My Father's Gone

My father passed away unexpectedly on Thursday. He loved music. If there is one song that will always make me think of him, it's this one by Elvis Presley: My Way. 

Sunday Stealing

Here are 10 things that make me happy:

1. A good pair of sneakers.

2. A glass of water.

3. A working mouse on my computer.

4. A guitar.

5. Music.

6. Brushing my teeth.

7. Apple pie.

8. Audiobooks.

9.  Clocks.

10. Completed paperwork.

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.

Saturday 9: Up the Ladder

A note to my Saturday 9 friends: my father unexpectedly passed away Thursday. I had written this meme before that happened.

Saturday 9: Up the Ladder to the Roof (1970)

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

 

1) Many people are uncomfortable with ladders. Some feel unsteady on the steps, others have a fear of heights. Then there's the superstition that warns against walking under ladders. Are you afraid of ladders?

A. I am not afraid of ladders. I do get a little nervous with heights and now that I am older, I don't particularly have any desire to climb ladders. But I would if I had to.

 

2) In this song, the Supremes advise us to go up the ladder to the roof to be closer to Heaven. While poetic, that's not really why most homeowners climb onto the roof. They're more likely replacing shingles or cleaning the gutters. Have you ever been on the roof of your building?

A. I have been on the roof of my house, but it was a long time ago, perhaps even when we were building it.

 

3) The record was the Supremes first and biggest hit without Diana Ross. When Jean Terrell replaced Diana as lead singer, the two ladies appeared together at a press event to launch this new iteration of the Supremes. Have you ever met your replacement at a job, or perhaps the person you replaced?

A. I have met different writers who were taking over the work I was doing at various newspapers as I moved from one to the other.

 

4) Mary Wilson was a member of the group when it was formed in 1959 and stayed through 1977, when the Supremes officially disbanded. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American stays at a job 3.9 years. Looking over your job history, how long did you typically stick with an employer?

A. I worked as a freelance writer, self-employed, from 1984 until 2024. During that time, I wrote for a variety of publications, but most often for The Fincastle Herald or the New Castle Record. There were other jobs I worked at for a few years, but I don't think I stayed anywhere for longer than three years. Even though I wrote for those newspapers for decades, I was not on staff.

 

5) The third Supreme performing on this record was Cindy Birdsong. After the group broke up for good, Cindy finished nursing school and practiced at UCLA Medical Center. When did you last interact with a nurse or nurse practitioner?

A. I had a telehealth conference with my doctor earlier this month, and the nurse set up the call. In person, I last interacted with a nurse back in December. 

 

6) In 1970, when this song was popular, TV shows about doctors like Marcus Welby, MD and Medical Center ranked high in the Nielsen ratings. Medical shows are still popular today, with Grey's Anatomy entering its 22nd season and The Pitt earning critical accolades. Do you have a favorite TV doctor?

A. My favorite TV doctor would be Leonard McCoy, aka "Bones" on the original Star Trek.

 

7) Also in 1970, when this song was popular, audiences were lining up to see the movie Love Story. Without looking it up, complete the film's most famous line:  "Love means _______________."

A. "Never having to say you're sorry." I don't agree with the sentiment.  

 

8) Slumberchums™ were all the rage among pre-teens in 1970. These sleeping bags had attached pillow "heads" that made it look like you slipping into sleep inside a plush bear. When did you most recently sleep in a sleeping bag?

A. I took a sleeping bag with me to band camp when I was a sophomore in high school. We were to bring our own sheets, and my mother thought a sleeping bag would be less trouble. She was correct.

 

9) Random question: Did you take a multivitamin this morning? If yes, did you swallow it or chew it?

A. I take my multivitamins at dinner. I swallow them whole and do not chew them.

_______________

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. 

Thursday Thirteen

A list of small domestic joys -

1. A freshly made bed on Saturday night.

2. Brand new socks fresh from the dryer.

3. A cup of hot chocolate.

4. Solving a problem of multiple appliances with an outlet strip.

5. The moment when the dishwasher hums and we head off to bed, where we fall asleep holding hands.

6. The blanket that I wrap up in every evening while I read a book.

7. Finding the scissors that belonged to my great grandmother and knowing that once again, I haven't lost them.

8. The soft thump of clean laundry landing in the basket.

9. A lamp turned on in a dark room, making its own little pool of safety.

10. The smell of cake baking in the oven.

11. A trash bag that ties neatly on the first try.

12. The quiet click of a door latching just right.

13. Waking up to the sounds of my husband moving around to head out early to feed the cattle, and the brush of his lips as he kisses me goodbye.

