MelaniePenelope

Saturday 9: Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head

What's happening, friends and loved ones from all around? Are you still buried under any snow at this point in the game? Or are you having a dreary, rainy Saturday like we are? Lucky enough for sunshine? ☼

We're having an eventful Saturday already. Aside from it being the 20th anniversary of our son Robby's death and our current need to shop for a new urn to replace the one that one of our cats just smashed to bits, we had to place a call this morning to the sheriff of a nearby county to request a wellness check for one of Noah's friends who did not sound well. There's a serious threat of self-harm, and we're waiting with baited breath for any return information. Hopefully to the good. I'm going to set that aside and work here, though, because stewing is unproductive.

If you'd like to join us today, link up here. We'll be in cahoots! Here we go:

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Saturday 9: Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head

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

1) In this week's song, BJ Thomas sings that he knows it won't be long until he finds happiness. What are you looking forward to today? What's going to make you smile?

 

It's Chloë's day off, so she'll be coming over later. I expect we'll be watching House as usual, too. We've been having an ongoing House marathon from Season 1, Episode 1 through, currently, early Season 4. Yay! We've watched other series together, including the first (and only, so far) season of Wednesday, and everything aired on Netflix of Anne With an E. Both of those were so good!

 

2) BJ Thomas met his wife Gloria at a bar. She was there with his drummer, but BJ let his friend know he felt a connection to Gloria and was going to drive her home. BJ and Gloria were married for 50 years, until his death. Have you and a friend ever found yourselves attracted to the same person? If yes, how did you handle it?

 

 

Yes, we have, and I didn't handle it well when he started to change interest from me to her. I had a large bottle  of Goldschäger (how, I don't know, as I would have been only 18 or 19 years old at the time) in my dorm room, and when this happened, she was visiting me for her college's Spring Break. She was  in my room with me, therefore, and decided to go to bed.  I drank a good half of that bottle of Goldie - far, far too much for me. I barely remember what happened next, but I know I was sobbing like no tomorrow, and then I was also banging my head into the hard floor, and then I was also screaming at the top of my lungs. My friend eventually answered a knock at the door that turned out to be a police check-in initiated by a mate on my same floor's wing. Whether she was annoyed or concerned, I don't know. I don't remember what my friend told the police, but they left, and then I think she got me to shut up and get into bed.

 

My head hurt like hell in the morning. And no more drinking. And I got over my jealous nature just like that. Mostly.

 

3) This song is from Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, which has been called "the most entertaining Western ever made." Do you enjoy Westerns?

 

Nope. No. Uh-uh.

 

4) Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is one of the most popular movies Paul Newman made, but he liked to say his "favorite role is philanthropist." He raised an amazing $500 million for children's charities through his Newman's Own brand. The most popular Newman's Own product is salad dressing. What flavor of salad dressing would we find in your kitchen right now?

 

 

Not sure what else you'd find right now, but I know we have the Good Seasons Italian dressing with the free cruet! I love me a good salad. I haven't used it yet, though, because often I buy the salads with the packets already in there. I haven't had a cruet in my house since I was a kid. Seriously, who even says "cruet" anymore?

 

5) Burt Bacharach won the first of his three Oscars for this song. Yet 20th Century Fox originally wanted to cut the song from the movie, maintaining that that song and the famous "bicycle sequence" between Paul Newman and Katharine Ross were anachronistic and made the movie too long. Burt and the movie's director George Roy Hill fought for it, insisting that it helped define the optimistic character of Butch. Tell us about a time you were glad you stood your ground.

 

 

When I was working to try to get into my PhD program, I had to win over the professor and mentor running that lab. Dr. Professor insisted I start by taking a couple of his classes, one of which was very involved and included doing a big study or experiment and defending your data and analysis. We had to have a whole discussion about this with the class. Dr. Professor fired a number of questions at me during my discussion, when I was up in front, but I was able to be firm  on my data about the anoles lizards I had studied. I knew my work inside and out. And then when a friend had her turn, I pitched a few math-heavy suggestions that might-ve informed her data analyses, and Dr. Professor looked over at me with an expression that, if I'd dared look over at him fully, seemed liked "impressed." But standing my ground must have worked, because I got in! Not that it matters now.

 

6) Edith Head also won an Oscar for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. She said that Robert Redford, who played Sundance, presented a wardrobe problem. His jawline is too strong so she had to create special wider-brimmed hats to balance it. If you could magically change one of your physical features, which would you choose? And which feature would you never change?

