Saturday 9: This Is A Very Special Day

 

This Is A Very Special Day

Saturday 9: This Is A Very Special Day (1953)

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

1) In this song, Peggy sings that she feels good enough to climb a hill. Will you be doing anything athletic today?  Probably not.

2) However she was also tempted to climb back in bed. Is a nap in your plans for today?   no, I cannot sleep at night if I nap.

3) She tells us that she looked in the mirror and told herself it was time to "lose the blues." Do you ever speak outloud to yourself?  Yes, I do sometimes.  I usually say, "you've got this, let's get this done".  I have to talk myself into doing things.

4) Peggy wrote this song for the 1953 remake of The Jazz Singer. She performs it in the movie, too. In the 1950s, female singer-songwriters were unusual, but not so today. Can you think of another woman who not only sings but writes her own material?  Well, Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn came to mind, but if you mean today's music...Taylor Swift.

5) Her co-star in the film was Danny Thomas. Today he is best remembered as a philanthropist and founder of St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, but he was quite a star in his day. He appeared in nightclubs and movie musicals and, from 1954 to 1963, had his own sitcom. Do you know the show?  no 

6) When Peggy Lee was trying to break into show business, she supported herself as a short order cook. She was required to turn orders around quickly. Are you fast and efficient in the kitchen?  Yes, I like to think ahead so I am using my time well.

7) Just when her career started to take off, Peggy had to take a break when she had her tonsils removed. Do you still have your tonsils?  I had my tonsils and adenoids removed when I was in 1st grade.  I was really sick all of the time before getting them out.

8) In 1953, when this record was released, Matchbox Cars were introduced and they remain popular today. Did you ever play with Matchbox Cars?  I play with matchbox cars at school sometimes when I am teaching kids how to play.  They have to be taught now because of being on devices all of the time.  This seemed to have started about 2-3 years ago.  The kids would come in knowing how to play before then.

 9) Random question: You're walking past a filthy puddle. Floating on top you see a dead bug, a cigarette butt, and a $1 bill. Would you bend over and rescue the dollar?  I don't know.  You never know what is in the water.  

Tuesday 4 Meme- Toiletries and Cosmetics

 

Toiletries and Cosmetics

                                                   

Welcome to Tuesday 4 which was started by Toni Taddeo and kept up in memory and honor of her.
How about talking about cosmetics and toiletries this week?

Let's jump right in, shall we?

                             
1. What brand of shampoo do you think works best for you and what does it do for you?  I use Biolage Hydra Source.  It helps moisturize and keep my curls from being frizzy.

2. Do you use cosmetics and if so what do you use?  I am currently trying MISSHA foundation, Clinique finishing power and blush.  My eye shadow is Tarte, eye liner is Persona, mascara is Prime Lash Mascara.  I have a few different face washes and always like to try new ones.  I am working on LaRoche Posay face wash right now and TonyMoly face toner.  I have started using retinol lotion lately too.  I have used Drmtlgy retinol cream and Gold Bond with retinol.  It makes my skin feel so good.  I also have dry cracked cuticles and these lotions have helped with that.

3. Do you use a washcloth on your face?  I know you are not supposed to, but I do to get all of the make-up off faster.

4. Do you have an all-time favorite perfume or scent that you wear? If you don't wear perfumes, is there a scent that you love in general?  I do not wear perfume anymore.  Josh was allergic to perfume as a baby and I didn't want him breaking out.  I never went back to perfume.  I have a couple of Victoria's Secret lotions I wear.  I wear Bare Vanilla and Pure Seduction.

Sunday Stealing -- Now We Know Our ABC's

 

Sunday Stealing -- Now We Know Our ABC's

                                        



The Alphabet Meme

Answer these questions with anything from a single word to a paragraph or two. It's up to you.

A is for Age. 55

B is for your Booze of choice.  wine, but I do not drink

C is for Career. Pre-K teacher

D is for your Dog's name.  Meisha

E is for Everyday Essentials.  my phone, shower, water, food

F is for your Favorite Food.  Mexican

G is for your favorite Game.  memory (with my students)

H is for your Hometown.  Reeds Spring (where I teach)

I is for an Instrument you play.  flute (but not anymore)

J is for your favorite Jam or Jelly flavor.  grape

K is for Kids.  one son named Josh and lots of students

L is for the Last show or movie your watched. Little House on the Prairie (Netflix)

M is for your Most prized possession.  my car

N is for the Name of your first crush.  David

O is for what you Observe from your window.  my front yard

P is for Phobias.  snakes, heights and mice

Q is for your favorite Quote. "If a child can't learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn". Ignacio Estrada

R is for Regret.  Not taking art classes and not staying in typing class

S is for Sweets.  ice cream

T is for the Time you wake up. 5AM when I am working

U is for Underwear.  Victoria's Secret

V is for your favorite Vegetable.  green beans or corn

W is for your Worst habit.  chewing my cuticles

X is for X-rays.  I had a x-ray of my back several years ago to make sure things were ok.

Y is for your Yummiest recipe.  my favorite would be a Mexican dish.

Z is for your Zodiac sign.  Virgo

Saturday 9: Kung Fu Fighting

 

Kung Fu Fighting

Saturday 9: Kung Fu Fighting (1974)

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

1) Have you ever taken a martial arts class? no, but I wish I had.

2) In this song, Carl Edwards sings about funky Chinatown. Many cities – including San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Vancouver, London and Antwerp – have a Chinatown. Have you ever visited Chinatown? No, I am not aware of anything like that where I live but would love to visit.

