Saturday 9

What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday.    Hosted by Sam!

Saturday 9: My Blue Heaven (1955)
   

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

 

 

1) The music for "My Blue Heaven" was written by Walter Donaldson. Mr. Donaldson was a gifted piano player who used his talent to entertain the troops on leave during WWI. What's something you're naturally good at?  One of my spiritual gifts from on high is decorating and hosting  dinners,  teas,  and  serving in  that capacity in our church!  I still love to do these things  but at my age  leading the charge is now out of my wheelhouse.   I love to  just  volunteer now.

2) The lyrics were written by George Whiting. He began his career on stage as a song-and-dance man. While touring, he met and fell in love with another singer on the bill. They went on to marry and have three daughters. Have you ever engaged in a workplace romance?  Never.

3) In this song, Doris Day sings about a cozy home. Look around the room you're in. What makes it cozy?  I am sitting at my desk in the kitchen.  The colors of  our putty colored paint on the  cabinets along with the earthy colors of the quarry, along with the   artwork and  English plates on the walls make for a very cosy corner in which I am sitting!

 

4) For four consecutive years, Doris was the most popular film actress in the world, with fans flocking to theaters to see her. Is there an actor or actress whose presence in a movie or TV show makes you say to yourself, "I want to see that?"Well, I still really enjoy Doris Day,  but in this modern age.. Id say,   well,  even  as I think Im still reverting back to the past  with the likes of Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks..  I guess I only  now really enjoy  Hallmark movies and I do enjoy certain ones better than others..Lacy Chabert,  Jill Wagner, Autumn Reeser  to name a few!

5) For all her film and music success, she found herself broke in the late 1960s. Her husband had mismanaged her fortune, something she didn't discover until after his sudden death. Do you know how much is in your checking account right now? (We're not asking the amount; just whether you know.) Not at all.   Hubs is the banker here and he does a great job!

6) Away from performing, Doris' passion was animal welfare. At one point she shared her home with more than a dozen dogs and went on to establish the Doris Day Animal Foundation. Do any pets share your home?  Not  now.  We have housed  two cats over time..  but no more!!!

 

7) In 1955, when this song was a hit, cars came with AM radios but they were pretty unsophisticated by today's standards. The car needed to be on and "warmed up" a bit before the signal was picked up and that signal could easily be lost if you were bouncing over rough terrain. Today most new cars come with Bluetooth so you can enjoy infotainment through your phone. Do you listen to music, podcasts, audiobooks, etc., as you drive?  If IM  driving  around town I listen to a Christian   or  a Classical station.  On long trips  we listen to Apple play.. our playlist showcases the  golden age of rock and roll.  We love to sing along!!!!

8) Also in 1955, the first McDonald's opened. Does your community have a McDonald's?  Yes, but we do not frequent it.

9) Random question: How long have you known your newest friend? about 2 months and she is a der..  Her name is Bonnie and she is a fabulous baker!!!

 

Saturday 9

Footloose

Welcome to Saturday: 9. 

Hosted by Samantha!

Saturday 9: Footloose (1984)

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

1) In this week's song, Kenny Loggins encourages everyone to lose their blues by dancing. What reliably shakes you out of a funk?Ive been in a funk for so long I forgot.   I forgot what not being in a funk feels like!!

2) To cut footloose, he has to kick off his "Sunday shoes." What's on your feet as you answer these 9 questions?  I actually came downstairs  in my bare feet this morning!!

3) This is the title song of the popular 1984 movie of the same name. It's so well-identified with the film that the AFI named it #96 of the top 100 movie songs of the last 100 years. Have you seen Footloose?  No, it wasn't on my radar!

4) The title of his 2022 memoir, Still Alright, was inspired by "I'm Alright," the song he wrote for the raucous golf comedy, Caddyshack. Do you play golf? (Yes, putt-putt miniature golf counts!) Do you watch it on TV?I took golf in college and used to really enjoy  playing with my husband and daughter.  But now  I enjoy miniature golf with my grands!

5) Thinking of movies, Kenny says watching Yankee Doodle Dandy when he was just 7 years old made him think performing looked like fun and says, "I knew deep inside this is something I could do." Do you recall when you set off on your chosen career?  In the fourth grade I studied  history for the first time  and realized then I wanted to be a history teacher ;  I   was assigned  history my first  year of teaching!

5) Kenny grew up in Everett, Washington, north of Seattle and 84 miles from the Canadian border. Have you ever visited Canada? If yes, where did you go?  No, but Id love to go !!!

6) In 1977 Kenny struck up a friendship with Stevie Nicks, who was a source of encouragement and would sing with him on one of his biggest hits, "Whenever I Call You Friend." Tell us about when you met one of your best friends.My first best friend I met in first grade.  Vicky lived in the next street over and we walked to school together.    We lost touch   in middle school,  but  found each other again at the  25th  reunion..  but it took another 25 years  to  really  get  together again and now we  see each other  every season..  We were just at her home for a cookout last week!

