Saturday 9: Joanna

Saturday 9: Joanna (1983)

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

1) The subject of this week's song, Joanna, is described as someone who never lets you down and can always be counted upon. Who in your life is like that?

A. I have trust issues. I expect to be let down. My husband does a good job of being there for me, though.

2) Kool and the Gang vocalist James "J. T." Taylor sings that he will do his best to do what's right for her. Reflect on the last week. What did you devote special effort to?

A. I spent some time writing letters. I also did a lot of laundry, and this was major house cleaning week (I have someone who comes to help me with the things I can no longer do because of chronic pain.). But mostly I've been trying to rid myself of a sore throat that has given me laryngitis, so I've had more down time than I usually do.

3) This video was filmed at the Colonial Diner in Lyndhurst, NJ. Still open 40 years later, the Colonial is known for their Boom Boom Shrimp, aka fried shrimp in sweet chili sauce. Think of your favorite local restaurant. What menu item would you recommend?

A. The Tap House in Daleville has a great salad. They grow their own lettuce year-round and it's the best.

4) Kool and the Gang's biggest hit was 1980's "Celebration," which is popular today with disc jockeys at wedding receptions. Are you likely to get up and dance at a wedding reception? Or would we find you enjoying the party from your seat?

A. I haven't been to a wedding reception in years, but I can seldom not sway or at least bob up and down when there's good music on.

5) Kool and the Gang are proud of their NJ roots. Group founder Robert Bell was given the nickname "Kool" by his Jersey City friends because he was so "laid back." Do you think your friends would describe you as "laid back?"

A. No. I'm a pretty keyed up neurotic nervous Nelly. 

6) One of the Jersey City's biggest employers is Evergreen, a transportation and shipping company with offices in Evertrust Plaza, a high-rise near the waterfront. What is the tallest building you've ever been in? Were you there for business, or to enjoy the view?

A. I honestly don't know the answer to this for certain. I *think* I was in the Empire State building in New York when I was a teenager, but I'm not 100% sure of that. It would have been on a trip there with my parents when I was 13. I don't remember much about it except for eating the best Chinese food ever in Chinatown and seeing the Statue of Liberty from a distance.

7) In 1983, when "Joanna" topped the charts, Vanessa Williams became the first African American to be crowned Miss America. Today, Miss America is still among the most popular televised pageants, along with Miss World and Miss Universe. Do you watch beauty pageants?

A. I do not as a rule. My niece was a beauty pageant participant when she was young and if they were close, I went to support her. Those are the only ones I've ever watched.

8) Also in 1983, superstars Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson joined forces for the #1 song, "Say, Say, Say." Each man began his career as part of a group but went on to have success on his own. Can you think of anyone else who started out in band or group but also scored as a solo artist?

A. Stevie Nicks was in Fleetwood Mac but had a decent solo career. George Michael was in WHAM! but had a good solo career. Phil Collins was in Genesis before he became a solo artist.

9) Random question: Have you more recently eaten bread sticks or carrot sticks?

A. I have had carrots and bread but neither in sticks. I had baby carrots at Christmas so if the stick part matters, then I last had carrots. Otherwise, the sandwich I had at lunch takes the win for the bread.

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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: Young Girl

Saturday 9: Young Girl (1968)

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

1) The song is about a girl who is too young for romance. How old were you when your parents allowed you to date?

A. I was told I wouldn't be allowed to date until I was 16, but I went to the prom when I was 15 (I would turn 16 the next month). 

2) Lead singer Gary Puckett mentions the girl's perfume. What scent do you wear most often?

A. I don't wear scents. Everything I own and everything that I buy is unscented. Unscented shampoo, unscented detergent, unscented soap.

3) "Young Girl" reached #2 on the charts and stayed there for three weeks, but it never hit #1. It was stuck behind Otis Redding's "(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay." Are you competitive by nature? Or would you be satisfied doing well, but not being #1?

