Saturday 9: Vision of Love

Saturday 9: Vision of Love (1990)

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

1) The lyrics refer to "sweet destiny." Do you believe in destiny?

A. Not really. I think some people are born into families that lead them into certain directions - father to son trades, for example, or the woman who becomes a lawyer like her mother. But that's not destiny, those are environmental forces placed upon a person.

2) This week's artist, Mariah Carey, has something to fall back on. She studied cosmetology and worked as a hair sweeper in a salon. When you get your hair cut, do you socialize with the stylist?

A. My stylist is new, so I have asked her a few questions, like where she's from, etc., but mostly not. Especially in these days of Covid, the less said, the better.

 

3) She isn't likely to turn to cosmetology any time soon. Mariah is currently on the best seller list with her autobiography, The Meaning of Mariah Carey. Was the last book you finished fiction or non-fiction?

A. The last nonfiction book I finished was called The True Secret of Writing by Natalie Goldberg. I am currently reading All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr, which is fiction.

4) So far, more than 800 people have reviewed Mariah's book on Amazon. Do you review products/services online?

A. Sometimes. It's not a habit.

5) When she was a high school student, she was nicknamed "Mirage" because she skipped class so often. Did you ever play hooky?

A. Yes. Once several of my friends and I slipped off after lunch and went to the movies. We went to see The Rose.

6) Mariah doesn't apologize for spoiling her dogs, who have been known to travel by limo. Do you know anyone who treats their pets like people?

A. Everyone I know who has a pet treats their pet better than they do other people.

7) In 1990, the year this song was popular, Martina Navratilova won the Wimbledon Women's Singles Tournament. How's your tennis game?

A. I do not play tennis.

8) Also in 1990, Pope John Paul II toured Mexico. Have you ever visited our neighbor south of the border?

A. I have not. However, there used to be a carnival like thing called South of the Border in South Carolina that we would stop at when we went to the beach. I am not sure it still exists.

9) Random question(s): There are Gofundme campaigns for many purposes. Have you ever solicited funds online? Would you?

A. I have never solicited funds online, although I have been paid for work through Paypal. I do not think I would solicit funds online, but maybe if I had a project I believed in and no money to follow it through, I would consider it. It's hard to say.

Here's a question for my readers: what do you think is a fair price to pay for a print edition of a 24-page daily newspaper?

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Saturday 9: One Night Standards

Saturday 9: One Night Standards (2019)

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

1) The video for this song takes place in a motel and the story is told from the point of view of the desk clerk. Have you ever worked in a hotel, motel, or bed-and-breakfast?

A. I have not.

2) Ashley McBryde sings that she's not Cinderella, a reference to the fairy-tale heroine warned to return from the ball before midnight. When did you recently stay up until the wee small hours of the morning?

A. We stayed up until 11 p.m. a while back when we watched Bill Maher. That's about as late as it gets for us.

3) Ashley had been working hard as a singer/songwriter for eleven years before she was discovered and proclaimed one of County's best new artists. What was your life like 11 years ago?

A. Eleven years ago. That would have been 2009. I was writing full blast for the newspaper up until I wasn't because they ran out of money. I was healthier and I still had my gallbladder. According to my blog, I taught a successful writing workshop called "The Business of Freelancing," I went on blood pressure meds, we had a fairly lovely Autumn, I did some work with the local government.

 

4) Ashley is from Mammoth Springs, AR. One of the most popular stops on Main Street -- for locals and tourists alike -- is Spring Dipper Ice Cream. More than 20 flavors are made right there on the premises, from Jamoca Almond Fudge to French Vanilla. When confronted with such a wide selection, do you tend to order your familiar favorite or try something new?

A. I tend to stick with the tried and true.

5) In 2007, she moved to Nashville to pursue a music career. Have you ever relocated for a job?

A. No.

6) Whenever Ashley hears a Carpenters song, she thinks of her mother, who loved Karen Carpenter's voice. Tell us a song that reminds you a loved one.

A. My husband and I had Dan Folgerberg's Longer played at our wedding, so I always think of him when I hear that song.

7) In 2019, the year this song was recorded, Notre Dame Cathedral was damaged in a fire. Have you ever visited Paris?

A. Yes. I went when I was in high school.

8) Also in 2019, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (aka Harry and Meghan) had a baby boy. Is anyone in your life expecting a baby?

A. Not that I am aware of.

9) Random question: Do you always want to hear the truth about yourself?

A. I think it depends on the truth. There is no point in telling me I'm fat because I already know that and telling me isn't going to help any. Telling me I have spinach in my teeth is helpful. Telling me I am talking too much is helpful. Telling me I am not listening can be helpful. Telling me I am wrong because I'm a "stupid Democrat" is not helpful, as that is opinion and not truth.

