Charleston - Charles Pinckney - Part 2

Charles Pinckney was a South Carolina statesman, senator, and former governor who was also instrumental in the writing of the U.S. Constitution. He is one of the signers of that document (I think, actually, many people do not know who actually signed the Constitution, confusing it with the Declaration of Independence, a different document entirely).

They call Pinckney the "forgotten founder."

He is best known for insisting on the clause in the Constitution that says "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States," a phrase we seem to have forgotten as time has passed, at least by the populace at large. Otherwise religion wouldn't play such an important role in politics.

Pinckney's original home place, Snee Farm, is gone, but foundations of some buildings remain. A home constructed in the 19th century stands there now and serves as a museum for the National Historic Site.

We visited the Charles Pinckney National Historic Site as one of our first stops while in Charleston. It is in the Mount Pleasant area and wasn't far from our hotel.

Entrance sign.

Informational stop.

More information about the Founding Father.

Doodads from excavations of old foundations.

A plate found at the old homesite

House built circa 1800s that now houses the museum.

Somebody's tombstone; we didn't get close enough to
read what was on it.

Off to Charleston, Part 1

Last week, my husband and I slipped away and spent five days in Charleston, SC. We'd never been there and it had been three years since our last vacation, thanks to my surgery and his farming accident last summer.

So off we went.

My sweetie at the wheel.

The first thing I noticed about Charleston was that there were lots and lots of bridges.

This was but one bridge.

 

I think this entire roadway - about 26 miles - was actually a bridge.

 
It was also really flat and at sea level. I don't know how the place keeps from flooding at high tide.



More bridge off in the distance.

We stayed at a Wyndham in the Mount Pleasant area. This is apparently a separate city from Charleston but right next door, or something.

 

 

We've actually gone to hotels and demanded our money back
after checking out the rooms. Or as long-time readers may recall, once
we simply turned around and drove back home.

We were happy with our accommodations, which is often an obstacle for us. So whew. That was over with. We were there and could unpack.

Sunday Stealing: Random

From Sunday Stealing

Really Random Meme

Do you believe that Walt Disney is really frozen? A. You mean like in the movie Frozen or the rumor that his head is frozen somewhere? No, I don't believe his head is frozen somewhere. Although I suppose it could be. People with money do some weird things.

Do you believe its easy to forgive and forget? A. It is not easy. Doable, but not easy. It is easier to forgive than to forget. There are some things one should not forget.

When you feel like running away from it all who do you call? A. Ghostbusters.

Is there anyone who knows your entire life story? A. Yes.

Have you had to have stitches at all in the last year?  A. Not in the last year.

Which is coming next: Christmas or your birthday? A. A visit from St. Nicholas is next.

Have you ever been a clown for Halloween? A. Not that I can recall. I was a tramp once. However, I am sure that in a parallel universe, somewhere, at some time, I was a clown. Scientific theories suggest this is so.

What time did you go to bed last night? A. About 9 p.m.

When did you get up this morning? A. About 7 a.m.

When was the last time it rained? A. It is pouring at the moment.

Are your finger nails painted at the moment? A. I never paint my nails.

Do you ever go hunting/fishing? A. I have, but it has been a long time.

Did you have an imaginary friend as a child? A. Yes, several of them.

Which parent do you look most like? A. It depends on my mood.

Do you have any friends who are famous? A. I have met many famous people during my lifetime.

Do you use eBay to buy or sell? A. Occasionally.

Is music a daily part of your life? A. I play the guitar and love music. So yes, it is a part of my life almost daily.

Is your self esteem high or low? A. Lower than a snake's belly in a wagon rut.
__________

I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.

Saturday 9: Take a Letter

Saturday 9: Take a Letter, Maria (1969)

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

(I have always liked this song. I remember my father singing it when I was young.)

 

1) In this song, R. B. Greaves gets a shock when he gets home from work. When is the last time you were surprised? Was it a happy or sad surprise?

