Saturday 9: Keep Me Warm

 

Saturday 9: Keep Me Warm (2014)

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

Here's our first Saturday 9 of 2020!

1) Are you feeling warm and cozy as you answer these questions? Yes, I am!

2) This time of year is important to college football fans. Are you watching/have you watched any of the Bowl games this year?  no, not into it this year.

3) Crazy Sam's been cold/flu free so far this winter and credits the Echinacea she takes every morning. Her brother insists she's wasting her money. Do you take any herbal supplements?  no

4) In the video for this song, Erin Bowman is singing in front of lights and ornaments. Are you sorry to see the decorations slowly disappear? Or do you think they should all come down right away?  We take our Christmas things down on New Year's Day.  I hate to see it come down, but that is my chance to clean the house really good before I head back to work.

5) She sings about socks, a scarf and a sweater. Tell us about your favorite sweater.  I have a sweater that is cream colored and it has subtle sparkles in it.  It has black sheer material at the bottom giving it a layered look...it is super cute.

6) Erin credits her 8th grade choir teacher for believing in her and giving her a solo. That helped give her the confidence to go into performing professionally. When you were in 8th grade, did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up?  no, I didn't even know what I wanted to be when I was in college much less 8th grade.  It was years before I became a teacher.  I had to go back to college.

7) This song has been used in commercials for McDonald's and Turner Classic Movies. What commercial have you seen recently? Was it on TV or online?  I am watching tv right now...commercials and all, but nothing is memorable or catching my eye.  I enjoyed the U.S. Cellular commercial over Christmas with the guy singing "switched and got a phone for free...falalalalalala...with no activation fee falalalalalalalala".

8) In 2014, when this song was first released, we lost both Joan Rivers and Robin Williams. What comedian always makes you laugh?  Kevin Hart

9) Random question -- There are two performers in the trapeze act: the one who flies through the air and the one who catches the flier. Which would you rather be?  neither.

Happy NewYear 2020!

The Christmas tree and decorations are put away and the house is cleaned and ready to go for 2020!  I am washing blankets and rugs.  I will continue to work on the house these last few days before I head back to work.  I always feel better heading back to work knowing the house is clean.  It doesn't last long, but we start fresh anyway.
Josh had counseling yesterday and then we watched the NewYear's festivities on tv.  I am always scared to get out on holidays that people are drinking.  Happy New Year 2020!

I also did my One Word for 2020.  I am going to Believe that good things will happen this year.  I know we will have hard times too, but I believe God will get us through anything that is thrown at us.

My One Word for 2020:  https://oneword365.com/

I also picked out 2 more books for this week.  I finished my books from last week and they were both fantastic!  This week I have:

I just finished Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg and it was such a nice feel good Christmas book.  I really enjoyed it.  I am on to Little Fires Everywhere now.  I hope it is good also.  One of my friends at work is going to let me borrow Where the Crawdad's Sing!  I am so excited to read that one!  

I hope you all had a nice New Year's Eve.  

Sunday Stealing- Looking Back

 

