MelaniePenelope

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!

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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.

Saturday 9: Disco Duck

Hello, ladies and gents! I'm on a Friday morning, hoping to get this "Saturday" post up before I give up on it on Sunday afternoon. This is the first time I've ever heard this duck song, and it is silly fun!

Make sure you link up here if you're joining us this weekend. Have your own silly fun, and let us come read it!

Away we go:

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Saturday 9: Disco Duck (1976)

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

1) In this song, Rick Dees begins by describing a party where he can't resist that disco beat. What's the last party you attended? Was there dancing?

(© Napoleon Dynamite movie)

I can't remember the last time I went to a party. Doesn't mean I haven't been; just means I deal with memory loss. Maybe both, ha!

2) While this record was a massive international hit in 1976, it got off to an inauspicious start. Rick Dees said it took him less than a day to write the song, and more than three months to convince anyone to let him record it. Tell us about a time you were tempted to give up, but were glad you didn't.

(© www.slanecartoon.com)

Lots of times. For instance, when I was taking Geology in college, we had a paper to wrote. I went to my dorm's computer lab with my notes, my interviews (I worked hard and interviewed geologists), all the research I had done, and struggled - but found a way - to cohesively write what turned out to be a 12-page paper. I sent it to print. Did not print. On my way back from checking the printer, the power went out. DID NOT SAVE. Gahhhh$%^!!&%. I was tempted to give up, because there was only about an hour left for the lab to be open that night. But I sat there and rewrote it with my materials and my then-working memory. And I got the A.

3) In the hit movie Saturday Night Fever, students are briefly seen learning to dance to "Disco Duck." Can you name another song from Saturday Night Fever?

One can't ignore all the work on the album by the Bee Gees: "Stayin' Alive," of course, but also "You Should Be Dancin'," "How Deep is Your Love?" "Night Fever, "More Than a Woman".... but I've just now discovered "A Fifth of Beethoven" by Walter Murphy, and I love it! It's funky.

4) Dees was already a top disc jockey in Memphis when "Disco Duck" was released. With the record's success, his radio career soared and he got a better job reaching a greater audience at a radio station in Los Angeles. Are there any disc jockeys you loyally listened to every day?

Back in the day? Sure, as my sisters and I got ready for school every day, we listened to the hosts on 93Q in Syracuse, and also Z89 there, when it came out. I'm having a hard time remembering any individual DJs, though; names are mixing with latter parts of my life.

5) After more than 20 years, Rick lost his regular radio slot to Ryan Seacrest. But he still shares "the hottest music on the planet" through the Rick Dees Hit Music app (available at the Apple App Store or Google Play). What app have you recently downloaded to your phone?

I just redownloaded the Peacock app so that I can watch the Olympics on my phone. Still have to see how to do it on my TV (it's a Roku - it should be free, right?). I've always loved the Olympics so I'm kinda geeked out about it.

6) He used his favorite radio format to create a cookbook called Rick Dees All-Time Top 40 Greatest Desserts. If you could finish a delicious meal with the dessert of your choice, anything at all, what would you order?

(original cheesecake photo © Once Upon A Chef) // Key Lime Pie photo © 2CookinMamas)

Real New York-style strawberry (or cherry, or if it must be, plain) cheesecake. Absent that, real Key Lime pie.

7) In 1976, when "Disco Duck" was a hit, "The Bionic Woman" premiered on ABC. Because of her "bionic parts," Jamie Summers could run super fast, had super-sensitive hearing, and super-human strength. If you could have one of those qualities enhanced -- speed, hearing or strength -- which would you choose?

I think I would choose to have super-human strength, because I haven't been very physically strong in these latter years, and it would be nice to be able to be strong for myself again, let alone anyone who might need my help.

8) Also in 1976, like this year, the world got together for The Summer Olympics. Will you be following the international competition?

YES!

9) Random question: You're bone tired, exhausted, and you have an early day tomorrow. As you wash your face and brush your teeth before bed, one of the two bulbs in the bathroom fixture goes out. Do you 1) change the bulb before bed or 2) promise yourself to do it in a hurry tomorrow as you're rushing around in the morning or 3) decide you can live with one bulb for a while, go to bed, and replace the burned-out bulb when you get around it?

3)

"Spoon theory is a metaphor that describes the limited energy resources and increased energy expenditure of people with chronic illnesses, disabilities, or chronic pain. In the theory, spoons represent both the mental and physical energy required to complete tasks. Healthy people may have an unlimited supply of spoons, but people with chronic illnesses may have to ration them to get through the day. For example, someone with lupus may need to decide which activities to spend their limited spoons on. 

"Writer Christine Miserandino, who has lupus, is credited with creating the theory after using spoons at a diner to explain her illness to a friend. Spoon theory can also be used to describe the challenges of mental health issues

like anxiety or depression, or the exhaustion of caring for a newborn baby."

Definitely three these days. As a spoonie these days, things like that only get done when there are the spoons to do them as the time presents itself; I can't go out of my way do them if I'm going to need the spoons for later. Although Spoon Theory is not my favorite. I forget which one is at the moment, though! I think it's Ticket Theory, but now my head is throbbing and I've got to wrap this up.

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Hope you all have a great weekend Stayin' Alive in this heat!

Fin.