Mums the Word

In 2009, I purchased some dying mums from Home Depot. They were yellow. They didn't really look like mums to me, but I thought they were worth the 50 cents or whatever I paid for them.

I planted them in my whiskey barrel in my rose bed.

They flourished there. I did not expect them to live.

I especially did not expect them to be around 14 years later.

Nor did I expect them to change color.

But here they are in all their glory today!

Obviously, they are no longer yellow. Over the years they have gone from yellow to purple to this deep maroon.

Happy Halloween!

 

More Autumn Color

 

Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing

1. Do you decorate for Autumn?

A. Not really. I take away the fake springish flowers and replace them with autumn ones. That's about it.

2. How often do you clean out your closets?

A. Not often enough.

3. When is the last time you planned a surprise for someone?

A. Working on that now.

4. Are there foods you really don’t like?

A. Coconut. 

5. What is something you recently learned?

A. That we have hidden populations all over the place. Not just immigrants, but disabled folks, different folks, women, children - all invisible to the populace as a whole. All considered things to be bargained with, or done away with, or used for power and gain. I think I knew this, deep down, but it has become a reality of fact for me in recent days.

6. Name items you’re most likely to buy at a convenience store.

A. I don't normally shop in convenience stores, but I might buy a candy bar or a bottle of water there.

7. Do you believe in the paranormal?

A. Yes.

8. How would you describe your spirituality?

A. Eclectic.

9. Do you make plans far in advance?

A. No.

10. Do you like being scared for fun?

A. No.

11. What has been difficult for you lately?

A. I seem at odds with myself and have lost my purpose. Even though it has been 10 years since I last wrote for The Herald, I miss my work there. I miss my old life. I have also been having great amounts of physical pain, and that makes it difficult to get through the day.

12. Have you ever written or read fanfiction?

A. Yes on both counts.

13. What type of wall art do you have in your home?

A. I have some P. Buckley Moss photos and some local artists' works.

14. Are you more likely to be private or overshare?

A. I probably do a bit of both, and probably at the wrong time on each count.

15. What have you recently learned to live without?

A. New stuff.

__________

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: Spooky Scary Skeletons

Saturday 9: Spooky Scary Skeletons (1996)

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

 

1) In this song, Andrew Gold sings that these skeletons send shivers down his spine. Do you often involuntarily shudder or shiver?

A. No, I'm just always cold. I think it's my blood pressure medicine.

 

2) While they appear frightening, these skeletons are harmless and only want to socialize with us mortals. Can you think of something -- or someone -- that intimidated you at first but that you were more comfortable with as you became more familiar?

A. Any new job was that way. At first, I was terrified but then it eased up eventually.

3) The video for this song was originally created in 1929. Skeleton Dance was a short movie produced and directed by Walt Disney himself. In 2006, Disney Studios paired Gold's song with this animation for a Halloween DVD. Do you have any DVDs that you watch seasonally (every Halloween, every Thanksgiving, every Christmas, etc.)?

A. I watch the Lord of the Rings trilogy at some point from about November 15 to the new year. We also watch Jeff Dunham's Christmas Special on DVD, which is funnier than what was shown on TV. And we must watch Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer. We have that on DVD as well as on the DirecTV recorder. At Halloween, I like to watch Practical Magic.

 

4) You may not realize it, but you likely already know one of Andrew Gold's songs. He wrote "Thank You for Being a Friend," the theme to TV's Golden Girls. Blanche, Dorothy, Rose or Sophia: Which is your favorite?

A. Which is my favorite Golden Girl? Hmm. I think it's a tie between Dorothy and Rose.

These questions will help us get into the Halloween spirit . . .

5) Introduced in the 1880s, candy corn was originally called Chicken Feed. It was developed by a candy manufacturer who gave it the orange/white color and special name to differentiate it from jellybeans. Do you like candy corn (a) all year around or (b) at Halloween only or (c) never?

A. (c) never. Candy corn is nasty.

6) What candy will trick-or-treaters get when they show up at your front door?

A. We never have trick-or-treaters because we're so rural. I suppose if someone showed up, I'd have to toss them some gum or change or something.

