Showing posts with label Saturday9. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Saturday9. Show all posts

Saturday, March 16, 2024

Saturday 9: Charlie Mops




Not familiar with this week's song? Hear it here.
 
1. This week's song is about a legend, Charlie Mops, the man who invented beer. Tell us about something you enjoy so much you could sing about it with the same enthusiasm the Salt Sea Pirates sing of beer.

O! I enjoy the place I live, the beautiful Blue Ridge, there's not much I can say about the mountains that would be bad! Here and there you find a bridge, a flower, and a tree, there really isn't much in the mountains to make me sad!

2. The lyrics tell us beer goes well with breakfast, dinner and snacks. Think about what you dined on yesterday. What beverages did you have with your breakfast, your dinner, and your between-meal snack?

A. Just water. That be all I drink, matey.

3. "Charlie Mops" was chosen because it's an Irish drinking song and Sunday is St. Patrick's Day. Do you expect to raise a glass in honor of the day?

A. No.

4. Beer is not the only beverage often dyed green for St. Patrick's Day. In 1970, McDonald's introduced the Shamrock Shake, a milkshake made with a minty green syrup. If we were to go out for shakes right now, what flavor would you order?

A. Chocolate, although I am allergic to milk and haven't had a shake in 40 years or so.

5. Legend has it that wearing green makes you invisible to leprechauns, who can be mischievous pranksters. Is there anyone you would like to avoid today?

A. There are always people I would like to avoid. That is what makes home so attractive. They aren't here.

6. For all our talk of green, it was not the original color of St. Patrick's Day. Through most of the 18th century, blue was worn across England and Ireland to honor St. Patrick. The Irish switched to green to express their independence from the English. Which color do you wear more often: blue or green?

A. Blue.

7. Today St. Patrick's Day is observed all over the world. In Tokyo, it's not a single day but a weekend celebration. When you think of Japan, what's the first thing that comes to mind?

A. Honestly, it would be my college professor who translates poetry and has spent time in Japan; I've seen her photos from there and it's been like taking a trip with her, sort of. So, when I think of Japan (and China), I also think of Jeanne, who used to be my professor but is now my friend.

8. One of the biggest parades each year in Buenos Aires is for St. Patrick's Day. Have you ever participated in a parade?

A. Yes. I was in the high school band, and we marched in lots of parades. I hated them. Then when I became a news reporter, I had to take pictures of them. 

9. Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, GA, crowns a Miss St. Patrick's Day. Tell us about an event you recall from your college days.

A. I was an adult student who lived off campus, so I didn't really participate in much of the after-school events. I went to numerous poetry readings, though. Once, I begged my husband to come with me, I don't remember who was reading but at the time it was important to me - but he bought a load of cattle at 3 p.m. that day, and I went on to the reading by myself, but he came from the stockyard to be with me - in boots covered with mud and he smelled like cow. I was so glad to see him that I didn't mind. Well, I didn't mind too much. I'm not sure what everyone else thought, though. Those poetry readings were awfully hoity-toity.

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us on next Saturday for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend!

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I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however. 


Saturday, March 09, 2024

Saturday 9: Hold Me Now


Saturday 9: Hold Me Now (1983)

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

1) This week's song begins with a young man gazing at a picture of himself and his girlfriend in happier times. Are there any photographs in the room you're in right now?

A. There's a photo I took of a bee in a flower, and a picture I downloaded of Melissa Etheridge playing her guitar.

2) His girl tells him he's a dreamer. Do you consider yourself more a dreamer or realist?

A. Definitely a realistic dreamer.

3) "Hold Me Now" was a big hit for the British pop band, The Thompson Twins. They got their start in the late 1970s in the English city of Sheffield, so named because the River Sheaf runs through it. Do you know how your town got its name?

A. My closest town, Fincastle, was named for Lord Fincastle, the son of Lord Dunmore, Virginia's Lieutenant Governor in 1772, when the town was established.

4) Today lead singer Tom Bailey performs solo and is an outspoken advocate for veganism. Vegans abstain from consuming animal products, particularly in their diets. Are you a vegan, or have you ever tried to stick to a vegan diet?

