MelaniePenelope

Saturday 9: Some Gave All

Hey everyone. I'm grateful that our own Crazy Sam recognizes the somber meaning behind this weekend's holiday, whilst some are merely drinking, heading to the beach, or having picnics in the park. (Not that there's any wrong with those things, if one takes some time to remember the fallen this weekend, too.)

It is weird that we're celebrating the 'unofficial start to summer" already when it hasn't been super warm where we are. We got up to 84ºF once, in early March, but otherwise it's been high 60s and low 70s. I shan't complain!

I'm going to jump into it. Link up here if you're playing along this weekend, too. Here goes:

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Saturday 9: Some Gave All (1992)

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

Memorial Day is the federal holiday designated to honor American service people who died in battle.

1) Here at Saturday 9, we regard everyone who served -- veterans and active military -- as heroes. Have you, or has anyone in your family, worn the uniform of our armed forces? We want to hear about them.

Yes. My husband served 20 years Active-Duty in the US Navy. Hard to believe he's been retired TEN years now!! My dad did some time (two years?) in the Coast guard, and my grandpa was in the Navy as well, during WWII.

2) Memorial Day has its own flag etiquette. In the morning, the American flag should be flown at half staff in memory of those we have lost. Then, at noon, it should be raised briskly to full staff, in honor of all who have served. Where is the nearest flag flying from where you sit right now?

Oh, there are soooo many flag rules. Umpteen dozens. Hubs served on the Honor Guard while in the Navy, so he frequently told me stories about this. I'm still finding a new rule or two that I didn't know!

3) Since 1988, motorcycle riders have participated in Rolling Thunder. In events all over the country, including Washington DC, bikers "Roll Together" to draw attention to service members still missing and raise awareness of mental health issues our veterans cope with each day. When have you most recently ridden a motorcycle? A scooter? A bicycle?

It's probably been since 2012 or 2013 since I was on the back of Rob's motorcycle. Ever since his brain tumor & surgery, no more motorcycle. I've never been on a scooter, but I would LOVE a Vespa. I haven't been on a bike since 2015 or 2016, when I first got sick.

4) This week's song is the title track of Billy Ray Cyrus' best-selling album. Named for this patriotic song, the album also included Billy Ray's signature song, "Achy Breaky Heart." "Achy Breaky Heart" is a popular choice on karaoke nights. Do you know it well enough to sing along?

Absolutely!

5) Sandy Kane, the hero of "Some Gave All," is based on a real Vietnam vet Billy Ray Cyrus met and spoke to about his sacrifice for his country. Can you think of another song based on a real person?

So are you saying yes or no to "Ghostbusters"?

6) Memorial Day is the traditional kick off of the summer season. Have you packed away your winter clothes yet?

I never really do that, actually. 

7) As you answer these questions, is there a fan or an air conditioner cooling your room?

Yes, there is, and I'm about to turn it off - I'm freezing, but only in the fingers!

8) Memorial Day is also a holiday for retailers. Ads promise great prices on everything from grills to lawn decorations to high tech gear and gadgets. Will you be shopping any sales this weekend?

Not this weekend-before-payday, no, sadly. It always seems to hit that way, too. Eh.

9) Random question: When is the last time you felt like a kid?

Oh, there are moments in time here and there. Like how giddy I felt from being so spoiled on Mother's Day by Rob and the kids. Or like how silly and downright childlike I can get with Noah, when we just get to laughing breathlessly and... can't... stop...! Or like when I'm standing next to our high bed at night, and my shortness becomes apparent once again (it'd never stopped), and I hop up to have Rob rub lotion on my feet (which he's done nightly since we were married), and my legs barely jut out an inch from my body... Different things make me feel like a kid all the time. Some small and insignificant, some larger and, I can only hope, more fun.

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I hope you all (in the USA) will take a moment to remember the reason for the holiday - and then go have a great time! Just come back in one piece, please!

Fin.

