Saturday 9: On the Radio

Sam's got a great song for us today. Well, she has good songs every week, but this brings back some serious junior high memories. I loved me some disco back in the day. My partner and I even won 3rd place doing the Hustle in the 9th grade dance contest. But enough sappy memories of my wannabe Dancing Queen years...on with the Saturday 9!

Saturday 9: On the Radio (1979)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
 
1) The action begins when a letter falls out of the pocket of a brown overcoat. What color is your coat? The parka I've been wearing the last few days while it's been snowing, blowing, and absolutely frigid out is black.

2) The lyrics ask if it "kinda strikes you sad when you hear our song." We don't want to be sad this Saturday, so we're asking what song makes you happy.  My go-to happy songs are these...

3) Right before this song hit the charts, Donna Summer hit the cover of Newsweek. Are there any magazines in your home now? If yes, who is on the cover?  There are several magazines in the house, but none of them have people on the cover. They are all country and flea market decorating magazines.

4) Donna wrote the lyrics to this song, while producer Giorgio Moroder wrote the tune. Moroder is known as "the father of disco." Is disco a genre you enjoy?  It is. I still ask Alexa to play it now and then and just the other day I bought a "best of" disco CD at the thrift store. It will be good car music.

5) This song got additional airplay throughout the 1980s because the game show The Price Is Right played it every time a contestant won a stereo. Today, the most popular audio equipment sold at Best Buy is a sound bar to improve the quality of TV audio. Have you added a sound bar or sound system to your TV?  Nope.

6) Moroder has won two Academy Awards for Best Song. The first was for "Flashdance ... What a Feeling" from Flashdance and the second was for "Take My Breath Away" from Top Gun. Do you  have a favorite movie soundtrack? Two of my favorites are Hairspray

and Grease.

7) He grew up in Ortsei, Italy. Located in Northern Italy, the Ortsei economy is fueled by tourists who ski in winter, hike in summer and shop for woodcarvings all year around. Do out-of-towners find their way to your hometown more often in summer or winter?  Probably the summer. We are in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania so they do come all year round for the hiking, camping, fishing, water sports, etc., but summer brings them for the Pittsburgh Steelers' training camp, the banana split festival, to golf on the course Arnold Palmer learned on, and to check out everything related to Mr. Rogers (this is the original neighborhood).

8) Kourtney Kardashian was born in 1979, the year this record was a hit. Keeping Up with the Kardashians has been on since 2007. Have you ever seen it?  Nope. I've never seen so much as one second of it and I hope to keep it that way.

9) Random question -- When getting dressed in the morning, what's the second item of clothing you put on?  I think my socks have that honor.

A Few on Friday

Well, there's no new snow and the wind has finally stopped blowing, but baby, it's cold outside! Which explains why I am inside still in my fleece jammies, fleece robe, and fuzzy socks.

At some point I'm going to have to face the cold, harsh, world and get dressed and go run some errands, but not yet. And before that happens, I've got a few questions for a Friday.

1. What irrational fear do you have?  I don't think my fears of snakes and sharks are irrational, but I have to admit my fear of running over a snake with my car because the snake would stick to my tire and somehow end up in the car with me might be a tad irrational. But just a tad. 

My son used to tell me that my having to turn on a light and look in the toilet at night was irrational until a couple of years ago when a Texas family found a rattle snake in their toilet and the plumber/snake charmer who came to remove it found another 20+ in the pipes! Yeah, I'm not giving up any fears where snakes are concerned.

2. What would be the scariest monster you can imagine?  None of the made up monsters really scare me. The monsters that scare me are the real ones, the human beings who are so broken, so evil, that they have absolutely no respect for human life and give in to the sick and twisted urges of their minds...the Jeffrey Dahmers and Ted Bundys of the world. Those are the monsters that make me lose sleep.

3. Who is/was your most interesting friend?  He isn't exactly a friend, more like a close acquaintance, but the pastor at the home where I work is definitely that person. I am always telling him that he and his wife need to write a book or books about their lives. He is Hungarian, born in Romania, studied in Jerusalem among other places, has lived all over Europe, Canada, and the eastern U.S. He speaks 6 languages. His father was a champion pole vaulter and his mother qualified for the Olympic swimming team (but it ended up being the year they didn't go). 

His wife's father was a world famous hunter who organized and led safaris all over the world. He had a large estate and a "hunting castle" in Hungary where he also raised very successful race horses. The family moved to Argentina to escape the communists and he ran a big hunting preserve there. His wife was well known for showing horses in Argentina. It's all so fascinating and I love listening to his stories.

4. What is something you can never seem to finish?  Pick a craft project. Any craft project, but especially those that involve yarn or thread. I run out of enthusiasm before that kind of project is done and once that happens I can't get it back. I'm best for quick, easy crafts...like 30-minutes-or-less crafts.

