Saturday 9- Ain't That a Kick in the Head

 

Ain't That a Kick in the Head

Saturday 9: Ain't That a Kick in the Head (1960)

Unfamiliar with this song? Hear it here.

1) Dean Martin asks the musical question, "How lucky can one guy be?" Tell us about a time when you got a lucky break.

After I quit my first teaching job I was for the first time with no job.  I had always secured a job in the past before quitting and starting a new job, but this time I just knew I had to leave that environment and I quit.  I feel lucky that I was able to get another job only after a few months with the school I attended school at when I was a kid.  My dad also taught there.  It was one of the best decisions I have ever made.  I have met a lot of good friends and been reunited with classmates and I love working there.  I got a call today that they have moved my things into my new classroom, so I can go get started putting the classroom together after they wax the floors.  I am so excited.

2) This song was introduced in the original Ocean's 11 movie. Have you seen it, or the remake and its sequels?  I saw the re-boot and the sequels.  I need to watch the original.

3) All the Ocean's movies are about heists. Why do you suppose audiences enjoy watching caper films?  good casts and action.

 

4) Dean was born in Steubenville, OH. Though he seldom returned to his hometown, he kept Steubenville in his thoughts, regularly donating toys to area children hospitalized over the holidays. Who received the last gift you gave?  My mom.  I got her a present for Mother's Day.

 
5) Dean was extremely claustrophobic and avoided elevators whenever possible -- and even when it wasn't. He was late for the first night of an engagement, even though he was staying at the hotel where he was performing, because he insisted on taking the stairs from his luxury suite to the showroom (18 flights). The hotel put him in a smaller, less prestigious room on a lower floor so he could more easily arrive on time for his own shows. Have you ever been stuck in an elevator?  no, I am not claustrophobic, but I would hate being stuck.

6) He and Frank Sinatra were great friends, but they had their differences. For example, Frank loved to party and Dean hated it. One of Sinatra's favorite stories was about how Dean got bored with a party in his own home and went up to his bedroom to watch TV. When the guests didn't take his hint and leave, Dean made an anonymous noise complaint to the police, who came over and broke up the party. When it comes to parties, are you more like Frank or Dean?   I am like Dean now, I do not care for parties.  I was like Frank when I was in college.  I liked to throw parties.

7) Dean Martin had a secret passion for comic books. He loved them, but was too embarrassed to buy them himself. What's your guilty pleasure?  I like to think of certain tv shows as guilty pleasures.  I watched the O.C. several years ago and I felt like it was a guilty pleasure.  Probably certain books I read are guilty pleasures too.  My facebook games I would say are guilty pleasures as well.

8) In 1960, when this song was released, Princess Margaret married photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones. Their relationship began when he was commissioned to take her official portrait. Who took the most recent picture of you?  My friend Lorna took a picture of me with two other co-workers at school.  I am on the back right.  It was twin day or something, so we had a picture taken.  Lorna was not dressed like us or we would have definitely had her in the picture.

9) Random question (Not really so random, considering Dean Martin's reputation): Do you have a hangover remedy to recommend?  no, I always suffered and never knew what to do.  I don't drink anymore...that is my remedy I suppose.

Tuesday 4 Meme- An Evening Out

 

An Evening Out

Welcome! Let's continue with Toni's Tuesday 4 with questions
about going out for an evening...


1. Do you enjoy an evening out? It's been a while for most people.
Do you have any plans made? I do not have any plans as of right
now, but it is summer, so hopefully we will be able to get out and do
something. We haven't been too restricted here in Missouri, so we
have already been out to eat a few times. I was really wanting to go
out and see a movie though.


2. What kind of activities do you enjoy? A movie, a concert, dinner,
plays, walks? Are you in the habit of going out regularly? I
enjoy going out to dinner and a movie. We enjoy plays. Sometimes
Josh and I go for a walk. We do not go out regularly, but we make

special plans every so often.

3. Ever had an unusual or very interesting evening you would like to
tell us about or plans that went off the rails? I can't really think of
anything that would beat the in-law story I told on Sunday.

4. When you were dating what kinds of activities did you enjoy ? Going

out to eat and movies and plays. Same things we do now except when

I was younger we might go out in groups more and do more adventurous

things....like ROAD TRIPS! I did those with my roommates.

Sunday Stealing- Let's Go To Dinner

 

Let's Go To Dinner

1. When is the last time you went out to a meal with someone special?

Tell us about it. My son just started a job a few months ago, so end of April,

my husband, his parents and I went to eat at the restaurant he works at. 

It is a Mexican restaurant called La Fiesta. They have fantastic food! 

We were also celebrating me going back to the Primary school next year to

teach regular ed. preschool. I have always taught special education preschool,

so this will be a little different for me. If I learned anything this year though,
it is that I can do way more than I thought. I am very excited to get my

classroom set up.

2. Show us a picture of your favorite cuisine. I enjoy Mexican food and I always

have burritos. This is the burrito grande where my son works...La Fiesta.