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Saturday 9: What's Love Got to Do with It?

Saturday 9: What's Love Got to Do with It? (1984)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
 
What's Love Got to Do with It is also the title of Tina Turner's film biography, which tells of Tina's escape from her abusive, controlling husband, Ike. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Spread the word that help is available.
 
1) The video was shot around New York City in spring. Kids are seen jumping rope. Were you good at jump rope? Has it ever been part of your workout routine as an adult?

A. I was never good at it as a child and I haven't done it as an adult in decades. I'm rather klutzy.

2) In real life, Tina Turner played basketball for her school. Were you good at team sports?

A. No.

3) In the video, Tina Turner wears a little black dress topped with a denim jacket. That jacket is a fashion staple 36 years later. Do you own a denim jacket?

A. Not any more.

3)* This song was first offered to Cliff Richard, a major pop star in England who never enjoyed gained superstar status in the US. Perhaps, if he had recorded "What's Love Got to Do with It?," he would have been better known on this side of the ocean. Tell us about a time when you said "no" when "yes" might have been the better answer.

A. Back in 2000, just after my mother had passed away, I was offered a full-time position at the local newspaper where I'd freelanced for many years. Because I was dealing with grief from my mother's death, I passed and continued to freelance. In hindsight, if I had taken the job, perhaps I'd still be there.

4) Tina's first marriage, to Ike Turner, was a painful one. Her second marriage, to German music executive Erwin Bach has been far more supportive. This has been a blessing, since Tina has had serious health problems in recent years. Do you have any medical/dental appointments scheduled?

A. I had my dental check up this past Wednesday and a doctor check up Thursday. So nothing now for four months, unless I get sick.

5) Tina met Erwin at Heathrow Airport in 1986. He was there to help her prepare for her London performances. They immediately liked one another, but didn't become romantically involved until months later and were surprised to find themselves falling in love. Have you ever had a romantic relationship that crept on you?

A. No. I knew within a few meetings that I would marry my husband.

6) The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards referred to Tina as his "favorite aunt." Is there anyone who isn't a relative of yours by blood but you refer to as aunt, uncle, brother, sister, etc.?

A. Yes.

7) Former President George W. Bush is also a big Tina Turner fan, and has praised her for having "the most famous legs in show business." What do you believe is your best physical feature?

A. I have often been told I have nice skin.

8) At home, Tina often doesn't always play music or TV because she appreciates quiet as much as music. What about you? Do you enjoy quiet?

A. I do. I either listen to music or I listen to nothing. I generally do not have the TV on for background noise.

9) Random question: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being "very lazy" and 10 being "very productive," what number are you?

A. I say a 7.5. Even if I don't feel well, I still do my chores every day.

*We got an extra question this week!

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Saturday 9: Do You Want to Dance

Saturday 9: Do You Want to Dance? (1972)

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

This week, we're inspired by The Divine Miss M's plea for a definitive answer. Here are nine random "yes or no" questions. Naturally you're welcome to elaborate, but if you want to zip through with a Y or an N, that's fine, too.
 
1) Do you check your cellphone first thing in the morning? No.

2) Are there dirty dishes in your sink right now? No.

3) Have you laughed yet today? Yes.

4) Have you written a check in the last week? Yes.

5) If you met someone who shared all your strengths and weaknesses, would you like him/her? I have no idea.

6) Is a bride ever too old to have a big wedding? No.

7) Do you put potato chips in your sandwich to make it crunchy? No. Blech.

8) Have you ever taken a nude photo of someone (not a baby)? Yes.

9) On Monday, will you be playing Bud and Mimi's cool new meme, Monday Madness? (Our last shameless plug, I promise.) I doubt it.

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Saturday 9: Frankie and Johnny

Saturday 9: Frankie and Johnny (1966)

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

1) When this record was initially released in 1966, it never cracked the Top 20. Critics were harsh, saying that Elvis had not kept up the times. How about you? Do you consider yourself up-to-date on today's music?

A. Not really. I am familiar with some of the adult top hits and singers like Adele, Pink, and Lady Gaga, but I tend to listen to songs from the 1970s and 1980s or by artists I have grown fond of.

2) The song is about a woman named Frankie and Johnny, the man who does her wrong. Who is the most recent person to do you wrong? (It doesn't have to be in romance; it could be the person who cut in front of you in line at the supermarket.)

A. Can I say the entire management at my local Kroger? They are understaffed. They have no one ensuring anything is wiped down. They do not enforce the mask policy even though it's a mandate from Virginia's governor. When I use the pickup I don't get half of what I ordered. I am terrified to go into that store so I go as infrequently as I possibly can.