A. No and no. 

5) Tom's former bandmate Joe Leeway has left show business altogether and concentrates on a career in hypnotherapy. This therapy is commonly used to treat insomnia, smoking cessation and obesity. Is hypnotherapy something you have tried, or would consider?

A. I have tried hypnotherapy. 

6) In 1983, when this song was popular, Motorola introduced the first cell phone. Today cell phones are an essential part of our everyday lives. Do you still have a landline?

A. Yes.

7) Also in 1983, American West airlines took off, flying between Las Vegas and Phoenix. Where did you travel to on your most recent flight?

A. I haven't been on an airplane since 1993. We went to Disney in Florida and back.

8) In 1983, Princess Diana was the world's top cover girl. Are there any magazines in the room you're in? If yes, who or what is on the cover?

A. The only magazine in here at the moment is the one I wrote for the county's 250th anniversary, and it has a picture of the county courthouse on the front.

9) Random question: Is anyone on your bad side this morning?

A. No one I know personally.

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I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however. 


Saturday, March 02, 2024

Saturday 9: Blame


Saturday 9: Blame It on the Bossa Nova (1963)

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

1) This week's song tells the story of a girl who found love at a dance. Share a happy memory from a party, prom, or dance you attended.

A. My husband threw me a surprise 50th birthday party. He got a hold of my phone and called everyone in it, I think. There were people I never would have expected to come there. It was humbling to see folks cared enough to take a few hours out of a Saturday to see me and eat pizza.

2) This record was a big hit for Eydie Gorme, which surprised her. When she first heard the song, she disliked it and had to be convinced to record it. Tell us about a pleasant surprise you had recently.

A. We had a calf born that is almost white. I need to get out and take a photo of it, when it stops raining.

3) "Blame It on the Bossa Nova" is about love at first sight on the dance floor. Eydie's husband Steve Lawrence maintained he fell in love with her the first time he heard her sing. Have you ever felt a sudden, powerful attraction to someone? If yes, did you act on it?

A. Yes, and yes.

4) While this was a solo success for Eydie, she was also known for recording and performing with Steve Lawrence. He was just 22 and she was 29 when they married. Eydie admitted she was self-conscious about the difference in their ages. Do you think age matters in a romantic relationship?

A. No.

5) Eydie was fluent in Spanish, which enabled her to pay for her classes at City College by working as an interpreter. Tell us about one of your early jobs.

A. I was a legal secretary for a lawyer. At the time, everything was typed on an IBM Selectric II, and it had to be perfect. No errors. No sloppiness. I wonder what happened to that work ethic. I still have it but I don't see it in others.

6) In 1963, when this song was popular, The Rambler was Motor Trend's car of the year. It was a 9-passenger station wagon, perfect for families. What do you remember about your childhood family car?

A. I remember that we had a green station wagon that my brother wrecked. We also had a blue Dodge Charger. My parents went through a lot of cars.

7) Also in 1963, President Kennedy made a state trip to Ireland. Have you visited the land of your ancestors?

A. No. I kind of live in the land of my ancestors. They settled here before the American Revolution.

8) The pilot for Gilligan's Island was filmed in 1963. Were you a fan of the show?

A. In reruns. I was too young to watch the original.

9) Random question: Crunchy, smooth or organic peanut butter?

A. Smooth Peter Pan peanut butter.
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I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however. 


Saturday, February 24, 2024

Saturday 9: Shambala

Saturday 9: Shambala (1973)

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

1) This week's song refers to the mythical kingdom of Shambala. Can you think of another song that mentions to faraway, mythical land?

A. Well, there's Olivia Newton John's Xanadu, or there's "a land called Honalee" in Puff the Magic Dragon.

2) "Shambala" is performed by Three Dog Night. The name is derived from an Aboriginal Australian legend. In the outback, hunters would sleep with a dog beside them. If it was very cold, they would sleep between two dogs. If it was freezing -- you guessed it -- it was a three-dog night. Was it cold last night where you are?

