Saturday 9: That Funny Feeling

Saturday 9: That Funny Feeling (1965)

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

 

1) In this song, Bobby Darin admits he cares more for the girl than he should. What's something you have recently overdone (eaten too many potato chips, stayed up too late, etc.)?

A. I think I spend too much time playing video games. I like all kinds of video games and try to tell myself it's good for my brain, but I am not so sure.

 

2) Bobby wrote this as the theme song for a movie he starred in with his wife, Sandra Dee. That Funny Feeling (the movie) turned a profit at the box office and "That Funny Feeling" (the record) made the Billboard Top 40. Can you think of another movie and song that were both popular?

A. Grease is the word that you heard, it's got groove it's got feelin'. Grease is the time and the place and the motion, Grease is the way that you're feelin'. (Not sure I have those words exactly right.)

 

3) While Bobby had a successful movie career and earned an Oscar nomination, he didn't get the part he wanted most: Tony in West Side Story. While he could sing and dance very well, producers didn't think Bobby looked like a romantic leading man. What actor or actress makes your heart skip a beat?

A. I think it is the role more so than the actor that makes my "heart skip a beat." For example, I really like Viggo Mortenson as Aragorn and Orlando Bloom as Legolas in The Lord of the Rings, but I didn't particularly find either of them attractive in other roles. 

 

4) Elvis enjoyed watching Bobby perform, but understood that if he sat in the audience, he would be a distraction. So, Elvis always watched Bobby from the wings. Think about the last thing you saw in a theater (concert, movie, play). Were you distracted by another audience member? Was anyone crinkling paper, checking their phone, whispering, etc.?

A. When we went to see the latest Downton Abby movie at the theater, I don't recall anyone being overly loud or doing anything troubling.

 

5) When the editor of a teen magazine asked if he could cook, Bobby not only said yes, he offered up his manicotti recipe. What's your favorite pasta dish? (To eat, not necessarily to whip up in your kitchen.)

A. I love spaghetti but I haven't been able to eat it for years, except at a local cafeteria which fixes baked spaghetti without tomato sauce. I'd love to have a good spaghetti with tomato sauce.

 

6) In addition to cooking, Bobby's friends recall he loved talking about classic cars and baseball. Which of those three would you be most comfortable discussing?

A. I would not be comfortable discussing any of those topics. I dislike cooking, I know only a little about classic cars, and next to nothing about baseball.

 

7) In 1965, when Americans were listening to "That Funny Feeling," aspirin was the top over-the-counter pain reliever. You could get a bottle of 200 tablets for just $1. Is there aspirin in your medicine chest right now?

A. Yes, I keep aspirin around in case someone has a heart attack. I have to replace the bottles every couple of years, and they are always unopened.

 

8) Also in 1965, I Dream of Jeannie premiered. The sitcom about a beautiful genie living in the suburbs was developed to compete with Bewitched, about a beautiful witch living in the suburbs. Which show do like better?

A. I like Bewitched better. Samantha was always such a cool character, and her family members were hilarious.

 

9) Random question: After a friend leaves your home, you spot a small, bound book on the floor next to your sofa. You flip through it and see that her journal fell out of her purse. It's mostly shopping lists and appointments but also includes personal observations, Once you realize what it is, do you close it and keep it closed until you can return it to her? Or do you continue reading?

A. To be honest, it would depend on the friend. If it were a really close friend, I would keep it closed. But if the person were not that close to me, I'd consider reading it. But I don't know that I would.

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Saturday 9: Angie Baby

Saturday 9: Angie Baby (1974)

Unfamiliar with this week's featured song? Hear it here.
 
1) This week's song is a spooky one about a young man who breaks into the bedroom of a troubled girl named Angie. Their encounter doesn't go well, and he's never seen again. Though there's been gossip, no one knows for sure what happened to him. Does your town have any scary legends that have been passed down through the decades?

A. The ragman seems to have endured somewhat. Back before paper was made from pulp, old men would travel in carts from town to town, picking up rages to make paper. Parents told their children if they didn't behave, they'd give them to the Ragman. One little girl allegedly opened the door to find the Ragman after she'd been particularly bad and died of fright.
 
2) Songwriter Alan O'Day said he drew upon aspects of his own childhood to come up with "Angie Baby." He was an only child who often stayed home sick from school, with only Top 40 radio for company. What do you recall when you think about sick days as a kid?

