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.

 

Sunday Stealing

1. when did you last sing to yourself

I lost my voice several years ago.  My vocal range is now about 3 notes, so I don't sing to myself any more.  Before that, I used to be in choirs for many years.

2. if you’re male, would you ever rock black nail polish? if you’re female, would you ever rock really really short hair?
I once had my head shaved to raise money for children's cancer research, so I don't mind having really short hair.

3. what is the greatest accomplishment of your life?
Oh so many.  I'd say raising 5 children, but two of them didn't make it, so I'm not sure that is the "greatest accomplishment."  Probably the book I wrote in 1989 -- "The Lamplighters Story, 1977-1987", So cool to know I can look myself up in the Library of Congress.

4. what is the first happy memory that comes to mind, recent or otherwise?
Watching my kids' band, Lawsuit concerts, especially at UC Davis where they had hundreds in the audience.

5. if you knew that in one year you would die suddenly, would you change anything about the way you are now living?
No.

6. do you have a bucket list? if so, what are the top three things?
I had a  bucket list at one time and have fortunately accomplished most of the things on it. The only two things left are trips to Africa (photo safari) and cruise up the inland passage to Alaska, neither of which I expect to do.

7. how do you feel about tattoos and piercings? 
Not a big fan of tattoos, though I have seen some that were really beautiful -- just not for me..  I have one piercing in each ear and that is enough for me.

8. do you feel you had a happy childhood?
I feel I had an OK childhood.  My father's anger kept it from being completely happy.

8. when did you last cry in front of another person?
Oh probably Walt, the last time I saw a sad TV program.

9. who in the world would you most like to receive a letter from and what would you want it to say?
It would be nice to hear from my friend Melody, who lives in Maryland and whom I have not heard from in many years.

10. what is your night time routine?
Watch Colbert's monologue and when it is midnight, post videos to 1SE and work the new Wordle, then go to sleep. Usually sleep for 2-3 hours, then up for a bit, then back to sleep for another 2-3 hours.

11. when was your last 3am conversation with someone, and who were they to you?
Well, the only one I might have had a conversation with at 3 a.m. it would be by text message to my friend Char.  We both tend to be awake many nights in the middle of the night.

12. if you were about to die, and you could only say one more sentence to one person, what would you say and to whom?
I would say "I love you" to whoever is with me at the hour of my death.

13. what is your opinion on brown eyes?
I don't usually pay attention to eyes.  I have hazel eyes and I can't even tell you what color my kids' eyes are (I'm pretty sure Ned's are brown).  But Judy Garland had beautiful brown eyes, and I loved those.

14. pick a quote and describe what it means to you personally.
"You will lose someone you can’t live without, and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly—that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp." -- Anne Lamott

Having lost so many people I can't live without, I related to this quote when I first read it.

15. what would you title the autobiography of your life so far?

I've answered this question before ... "Funny the World." 

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 are today's questions!

Saturday 9: On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe (1946)

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

 

1) In this song, Judy Garland sings about the train whistle and wheels. What sounds make you happy?
The ocean, rain on the roof, babies' laughter, some music

 

2) She tells us that, since she loves dreaming of train travel, she must have "a little gypsy in her heart." How about you? Do you often dream of visiting faraway places?
When I was growing up, I felt that only rich people would ever visit faraway places, but we have been to 24 different countries and 40 states, so  there aren't many places I dream of visiting, except Africa and the inland passage to Alaska.

3) Judy sings about a future when she's "old and gray and settled down." At what age do you consider a person is old?

When I was approaching my 70th birthday, I realized, to my surprise, that 70 didn't feel so old to me.  But as I am now approaching my 80th birthday, 80 is starting to feel old.

4) This song is from the movie, The Harvey Girls. Filming was a time of stress for Judy. She was appearing before the cameras by day (she sprained her ankle in a scene where slips down a hill), recording the soundtrack by night, and dealing with lawyers regarding her divorce from composer David Rose. Yet watching the movie, none of the tension shows. Do you work well under pressure?

