Sunday Stealing

1) What's the longest you've gone without sleep?

A. About 24 hours. This has happened twice - once in 2010 when my husband and I drove to Myrtle Beach and back in the same day, and again in 2014 when my husband caught his hand in the hay baler and had surgery until late into the night.

2) What was the highlight of your last week?

A. It wasn't a nice highlight, but I lost a cousin/friend in a motorcycle accident.

3) You have to give a 10-minute speech to a group of high school students. What's your topic?

A. I would talk about writing and communication.

4) What is the single best decision you've ever made in your life?

A. The best decision I ever made was to marry my husband. 

5) If you could ask a coworker, friend or family member a question and be guaranteed an honest answer, who would you choose and what would you ask?

A. I would talk to my father, but I will not reveal what I would ask.

6) Do you cook for yourself when you're home alone?

A. When I am home alone, I generally do not cook for myself and make do with whatever is handy. Sometimes when I am alone, I forget to eat. This was especially true when I was freelancing full time. I would get so into my work that I would lose track of time.

7) Do you most often access the internet from your computer, your phone, or your smart watch?

A. I access the internet mostly from a desktop computer. The phone also connects to the wifi but I am on the computer more.

8) Do you have more email addresses or phone numbers?

A. I have more email addresses than phone numbers. I have at least 9 email accounts.

9) What's the biggest source of anger in your life right now?

A. Myself.

10) Mondays make me feel like it's a chance to start anew.

__________

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: Heart Like a Truck

Saturday 9: Heart Like a Truck (2022)

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

 

1) In this week's song, Lainey Wilson longs to hit the open road. What do you yearn for this morning?

A. Peaceful resolution of a family matter.  

2) She says her heart runs on dreams and gasoline. What fuels you?

A. This is a hard question. My dreams and desires have been stomped on such much that I have mostly given up. I get up to take care of my husband and our home, and to try to be a good wife to him, so I guess my love for my fellow is what fuels me.

3) Lainey sings that her heart has been "drug through the mud." The correct past tense of "drag" is "dragged," but in parts of our country, "drug" is sometimes used. Can you think of any other grammatically incorrect song lyrics?

A. I can't get no satisfaction.

4) She tells us her truck could benefit from being dusted off and shined up. Could your vehicle use a little TLC?

A. My car could use a wash, yes.

5) Before making it big in country music, Lainey supported herself by doing odd jobs, including appearing as a Hannah Montana impersonator for kids' parties. What's the most unusual job you've held?

A. I don't know that any of my jobs were unusual. Being a news reporter is out of the 9-to-5 realm, but when I was working it wasn't an unusual job to have. In the future I think it won't exist as a job at all.

 

6) In addition to singing, Lainey has acted, appearing in 5 episodes of the series Yellowstone. Are you a fan of the show?

A. I watched a few episodes of season 1 of Yellowstone and found it too violent for me to handle.

 

7) She loves Southern comfort food like mac and cheese and biscuits and gravy. What's on the menu at your place this weekend?

A. Pork chops, if I can cook them so they are edible.

 

8) In 2022, when this song was on the charts, Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Have you ever been to Scotland?

A. I have never been to Scotland in this lifetime. According to my mother, when I was about three, I started telling her about a castle in Scotland where I lived and died. It scared her so much she made me stop talking about it. Apparently, I was a scullery maid who met a violent end.

 

9) Random question – Let's pretend you're back in kindergarten. Which of these would young you prefer: a toy kitchen set, kid-sized gardening tools, or a mini trampoline?

A. I would prefer the kid-sized gardening tools. I used to enjoy gardening when I was young and my bones didn't hurt so much.

_______________

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

Here are 13 historical events led by women that shaped history:

1. 1848 – The Seneca Falls Convention: The first women's rights convention in the U.S., organized by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott. 

2. 1893 – New Zealand Grants Women the Right to Vote: The first self-governing country to do so.

3. 1903 – Marie Curie Wins the Nobel Prize: The first woman to receive a Nobel Prize, for her work in physics.

4. 1912 – The Founding of the Girl Scouts: Juliette Gordon Low established the Girl Scouts of America.

5. 1920 – The 19th Amendment in the U.S.: Women finally gained the right to vote after decades of activism.

6. 1932 – Amelia Earhart’s Solo Flight Across the Atlantic: She became the first woman to achieve this feat.