A. Last Christmas a friend gave me an unexpected gift. It was a throw blanket from Barnes & Noble with first sentences from novels on it. It was lovely and it's very warm. It was very unexpected and much appreciated.

2)  Mr. Greaves sings that he didn't get home until "about a half past ten." That's a very long workday. No wonder his wife felt neglected! Have you ever had trouble maintaining balance between homelife and career?

A. When I was writing for the newspaper full time, I worked from home and it was as if I were working all waking hours. People called me with stories all the time, no matter the hour, and sometimes I would be writing at 2 a.m. I would say that was a problem.

3) According to the song, "Maria" is a secretary. Have you ever worked in an office?

A. I have worked in many offices. I started out as a file clerk and ended up as a legal secretary. I did that for about 10 years. I know administrative professionals (as I believe they call themselves these days) provide a vital function, but it is not my thing, really. I might enjoy it in a different setting but law offices were incredibly stressful, and no offense to nice lawyers (I did work for one or two), but many of them are jackasses.

4)  In today's office, R.B. Greaves wouldn't ask Maria to "take a letter." Instead, he'd keystroke his own email to his wife and cc his lawyer before hitting, "send." Think of another phrase, like "take a letter," that we seldom hear anymore because of technology.

A. "I'm going to take a Polaroid."

5) "Maria" is mentioned in many songs ("Maria" from West Side Story, "Maria, Shut Up and Kiss Me" by Willie Nelson, "How Do Solve a Problem like Maria?" . . .) but Crazy Sam discovered  few, if any, "Samantha" songs. Does your first name figure prominently in any lyrics?

 

A. I don't know of any and a search turned up zilch.

6) 1969 was the year that Neil Armstrong first stepped on the moon. Do you believe in life on other planets?

 

A. I do. You didn't define "life" and a microbe or amoeba or something is a life form. Surely there are things like that out there someplace. As far as beings like us, maybe. I don't see any reason why there shouldn't be. Or an infinite number of parallel galaxies, for that matter, in which one of them I am a clown.

 

7) In 1969, the Beatles performed publicly for the last time as a band, on the roof of Abbey Road studios. When did you last climb up onto your roof?

 

A. Never. I have a husband for that.
 

8) Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys mysteries sold at a brisk pace at Christmastime in 1969. Were you a fan of these books? If not, tell us about a book you remember enjoying when you were young.

A. I loved Nancy Drew and enjoyed Hardy Boys. I preferred the first to the second. As far as other books, I loved the Black Beauty series, Misty at Chincoteague, Island of the Blue Dolphin, Across Five Aprils, and every "Little Golden Book" I could get my hands on. I read Wuthering Heights before I was 10 years old. I was always reading.

9) Random question: Do you consider yourself old fashioned?

 

A. Is there a word for middle fashioned? I don't think I'm exactly old fashioned but I do think that some things have changed for the worse instead of better.

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

Thursday Thirteen

Places I'd like to visit, but probably never will.

1. The Great Pyramids. I've always wanted to see those up close and personal.

2. Ireland. My father's family hails from the Emerald Isle. I'm also taken by the legends of druids and Celts.

3. Scotland. Some of my mother's family hails from this land. I've always had a thing for Mary, Queen of Scots, too. I've read several biographies about her.

4. England. Because England swings like a pendulum do, bobbies on the bicycle two by two, West Minister Abby, the Tower of Big Ben and the rosy little cheeks of the little children. Plus I have an Internet friend there. And there's Stonehenge.

5. Japan. I know little about Asian culture and would like to see and learn about these people.

6. Machu Picchu, Peru. Because it is old and I strongly suspect I would feel lots of energetic vibes from this place.

7. Someplace deep in the Amazon. I wouldn't mind getting lost in the jungle for a while.

8. Paris. I've actually been to Paris once, but I was a teenager. I would like to go back as an adult, when I can better appreciate it.

9. Italy. Because Under the Tuscan Sun is one of my favorite chick flicks.

10.  Greece. Because I like old stuff and would like to see the places where the many gods were worshipped, particularly the female ones, like Artemis and Athena.

