Saturday 9: Cupid

Saturday 9: Cupid (1961)

 

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

 

1) In this song, Sam Cooke enlists the help of Cupid, the Roman god of love, to help him get a girl. In Greek mythology, the god of love and lust has a different name. Do you know what it is?

A. Eros, I think. I am disturbed that I am not sure because I once was a whiz at Greek mythology, about 50 years ago.

 

2) Sam Cooke was inducted as a charter member into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The museum and hall are located in Cleveland, OH. Cleveland is proud of the six major museums featured on its website. When did you most recently visit a museum?

A. I visited the local history museum last. It was months ago.

3) Sam went to Wendall Phillips Academy, the same Chicago high school Nat King Cole attended. Can your high school claim any noteworthy alums?

A. Nobody comes to mind.

4) "Cupid" was released in 1961. One of the major news stories of that year was the death of Ernest Hemingway. Have you read any of his works?

A. I have, but it has been a long time (like college). 

  

Since February 14 was Valentine's Day...

 

5) Sweethearts, those small heart-shaped candies printed with messages like "Be Mine" and "Kiss Me," are top sellers this time of year. Did you enjoy them as a child? Do you enjoy them now?

A. I always liked them and would eat a box of them, but I haven't been in the store to buy any.

 

6) While Valentine's Day is popular in Mexico, it's celebrated a bit differently than it is here. For our neighbors to the south, it's a day for love and friendship, with no distinction between romantic, familial or platonic love. Do you tell your friends you love them? Or do you reserve "I love you" for your partner and family?

A. I tell my friends I love them. I don't think it's something you shouldn't say if you feel it.

7) In Poland, Valentine's Day, or Walentynki, is often celebrated with a gift of "tea and sweets" -- a tin of black tea paired with candy. Do you more often drink tea or coffee?

A. I never drank coffee. I used to drink tea.

 

8) One of London's top accounting firms did a study and reports that in England, Valentine's Day is a 52%/48% affair. 52% of the participants planned on buying at least one card or gift, while 48% did not expect to spend anything on Valentine's Day. This year, were you one of the 52% or the 48%?

A. I was one of the 48%, but my husband was one of the 52%. Since I'd been sick and then we had ice and snow, I was not able to get out to purchase him anything.

9) A similar study in Rome showed that today's young lovers would prefer to share a romantic experience on Valentine's Day – a stroll through the gardens of Villa Borghese was a popular choice – than exchange gifts. Would you rather do something memorable for Valentine's Day or receive something you can retain as a keepsake?

A. I would just as soon not do anything at all, to be honest. It's a made-up holiday.

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Saturday 9: But Beautiful

Saturday 9: But Beautiful (1947)

   

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

 

1) The lyrics encourage us to take a chance on love. What's something you've done recently that took you outside your comfort zone? How did it turn out?

A. I made phone calls to my congress people. I do not like to do this; it makes me very uncomfortable. Even using a script, I did not manage it well. In fact, I told one of my senators to "grow a pair" and do something to stop the steal. It has gotten a little easier with successive calls, but it is not at all something I am comfortable doing.

 

2) Bing Crosby introduced "But Beautiful" in the 1947 film, Road to Rio. Name another movie song that became a hit.

A. Hopelessly Devoted to You, by Olivia Newton John, from Grease.

 

3) Bing's leading lady in Road to Rio was Dorothy Lamour. When she was a teenager, she worked as an elevator operator. With the advent of user-operated/push-button elevators, few elevator operator jobs remain. What's another job that was once commonplace, but has virtually disappeared?

A. Secretary. I don't know of anyone who is a secretary anymore.

 

4) Road to Rio was one of seven Road movies Bing Crosby and Bob Hope made together. They were one the most financially successful comedy teams in history. What movie or TV show always makes you laugh?

A. We watch reruns of The Big Bang Theory a lot.

5) Crosby's given name was Harry but he acquired the nickname "Bing" because as a kid he was a fan of a comic strip character named "Bingo." As a child, did you read the newspaper?

A. I began reading the newspaper when I was four years old, and I still read the newspaper. I'm not sure I understand it any better at 61 than I did at 4.