A. It was below freezing, but we seem to be heading for an early spring. Maybe the groundhog was right.

3) The lead singer is the late Cory Wells. Early in his career he was a member of the house band at the famous Sunset Strip nightclub Whiskey-A-Go-Go. Cory was a bit of an anomaly at "The Whiskey" because of his sober lifestyle. When did you most recently enjoy an adult beverage?

A. I don't drink anything but water. Still. 

4) Bandmate Danny Hutton auditioned to be a member of The Monkees TV show. He didn't get the part. While he was a talented singer-songwriter, NBC was looking for musicians who could also act. Have you ever fantasized about a career as a performer?

A. I played in a band and was a performer in high school, but I am not keen on the spotlight. Maybe in some other universe.

5) Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys was an early supporter of Three Dog Night's. What's your favorite Beach Boys song?

A. Good Vibrations is the only one I can think of. I read recently that Brian Wilson is quite ill.

6) In 1973, when this song was popular, one of the best-selling toys Curious George plush doll packaged with a Curious George book. Can you recall a favorite book from your childhood?

A. Miss Osborne the Mop, by Wilson Gage, was one of my favorite books when I was 9 or 10. It was a Scholastic Book, I think.  

7) The Exorcist was in theaters, terrifying audiences. It's still ranked among the scariest movies of all time. Have you seen it? Did it scare you?

A. I saw it at some point, but it was a long time ago. I always get that one confused with Rosemary's Baby. I think I saw them about the same time. Or around the same age.

8) Roller skates were a big seller in 1973. While most rinks had skates available for rent, committed skaters had their own pair. Are you better on roller skates or ice skates?

A. I'm not very good on either one. I'm lucky I can stand up on a flat surface.

9) Random question -- Here's $100. What will you spend it on?

A. I would either donate it to the library or buy books.

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I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however. 

Saturday, February 17, 2024

Saturday 9: Paper Doll


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

1) The song is about a fellow who is exasperated by men flirting with his girl. Do you have a jealous streak?

A. Not really, no. I don't think I've ever been jealous over a person, but I have envied the work of others (as in a good book that I wish I'd written).

2) He's blue after a quarrel with Sue. Did you exchange harsh words with anyone recently?

A. My husband and I occasionally snap at one another, but we don't fight.

3) "Paper Doll" was #1 for 12 weeks in 1943-44, sold 11 million copies and remains one of the best-selling singles of all time. Had you heard it before today?

A. I don't recall ever hearing this song before. But I wasn't even a twinkle in my father's eye in the 1940s. Or my grandfather's eye, for that matter.

4) As kids, the Mills Brothers worked on their harmonies in front of their father's Piqua, OH, barbershop, much to the delight of passersby. Do you often encounter street musicians in your neighborhood?

A. I live in a rural area. We do not have street musicians here. However, there's a rooftop restaurant in Fincastle, and I once thought about taking an amp and my guitar and setting up and playing on the corner until someone paid me to go away.

5) The Mills Brothers were a long way from that street corner when, in 1936, they became the first African Americans to perform for the British Royal Family. It's about 4,000 miles from Piqua to London. What's the farthest you've ever been from home?

A. France, which is 4,015 miles away, according to Alexa.

6) In the early 1930s, the Mills Brothers not only performed songs on radio, they sang jingles for Standard Oil and Crisco. What commercial can you recall having seen (or heard) lately?

A. The new Kia commercial that premiered during the Super Bowl. It was the only one I really felt tugged at the heart strings (the Budweiser commercial was a bust). I saw it last while we were watching Big Bang reruns. The commercial shows a young girl ice skating, and she's disappointed when she sees an empty chair beside her father. Then she goes to an outside homemade rink and skates for her disabled grandfather.

7) In 1943, when "Paper Doll" was popular, WWII was raging and the US Mint began producing steel pennies because copper was needed for ammunition. Do you have any pennies in your pocket or wallet right now?

A. I have pennies in the tray in my car. Does that count? That's a cool factoid about the pennies; I didn't know that.
 
8) Also in 1943, a bottle of Coke was a nickel. When did you most recently have a soft drink? What was it?

A. I haven't had a soft drink since October 2020, and it was a ginger ale.

9) Random question: Have you learned more from your successes, or your failures?