11. Alaska. It looks like beautiful country in the travel guide my father brought back from his trip.

12. Hawaii. Because Alaska is cold!

13. New Zealand. Hobbits. Dwarves. Gandalf. Need I say more?



Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 413th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.

Dr. D. H.

Recently I made another stab at finding a doctor who might offer suggestions as to the pain in my abdomen.

At my husband's suggestion, this time I sought out the guy who did the original surgeries on me more than 20 years ago. I didn't even know he was still in practice.

My husband liked Dr. D*ckHead way back when but I never really did. He always discussed my issues with my husband, talking around me as if I were an object he would cut on and not a human being. For example, he asked my husband before every surgery (all six of them) if we still wanted to have children, not me. I don't think he ever once asked me. He assumed that I'd rather go through six years of agony and attempt to have children than maybe have the hysterectomy in the first surgery and be done with it. And while I did want children and maybe nothing would have been changed, it would have been nice to have been asked.

At the time so long ago, he was considered one of the better GYN doctors in the area. I mean, we didn't even have a transvaginal ultrasound machine here locally back then, something so common now that a former governor was nicknamed for the device a few years.

Anyway, I went to see Dr. D*ckHead, and he gets the top mark as biggest jerk of a doctor I've seen. I think he even beats out Dr. Dumba*s, the one who did the surgery on me two years ago that has since ruined my life. I pity any woman who is still seeing this jerk for gynecological needs.

I don't know where these doctors get their lack of compassion. Do they teach that in school? Or are jerks drawn to the medical profession for reasons I can't comprehend?

Dr. D*ckHead didn't even try to find out what was wrong with me. He hurt me with his exam, and then told me it was all in my head and the only thing wrong with me was that I was overweight and didn't exercise enough. Never mind that I have a torn ligament in my ankle. Never mind that my weight gain didn't start until I began taking infertility treatment medications that Dr. D*ckHead himself put me on 20 years ago. Never mind that he gave me no direction, offered no suggestions, but dismissed me as if I were a bulging tick on his buttocks. Too bad I wasn't, maybe I'd have given him Lyme Disease.

On top of that, he had the nerve to tell me that physical therapy was a waste of time. Physical therapy is the only healing modality that has kept me on my feet for the past two years. If you need to see a physical therapist more than three times, said Dr. D*ckHead, then either you weren't putting forth any effort or the physical therapist wasn't any good. I call bullshit on that one.

Dr. D*ckHead also said that adhesions and scar tissue don't cause pain. Tell that to every physical therapist in the valley who has to deal with scar tissue. But most surgeons dismiss the theory of scar tissue and adhesions. It is very weird how they get these ideas in their minds and don't let go of them.

And yes, Dr. D*ckHead, I'm overweight. Do you think I don't know that? Do doctors think that obese people are not aware that they're wearing 10 sizes more than they should be? What, you think we don't own mirrors? What is the point in telling me that without offering a solution? Couldn't you give me a printout - here, try this diet, it's been known to be helpful for women who've had a zillion drugs and hysterectomies and whose hormones are screwy. I guess that would be too hard. You might actually do some healing with something like that.

So Dr. D*ckHead, you saw me for the last time. Your name gets filed under "trash," and I hope you never need a physical therapist, because I guarantee you'll be there more than three times.

Sunflowers' Last Days

Wild - The Movie

Wild, a movie based on a 2012 book by the same name by Cheryl Strayed, was released in 2014. It played on HBO recently.

My book club read the book in 2013 (review at the link). I was ambivalent about the book, and when I heard that it would become a movie, I wondered how the filmmakers would manage that. The book was heavy and portrayed the heroine, such as she was, as rather ignorant. Nor was she someone to admire, even if she did hike the Pacific Crest Trail. Just because somebody takes a long walk doesn't mean they deserve admiration.