A. I am competitive but not to the point of making a big deal out of it. I'm ok with not being #1 (so long as I'm not last).

4) The Union Gap got together in San Diego, California's second most populated city. Have you ever visited California? If yes, where did you go?

A. I visited California in 1977. My father, mother, brother, grandmother, two young uncles and I drove across the U.S. to California to visit my other set of grandparents. We were in a van. It was a long, cramped trip. I was 13. We were in some flat state like Kansas when we heard on the radio that Elvis Presley had died.

5) The Union Gap performed at a White House state dinner for special guests Prince Charles and Princess Anne. Some in attendance that night maintain that President Nixon seemed to be playing matchmaker that night between the Prince and his daughter, Tricia. Have you ever tried to fix people up? If yes, did romance result?

A. I have not meddled in other people's lives, at least, not with any intent.

6) After six Top 20 hits in three years, the Union Gap disbanded. Today Gary Puckett tours as a solo artist on the "oldies circuit" with Peter Noone of the Herman's Hermits. Without looking it up, can you name any of the Herman's Hermits hits?

A. Mrs. Brown you have a lovely daughter. Isn't that one of theirs? 

7) In 1968, when "Young Girl" was a hit, Jacqueline Kennedy married Aristotle Onassis. Think about the last wedding you attended. Were you closer to the bride or groom?

A. I haven't been to a wedding in years. I was probably closer to the groom as he would have been a firefighter with my husband.

8) Also in 1968, the most popular movie in theaters was Funny Girl, starring Barbra Streisand. What's the last movie you watched?

A. Role Play, which is an Amazon movie staring Kaley Cuoco that I do not recommend, unless you just want to kill an hour and a half or so. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great, either.

9) Random question -- Come clean: Right now are there more dishes in your sink or clothes in your hamper?

A. Clothes in the hamper, but they will all be washed up by the end of the day. I try to get all of that stuff caught up when we're expecting frigid weather in case the power goes out. I like clean undies.

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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

Saturday 9: Hotel California (1977)

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

 

1) In this song, Don Henley called the hotel's front desk and asked, "Please bring me my wine." He was told they haven't had wine since 1969. When did you last have a glass of wine?

A. I last had a drink of wine in 2012. My professor in my creative writing class I was in for my master's degree brought a bottle of blackberry wine to our final class, and I had a little then. I normally do not drink alcohol.

2) The lyrics refer to wine as a "spirit." That is incorrect. Wines are fermented, not distilled, and have a lower alcohol content than spirits. When "Hotel California" was popular, listeners who were into wine called radio stations to let them know about the mistake. Are you a wine aficionado? Are any of your friends or family knowledgeable about wine?

A. I am not a wine aficionado. However, I will tell a tale on myself. My father made wine when I was a teenager. I had a difficult time then, and I would take half of one of his bottles to drink and fill the rest back up with water. I remember waiting until he thought the wine was ready and wondering if he'd realize what I'd done. He pronounced his creation to be really "sweet tasting" and good. I suppose watered-down wine would taste sweet. I stopped drinking alcohol when I was 19.

3) In the song, Henley sings about looking for the door that will take him "back to the place I was before." Don says that refers to a loss of innocence and a longing for a simpler time. When you think about "the good old days," where does your mind wander to?

A. I don't really have any "good old days" to think back on, to be perfectly honest. I might consider my time playing in the Top 40 band I was in during high school to be a highlight, or my time at Hollins College (now Hollins University) to be "the good old days," I suppose.

 

4) With five #1 singles, six #1 albums, and six Grammy awards, it's generally agreed that the Eagles were one of the most popular groups of the 1970s. Which decade produced most of your favorite songs?

A. I listen to mostly 1970s songs, with Melissa Etheridge and Sheryl Crow from the early 1990s thrown in for good measure.

 

5) The Eagles were formed in 1971 when four of them happened to find themselves hired to play back up for Linda Ronstadt. The men found they really hit off and wanted to keep working together when the gig with Linda was up. Tell us about how you met someone important in your life.

