MelaniePenelope

Saturday 9: Here Comes Peter Cottontail

Good morning, everyone. I hope your weekend is off to a good start. As for me, I'm nursing a migraine and will probably take my meds for that before too much longer. They knock me out for about six hours each time, and I only get six per month, so I try to use them judiciously. Oh, also, I noticed logging in here, that I have gone over a hump I wasn't even watching: I've gotten 11,000 -- and two -- comments in the 17½ years that I've been writing this blahg. 

Well, so, here we are almost Easter, and Gene Autry wants the kids to know in the most fun way possible: hearing about Peter Cottontail's antics, and I'm willing to bet that we're going to be asked some questions about them, too. C'mon, join us! Link up here to add yourself to the fun.

Hopping in:

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Saturday 9: Here Comes Peter Cottontail (from the archives)

1) Which do you prefer: colored hard-boiled eggs, chocolate marshmallow eggs, or plastic eggs with coins inside?

Unless this is the kind of coin we're talking about, I'd probably prefer the hard-boiled sort. Who am I kidding? I like pennies, too. Anything but the marshmallow.

2) What's your favorite color of Peeps (yellow, purple, or pink)?

Anything but the marshmallow. I'm sorry, Sam; I don't like Peeps! (I do like the crunchy sugar, though.) My two surviving kids like them no matter what color -- may I share?

Also, if y'all don't know the show this is from, "Bob's Burgers," you're missing out! You should start way back at Season 1, Episode 1 and continue until you're caught up. They are hilariously irreverent and so much more. The one there with the pink bunny ears, Louise, and the kids' mom, Linda, are my favorites, I think, although they all "kill me" on a regular basis. Check 'em out!

3) All this talk of sweets is making Sam hungry. What's for lunch?

Probably a crabcake with a juicy "side" of lemon. Hubs is still making me at least one, sometimes two or perhaps three crabcakes per day. It may be somewhat expensive, but when you consider that (a) that might be all I eat in a day other that maybe a yogurt or a bit of cottage cheese and (b) the price to procure lump crab meat, especially here in coastal Maryland, is nowhere near as astronomical as it would be to eat far lower quality crabcakes all the time in restaurants, it just makes sense. Rob's are uniformly high-quality (almost none are "off," and by that for his, I might say they could've cooked a moment longer or a moment less, not the whole thing was wrecked, like a restaurant's), they're all delicious, they all have jumbo lump crab...

I should stop in case he reads this and gets a giant head about it. (Plus, the crab comes pre-cooked; I just prefer small bit of filling there is cooked a certain way, together with the crab, and so on, so don't worry none about that.)

Let me try to find a photo of his, or edit one, so Country Dew can see it. I would just be editing the size and format, and no more.

🤞🏼 Did it work? 🤞🏼

B-t-dubs: I don't really eat it with the Tony's; Hubs just put that in the picture to be silly, since you can't eat anything anywhere in this state without expecting them to put Old Bay seasoning on it. Which we both loathe.

4) This song was introduced by country singer Gene Autry, and it's still a favorite. Please share some of the lyrics. (And you're on your own; Sam didn't include a link to the song this week.)

"Baskets full of Easter joy
Things to make your Easter bright and gay"

"There's an orchid for your mommy
And an Easter bonnet, too"

I'm going to have a coy go at the first two lines. I'm entertained because my two surviving children are both LGBTQIA+. I'm a Mama Dragon because of them, so I can't NOT take the opportunity. Y'know. I'm also grateful to be given the orchid, because I've never gotten one. (And there, there is the rainbow one of those, of course.)

5) Gene Autry was so popular that a town in Oklahoma named itself for him. Have you ever been to Oklahoma?

Not to my knowledge, no. We have driven up through Arkansas, through to the center of Missouri, across the entire boring state of Kansas (#sorrynotsorry), nipping up the Northeast corner of Colorado, but I don't think we ever dipped down into Oklahoma. Well, I should speak for myself. Rob is from Missouri, so he probably has gone. I was going to the closest I've come was probably Branson, MO, but that doesn't seem all that close now, does it?

6) He and his horse Champion also had a TV show. Can you name another famous horse?

I'm sure I won't be the only one to immediately think of Mister Ed. I was reading a few of the trivia points on his iMDB page, and I have two favorites so far. There's one stating that he walked off set whenever he was tired of working. Fair, haha. And the next stated that his daily diet consisted of twenty pounds of hay washed down with a gallon of sweet tea. Sweet tea?!!

7) Gene Autry also recorded "Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer," and it was, of course, wildly popular, too. Who is your favorite recording artist?

I think it varies widely all the time. For instance, my son (who died by suicide in September, if you didn't know; I'm trying not to be super repetitive or in-your-face about it) had several Simon & Garfunkel records (including one I think I bought him for Christmas the year before), and it's kind of inspired me to have a S&G moment of my own on both Spotify and Amazon Music.

Of course, I'm also enjoying Chris Stapleton singing "Tennessee Whiskey" and whatever else he might want to sing, and whoever follows him on Spotify.

And for something totally different, which I love, Spotify pulled up Usher, featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris, on "Yeah!" That one's a banger, and I never mind hearing it.

8) In 1950, the year Autry recorded this song, Diner's Club issued the first credit card. Think of the last thing you purchased. Did you use cash, a credit card, a debit card, an e-wallet service (Visa Checkout, Paypal, Google Pay, Apple Pay ...) or a check?

I used Venmo! Is that a separate thing in your consideration? If not, I'll have to look and see what to do about it. But I just used the app. Also, am I the only one who writes just one or two checks a year nowadays?

9) Easter is recognized as the start of the spring season. What are you looking forward to this spring?

Planting flowers and fruits and vegetables in our new gardens, as well as nearer to the end when it becomes beach weather and we can go stick our toes in that good, 35ppt salt water! (That last part never ends, for me, but my handlers disagree.) All of it! I'm all about the longer and warmer days, shorter sleeves and pant legs...

☼ bring it! ☼

~*~*~*~*~

...Hopping out.

Have a great weekend, folks, and if you're celebrating in any kind of way, Happy Easter!

Fin.

Saturday 9: Money (That's What I Want)

Hello, my friends. It's 9 o'clock on a Saturday (AM), and the regular crowd rushes in (two snoring dogs), so I'm going to get at it. Welcome back to Saturday 9! I've had another pretty heart-rending week, but I'm trying this new thing where I let myself have my feelings and then I look up and look onward. Easier said than done, folks.

Thankfully, we've got another rousing round of questions (I'm guessing, since I don't read ahead and since Crazy Sam always delivers) to answer, and! the! sun! is! also! shining! Holy crap, the weather has been high muckety-muck for days. If you'd like to join Sam and me and the rest of us, link up here! We'd love to have you.

Here we go:

Saturday 9: Money (That's What I Want) 1959

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) The lyrics mention "the birds and bees." Who told you about the facts of life?

 

Mostly the kids on various school playgrounds and such. I wasn't allowed to learn those things in the classroom, and I SURE as hell wasn't being taught them at home or in the cult. Wait. We had HBO and Skinemax. At a very young age I was watching movies marked as having "strong sexual content" and sometimes violent sexual content, and I remember those scenes.

 

2) Barrett Strong sings that love won't pay the bills. How do you handle bill paying? Do you set aside one day a month to take care of all your bills, or do you pay each one as it comes in? What's your system?

 

We pretty much get one payday per month, so when that hits I try to pay all the bills, do the grocery shopping (online, for Hubs to pickup), order the pet needs (for our two pups and three kitties), and so on ... until it's all taken care of. Inevitably it takes me a few days, though, because I tire so easily now.

 

3) He refers to dollar bills as "lean greens." Can you think of any other euphemisms for money?

 

 

"Benjamins" is my current favorite; no clue why, since it's kind of an older term at this point. But Japan is still largely a cash-based society, so we had a lot of cash on us, and it amused me to have so many "Benjamins" on us at one time, as if we were normally like that, at all!

 

4) April is tax time, so money is top-of-mind for us all. Do you do your own taxes or do you seek the help of a professional?

 

I usually do our taxes, but this year, I'm giving them to Hubs to take to a professional.

5) On this week's song, Barrett does a solid job on the vocals and he handles the keyboards well. In addition to performing, he was a talented songwriter. One of his most popular compositions was "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," a song about a lover who listened to gossip and got some useful information. Have you ever been the subject of gossip? If yes, was there any truth to the rumor?

 

 

I've been gossiped about numerous times; I seem to be one of those people who drama follows no matter wherever I go. Don't need it; don't want it. I'm sure there's some little tiny raisin of truth in every tale, but I've heard so many farfetched stories about myself, I'd laugh if I weren't a crybaby! Well, now, I'm more likely to get angry, get over it, and get on with things.

 

6) He worked with Motown and its sister label, Tamla, for years, but when they moved their offices from Detroit to LA, he quit. Have you ever relocated for your career?

 

I have. Several times. It paid off, and then I took a quick break to get my bearings, got married and pregnant within that break, and no more career. I preferred the family. Then when I was starting to get ready to back to school to re-enter the workforce, I got so sick. No more dreams of career.

7) In 1959, when "Money" was popular, "Huckleberry Hound" was a hit with young TV viewers in 1959. What was your favorite cartoon when you were a kid?

 

 

Oh, I was a HUUUUGE fan of "The Smurfs" from the moment they came out! I have always loved them.

8) While children were enjoying daytime cartoons, their parents were discovering The Twilight Zone, which also premiered in 1959. Decades later, it's still being rerun on cable and streaming services. Are you a fan?

 

I've seen it a few times because I couldn't get into anything else that was on, but uh, sorry Mr. Roddenberry, it wasn't really my cup of tea.

 

9) Random question: Right now, would you prefer to grab a snack or take a nap?

 

 

I would prefer to grab a snack, if one of these jumbo lump crabcakes that Hubs has been whipping up for me a couple of times a day (at least) for several months now could be called "a snack." They are magnificent, and he has dazzled me with their perfection. All they need from me is a little freshly-squeezed lemon - and sometimes, not even that!