Generally speaking, I work very well under pressure.  If you want something done tell me you need it by tomorrow.  If you give me 3 months to get it done, I won't have started it until it's almost  time for it to be finished.

5) Judy relaxed on the set by knitting and would make blankets and caps for the children of crew members. Do you knit?

I did some 50+ years ago.  I made one baby blanket and two sweaters for Walt neither of which fit him when they were finished.  I haven't knit anything since.

 

6) Judy admitted she had a problem with tardiness. Do you strive to be prompt?

I have to force myself not to be completely prompt to social engagements. Generally speaking if I have to drive a long distance, I allow time for getting lost and almost arrive exactly on time.

 

7) In 1946, when this song was on the radio, cigarette cases were very popular. Since these metal cases were standard issue in the Army during WWII, many soldiers got into the habit of using them and continued to after the war ended. Women often carried fabric or leather cigarette cases that closed with a clasp like a coin purse. In the 1940s, elegant cigarette cases were a fashionable gift but today, they are largely forgotten. Did you ever carry one? Do you know anyone who did?

I never smoked, so I never carried one.  I can't think of anybody I knew who did.

 

8) Also in 1946, bikinis appeared for the first time on runways in Paris. How often did you don swimwear during 2022?

Never.

9) Random question: Thinking of your past romantic involvements, were you truly in love with one of them, some of them, or all of them?

I have had few romantic involvements but I was truly in love with each one, at the time.

Old Age

It was depressing to read an article today entitled "When did I realize I was old" ... and to realize that it had been written by someone Jeri's age!

New Phone

 Walt's phone died.  He's had an android for a long time, but since the rest of the family have iPhones (except Jeri...who was getting an iPhone this week), so he and Ned went to Verizon and came home with a new iPhone for Walt.  He has a difficult time understanding technical things these days, but Marta and Ned have spent a lot of time helping him figure things out.  He actually was thrilled to have a 90 minute facetime conversation last night.

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 the question meme

1. You are  back in high school... what are you doing after school lately?
mostly just going home.  It was a long bus ride home for most of us and no time to do after school stuff. Sometimes we'd go to the nearby restaurant for cokes or something before going home.

2.Do you do homework early or late?  Do you really study?
I actually don't remember, but I think I did my homework when I got home from school.  I studied, but not as much as I should have.

3. a, Do you go to the games? Football? Basketball.. what is your favorite to attend?
I went to a girls school and we didn't have games with other schools, that I remember.  Maybe volleyball.  Seems to me I remember attending a volleyball game or two.

 b. Do you go to the dances? Prom? (what'd you wear?)
Yes, I went to dances.  I usually helped set them up.  Can't think of anything special that I wore.], except formals for proms (2 of my proms and 2 of my boyfriend's).

4.Lunch!  What are we having today?   What is your favorite lunch?
My mother made lunches sometimes in high school (always in grammar school).  Usually a sandwich, some fruit and some chips.  I often ate in the cafeteria, but can't think of any particular food that was a favorite.

5. What kind of music do you like the best?
Today, I enjoy show tunes, music of my friend Steve Schalchlin, and classical stuff.   And of course the CDs of the band Lawsuit..

6. Does the radio play in your car and if so what station or kind of music plays?  Does music play in your home often?
We have a radio in the car but more often play CDs.  If it's on a regular station, it would be the classic station.  We rarely play music in the house, unless it's Ned's radio show and then we listen to that.

7. What do you think of the music played in restaurants or stores? Do you find it relaxing or annoying?
I don't pay any attention to it.

8. What part has music played in your life? What kind of music played at your wedding or at parties you have been to?
Despite the above answers, I feel music has played a big part in my life, from singing in choirs, to going to musical performances (Gilbert & Sullivan having been a major part of my life), to the kids' band which played for 10 years.  My father was a musician and Jeri teaches music at Berklee College of Music in Boston.  The music for our wedding was a Mozart high mass, sung by the choir I was a member of and a string quartet.

