Saturday 9

 

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!

Saturday 9: My Funny Valentine (1953)

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

1) In this song, Frank sings that his lover is his favorite work of art. Tell us about a piece of artwork you can see from where you're sitting now. (Yes, that crayon drawing by your 5-year-old nephew counts.)

This is a painting by my grandmother, who was a bit of an artist.  Several in my mother's family were artistic (one aunt was professional), but that talent didn't show in my mother, or in me (though my kids are all artistic)

2) He asks her to not change her hair. When will you next find yourself in the stylist's chair?

I haven't been to a stylist's chair in a long time.  I am lucky that my daughter in law is able to cut my hair.

3) Sinatra is often photographed in hats because he began losing his hair while in his 30s. He wore "a rug" for TV, concert and film appearances but really didn't like it, considering the toupee merely part of his work attire. What do you wear when you wish to appear professional?
I can't remember the last  time I had to appear "professional."  Maybe 2003, when I was working in a doctor's office.  I just wore slacks and a nice top of some sort.

4) Sinatra is best known for his singing and won an Oscar for his acting. But not many people know he liked to paint until he widow sold his paintings at auction. Do you have a secret talent?
I'd say cake decorating, since I've done so much of it, but my hands don't let me decorate any more.

 

5) As a kid, he was a paperboy in his hometown of Hoboken, NJ.  Tell us about one of your early jobs.
My first "real" job was washing test tubes in a medical laboratory and helping to hold frightened patients down when their blood was being collected.

  
This is the last Saturday  9 before Valentine's Day and so this morning we shall focus on the upcoming holiday. 

6) The holiday is also known as The Feast of St. Valentine. Do you have a special meal planned for Tuesday?
Nope.  My son will be cooking anyway.

7) The phrase "wear your heart on your sleeve" began in medieval times. On Valentine's Day, men would celebrate the holiday by displaying their lady love's name on their sleeves. If you were going to adopt this custom, whose name would you wear?

8) Women buy and send more Valentines than men do. Who received the last greeting card you sent?

I sent an actual card in the mail to a pen pal for her birthday.

  
9) Sweethearts, those candy hearts with sayings like "BE MINE" stamped on them, began as throat lozenges. Are you fan of these little candies?

Never liked them.

Sunday Stealing

 Welcome to Sunday Stealing. This feature originated and published on WTIT: The Blog. 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!

Stolen from Moody Blue

 

Three names you go by, other than your given name:
Only "Grandma"

Three things you like about yourself:
* My sense of humor
* My compassion
* My writing

Three things you don't like about yourself:
* My weight
* My lack of athletic interest
* My procrastination

Three parts of your heritage:
* Irish (on my father's side)
* Scottish (on my mother's)
I also heard there is some German in there somewhere.

Three things you are wearing right now:
* a Judy Garland t-shirt
* a cardigan
* slippers

Three favorite bands/musical artists:
* My favorite band is always Lawsuit
* I enjoy Steve Schalchlin concerts
* The Righteous Mothers

Three favorite songs:
* Funny (the World)
* For Good (from Wicked)
* Grandma's Feather Bed

Three things you want in a relationship:
* Communication
* Humor
* Mutual interests

Three of your favorite hobbies:
* Writing
* Photography
* Feeding squirrels

Three things that scare you:"
* Riding on the Freeway
* Thoughts of dying
* Telephone calls in the middle of the night

Three of your everyday essentials:
* My cell phone
* My TV
* My pills

Three places you want to go on vacation:
* Inland passage to Alaska
* Photo safari in Africa
* Nashville

Three careers you have considered/are considering:
* Nun
* Nurse
* Teacher

Three things you want to do before you die:
* Go to sleep !!  (want to die in my sleep)
* Watch granddaughters grow up

Three things you want to do really badly right now: 
* Finish this set of questions
* Answer some letters
* Decide what to have for lunch

Saturday 9

 

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love to answer the questions, however, and here is today's questions!

Saturday 9: Beautiful (2005)

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

 

1) In this song, Moby sings about a self-involved couple who believes others are fascinated by their glamorous lives. Tell us about the most interesting couple you know.
Probably the most interesting couple I have known are no longer a couple -- she died and he had Alzheimer's.  But in their hay day they worked at pretty much everything, including spending the summer in Mexico to give medical health to people in a small town (because of them, we hosted Marie for a year...she now owns a restaurant in Sacramento).

 

2) This song was inspired by the proliferation of reality shows, where celebrities share their lives on camera. Does the idea of becoming rich and famous in exchange for letting a film crew into your home appeal to you?
Heck no

3) "Beautiful" appears in the soundtrack of the movie The Devil Wears Prada, starring Meryl Streep. She was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance, which is no surprise because she has more Oscar nominations than any other actor or actress. Do you have a favorite Meryl Streep movie?
Not sure.  I like all of her movies.  I loved Sophie's Choice and Kramer vs. Kramer

4) Moby has openly discussed how Christ has influenced his life and art. Do you consider yourself religious or spiritual? If yes, how do your beliefs impact your daily life?
I think of myself as spiritual, not religious.  Had too many disagreements to continue to think of myself as "Catholic," but I believe there is some sort of spiritual being, not a bearded old man sitting in a chair in the sky somewhere.

5) His real name is Richard Melville Hall. His parents began calling him "Moby" almost immediately because they felt "Richard Melville Hall" sounded too big for a baby. When did you most recently hold a baby?
Not since granddaughter Lacie (age 11) was born.

6) He began shaving his head when he was in his 30s. It was at the request of a girlfriend, who said she liked bald men. Would you change your appearance to please your lover?
Depends on which way.  I shaved my head, but for a fund raiser.

7) Moby's house was once owned by Marlon Brando and was later rented to The Beatles. What do you know about the previous residents of your home?
We had the house built, so we are the only residents of this house.

 

8) In 2005, when "Beautiful" was released, actress Ruth Warrick died. She began her career in radio, made her film debut in Citizen Kane, and she was best known as matriarch Phoebe Tyler on All My Children, a role she played for 35 years. What's the longest you stayed at the same job?

I transcribed for a psychiatrist for 30 years

9) Random question: Without looking, do you know how much money is in your checking account right now?
Haven't a clue.

January

 Here is my January.  Started during the blackout.

Favorite photos

 Here are my favorite photos from January. 

I don't know why I love this so much but I was sitting at dinner and looked up and there were my two sons and it just warmed the cockles of my heart.

 

I had to laugh when I saw Bouncer sleeping pretty much the way I sleep, with legs off the bed and on the floor.

Ned trying to teach Walt about his new iPhone.

Bubba's favorite toy.

My son and Bubba.  Ned almost NEVER lets me take his picture without making some sort of a "face" and I was tickled that I got this one of him just quietly enjoying the  dog.

Taken just before Bubba leaped at the door and scared the squirrel up the tree.

Outside!

I went outside  today.  We were taking Ned to the bank to have him put on our account.  It was the first time I had been outside in weeks, I believe.  As it turned out, they couldn't see us because they didn't have enough employees, so we have made an appointment for Friday...I'll be out of the house TWICE in one week!

The Godfather

Ned got me interested in watching The Offer, a 10-episode story of how they came to make The Godfather.  It's fascinating and it's amazing, seeing  the problems they had with everybody that the movie ever got made.  If you check "top ten" lists of movies everywhere you find The Godfather and Shawshank Redemption as the two top movies, some lists with Godfather first and some with it second.

I am half way through The Offer and had an overwhelming desire to watch the real movie, so spent most of the morning watching it.  I'd forgotten what a good movie it is.