7. 1943 – The Women’s Army Corps is Created: Women officially joined the U.S. Army during WWII.

8. 1955 – Rosa Parks Sparks the Civil Rights Movement: Her refusal to give up her bus seat led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

9. 1963 – Equal Pay Act Signed in the U.S.: A major step toward closing the gender wage gap.

10. 1973 – Billie Jean King Wins the “Battle of the Sexes”: She defeated Bobby Riggs in a historic tennis match, proving women’s athletic prowess.

11. 1981 – Sandra Day O’Connor Becomes the First Female U.S. Supreme Court Justice: A landmark moment for women in law.

12. 2016 – Hillary Clinton Becomes the First Woman Nominated for U.S. President by a Major Party: A milestone in American politics.

13. 2021 – Kamala Harris Becomes the First Female U.S. Vice President: Breaking barriers in leadership.

_________________

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 901st time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Saying Goodbye to an Old Friend

Last night, I learned that the husband of my old best friend Brenda, who passed away in 2021, was killed in a motorcycle accident in Alleghany, an adjacent county.

Willie was a distant cousin of mine. We shared a set of great-great grandparents. I just saw him last week at a talk about the history of Carvins Cove.

His older sister, Monty, died in 2016 when she was hit by a vehicle in Floyd County. She was my friend and cousin too. She was a writer, and we talked shop often, even occasionally challenging one another via email to write or work on projects.

I never was able to properly mourn his wife Brenda's death, because of Covid and the family had a private ceremony. And now her husband has gone in a shocking and horrible way.

He is survived by a son who lives out of state.

I wrote several articles about Willie when I worked for the newspaper. He and Brenda were important members of the Town of Fincastle, the county seat. He served as the town mayor for a while, and Willie and Brenda were instrumental in keeping the Christmas lights going in the town for many years. They were pillars of the community.

You can read one article I wrote in 2011 here.

Here is an article I wrote about Willie in 2009:

Willie Simmons

***

A gift to a sister has given wood turner Willie Simmons of Fincastle a new and useful implement to add to his creations of bowls, pepper mills, and other products.

The master craftsman in February came across a "bunch of this colored wood" through a friend in Pennsylvania. The wood, scraps from a gunsmith, have become fun and colorful handles under Simmons' skillful hands.

He added a decorative handle to a seam ripper and gave it to his sister, Monty Leitch, who took it with her to a sewing class. "A lot of people saw it and wanted one," Simmons said. He went to Walmart and bought all of the seam rippers he could find in order to create more.

Since then, the product has been a big hit with local sewing enthusiasts - so much so that one of them wrote the item up for Threads magazine, "the crown jewel" of sewing magazines, as Simmons called it. 

The seam rippers will be a featured "great gift" in an article scheduled to appear in the November magazine. Simmons is expecting to receive many orders on his website (wpswoodturning.com) when the article comes out.

Seam rippers as sold in stores are small and easily lost; the handles that Simmons places on the product make the seam ripper less likely to become another victim of the junk drawer gremlins. The handle also makes the product easier to manipulate and appears to be particularly helpful to those with arthritis or other hand ailments that may impede use. Additionally, the handle is reusable and metallic "ripper" part can be replaced if it becomes dull with use.

"I'm tickled to death" with the way the handles have worked out, Simmons said. "I've hit on something people can use."

The wooden handles come in pink, blue, purple, orange, camouflage, red and other colors as the wood becomes available. Because the wood is nearly 400 miles away and of a limited supply, these products may be limited not only in color but also in availability, Simmons said. The limited supply also means he cannot create special orders.

The colored wood also makes decorative handles for ice cream scoopers and make up brushes. The interesting colors are eye-catching, and these products are selling well at craft shows and in Simmons' shop.

As a craftsman, Simmons said he likes for his items to do more than sit on a shelf. "I don't make art work," he said, though some of his pieces are as decorative and lovely as they are useful. "I like stuff being used."

He has been a wood turner wood for over 25 years, and woodworker for more than 30. He became interested in working with wood when he was helping his father with his furniture and antique repair shop, which was located at the same site as Simmons' woodworking shop. 

For the last 20 years, Simmons has honed his craft and sold his work at various arts and crafts shows. Many of the festivals he attends are out of state or in northern Virginia.

