Our Town

 

Our Town

Hello! This is Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4 where we ask just 4 questions each week in an effort to get you blogging, thinking and learning about others.
Maybe we can discuss the town you live in. It might be nice to find out more about where you live and why you live there. Sometimes we just fall into a place and other times we \choose.
Here's a chance to sing the praises of your town or uncover it's faults.. have at it!




                          
Michelle Byrne painting

1. What are the good points to living in your town? Could you interest us in moving there?  I live in Southwest Missouri.  It is small, the population is 963.  It is quiet and there are a lot of trees and wildlife.  We have good air quality and water.  My favorite is that it is quiet.

2. Are the things you need convenient to your home? (shopping, library, schools, entertainment?)  It is not super close to a lot of things, but we do have a Dollar General, 2 restaurants, gas station, post office, schools, several churches and some antique stores.  If you drive about 10-15 minutes, you have access to a lot of restaurants, Walmart, libraries, lakes and rivers and amusement parks.  I live very close to Branson and Springfield, MO Branson is a tourist town because of the lakes, rolling hills and Silver Dollar City (1800's theme park) and the music shows.  This is the lake I lived near growing up.  It is more where I work.  I moved north a little bit and am away from the tourists now.  I actually enjoy the tourists.  This is Table Rock Lake.  I spent my childhood here boating and tanning.

3. Did you choose your town or did you just end up there?  I ended up here.  My husband had bought this house before we got married, so I moved here after we got married.  I like it here, but I would love to have the view above.

4. Is your town known for any special foods, activities, places or people?  This town is known for The World's Smallest Cathedral. When I first moved here, it was active and taken care of by a Catholic Priest, but it has sadly closed.  We actually used to have tour buses come to see the Cathedral and take tours.  The Priest died years back and the Cathedral was closed in 2010.  I went to visit it before it closed.  It was cute.

Highlandville is also known for The Pensmore Mansion. 

What it is: At 72,215 square feet, it is one of the largest private homes in the United States. It features exterior walls 12 inches thick, is equipped with 13 bedrooms and 14 bathrooms, and was built using a specialized, reinforced concrete designed to stand for centuries

Saturday 9: Accidentally in Love

 

Accidentally in Love

Saturday 9: Accidentally in Love (2004)

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

1) In the video for this song, a young man dances alone in the kitchen while making breakfast for his lady love. When no one's looking, do you often bust a move?  I wouldn't call it busting a move anymore, but I do dance a little when I am driving.

2) "Accidentally in Love" was featured in the animated movie Shrek 2.  In this video, a plushie from the movie is shown on their bed. Do you have any plush toys in your bedroom? I have a small Beaker toy from The Muppets that Karl got me for Christmas one year.  It is a long story why, but I wanted one.

3) The lyrics liken falling in love to strawberry ice cream that he just can't resist. What sweet treat would hit the spot right now?  cookies sound good right now.

4) He sings about lightening. Astraphobia is the fear of thunderstorms. Have you ever suffered from astraphobia?  no, it storms here a lot, so I am used to it.

5) This song is about falling in love when he wasn't looking for it. Has this ever happened to you? Or have you usually found romance while actively seeking a partner (dating sites, blind dates, etc.)?  I was not looking for a relationship when I met Karl. I was happy being single at the time.

6) This week's artists, The Counting Crows, got their start in San Francisco. A famous quote, often attributed to Mark Twain, says, "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco." How has the summer weather been where you are?  It has been hot and humid this past week in the 90's.  It is a little cooler today and more rain tomorrow.

7) In 2004, when this song was popular, Mark Zuckerberg launched Facebook. Have you checked Facebook today?  Yes

8) Also in 2004, we lost President Ronald Reagan. Before entering politics, he had a decades-long career in Hollywood and appeared in 53 films. Have you ever seen a Ronald Reagan movie?  I watched one with my dad when I was young.  

9) Random question: Describe your favorite pajamas.  Black cotton capri pants with a black shirt to match.  So comfy.

Tuesday 4 Meme- On Holiday

 

On Holiday

Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4...
                               

Summertime means travel time for many people.
Let's talk about travel and holidays.


1. Will you be traveling this summer at all?  no, I like to stay close to home because of my mom being in an assisted living facility.  I like to go visit her and I would not want to be out of town if something happened.  Also, we found out Karl has lip cancer and he will be going through some procedures in July.  He had a spot on his lip that he had removed and it came back as cancer.  Hopefully it is already gone, but he has further doctor visits.

2. Will there be day trips in store for you? visits to the beach, evenings out:?  I am planning to go to the movies with my teacher friend Tanya next week.  I am not sure what else I will do this summer.

3. Do you eat out more in summer... do you go for ice cream or treats more?  We get more ice cream in the summer.  We do not eat out more.

4. What is your favorite place to visit and what is the most exotic place you've been to?  My favorite place was Orange Beach, Alabama because of the ocean front view we had and watching the dolphins.  We never go on vacation.  Karl is always working and does not like to take off.  The vacations Josh and I have been on have been with Karl's sisters and my parents before they got sick.

Saturday 9: For You

 

For You

Saturday 9: For You (1963)

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

1) In this song, Rick Nelson tells us he'd give his girl the stars from sky or a string of pearls. Have you more recently given or received a gift? What was it?  I was given a journal on pre-K graduation night from one of the kids.  It has my name engraved on it and it has my little guys name on it that it is from.  It says something like thank-you for being part of my life.  I love that little guy so much.

2) By the time this record was released, Rick was already a show business veteran. He had been a regular on his family's sitcom, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, since it began airing on radio when he was just 8. Most of us weren't child performers but many of us had chores around the house. When you were young, did your parents give you an allowance?  Yes, my mom had me vacuum, water her plants, do my laundry and my dad's laundry, dust and clean the tub.  I got an allowance for doing those things.  I didn't get to do it long though because I got a job.

