Saturday 9- She works hard for the money

She Works Hard for the Money

She Works Hard for the Money (1983) 

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

1) This song is about a woman who works hard as a waitress. What's the hardest job you've ever had?  I guess teaching.  I love it though.  You have to teach to many diverse learners and that is not as easy as it sounds when you are teaching several children.  You also work with with many families.  It is a very rewarding job, but not easy.  Sometimes it is heartbreaking.

2) The lyrics tell us she has worked at this job for 28 years. What's the longest you stayed with one employer? 11 years

3) Donna Summer was inspired to write this song during an awards show. She ducked into the bathroom and met the elderly ladies' room attendant, whose job it was to make sure the room the spotless, the complimentary hairspray and moisturizer was abundant, and there was a hot towel for every celebrity who used the facilities. "Wow," Donna thought, "she works hard for those tips." Who is the last person you tipped?   It was a waitress at my son's birthday dinner.

4) Early in her career, Donna was in the touring company of the musical Hair. It played in Munich for so long that she became fluent in German. What's the longest you have ever lived away from home?  Like from my parents?  30 years.  I went to college (lived in that town 6 years,..Joplin, mo) and never really moved back home with  my parents.  Then moved to Kansas City, MO then back to Springfield, MO.  I do visit my mom every Friday now though. 
 

5) Sam's dad is naturally outgoing and enjoys striking up conversations with waitresses, librarians, the checker at the supermarket, etc. Sam is always polite but more private. Are you more like father or daughter?  daughter.  I do not give information easily and I am not chatty with people usually until I get to know someone.  I guess I am more private too.

6) A little more than 10% of the American workforce is self-employed. Have you ever been your own boss?  no

7) Labor Day weekend may offer a golden opportunity for napping and sleeping in. Do you snore?  I never did when I was younger, but I think I do now, I have gained weight and I am sure that is the reason.

8) Will you be attending a Labor Day picnic or barbecue? no

9) Labor Day traditionally marks the beginning of the fall. Will you be adding any new fall clothes to your wardrobe?  not just yet.  It is still really hot here.  My fall/winter wardrobe is always in my closet ready to go though.

this book!

Josh's medicine arrived on Tuesday and he started taking it that day too.  It has been 5 days and so far so good, but it is really too early to tell how he will do, but I will keep you posted.
I do not even think I mentioned this with everything else going on, but Karl quit his job a couple of weeks ago.  There was not going to be much work with the company he has been working for and so he decided it was time for a change.  He got a new job...still doing commercial construction, but with a different company and he started on Thursday.  He likes it so far.  He feels like it will be a more stable position with fewer layoffs and maybe not being sent away from home so much.  We are trying to both be here for Josh and the next job they were planning for him was far enough away that he would have to stay in a motel all week and only be home on weekends.  This change will be much better for Josh.

The school nurse (Sherry) was talking to me this week, I mean I talk to her every morning, it is part of my routine, but she offered to let me read her book.  It is pictured over on the left.  It was written by our Pastor's wife Debbie and I absolutely love it.  It is about everything.  Prayer, faith, friendship, hope...and on and on.  Debbie tells stories from her life.  It has been such a blessing to read it.  I am almost finished reading it and there is a list of other friends at the school that want to read it too, so I will get it back to Sherry so she can pass it on to the next on the list.

I had my mammogram this week.  I was so scared and I had always been told it would hurt.  It did not hurt at all and everything was fine.  The results were normal.  I was happy about that.  Thank-you God!

My co-workers and I went to our training on Friday, it was in Lebanon if you are familiar with the area, that is 90 minutes from Reeds Spring where we started.  I got up at 3:15AM to get ready for the day and met my co-workers at 5:45AM and we headed that way.  The training was good.  We got back at 5:00 PM.  It was a long day.  We do have one more day of it...on this Friday we go back to finish up our training.  Anyway, this picture is of me and Kris...I am on the left.  We work together a lot and I just love her.  There were 5 of us that went though and I enjoy all of those girls too.  We had fun talking on the way up and back.
This week should be more calm.  I only have that training on Friday and the other days will be just normal work days.  I will keep you posted on Josh.  Have a nice week!

Sunday Stealing- Misc. Quesions

1. How has your life most benefited from the Internet? Whether it’s meeting people, cutting business overhead, finding rare collectibles, or simply sharing funny cat pictures, share how the web has made life easier.  I am able to keep in touch with people I would otherwise not have any contact with and also meet new and exciting people from all over the world.  I enjoy watching YouTube and learning make-up tricks and I also do a lot of research, I am always looking something up and learning something new.  I love to shop online and look up recipes.  I also get lesson plan ideas from Pinterest.  So many things.

