Saturday 9: Only Love Can Hurt Like This

 

Only Love Can Hurt Like This

Saturday 9: Only Love Can Hurt Like This (2014)

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

1) In this week's song, Paloma Faith sings that she thought she wouldn't care if her lover left but now she's begging him to stay. Can you think of something you were surprised you missed when it was gone or over?  Has anyone ever heard of Picadilly?  The restaurant?  Well, we ate there a lot when I was little, probably because my mom had tummy issues and the food is bland.  It is a cafeteria.  I loved that place.  Well, the mall closed it or it went away.  I have been mad about it ever since.  I love the cafeterias.  They have all closed here where I live.  I know they are nothing special, but sometimes I do not feel like my stomach can take many of the restaurants.  I just need some bland food.  That is a long answer, but I miss it.  I also miss soaps and other products that have been discontinued over the years.

2) Paloma obviously has a powerful, versatile voice. She's also a trained dancer. Tell us about two things you do well.  I feel like I can be creative in my teaching.  Kids all learn different.  I also feel like I am a good listener.

3) She was a judge on two British TV shows: The Voice and The Voice Kids. Do you watch competition shows (The Voice, American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, etc.)? If so, are you any good at picking the winners?  I watched for a while, but I got bored with them.  Yes, I am good at picking the winners.

4) This week's song was written by Diane Warren. She's one of America's most successful song writers, having written more than thirty Top 10 hits. Think of your favorite song. Do you know who wrote it?  I don't really have a favorite song, but my answer would in general be no.  If you were asking my son Josh...he would know everything about the song.  I just like to sing with and listen to music.

5) She's made a fortune writing love songs, mostly from her Hollywood Hills office. Diane spends up to 10 hours a day in a room she describes as "cluttered," and admits it's an unlikely setting to write about romance, yet it works for her. Describe a setting you consider romantic.  I dated a guy when I was in college and we would look out his big glass windows.  The house overlooked the lake and it was beautiful.  A nice dark restaurant is romantic too.

6) In 2014, when "Only Love Can Hurt Like This" was popular, Joan Rivers died. Best known as a comedienne, she was also a successful businesswoman, promoting her jewelry line on QVC. Do you ever watch shopping networks?  My mom has always watched them and for so long I hated them.  Well, over the summer when my mom was sick I would turn the tv on home shopping for her to watch, but guess who got sucked in?  Me.  I enjoy watching Beekman and many of the makeup brands.  I like watching Over 50 and Fabulous with Mally.  I haven't watched in a while though, I have been VERY busy lately.

7) The Apple Watch was introduced in 2014. Are you wearing a watch as you answer these 9 questions? I took it off when I got home from work, but I have a watch on all day at work, my phone is put away.

8) One of the best-selling books of 2014 was The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. It won awards for best YA (young adult) fiction. Is YA a genre you often read?  I read maybe one per year.  They can be good if you find a good author.

9) Random question: What's something on your to-do list that you just can't get around to doing?  dusting the house...I HATE dusting.

Saturday 9: Diamond Girl

 

Diamond Girl

Saturday 9: Diamond Girl (1973)

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

1) This week's song is by Seals and Crofts, a pair of Texas boys who met when they both joined a local band called The Crew Cats. Have you ever visited The Lone Star State? If yes, where did you go?  I have been to Dallas with Karl and his parents to go to a Nascar race and to go shopping at the malls.  We also took a girl's trip (Karl's sisters) to San Antonio to go to visit The Alamo, Schlitterbahn, The Riverwalk and outlet mall shopping.

2) Lead singer Jim Seals compliments his girl by comparing her to a precious stone. What's the nicest compliment you have ever received? Who was it from?  I get a lot of compliments on my teaching from parents at school, that would mean the most to me.

3) Diamonds are birthstone for people born in April. What's your birthstone? Do you wear it often?  Mine is Sapphire and I used to have several rings, but nothing currently.  I need to get a bracelet or necklace.

4) In ancient times, Hindus believed diamonds brought good luck. Do you have a good luck charm?  no

5) On the other hand, some believe that one of the world's most famous gems, The Hope Diamond, is cursed. 14 of its owners have died from unnatural causes. Those who possessed the diamond committed suicide, were murdered, tortured to death in prison, and even torn apart by dogs! If you received a beautiful piece of jewelry that was rumored to be cursed, would you be concerned? Or do you think curses are silly?  silly

6) Rare diamonds share an element with the common pencil. Both contain graphite. Sam is crazy about pencils, pens and felt-tip markers. Do you enjoy shopping for office supplies?  yes, ones for my classroom.  I love all of the mentioned above.

7) In 1973, the year this record was popular, Shelley Hack was a hard-working and well-paid model. She regularly appeared on the pages of catalogs, on magazine covers and then launched Revlon's popular Charlie cologne in print and on TV. What commercial have you seen recently? Did you watch it on TV, online or on your phone?  I have been watching Virgin River on Netflix, it would be a commercial from watching on there, but I don't remember the commercial now...on my tv.

