Saturday 9: The Last Song

 

The Last Song

Saturday 9: The Last Song (1972)

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

 

This is the last Saturday 9 song of 2022. 

Thanks for another great year.

1) In this song, the lead singer admits he leaves the light on when he goes to sleep. Do you leave any lights on in your bedroom? Or do you prefer it completely dark?  I have a Wallflower night light plug in from Bath and Body Works that lights up my room a bit.  I need a little light to get to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

 

2) He sings that he can't stop wondering where his old girlfriend is. Do you know whatever happened to any of your exes?  I am friends on facebook with a couple of boyfriends from high school.

3) He says this is the last song he'll ever sing to his girl. What's the last song you sang? Where were you when you sang it?  I was singing in my car to Prince's Raspberry Beret while taking Josh to work this week.

 

4) Edward Bear was a Canadian group who took their name from Winnie the Pooh. As written by A. A. Milne, Edward Bear was Pooh's "proper" name. Pooh's favorite food was honey. Is there a food you can't get enough of?  Whatever I am in the mood for at the time.  I do not have one specific food I keep on hand at all times.  I do like cookies in general.

 
5) In 1972, when this song was popular, Disney's Winnie the Pooh was quite a celebrity in his own right, appearing on the cover the 1972 Sears Christmas Wish Book. That year, kids asked Santa for plush Pooh, Tigger and Eeyore. Did you have many plush toys as a child? If yes, do you still have any of them?  I did have plush toys as a child.  I do not have them at my house, but they may be at my parent's house.  I have an Eeyore here at my house somewhere from a trip to Disney World many years ago.

6) Enough about 1972! Let's look back on 2022. What's something you learned or rediscovered in 2022?  This year at school I went through training in social emotional curriculum, which I am implementing in my classroom now.  It uses puppets and the kids love it.

7) Can you think of a moment in 2022 you'd like to do over?  not really.

8) What are you looking forward to most in 2023?  Maybe moving into my new classroom when the building gets finished.  I am hoping we will get to move in in 2023 anyway.

9) Random question: Who received the last email you sent?  My co-worker Hillary.

Tuesday 4 Meme- Happy New Year

 

Happy New Year

 Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.    We offer you 4 questions weekly to get you blogging, visiting and  learning about yourself and other bloggers.   The more people join in, the merrier and the better it

gets.      We are always looking for topics, subjects and ideas so feel free to chime in if you have ideas.

Yesterday was the day after Christmas and the final day of Hanukkah.    There are only a few days left in 2022... Let's talk about it.

1.  Many stay home and even go to bed early on New Year's Eve.   What are your plans and do you have reasons for what you do?  We always stay home and watch the ball drop.  We do stay up.  I am not a fan of being out on the roads when people are drinking and driving.

2. Guy Lombardo was a traditional fixture on TV and then Dick Clark and his Rockin' New Years Eve took over.    People ate certain foods, bayberry candles were burned for luck.  It seems that lately tradition and not just for New Year, is being forgotten and lost on so many fronts.    What traditions in life are important to you and remain steadfast in your life?  I think when we put up our tree (around Thanksgiving) is a tradition at our house and cleaning up on New Year's Day.  It is a way to start the new year all clean and ready to go.  I get so busy with work.  Traditions are way less of a big deal as they were for my mom and Grandparents.  Some of them did not make any sense to me and were not explained other that they will bring you good luck....I do not eat black eyed peas on New Year's Day.  I do not make resolutions.  Some things just seem silly.

3.  The New Year is often a time to reflect on what has transpired and many make resolutions in an effort to improve their life.      Do you count the cost of time and tradition in your life?  How do you handle good times and bad times and do you forge ahead or get mired down?  I make time for things that are important to me.  I am a person that tries to look for the good in a situation even if it is bad.  There is usually a lesson to learn that makes us stronger.  I always forge ahead.  If it is a really bad thing, I give myself grace and time to heal.

4.  In ancient Israel, the new liturgical year began in the Spring with Passover.. a new beginning.  The Civil year calendar began on Rosh Hashana and 2022-23 is the year 5783 on the Hebrew calendar as of September.       How important is the liturgical calendar in your life?       Do you take notice of religious holidays and times?       Are the holidays more religious or secular for you and your family?      I had to look up liturgical calendar and I don't think it has much purpose for my life.  I like the idea of it, but I am a whatever happens, use the Bible verses that you need at that time...not what is assigned.  I do follow religious holidays and they are very important to me, not so much times except at Easter and Christmas.  I barely pay attention to that.  Holidays were more secular when I was a kid.  I think they are more religious now and I have tried to raise Josh that way too, but I also enjoy some of the secular things...probably because I was raised on Santa Claus, etc.