A. I think everyone knows I met my husband at a football game. I will tell you how I met my friend Brenda, who is no longer with us. We worked together at the historic museum for a while, but we were not friends. I was trying to get things on the computer and the museum director wanted the inventory done by hand. I tried to get Brenda to back me up, but she wanted no part of any confrontation, and did not. I ended up leaving the job. Later, Brenda and I were in a historic society together, and she took over as president after I did. I stepped down because my mother was ill. Then Brenda's mother unexpectedly passed away that same year. That created a bond between us, and we became friends.

 

6) The Eagles are still on the road, filling big arenas for their Long Goodbye tour. One explanation for their enduring popularity is that their music spans genres. They scored hits on the rock, pop and country charts. Other popular categories of music include classical, gospel, jazz, Latin, reggae, New Age, and rap. Which do you listen to most often? Which did you listen to most recently?

A. I was listening to soft pop from the 1970s.

 

7) In 1976, when "Hotel California" was topping the charts, the trend in home decor was vibrant. Intense copper, bright pink and vivid avocado were among the popular colors for bath towels, mats and shower curtains that year. If we were to peek into your 2024 bathroom(s), what colors would we find?

A. Gray and white.

 

8) Handbags were big in 1976. Not just in popularity but in size. Purses routinely had compartments on the inside and pockets on the outside. When you leave the house, do you travel light? Or do you prefer to carry a lot with you?

A. I have a handbag that is spacious but not full. I have to have room for an asthma inhaler and those small clutches generally aren't big enough to handle one of those.

9) Random question -- How different is your life today than it was a year ago: (a) a lot; (b) a little); (c) not at all?

A. (b) A little.

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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: Start of Something

Saturday 9: This Could Be the Start of Something (1959)

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

Welcome to the first Saturday 9 of 2024.

 

 

1) We're beginning the year with an optimistic song about starting something new. Right now, are you feeling positive about 2024?

A. No, I am not feeling positive about 2024.

 

2) In this song, Jack Jones sings that because he's on a diet he declines a rich dessert. Are you trying to lose a few pounds after the holidays?

A. I am trying to eat better. If I lose weight, that would be a bonus. My doctor would turn cartwheels if I could get my cholesterol down.

3) The specific dessert referred to is a Charlotte Russe, a cake made with custard, fruit, cream, whiskey and gelatin. Preparation sounds like a great deal of work! What's the most recent dish you whipped up in your kitchen?

A. A sandwich. I am not good at "whipping up" dishes. Probably the last thing I "whipped up" was a meatloaf that I made the week after Christmas.

4) The lyrics contrast dining at Sardi's in New York with sunbathing in Malibu. Do you enjoy nightlife or are you more outdoorsy?

A. I do not enjoy nightlife nor am I outdoorsy. I am read-a-book-in-a-cozy-chair-y.

5) This week's song was written by Steve Allen. While best known for his work on TV (he was the first host of The Tonight Show), he was also a composer who felt most creative at the piano. When do you feel most creative?

A. Generally, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and sometimes at night after I've dreamed.

 

6) This week's artist, Jack Jones, won a pair of Grammy Awards and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Yet he's probably best known for singing the song that welcomed travelers aboard The Love Boat every week. What TV theme song can you sing along with?

A. Gilligan's Island. I am sure there are others, I just can't think of them right now. I used to be able to whistle the theme to the Andy Griffith Show but my whistler doesn't whistle that well anymore. I can still whistle it, but it is very soft.

 

7) In 1959, when this song was popular, "continuing dramas" (aka soap operas) like Young Dr. Malone and Ma Perkins were broadcast daily on the radio. When you turn on the radio, do you listen for news, talk or music?

A. I listen to the talk and news on NPR, and I listen to other stations for music.

8) Now let's turn the calendar and our attention from 1959 to 2024. Is there a skill you're looking forward to learning, or improving, this year?