 

I'm just going to talk about my face, because below that, there's too much to count. I would change my chin. I basically have none. So please, kindly give me a strong jawline, too. I would never change my eyes, ears, nose or lips.  Oh, and my hair! I would definitely need to change my hair. With all the autoimmune stuff and my hair always falling out all over the place, I would love some magic in that department, too.

 

7) In 1969, when this song was a hit, The Beatles played their last concert on the roof of Abbey Road Studios. When did you last climb onto the roof?

 

Does the roof of a research vessel I was on count? I think it had to be way back in college, so, 1997. Man. I need to get on a roof!

 

8) Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys mysteries sold at a brisk pace at Christmastime 1969. They're still popular today. Were you a fan?

 

 

Huge fan - of both! I had so many!!

9) Random question: Do you consider yourself old fashioned?

No! I don't think so. I don't know everything that's up-to-date with the kids, but I'm reasonably well-versed in all the thingzzzz that are going on. Until I'm not and then I learn all over again while the kids giggle at me! The point is, I make the effort, and I think that's the deciding factor. Don't you?

I'm sorry if there are a billion errors in this post. My eyes are jumping around and not focusing, so I'm having the WORST time seeing what I'm posting. Feel free to point out my errors in the comments below!

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Fin.

Saturday 9: Rocky Road to Dublin

Hey, y'all! Happy Saturday.

Once again, we're on the downside of the month, which is so strange to me. The months and years are now just going by so fast. My son will be 20 years old in four days! Incredible.

If you'd like to join in with us today, make sure you link up here and visit some or all of the other participants. I'm trying to do at least a few before I get into my volunteer work lately, but it's been hoppin', so I haven't managed much. That, too, is on my Annual Bucket List (to fix)!

And here we go:

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Saturday 9: The Rocky Road to Dublin (2008)
 
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This song is about a young man who leaves home to seek his fortune. How old were you when you first moved out on your own?

 

I was 17 years old.

2) He leaps onto a ship but the captain makes him sleep in the hold with pigs. Have you ever taken a cruise? (If so, we hope you had better accommodations.)

 

Yes, I have taken four:

 

 

The first, in the "family" I grew up in, when I was 14 in 1991, was on the Carnival Ecstasy and went to San Juan, Puerto Rico; Nassau, Bahamas; and, St. Thomas, USVI

 

 

Then in 1999, in memory of my grandmother, my grandpa took my cousins, their parents, and I on another cruise. I can't remember which line, but I'm thinking either Royal Caribbean or Princess; we went to Cozumel, Mexico; Jamaica; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; Limon, Costa Rica; and Panama Canal, Panama. This trip was EPIC.

 

 

In 2006, Rob, the kids, and I met up with my dad and his fourth wife and a bunch of their friends to celebrate wife's 60^th birthday. We took a short Carnival cruise to the Bahamas, which I did not enjoy as we were harrassed and aggressively accosted, and I felt uncomfortable off the ship this time around, unfortunately. 

 

 

And finally, in 2008, Rob and I took a Holland America cruise aboard the ms Zuiderdam around part of the Mediterranean. We started in Barcelona, Spain; we visited Nice and Eze; France, saw Monte Carlo in Monaco; then in Italy we visited first Lucca and then Pisa, followed by Civitavecchia (when we went off on a sight-seeing tour to Rome and Vatican City), then I think we visited bing-bang-boom three different destinations in Greece, each one more lush than the next, followed by Dubrovnik in Croatia, and we ended in Venice, Italy. Because of our flight situation, we also ended up flying to Madrid, Spain, and spending some time there.

 

The whole trip was absolutely beautiful, and you can read more about it here, if you'd like.

 

P.S. I think it's high time we go on another cruise!

 
3) This recording of the song is by The High Kings. Well established in Ireland, their career reached new heights in March 2012. Right after playing for the Lord Mayor of London's St. Patrick's Day celebration, they flew to Washington to perform for President Obama at the White House St. Patrick's Day concert. Tell us about a time when you were so happy, you had to pinch yourself to make sure you weren't dreaming.

 

 

The first time I became a mother, it was like that. I was so mind-blown that I was chosen to be this beautiful baby's mother, that I was entrusted with her care and upbringing, just that she was here! It was so exciting and unreal and I couldn't believe it and she was gorgeous and...! Yeah. That.

 

 

4) This song was chosen because Friday was St. Patrick's Day. Do you celebrate this holiday?

 

Well, I've only learned in the past few months that I'm Irish - 23%! according to AncestryDNA - after having spent a whole lifetime being told I was not Irish. Not only that, but my living parent was always saying things like, "NO, you're not Irish, thank God!" and, "Thank God I'm not Irish..." You get the point. So I just recently learned that I'm 23% Irish, and now I can attribute all 23% of that to this same parent! Hahaha! So my point to this story is to answer the question: I don't really know how to do that yet! (Green beer is not my thing.)

