Saturday 9- W-O-L-D

 

W-O-L-D

W.O.L.D. (1973)

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

1) This song tells the story of a man who has made a career in radio.  How many professions have you worked in?  fast food, grocery stores, working with the mentally handicapped and education. 4.  I have worked in 4 professions.

 

2) He describes himself as "45 going on 15." This morning, do you feel older or younger than your years?  I always feel older in my body and younger in my head.  I am just a big kid.

3) He estimates that he's traveled thousands of miles, from town to city, as disc jockey at various stations. Have you ever relocated for a job?  no.

4) This song is written as though he's reached out to an ex. Is there someone from your past who is on your mind this morning?  I had Open House tonight (as I am writing this...so Friday night).  I have lots of kids of friends from high school in my class this year (they would be grandkids).  I guess I am thinking about them.  It is so nice to see people you haven't seen in years.  BTW...I teach pre-K, so lots of families bring in the Grandparents.  That is a fun thing about pre-K.  It is exciting and new and everyone wants to be there. :)

5) Tell us about a radio personality you grew up listening to.  When I was a kid everyone listened to Woody P. Snow on Rock 99.  He was awesome.  He left the area for a while and then he came back to a different station years later.  I imagine he is probably retired now.

6) This week's featured artist, Harry Chapin, was an Oscar nominee. Before he became a musician, he wrote and directed a documentary about boxing called Legendary Champions. When you sit down to watch a movie, would you prefer action, comedy, drama, fantasy, horror, mystery, romance, thriller or documentary?  I like to mix it up.  I enjoy most genres of movies.  It is almost what type of mood I am in and what catches my eye at the time.

 

7) Today Harry Chapin is fondly remembered for his philanthropy. He filled his calendar with benefit concerts that supported local food banks all around the country. How would you like to be remembered?  I would like to be one of those teachers' people talk about saying they made a difference in their child's life or helped them love school...something like that, but I think that is mostly reserved for high school teachers.  My dad is fondly remembered that way.  He came up at Open House.  Makes my heart so happy to listen to people talk about my dad.

8) In 1973, when this song was popular, one of the top-selling toys was a Curious George book packaged with a plush Curious George. Can you recall a favorite book from your childhood?  I was in the Dr. Seuss book club or something.  I have all of them and I read them at school during Dr. Seuss week.  My favorite as a kid was probably One Fish Two Fish.  Now it would be The Lorax.

 

9) Random question: Here's $100. What will you spend it on?  I would spend it on Josh.  He had his birthday last week (4th) and then got covid.  We did not get to celebrate much.  He ended up going out with one of his friends.  They went to see the movie "Elvis".  He loved it.  He wasn't all that sick, but I got him the antivirals and those helped.  We still need to celebrate.  I think he wants to go to Cheddar's.  Here is Josh and Cryssi on his birthday at the movie theater.  Cryssi gave him that silly hat.  He loves it.

Saturday 9- Big, Bad John

 

Big, Bad John

August will be devoted to story songs. Here's the first:

 

Big, Bad John (1961)

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

1) This song tells the story of a stern, enigmatic miner. None of the other miners knew much about him. When people first meet you, do you think they see you more as mysterious or straightforward?  I feel like I am straightforward, but I really do not know how people see me.

 

2) During a serious accident, many of the miners panicked. But not John. Think of your family, friends and acquaintances. Who would be the most dependable in a crisis?  My in-laws are very dependable.  When my dad was alive, he was too.

3) His heroism allowed 20 miners to escape, but cost John his life. According to the lyrics, there's a marble slab on site of mine that honors him. Is there a memorial to a local hero in your town?  no

4) This song was written and performed by Jimmy Dean. He began composing it on a flight from New York to Nashville. How do you amuse yourself while traveling?  In the past it was by listening to the radio and visiting with my husband Karl, but now I might listen to an audiobook.

5) Jimmy Dean hosted a long-running variety show on CBS, which is best-remembered today for introducing Jim Henson's puppets -- especially Rowlf, a dog who sang and told jokes. While Rowlf didn't make it to Sesame Street, he was a recurring character on the Muppet Show. Are you a Muppet fan?  Yes, they were really popular when I was a kid.

6) Jimmy found success in business with The Jimmy Dean Sausage Company. He sold the company to Sara Lee in 1984 for $80 million. Today Jimmy Dean breakfast products are still popular in grocery stores all over the country. What's your favorite breakfast?  Eggs, bacon, toast and hashbrowns.

7) In 1961, when this song was popular, Vogue asked if fashion sense is inborn or if a woman could learn to be chic. What do you think? Do you think style is either something you have, or you don't?  I think people have an "eye" for what they like.  Maybe it isn't fashionable, but people need to be comfortable.