3) Many Chinese restaurants give out fortune cookies. Can you recall one of your fortunes?  I don't remember the fortunes.  I love getting the fortune cookies though.  I don't think we got fortune cookies the last few times.

4) This week's featured artist, Carl Edwards, was born in Jamaica, spent his childhood in the US, and relocated to England. Have you ever lived abroad?  unfortunately, no.

5) In 1974 he became the first Jamaican to have a #1 hit in the US with this song. Have you been to Jamaica?  no

6) When this week's song was on the charts, ABC TV had a hit with the show Kung Fu. Today it's available to stream. Were you a fan?  I don't think I have ever seen it.

7) Also in 1974, the FIFA World Cup was played in West Germany. Have you been following the FIFA World Cup this year?  I watched USA a few times and I wanted to see Messi and Ronaldo play, so I watched 4 matches probably.  My husband is a huge fan.

8) Two of 1974's most popular toys were popular with adults, too. Would you prefer a Rubik's Cube or a Magic 8 Ball?  I had a Rubik's Cube as a kid, but not an 8 Ball.  I am not sure I would want either anymore.  I have enough to do.

9) Random question: Have you ever cut someone else's hair?  no

Tuesday 4 Meme- Summertime

 

Summertime

Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4...
Summer time is upon us.

                                   



1. What special memories do you have about summer when you were younger?  I lived close to a lake and we would go out boating during the day, we all had so much fun.  I also remember going out with my friend Debi a lot.  Such happy free times with little responsibility.


2. What is the highest temperature you've experienced in summer? What about so far this summer? How do you weather the heat or humidity?  In the 100's, probably 110 or so.  This year it has stayed in the upper 90's with humidity making it feel like the 100's.  It is the worst here in August. (Missouri)  When it is really hot, I used to go to the pool, but now I just stay inside in the A/C

3. What's been on your menu so far this summer?  We try not to use the oven much when it is so hot in the summer, so hamburgers have been on the menu a lot.

4. What is on your reading list this summer... anything to recommend to us? What's on your TV this summer. Any music you're liking this summer?  I recommend The Calamity Club.  It is historical fiction set in 1933 Mississippi.  It is by the same author as The Help.  It talks about how hard life was in that time.  TV- I am getting ready to watch Little House on the Prairie on Netflix, but The Four Seasons was funny and I already watched that.  If you are a reader, Five Star Weekend was good on Peacock.  Even if you didn't read it, it was good.  I haven't listened to a lot of music this summer.  I have been reading.

Sunday Stealing Asks Your Name

 

Sunday Stealing Asks Your Name


                                  

What Is Your ...

1. ROCK STAR NAME (current pet and first car)? Example: If you have a dog named Max and your first car was a Chevy Malibu, your rock star name would be Max Malibu.  Meisha Fairmont

2. RACECAR DRIVER NAME (the first names of your grandfathers)?  J.D. Carl

3. SOAP OPERA NAME (your middle name, town you were born in)?  Lynn St. Louis

4. WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAM NAME (your parents' middle names)? Geneva Douglas

5. ROMANCE AUTHOR NAME (favorite flower, favorite season/holiday)? Petunia Christmas

Saturday 9: There'll Be Some Changes Made

 

There'll Be Some Changes Made

Saturday 9: There'll Be Some Changes Made (1962)

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

1) In this song, Ann-Margret sings that she's going to change her way of living. If you could simply snap your fingers and change something in your life, what would it be?  I would have us living by the lake where I am from.  I just want a lake view.

2) She tells us she's going to change her name. Have you ever changed your name, or asked people to refer to you differently? (Example: "Don't call me Betty anymore. I want to be Elizabeth.")  no, I did not like my name when I was younger, but I like it now.  I am not sure what people would call me.

3) Ann-Margret was born Ann-Margret Olsson in Sweden and when was 5, her family moved to Winnetka, Illinois. She is fluent in both Swedish and English. When did you last converse in a language other than English?  I don't really know enough of another language to have a conversation, but I have had Spanish speaking students I have said some words to and I had Ukrainian students that I learned some of their language to talk with them.

4) Olivia Newton-John was a big Ann-Margret fan. When she was cast in the movie Grease, Olivia asked that her character's name be changed from "Sandy Dumbrowski" to "Sandy Olsson" in tribute. Grease is one of the most profitable movies ever made. Have you seen it more than once?  Oh for sure.  I have seen it several times.  I love that movie.

5) Ann-Margret celebrated her 85th birthday earlier this year. Back in 2024, Ann-Margret told a reporter that she planned to celebrate her 83rd birthday with a spin on her motorcycle, a lavender Harley-Davidson. "I love speed," she explained. Do you always observe the speed limit? Or have you been known to zip along a little faster?  I typically go 2-3 mph faster than the speed limit.

6) This week's song was written in 1921 and over the last 100+ years it's been recorded more than 400 times. Before today, had you heard it?  no, I had never heard any of the versions.

7) The lyrics were written by William Weldon Higgins, who was better known as vaudeville comic Billy Higgins. When did you most recently laugh out loud?  I just watched The Four Seasons with Tina Fey and the others and I laughed so hard all the way through it.  It is hilarious and Alan Alda made cameos.

8) The music was composed by William Overstreet. In addition to writing music, he was a respected director at Chicago's Grand Theater. When did you last see a live performance (concert, play, etc.)?  It has been a while.  I think it was The Nutcracker ballet a few years ago.

9) Random question: Do you have more or less than $20 cash in your wallet right now?  more