A. I would stay with my grandmother, and we watched The Price Is Right and she gave me Campbell's chicken soup.  
 
3) Helen Reddy said she enjoyed hearing what her fans thought happened in "Angie Baby." Can you think of another song that is open to interpretation?

A. The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia, although I don't know if that song is really open to interpretation. Maybe Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds?
 
4) When Helen and her husband/manager Jeff Wald heard "Angie Baby" the first time, they immediately agreed she should record it. She went into the studio that afternoon and in less than 10 days, disc jockeys were playing it and "Angie Baby" became an international hit. When were you glad you acted on impulse?

A. A very long time ago, I asked someone I barely knew if she'd ride with me to pick up my car at the out-of-town repair shop. I was driving a loaner. She agreed. And then we became very close friends. We'd known one another before, of course, but it seemed like that trip, those 2 hours together, was the real start of our friendship.
 
Questions inspired by Halloween . . .  

5) Though best known as a recording artist, Helen Reddy also acted on occasion and appeared as a singing nun in Airport 1975. A nun's habit is a popular Halloween costume. Will you/did you dress up this year?

A. No dressing up here.

6) In 2024, more Americans than ever dressed their dogs up for Halloween. Have you ever taken your pup with you trick-or-treating?

A. No.

7) According to the Guinness Book of Records, the award for highest number of jack-o-lanterns in one place went to Keene, NH, where in 2013 there were 30,581. Did you carve a pumpkin for Halloween this year?

A. No.
 
8) In years gone by, the Irish celebrated Halloween not with pumpkins but by carving turnips, potatoes and beets. Are any of those foods in your kitchen right now?

A. I have potatoes.
 
9) Some Elvis fans insist his ghost hovers in the trees over Graceland. Have you ever seen a ghost?

A. I have seen many ghosts. When I was growing up, we used to stay with Uncle Carmen and Aunt Helen in West Virginia. Their house was haunted, and you couldn't sleep through the night for the rocking chair rocking, the pipes banging, the clock that didn't run suddenly bonging, and the banjo playing.

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Saturday 9: Do You Know the Way

Saturday 9: Do You Know the Way to San Jose (1968)

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

 

1) In this song, someone moves to Los Angeles looking for "fame and fortune" but ends up with a job "pumping gas." Today, the majority of service stations are self-serve, so very few people pump gas for a living. Can you think of another job that used to be common but doesn't exist anymore?

A. Telephone operator. File clerk. Secretary.

 

2) The San Jose travel bureau advertises "300 days of sunshine" every year. How is the weather where you are today?

A. Today it is sunny but very windy.

 

3) Lyricist Hal David became fond of San Jose when he was stationed there while in the Navy. Tell us about a place you visited that you have affection for.

A. My husband and I, and our respective families, usually vacationed at Myrtle Beach, SC. Once upon a time it had a great park with a rollercoaster, Ferris wheel, and other rides. There was a pavilion with arcade games galore. Some of that is still there, but much of it is gone, and Myrtle Beach is now the place to go golf and shop.

  

4) Composer Burt Bacharach grew up and worked primarily in New York until his marriage to actress Angie Dickinson. She had to live in Los Angeles for her career, so he relocated and remained a Californian for the rest of his life. Where do you feel most at home? (It doesn't have to be a city. It could be your favorite chair.)

A. I feel most at home in my own home, the one I live in with my husband.

5) Dionne Warwick thinks this week's song is "dumb." She won her first Grammy for "Do You Know the Way to San Jose?" and, decades later, still sings it in concert, but she has not changed her opinion of the song. What is something everyone else seems to like but you just don't get?

A. Fox News.

 

6) Now in her 80s, with more than 60 years in show business, Dionne still enjoys performing. She told a reporter that she loves looking out into the audience and seeing an arm go around a shoulder, or a couple begin holding hands, when they hear her sing "their song." What song reminds you of a special romance?

A. Longer, by Dan Fogelberg

 

7) In 1968, when this song was popular, The Doris Day Show premiered. The show was, initially, a surprise to its star. Her manager/husband died suddenly without telling her he had committed her to a weekly sitcom. She was not pleased but honored the contract. Think of the last time you were surprised. Was it a happy or sad surprise?

A. It was a sad surprise.

 

8) According to the Social Security Administration, the most popular baby names of 1968 were Lisa and Michael. Are there any Lisas or Michaels in your life?

A. I know a few Lisas and Michaels.

 

9) Random question: What are you looking forward to this week?

A. Halloween.

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Saturday 9: Into the Groove

Saturday 9: Into the Groove (1985) 

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

 

1) Madonna begins this song by telling us, "I'm waiting." What's something you're waiting for today?