3) The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet moved to TV, where fans saw Rick grow into a teen who drove a 1932 Roadster. The car really belonged to Tony La Masa, who collected classic cars and rented them out to TV and movie producers. Have you ever earned or raised money with your hobby?  no

4) Paul McCartney has called Rick Nelson an "underrated singer who could really carry a song" and said Rick was one of his influences. Who do you believe you have influenced, professionally or personally?  I am a mentor teacher, so hopefully the tips and tricks I share with new teachers help them in their classrooms.  I also believe I have had an influence on Josh.  You never really know who all you influence.  I suppose I influence all of my students too.  That is a lot of kids.  They still come to visit me in the morning after they eat breakfast.

5)  This week's song was already an oldie by the time Rick performed it. "For You" was recorded the first time by Casa Loma Orchestra in 1933. In those days, most records were 78 rpm discs, thick and usually only able to hold 3 to 5 minutes of sound per side. Most record companies stopped producing them in the 1950s. Have you ever seen a "78?"  I don't think I have seen those.

 

6) The lyrics to "For You" were written by Al Dubin. After Al left college he supported himself as a singing waiter. That's really two jobs in one. Which would you do better at: singer or server?  Oh brother, I am going to say server because I am friendly and upbeat, but I would not be good at either of these.  I like to sing, but I am an alto, I sing the harmony.  If I get to sing with someone, maybe singer. 

 

7) The music was written by Joe Burke, whose last hit song was "Rambling Rose," recorded in 1948 by Perry Como. Have you ever heard of Perry Como?  Yes!  I wonder if it is because of Josh though.  He likes old music and plays it for me and tells me all about the singers.  If you are new to my blog, Josh is my son.  Josh is 27 now, but here he is when he was little.

8) In 1963, when Ricky's recording was on the charts, the Zip Code was introduced. How many different Zips have you lived in?  I think 5.

 
9) Random question: When you were in high school, were you taller or shorter than your classmates? Or were you the average height?  I am shorter than most people now, so I am guessing I was shorter then too unless the kids were younger than me.  I am 5'4".

Tuesday 4 Meme- This Week

This Week


                                             
 
Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4...

Let's talk about your week okay?


1. Is anything interesting on TV this week? What will you be watching?  Brilliant Minds is back on, they are taking it off the air, so these are the last shows.  I am also watching Dutton Ranch.

2. Any books on your horizon right now? What will you be reading?  I am reading Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid right now.

3. What's been on the menu lately? Any new recipes caught your eye?  We have had burgers and chicken lately, but I think spaghetti this week and tacos.  I haven't tried anything new lately.


4. Who will you spend time with this week?  I am going to go see my mom and visit with her, but I will also spend time with Karl, Josh and Meisha.

Sunday Stealing Knows It's Not Friday

 

Sunday Stealing Knows It's Not Friday

                                     


Stealing The Friday Fill-in

1. __It_ is not the end of the world.

2. _Watermelon_ tastes so good!

3. Sometimes, putting others first is _best.

4. _Sunrise_ is breathtaking, really.

5. Well, maybe there is _a God.

6. This week, my plans include _going to the chiropractor, visiting my mom and reading.

Saturday 9: Mystical Magical

 

Mystical Magical

Saturday 9: Mystical Magical (2025)

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

1) This week's song is about a new love affair, and Benson Boone bounces between frustration and optimism when he thinks about it. Does anything inspire your mixed emotions these days?  The 4th of July.  I always get so excited for the 4th of July and especially this year, our 250th birthday, but as always, Meisha (my dog) is scared to death of fireworks.  I will need to stay home with her.  I will watch some celebration on tv.  I do plan to go over to where my mom is living and they are doing a family BBQ and fireworks, but kind of early, so I will be back home before the big fireworks start around my house.

2) The lyrics mention "moonbeam ice cream," which is something Benson just made up. Last summer, when this week's song became popular, ice cream shops were inspired to create flavors with that name. What's your favorite ice cream flavor, and will you take that in a cup or cone?  I typically go for vanilla praline or cookie dough  in a cone.

 

3) He sings that "once you know" about a love like this, "you know." Tell us about something you had to experience to fully understand.  The pains of growing older and menopause.  I am fortunate to have friends to be able to talk about it with.  Also, losing loved ones.

 

4) He composed this song at the piano. Do you play piano?  no, that is one thing I wish I could do.

5) He first sang in public at a high school talent show, which he only entered on a dare. Can you recall any dares from your junior high or high school days?  not really

6) Benson was a good high school athlete and competed in diving at the state level. Can you execute a dive off the diving board?  no.  I used to dive off of a dock at the lake, but I am not sure I ever had access to a diving board when I was younger.  I was mostly at the lake boating.

7) When he was 18, Boone auditioned for American Idol. What were you up to when you were 18?   I was in college, my first year...taking classes and learning how to study.  I worked at a grocery store in the summer and had the best time with my friends.

  

8) Benson has a dog named Max. He's not alone in this. "Max" is one of the most popular pet names in the US today. Have you ever known anyone (furry or otherwise) named Max?  I went to high school with a guy named Max.  We both went K-12 at our school and we sang a duet our senior year at our choir concert.  He became a music teacher.  We do not work together though.

 

9) Random question: If we knocked on your door on one of your lazy, stay-at-home days, what would we likely find you wearing?  yoga pants, a t-shirt, sketchers slip ins tennis shoes and my hair is up in a bun...no make-up.  Pretty much my uniform in the summer and weekends when I am working.