3) Elvis sings that Johnny cheated with "a chick named Nellie Bly." The real Nellie was an estimable woman, a pioneering 19th century journalist. Can you think of another song that mentions a real person?

A. I've got the moves like Jagger. Isn't that about Mick Jagger? No? How about Uptown Funk, then? It starts out "This hit, that ice cold, Michelle Pfeiffer, that white gold."

 
4) This song was recorded for a movie by the same name. Elvis played a riverboat gambler. When did you last play a game of chance?

A. The last time I went into Kroger, I risked my life. Otherwise, it was probably Christmas when someone gave me lottery scratchers for a present.

5) Actor Harry Morgan had a supporting role in the movie. He's remembered as Officer Gannon on Dragnet and Col. Potter on M*A*S*H. Gannon was a good cop but could be particular about his food and surroundings. As a career soldier, Potter didn't mind roughing it every now and again. Which character are you more like: fussy Gannon or outdoorsy Potter?

A. Fussy Gannon. I'm a little princess and I know it.

6) Elvis' leading lady was Donna Douglas. She filmed her part during her summer hiatus from TV's The Beverly Hillbillies. Have you ever had a summer job?

A. Yes, when I was a teenager, I worked summers for my father's company. I mostly filed papers and answered the phone, and I hated every minute of it.

7) Though not remembered as an actor, Elvis was a bona fide movie star. In 1966, he was listed (with Paul Newman, Sean Connery, John Wayne and Richard Burton) as one of the world's biggest box office draws. Who starred in the last movie you watched?

A. Sandra Bullock. I watched part of Ocean's 8.

8) In 1966, Lauren Bacall appeared on the cover of Time with the headline: "The Pleasures and Perils of Middle Age." She was 41 years old and starring in a hit Broadway play. In the article, she explained that in middle age, she had come to understand that "character and a sense of humor are the two things that will carry you through." Tell us about something you understand better or appreciate more today than you did when you were young.

A. I understand that life is nothing like The Brady Bunch.

9) Random question: Have you checked out Bud and Mimi's cool new meme, Monday Madness?

A. Yes.

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I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.  (#355 - I've been doing this for over 6.8 years. I didn't keep track when I first started this meme.)

Saturday 9: So Emotional

Saturday 9: So Emotional (1987)

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

1) Whitney sings that she keeps her lover's photo beside her bed. What's on your bedside table?

A. Medicine, tissues, my watch, and my glasses.

2) She's getting frustrated, waiting for the phone to ring. If your phone were to ring right now, who would you expect to be on the other end?

A. My husband or a friend.

3) The video was filmed at Stabler Arena in Bethlehem, PA. It seats 6,200. As the nation reopens from Covid19, would you feel comfortable sitting knee-to-knee with a stranger in an arena like this?

A. No way.

4) This week's featured artist, Whitney Houston, appeared on the daytime drama As The World Turns. She played herself, performing with Jermaine Jackson at the Miss Cinderella contest in the fictional town of Oakdale. Have you ever been hooked on a soap opera?

A. A very long time ago, I was hooked on Dark Shadows. I also watched The Guiding Light for a while.

5) Whitney had a sweet tooth, and her favorite breakfast cereal was Fruity Pebbles. Do you often eat cereal for lunch or dinner?

A. I generally do not.

6) At Whitney's wedding to Bobby Brown, her bridesmaids all wore lavender dresses and the groomsmen had custom made alligator shoes. Have you ever "stood up" for a friend or relative? If so, do you remember what you wore?

A. I wore some kind of long pink dress in my brother's first wedding. That was a long time ago.

7) In 1987, the year this song was popular, Cher won the Oscar for Moonstruck. Her most famous line was, "Snap out of it!" When you think of Cher, do you first think of her movies, her TV show, or her music?

A. I think of her music, like Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves.

8) Michael Douglas won the Oscar that year for Wall Street. His most famous line was, "Greed is good." His character goes on to say that, "Greed in all its forms -- greed for life, for money, for love, for knowledge -- has marked the upward surge of all mankind." Do you agree?

A. No. I think love has marked the upward surge for all of mankind, if we are indeed surging upwards (I'm not so sure these days). Love of ideas, love of invention, love of creation, and hopefully love of one another.

9) Random question: When you woke up this morning, were you ready to get out of bed? Or do you wish you could have snoozed for a bit longer?