 

    ~*~*~*~*~

Well, that's my show. I've to go catch my helicopter. Thanks for another fund round!

 

Fin.

Saturday 9: Can't We Talk It Over

Hello, you fine folks! I"m (almost) freshly back from Japan (on the 18^th, but I've been dealing some of my health crap), and ready to get back to it. I've missed you all, and I'm hoping my Saturday seat, here, has some staying power!

Today, we're playing with the Andrews Sisters, of whom I'm a fan. I'm listening to their "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" right now, having listened to this titular track first. Do you want to join us here? Link up here and get started!

Now, let's talk it over:

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Saturday 9: Can't We Talk It Over (1950)

☼ Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here. ☼

1) In this song, The Andrews Sisters plead for verbal communication.  Is there someone you'd like to engage in a heart-to-heart conversation?

 

Yes, but they aren't the chatty type like I am. Moreover, they are being reticent about some issues I wish they'd open up about so I could help them.

 

2) They want to sit together for this talk. Think about the most recent personal conversation you had. Was it in person, over the phone, or via Zoom?

 

I had an in-person chit-chat with my kiddo Nico, right here on my bed less than a half-hour ago. It's the first time we've seen him since he moved out several months ago, so it's good seeing him.

 

3) This week's tune was written by Victor Young. He was prolific, earning 22 Oscar nominations in 18 years. (His one win came after his sudden death at age 57.) Think about your friends and family. Who is the most active, productive person you know?

 

Ohh, that's a real shame! As for the question... probably my friend Anne. She's almost my age, but she does it all. I get that she's not sick with 47 things (that I know of), but she's a fantastic mom to her 4 kids, a theater actress, and a frequent flier all over the globe. And she seems to smile nonstop. Gotta love Anne!

 
4) The lyrics were written by Ned Washington, who is perhaps best remembered for "When You Wish Upon a Star" from Disney's Pinocchio. Do you believe, like Jiminy Cricket, that dreams come true?

 

I absolutely do! Or else, what's the point?

 

5) This week's song is performed by The Andrews Sisters -- LaVerne, Maxine and Patty. Do you have siblings? If yes, are you the oldest, the middle child, or the baby?

 

sensitive subject - pass!

 

6) With more than 80 million records sold, the Andrews Sisters remain one of the most successful female vocal groups of all time. Name another girl group.

 

 

TLC is the first group that came to mind, even though they're down to only two members, sadly.

 

7) In 1950, the year "Can't We Talk It Over" was released, we were introduced to the Peanuts comic strip. Without looking it up, do you know who created Peanuts?

 

I do: Charles Schulz (I may have spelt that wrong, though)

 

8) In 1950, most suitcases were hard sided rectangles, with no wheels and a small handle at the top. They came in colors like tan, copper, green and blue. What does your luggage look like?

 

 

I have a 3-piece hardside fuschia set from Samsonite that looks a lot like this one, but without all the stuff at the bottom. They must have added all of that to be more competitive with the likes of Temu, etc. In fact that might actually be my set, here.  I appreciate the hot pink because not a lot of people want to go for that color, and it's easy to spot.

 

I just used the middle one on our trip to Japan, and it was great. Held everything I needed, spinner wheels functioned great, and the handle worked great. No complaints four or five years into owning them. I think we all have Samsonite at this point, +1 American Tourister small black softside spinner bag I have, which I also love.

9) Random question: Who was the last person to phone you? Did you pick up, or did it go to voicemail?

 

The last person to call me was my husband, Rob, because I lost my phone in the bed. Haha. He hung up before handing it over.

 

~*~*~*~*~

 

Hope y'all have a good weekend. It's supposed to get up to get up to 79ºF today on the Eastern Shore of Maryland! That's beach weather for me, but I doubt anyone would go with me. We shall see. Take care.

 

Fin.

Saturday 9: Flowers

Y'all. Oh, my word. There are fewer than two weeks - 11 or 12 days, maybe? - before our plane lifts off and hopefully carries us off to Tokyo. First off, with all these plane crashes everywhere, I'm skittish about that right now, and I love to fly. Second, there are so many minute details to plan for a trip of this magnitude (if you're a detail-oriented perfectionist such as myself, unfortunately), and I still have a lot of those balls in the air to juggle. Third, there are still so many ?? question marks on areas of our itinerary where there shouldn't be, and it has me chomping down more anti-anxiety meds than I would like (but still well within prescribed doses, don't worry). That said, I simply can't wait until we can get there, and I can see that ahhhh, all will be well, and I can relax.

That's all about that, so you know my head-spinning mindset. Today, we're working with Miley Cyrus in ye olde-fashioned Saturday 9. If you'd like to link up with us this weekend, check it out right here! And Finnegan, begin again:

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Saturday 9: Flowers (2023)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

 

1) In this song, Miley Cyrus sings about gold as though it represents the best. Do you more often wear gold or silver?

I rarely ever wear gold, but my real wedding set of rings are gold, so I'm trying to work on that. However, they are too big for me now that I have lost a lot of weight again, so for Japan, we have bought this temporary faux set of rose gold wedding set for myself and for Hubs. Reason being, I lose my real rings frequently. Case in point: I was going to do a side-by-side with this faux set, but I must have slept in them last night, and now we can't find them. It happens. Rob will overhaul the bed later. TL;DR: I prefer to wear silver or rose gold, actually, and I have a LOT of piercings, so finding gold for all the piercings to match my rings can be challenging.

 

Update: Aha! I found my real wedding ring set:

 

 

2) She also sings the praises of buying herself flowers. Are there any cut flowers in your home right now?

 

There are! I got a couple of quite lovely bouquets for Valentine's Day. I received this more wildflowery-looking bouq in the bedroom, and later I found this more upscale rose-and-lily bouq in my office. They're all so beautiful, and I love them!

 

3) She tells us she's going to paint her nails cherry red. Do you handle your own mani/pedi, do you go to a salon, or do you just let your nails go natural?

 

I hate going to a nail salon. I either just do it myself (these are my Valentine's nails, haha), or they just go au naturale. I try not to let it be the latter, though, because they are by turns brittle and will crack, and by turns week and flexible and will just chip chip chip away.

 

4) In 2019, Miley had vocal cord surgery, and her recovery required her to go weeks without uttering a sound. Would it be difficult for you to keep your lips zipped for a week?

 

 

Oh, heck yeah! I am a chatterbox, through and through, with absolutely no filter. It's a problem!

 

5) Dolly Parton is Miley's godmother, and Miley singles Dolly out as the one who taught her "how to treat people well." Tell us about someone who was a positive influence on you.

 

I can do that. One such person would be Mr. Jim Brickley, the owner and main attorney of the law firm where I was legal secretary for a while in St. Pete. He and his wife really took a shine to me, and he became like a father figure to me. When an ex-boyfriend chipped my teeth, Jim sent me to his dentist to have them fixed and had the dentist send him the bill. I lived in Tampa for part of the time I was working at the firm in St. Pete, about an hour+ away.

 

I was having some unknown illness one week that, in the middle of the work-week one day, made it unbearable to continue working. I told Pam, who told Jim. He sent for a taxi instead of having me drive home. He had the taxi take me to a hospital up in Tampa, wait for me, and then the taxi took me to my apartment. The next day, or the day after that (can't remember), the taxi was there to take me to work). Those are just two of many examples I have about Jim that influenced me. He always showed the people that he cared about that he was going to take care of them, full stop. And I miss him dearly.

 

6) She is a massive Elvis fan and swoons every time she watches Blue Hawaii because he professes his love for Maile, pronounced "Miley." What movie have you watched many times?

 

 

⚡️ Grease, among others! ⚡️

 

7) In 2023, when "Flowers" was released, actor Sir Michael Gambon died. Though he distinguished himself performing Shakespeare with the Royal National Theater, he is best known for playing Dumbledore in several Harry Potter movies. Who is your favorite Harry Potter character?

 

 

To be honest, I've gotten into neither the books nor the movies, so I can't proclaim to know for sure. But Hermione Granger, played by Emma Watson. I think I'm a big fan of both the character and the actress.

 

8) 2023 was a busy year for England's Royal Family, with the crowning of King Charles III and the publication of Prince Harry's memoir, Spare. Do you have a favorite among the Windsors?

 

 

I'm partial to Prince Harry, myself. I feel like I "get" him, like I understand where he is coming from, the most.

 

9) Random question: Do your siblings have children? If yes, are you close to them?

 

 

I have a half-sister whom I've never met, who I believe is institutionalized and who never had children. I have two older, former step-sisters I'm not in contact with, and I don't know anything about them and their children. I stopped speaking to my full- (whole- ???) sister - and thus her kids - in the summer of 2021, and I'm sure I'll never speak to any of them ever again.

 

Thus, my answer is a resounding NO.

 

~*~*~*~*~

Well! Here it is well after midnight, and I'm finally finishing S9. It was a two-nap day, and I kept getting distracted by Japan-related things when I was awake. My mind is agog with all the possibilities! You, you, and all of you, take good care of yourselves!

 

Fin.

 

 

 

Saturday 9: But Beautiful

Hello, guys and dolls. I hope you are making it through these times with some type of sanity intact. Like me; I am going out of my mind with the news we're reading and watching every day. So much so that my therapist prescribed for me a moratorium on tuning in to it. I still hear, I still find out, but it's just not as intentional. It's working on bringing my sky-high anxiety down tremendously.

So, on to today's mission: seeing what Crazy Sam has in store for us regarding this song, by Bing and possibly others brought in. I never read the questions ahead of time, always just as I go. If you want to join us this week, make sure you click on over here to add your link!

~*~*~*~*~

Saturday 9: But Beautiful (1947)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

 

1) The lyrics encourage us to take a chance on love. What's something you've done recently that took you outside your comfort zone? How did it turn out?

 

 

I've made phone calls. I know that probably sounds like nothing, but I've have a severe phone phobia for years (ten?) now. I made several, all big and bold (not really). But I got it done and have more to make. Wish me luck!

 

2) Bing Crosby introduced "But Beautiful" in the 1947 film, Road to Rio. Name another movie song that became a hit.

