Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing

1. Tell us about any lawn or garden plans you have for this month.

A. Well, let's see. We're still under a lockdown with the pandemic. However, I'm sure the deer, turkey, and bear will have a blast out by the garbage cans one night soon. Should be a great party! I'll have to remember to leave a little alcohol out for them so the foxes can get sloshed.

2. "Many things grow in the garden that were never sown there."~Thomas Fuller  What does this quote mean to you?

A. Weeds.

3. What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think about God?

A. Universe.

4. If we were chatting in person, how would I know if you were nervous?

A. If I chew my nails, I suppose, although I have about stopped doing that thanks to the pandemic. So far it's the only good thing to come out of the pandemic - I try to keep my fingers out of my mouth.

5. Do you like the color yellow? Would I find any in your home or wardrobe?

A. You won't find much of it.

6. Daffodils, tulips, roses, sunflowers, day lily, black-eyed Susan...which yellow bloom on this list is your favorite?

A. Sunflowers. 

7. Flip flops or bare feet?

A. Sneakers.

8. Fish out of water, big fish in a small pond, living in a fishbowl, packed in like sardines, this is a fine kettle of fish, plenty of fish in the sea, fish or cut bait...which fishy phrase most recently applies to some area of your life?

A. I think most of us feel like we're living in a fishbowl or something these days.

9. Have you ever been fishing? Did you catch a fish? If so did you keep it or throw it back? If you haven't been fishing is that something you'd like to try?

A. I have been fishing and I have caught fish. I bait my own hook with live worms, too. Mostly, the fish are thrown back, but I caught trout and eaten them. My father taught me to fish. We used to go to a fishing rodeo when I was small. One year I caught a catfish and won a bag of potato chips for catching something that wasn't supposed to be in the pond.

10. What's something you're always fishing for in your purse, wallet, desk, or kitchen junk drawer?

A. That little card that you have to have at the grocery store to get the discounts.

11. Your favorite fish tale or movie?

A. Finding Nemo.

12. Are you sunrise, daylight, twilight or night? Explain why you chose your answer.

A. I am twilight, that time when the veil between darkness and light thins and things whisper softly and gently into the ears of those who will listen. Only a few hear.

13. What's the oldest piece of clothing you own and still wear?

A. I have no idea. Probably a bra. Most of my clothes are at least a year old - I generally go shopping once or twice a year and I missed last fall's shopping trip because of my husband's ankle surgery and I missed the spring shopping trip because of the pandemic. It looks like I will miss this fall's shopping trip for the same reason.

14. What's been the best and worst part of your summer so far?

A. The best part has been reading. The worst part has been not being able to simply get up and go wherever I want. We used to take day trips but haven't this summer because we don't want to use public restrooms.

15. Are you a Jimmy Buffet fan? If so, what's your favorite JB tune?

A. Margaritaville. It's really the only one I know, as I am not a fan.

________________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.

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.

______________
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. 

Remembering the 343

 

They ran in while others were fleeing.

Hot helmets clinging to sweaty heads

as each climbed flight after flight of stairs

helping, always helping, as bodies streamed downward

while they moved up,

boots so heavy they could barely lift their legs

as they reached another level.

Their breath sounding deep and heavy, hollowing their chests

as their oxygen began to grow low

from effort and time.

They felt the rumble as the buildings fell.

They could not run.

They could not flee.

They died heroes.

I shall not forget the 343.

                    -- A. Firebaugh

Thursday 13

Photos in my "unused" file.

 

Flu Shot Day

Today was flu shot day. It was also "husband is home and doesn't know what to do with himself day," which means I was a little out of sorts myself.

Tomorrow, hopefully, we will be both be back on our schedules.

I found out early this morning that my name is going to be in a book called Xena: Their Courage Changed the World, which is about the Xena fandom of the late 1990s and early 2000s. I am mentioned because of my involvement in WHOOSH.org, a website devoted to all things Xena: Warrior Princess. I wrote many show synopses for the show, a few articles for the website, and also did some editing for the website owner.

That was exciting news.

I meant to blog earlier but things were simply out of my hands today.

So here's a new song by Sheryl Crow that I really like.

Queen of Hearts

 My version of Queen of Hearts.

Sunday Stealing

 Sunday Stealing

1. Name a person you like and why you like them.

A. I like (love) my husband. He is strong, compassionate, kind, and gentle.  he believes in hard work and living his life to the fullest. He is intelligent, interesting, and has a giggle instead of a laugh, which is totally endearing. He is brave, truthful, generous, and loyal. He can think fast on his feet. He is not a bully, he doesn't make fun of people, and he doesn't whine. He is not a fair weather friend (only your friend when you agree with him and otherwise ready to cut you out of your life if you don't). 

2. Name a famous person with whom you've been compared.

A. I cannot think of anyone.

3. What is the best thing that happened to you this week?

A. I had an eye exam and did not need a prescription change, so I don't have to spend $500 on new lenses.

4. List weird things you do when you're alone.

A. I talk to myself, I dance, I do puzzles on the computer, and I eat chocolate. None of that is particularly weird, though.