A. Apparently I needed to sleep an hour past the 6 a.m. alarm. Fortunately, I had no where to go.

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Saturday 9: Work Hard

Saturday 9: Work Hard, Play Harder (2009)

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

1) We're celebrating the last holiday of summer by going country. Who is your favorite country music artist?

A. I don't really have one, although the lines between pop and country frequently blur so that I could say Sheryl Crow and still be on target. I also liked Dolly Parton, Barbara Mandel, and Anne Murray when I was younger.

2) Gretchen Wilson sings that on Tuesdays, she gets up before dawn. This morning, did you awaken on your own, or did you need an alarm clock?

A. My alarm goes off every morning at 6 a.m. whether I want it to or not.

3) She tells us that she doesn't waste her time on manicures or spay tans. How about you? Have you recently spent any money at the salon?

A. Last week, I had my first haircut since June 8, but that is all.

4) She sings that she's the first to clock in at work. Have you ever worked a job that required you to punch a time clock?

A. Yes, but it was a very long time ago.

5) Gretchen Wilson says she is a big fan of McDonald's and tries to eat there once a day when she's on tour. In terms of sales, America's 3 most popular fast-food lunch destinations are McDonald's, Starbucks and Subway. If you could choose a gift card to one of those three, which would you select?

A. Subway.

6) Gretchen has endorsed Redneck Riviera Whiskey. What's your favorite adult beverage?

A. I don't drink adult beverages. I drink tea and water.

Since this Monday is Labor Day, the holiday established to celebrate the American worker . . . 

7) Approx. 10% of Americans are self employed. Have you ever been your own boss?

A. Yes. I've been my own boss for quite a long while working as a freelancer. My husband and I also farm, which is its own enterprise.

8) According to Monster.com, 50% of workers have left a job to get away from a boss. Are you one of the 50%?

A. Yes.

9) Farmers feel the impact of extreme weather events. Have you ever had a job that required you to be outdoors most of the time?

A. Not a job, no. More like a lifestyle. As I aged and my allergies to everything became more severe, I spent less and less time outside. Now I go out and stand outside after rain showers when the air is cleaner.

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Saturday 9: Buttered Popcorn

Saturday 9: Buttered Popcorn (1961)

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

1) This Saturday, the treat's on Sam. Will you have buttered popcorn, caramel corn or cheese popcorn?

A. Buttered, please. Thank you, Sam.

2) This record represents the Supremes as they are seldom heard. Florence Ballard is singing lead, with background vocals provided by Mary Wilson, Barbara Martin and Diane Ross. That's right, "Diane." Her parents meant for her to be named "Diane," and that's what old friends and family still call her, but the hospital mistakenly put her name down as "Diana." Motown execs thought "Diana Ross" had a better sound and the rest, as they say, is history. Do you often make typos? Or are you careful and precise at the keyboard?

A. I am less careful than I used to be. Spell check has spoiled me.

3) Barbara Martin left the Supremes in 1962, before they reached stardom, because she was a new mom and wanted to stay home with her baby. Have you ever found yourself in the difficult position of having to choose between your personal and professional lives?

A. Yes. As a news reporter, I made it a point not to become friendly with people I would have to write about, such as supervisors or other public figures. However, sometimes I have become friends with people after a story has finished.

4) Florence Ballard's cousin, Hank, wrote the famous Chubby Checkers dance record, "The Twist." When did you last get on your feet and dance?

A. The other day. I was trying to move around and make my lymph glands work better. I was hoping to remove stagnant chi.

5) Mary Wilson stayed with the group until it disbanded in 1977. She has said that one of her most memorable moments came in 1968, when the group performed for Princess Margaret. Mary recalled that the Princess loudly asked if Mary's hair was real or a wig. Mary was shocked, expecting better behavior from a royal. Tell us a time when someone's behavior shocked you.

A. The other day, someone said something about my hair. I noted that it is rather fine, and she said, "Oh, I thought it would be really coarse." I was taken aback by that, but I did not respond.

6) In 1961, when this song was released, the TV show Hazel premiered and was a top 5 hit for NBC. Oscar winner Shirley Booth played the title character, a very capable and lovable maid. If Crazy Sam could have a maid for just a few hours today, she'd love to have her refrigerator cleaned and kitchen cabinets organized. If you could have a pair of helping hands around your house this afternoon, what would you ask the maid to do?

A. Clean up my husband's office, including the closets. That is where we store things like the Christmas decorations, etc., and everything in that room needs a thorough going-over.

7) Also in 1961, President John F. Kennedy appeared on the cover of Time as their Man of the Year. Are there any magazines in your home right now? If so, who is on the cover?

A. I think there's an AARP magazine here with Alan Alda on the cover.

8) Ernest Hemingway died in 1961. Have you read any of his works?