Simmons last year began creating walking sticks as a special order for a Charlottesville businessman who, after adding his own touches, sells them to Orvis. The walking sticks, which are made of tiger maple wood, can be purchased from the mail order company's online catalogue. "I'm very pleased with the work I have done" on the sticks, Simmons said. "I think they are gorgeous."

The sticks sell online for $279.00. Simmons has some sticks for sale at his shop, though they are not exactly like the ones available through Orvis. They have different finishes or have not been stained. Supplies are limited, he said.

The sticks he sells frequently have "ambrosia streaks" in them, and the sticks online do not have those markings. Ambrosia streaks are created when a beetle that attacks maple trees leaves its byproduct in the wood. The stain leaves unique streaks, Simmons explained. It's a desirable thing in the wood.

He has also been experimenting with the walking stick designs and has created a two-part walking stick that may also be used as a cane. 

Simmons will have his wood working shop open during Botetourt's Open Studios, which takes place October 26 and 27. His work is for sale anytime he is at his shop.

This is a Tractor

 

A Note to Whomever Needs to Read It

If you are reading my blog because you think I might say something bad about you, or something you don't like, then (a) maybe you should have been nicer to me and then you wouldn't have to worry about what I might say and (b) don't read my blog and you won't know if I write something you don't like.

Get a grip, people. Geez.

Five Things

 

Five things I accomplished last week -

1. My husband and I went to a historical lecture on the history of Carvins Cove. The Cove is Roanoke City's main source of drinking water, but it is located in Botetourt County. It is named after William Carvin, who was an early settler in the area.

2. I listened to the Board of Supervisors meeting to see what my local representatives are doing. Big announcement! One of our industries is making a $30 million investment and bringing in 270 jobs.

3. My chiropractor and I had a long talk about health issues. I probably need to find a podiatrist.

4. I wrote an 800-word short story. It is now sitting in my "look at in about 6 weeks" file. Things like that always require a second rewrite.

5. I picked the guitar back up and for 5 nights in a row I have played 2-3 songs. I am using a cheap travel guitar that weighs nothing because of my back issues, and the strings are difficult because I need a lighter gauge, but for the moment the heavier gauge string will help get the callouses back on my fingertips quickly and once that happens, I will change them out. So far, the tendonitis in my upper arm and shoulder that caused me to stop playing is not overwhelming me with pain. Fingers crossed.

Sunday Stealing

Stealing from Shannon 

 

1. What book are you currently reading?

A. I am listening to The Plot, by Jean Hanff Korelitz and reading Obsession by Stuart Woods.

2. Have you ever smoked?

A. I tried cigarettes when I was a teenager but did not like them and never picked up the habit.

3. Do you own a gun?

A. When I was 10, my grandparents visited from California. My grandfather brought with him a .22 "survival gun" that broke down and fit inside of the gunstock for easy carrying. I admired it and my grandfather told me if I learned to break it down and put it back together in less than 2 minutes, he would give it to me. I practiced and before he left, I broke the gun down and put it back together in under 2 minutes. He kept his word and gave me the gun. I don't think he had thought I could do it.

4. What is your favorite candy?

A. Chocolate. At the moment my favorite is Lindt's milk chocolate, a Lindor bar.

5. Hot dogs: yay or nay?

A. They are ok occasionally.

6. Favorite movie?

A. The Lord of the Rings, all three movies (The Fellowship, The Two Towers, The Return of the King), extended editions.

7. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?

A. I drink a cup of hot water in the morning.

8. What do you drink throughout the day?

A. I drink water throughout the day. I stopped drinking anything but water about five years ago.

9. Do you do push-ups?

A. I do not do push-ups.

10. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry?

A. My favorite piece of jewelry is my wedding band, followed by my cheap Timex watch.

11. Current worry?

A. My current worries . . . (a) fixing the roof, (b) the lack of rain, (c) my husband's health, (d) my brother's health, (e) my father's health, (f) my mother-in-law's health, (e) my own health, (f) the state of the nation.

12. Current annoyance?

A. The air purifier in the hallway has developed a very annoying squeak. My husband can't hear it, but I can. I am also having a bought of tinnitus, and the squeak doesn't help that.

13. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets?