 

7) Halloween was a 1978 movie by John Carpenter about Michael Myers, who kills while wearing a ghostly mask. In the original movie, the mask used was a $2 Captain Kirk mask, painted white. Both Halloween and Star Trek are successful franchises of more than a dozen movies. Have you seen more of Michael Myers or Captain Kirk?

A. Captain Kirk.

8) In 2022, a survey of California schoolchildren revealed that Buzz Lightyear was the top pick of Halloween costume. When you were little, did you prefer to dress up for Halloween as a hero, like Buzz, or a scary monster?

A. I usually went as a hobo, as it was an easy costume to put together.

 

9) Some long-time White House employees claim they have seen Abraham Lincoln's ghost wandering the halls of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Have you ever seen a ghost?

A. I have seen several ghosts. I saw many when I was a child; one sat at the foot of my bed for several years. As an adult, I have seen two ghosts. One was a Confederate soldier who walked down the aisle at the Courthouse in Craig County during a night meeting of the Board of Supervisors. At the time, they were discussing improvements to the Courthouse. The soldier walked down the aisle and turned right, going through the wall at the second story window. I sat there waiting for someone to say something, but apparently no one else saw him. The other event happened during the day. I was driving to Fincastle when I looked to my right and the housing subdivision that was there disappeared completely, and in its place was a field with trees, and I saw several Native Americans on horseback meeting with white men in what looked like buckskin clothing. I stopped the car and the image disappeared. (No, I wasn't drinking.) 

_______________

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. 

Thursday Thirteen

We are, allegedly, out of the Covid pandemic and into the endemic stage of the virus. That means we get to learn to live with it.

I know the pandemic changed many things for a lot of people. Some people changed nothing about their lives, but I suspect most everyone was affected in one way or another.

Here are 13 things that I have changed, modified, or otherwise fixed or broken since 2020:

1. I no longer bite my nails. This is one of the biggest changes for me. I stopped biting them almost as soon as the government shut down. At that time, remember, even though I assumed the virus was transmitted through air, there was much concern that it was transmitted via touch as well. Remember wiping off the groceries with a Clorox wipe? I stopped biting my nails *snap* almost just like that. I keep them trimmed very short and they will never be lovely nails because of so much damage to the nail bed from biting them for 57 years of my life, but I have stopped biting them.

2. I wash my hands. A lot. I wash my hands the minute I walk into the door if I have been somewhere. If I've been to the grocery store, I wash my hands and then empty the car, put the groceries away, and wash my hands again. 

3. I have inside sneakers and outside sneakers. I used to wear my shoes everywhere, but now I have a pair that (mostly) stays in the house, and another pair out in the garage that I wear when I go to the store or whatever. I think this has helped cut down on debris in the house and dust and dirt on the floor. My husband also no longer wears his outside shoes in the house.

4. I use hand purifier in the car every time I get in it. Go to the store, get in the car, use hand cleaner. 

5. When I gas up the car, I use a tissue or something to hold on to the handle and touch buttons.

6. I still wear a mask in the stores, especially if they are busy. I am generally the only person in the store with a mask, but not always. I may go in a store without a mask if it's a quick stop and there aren't a lot of cars in the parking lot, but I always have a mask with me and if I start to feel like an aisle is getting crowded, I won't hesitate to put one on.

7. I have not been sick (for me, anyway), since 2020. I used to have bronchitis, pneumonia, sore throats - constant colds and allergies. Staying isolated and masking has kept me well, aside from an occasional asthma attack and constant post-nasal drip. I used to get so sick about twice a year that I spent a month in bed, usually in March and again in the fall. Not so now.

8. We eat more home cooking, although I dislike cooking. Our meals are not fancy, and they are rather bland and boring, but we eat in a lot more than we eat out these days. And if we eat out, we generally pick it up and bring it home. I think I've eaten in a restaurant maybe six times in the last three years.

9. My ulcers returned. I lost 20 pounds, and I kept 15 of it off. The other 5 pounds keeps coming and going, but maybe I will one day get a grip on that.

10. I stopped exercising, which was a huge mistake, and the scar tissue issue in my abdomen has increased, along with low back pain, mid-back pain, and my TMJ issues. It's all related, somehow or another.