 

5) Leprechauns are a symbol of St. Patrick's Day. These small Irish fairies are said to live in the forest, guarding their gold. Do you often wear gold?

 

 

It's not my favorite metal, but that's what my wedding and engagement rings are, so I wear it pretty much every day.

6) McDonald's has made Shamrock Shakes a St. Patrick's Day tradition. McDonald's began adding the drive-thru window to their restaurants in the 1970s. Would you rather order from the restaurant counter or the drive-thru?

 

Neither! I'd rather not go! Okay, okay... I'd rather go through the drive-thru most of the time. There are circumstances where I'd prefer to go in, but the drive-thru trumps that most of the time.

7) A four-leaf clover is considered good luck. Do you have a lucky charm?

 

 

It's not really a lucky charm, but I have this "pocket hug" that I have from my Team Lead in the volunteer work that I do, that I keep near me and palm back and forth when I'm stressing, and I think of all the mamas in my team. It helps.

 

8) Thinking of Lucky Charms, they are magically delicious. What breakfast cereal is in your kitchen right now?

 

 

I'm pretty sure we still have several different kinds of Special K (my kids go through cereal fast), multiple types of Cap'n Crunch, maybe some Frosted Mini Wheats, and even, possibly, some Lucky Charms.

  
9) Random question: Think of your upcoming week. Which day will be the busiest?

 

 

We actually have a pretty chill week coming up. The busiest day will be Wednesday, when my son turns 20. And because of who he is, we'll keep that pretty chill, too. Just presents and apple pie (his request)!

 

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Have a great week ahead, you guys, and a bangin' weekend right now! Mine will be great if I can figure out how to get this made-up song that he keeps singing out of my husband's head! Toodle-loo!

 

Fin.

Saturday 9: Pass Me By

Hey ho, ho hey! You, there! What are you doing here, in my tiny corner of the Interwebs? Whatever it is that's brought you here, I'm glad you've arrived. Sit a minute, read, and I'll get you a wee cup of tea.

I hope you've had a good week. It's been a rough one for me, since painfully dislocating my right shoulder, but I'm muddling through it. That's the only word that fits. In the meantime, I've been having lots of colorful, strange dreams that disappear the moment I awake, so I'm just repeatedly left with this feeling of, "Whoa! What was that?"

Anyway. Link up here if you're playing along with us today!

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Saturday 9: Pass Me By (1965)

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

 

1) In this song, Peggy Lee tells us she wiggles her toes in the sand. Have you been to the beach yet in 2023? Do you expect to wiggle your toes in the sand when you're on vacation this year?

 

 

Not yet, but the year is young! I'm counting down the days. I plan to get my toes in the sand as often as possible, which should be multiple times since it's just a short distance away!

 

2) She also sings that contemplating nature can be fascinating. What flora and fauna can you see from your window as you answer these questions?

 

 

Not much! I can see my neighbors' lawns (this is not actually them) and... my own dogs. 'Bout it. Ask me in about two weeks and that'll probably be a lot more exciting of an answer.

 

3) With this song, she's telling everyone to take her as she is or leave her be. Does that reflect your attitude? Or are you a "people pleaser" who worries what others think of you?

 

 

I'm definitely a people-pleaser, but I'm actively trying to stop.

 

4) These lyrics were written by Carolyn Leigh. She began her career as an advertising copywriter but, since she showed a flair for poetry and rhymes, she was urged by a music publisher to write lyrics. Have you ever tried your hand at poetry?

 

 

I used to write a lot of poetry. Then in my freshman year of college, I entered a poetry challenge. I placed 2nd or 3rd, I forget, and I won a cash price as well as received mention in the opening of the book where my poem was published. It was broken down and its meaning was discussed. I was so proud of that.

 

5) This song was composed for the 1964 movie Father Goose, starring Cary Grant. Are you a fan? Do you just vaguely know the name? Or are you wondering what a Cary Grant is?

 

I know his name, but I doubt I'd be able to pick him out of a line-up.

 

6) This was a top-20 hit for Peggy Lee. As a girl in North Dakota during the 1930s, Peggy lived above the train station where her father was depot agent. Today that depot is home to a museum which features a Peggy Lee Exhibit. Have you recently visited a museum?

 

No, it's been a couple years since the last time I can remember. I'll have to put one on my 2023 "Bucket List."