Reese Witherspoon starred as Cheryl. She did a nice job of portraying the character, though I confess when I looked the movie up I was surprised to learn she received an Academy Award nomination for the role. Laura Dern, who played Cheryl's mother, also received a nomination. I don't watch a lot of movies so maybe the standards are different now.

During this long hike, Cheryl reflects upon her mother's death. Her mother loved her, but her father was an alcoholic and mean, which can take a toll on a sensitive child. The reflective parts in the movie showed how this tortured past lead Cheryl astray (pun intended), probably better than the book did. The book spent a lot of time reflecting on her mother's death instead of earlier childhood demons. I was glad the movie reversed that.

It is hard to write a book that is reflective and which focuses on a single character to the exclusion of all else. It is hard to do a movie like that, too. The only one I can recall seeing that was successful in recent years is Castaway, with Tom Hanks. And even he had to invent a character with a volley ball to make some dialogue happen.

This is not a movie I would watch again. The acting was fine and the story didn't drag, but I guess I like my heroines to be a bit more, I don't know, loveable.

Sunday Stealing: Gag Me

From Sunday Stealing

Gag Me Meme

Do you have a sensitive gag reflex? I have no idea. Let me stick my finger down my throat and see.

Where are you the most ticklish?  I'm not ticklish.
What was the last situation to upset you?  My husband dug up a telephone line, and we will have to pay for the repairs if insurance doesn't cover it.
Have you ever had an online argument?  Yes.
Do you like to listen to music while filling out surveys? I don't fill out surveys. 
How long do you spend on the phone each day, on average?  Maybe an hour.
Is anything in your hair right now, like gel, hairspray, etc.? No.
When was the last time you were up before the sun?  This morning.

Do you like wearing sunglasses? Why or why not?  Yes, because the sun hurts my eyes and you should wear them when you drive.
Last show you watched?  My husband had Treehouse Masters on but I fell asleep right at the beginning of it, so I watched it through my eyelids.
Next vacation you’re going on? We're going south before the end of the year.
Do you regret doing anything you’ve done this week?  Getting out of bed.
Last night you felt?  Tired.
What are you wearing right now? Sweatpants. 
Have you ever kissed underneath the stars?  Yes.
What are you doing now?  Answering this meme.
What plans do you have for tonight?  Dinner with the mother-in-law.
What’s the very first thing you do when you wake up, other than breathe? Get out of bed and go to the bathroom.
Do you like reading?  Yes.
Do you ever think about stuff and start crying?  Sometimes.
Have you ever kicked a vending machine? Yes.
Do people consider you smart?  Some do.
Have you ever stayed online for a very long time waiting for someone?  Probably.
Do you tend to be aware of what is going on around you?  Generally.
How much money did you spend yesterday?  Nothing.
Is there anything in your past that you’d like to try again? No.

__________

I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.

Saturday 9: Time for Me to Fly

Saturday 9: Time for Me to Fly (1978)

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

1) How often have you flown so far this year?

 

A. Zero times. I don't expect I will ever get on a plane again.

2) Think back to your last flight. Was it pleasant, stressful, or just uneventful?

A. My last flight was in 1993. I didn't have to worry about being shaken down by the TSA or taking my shoes off, the weight of my toothpaste, or much of anything else. It was uneventful.

3) According to the Airports Council International, the world’s busiest airport is Atlanta's Hartsfield. Have you ever been to Atlanta?

A. Just a stop on the way to Orlando during said 1993 trip.

4) This week’s featured band, REO Speedwagon, took their name from a truck. Have you ever driven a truck?

A. I have driven tractors, Jeeps, trucks, and other assorted equipment. That is not to say I did it well, but I have done it.

5) REO Speedwagon got their start in Champaign, Illinois, which is home to the U of I campus and, consequently, many bars. One of the most popular is the Blind Pig on Walnut Street. Give us the name of the bar, club or restaurant where you met up with friends in your younger days.

