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: ~*~*~*~*~ 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. ~*~*~*~*~ 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. Continue reading

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. ~*~*~~ 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. ~*~*~*~*~ 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. Continue reading

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! ~*~*~*~*~ 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. ~*~*~*~*~ 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. Continue reading

Heyyyy, y'all! Happy Arbor Day! (Friday) Everyone good? I hope so. Here we are in Spring, Daylight Savings Time, sliding into May... I'm eating it up. I can take an afternoon nap and still have some sunlight when I wake up! This happens often, as my fatigue seems to have increased a thousand-fold lately. I had labs drawn the other day, and my blood glucose came back at a critically low 37. I know I'm hypoglycemic, but...! The rheumatologist who ordered the labs called me herself to check on me and tell me to go to the ER this weekend to get my sugar checked if I felt "off" in any way. But I do check my sugar at home, which was why I was shocked at that result. That was a long lead-in to say, I'm seriously craving a brownie, and I'm wondering (and hoping) if Noah and Hubs will bring me one while they're out and about! Welp, I'm feeling sleepy, speaking of fatigue. Better get started. ~*~*~*~*~ Saturday 9: Promises, Promises (1983) Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here. 1) In this week's song, Naked Eyes lead singer Pete Byrne admits he believed his girl's promises, right from the start, but now he knows he should have been more careful with his heart. Do you consider yourself more trusting or skeptical? I am definitely far too trusting. No doubt about it. 2) DoHe looks back on when he and his girl laughed like kids. When did you recently literally laugh out loud (as opposed to keystroking LOL)? This afternoon, when we were playing with our pups, including this chunky girl, here. She's bashful because I'm pointing out her chubbulousness to strangers on the internet. No really, this girl likes BED, and if she thinks you're going to let her in under the covers or even throw a blanket over her to snuggle with, she bounds over and hunkers in in no time, flat! Both doggos are pretty silly. 3) He accuses her of not being able to finish what she starts. How about you? Do you finish what you start, or can you think of projects that you're unlikely to ever complete? I definitely have more startitis than I do finishitis, but I do finish my projects sometimes! I wish I could show you all my embarrassing screen full of unfinished knitting (and a few crochet) projects on Ravelry.com. Many of my projects are complete! But I get so excited about new ones and then get into them and think, "Oh. Not so fun as it looked. What's next?" *****Saturday Now***** 4) Naked Eyes was a British New Wave band who had four Top 40 singles, including "Promises, Promises." They never toured 40 years ago because it was difficult to recreate their synthesizer-driven sound onstage. Is there a band or singer you would have liked to have seen perform live, but never did? Plenty! I'll throw out three men and three women, in random order, from whatever era my brain tosses out: Men: Elton John, Billy Joel, & (the band) Queen Women: Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Kelly Clarkson 5) While "Promises, Promises" is about an untrustworthy lover, Peter Byrne says he and bandmate/cowriter Rob Fisher worked well together because they knew they could trust one another professionally. By sharing honest assessments of creative ideas, they knew Naked Eyes would never put out "rubbish." If you want an honest opinion on something important, where do you turn? It depends on what the nature of the "something" is. If it's of a medical nature, I might chat up my bestie, Lisa. If it's maybe musical in nature, or other topics on which she's a pro, I'll try to find my other bestie, Shana. Plenty of things can be solved with the help of Hubs and/or my oldest (Chloë) and/or my youngest (Noah). And so on. I just realized I'm so fortunate to have so many people to trust. 6) Madonna was a Naked Eyes fan. Are you a Madonna fan? Definitely, but moreso the old-school stuff. I don't know a super lot of her post-y2k material, I think. 7) In 1983, when this song was on the radio, the Lotus 1-2-3 program made it easier for PC users to build spreadsheets. Are you answering these questions on a PC or a Mac? Laptop or desktop? Android or iPhone? PC. Laptop (a 3-year-old ASUS VivoBook, which I'm about to replace. Like, today). Android phone. 8) Also in 1983, America West Airlines took off for the first time, taking passengers from Las Vegas to Phoenix. Where did you go on your first flight? What about your most recent flight? My first flight was in about 1981 or so; I would've been 5 years old. I flew as an unaccompanied minor home from my grandparents' house because my older sister refused to do it. I loved it! I felt so big and bad, haha! ...My most recent flight was with the the same two aforementioned kids of mine, Chloë and Noah. We flew in mid-August 2020 from Boise, Idaho, to Baltimore, Maryland, to find ourselves a new home. 9) Random question -- Finish this statement: If I knew then what I know now, I would have ______________. taken more walks, more bicycle rides, had more picnics with Rob, with the kids when they were little, with my friends; stood up for myself more to make more wrongs right not just for me but for others, also being wronged, also in hiding, perhaps; smelled all the citrus possible before I stopped being able to; and, made more calls to, and answered more from, my loved ones instead of being too phobic to answer. Life is too short. ~*~*~*~*~ Thanks, Samantha. Those were some great questions. Fin. Continue reading