A. Yes, but it has been a while.

9) Random question: How many pancakes are in the perfect stack?

A. Three.

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Saturday 9: I See Love

Saturday 9: I See Love (2010)

(Which is much better than seeing dead people)

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

1) This is the theme from Mike and Molly, a TV show that ran from 2010 to 2016. Were you a fan?

A. I have never seen the show.

2) Molly was played by Melissa McCarthy. Today she's one of Hollywood's best-paid actresses, but when she began her career, she was barely scraping by. She recently recalled the time when, as a struggling actress, she was rejected at the ATM because it only gave out $20s and she didn't have even that much in her checking account. How often do you visit the ATM? Several times a week? Several times a month? Never?

A. Maybe three times a year.

3) When she was broke, Melissa couldn't afford blueberries and avocados.  Now she savors them. When you're a few bucks ahead, what do you splurge on?

A. Books.

4) Mike was played by Billy Gardell. He was working at a comedy club, cleaning the bathrooms and answering the phone. He used to crack jokes with other employees and finally one of his coworkers dared him to go onstage on "open mic night." A comedy career was born. Tell us about someone who pushed you to make the right move.

A. My English professor at the community college was instrumental in pushing me to go on after my bachelor's degree. I earned an associates' there and transferred. She said I had a talent that should not be wasted. She thought I could be another Lee Smith if I applied myself. Obviously, I did not go in that direction, choosing instead to write for newspapers. I suppose it is not too late.

5) On the show, Mike's best friend was his fellow officer, Carl McMillan. Carl was not especially motivated and still lived with his grandmother, well into his 30s. How old were you when you moved out of the house for good?

A. I was 20. I lived at home until I married.

6) Mike's and Molly's mothers are different as night and day and frequently did not get along. Have you ever had in-law trouble?

A. Not really, no.

7) This week's song was written by Keb Mo. He switches among several different guitars when he works -- electric, acoustic and resonator. Can you play guitar?

A. I can! And do. You can go to the "music" label and see videos of me playing. I have been posting one on Tuesdays this summer.

8) In 2010, when this show premiered, Apple introduced the iPad. Do you use a tablet?

A. I have a Kindle HD tablet, but I don't do any work on it or have Facebook on it, or anything like that. I have one game and lots of books on it. I do all of my work on a desktop.

9) This week's random question gives you an opportunity to brag: What's something you do better than most people?

A. I'm not very good at bragging. I write well. I don't know that I do it better "than most people" but better than some. I take decent pictures, but I do not consider myself a professional photographer even though I've published and been paid for at least 1,000 pictures. I have always considered myself a "Jill of all trades," meaning I do a lot of things sort of well. I am loyal and forgiving although I do have my "time to stop" point. I try to be a nice, kind, decent human being. Really, isn't that the most important thing?

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Saturday 9: Who Are You

Saturday 9: Who Are You? (1977)

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

1) This song, originally recorded by The Who, was the theme of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, which ran from 2000 to 2015. Did you watch it? Were you a fan?

A. I did not watch CSI in any of its incarnations. I don't believe I've seen a single episode.

2) When the show premiered, Gil Grissom (William Petersen) was the CSI team's supervisor. Gil's mother was deaf, and so he was fluent in American Sign Language. Can you communicate using ASL?

A. I am afraid not. It would be a good thing to learn.

3) His assistant is blood-splatter analyst Catherine Willows (Marg Helgenberger). Catherine's family moved often, which made it hard for her to get traction in her studies. She finally just dropped out of high school. She later got her GED, and even graduated from college. Have you ever considered going back to school?

A. I did go back to school. I finished up my master's degree at the age of 49. I am starting a new course on Coursera shortly.

4) Though set in Las Vegas, most of CSI was filmed in Santa Clarita, CA. Santa Clarita is also home to Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park. Do you enjoy roller coasters?

A. Not particularly.

5) The vocalist on the CSI theme, Roger Daltry of the Who, made a cameo appearance on the show during season 7. Do you have a favorite Who song?

A. Pinball Wizard.

6) CSI became a franchise, followed by CSI: Miami and CSI: New York. If we could organize a Saturday 9 field trip, which of these CSI cities would you prefer we visit: Las Vegas, Miami or New York?

A. New York.

7) In 2000, the last original Peanuts comic strip was published. How many Peanuts characters can you name?

A. Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Schroeder, Sherman, Lucy, Peppermint Patty, Violet, and I can describe others but don't remember their names - Charlie Brown has a little sister, as does Linus and Lucy, P.Patty has a friend who wears glasses, the boy who is always dusty. Snoopy has a brother who visits him sometimes, too.