5. What is the best thing you got from your parents?  My love of books and learning and my sense of family loyalty.

Have a blessed day!

Thankful Thursday

A big thank you to Rebecca Jo @ Knit By God's Hand for hosting our gathering of thankful hearts every Thursday!

There is always, always something to be thankful for, but this week I am particularly thankful....

** My laptop continues to limp along and I haven't had to take it to the computer "hospital" just yet. I know it's coming, but every day that it doesn't freeze into a useless hunk of metal, plastic, and mysterious computer parts...I'm a happy girl.

** It looks like there is going to be a bright side to the corona virus scare. Coke has announced that production of Diet Coke is going to be delayed because they haven't been able to get shipments of artificial sweetener. Maybe I'm going to beat my Diet Coke addiction because...NO DIET COKE.

** I'm still working. Things have been going on at work. Mysterious things that we little people only hear whisperings of. First, a new financial officer was hired and the day after that person started an email went out telling us the CEO had been terminated (along with her parents who both worked for the company, too). A consulting firm was brought in to look into why the company hasn't shown a profit. The state inspections are over....as a whole the home's performance was sort of okay. Our census counts are down so employees are being sent home daily. 

I learned yesterday that the consulting team has said that changes are coming in the next few months. Big changes and that people aren't going to be happy. If anybody knows what that means they aren't saying. So, yeah, I'm glad I'm working. Actually, going part-time may have saved me. If I was still full-time, I'd probably be losing a day or two a week, anyway. Or someone else would be sent home so I could work.

** I'm off today so I don't have to deal with the nasty weather and drive to work this morning. It's not supposed to be a huge snow storm, but it's bad timing, very windy, and very cold.

** My Bible study group met for dinner on Tuesday. I love my peeps! We had such a good time of fellowship and the food was yummy. We are taking next week off before getting back together the following week. 

** We've entered the lenten season, the 40 days leading up to Easter. I love me some Easter! I have to work this year, but it's okay. Easter is the one holiday for me that isn't really about all the hoopla that has grown up around it. It is about Jesus, his death, and resurrection. It's about the one thing the Christian faith hinges on. For me, lent is a time for deeper reflection on exactly what Jesus did for me, for all of us. It's a time to celebrate and praise his name!

** I'm not Catholic, but I love, love, LOVE the Pope's suggestion to the church about what to give up for Lent. In case you haven't heard, he told them to put down their phones and pick up their Bibles. 

** I get to have me some grandbaby time this morning. Megan has a dentist appointment so I get to walk over and stay with the kiddos while she goes.

** I'm always thankful for each one of you. You all add something to my day with your comments and visits and I thank you for it.

Love and blessings to you on this cold, snowy Thankful Thursday!

Wednesday Giggles

This week's giggles might be a "tad" sarcastic. Sarcasm could be my second language, but I work hard to rein it in.

That's all for today. Just a note that as today is Ash Wednesday, we are kicking off the lenten season, which leads up to the most important holiday in the Christian calender, the one the whole shebang hinges on. I hope you and I will spend the next few weeks growing into closer relationship with Jesus and reflecting on just what he did for us.

Tuesday 4: Odds & Ends

Linking up with Annie today for the Tuesday 4.

1.  You're having a lovely dinner party for friends and family.  What will you serve for appetizers, main course and dessert?  Wow. This isn't something I can toss out off the top of my head. I'd have to spend hours pouring over my cookbooks deciding on a menu. I love to cook and I'm actually pretty good at it, but I'm not so good at deciding what to make. All I can tell you is that it would most likely be something sort of simple because there'd be less chance of someone not liking it.

2. Snow storm!    You've got house guests and you're all stuck inside for the night. What do you prepare for dinner.  Will you  watch a movie? Which?  Something simple, but filling and comforting like soup, chili, or pasta would be the meal. As for a movie, I'd go for a mini marathon of movies set in beautiful warm locals (My Life in Ruins, Blue Hawaii, etc.) or fun musicals (Hairspray, Mama Mia, etc.).

3. We are going into New York City for the weekend. Where do you want to go?  I want to visit the 9-11 Memorial and see a Broadway musical.

4. You are going to night school.  They offer courses in writing short stories, painting, piano  or guitar lessons, simple home repairs, baking, and gardening. Which do you pick  ( or make up one of your own)  and why?  I'd choose gardening. I probably know most of what they'd teach about writing, I'm not interested in painting or making home repairs, I have zero talent when it comes to music, and I can bake fairly well. I love to garden, but there's a lot to know and I could use some help in that area as I've started to garden in raised beds in the last two years and it's a whole new ball game. Or if it was about flower gardening...even better! I have no talent when it comes to planning out beds.