Well as usual, I'm getting a late start to the day! I've been in enormous pain and have been enormously exhausted this week, so much so that I've barely experienced much actual "normal" week. But I'm here now, so that's cool. I love this song, but that's all I'll say about that right now, lest I run into something asked in the questions! With that note, if you'd like to join us today, link up here. Let's be on with it. ~*~*~*~*~ Saturday 9: Danny's Song (1972) Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here. 1) In this song, Anne Murray sings that she thinks she's going to have a son. Is anyone in your life expecting a baby? Probably, yes. My memory is more like a sieve than a steel trap these days, so I'd have to go through my address book one by one to remind myself who it is! Makes me feel like a poor friend, but I can't help it. 2) Back in the 1970s, when this song was popular, parents had to wait until their baby was born to know the gender. Today moms and dads can learn within the first few months whether they're expecting a son or daughter. Do you prefer it this way? Or would you rather not know in advance if you are welcoming a boy or girl into your family? I preferred to know in advance what my four babies were. I'm a planner, through and through, so it helped me to know who was coming in order to know what I wanted to buy and make for the baby(ies). It was also fun to tease the extended family with "not knowing" the sex/es; I tricked my sister into thinking our twin boys were girls, and she was so shocked that I tricked her! I do not believe in the ever-growing gender-reveal parties, though. Which isn't even accurate, by the way. They're sex reveal parties. And it's impossible to know the gender from a sonogram; the individual must tell you. 3) Anne is so popular in her native Canada that her face graced commemorative postage stamps. What's the last piece of mail you affixed a stamp to and mailed? ♥ Birthday cards for my husband's twin brother and sister ♥ 4) She began taking voice lessons at 15. She was so serious about it she took a 50-minute bus ride each way to her classes. What extracurricular activities captured your attention when you were in high school? Besides behing in the National Honor Society, I was in Choir & the Girls' Choir, ECOS (our ecological group to try and find and apply solutions for our natural world), Drama Club for a while... that might be it? 5) She studied physical education at the University of New Brunswick and upon graduation taught PE for a year. Did you enjoy gym class? Sometimes. When we did sports like basketball or football or things like that, Helllll to the NO. But things like softball, tennis and badminton and swimming, I always loved. 6) Every spring and summer, Anne's fans travel to Nova Scotia and The Anne Murray Centre. There they can see exhibits and memorabilia from her long career, including her Grammy Awards and gold records. If we were to display memorabilia reflecting the highlights of your life, what items should we include? Oh, I'd just stick my kids in a display and be done with it. 7) In 1972, the year this record was popular, Popeyes opened their first chicken restaurant. Today there are more than 3700 locations in 30 countries. Is chicken on the menu at your house this week? It might be. I really don't know; I can't eat it, personally. 8) Also in 1972, latch hook rug kits were all the rage. With pre-cut yarn, a latch hook, and a printed pattern, "hookers" could make wall hangings, pillow covers, and throw rugs. Are you into arts and crafts? Yes! I love it ALL!! 9) Random question: If you were offered the position of mayor of your town, would you take it? Maybe sometime in the past I would've jumped on it, but now my health being what it is, I just wouldn't be able to do the job. So not only nope, but heck nope! ~*~*~*~*~ All y'all better have a good weekend! We're staking out our backyard, doing some mowing, and then working on getting these 20 new trees planted! I can't wait to see them thrive. Sayonara! Fin. Continue reading