2. The getaway car is waiting outside – where is it taking you?  Orange Beach, Alabama, that was my favorite vacation and I would love to go back.

3. Do you reply to comments on your blog? All of them? Or just the really interesting ones?  Do you go back to check if the authors or the blogs you comment on reply to your comments?  I do not usually comment back because I assume no one pays any attention.  I have gone back in the past to see if there are follow up comments, but not often.

4. On average, how long does it take you to make an important decision?  It depends, I do not rush into things, I pray about things carefully and then make a decision.

5. Do you gather a lot of information prior to making the decision, or do you go with your gut in the heat of the moment? uh...just answered that...I take my time.

6. What’s the most important thing you’ve learned recently? The latest thing I have researched was about a medication my son is taking.  I was curious how long it could take to start helping him and what the side effects were.

7. What’s your hidden talent? Are you double-jointed? Can you sneeze the alphabet? Share your unique skill.  If I have a unique skill, I must not think it is very unique because nothing is coming to mind.

8. Rate the level of intensity you have about wanting to know God – no desire, low priority, curious, great desire, high priority, desperate to learn more. Explain your answer.  high priority.  I want to know as much about God as I can.  He is part of my life.

9. What’s one of your nicknames?  How did you get that nickname? The kids at the preschool come up with all kinds of names for me...they do their best, they have speech problems, and they are just young, but I have been called Ray Ray and Becky...Becky is a joke...the teachers call me Becky.  My dad called me Sapphire when I was young, it is my birthstone.

10. What do you have to have with you when you travel? Why?  My phone I guess, I always want to have pictures to remember my time somewhere. 

11. What do you think about reading books on an electronic reading device? Do you have an electronic reading device? Do you love it? Why? If you don’t love it, why not?  I am old school and prefer holding a book in my hands, but I have read a book on a device.  I did not love it.  It kind of hurts my eyes, I just like holding a book and smelling the pages of a book...old school.

12. Do you prefer writing on paper or a keyboard? Why?  I took classes a few years back and I would always write my papers out and then type them.  I type now only if I am doing a paper.  However, I do have a penpal, I do love to write letters and send them and I also like to write in my journal as well as blog online.
13. If the shoes make the man (or woman), what do your shoes say about you right now? (Assuming you’re wearing shoes. Although if you’re not, that certainly says something, too.)  I am wearing tennis shoes, they are saying I want to be comfortable.

14. Describe your favorite pair of shoes.  Saucony tennis shoes.  I just like to be comfortable.

15. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained one ability or quality, what would it be?  Be more articulate.  I feel like I can write ok, but I try to talk too fast sometimes and stumble over my words.  It makes me feel very insecure.

Saturday 9- Think

 

Think

Think (1968)
Unfamiliar with this week's song. Hear it here.
In fond remembrance of The Queen of Soul (1942-2018).
 
1) As befits one of America's premiere artists, Aretha Franklin sang at three Presidential inaugurations. The first was Jimmy Carter's in 1977, when she sang "God Bless America." What's your favorite patriotic song?  "The Star Spangled Banner"...there is just something comforting about that song to me.

2) The daughter of a Baptist minister, Aretha grew up with church music. She told Rolling Stone one of her favorite songs was the hymn, "Victory Is Mine." What's your favorite religious song?  "How Great Thou Art", it makes me cry every time I hear it.  The Elvis version specifically makes me cry.

3) She welled up a bit when President George H. W. Bush presented her with the nation's highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005. When is the last time you shed a tear?  I cry at silly times, so probably during a movie or something, I can't remember.  I also cry when I am mad, but I haven't been that mad in a while.


4) In 1980, the Queen of Soul sang for the Queen of England in a Command Performance at The Royal Albert Hall. Have you ever been to London?  no, but I would love to go!

5) Since Aretha had many honorary degrees, it would have been appropriate to refer to her as Dr. Franklin. Who is the last person you referred to by his or her title (Officer, Father, Sgt., Dr., etc.)?  probably my chiropractor, he was the most recent doctor I saw and I saw a lot over the summer.   I try to get them out of the way, so I do not have to take off work.

6)  In this week's song, Aretha tells her lover that it doesn't take a high IQ to understand what's going on in their relationship. Do you know your IQ?  I actually do.

7) A sculpture of Aretha is on display at Madame Tussaud's in New York. Do you think wax museums are cool, or creepy? I have never been to a wax museum, but I would think cool.