3. What is the funniest thing a man/woman has said to you lately? 

I can't think of anything. I am on Summer break, so I have been taking

some time away from people.  I have been cleaning house and reading.

4. What makes a gentleman a gentleman in today’s dating world? Are there any

left? Opening doors, putting the lady first.  Good manners in general. 

I do think there are guys like that out there.

 
5. Is there anything you won’t tolerate when out to dinner with your significant other?

Loud talking and rudeness.  My husband's family is weird to eat out with

sometimes and he had to be taught how to act.  I will not tolerate it.

I think there is a question later where I can elaborate.  I know I sound like

a stuck up snob, but I just like to enjoy myself and not have to feel like my

evening is ruined or hurting people's feelings for no reason.  I worked in

fast food when I was young and I know how ugly people can be.

6. What type of ambiance do you enjoy in an eating establishment?  I kind of like

a light/ relaxed atmosphere at this point in my life.  I enjoyed the more

romantic when I was younger.

7. Tell us about the worst public dining experience you ever had, whether it be a

date or with your family.  Like I said, my husband's family is embarrassing

to eat out with.  They complain about food to get free food....like they make

a scene.  I do not go out with them unless I have to.  They did good when we

ate out at Josh's work. If the order is wrong, I will politely let the waiter know,

but I do NOT throw a fit and I never expect free food. 

8. What is the lamest or rudest thing a man/woman has said to you lately?

I am not sure.

9. Are you a good tipper?  I try.  

10. Do you ask for doggie bags when you leave food on your plate at a restaurant?

I definitely do.  I typically love the food at restaurants and I will take it home

and finish it up at a later time.

11. What is your pet peeve about restaurants and dining out in general?

I don't think I have pet peeves about dining out...unless my in-laws are with us.

It is mostly Karl's mom and his sisters.

12. Do you prefer to order yourself or do you ever let your significant other order

for you? I order myself.

13. Describe your most intimate romantic dinner ever. (fantasy or real)

This was a real meal.  My boyfriend at the time had planned a Valentine's

dinner at an Italian restaurant.  It was a very romantic atmosphere with

candles lit at the tables. I dressed up in my "little black dress"...this was in

the early 90's... and he wore his suit.  I also had my hair done at a salon.

It was a nice evening.

14. Do you enjoy piano bars?  I have only been maybe one time, but I liked

it very much.

15. If you could go anywhere in the world for dinner, where would it be and who

would you be with?  I am going to say Italy with my mom and Josh.

Saturday 9- You'll Never Know

 

You'll Never Know

Saturday 9: You'll Never Know (1943)

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

1) In this song, Haymes sings he must have reassured his girl "a million times or more." Does it frustrate you when you have to repeat yourself?  If I think people are just not paying attention to me, I get frustrated, but I typically do not.  

2) The lyrics were inspired by a poem written by a war bride to her soldier husband. Have you ever been in a long-distance romance?  In college I was.

3) This was the biggest hit of Dick Haymes, a popular singer in the 1940s. He got his big break when he replaced Frank Sinatra, who left the Tommy Dorsey Band to go onto bigger and better things. Are you a Frank Sinatra fan?  Yes, I do enjoy him.  Josh does not.  Hahahaha

4) During the 1940s Dick Haymes toured with the Dorsey Band, made hit records, had his own radio show and appeared in nine movie musicals.  Yet by the early 1950s, he was broke. Part of it was that musical tastes changed, but more of it was that he enjoyed night life and high living too much. If you wanted to shave unnecessary expenses from your budget, where would you economize?  I would not buy so many bath and body and Ulta products.

5) He blamed his money problems for his ongoing hypertension. How do you combat stress?  I distract myself.  I read, play games, blog, etc.

6) Though he needed his voice to sing and suffered from high blood pressure, Haymes was a chain smoker. What bad habit would you like to quit?  I would like to give up soda.

7) Though raised since early childhood in the US, Haymes was born in Buenas Aires to an Argentinian rancher and his Irish wife. This enabled Dick to claim Irish citizenship later in life. Have you ever lived abroad? If not, do you wish to?  No and I do not really wish to.

8) Dick Haymes never regained his popularity as a singer. After touring Europe for years, he returned to the United States in the late 1960s and tried his hand as a dramatic actor, playing small parts on popular cop shows like Adam 12, McMillan and Wife and McCloud. If you had to support yourself as a performer, would you be more successful as a singer, a dancer, or an actor?  singer.  I was in choir in middle, high school and college, then church.  I love to sing.  I am not great at it, but I love it.

9) Random Question: We're at the booth of a gypsy fortune teller. Would you be more embarrassed if she loudly and correctly guessed your age, or your weight?  My weight for sure!

Tuesday 4 Meme- The BEST!

 

The BEST!