7) In 1984, when this song was a hit, Angela Lansbury premiered in Murder, She Wrote, a show still seen in reruns today. Were/are you a fan?  Not really.

8) Let's tweak your memory about something else that happened in 1984. Without looking it up, can you recall why Michael Jackson's Pepsi commercial made headlines the world over?  Nope!

9) Random question -- Think of your last professionally prepared meal. Did you dine in, carry out, or have it delivered?  We  dined out for breakfast  and  it was  delicious! the Famous Toastery.  Loved the ambience and the food was    wonderful!!!

Saturday 9

 

Hosted by Sam! 

(God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time on You)

Welcome to Saturday: 9. 

 (God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time on You (1998)

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

1) In this song, a boy celebrates the life of love he's received from his mother, saying it's more precious than any diamond or pearl. Do you have a piece of jewelry that means a great deal to you? In our 54 years together Hubs has bought me some nicer. Jewelry.  Nothing extreme, but dear to me.  I am comfortable wearing it without fear of being overrun  but it is very meaningful to me.

2) NSYNC licensed their name and likenesses for use on a variety of products, and their official key ring was a big seller. Tell us about your key ring. These days I rarely  carry a key chain. 

3) NSYNC's lead singer, Justin Timberlake, is now a parent himself with two sons. He enjoys sitting on the floor so they can play Legos together. Today Lego sets for adults and adult coloring books are popular. As a grown up, do you enjoy coloring books or Legos?I really  enjoy adult coloring books, but I use colored pencils. My grandchildren are whizzes at Legos .  They do flower arrangements and space ships.

 

4) In 1998, when this song was popular, Seinfeld ended its 9-season run. Were you a fan?  Not at all.  I do not enjoy sitcoms these days. 

5) This week's song was chosen in honor of Mother's Day. Some mothers will find themselves treated to breakfast in bed this weekend. Is that a luxury you would appreciate, or would you worry about spilling food on the sheets? I love breakfast in bed, but to tell the truth, I was rather inform a few years ago and had breakfast in bed regularly.  I enjoy now hubby bringing me my morning coffee and bowl of fruited yogurt which he enjoys fixing.  I prepare the other meals of the day. 

6) Garrett's Popcorn offers a special tin for Mother's Day (the "O" in MOM is a daisy). When did you most recently have popcorn? Now that I am doing Weight Watchers everyday, I also enjoy Skinnypop as my afternoon snack everyday!

 

7) Florists see a spike in sales for Mother's Day, too. Would you rather receive a plant or a bouquet of flowers?I love bouquets of flowers.  I have plenty of flower beds to tend, but a lovely bouquet is very special. 

8) Crazy Sam's own mother is big on couponing, while Sam thinks coupons simply aren't worth the effort. Are you more like mother or daughter? In this regard much more like Sam, the daughter, 

9) Sam is celebrating Mother's Day with her mother's favorite, Hershey Bars. Would you prefer classic milk chocolate, dark chocolate or chocolate with almond?No almonds for me,,, just pure chocolate!

Saturday 9

Bye, Bye Blackbird

Welcome to Saturday 9! Hosted by Sam!

Saturday 9: Bye, Bye Blackbird (1957)

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

1) In this song, Julie London complains about all the "hard luck stories" people are handing her. Did you more recently listen to someone else's problems, or share your own?

I purposely called my cousin’s wife who is suffering with some issues that are very similar to some I’ve dealt with, so I could hear her story and share some encouragement with her. 

2) She promises to arrive "late tonight." What time do you think is too late to drop in on someone? 

I would really wonder why someone was stopping by after 9 pm. 

3) Julie's nickname was "The Liberty Girl" because she was Liberty Records' first successful artist. The second was singer-songwriter David Seville, who had a couple novelty hits as "The Chipmunks." There were three singing chipmunks. Without looking it up, can you name them? Simon, Theodore, Alvin.. I’m not a bit sure if that is right and I’m not looking it up.

4) Julie's love of music was shared by her mother.When Julie was a little girl, mother and daughter would listen to Billie Holiday records together. What recordings did you enjoy when you were very young? My parents purchased a lot of stereo albums when they bought their stereo. Most of them were instrumental themed albums by 101 Strings.... Old West, South of the Border, show tunes, light classical, movie themes. I really enjoyed lying on the glider on our porch on hot summer nights listening to these tune waft through the living room windows! 

5. She began modeling when she 17. Julie was working as an elevator operator when a talent agent saw her and decided she would photograph well. With the advent of push-button elevators, elevator operator is a job that doesn't exist anymore. Can you think of another job that was once common but now is rare (or non-existent)? Full service gasoline attendants.

6) Julie recorded more than 30 albums and was named "most popular female vocalist" by Billboard magazine in 1956. If you could see any entertainer -- male or female -- in concert, who would you choose? I would love to see Chris Botti, along with the others on his Boston live cd.. Sting, Yo Yo Mah, and Lucia Micarelli. 