A. The high school football field. And the underage kids, including myself, bought beer and wine coolers at Watsky's Mill Grocery Store. The eateries were the Cavalier (named after the football team), Dairy Queen, and Pizza Hut. We were very rural back then.

6) Recently, lead singer Kevin Cronin appeared on an infomercial, hawking TimeLife’s two CD set of Ultimate Rock Ballads. Have you ever purchased anything from TV?

A. Not that I recall.  I've never really thought I needed a Chia Pet or anything made by Ronco.

7) This song is from the CD, You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can’t Tunafish. Is there a can of tuna in your kitchen right now?

A. Nope. After I developed a shellfish allergy, I stopped buying fish at all. So no tuna.

8) You Can Tuna Piano, but You Can’t Tunafish is available on eBay on vinyl, CD, cassette and 8 track. Did you have an 8 track player?

A. Of course. I am old. I had an 8-track player and a cassette player. Every Sunday I listened to Casey Kasem's American Top 40 on the radio and recorded the top 10 songs.

9) In 1978, when this song was popular, the first Susan B. Anthony Dollar was minted. How much do you have in coins in your wallet right now?

A. 41 cents.

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

Life's Not Fair

People have always told me "life's not fair." From my early years up to today, I have heard that.

But we all have a choice. We can try to make things fairer for all, or to take advantage of the unfairness and use it for selfish reasons.  The choice is a significant one.  It defines the person.

So sure, life's not fair, but it is because as a society we have chosen that route. We could make it a more level playing field, with better referees and balls that aren't deflated and body weights more evenly matched.

We don't do that, though. We allow the big dude to run over the little guy on the high school field, just like we do in life. And some people laugh about it. Look at the bully, ha ha. I turn my head in shame.

Thoughtful dialogue is a thing of the past. If it weren't, perhaps we could have a discussion about this among the halls of our government, but since we've all apparently bought into the dictum that "life's not fair," nobody wants to do anything to change it.

So what is not fair?

It's not fair that we have the great income equality in this country that we do. It's not fair for any CEO to earn massive amounts while the employees can't pay the rent. That is a choice someone made, to overpay a "leader" and leave lesser amounts for the underlings.

It's not fair that women are considered chattel, and that their bodies are not their own, essentially make then "less than" and not a person.

It's not fair to attack people you don't know simply because you can.

It's not fair to create expectations of fairness when you know that society has set it up so that fairness will never exist.

It's not fair that justice now serves the wealthy and diminishes the poor.

It's not fair that corporations pay less tax than individuals.

And on and on . . . yes, the world is not fair. But this unfair world is a world made thusly by our choices, and the choices of those with power, and yes, the choices of those without power. And there are some who say why of course, it's all a choice, and if I'm the cream that rises to the top while you're sour milk, that was your choice and obviously you made bad ones. But the choices of some are greater than the choices of others, and the limits of humanity vary by individual. Does that mean we should not help our brothers and sisters? Who are we to proclaim ourselves king of our little castle and watch others wilt away?

I feel keenly the choices I have made. Some of them have been good, some have been bad. Some were choices I had no control over - it was either do one thing (have surgery, for example) or die. So of course you choose to live when you're confronted with that basest of choice.

But on other levels, the choices are many. Just standing in line offers you a plethora of choices. Do you talk to the other people in line? Do you smile? Do you read a magazine or text on your cell phone? Do you grumble and complain? Do you compliment the check-out clerk, or curse her for being slow? Do you chose the fair and kind action? Or do you push, shove, curse, and complain?

So life's not fair. Can't we try to make it just a little more fair, every where we go?

Thursday Thirteen

Things to look for in a good doctor -

1. Caring. I think this is number one. A doctor should genuinely care about people as people, and be there to help and heal. Some doctors are just in it for the money, I guess, because they certainly don't act like they want to help.

2. Personality. If a doctor has no personality, or an off-putting personality, or for some other reason you cannot relate well to the physician, then run. This is also known as "bedside manner."

3. Availability. Your doctor should be available to see you or speak with you on the phone during emergencies. With today's technologies, some doctors correspond with patients via email (mine does this).