11. My husband retired. He was a battalion chief with the fire department and just coming off of an ankle fusion when the pandemic hit and things shut down. He was eligible to take his retirement and did so. His reasons were many. This was a huge adjustment for me. He seemed to do fine with it, though he missed "his guys." I missed my long nights of book reading, but we've about adjusted. I think.

12. I spent more time playing the guitar. I haven't necessarily gotten better, but I haven't gotten any worse, either.

13. My car, which is 9.5 years old, only has 60k miles on it, mostly because I don't go anywhere anymore. I think it will be with me for some time.

How about you? Did you make life changes in the last 3 years?

______________

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 831st time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Autumn Colors

 

Camouflaged

 

Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing

1. October reading & writing goals and plans . . . were nonexistent.

2. Something I did that totally paid off . . . was allowing my husband to be generous.

3. I want to see this make a comeback . . . that would be print, as in newspapers and books.

4. Generational traits I really value . . . include fortitude, loyalty, sense of humor, and ability to love.

5. Changes I’d like to see in my daily environment . . . include less dust, a re-do of my office, and a re-do of my husband's office.

6. Favorite soup dishes . . . are basically chicken with rice.

7. Start with the best part or save the best for last . . . or do a little bit of both, depending on the circumstances.

8. The most chaotic part of my daily life . . . is the waking up part.

9. If I could only eat 10 things, I’d pick . . . watermelon, peas, chicken, chocolate, green beans, peaches, grapes, bread, cashews, and potatoes.

10. What Autumn feels like where I live . . . is like the final stages of a long hug from a loving friend.

11. The teacher who would be most proud of me . . . is my high school math teacher.

12. My go to Halloween snacks & treats . . . are not on my mind because we have no trick-or-treaters.

13. 10 ways my life is great right now . . . include (1) I am breathing, (2) I have a comfortable bed, (3) my brother loves me, (4) my husband loves me, (5) my friends love me, (6) I have a good doctor, (7) I have a computer, (8) I have good books to read, (9) I have my cognitive functions, (10) I am still standing upright.

14. A perfect day indoors looks like . . . sitting in a chair with a good book and no worries.

15. Pumpkin spice . . . is enjoyed by other people. I'm 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: Something More

Saturday 9: Something More (2005)

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

 

1) Sugarland's lead singer Jennifer Nettles describes a busy morning that begins with a cup of coffee. Do you start your day with a cup of joe?

A. I have never been a coffee drinker. I used to drink colas, then switched to tea, and now I only drink water. I have a hot cup of water in the morning.

2) When she gets home from work, she sings that her house is dirty but says housework can wait until she has a glass of wine. Is there a particular chore on your "to-do" list that you keep putting off?

A. I hate doing the bookkeeping for our various enterprises, like the farm, my husband's backhoe business, and the rental house. I try to keep it up, but I always get behind and then I beat myself up for it.

3) The lyrics tell us happiness is something we can create. Do you agree?

A. I think our attitude about things can make a difference, but sometimes life just tosses lemons at you and all you can do is duck. We can't control everything - or much of anything, really - and who's to say what's going to happen to you when you get out of bed? 

4) In the video of this week's song, the members of Sugarland ride along in a vintage Cadillac. Are you one of those drivers who has a nickname for your car?

A. No. Sometimes I call my car by a name but it's a different one every time. Mostly I just call it "car."

5) The group hitches a ride in a red truck. The auto insurance industry tells us that Americans favor vehicles in the grayscale colors. Nearly 80% of cars on the road today are white, black, gray or silver. What color is your vehicle?

A. My Toyota Camry is white. We've generally had white vehicles; they hide the dirt better.

6) Nettles achieved her dream of performing on Broadway when she took over the role of Roxy in Chicago. What's your fantasy job?

A. I don't know that I have one anymore. At various times, I've considered bookstore owner, college professor, novel writer, world traveler, cruise ship director, archeologist, geologist, and being the person who traveled the Bermuda Triangle until I disappeared so I could learn what happens down there (though we don't hear much about that anymore).

