Saturday 9: Eastbound and Down

 

Saturday 9: Eastbound and Down (1977)

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

1) This week's song was featured in the movie Smokey and the Bandit, the surprise box office hit of 1977. Have you seen it?

A. I have seen this movie, but it has been many years ago.

2) Though not well received by critics, Smokey and the Bandit had one very famous fan: Alfred Hitchcock. The classic film director enjoyed re-watching the movie on video at home, often while having dinner. Do you ever watch TV with your meal?

A. We generally watch the local news when we have dinner. We are farmers. We like to know what the weather people predict (even if it's the same "no rain" day after day after day).

3) Jerry Reed not only wrote and performed the movie's theme, he appeared in the movie as truck driver Cledus "Snowman" Snow. Have you ever driven, or ridden in, a big rig?

A. I have ridden in my husband's dump truck, but not a tractor trailer.

4) He sings, "We've got a long way to go and a short time to get there." Have you recently felt rushed?

A. I almost always feel rushed. I have to make sure to add time for backups on the interstate due to blasting when I am driving.

5) Director Hal Needham asked Jerry Reed for a song that explained the plot of the movie. He wrote this overnight and always considered it a happy accident. Can you think of a time when something turned out better than you expected?

A. My concert experience with Melissa Etheridge turned out much better than I expected, since I actually was able to hug her at the end of the show.

6) Reed was born in Atlanta and, coincidentally, he mentions Atlanta in the lyrics. Has your hometown been immortalized in song?

A. My hometown has not been immortalized in song, as far as I know. Virginia couldn't even settle on a state song for years. It used to be "Carry Me Back to Ol' Virginia," but that has racist overtones and was demoted to "state song emeritus" in 1997. In 2015, the state government representatives finally settled on a song called "Our Great Virginia," (which I personally have never heard, not once). It is sung to the tune of "Oh Shenandoah." The state government also recognized "Sweet Virginia Breeze" as the official popular state song in the same year.

7) Jerry met Priscilla Mitchell at Capitol Records, where Jerry was a session musician and Priscilla was backup singer. Though she was only 18 when they wed, it seems their union was a happy one, and they were together until his death almost 50 years later. If a newly engaged 18-year-old asked you for advice, what would you say?

A. I would tell that newly engaged 18-year-old to give back the ring and go out and live a little before making such a momentous decision. I married at 20 and that was too young.

8) In 1977, when "Eastbound and Down" was on the radio, nostalgia for the 1950s topped the TV ratings. The two most popular shows that year were Laverne & Shirley and Happy Days. If you magically transported back to the 1950s, what do you think you'd like about it? What do you think you'd miss about your life in 2026?

A. If I were transported back to the 1950s, I doubt there would be much I would like, except maybe chocolate milkshakes and jukeboxes. I think the 1950s are highly overrated. I would miss all of the rights women now have, like being able to open a bank account, have a credit card without a male cosigner, and being able to buy property. I would also miss color TV.

9) Random question: Were you ever afraid of monsters in your closet or under your bed?

A. I was not afraid of monsters in the closet or under my bed, but that is because I had a ghost that came and sat at the foot of my bed at night.

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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: Don't Take Your Love

 

Saturday 9: Don't Take Your Love from Me (1956)

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

1) In this song, Doris Day sings about what happens when you take a petal from a rose. When did you last get or give flowers as a gift?

A. I sent someone flowers a while back.

 

2) This song is about a woman who fears losing her love. What's the most recent thing you lost? (Hopefully it's not as consequential as a great love. It could be as small or unimportant as the back of one of your pierced earrings.) 

A. I lost hope. It weighs nothing but it's a heavy thing to lose.

 

3) Doris was known as The All-American Girl Next Door. Who lives next door to you?

A. I don't exactly have a next door, but the houses closest to me on each side are occupied by nice families, each with two children.

 

4) As a young girl, Doris Day was passionate about dance. She recalled that concentrating on her lessons helped distract her from the pain and embarrassment of her parents' divorce. When you want to escape from what's troubling you, what do you do?

A. I play loud rock music on my guitar or lose myself in a book.

5) The maître d' at one of Doris' favorite restaurants wanted to ask her out. Knowing how she loved her dogs, he impressed her by handing her a bag of meat scraps and bones to take home. They began dating and, in 1976, he became her last husband. What's the best way to your heart?