9. Is the farm for you? How about a ranch, a village or a city? Which is your choice and why?
I've never lived on a farm or a ranch.  I grew up a city girl (San Francisco), and it took me a long time to become a suburban mother, but now I think of myself as preferring the suburbs.

10. A short auto trip for the weekend with friends or a long vacation? Where would you go?
We often went on short trips and long vacations with our friends the Blackfords.  We took all 10 of our kids to see lots of ghost towns in Nevada and when we were older, we did river cruises with Mike and Char.  Mike is gone now, Char is in a senior living facility and we won't be doing trips any more, except to Santa Barbara to visit  Tom and his family.

11. The quiet life at home with a cuppa and TV or  a good book or a night out with friends? Which sounds good today?
Either a quiet evening with TV or a book, definitely.

12. You have a choice of  dinner and a movie or a game of cards and snacks at the neighbors. Where are you going tonight?
Probably neither, but in a more perfect world I love to play games and would love to have neighbors to play card games with, but Walt doesn't like to play cars, so we don't.  I remember "Cousins Day" when my two cousins and I played cards continuously with my mother on overnight dates.

13. Is there a hero or character on TV, in a book or a movie .. or even on all three, that you are especially like? What do you find attractive about them?
I loved Max in New Amsterdam, but the show has now been canceled.  I loved his idea of how to get medical care for everyone, not just those with insurance.  I also love the cast of Criminal Minds for their camaraderie. As for books, I'm still in love with the characters from the "Outlander" books and TV series but I don't know that I will live long enough to see how their story ends.

14.  Was there a book that was better in movie form? How about a movie you thought didn't live up to the book?
I can't think of a movie that made the book better, though some movies are OK.  However, Barbra Streisand ruined one of my favorite books, "Prince of Tides," by rewriting it to make her the star.

15. When you choose a book, program or movie which subject it is most likely to be: science fiction, mystery, romance, comedy, documentary, etc.?     What draws you to a particular book or movie? 
Mystery, though perhaps "crime drama" is a more appropriate category.  I enjoy some comedies and some documentaries but definitely prefer crime dramas.  The ones I prefer are ones where I feel the camaraderie among the groups working (like Criminal Minds and the NCISs).  I also enjoy most medical dramas, like The Good Doctor, The Resident, and New Amsterdam.

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 are today's questions!

Saturday 9: Kiss (1986)

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

1) In this week's song, Prince insists there's no particular sign he's more compatible with. Do you take astrology seriously?
Not at all, though there are some "signs" that I'm supposed to be compatible with and I'm pleased to find out that I really am.

2) He tells his prospective lover there's no need to be flirty. Are you a good flirt?
Good lord...it's been so long since I've been in a position to be flirty...but I doubt that I ever was

3) He refers to the nighttime soap opera Dynasty. Were you a fan?
No. Never saw an episode.

4) "Kiss" was recorded at Sunset Sound Recorders in Hollywood. Built by Walt Disney Studio, it's the studio where the soundtracks to Mary Poppins and 101 Dalmatians were recorded. When you think of Disney movies, what's the first song that comes to mind?
The lullaby that mother elephant sings to Dumbo when she's in jail.

5) Prince said he was "obsessed" with Mozart and read everything he could find about the master. Do you often read biographies? If yes, who was the last one about?
I read lots of biographies and autobiographies.  The last two I read were Kelly Ripa's "Live Wire," and "Back to the Prairie: A Home Remade, A Life Rediscovered by Melissa Gilbert.  I am currently  reading "Spare" 'cause I got caught up in all the hype.

6) He loved snacking while watching a movie in the theater and would mix Goobers (chocolate-covered peanuts) with his popcorn. When you go to the movies, do you visit the concession counter?
Almost never.  Despite my weight I can actually go 2 hours without eating something (and everything is too expensive anyway)

7) In 1986, when this song was popular, Peewee's Playhouse premiered. While ostensibly for children, this show had many, many adult viewers. Do you ever watch kids' shows today?
No.  Not in a long time.