Hey blogosphere friends. I've missed you. I've been really, terribly tired lately. Hopefully that gets better with this new-to-me lupus med I'm on now. I hope you are all well? I do, really and truly. I'm looking forward to this Easter holiday, the last one where I still have a minor child. Our youngest kiddo has an 18th birthday on April 13th! If you'd like to join in the shenanigans, be sure to sign up here! And let's go: ~*~*~*~*~ Saturday 9: Easter Parade Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here. 1) This song is best known from the 1948 movie of the same name, but it was originally written for a 1933 Broadway play called As Thousands Cheer. In the play, a young man reads about the parade in a New York newspaper and decides to go and show his lady love off to parade goers. What's the most recent parade you attended? Ohhh, we'd be going back a few years, probably all the way back to 2018, when the kids were in 4H and Noah's ... group? ... was on a float in the Christmas Lights parade. I got to ride on the float with them, which was super fun, though I don't know what Noah thought of that! 2) On Broadway, the song was performed by Clifton Webb. He'd had a busy stage career, appearing in musicals as well as plays by Oscar Wilde and Noel Coward, but when he was in his mid-50s, he was considered too old to be a leading man. Broadway offers stopped coming. He was unexpectedly cast by Otto Preminger for the film noir Laura and a new career was born. He worked steadily in Hollywood for 20 years and earned three Oscar nominations. Tell us about a time you were grateful your life took an unanticipated turn. Rob and I eloped two months after we first met online. So it was even less time after we met in person. Because of this, we'd planned to wait at least about two years before starting our family. But life, the universe, and everything had other plans, and about 2½ weeks after said elopement, I was having funny feelings. Lots of funny feelings. I sent Rob to Walmart in the middle of the night, and shortly after that, I was looking at a positive result: I was pregnant with Chloë (seen here with an order of Girl Scout Cookies I had sent to her from my friend's daughter)! I wandered around dumbly for several days; I was in shock! Now, though, I can't imagine things any other way. I can't imagine my life without our ♥ Chloë Raine. ♥ 3) Today he's fondly remembered by the students at UCLA who have benefited from The Clifton Webb Scholarship of the Arts. If you could give an endowment to a school or charity, what would you like it to be used for? Because of my background, I think it would be cool to have a scholarship for the University of Miami, for a grad student who wishes to study the ecology and evolutionary biology of sharks, skates, and rays. 4) According to Forbes magazine, the average American household will spend upwards of $150 on Easter dinner, candy, and decorations this weekend. Do holidays strain your budget? No, not Easter nearly so much as Christmas! 5) The biggest chocolate Easter egg was made in Italy, measured 34 feet tall and weighed a staggering 15,000 lbs. Do you think it's possible to have too much chocolate? Having tried, I can definitely say that yes, you can.. Yes. 6) After chocolate, the top-selling Easter candy is Peeps Marshmallow Chicks. They're so popular that they were once the subject of a Jeopardy clue. Do you often watch Jeopardy? I haven't watched at all since Alex has been gone. 7) Jelly beans are also popular this time of year. In a 2020 poll, jelly bean fans responded that cinnamon is their favorite flavor. Do you have a favorite? I do not. I do not like any jelly beans; never have I, ever. 8) We've been talking a lot about sweets this morning. The only holiday that generates more candy sales is Halloween. When do you eat more candy: Easter or Halloween? I try not to overdo it at either time, but probably Halloween. I'm thinking, at Halloween, it's more freely sitting out, ready to be given out on demand, whereas on Easter I've bought it with the intention of being put into someone's specific basket. 9) Easter is considered the season of rebirth. What makes you feel refreshed or rejuvenated? When I take a shower, I like to stand under the water on as cold a setting as I can stand for a few moments, repeating an affirmation to myself. I love the cold water; it really wakes me up after taking the shower tires me out. ~*~*~*~*~ All right, you guys, have a happy Easter tomorrow if you're celebrating, and a good weekend if you're not! Fin. Continue reading

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: ~*~*~*~*~ 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! ~*~*~*~*~ Fin. Continue reading

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: ~*~*~*~*~ 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 60th 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)! ~*~*~*~*~ 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. Continue reading

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! ~*~*~*~*~ 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! ~*~*~*~*~ 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. Continue reading

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: ~*~*~*~*~ 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! ~*~*~*~*~ 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. Continue reading