A. Well, it wouldn't be with meat scraps. Ick. I would require chocolate something and intelligent conversation.

 

6) Over her long career, Doris received Golden Globe and Grammy Awards and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She was also inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame, honored for being one of the most celebrated women to have been born there. Name a famous person born in your home state.

A. Ella Fitzgerald, the First Lady of Song and a jazz singer and songwriter, was born in Newport News, Virginia in 1917. 

 

7) She was frank about her financial difficulties, yet some people are uncomfortable discussing money. Are you one of those people?

A. I don't think my finances are anyone's business but my own.

8) In 1956, when Doris released this song, The Wizard of Oz was shown on network TV for the first time. What movie have you seen multiple times?

A. I have seen The Wizard of Oz many times. I've also seen The Lord of the Rings, Steel Magnolias, Under the Tuscan Sun, Practical Magic, and Grease multiple times. There are others, too, such as The Sound of Music, Dirty Dancing, and It's a Wonderful Life, that I've seen more than once.

9) Random question: Would you rather have a chef or a chauffeur?

A. I would rather have a chef. I absolutely do not like to cook.

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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: Clown

Saturday 9: Everybody Loves a Clown (1965)

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

1) Not everyone loves clowns. "Coulrophobia" is the irrational fear of clowns. Do you have any fears or phobias?

A. Not really. I'm not a fan of snakes but if I'm the only one home, I'll move it or dispose of it unless it's a poisonous one. Fortunately, we don't see them very often around the house. There's not a water source up here to attract them.

2) This week's featured artist, Gary Lewis, sings that he jokes a lot at parties. In social settings, are you more a talker or a listener?

A. I am more of a listener.

3) He's dreaming of a special girl. Do you often daydream?

A. I daydream quite a lot. Probably more than I should.

4) Gary named his band The Playboys because they were always late to rehearsals and Gary joked that they would rather play than work. Do you tend to be early, late, or exactly on time?

A. I am generally a little early.

5) Gary Lewis had first-hand knowledge of clowns. His father was famous funny man Jerry Lewis. Who always makes you laugh? 

A. My husband and my friends.

6) In 2017, Gary was in the news when it became known that Jerry disinherited all six of his sons from his will. Have you ever attended the reading of a will?

A. I used to work for a lawyer who occasionally did a "reading of a will" like one sees in TV, so yes, I have, but generally it isn't done the way you see it on TV. At least in my state, someone has the will, goes to the Circuit Court and qualifies as the executor of the estate, and sends out notices to potential heirs listed in the will.

7) This past summer found Gary Lewis on The My Generation Tour, performing with other acts from the mid-1960s, like The Lovin' Spoonful, The Hollies, and Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels. Do you enjoy listening to "the oldies?"

A. I listen to a lot of 1970s music, like Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, Bread, Linda Ronstadt, etc., so not quite as old as the mid-1960s, but old enough now.

8) In 1965, when this song was popular, Muhammad Ali defeated Sonny Liston to become the heavyweight champion of the world. Have you ever attended a boxing match?

A. I have never attended a boxing match.

9) Random question: What color is your toothbrush?

A. My electric toothbrush is solid white; my regular toothbrush is blue and white at the moment.

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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: Devil in the Bottle

Saturday 9: Devil in the Bottle (1974)

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

1) This song begins with T. G. Sheppard taking off his shoes to slip into the house with disturbing his sleeping wife. Are you wearing shoes as you answer these questions?

A. Yes. I always have shoes on. I have never liked being barefoot, even as a child.

2) His wife hears him anyway. Are you a light sleeper?

A. I am a light sleeper. I sleep with an air purifier on a high setting so I don't hear the refrigerator dump ice, or the dishwasher running, or whatever.

 

3) This is the first of 22 consecutive #1 hits for T. G. Sheppard. Not bad for a high school dropout. What's the last year of education that you completed?

A. I have a masters degree. I finished it in 2012.

 

4) He was born William Browder and chose the stage name T. G. Sheppard just because he liked the sound of it. He says "T. G." doesn't stand for anything, and he gets a kick out of fans who insist there's some secret meaning behind the initials. Since most of us didn't choose our names: Is there a story behind your name? Did your parents tell you why they chose it? (If you did choose your name, share what influenced your decision.)

