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.

Sunday Stealing is Artificial

 

Sunday Stealing is Artificial

                                    

 
Memorial Day Questions

1) What freedom are you most grateful for?  I am grateful for all of my freedoms.  They are all important.

2) What book are you currently reading?  The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden

3) What have you been listening to?  the tv-YouTube mostly

4) What shows or movies have you been watching? I have been watching the tv show Dutton Ranch and last weekend I watched a few movies, but if you read Remarkably Bright Creatures, the movie is on Netflix now and it was so good...starring Sally Field.  She was amazing.

Saturday 9: Soldier

 

Soldier

Saturday 9: Soldier (2016)

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

Memorial Day is a federal holiday that honors men and women who served and died in the United States Armed Forces. We want to make sure that message is not lost this weekend.

1) Are you a veteran? Are there veterans in your family? Do you know anyone who is active military? We are grateful and want to hear about it.  My mom's dad (my Grandpa- Carl Oslin) was in WWII...stationed in Germany.  My Uncle (My dad's brother- Gary Burkett) was killed in Vietnam.  My nephew Brian is active military and flies Blackhawk helicopters now and also works on them.  He just went through training to learn to fly not long ago.  He has been in the military a while though as a mechanic.

2) This song is about the courage it takes for soldiers to march into battle. Gen. Patton said, "The soldier is the Army. No army is better than its soldiers." He was emphasizing that each individual's dedication is essential to the unit's success. Do you work well as part of a team? Or are you better on your own?  I used to like to work alone, but now I like to work as a team.  Teamwork makes the dreamwork.  We get so much done as a team and it is less work on me.

 

3) As of 2025, California is the state with the most military bases. Have you ever visited or lived on a base?  We have Ft. Leonard Wood not far from where I live and when I was in college, I dated a guy that his family lived near it and we went to the base one time I was visiting.  My husband has worked some at that same base building a hospital.  He does commercial constructuion.

 

4) At the turn of the of the 20th century, wristwatches were considered non-essential jewelry items, with pocket watches preferred for everyday timekeeping. During WWI, soldiers in the trenches needed to both synchronize actions across the battlefield and keep their hands on their weapons, so the wristwatch went from "fashion item" to "standard issue." Do you often wear a watch, or do you depend on your phone for the time?  I wear a watch.  My phone is big and I do not carry it around with me at work.

 

5) Jeeps were originated by the US Army during WWII. Back then they were specifically for soldiers deployed to the European Theater, today there are more than 18 million Jeep-branded vehicles on the road all over the world. Have you ever driven a Jeep?  no, but I have had rides in them.  I have a lot of friends that drive them.

 

6) While Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses are a timeless symbol of cool, they were designed during WWII for a specific purpose: to give American flyers relief from glare at high altitudes. Tell us about your sunglasses.  My sunglasses look like dark brown cheetah print and they have prescription in them so I can see.

 
7) Memorial Day kicks off the summer season. What's your favorite picnic food?  My mom used to make fried chicken, potato salad, baked beans, rolls and drinks and we would go to the lake for a picnic.  I have not been on an actual picnic in a while.  We mostly grill burgers/hot dogs and steak here at the house.


8) This marks the weekend when Americans traditionally step up their outdoor activity and do things they may not have been able to do during the cold winter months. For example, when is the last time you worked in the garden or tended the lawn?  Mother's Day weekend I planted flowers in our yard.

9) As you answer these questions, is there an air conditioner or fan on? no, it is cold today.  I have the heat on.

Sunday Stealing Makes You Choose

 

Sunday Stealing Makes You Choose

                                              


Which one?

1. Pepsi or Coke?  Pepsi!

2. Cappuccino or coffee?  Neither, I don't drink coffee.

3. Chocolate or vanilla?  depends on what it is...ice cream-vanilla, shakes-chocolate, cake-chocolate

4. Hot tea or iced tea? iced sweet tea

5. Dinner for two or a party?  dinner for two

Saturday 9: Fun, Fun, Fun

 

Saturday 9: Fun, Fun, Fun (1964)

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

1) This song is about a girl who borrows her father's Ford Thunderbird. When is the last time you drove someone else's car?  Last year we had bad hail and my brand-new car had to go in the shop with hail damage.  I drove my mom's car while it was getting fixed.

2) The teen in question is well known for ability to drive "like an ace." If we were to ask your high school classmates what they remember most about you, what do you think they'd say?  I really don't know.  It would depend on who you asked.  I think my good friends from high school would remember all of the good times we had together.  We were good kids.  We never got into trouble.  I think overall most people would remember me as Coach Burkett's daughter.  My dad was a football coach and high school typing teacher.  He was a very popular teacher.  He is in the school sports hall of fame.

3) She told her father she needed the car to go to the library but used it instead to meet friends. Can you recall a time your parents caught you in a fib?  When I was home from college they got mad at me a lot because I would come home late.  I was honestly usually with my friend Debi.  Sometimes we were drinking and sometimes we were just eating ice cream and having fun.

4) For this girl and her friends, fun centered on cars and fast food. What did you and your friends do for fun during your teen years?  I live in a tourist town, so we would go to Branson and play tourist.  We would also go to Springfield to the mall and hang out.  I live close to a lake too, so we spent a lot of time boating on the lake.