A. I hope to write more, and play guitar more, and perhaps learn something new in either skill. (A friend wants me to write a screenplay. I have no idea how to write a screenplay, so that would be learning something new in an old skill.) I may go crazy and learn something completely new at some point, but at the moment I have no clue what that would be.

9) Have you purchased anything on impulse yet this year?

A. Yes. I bought a pair of knit gloves at CVS, and I bought a box of Cella's chocolate covered cherries at the grocery store. I regret neither.

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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

Saturday 9: The Old Me (2020)

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

 

We're bidding adieu to the old year with a song about looking back. 

1) In this song, the lead singer thanks his younger self for everything he learned from past experience. What's something you learned in 2023?

A. I learned that I am more afraid than I thought I was. Afraid of what, you may ask? Everything. Leaving the house. Stretching myself, trying new things, leaving my comfort zone. Leaving my safe space. Losing. Winning. 

 

2) He admits he did some things he wished he hadn't. Did you do anything in 2023 you wish you could take back?

A. I wish we hadn't put fertilizer on the hayfields only to watch them burn up in a drought. That was an expensive loss.

3) This music video consists of old photographs. Do you have many photos lingering on your phone or camera? Or are you prompt about downloading them?

A. I am fairly prompt about downloading them. I keep a few on my phone that I want to see, but generally delete them and keep it clean. No old ones on my cameras at all.

4) This week's featured artist is 5 Seconds of Summer, a band from Australia. Have you ever been to the land down under? If not, would you like to go?

A. I have never been to Australia. I wouldn't mind a trip there, especially if I could hop over to New Zealand while I was in the neighborhood.

 

5) In 2020, when this song was popular, "murder hornets," aka the giant Asian hornet, were spotted for the first time in the United States. Are you afraid of bugs?

A. It depends on the bug. Generally, though, no. If my husband is home, I will do the girly thing and go "Ew, a big spider, kill it!" but if he isn't around, I just take care of it myself.

6) Enough about 2020! Let's look back on 2023. Did you travel this past year?

A. I went to the grocery store. I think that's about as far as I got.

7) What was the biggest purchase that you made in 2023?

A. We bought a weed sprayer thing for the fields that never was used because the rains didn't come. The pasture dried up and the fields didn't need to be sprayed for weeds because weeds was all there was. No point in killing them when that was all the cows would have to eat.

8) What was your favorite book of 2023?

A. I don't really have favorite books, but I liked A Man Called Otto. It made me think. I also liked Catch-22 much more than I expected to.

9) What are you looking forward to most in 2024?

A. Hopefully we will take a vacation. We haven't had one since 2019.  We haven't made any plans, though.

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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: Happy Holidays

 

SATURDAY 9: HAPPY HOLIDAYS

 From the archives

1. When Sam Winters (the meme author) was a little girl, she loved giving her annual wish list to Santa. If you could ask Santa for anything at all, right now, what would it be?

A. There's always the Peace on Earth wish, but that ain't happening. So, I will take it closer to home and ask for a hard-shell case for my Fender electric guitar. That's simple and easy, right?

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

A. I am on the Nice list because I am not mean, outlandish, or naughty. I swear and I am overweight. Those are my vices. If everyone who says f&ck and eats too much is on the naughty list, the nice list is very short.

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

A. I am not traveling.

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

A. I sent a gift to a friend in England, but I ordered it from Amazon UK. So I am not sure how far it actually traveled.

5. Did you buy yourself a gift this year?

A. I bought a pair of earrings to fill out an order so I could get free shipping.

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

A. Gingerbread.

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

A. The First Noel.

8. What's your favorite winter beverage?

A. Water. It's all I drink anymore. It used to be hot chocolate, though.

9. Share a memory from last Christmas.

A. Oy vey. Last Christmas? Last Christmas took three blog entries to describe. We lost power in 0-degree weather. We didn't have Christmas, not really. We were busy trying to keep the pipes in the house from freezing, and chopping out the frozen ice from the cattle waterers, and ensuring that everyone else was ok, too. We were saved by my wonderful friend and her husband, who brought us dinner on Sunday afternoon, which was Christmas Day, just as the power came back on, and my husband and I had a wonderful meal that I was most thankful for, since I'd only had sandwiches for days.