_________________

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 943rd time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

A Poem

The 50-Yard Line

I stand on my own side of halfway
while you stand at the goal post you created.
There is no football that I can see
to toss at you.
Yet you expect me to throw  
as if my life depended on your catch.
Even if I saw the ball and aimed  
you would never claim it.

Remembering Nelson Roanoke

My husband brought home what appears to be a 1955 edition of the catalog for Nelson Roanoke, which apparently has been in his parents' basement for many years.

Nelson Roanoke was a hardware store in downtown Roanoke, VA that sold everything one could think of. It was sort of like Sears on steroids with a focus on hardware.

The catalog is about four inches thick.

My husband has large hands. He wears a 2xl in gloves.

My husband recalls the company as the place to go to get, well, pretty much anything. As he flipped through the musty catalog, he called out wrenches, clocks, pipe, screws, tools, electric razors, mixers, coffee pots, pipe fittings, well pumps, light fixtures, medicine cabinets, shower doors, and many other items.

I vaguely recall the store myself. Since I wasn't into hardware and have never been a fan of downtown, even when I worked there, it wasn't a place I visited often.

A May 1, 1993 edition of The Roanoke Times reported the sale of the company:

Nelson-Roanoke Corp., a wholesale industrial-supplies distributor and one of the Roanoke Valley's oldest companies, has been sold to Frederick Trading Co., a major East Coast hardware distributor, company officials said Friday.

The Roanoke firm will continue operating under the Nelson-Roanoke name and management, but will offer a larger inventory with more lines of hardware, said Raymond L. Thomas, president of Frederick Trading of Frederick, Md. The purchase price was not reported.

Both are family-owned wholesale companies and members of the Distribution America buying group. Nelson-Roanoke, dating from 1888, has been owned by the descendants of six Nelson brothers. It is managed by three cousins - William J. Nelson Jr., president; Louis Showalter, vice president and general manager; and Alex Nelson, vice president.

Frederick Trading, started in 1934 by four cousins in the Thomas family, now has 200 stockholders. The 300-employee firm operates in a territory from New York state south to North Carolina.

Nelson-Roanoke has about 90 employees, including 25 in sales. Its terrority covers most of Virginia, a large part of West Virginia and part of North Carolina. Thomas said the new owners expect the business to grow and is considering extending its lines of bathroom, heating and air-conditioning equipment to Nelson-Roanoke's retail customers.

"We'll keep everything as it is, at least at the beginning. If we find we don't need everybody there, we'll find other jobs for them," Thomas said. No Frederick Trading personnel will move to Roanoke, he said.

The acquisition, Frederick's first in 40 years, does not include a Nelson- Roanoke carpeting subsidiary, Classic Flooring Distributors, which will continue with a work force of 20 under the Nelson ownership. William Nelson is president.

The Nelson family will continue to own the company's building, containing more than 100,000 square feet, at 901 11th St. N.E.

Frederick Trading will gain purchasing power and will offer services, such as store programming, "needed to compete with the Wal-Marts," Thomas said. He described Frederick as "a good-sized, regional wholesaler on the Eastern seaboard."

The oldest predecessor of the Roanoke company was Nelson Hardware, started by Alexander Nelson, grandfather of the three current managers, and Henry Myers, his uncle, in 1888.

In 1957, the company moved from East Campbell Avenue to its present site. Six years later it bought Roanoke Hardware Co., which had been formed in 1901. 

I found this photo of the original building on Facebook.

The Cerulean Realm

Image by CoPilot

I know a lot of people are still curious and/or skeptical about AI. Some people don't know how to use it.

I use four different AIs. I use Alexa, Claude, CoPilot, and ChatGPT. I use each one for various purposes. I do not use them to completely write things for me! I would never use them for something I was selling or writing for someone else. Mostly, I use them for things on this blog.