 Here is an older Tuesday 4 from Toni

1. What was the best thing you have ever bought?  I am going to go

with my car.  When my Granie passed away, it was in her will that

I be the first person to get a chance to buy her car.  I paid $6000

for her Toyota Camry, which at the time was still pretty new.  This

car has well over 100,000 miles on it, it is a 2002 and still runs really

well.  The problems I have had with it have been minor and not 

expensive to fix.  I love this car. I will drive it as long as I can. 

When I need to buy a new car, it will be a Toyota.

2. What was the best book you have ever read?  The Bible

3. What is the best food you've ever eaten?  There is this little restaurant 

called the Spring Creek Tea Room.  They have homemade food there.

I have talked about this place before, but they had the best cake I have

ever had in my life and my Ganie was a very good cook.  I want to go

there this summer with my mom and Josh.

4. What was the best movie or TV series you've ever watched?  Maybe FRIENDS 

and E.R.

Memorial Day

 I wanted to share this poem my Uncle Gary wrote when he was in Vietnam.  He also died there, so today on Memorial Day, I remember him.  He was my dad's youngest brother.
Here is a picture of him.  It is the only one I have of him as an adult.  I have one of him with my dad when he was a little boy and I do not have his military picture.  I never met my Uncle Gary.  He died the same year I was born.

Vietnam

Here I am in Vietnam

So many miles from home

But though I am so far away

I know I’m not alone.

As I was nearing Vietnam

I almost shed a tear

As I bowed my head in heartfelt prayer

Dear Lord, remove my fear

And when the plane landed

It was plain for me to see

That here in this dense jungle land

I would have no luxury

This war is mean, and this war is cruel

And many men must die

Yet there seems to be no answer

To our single question Why?

There are no boys in Vietnam

So onward we must go

For all the units fight bravely on

To conquer Viet foe

The people here in Vietnam

In this small community

They know the real meaning

Of the words real poverty

To stop the Communists

Is the reason we must try

For in it lies the answer

To our simple question Why?

And back home I miss you all

And if there is something you want to do

Say a prayer that this war will end

And I’ll soon be home with you.

                             …Gary Lee Burkett

Saturday 9- If You're Reading This

 

If You're Reading This

Saturday 9: If You're Reading This (2007)

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

Memorial Day is the federal holiday designated to honor American service people who died in battle. 

1) Memorial Day was introduced after the Civil War. War memorials, as well as graves of veterans, are to be decorated with flags and flowers this weekend in a show appreciation. Is there a war memorial in your neighborhood?  There is not one in the town I live in, but there is a National Battlefield in a city close to us.  This is what Google says about it - Wilson's Creek National Battlefield:

Wilson's Creek National Battlefield, located near Republic, Missouri, preserves the site of the Battle of Wilson's Creek. Fought on August 10, 1861, the battle was the first major American Civil War engagement west of the Mississippi River

2) Here at Saturday 9, we regard everyone who served -- veterans and active military -- as heroes. Have you, or has anyone in your family, worn the uniform of our armed forces? We want to hear about them.
My Grandpa Oslin (my mom's side) was in the army and served in WWII.  He was stationed in Germany.  My Uncle Gary (on my dad's side) served in Vietnam and was killed in action.  I currently have a nephew (Brian) who is in the National Guard.  This is my Papa (Grandpa) Oslin.

3) Similarly, we're grateful to those who served on the front lines during the Covid 19 pandemic. Tell us about anyone you know who was an essential worker, a first responder or administered vaccines. They deserve a shout out, too!  My nephew Brian in the National Guard has been stationed all over the state of Missouri at vaccine places.  I am considered an essential worker because we are in school in person and have been all year.  My husband is also an essential worker, he does commercial construction.  I know the definition of essential worker is different from state to state though.  In Missouri everyone is back to work...even if they are still working at home.  Most people are back in their offices though.

4) Memorial Day is the traditional kick off of the summer season. Have you packed away your winter clothes yet?  no, it is crazy weather in Missouri.

5) What's your favorite picnic food?  fried chicken

6) As you answer these questions, is there a fan or an air conditioner cooling your room?  air conditioner

7) This week's song is about a heartbreaking situation. The lyrics are a letter from a soldier to his family, which was only to be sent in the event of his death. What's the saddest song you have ever heard?  Oh gosh...the first song that came to mind is Teddy Bear by Red Sovine (1976).  I used to cry when I would hear it as a kid.  You can google the lyrics if you need a good cry.  Beautiful.  Here it is too if you want to give it a listen.

8) This week's featured artist, Tim McGraw, has a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame. It's near those honoring William Shatner and Julie Andrews. If you could have lunch with one of those luminaries -- Tim McGraw, William Shatner or Julie Andrews -- which would you choose?  Julie Andrews I suppose.  I love her movies and I love to listen to her sing.

9) Random Question: Think of the last thing you bought. Was it a wise purchase?  Oh I don't know.  I bought some hair products from the Ulta sale, but I am waiting on them to arrive.  If I like them, it will be a good purchase.  I like to try different hair products.