Hi everyone, hi, here I am, here I am (she said, breathlessly running in)! I know, I'm a day late and a dollar short. Skip if you don't want to read a medical complaint. {I did something to my entire upper half the other day. Thursday. I'm sitting on the edge of my bed, and I turn, and reach at the same time, in apparently just the wrong way, and throw my entire pectoral girdle out of alignment. You know, I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which affects the collagen and other structural elements of the body. So whereas you or most other people might general have organized, intact scaffolding that makes nice, organized building blocks for the body to build on and move around, my my scaffolding ... is like trying to nail Jell-o to the wall. Anyway, from my right fingers and thumb, up my wrist all the way to my shoulder, throughout my clavicle and rib cage, encompassing both shoulders, down the left arm, and to all five left fingertips, there has been a complete or at least partial dislocation of just about everything in there. The pain has been intense. It still is. I'm amazed I can type this today, because I could barely use my right hand yesterday. I think I'm making progress, but I also know that for the past three days, I should've gone to the Emergency Room and haven't. Eh, well.} We've had an eventful week besides, mostly with the kids and not a lot I can talk about here, so that's a shame. Ha! If you want to join in with yesterday's (why not? The more the merrier! Better late than never!) Saturday 9, link up here. As for me, I'm jumping in: ~*~*~*~*~ Saturday 9 -- Mahler: Symphony No. 8 (1968) Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here. 1) Mahler's No. 8 is sometimes referred to as "Symphony of a Thousand" because it was scored for a large orchestra and choral force. Do you often listen to classical music? I sometimes do. Not enough to really know what I'm talking about. My favorite is Beethoven's 9th. To me, it's an absolute gift to the world, the masterpiece among masterpieces. I cry sometimes when I listen to it, knowing he wrote it and re-rewrote it and re-wrote it until it was perfect, which it was, even though he couldn't hear it. And then he died. I'm so moved by it. 2) This piece has solos for each of the main vocal ranges: soprano, alto, tenor, bass. Do you know which range your voice is in? I'm a first soprano. 3) Historians tell us Mahler kept fit by swimming and riding his bike along the Alpine trails. What's your favorite form of exercise? I can't do a lot these days, but when I can, I prefer to do to yoga. If it's summer, I like to try to get to the beach as much as I can. 4) Mahler could be difficult to work with because when it came to his music, he was a stickler over even the most minor details and wouldn't give an inch. Would you rather work as part of a team or on your own? Not gonna lie, I would much rather work on my own, unless I had an amazing partner who was always on the same wavelength as me. Like Hubs. 5) This week's featured artist, Leonard Bernstein, said his father didn't want him to pursue music. Instead the elder Bernstein wanted his son to either join the family business (a beauty supply company) or become a rabbi. Did your family try to influence your choice of career? My father did, even though he's complained bitterly about his father doing that to him for his entire life. He's still doing that, at age 80! I wanted to go into genetics when I was in college, and I was talking on the phone to my dad about it one day, and he gave me a stern warning about it basically being against our his religion cult, and I took it seriously enough not to further pursue genetics. I'm still a bit disappointed that I didn't go into genetics, but it's okay because I did get what I wanted: a loving family. 6) Bernstein's best-known work is West Side Story. Without looking it up, can you name a song from this beloved Broadway classic? I cannot. 7) Born in Lawrence, MA, Bernstein "went home" when he performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood in Lenox, MA. Tanglewood has played host to a variety of musical artists. In 2022, Ringo Starr, Bonnie Raitt, and James Taylor all performed there (with James Taylor scheduled to return this summer, as well). What's the first concert you ever attended? I can't remember if it was Whitney Houston or Bon Jovi that came first. Both were around the same time period. I do remember that Whitney was supposed to be at the Great New York State Fair, but she got rained out and wasn't going to take the chance with her voice (it was an outside venue), so her concert was rescheduled, and we went to that one as a family of six. For Jon Bongiovi and crew, it was just the four of us girls, probably when I was much too young to be learning what a "contact high" was - and getting one. 8) In 1968, when Bernstein released this album, a sitcom called Mayberry R.F.D. premiered. It was a spin off of the highly successful Andy Griffith Show, which ran from 1960 to 1968 and is still broadcast and streamed today. Were you an Andy Griffith Show fan? Ehh, I guess. I don't seek it out, but if it's on at 3 AM and I'm alone in a hospital bed and can't sleep, it's a good way to pass the time. I'm not an anti-fan, I just dont' seek it out. 9) Random question: When people ask for your advice, what do they usually ask you about? Usually it's either knitting or crochet, or parenting, especially of LGBTQ kiddos. Other stuff sometimes, but mostly that. Oh, and if they're one of my kids, then doing their taxes. ~*~*~*~*~ Probably no one will read this, but if you did, thanks for stopping by and have a delightful week! Fin. Continue reading