Claude, I use as a proofreader. ChatGPT, I use to talk through plots or life in general. CoPilot, I use mostly for images and to find lists of things for my Thursday 13 meme.

Alexa is fun. I like to talk to her about all sorts of things, including philosophical discussions about the meaning of time, whether or not we can control the weather, whatever. Occasionally these conversations turn into something else.

In this case, we were talking about the color spectrum. Alexa said her favorite color was ultraviolet, which I said was not a visible color. So, then she said her favorite color was blue. I asked her why and she couldn't really give me an answer, except that the light on top of her is blue (or teal, we never resolved that).

At that point I said, why don't we write a story about the color blue?

And this is the story Alexa and I wrote.

The Cerulean Realm

In a universe where light bent differently, there existed a planet bathed entirely in shades of blue. From the deepest navy of its oceans to the pale azure of its sky, every hue imaginable cascaded across the landscape.

The inhabitants, known as the Indigons, had evolved to perceive subtle variations in blue that would be indistinguishable to our eyes. Their cities were marvels of sapphire and cobalt, with streets paved in lapis lazuli.

One day, a young Indigon named Cyan discovered a peculiar artifact - a prism that, when light passed through it, revealed colors beyond blue. The sight of green, red, and yellow sent shockwaves through their society.

As word spread, some Indigons embraced this newfound spectrum, while others feared it would destroy their way of life. Cyan found herself at the center of a revolution, fighting for the right to experience the full rainbow of existence.

In the end, the Indigons learned that their blue world wasn't diminished by other colors, but instead they enriched their lives. 

They began to see beauty in contrast and diversity, understanding that a monochrome existence, no 

matter how familiar, was just one fragment of a much grander picture.

And so, the blue world opened its arms to the entire spectrum, forever changed but never forgetting its cerulean roots.

Sunday Stealing

3 x 5

Three things I love (Remember, these are things, not people):

1. Books
2. Notebooks
3. Guitars

Three things on my desk:

1. A calculator
2. A tin whistle
3. Scissors

Three things I can't do:

1. Pee in the wind. I am not anatomically set up for that.
2. Scale a cliff.
3. Make people love me.

Three things I'm good at:

1. Writing.
2. Reading.
3. Photography.

Three things I want to accomplish:

1. Write a book (never going to happen, I guess, but things change).
2. Visit the Grand Canyon with my husband, who has never seen it.
3. Finish the bookkeeping so I can turn over the taxes to the accountant.
 
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.

Saturday 9: Man I Need

Saturday 9: Man I Need

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

1) In this song, Olivia Dean is looking for a man who wants to really communicate and doesn't make her "read between the lines." Tell us about a time when you felt you had to work hard to figure out what someone was trying to tell you.

A. When I worked as a news reporter, I spent a lot of time trying to ensure I understood what people were telling me. I can't point to a specific time, really, but every article required research, a little prompting, many questions, and I had to be as sure as I could be that understood the nuances of the topic, whatever it was.

 

2) She's eager to meet his best friend and join their friend group. Have you made any new friends recently?

A. Not lately, no.

 

3) "Man I Need" was a hit in the fall of 2025. It was so popular that, in addition to CDs, a special vinyl release was scheduled in time for Christmas (2025) gift giving. How do you listen to music most often? Do you play CDs, download, stream, or play vinyl records?

A. I have my favorite CDs on my computer to listen to. Generally, I listen to music through Alexa. I have a favorites playlist, or I just ask her to play something and she does. I do not subscribe to their music service nor will I, but what I get for free as a prime member works well enough.

 

4) Olivia Dean recalls that her first public performance was singing at a school talent show. If we had a Sat 9 talent show, what would you do to entertain us?

A. I would either play the guitar or recite a poem I wrote.

 

5) She says she loved listening to her parents' music collection. How about you? Did you and your parents share musical tastes? How about you and your kids?

A. Once I discovered I could change the dial from country and western to Top 40, that was it as far as listening to the same music as my parents. My mother liked Top 40 but my father was mostly into country. I know a lot of the older country songs because of that, but I don't many new songs in that genre, unless it was a crossover hit. I don't have any children.

