Sunday Stealing

 

National Oreo Cookie Day

1. Are you able to pass by a plate of cookies and not take one or are you a bit of a "Cookie Monster?"

A. It depends on the cookie. Chocolate chip? I'm there. Something with coconut in it? You can keep those.

2. Tell us about your favorite cookie. Have your tastes changed since you were a kid?

A. My favorite cookie is chocolate chip. I think it has always been my favorite cookie.

3. Enquiring minds want to know if you are a dunker and, if so, do you dunk in milk, coffee, or tea?

A. I am not a cookie dunker.

4. It is that time of year and they are selling them on every corner and in front of every store!  Do you buy Girl Scout cookies and if you do, which is your favorite?

A. I do not buy Girl Scout cookies. I suppose someone sells them locally, I just don't know where.

5. Raw cookie dough. Yay or Nay?

A. Yay!

Thank you for playing! Please come back next week.

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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: Linger

Saturday 9: Linger (1993)

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

1) In this song, Dolores O'Riordan of the Cranberries sings that her lover has her wrapped around his finger. Do you feel that anyone has you wrapped around their finger?

A. Not particularly, no. I know people who have tried but I am an independent sort. Yes, I have been married for 42 years, but it's a mutual sort of marriage.

2) This was one of the first songs Delores and Noel Hogan wrote together. They performed it often live and perfected it before going into the studio to record it approximately two years later. Because they had polished the performance and arrangement, it's not a surprise that it was the biggest hit off their debut album. Tell us about a time when your preparation paid off.

A. I worked hard to create a non-credit class for the community college about journaling. It seemed to go over well. 

3) The Cranberries believed the moody black-and-white video (linked above) playing on MTV contributed to the song's popularity. MTV and VH1 were highly influential when they showed music videos and interviews 24/7 during the 1980s and 1990s. Do you recall watching music videos on MTV and/or VH1?

A. I was partial to VH1, they played songs that were more to my liking, but yes, I remember when they actually played music videos. That was before youtube and the Internet.

4) The Cranberries were founded by brothers Noel and Mike Hogan in their hometown in Limerick, Ireland. The River Shannon runs through Limerick. Do you live near a river? 

A. I live near a pond and a creek. The closest rivers are the James River and the Roanoke River.

5) Fergal Lawler soon joined the brothers and became the Cranberries drummer. Today he says he enjoys listening to his early work with the group because, "Songs are like a snapshot in time." Do you often flip through photo albums and look at snapshots?

A. I do not flip through photo albums, but I do like to read the archives of newspapers.

6) Dolores O'Riordan showed up for her Cranberries audition dressed casually in a black tracksuit with her own Casio electronic keyboard tucked under her arm. The Hogans were impressed not only by her vocals but her no-nonsense, "let's get to work" attitude. Share a memory from one of your job interviews.

A. I was on my way to a job interview when I wrecked the car. I called and asked if I could come another day, because, well, car smashed. I also had a bad contusion on my knee. Of course, the office was up a flight of stairs that I could barely climb because my knee was so swollen, so I hobbled in there and knew immediately I wouldn't get the job, there was all of this, "Aww, look, she's limping to make it look good," kind of talk going on around me. I don't know why I bothered.

7) In 1993, when "Linger" was released, The Nanny premiered on CBS. It's remembered today for its catchy theme song, which tells the story of "the nanny named Fran." Can you recall the lyrics to theme of one of your favorite shows?

A. Here's the story of a lovely lady, who was bringing up three very lovely girls. All of them had hair of gold, like their mother, the youngest one in curls. Here's a story, of a man named Brady, who bringing up three boys of his own. They were four men living all together, but they were all alone. Until one day when the lady met this fellow, and they knew that it was much more than a hunch. That this group, must somehow form a family, and that's the way we all became the Brady Bunch.

8) In 1993, gas was $1.11/gallon. Could your vehicle use a fill-up right now?

A. No, I am one of those people who top off the tank when it gets below a quarter full.

9) Random question: How many pairs of shoes do you own?

A. I have no idea.

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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. 

Warmer Weather

The snow and ice are gone, and now we have temperatures that are too warm for this time of year.

But thankfully, we also have things greening up, and a little yellow to make things cheerful. Thank goodness for daffodils.

Thursday Thirteen

I used to play guitar in a cover band in high school from about 1978 to 1981. We went out on weekends and played in bars, Moose lodges, VFW halls, volunteer fire department buildings - wherever. That was how we made our money as teenagers instead of working at fast food places that really weren't in existence in our area then.

We had a great time. Sometimes I hear songs come across Alexa and remember that we did them. 

We had a set list of over 40 songs with a good rotation - usually two disco/dance songs, a slow dance, then two disco/dance songs, etc. Our sets were about 45 minutes long, or about 10 songs a set, with four sets during the evening, usually. 

Here are 13 songs that I remember we played:

1. Lyin’ Eyes, by the Eagles. This was one of those songs that settled the room before the real dancing started. Easy harmonies, steady rhythm, and a warm way to open a night in a Moose lodge or VFW hall.

2. Reunited, by Peaches & Herb. This was a guaranteed slow‑dance moment. Couples drifted out, arms around each other, and the whole hall softened into that late‑70s glow.

3. I Will Survive, by Gloria Gaynor. The women always hit the floor first for this one. The band locked into the groove, and I sang harmony like muscle memory. I still like to play this song.

4. Tragedy, by the Bee Gees. This was a song I sang lead vocals. It was an ambitious song for a high‑school band. Those falsetto peaks were a thrill and a challenge every time.

