Saturday, June 12, 2010

Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing: The Dark Side Meme

1. You’re building your dream house. What’s the one thing that this house absolutely, positively MUST HAVE? (other than the obvious basics of course) A good location. I want to be able to leave the house and walk around in a neighborhood that makes me feel comfortable and welcome.

2. What is your dream car? One that comes with a driver.

3. What is your favorite website that isn’t a blog?

4. iPhone 4 or Droid, which do you want? I'd prefer the cash, thank you.

5. When you’re feeling down or lonely or just generally out of sorts, what do you do to cheer yourself up? I turn to Cubs baseball, or I listen to The Beatles. Those two things have been cheering me up for decades now.

6. Tell me about something or someone that you love that most people seem to hate. Nancy Grace. She's so hideous, so hostile, so inconsistent and insincere, she's sublime.

7. What do you want to be when you grow up? A great singer/actress. Being tone-deaf and plain got in the way.

8. Would you go on a reality show if given the chance? NO! Dear God, no.

9. Who was your favorite teacher when you were growing up. (Grade school, Middle School, Jr. High or High School only.) My third grade teacher. She made us all feel as though there truly are "no bad ideas."

10. You get one pass to do something illegal or immoral. What are you gonna do? Sleep with someone I shouldn't.

11. What were you doing 10 years ago? Trying to decide if I wanted to buy or continue renting.

12. By this time next year, I ... want to both my body and home to look and feel better.

13. Do you think the United States will elect a female President in your lifetime? Do you think this would be a good thing? Yes, I do. And whether it's a good or a bad thing depends on the woman.

14. Which fictional, TV show character you would shag anytime? Leroy Jethro Gibbs of NCIS

15. What is your greatest pet peeve? People who are so in love with their own victim status they do nothing to change it.

16. Tell me about your most recent trip of more than 100 miles? Our client is located 114 miles south of here. I went down there last Thursday. The creative presentation went well, and I rewarded myself with a trip to their local mall, which includes an A&W, so I had a root beer float.

17. Which do you use more often, the dictionary or the thesaurus? Thesaurus

18. Do you have a nickname? What is it? My nicknames come and go. Years ago, my dad called me, "Tiger."

19. What are you dreading at the moment? Being old, poor, and dependent.

20. Do you worry that others will judge you from reading some of your answers? No.

21. In two words, explain what ended your last relationship. His youth.

22. What were you doing this morning at 8am? Hitting the snooze-alarm.

23. Do you have any famous relatives? No.

24. How many different beverages have you drank today? 5 (water, milk, coke, juice, vodka)

25. What is something you are excited about? My nephew and I are going to the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field this Thursday. It's Ryan Theriot Juicy Fruit Bobblehead Day at the ball park. (Doesn't it look more like Tom Cruise?)

26. When was the last time you spoke in front of a large group? It was a presentation for work in February. The conference room was pretty packed. I think I did rather well.


28. What were you doing at midnight last night? Snoring

29. What’s a word that you say a lot? "Actually"

30. Who is your worst enemy? Me

Weird day

I was having a good day. It began with a very virtuous morning -- returning my library book on time, mailing a box of paperbacks off to Operation: Shoebox, and donating a bag of groceries to the local food pantry. I rewarded myself with a lovely lunch at FlatTop Grill (including a "taste size" Triple Chocolate Storm for dessert, as I'm back on my diet tomorrow). Took a nap, and then watched a nearly satisfying Cubs game (see below).

Then I made my mistake -- checking in with my mom. Once again, something that has nothing to do with me is MY FAULT. It's as though in this family, my culpability is pre-destined, as though the dictate came from on high: Everything is always MY FAULT.

My oldest friend began preparing her home for possible sale back in the spring. She asked me if my brother-in-law (a maintenance worker by trade) would be willing to make some extra money, doing extra jobs around her house. I conveyed her question to him. He said that since money in their house was going to be tight for months to come, he was eager to do it. So I gave him her number.

He didn't call. He forgot. Fine, whatever. Shit happens.

More than a month went by. My friend wrote out a list of projects she wanted my brother-in-law to do and handed it to my niece to take home and place in her dad's hand. My niece complied.

So I heard (through my mother) that my brother-in-law called my oldest friend "yesterday" and she "still" hasn't called back. Give me a fucking break. The woman is a single, working mother, trying to decide whether or not to change jobs, sell her home and move 2000 miles away this summer, and my sister* is upset that she didn't return my brother-in-law's months overdue call instantly.

So my brother-in-law finally makes his way to my oldest friend's house last Saturday. He spent the day there, accomplishing everything on her list. She paid him, and mentioned to me that he did a good job and was "a godsend." I thought it all went well. I thought this was the end of it. I know my friend thinks it's the end of it.

But today my mom asked why he's not going to my friend's home anymore. What was the problem? Is she unhappy with what he charged or something?

My mother is asking because clearly my sister* was expecting him to make more money at my friend's house than he did. I am supposed to impose myself into this somehow. Fix it. Make it better. Get my sister more money somehow.

My brother-in-law is knocking on 50. He has been doing these side jobs for years. I assume he knows how to negotiate his own price.

My friend gave him a list. He accomplished all the items on it. She cut him a check. Why are we even talking about it anymore?

Because everything is my fault. My responsibility.

It doesn't feel like such a good day anymore. I need a drink.

* It's always my sister who is upset. By contrast, my brother-in-law almost never gets upset. It's as if their household has a pissy quota and my sister fulfills it.

I enjoyed it, even though ...

The Cubs dropped the first two games of the Crosstown Classic to the dreaded White Sox, and yet I really enjoyed today's contest. Yes, it was a loss. But it was exciting, a nailbiter to the end. If they continue playing with this much heart, I'm sure the Cubs' fortunes will turn and a winning streak is in our future!