1. First things first, did you have a good year?  I think overall it was fine.  We had a lot of loss, I lost an Aunt and an Uncle as well as my heart dog, but Josh is doing a little better with his depression and we are pretty healthy.
2. If you traveled, where did you go?  We took a couple of day trips to Arkansas just to get away and have some fun.
3. Which fashion trends did you love?  I will say the jumpsuits.  I even got one for my nephew's wedding.  So cute and comfortable.
4. Which fashion trends did you hate?  Many of the bad trends do not make it to Missouri.
5. What was your favorite article of clothing this year?  I am always in jeans and a t-shirt or sweats.
6. What song sums up this year for you?  Hold on Tight- ELO
7. What was your favorite movie of the year?  We never go see movies and looking over the movies of 2019, the only one I saw was Captain Marvel.  We are so far behind.  We just rent them.
8. Did an actor/actress catch your attention for the first time this year?  no, I do not pay enough attention.  Movies do not really stick with me like books.
9. Favorite new TV show?  The Neighborhood
10. Did you make any big permanent changes this year?  I started doing all over color on my hair.  I am getting so gray!  I was just doing highlights until Thanksgiving.
11. What was one nice thing you did for yourself?  Giving myself time to relax and read!
12. Did you develop a new obsession?  Reading!
13. Did you vote?  yes
14. Did you move?  no
15. Did you get a job?  not a new job, I have a job.
16. Did you get a pet?  I still have two dogs, no new pets.
17. Do you regret not doing anything?  no, not really
18. Do you regret doing something?  no
19. Have you done anything that scared you?  probably, but nothing is coming to mind.  The stuff with Josh can be scary sometimes.
20. Did anyone/thing make you so mad it stayed with you for days?  yes, but not this year, it was many years ago.
21. Did you lose anyone close to you?  I lost my Aunt Mildred and my Uncle Alan this year as well as my dog Mandy.  Then online we all lost Toni and Marge.
22. Who was important to you this year but wasn’t important last year?  My group of friends has not changed and I cannot think of anyone that has entered my life and filled an important role unless you count online friends...I did meet Linda this year (Blogging).  
23. Who wasn’t as important to you this year as they were last year?  My friends are all important to me.
24. If you could have a do over on one thing you did, would you take it?  Not anything from 2019, but I would have taken Josh to the doctor earlier for his depression.
25. What was the best moment of the year for you?  Maybe when Josh started volunteering at the library.
26. What was the worst?  When Mandy died.
27. What are you most proud of accomplishing?  Doing everything that I have been given to do...it seems like too much sometimes, but I can do it.
28. What have you learned about yourself this year that you didn’t know in the years prior?  I am strong and I can handle a lot.
29. What do you wish for others for the coming year?  Happiness, peace, love and good health.
30. What do you wish for yourself?  same

Saturday 9: Cold as Ice

Saturday 9: Cold as Ice (1977)

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

Our last Saturday 9 of 2019. Thank you for another great year, everyone!


1) Look back on 2019 and share a happy moment. My nephew Dalton got married.  I love his new wife (Aubri), so that is definitely a happy moment.

2) As 2019 ends, are you making any New Year's resolutions for 2020?   keep reading books

3) Tell us about an obstacle or challenge you faced in 2019.   Mandy passing away was pretty hard on all of us and is still bothering Josh.  Christmas was hard for him.

4) Is it "cold as ice" outside where you are today?  Goodness no, we have been having close to 70 degree weather.

5) Foreigner is this week's featured artist. The band formed in New York City. If you were to travel to New York City, what would you be sure to see?  Statue of Liberty, One World Trade Center, Central Park.

6) The band went by the name Trigger. They changed it because their prospective record label was already auditioning a different group named Trigger. They settled on Foreigner because half the members were foreign -- from England. If you received a free, round-trip airline ticket to any foreign country, where would you go?  I would love to go so many places...maybe Italy, France or London.

7) In 1977, when this song was popular, Star Wars was breaking all box office records. The Spy Who Loved Me, a James Bond movie, was also a 1977 hit. Which film series do you prefer: Star Wars or James Bond?  Do not throw things at me, but I do not like either of these.  I have seen more Star Wars movies though.  My husband loves them both.

8) In 1977, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak incorporated Apple. Are you answering these 9 questions on an Apple product (PC, laptop, pad or phone)?  no.  Josh has the Apple technology, but Karl and I just have regular stuff.  I did get a new laptop (touchscreen) for Christmas.  It is a Dell.  My phone is a Galaxy.

9) Random question: What was the last thing you thought of as you dozed off last night?  I was probably thinking about my book.  I finished Necessary Lies and have moved on to The Woman in the Window.  It is so good!

Reading over Christmas Break

I am so excited to be on Christmas Break, because that means I can read books again!  I am currently reading Necessary Lies.  It is historical fiction. It is set in North Carolina in 1960 and it is about how Eugenics or sterilization affected so many people there and the story is about a family is happened to.  It is such a good book and I have heard the other book I have checked out is very good as well.
I made some blueberry muffins this morning, just because we are all home and I am thinking I will make the dogs some homemade dog treats.  I have not done that in a while.
I got a new laptop and it is touch screen!  I love it.  I thought my other computer was doing fine, but my word, it is so slow compared to this one.  I am enjoying that.
Here is a picture of my books.  Let me know if you have read them!