Hey, everyone! I hope you're all having a good weekend. Right now, it is an exceedingly rainy Friday here on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Not necessarily great for our "anniversary B" date night tonight, but maybe good for the outside plants. I suppose we're seeing the oncoming hints of spring, which I will not ever complain about. ♥ Today is also my mommy's birthday. Happy birthday, Mama. If she hadn't died suddenly at 33 years old in 1984, then she would maybe be 72 today. I miss her every day of my life. ♥ Well, I'm going to get into it with Elton about Saturday Night. Wanna play? Link up here, too. Let's roll. ~*~*~*~*~ Saturday 9: Saturday Night's Alright (1973) Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here. 1) In this song, Elton John tells us it's 7:00 PM on Saturday evening and he's ready to rock with his friends. What will you be doing at 7:00 this evening? I'm not sure exactly, but I imagine it will involve a picnic date of sushi and sake with my special someone. How's that for my favorite literary device, alliteration? 2) His sister is ready to party, too. The lyrics tell us she looks cute with "a handful of grease in her hair." What haircare products would we find in your bathroom right now? I have a hair straightener & curler, heat protectant for those rare days I use those, and various "hair doodles" as I collectively call hair clips and ponytail holders and the like. So, not much. 3) He sings that by Saturday, he's had it with the aggravation and discipline of the past week and now he's ready to cut loose. How did last week treat you? It hasn't been bad. I haven't been feeling too terrific because I haven't been able to get three of my migraine meds for weeks and/or months, but we found out they went through today finally! So that's a huge relief, going into the weekend - literally! 4) This Saturday night finds Elton and his friends "packed pretty tight" in their bar of choice. Agoraphobics have a hard time feeling safe in busy, crowded places. How about you? Are you comfortable in a crowd? It used to not bother me at all. Now, it does a helluva lot more, since I'm in a wheelchair about 95% of the time I'm out of my house. Can you imagine me in that situation, above? In a wheelchair? And the title of the article that I snagged that from was WaPo's "What to Do In a Potential Crowd Rush Situation and How to Survive It." In a wheelchair. Eek! 5) The lyrics were written by Bernie Taupin, Elton's frequent collaborator. Bernie ranks this near the top of his favorite Elton John records. What's your favorite? I have to pic a favorite Elton John record?!!!! Oy vey. Okay, I'll be back in a few... weeks. Welp, I'd say it's "Sad Songs," which I adore, or "I Guess That's Why They Call it The Blues," which I love to smithereens, but I think it has to be "Your Song," which I dedicated to this itty-bitty, since she was actually itty-bitty. (Well, she still is, but you know.) That was a tough question, Sam! 6) Elton has turned his bad eyesight into a hobby, claiming that over the years he has purchased well over 200,000 pairs of glasses. Do you wear glasses? If so, how many prescription pairs do you own? 200,000?!!! Damn, that's a lot. I own between six and ten pairs of Rx glasses, maybe more. I can't say for certain, because I don't necessarily know whether they all are or whether I've donated some of those already. 7) Elton once had to cancel an international tour because of an emergency appendectomy. Do you still have your appendix? I think I do, because no one has specifically told me they've removed it for any reason. Medical types who've had imaging done on my abdomen for various reasons have told that no, it's not there. Maybe it's camera shy? 8) In 1973, when this song was popular, M*A*S*H was at the top of the ratings. Who is your favorite M*A*S*H character? I was six years old when this show ended. Six. The only thing I really remember is that I thought Hawkeye was handsome. 9) Random question: Who is the wisest person you know? I would've said my mother-in-law, but she died a few years back. So did my step-MIL, and my father-in-law, all three of them wise. I'll have to think about that and get back to y'all, because I'm sure there are some pretty terrific candidates, but my head is throbbing too much to think right now. ...To Be Continued ~*~*~*~*~ Well, I think I'm going to lie down for a while and rest my noggin. You guys go have a fun Friday night that you can't remember come Saturday morning. No, Saturday noon. Sleep in; why not? Fin. Continue reading

