Happy Friday, which is also National Almond Day (I like almonds – almond extract in place of vanilla extract in a cake or cookie recipe is amazing unless you’re feeding someone with an allergy), National Tartar Sauce Day (first Friday after Lent, clever), and National No One Eats Alone Day. It sounds like a threat, but it’s not. Imagine you’re a kid in school and you sit alone every day, contemplating your friendlessness. One day in February, kids sit with you! Sure, they’re talking to each other and not you, but this is headway! On Monday, you are a little excited but at lunchtime, you’re alone again. They were never your friends. They were just getting a social media achievement for sitting with the itchy kid.
Today I was grumpy as hell for a million tiny reasons. None of the reasons alone was enough to make me grumpy, but the sum of them was enough to push me over the edge.
Let’s hit this Friday 5 so I can sit somewhere and sulk about things that aren’t worth sulking over. This week’s theme is The Lou, which I think means we’re into some St. Louis themed questions.
- In the movie of your life, which actor plays your arch nemesis?
Do I have an arch nemesis? I don’t think so because my life is pretty low stakes. Let’s cast Joe Manganiello as the owner of the landscaping company that mows and leaf blows the yard of every house on my street every single day from March to November and always during my zoom meetings. - What brought on your most recent case of the blues?
This morning I was at the physical therapy intake session for my Achilles tendonitis and the songs they were playing were definitely for the over-50 crowd. Think Michael Jackson, the Go-Gos, Kool & the Gang. Songs that were popular when I was a child. And then they played What Would You Say by Dave Matthews Band, a song that hit when I was a grown-ass ADULT. I mentioned this to the therapist and she said, “do they even still perform?” I sputtered, “Every year. They tour every year. They put out an album last summer.” And she replied, “Good for them” as if they were the Rolling Stones and I turned into dust. - What was the gateway drug (used figuratively, please!) leading to one of your obsessions or addictions (also used figuratively) today?
Let’s go literal. When I was 21, my parents took me to Atlantic City for my birthday. I put a quarter in the slot machine and won on my first try. I subsequently lost a lot of money at casinos in my 20s, and will join any pool or raffle that I can. (Another thing that WFH took away – no more office pools.) The sports betting ads during hockey games make me twitchy and I don’t know how anyone with an acted-upon gambling addiction can watch sports without giving in. Deep down, I am a gambler. - In your field of expertise, what is generally considered a cardinal sin?
Volunteers on committees or boards who have a conflict of interest but do not disclose that. Dry, but true. - How many people named Louis (or some variation) do you know?
My mother has a few cousins named Louis/Louise. My dog’s favorite groomer is named Lou.
Three cheers for The Lou!
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