8) Also in 1973, Motown great Stevie Wonder was in a car accident that left him with a scar on his nose. Tell us about how you got one of your scars.  I have a scar on my nose from chicken pox as a kid, one of my tummy too.

9) Random question: What's your perfect day -- weatherwise?  Sunny and 70 with a light breeze and low or no humidity.

Saturday 9: If You've Got the Money

 

Saturday 9: If You've Got the Money (1950)

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

1) In this week's song, Lefty Frizzell is eager to go out on the town and hit all the night spots. What are your plans for the weekend?  rest, watch some tv, clean house and maybe read some.

2) He tells his girl he'd rather ride in her Cadillac than his old car. Back in the 1950s, Caddys were quite the status symbol. Lefty bought a white one with the profits from this record. Elvis also had a fondness for Cadillacs and preferred pink. Have you ever owned a Cadillac?  no

3) Lefty was a big deal in Big Spring, TX. He was a popular attraction at local bars, a favorite among oil workers who liked to unwind by listening to live music. How do you relax after a tough day?  I watch tv and play some games on my phone.  If I am reading a book, I will read some.  I am reading The Teacher by Freida McFadden right now.  Holy moly!

4) This was Lefty's first hit. He wrote "If You've Got the Money" and recorded a demo for producer Jim Beck to play for established singers. When no one else wanted to record it, Beck decided to give Lefty a shot. The result was a million seller that spent 22 weeks on the country charts. Tell us about someone who took a chance on you.  I am going to say Sharon Jones.  She is the reason I became a teacher.  She was the director of Special Education and I was working as a para in a special education preschool.  She called me during the summer and asked if I would like to teach.  I was offered a state job as a social worker, which is what my degree was.  I turned down the offer from the state and I went back to college and became a teacher.  Josh was little and I wanted similar hours to him and even though it turned out to be a toxic job in the end after Sharon retired. I am thankful she believed in me.  I didn't believe in myself to become a teacher.  I love teaching.  It is a hard job, but I absolutely love it.  It was a great decision, and I was able to spend all of that time with Josh.

5) After this record became a hit, success came quickly to Lefty, perhaps too fast. He signed conflicting contracts with promoters and managers which resulted in lawsuits. Have you recently consulted a lawyer or had a document notarized?  no

6) This song hit number one on the country charts twice: first this version and then in 1976 by Willie Nelson. Do you have a favorite Willie Nelson song?  I LOVE Willie Nelson.  Some of my favorites are Always on my Mind and Okie From Muskogee (my family is from Muskogee).

7) In 1950, when this song was popular, Americans began using credit cards. Do you pay with a credit card to get rewards? If yes, what rewards are you accumulating (cash back, airline miles, etc.)?  I do not do this.

8) Also in 1950, Sears Roebuck and Co. acknowledged a major spike in catalog sales and took the unusual move of devoting the cover of their Spring/Summer catalog to their "satisfaction guarantee." This was meant to allay the fear of customers uncomfortable with ordering by mail instead of buying in person. 74 years later, Amazon delivers more than 3 million packages every day. Would you rather check out a product yourself in a store, or do you prefer the convenience of ordering from home?  I like shopping online, but I like to buy shoes and other things I need to try on in person.

9) Random question -- You're singing along with the car radio to your favorite song when you reach your destination. Do you wait until your song is over to get out of the car?  If the song is getting close to the end I may finish it, much of the time I just go inside.

Tuesday 4 Meme- A Chilly March Day

 

A Chilly March Day

 

Today here on the middle Atlantic ocean, we have gale force winds, a bit of light snow and low temperatures. We are under a flood watch until 2PM Monday.   Of course it is still officially winter until the 19th of March and Spring is notoriously volatile.

Hot coffee/tea, candles, warm clothing are the order of the day..  It's nice to be cozy inside on a tempest tossed night like this.

1. What kind of weather makes you feel you need to dress up warmly? Do you get chilled easily or does it take a lot to get you shivering?  Cloudy and north winds make me need to dress warmer.  I do not typically get chilled easily.

2  How is your weather so far this month? Are you happy with it or how would you improve it?  This week has been sunny and 60's, but rain and cooler weather are coming.

3. How do you handle very hot days where you live and what constitutes a very hot day in your opinion?  It gets hot where I live, so I stay in the A/C when possible.  Very hot days would be 100's and we always have high humidity.  Hard to breathe.

4.  Is weather an important reason for you to live where you are or would you move to a better climate if you could?  It is not that important.  I have always enjoyed all of the seasons, but I certainly get it why people want a more stable climate as they age.  We never go anywhere, so I am guessing we will stay here until we die.

Saturday 9: Hold Me Now

 

Hold Me Now

Saturday 9: Hold Me Now (1983)

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

1) This week's song begins with a young man gazing at a picture of himself and his girlfriend in happier times. Are there any photographs in the room you're in right now?  I am in my living room.  There are some pictures of Karl, Josh and me.  There are pictures of our dogs and a picture of Karl's Grandpa.