5. How would you spend $10,000?

A. I would purchase a new computer and may a looper for my guitar. (A looper allows you to essentially create an electronic band behind you.)

6. Tell about last night out in detail.

A. My husband came in late from the hayfield. We ate a dinner of chicken, peas, and a roll. He also had peach cobbler with ice cream. I set my video game for a night time set, took a shower, and read a book until we went to bed. Husband also read a book.

7. What is something that makes you sad when you think about it?

A. The state of the world.

8. Name something you're currently worrying about.

A. The state of the world.

9. Name something you do without realizing it.

A. Bite my nails.

10. Tell us a story a drunken story.

A. I don't drink. On one episode of The Big Bang Theory, I remember that Amy got drunk and Leonard and Sheldon had to go pick her up.

11. Name something you regret.

A. I left a job in 1985 that I should have stayed with.

12. Name 5 things within touching distance.

A. A coffee cup, a notebook, my computer, the landline phone, a pencil, a pair of scissors, a calendar, a camera, a stapler, a yellow notepad.

13. What is something you've lied about?

A. I don't know, I try not to lie. Probably some little white lie, like "sure you look lovely in that outfit" when someone really doesn't.

14. What are lyrics that apply to your current mood?

A. From Unwritten, by Natasha Beddingfield 

I'm just beginning

The pen's in my hand

Ending unplanned

Staring at the blank page before you

Open up the dirty window

Let the sun illuminate the words

That you could not find

15. What is your longest relationship?

A. I suppose that would have to be my relationship with my father, then my brother, not to mention aunts and uncles and cousins I am still occasionally in touch with. I have been with my husband since we started dating in 1982.

________________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.

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.

______________
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. 

Hurt

My version of Hurt.

 

Thursday Thirteen

Today, I present to you, once again, 13 memes from today's current, um, situations.

_____________

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 670th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Sweet Nothings

 

Pandemic Journal - Day 164

Last week, I had my second haircut since the pandemic started. I had the hair stylist cut it short because who knows when things may shut down again.

Schools have opened, and there is already a reported case in one of the county elementary schools. It did not take long and I don't expect it to be the last one.

The upcoming elections have knocked the Covid virus out of the news cycle somewhat, although the daily newspaper and the local TV stations are still running reports on it constantly, updating numbers and pointing out hotspots. They are reporting too on how the local colleges and school systems are handling the pandemic.

We continue to "mask up" and mostly stay home. We are homebodies anyway so this is not a real trial for us. My husband can go out and do his farm chores without worry, and I am ordering groceries online and having things shipped to us instead of going out. I ventured inside Kroger on Thursday because they kept leaving things out of my orders and I finally went in after them, but I tried to be quick about it. The store has been changed around since I was last in it so it took a little longer than I'd expected.

I know other people are eager to be out and about. Not everyone likes to stay home. Some folks like to travel and others just need to be around people more than I. I feel bad for them because they can't do what they want. I have a blogging friend who is in a hotel right now and she said they aren't coming in and cleaning every day and they have to change their own sheets and things. If I have to do all that, I may as well stay home.

The most recent book I read is Making a Literary Life: Advice for Writers and Other Dreamers, by Carolyn See. It was written in 2002 and it was startling to see how much the publishing landscape has changed in the last 18 years. Some of the advice no longer holds true, but every story still needs characters, plot, location, and a time frame, so that was a good short refresher course.

Other things to note: protests continue, along with damage that I think is not done by the peaceful rioters but instead by people looking to make trouble. Hurricane Laura hit Louisiana as a Category 4 hurricane, and we were supposed to have a great deal of rain from it but we had very little. California has had multiple fires again. The candidates are set for the November election.

Today, we have rain.

Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing

1. Who is the hottest celebrity you can think of?

A. I don't know. I don't keep up with things like that.

2. Do you ever get so nervous that you can't even think?

A. Yes.

3. Do you sing when there is no music?

A. Yes.

4. Who was the best political leader in history and why?

A. I don't know about best, but let's learn something today.

Aung San Suu Kyi, (June 19, 1945-) is a Burmese opposition politician, the 1991 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and the daughter of Aung San, considered to be the father of modern-day Burma. He negotiated the nation's independence from the British Empire in 1947. Since the 1980s, she has led a non-violent resistance against Burma’s repressive military regime – and as a result has spent years under house arrest. In the 1990 general election, her National League for Democracy party won 59 percent of the national vote and 81 percent of the seats in Parliament – but Burma’s military dictators chose to ignore the elections. Although she has remained out of public sight for years, she has led a quiet democratic resistance. She received the Andre Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 1990 and the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding by the government of India in 1992. One of her most famous speeches is the "Freedom From Fear" speech, which begins: "It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it." She also believes fear spurs many world leaders to lose sight of their purpose. "Government leaders are amazing," she once said. "So often it seems they are the last to know what the people want."