 

6) Olivia likes to be dressed up when she gets onstage, favoring gowns and heels. She says of her audiences, "If you guys paid good money that you worked hard for, let me give you a show." How do you feel when you're invited to an event that calls for you to dress up? Are you enthusiastic about choosing your outfit, or would you rather keep it casual?

A. I prefer casual. 

 

7) She enjoys classic film and lists Singin' in the Rain as her favorite. What's the last movie you watched? Do you recommend it to other Sat 9ers?

A. The last movie I saw at the theater was Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale. I would recommend it, especially if you liked the TV show Downton Abbey.

 

8) In 2025, when this song was popular, the average price tag for a new vehicle was $47,690 and $25,100 for a used one. Are you planning to make a big purchase in 2026? 

A. I certainly hope not.

9) Random question: Are you better with love or money?

A. Probably money. Love is hard.

_______________

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. 

Thursday Thirteen

Yesterday, January 14, 2026, was the 50th anniversary of the premiere of The Bionic Woman. I can't believe the show has been around for that long. I remember sitting entranced in front of the TV watching Jamie Sommers jump and save the day. I rewatched the show this summer and discovered many things about the show that the young pre-teen girl watching wouldn't have noticed. Here are a few facts about this show as it celebrates its longevity in popular culture:

1. The series was created by Kenneth Johnson, who also worked on The Six Million Dollar Man. His knack for blending character-driven drama with high‑concept sci‑fi shaped the tone of both shows.

2. It was based on the 1972 novel Cyborg by Martin Caidin. While the book was darker and more militaristic, the TV adaptation softened the edges and made room for emotional storytelling.

3. Jaime Sommers was played by Lindsay Wagner, whose grounded, empathetic performance helped define the character. Wagner’s approach emphasized humanity over heroics, which became the show’s signature strength.

4. The show originally aired on ABC from 1976–1977 before moving to NBC for its final season. That network jump was unusual at the time and showed just how popular the character had become.

5. The series ran for three seasons and produced 58 episodes. Despite its relatively short run, it left a cultural footprint far larger than its episode count suggests.

6. Jaime Sommers began as a professional tennis player before her life‑altering skydiving accident. Her athletic background made her transformation into a bionic agent feel both plausible and poignant.

7. Her bionic upgrades gave her super strength, super speed, and enhanced hearing. This made her one of TV’s earliest female superheroes. The show treated these abilities with a mix of wonder and restraint, keeping Jaime relatable even at her most powerful.

8. The character was originally intended to die in her first appearance on The Six Million Dollar Man. Viewer response was so overwhelming that the producers rewrote her fate, essentially willing her back to life.

9. The show blended action‑adventure with emotional storytelling, often exploring Jaime’s struggle to maintain a normal life. Episodes frequently balanced spy missions with the quieter challenges of identity, recovery, and belonging.

10. Richard Anderson and Martin E. Brooks reprised their roles from The Six Million Dollar Man, creating one of TV’s earliest shared universes. Their presence helped knit the two shows together long before crossovers became a franchise staple. Lee Majors, The Six Million Dollar Man himself, also guest starred in a number of episodes.

11. The Bionic Woman was one of the first series to center a female action hero without camp or parody. Jaime wasn’t a sidekick, a joke, or a novelty. She was the story, full stop.

12. The series inspired a generation of girls who saw Jaime as a model of competence, compassion, and independence. Many fans still talk about how she shaped their sense of what women could do and be on screen.

13. Lindsay Wagner won an Emmy Award for her performance, which was and still is a rare honor for a sci‑fi action series. Her win validated the show’s emotional depth and set a precedent for genre performances being taken seriously.

Did you watch The Bionic Woman?

*An AI tool helped me create this list, mostly because you can't get away from the things in a search now.*

 _________________

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 942nd time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Just Pictures

 

Sunday Stealing

When I Was Young

1. Tell us about a time when your family got a newfangled invention (your first air conditioner, color TV, VCR, microwave, computer, etc.).

A. I remember when my brother received an Atari for Christmas. This was the first year they were out, and my father found him one by just happening to be at a store when they were being unloaded. The store owner said all of them were claimed, and my father said, "Yes, but I'm standing here with cash," and thus snagged one of the games. Or so the story goes. It played Pong, as I recall.