8) Also in 2000, media giant Time Warner merged with America Online, the email provider. It's estimated that 74% of us check our email at least once/day. Are you one of the 74%?

A. Yes.

9) Random question -- Did you more recently cut and paste, or delete?

A. I cut and pasted the links to the Saturday 9 blog and the video.

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Saturday 9: Mad About You

Saturday 9: Mad About You (1992)

 

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

1) Mad About You was a sitcom that ran from 1992 to 1999. Are you familiar with the show? Were you a fan?

A. I watched it occasionally. It wasn't something I made a point of seeing.

2) The show was rebooted in 2019/2020 on the Spectrum streaming service. Do you have any streaming services? If so, which ones?

A. I have Amazon Prime, which I guess is a streaming service. However, I have DSL for my internet, and that's a slow connection. I seldom attempt to watch TV using it.

3) The series revolved around Manhattan newlyweds Paul and Jamie Buchman. They met at a newsstand, where they were both purchasing The New York Times. With so many publications online, newsstands are now uncommon. When you want to purchase a printed newspaper or magazine, where do you go?

A. I usually pick something up at the grocery store, although I haven't since the pandemic.

4) Paul is played by Paul Reiser. He created the series because he believes marriage is a tough but satisfying adventure. He and real-life wife Paula have been married for more than 30 years. They met when she was a waitress at the comedy club where he was performing. Have you ever waited tables?

A. I have never waited tables. I did, however, serve as kitchen help and may have waited tables when I worked for Camp Fincastle (a church camp) when I was about 13. I really don't remember. I always forget I did that.

5) Helen Hunt won four Emmy Awards as Jamie. Over 10 million people watch the Emmys each year. She also won an Oscar, which has an annual viewership of twice that. Therefore huge audiences witnessed Helen's acceptance speeches. Are you comfortable speaking in public?

A. Not particularly. One of the reasons I keep doing the music videos and putting them on my blog on Tuesdays is to try to get better at being in public. I found that the camera acts as "the public" so I am trying to move out of my comfort zone and do better by making these videos.

6) During the opening credits, Paul and Jamie are sharing an ice cream bar. When did you most recently have ice cream?

A. I had frozen yogurt earlier today. Otherwise, I do not eat ice cream.

7) Paul and Jamie's best friends were another couple, Fran and Mark. Eventually Fran and Mark divorced, and Paul and Jamie worked at being friends with both of them. Have you been friends with a couple who split? Did you manage to stay friends with both of them?

A. I have been friends with a couple who split, and I am no longer friends with either person. One moved away. The other is still the area but I haven't seen him in years.

8) In 1992, when Paul and Jamie were playing New Yorkers, real New Yorkers were following the trial of mobster John Gotti. Mr. Gotti acquired many nicknames, including The Teflon Don, The Dapper Don and Black John. Is there anyone in your life that you call by a pet name or nickname?

A. My husband, whom I call by various and sundry pet names, and my brother, who goes by the nickname of "Diddle."  He received that name when he was quite young and liked to be tickled. He'd go around saying, "Tickle tickle little Loren (that's his real name)" but it came out "Diddle diddle little Loren" so eventually he became "Diddle." These days, I generally call him "Bro," though.

9) Random question  -- What subject do you wish you knew more about?

A. I wish I knew more about geology. I always found rocks fascinating when I was a child, and once considered pursuing it, but I did not. I also wish I knew more about astronomy.

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I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.

Saturday 9: Moonlighting

Saturday 9: Moonlighting (1985)

 

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it

1) Moonlighting was an award-winning comedy-drama that ran from 1985 to 1989. Are you familiar with the show? Were you a fan?

A. I've heard of it but I don't believe I ever watched it. In 1985, we could only get two channels and Moonlighting was on the one we could not receive.

2) The series revolved around The Blue Moon Detective Agency in Los Angeles. There have been countless TV shows and movies about detectives and their cases, yet Crazy Sam doesn't know anyone who has ever hired a private investigator. How about you? Have you ever had anything or anyone investigated?

A. I worked for a law firm that sometimes hired private investigators for litigation cases, particularly divorces and work-related injuries where someone claimed disability but there was suspicion the person was not actually disabled. I always felt like those cases were a bit dishonest - just because someone is having a good day and decides to mow the yard doesn't mean that tomorrow she didn't spend the next day in bed paying for it.

3) The agency was named Blue Moon because one of the owners, Maddie Hayes, was a model known as The Blue Moon Girl, famous for promoting Blue Moon Shampoo. If we were to rename their detective agency based on the shampoo you most recently used, what would it be called?