 

6) His 1942 version of "White Christmas" is still one of the best-selling records of all time. He was a movie star, nominated three times for the Oscar, winning once. Can you name another performer who has been successful both acting and singing?

A. Dolly Parton.

7) Bing loved golf and enjoyed traveling the world, playing at different courses. If today you were to receive an airline ticket to any city in the world, what destination would you choose? What would you be certain to see/do there?

A. I would go to Paris. I have been there once, when I was a teenager, and I would love to go back to the Louvre and see the magnificent art there again. I also would like to tour the countryside and see the repairs to Notre Dame.

8) In 1947, when "But Beautiful" was a hit, Farrah Fawcett was born. She became famous for her bathing suit poster, her blonde hair, and a 70s TV show. Without looking it up, do you know the name of that television series?

A. Charlie's Angels. It also starred Jacquelyn Smith and Kate Jackson. Kate Jackson was my favorite.

9) Random question -- Are you someone who makes things happen, or someone things happen to?

A. When I worked for the newspaper, I made a lot of things happen that no one knew about. I liked to do it quietly. Now that I mostly just stay at home, I guess I am someone things happen to.

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Saturday 9: Rikki, Don't Lose That Number

Saturday 9: Rikki, Don't Lose That Number (1974)

   

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

 

 

1) In this song, a man asks a girl to spend more time with him and suggests they go out for a ride together. Do you ever take a leisurely drive, just for relaxation and pleasure? Or do you always have a destination in mind when you get behind the wheel?

A. Occasionally I take a drive to nowhere, but not often. I did it more when I was a teenager than after I married. I usually have a destination now.

 

2) He repeatedly suggests that she could have a change of heart. What's something you've changed your mind about recently?

A. I used to think there had to be a bottom low. Now I think there is no bottom.

3) This week's featured artists are the duo Steely Dan. They earned the reputation as perfectionists, requiring take after take in the studio until they got their sound just right. Do you consider yourself a perfectionist? Or do you more often find that "good enough is good enough?"

A. I tend to be a perfectionist. Sometimes I finally say, "OK, this is good enough," but more often than not, I am still trying to get it right, whatever that is.

 

4) The Rikki of the title is a writer/poet who met Steely Dan's Donald Fagan when they were both students at Bard College. He had a crush on her and gave her his number, which she refused to call because she was married. She went on to teach in the English Department at the University of Denver, where her students would probably be surprised to learn she was the inspiration for a famous song. Is there something we would be surprised to learn about you?

A. Yes, but I am not going to tell you what it is. There are reasons why you don't know it already.

5) Another woman who played a role in Steely Dan's success is Barbra Streisand. She recorded one of their early songs, "I Mean to Shine," for her 1971 album, Barbra Joan Streisand. It was her thirteenth album and though 13 is often considered unlucky, it reached #11 on the Billboard charts and was certified as a gold record. Do you have a lucky number?

A. I do not have a lucky number, although if I were to choose one, I think I'd choose the number 8, because if you place it on its side, it is the infinity symbol.

 

6) In 1974, when this song was a hit, The Magic 8 Ball was still a top-seller at toy stores. It retailed for just $1.99 and promised that all you had to do was gaze at it, concentrate, and wait to learn your fate ... "if you dare!" If you could get an answer to one question about the future, what would you ask?

A. "Will everything be OK?"

7) Also in 1974, Good Times premiered, and the character JJ (played by Jimmy Walker) became a sensation with the catchphrase "Dy-no-mite!" What's another phrase that is forever connected to a TV character?

A. "Live long and prosper." - Spock from Star Trek.

8) 1974 was the year Barry Manilow became a household name with his first major hit, "Mandy." Do you have a favorite Barry Manilow song?

A. I actually like Barry Manilow. Mandy was one of the first songs I learned on the guitar. But I think I Write the Songs may be my favorite.

9) Random question: Imagine a beautiful little church on a hillside. Quiet, with stained glass and lovely pews. Well-maintained grounds with plenty of parking nearby. Seats 150. Perfect for a wedding ... or a funeral, because it's located in a cemetery. Would you consider getting married at a cemetery?

A. I would. I wanted to be married in the woods wearing blue jeans, but that didn't happen. A cemetery would be just as good.