A. I am waiting on fathers to love their daughters, and brothers to remember their sisters, and husbands to bring flowers to their wives, and wives to kiss their husbands, and I am waiting on children to be lifted and kissed when the boo-boo hits, and I am waiting on people to look around and see that the whole world is waiting for our democracy to crumble like so much blue cheese and I am waiting on footprints in the gravel to disappear in the rain and I am waiting on comets to appear brighter in the sky and I am waiting on the moon to go dark and maybe never lighten again because the satellites are tearing up the night, and I am waiting on promises and lies to unfold in front of me and I am waiting on winter to turn to spring and for the deer to fawn and I am waiting on colors to turn vivid and bright and I am waiting on heartache and truths, and I keep waiting.

 

2) She sings that dancing gives her a feeling so good she hopes it will never end. What reliably lifts your spirits?

A. A kiss from my husband, a good song, a call from a friend, a hand on my shoulder.

 

3) As a schoolgirl in Michigan, Madonna was a good student but could be disruptive. Classmates recall her doing cartwheels in the halls between classes. Can you do a cartwheel?

A. I have never been able to do a cartwheel.

 

4) It's not surprising that a girl from the Detroit area would love cars. Madonna's car collection is valued at more than $2 million. The one she seems to drive most often is a 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV. Insurance industry data tells us Americans typically keep their cars for 8 years. How long have you had your current vehicle?

A. My current car is 11 years old.

 

5) She has referred to Nancy Sinatra as one of her idols, saying "These Boots Were Made for Walking" and its accompanying video impressed her when she was a little girl. What pop song brings back memories from your childhood?

A. Seasons in the Sun, by Terry Jacks (1974). I remember my friend Ann and I singing it together on the school playground. We went on to be in a band together in high school.

 

6) Madonna suffers from brontophobia, or the fear of thunder and lightning. Are you afraid of storms?

A. I love a good storm. I love the smell of rain in summer, and the lightning brightening the sky. Magic!

 

7) In 1985, when this song was popular, the Titanic wreckage was discovered. There have been at least a dozen movies about that ill-fated ship. Have you seen any of them?

A. I have seen the James Cameron movie, Titanic.

 

8) Also in 1985, Bruce Willis became a star with a hit show about a detective agency. Can you name it? (Extra non-existent points if you can recall the agency's name.)

A. Moonlighting. That's all I got.

 

9) Random question: Describe your perfect ice cream sundae.

A. My perfect ice cream sundae would be vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, whipped cream, with a cherry on top. No nuts. I haven't had one since I was 12 years old, which was when we discovered milk is on my list of foods I should not eat. Having a hot fudge sundae is on my bucket list.

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Saturday 9: Mambo No. 5

Saturday 9: Mambo No. 5 (1999)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
 
1) Lou Bega namechecks a lot of women in this song. Is there an Angela, Pamela, Sandra, Rita, Monica, Erica, Tina, Mary, or Jessica in your life?

A. My stepmother's name is Rita, and I have a friend named Tina.
 
2) Can you think of a song that includes your first name?

A. No. I searched and there are five songs that include my first name, but I don't know any of them.
 
3) Lou sings that flirting is like a sport. Do you enjoy flirting?

A. I'm 62 years old and have been married for 42 years. I don't flirt.
 
4) While Lou Bega's recording became a big hit worldwide, it enjoyed great popularity, where it was used during televised cricket matches. Do you know anything about the game of cricket?

A. I think it's something like croquet, maybe, except with horses. But I am not sure and am too sorry to look it up.
 
5) When Lou was riding high with "Mambo No. 5," Cher invited him to open for her on her 1999-2000 tour. Cher has more than 50 hit records, two television series, a Broadway show and an Oscar under her belt. Can you think of another performer who has succeeded in so many areas of entertainment?

A. Reba McIntire.
 
6) Lou turned 50 in April of this year. Are you soon celebrating a big birthday (one that ends in a 0 or 5)?

A. No.
 
7) In 1999, when "Mambo No. 5" was on the radio, the movie American Pie premiered and was so popular it inspired three sequels. Have you seen any of the American Pie films? 

A. I have seen bits and pieces of them, but I have never seen one in its entirety.
 
8) Also in 1999, Walmart opened its first store in the UK. Do you often shop at Walmart?

A. I don't know that I would call it "often," but I do shop there sometimes. I don't have a Costco or Trader Joes or anything like that close by, so Walmart is where I go for bulk items like detergent and paper towels.
 