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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: The Christmas Blues

Saturday 9: The Christmas Blues (1953)

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

 

1) In this song, Dean Martin sings that the streets are white with snow. Do you anticipate a White Christmas this year?

A. No. We have about a 10% chance of a white Christmas on any given year. Mostly I hope this year we don't have below zero temperatures and that we do have electricity, after last year's debacle.

2) He tells us he's done plenty of window shopping this season. Do you find you're influenced by a retailer's window dressing and store decor? Are you more motivated by price? Or do you do most of your shopping online, making holiday decorations irrelevant?

A. These days I do most of my shopping online. I miss the days of actual shopping, though. I also miss the Sears and the JC Penny's catalogs. The new way of shopping is as time consuming as flipping through a catalog, but definitely not as fun.

 

3) Dean was born in Steubenville, OH. Though he rarely returned to his hometown, it was in his thoughts during the holidays. Every Christmas he made like Santa and sent toys to hospitalized children in the Steubenville area. Are there toys on your shopping list this year?

A. I bought kids books for the great niece and great nephew. Otherwise, aside from a few monetary donations that hopefully will help a kid or two, no.

4) He had fast hands when it came to cards and before he was famous he worked as a dealer in Atlantic City. When you play cards, what's your favorite game?

A. We play Rummy when we play cards. But we haven't played in a long time. I play a lot of solitaire on the computer, though.

5) Dean Martin was an avid reader . . . of comic books, especially in bed when he was on the road and couldn't sleep. Much as he enjoyed comic books, he was embarrassed by them. What do you do when you can't sleep?

A. I walk around the house a bit and then return to bed. I have a countdown and an imagery method that I learned long ago to help me fall asleep. If that doesn't work, I repeat the process - get up, walk around, go back to bed, and try again, until I fall asleep. 

Now let's have a few holiday-specific questions:

 

6) Every year, the United States Postal Service introduces special holiday stamps. Do you purchase them?

A. I bought the snow globes this year. I think they were the newest ones.

 

7) Do you have a funny/ugly holiday sweater?

A. No.

 

8) Do you wrap your presents or use gift bags?

A. I do both. Some presents call for gift bags, depending on the present (and the person). Gift bags are good for older folks who might have trouble with tape and boxes. They're also good when I'm in a hurry and don't feel like wrapping.

9) We're doing Christmas karaoke! What holiday or winter-themed song will you perform?

A. Winter Wonderland. Sleigh bells ring! Are you listening? In the lane, snow is glistening! A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight, walking in a winter wonderland!

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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: Wildest Dreams

Saturday 9: Wildest Dreams (2014)

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

1) In this song, a tall, handsome man asks Taylor Swift to drive away with him to escape the crowds. Where were you headed when you most recently got behind the wheel?

A. I went up to my mother-in-law's house.

2) She sings about memories of a romance that just "follow you around." Is anyone special on your mind this morning? (It doesn't have to be a romantic partner.)

A. For some reason, I had been thinking of a high school friend lately, and after some searching, I found a number for her and called it. We have reconnected. She lives far, far away.

3) The lyrics reference sunset. Now that it gets dark earlier, do you find yourself watching the sun set more often?

A. I have always stopped to watch the sun set or rise. I stop to watch the moon set and rise, too.

4) The video for this song takes place on a movie set. Swift said it was inspired by tales of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton embarking on a love affair while co-starring in Cleopatra. Elizabeth and Richard fell in love in Rome, while this video was filmed outside of Gaborone, Botswana. In your wildest dreams, which of these exotic locales would you rather visit: Rome or Gaborone?