Saturday 9: Mirrors, Belatedly

Heyyy, online pals and future-pals. I'm a day late and a dollar short, so hopefully this doesn't go entirely unread, but it's completely understandable if so.  I had an injury to my ankle/foot/leg the other night and had a world of pain that took me to the Emergency Department. No fracture was found, thank goodness, but something must be done about it. I used alllll the bad words and invented a few more with this one! (0 out of 10; do not recommend.)

Well, I'm already late enough, so I'd better jump in now, huh? Link up here if you're a slow-poke like me.

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Saturday 9: Mirrors (2013)

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

1) Is there a mirror in the room you're in now?

 

 

There are two. I have a round, little handheld mirror in the drawer next to my bed, so I can check my façade before bed. /s

And I have this long mirrored cabinet on the wall, temp0rarily being blocked with those black shelves meant to be in my office down the hall, and adorned with the sort-of-boho elephants from the Earthbound store at the mall.

Inside the mirrored cabinet, the vast majority of my jewelry is found. I could probably fit much more if I made a few intentional changes.

 

2) In this song, Justin Timberlake tells his lover he just can't wait till they're together. What are you eagerly looking forward to today?

 

 

Well, Noah (my youngest kiddo) and I had planned to go to the beach in Ocean City today, but because of whatever I did to my leg, that's impossible. I feel let down, and I feel like I really let Noah down. So now I'm really looking forward to the Puffs Plus order that Hubs is going to pick up for my sore nose soon at CVS, and a strawberry Outshine Bar or two that's downstairs for my sore throat.

 

3) Justin Timberlake is known as a sharp dresser who is always on trend. What item have you recently added to your wardrobe?

 

 

Hubs gave me this women's Capilene Hoodie from Patagonia, and I love, love, love everything about it.
 

4) Justin was an accomplished child performer who appeared on the entertainment competition show Star Search when he was just 11. When Crazy Sam was 11, her only job was loading and unloading the dishwasher, for which she received an allowance from her dad. Did you have chores when you were a kid?

 

Absolutely, I had chores. 

 

5) He says he tries never to miss breakfast, even on the road, and his favorite is peanut butter banana pancakes. Given the choice, do you prefer pancakes, french toast, or waffles?

 

 

It's probably in this order for me: French toast > Waffles > Pancakes. And I would love to have the French toast like this, please, with the strawberries and cream, and the syrup... Chloë (eldest kiddo) and I recently had some at IHOP, and each slice (there were two) was almost three fingers thick. Personally, I found my plain, boring toast to be dry, almost tasteless except for an unpleasant overuse of cinnamon, and it left me wanting exactly what this looks like it has.

 

6) When they were still in their teens, Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears were sweethearts. Obviously it's been easy for him to keep up with her successes and problems over the years. Do you wonder what one of your exes is up to?

 

Yes and no. I'm friendly with most of my exes I would wonder about, and the rest, I kind of have a "F**k 'em!" attitude about.  I don't wonder at all about certain ones.

 

7) In 2013, when this song was popular, Pope Benedict resigned. Thinking of your working life, have you felt greater stress on your first day at a job, or your last?

 

Definitely on my first day, when I don't know anything, or anyone, and I'm really nervous. On the last day, I probably know everything I need to know about the job, including that I'm outta there! Much less stress, haha!

 

8) Also in 2013, the NHL owners reached an agreement with the players union and avoided a strike. Have you ever belonged to a union?

 

I have not. When I worked at Publix, through college, they came around with a clipboard every year and made you sign something saying you weren't going to join a union. I'm not really sure why or how that was okay, but I was 18, 19 years old and needed my job.

9) Random question: When was one of the first times when you felt like an adult?

 

I was still 17 when I got to college, and I turned 18 alone, in the hospital (and pretty delirious, I must say). Aside from that, once I was discharged and was well enough to walk down to the grocery store, I bought my first lottery ticket and then bought myself some groceries for the first time. My money, for my belly, with my tastes and no complaints. It felt freeing and definitely the beginning of something new.

 

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So even though it's approaching  8 PM on Sunday, I still feel the warmth of doing Saturday 9 with my buddies. I've been trying to get around more to at least a couple of you to read and comment, but my new lupus med makes me SOOOO exhausted all the time, and also forgetful. I'm sorry. xoxo

 

Fin.