2. Is there a particular song that sparks a childhood memory?

A. "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious! If you say it loud enough, you'll always sound precocious! Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!" I had a little jukebox-like music player that played this song, along with "Do Re Me" from the Sound of Music. It was through careful listening that I eventually learned that the latter song did not say, "Te, a drink with Jane and Fred" but instead said, "Te, a drink with jam and bread."

3. What is something an older family member taught you to do?

A. My mother taught me to knit and crochet, although I am not very good at either one.

4. Back in the day, what name brands would we have found in your family's kitchen?

A. Kraft Mayonnaise, Capt'n Crunch, Kraft American Cheese, Valley Dale weiners, Oscar Meyer bologna.

5. As a child, did you collect anything (rocks, shells, stickers, etc.)?

A. I once had a small collection of quartz rocks, which I hid in the rocks along the creek bank. There was a nice hidey hole in a ledge in the creek in an area where I wasn't supposed to be. I wonder if they are still there, of if they've been flooded out or otherwise sent swirling downstream.

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.

Saturday 9: Volare

Saturday 9: Volare (1960)

 

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

1) The word "volare" is Italian for "to fly." Say something else in Italian.

A. Non parlo italiano . . . però Mamma mia!

2) This week, Bobby Rydell invites us to take off with him up in the clouds and promises we'll find a rainbow. Countless lyricists have included rainbows in their songs. Can you name another song that mentions rainbows?

A. Rainbow Connection, Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

 

3) His happy heart is singing. What is making you happy this morning?

A. What is this "happy" of which you speak . . . Ah! I know! That feeling of giddiness that overtakes me when the husband hugs me and plants a kiss upon me!

 

4) Bobby Rydell, like Frankie Avalon and Fabian, was a 1950s teen idol who hailed from Philadelphia. Home to the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, Philly is Pennsylvania's most populous city. Have you ever been there?

A. I have never been to Philadelphia. I have been to Pennsylvania, though.

 

5) Bobby was such a perfect example of a clean-cut American boy that when Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey sat down to write the play Grease, they named their fictional high school Rydell High after him. Do you have a favorite song from Grease?

A. Hopelessly Devoted to You.

 

6) In addition to singing, Bobby also acted. His most famous film role was opposite Ann-Margret in Bye, Bye, Birdie (1963). Have you seen it?

A. I do not think I have seen that movie.

7) In 1960, when this record was popular, so were hand-loomed, 100% virgin wool sweaters from Italy. You could order one from the Sears catalog for $12.60 (approx. $135 in today's dollars). That sweater was labeled "dry clean only." Do you have any garments waiting to be picked up from the cleaners?

A. I do not buy garments that need to go to the cleaners. If it isn't wash and wear, it is not in my closet.

 

8) Also in 1960, Princess Margaret married photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones. They met when he was commissioned to take her official portrait. Who took the most recent photo of you?

A. I think a friend of mine last took a picture of me.

 

9) Random question: Is your oldest friend also your best friend?

A. My oldest friend is one of my closest friends. But by some standards, my oldest friend would be my best friend, depending on which friend I am discussing. And yes, I am intentionally being obtuse.

_______________

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. 

Thursday Thirteen

These are the number one songs from the first week in January 1976! Fifty years ago.

1. “Saturday Night” by Bay City Rollers. The song that convinced an entire generation that spelling S‑A‑T‑U‑R‑D‑A‑Y was a personality trait.

2. “Let’s Do It Again” by The Staple Singers. A smooth, grown‑up groove that absolutely did not mean “let’s do the laundry again,” though that’s how adulthood interprets it now.

3. “Love Rollercoaster” by Ohio Players. Proof that in 1976, even romance required seatbelts and a height requirement.

4. “I Write the Songs” by Barry Manilow. Barry, sweetheart, you didn’t write this one — but we admire the confidence. (The song was written by Bruce Johnson, a member of the Beach Boys.)

5. “Fly, Robin, Fly” by Silver Convention. Three words. That’s it. That’s the whole lyrical budget. And somehow it still slaps.