A. My mother apparently liked my first name. I'm not sure where my middle name came from.

 

5) It was after hours at a Memphis roller rink when he first met Elvis and his entourage. As T. G. was leaving, Elvis was entering and asked if he wanted to stay and skate longer. T. G. was confused because he knew the place was closing for the night. "Not for me," Elvis replied and T. G. skated with Elvis and his buddies until dawn. Are you good on roller skates?

A. I'm not anymore. I was ok when I was a young thing, but that was many, many years ago.

6) T. G. loves NASCAR and was an associate sponsor of the Folgers Chevrolet. He enjoyed the collaboration with the coffee company and has performed the familiar jingle – "the best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup" – in concert. Are you loyal to a particular coffee brand?

A. I do not drink coffee. My husband drinks one cup a day, and I used to by him Maxwell House, but coffee's gotten so expensive that now I just buy him the cheapest brand. He says he can't tell the difference.

 

7) T. G. understands the lifestyle of his fans. That's why he named his live country music venue Guitars and Cadillacs. If you were going to name a business after two of your favorite things, what would you call it?

A. Books and Pens, I guess (for reading and writing). Maybe Pens and Books sounds better?

 

8) In 1974, when this week's song was on the country charts, Linda Ronstadt was getting a lot of radio airplay with "You're No Good." That song is about a real cad. Let's turn that around: Who is the nicest person you know?

A. I know a lot of nice people so I don't really want to call any of them out.

 

9) Random question: Have you ever had your palm read?

A. Yes, I had my palm read once at some kind of New Age fair thing. The guy was incredibly spot on, so much so that it was scary, and I flung $20 at him and got as far away from him as I reasonably could.

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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: Working in the Coal Mine

 

Working in the Coal Mine (1966)

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

1) In this song, Lee Dorsey sings that at 5:00 he's already on the job. What were you doing this morning at 5:00 AM?

A. I was sleeping. I usually get up between 6 and 6:30 a.m.

2) He's worked so hard all week that he's too tired to enjoy his weekend. What are you doing for fun this holiday weekend?

A. We aren't doing anything different as far as I know. 

3) Lee Dorsey was raised in Portland Oregon, home of the Portland Trailblazers. The NBA season kicks off next month. Do you have a favorite basketball team?

A. I root for the Indiana Fever in the WNBA.

 

4) This song was written by Allen Toussaint, who had a long career as a composer and producer. He produced Fats Domino in the late 1950s and worked with Elvis Costello and Paul McCartney into the new millennium. What job have you held the longest?

A. I started freelancing/stringing for newspapers in 1984 and stopped in 2024. As far as a job with a W-2, I don't think I stayed anywhere longer than two years.

 

5) In 1966, the year this song was popular, celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey was born. Are you a good cook?

A. I am a fan of not cooking. 

6) 1966 was the year when more Americans purchased color TVs and black and white sets. When you were a kid, did your family have a black and white TV?

A. As best I can remember, we had a color TV, but my very young years may have included a black and white TV.

7) Labor Day is a big weekend for mattress sales. Do you plan on buying a new mattress before the year is out?

A. We bought a new mattress back in May.

8) Though kids go back to class earlier these days, store aisles are still full of school supplies. When she was a little girl, Sam was crazy about her big box of 96 Crayola Crayons with a sharpener in the back. Share one of your back-to-school memories.

A. When I started second grade, the teacher informed my mother that she did not use nicknames. I had a family nickname at the time, but she refused to use it and called me by my given name. I am so grateful that she had that rule.

9) Labor Day weekend is the unofficial beginning of fall. Have you had any pumpkin spice yet?

A. I do not like pumpkin spice, Sam. I do not like it, Sam-I-Am.

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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: Animal Crackers

Saturday 9: Animal Crackers in My Soup (1935)

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

This month Saturday 9 will be tasty, featuring songs with food in the title.

1) Do you eat soup all year round, or do you consider it a seasonal dish?

A. I don't eat it often in summer. If I am sick, I might eat a bowl of chicken soup, but mostly I consider soup a fall through spring sort of meal.

2) Gazpacho is a popular cold soup. Made with water-rich tomatoes, cucumbers and bell peppers, it's considered a good choice for hot weather because it's hydrating. What are your favorite summertime foods?

A. I love watermelon. It's terribly expensive now, but it's one of my favorites. I am also partial to strawberries and blueberries.

3) This week, Shirley Temple sings of the delights of having crackers in her soup. How often do you add crackers to your soup: always, sometimes, never? 