 

 

Saturday 9: Come On-A My House

 

Hello, S9er pals! I'm coming at you from my new red laptop, which means I can listen to good ol' Rosemary right on here, as soon as Chloë and I are finished with our current episode of "House." Whooooo! I've missed my sound; I'm all about my sounds and my background muzak! I hope you all are feeling good and jazzy today, too.

So, if you're a new kid on the block and you'd like to join in on Saturday 9, link up here. Let's jump in!

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Saturday 9: Come On-A My House (1951)

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

1) In this week's song, Rosemary Clooney offers us candy, peaches, pears, grapes, cake, etc. What tasty treat are you craving this morning?

 

  Bananas!!

I think I'm going to have to eat one as soon as I'm done with this survey, if not before.

 

2) The song was co-written by a pair of cousins more famous for their other jobs. William Saroyan was a Pulitzer Prize winning author and Ross Bagdasarian created "Alvin and the Chipmunks." Tell us about one of your cousins.

 

My three cousins represent the Jewish contingent of my family, which I love for their diversity. And each of the three of them are so different, I think, in every way -- yet by all accounts, they love each other dearly. The youngest, whom I'll call "Lydia," drove around the country hiking and backpacking and climbing and whatnot with her then-boyfriend (he's her husband now ♥), for a while, writing as she went. She's a writer, and she's dope as hell at it. I love it, and her, like crazy.

 

3) The song was inspired by the cousins' recollection of their Armenian relatives encouraging friends and family to visit by promising lots of food. Who most recently invited you to their home? What was the occasion?

 

I don't think I've really met anyone who has invited me/us to their home in the nearly three years (?!!) that we've been living in Maryland. But the kids, Jack and Noah, have certainly had their fair share of sleepovers with school friends. Sometimes the occasion has been birthday celebrations; sometimes the occasion has been 'it's the weekend.'
 

4) This was a big hit for Rosemary Clooney. She got her start singing live on Cincinnati's WLW radio station. Today WLW is an all-news station. When you were a kid, what radio station did you tune into for the hits and new music?

 

I lived in Baldwinsville, a smallish suburb of Syracuse, New York, from age 6 to age 17. Eventually, maybe in junior in high, we discovered the hits station 93Q, which remained my favorite through until graduation. Others popped up in my radar, but 93Q was still the one. 

 

5) Rosemary was also an actress, appearing in motion pictures and made-for-TV movies. The most famous is 1954's White Christmas. Have you seen it?

 

Should I be embarrassed if I say no?

 

5) Yes, Rosemary Clooney is related George Clooney. She was his aunt. She appeared with him on ER and received an Emmy Award nomination. Do you enjoy doctor shows?

 

 

Yah, you betcha, that's why I'm still sticking with Chloë and watching "House," into Season 6, now.

 

7) In 1951, when this song was #1, Yankees superstar Joe DiMaggio retired from baseball. He remained in the public eye, endorsing products and acting as Major League Baseball's ambassador around the world. His second marriage, a few years after his retirement, was almost as legendary as his baseball career. Without looking it up, do you know who his bride was?

 

 

I did not look it up; just from hearing and think-I-knowing, I believe it was Marilyn Monroe. Right?

 

8) Also in 1951, "I Love Lucy" premiered and has never been off the air since. That's right: for 72 years, without interruption, viewers have been entertained by the Ricardos and Mertzes. When you think of "I Love Lucy,"what's the first thing that comes to mind?

 

 

I think for me it's that grape-stomping scene. I know behind the scenes, it was a rough one for her, but it's a standout for me as far as Lucy goes. It's the first thought.

9) Random question -- You're playing roulette and suddenly doubled your winnings. Do you walk away when you're ahead, or do you stay at the table to play your winning streak?

 

 

Oh gosh... I would absolutely walk away. I am not a gambler.

 

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On that note, it's time to put away the beautiful red laptop, turn off Amazon Prime on the Roku TV, and probably deprogram from the day whilst playing a little Words With Friends on my cellular device. Gosh. Tech overload, much? Have a good week, everyone.

 

Fin.