4. A caring staff. If the staff is more interested in talking to one another than in keeping you from standing at the window waiting, you might want to factor this into your decision about your health care giver.

5. Location. If your doctor is far away from you, then #3 becomes problematic.

6. Cleanliness. Make sure the facility looks like it is cared for. The bathrooms should be clean, the floors swept, and the tables should have paper on them.

7. Experience. New doctors may be up on current knowledge and that can be helpful, but older doctors have seen more and dealt with different scenarios. Ideally, you should have a doctor who is still young but been in practice for 7-10 years.

8. Listening skills. If the doctor only hears what s/he wants to hear and doesn't hear what you are saying, you will not get the care you need. Some doctors immediately sum up patients and their own prejudices and biases get in the way.

9. They offer a solution or say "I don't know," not "You're just crazy/depressed/female, or whatever." For example, if a doctor tells you to lose weight and doesn't give you specifics on how to go about that, then what good is that advice? I'm pretty sure you know if you're overweight or not, and if you knew how to lose weight, then you'd do it.

10. Make sure the doctor can explain things. If the doctor talks in "doctor talk" and you have no idea what s/he is saying, you've gained nothing.

11. S/he will work with you on fees, charges, insurance, and other financial concerns. They can't carry you financially forever, but they should work out a payment plan if necessary.

12. A good doctor is respectful of you, your family, and your time.

13. A good doctor welcomes second opinions and may even ask you to get one if you have a serious health concern.

Good doctors are hard to find but they are out there. Keep looking if you're not happy with your physician. You have the right to find someone you want to work with. After all, it is your body and it is the only one you will have. They haven't invented head transplants yet.


Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 412th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.

Autumn Light

The slant of the sun and the lighting on the leaves makes this one of my favorite times of year. Such a contract between light and dark.

The Beast That Ate My Garden

Here he is, all fat for the winter. El Groundhog.

Goodbye to the Garden

This is all that is left of my garden. Sunflowers and weeds.

I dub this the worst garden we've had in many years, maybe in 32 years. The groundhogs ate everything. I think we managed a few tomatoes and a couple of squash. Everything else did not produce or was eaten by critters.

We had fencing around the garden, which  my husband took down so he could mow over the dismal area.

My suggestion for next year? Raised beds. I'd like for him to take that space, cut it in half, build me two containers that are about waist high, and fill them with dirt. Then I could get out and work in the "garden" without having to bend over and further irritate my health issues.

Will that happen? No. But it is a good idea. If all we want are squash, kale and tomatoes, I think it would work splendidly.

Maybe next year I'll just plant things in containers on the deck, although since the animals eat my deck and the wood on my house, I daresay the veggies would not fare well there, either.

Sunday Stealing: Mac'n Cheese

From Sunday Stealing

Mac'n Cheese Meme

1. Can you ever get enough of mac ‘n’ cheese? A. I can. I rarely eat it.


2. Are you allergic to nuts or diary products?
A. I do not drink dairy because it makes my asthma worse. 

3. Do you think age matters in relationships? A. It does if the guy is 50 and the girl is 14, so yeah.

4. Has anyone ever called the cops on you? A. Yes. And wouldn't you just love to know the details?

5. Did you talk to someone until you fell asleep last night? A. My husband and I kissed goodnight.

6. What’s the connection between the last person you texted?  A. I don't text. My last email was from my physical therapist.

7. Are you in a good mood? A. Not particularly. 

8. Excited for anything? A. I have a vacation scheduled before the end of the year. I'm hoping I will feel well enough to enjoy it.


9. Do you have a hard time controlling your emotions? A. Sometimes.

10. Do you like your height? A. I would like to be a little taller so I didn't have to ask someone to get things for me from the top shelf of the grocery store. It's so embarrassing.

