Saturday 9

Smelly Cat 

Welcome to Saturday 9. 

Hosted by Sam!

Saturday 9: Smelly Cat (1995)

Unfamiliar with this song? Hear it here. 

 

1) Poor Smelly Cat lives with negligent humans who refuse to take it to the vet. Who is the last doctor you spoke to (vet, MD, dentist, PhD ...)?  It would have to be Joshua,  my son- in law, who  as  they are visiting  these two weeks  is working from Lynn's office..  He has his doctorate in  Electrical Engineering and    manages  a large department  of designers  at a   software  company outside of Boston.

2) This song was introduced during the second season of Friends. Were you a fan of the show? Never watched it.

3) On the show, the song was performed by Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow), an amateur folk singer and a professional masseuse. There  was a debate on Reddit about massages -- some loved them because they are relaxing and therapeutic, others think it's "creepy to be undressed and handled by a stranger." How about you? Do you enjoy massages?  I've never had a professional massage,...  too conscious of my figure.. but, I do love  massages from my family!!

 

4) During the run of Friends, Phoebe was roommates first with Monica and then with Rachel and finally with her true love, Mike. Tell us about one of your roommates. I had a great  falling out with my  previously assigned roommates my freshman year in college.. We had nothing in common and  the three of them gained up on me to  be get  me to else the  three  student room  to two.  I was  pretty forlorn when I walked into the college Coffee house that evening   and sat down to  binge on Orange soda and cheese popcorn.  When Sugar  Foot, a   very cool   mulatto gal on campus  came over to  cheer me   heard my story, she put me in contact with a friend of her's who needed a roommate.

When I met Brenda, I thought "wow" this is a woman of the world...  she was quite  a mess..  lovely,    yet,  strong willed and opinionated.. She  was one to  kick against   the rules and  push the envelop.  This being 1968 - 69  it was a time of cultural revolution   and  she was their leader. Not really but could have been! But we were such opposites  we actually  get along wonderfully.  I was the steady  mothering  voice of common sense and she  listening  sometimes. I was also the one that snuck  to the laundry room window   to help her in   after curfew.  But we  grew to really get along quite well. She needed me and  I needed  a room!   She never really did anything really bad,, I hope!  But she really  treated me  like a sister,  called me Peachy  because of my  complexion she wished she  had.. one of our  most fun nights was the night of the  panty  raid  when the Virginia Tech guys raided  the first floor of our dorm on which we lived.  Brenda had  hundreds of dollars worth of Bali  bras..   and  they were her treasure..  Oh, my, I never knew how many places one could hide a bra.    

But  this is  what drew me to her  more than anything. She arrived at college by train with a steamer trunk and was expected to stay at college  until graduation.  She only had a very demanding and unloving father  who was retired military, and he had no use for her.. so...what can I say?

 

5) Phoebe often performed for tips on street corners or at her favorite coffee shop, Central Perk. Where is your favorite place to go for a cup of Joe? In my kitchen, Lynn makes the very best  coffee from fresh  ground  arabica beans!  Robustly, delicious!

6) This song was originally called "Smelly Dog," inspired by a pooch named Gouda. The childhood pet of Friends writer Betsy Borns, poor Gouda could have smelled better. Is there an odor you'd prefer to never smell again? the landfill  that used to be  on the way to SearsTown  when I was a child!

 

7) 35% of American households include a cat. Are there any pets at your house?  We have had  cats and gerbils,  but no longer!

8) In 1995, the year Phoebe first performed "Smelly Cat," Steve Fossett became the first person to make a solo flight across the Pacific in a hot air balloon. Have you ever ridden in a balloon? No, but  I think it would be  wonderful if I were a longer person!

  
9) Random question: Looking over your romantic history, have you broken more hearts, or had your heart broken more often? I have dated   and  enjoyed  their companionship,  but no hearts were broken on my end.  But I fear, I did break one heart   ..  the one right before Lynn!