                            

Sunday Stealing- Thinking back over the year

 

Thinking back over the year

 

Stolen from the League of Extraordinary Penpals

 

What did you do last year that you had not done before?  I became a mentor teacher to a 

new young teacher.

Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions/goals for the year and will you make/set more for

 next year?  What are they? What are your new ones?  I do not make resolutions.  

What was the best book you read this year?  How many did you read?  Atlas Of the Heart

 by Brene Brown.  I love how it explained all of our emotions and how we label some emotions

one thing when they are in fact a different emotion completely.  I bought it for Josh for Christmas.

 I have read 41 books so far.

Did anyone you know die? Or have a serious illness/injury?  My brother-in-law died.  He was 60 years

old.  He had cancer, but the cancer did not kill him.  He was showing good signs with the cancer.

 He caught some kind of bug and because his immune system was low, he was not able to 

recover.

What places have you visited?   This year?  I can't think of any place we visited other than Silver 

Dollar City.  That is where Josh works and we hadn't been for several years.  It is a theme park

and we had a good time.  I am really hoping we can go this coming week after Christmas before 

they close.

Any new pets? Lost a pet?  We lost our dog Molly over the summer.  We sure do miss her.

What would you like to have next year that you lacked this year (doesn't have to be a physical

 thing i.e. love, job security, peace of mind...)?  I just want happiness for Josh.  I know we likes his

job, but he is wanting to try something different there at Silver Dollar City next season...he is

wanting to try rides.

What date from last year will remain etched in your memory and why?   Probably the death of

by brother-in-law Jeff.  He died on the anniversary of our dog Mandy's death...November 2nd. 

Mandy was my heart dog and I miss her so much and she has been gone 3 years now.

What was your biggest achievement last year?  Getting moved back into my classroom at school.

We switched classrooms because our school is getting an addition.  I will have to move again...

hopefully for next year.

Did you get sick or injured?  I had covid this year at my birthday in September.  Josh had covid 

on his birthday in August.

What was the best thing you bought?   Probably some clothes for work.  I needed new things and

I use them all of the time.  Good use of money.

Where did most of your disposable income go (money leftover after you pay for food, medical care,

basic clothing, transportation and shelter)?   Health and beauty products probably.  I like to try to 

look and feel my best.  It helps my confidence.

Merry Christmas!  

SATURDAY 9: HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

 

Happy Holidays!

SATURDAY 9: HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
(From the archives)
 

1. As you can see, when Sam Winters was a little girl, she loved giving her annual wish list to Santa. If you could ask Santa for anything at all, right now, what would it be?  The last few years I have been thinking more about my health.  My wish would be good health and happiness for us all.

2. Are you currently on the Naughty or Nice list? How did you get there?  Nice, I haven't done anything naughty in a long time.

3. Are you traveling this Christmas? If so, are you going by car, plane or train?  We are traveling just about 20 minutes away to my mom's house by car.

4.  Did you send any presents out of town? If so, what was it and how far did it travel?  No, the gifts I bought I was able to give in person.

5. Did you buy yourself a gift this year?  Yes, I found some really good deals on clothes at Kohl's.  I was able to replace some of my old clothes that needed to be thrown away.

6. What's your favorite holiday-themed movie or TV special? Have you seen it yet this year?  I don't really have an actual favorite.  I have several movies I enjoy.  I just watch what I have time for.  I mostly watch Hallmark movies, but when I get through those I will watch something else.  I am not sure what yet.

7. Which do you prefer: a hollow chocolate Santa or a chunk of fudge?  I will go with fudge.

8. Close your eyes and tell us the first carol that comes to mind.  Jingle Bells

9. What's your favorite winter beverage?  Hot chocolate

Tuesday 4 Meme- Counting Down to Christmas

 

Counting Down to Christmas

 

Hello and welcome once again to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4 where we hope that 4 questions help you to blog, meet people and think about things in general.     Sometimes the simplest questions can be a bit difficult to answer. 

I do hope you are enjoying these questions...but if you can think up better themes and questions, please let me know!   I want to keep this going and make it nice for you.

Let's talk about the countdown to Christmas or Chanukah or both!