9) Random question – Have you recently fallen asleep somewhere other than your bed? If yes, where did you doze off?

A. I have fallen asleep in the chair in the living room.

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Saturday 9: That's So True

Saturday 9: That's So True (2024)

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

 

1) In this song, Gracie Abrams can't stop thinking about her ex. Who is on your mind this morning?

A. Well, not my ex. I don't have an ex. I have been wondering how Bev, the former hostess of Sunday Stealing, is making out. I know she's had a rough time of it.

 

2) She wonders if she should warn his new girl about him. Think of the last time someone offered you advice. Did you take it?

A. Yes.

3) She concludes her old boyfriend wasn't worthy of her love and attention and now sees him as "just another dude." What is something you regret spending time on? (It doesn't have to be a romance.)

A. I regret nothing. I came, I tried, I failed, I moved on.

 

4) On July 31, Gracie Abrams performed at Lollapalooza in Chicago. More than 100,000 attended the first day of the outdoor festival. It was sunny and 79º. Describe your perfect day (weatherwise).

A. It would be about 70 degrees, with a very light breeze, occasional clouds passing over brilliant blue skies. The trees are full of birds chirping away, and the leaves are green.

 

5) Gracie's father is J.J. Abrams, perhaps best known for directing the 2009 Star Trek movie and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Would you rather watch Star Trek or Star Wars?

A. I like them both so I'm not sure I can pick.

6) She is very much a 21st century artist in that she doesn't rely on radio to introduce her music to her fans, often sharing demos on TikTok. Do you watch, or create content for, TikTok?

A. No. I don't do TikTok.

7) In 2024, when "That's So True" was released, Madonna set a record. Her free concert in Brazil drew the largest audience (1.6 million) ever. What's your favorite Madonna song?

A. Um. Like a Prayer, I guess. I am not a big Madonna fan.

8) Also in 2024, former President Jimmy Carter died. In addition to his work in politics and philanthropy, Mr. Carter wrote more than 30 books. Who wrote the last book you finished?

A. Emily Henry, read by Julia Whelan. Some books I listen to simply because Julia Whelan is such a great reader.

9) Random question: What sound stresses you out?

A. Metallic sounds or really low bass sounds, like the jake brakes on a semitruck.

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Saturday 9: The Entertainer

The Entertainer (The Theme from The Sting) 1973

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

Chosen in memory of Robert Redford: Aug. 18, 1936 - Sept. 16, 2025

1) The Sting marked the second teaming of Robert Redford and Paul Newman. The two enjoyed almost 40 years of friendship. One passion they shared was sports cars. Newman raced Porsches professionally and Redford was deft behind the wheel of a classic Karmann Ghia convertible. Think about one of your longest friendships. What did you two first bond over?

A. My oldest friendship came about because we worked together, but we stayed in touch after I left. We both liked to read and have intellectual discussions.

2) During their first movie together – Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid – Redford was late so often that Newman joked they should change the title to, "Waiting for Lefty." Do you have a friend who is perpetually tardy? Or are you that friend?

A. I am almost always on time. 
 
3) Back in 1936, when Redford was born, baseball's Hall of Fame opened in Cooperstown. Coincidentally, two members of his high school class of 1954 are represented in the Hall: Redford, with memorabilia from his baseball film, The Natural, and his teammate on the Van Nuys Wolves, Don Drysdale. "Big D" was inducted for his stellar Dodger pitching career. Have you recently spoken to, or corresponded with, one of your high school classmates? 

A. A while back, I received a strange note from one of my old classmates with an attachment in a FB message. At first, I thought someone had taken over her account, but she told me she was cleaning out old things and had run across a booklet of stories and poems from an old high school English class. She sent me a photo of something I'd written.

4) Redford admitted he had a few run ins with law enforcement during his teen years. He specifically recalled being picked up for breaking into the neighbors' back yard and swimming in their pool. Were you a mischievous kid?

A. I don't think I was all that bad, but I know my parents thought otherwise.

5) Redford went on to CU Boulder. He confessed to being a distracted student and only lasted a year and a half. While not good in class, he was popular with his coworkers at his after school job, mopping floors and cleaning bathrooms at a restaurant called The Sink. The restaurant is still thriving, and Redford returned whenever he was in Boulder. He wore a Sink t-shirt during a national press conference in 2018 and when asked what The Sink was, he was happy to plug his former employer. Do you often wear graphic tees, decorated with a favorite band, restaurant logo, team mascot, vacation destination, etc.?