The Weekend & Currently

What a glorious morning it is here in western Pennsylvania! I am so happy to be off work today to enjoy it. The sun is shining and the temperature is in the 40s and expected to reach the 50s today. Even though cold temperatures and snow are coming later this week, it's a little taste of Spring and a reminder that it isn't far off now.

It was a pretty good weekend here. Saturday morning found me hitting the thrift stores. I enjoy the hunt and it's so much fun when I actually find a "treasure." Even though I only went to 2 local shops I did pretty well. These are some of my finds...

Aren't these pretty? I think I'm going to use them on my desk

to hold paper clips, rubber bands, and things like that.

I usually only collect figural dog planters, but you

know me and Poodles. I couldn't leave this cutie behind.

I picked these DVDs up for the dementia unit.

The residents will enjoy them.

I found these sweet, absolutely perfect Fire King

cups for only 99 cents each. Love them!

It was a good day for books!

I also found some books for the grandkids and a handful of CDs for the car. I could have gone nuts on the CDs because someone had donated a DJs entire collection...but I restrained myself.

I also stopped by the garden center and bought some house plants for all the pretty pots I've been collecting. Well, for a few of them. 

The afternoon found me doing some chores around the house until Megan called and asked me to come sit with Leah while she did some work outside. It was beautiful and sunny, but too cold for the baby to be outside. Colton, on the other hand, had a great time riding his Little Tikes roller coaster and driving his John Deere Power Wheels tractor.

Tim worked all day and stayed later so he wouldn't have to go back in on Sunday, so I ordered dinner from Racer's (fish for him and a big salad for me) and he picked it up on his way home. He went to bed as soon as he was done eating and I spent the evening with Columbo.

Sunday was another beautiful day but it never felt quite as warm as it was due to the wind. At 53 degrees it was nice, but man, when the wind blew (which was every few seconds) it cut like a knife. At least it was another sunny day...can't get nearly enough of them after all the gray winter days.

Tim was going to work on the bathroom redo, but he finally admitted he is just not motivated to work on the tile and said he will see about finding someone to finish that part. Once that's done all that's left is setting the sink and toilet and the hardware, which he says he's fine with. (I deserve an award for patience and biting my tongue because this bathroom has been out of commission and a work in progress for over 3 years! And for not pointing out that doing the entire room in tile was HIS idea.)

With the bathroom off the table for the day, Tim worked on putting together the coffee table I ordered from Amazon. I love it and he was actually impressed with how well made it was.

Pretty isn't it?

Then it does this! Colton thought this was the

greatest thing ever. He kept saying over and over,

"Me like this table."

While Tim was assembling the table, I finally went through all my clothes and organized them (or donated them) and potted my new plants. I grew up in a family that always has plants in the house and I love the look. I was down to only 2 and the house was feeling incomplete to me. It's much better now, though I am still nowhere near close to my grandmother, who had over 100 plants in the house!

Aren't they pretty? The one in the back on the right is called Dragonbreath.

I couldn't get a picture that captures the colors, but the very center stripe 

of the leaves is a bluish color. It is really different and beautiful.

We did run out to get a couple of things at Lowe's and ended up having Sunday Brunch at a restaurant right down the road from home. It was...okay. Not really worth the price unless you're more interested in quantity than quality. They did, however, have absolutely amazing halupki (stuffed cabbage rolls)...the best I've had since the old Polish/Hungarian/Slav ladies in my neighborhood passed away.

Colton was here for the latter part of the afternoon and a bit of the evening. We always enjoy our time with him (and Leah, too) and want them to know this is their home, too.

After Colt left we just relaxed and watched TV. It was a good weekend.




CURRENTLY

I am...

Reading...Head Over Heels. Sometimes you just need some "junk food" for your mind.

Watching...the sun play off the pretties in my kitchen window to throw rainbows (or woody woos as my aunt called them) on the wall.

Loving...this sunshine!

Thinking...about all I want to do today. Laundry, dusting/vacuuming, groceries, clean out the frig, and spend some time writing.

Feeling...10 feet tall and bulletproof. Don't you love those days?

Celebrating...Tim wanting to hire someone to finish the tile in the bathroom.

Grateful...to God for his love, forgiveness, and faithfulness.

Weather...sunny and in the 50s!

Enjoying...the heck out of all this sunshine!

A thought to share...

Sunday Stealing: Getting to Know You

This week's questions are stolen from 9gag

1. What is your favorite color?  I don't really have one favorite color these days. I find that I'm drawn to the combination of yellow, orange, and green...not necessarily the bright tones, but more the muted autumn tones.

2. If you could get on a plane tomorrow and travel anywhere, where would you go?  Probably New Mexico. I loved it there and have always wanted to go back again.

3. Were you closer to your mother or to your father? I'm still not close to my mom in the way others are, but I was still closer to her than to my dad.