8) Also in 1961, Ernest Hemingway took his own life. Did you read Hemingway in English class? Can you recall any other novels you read for school?  I am not sure that I have read any Hemingway, but Josh is getting a book by Hemingway for his birthday which was the 4th.  He turned 24.  I read The Great Gatsby, Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, The Grapes of Wrath, The Scarlett Letter and many others.

 

9) Random question: Think about the last "white lie" you told. Was it to make your own day easier or spare someone's feelings?  To spare someone's feelings.

I Would Be in Love (Anyway)

 

I Would Be in Love (Anyway)

I Would Be in Love (Anyway) 1970

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

1) Frank Sinatra sings, "If I knew then what I know now." If you were giving advice to a recent high school grad, based on that phrase, what would you say?  1. Don't let the small things bother you.  2. Know that every time you make a decision, it could impact the rest of your life...so make decisions and live your life wisely.  3. Make Good choices 4. Keep working out. 5. Never give up. 6. Always do your very best (advice from my dad to me).

2) This song is about a man looking back on his marriage, which has ended. While he is sad, he is not sorry he loved her. Do you believe that it's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all?  I definitely do agree with that.

3) Sinatra married four times. He met his first wife, Nancy, when he was 19. He saw a pretty girl sitting on her front porch, giving herself a pedicure, and he rushed home for his ukulele so he could serenade her. Have you ever sung to anyone? Has anyone ever sung to you?  I have never sung to anyone, but I did date a guy that we went to high school together and we were both in choir.  He knew I loved to listen to him sing.  When we were in college, we dated for a time and he would sing to me all of the time.

 

4) According to Barbara, his final wife, they met when they were neighbors in Rancho Mirage, California. Sinatra had his own tennis court, needed a fourth for doubles with his houseguests, and invited the lady next door to play. Tell us about your neighbors.  Where I live there is a neighbor across the street and that is all.  The houses are spread out where I live.  He is a single dad of two kids.  I have only talked to him a couple of times.  I never see him at home.  He is nice though and we wave at each other when we see each other.  Before he lived there a lady named Pauline lived there.   She died about 10 years ago, but she was the nicest lady.  She knew when I had Josh that something was wrong...I had seizures after I had Josh.  Anyway, she prayed for me.  She would always come outside and watch Josh play and I would take him over to visit.  I miss her.  I think my current neighbor was a relative though.  The house never went up for sale and he just moved in a little while after she passed.  Pauline was a long-time resident of this town.

5) When not performing before an audience or cameras, Sinatra often wore hats and caps because his hair was thin and his toupee annoyed him. Is there anything you wear for "dress up" that you're happy to ditch when you go casual?  When I am not working, I am in sweats and a t-shirt.  I wear jeans to work...our Superintendent started letting us wear jeans the year after covid.  I wear nice shirts.  So really my pants and shoes are the first thing off when I get home and I put on sweats and tennis shoes.  I also remove all jewelry.

6) Frank had a sweet tooth and to the end of his life, he enjoyed chocolate-covered apricots, ordered from Lepore's in his hometown of Hoboken, NJ. If you could have any sweet treat right now, what would you request?  Maybe a piece of peach pie.  I love pie.

7) This song was written specifically for Sinatra by Bob Gaudio, best known as a member of The Four Seasons. That 1960s quartet is now legendary. In addition to 25 Top Ten Hits, they are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and inspired the Broadway play and movie musical, Jersey Boys. Do you have a favorite Four Seasons song?  When I was a kid, I would listen to my mom's 45's on her record player and pretend I was a D.J.  One of the songs I would play was Big Girls Don't Cry.  I loved that song.  That would be my favorite I guess.

8) In 1970, the year this record was released, The Mary Tyler Moore Show premiered. Were you a fan?  I was born in 1970 and I know it is probably shown still, but I cannot ever remember watching it.

9) Random question: Have you ever named your car or truck?  I never have.  I did have a friend in high school that names her cars.  Her car in high school was named Kermit.  It was the ugliest green car.

Tuesday 4 Meme- Light...

 

Light...

Welcome to another Tuesday 4 by Toni Taddeo.

Let's talk about light, okay? You light up my life.. shine a light in the darkness, Miller Light. All kinds of light but how about at home?

1. Are you afraid of the dark? Is night or day your favorite time?  I am not really afraid of the dark.  I am careful if I am outside in the dark though.  I enjoy the light of the day, but also the quiet of the night.  I love them both.

2. Do you have night lights in your home?  I do.  I get up several times in the night, so I need to be able to see.  I do have them in other parts of the house though too so I can see if I need to leave my room at night.

3. How low do you set your air conditioning?  Do you adjust it through the day?  My A/C is set on 73.  I willº change it sometimes.  It has been in the 100's for a bit, so I have turned it down to 72º in the morning to cool off the house.