 

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Saturday 9: Summer Song

Saturday 9: A Summer Song (1964)

   

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

 

1) Are you enjoying winter? Or do you daydream about summer?

A. I am not enjoying winter. I have been sick most of January and I am not a fan of the cold weather. I don't like the extreme heat of summer, either, but I can deal with that better than these cold, brittle windy days.

 

2) In this week's song, trees sway in the breeze. Is it windy where you are today?

A. It is fairly calm as I write this.

3) There's rain outside their window. Have you more recently seen rain or snow?

A. We have had snow. We are still in a drought even if the government won't acknowledge it.

4) This week's artists are the duo Chad and Jeremy. As a teen, Chad Stuart was very versatile in the arts. While he enjoyed drawing, he showed real promise in music and won a scholarship to London's Central School of Speech and Drama. When you were a teenager, what were your best classes? 

A. English, history, civics/government. I made As in all of my classes except Phys ed, including Algebra and Trig, wherein I loved my teacher, but I did not consider them my best classes. 

5) Between 1965 and 1966, Chad and Jeremy played British pop stars on a variety of American TV shows, including The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Patty Duke Show, and Batman. Which of those series do you remember?

A. Nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah Batman!

 

6) While those TV appearances were good for the duo's record sales, they sowed the seeds of dissent between the friends. Jeremy Clyde realized he enjoyed acting far more than music and began threatening to leave the act. Chad finally got tired of dissuading him. Between Jeremy's dramatic aspirations and contract disputes, they broke up. Later they both admitted they regretted the split, but as Chad said, "we were just kids." Is there an old friend you've drifted away from but miss?

A. There are many people I no longer know whom I miss sometimes, but they don't seem to miss me, so I try not to think about them. The people who are important in my life are here.

7) In 1964, when "A Summer Song" was popular, the #1 movie in the country was Mary Poppins. Have you seen it?

A. I have seen Mary Poppins.

8) One of the biggest news stories of 1964 was Elizabeth Taylor's wedding to Richard Burton. The bride wore yellow, with yellow and white flowers in her hair. The groom wore a dark suit, red tie and yellow boutonniere. What did you wear last time you got dressed up?

A. The last time I dressed up I wore blue pants and a nice top. That's about as dressed up as I get.

9) Random question: When you're in the backseat, do you wear a seatbelt?

A. I do not sit in the backseat because I get carsick, but if I did, I would wear a seatbelt.

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Saturday 9: Careless Whisper

Saturday 9: Careless Whisper (1985)

    

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

 

 

1) In this week's song, George Michael sings that, when it comes to relationships, "there's no comfort in the truth." Have you ever learned something about a friend, lover or relative that you wish you didn't know?

A. OMG yes. I learned something about my dearest friend not less than a month after she died that I wish I had never, ever learned. Because I loved her, I will not repeat it. But I sure wish I didn't know it.

2) Though this was the top song of 1985, George wrote it years before, when he was still working as a dj at a restaurant outside London. He recalled the moment the sax solo popped into his head. It was while he was on the bus on his way to work. If you go to work, how do you get there (car, bus, train, etc.)? If you don't work outside the home, tell us about a trip you make regularly.

A. I regularly go to the grocery store. I drive by car, in my Toyota Camry, and it takes me as long to drive to the store as it does to get the groceries, then I drive back and put them away. It's exciting!

 

3) The video for this song was very expensive. It was filmed on location all around Miami, including the luxury Grove Towers Condominiums, but then much of it had to be reshot because George didn't like his hair. Are you having a good hair day today?

A. I could use a cut but I've been sick for two weeks and still am sick, so I don't look for that to be happening soon.

4) 1985 was a big year for George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. As Wham! they had three songs on the charts and became the first Western pop music act to tour China. Have you ever visited China? Would you like to go?

A. I have not visited China. It would be an interesting place to visit, if I had a good tour guide and/or group to go with. I would prefer to have gone when I was younger, though.

 

5) When he wasn't working, George was a creature of habit. For example, he never tired of Cocoa Puffs for breakfast and roast chicken for Sunday dinner. Is there a menu item you find yourself eating again and again?