A. Sometimes.

4) "Animal Crackers in My Soup" was the big musical number in the 1935 movie Curly Top. Shirley played Elizabeth, who helps her older sister find love with a handsome millionaire. Have you ever played matchmaker? If yes, were your efforts successful?

A. I don't recall ever playing matchmaker. 

5) Gertrude Temple, Shirley's mother, was her daughter's onset hairstylist, creating the famous "curly top" with pin curls. What's your hair care regimen? 

A. I wash my hair and blow it dry. If there are ends trying to turn me into the flying nun, I take a curling iron to them.

6) Bartenders are still called upon to create the non-alcoholic Shirley Temple, made with ginger ale, lemon-lime soda, and grenadine. What's the most recent alcoholic beverage you drank? 

A. I last had some blackberry wine in May 2012, at my last creative writing class at Hollins University. The teacher brought it in to celebrate the end of class and the fact that most of us in there were graduating with our masters degree that year.

7) In 1935, when this song was popular, Amelia Earhart flew from Honolulu to Oakland, California. Are you a nervous flyer?

A. I haven't been on a plane since 1993. I don't recall being especially nervous about it.

8) Also in 1935, The Hoover Dam was dedicated. Today it's a popular tourist attraction, with more than 7 million visitors each year. Have you ever been to Las Vegas?

A. I have been through Las Vegas. My parents drove through the city during a two-week round driving trip from Virginia to California. I don't remember if we stopped there.

9) Random question: You get a spur-of-the-moment invitation to a meal with your best friend. Could you go wearing what you have on right now?

A. No. I have on an old t-shirt that says, "Keepin' it Rural" and would have to change into a nicer shirt. This is just for wearing around the house.

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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. 

Saturday9: Shoo Fly Pie

Saturday 9: Shoo Fly Pie (and Apple Pan Dowdy) – 1946

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

This month Saturday 9 will be tasty, featuring songs with food in the title.

1) Shoo fly pie got its name from Shoo Fly the Boxing Mule. After the Civil War, the mule who could box was such a popular circus attraction that a molasses manufacturer started featuring him on their packaging. Since molasses is the key ingredient of this pie recipe, homemakers just began referring to it as "shoo fly pie." If we looked, would we find molasses in your kitchen?

A. I don't think so. I eat it sometimes but haven't bought any in a while.

2) Apple pan dowdy is another uniquely American recipe from the 19th century. It's like apple pie, except it only has a top crust, which is broken up. Apples are a good source of fiber, Vitamin C and antioxidants. Do you consider nutrition when choosing a dessert? Or are you just all about how it tastes?

A. Oh, who cares about nutrition? Just make sure it tastes good.

3) The lyrics describe these two desserts as the ultimate comfort foods, able to make "the sun come out when the heavens are cloudy." Do you find that the foods you crave change with your mood?

A. Sometimes.

4) Singer June Christy pleads with her mama to whip up this "wonderful stuff." Did your mother have a dish you often requested?

A. My mother did not, but my grandmother had a macaroni and cheese recipe that was vastly different from any I've ever tasted elsewhere.

5) June was born in Springfield, Illinois' capital. Have you been to your state's capital city?

A. I have been to my state's capital, yes. That would be Richmond.

6) June spent years singing with Stan Kenton's Orchestra. At one point, she gave 38 performances in 35 towns in 35 days. That's a busy schedule! Do you thrive on activity? Or do you find yourself rejuvenated by quiet time?

A. I prefer quiet time with some activity thrown in occasionally.

7) In 1946, when this record was popular, bikinis were first seen in Paris fashion shows. How often have you worn your swimsuit this summer?

A. Zero. Zilch. Nada. Not at all.

8) Also in 1946, Elias Tupper invented Tupperware, a plastic container with an airtight top that's great for preserving leftovers. Are there any leftovers in your refrigerator right now?

A. Actually, no. We cleaned them out earlier in the week.

9) Random question: Is there a day of the week that goes by faster than the others?

A. Now that I am older, it seems like the whole week goes by in a flash. I change the linens every Saturday and it seems like I just did it yesterday.

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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: Blueberry Hill

Saturday 9: Blueberry Hill (1956)

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

This month Saturday 9 will be tasty, featuring songs with food in the title.

1) Fats Domino sings about a hill named for blueberries. According to the Old Farmers Almanac, blueberries can grow just about anywhere in North America, as long as they have plenty of direct sunlight. Do you have a garden?