A. My successes gave me some confidence, which I have always lacked. Failures show me what I need to change, though, so I have learned from them as well. I think it's a toss-up.

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I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however. 

Saturday, February 10, 2024

Saturday 9: At Last


Saturday 9: At Last (1960)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
 
1) Etta James sings that "life is like a song." What song reflects how you feel about life these days?

A. What Was I Made For? by Billie Ellish.

2) She is delighted to have found the love she has always dreamed of. Have you found true love to be the way you imagined it would be? Or has it surprised you?

A. I never gave much thought to true love. I found a good man whom I love as best I can love, and he loves me back. We take care of one another and put up with each other, and we will walk off hand in hand, or something like that. Love has so many twists and turns, I don't think anyone can prepare for it, however it ends up. People change, and love takes work, whether you're simply friends or lovers. None of this has surprised me, really, though I could not predict all the changes. I am glad he's still with me.
 
3) Etta's mother encouraged her to not just sing but perform a song, telling her daughter, "Even if a song has been done a thousand times, you can still bring something of your own to it." Is there a singer whose performances often touch your heart?

A. I used to cry every time I heard Don McLean sing "Vincent (Starry Starry Night)."
 
4) As a teen, she was considered a gospel prodigy and churches all around Los Angeles requested she "guest" at their services. Do you have a favorite religious song?

A. No.

5) "At Last" is one of the most often requested songs for the newlywed's first dance at the reception. What song reminds you of a sweetheart?

A. "Longer," by Dan Fogelberg. It was played at our wedding. My brother sang it.

This is the last Saturday 9 before Valentine's Day and so this morning we shall focus on the upcoming holiday.
 
6) It's been reported that millions of roses are grown specifically for Valentine's Day each year. What's your favorite flower?

A. I have always been partial to irises.
 
7) The earliest recorded celebration of Valentine's Day was in Paris in the year 1400. Obviously, you weren't around for that one. What do you remember from one of your earliest, childhood Valentine's Day celebrations?

A. I remember those packages of Valentines we bought and then we were supposed to give one to every kid in the room. I was often left off of people's list, apparently, as I never received the same number back as I gave out. I gave one to everyone, but not all kids did.
 
8) About 20% of pet owners say they give their dogs, cats, birds or bunnies a Valentine. Is your pet getting something special on February 14?

A. The cows will get their usual bale of hay.

9) Of all the professions, teachers are #1 when it comes to receiving Valentine cards. Did you ever have a crush on a teacher?

A. I kind of crushed on many of teachers, but they were more like, "please save me and take me home with you" crushes. Not swooning "oh he's so cute" crushes.

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I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however. 

Saturday, February 03, 2024

Saturday 9: Poor Little Fool


Saturday 9: Poor Little Fool (1958)

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

1) Ricky Nelson sings of a girl with "carefree devil eyes." Are your eyes your best feature? If not, what is?

A. My skin is my best feature, or it used to be, anyway. It was very clear when I was younger, free of moles and skin tags, etc. Some of those have arrived as I have aged. My eyes are hazel and look like cracked ice if you look in them closely. They also are expressive; my husband looks at me and knows if I am having a good day or not simply by glancing at my eyes.

2) "Poor Little Fool" literally arrived at Ricky's doorstep. A pretty girl knocked on his front door, and played and sang her original composition for him. Who has most recently knocked on your front door (or rung the bell)?

A. My husband! He locked himself out of the house and rang the doorbell so I'd let him in to get his keys.

3) That girl was Sharon Sheeley. A teen model in Los Angeles during the 1950s, she met many of the early rock stars at promotional events. Elvis encouraged her to follow her heart and start writing songs, so she did. Who have you advised recently? Did they take your advice?

A. That would be my husband again, and no, I don't think he did.

4) With the success of "Poor Little Fool," Sharon gave up modeling and concentrated on music. Her songs were recorded by singers such as Richie Valens, Glen Campbell and Johnny Rivers. How many different occupations have you tried? Which was your favorite?