A. I eat a mix of plain Cheerios and Honey Nut Cheerios for breakfast almost every day. The calories are the same, but the carbs are lower that way. I do not eat my cereal with milk or anything; I eat it dry. We also eat a lot of "chicken and a vegetable" for dinner.

6) George enjoyed living quietly in Highgate, North London. It wasn't until after his death that his neighbors learned he was the "anonymous resident" who had been funding Highgate's Fair in the Square for years. Held in June each year, The Fair is known for its dog show, arts and crafts booths, music and food. Tell us about one of your community's annual events.

A. They have a festival in Fincastle in September every year. It used to be a huge affair - the streets so clogged with vendors and buyers that you could scarcely move. Thousands of people. Then it started dwindling, died off for a few years, and was resurrected into a much smaller venue than it used to be. It's actually kind of pitiful now, but maybe that's only because I had to go to it every year for years to take photos for the newspaper and have the memories of what it used to be lodged into my eye.

 

7) According to Car and Driver, when "Careless Whisper" was popular, so was the Chevy Cavalier, a compact car. Nearly 40 years later, the vehicle landscape is very different. There are fewer compacts sold and last year, the most popular Chevy was the Silverado, a light duty truck. Do you drive a car, a truck, or an SUV?

A. I drive a car. My husband has a truck.

8) Also in 1985, Bill Shoemaker's earnings reached $100 million, making him the world's most successful jockey. Do you follow horse racing?

A. I watch the Triple Crown races sometimes, but it is not something I make a point of doing. I liked the movie Secretariat.

9) Random question -- In which race would you do better: the Iditarod, with sled dogs in Nome, or speeding in a race car at the Indy 500?

A. When I was younger, my husband (and other members of my family) used to call me "AJ" as in AJ Foyt, so I guess the Indy 500. I used to have a very heavy foot where the gas was concerned, but I am older now and don't drive quite so fast and recklessly as I once did.

Sometimes when I write the answers to these questions, I wonder where that woman has gone.

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Saturday 9: Calendar Girl

Saturday 9: Calendar Girl (1960)
    
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
 
1) How will you keep track of your days/weeks in 2025? Do you have a desk planner? A wall calendar? A pocket planner? Do you use the app on your phone?

A. I use the calendar in Outlook 2007, then print out a month to see what I have going on. I also have a wall calendar by my computer, but that's mostly so I can look at it and know what day it is, and because I like the pictures.

2) Consider your typical week. Which day tends to be your busiest?

A. Saturdays tend to be busy because that's the day I change the bed linens and do other major household tasks.
 
3) This week's artist, Neil Sedaka, is one of pop music's most prolific singer-songwriters, but his first love was classical music. He was so good that he trained at Julliard and won the accolade, "Best New York High School Pianist." Recall one of your passions from your high school years.

A. My passions in high school were about the same as my passions now: writing, reading, and music.

4) Elton John has always enjoyed Sedaka's music and in the 1970s, when Elton was one of the world's top stars, he requested a meeting. If you had the power to contact and then meet anyone in the world, who would you choose?

A. I would choose Margaret Atwood. She certainly seems to have her hands on what's going on and may or may not happen as far as dystopian futures. I like her writing and it would be interesting to learn about her work habits and see how her mind comes up with the stories.

5) Sedaka appeared as the musical guest during the second season of Saturday Night Live. What's the most recent show you watched on TV? Was it live, from your dvr, or did you stream it?

A. The most recent show I watched was from a DVD, and it was Season 5, episodes 1-3 of The West Wing. The West Wing was on Max, but at midnight on January 1, it disappeared, and we were in Season 4. So we bought the DVD set, it arrived, and we started watching it. On Wednesday, I learned that Max brought West Wing back (must've had a LOT of complaints), but by then we had the DVD set and had opened it. I suppose I could have tried to return it but I am not that way. Besides, we still don't have fiber internet and we had a lot of buffering. No buffering on a DVD.

6) His daughter Dara sings on TV and radio commercials. What advertising jingle sticks in your head?

A. The drummers go boom boom! The trombones go zoom zoom! And everybody shouts hooray for Valley Dale! Hooray for Valley Dale all hail it's Valley Dale! Valley Dale sausage! Valley Dale bacon! Valley Dale weiners! Zing zing zing Valley Dale! Hooray for Valley Dale all hail it's Valley Dale.