7) She wrote a cookbook with her mom called Sweet, Savory and Simple. When it was originally published, it was spiral bound. That way, it could be laid flat on the counter as the cook tries one of the recipes. How many cookbooks do you own?

A. Maybe three, if that. 

 

8) In 2005, when "Something More" was topping the country charts, Paul McCartney won a People's Choice Award for his concert tour. Do you have any plans to enjoy music performed live between now and the end of the year?

A. No, but I have plans to play music between now and then.

9) Random question: Who received the most recent compliment you gave?

A. My father was the last person I spoke with as I write this, so him.

 _______________

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. 

A Useless Warranty

After going through 4 different dryer timers on a GE dryer we purchased in 2019, we finally threw up our hands, tossed that thing out the door, and bought yet another new dryer on April 22, 2022.

We purchased a Speed Queen with a five-year warranty. It's the closest thing to a commercial dryer you can get.

I have known almost from the first that the timer on this dryer was not right. It is terribly spongy and won't stay where you put it. If you put it on "Most Dry" it won't even start, so you have to move it down a notch.

Sometimes I'd dry a load of towels and it would short cycle, and the towels would not be completely dry and I've have to run them through again.

So it was that Sunday night my husband threw some coats he'd washed into the dryer, and turned it on around 8 p.m.

When we got up to go to bed at 10 p.m., we realized the dryer was still running. It was incredibly hot - I don't know if his coats melted. The heat coming off the dryer was intense. The timer had not moved and the dryer was on its hottest setting and had been running that way for two hours (I hate to think what that did to the electric bill). 

Monday morning, I called the place where we purchased the dryer to see what I needed to do for service. The man was rather snotty with me because I didn't want to use the first person he told me to use and I asked for other service providers. We'd had the first person out last summer when the dryer door broke. We're still waiting on him to come back and do the repair he said he would. (We fixed it ourselves right after he left. With my husband recovering from hip surgery, no less. I unscrewed the door, and he figured out how to get the handle back on, and then I put the door back on. That guy was an idiot.)

Anyway, I called a different service provider and the fellow showed up Thursday. Nice guy, very empathetic to our situation, but he could only do what the tech people at Speed Queen would let him do, and they wouldn't let him replace the timer. They tried to say it was because we were running the timer counterclockwise. I assure you, I never run the timer on a dryer counterclockwise (aside from the time the timer broke on the GE, when I ran it counterclockwise and made it work through the weekend until we could get the part to fix it).

Now I am left with a dryer that runs, but I have to set the timer on the oven or Alexa when I start a load and go check it every 30 minutes. Sometimes the timer runs down like it should, sometimes it doesn't. So I can't trust this dryer. Can't throw a load of clothes in and run to the grocery store to have them finished when I return. Someone has to be home now when the dryer runs.

My choice here is to do this: keep using this dryer as it is and call the repair people and have Speed Queen pay for a visit every so often even if they don't replace the part (it's a warranty call, after all), or, since we have the part number, we can go get a new timer and replace it ourselves, which of course would void the warranty. I guess I will be sitting home watching the dryer go round and round for a while.

It's not like I have other things to worry about. Or a life to live.

Speed Queen, you suck. You made a bad dryer and you won't honor your warranty. You are worse than a cheap whore at a truckstop. You're a horrible company, and you can bet your sweet bippy that if this dryer burns my house down, I'm coming after you with every lawyer I can find, and I will own you before it's over and done. I don't care what your stupid paperwork says about liability. You've been warned with a service call and you chose the cheap way out to save a buck instead of doing the right thing.

You are not an honorable company, and you do not deserve a good reputation. I will never again write or speak well of this company. Speed Queen, you suck!

Thursday Thirteen #830

I am overweight. Actually, I am, by medical standards, obese. I could lose 100 pounds and I'd still not weigh what I weighed on my wedding day.

Weight gain was not by choice. It came about because of physical illness, mostly endometriosis, and hormonal changes created when doctors placed me on various drugs either to try to stop the endometriosis or to assist with infertility. I'm just one big walking mess of hormonal blech. And, I admit, I am an emotional eater. I eat when I'm bored, lonely, tired, and stressed. I have a limited diet because of ulcers and acid reflux, so I tend to eat the same things most of the time. New items set off a lot of unwanted aggravation.