A. I have a t-shirt with Lord of the Rings on it that I wear sometimes. But since I am mostly home, I wear my husband's old firefighter t-shirts, so they have the city firefighter logo on them.

6) When he was a struggling New York actor, he and his wife lost their first child to crib death. Redford told AARP magazine that he blamed himself and said it's a wound that never healed. Tell us about a time you felt guilty but shouldn't have.

A. Recently a friend invited me out. I thought I was just going to meet her, but she invited another friend, too. While out, we ran into someone we all know, and I discovered as she was leaving that her feelings were hurt because she was excluded. I felt guilty about that even though I had nothing to do with it. It was a spur of the moment thing, and I had no reason to feel guilty about it.

7) Legendary costume designer Edith Head said she liked putting Redford in hats because they balanced his strong, square jaw. Do you take your figure flaws into consideration when you choose your clothes?

A. I take my figure flaws into consideration in order to see if the clothes fit.

8) Forever fit, Redford credited his physique on exercise and genes, not diet. He said, "Healthy food is good for the conscience, but Oreos taste a helluva lot better." What's the last cookie, candy or treat you indulged in?

A. I had a Pepperidge Farm chocolate chip cookie.
 
9) Random question: Do you prefer to bathe or shower first thing in the morning, after work, or before bed?

A. I prefer the morning.

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Saturday 9: Come See About Me

Saturday 9: Come See About Me (1964)

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

1) In this song, Diana Ross sings that she's given up her friends for her boyfriend. Have you ever had a lover your friends disapproved of? Has a friend ever dated someone you didn't care for?

A. I don't know that I've ever had a boyfriend my friends disapproved of. I have seen people I cared about date people that I didn't think were good for them.

 

2) Without her man at her side she feels uncertain. Let's be more positive: what's something you're sure of? 

A. The sun will come out tomorrow, bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, there'll be sun!

3) When this song was popular, the Supremes were known for their elegant hair and wardrobe. When was the last time you got dressed up?

A. Tuesday. My husband took me to lunch, and we went to the movies.

 

4) The Supremes went on to have a dozen #1 hits. This must have been hard for Betty McGlown, the fourth Supreme, who left the group before they recorded their first song. Can you think of an opportunity you missed?

A. I can think of plenty of opportunities I missed if I'd been willing to give over my sense of self to walk around with my head up someone else's butt, but I am not that person.

5) After she left the Supremes, lead singer Diana Ross went on to have a successful solo career. But it hasn't always been easy. She stumbled in her high heels and broke her ankle as she left the stage after a November 2012 concert. Have you taken a tumble recently?

A. I have not fallen in a while. ::knock wood::

6) Ever the trooper, she honored her commitment to perform at a White House-sponsored Christmas concert just weeks later, even though her leg was still in a cast. Tell us about a time when you "played hurt."

A. I had my right arm in a cast for six weeks in the 7th grade. I am right-handed, of course. My teachers let me take my tests verbally with them.

7) In 1964, when this song was popular, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was born. What was in your most recent Amazon shipment?

A. Shoes for my husband.

8) Also in 1964, women still routinely wore white gloves to complete a outfit. Short gloves that ended at the wrist were popular for everyday wear. What fashion trend do you wish would come back?

A. Well, not that one. I actually liked shoulder pads; I thought I looked better with them than without them.

 

9) Random question: If you were in the witness protection program, what new name and occupation would you choose for yourself?

A. My new name would be Sabrina Wetherwood and I would work in publishing as a book editor.

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Saturday 9: A Little in Love

Saturday 9: A Little in Love (1980)

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

 

1) Do you believe you can be a little in love? Or is romance an all-or-nothing proposition for you?

A. I think you can be a little in love. Maybe that's more like "in like" instead of "in love," but that's semantics.

 

2) Cliff Richard sings that he knows it's been a long time since you had fun. Is that true? When have you recently had a really good time? What were you doing?

A. I have fun every day. I laugh with my husband and my friends on the phone.

 

3) Cliff was born in India when it was still part of the UK. When he was 8, his family relocated to Tilbury, an English port town. Have you ever lived near the sea?

A. I have never lived near the sea.

 

4) In 1958, Cliff became a star in England. He was so influential that young John Lennon said he dreamed someday the Beatles would be as big as Cliff Richard. Yet for some reason, he was never as popular here in the US. Before today, had you ever heard of Cliff Richard?