 

 

Oh, I'll say "(I've Had) The Time of my Life" by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes, from Dirty Dancing. (Who else still loves that movie?)

 
3) Bing's leading lady in Road to Rio was Dorothy Lamour. When she was a teenager, she worked as an elevator operator. With the advent of user-operated/push-button elevators, few elevator operator jobs remain. What's another job that was once commonplace, but has virtually disappeared?

 

 

I'm not sure if this is true: Chimney Sweep? Or what about Speakeasy owner? Moonshine maker? Madame?

 

4) Road to Rio was one of seven Road movies Bing Crosby and Bob Hope made together. They were one the most financially successful comedy teams in history. What movie or TV show always makes you laugh?

 

 

Hard to think now, because we're not really watching TV now. We have Amazon Prime Video & Netflix, but even there we're not using them super much. Mostly the kids do. Although my therapist prescribed that I watch some funny movies for me this weekend. Do y'all have any suggestions? I have the subscriptions mentioned above, and a ROKU. 

5) Crosby's given name was Harry but he acquired the nickname "Bing" because as a kid he was a fan of a comic strip character named "Bingo." As a child, did you read the newspaper?

 

 

Yes! I started when I was very young, reading the funnies. I waited until it was my turn and then I pounced. I didn't read every every single one, like Brenda Starr or the other boring looking ones, but I did most. Then I graduated to reading all the columnists in the back of, maybe it was, the Lifestyle section? Dave Barry was my favorite, and I was excited to meet him. Eventually I scanned the whole thing. That's a lie, I generally passed over Sports and the Money sections.

 

6) His 1942 version of "White Christmas" is still one of the best-selling records of all time. He was a movie star, nominated three times for the Oscar, winning once. Can you name another performer who has been successful both acting and singing?

 

 

I can name a few. Here are three off the top of my head: Liza Minelli, Judy Garland, and John Legend

 

7) Bing loved golf and enjoyed traveling the world, playing at different courses. If today you were to receive an airline ticket to any city in the world, what destination would you choose? What would you be certain to see/do there?

 

 

I'm not sure, but we both want to go to South America somewhere. Perhaps Argentina (above), or

 

 

Brazil. We'd want to take in both the manmade and especially the natural beauty of wherever we go!

 

8) In 1947, when "But Beautiful" was a hit, Farrah Fawcett was born. She became famous for her bathing suit poster, her blonde hair, and a 70s TV show. Without looking it up, do you know the name of that television series?

 

I do - Charlie's Angels!

 

9) Random question -- Are you someone who makes things happen, or someone things happen to?

 

I would say I'm half-and-half, and it definitely hinges on the level of importance I give to a particular decision or task or thing, as well as whether it's even on my radar!

 

~*~*~*~*~

 

Look at me go, it's only zero-dark-thirty on Saturday morning. And I am tiiiiiiii-yerd. Therefore, I apologize for a million billion typos; I'm just too sleepy to check right now. Hasta luego. 

 

Fin.

Saturday 9: Rikki, Don't Lose That Number

Hey, Saturday pals. I'm starting this week's S9 at 9:30 PM EST, so apparently my goal with this is just to get it done before midnight. Let's see if I'm even capable of that this week, eh? I've got a billion irons in the fire this week, my attention has been everywhere, but S9 has been top of mind on and off throughout the entire day.

If you're joining us - and Steely Dan! (aren't they handsome all grown up?) - link up here to join the fun. And away we go.

~*~*~*~*~

Saturday 9: Rikki, Don't Lose that Number (1974

 

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

 

1) In this song, a man asks a girl to spend more time with him and suggests they go out for a ride together. Do you ever take a leisurely drive, just for relaxation and pleasure? Or do you always have a destination in mind when you get behind the wheel?

I am the latter person. I generally don't enjoy a leisurely drive. If I'm driving, it just doesn't happen, because I'm very fearful about being lost or wasting resources, and if someone else is driving, the resource wasted is potentially my time. I'm not a huge fan of driving that isn't purposeful.

 

2) He repeatedly suggests that she could have a change of heart. What's something you've changed your mind about recently?

   

I was going to say how immediately we have to worry about the T***p Admin making the world come crashing down, but I decided I wanted to keep things more positive. So I decided to mention that I didn't think I had lost enough weight to get into size 8 jeans to bring to Japan next month, yet here came my order from ThredUp with several "8" items including jeans and dresses and such. And. They. All. FIT!!  Woo!

3) This week's featured artists are the duo Steely Dan. They earned the reputation as perfectionists, requiring take after take in the studio until they got their sound just right. Do you consider yourself a perfectionist? Or do you more often find that "good enough is good enough?"

 

 

I am absolutely a tortured perfectionist. I am now trying to teach myself that "good enough is good enough" in these later years of my life.

 

4) The Rikki of the title is a writer/poet who met Steely Dan's Donald Fagan when they were both students at Bard College. He had a crush on her and gave her his number, which she refused to call because she was married. She went on to teach in the English Department at the University of Denver, where her students would probably be surprised to learn she was the inspiration for a famous song. Is there something we would be surprised to learn about you?

 

 

Every once in a while I come up with an idea for an answer for when this question inevitably springs up again, but I forget to write it down and am left empty-handed. So, yes? But what? Oh, I could tell you that I have had NO teeth since September 29, 2003, and am finally going to get a pair of dentures in two weeks. Just in time to get a little used to them before we fly to the other side of the planet. Whew!

5) Another woman who played a role in Steely Dan's success is Barbra Streisand. She recorded one of their early songs, "I Mean to Shine," for her 1971 album, Barbra Joan Streisand. It was her thirteenth album and though 13 is often considered unlucky, it reached #11 on the Billboard charts and was certified as a gold record. Do you have a lucky number?

Sixty-four has always been my lucky number, since I was a very wee lassie. Like, three or four years old wee. I don't know why, but since I am a math nerd, I appreciated that: it's a perfect square (8x8) made up of other perfect squares (there's some 2x2s, some 4x4s, and then 8x8), which I liked because I'm also a fan of symmetry. Like I said, nerd.

 

6) In 1974, when this song was a hit, The Magic 8 Ball was still a top-seller at toy stores. It retailed for just $1.99, and promised that all you had to do was gaze at it, concentrate, and wait to learn your fate ... "if you dare!" If you could get an answer to one question about the future, what would you ask?

I would ask if any of our planes to or from JPN are going to crash. The news has not been good lately, and I'm getting nervous.

 

7) Also in 1974, Good Times premiered and the character JJ (played by Jimmy Walker) became a sensation with the catchphrase "Dy-no-mite!" What's another phrase that is forever connected to a TV character?

 

 

Right off the top of my head, I thought of "Cut. It. Out!" by Uncle Jesse on Full House, played by Dave Coulier.

 

8) 1974 was the year Barry Manilow became a household name with his first major hit, "Mandy." Do you have a favorite Barry Manilow song?

 

 

I'm not a huge Barry Manilow fan, really, but I have always enjoyed "One Voice." I think it's beautifully done.

 

9) Random question: Imagine a beautiful little church on a hillside. Quiet, with stained glass and lovely pews. Well-maintained grounds with plenty of parking nearby. Seats 150. Perfect for a wedding ... or a funeral, because it's located in a cemetery. Would you consider getting married at a cemetery?

 

 

Sure, I would consider it, of course, depending on the circumstances. Why not? Can't scare me with a good time!

 

~*~*~*~*~

Well look at that. I made it in before midnight, and now I'll be dreaming of some creepypasta cemeterial wedding dress. Fun!

 

Fin.

Saturday 9: A Summer Song

Hey, everybody. I've been missing you. This marks, if I finish and post it, a full month since my last entry. I have a couple half-starts for Sat9 that I didn't publish, but that's about it. My mind has just been too scattered, and I've been too easily distracted, I guess. Don't know; hate it.

I'm eager to get started today. If you're new and want to join, link up with us here to play along! And let the countdown begin:

~*~*~*~*~

Saturday 9: A Summer Song (1964)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

 

 

1) Are you enjoying winter? Or do you daydream about summer?

 

(our backyard)

 

I'm all about the summer. Can't wait!

 

2) In this week's song, trees sway in the breeze. Is it windy where you are today?

 

 

There's a bit of a breeze, at 8.1 MPH.

3) There's rain outside their window. Have you more recently seen rain or snow?

 

(omg, now I know I need to get Paco a chihuahua raincoat!!)

 

We just had snow either last night or the night before.

 

4) This week's artists are the duo Chad and Jeremy. As a teen, Chad Stuart was very versatile in the arts. While he enjoyed drawing, he showed real promise in music and won a scholarship to London's Central School of Speech and Drama. When you were a teenager, what were your best classes?

 

 

I was a bit of an all-around nerd. I excelled in the sciences (although it took me a while to warm up to Physics), maths (same with Calculus, and then I loved it), English, Spanish, and even history. I was a soprano in two choirs -- but I did not play any instruments. There, ya've got me.

 

5) Between 1965 and 1966, Chad and Jeremy played British pop stars on a variety of American TV shows, including The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Patty Duke Show, and Batman. Which of those series do you remember?

 

 

I was going to say Batman, but then it occurred to me you might be talking about a live-action show instead of a cartoon? In which case, not really any of them except in passing.

 

6) While those TV appearances were good for the duo's record sales, they sowed the seeds of dissent between the friends. Jeremy Clyde realized he enjoyed acting far more than music and began threatening to leave the act. Chad finally got tired of dissuading him. Between Jeremy's dramatic aspirations and contract disputes, they broke up. Later they both admitted they regretted the split, but as Chad said, "we were just kids." Is there an old friend you've drifted away from but miss?

 

 

In geographical distance, sure, but not emotionally, I don't think. I'm good with my pals.

 

7) In 1964, when "A Summer Song" was popular, the #1 movie in the country was Mary Poppins. Have you seen it?

 

 

Of course!! Do you mean there are people who haven't?!

 

8) One of the biggest news stories of 1964 was Elizabeth Taylor's wedding to Richard Burton. The bride wore yellow, with yellow and white flowers in her hair. The groom wore a dark suit, red tie and yellow boutonniere. What did you wear last time you got dressed up?