8) Aretha and Motown legend Smokey Robinson were literally lifelong friends, since they were playground buddies in Detroit. Smokey is one of the only people who can claim to have seen The Queen of Soul with a bucket in a sandbox. If we went to the playground today, would you head for the swings, the slide or the jungle gym? Or, like Aretha, would you play in the sand?  swings!  I teach preschool and I still love the swings!  They were always my favorite as a kid.  I do not like to go high now though, it makes me dizzy.

9) Random question: Do you like pumpkin seeds?  This is crazy, but I have only had them once, but yes...I do like them!

medication update

The first week of school went good.  We have some really fun kids and I am hoping for another really good year.  It was good to see my co-workers and it has been nice to get back into the routine of work.
Josh was able to contact his doctor last week and his doctor decided to change his medication since it hasn't really been helping him much, I think I have mentioned it before...but because of our prescription insurance we have to get our prescriptions filled in St. Louis which is hours away.  It comes in the mail.  Anyway, all of that to say we still do not have his new medication, but I am expecting it early this week.  I hope it helps him to feel better.
Josh did start counseling on Friday.  He went back by himself and he hasn't really had much to say about it, but I hope it helps him.  He will go every two weeks, but we have to wait until they could get him in their regular schedule to start sessions which is early October.  I went to work after counseling and then after school I went to see my mom.  We visited for several hours and then I came home.
This week I have my mammogram...which was the only thing I was not able to get in over the summer, so this should be the last thing for me.  That is Thursday and then Friday some of my co-workers and I are going to some professional development training.  It is almost 2 hours away.  It will be a long day and we have to do it two Fridays in a row.  It is curriculum training.
I hope the week goes good.  Have a nice week!

Sunday Stealing- ID Questions

1: 3 Fears:  snakes, mice and heights
2: 3 things I love:  family, God, children
3: 4 turns on:  kind, clean, godly, good heart
4: 4 turns off:  smoking, drugs, drinking, foul language
5: My best friend:  my mom
6: My favorite book:  The Great Gatsby
7: My best first date:  date to the theater to see Carousel
8: How tall am I:  5'4
9: What do I miss:  I miss visiting with my dad and my Granie and Papa Oslin, they have passed away now.
10: What time were I born:  3:40PM
11: Favorite color:  red
12: Do I have a crush:  I am married, so my husband.
13: Favorite quote:  *“If a child can't learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way
they learn.” - Ignacio Estrada *
14: Favorite place:  Orange Beach, Alabama
15: Favorite food:  Mexican
16: Do I use sarcasm:  not that often
17: What am I listening to right now:  the dryer
18: First thing I notice in new person:  personality
19: Eye color:  green
20: Hair color:  brown

 

Saturday 9- It's a Jungle Out There

It's a Jungle Out There

Welcome to Saturday 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme! 

Saturday 9: It's a Jungle Out There (Theme from Monk) (2003)

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

1) This week's song is the theme from the detective show that ran from 2002-2009. Were you a fan?  Oh YES!!!!  I LOVED this show and hated when it went off.  I recently saw a rerun and it made me just as happy to see it as it did when it was on tv many years ago.

2) The song warns us about the air we breathe and the water we drink. Does your home have an air or water filter?  no, I live in the country so the air is really clean and the town we live in has good water.  It has been tested and it is good right out of the tap.

3) The lyrics say, "People say I'm crazy to worry all the time." Are you a worrier? Or do you just take things as they come?  I worry about some things like my son, but overall I would say no I do not worry about things that do not matter.

4) TV's Adrian Monk is known for his outstanding deductive powers, an homage to Sherlock Holmes. Have you read any of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's books featuring Sherlock Holmes?  no

5) Monk was also known for fastidiousness and precision, an homage to Hercule Poirot. Have you read any of Agatha Christie's books featuring Poirot?  no, I really wish I had.  I love Agatha Christie

6) This song was written and performed by Grammy and Emmy winner Randy Newman. Do you have any trophies or plaques? no, not that I can think of.

7) Before winning an Oscar in 2001, Mr. Newman had the distinction of having the most nominations (15) without a win. Do you consider yourself a graceful loser?  for sure!  I do not mind losing at all. 

8) In 2003, when this song was introduced, Lance Armstrong won his fifth Tour de France. Later, he was disgraced in a doping scandal. Can you think of a time when a hero disappointed you?  Several years ago I got caught up in watching Mark McGwire hit home runs for the St. Louis Cardinals.  He is actually probably why I am such a big fan, but a few years later everyone found out he and many other players were taking steroids.  That was a little disappointing I guess, but maybe not a huge surprise?


9) Random question -- We're catering lunch. Should we put you down for a burger or a taco?  burger