A. I do not know that I have ever slept on satin sheets. Mostly I sleep on cotton sheets.

15.  Can you whistle?

A. I can whistle. Some days I can whistle better than others.

__________

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: Can't We Talk It Over

Saturday 9: Can't We Talk It Over (1950)

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

1) In this song, The Andrews Sisters plead for verbal communication.  Is there someone you'd like to engage in a heart-to-heart conversation?

A. Yes, but I don't think doing it here on my blog would do much good.

 

2) They want to sit together for this talk. Think about the most recent personal conversation you had. Was it in person, over the phone, or via Zoom?

A. The most recent conversation I had was in person with my husband. Before that I had a text conversation, then a phone call from my husband. I haven't used Zoom since January, when I visited with my doctor when I was ill.

 

3) This week's tune was written by Victor Young. He was prolific, earning 22 Oscar nominations in 18 years. (His one win came after his sudden death at age 57.) Think about your friends and family. Who is the most active, productive person you know?

A. I think my brother has earned the title of most active, productive person I know at this moment. There are runner-ups, but he is definitely the winner.

 

4) The lyrics were written by Ned Washington, who is perhaps best remembered for "When You Wish Upon a Star" from Disney's Pinocchio. Do you believe, like Jiminy Cricket, that dreams come true?

A. I do not believe that dreams come true. Since most of my dreams are nightmares, that is probably a good thing. If you are talking about hopes or goals, sometimes they come true with work and a little luck.

 

5) This week's song is performed by The Andrews Sisters -- LaVerne, Maxine and Patty. Do you have siblings? If yes, are you the oldest, the middle child, or the baby?

A. I am the oldest of two children.

6) With more than 80 million records sold, the Andrews Sisters remain one of the most successful female vocal groups of all time. Name another girl group.

A. Heart. The Supremes. Blondie. 

 

7) In 1950, the year "Can't We Talk It Over" was released, we were introduced to the Peanuts comic strip. Without looking it up, do you know who created Peanuts?

A. Charles Shultz created Peanuts, and no, I did not have to look it up.

 

8) In 1950, most suitcases were hard sided rectangles, with no wheels and a small handle at the top. They came in colors like tan, copper, green and blue. What does your luggage look like?

A. I have soft-sided luggage with wheels and many pockets. It has been used so seldom that it probably needs replaced because it has dry-rotted. I haven't seen it in years. It's in the back of the closet.

9) Random question: Who was the last person to phone you? Did you pick up, or did it go to voice mail?

A. The last person to phone me was a solicitor who wanted to speak to my husband about farm crops for some survey. I picked it up. I could have answered his questions, probably, but didn't offer up the information, and hubs wasn't home.

_______________

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. 

Twenty-Six Questions

From Sunday Stealing March 2009

1. Did you date someone from your school?

A. I did date someone from my school. In fact, I married someone from my school, although we were not in the same class. He is older than I.

2. Did you marry someone from your high school?

A. I did marry someone from my high school. 

3. Did you carpool to school?

A. I rode the bus, or I drove. There was a short period of time when my mother dropped me off at high school on her way to work. Once I had my driver's license, then I drove to school.

4. What kind of car did you have?

A. I had a Datsun. It was burnt orange color and had a hatchback.

5. What kind of car do you have now?

A. I have a white Toyota Camry.

6. Its Friday night! Where are you now?

A. On Friday nights I am at home with my husband watching TV or reading a book.

7. It is Friday night! Where were you then?

A. When I was in high school, I was in the marching band, so I had to attend the football games.

8. What kind of job did you have in high school?

A. I played guitar in a rock/Top 40/disco band in high school. I also worked for my father's business during the summer.

9. What kind of job do you do now?

A. I am a writer.

10. Were you a party animal?

A. I was never a party animal, although I did go to parties in high school.

11. Were you considered a flirt?

A. I don't know. I hope not.

12. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir?

A. I was in band. I played the flute and the piccolo. 

13. Were you a nerd?

A. I was a nerd. I still am a nerd.

14. Did you get suspended from school?

A. I received in school suspension for skipping band class. In school suspension back then just meant you had to spend time in the cafeteria doing your homework during some certain period of time. It was no big deal.

15. Can you sing the fight song?

A. We're Cavalier born and Cavalier bred and when we die we'll be Cavaliers yet! So rah rah for Cavaliers, rah rah for Cavaliers, rah rah for Cavaliers!  I guess that is the fight song.