 

Not really wedding-dressy, but I've been picking outfits I want to wear in Japan. This sweater and dress are both Kate Spade, a brand I love! ♥

 

 

9) Random question: When you're in the backseat, do you wear a seatbelt?

 

 

This is probably true for Hubs and me.

 

I am almost never in the backseat. Regardless, wherever I am in any vehicle, rest assured I am wearing the seatbelt.

 

~*~*~*~*~

 

Take care and y'all have a great week! I guess I'll see you in February already, holy cow!

 

Fin.

 

Saturday 9: Goodbye

Hello, everyone. I haven't been here in a minute! Like, pretty much the whole month of December, I think. I wouldn't say I've been glum or gloomy about the season with respect to my son Jack, but I've definitely been cocooning a bit. I think I'm okay now, and I'm glad to be back with you S9ers today.

If you would like to join the rest of us in this fun meme, make sure to link up here. And away we go!

~*~*~*~*~

Saturday 9: Goodbye (1969)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

 

(from showrunner Crazy Sam: This song was chosen because

it's time to say goodbye to 2024.

Thanks for participating in Saturday 9 this year.)

1) In this song, Mary Hopkin asks her lover not to let her sleep too late. Did you wake up this morning on your own, did someone wake you, or were you jangled awake by an alarm clock?

 

I woke up on my own, but it's no surprise: I was exhausted yesterday and slept almost the entire day and night.

 

2) The lyrics reference "a lonely song." Can you name a song about loneliness?

 

 

The first one I thought of "Only the Lonely," but I didn't know it was Roy Orbison I was listening to all these years; I could've sworn it was Elvis! Did Elvis cover it? Because I can totally hear it in his voice. (I just asked Alexa, and apparently he covered it in 1956.)

 

3) "Goodbye" was written for Mary by Paul McCartney. He was the one who signed her to her first record contract and produced this and all her Apple Records, including her first big hit, "Those Were the Days." Looking back on 2024, who is someone who gave you a helping hand when you needed it?

 

Speaking of "Goodbye..." Oh, gosh, so many people. When Jack died and we were left wringing our hands and not having a clue where to go from there, the detectives helped guide us to a funeral home; my two best friends and Rob's younger sister, along with SO many people who loved Jack came in for his funeral; my bestie Shana set up a go-fund-me for his funeral and whatever expenses - holy crap, they cost a lot, even for cremations! - and that helped tremendously. She also set up a meal train for us, which was also wonderful. My other bestie, Lisa, went out and bought the things I needed in the house for the funeral "after party," and was just helpful to us in so many other ways. Oh, Shana also bought all the food and drinks for that, from GFM money, which was nowhere on my radar to do. The two of them, & Jessica, touched me deeply for coming and just being there and talking. I could go on, I think it's obvious, but needless to say, a ton of people helped us in meaningful ways.

 

4) This video shows Mary performing on The Ed Sullivan Show while wearing a miniskirt. Minis were very popular in 1969. Did you embrace a fashion trend in 2024?

 

Nah, any more I go for "comfort chic." I don't even own a pair of jeans, but I feel ready to change that soon.

 

5) Also in 1969, the Colts lost to the New York Jets in Super Bowl III. The game is famous because of all the hype leading up to it, including Joe Namath "guaranteeing" the underdog Jets would win. Do you have a special sports memory of 2024?

 

 

They had a pretty winning season, at 10-2, especially when they beat our biggest rivals, the Florida Seminoles from FSU for Homecoming no less,, but I'm really looking forward to my Miami Hurricanes beating Iowa State this afternoon in the Pop-Tart Bowl!

 

6) What's the farthest from home you traveled in 2024?

 

 

I can't think of any "far" I went to in 2024. Those big plans are reserved for 2025!

 

7) What was the biggest purchase that you made in 2024?

That would be our combined bright white fence and Rob's man cave shed. Big outlay. I had a cute video for you, but it just won't upload from here: [ https://youtube.com/shorts/9qD33Sg5FXI?si=dreMaqEua2ompeqB ] ... so you get a foto from Rob instead.

 

8) What was your favorite book of 2024?

 

I've been studying - no I've been cramming in - the Japan knowledge as much as I can!

9) What are you looking forward to most in 2025?

 

 

Our trip to Japan in March! It's been a dream of mine to go there my whole life, and hopefully, now we'll be able to make it a reality. I have some concerns and fears, but I'm hopeful they will be allayed once we touch Japanese soil. I am SO excited! Have you been to Japan, and would you tell me about it if so?

~*~*~*~*~

Oh, it's almost time for the Pop-Tart Bowl! Is anyone else going to watch? LOL Seriously, have a happy and safe New Year's Eve celebration and start to 2025.

 

Fin.

Saturday 9: Back to December

Hello, fellow quizzees. Slow down as you read this. A lot, because it's going to take me forever to write it. I found October to be probably the most unfocused month for me in my life, and there's no hint of more cohesive thinking on the horizon yet for November.

This month, we're taking a look at a young Ms. Taylor Swift (my eldest, Chloë, has loved her since Day One, so this one's for you, Adult!) Link up here if you're joining us this weekend!

~*~*~*~*~

Saturday 9: Back to December (2010)

Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1) Taylor Swift sings that when her mind wanders, it usually returns to a specific day in December. How about you? Do you often daydream? Or do you focus on what's happening in the moment?

Oh, I'm all over the place. I dream about the past sometimes - often, lately, when we still had a Jack - but I include the possible present and the future in "daydream." I do try to focus on the present, but I admit that I have always had to take enormous steps to help me do that, and right now that whole careful system I have built has basically completely unraveled as we weather through this current monsoon together. 

2) She's looking back on December. We're going with a different take: As we enter November, what are you looking forward to this month?

+

We're going to try to pull off Thanksgiving dinner this year, but we all admit to each other that that might not happen, and that's okay. It'll be the first time we do Cornish hens (well, I made them for two friends and me in college once, but that was ages ago), so it'll be interesting to see how that turns out. Pie. I guess I am looking forward to pie - especially apple cream pie kinda like this one. So yum!

3) The lyrics recount a casual conversation between two former sweethearts. They talk about their families, their careers and the weather. Are you good at making small talk?

Decidedly not.

4) This song was rumored to be about her break up with Taylor Lautner, the actor best known for playing a werewolf in the popular Twilight series. In acknowledgement of the Halloween season: Did you ever trick or treat as a werewolf, vampire, witch, ghost or other scary creature?

Definitely a ghost, but just with a sheet and holes my mama cut for the eyes. Possibly a witch, too.

5) Taylor is currently involved with Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs, and naturally this is his busy time of year. How's your football team (NFL or NCAA) doing this season?

GREAT!

My 'Canes (Alma Mater) are 4-and-0 and are 2^nd in the the Big East only behind Clemson at 5-and-0. But they play Duke in an hour, so eeeekkk! And Rob's (so, my; and because he grew up in MO) Chiefs are 6-and-0. I mean, if we were a football only family, this would be the greatest fall - so far - ever.

6) Taylor loves chicken tenders and says she'd eat them every day, if calories weren't a consideration. If you were to enjoy tenders right now, what dipping sauce would you prefer --sweet/sour, barbecue or honey mustard?

None of the above: honey. Just honey.

7) Thinking of food ... Taylor Swift recently donated $5 million to Feeding America with the funds earmarked for those affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Does it make you feel good to do good? If yes, what is something you've done recently to help others? (It may give other Sat-9ers ideas for something they can do.)

We donated $10 on top our grocery order for the same cause, which seems paltry comparatively, but it's what we can do. I always round up the dollar at McDonald's to donate Ronald McDonald House because of this, and I do the same thing on Etsy to help artists. That's what I can think of just lately. Oh, and Chloë and I donated some cat and dog food to the shelter recently, via PetSmart. I think we rounded up there, too?

8) Back in 2010, when this week's song was a hit, the iPod Nano was also popular. Did you have an iPod?

I did. Hubs did. We loved them. And then our iPhones. And now our Samsung Galaxies. ;)

9) Random question: Did you more recently run the dishwasher or the clothes washer?

The washing machine is running right now; I assume the dishwasher was run last night.

~*~*~*~*~

Well, there you go. And now I have to find something to eat. What did all of you eat for breakfast? I'm feeling uninspired. Anyway, enjoy your weeks. I apologize if any this post was total rambling nonsense.

Fin.

 

Saturday9: Me and Bobby McGee

Hey everyone. I hope you are well and are checking on your people, if so, to make sure they're good, too. If you or someone you know is having a mental health crisis, they can text or message or call #788. Share that around, please.

Well, I don't know about you, but I'm ready to see what Crazy Sam has to ask for today about Ms. Janis and Mr. McGee. If you're playing along today, make sure to link up with the rest of the S9ers here.

~*~*~*~*~

Saturday 9: Me and Bobby McGee (1971)

Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1) The song begins with Janis telling us about a trip from Baton Rouge to New Orleans. Have you ever visited Louisiana? If yes, where did you go?

I have, a couple or maybe even three times, I think. It's been a long time. Rob's sister lives there. I believe she still lives near Baton Rouge? Admittedly selfishly - but pregnant with Chloë at the the time, I wasn't on my best behavior that first time or two and really didn't know where I was; I was just trying to get through it, for Rob's sake!

The last time we through New Orleans, I was pregnant with the twins, and Chloë was about 13 months old. That was a much better trip. My SIL came down from BR, I think took us out to eat, did some sight-seeing with us, and watched a parade together. Chloë got alllll the beads! But the trip was short, and the reason for going to New Orleans was to drop off our car to ship it go Guam. We stayed at a vintage hotel in the French Quarter, and took to the nightlife, had a romantic dinner and did all that - with Chloë It was big fun.

2) She and her boyfriend Bobby hitch a ride with a truck driver and together the three of them sing "every song the driver knew." If you were to begin a singalong with strangers in a bar or at a party, what song would you be confident everyone knows?

I'd feel pretty safe starting with "99 bottles of beer on the wall"!