A. Rome, I suppose, although I've always wanted to see the Egyptian pyramids. But that wasn't a choice.

5) In homage to Elizabeth Taylor, Swift went from blonde to brunette for the video. Do you have an appointment with a stylist between now and year end?

A. I think I have had my last haircut for the year, unless I have a sudden hair emergency.

6) Both Taylors (Swift and Elizabeth) often wore the color purple. What color dominates your wardrobe?

A. Blue.

7) In the video, Taylor Swift's leading man is Scott Eastwood, son of Clint. Though not as famous as his dad, Scott works steadily and has more than 30 TV and movie credits. Can you think of another second-generation performer who followed his or her parent into show business?

A. Jennifer Grey of Dirty Dancing fame. I learned from reading her autobiography earlier this year that her father is Academy Award winning actor Joel Grey. He won an Academy Award for a role in Cabaret with Liza Minnelli. (Don't feel bad, I had no idea who he was, either, until I looked him up.)

8) In 2014, when "Wildest Dreams" topped the charts, Paul McCartney had to reschedule tour dates so he could recover from a bout with the flu. How are you feeling this morning? Any coughs, sneezes, sniffles?

A. I always have sinus drainage, so nothing out of the ordinary.

9) Random question: How many different zip codes have you lived in throughout your life?

A. Three. Interesting fact: my address where I live has changed 3 times without my ever moving (although the zip code has stayed the same).

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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: Rollin' Stone

Saturday 9: Rollin' Stone (1958)

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

 

1) The title comes from the proverb, "a rolling stone gathers no moss." What do you suppose that proverb is trying to teach us?

A. The proverb is trying to teach us not to be couch potatoes, but instead to constantly be "human doings" instead of "human beings."

 

2) The lyrics warn us not to be lazy stay-at-homes but to go out and learn about the world around us. Tell us about a place you haven't visited yet but would like to.

A. I would like to go Scotland. Or Ireland. Or New Zealand.

 

3) Karen and Cubby were Mouseketeers on the original Mickey Mouse Club, a TV show which ran from 1955 to 1959. Then, from 1962 to 1967, local TV stations reran it in syndication. In 1989, there was a Mickey Mouse Club reboot, which launched the careers of Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. So The Mickey Mouse Club has entertained generations of kids. What shows did you enjoy as a child?

A. I don't recall watching The Mickey Mouse Club. It was probably on a channel I could not get. I watched shows like Land of the Lost, Isis, Shazaam! H.R. Puffenstuff, etc., along with Saturday morning cartoons. In the afternoons I remember watching Dark Shadows followed by Batman.

4) Karen was Karen Pendleton, among the youngest of the original Mousketeers. Producers discovered her at a local dancing school. Have you ever taken dance lessons?

A. I have not. And it shows.

5) When The Mickey Mouse Club ended, Karen left show business. She went to public school, graduated, got married, and had a daughter. When she was in her 30s, she was involved in a car accident that left her paralyzed from the waist down. Still, she went back to college, earning first her Bachelor's and then Master's degrees in psychology. Have you considered continuing your education? What subject would you pursue?

A. I was 49 when I obtained my masters degree. I thought about getting a law degree but decided against it.

 

6) Cubby is Cubby O'Brien, a drum prodigy who began playing professionally when he was just 8 years old. After the Mickey Mouse Club he went on to The Lawerence Welk Show. As he entered his teens, he prioritized school over TV. He later returned to television as musician on The Carol Burnett Show. He also performed in concert behind The Carpenters. Do you have a favorite Carpenters song?

A. Rainy Days and Mondays.

 

7) In 1958, when kids were watching the original Mickey Mouse Club during the day, adults were watching Westerns. The most popular TV shows of that year included Gunsmoke, Wagon Train and The Rifleman. Have you ever fantasized about life as a cowboy/cowgirl?

A. Can't say that I have, although I played with the Johnny West series of dolls when I was a child. I didn't want to be a cowgirl, though.