Being overweight then becomes a problem in and of itself, one that, given what I see around me, normal-sized people do not recognize, cannot recognize, and do not want to recognize. Chairs with arms, for example, are generally uncomfortable for people of size. Stairs might be challenging. Clothing doesn't fit well. So many things become difficult.

Here is a list of just a few of the challenges that people who are overweight face. The next time you see a "fatty" in Walmart, consider what that person might be going through. I'm fairly certain that 99% of the people who are overweight didn't chose that for their body image. They have struggles others would be stunned to learn about.

1. Limited clothing options: Finding stylish and comfortable clothing in larger sizes can be next to impossible. And because body sizes can be so varied, a 3x that fits one person might not work so well for another.

2. Physical discomfort: Carrying excess weight can lead to discomfort, joint pain, and physical limitations. This also tends to lead to body image issues and struggles with self-esteem that impact mental health. It can mean that a person stays home too much, doesn't venture out except when necessary, or otherwise limits his or her life.

3. Discrimination: Overweight individuals may face discrimination and bias in various aspects of life. It seems obesity is something that people can still make jokes about and many consider it a symptom of a "weak mind" or "weak will," instead of seeing it for what it is - a symptom of a larger problem.

4. Health complications: Obesity can lead to a higher risk of health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, and sleep apnea. I suspect it doesn't help acid reflux, either.

5. Exercise challenges: Some physical activities may be difficult due to excess weight, leading to a sedentary lifestyle. Just recently, I was at the local YMCA. I wasn't there to join, nor would I. Absolutely nothing about that place is set up for unhealthy people. It is set up for an average 23-year-old guy who lifts weights. The chairs all have sides, there is only one small elevator, and everything is out in the open where people can see you. It was this visit, actually, that brought on this post.

6. Social isolation: Overweight individuals may experience social exclusion or feel left out of social events. Sometimes this is the person's choice, but other times, people may simply not invite someone because they don't fit the look they want (think weddings or other things where pictures might matter).

7. Stereotyping: Being unfairly labeled as lazy or lacking self-control based on appearance. Bill Maher is very good at this, and I have stopped watching him because he is such a jerk about people's weight.

8. Workplace discrimination: Overweight individuals may face discrimination in hiring or promotions. After all, if you can't control your own body, how could you be expected to control a division, or an entire company, or whatever?

9. Airplane and public transportation discomfort: Tight spaces and seating can be challenging for larger individuals. This also goes for restaurant seating. If you're going to serve those large plates of food, then you should accommodate everyone.

10. Medical bias: Healthcare providers may not take their concerns seriously, attributing health issues to their weight. I can't tell you how many times I have heard that there is nothing wrong with me that losing weight wouldn't fix. I don't hear that from my current primary care physician, but I have heard it from others in the past, and pretty much any specialist I see will mention it.

11. Weight-related expenses: Costs for specialized clothing, medical treatments, or gym memberships can be high. Women's plus-sized clothes are generally several dollars more than smaller sizes.

12. Difficulty with personal care: Daily activities like bathing or grooming can be more challenging.

13. Lower energy levels: Obesity can lead to fatigue and lower energy levels, making daily tasks more difficult. It can also lead to conditions like depression and anxiety may be more common in overweight individuals.

______________

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 830th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

The ISS

That tiny little blip of light in these photos is the International Space Station. My camera is good enough that I should be able to get the thing in detail, but I have trouble finding it in the lens to do that.

This last time when I looked for it, it was supposed to be about 10 degrees above the horizon, but it was almost directly overhead so it took me a minute to find it, and losing that time cost me my ability to focus the camera. 

At least, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

End of an Era

I began reading newspapers when I was four years old. At first, my parents and grandparents thought it was cute, that I was copying them reading the paper with their coffee.

At some point, they realized that by then I could read some things, and I was actually reading headlines and pieces of articles. I may not have understood it, but I was reading it. Understanding dawned the more I read.