5. Do Ya Think I’m Sexy, by Rod Stewart. This was another song I sang. I only sang maybe 5 of the 40; the lead singer did most of the work with me singing backup and harmony. This song was playful and a little cheeky. I remember we played in front of the intermediate school and we did this one, and my former English teacher took me aside afterwards and said she couldn't believe I could belt out a song like that.

6. Heart of Glass, by Blondie. This song was a perfect blend of rock and disco. The beat kept the dancers happy, and the guitar‑and‑keys mix made it fun to play. Mostly I had the vibrato up on the guitar and hit the low E string a lot.

7. Bad Girls, by Donna Summer. The bass player’s whistle made this one unforgettable. A tiny prop, but it turned the song into a moment, and it was the kind of thing people remembered and laughed about later. I can still hear him blowing on that whistle and trying for the higher note with it at the end.

8. Babe, by Styx. This was a sentimental slow dance that gave everyone a breather. Our keyboardist sang this song; I think it was the only one she sang. The lead singer and I would have harmonized with her. "You know it's you, babe." We played it soft, steady, and right in the pocket.

9. Play That Funky Music, by Wild Cherry. This one always took a lot out of me because it is a lot of fast guitar movement. But it was a floor‑filler every single time. The groove was simple but satisfying, and the whole band got to lean into it.

10. Hot Stuff, by Donna Summer. This was disco with a rock edge and perfect for a live band. We could push the tempo a little, and the dancers loved it.

11. Another One Bites the Dust, by Queen. This is when the bass player shone. That opening line alone could pull people to the floor, and the whole room felt the pulse of it.

12. My Life, by Billy Joel. This song was bright, upbeat, and a nice change of texture in a mostly disco‑leaning set. A song that kept the energy up without overwhelming the room.

13. China Grove, by The Doobie Brothers. This was my best lead‑guitar song. It was fast, tight, and full of those riffs that feel good under the fingers. A rock anchor in the middle of all that disco heat, and the song I always prayed I didn't mess up because the guitar was prominent in it.

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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 949th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Virginia's 250th Anniversary - Santillane

Santillane is the grand ol’ dame of Fincastle.

The pre-civil war estate was once home to Judith Hancock Clark, wife of William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition.

It was restored in 2008. Much of the decorative trim turned out to be plaster instead of painted wood as originally thought. There was wallpaper to remove – even on the ceilings - and cobwebs to sweep. Original chandeliers lay stored in boxes and vintage clothes hung in wardrobes far too large to ever be removed from the home.

The house has 14 rooms, counting foyers and bathrooms. All have been restored.

The house boasts extremely high ceilings, a staircase that looks like something out of Gone with the Wind, a pewter chandelier with a date of 1726 etched into it, hardwood floors, original wallpaper in the living room, original glass in the windows, and elegant touches around the ceilings.

Legend holds the original Santillane burned and was rebuilt. However, signatures on the plaster, which has held up remarkably well, date back to the very early 1800s.

Santillane is on the National Register of Historic Places. A marker on US 220 calls it “one of Botetourt County’s most distinguished properties. The Greek Revival house sits on a tract of land originally owned by Colonel George Hancock, a member of the United States Congress from 1793-1797. 

In 1808 Hancock's daughter, Judith, married General William Clark. Clark served from 1803 to 1806 as a leader of Thomas Jefferson's famous Lewis and Clark expedition which was instrumental in opening the West for American settlement.”

Colonel George Hancock

George Hancock’s first appearance in Botetourt is in 1781 when he married Margaret Strother of Fincastle. He appeared again in 1782 when he obtained a license to practice law in the county. In 1785,

Hancock was appointed a colonel in the county militia; he also served as Botetourt County’s Commonwealth Attorney. He was the first citizen of Botetourt County to serve in the Congress of the United States. He later moved from Fincastle to Fotheringay in Montgomery County, where he died in 1820.

Hancock’s daughter Julia, known also as Judith, was born to Hancock and his wife Margaret on November 21, 1791, in Fincastle. She wed William Clark, the famous explorer, in January 1808. Clark reportedly named the Judith River in Montana after the young girl he left in Fincastle while he sought a route to the Pacific.

Sunday Stealing

Survey Asks . . . 

1. Did you/will you have coffee or some other form of caffeine today?

A. I do not drink coffee or colas. Unless there is caffeine in chocolate, and I think there is maybe a smidge, I don't get caffeine. 

2. Who did you last have a text conversation with and what was it about? 

A. My last conversation was with an old friend, and she was telling me about a visit from her sister.

3. Are there regular trains in and out of your town/city? 

A. My county has trains that go through it regularly, but no stops.

4. Have you ever been hospitalized due to dehydration?

A. No, but I have been hospitalized for other health issues.

5. Someone texts/IMs you just as you’re about to go to sleep. Do you reply? 

A. Not unless it is an emergency.

6. Do you grind your teeth?

A. I do grind my teeth, yes.

7. When you listen to music with headphones, do you keep the volume low enough to hear surrounding noise, or do you blast it?

A. I try not to listen to music with headphones. I don't like them.

8. Are you wearing nail polish?

A. I do not wear nail polish. I am allergic to it.

9. Do you have an ice maker in your refrigerator door?

A. I have an ice maker in the upper freezer of the refrigerator, but not in the door.

10. Do you have a friend named James?

A. I have a husband by that name.

Thank you for playing! Please come back next week.

__________

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.