5) Legend has it songwriters Brian Wilson and Mike Love got the idea for this song from a Salt Lake City disc jockey. He told them he'd lent his T-bird to his daughter so she could go to class at the community college but discovered her deception when the car was ticketed in front of a fast food restaurant. Can you think of another song inspired by true events? Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton.

 
6) As in the song, the disc jockey punished his daughter by taking her driving privileges away. Were your parents strict when you were growing up?  Oh goodness yes!  I appreciate that now though.

7) This song was recorded on January 1, 1964. The Beach Boys had to work on the holiday because they were under pressure to meet a February release date. How did you spend New Year's Day 2026?  I am pretty sure we took down the Christmas decorations, and I cleaned house getting it ready for the New Year!

 
8) 1964 was a great year for Capitol Records. They had chart-topping hits by the Beach Boys, Barbra Streisand and, most spectacularly, The Beatles. The Capitol Records Building in Los Angeles is considered iconic and it's a stop on tourist bus tours. Have you ever been to Southern California? If yes, what did you do?  no

 
9) Random question: What's the last compliment you received?  I am wearing a t-shirt today (Friday) that says "It is a good day to teach tiny humans".  After school one of my co-workers told me they really liked my shirt.

Sunday Stealing -- Thunking

 

Sunday Stealing -- Thunking

                                           



Thursday Thunks

1. Is there anyone whose home you enter without knocking? Does anyone (who doesn't live with you) have permission to enter your home without knocking?  I went into my mom and dad's house without knocking and we go into Karl's mom and dad's house without knocking.  No one ever comes in our house without knocking.  My doors are always locked though.

2. Tell us about a school trip you took.  I took my pre-K class on a field trip on Friday to a place called Rise Play Park indoor playground.  They have a giant pirate ship you can slide down a slide from it and dress like a pirate, there is a pizza restaurant room, an ice cream room, grocery store, playdough, manipulatives, vet office.  These are all little rooms with kid toys in them.  I had the most fun playing with the kids in the pizza room watching them put together pizza, sandwiches and cooking for me, the parents and other kids.

3. Name three things within arm's reach right now (but they can't relate to your phone, computer or laptop).  Water, a cookie, tv remote.

4. Weather permitting, do you dry your clothes outdoors on a clothesline?  no

5. If every flower in the world only bloomed in one color, what color would you like to see?  What an awful thought.  I guess red.  It is a bright happy color.  I am planning on red, white and blue flowers for the 250th birthday of our country.

Saturday 9: Like My Mother Does

                            

Saturday 9: Like My Mother Does (2011)

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

1) In this song, Lauren Alaina tells us she knows she's beautiful and strong because she sees herself as her mother does. Who in your life consistently sees the best in you?  My mom

 

2) She sings that her mother is her "rock." In this context, what do you think that means?   her strength

 

3) When Lauren performed this song in concert, she brought her mother Kristy up on stage and held her hand as she sang. Kristy said she was touched, but also embarrassed because her daughter was the entertainer, not her. Do you get shy when all eyes turn to you?  Oh yes.  I am good in front of my students, but not a room of my peers.

 

4) Lauren began reading in pre-school and always read well above grade level. As a child, were you a big reader? Are you a big reader today?  I was not a big reader as a kid, but I am a big reader now.  In fact, I have put a lot of books on hold for the summer.  I am ready!  2 more weeks.

   

5) According to the National Restaurant Association, we like to eat out on Mother's Day, and brunch is especially popular. If you could have whatever you want for brunch, what would you order?  I am in the mood for pancakes right now.  We usually eat eggs though.

6) Mother's Day is the third biggest card-sending holiday in the US, just after Christmas and Valentine's Day. Who received the last card you purchased?  I bought some thank you cards for teacher appreciation week, so several different parents got those this week.

 

7) While flowers are the most popular Mother's Day gift, jewelry comes in second. Are you wearing any jewelry as you answer these questions? If yes, did you receive it as a gift or buy it yourself? I have removed all of my jewelry for the day.

 

8) According to the National Retail Federation, more and more of us are celebrating our mothers by taking her to a paint and sip event, a pottery class, or candle or soap making. Which of those four options do you think you'd enjoy the most?  I love candles so much, I think I would enjoy that the most.

9) While there's a spike in phone traffic on Mother's Day, these days it seems the trend is texting. On holidays, do you receive more calls or texts?  texts

Tuesday 4 Meme- Hello May!

 

Hello May!

Welcome friends!
This weeks Tuesday 4 in memory of our friend Toni Taddeo is from Mary who blogs at Visits With Mary. and it's all about the month of May. Thanks Mary!


1. May’s First Glimpse — What is the very first thing you notice or feel when May arrives each year?

I get excited for warmer weather.  This year has been warm already though.


2. Simple May Joys — What small pleasures do you look forward to in May — flowers, breezes, routines, or traditions?  Decorating with flowers around my yard.  They make the lawn look so nice.


3. May Memories — Do you have a favorite May memory from childhood, family life, or recent years?  My anniversary is May 10th, so I look forward to that every year.  This year will be 29 years.


4. May Intentions — What gentle goals or hopes do you carry into this new month?  School will be out for summer in 3 weeks!  I am ready to sleep past 5:00AM and read some books, visit my mom more.  I really want to start walking again on my treadmill.  I want to start off slow.