16. Who was/were your favorite teacher?

A. My favorite teacher was my algebra teacher. I had her for three years. We are still in touch.

17. Where did you sit during lunch?

A. I sat at a table. I don't recall having any specific routine at lunch, aside from eating and occasionally tossing my retainer in the trashcan by accident.

18. What was your school's full name?

A. Lord Botetourt High School.

19. Where did you party the most?

A. I did not have a particular place where I went to party.

20. What was your school mascot?

A. I think it was a person dressed up like a Cavalier.

21. Would you do it again?

A. Do what? Go back to high school? No.

22. Did you have fun at Prom?

A. I went to prom when I was a sophomore. I wore a blue dress. I guess it was fun. It was so long ago that I don't remember all that much about it.

23. Do you still talk to the person you went to Prom with?

A. No. I don't even know where he is or if he is still alive.

24. Are you planning on going to your next reunion?

A. I seriously doubt my class has another reunion. I went to our last one in 2011, and I can't see myself attending another.

25. Do you still talk to people from school?

A. I talk to my former algebra teacher, and my banker went to school with me. So yes, I still talk to people from school.

26. What are/were your school's colors?

A. My school colors were red and gray.

Thursday Thirteen

I have been pondering the use of AI in writing. It's here, and it's going to stay. There are some authors who firmly oppose it, others who are using it to write practically everything. I've dabbled with it, but I am not sure where I stand.

So here are some pros and cons: 

13 Reasons Writers Would Use AI

Enhance creativity by brainstorming fresh ideas.

Speed up the writing process with automated content generation.

Generate outlines or story structures quickly.

Conduct efficient research and organize findings.

Edit and proofread drafts for grammatical accuracy.

Experiment with new writing styles and tones.

Create engaging marketing content and social media posts.

Develop character profiles and world-building details.

Translate content into multiple languages seamlessly.

Perform sentiment analysis to tailor content to audience emotions.

Write consistent content for branding purposes.

Produce articles or blogs on niche topics with little input.

Simplify technical writing and user manuals creation

13 Reasons Writers Would Avoid Using AI

Concern about losing originality and personal voice.

AI may lack the depth needed for nuanced storytelling.

Fear of over-reliance on technology stunting creativity.

Risk of producing generic or repetitive content.

Ethical concerns about AI replacing human jobs.

Difficulty trusting AI’s judgment on emotional matters.

AI-generated content may inadvertently plagiarize existing works.

Struggle with integrating AI outputs into artistic vision.

Lack of control over AI’s stylistic choices.

Poorly contextualized content requiring extra edits.

Inaccuracy or bias in research results.

What do you think? Are you a writer? Would you or do you use AI? What do you like or dislike about it? (The list was produced by AI.)

_________________

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 900th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

A Glitch in the Matrix?

Yesterday before I headed out to the grocery store, I opened the front door to see how cold it was outside.

The yard was full of birds - at least seven of them - and I expected them to all fly off when the door opened.

But instead, they froze.

All of them. The robin staring right at me. The little woodpecker with his head cocked to the right. The blue jay in mid effort to attack a worm. They stood frozen, as if in a picture.

It was just seconds, but long enough for me to stare back and think, "What is going on here? Why aren't they moving?"

They should not have stayed still that long. Birds move around so much they are notoriously difficult to photograph. They certainly don't freeze.

They did not fly away until I moved to close the door. At that point, it was as if they had all been released from a spell - and each bird flew off in the same instance. 

They headed for the trees like they should have done when I first opened the door.

Sometimes I see videos about "glitches in the matrix" online. They usually are something I can explain by say, optical illusion. Or a bad perspective.

I cannot explain this "freezing of the birds" when I opened the door. It was so odd that it made me shiver. "How weird," I thought as I shut the door.

Five Things

Five things I did last week -

1. Prepared country style spareribs and did not overcook them this time.

2. Walked on the treadmill and finally hit the 30-minute mark. It's not yet sustainable but I'm getting there. Twenty-five minutes is still the go-to mark but I am walking that at a little faster pace now, too.

3. Finished a book called Memory Called Empire, by Arkady Martine, which was a science fiction book a friend gave me for Christmas. Very deep and intriguing especially with regards to language use across empires.

4. I listened to another book called You Will Find Your People by Lane Moore. This was a self-help book about finding friends, being a good friend, and setting boundaries. It honestly was the first book I've ever read on that topic that resonated with me.