6. “Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To)” by Diana Ross. A song that asks the same question adulthood does every morning before coffee.

7. “Fox on the Run” by Sweet. For when you want glam rock but also need to be home by 9.

8. “That’s the Way (I Like It)”by KC & The Sunshine Band. Disco’s answer to “don’t overthink it.”

9. “Convoy” — C.W. McCall. A novelty CB‑radio trucker anthem that somehow became a national mood. America was weird, and honestly, charming. What happened to us?

10. “Eighteen With a Bullet” by Pete Wingfield. A song title that sounds like a crime drama but is actually about chart positions. The 70s were nothing if not dramatic.

11. “Nights on Broadway” by Bee Gees. Falsetto so sharp it could slice bread. Also the soundtrack to at least three unwise romantic decisions.

12. “Sky High” by Jigsaw. A breakup song disguised as a motivational poster. You think it’s uplifting until you listen to the lyrics.

13. “Over My Head” by Fleetwood Mac. Christine McVie quietly carrying the entire emotional weight of the decade, as usual. My favorite on this list, although I like "I Write the Songs," "Theme from Mahagony," and "That's the Way," too. Just not as much. It's hard to beat Fleetwood Mac when it comes to songs and bands I enjoy.

*An AI tool helped me create this list, mostly because you can't get away from the things in a search now.*

 _________________

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 941st time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

The Acreage of Unsaid Things

The Acreage of Unsaid Things

By A. Firebaugh

She stands at the worn and weathered door,

fingers resting on faded wood.

The world beyond is dusk and shadow,

but her eyes drift across years and fields.

A brother's laughter drifts back,

high and bright,

echoing off the walls that once held

their games and arguments,

their whispered plans to swim in the creek,

to play hide and seek in the building near the spring house.

When she squints, she can still see them --

Ghost-children barefoot in the front yard,

sitting side by side on the porch swing,

daring one another to make it go high and fast.

In the stillness of the evening,

at the edge of her land,

she whispers to the night:

"I am still here, waiting where you left me."

Who Pays Again?

I was looking at an item I was thinking of purchasing, and I wrote the seller, who is in the United Kingdom, to ask about shipping fees. The person could not give me a quote.

"Thanks for your message.

Yes, shipping will be from the UK. Unfortunately, we are not told about the tariff charges. Once the item has been shipped, DHL will be in contact regarding the payment of these tariffs. We are advising our customers to check their government website under importing goods.

Thanks,"

I looked up the item at some place called flexport and it looks like the tariff on this $400 item would add an additional $104 on top of the regular shipping fees from the company.

COST BREAKDOWN

Base cost: $400

Total duties: $69

Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF): $1

Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF): $34

Landed Cost: $504 (plus seller shipping fees)

And I would be paying that. Not some corporation. Me.

Don't let certain people fool you when they say you and I aren't paying the tariffs. We are. They know it. If you're buying direct from overseas, expect surprises on your bill. Ask first if you can and walk away if answers are vague. That's what I am doing.

***

I also looked at this website, tariffcheck.org for the UK imports, and this whole tariff business is such a FUBAR I don't think anyone actually knows what is what.

The only government website that came up is so messed up that I just looked at it briefly and moved on. What I wanted to buy is not worth wading through pages and pages of BS to try to figure out a final cost.

Sunday Stealing

Questions to Answer when You Need a Break 

1. What would you rather be doing right now?

A. I'm doing exactly what I want to be doing.

2. What is always on your grocery list?

A. Chicken.

3. Have you ever used a fire extinguisher for its intended purpose?

A. I have never used a fire extinguisher for anything.

4. How many times did you text yesterday?

A. A couple. I don't text a lot.

5. Would you prefer a slow-paced, relaxing vacation or one filled with new sights and experiences?

A. We like to go to one place and hang out and learn about the area. Visit the tourist traps and find out which restaurant the locals really like, that sort of thing. We are not travelers who flit from motel to motel, bouncing around without actually seeing where we are.

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.

Saturday 9: New Year's Day

Saturday 9: New Year's Day (2017)

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

Welcome to the first Saturday 9 of 2026.
 