 

8) Also in 1958, Dwight Eisenhower became the first President to appear on color TV. Not many Americans saw him in color, though. It wasn't until 1972 that color TVs outsold black-and-white sets. Did you ever own a black-and-white TV?

A. I never owned a black-and-white TV but my grandparents did, I think.

 

9) Random question -- Did you pass your driver's license test on the first try?

A. Yes, I did.

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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: Long Cool Woman

Saturday 9: Long Cool Woman (in a Black Dress) 1972

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

(This is one of my husband's favorite songs.)

1) This week's song begins with Hollies' lead singer Allan Clarke telling us of a Saturday night trip downtown, taken at the behest of the FBI. What are your plans for Saturday night? (No, we don't expect you to tell us you'll be working undercover for a government agency.)

A. But gee, that is what I was going to tell you! I have a secret meeting set up for an in-depth interview with a Deep Throat who will totally unhinge the orange menace and lead us back into the light of true democracy. Just kidding. My plans would be to take a shower and either watch a movie or read a book.

2) At a bar, he meets a woman in a black dress. The LBD, or little black dress, is a wardrobe staple for many women because it's appropriate for almost any occasion. Let's say you get a last-minute invitation for a "dressy" dinner this weekend and you don't have the time or money to buy something new. What's your go-to outfit from your closet?

A. Black pants and a black top, with flashy jewelry. I don't wear dresses or skirts anymore, as I don't have the shoes for them. I have this huge orthotic I wear in my shoes so I can only wear closed toe shoes.

3) Everyone at the bar starts to run when they hear sirens. Do you often hear sirens in your neighborhood?

A. We seldom hear sirens around here. When we do, it's a sign to stop and watch to see if the fire truck or ambulance goes on by or heads down a driveway of someone we know.

4) In 1972, the year this week's song was on the charts, Popeye's opened their first fast-food chicken restaurant in Louisiana. Now that the Thanksgiving feast is over, will you be eating any carry-out this weekend?

A. Maybe. If I can get my husband to run out to the place in Daleville with great salads, we might have one of those. After all that feasting, one needs to eat some healthy greens.

5) Black is this week's signature color because November 24 was Black Friday, when retailers historically have slashed their prices and the holiday shopping season begins. Have you begun your gift shopping?

A. Yes, I have. Unless my husband asks me for something specific, I am finished with him. I would like to get my brother something special but so far haven't found the right thing.

6) Walmart, Best Buy and Target all advertise heavily on Black Friday. If you could have a $100 gift card from one of those stores, which would you choose? What would you buy?

A. I would choose Walmart and buy the things we normally buy there - deodorant, shampoo, lotion, etc. I hate to shop there but they do have the best prices and availability on some things.

7) This Monday is sometimes known as Cyber Monday because shoppers can find big savings online. Do you shop confidently online, or do you worry about security breaches and identity theft?

A. I do worry about security breaches and identity theft, but honestly, I think it is more likely to come from these big data breaches of hospitals and government agencies than from a store. I've had several notices this year that my data was stolen from a hospital system, another that it was stolen from the local government, and another that my banking system was hacked - not my account, but the entire bank. I honestly don't know what you can do to stop it at this point, and even if you don't think your information is online, it's out there.

8) What are you thankful for this year?

A. I'm thankful that I could celebrate turning 60 and 40 years of marriage. Both are big accomplishments.

9) Random question: Who was the last person you spoke to on the phone (texting doesn't count)?

A. My husband. He does not text so he always calls.

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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: Last Train to Clarksville

Saturday 9: Last Train to Clarksville (1966)

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

 

1) When did you most recently take a train?

A. Sometime around 1979.

2) The lyrics promise "coffee-flavored kisses and a bit of conversation." Have you more recently had coffee, a kiss, or a chat?

A. A chat.

3) The record opens with a guitar riff inspired by The Beatles' "Day Tripper." Can you play guitar?