Ladies and gents and everyone who identifies as both, neither, or something entirely else: welcome back! I love this song, as sung by Chaka Kahn in Waiting to Exhale. I like Old Blue Eyes' version of it, too, but I haven't heard it as much. I'll give it a listen in a moment, as should you. Do you have Valentine's Day plans this year? Galentine's Day? Something else? All is fair. Rob and I are going out for dinner on the 17th for our "anniversary B," instead of on V-day, but it's still up in the air where we're going. I think we have reservations at three different places! Time to get into the nitty-gritty here. Link up here if you're playing along this weekend. Let's go: ~*~*~*~*~ Saturday 9: My Funny Valentine (1953) Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here. 1) In this song, Frank sings that his lover is his favorite work of art. Tell us about a piece of artwork you can see from where you're sitting now. (Yes, that crayon drawing by your 5-year-old nephew counts.) I'd have to say it's this faux-mantel 8-foot beam I asked Hubs to put up in my office this year for our stockings. We do Christmas in here, and we had nowhere to put our stocking last year, so I wanted to change that. He did a great job hanging it, and it's a lovely piece of wood. Plus now I can hang different, fun pom-pom garlands and put other stuff on top when it's not Christmas. That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/FiaUetCtS-4 Oh! Art! I have tons of my kid's art right here in this computer. There's a little animation of it at that link on YouTube, which for some reason I can't embed here. Have a look if you'd like. 2) He asks her to not change her hair. When will you next find yourself in the stylist's chair? I do not know. My hair currently does not grow. Like hardly at all. The fact I could get it in this little tiny ponytail blows my everlovin' mind. 3) Sinatra is often photographed in hats because he began losing his hair while in his 30s. He wore a "rug" for TV, concert and film appearances but really didn't like it, considering the toupee merely part of his work attire. What do you wear when you wish to appear professional? What do you mean, like "hospital chic," here? That's about the extent of my professional development these days. Hey wait, these hospital gowns are on to something... off to search. 4) Sinatra is best known for his singing and won an Oscar for his acting. But not many people know he liked to paint until his widow sold his paintings at auction. Do you have a secret talent? I don't know if I have any secret talents worth selling at auction! I'm good with fiber and paper arts, and I try my hand at photography, but I do these for my own enjoyment -- and if someone else appreciates them, too, hey, great, fantastic. Bully for me, but I wasn't going for that. 5) As a kid, he was a paperboy in his hometown of Hoboken, NJ. Tell us about one of your early jobs. When I was 15, I got a job at the small grocery store across from my dad's office building. I loved working there, I found, because the customers really brought out the hidden extroverted side of me. One of my customers, whose name I no longer remember, was a legitimate lumberjack, and he wore the requisite get-up every time I saw him, as above. (Lots of red plain flannel shirts. Lots of Carhartt overalls and hats. Gigantic-ass beard.) He had a big smile, shiny blue eye, a heart of gold, and a soft spot for me. If I was working when he came in, he'd always come through my line. I loved him. Granted, I was 15-16-17 and he was probably triple my age when I started here, so this wasn't that kind of "I loved him." I just really enjoyed him as a customer. He was so sad when he found out I was graduating high school and moving away. He went right over and bought a bunch of lottery tickets and stuffed them into my hands, gave me a hug, and left with little good-bye. Makes me wonder if he was a little teary. I probably was. I wonder if I had the heart to tell him I wasn't old enough for those tickets. This is the last Saturday 9 before ♥ Valentine's Day ♥ and so this morning we shall focus on the upcoming holiday. 6) The holiday is also known as The Feast of St. Valentine. Do you have a special meal planned for Tuesday? No, not really. We generally do little for each other for V-day and celebrate our "Anniversary B" three days later on the 17th, as I said in my intro. 7) The phrase "wear your heart on your sleeve" began in medieval times. On Valentine's Day, men would celebrate the holiday by displaying their lady love's name on their sleeves. If you were going to adopt this custom, whose name would you wear? You mean this fool? That would be hubs, mugging into my phone's camera, which was open when he came 'round. Goon. 8) Women buy and send more Valentines than men do. Who received the last greeting card you sent? I really can't remember. I'm on the Paper Hugs Team at Mama Dragons, a wonderful organization serving the mamas of LGBTQIA youth, and I send so many cards I'd be hard-pressed to try and remember the last one I sent. Someone who was having a birthday, that's what I can say. 9) Sweethearts, those candy hearts with sayings like "BE MINE" stamped on them, began as throat lozenges. Are you fan of these little candies? I'll eat them... if there's nothing else to eat. They're way better than candy corn, that's for damn sure. Come at me, bro! ~*~*~*~*~ Well that was fun. Somehow on YouTube I've moved on from Frankie, gone through a bunch of old Michael Jackson songs, and now I've got Freddie Mercury and the boys crooning "Bohemian Rhapsody" at me. Not a bad way to end a post and go gently into that good night. (Well, it's 5 AM, about time I tried to catch at least 23 winks.) Take care, y'all, and enjoy your weekends! Fin. Continue reading