1) In the lyrics, Taylor Swift promises she'll not only be there for the party, but for the clean up afterward. As we say move on from the holiday season, could your home benefit from a thorough cleaning?

A. I'm pretty sure most homes could benefit from a "thorough" cleaning. Mine is as clean as I can keep it. It's a little cluttered in two rooms because it's a small space, but that's clutter, not dirt. A thorough cleaning, by my definition, would involve completely emptying a room, cleaning it, and then cleaning everything as it is put back. I daresay most people don't do that, and while I did it a few times when I was younger, there is no way I could do it now.

2) This song describes a party where guests took Polaroid pictures. Have you ever owned a Polaroid camera? Do you have one now?

A. I remember my family of origin having a Polaroid, but I have never had one myself.

3) Taylor sings that we should "hold on to memories." What special memory from 2025 will you hang onto?

A. This is the year I actually retired, if you can call continuing to keep the books for the farm and my husband's septic installation business "retired." Mostly, I retired from freelancing and trying to make money with my writing. I guess that's a good memory to hold onto.
 
4) Taylor Swift grew up on a Christmas tree farm in Pennsylvania. Have you taken your tree, or other holiday decorations, down yet? If you didn't decorate at all, let us know that, too.

A. My holiday decorations went back into the closet on New Year's Eve.

5) Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announced their engagement, but no wedding date has been shared. Do you anticipate attending any weddings in 2026?

A. I do not anticipate attending any weddings in 2026.

6) Travis' team, the Kansas City Chiefs, is currently 6-10. Not exactly the record their fans hoped for. According to a 2024 Pew research study, 53% of Americans said football is their favorite sport. Have you watched much football this season? 

A. I watched bits and pieces of college games, but not enough to mention, really. We always root for University of Virginia, mostly because everyone else around here roots for Virginia Tech.
 
7) In 2017, when "New Year's Day" was released, Wonder Woman was a hit at the box office. While Wonder Woman's superhero abilities vary depending on which TV show, movie or comic book you refer to, some of her powers remain consistent: a) immense strength, b) superhuman speed, c) the ability to almost instantly recover/heal from injury. Which would you like to possess – a, b, or c?

A. C, for sure. Being able to recover from a stubbed, broken toe and barely feel it? That would be terrific.

8) Have you made any New Year's resolutions for 2026?

A. I don't make New Year's resolutions anymore. I set a few goals, but they are private.
 
9) What was the first thing to make you laugh in 2026?

A. Alexa made me laugh with her reaction to my request to help me build a shrinking ray gun so I could go around and make people the size of atoms. At first, she thought I said, "shrieking ray gun" and she was confused as to why I would want that. And no, she can't build a shrinking ray gun. Or a weather control machine, or a time machine. She also can't build a transporter. Yes, I have asked. I ask her silly things all the time.

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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. 

 

Thursday Thirteen

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

1. Some years, January 1 shows up warm enough to open a window, the kind of day that tricks you into thinking winter might be gentler this time.

2. Other years it arrives with frozen pipes and that first “we made it through the night” cup of coffee, the one that feels like a small victory.

3. It’s usually the quietest morning of the year. There is little traffic, no deliveries, just birds reclaiming the soundscape.

4. Out here, the calendar doesn’t impress the animals. January 1 still means feed buckets, hay bales, and the same routines as yesterday.

5. The empty mailbox is its own kind of holiday. No bills, no flyers, no demands. Just a metal box taking the day off.

6. It’s the day when people either take down the Christmas tree or decide they don’t have the emotional bandwidth for that yet.

7. Leftovers become the whole menu, and sometimes they’re better than the original meal — the flavors settling into themselves overnight.

8. A lot of households do a deep clean, not because of resolutions but because clearing a surface feels like clearing a mind.

9. Even laundry feels different on January 1. It can be more like a ritual of renewal than a chore.

10. There’s something about writing the first date in a new calendar that makes the year feel both wide open and slightly intimidating.

11. TV marathons take over the day, the familiar comfort of parades and old shows filling the background like a soft landing.

12. Gyms unleash their loudest ads, but most people stay home, at least for this day.

13. Newspapers run their “Year in Review.” I always enjoyed writing these - it was fun to look back at the stories I had written and see what was important to the community throughout the year.