Valley Dale was a local meat packager in my youth. I don't know if they are still in business. I also don't have the words right.

 
7) In 1960, when "Calendar Girl" was popular, To Kill a Mockingbird was first published. Have you read it?

A. I have read To Kill a Mockingbird a couple of times, but it has been a while since I last read it.

8) Also in 1960, John F. Kennedy, Jr. was baptized in the Georgetown University Chapel. His godparents were Charles and Martha Bartlett, the couple who introduced his famous parents. Do you have any godchildren?

A. I do not have godchildren.

9) Random question -- Which did you enjoy more: the last week of 2024 or the first week of 2025?

A. I would say I enjoyed the last week of 2024 more, because we both hadn't quite come down with the crud that January brought us.

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Saturday 9: Something New

Saturday 9: Something New (2017)

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

Welcome to the first Saturday 9 of 2025.

1) We're beginning the year with a song about new beginnings. What is something new you'd like to try in 2025?

A. I'd like to find a new massage therapist. Mine retired.

2) The lyrics recall what was said "in the mist of the midnight hour." Where were you when the new year dawned?

A. I was in bed when the clock rolled over. 

3) The Axwell of Axwell and Ingrosso is Axel Hedfors. He began as a drummer and moved on to experimenting musically on the computer, eventually mastering music sequencer software. Do you consider yourself more a technophile like Axwell, who loves technology and digital devices, or more a technophobe, anxious about learning new programs?

A. I enjoy learning new devices and such, but also dislike having to relearn a program I should already know (like a new incarnation of MS Word), so perhaps a cross between the two.

4) His musical partner is Sebastian Ingrosso. Sebastian became interested in dance music when he accompanied his father, a choreographer, to the studio. When you were young, did you ever go to work with either of your parents?

A. I remember my father taking me and my brother with him on some sales call. School was out for some reason and apparently there was no one to keep us; we were quite young. Mostly I remember it was a long ride in mountainous country and my father was not happy we were along for the ride.

5) Axwell & Ingrosso gave their premiere performance at the 2014 Governors Ball Music Festival in New York City and their last concert at the 2017 Ultra Music Fest in Miami. Looking back on 2024, did you attend any outdoor music or theater performances?

A. I did not attend any performances.

6) In 2017, when "Something New" was released, we lost the TV star who could "turn the world on with her smile." Without looking it up, do you know who that is?

A. That would have been Mary Tyler Moore, right?

7) Also in 2017, Today Show anchor Hoda Kotb announced she had adopted her first child. Do you know anyone who is adding to their family in 2025?

A. I do not know of anyone who adding to their family in the upcoming year.

8) Have you made any New Year's resolutions for 2025?

A. I do not make New Year's resolutions, but I have set some small goals, which you can read here.

9) What was the first thing to make you laugh in 2025?

A. I'm not sure that's happened yet.

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Saturday 9: Goodbye

Saturday 9: Goodbye (1969)

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

This song was chosen because it's time to say goodbye to 2024. Thanks for participating in Saturday 9 this year.

1) In this song, Mary Hopkin asks her lover not to let her sleep too late. Did you wake up this morning on your own, did someone wake you, or were you jangled awake by an alarm clock?

A. I was awakened by my husband's alarm clock. I got up, he did not.

2) The lyrics reference "a lonely song." Can you name a song about loneliness?

A. "She's Leaving Home," from the Sergeant Pepper Lonely Hearts Club album by the Beatles.

3) "Goodbye" was written for Mary by Paul McCartney. He was the one who signed her to her first record contract and produced this and all her Apple Records, including her first big hit, "Those Were the Days." Looking back on 2024, who is someone who gave you a helping hand when you needed it?

A. Oh, my friend Teresa definitely helped me out many times.

4) This video shows Mary performing on The Ed Sullivan Show while wearing a miniskirt. Minis were very popular in 1969. Did you embrace a fashion trend in 2024?

A. I never embrace fashion trends. I wouldn't know a fashion trend if it came up to me and recited the entire 12 hours of the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy to me.

5) Also in 1969, the Colts lost to the New York Jets in Super Bowl III. The game is famous because of all the hype leading up to it, including Joe Namath "guaranteeing" the underdog Jets would win. Do you have a special sports memory of 2024?

