given much thought to tile, although I'm leaning toward only tiling the tub area and leaving the rest of the walls for paint.
After hearing how much I would be spending on this tiny space, I was offered the services of an interior designer...for free! Something for free? OMG, I think I'll faint! The designer's job is to provide ideas to the homeowner.
Um, well, I've never really been short of ideas. For example, instead of a regular bathroom door, I'd like to put in a pocket door (slides into the wall) and install a 6-inch deep cabinet into the behind-the-door space. Of course, the cabinet would have to be custom-made. $$$
I've got some info on a guy who should be able to do the work for me. (He's a young Polish guy with a strange name, but he answers to "Jimmy.") A friend of mine had her bathroom remodeled by this guy and he was done in 2 weeks. I'll have to check my calendar...for next spring, I think.
I took notes on manufacturers and style names so now it's up to me to find better prices and if there is one thing I am good at, it's getting the most for my money!
Oh, and if all goes well, my bedroom is next on the schedule. How does yellow walls, a white ceiling and bamboo wood floors sound? I'm going for a summer beach house look.
Wish me luck!!
Of course, I recognize that it's normal for me to get antsy at this time of year; the school kids are buying supplies and new clothes and preparing for a new school year; the level of busy-ness at work escalates; and I finalize plans for my annual birthday trip.
But this year, with a lot of help from HGTV (Home and Garden television, for those out-of-US folks), I've been planning some remodeling. Okay, let's be honest: I've been "planning" to remodel my 1950s-era bathroom for the entire three years that I've lived in my condo. Until lately, this "planning" has been entirely confined to the small, crowded space between my ears. But this weekend, I actually went out to price a new tub, sink, shower doors, etc.
I have one thing to say: AAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
Those people that know me will not be at all surprised to discover that pretty much everything that I liked was the MOST EXPENSIVE item available! i.e. the tub is $1200, the shower door(s) is $1900 (plus $350 for nickel finish instead of chrome), the sink.....okay, don't even get me started on sinks!
Did I mention that my bathroom is the smallest bathroom known to man? I call it the "mini pee."
I haven't even given much thought to tile, although I'm leaning toward only tiling the tub area and leaving the rest of the walls for paint.
After hearing how much I would be spending on this tiny space, I was offered the services of an interior designer...for free! Something for free? OMG, I think I'll faint! The designer's job is to provide ideas to the homeowner.
Um, well, I've never really been short of ideas. For example, instead of a regular bathroom door, I'd like to put in a pocket door (slides into the wall) and install a 6-inch deep cabinet into the behind-the-door space. Of course, the cabinet would have to be custom-made. $$$
I've got some info on a guy who should be able to do the work for me. (He's a young Polish guy with a strange name, but he answers to "Jimmy.") A friend of mine had her bathroom remodeled by this guy and he was done in 2 weeks. I'll have to check my calendar...for next spring, I think.
I took notes on manufacturers and style names so now it's up to me to find better prices and if there is one thing I am good at, it's getting the most for my money!
Oh, and if all goes well, my bedroom is next on the schedule. How does yellow walls, a white ceiling and bamboo wood floors sound? I'm going for a summer beach house look.
Wish me luck!!
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