3) Janis had a painful time in her Port Arthur, TX, high school. She was ostracized for her looks and her taste in music. If you could give advice to your high school self, what would you say?

Don't worry about what those kids day. They aren't going anywhere. Just keep your head down and keep studying and oh! the places you'll go!

4) She credited the blues and Bessie Smith, specifically, for getting her through her tough adolescence. After she became famous and mentioned Bessie in interviews, Janis learned Ms. Smith had been buried in an unmarked grave back in 1937. Janis rectified the situation by paying for a proper tombstone for Smith in 1970. If money were no object, what's something you would like to do for someone else?

I would really and truly love to take Robert to Alaska. It's something he's been wanting for a long time now. I guess it's got to be next on our travel agenda!. 

5) Because of her party girl persona, people were surprised that Janis had a domestic side and enjoyed talking recipes. Thinking of cooking, what dish would you whip up for our Saturday 9 potluck?

Well, in my understanding, we have people usually do a main, a side, a dessert, and the host is in charge of drinks. If there are any dessert spots, I'll take one, please, and maybe two. Y'all know I love making cookies.

6) "Me and Bobby McGee" was written by the late Kris Kristofferson. Kris' life before hitting it big was varied, including time in Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, focused on English literature, and serving as a helicopter pilot in the US Army. Which career path do you think you'd enjoy more: academia or the Army?

Oh, academia, for sure. I wanted to be an Oxford student as a Rhodes scholar; I just never looked into it enough. Who, me?

7) In 1971, when this song was popular, the US Mint introduced the Eisenhower Silver Dollar. Think of the last thing you bought at a store. Did you pay with cash, plastic, or your phone?

I cannot recall which store we were visiting, but I'm pretty sure we were at either an arts & crafts store or a fast food restaurant, Either way, we paid cash. But don't quote me!

8) England's Princess Anne turned 21 in 1971 and in honor of the occasion, she had an official portrait taken by fashion photographer Norman Parkinson. Who took the most recent photo of you?

Well, probably me, because I was trying to get pictures of my ears to see what's there and where's naked of holes. ;P  I want to get pictures of my next piercing spots, But you know, if you have teens and young adults with their phones, they can be sly and sneaky about the pictures, right?

9) Random question -- There's a knock at your door. Who do you expect it is?

I don't know, but I hope it's somebody delivering my DreamBox3, so i can concentrate my efforts and focus on something else for a while.

~*~*~*~*~

Well, that's and there ain't no more! Happy Halloween, folks!

FIN.

50 Years of RMHC

Hey, everyone. When I learned a day ago that Ronald McDonald House Charities was celebrating their 50th anniversary, I wanted to pivot for a moment and share what an impact they have had on our lives. I can't rave enough about what a wonderful organization RMHC is.

On September 7^th, 2001, Chloë was born nearly a month early. I'd made this carefully typed-out, lovely little birth plan that included no pain meds, no epidural - you know, as little intervention as possible. What we got was nearly 180^º from that.

(You can skip this part and go right to the 2^nd picture of Chloë if you just want to get the RMHC part, already! I know I'm not succinct.)

The pregnancy and L&D were fraught with complications. I had hyperemesis gravidarum throughout the 8 months, so no 2nd trimester rest from the all-day morning sickness for me! My test results showed Chloë had a high risk of having Down Syndrome, but I was fervently faithful in my just knowing that she did not, and I refused the amniocentesis as well as that test in my future pregnancies. And I had severe polyhydramnios (tons of extra amniotic fluid).

In order to figure out the reason for the fluid, we were sent three hours west, from Panama City, Florida, to Pensacola, Florida, where they had higher level ultrasound capabilities to do better measurements and get their answers. However, at probably about a third of the way there if memory serves, I had a contraction. Only I didn't know that's what it was, because it never stopped on that entire BUMPY road to Pensacola. When we finally got there, I was breathless, sweaty, and in serious pain.

Poor Rob.

When we finally got to where we were supposed to be, apparently my blood pressure was so high, someone there said I was about to "stroke out." That's when I learned I had severe pre-eclampsia. They suspected a possible placental abruption, and that searing pain was just one protracted contraction that didn't stop the whole way. When they broke the amniotic sac, everyone in that room got splashed - including Rob up by my head, and they were all laughing. I remembering hearing, "Bring more towels!"

And then, the doctor - or rather, 17 of them, it seemed like - detected that there was now a complicated presentation brought on by that tremendous flood of fluid. Into the d@mn OR for a Caesarean section we went, tearing up that whole birth plan as we went.

So, anyway, Chloë had a ton of problems of her own. During the C-section, she dipped her head backwards and aspirated fluid (ew, we know), and she wasn't keeping and formula down (I wasn't making milk yet and it would have had to be dumped then anyway, because I was on MgSO₄ for the pre-eclampsia.).

Four days after she was born, we had to leave the hospital - and Chloë - behind, all the while watching the 9/11 news going down. There were no cell phones in our pockets back then to alert friends and family about what was going on with the baby, or for Rob to ask about having to come off paternity leave, or for us to check with our pet sitter to see how that was going. (It wasn't.)

I didn't know what we were going to do, or where we were going to go. One of the nurses told Rob there was a RMH just off the hospital property, and she helped him apply for us to stay there. Thankfully, the Ronald McDonald House in Pensacola accepted us.

As Chloë went through problem after problem in the NICU, we settled into the RMH. They gave us several gift cards for the pay phones (we were soooo thankful for those) so we could finally notify our loved ones. There were plenty of laundry detergent and fabric softener sheets in the laundry room, plus toiletries, free for us to have and use. There was tons of food in the kitchen that was fair game, plus different people or groups would bring in meals for the residents sometimes. Also, there were plenty of large kitchen appliances so the residents could store their foods and cook without getting each others' way.

The living room area had a large TV (at the time tuned to all the 9/11 news), many books, and lots of games - both board and electronic. All of the residents had their own rooms, with plenty of comfortable pillows, blankets, and for me, my giant teddy bear. And after 10 days, when Chloë was finally discharged, they had a bassinet to keep her at my beside. (I was finally nursing her and pumping!) When we leaving the next day, to settle up, it was on a "pay what you can" agreement.

All this to say, staying at the RMH in Pensacola, Florida, was an extremely humbling experience that brought both of us to tears several times. They were so giving, so kind - the then-director even came out to Panama City to attend Chloë's first birthday party!

So, whenever we've had a chance to give back to the Ronald McDonald House, we do what we can. The first year after we stayed there, we bought their hats. Another year, I think it was pins. When we lived in Boise, Idaho, a Ronald McDonald House was right downtown, near the hospital where I practically lived. So we stored up our bottle caps and brought them down to the RMH to dump them in their huge buckets. And I used to be known, before all my chronic illness sh-- started, as a big-time couponer, so when I could, we donated all kinds of toiletries, cleaning products, and laundry products. Obviously, telling this to the entire world drops me down many pegs on the altruism scale, but that wasn't my goal. Rather, I just wanted to let you know about a great organization that's worth supporting.

An easy way to help the Ronald McDonald House Charities is to select "NATIONAL RMHC DONATION" from the McD's app, or just round-up your orders in the drive-thru or at the counter. As I've always said, every little bit helps!

(Or, you can just donate here.)

♥ If you read all this, whether you donate or not,

thank you from the bottom of my heart. ♥

Fin.

Saturday 9: Jolene

Hey, y'all. I don't know how I'm going to be this go-'round either, but I want to join the fracas. I'll do my best. Been missing my feeling S9'ers, so please, may I squeeze in?

If you want to play along, please be sure to link up here when you're finished.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Saturday 9: Jolene (1973)

Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Dolly Parton sings about a woman with great hair, great eyes, a great smile and a great voice. OK, so Jolene has it all. Of these, which is your most attractive feature: your hair, your eyes, your smile or your voice?

Right now, I'd have to say my eyes. As my illnesses progress, all the rest are not so good, I'm afraid.

2) Dolly tells us her husband mentions Jolene in his sleep. Do you talk in your sleep?

3) Dolly has said this song was inspired by a bank teller she caught flirting with her husband. That was in the 1970s. Today we can do our banking from our computers, our phones or a bank ATM. When is the last time you spoke to a banker?

It was last year, I think, when we were trying to get a diamond stamp by a notary or something so precious we never got it - and never needed it anyway, turns out. *humph*

4) Dolly had a crush on Johnny Cash. When she was just a teen she saw him perform at The Grand Ole Opry and called it "love at first sight." Are you crushing on anyone right now?

Not really, like anyone famous. I'm crushing pretty hard on my husband right now, actually. We're handling this devastation the same, but differently. At the same time, and at different times. Holding it together when I'm not, and vice versa. No one's blaming anyone. I think we're doing as well as anyone could expect, and so I'm crushing on my own man.

5) Dolly is more than a singer/songwriter. She's an industry! Her Dollywood is a theme park, water park, hotel and spa. Looking back on the summer of '24, did you visit a theme park, water park, hotel or spa?

None of these, but we did go the beach and boardwalks several times. And,we did go to Dolly's Dixie Stampede in 2015, but I can't find the pictures of us there.

6) A luxury stay at Dollywood can get expensive, unless you're the teacher who wins this year's Chasing Rainbows Award from Dolly. She treats a deserving teacher to a week at Dollywood. Tell us about a teacher who made a difference in your life.

As a kid (De niña), I used to know her as Señora O, after several more graduating classes, she went and became Doctora O. I'm so proud of her, and also, it seems like that was the obvious outcome for her. Aside from being beautiful inside and out, she's generous, helpful, a wonderful and patient educator, and I could go on all day. I love her and am so grateful we're still in touch.

7) Dollywood is in Sevier County, TN. Her ties to the community are strong, and in 2007, Dolly raised the funds to build a new hospital that opened there in 2010. When you were last in a hospital, were you a patient or a visitor?

I was a patient, but I forget why. Probably something pulmonology related.

8) In 1973, when "Jolene" was popular, Elvis' "Aloha from Hawaii" concert aired. "Aloha" is the native Hawaiian word used when greeting or parting. Can you say anything else in Hawaiian?