A. Free and Gentle Detective Agency.

4) Cybill Shepherd played Maddie Hayes. Cybill believes we can all find romance many times and said she considers the concept of one true love as "dramatic treacle." Do you agree?

A. I think love comes in many forms, and it evolves as one ages. You can love the same person a million different ways. Or a million different people in one way.

5) David Addison was played by Bruce Willis. At the beginning of his career he couldn't support himself as a actor and held down part-time jobs as a security guard, shuttle bus driver and bartender. How many different occupations have you had?

A. Farm daughter, babysitter, file clerk, secretary, legal assistant, paralegal, journalist, freelance writer, adjunct teacher, wife. Not necessarily in that order. 

6) The Moonlighting theme was co-written and performed by Al Jarreau. While in college, Al planned on being a career counselor. Yet once he began performing with a jazz trio, he knew that music was where his heart was. Tell us about a time you found joy from an unexpected source.

A. I have been surprised at how much I enjoy digital photography.

7) Moonlighting was created by Glenn Gordon Caron. ABC gave him the opportunity based on his work on Remington Steele and Taxi. Of these three shows -- Moonlighting, Remington Steele and Taxi -- which would you prefer to binge watch?

A. I've never seen any of them, but I will go with Remington Steele.

 

8) In 1985, the year Moonlighting premiered, Coca Cola introduced The New Coke. It was not successful and disappeared from store shelves quickly. What's the most recent beverage you drank?

A. Does tea count? If not, then it would have been a root beer at least a year ago or longer.

9) Random question  -- Each day, do you put more time into improving your mind or your appearance?

A. I read all the time, newspapers from everywhere, so I would guess my mind. My efforts at my appearance have become nonexistent, aside from clothing. I don't go anywhere and when I do I have on a mask, so there isn't much point in putting on loads of make-up. 

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I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.

Saturday 9: The Love Boat

Saturday 9: The Love Boat (1977)

 

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

1) The Love Boat ran from 1977 to 1987. It was in the Top 10 for seven of those 10 seasons. Are you familiar with the show? Were you a fan?

A. I watched it, especially when it first came on, as it was on the only channel we could receive on the television. I don't remember watching it much after I married and left home. I did not consider it "must see TV."

2) Every week, viewers followed The Pacific Princess as she set sail to a glamorous destination. Have you ever taken a cruise? If so, where did you go?

A. I have never been on a cruise.

3) Gavin MacLeod played Captain Steubing. Born Allan See, he came up with the stage name by combining the first name of a fictional character he admired, and the last name of a teacher who influenced him. Using his formula, give yourself a stage name. For example, Sam would be Hermione Hart (Hermione from Harry Potter; Hart for her Kindergarten teacher).

A. Stephanie Larsen.

4) After the series ended, Fred Grandy (aka "Gopher") went on to become a Congressman from Iowa and then CEO of Goodwill Industries. If you had a bag of gently-used items to donate, where would you take them?

A. Before the Pandemic, I took things to the Rescue Mission, which helps homeless folks in the city. I haven't donated anything lately except books, which I dropped off on the back porch of the local library.

 

5) Ted Lange is best known for his role as the ship's bartender, Isaac. But he began his career performing the classics, and appeared at Colorado Shakespearean Festival and London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Let's class up this joint. Give us a little Shakespeare.

A. Song of the Witches: “Double, double toil and trouble”

BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

(from Macbeth)

Double, double toil and trouble;

Fire burn and caldron bubble.

Fillet of a fenny snake,

In the caldron boil and bake;

Eye of newt and toe of frog,

Wool of bat and tongue of dog,

Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting,

Lizard's leg and howlet's wing,

For a charm of powerful trouble,

Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

Double, double toil and trouble;

Fire burn and caldron bubble.

Cool it with a baboon's blood,

Then the charm is firm and good.

Notes: Macbeth: IV.i 10-19; 35-38

6) Bernie Kopell played the ship's doctor, Adam Bricker. Kopell first appeared on TV in 1961 and was a regular on Get Smart and That Girl, and he's still acting today. But Love Boat was, by far, his favorite role. Working on the show was "absolute heaven" because he was paid to travel the world and meet his acting idols, like Oscar winners Greer Garson, Joan Fontaine and Eva Marie Saint, who appeared on the show. When you think of the best job you have ever had, what made it so good: the pay, the location, the people you met, or the work itself?