1. What was the countdown to the holidays like for you as a child?  Special projects at school.. at home.. with friends?      Was a big deal made of the month in your family or town?  What does your countdown look like now?  I don't remember having a countdown as a kid.  We would finish school...my dad was a teacher and leave for Oklahoma shortly after that where the rest of the family lives.  The town was always decorated for Christmas and still is.  My dad and I did all of the Christmas decorating. 

2. As a kid did  your family stay home on the holidays or go visiting around ... what do you do now?  When I was a kid we always went to Oklahoma to visit family.  We stayed with my Grandparents.  Since they passed we stay home.  Karl, Josh and I go to my mom's house or she comes here, but I only live 20 minutes from her.

3. What foods did Mom and Grandma make for those  days?   What snacks were out?   What is the food situation in your home today?  Christmas Eve was snacks so my Granie could focus on cooking Christmas dinner.  We had rotel dip and chips and other snack type foods like that.  Christmas day we had Ham, turkey and all of the fixins.  There were a lot of people at that dinner.  It was always so much fun.  We still do the same now if I am cooking, but this year Josh threw a wrench in things and I think we are having meatloaf.  He does not like ham or turkey.  It should actually be easier to make than the all day cooking we usually do.

4.  Did you have a traditional way of spending the day with time to open gifts, visit,  special breakfasts, special dinner, guests?    What do you do now?  When I was a kid my Uncle, Aunt and cousins would come on Christmas Eve and we opened presents.  They would go home and come back for Christmas Dinner the next day, but Santa came Christmas morning to my Grandparents house and I opened those presents then.  We started doing that when Josh was little, but we open presents now whenever we are with my mom which is usually Christmas Day... or if something is going on and we cannot be with her, we still open on Christmas Day.  The dogs always open Santa Paws gifts on Christmas Eve.

Sunday Stealing- December Questions

 

December Questions

 

Stolen from the League of Extraordinary Penpals

I am deleting a couple of these. 

 

1. My plans for December.  December brings the last couple of weeks of

school before Christmas Break.  We do our gingerbread man cookies and smells 

units, so lots of cookie making at school.  We also did Secret Santa, so lots of

fun shopping for pals and family in November/December also.  We also have

Christmas parties with family and work.  It is fun.

2. How energized I feel at this point in the year.  I feel better now that we have 

started Christmas Break and Christmas shopping is done.  Now to cook things

for Christmas dinner.  I get stressed when school is in session.  So much 

planning happens for teachers and so much extra in December with report cards too.

3. The best things about the holiday season.   the celebration with friends and family.

4. Something that changed my perspective on life a sermon I heard at church about 

letting go of anger.  It only hurts you.  I pretty much don't care what anyone thinks now.

I think that comes with age too.

5. What I seem to get the most comments about.  I get a lot of comments about

my hair.  It is a time of straight hair and mine is naturally curly.  People have 

nice comments about it, I think because it is different.

6. The changes I’ve made to my style.  I wear things that are comfortable now.

I would wear lots of different shoes when I was young and I just don't mess with

that now.

7. What gets in the way of my success.  myself

10. My relationship with spirituality -I am a Christian...I believe in Jesus.

13. The odd/weird things I do when nobody else is around.  the same odd/weird things

I do when people ARE around....read, write, mess around on my computer or phone.

Lately it has been cooking.

14. What I do when I can’t sleep.  I take Melatonin

15. The winter/holiday season tasks I enjoy.  Cooking, eating yummy things,

 watching the snow.

Saturday 9: The Christmas Song

 

The Christmas Song

Saturday 9: The Christmas Song (1964)

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

 
1) While this song was published as "The Christmas Song," many people refer to it as "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire." Have you ever roasted chestnuts (in an open fire or in the oven)?  No, I am not sure I have ever eaten them at all.

2) Ricky Nelson sings that turkey helps make the season bright. Many of us just had turkey last month for Thanksgiving. Do you enjoy turkey all year around? Or do you consider it a seasonal dish?  We have eaten turkey during the year, but it isn't quite the same as at Thanksgiving.  I do eat turkey sandwiches though during the year.  We usually have ham at Christmas.  I think we are doing something different this year, still not sure what.

3) He wishes "Merry Christmas" to kids from 1 to 92. Who is the youngest person you will celebrate the holidays with? Who is the oldest?  My Great Niece, she is about 6 years old and my mom is oldest at 79.

 

4) "The Christmas Song" is a perennial favorite and gets lots of play this time of year. Is there a holiday song that you think is overplayed, and that you hope to not hear again (at least not until December 2023)?  I am over All I Want for Christmas is you.