A. We do have a garden, but it has not been the most productive this year. Somehow my husband planted yellow zucchini instead of summer squash. I am not a fan of yellow zucchini. They don't seem to have much taste or eye appeal. 

2) Blueberries are low in calories and rich in fiber. Are they a regular part of your diet? 

A. They are not, but they should be.

3) They also have a high moisture content. Staying hydrated is important to human health. Do you drink the standard recommended 8 glasses of water every day?

A. I do.

4) Fats originally had a big hit with "Blueberry Hill" in 1956, and then enjoyed the record's renewed popularity in the mid-70s, when "Blueberry Hill" was often referenced as Richie Cunningham's favorite song. Without looking it up, do you remember what show Richie Cunningham was on? (Extra non-existent Saturday 9 points if you can also name the actor who played Richie.)

A. Richie Cunningham was the name of the son on Happy Days. He was played by Ron Howard, also known as Opie on The Andy Griffith Show.

5) Born Antoine Domino, he took the name "Fats" not just because of his physique. Growing up, jazz pianist Fats Waller was one of his heroes. If you were to adopt the first name of someone you admire, what would we call you?

A. Hillary.

6) Despite his warm and friendly stage persona, Fats was shy around strangers and hated giving interviews. Tell us about something you did only because it was part of your job, not because you enjoyed it.

A. When I began working as a "secretary," I was supposed to make coffee in the mornings. I do not drink coffee. Nor did I consider it something that should be part of someone's job. If somebody wants coffee, they can make their own coffee. But I was told to do it, so I made coffee. After about a week of my coffee, I was excused from coffee-making duty.

7) In 1956, when this record was topping the charts, the Olympics were held in Melbourne. Have you ever been to the land down under?

A. No, I have not.

8) The star of the 1956 Olympics was Austrian Toni Sailer, who won all three gold medals in Alpine skiing. Do you prefer snow skiing, water skiing, or just watching other people ski?

A. I went water skiing once. It wasn't my thing. I don't care what other people do.

9) Random question: Do you believe everyone has a jealous streak?

A. I think so, yes. It may be over different things, but I think most people become jealous over something or another. Maybe it's money, maybe it's time, maybe it's position, power, etc. Maybe it's just because you can be around dogs and I can't because of my allergies and asthma. Jealousy comes in many forms.

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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: Sugar, Sugar

 

Saturday 9: Sugar, Sugar (1969)

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

This month Saturday 9 will be tasty, featuring songs with food in the title.

*Here is where I confess I still have this album.*

1) This week's song is credited to The Archies, a band that never actually existed. The song is performed by singer Ron Dante and studio musicians and backup singers hired on behalf of the five members of the popular Saturday morning Archie Show. Were you a fan of this animated series?

A. I would have been in 1st grade when this show was on, so I barely remember it, but I do remember it. I think, however, I could only watch it when I spent the night at my grandmother's house. At my house, we could only get one or two channels. She could get all three plus PBS!

2) Archie was Archibald Andrews, a character first introduced in the 1941 comic strip. Archie was the linchpin, the leader of the band, and the center of his social group. Tell us about one of the popular kids from your school days.

A. I stayed away from the popular kids in school, as I wasn't one of them. I was a nerd who made straight As. But let me think. Ah, I know! Jodi E. He was always funny. Kind of short, red hair, made everyone laugh all the time. I wonder what he's doing these days. 

3) The Archies' drummer was Jughead Jones. He was smart, funny, and had a fondness for headwear. Do you often wear hats or caps?

A. Not anymore. I used to wear hats back in my younger days, especially in high school, and I was married in a hat with a veil behind it, I refused to cover my face with a veil.

4) Reggie was the lead singer and bass player. He was a gifted athlete who liked to come in first. If he couldn't win with his natural talents, he was not above cheating. Have you ever cheated in a friendly game?

A. I imagine I have but I can't think of anything right off. Does turning on the God-Mode so you can get through a level in a video game count?

5) Blonde Betty Cooper was on the tambourine. Her hobbies include playing baseball, caring for her cat, and helping Archie work on his car. Tell us three of your favorite pastimes.

A. My favorite three pastimes include writing, playing or listening to music, and reading.

6) Raven-haired Veronica Lodge was the keyboardist and joined Betty for backup vocals. She was a fashion plate, known and loved by Riverdale store owners because of her willingness to spend big bucks to stay on trend. What's the latest thing you've added to your wardrobe?