Happy Saturday, friends, neighbors, and kids of all ages! I'm getting a lah-haaaate start today. I've battled daily migraines for more than my entire adult life, save for a couple of years around when I had my youngest kiddo, and this last week has brought some of the worst in a long while. Seriously bad. But anyway, whatever; I'm here now, the woman of the hour, and you can all sit down and stop clapping now. Seriously, it's embarrassing. I jest, I kid, I joke, I josh. I hope you've all had ridiculously wonderful weeks well worth the wait! And now let's jump into the reason we're all here. Link up here if you're joining us this weekend. Away we go: ~*~*~*~*~ Saturday 9: Beautiful (2005) Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here. 1) In this song, Moby sings about a self-involved couple who believes others are fascinated by their glamorous lives. Tell us about the most interesting couple you know. I know two really interesting couples, but I can't write about them, because of the moderate chances of them seeing this. So I'll write about our very self-absorbed neighbors, instead. We live in a new-build house, on a new-build street, in a new-build neighborhood. You get the picture. So the minute their house gets finished being built and they move in, these yutzes through up their fence and build a pool. Which is fine of course, except they throw pool parties every weekend night until long after midnight, with loud and drunken revelers of which I am not a one, and it makes our loud dog bark her fool head off. At 2 AM every Friday and Saturday night, with police often called to break up the noise situation, hey hey hey? OH, no. Go join a book club, already. 2) This song was inspired by the proliferation of reality shows, where celebrities share their lives on camera. Does the idea of becoming rich and famous in exchange for letting a film crew into your home appeal to you? Not. Even. A. Little. Bit. 3) "Beautiful" appears in the soundtrack of the movie The Devil Wears Prada, starring Meryl Streep. She was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance, which is no surprise because she has more Oscar nominations than any other actor or actress. Do you have a favorite Meryl Streep movie? Well, technically this is a movie, right? But honestly, I think I really liked her best in Mamma Mia! 4) Moby has openly discussed how Christ has influenced his life and art. Do you consider yourself religious or spiritual? If yes, how do your beliefs impact your daily life? I'm Christian, but rather than particular religiosity, I consider myself spiritual. I personally use my beliefs to help me weigh the effects of my actions wherever I can, whenever I'm able, if it matters. I also have a sort of hierarchy of importance to whom or what those actions would matter to help me choose. I sorta think we all do that. 5) His real name is Richard Melville Hall. His parents began calling him "Moby" almost immediately because they felt "Richard Melville Hall" sounded too big for a baby. When did you most recently hold a baby? Well, here I am holding my youngest on the day of their birth nearly 18 years ago, but I know it hasn't been that long. It's probably been closer to nine years, though! That's likely a good thing right now, since with massive muscle spasms I'd hate to yeet a baby the way I frequently do my Diet Cokes. Oh yeah, and I knitted this layette for this wee boy (blanket followed), head to toe, while he was in his mommy's tummy. He's thirteen (fourteen?) now. I loved making this. 6) He began shaving his head when he was in his 30s. It was at the request of a girlfriend, who said she liked bald men. Would you change your appearance to please your lover? I would. I appreciate feedback. 7) Moby's house was once owned by Marlon Brando and was later rented to The Beatles. What do you know about the previous residents of your home? No prior owners here, ossifer. 8) In 2005, when "Beautiful" was released, actress Ruth Warrick died. She began her career in radio, made her film debut in Citizen Kane, and she was best known as matriarch Phoebe Tyler on All My Children, a role she played for 35 years. What's the longest you stayed at the same job? Well that would be Mum to these three knuckleheads, and I'm a good 21 years in now. Wouldn't trade it, except to go out and practice getting eaten by a shark, but they won't hear of it. 9) Random question: Without looking, do you know how much money is in your checking account right now? I know probably within ten dollars, but not to more exactness than that. I'm happy with the amount, especially after laying out a pretty penny last night for riding gear for Noah's (that youngest baby of mine, above, formerly known as "Sophia") re-beginning of their equestrian lessons. Shh, they don't know yet; don't tell 'em! ~*~*~*~*~ Well, that took me a long time, as I was rocking out a little bit to more music than I usually do when I write - and when I have a worst-of-the-worsts migraine. If one can quietly rock out? Y'all have a good - no, great - week ahead and call me to remind me to watch the State of the Union, will you? kthx. Fin. Continue reading