A. I enjoyed watching Caitlyn Clark play first college basketball and then in the WNBA. She was a joy to watch.

6) What's the farthest from home you traveled in 2024?

A. I doubt I went 100 miles from home. I don't recall any special trips to anywhere. We haven't been on a vacation in years.

7) What was the biggest purchase that you made in 2024?

A. We didn't make a purchase, but had a very expensive tractor repair.

8) What was your favorite book of 2024?

A. Nonfiction: Democracy Awakening, by Heather Cox Richardson. Fiction: Thornhedge, by T. Kingfisher.

9) What are you looking forward to most in 2025?

A. To be honest, not much. Other than a possibility I may actually obtain fiber internet and rid myself of DSL, there aren't many things on the horizon.

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Saturday 9: Happy Holidays

SATURDAY 9: HAPPY HOLIDAYS

From the archives

1. If you could ask Santa for anything at all, right now, what would it be?

A. I would ask him for better health and peace of mind. I'm not looking forward to the angst I fear will be coming in the new year.

2. Are you currently on the Naughty or Nice list? How did you get there?

A. I hope I am on the Nice list. I have not done anything mean to anyone, aside from occasionally yelling at my husband, but he deserved it. But I could be on the Naughty list because I did mess up one time this year and lost it with someone I should not have.

3. Are you traveling this Christmas? If so, are you going by car, plane or train?

A. I am not traveling.

4. Did you ship any gifts to friends and family this year? If yes, which one traveled the farthest?

A. If having something shipped from Amazon UK to my friend who lives in the UK counts, then that one. At least, it was the furthest from me.

5. Did you buy yourself a gift this year?

A. No, but I know what I am getting so I may as well have.

6. Which do you prefer: candy canes or gingerbread?

A. Gingerbread.

7. Close your eyes and tell us the first carol that comes to mind.

A. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

8. What's your favorite winter beverage?

A. Hot water. I used to like cider and hot chocolate, but I don't drink anything but water now.

9. Share a memory from last Christmas.

A. We had an exposure to Covid, but no one but the person with Covid became ill. 

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Saturday 9: I Wouldn't Trade Christmas

Saturday 9: I Wouldn't Trade Christmas (1968)

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

  

1) In addition to Christmas, this song name-checks many major holidays, including Mother's and Father's Day, Thanksgiving, Halloween and Valentine's Day. Which holiday is your favorite?

A. I have always liked Halloween even though I do nothing to celebrate it. Old people's Christmas is not as much fun as young people's Christmas, I must say.

 

2) The Sinatra family posed in all-white for this album cover in August 1968. Are there any pictures of you and your siblings in matching outfits?

A. Not that I am aware of.

3) Nancy is the oldest of the Sinatra children. She's also the one who performed most often on TV and film with her famous father. She played his daughter (of course!) in a movie and appeared in two of his TV specials while he appeared in one of hers. In 1967, she and Frank scored a #1 single with a duet of "Somethin' Stupid." Have you ever worked with a family member or spouse?

A. My spouse and I farm. He does the labor, and I do the bookkeeping (and I am not very good at it, though I eventually get it right). I also worked for a short while with my father, but it was quite obvious that wasn't going to work.

 

4) Frank, Jr., was the middle child and only son. A dedicated musician, he labored in his father's long shadow and joked that he would have had an easier time if he'd chosen real estate instead of music. Tell us about your path not taken. (Examples: A career you wish you'd pursued but didn't; a person you could have married but didn't; a city you almost moved to but changed your mind.)

A. I could have been a musician. My parents wanted me to study music, but I chose not to. I did not think I was that good of a musician and I stand by that belief. I did ok with music, but I was nothing special. I should have been a college professor, that's what I should have been. Oh well.

 

5) Unlike her father and siblings, Tina Sinatra never wanted to be a singer. She found success as a theatrical agent and, at her father's request, became involved with his business affairs. Today she helps manage the rights to Frank Sinatra's movies and music. Do you have a good head for business?

A. My head for business is better than some. However, it is not as good as my father's, for example, and probably my brother's. I've never had that drive for money that business people seem to need.