A. The best job I ever had was as a freelance news writer. I worked from home long before that was ever a thing, I met thousands of people, I educated the public so I was a teacher of sorts, and I absolutely loved the work. I loved the intricacies of government as I became a well-known local government reporter. I loved seeing how the mechanics of politics worked, and how limited local government is by rules written by idiots in the state's House of Delegates and Senate, as well as the nutcases at the federal levels of Congress. I enjoyed trying to explain this to the public, although given the state of things today, I must have done a poor job of it because nobody still understands how it is all supposed to work. I estimate that I wrote over 7,500 articles, give or take a few, during my time writing for local publications, and published about 3,000 photos. At one point, I was churning out over 30 articles a month. I still miss it, but not enough to go to a board meeting now and risk exposing myself to Covid-45.

7) Lauren Tewes played Cruise Director Julie McCoy. Today she lives in Seattle, appearing in local theater and -- between acting assignments -- working as a chef for a catering service. Have you hosted dinner for more than 8 people? If yes, do you remember what you served?

A. We had Thanksgiving at my house in 1989, which was the year my parents' house burned down. So I had my parents over, my brother and his wife, my in-laws, and my sister-in-law and her husband. I fixed the turkey and some side dishes. My sister-in-law brought sweet potatoes. That was the largest dinner I have ever hosted. I've had many open houses at Christmas, but those weren't actual meals.

8) For the first nine seasons, the theme was sung by Jack Jones. The Grammy-winning singer says one of his career highlights playing Sky Masterson onstage in Guys and Dolls. In his late 50s at the time, had had to go outside his comfort zone, dancing and acting as well as singing before a live audience. Tell us about something new you tried recently.

A. For the past six weeks or so, I have been videotaping guitar performances and putting them up once a week on my blog. They are unlisted on my youtube channel, but if you look under "music" in the stuff I write about section of my blog, they will all come up and you can reach them via the links here. The song I posted on July 14 was one I wrote. This has been very difficult for me, because I have a public speaking fear that the camera instills when I hit "record," so I've been trying to push myself to do these to get over that. Also, I think my voice sounds bad and I hate the way I look, so lots about this is out of my comfort zone.

9) Random question  -- Which would you rather receive as a gift: one $500 wristwatch, or five $100 wristwatches?

A. Probably the $100 wristwatches. I wear a cheap Timex anyway. I don't think I've ever paid more than $100 for a watch. I have one from my university that I bought on a whim (needs a battery), but mostly I wear an Indiglo Timex and have for years. I get the gold and silver stretch bands. I used to wear a Waltham "moon and stars" watch that I loved, but I lost it and could never find a replacement. Waltham makes junk now, but they used to make really fine watches.

Great questions, Sam!

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I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.

Saturday 9: Flipper

Saturday 9: Flipper (1964)

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

1) Flipper ran for three seasons, from 1964 to 1967. Are you familiar with the show? Were you a fan?

A. I am familiar with the show and probably watched it, but I don't remember much about it.

2) Brothers Sandy and Bud consider a bottle-nosed dolphin, named Flipper, their pet. Do you currently share your home with any animals?

A. Just the bugs and spiders that come in uninvited.

3) Bud and Sandy's dad was Chief Warden Porter Ricks of the fictional Coral Key Marine Preserve. In reality, the show was filmed in Miami and Key Biscayne. When were you last in the ocean? Which ocean was it?

A. I was last in the Atlantic Ocean, last year.

4) There was no one single "Flipper." In close-ups, the role was played by a dolphin named Susie. While Susie was good at interacting with people, she had trouble with stunts, and sometimes a male dolphin named Clown was brought in for action sequences. Do you consider yourself more social, like Susie? Or are you more athletic, like Clown?

A. I think I'm more like a hermit crab.

5) Without looking it up, do you know the difference between a dolphin and a porpoise?

A. It has something to do with the nose.

6) Flipper wasn't just a TV pet. He was an industry! During the show's run, Flipper comic books, coloring books and puzzles were very popular. As an adult, do you entertain yourself by reading comics, coloring, or completing jigsaw puzzles?

A. I do jigsaw puzzles on the computer and I color sometimes, though I haven't in a while.

7) The Flipper lunchbox was also a big seller. It came with a Thermos topped with a red cup. Do you own a Thermos?

A. I think there's one around here someplace.

8) In 1964, when Flipper premiered, it was up against The Outer Limits and The Jackie Gleason Show. If those were your only viewing choices, would you watch the family show about the dolphin, the sci-fi anthology show, or the comedy-variety show? (Or would you rather flip through a magazine?)

A. I'd watch The Outer Limits, though I have never heard of it. I'd rather read if the show turned out to be poor.

9) Random question  -- Which would you be more comfortable explaining: how a car engine works, the current IRS tax brackets, or the rules of baseball?

A. I think I'd be more comfortable trying to explain how the cow jumped over the moon than any of those things.

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I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.