A. News reporting was my favorite. Besides news reporting, in my lifetime I've been a photographer, a musician, a parts counter manager selling automotive parts, a secretary, a legal secretary, and a teacher. I also held a number of jobs working for temp services at various times, most of which I did not like. 

5) Ricky Nelson was the son of Ozzie and Harriet and brother of David Nelson. They began performing together as a family with their radio program The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. They took the show to television in 1952, where they were referred to as "The Most Famous Family in America." What TV family would you like to hang around with?

A. I'm not sure being a member of a crew stranded in the Delta Quadrant on the USS Voyager counts as family, but that's what I'm going with. If that doesn't work, then I'd like to be Diana Prince's younger sister.

6) While Ricky eventually became the audience favorite, he wasn't initially a likely candidate for stardom. A producer described him as "an odd little kid," shy and small for his age. In those early days, big brother David was more outgoing and considered a natural actor. Thinking back to your preteen years, were you more like David or Rick?

A. More like Rick.

7) Ricky never got over his shyness. He often closed his eyes as he sang on camera or before an audience because it helped him battle his nerves and concentrate on the music. Fan magazine oohed and aahed over his beautiful long lashes and young girls fantasized about Ricky closing his eyes before leaning in for a kiss. Who was your big pre-teen crush?

A. David Cassidy.

8) In 1958, when "Poor Little Fool" was #1, American women were shopping for Italian-inspired footwear. Heels were lower, and the leather was textured and less shiny that the popular patent leather of years gone by. If you were to go shoe shopping today, what would you be looking for?

A. Sneakers. That's all I wear although I could use a pair of dress shoes if I could find something that wouldn't kill my feet.

9) Random question -- Which of these parties sounds like the most fun: a) one you host yourself; b) one at a friend's home; c) a surprise party in your honor?

A. (b) One at a friend's home.

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I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however. 

Saturday, January 27, 2024

Saturday 9: Joanna

Saturday 9: Joanna (1983)

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

1) The subject of this week's song, Joanna, is described as someone who never lets you down and can always be counted upon. Who in your life is like that?

A. I have trust issues. I expect to be let down. My husband does a good job of being there for me, though.

2) Kool and the Gang vocalist James "J. T." Taylor sings that he will do his best to do what's right for her. Reflect on the last week. What did you devote special effort to?

A. I spent some time writing letters. I also did a lot of laundry, and this was major house cleaning week (I have someone who comes to help me with the things I can no longer do because of chronic pain.). But mostly I've been trying to rid myself of a sore throat that has given me laryngitis, so I've had more down time than I usually do.

3) This video was filmed at the Colonial Diner in Lyndhurst, NJ. Still open 40 years later, the Colonial is known for their Boom Boom Shrimp, aka fried shrimp in sweet chili sauce. Think of your favorite local restaurant. What menu item would you recommend?

A. The Tap House in Daleville has a great salad. They grow their own lettuce year-round and it's the best.

4) Kool and the Gang's biggest hit was 1980's "Celebration," which is popular today with disc jockeys at wedding receptions. Are you likely to get up and dance at a wedding reception? Or would we find you enjoying the party from your seat?

A. I haven't been to a wedding reception in years, but I can seldom not sway or at least bob up and down when there's good music on.

5) Kool and the Gang are proud of their NJ roots. Group founder Robert Bell was given the nickname "Kool" by his Jersey City friends because he was so "laid back." Do you think your friends would describe you as "laid back?"

A. No. I'm a pretty keyed up neurotic nervous Nelly. 

6) One of the Jersey City's biggest employers is Evergreen, a transportation and shipping company with offices in Evertrust Plaza, a high-rise near the waterfront. What is the tallest building you've ever been in? Were you there for business, or to enjoy the view?

A. I honestly don't know the answer to this for certain. I *think* I was in the Empire State building in New York when I was a teenager, but I'm not 100% sure of that. It would have been on a trip there with my parents when I was 13. I don't remember much about it except for eating the best Chinese food ever in Chinatown and seeing the Statue of Liberty from a distance.

7) In 1983, when "Joanna" topped the charts, Vanessa Williams became the first African American to be crowned Miss America. Today, Miss America is still among the most popular televised pageants, along with Miss World and Miss Universe. Do you watch beauty pageants?