Ohana means family. I learned that from Disney's Lilo and Stitch when my kids were Littles. I probably know more, but my brain is a weak, shriveled mess right now.

9) Random question: Have you more recently eaten cold pizza or cold fried chicken?

Cold pizza, two days ago, and the day before that, and possibly the day before that. It's an easy thing to shove in the oven when cooking is the last thing on your mind.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Hug your loved ones, y'all, and tell them how you feel.

Fin.

 

Saturday 9: Cool Night

Hi everyone. I've had a tragic, heartbreaking week, and am left a devastated, broken soul. Rather than judge me as uncaring about what happened - when/if you find out - realize this is a distraction to take my mind off of it for a little while.

If you want to join us and play "Cool Night" on Saturday 9, make sure to link up here. And lets get to it:

Saturday 9: Cool Night (1981)

Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Paul Davis invites his old girlfriend to "come on over tonight." Have you more recently extended or received an invitation?

Extended I suppose. Kinda... yeah.

2) He tells her she doesn't have to commit to any plans. Do you like having a schedule ahead of you with things to do delineated? Or do you prefer to see how your days naturally unfold?

I always have a schedule, and check it frequently. If things don't go as planned, depending on the "things," I tend to get upset about it, but sometimes I can be spontaneous and go with the flow.

3) He wants them to cuddle by the fire. Will tonight be a cool night where you are?

No, it's going to be 70ºF to 73ºF, depending on the weather. I still that's warm enough, right?

4) A quiet night in front of the fireplace is likely how Paul Davis spent many evenings. When he died in 2008, his best friend remembered him as a quiet man, "a homebody" who liked staying up late into the night enjoying conversation and music with friends. Describe your perfect evening.

I can't right now. I'm sorry. Things are so far from perfect that right now I can't even begin to think of what *my* perfection might look like.

5) Mr. Davis also enjoyed playing pool and golf. Do you have a liking for either of those games?

Not golf, and I am horrible at pool.

6) When he retired from music, Paul Davis returned to Meridian, MS, the town where he was born and grew up. Since we Americans can be a nomadic lot, let's find out: Is the town where you were born the same place where you spent most of your growing up years?

No. I was born, technically, in Goshen, New York, but raised until aged 6½ in nearby Monroe. After that, we moved to Baldwinsville (outside of Syracuse) for the rest of my formative years.

7) In 1981, when Paul Davis was a hit, so were The Rolling Stones with "Start Me Up." What's your favorite Rolling Stones' song?

Right now, it's probably "Paint it Black," since it's about grief and being despondent during that whole stage after experience the death of a loved one.

8) Also in 1981, Snoopy was all the rage, with kids and adults alike. You could buy Snoopy magnets, pencils, pencil sharpeners, note pads ... even a Snoopy bulletin board. If today we went shopping for office supplies, what would you pick up?

Well, I love good pens, that write easily and smoothly, every time, so if we were at Office Depot, I'd get the 14-pack of TuL pens. I'd probably check out what else new TuL has come out with, because I'm basically their groupie at this point.

9) Random question: In a biopic of your life, who would play your mom and dad?

Dad, maybe Burt Reynolds (I don't care that he's gone; bring him back!) and my mom..??? Oh maybe a young Suzanne Somers. And that is that.

Fin.

Saturday 9: Drive To You

Howdy-hey, pardners. I'm excited about this week's offerings featuring one of my favorite artists from way back, Jewel! I've been listening to Jewel for over 25 years, since my college years. My BFF introduced us. Are you a fan?

I took a long nap this afternoon/evening and now I'm worried about being able to sleep tonight. But I have to, because the Maryland Folk Festival is this weekend, all weekend, and I don't want to miss a drop! With that said, link up here if you're playing along this weekend, and I'm going to jump right in!

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Saturday 9: Drive to You (2006)

Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Jewel sings that she can't sleep and is staring at the ceiling. Did you fall asleep easily last night?

Yes, and no. I couldn't stay asleep. I woke up at least three times, and finally, on the last time, I went out to my office to work on some Cricut projects. Hopefully I didn't wake any of the others.

2) She concludes that the only thing to do is drive to her lover's side. Last time you got behind the wheel, where were you headed?

I'm pretty sure I went to pick up Chloë, our eldest, and bring her to work or bring her to our house from work.

3) Jewel grew up in Alaska. Have you ever visited our largest state?

Not yet. My husband really wants to go, so I can see us going in the future sometime.

4) She once performed at the Sydney Opera House, which is more than 7,300 miles away from Anchorage. There are no direct commercial flights between those two cities. Given your choice, would you rather spend less on travel but have to change flights, or spend more and fly non-stop to your destination?

Given the choice, I would always save money and have multiple flights.

5) Actor Sean Penn developed a crush on Jewel after seeing her perform on TV and attended many of her concerts during her 1995 tour. What's the best concert you ever saw?

There have been lots of cool concerts, but seeing Blue Man Group was absolutely one of the most memorable.

6) She married Ty Murray, a successful rodeo cowboy. Have you ever attended a rodeo?

Not a chance. Animal welfare reasons top the list of why not.

7) In 2006, the year "Drive to You" was released, Al Lewis died. He was best known as Grandpa on The Munsters. It's time for you to declare where you stand on this issue: do you prefer The Munsters or The Addams Family?

I think The Munsters take the edge for me, just a wee bit. I just got a bigger kick out of them.

8) 2006 was a very good one for tennis pro Roger Federer. He reached the finals in all four Grand Slam tournaments, and won three. What's the last game you won? (Yes, Wordle counts.)

I've been really into the game Connections from The New York Times. It's fun, it's quick, it's challenging. Very fun.

9) Random question: Using one word, how would you describe 2024 so far?

FLYING! I can't believe I've started my Christmas shopping already! That's wild. It was just literally Christmas 6½ minutes ago, I swear. Insane. This year is FLYING by. Amirite?

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Y'all take care and have a wonderful weekend!

Fin.

Saturday 9: Minute By Minute

Hello, my friends! Here it is, 9:30 AM on Saturday. I had planned on playing Friday afternoon, but the day got away from me. The day always gets away from me! Does that happen to you often, too?

By the way, I was listening to the main song just now, on YouTube as directed, and then went into more Doobie Brothers songs, and apparently one chonky porky Tapioca puppy didn't appreciate my choice in music. Too bad, Sis! Do you see that side-eye? LOL.

Make sure you're linking up here if you're playing with us this weekend! It's a blast, you'll love it.

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Saturday 9: Minute by Minute (1979)

Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1) It's easier to keep track of the minutes if your timepiece has a second hand. As you answer these questions, are you wearing a watch or can you see a clock that has a second hand?

I don't wear a watch, because I usually get ridiculous contact dermatitis whenever my skin and an object get wet and are held together for a length time, ie., from handwashing. I couldn't wear my wedding rings for a long time. So I mostly look at my phone. Sometimes I'll ask Alexa. The clock on my shelf needs new batteries. I do have a dive watch exactly like the picture, good ol' Seiko, but I don't do a lot of SCUBA diving these days. I should just get it out and wear it sometimes anyways.

2) In this song, Michael McDonald admits he knows his girl has lied to him. Do you suspect any one of your friends/family has fibbed to you recently?

I do suspect it. And I suspect it - such a big lie of major importance - so strongly that I have unfriended, unfollowed, blocked, booted, and otherwise abandoned our friendship in every available way that I can think of thus far.

3) McDonald's big break came in 1973 when he joined Steely Dan's touring band. What do you consider your first professional success?

Well, that's hard to say, since I left marine science academia so long ago and became "Mom." Hm, so first professional success there? Oh, I don't know. I got it - all three kids said "mama" before "dada," even though the latter is easier and therefore usually first to be said. Hee.

4) In 1975 he joined The Doobie Brothers. He was originally supposed to be a temporary replacement for Tom Johnston, but he ended up working with the band uninterrupted for seven years. Tell us about something that's happened to you that turned out better than you anticipated.

(can't get the other one to load)

We recently took in my friend's two bigger dogs - and, briefly, my friend - while she searches for new digs for herself. Rob jokingly wants to rename the dogs "chaos" and "mayhem," but they're sweet, and even our autistic son who was all "hell no" about them coming is having a blast bonding with them. So it's going okay, thankfully.

5) In 1986 he guest starred on an episode of The Young and The Restless. Have you ever been hooked on a daytime drama?

When I was a kid I watched whatever my older sisters watched, so yeah. The main one was Guiding Light. IYKYK

6) Michael and wife Amy raised their family near Nashville, where they had their own pond and a garden they lovingly tended. Do you enjoy yard work?

NO! I spent too many of my childhood days picking up rotten apples (we lived on an old orchard that had been divvied up) and leaves and pine cones and pine straws (shoving them all into plastic trash bags, no less, which of course I now would never do and am horrified I had to), weeding like nobody's business - still don't hate dandelions like my dad does - tending to the veggie garden and occasionally the flowers, pruning, etc. Which is fine and all, but that doesn't mean I liked it! We're hoping soon to break ground in our backyard for a fruit/veggie/flower garden (gotta think of those pollinators), so I'm hoping to turn this black thumb green. Still testing it out on the succulents indoors.

7) In 1979, when "Minute by Minute" was popular, movie star John Wayne died. In 2004, the US Postal Service honored him with a stamp. What was in the last envelope you stamped and dropped in a mailbox?

It was actually a postcard for Postcrossing, with $1.65 in all different denominations of stamps, bound for China. I have international stamps, but some people request different ones than those and now I'm well equipped. It may have been one of the popular Blue Cat cards by Irina Zeniuk; I send out a lot of those.

8) In 1979, the most popular new car was the Oldsmobile Cutlass. Ads promised drivers the Cutlass could make it easy to get in and out of tight parking spots. Are you good at parallel parking?

Umm... In theory I am. I mean, I get the concepts. I'm just really horrible at driving in reverse and also at judging my proximity to the curb. Now that I have three - no, four? - back-up cameras on my spaceship, that does make it a lot easier. However, I hardly ever have to do it, since they don't make a lot of "handicapable" people park that way.