5. The grocery store saw me enter it twice; once on Tuesday and again on Friday. I paid my first tariff on Green Giant lightly sauced broccoli. It had been two boxes for $1.50, now it is up to $2.19 per box. It says on the package "Product of Mexico." I like these steamers as they have just enough food for the two of us and make an easy way to ensure we get a vegetable at dinner, but at that price I will have to look for something else now. That's too expensive. I didn't have time to browse when I was in the store so that will be a chore for this week.

Sunday Stealing

Welcome to Sunday Stealing. Here we will steal all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent questions. Cheers to all of us thieves!

These journal prompts were stolen from CountryDew, (hey, that's me!) who originally posted them in February 2021. She undoubtedly stole them from another blogger, but we're not busting her. Here at Sunday Stealing we encourage theft. 

Prompts and More Prompts

1) How do you show others love? What makes you feel loved?

A. The book, The Five Love Languages, by Gary Chapman, says there are 5 ways to show love. They are physical contact, words of affirmation, acts of service, quality time, and receiving gifts. I show love to others in all of these ways, as I think most people do, but mostly through time, offering words of affirmation, and giving gifts. In order for me to feel loved, I would need someone's time, words of affirmation, and an occasional box of Tic Tacs.

2) Who is someone you admire? Why?

A. I admire my friend Teresa. She has it all together. She is a terrific artist and does all sorts of crafty cool things and is a great cook. She is smart, funny, and thoughtful.

3) Do you have the qualities you value in a friend?

A. I would like to think I have the same qualities that I value in a friend, and I probably do, but not necessarily to the same degree as other people. Some I may have more of, others less. Here's what AI says makes a good friend: 

Trustworthiness: A good friend keeps your secrets and is reliable.

Empathy: They listen and understand your feelings without judgment.

Loyalty: They stand by you through thick and thin.

Honesty: They give you the truth, even when it's not easy to hear.

Supportiveness: A true friend cheers on your successes and provides comfort during challenges.

Respect: They value your boundaries, opinions, and individuality.

Humor: A shared sense of fun can make even tough times more bearable.

Do you agree or disagree with Miss AI?

4) What is something you enjoyed doing when you were younger but don't do anymore? Why did you stop doing it?

A. I used to enjoy bicycle riding when I was young, but I do not do that anymore. I stopped because I grew up and married and didn't have time for it.

5) What is something other people think is fun but you don't?

A. Parties. I do not like parties much. An occasional one is fine, but I don't like them very often.

__________

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: Photograph

Saturday 9: Photograph (1973)

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

1) In this song, Ringo stumbles upon a photograph that reminds him of a lost love. Are there any photos displayed in the room you're in right now?

A. I have a calendar with a picture of yellow flowers on it, a copy of a painting by Van Gogh, a photograph I took of a flower with a honeybee in it, another picture I took of a sunrise over the Peaks of Otter, and a signed picture of Bonnie Raitt and another autographed by Charlie Sheen. I won those somehow over the Internet back in the 1990s and they have been in my office ever since. I don't particularly like Charlie Sheen, but I do like Bonnie Raitt.

2) While there are approximately 180 published songs credited to Lennon-McCartney, this is the only song written by Harrison-Starr. When you think of Ringo's old band, the Beatles, what's the first song that comes to mind?

A. "She's Leaving Home" from the Sergeant Pepper Lonely Heart's Club Band album.

 

3) George and Ringo wrote this song while on a yacht in the South of France. They, and their wives, had just attended Mick Jagger's wedding to Bianca in Saint Tropez and decided to take a little holiday together. What are your vacation plans for 2025?

A. I have no vacation plans for 2025.

 

4) At 5'8, Ringo was the shortest Beatle and the only one with blue eyes. How tall are you? What's your eye color?

A. I have about 5'2" tall and my eyes are hazel. They generally have a blue tint to them because I wear a lot of blue.

5) Ringo gave his first wife, Maureen, a one-of-a-kind birthday gift. Frank Sinatra recorded "The Lady Is a Tramp" with special lyrics, written just for her. Do you have anything that's personalized? (It could be a monogram on a scarf, it doesn't have to be as cool as a gift from Frank Sinatra.)

A. I have my press pass from long ago.

6) Ringo appeared as Mr. Conductor on Thomas the Tank Engine. He recorded the narration for the entire first season in just a week. Tell us what you did last week.