5. If you could dance with anyone in the world right now, who would it be and what song would you dance to?

A. I would dance with my husband to Longer by Dan Folgerburg.

6. Finish this sentence your own way. There are two types of people in the world...

A. Those who think first and then react, and those who react and never think.

7. What have you saved since elementary school?

A. I have a silver dollar my grandfather gave me.

8. Have you ever won an award?

A. I have won a number of awards for writing.

9. Do you feel more connected to the sun or the moon?

A. The moon.

10. Do flaws make people interesting to you?

A. Everyone is flawed. Some flaws are simply more visible than others.

11. Who is your favorite historical figure?

A. It's a three-way tie between Joan of Arc, Queen Victoria, and Mary, Queen of Scots.

12. White bread or wheat bread?

A. Whole-wheat white bread.

13. Do you usually do things fast or right?

A. I try to do them right.

14. Are you or have you ever been in a band?

A. Yes.

15. Here are 4 statements about me. Only one of them is true. Which one is it?

A. That's only two sentences and a question. I have no idea what this means.

16. Would you wear a thong bathing suit in public?

A. No. I wouldn't wear one in private, either.

17. Have you thought about death today?

A. Yes.

18. What is your favorite breakfast?

A. Bacon, eggs, biscuits and gravy, and grits.

19. Are you the life of the party?

A. No.

20. If you hit an animal with your car would you get out to try and make sure it was okay?

A. That depends on the situation. If it is a tame animal, like a dog or cat, I would (and have). If it is a wild animal, generally they run off, especially the deer. I have hit several deer and sometimes they simply glance off the car, leaving a nice dent, and then vanish. I brake for squirrels and rabbits and try not hit anything.

21. When do you get your most peaceful and satisfying sleep?

A. When I'm asleep.

22. What thought gets you out of bed in the morning?

A. I have stuff to do.

23. What are you a member of?

A. The local historical society and a book club.

 
24. Name one place you refuse to ever go.

A. I would say somewhere where there is no war, but I suspect I live in a place that is constantly at war with everyone around it and within itself, so that's out.

25. When (and if) people (or animals) go to heaven, do they become angels?

A. I leave that to each individual to decide.

________________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.

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.

______________
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. 

Reflection

 

Thursday Thirteen

My blogging friend, The Gal, is participating in "The August Happiness Challenge." I have not been doing it daily, but it seems appropriate to finish out August with another list of 13 things that make me happy.

1. Female musicians. I love watching women rock and roll, or country and jam, even. Women like Melissa Etheridge, Sheryl Crow, Dolly Parton, Chrissie Hynde, Pat Benatar, Cyndi Lauper, Adelle, Lady Gaga, and others make me smile. Keep playing, ladies!

2. Decaffeinated English Breakfast tea is my hot beverage of choice in the morning.

3. I bought a pencil sharpener that is much like the ones I used to use in school. I like to write with pencil and always have.

4. Lovely photos of cedar wax wings made me happy when I processed them. They came out well.

5. I have batteries on hand for the things that need them. This is a good thing.

6. We have a doe with twins running around the house. They are adorable.

7. My husband is reading books! This is exciting.

8. My exercise has picked up. I bought one of those "under the desk" bike pedaling things and have been using it.

9. The chiropractor today will put my back into place! Yay! I suspect this will help with many things.

10. We started eating low-sodium potato chips and they taste good.

11. I wrote a really bad poem yesterday. Sometimes the bad stuff has to be purged before I can get to the better words.

12. My brother sent me the trailer to the new Wonder Woman movie. I am still not sure when it is coming out, but eventually ! I will see this movie.

13. August is coming to a close. Schools have started in whatever manner the districts have determined is best for them. Autumn is nearing. I have always liked Spring and Fall the best.

______________

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 670th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

The Thistle and the Butterfly

 

Just a Little Jam Session

 This is just a little jam session I held with myself. The song is China Grove, by The Doobie Brothers, in case you don't recognize it. I got off a bit on the rhythm in one spot, but that's the way it goes.

 

You may have noticed that I prefer to play rhythm guitar over lead guitar, generally speaking. I always have preferred to be the background noise and not the lead. Sometimes a lick or two of lead is required in rhythm guitar. I also do something odd in that I am playing the electric guitar frequently with fingerstyle instead of with a guitar pick. It's just my preference.

 

Twenty Years

Twenty years ago today, I received the early morning phone call that my mother had passed away in the night.

She was in a nursing home by this time, dying of pancreatic cancer. I had seen her the day before, but not the day she passed away. Had I known she was so close to dying, I would have done better. The doctors, though, kept saying she had another month or so.

Obviously, they were wrong.

My mother was 56 years old when she passed away, and I have now outlived her. Fifty-six is quite young, if you think about it, and yet, not so young, either. My mother had had a difficult life, I think, and perhaps she was ready to go.

I recall that I'd summoned a pastor in to see her the Monday before she died on Wednesday. I do not know what passed between them, as I was asked to leave the room. I do know the pastor said he was glad I had asked him to come as he left. 

My mother never mentioned the visit.

It was, I suppose, the last thing I did for her before she passed away. I visited Tuesday but not the day she passed on. She had seemed strong on Tuesday, and I certainly hadn't expected her to leave us so quickly.

At any rate, I did not want to let the anniversary go without acknowledging it. Twenty years is a long time, though it doesn't seem that long.

I hope she is in a good place.

Cedar Wax Wings