8) Also in 1986, Sears shoppers were painting their interior walls with "Country Clover," a pale beige with a hint of pink. What color is the room you're in right now?
A very light lavender.

9) Random question: Do you enjoy pressing the pedal to the metal and driving fast?
I did in my 30s, but not as I got older.  Now I don't drive at all, and freeways scare me.

 

Sleep

 I didn't sleep much when Jeri and Phil were here, so I was very sleepy when they left and immediately went to the couch and slept  2-1/2 hrs.  Then I was up for an hour or so, had lunch and took a 2 hour nap under my wonderful new warm blanket.  I think I may also have napped a bit more in the afternoon.  After dinner, I went to watch a movie and fell asleep within the first 15 minutes, waking up at 10 p.m.  Didn't think I could get back to sleep, but went into the living room and slept on the couch until 2 a.m.  Came back into the family room and my wonderful new blanket and slept anther hour or so, waking up in time to watch Sunday Morning.

I have caught up on sleep, but will undoubtedly take another nap after lunch today.

Sunday Stealing

 Hi! I'm your host Bev Sykes of the blog "Funny the World". . 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 the question mem

1. What is your favorite accent?
I'm kind of partial to Brasilian Portuguese.

2. What is your favorite animal?
Domestic: dog.  Wild: elephant

3. What is your favorite band?
Lawsuit, which no longer exists.

4. What is your favorite childhood book?
Either  the Black Stallion books, or any of Albert Payson Terhune's books about collies.

5. What is your favorite color?
Red, the bluish red, not the orange-ish red

6. What is your favorite drink?
Ice water

7. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Butter pecan

8. What is your favorite place on the planet?
For driving around and looking at stuff, San Francisco.  For living, Davis

9. What is your favorite sandwich?
Lately I've been enjoying deli turkey sandwiches.  I also love tomato sandwiches with just mayonnaise and white bread, but the tomatoes have to be home grown...not enough flavor in store-bought.

10. What is your favorite swear word?
The four-letter F word

11. What is your favorite thing to wear?
pajama bottoms and a t-shirt (with a sweatshirt over it if it's cold)

12. What is your favorite food to eat on a rainy day?
Hmmm...Today is a rainy day.  I had an English muffin for breakfast and Cheerios with blueberries for lunch.  But then I'd also have that on a sunny day.

13. What is your favorite food to eat on a sunny day?
the thing that came instantly to mind was corn on the cob.

14. What is your favorite number?
7 for no reason.  It's always been my favorite number and has never brought me any luck.

15. What is your favorite snack?
It used to be spoons full of peanut butter, but I've had to give that up.  Now mostly mandarin oranges or bananas.  I also like crackers with peanut butter or cream cheese, nuts (mostly peanuts, but also cashews) and pretty much any snack food that is bad for me.

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: Hurting Each Other (1972)

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

1) This week's song was written by Gary Geld and Peter Udell, who also wrote 1962's "Sealed with a Kiss." What was in the last envelope you sealed?
I sent my mother's Social Security information to her stepson, who is the executor of her estate.

2) In "Hurting Each Other," Karen Carpenter sings she wishes she and her lover could stop making each other cry. Have you most recently shed a tear in the last week, the last month, or longer ago than that?
I am a cry-er.  I cry at sad things, I cry at happy things, I cry at Hallmark card commercials and SPCA reports on abused animals.

3) One of the Carpenters' first records was a cover of the Beatles' "Ticket to Ride." Both Karen and Richard were huge fans and nervous about how the Beatles would react to their version. They were thrilled to learn that Paul McCartney responded by saying Karen had "one of the best female voices in the world." Tell us some news you received recently that brightened your day.
Well, first of all, I agree with Paul McCartney.  I was not a Carpenters' fan but every time I heard her sing, I was moved.  As far as news that brightened my day, it was probably hearing that someone I know (slightly) is about to become a parent.