A. I bought some tops and a single pair of pants a while back. When I came home and washed the pants and went to wear them, I realized that one leg is about an inch longer than the other. I didn't notice it when I tried them on in the store, but it is certainly noticeable at home. They will have to be wear-around-the-house pants unless I decide to rehem them.

7) The biggest news story of 1969 was one of the biggest stories in history. On July 21, man first stepped onto the moon. Without looking it up, do you remember the astronaut's name?

A. Neal Armstrong.

8) Also in 1969, Triple H was born and today he's in the WWE Hall of Fame. Do you follow professional wrestling?

A. I do not follow professional wrestling. In my younger days, my grandfather would stop whatever he was doing on Saturdays to sit down and watch wrestling, though, and I would watch it with him sometimes. I remember some loud dude named Rick Flair.

9) Random question – Would you prefer to be: a) super successful in business or b) a politician elected to an influential office or c) a champion athlete?

A. Geez. Is there a D? Of the three I would choose being super successful in business. I could be super successful in the writing business since it doesn't specify what kind of business.

BONUS #10: Mister Linky has become extremely hard to navigate, and no one is home at the Help Desk. How do you feel about leaving your link in the comments?

A. This does seem to have become an issue, doesn't it. I've been looking into it and there doesn't seem to be another option that works like Mr. Linky (and is free). Apparently, there is some way to make Google Docs create a form that you can use that goes to a spreadsheet or something or another, but it was so complicated I didn't try it.

As for leaving the link in the comments, it is probably the easiest thing. If it is all that's available, then I don't have a problem with it.

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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: Coconut

 

Saturday 9: Coconut (1971)

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

This month Saturday 9 will be tasty, featuring songs with food in the title. (This song makes me think of the movie Practical Magic.)

1) This song is about a woman who complains of a belly ache. How's your tummy this morning?

A. My tummy is about like it always is. Thanks for asking.

2) She responds to this malady by calling the doctor. What if you chose to address the problem yourself? Are there currently any OTC digestive aids in your medicine chest? 

A. I take medicine for my stomach every day. I have acid reflux. Sometimes I have to supplement that with a little OTC medicine. I have also found apple cider vinegar gummies helpful.

3) Coconut was once a popular ice cream flavor, but no more. It's not on the list of top sellers at Baskin Robbins or Cold Stone. When you last had ice cream, what flavor was it?

A. I don't eat ice cream.

4) Coconut remains popular in baking. It's easy to find recipes for coconut pie, coconut cheesecake, coconut cookies . . . . you get the idea. Have you recently tried a new recipe? If yes, how did it turn out?

A. The last recipe I made was a squash casserole. It wasn't exactly a new recipe to me, but I was using yellow zucchini instead of yellow summer squash. It was ok.

5) This week's featured artist, Harry Nilsson, was a well-known free spirit. He liked to party and had a reputation for not adhering to a schedule. Therefore, it's a little surprising that one of his first jobs was in the conservative atmosphere of a small bank. Do you prefer a more structured workplace?

A. I always did well with deadlines when I worked for the newspaper. I like a little structure, but I need a little freedom, too.

6) Harry met Micky Dolenz when The Monkees recorded his song, "Cuddly Toy" and they became fast and life-long friends. Can you think of someone you met and quickly "clicked" with?

A. Yes, one of my dearest friends today is someone I met and "clicked" with almost immediately.

7) In 1971, when this song was on the radio, detective shows were popular on TV. Mannix, Ironside and Cannon were all in the Top 20. Do you think you'd make a good private investigator?

A. I think I probably would make a good PI. Old, overweight dowdy housewife? Who'd think she was taking pictures of infidelity or insurance fraud?

8) England's Princess Anne turned 21 in 1971, and the occasion was commemorated with an official portrait taken by fashion photographer Norman Parkinson. Who took the most recent photo of you?

A. I have no idea. It was a probably a selfie with my husband.

9) Random question: You can redecorate any one room in your home, money is no object. But only one room. Which room do you pick?

A. I would pick the great room, which is really three rooms in one. That way I would get a new kitchen, a new dining area, and a new living room, because all three are in one large room. I think they call this open space living now but it was a great room 38 years ago. 

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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: Special Day

Saturday 9: This Is a Very Special Day (1953)

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

1) In this song, Peggy sings that she feels good enough to climb a hill. Will you be doing anything athletic today?