5) This version of the song is from The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, the sitcom that ran from 1952 to 1966. There were 435 episodes in all. Is there a series whose every episode you've seen?  Friends and ER and probably a few on now...only because it doesn't seem like many shows stay on very long anymore.

 

6) Life magazine coined the phrase "teen idol" to describe Ricky's popularity. In your younger days, did you have a crush on a teen idol?  Michael J. Fox and Keifer Sutherland...I don't know if they were teen idols or not, but they were my teen crushes.

 

7) Do you have a funny/ugly holiday sweater?  no, I need to get one though.

 

8) Have you received many holiday cards this year? Did you send many?  not very many, just from people at work.  I actually did not send any out this year.  I thought I had bought some last year and it was two years ago, so by the time I went to get them and saw I was almost out, it was a little late.  I will try again next year.  I will go order some soon.

9) If you were Santa, what cookie would you like kids to leave for you on Christmas Eve?  Sugar cookies with frosting

Saturday 9: Just Because

 

Just Because

 
Saturday 9: Just Because (1956)

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

1) In this week's song, Elvis complains that his girl has confused him with Santa Claus. This time of year, Santa is prominent. Did you more recently hear Santa referred to in a song, see him in a holiday decoration or ad, watch him in a film or TV show, or maybe even met him in person, ringing a bell or asking kids if they have been naughty or nice?  I played a Santa song for the kids at school today (filling this out on Thursday).  We have Santa and Mrs. Calus coming to visit next week too.

2) Finally Elvis just can't take it anymore and breaks up with her, just because. Is there anyone in your life who has a way of pressing your buttons and getting on your nerves?  Sometimes...not all of the time anymore...Karl's family can get on my nerves.

3) "Just Because" is one of the last songs Elvis recorded at Sun Studio in Memphis. TripAdvisor recommends a Sun Studio tour as one of the top things to do in Memphis. Have you ever been to Memphis? If yes, what did you do?  I have only driven through Memphis on our way to Orange Beach, AL.  Josh wants to go to Memphis though and do that Sun Studio tour.

4) Elvis left Sun for RCA, a much bigger record label. As part of the deal, RCA negotiated for the rights to all his unreleased Sun songs. "Just Because" is one of them, and it was included on Elvis' first RCA album. Have you gotten a good deal on anything lately?  We are doing Secret Santa at school and I was able to get my co-workers some fuzzy socks for less than $2 a pair from Kohl's.  I also bought some Yoga pants from Kohl's for myself and some new shoes for half off.  I got all of these things during Black Friday.  I got more than fuzzy socks for my co-workers, they are also getting Bath and Body goodies and candles.

5) In 1956, when "Just Because" was released, non-stick cookware was first introduced. Do you have any Teflon in your kitchen right now?  We are trying to replace all of the teflon.  We had heard it was really bad for you and it gets in your food and then into your body.  They say it is safe now...but who knows.  We probably do have some in the kitchen somewhere though.

6) Elvis thought peacocks were beautiful and commissioned stained glass peacock panels for his living room. Do you have any stained glass in your home?  no, but I wish I did.  I love stained glass.

7) He tried to keep peacocks at Graceland. One of the birds saw its reflection in Elvis' gold Cadillac and started pecking, ruining the car's expensive paint job. Elvis donated the peacocks to the Memphis Zoo. Have you ever had a bird as a pet?  I have!  I had a parakeet when I was in middle and high school.  He was blue and gray and talked.  His name was Pretty Boy (my mom named him).

8) Elvis decorated the long Graceland driveway for the holidays with blue lights. His father teased that with the airport nearby, pilots might confuse their driveway with a runway. What airport is nearest your home?  We have Springfield Regional Airport and Springfield/Branson airport near us.  They are both small, so not noisy here.  They are both about 30 minutes away.

9) When Elvis was alive, he kept the holiday lights up until January 9, the day after his birthday. That tradition continues at Graceland today. Conventional etiquette tells us Christmas decorations should go up the day after Thanksgiving and come down before January 6 (the 12th day of Christmas). Do you think it's ever too early, or too late, for Christmas decorations?  We always did the day after Thanksgiving and down on January 1st when I was a kid.  Now, Karl and I do decorations outside on Veteran's Day because he is off that day.  We do the inside the day after Thanksgiving usually, but this year we were able to decorate on Thanksgiving Day.  I love Christmas decorations, so I do not think it is ever too early.