My parents always subscribed to The Roanoke Times & World News, and I loved to read the paper after I came home from school. (Well, after I'd watched Dark Shadows first. Or Batman. Whichever was on.) On Sundays, I would try to get the paper before my father so I could read it fresh. I loved the look and feel of an untouched paper. No wrinkles, no crumbs from anybody else. He would fuss at me for messing up his paper - he liked them untouched, too. It was sort of a game and I relished disobeying (yes, I was a hellion, I don't deny it.).

When my husband and I married the first thing we did was subscribe to the evening edition of the paper. We each read it over dinner after work.

Then the paper changed its name to The Roanoke Times and started only coming out once a day, in the mornings. We still read the paper at dinner, only the news was a day older. Still, there were the comics, and more in depth writing on stories that interested me.

In the 1990s, the paper began changing. At some point, online became a thing. I was a bit late to the online thing, living in a rural area as I did. The only way I could actually get online was through America Online (AOL). My local phone company didn't have a way to reach the internet until the late 1990s.

The newspapers, meanwhile, put information for free online. I don't know what genius thought this was a great idea. At any rate, news was suddenly free, and the downhill tumble began.

Today, the daily paper is a shadow of its former self. A Sunday paper now looks like what the daily paper used to look like almost every day. Advertisements are nearly non-existent, and as the revenue goes, so goes the paper, I guess.

It was with great sadness that I cancelled our print edition subscription and kept a digital one, so I could read the paper online. No more newspaper in the box. No more print edition to pile up in the recycling. No more newspaper to use to fill up space in Christmas packages.

Sunday was the last day of our print edition. So yesterday, there it was, an empty paper box. I read the e-edition online.

It's not the same. I don't think my husband is going to adapt to this well. He's trying to use a tablet to read, and with his big fingers he is having trouble manipulating it. I've suggested that tonight he try it on his computer screen. I find that easier than the iPad, too.

As a former news reporter, this hurt. It broke my heart to not renew the subscription, but they were asking so much for so little return I couldn't justify it anymore. A recent certificate of ownership in the paper said the subscriptions were down to about 20,000. At one time, that was how many people were reading the little ol' weekly I wrote for. And the over 100,000 people read the daily.

This explains a great deal about the country. If people are not reading the news, then stupid rules. 

Who knows, maybe in six months, we'll pick the print edition back up as new subscribers, if it's still available. I have my doubts the daily paper is going to survive.

It was hard to let that 40-year-old subscription go, but I guess I'm moving on into the new age with the digital edition.

Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing

1. Write about the best decision you ever made. How did you make it? Was it reasoning or gut instinct?

A. The best decision I ever made was to marry my husband. It was a heart response. I knew I wanted to be with him after the first month we dated. He was/is kind, gentle, loving, steady, and loyal. 

2. What ONE thing would you change about your life? How would your life be different?

A. I would have not gone into newspaper writing and instead found some other creative writing outlet that paid better and offered a pension. Something in advertising, maybe, or public relations with a college. Hopefully, I would have made more money and financially would be better off.

3. What is the hardest thing you have ever done? Why was it hard for you? What did you learn?

A. It took me 8 years to obtain my bachelor's degree. I really wanted it, but I could not afford to go to school full time, so I worked (often full time, sometimes part-time) and went to school part time. I also was ill a lot and occasionally had to drop out to have surgery and recovery time. I learned that I could do anything if I wanted it badly enough.

4. What is your greatest hope for your future? What steps can you take to make it happen?

A. At this point, I just hope for good days and that the United States remains a democracy and doesn't become part of an Axis of Evil.

5. If you could time travel, what would you tell your teenage self?

A. Read more.

6. Write about the most glorious moment in your life so far.

A. I guess my wedding, followed by obtaining my masters degree, would be my most glorious moments. My wedding was a drawn-out affair that my mother created, and my graduation for my masters was a highlight of my life. It was something I did all on my own, and I celebrated it with those I loved.

7. Write about a moment you felt brave.

A. I went up in a hot air balloon in the 1980s. My husband would not go; he stayed with the chase team, but I climbed in the basket and off we went. It was amazing.