4. Do you keep any outdoor or indoor lights on all night?  We have our porch light on outside all of the time.

Saturday 9: Diamonds

 

Diamonds

Saturday 9: Diamonds (2012)

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

1) In this song, Rihanna sings that when she looks at her lover, she sees the light in his eyes. The internet is filled with makeup tips for making your eyes look brighter. Drugstores sell eye drops that promise to get the red out. Are you bright-eyed this morning? Yes, my eyes are great unless I am wearing the wrong eyeliner.  I do not wear make-up in the summer unless I am going to see the doctor or hairdresser.

2) She likens him to a shooting star. Astronomers tell us that shooting stars aren't that rare at all. They occur when dust, asteroids or comets enter the earth's atmosphere, and are often visible on clear, pollution-free nights. Have you ever seen a shooting star?  I have.  They are so pretty.

 
3) In ancient Rome, shooting stars were considered good luck, especially for those going into battle, while some tribes in East Africa believed shooting stars were a harbinger of doom. Are you superstitious?  no, not really.  Just when it comes to sports.  I might wear a certain shirt.  I do that more with football than baseball.

4) The singer of "Diamonds" hosted a lavish Diamond Ball to raise funds for education programs in Malawi, Senegal, and the country of her birth, Barbados. Rhianna named her charity initiative the Clara Lionel Foundation after her grandparents. If you were to name your foundation after your grandparents, what would it be called? What would you ideally like to do in their honor?  The Delores Burkett Foundation and Memorial.  It would be to fund research in Alzheimer's.  My Granie Burkett had Alzheimer's and so did my dad.

 

5) Rhianna recently had her first baby, a boy. According to the Social Security Administration, the top names for baby boys in 2021 were Liam and Noah. Is there a Liam or Noah in your life?  Not recently, but a few years ago we had some students with those names.

 

6) When she was still in her teens, Rhianna entered a beauty pageant on a dare, and won! Can you recall a time you acted on a dare?  I am sure I have, but I cannot think of anything.  Maybe I haven't. I do not act on a dare unless I want to.

7) While on tour, she likes to sneak out into the audience, just to get the vibe from out there. To disguise herself, Rhianna slips on a black oversized hoodie. Are hoodies a staple of your wardrobe?  no, the hood drives me crazy.  I like a regular sweatshirt no hood.

  

8) In 2012, the year this song topped the charts, London hosted the Olympic Games. If you won a trip to London, what would you like to see?  If I got to go to London, I would be a total tourist and see as much as I could.  I would be excited to try the food also and do some shopping.  

 
9) Random question: Did either or both your parents go to college?  My dad went to college to be a teacher and my mom went to business school.

Tuesday 4 Meme- Inquiring Minds Wanna Know...

Inquiring Minds Wanna Know...

 Hello!  You are so welcome here at Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.   I hope you are enjoying the questions and the chance to blog about your likes, dislikes and opinions and find out about those of other people.  Be sure to visit around.  That is part of the fun.

Let's inquire about stuff....

1. What gets your blood to boiling?  Gas prices, inflation, birthing people...that the government thinks we are stupid enough to do what they want.  So many things.  Ok, I will stop.

2.What does a really good day look like for you? What makes you say, "That was a great day"?  If things go as they are supposed to or even better than expected.  Ok, that is a good day...let's see.  Maybe the part I said about when things go better than expected.  I like good surprises.  It is super easy to make my day.

3. Are you continuing to grow mentally, spiritually, talent wise or are you just marking time?  I hope I am growing in all areas.  I make an effort to do so, and I would think I will the rest of my life.

4. Have you changed your hair style since high school?   Why or why not?  I have.  I had the big 80-90's hair, so my hair is naturally curly, and it is a little big, but my bangs are gone.  I wore it straight for a long time too.  My sister-in-law talked me into wearing it curly again.  She perms her hair so she can wear her hair curly.

Saturday 9: Brandy

 

Brandy

Saturday 9: Brandy (1972)

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

 

1) This song opens in a bar where lonely sailors reminisce about their homes. How long have you lived at your current residence? Does it feel like home?  Karl and I have lived at our house for 25 years.  It does feel like home...our house, but I wish it were in my hometown.  I would love to live closer to the lake.

2) Brandy is a waitress at the bar. Have you ever worked at a job where you received tips?  no

 

3) Brandy wears a locket on a braided chain. Are you wearing any jewelry as you answer these 9 questions?  no.  I only have jewelry on when I am going out of the house.

4) According to the lyrics, the sailors seem to prefer whisky or wine. What's your go-to adult beverage?  I don't drink, but if I were going to have a drink, I would probably choose wine or a fruity drink like a mai tai or a pina colada.  Here you go, have a drink.