4. What is your favorite meal? (savory and dessert)  I like a good steak or nearly any kind of shrimp...served with a baked potato and either a salad or fresh, steamed veggies. I'll take cheesecake for dessert, please.

5. Can you wink with each eye?  (How about curl your tongue)  Yes and yes.

6. Beach or forest?  Both are wonderful, but if I must choose I think the beach wins. There is just something about the sea.

7. City or farm?  Farm. I was born a country girl and will always be a country girl at heart. I like visiting the city and partaking of all that it offers, but I wouldn't be happy living there.

8. Would you rather be blind from birth or turn blind as a teenager?  I'd rather not ever be blind, thanks, but if you are twisting my arm again...I think I'd choose blind from birth because I wouldn't know what I was missing.

9. Would you rather always be overdressed or underdressed?  It depends what you mean by underdressed. If you mean underdressed as in not having enough clothes on, I'd rather be overdressed. If you mean it in a t-shirt and jeans at a black-tie affair way, then I'd rather be underdressed.

10. If you could pass along one of your attributes to your children, which would it be?  The ability to forgive and let go of things and move on.

11. What are you most insecure about?  A lot of things, actually, but I'm working on it and I've come a long way.

12. What are you afraid people see when they look at you?  Someone not worth the effort. (Hey, I admitted I'm insecure about a lot of stuff.)

13. What is the saddest you’ve ever felt?  Honestly, it wasn't over a death or anything like that. It was over the betrayal we suffered at the hands of folks we thought were our dearest group of friends and our church family. I never expected that kind of betrayal from them...because...church people! I was young and inexperienced and didn't know yet that Christians are just as broken as everyone else. We're just trying to be a better person every day and sometimes we mess up, too. Anyway, it was painful. I lost all my friends and I lost my ministry, and I lost my church and some other things were going on and it just felt like my world was collapsing.

14. Would you rather have your own private island, or your own private jet?  I'll take the island, please. Wait, is it a tropical island? Or at least an island along the East coast from say, Virginia on down? If it isn't, never mind. And I don't want a jet at all.

15. How do you think you will die?  I have no idea and I am not going to speculate. How depressing!

Thanks to Bev for hosting Sunday Stealing and finding the questions for us!

Saturday 9: Buttons & Bows

Linking up with Sam today for Saturday 9.  Please pay a visit to find others who are playing along or to join in the fun yourself.

Saturday 9: Buttons & Bows (1948)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
 
1) The lyrics extol the beauty of "rings and things and buttons and bows." When you're getting dressed, do you give much thought to accessorizing?  Not a lot beyond my watch and a pair of earrings. Once in a while I'll wear an extra ring or a necklace, but I'm not overly comfortable with wearing a lot of bling. 

2) Dinah Shore sings that she doesn't want to live where the cactus hurts her toes. Sam can sympathize, as she has a blister on one of her toes from where her winter boots rub. Do you have any aches and pains to report this morning?  Just the usual with my knee and hip. Some parts of getting older really stink.

3) Dinah was such a popular entertainer that people were surprised to learn she earned a degree in sociology from Vanderbilt University. What is something we'd be surprised to know about you?  I'm an open book. I can't think of any "secret" that's surprising.

4) Dinah's was the best selling version of this song, which was introduced by Bob Hope in the movie The Paleface. Hope had success early in his career as a song-and-dance man on Broadway. Are you better at telling jokes, singing or dancing?  I'm not great at either, but jokes definitely win out over singing and dancing (though when I was young and had a good knee I was pretty good at dancing).

5) Both Bob and Dinah donated their time to entertaining the troops in WWII. It was during a USO tour that Dinah met and fell in love with actor George Montgomery, who was serving in the Air Force. They were married for 20 years and had two children. Their daughter followed her parents into show business and became an actress. If a young person asked you for career advice, what would you tell them?  Figure out what you actually love to do and do that. Don't do something just because you are good at it or because it provides a living. And find balance between work and play.

6) Dinah was an avid golfer and even sponsored an LPGA tournament. She was also an excellent cook who hosted TV cooking segments. Which would you find more relaxing -- an afternoon on the golf course or in the kitchen?  Back in my younger days I'd have chosen golf, but these days I'm sure cooking would be more relaxing.

7) In 1948, the year this record was a hit, Scrabble was introduced. Do you prefer word games, card games, board games or jigsaw puzzles?  I enjoy all games, but I've learned recently (doing jigsaw puzzles with a resident) that I do NOT enjoy doing puzzles.

8) Also in 1948, LPs (33 1/3 rpm records) were introduced. Do you have any vinyl records in your home?  No. I finally gave the last of them to our son.
9) Random question -- Which of these would you consider the greatest insult: to be called boring, untrustworthy or stupid?  Untrustworthy. If people can't trust you, then you've got nothing else to offer anyone that they're going to want.