A. I do not as a rule. My niece was a beauty pageant participant when she was young and if they were close, I went to support her. Those are the only ones I've ever watched.

8) Also in 1983, superstars Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson joined forces for the #1 song, "Say, Say, Say." Each man began his career as part of a group but went on to have success on his own. Can you think of anyone else who started out in band or group but also scored as a solo artist?

A. Stevie Nicks was in Fleetwood Mac but had a decent solo career. George Michael was in WHAM! but had a good solo career. Phil Collins was in Genesis before he became a solo artist.

9) Random question: Have you more recently eaten bread sticks or carrot sticks?

A. I have had carrots and bread but neither in sticks. I had baby carrots at Christmas so if the stick part matters, then I last had carrots. Otherwise, the sandwich I had at lunch takes the win for the bread.

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I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however. 
 

Saturday, January 20, 2024

Saturday 9: Young Girl

Saturday 9: Young Girl (1968)

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

1) The song is about a girl who is too young for romance. How old were you when your parents allowed you to date?

A. I was told I wouldn't be allowed to date until I was 16, but I went to the prom when I was 15 (I would turn 16 the next month). 

2) Lead singer Gary Puckett mentions the girl's perfume. What scent do you wear most often?

A. I don't wear scents. Everything I own and everything that I buy is unscented. Unscented shampoo, unscented detergent, unscented soap.

3) "Young Girl" reached #2 on the charts and stayed there for three weeks, but it never hit #1. It was stuck behind Otis Redding's "(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay." Are you competitive by nature? Or would you be satisfied doing well, but not being #1?

A. I am competitive but not to the point of making a big deal out of it. I'm ok with not being #1 (so long as I'm not last).

4) The Union Gap got together in San Diego, California's second most populated city. Have you ever visited California? If yes, where did you go?

A. I visited California in 1977. My father, mother, brother, grandmother, two young uncles and I drove across the U.S. to California to visit my other set of grandparents. We were in a van. It was a long, cramped trip. I was 13. We were in some flat state like Kansas when we heard on the radio that Elvis Presley had died.

5) The Union Gap performed at a White House state dinner for special guests Prince Charles and Princess Anne. Some in attendance that night maintain that President Nixon seemed to be playing matchmaker that night between the Prince and his daughter, Tricia. Have you ever tried to fix people up? If yes, did romance result?

A. I have not meddled in other people's lives, at least, not with any intent.

6) After six Top 20 hits in three years, the Union Gap disbanded. Today Gary Puckett tours as a solo artist on the "oldies circuit" with Peter Noone of the Herman's Hermits. Without looking it up, can you name any of the Herman's Hermits hits?

A. Mrs. Brown you have a lovely daughter. Isn't that one of theirs? 

7) In 1968, when "Young Girl" was a hit, Jacqueline Kennedy married Aristotle Onassis. Think about the last wedding you attended. Were you closer to the bride or groom?

A. I haven't been to a wedding in years. I was probably closer to the groom as he would have been a firefighter with my husband.

8) Also in 1968, the most popular movie in theaters was Funny Girl, starring Barbra Streisand. What's the last movie you watched?

A. Role Play, which is an Amazon movie staring Kaley Cuoco that I do not recommend, unless you just want to kill an hour and a half or so. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great, either.

9) Random question -- Come clean: Right now are there more dishes in your sink or clothes in your hamper?

A. Clothes in the hamper, but they will all be washed up by the end of the day. I try to get all of that stuff caught up when we're expecting frigid weather in case the power goes out. I like clean undies.

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I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however. 


Saturday, January 13, 2024

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Hotel California (1977)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
 
1) In this song, Don Henley called the hotel's front desk and asked, "Please bring me my wine." He was told they haven't had wine since 1969. When did you last have a glass of wine?

A. I last had a drink of wine in 2012. My professor in my creative writing class I was in for my master's degree brought a bottle of blackberry wine to our final class, and I had a little then. I normally do not drink alcohol.