A. Yes, I have heard of Cliff Richard. But I'm not sure why.

 

5) 1980 was Cliff's most successful year stateside. Both "A Little in Love" and his duet with Olivia Newton-John, "Suddenly," made the Top 10. Do you have a favorite Olivia Newton-John song?

A. Oh, Suddenly. That's why I know Cliff Richards. I am partial to Hopelessly Devoted to You from Grease.

 

6) Cliff was once "a little in love" himself. He had a high-profile romance with British pro tennis player Sue Barker. They contemplated marriage, but in his memoir, Cliff admitted he wasn't ready to commit the rest of his life to her. Cliff never married but Sue went on to wed landscape gardener Lance Tankard. Have you ever employed a gardener? Or do you handle all the yard work yourself?

A. I have never employed a gardener. My husband does most of the yard work these days. 

 

7) In 1980, when we were enjoying "A Little in Love" on the radio, Macaulay Culkin was born. He became famous for the Home Alone franchise. Have you seen any Home Alone movies?

A. I saw the first and second one. Was there more than two?

 

8) 1980 also gave us the Post-It Note. Today they are available in a variety of sizes and colors, but the original 4"x4" canary yellow Post-Its are still the best seller. Would we find Post-Its in your home or office right now?

A. Yes. Or some similar off-brand, at any rate.

 

9) Random question – You're having a crummy day. Nothing is going right. You run into a casual friend in the grocery store aisle. As you chat, do you think your mood would be obvious? Or could you successfully put on a happy face?

A. I usually manage the happy face mostly because I'm standing there trying to remember who the person is. I am terrible with names when people are not in their usual spots.

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Saturday 9: Nice to Be Nice

Saturday 9: It's So Nice to Be Nice (to Your Neighbor) – 1947

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

 

1) In this song, Monica Lewis encourages us to greet our neighbors with a smile and a hello. Tell us about one of your neighbors.

A. One of my neighbors is a fantastic woman. She was the AD at my college. She is long retired now, but she raises cattle. She is quite an interesting person, and I love chatting with her. 

 

2) She reminds us that it's "nice to be nice." Who has recently shown you kindness?

A. My husband, my friends, the guy at the store who was patient with me when I couldn't make up my mind.

 

3) Monica Lewis was born in Chicago, where her mother performed with the Chicago Opera Company. Have you ever been to the opera?

A. I have never been to the opera. Although I did go to a performance of Peter and the Wolf when I was in school. Is that an opera? That feels like a hundred years ago. Well, the Internet says it's an opera, so I guess I've been to an opera. Learned something!

 

4) Her family moved to New York City, where she attended college by day and worked at radio station WMCA in the evenings to help support her family. Which do you listen to more: the radio or podcasts?

A. I listen to songs on Alexa from my personal playlist more than radio or podcasts. Actually, I listen to audiobooks more than I listen to anything else at the moment.

5) In the 1940s she appeared all around New York – in nightclubs, on Broadway, and on radio shows. It was then that she got her best-known and longest-running role: the voice of Chiquita Banana. For decades she was heard singing the jingle, "I'm Chiquita Banana and I'm here to say ..." Do you have any bananas in your kitchen now? 

A. No, we have no bananas. We have no bananas today.

 

6) Around 1950 she moved to Hollywood. She had recently divorced and wanted a fresh start. There she dated an actor who was also newly divorced: Ronald Reagan. Obviously, she never had to ask, "Whatever became of him?" Who is the last former romance, classmate or coworker that you looked up on the internet?

A. Hmm. I don't recall doing that for a long time. A very long time ago I remember looking up the guy I dated in high school, but I couldn't find him.

 

7) In 1947, when this song was popular, actor Ted Danson was born. He's best known as Sam Malone, the bartender at Cheers, "where everybody knows your name." Is there a bar or restaurant where you are recognized on sight?

A. Not anymore. We used to be regulars at Shakers in Roanoke, but after the pandemic, we stopped going out and now we're not regulars much of anywhere, except maybe Bellacinos, the local sub shop. They know my name. And the lady who dishes out the Chinese food at a local spot knows as soon as I come in that I want an order of chicken and broccoli and 3 eggrolls.

 

8) The 1947 Studebaker Champion was one of the first cars to have an adjustable driver's seat designed to accommodate motorists of various heights. When you're driving someone else's car, do you usually adjust the seat?

A. I am short, I have to adjust the seat, or I wouldn't be able to reach the pedals or see out of the mirrors.

 

9) Random question: When someone takes advantage of you, are you angrier at them for doing it, or at yourself for letting it happen?