5) This song was such a big hit that, after its release, Brandy became a popular name for newborn girls. Do you know anyone named Brandy?  I work with a teacher named Brandy.  Her classroom will be right next to mine this year as they are working on our building.

6) Barry Manilow scored a hit in 1974 with "Mandy." That song was initially called "Brandy," but it was changed to avoid confusion with this record. Do you have a favorite Barry Manilow song?  I am going to go with Mandy.  I had a dog named Mandy that I loved so much.  The song brings me to tears I miss her so much.  Here is a picture of Mandy.

 
7) In 1972, when this song was popular, residents of South Dakota endured a catastrophic flood when Rapid Creek overflowed. Give us a little geography lesson: what body of water is nearest you?  I talk a lot about Table Rock Lake that is in my hometown, but at my house now the closest body of water is the James River.

 

8) Also in 1972, the first women were permitted to run in the Boston marathon. Have you ever visited Boston?  no

9) Random summertime question: Would you prefer to swim in a pool, a lake/river, or the ocean?  Pool.  Even when we went to the ocean, I spent a day at the pool, but I could see the ocean.  I like to go boating on the lake and I enjoyed floating on the James River, but they have snakes and you have to be careful.  I pick pool.

Saturday 9: Time for Livin'

 

Time for Livin'

Saturday 9: Time for Livin' (1968)

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

1) This song is about taking "time for life." Do you have a busy, highly-scheduled Saturday planned? Or will you have an opportunity to just relax and enjoy? Oh no.  I am planning to relax some.   We spent last weekend shopping for furniture, so I am thinking we can relax this weekend.  This is a picture if one of the rooms with new furniture.  It is so comfy.  We needed to change furniture so bad.

2) Lead singer Larry Ramos begins by telling us he likes to kick off his shoes and go barefoot. How about you? Do you like to feel "the good earth under your feet?"  I did when I was little, but I like to have shoes on all of the time now.  I think it became some kind of I am "always ready to go" if I need to thing.

 

3) He sings that once he took off his watch, he found he had all the time in the world. Tell us about your watch.  It is silver.  I always wear a watch because at work rarely have my cell phone with me.  I need to know the time.

4) With lyrics that include words like "grooving" and "hang-ups," this song is very much a product of its time. Share some of the slang you used during your adolescent years.  When I was in middle school the California valley girl talk was a thing.  Totally awesome was something we said a lot.  I still say awesome.

 

5) He sings that his attitude has been rearranged. What is something you have changed your mind about?  Probably something to do with food.  

 
6) This week's group, The Association, was founded in Hawaii. Hawaii produces more pineapple than other state in the union. When did you most recently have pineapple?  I think it was when school was going on.  They serve us pineapple when we have Chinese food.

 

7) In 1968, when this song was popular, Jacqueline Kennedy married Aristotle Onassis. Think about the last wedding you attended. Were you closer to the bride or to the groom, or were you equally close to both?  groom.  It was my nephew's wedding.

 

8) In 1968, when this song was popular, Laugh In was America's #1 TV show and it made a star of Goldie Hawn. Do you have a favorite Goldie Hawn movie?  I am not a huge fan of Goldie Hawn and I also do not watch a lot of movies.  I do think I saw Private Benjamin though.  I am not sure how much I liked it.

 
9) Random question: Who is the most recent person you made smile, and what did you do?  It was probably Karl or Josh.  I was probably telling some kind of story about going to the doctor the other day.

Tuesday 4 Meme- July 4

 

July 4

 

Happy Fourth of July and welcome once again to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4!     

Let's talk about Independence Day.

1. In previous times every family read the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights on July 4 to keep in mind the huge price paid by a minority of patriots  for freedom and liberty.    What do you think about this tradition?  I hope you will institute it and value it.  It is so important.  I think it is great.  In fact, I think Linda had told me about this or she does it.  Anyway, I had heard about it and did this one year.  I think it is a great reminder of what these documents actually say.  I think we should all be doing this.

2. Fresh made lemonade was a huge deal in the Midwest when Laura Ingalls Wilder was a young girl. It was a very special treat.    Every family brought a dish to the town celebration.     What foods and drinks will you have on this important day?  We may grill out hotdogs and hamburgers, but Josh is working and Karl and I will need to stay home and be here with Meisha because she is scared of the fireworks.

3. Will you be watching fireworks.. a great American tradition on this day?  They are deeply rooted in the American tradition. We will stay home and make sure Meisha is comfortable.  She gets so scared.  She will crawl into Karl's lap and her body shakes.  She is a lab.  We may watch fireworks on tv.  Here she is resting on the couch.

4.  Will your flag be out?  Do you own one?  Yes!

 Quick 4th fact: Did you know that the term Commander in Chief cannot be used except in times of Congressionally declared war? A president has no authority over the military until then.