2) The lyrics refer to wine as a "spirit." That is incorrect. Wines are fermented, not distilled, and have a lower alcohol content than spirits. When "Hotel California" was popular, listeners who were into wine called radio stations to let them know about the mistake. Are you a wine aficionado? Are any of your friends or family knowledgeable about wine?

A. I am not a wine aficionado. However, I will tell a tale on myself. My father made wine when I was a teenager. I had a difficult time then, and I would take half of one of his bottles to drink and fill the rest back up with water. I remember waiting until he thought the wine was ready and wondering if he'd realize what I'd done. He pronounced his creation to be really "sweet tasting" and good. I suppose watered-down wine would taste sweet. I stopped drinking alcohol when I was 19.

3) In the song, Henley sings about looking for the door that will take him "back to the place I was before." Don says that refers to a loss of innocence and a longing for a simpler time. When you think about "the good old days," where does your mind wander to?

A. I don't really have any "good old days" to think back on, to be perfectly honest. I might consider my time playing in the Top 40 band I was in during high school to be a highlight, or my time at Hollins College (now Hollins University) to be "the good old days," I suppose.
 
4) With five #1 singles, six #1 albums, and six Grammy awards, it's generally agreed that the Eagles were one of the most popular groups of the 1970s. Which decade produced most of your favorite songs?

A. I listen to mostly 1970s songs, with Melissa Etheridge and Sheryl Crow from the early 1990s thrown in for good measure.
 
5) The Eagles were formed in 1971 when four of them happened to find themselves hired to play back up for Linda Ronstadt. The men found they really hit off and wanted to keep working together when the gig with Linda was up. Tell us about how you met someone important in your life.

A. I think everyone knows I met my husband at a football game. I will tell you how I met my friend Brenda, who is no longer with us. We worked together at the historic museum for a while, but we were not friends. I was trying to get things on the computer and the museum director wanted the inventory done by hand. I tried to get Brenda to back me up, but she wanted no part of any confrontation, and did not. I ended up leaving the job. Later, Brenda and I were in a historic society together, and she took over as president after I did. I stepped down because my mother was ill. Then Brenda's mother unexpectedly passed away that same year. That created a bond between us, and we became friends.
 
6) The Eagles are still on the road, filling big arenas for their Long Goodbye tour. One explanation for their enduring popularity is that their music spans genres. They scored hits on the rock, pop and country charts. Other popular categories of music include classical, gospel, jazz, Latin, reggae, New Age, and rap. Which do you listen to most often? Which did you listen to most recently?

A. I was listening to soft pop from the 1970s.
 
7) In 1976, when "Hotel California" was topping the charts, the trend in home decor was vibrant. Intense copper, bright pink and vivid avocado were among the popular colors for bath towels, mats and shower curtains that year. If we were to peek into your 2024 bathroom(s), what colors would we find?

A. Gray and white.
 
8) Handbags were big in 1976. Not just in popularity but in size. Purses routinely had compartments on the inside and pockets on the outside. When you leave the house, do you travel light? Or do you prefer to carry a lot with you?

A. I have a handbag that is spacious but not full. I have to have room for an asthma inhaler and those small clutches generally aren't big enough to handle one of those.

9) Random question -- How different is your life today than it was a year ago: (a) a lot; (b) a little); (c) not at all?

A. (b) A little.

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I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however. 

Saturday, January 06, 2024

Saturday 9: Start of Something


Saturday 9: This Could Be the Start of Something (1959)

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

Welcome to the first Saturday 9 of 2024.
 

 
1) We're beginning the year with an optimistic song about starting something new. Right now, are you feeling positive about 2024?

A. No, I am not feeling positive about 2024.
 
2) In this song, Jack Jones sings that because he's on a diet he declines a rich dessert. Are you trying to lose a few pounds after the holidays?

A. I am trying to eat better. If I lose weight, that would be a bonus. My doctor would turn cartwheels if I could get my cholesterol down.

3) The specific dessert referred to is a Charlotte Russe, a cake made with custard, fruit, cream, whiskey and gelatin. Preparation sounds like a great deal of work! What's the most recent dish you whipped up in your kitchen?