4) Karen died in 1983, but her musical partner and big brother Richard is still with us. He has said he grew up a big fan Top 40 radio, listening every morning as he got ready for school and every afternoon while doing homework. When you were a kid, did you like to study with music or the TV on? Or would you prefer quiet?
I probably listened to the radio, but these days, the radio or music in general bothers me a lot when I'm working.  Oddly enough, I don't mind the TV being on.

5) Karen and Richard spent their teen years in Downey, California. It has the distinction of being home to the nation's oldest, still-operating McDonald's. It's been on the same site on Lakewood Blvd. since 1953. Tell us about a business in your neighborhood that seems to have always been right there, in that spot.
There is a grocery store a few blocks away that was Lucky's when we moved here, then became Albertson's and now is Save Mart, but it's always been a supermarket.  There is also a Chinese restaurant in the same complex that has been there since we moved to Davis in 1973

6) The siblings may have had a squeaky clean public image, but Richard did have a brush with the law while in Downey. The Carpenter family lived for a time in an apartment complex, and one of their neighbors -- a policeman -- objected to Richard "banging on the piano" at all hours. When did you most recently interact with an officer of the law?
I can't remember.  Probably years.

7) In 1972, when this song was popular, Mark Spitz was America's premier Olympian, winning seven Gold Medals. A poster of Spitz wearing his red, white and blue swim trunks and all seven medals was a top seller. Can you recall a poster that decorated your bedroom wall when you were a kid?
No.  My sister and I didn't have posters in our bedroom.

8) Also in 1972, Liza Minnelli was encouraging us to "come to the cabaret." Without looking it up, do you know who Liza's famous parents were?
ROFL.  Does this give you an idea?

I have been a passionate Judy Garland fan since I first saw A Star Is Born in 1953.  Her father was Vincent Minnelli.  Did you know Liza made her screen debut in the 1949 film, In  the Good Old Summertime.  She's a toddler walking in a park with Judy Garland's character, Veronica Fisher.

9) Random question: Are you a better student or teacher?
Neither, really,  But if I have to choose, student.  I have taught catechism classes and was horrible at it, though I have been able to teach students to decorate cakes and definitely helped women learn how to breastfeed their babies..

Good news!

Well, I never truly believed I'd get any satisfaction from WordPerfect, but after many emails (essentially explaining the same thing to someone new) I have WordPerfect again, and I didn't have to pay any more money.  I have a valid license number and am very happy.

Jeri and Phil arrived here last night, in time for dinner.

In the morning, Ned fixed us all a big breakfast  and then Jeri and I went out for "a drive."  We had planned to go out for lunch, but since breakfast was so late, se didn't feel like eating, but we still wanted some time together.  I didn't want to leave Davis because it was raining again, so we just drove around and ended up at Starbucks, where we had comfy seats and sat and drank coffee and enjoyed "girl talk" for an hour or so.  It was very special.

Ned went and got pizza for dinner and then his friend Greg came over and there was a lot of chatter and laughter around the table until nearly 11 p.m., when Greg went home.  Jeri and Phil will be leaving tomorrow morning to fly back to Boston.  There is supposed to be a storm tonight and into tomorrow so I'm hoping for a safe flight for them.

Bubba is being very weird.  He gets in someone's lap and then for some reason he just starts growling if they pet him.  He actually snapped at Jeri.  I tell him sternly (and loudly) "no" and he usually stops with me but I don't understand what is making him growl.  He seems to be doing it more lately.  Originally it was only when Bouncer was around (tho he and Bouncer seem to be getting along better now), but now there doesn't seem to be anything that is causing him to growl.

A busy couple of days

 Well, I've made my diabetic eye appointment to check for retinopathy.  I'm waiting for the results to be emailed to me.  I had to postpone the original appointment because of  the weather.  Last thing we wanted was to drive the miles to Kaiser in 50 mph wind and torrential rain.  But now it's done

It's a simple "exam" that just involves taking pictures of both eyes to check out your retina.  I'm hoping they didn't find anything!

Walt and I had crab for dinner last night.  Ned, who doesn't like sea food, found a package of crab legs and since Marta wasn't feeling well last night, they were going to eat upstairs and we had the crab legs.