A. I can!

4) The lead vocals are performed by Micky Dolenz. He is the only surviving member of the Monkees. Without looking it up, can you name his bandmates?

A. Davy Jones and Peter Tork. There's some other guy, too, but I can't remember his name.

5) The Monkees starred in an award-winning sitcom for two seasons. In Season 2, Micky surprised fans by appearing with a curly perm. Do you curl, straighten or color your hair?

A. I use a flat iron on it sometimes.

6) Micky also did a stint at WCBS radio in New York. He spun the oldies every morning and helped his listeners get ready for work. Do you turn on the radio or TV when you first wake up?

A. No. I turn on the computer.

7) Micky's daughter, Ami, followed her father into show business, appearing in several movies and a recurring role in General Hospital. If you followed your father into his profession, what would you have done for a living? 

A. I'd be selling rubber hoses and o-rings.

8) In 1966, when this song topped the charts, miniskirts took the fashion world by storm. What have you recently added to your wardrobe?

A. A jacket.

9) Random question -- You order chicken noodle soup and a packet of saltines arrives with the bowl. Do you: 1) break the crackers into pieces and stir them into your soup or 2) squeeze them in your hand and sprinkle the crumbles into your soup or 3) leave them untouched?

A. I break them into crumbles while they're still in their bag and then dump them in the soup, which I guess is closest to #2.

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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: PS I Love You

Saturday 9: P. S. I Love You (1953)

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

 

1) In this song, a man fills his lover in on what's going on in his daily life, including that he was in bed by 9:00 PM. Do you have a regular bedtime?

A. Generally speaking, we do, yes.

2) He reports that yesterday it rained, but all in all, he can't complain. Do you often find yourself discussing/complaining about the weather?

A. Right now, everyone's talking about the drought in Virginia/North Carolina and the fires we are having. As farmers, we live and die by the weather, so it's a constant.

3) This song was recorded many times, by artists as diverse as Rudy Vallee (1934) and Bob Dylan (2017). It's endured because the theme -- reaching out and staying in touch across the miles -- is universal. Is there anyone in your life with whom you regularly correspond? If yes, do you prefer cards/letters, emails or texts?

A. I have a friend in England I email, and I send letters to two people. Other folks I text and/or email.

4) This 1953 version was a hit for The Hilltoppers. The band members met at Western Kentucky University and took their name from the nickname of their school's athletic teams. What was the name of your school's team?

A. My college's athletic team had no such name. Generally, it goes by Green & Gold, the school colors. My high school's athletic teams were called the Cavaliers.

5) The Hilltoppers always performed in W sweaters, for Western Kentucky. Do you own any sweaters, caps or jackets that celebrate your alma mater?

A. I have a sweatshirt in my closet.

6) By 1960, The Hilltoppers' records weren't selling anymore. But they continued to perform and in 1970 they became the house band at The Holiday Inn in Fort Walton Beach, FL. They were so popular with tourists that they played at that Holiday Inn for years. When did you last stay in a hotel, motel or airbnb?

A. September 2019.

7) In 1953, the year this recording was popular, the Eisenhowers moved into The White House. First Lady Mamie Eisenhower was known for her down-to-earth style. For example, she often shared her recipe for Million Dollar Fudge, saying that since it's easy to make and foolproof, she recommended her fudge as the perfect hostess gift. When you're invited to someone's home, do you bring a hostess gift?

A. I do if it is a party, but I haven't been to something like that in years.

 

8) Also in 1953, radio personality Arthur Godfrey made news for having one of the nation's very first hip replacements. Have you/would you ever be part of a clinical trial, either for a new drug or medical procedure?

A. I was part of a control group that had something to do with hormones and pregnancy, a very long time ago.

 

 9) Random question -- Do you fold your socks or roll them?

A. I roll them now, but I folded them up until I married. My husband grew up with his rolled and that's how he wanted them. I grew up with mine folded. It's not something I care much about, so long as I can find them to put on my feet.

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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.