A. I am not very athletic. I suspect stripping the bed and changing the linens might be the extent of my athletic prowess on this Saturday.

2) However, she was also tempted to climb back in bed. Is a nap in your plans for today?

A. I very seldom nap. My husband says I should nap, it would make me feel better. 

3) She tells us that she looked in the mirror and told herself it was time to "lose the blues." Do you ever speak out loud to yourself?

A. I talk to myself all the time and always have. Only now I might utter something like "seriously" under my breath and have my cell phone perk up and go "Hmm?"

4) Peggy wrote this song for the 1953 remake of The Jazz Singer. She performs it in the movie, too. In the 1950s, female singer-songwriters were unusual, but not so today. Can you think of another woman who not only sings but writes her own material?

A. Melissa Etheridge, Sheryl Crow, Carole King.

5) Her co-star in the film was Danny Thomas. Today he is best remembered as a philanthropist and founder of St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, but he was quite a star in his day. He appeared in nightclubs and movie musicals and, from 1954 to 1963, had his own sitcom. Do you know the show?

A. I think it was called The Danny Thomas Show, wasn't it? But I don't recall watching it. And I'm not sure if that's right.

6) When Peggy Lee was trying to break into show business, she supported herself as a short order cook. She was required to turn orders around quickly. Are you fast and efficient in the kitchen?

A. I dislike cooking, but I can get a meal on the table in a hurry if I have to.

7) Just when her career started to take off, Peggy had to take a break when she had her tonsils removed. Do you still have your tonsils?

A. I had my tonsils removed in 1994, when I was 31 years old, and it was incredibly painful and a difficult recovery.

8) In 1953, when this record was released, Matchbox Cars were introduced and they remain popular today. Did you ever play with Matchbox Cars?

A. Yes, I played with Matchbox Cars, along with Hot Wheels.

9) Random question: You're walking past a filthy puddle. Floating on top you see a dead bug, a cigarette butt, and a $1 bill. Would you bend over and rescue the dollar?

A. If I can flip it out of the puddle with my foot and I have a tissue in my purse with which to pick it up, maybe.

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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: Kung Fu Fighting

Saturday 9: Kung Fu Fighting (1974)

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

I always wanted to know why everyone was Kung Fu fighting when I heard this song.

1) Have you ever taken a martial arts class?

A. Once. I went to see if it was something I would like. I did not. I did, however, complete a self-defense course offered at the local sheriff's office about 30 years ago. I'm not sure that counts as martial arts, but I got to beat up a guy who was dressed up as puffy marshmallow.

2) In this song, Carl Edwards sings about funky Chinatown. Many cities – including San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Vancouver, London and Antwerp – have a Chinatown. Have you ever visited Chinatown?

A. I have been to Chinatown in New York, a very long time ago, where I had the best ever sweet and sour shrimp known to man.

3) Many Chinese restaurants give out fortune cookies. Can you recall one of your fortunes?

A. Ha. We ate Chinese just last week, and I'd stuck the fortune cookie in my purse and forgot about it. Let's see what we have here: "Your positive energy will attract an abundance of blessings." Otherwise, no, I don't remember my other fortunes. They're like horoscopes, you read them, you laugh, you move on.

4) This week's featured artist, Carl Edwards, was born in Jamaica, spent his childhood in the US, and relocated to England. Have you ever lived abroad? 

A. I have visited abroad but I have never lived abroad.

5) In 1974 he became the first Jamaican to have a #1 hit in the US with this song. Have you been to Jamaica?

A. I have never been to Jamaica.

6) When this week's song was on the charts, ABC TV had a hit with the show Kung Fu. Today it's available to stream. Were you a fan?

A. I remember watching it, but I was like, nine years old. I don't recall being a big fan of the show but we only received two TV channels at home so we watched whatever was on.

7) Also in 1974, the FIFA World Cup was played in West Germany. Have you been following the FIFA World Cup this year?

A. I have not followed this sport ever, including this year.

8) Two of 1974's most popular toys were popular with adults, too. Would you prefer a Rubik's Cube or a Magic 8 Ball?

A. I would prefer a Rubik's Cube. I had one a long time ago and got to where I could solve it in 2 minutes. I doubt I can remember how to do it now, though.

9) Random question: Have you ever cut someone else's hair?

A. I have not. I have cut my own hair (very badly) but not anyone else's. 

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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.