 

7) Designer Bonnie Erickson was also grew up in North Dakota and used her girlhood idol as the inspiration for her most famous creation: Miss Piggy. A diva with flowing blonde hair and jewelry, the puppet was originally called Miss Piggy Lee. As the character gained in fame with The Muppets, the name was shortened to Miss Piggy because Bonnie didn't want to offend Peggy Lee, whom she genuinely admired. Tell us something you have done recently to spare someone's feelings.

 

Oh, the main thing I can think of lately is lowering our voices and shelving a conversation until later, so that others who didn't need to know a thing, didn't find out a thing. You know?

 

8) While Peggy Lee often changed her hairstyle with the times, she was always a blonde. She considered those lustrous locks her trademark. Are you having a good hair day today?

 

 

No, not very much, really.

9) Random question: What's the perfect way to spend a lazy afternoon?

 

Ohh, in my opinion, see #1, followed by a leisurely afternoon nap. Bonus points if there's a hammock right at the beach so you don't even have to drive home tired, or risk sand in your sheets!

 

 

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And that's the end. Thank you guys for the visit!

 

I've got some planting to do with Rob, and with Chloë, who'll soon be over visiting today and helping us plant some flowers and if they arrive yet, our trees. We've got some big empty pots waiting for their new inhabitants and I'm tired of looking at them empty. Hope you all have a delightful week!

 

Fin.

Saturday 9: Wagon Wheel

Hey everyone. I'm in a low-key kind of mood today, so I don't have a lot of preliminary verbiage for you. I can say this: it has been a WEEK!!! Full of thingssss. So I'm glad today is a bit more restful, even if again it means I'm the last one to this party.

Today's S9 is going to be about "Wagon Wheel" and its performer, Darius Rucker...  yes, formerly known as Hootie from the Blowfish fame. He was a cutie then, he's a cutie now, and Hootie will always be a cutie. Link up here if you want to play along this week or visit the other entrants.

And away we go:

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Saturday 9: Wagon Wheel (2013)

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

1) This week, Darius Rucker sings about hitching a ride to reach his lady love. Have you ever thumbed a ride?

 

I have not. But I have picked up people who have - twice, I think.

 

2) Along the way, he loses his money in a poker game. Successful poker players are good at bluffing, or misleading others about about their cards. Are you good at bluffing, whether at cards or in life?

 

I'm really not. I cry and/or giggle a lot. I'm a terrible liar. I can't look at your face if I know I'm going to lie, and there, there's my tell.

 

3) Darius began has career as the lead singer of 90s soft-rock band Hootie and the Blowfish. Today he's a country singer. Let's say you're stuck in traffic and only one radio station comes in clearly. Would you prefer it play soft rock or country?

 

 

Then I'll be picking soft rock all day long, please.

 

4) Darius Rucker will be on tour throughout 2023, playing dates all over the country and making a couple stops in Cancun. Have you ever visited Mexico? If so, where did you go?

Yes, in Y2K, I went to Cancun with my grandfather and other family, and in 2014 I went to a resort near Oaxaca with my husband. So beautiful (where we were).

 

5) Darius has lent his talents to fundraising for The First Tee, a non-profit that teaches children "life lessons, self-confidence, and resilience through golf." Did you participate in organized sports as a youngster? If yes, what did you play?

 

Not really.  But I was a dancer, and a good one at that. I was given opportunities, and I took them. All up until I turned 15, when my stepmother informed me that I wasn't worth the cost of the lessons anymore and took me out.

6) A big sports fan, he has six TVs in his home so he can watch several games at once. His largest set is 70". When it comes to TV screens, do you believe bigger is better? Or are you just as comfortable watching from your laptop or phone?

 

I'd rather watch it on a big screen, too, so there's the chance I don't have to put my glasses on! (The weight of them gives me a headache.)

 
7) In 2013, when "Wagon Wheel" was popular, fans were flocking to the movie theater to see Catching Fire, the second in the Hunger Games series. Are you a Hunger Games fan?

 

via GIPHY

 

YES!!! HUGE fan!

 

8) Also in 2013, the word "selfie" was added to the Oxford Dictionary. Do you take a lot of selfies?

 

Yeah, probably an embarrassing amount, given my age!

9) Random question: If we paid you $5,000, would you get Saturday 9 tattooed on your right forearm?

 

Definitely would. That would put in the patio I want for the backyard!

 

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Aww, now I'm yearning for a patio all over again. I hope we figure something out this summer, because I'm longing to get started on our whole vision for our oasis back there. Plus, it'll just be "nice." Heh. Anyway, you guys have a great weekend.

 

Fin.