A. It's over and done with, there isn't any point in being upset about it. People are going to people. Sometimes they're a-holes. The world is full of them and they're hard to avoid.

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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: Manic Monday

Saturday 9: Manic Monday (1985) 

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

1) In this song, Bangles lead singer Susannah Hoffs sings that "it's 6:00 already." What time did you wake up this morning?

A. I usually get up somewhere between 6 a.m. and 6:45 a.m.

2) She's running late for work, and she wishes her bed was already made so she wouldn't have to spend time doing it. Do you ever leave the house without making your bed?

A. Not unless it is an emergency. I remember I was in the middle of changing the bed linens when my husband came in the house in 2014 after having caught his arm in the hay baler. Obviously, I did not finish that chore, since I had to take him to the emergency room.

 

3) She sings that it would take an airplane to get her to work on time. Are you usually early, on time, or late?

A. I am generally a little early.

4) Since Monday is the start of her hectic workweek, she wishes it was Sunday because that's her "fun day." What's your favorite day of the week?

A. I don't really have one.

5) "Manic Monday" was written by Prince. What's your favorite Prince song?

A. Raspberry Beret.

6) In 1985, when this song was a hit, Sears promoted sleepwear with characters on them in their children's department. GI Joe pajamas were popular. When you were a kid, did you have a favorite pair of pjs?

A. Not that I recall.

7) A fashion tradition dating back to the early 1900s states that you should put your white slacks, shoes, jackets and belts away after Labor Day. Do you follow that rule?

A. No. I wear white sneakers year-round.

 

8) Traditionally Labor Day marks the moment when fans turn their attention to the NFL and NCAA football. Will you be rooting for a particular football team this season?

A. No. My husband usually roots for the University of Virginia football team in college ball.

9) According to the auto insurance industry, the average American spends 52 minutes (26 each way) behind the wheel every day traveling to and from work. How do you while away the time when you're stuck in traffic?

A. I either listen to an audiobook, NPR, or a pop music station.

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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: We Belong Together

Saturday 9: We Belong Together (2005)

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

This month we're going to recall Summer Songs. These will all be records that topped the charts during August.

1) Number 1 on the charts in August 20 years ago, "We Belong Together" is about the end of this romantic relationship. Mariah sings that now she won't have anyone to talk to on the phone until the sun comes up. That was then. Today many people prefer to text than to talk on the phone. Are you one of those people?

A. I prefer a telephone conversation to a text. Texting has its place, but once you get past 4 texts you may as well pick up the phone and call.

2) The video for this song features an elaborate wedding. Tell us about the last wedding you attended.

A. I can't remember the last wedding I attended. I haven't been to one in at least 20 years.

3) Mariah believes she inherited her musical gifts from her mom, who was an opera singer and vocal coach. When things were hectic in their household, Mariah recalls that music helped bring her and her mom closer together. Share a happy childhood memory featuring you and one of your parents.

A. I remember my father teaching me how to learn how to ride a bicycle.

4) After graduating from high school in Long Island, Mariah Carey went to Manhattan in search of stardom. While waiting for her big break, she enrolled in beauty school and waited tables. Both stylists and servers receive gratuities for their services. Do you consider yourself a good tipper?

A. I think I am. I'm not a bad tipper, anyway. 

5) The Fresh Air Fund operates six camps in the New York area to provide kids with a chance to learn and explore outdoors. They named Camp Mariah in Ms. Carey's honor to thank her for her support. Here's your chance to toot your own horn. Tell us about an honor you received. (Anything from a major award to a handmade drawing that says "World's Best Mom" counts. We want to hear about it.)

A. Last October I received an award for my work in historic preservation in my community. It was mostly for writing the magazine celebrating Botetourt County's 250th anniversary, but also for many other writing projects I have done through the years to promote historic preservation.

6) Mariah has mentioned she enjoys pizza and red wine. Will you be enjoying either pizza or red wine this weekend?

A. I will not be enjoying either one this weekend.

Let's look at the summer of 2005.

7) The biggest news story that summer was Hurricane Katrina. This deadly and destructive storm killed over 1,000 people and did more than $100 billion in damage. Have you ever endured a natural disaster (such as hurricane, flood, landslide, tornado, blizzard, wildfire)?