2) His girl tells him he's a dreamer. Do you consider yourself more a dreamer or realist?  Sometimes I like to let myself be a dreamer, but most of the time I am a realist.

3) "Hold Me Now" was a big hit for the British pop band, The Thompson Twins. They got their start in the late 1970s in the English city of Sheffield, so named because the River Sheaf runs through it. Do you know how your town got its name?  My town is called Highlandville....it is named for its high elevation compared to other areas around us.

4) Today lead singer Tom Bailey performs solo and is an outspoken advocate for veganism. Vegans abstain from consuming animal products, particularly in their diets. Are you a vegan, or have you ever tried to stick to a vegan diet?  no

5) Tom's former bandmate Joe Leeway has left show business altogether and concentrates on a career in hypnotherapy. This therapy is commonly used to treat insomnia, smoking cessation and obesity. Is hypnotherapy something you have tried, or would consider?  no

6) In 1983, when this song was popular, Motorola introduced the first cell phone. Today cell phones are an essential part of our every day lives. Do you still have a landline?  not exactly.  We have our cell phones, but we also have a magic jack.  We really do not use it much anymore.  I doubt we renew our contract next time.  When we first got our cell phones, we did not have very good reception at our house to make phone calls.  We do now.

7) Also in 1983, American West airlines took off, flying between Las Vegas and Phoenix. Where did you travel to on your most recent flight?  I have never flown.

8) In 1983, Princess Diana was the world's top cover girl. Are there any magazines in the room you're in? If yes, who or what is on the cover?  I do not have any magazines.  Princess Diana was so beautiful.

9) Random question: Is anyone on your bad side this morning?  Yes, but I don't want to talk about it.  It is hard to get on my bad side.

Tuesday 4 Meme- First Things First...

 

First Things First...

 

First High Heels by Amos Sewell

Hello! It's a new week and another installment of Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4. I debated over the word episode and ended up with installment but I am still not satisfied. Oh well, here is is whatever it is and I do hope you enjoy joining in.

Let's talk about firsts in your life.

1. Do you remember your first pair of grown up style shoes, maybe high heels? How did that go?  I am not sure if they were my first high heels, but I remember having a red pair in high school.  My mom always got my shoes for me, so I have no memories of going to buy some.

2. When was your first date and do you recall their name and where you went and what you did?  It was not a big deal.  I do remember, we went out to eat and a movie.  My first dates were not that exciting.

3. Do you have any memories of your first job?  Of course.  I worked at McDonalds and it was so busy and fast paced.  We could take 3 orders at a time and I remember the first time I did that, I was so excited.

4. What do you remember about your first home away from Mom and Dad?  It was a dorm room at my college. I was the kid that was excited to get away from home.  It turned out that year that my roommate stayed with her boyfriend most of the time, so I had the place to myself most of the time.

Saturday 9: Paper Doll (1943)

 

Paper Doll

Saturday 9: Paper Doll (1943)

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

1) The song is about a fellow who is exasperated by men flirting with his girl. Do you have a jealous streak? 

I did when I was young, but not really anymore.

2) He's blue after a quarrel with Sue. Did you exchange harsh words with anyone recently?  

Not that I can recall.

3) "Paper Doll" was #1 for 12 weeks in 1943-44, sold 11 million copies and remains one of the best-selling singles of all time. Had you heard it before today?  

Yes, I played my mom's 45's when I was a kid pretending I was a DJ and that was one of the records I played.  Well, now that I think about it more...that may not have been in my line up.  I have definitely heard it though.

4) As kids, the Mills Brothers worked on their harmonies in front of their father's Piqua, OH, barbershop, much to the delight of passers by. Do you often encounter street musicians in your neighborhood?  

Never.  I don't encounter much of anything.  It is quiet at my house most of the time.

5) The Mills Brothers were a long way from that street corner when, in 1936, they became the first African Americans to perform for the British Royal Family. It's about 4,000 miles from Piqua to London. What's the farthest you've ever been from home? 

1200 miles or so.

6) In the early 1930s, the Mills Brothers not only performed songs on radio, they sang jingles for Standard Oil and Crisco. What commercial can you recall having seen (or heard) lately? 

The only one I can think of is the Dunkin' Donuts commercial from the Superbowl-Dunkings.

7) In 1943, when "Paper Doll" was popular, WWII was raging and the US Mint began producing steel pennies because copper was needed for ammunition. Do you have any pennies in your pocket or wallet right now?  

oh yes, I do not spend coins like I should.

8) Also in 1943, a bottle of Coke was a nickel. When did you most recently have a soft drink? What was it?  

I had a Pepsi today.

9) Random question: Have you learned more from your successes, or your failures?  

I would say failures.  They say we always hang onto the negative things that happen to us and that it is our brain's way of keeping us safe.  You might be told 10 great things about yourself and one bad thing.  That bad things is the thing you will remember.  We talk in my classroom how we learn from our mistakes and that is ok to make mistakes and that has been my experience.  We learn and do better.  Give yourself grace!