11. How long have you lived in your current home? A. 28 years.

12. Could you go a week without brushing your teeth? A. Well I could, but I certainly hope I never have to.

13. Have you ever given any amount of money to the homeless? A. Yes.

14. Own anything from Bath & Body Works? A. No.

15. Have you ever had your nails so long that they curved down at the ends? A. No. I bite my nails and/or keep them clipped short.

 
16. Have you ever swallowed a bunch of salt water by accident? A. Yes. I certainly didn't choke on it on purpose.

17. Does it take you over an hour to go to sleep sometimes? A. Sometimes.

18. When you get home from school/work do you change into your pjs right away? A. No.

19. Have you ever stayed up all night and the whole next day without any sleep? A. The closest I have come to that in recent years was in 2010, when we drove for seven hours to Myrtle Beach only to discover our hotel room was awful. We couldn't find another, so we drove all night, arriving back home around 10 a.m. We're the only people I know who drove six hours for dinner and then turned around and came back.

20. Has anyone ever told you that you have pretty feet? A. I had an acupuncturist tell me that once. 

21. What is the temperature currently in the town you live in? A. It's in the 70s.

22. Do you ever actually drink milk alone? A. I don't drink milk.

Saturday 9: That's All, Folks

Saturday 9: That's All (1983)Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In the lyrics, Phil Collins sings of a time he was wrong when he thought he was right. Tell us about a recent time when you got it wrong.

A. I have a tendency to think other people don't like me, and I get that wrong a lot. Actually, they do. So I get that wrong with great frequency. For instance, I recently thought that another player of this meme had for some reason decided she didn't like me. And maybe she doesn't, but we have never met and probably never will, so it's a silly thing to think and worry over.

2) The song is addressed to a lover that Phil clearly feels is contrary. When he says, "day," she says, "night." Is there anyone in your life who seems to disagree with you all or most of the time?

A. Yes. About half of my community.

3) This was Genesis' first Top 10 hit in the US. Can you name another Phil Collins or Genesis song?

A. "I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh no. And I've been waiting for this moment for all of my life, oh no." It's called In the Air Tonight.

4) Phil Collins is a model train enthusiast. Is there anything special that you collect?

A. I have a small collection of Christmas mice. And a lot of books.

5) Collins was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Berklee College of Music in Boston. At the ceremony, he delivered the commencement address. When did you last give a presentation or deliver a speech?

A. My last presentation would have been in January, when I taught a class on keeping a journal at a writer's conference at my alma mater.

6) One of Phil Collins' early solo albums was called, Hello, I Must Be Going. He took the title from a song in the 1930 Marx Bros. movie, Animal Crackers. What's the last black and white movie or TV show that you watched?

A. The Andy Griffith Show. I watch it almost every day. It comes on at 5:30 here just before our local news, and that is when I'm in the kitchen cooking dinner.

7) In 1983, when this song was popular, 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? Tablet or phone?

A. A PC desktop. I don't see how anybody types on a tablet or a phone. And I am not a fan of Windows 10, not that anybody cares.

8) 1983 is also the year when McDonald's introduced McNuggets. What's your favorite chicken recipe (assuming it's not McNuggets)?

A. I like chicken pot pie, or just plain baked chicken. I don't eat fried food anymore. And I try not to eat things don't actually look like food.

9) In 1983, President Reagan signed the bill making Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday a holiday. What's your favorite holiday?

A. My favorite holiday is Halloween, but I don't celebrate it. No one comes to say "trick or treat" when you live 1/4 mile off the road and you're out in the country. I used to like Christmas but I don't enjoy it much anymore. I am surrounded by scrooges who seem hell-bent on taking the joy out of the holiday. So I guess my most favorite holiday really is my birthday, which isn't a holiday, but it means I survived another year.

Caught in the Act

We have a had an awful time with squirrels eating on our house and deck this year. First a squirrel about gnawed its way into the house via the back door. This one has eaten the deck.

As we are planning to replace the deck soon, I don't particularly care about that, but the door was another issue. We ended up having to put siding over the wood to keep the squirrels from gnawing on it more.