I don't remember when I last had crab, but a long time ago and this was a real treat.

After dinner I watched the new game show, Lingo, hosted by RuPaul.  It's essentially 
Wordle in a TV for Wordle.

It's weird and I haven't decided if I like it yet, but it does give me good ideas for words to use playing my own game of Wordle.

Jeri and Phil are leaving his family in Oregon today and will be here tonight.  It will be good to see them, though they will only be here for a day before flying home to Boston.

I've been spending my time trying to find contacts at 1SE and WordPerfect trying to get issues taken care of.  I finally got 1SE taken care of, but even hearing from WordPerfect several times and having them give me a link to download another copy, It still won't recognize my license number so I am without word processing and it's driving me nuts.

Another fall

I had another fall yesterday. I was in the kitchen and pushed my walker out of the way to get into the refrigerator to get some milk for my cereal. Somehow my foot caught on one of the mats we have on the floor and I lost my balance. I tried to catch myself, but no luck, down I went. I called "Help!" and Ned was there in minutes. He got Marta and the two of them got me up again. When I think of the number of times I've fallen and they have picked me up it makes me SO incredibly happy that they live here!  Walt and I can't get me moving and we have to call the fire department to send their "lift" team (which arrives with a car and a fire engine!) to get me up.

Since the fall, I am finding myself very concerned, and using my walker more than I have been.  I have always felt uneasy walking without the walker but pleased that I seem to be getting better at it.  Now I'm nervous doing anything without having something to hang onto.

We have been having storms, and our yard looks most like a swimming pool.  I realize that for those who are facing flooding this is nothing, but we haven't seen this much rain in Davis in years.  

Of course the big problem is that house broken Bubba doesn't want to go out in the rain so he is pooping and peeing all over the house.  If you take him outside he'll run around the yard, but then when he comes in, he pees.  Sigh.

Ned has gotten really good at setting up the generator.  He did it in the middle of the night when our power went out and he didn't want me to trip and fall over anything. When the weather report predicted that last night's storm would be stronger he left everything set up so he could plug things in easily, but the wind wasn't nearly that strong and we did not lost our power.

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 the "IF" book

 

 

1, If you could change the ending to one movie you have seen, which one would it be, and how would you reshoot it?
I can't think of a one right now.

2. If you were to select a food that best describes your character, what food would it be?
cream cheese -- soft and squishy, not overly sweet, not overly not-sweet, and something that most people like.

3. If you could cure any disease, which would it be?
Alzheimer's, before I get it.

4. If you had to describe the single worst thing a friend could do to you, what would it be?
End a close friendship without a word of explanation and then be angry with you when you tried to find out what you did to make the friendship have to end.

5. If you could be a contestant on any game show, which would you like to be on?
Oh, I'd love to be on Jeopardy, but I'm too old and too unintelligent, especially with sports and modern music to do well on it.

6. If you could choose the music at your own funeral, what would it be, and who would play it?
Steve Schalchlin would have to fly back from New York to play "Save Me a Seat."

7. If you had to spend all of your vacations for the rest of your life in the same place, where would you go?
Someplace overlooking the ocean, with meals included and staff to care for everything you want.

8. If you could ask God a single question, what would  it be?
Why do you allow so much infighting?

9. If you could eat one food in any quantity for  the rest of your life with no ill effects whatsoever what food would you choose?
In main-course-y foods, it would be Dungeness Crab, in snack food it would be either peanut butter or cream cheese.

10. If you could have a year any place in the world, all expenses paid, where would you go?
I am not really interested in living somewhere other than here, but if I had to, I'd choose the south of France.

11. If you could forever eliminate one specific type of prejudice from the earth, which would it be?
I've never understood why Jews have been attacked...pretty much forever.

12. If you could own one painting from any collection in the world but were not allowed to sell it, which work of art would you select?
One of Van Gogh's Almond Blossoms.