6) Nancy and Frank, Jr., were born in Jersey City. By the time Tina was born, the family had relocated to Los Angeles. Did your family move around a lot when you were young?

A. My family moved a few times when I was young, but I would not call it a lot. We moved 4 times, only 3 of which I remember. I think that's right.

And now, in the spirit of the season ...

 

7) Do you consider snow globes a holiday decoration, or do think they should be displayed all year around?

A. I have never thought about it. I have my Department 56 Christmas buildings out year-round, so I don't see why a snow globe couldn't be out all year.

8) Which of Dickens' Christmas ghosts would you most enjoy spending time with: past, present or future?

A. I think I would most enjoy spending time with the ghost of the future, if we could get beyond the grave part and she would show me what the world would be like in 20-30  years.

9) Have you crafted, cooked, or baked any gifts this holiday season?

A. I have not. I may bake some this weekend, but we shall see how it goes. Mostly I make candy, and it doesn't freeze well. I could make a cake or brownies and freeze them until I need them, but I generally don't do that. (Actually, I haven't planned out what I am doing for my annual Christmas Eve gathering, so who knows what will appear on the table.)

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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 9: Hurt So Bad

Saturday 9: Hurt So Bad (1980)

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

1) Do you have any aches or pains this morning?

A. I always have aches and pains, but I think most people over the age of 50 have a few, if they are honest.

2) In this song, Linda Ronstadt complains that her ex doesn't get what she's going through. Have you recently felt misunderstood?

A. Last Saturday, a Sat 9 regular posted a comment on another person's blog that I took as a personal slap. I felt very misunderstood then because it seemed aimed at me. I was so hurt that I considered not doing Saturday 9 anymore because the commenter obviously has no clue that I don't get groceries at Target or Walmart because they're a long drive away. But I have since moved on from it (mostly), since here I am doing Saturday 9.

3) Now let's put a positive spin on it: Is there someone in your life who gets you completely?

A. Yes, my friend Teresa gets me most of the time. She doesn't miss often, anyway.

4) Linda recorded a best-selling album in Spanish, and has also performed in French, German and Italian. How many languages do you speak?

A. Just English. I had several years of Spanish in high school, but I have forgotten it.

5) Linda once dated George Lucas of Star Wars fame. Who is your favorite Star Wars character?

A. I will go with Princess Leia, mostly because she was about the only woman in the early movies.

6) Steve Martin has spoken affectionately about Linda and their romance in the 1970s. Are you a Steve Martin fan?

A. It depends on what I am watching him in. My husband is big fan of his, though.

7) Linda worked consistently and successfully with record producer Peter Asher throughout the 70s and 80s. Tell us about someone you enjoyed working beside.

A. I enjoyed working beside my friend Leslie way back in the mid-1980s when we were working together at a law office. She was kind, pleasant, helpful, and understanding. We've remained friends all of this time. She is one of my oldest and dearest friends. We just don't see much of each other anymore.

8) In 1980, when this song was popular, People magazine named author Stephen King one of the year's most intriguing people. Have you read any of his books or short stories?

A. I have read several Stephen King books, but he is not a favorite author. I thought his book, On Writing, was very male oriented, although I seem to be the only one who did not find that a fascinating look at the way of the writer.

9) Random question: Looking back on last week, would you describe it as exciting or boring?

A. It was just another week. The cold weather moved in, we took my mother-in-law to dinner, I talked on the phone to family and friends. Christmas presents started arriving via USPS, UPS, and FedEx.

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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 9: Thank You

Saturday 9: Thank You (2000)

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

1) This week's song begins with Dido complaining about her day, but then she sees a photo of a loved one that reminds her "it's not so bad." What was the most recent photo you took?

A. The last picture I took was of my husband with his latest deer kill, and I will spare you all the photo of the hunter and his prize. And yes, the meat is used. We keep some, the rest is scattered around to the elderly neighbors who no longer hunt but like the meat.

2) She admits that between a hangover and her finances, she's got a headache. What's your go-to headache remedy?

A. I find that taking a hot shower generally helps my headaches, since they are frequently sinus related. The warm steam in the bath opens up my sinuses.