A. We had a major flood in 1985, known as the Flood of '85. In Roanoke, the Roanoke River rose 18.57 ft (5.66 m) in ten hours to a peak of 23.35 ft (7.12 m), considered a 1 in 200-year event. In the city, many residents had to be rescued after they were trapped, and three people drowned by driving into flooded waters. Considered the worst flood on record in the city, Roanoke sustained $225 million in damage, with 3,100 damaged homes and businesses. My husband was on duty that day and was one of the firefighters rescuing people. I was in Roanoke at a doctor's appointment and after going from route to route to avoid flooded roads, I finally found a way to the interstate, only to find I could not get home because of ponding water and mudslides. Eventually I was able to get home via a long back road, only to find my basement flooded. That was the worst one. However, several times we have had to evacuate from vacations at Myrtle Beach due to hurricanes.

8) Popular that summer was Kingda Ka, the new roller coaster at Six Flags Great America in Jackson, NJ. At the time, it was the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world. Have you been to any fairs or amusement parks this summer?

A. I have not been to anything but the farmers' market this summer.

9) Award-winning American figure skater Alysa Liu was born in August of 2005. NBC Sports and their Peacock network report that figure skating events get high ratings. What's your favorite sport to watch on TV?

A. I like watching the WNBA these days. I like figure skating too, though, when I catch it on.

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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: Colors of the Wind

Saturday 9: Colors of the Wind (1995)

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

This month we're going to recall Summer Songs. These will all be records that topped the charts during August.

1) Number 1 on the charts in August 30 years ago, "Colors of the Wind" is from the Disney hit, Pocahontas. Have you seen it?

A. I have not seen this movie. I seriously doubt Disney does the real Pocahontas much justice, though, given the way it generally rewrites myths and fairy tales.

2) This song celebrates the glories of nature. Have you spent much time outdoors this summer? If yes, what have you enjoyed doing?

A. I have not been outdoors much this summer. It has either been 100 degrees or raining, without much in between. When I have been outdoors, it has been to look at my garden, which is pathetic and is now mostly dead thanks to too much rain, too little sun, and too much heat.

3) Lyricist Stephen Schwartz said he was inspired by the works of Chief Seattle, Henry David Thoreau, and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Who is your favorite author?

A. I don't have a favorite author. I like a lot of authors. Sometimes I get on a kick, and I read everything I can by an author, then I move on. I've read all of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books, and Sue Grafton's Alphabet mystery books with Kinsey Millhone, and I've read fantasy books by numerous authors, including Tolkien, Rowling, Bujold, Goodkind, etc. I've read romances, gothics, nonfiction, classics, and more just this year. I read everything. 

4) This week's artist, Vanessa Williams, came to national attention as Miss America 1984. In the talent competition she sang "Happy Days Are Here Again." Over the years, contestants have sung, recited original poetry, danced, twirled batons, performed gymnastics and demonstrated martial arts. Which of 

your talents would wow the judges?

A. I could play the guitar, but I doubt it would do much "wowing." I'm not that good at it. Maybe I should recite a piece of original poetry?

5) Her family tree includes William A. Fields, who served in the Tennessee House of Representatives in the late 19th century. Are you interested in genealogy?

A. I have traced parts of my family history, and that of my husband, back beyond the Revolutionary War. I have an ancestor who fought in that war and others who fought in the losing side of the Civil War.

6) Vanessa supports the non-profit Dress for Success, which helps unemployed and underemployed women prepare with career coaching, networking and professional attire. Have you ever gone into a job interview found yourself unprepared? Or, if you prefer, tell us about an interview you confidently aced.

A. I don't know that I've ever been fully prepared for an interview. There is always some question that throws me.

 
Let's look at the summer of 1995.

7) 1995's best-selling new car was the Ford Taurus. That summer, dealers were promoting a 6.9% APR loan or $1,500 cash back with purchase. This summer, drivers with good credit might get a better deal because the average APR for new car loans is a little lower. Do you keep your eye on fluctuating interest rates?

A. I do not watch interest rates at the moment as I am not anticipating a purchase. I had a 1989 Ford Taurus that I loved, by the way. Great car. The 1999 model was not a great car, and we traded it in for another Taurus within a year. That car also had the same problem, and we ultimately ended up with a 2003 Toyota Camry because I refused to buy another Ford.

8) English yachtswoman Lisa Clayton made history by sailing solo around the world. It took her 10 months. Would you be comfortable spending months and months alone?

A. I imagine I could handle it, if there were things to do and books to read.

9) Legendary New York Yankee Mickey Mantle died in 1995. How is your baseball team doing this season?

A. I don't have a baseball team.

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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.