13. If you could ask a single question of a dead relative, what would it be and of whom would you ask it?
I would ask my father's parents to talk to me about their careers in vaudeville.  (They never spoke of it while they were alive and I didn't find out about it until after they died)

14. If you had to choose the best television show ever made, which one would you pick?
The West Wing or M*A*S*H

15. If you could write letters to only one person for the rest of your life, who would receive them?
I've done this twice, once to my friend Phil, who died and once to my friend Peggy.(see #4).  I can't think of anybody I'd like to write to daiiy any more.  I would say Char, but we correspond on FaceBook.

15. If you could write letters to only one person for the rest of your life, who would receive them?

Saturday 9

What's New, Pussycat?

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: What's New, Pussycat? (1965)

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

Welcome to the first Saturday 9 of 2023.

1) In this song, Tom Jones wants to know what's new in his girl's life. Here at Saturday 9, we're concentrating on the new year. What do you hope will be new and different in your life during 2023?
Well, I guess I hope I will go out more than the last two years.  I am in need of lunch with two different friends, for example.

 

2) He sings that he has flowers for his special girl. Are there fresh flowers in your home right now?
I don't normally have flowers in the house, unless roses are blooming, but my daughter-in-law gave me a Christmas cactus for Christmas and it is still blooming.

 

3) He also wants to spend hours with her. What is something you'd like to spend more time doing in 2023?
Learning some kind of web design so I can go back  to Funny the World in its old format.

 

4) Before his music career took off, Tom Jones supported himself by selling vacuum cleaners. Could your home benefit from a once-over with a vacuum right now?
Probably not.  Ned did a good cleaning before Christmas

 

5) Memorabilia from Tom's 1990 world tour was available eBay and the bids went up to $599 a jacket worn by the stage crew. Have you ever bought anything at an auction (online or otherwise)?
I don't think so.

6) Tom's adult grandson, Alex, represented Wales in rifle shooting in the Commonwealth Games. Is there a sport you'd like to try, or get better at, in 2023?
I'm not into sports.  Can't think of one that I'd like to try (bicycling was great until I fell and then my bike got stolen)

7) In 1965, when this song was popular, Tom Jones made a new friend, Elvis Presley. Tom had a meeting at Paramount Studios to discuss recording a song for a movie soundtrack and Elvis was finishing a film. It was the beginning of a friendship that would continue for the rest of Elvis' life. Did you make any new friends in 2022?
I didn't even see any OLD friends.

8) Also in 1965, The Sound of Music premiered and became one of the most successful movies of all time. Have you seen it?
Many times

9) Random question: Were you like those shoppers we saw on TV, in line at a retailer after the holidays to exchange a gift that wasn't quite right?
No.  Didn't get anything that needed exchanging, except the gift I bought myself, which will be mailed back to Amazon.

Baklava

 Right before Christmas, I took pastry out of the freezer.  It was phyllo pastry, thinking I would make an hors d'oeuvre.  Only it turned out that that I needed was not phyllo but puff pastry, so the phyllo has sad, unfrozen, in the refrigerator since Christmas and I kept thinking I would make baklava since I had nearly all the ingredients I needed, missing only a lemon. But I kept putting it off and putting it off.

Finally yesterday I decided to do it.  To my surprise (and relief) the phyllo was still usable, though not in the familiar "sheets" that it normally comes in.  I had to kind of piece it together like a puzzle, but it worked.  I was pleased at how well the thing  turned out after baked.

Baklava is very sweet and I don't know that it is going to be finished and I have no desire to ever make it again, but it was tasty.

An on-line friend of mine posted a link to her "1 second a day" video.  1SE is an app that lets you post something 1 second long every day and at the end of the year you have a video diary of your whole year, in 1 second segments.

I had a difficult time figuring the app out and my friend sent me instructions of how she did it.  The instructions were as confusing as the app's, but I worked with it and finally sort of figured out how it all works and I will be posting a 1 second video or photo every day.  Should be fun.  A new project.