Saturday 9: Happy Holidays!

Saturday 9: Happy Holidays! (from the archives)


1. As you can see, Sam loved giving her annual wish list to Santa. Yet some children are reluctant to climb into Jolly Old St. Nick's lap. Did you enjoy the tradition or were you shy? Or did you by pass it altogether -- either because you wrote him a letter or because your family didn't celebrate Christmas?  I enjoyed Santa, but I was also shy, I do not remember getting to see Santa very often, but it may be because we lived so far away from where a Santa was.  I do remember writing letters when I was old enough.

2. Are you currently on the Naughty or Nice list? How did you get there?  Nice!  I am always on the nice list because I am a good girl.

  
3. Did you ship any gifts to friends and family this year? If so, which one traveled the farthest?  I did not ship anything.  Everything will be given in person.

4. Did you buy yourself a gift this year? yes, of course!  My husband and I do not really exchange gifts because we spend most of our money on Josh and my mom....so we each get something for ourselves.

5. What's your favorite holiday-themed movie? Have you seen it yet this year?  It's A Wonderful Life...and yes, I watched it last weekend.

6. Thinking of movies, Christmas is lucrative for Hollywood. Have you ever gone to a movie theater on Christmas Day?  I went once with my cousin when I was younger and then Karl, Josh and I tried to go several years ago, but it was too busy.  There were people everywhere.

7. Have you ever suffered an embarrassing moment at the company Christmas party?  no

8. What's your favorite beverage in cold weather? hot chocolate

9. Share a memory from last Christmas.  Last Christmas we went to Nutcracker.  We took my mom with us.  This year in January we are taking her to see Les Miserables.  She has never seen a musical, so I hope she likes it.

Saturday 9- The Christmas Song

Saturday 9: The Christmas Song (1961)

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

1) The lyrics mention "chestnuts roasting on an open fire." Do you often eat chestnuts?  Never, I have never even seen them before.  Is this a real thing? 

2) There's a reference to Jack Frost, too. Does cold weather help you get into the holiday spirit?   Yes, it does for sure.  When it is warm, it just does not seem like Christmas for me.

3) Nat sings that turkey helps to make the season bright. We just had it last month for Thanksgiving. Do you enjoy turkey all year around? Or do you consider it primarily a holiday dish?  Primarily a holiday dish, but we will have it again about one or two times (full turkey dinner) in the year.

4) This song was published as "The Christmas Song," but people often refer to it as "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" or "Merry Christmas to You." When you think of this song, which title comes to mind?  Merry Christmas to You 

5) Nat King Cole had a big hit in the 1950s with "Mona Lisa." The ballad compares an enigmatic woman to the da Vinci painting, which hangs in the Louvre. The Mona Lisa has been called the most instantly identifiable painting in the world. Can you think of another famous painting that you recognize on sight? (Extra points if you include a picture!) Water Lilies by Claude Monet used to be a favorite of mine.

 

6) Best remembered today as a singer, Cole was also an accomplished composer and jazz pianist. Do you like jazz?  just  a little, it is not my favorite.

7) The only Christmas card Sam has received so far this year is from her dentist. She never sees Dr. Douglas socially. In fact, she hasn't seen him since her annual check-up last March. Have you received many cards this year?   I have only received one so far also from a former student.

8) When did/will you start holiday shopping this year: Christmas Eve, Thanksgiving/Black Friday, Halloween? Earlier than that?  I buy Bath and Body stuff for my co-workers, so I buy it a little along all year when it is on sale.  The rest of the family we bought during Thanksgiving/Black Friday.  I just have a couple more gifts to buy.

9) This time of year is big for charitable fundraising. Here's your chance to plug a cause or organization that's near and dear to you.  We usually donate to Victory Mission, they serve the homeless food and help them with shelter, etc.  We also donate to Convoy of Hope which helps during disasters such as hurricanes and tornadoes, etc.  Then we also donate to St. Jude.