A. I went to the grocery store twice, I worried constantly, I did umpteen loads of laundry, fixed dinner every night, talked on the phone with friends, read a lot of news, and cried when no one was around.

7) As a boy in Liverpool, Ringo loved watching American westerns. Do you like cowboy movies/shows?

A. Not particularly. 

 

8) In 1973, when this song was a hit, former President Lyndon Johnson died. Who was President when you were a kid?

A. Kennedy was killed when I was 6 months old, so then Johnson, then Nixon. I vaguely remember Watergate. I remember Ford being president, and I was a senior in high school the day Ronald Reagan was shot.

 

9) Random question: When you woke up this morning, did you know the day and date (before looking at your phone)?

A. The day and date wasn't the first thing on my mind, but yes, I knew what the day and date was. I never look at my phone for that information. That's why I have a calendar and a clock hanging on my wall. Yes, I am old school.

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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. 

Twenty-Five Questions

From Sunday Stealing March 2009

1. Are you single?

A. I am happily married. I have been married for 41 years and counting.

2. Are your parents still married?

A. My mother died in 2000. My father remarried in 2007, and he and my stepmother are still married.

3. Are you in love?

A. I am in love with my husband, yes. I wouldn't have been here for 41 years if I wasn't.

4. Do you believe in love at first sight?

A. I think you know when you meet people whether or not you will be friends (or lovers). Some people you meet simply click with you. My husband and I clicked when we first met. I knew within a few weeks that we would marry.

5. Who ended your last relationship?

A. I don't have a last relationship that ended, outside of friends dying. I married when I was 20 and I wasn't serious about anyone before I met my husband.

6. Have you ever been hurt by a break up?

A. Oh, I'm sure my little heart was broken in elementary school by some boy or another, but that's part of growing up.

7. Have you ever broken someone’s heart?

A. Probably.

8. Have you ever had a secret admirer?

A. I have never had a secret admirer that I know of. Wouldn't the person not be secret if I knew about it?

9. Do you prefer love or lust?

A. I prefer love.

10. Do you prefer a few best friends or many regular friends?

A. I tend to only have a few friends. I'm fairly introverted and shy, although some people think my shyness is "being stuck up."

11. Would you prefer a wild night out or romantic night in?

A. I would prefer a romantic night in.

12. Back in the day: were you ever caught sneaking out?

A. No, I was never caught sneaking out. I ran away from home once and was picked up by the police, but that wasn't sneaking out.

13. Have you ever wanted something/someone so badly it hurt?

A. I have only ever wanted to be loved so badly it hurt.

14. Who are/is your best friend(s)?

A. I have several close female friends, but my husband is my best friend.

15. Have you ever wanted to disappear?

A. I have wanted to disappear very badly.

16. What are you first attracted to, someone's smile or their eyes?

A. I think I am first attracted to a smile and then eyes. If someone is frowning, I move on.

17. Do you prefer intelligence or attraction?

A. I take this question to mean do I prefer looks over intelligence. I prefer intelligence.

18. What was the last phone call you received?

A. The last phone call I received was from my father.

19. What was the last thing you drank?

A. The last thing I drank was water.

20. Before your current one, when was your last relationship?

A. My last relationship was so long ago that it does not matter.

21. Do you and your family get along?

A. My family and I have a truce of sorts. It is up to them as to whether it holds.

22. Would you say you have a "screwed up life"?

A. I would say I have lived a different sort of life than many people, since I have lived in a rural area all of my life, and I did not go into the corporate world.

23. Have you ever gotten kicked out somewhere? If yes, do tell.

A. I was kicked out of an optometrist's office once. I had taken him a pair of glasses to have new lenses installed, and I don't know what he did, but the frames were a different color when I picked them up. I argued with him that they weren't my frames (the frames I took in were brown, the ones I picked up were pinkish brown) and he dismissed me. When I continued to argue, he threw me out. I was so mad that I turned him into the state Department of Regulations, which licenses business professionals in my state. They even held a hearing about it in Richmond. I did not go, but they sent me a copy of the letter they sent to him, which admonished him to be more mindful of his customers concerns. I never went back there.

24. Do you trust all your friends?

A. I trust most of them. I have a few I am careful with.

25. Who knows the most about you?

A. My husband.