8.  What made you happy today?

A. Cheese was on sale for $2.99 a pack!

9. What do you dislike most about growing up?

A. Chores.

10. Write about ten activities you love the most and why you love them.

A. I am not going to write about 10 activities. That is an essay or a memoir, not a question for a meme! I will write about one activity. I love to read because it transports me to another world, place, and/or time and takes me away from my current cares and woes.

11. Do you have an embarrassing moment that still makes you cringe? Write about it in as much detail as you feel comfortable!

A. There was that time I introduced my mother-in-law to someone at a funeral and told her the wrong name.

 
12. What has been your best trip so far?

A. It's probably a tie between vacations to Williamsburg, Charleston, SC, and Myrtle Beach, SC.

 13. Write a list of 5 things (physical or personality-wise) you love about yourself, and why they make you unique.

A. I have a good (if sarcastic) sense of humor, I'm intelligent and intellectually curious, I like music, and I do okay with writing.

14. Discuss 5 things you wish others knew about you.

A. I don't know that people know (1) how much pain I live with, (2) how much emotional energy I spend on others, (3) what a perfectionist I am, (4) how dark my thoughts can be, and (5) that I want the best for everyone, no matter who they are, so long as their best doesn't hurt anyone else.

15. Is social media a blessing or a curse?

A. Oh, it's a curse. No doubt about that.

__________

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: Goodbye, Cruel World

Saturday 9: Goodbye, Cruel World (1961)

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

 

1) This week's song has a circus theme. Have you ever been to a circus? If yes, did you enjoy it?

A. I went to the circus when I was a child, and my parents took me. It was not in tents; it was in the Salem Coliseum. I don't recall much about it as I was quite young, maybe 5 years old?

 

2) James Darren sings that he's running away to join the circus. When you were a kid, did you ever run away from home?

A. I did when I was 16. Long story short, my parents reported my car stolen, and I was picked up by the police in a few hours.

 

3) While he understands intellectually that this girl is no good for him, he tells us his heart is stubborn. Do you have a stubborn streak?

A. I can, yes. But generally, I just give in to go along and not make waves.

4) Though he had three top 20 singles, including this one, James Darren found more consistent success as an actor. Between 1959 and 1963, he played surfer Jeff Matthews, aka "Moondoggie," in three Gidget movies. Have you seen any Gidget movies? What about the TV show, starring Sally Field?

A. I don't recall ever seeing Gidget in any form.

5) "Moondoggie" got his unique nickname because he enjoyed surfing in the moonlight. Looking back on Summer 2023, did you visit the beach (by moonlight or otherwise)?

A. No, we did not go anywhere this past summer. Or the past three summers, for that matter. We last had a get-away in September 2019.

 

6) While he was playing Gidget's teen dream, he was a married man. He wed Danish beauty queen Evy Norlund in 1960. They met when she came to Los Angeles to pursue a career and they were both working at Columbia Studios. More than 60 years later, they're still together. Tell us about the longest-married couple you know.

A. How about I just tell you I'm going to be married for 40 years in a month? That's a long time, although to be honest it seems like maybe 3 years, not 40. Lots of memories, kind of all jumbled up, and stuff can be broken out by time - did it happen while I was still in school, did it happen when he was at fire station X, Y, or Z? Did it happen before my hysterectomy or after? Before 9/11 or after? Pre-pandemic or after? Which newspaper was I writing for? Who was I working for? Was my mother still alive when it happened, or had she passed away? The big marker moments stand out, but the day-to-day stuff smooshes all together, so that time does not seem like 40 years at all.

7) James Darren also played Officer James Corrigan on ABC's police drama, TJ Hooker. Have you ever considered a career in law enforcement?

A. I thought about being a lawyer, which is part of law enforcement, but that's all. My father was a policeman when I was born and up until I was about 3 years old.

 

8) In 1961, when this song was on the radio, matching "his & hers" mohair sweaters were on trend. Do you have a favorite sweater?

A. No, I do not.

9) Random question -- They say we're all young at heart. In what ways are you childlike?

A. I still have a darned sweet tooth and crave sugar almost constantly. I also need a lot of hugs. And I still like to read everything in sight, which I have done since I was four years old.

 

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