A. A sandwich. I am not good at "whipping up" dishes. Probably the last thing I "whipped up" was a meatloaf that I made the week after Christmas.

4) The lyrics contrast dining at Sardi's in New York with sunbathing in Malibu. Do you enjoy nightlife or are you more outdoorsy?

A. I do not enjoy nightlife nor am I outdoorsy. I am read-a-book-in-a-cozy-chair-y.

5) This week's song was written by Steve Allen. While best known for his work on TV (he was the first host of The Tonight Show), he was also a composer who felt most creative at the piano. When do you feel most creative?

A. Generally, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and sometimes at night after I've dreamed.
 
6) This week's artist, Jack Jones, won a pair of Grammy Awards and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Yet he's probably best known for singing the song that welcomed travelers aboard The Love Boat every week. What TV theme song can you sing along with?

A. Gilligan's Island. I am sure there are others, I just can't think of them right now. I used to be able to whistle the theme to the Andy Griffith Show but my whistler doesn't whistle that well anymore. I can still whistle it, but it is very soft.
 
7) In 1959, when this song was popular, "continuing dramas" (aka soap operas) like Young Dr. Malone and Ma Perkins were broadcast daily on the radio. When you turn on the radio, do you listen for news, talk or music?

A. I listen to the talk and news on NPR, and I listen to other stations for music.

8) Now let's turn the calendar and our attention from 1959 to 2024. Is there a skill you're looking forward to learning, or improving, this year?

A. I hope to write more, and play guitar more, and perhaps learn something new in either skill. (A friend wants me to write a screenplay. I have no idea how to write a screenplay, so that would be learning something new in an old skill.) I may go crazy and learn something completely new at some point, but at the moment I have no clue what that would be.

9) Have you purchased anything on impulse yet this year?

A. Yes. I bought a pair of knit gloves at CVS, and I bought a box of Cella's chocolate covered cherries at the grocery store. I regret neither.

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I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however. 

Saturday, December 30, 2023

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: The Old Me (2020)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
 
We're bidding adieu to the old year with a song about looking back. 

1) In this song, the lead singer thanks his younger self for everything he learned from past experience. What's something you learned in 2023?

A. I learned that I am more afraid than I thought I was. Afraid of what, you may ask? Everything. Leaving the house. Stretching myself, trying new things, leaving my comfort zone. Leaving my safe space. Losing. Winning. 
 
2) He admits he did some things he wished he hadn't. Did you do anything in 2023 you wish you could take back?

A. I wish we hadn't put fertilizer on the hayfields only to watch them burn up in a drought. That was an expensive loss.

3) This music video consists of old photographs. Do you have many photos lingering on your phone or camera? Or are you prompt about downloading them?

A. I am fairly prompt about downloading them. I keep a few on my phone that I want to see, but generally delete them and keep it clean. No old ones on my cameras at all.

4) This week's featured artist is 5 Seconds of Summer, a band from Australia. Have you ever been to the land down under? If not, would you like to go?

A. I have never been to Australia. I wouldn't mind a trip there, especially if I could hop over to New Zealand while I was in the neighborhood.
 
5) In 2020, when this song was popular, "murder hornets," aka the giant Asian hornet, were spotted for the first time in the United States. Are you afraid of bugs?

A. It depends on the bug. Generally, though, no. If my husband is home, I will do the girly thing and go "Ew, a big spider, kill it!" but if he isn't around, I just take care of it myself.

6) Enough about 2020! Let's look back on 2023. Did you travel this past year?

A. I went to the grocery store. I think that's about as far as I got.

7) What was the biggest purchase that you made in 2023?

A. We bought a weed sprayer thing for the fields that never was used because the rains didn't come. The pasture dried up and the fields didn't need to be sprayed for weeds because weeds was all there was. No point in killing them when that was all the cows would have to eat.

8) What was your favorite book of 2023?

A. I don't really have favorite books, but I liked A Man Called Otto. It made me think. I also liked Catch-22 much more than I expected to.

9) What are you looking forward to most in 2024?

A. Hopefully we will take a vacation. We haven't had one since 2019.  We haven't made any plans, though.

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I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.