7) She appeared in Westerns on both TV and in the movies. Have you ever dreamed of being a cowboy/cowgirl?

As a child when I went to Grandma’s,  I was Dale Evans, Tommy was Roy Rogers, Johnny was Pat Brady, and Linda was the Indian! I’m so glad I was the oldest cousin!

reasonable facsimile

8) For six seasons, Julie played Dixie McCall R.N. on the show Emergency! The series was about Los Angeles paramedics and firefighters. Do you often hear sirens in your neighborhood? Not too often, but  we moved here 33 years ago, and we live across from a school. Every Saturday at noon they would set off the civil defense siren that blasted us for about a full minute or two. 

9) Random question: You're pulled over for speeding. Do you think you'd have an easier time talking your way out of it if the officer was a man ... or a woman? I have talked my way out of it once with a male officer, and come to think of it, every time has been a male. I would think a female would probably bit less forgiving.

Saturday 9

I Learned from You

Hosted by Sam!

Welcome to Saturday: 9. 

Saturday 9: I Learned from You (2007)

... Because it's Father's Day weekend.

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

1) This song is a duet by the father/daughter team, Miley and Billy Ray Cyrus. Is your family musically inclined?

I took piano lessons for 12 years,  but don't play much anymore...  We made sure our daughter   learned music.  She took violin   from age 4 through college...  played in our local youth Symphony  and college symphony.  She met her husband, Joshua  through violin and he and she played in his quartet from high school through college.  He plays in  their  Park Street Church of Boston  orchestra.. So I'd say it was a family effort!  Amanda, also, loves to play the piano..  She took lessons through HS and college, as well.

When Amanda was  Sophomore in High School and Joshua was a senior playing at a wedding on the lake!

2) This song is about life lessons. Who has been a major influence on your life?Of course, my parents in the most loving and caring way...  but more as an adult..there were some  wonderful Christians   I knew from a previous church  who  helped me in my spiritual formation.. through intense Bible Study ,   and by example, Marlene, Doris, and Jim...  they all taught me various components of  life in the Spirit!  Thankfully, I still see Jim   and Marlene  fairly regularly  in a prayer group...  Doris  has graduated on to heaven!!  Bless  her  beautiful heart!

3) Miley's given name is "Destiny." Her nickname as a baby was "Smiley," which is where Miley came from. What's something that can always be depended upon to make you smile?  The presence of the Lord in my life.  Seeing  Jesus in my husband and our  children!

4) Miley's father, country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, has 5 children in addition to Miley (6 in all). Are you the oldest, the middle or the youngest sibling? Or are you an only child?

I am an only child

5) Sam's own father often traveled for business, and always remembered to bring her the little complimentary soaps, shampoos or body lotion he got from the hotel. Tell us about an inexpensive but treasured souvenir from a trip you've taken.
When Hubs and I lived in Germany  we loved to  take day trips around the area  near the Oden Wald  very near our house.. These were mountains    and every few miles there would be a castle situated atop  a mountain...  some  ruins, others   in  good fashion..  Sometimes as we  walked around  the castle a small stone would have fallen from the battlements so I'd pick it up and put it in my pocket.. I have a small collection of these rocks.. one from a castle very near us   whose rocks  had a pink hue  from its minerals, and another from Frankenstein's castle  whose rock was actually black.. very foreboding!

This  castle was named thus  because when Mary Shelley visited there  she came away  disturbed by the  darkness she felt there and    the tale of the despot who built it and lived there...   Baron Von Frankenstein ..  so  she went back to England and penned   her story!

6.  Back when Miley was in High school, it was her father who gave her driving lessons. Are you patient when teaching someone something new?

I always try to be..   everyone comes to the table  at various stages of growth and development whether they are  6 or 60!

7) Sam's father is easy to buy for: every year he wants a new pair of loafers, so every year for Father's Day she gives him a DSW gift card. Is there anyone on your gift list that you find it easy to buy for?

My husband because, as usual, he  has gone before me,  ordered exactly what he wanted online and  it  arrived  yesterday!

8) For family barbecues, Sam's dad dons his "Kiss the Chef" apron and mans the Weber. What's the last thing you cooked on the grill?Oh, my,  I don't do the cooking on the grill.. Hubs does and about 3 weeks ago he  grilled burgers for our dinner.. Since then we did go to a beautiful cookout with friends over Memorial Weekend!

9) Sam's father satisfies his afternoon sugar craving with an almost endless stream of Butter Rum Lifesavers. When you crave a snack, do you usually reach for something sweet or salty? BTW, I love Butter Rum, too!!!

I have a sweet tooth that must be assuaged.. We keep a large bag of peanut M and M's in the freezer and  I nibble small handful(about 10 )  usually hits my  sweet spot!!