9) Random question: Did you know your great-grandparents?

No, of all the grands and greats, I only knew my mother's parents, and they have been gone for a number of years now. Here are the kids heading back from when we went up to New Jersey for my grandpa's funeral, stopping to eat Carvel ice cream. This was Grandpa's favorite treat, before he was told no more ice cream! and switched to TCBY, so we had to stop and have some Carvel in a hat tip to that dear, departed gent, the finest in the world. Grandma had died roughly a decade earlier and also loved Carvel. ♥ I loved and miss them so incredibly much.

~*~*~*~*~

Fin.

Saturday 9: Morning Train

Hello, loves! I see I'm the caboose of this train again, haha. That's fine with me, it's my spot I guess. I'm not feeling well, so this will probably take me awhile and be rife with mistakes. Bear with me?

If you're joining up with us this weekend, be sure to join up with Crazy Sam and the rest of us here.

~*~*~*~*~

Morning Train (1981) 

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Sheena Easton sings about her lover, who takes a train to and from work each day. When is the last time you took public transportation? Where did you go?

We took a water taxi from one end of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to the fine dining and shopping area of another. It was for a mystery shop, probably circa 2016. We had a good time. The taxi was fun and we did fine-dine!

2) His workday begins at 9 and ends at 5. Do your days stick to a predictable schedule?

As someone who is chronically ill on, as luck would have it, several levels, my day is pretty predictable. And now I have double pneumonia again. It makes me feel even shittier about it when I read someone complain about prioritizing work over sleep and family and instead and work on their next creative project, and they are go, go, go, and oh! How will I survive? And I'm sitting here in boring bed, day after day, thinking, "Dude. I'd give anything to be able to have a job."

3) In the evening she sings that they may go to a movie, a restaurant or slow dancing ... whatever she wants. Which of those would you choose?

I told Hubs that for my birthday (September 8th), I want to see Beetlejuice 2, if it's out yet. Is it out yet? I should check... okay, I'm good, it will have just come out. I haven't been to the movies in some years, and I'm a big Jenna Ortega fan, so I'm excited to see her in it.

4) As a little girl, Sheena Easton performed at family gatherings, not just because she was talented but because she could be a bit of a ham. When you were a kid, were more often shy or outgoing?

I'm this ^^^ person to a "T." Exactly this person. Painfully shy and then, when we're friends, you can't shut me up.

5) In the late 1980s she was the spokeswoman for Bally's health clubs. Do you have a gym membership?

Nyet. I have a hypermobility disorder, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, so my joints are constantly dislocating. I'm on the "do what I can do at home" plan.

6) In 1987 she played Sonny Crockett's love interest on Miami Vice. Were you a fan of the show?

Hmm. I remember seeing on TV sometimes, but I wouldn't say I really paid attention to it. I was still in elementary school then. I remember the blazers.

7) This weekend is a good reason to have a picnic or barbecue. The best-selling barbecue sauce flavors are sweet, spicy, and smoky. What's your favorite?

Sorry, none for me. I've liked any barbecue sauce, and I don't eat anything with it on there. I'll take the fruit or potato salad, please!

8) Labor Day weekend may offer a golden opportunity for napping and sleeping in. Do you snore?

Now that I've lost a bunch of weight (again), Hubs reports I rarely do and not loudly. When I've been heavier, then yeah.

9) Labor Day traditionally marks the beginning of the fall. Will you be adding any new fall clothes to your wardrobe?

I think so. I really need to get some new jeans at least; my other two pairs fall down on me now. Will it be one of these styles? I doubt it, but I do rather like that fringe-y Diesel coat on the right!

I have some clothes in an online cart somewhere, but now I can't remember where! 

~*~*~*~*~

Y'all have a good Labor Day weekend! I hope you get time to rest and relax. Please send me healthy vibes!!

Fin.

Saturday 9: Sh-Boom Sh-Boom

Hey, folks. It's going to be of a late entry from me here today. I had it mostly written yesterday, actually, but I scrolled up through what I'd written to re-check something, and the page rebooted. Typepad is supposed to automatically save that stuff, but it didn't. None of it.

So I got frustrated and put the post away.

But I'm back, a bit after 10 AM on Saturday, to finish what I started. If y'all out there, all my 1 fans, are wanting to play along today with me and Crazy Sam and The Crew Cuts and the gang today, just head here to Saturday 9 and then link up here when you're finished. Easy peasy!

I'll leave you to it.

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Saturday 9: Sh-Boom (1954)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) 70 years ago this month, the Crew Cuts were singing that life could be a dream. When you awaken, can you recall your dreams?

Yes, I usually can, and sometimes I remember multiple ones. This morning, I woke up with dreaming that I'd taken my youngest baby, Rowan, to the pediatrician to have their very first shots. And when Rowan sneezed in the middle of it, the tech or nurse was horrified and started crying, explaining, "I've barbed them, I can't get it out!" And I learned that she'd used a fish hook instead of a regular needle to innoculate my child! I was upset when I woke up, even! Now, it's funny.

2) The lead singer refers to his girl as "darling," "sweetheart" and "baby." Have you used an affectionate endearment lately? If yes, who were you speaking to?

Oh, it could've been any of the kids or Rob. I'm always making up new, ridiculously silly epithets for them, often with "punkin," "pickle," or "peanut" involved.

3) Two members of this Canadian quartet are brothers, born 15 months apart. Do you have siblings? If yes, how close in age are you?

-- pass --

4) A hit in Toronto, the Crew Cuts traveled by car to appear on TV in New York. How are your wheels? Would you give your vehicle a tune up before embarking on a 1,000 mile (500 miles each way) road trip?

I just had my van in to have the air pressure checked, because they were reading a little bit wonky, and they were tapped up. We have a compressor at home, too, that works well enough to charge up Rob's Toyota pick-up. But they didn't rotate my tires (I don't believe my '21 Honda Odyssey ever has had the tires rotated, but I drive it very few miles per year), I might ask to check those and the oil before we go. That's about it. Where are we going?

5) In 54 and 55, they had five Top 10 hits. Then the Crew Cuts fell off the charts. Founding member Rudi Maugeri suspects it's because they were a "teen act" and teenage music tastes can change fast. Who did you listen to when you were in high school?

Of course, not just these three -- I got into the 90s rap some, so Salt 'n' Pepa, Queen Latifah, DeLaSoul, Kid n Play, LLCoolJ, and yes, the Fresh Prince.

6) A well-maintained crew cut should be trimmed every 2-4 weeks. Is there an appointment with a hairstylist on your calendar?

I just recently had one, but I'm not satisfied. I think I didn't go short enough. My hair is very fine, and it is now thinner than ever. It has been falling out in clumps and more clumps. So much so that my husband offered to grow out his hair to make me a wig, and then grow it out again so we match, haha. It's awfully sweet. But I am thinking of going back to the salon.

Let's look at the summer of 1954:

7) 70 years ago, Chicago Bears great Walter Payton was born. Today more than 1200 students are enrolled in Chicago's Walter Payton College Preparatory High School. Was your high school named after anyone?

I attended Charles W. Baker High School in Baldwinsville, New York. We had a number of notable athlete alumni, but it irks me that those are the only kind found "notable." IJS. Jason Grilli and I were in the same graduating class. It's been a bit fun following his baseball career.

8) J.R.R. Tolkien's Fellowship of the Rings was published. It's the first of three volumes in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Have you read the books and/or seen the movies?

No, I haven't. I could never get into it; Sci-Fi just isn't my genre. (And if you didn't just try to pronounce that like Alex Trebek, well, can we even still be friends?)

9) Sports Illustrated was first published. As a special promotion, the premier issue included baseball cards. With the introduction of online communities and trading apps, collecting baseball cards continues to grow in popularity. Are there any card collectors in your life?

I believe Hubs still has the collection he inherited from his father (?), but he doesn't continue collecting them. I don't know what his plans are for those. I'm not sure he does, either.

~*~*~*~*~

Welp, looks like my beach was bumped until tomorrow. I've got to sit on the nebulizer and take another crack at this crazy thing called breathing. You guys should do plenty of it, too!

Fin.

Saturday 9: I Get Around

Good morning, everyone! Not for much longer here on the East Coast (it's 11:45 EDT), but morning nonetheless. Between weather and migraine days, I've been trying and failing to get to the beach all week.

So the Beach Boys are a welcome addition to my week, and the blahg, after all that nonsense. Link up here if you're playing along with us!

And away we go...

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Saturday 9: I Get Around (1964)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) 60 years ago this month, the Beach Boys were singing that having a cool car and helped them get girls. In your teen years, what did you drive?

That's a bit of a sting. In my senior year of high school, which was '93-'94, I had bought myself a red '91 Ford Escort wagon. But then no one was available or, according to my dad, allowed to teach me how to drive, so I didn't get my license. Therefore, I wasn't allowed to take my car to college with me, and my dad kept it with him -- and drove it, and neglected to get the required oil change(s) and other maintenance, and seized it up.

2) They are searching for a new place to party. This weekend, will you be visiting any bars, theaters or restaurants?

No partying here. If the clouds and storms let up, we may finally try to visit a new-to-us beach, Roaring Point, on the Nanticoke River.

3) When Brian Wilson was forming the group, he turned to his friend Al Jardine, his brothers Dennis and Carl, and his cousin, Mike Love. Though most of their songs were about cars, beaches and surf, only one of those founding members was a surfer: Dennis. Do you enjoy the beach? Are you good on a surfboard?

I've never been on a surfboard, though I can tell you right now that I'd never be able to stand let alone catch a wave. I am pretty good at, and fond of, hitting up a beach. (That's the kids and me on Christmas 2013 in Miami.)

4) They were originally from Hawthorne, California. Hawthorne was the early childhood home of Marilyn Monroe. Since Marilyn was one of the most iconic women of the 20th century, we know you recognize her image. Have you seen any of her movies?

No, I never have.

5) "I Get Around" is included in Endless Summer, the greatest hits compilation released in 1974. Influential music critic Robert Christgau said Endless Summer should be part of any basic record library. What's one of your favorite CDs?