3) Though her given name is Florian, her family started calling her Dido when she was very young, so she considers it her "real" name. Which is not to say she likes it. She said being christened one name but called another was confusing when she was a little girl. Plus, since neither Florian nor Dido are common monikers, she didn't appreciate the way her names made her stand out at school. "I used to wish I'd been named Claire," she says. Do you like your name? Do you feel it suits you?

A. I also grew up with a name that was not the name I was given at birth. I dropped the nickname at school in the second grade, when the teacher refused to use it (thank you teacher), so lived a dual life. Only my father uses the nickname now because he is a control freak and refuses to use my given name. My brother sometimes slips, and people that my father introduces me to using the nickname sometimes forget to call me by my real name, though generally if I ask them to call me by my given name, they make an effort. As for whether or not my given name suits me, probably not. It means "grace" and I do not consider myself to be the most graceful of people.

4) In 2000, the year this week's song was on the charts, AOL merged with media giant Time Warner. In 2022 it was estimated 70% of us check our personal (not business) email daily. That's down from 74% in 2020. How often do you check your email?

A. At least twice a day.

5) "Thank You" is this week's song because November 28 was Thanksgiving. What are you thankful for this year?

A. I'm thankful for family and friends.

6) At the first Thanksgiving, there were no forks. Pilgrims ate with spoons and knives. How many forks were at your Thursday place setting?

A. There was only one fork on the place setting. We don't do fancy stuff like use multiple forks.

7) It's estimated that nearly 50 million pumpkin pies are baked for Thanksgiving. Was it on your Thursday menu?

A. There was a pumpkin pie at the Thanksgiving meal, but I did not eat any of it.

8) A recent poll revealed that we are a divided country, with cranberry sauce being named both most and least favorite Thanksgiving side dish. Where are you on this controversy?

A. I can take it or leave it. My husband likes the cranberry jelly that slides out of the can, so that is what we have.

9) The day after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday, the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season and sales. Walmart, Best Buy and Target all advertise heavily on Black Friday. If you could have a $100 gift card from one of those stores, which would you choose? What would you buy?

A. A $100 gift card doesn't go far these days, but I would take the Walmart one and purchase new towels. I don't buy towels at Target; the last time I did that, the colors ran out of them, so I avoid purchasing linens there.

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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 9: My Baby Just Cares for Me

Saturday 9: My Baby Just Cares for Me (2016)

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

1) Michael Buble sings that his lover doesn't care much about the theater or new clothes. Which have you done more recently -- attended a play or movie or added to your wardrobe?

A. I bought some clothes last weekend.

2) This song was first performed in 1930, 45 years before Buble was born. What pop song do you love that is far older than you are?

A. Well, 'tis the season, so I'll go with Bing's version of White Christmas.

3) The video for this song features a spinning vinyl record. Do you still have a turntable?

A. We do have a turntable! However, it is not old. It's one we bought about six years ago. It also plays CDs and cassettes.

4) Michael is currently appearing on The Voice. Are you watching this season?

A. Yes, we are watching The Voice.

5) Of all his albums, Michael Buble's Christmas CD is his top seller. Now that we're in the month of November it's time for you to weigh in: When do you think it's appropriate to start playing holiday songs?

A. I think it is appropriate to start playing them the day after Thanksgiving, but I know radio stations around here start playing at the first of the month.

6) He unwinds by fishing, and he's very good at it. Fishing is a sport that requires lots of gear. Is there anyone in your life that has a hobby or passion that makes them easy to shop for?

A. My husband hunts, so sometimes I can come up with something for that, but he generally has everything he needs now.

7) Michael is a good cook and enjoys whipping up spaghetti bolognese. What's on the menu at your home this weekend?

A. We are eating pork loin BBQ sandwiches this weekend.

8) In 2016, when Michael Buble released this song, the United States Postal Service posthumously honored child star Shirley Temple with a postage stamp. Decades after leaving Hollywood, she served as US Ambassador to Ghana. Could you find Ghana on a map or globe?

A. I honestly don't know. I know what continent it's on (Africa), but not sure exactly where.

9) Random question -- You neglected that soft drink and now it's gone flat. Do you drink it anyway or dump it down the drain?

A. I don't drink soft drinks, so moot question, but husband drinks them even if they are flat. I would not if I were still drinking such things.

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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.