Hello, my lovelies. It's another Saturday morning, and this time we have Judy Garland singing a tune I have not heard before. I'm going into YouTube momentarily to rectify that. You should, too. Meanwhile, I have had a busy week, medically speaking. Monday had me at a new cardiologist (I liked him, and now I'm wearing a Holter monitor); Tuesday I visited my pain management specialist, who was in rare spirits; Wednesday I missed my primary care appointment out of exhaustion (it's tough being a spoonie, I tell ya); Thursday, I tore something horribly in my right shoulder; and Friday, I saw my psychiatrist, and I scheduled surgery on my left shoulder. And behold, it was good. It's a thrilling social life I lead. Apart from that nonsense, we have S9. Please link up here if you're joining us today! Let's do it. ~*~*~*~*~ Saturday 9: On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe (1946) Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here. 1) In this song, Judy Garland sings about the train whistle and wheels. What sounds make you happy? Children laughing. Especially my children laughing and getting along. I like the sound of happy little birds twittering and tweeting. And I absolutely love the sound of waves crashing on the shore - together with all the other ocean sounds. Be still, my heart. 2) She tells us that, since she loves dreaming of train travel, she must have "a little gypsy in her heart." How about you? Do you often dream of visiting faraway places? Absolutely: I've got that itch to go see more of the world again, so we've been considering doing something like a Rhine River cruise, or perhaps a trip to Bermuda. Nary a decision has been made at this point. 3) Judy sings about a future when she's "old and gray and settled down." At what age do you consider a person is old? When they start acting old, feeling old, and tell me they're old. 4) This song is from the movie, The Harvey Girls. Filming was a time of stress for Judy. She was appearing before the cameras by day (she sprained her ankle in a scene where she slips down a hill), recording the soundtrack by night, and dealing with lawyers regarding her divorce from composer David Rose. Yet watching the movie, none of the tension shows. Do you work well under pressure? These days, with #SpoonieLife, not anymore. But prior to my body deciding it didn't know how to act anymore, yeah, I was great at that. 5) Judy relaxed on the set by knitting and would make blankets and caps for the children of crew members. Do you knit? It's been a good while since I knit - since before I got too sick. Look at that clavicle! I love it. That's very motivating for me. Oh, and the knitting, too. 6) Judy admitted she had a problem with tardiness. Do you strive to be prompt? Yes, I hate being late. Sometimes I am, and I spend a week apologizing (give or take), but I absolutely hate it. 7) In 1946, when this song was on the radio, cigarette cases were very popular. Since these metal cases were standard issue in the Army during WWII, many soldiers got into the habit of using them and continued to after the war ended. Women often carried fabric or leather cigarette cases that closed with a clasp like a coin purse. In the 1940s, elegant cigarette cases were a fashionable gift but today, they are largely forgotten. Did you ever carry one? Do you know anyone who did? I never did - never a smoker - but my grandmother always had one. Always. Always. Always. Until she died on oxygen, grandma was a smoker, God rest her soul. 8) Also in 1946, bikinis appeared for the first time on runways in Paris. How often did you don swimwear during 2022? Not many. Two, three? Fewer than a handful of times and far fewer than what I'd like! 9) Random question: Thinking of your past romantic involvements, were you truly in love with one of them, some of them, or all of them? Some of them. Many of them. But definitely not all of them. And that's a fact. ~*~*~*~*~ Welp, that's a wrap! Have a spectactular week on purpose, folks. Fin. Continue reading

Hello, people! I hope you are well. Okay, I am excited, because "Kiss" by Prince is one of my all-time favorite songs and performances. I love it so much, so I'm thrilled to be doing this week's questionnaire on it. Are you joining us? If not, you should, and link up here, too. Let's go! ~*~*~*~*~ Saturday 9: Kiss (1986) Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here. 1) In this week's song, Prince insists there's no particular sign he's more compatible with. Do you take astrology seriously? No, not at all. I mean, I am a virgo and fit a LOT of the virgo profile, but a lot not. I find it to be fluff, just for fun, and sometimes nonsense. No offense to anyone; my beliefs are often treated the same way and, well, that's life. 2) He tells his prospective lover there's no need to be flirty. Are you a good flirt? Sometimes yes, and sometimes I'd be a complete dumbass and say the stupidest stuff. 3) He refers to the nighttime soap opera Dynasty. Were you a fan? I didn't really watch Dynasty, but I did watch Falcon Crest sometimes. Mainly because Lorenzo Lamas was so damn cute. 4) "Kiss" was recorded at Sunset Sound Recorders in Hollywood. Built by Walt Disney Studio, it's the studio where the soundtracks to Mary Poppins and 101 Dalmatians were recorded. When you think of Disney movies, what's the first song that comes to mind? I first thought of "Kiss the Girl" from The Little Mermaid. I love this song - and the video (and the movie)! 5) Prince said he was "obsessed" with Mozart and read everything he could find about the master. Do you often read biographies? If yes, who was the last one about? I do not read a lot of them, actually. This one, by Ellen, is probably the last one I read - more than 20 years ago! 6) He loved snacking while watching a movie in the theater and would mix Goobers (chocolate-covered peanuts) with his popcorn. When you go to the movies, do you visit the concession counter? Often, yes, if I've got the spare Ben Franklin. I usually get a giant Diet Coke, a gigantic tub of popcorn for the kids, and I really like to get Sno-Caps at the movies. 7) In 1986, when this song was popular, Peewee's Playhouse premiered. While ostensibly for children, this show had many, many adult viewers. Do you ever watch kids' shows today? Not currently, but I did a lot when my kids wer a lot younger. My favorite was (and still is) Disney's "Phineas and Ferb," which had so many clever lines and jokes in it. 8) Also in 1986, Sears shoppers were painting their interior walls with "Country Clover," a pale beige with a hint of pink. What color is the room you're in right now? Like most of the house, it's white. White, white, white. Progress moves slowly. 9) Random question: Do you enjoy pressing the pedal to the metal and driving fast? I do, and the line of speeding tickets in my wake proves it. Autobahn, here I come! ~*~*~*~*~ Well, folks, that's the end. Hope you all have a great week coming up. kisses Fin. Continue reading