I haven't had any CDs for a long time, but I'm going to go old-school and say that two of my favorites were movie soundtracks: Sleepless in Seattle & Waiting to Exhale both had wonderful ones!

Let's look at the summer of 1964.

6) The #1 film of the summer of 1964 was Walt Disney's Mary Poppins. Have you seen it?

I have many times, because I love it. It's "practically perfect in every way."

7) President Lyndon Johnson accepted the Democratic party's nomination at the August 1964 convention in Atlantic City, NJ. Atlantic City is known for casinos and gambling. Do you often play the lottery, bingo, or any other game of chance?

No, I never do. The closest I get is buying a bunch of scratch-offs for Hubs for his birthday and sometimes Christmas. He has fun scratching them and maybe winning a few bucks here and there.

8) Billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was still a baby in the summer of 1964. What was in your most recent Amazon delivery?

There were some new pots, some pebbles, and some cactus & succulent potting soil, for the latest crop of succulents I've added. These are not those.

9) Another little one born in '64 is Mariska Hargitay. The star of Law & Order: SVU is the daughter of a well-known movie star. Without looking it up, do you know who her mother was?

Eeeeeeeeshhhh, I'm thinking really hard, I know I don't know the actress but have read it numerous times in Mariska's bio. hmm. I think I have all the letters, but not in the right order. I have to look it up. Ahh, right. Jayne Mansfield; I got close to the last name, but I was trying to put an "r" in there.

~*~*~*~*~

All right! Thanks as usual for the fun questions, "Crazy Sam," and now I've got to get some volunteer work under my belt. May you all have a good week!

Fin.

Saturday 9: Annie's Song

Howdy-Ho, neighbors! I've missed you, since I was absent last week. I hope you've all been doing well. Feeling a bit out of sorts myself, but I'm hoping this will soon pass.

I can't remember which one of you said the previous font and size were too hard to read, so I'll take feedback on this post, whether it's an improvement or not.

You've come here for some Saturday 9, and that's what you're gonna get. Link up here if you're going to play along with us this week!

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Saturday 9: Annie's Song (1974)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) 50 years ago this month, we were all listening to John Denver rhapsodize about nature. He singles out walking in the rain as a particularly lovely experience. Do you enjoy walking in the rain?

I used to, and puddle jumping, even before I had kids to do it with! But I don't have the health for it now, so I'll just enjoy other people's fun with that.

2) Denver wrote this song on a ski lift in Aspen. He clearly relished the ride, but ski lifts are problematic for those who suffer from acrophobia, or a fear of heights. Acrophobia plagues approximately 5% of Americans. Are you one of them?

You bet your sweet patoot I am!

3) John Denver recalled that this song just came to him as he looked down on the beauty of nature. Can you recall a time when something you saw in nature touched your heart?

(video shared from Manta Trust)

I think I've told the story of the manta ray breaching, right? Stop me if I have, 47 times before. I'm twenty years old. As I was sitting on the beach in Key Biscayne, crying, searching for answers about what to do with my life, if I was making the right choices continuing on with fish, particularly elasmobranchs - the sharks, skates, and rays - this enormous ray completely breached the water and flew above it a piece before slowly making its way back in again at a low, nearly horizontal angle. I couldn't believe what I'd just seen. It was beautiful; I cried 10 times harder than I had before, over the shocking beauty of it!

4) Wildly successful here in The States, John Denver's popularity didn't extend to the United Kingdom. In fact, "Annie's Song" was his only major hit. But it was a big one. Denver's version reached #1 in 1974 and then in 1978 James Galway hit #1 on the UK charts with an instrumental version. Do you have a favorite instrumental recording?

There are probably some instrumental songs I like, but I can't think of them right now. I'm a singer, I want to sing! I don't know what to do with an instrumental - are you supposed to stand aside and clap politely, are you allowed to get in there and sing along to it if you want? I'm so ridiculous; I don't even know the rules here... BUT! I do love classical music. I just don't categorize that as "instrumental." Right?

5) John Denver's first-ever guitar, a gift from his grandmother, was displayed at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix. Have you visited a museum yet this summer? If not, do you have plans to?

I have not.

I do not.

And I will not.

haha Just kidding, now I will be making it a point to go to one before the summer's out, and will let you know, by golly.

{And I've been listening to a mostly-strings and piano instrumental playlist of Top-40 pop music covers, and it's kinda relaxing!}

6) In addition to the guitar, Denver also played the violin (or "the fiddle," as he called it). If a genie appeared to magically enable you to play the instrument of your choice, which would you choose?

My best bet would be Wintergatan's Marble Machine. Look at that thing! I was going to cello or a harp, but then I found this thing, with this description: "...is a hand-cranked music box loaded with instruments including a circuit of 2,000 cascading steel marbles. As the devices cycles it activates a vibraphone, bass, kick drum, cymbal and other instruments that play a score programmed into a 32 bar loop comprised of LEGO technic parts. The marbles are moved internally through the machine using funnels, pulleys, and tubes." The video is fun to watch; give it a couple of minutes of your eyeballs!

Let's look at the summer of 1974.

7) Elizabeth Berkeley was born. She's best known as Jesse on the Saturday morning teen sitcom, Saved by the Bell. What Saturday morning TV shows do you remember fondly?

I remember a lot! But the Smurfs were the ones we'd fight over the best chair for. 

And there was "Peewee's Playhouse," which we had an absolute blast watching, and imitating, as well.

8) Hall of Fame pitcher and Cardinal great Dizzy Dean died. How is your baseball team doing this summer?

Honestly, I really don't follow much baseball anymore. If Rob tell me his late mom's Cubbies are playing well, then I'm happy for everybody involved.

9) The biggest summer movie was The Longest Yard starring Burt Reynolds. What's your favorite Burt Reynolds movie?

Hmm, upon looking over Burt Reynolds movies I've seen, I'd have to say Boogie Nights tops my list. Great role, great cast, great flick! 

~*~*~*~*~

Well here we are at 10AM on Saturday, so I'm sure I'll be dead last - but I'm okay with that as it's not a contest. I hope you joy and laughter this weekend!

Fin.

Saturday 9: Nevertheless (I'm in Love with You) 1969

Hello again! I'm forgetting which of you said the font was too tiny last time - sorry! - but I heard you and so hopefully this time will be much better. Please let me know.

As far as life goes this past week since I last wrote, It's been... fine. Still no time at the beach, which makes me sad. Lots of rain preventing that, though. And I did a soft launch of a slight switch up I'm going to be doing in my Instagram account, which is also going to start being reflected here on the blog. You can see that here. 

If you're going to play Saturday 9, please join the rest of us by linking up here. We'd love to have you! Now let's begin:

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Saturday 9: Nevertheless (I'm in Love with You) 1969

Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Liza Minnelli acknowledges that she may be "taking a terrible chance." Have you done anything risky lately?

Well, I'm in the kind of in the middle of one thing, with planning this big trip to Japan for next year. Being in a wheelchair, with Japan not being the most accessible country, it's a little chancy.

2) In 1969, when Liza recorded this song, she was 23 and her career was really beginning to take off. She was a sought-after guest on TV talk and variety shows and received her first Oscar nomination. Give us a quick overview of your life at 23.

I had just taken a step back from my PhD program in Biology, studying fishes (particularly the feeding ecomorphology of sharks), was taking a semester towards a Master's in Science Ed for middle and high school students, and was courted back to St. Petersburg from Tampa to be the legal secretary where'd I'd previously done so. They helped pay the deposit for my and my boyfriend's apartment, and then I kicked him out for pushing me into a bookshelf and breaking my teeth.

3) Also in 1969, the first Gap store was opened in San Francisco. What have you recently added to your wardrobe? If yes, where did you buy it?

I recently bought these Lilac & London black pajamas & a coordinating L&L robe for myself, from Kohl's. They are so heavenly; I could live in them, every day, all day. Actually, I'm wearing the robe right now.

4) Liza says she always has apple juice in her refrigerator. What's something you're certain to have in your fridge?

We are a big cereal family, so there's usually a jug of milk in the refrigerator. And sometimes there's vegan milk for me.

5) Liza's favorite card game is poker. What's yours?

I used to play gin rummy all the time with my grandmother as a kid. I loved her and I loved the game. We played Uno, Skip-bo and a handful of other games I've really never played with anyone else since Grandma. But currently...

...this honor goes to Cards Against Humanity. It's terrible and awful and hilarious fun. We need to get more expansion packs. Have you played it yet?

6) Though Liza recorded the song in 1969, "Nevertheless (I'm in Love with You)" was written way back in 1931. It has been recorded more than 50 times by artists as diverse as Bing Crosby, Andy Gibb and Bob Dylan. Before today, had you heard it?

No, I must say. But I did take a listen.

7) "Nevertheless (I'm in Love with You)" is credited to Bert Kalmer and his partner, Harry Ruby. Another one of their hits was "Who's Sorry Now?" Do you owe anyone an apology?

I'm pretty quick with the apology when I'm cognizant that I owe one 30,000. I'm definitely an over-apologizer, and it's annoying for all parties. But I DO NOT apologize where I don't feel I owe one; I can think of a few people who probably think I owe them one, but they're wrong, and it's not coming. C'est la vie. 🤷‍♀️

8) Together they also wrote "Hooray for Captain Spaulding," sung onscreen by Groucho Marx in the movie Animal Crackers. There were five Marx Brothers in all. How many can you name?

Uhhh, Groucho...Karl (just kidding)... Harpo's one, right? That's all I can think of without looking them up. (I missed Chico, Gummo, and Zeppo. I never would've gotten those, even under extreme torture.)

9) Random question: Do you believe talking to plants helps them grow?

I know there have been studies that have shown this to be fact, so yes, I believe this to be so! Of course!

~*~*~*~*~

Okay! Fun times, once again. Thank you, Crazy Sam! I plan to visit as many of you as I can tomorrow, provided this migraine that is knocking around upstairs can be kept under control. Wish me luck on getting to the beach this weekend, maybe? And I'll wish you well in all your weekend plans, too.

Fin.