Brrrr

 I've been waiting for the wearable blanket that I ordered to come.  I'm so cold at night and the two blankets I have aren't enough and may be partly why I wake up so often at night.  When I saw a wearable blanket on Amazon, I knew it was what I needed.

It arrived today and it is, indeed what I was hoping for.  Nice and soft, lined with blanket material and very warm.  I was very happy once I managed to get it on me.  But there is a problem.  It is so snugly fitting and has no opening (no zipper, no buttons, just over the head) that, as Ned points out, it is going to be very difficult to go to the bathroom...plus even if I get all that material behind me up high enough, there is always the problem that when it comes down it might pick up things I am unaware of..  So, sadly, I am going to return it and look for something else that will close like a bathrobe and make it warm but easy to get off for bathroom trips.

But it sure is nice and snuggly.

.

No Joy

 Well, we are into a new year. We didn't do anything for New Years Eve but watch Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen on CNN and when it was midnight in New York, I turned off the TV and went to sleep.  Was not awake for midnight in Davis.

I watched the New York Philharmonic concert which ended with "Ode to Joy" (4th movement of  Beethoven's 9th Symphony), which was an amazing concert.  Some 150 in  the chorus and 90 or so in the orchestra and it just brought chills down my spine listening to the music.

It did, however, remind me of one of the most embarrassing mistakes of my life.  When I was working with the Lamplighters, Gilbert, who was the musical director and conductor, realized that he wanted to conduct the Beethoven symphonies, but never would.  So he decided he'd invite members of the orchestra and a few other for audience (a dozen folks or so) over a few Sundays and would conduct a symphony.  He started with the 8th because it's my favorite of the Beethoven symphonies.

I can't remember if he conducted all 9 but when he was doing the 9th, he invited more singers to come and be in the audience and when it got to the 4th movement, he invited anybody who wanted to sing it to come up on stage.  I decided this was my one opportunity to sing on the Lamplighters stage, so went up with everyone else.  He asked the chorus if they wanted to sing it in English or in German and they chose German.  So there I was in the middle of a group of professionals, trying to sing a piece I'd never seen the music to, in a language I didn't understand and I wasn't even singing the melody, but the alto.  What a disaster.  I was sharing the music with one of the principal altos in the company and just kind of moved my mouth while she sang.  

I think of that every time I hear "Ode to Joy" and remember how awful I felt trying to sing with these professionals.

Jean Ziaja and her husband
It was Jean I was trying to sing with

Last entry of 2022

 Yesterday was ... interesting.  The power had gone off at about 5:30 the night before and was still off in the morning.  Very cold!!  I snuggled under blankets. gloves and earmuffs.  Still cold.  Ned talked us into buying a generator 3 years ago and what a godsend it has been.  We have only needed it a few times, but when we need it's wonderful.  It kept the important things powered up -- the refrigerator, the TV, the coffee pot and the bidet.  

We didn't do much...well *I* didn't do much...but watch TV all day.  Ned and Walt were busy keeping the house in order.  I love it that Ned feels I need to keep my leg elevated because of the slight swelling in my feet...makes me feel not guilty for not doing something in the house!

The power eventually came on, which was great, but we didn't get internet access until this afternoon (the day after the power came back on).  

I'm cooking split pea soup for dinner tonight.  We have this huge ham bone and I decided we should have soup (Marta will have a burrito).  I haven't made soup in forever.  Tomorrow I"m going to try baklava since I have all the ingredients for it and I want to find out if the phyllo dough I thawed before Christmas is too old to be used.

This will be the last holidailies entry for 2022.  I didn't make as much use of Holidailies as I usually do but I did write almost every day. 

Thanks, Holidailies for another fun year.

(Tom's dogs)

UPDATE:  I thought this would be Holidailies, but they have stopped taking entries since Jan 1, so this is just a regular Funny the World.

In the dark

 We had horrendous wind yesterday and the power went off. Nearly 24 hours now snd still off. Thank goodness we have a generator. Ned was able to get the most important things turned on — the refrigerator, the tv, the coffee pot and the bidet  And it’s COLD!