Sunday Stealing- Blabbermouth

Blabbermouth

                                        

1. January usually has ample amounts of snowfall in parts of

the world.  Did you ever make snow cream as a kid?  I

think it is the same thing, we call it snow ice-cream here

in Missouri and yes, I have made it and had it as a kid also.

It tastes like homemade ice-cream. So good!

2. January is one of the months with 31 days. What are you going

to do with that extra day?  I will be off work.  I have a dentist

appointment on Monday, but I will also relax and do some

training for work.

3. In medieval times superstition dictated that the 1st day of January

was significant for prosperity, or lack of it, in a person's life. Farmers

put a flat cake on the horns of a cow and they danced and sang 

songs around the cow until the cake was thrown to the ground. 

If it fell in front of the cow that meant good luck; it if fell behind the

cow that meant bad luck for the rest of the year. Do you have strange

New Year customs in your household?  no

4. On January 14, 1986 motorists were required for the first time

to wear seat belts? Do you always buckle up? Why or why not?  I 

turned 16 about that time, so it has always been the law since I

have been driving, so yes, I always buckle up to stay safer and to

not get a ticket.

5. Have you ever blabbermouthed something to a significant other that

in hindsight you really should have kept to yourself?  I do not tell

my husband anything I do not want repeated to his family.  

6. Have you ever written anything on your blog that you wish you

could take back?  Not really, it is my blog and I write what I want to.

I am careful though.  I do not like to post things that would be 

offensive because that is not my nature to upset people.  I am known

to start a thought about something and delete it before I post it.

7. Are you the blabber or the blabbee? Tell us your most 

embarrassing blabbermouth moment.  I try really hard not

to do this.

8. Who is the biggest blabbermouth tattletale in your household?

That is easy...my husband.  I am not that talkative and so I do not

spread gossip or talk about much.  I talk most with Josh and my 

mom.  Like I said, if you tell my husband anything...expect it to

be told to his family and they will share with everyone they know.

9. You are the Blog Paparazzi! Which blogger's real photograph

are you most interested in getting?  We have done this before.  Many

of us have pictures posted, so I will go with Gal.  I respect anyone

that wishes to remain anonymous online though.

10. If you could hire the loudest and most skilled blabbermouth in

the universe to do your talking for you and advertise it well, what 

message would you like to spread to humanity?  Respect that we all

have different opinions.  We are not all meant to think the same exact 

thing and we need to learn from one another.

11. Are you always on time or just a tad late?  I am always a tad

bit early.

12. Is there someone in your life that irritates you regularly about not 

being on time?  She is not as bad as she used to be, but I have

one sister-in law that runs late to everything.  She told me on

vacation that she does not like to feel rushed.  I plan to get ready,

so I do not feel rushed.  I feel like people that run late do not respect

other people's time.  It used to be that we would go to a family event

and we would have to wait for her to arrive to start the event, but I

got bored with her shenanigans one year and said something and they

went ahead and started the event.  I am not interested in staying a

long time because someone cannot get their act together.  Start the

event on time, she can show up when she wants and I can leave when

I want and not still be waiting for the event to begin. The rest of the

family started leaving before she arrived too, so she started showing

up more on time.  People have other things to do.  ok this probably

bothers me more than I care to think.  Oops.

13. Can you think of a time when you were late for something and it

was REALLY a big deal?  I do not run late, but I forgot about a

meeting one day.  My administrator wanted to share her notes on an 

observation she had made in my classroom.  It was a good

conversation, but I forgot and I felt horrible.  She found me and

we talked.  She was not mad at all.  I couldn't believe I forgot, 

because I was super excited to hear what she had to say.

14. If you were on your way to work and had five minutes to get there,

would you stop in the road to rescue a crossing turtle?  no, but I 

would be careful not to hit it.

15. Have you ever had to actually punch a time clock?  yep, I sure 

have.  Way back when I worked at McDonald's we had an old

time clock.  

 

Saturday 9: All of Me

 

All of Me

Saturday 9: All of Me (1932)

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

1) In this song, Louis Armstrong calls his girl "baby." What's the last endearment someone used when speaking to you?  I am not sure.  It would eb something my mom called me probably.  Maybe sweetie?

 

2) He sings that losing his love made him cry. Do you cry easily?  SOOOOO easily.  I can be very emotional at times and over silly things.

 

3) Louis was born in New Orleans, a city famous for music and cuisine. What's something you love about your home town?  It is close to the lake and amusement parks.

 
4) At age 11, Louis unwisely fired a pistol during a New Year's Eve celebration and was sentenced to 18 months in a juvenile detention facility. It was there that he met music teacher Peter Davis, who believed in Louis and taught him to play cornet and bugle. Tell us about someone who believed in you and made your life better.  I am not going to go into a huge story, but my dad always believed in me.  He always told me to "do the best you can do...that is all you can do".  It was great advice and very true.

 

5) Louis would say that arrest changed his life for the better because it was at the detention center that "me and music got married." After his release, he began playing on streetcorners, or in honkytonks ... any place he could hone his skills. What is something you have worked hard to be better at?  teaching.  I am always learning new things to be a better more effective teacher.

6) In the late 1920s, Louis led a jazz band called The Hot Five. His wife, Lil, believed he was too talented not to receive star billing. He just didn't feel ready. She went behind his back and convinced the management at Chicago's Dreamland Cafe to advertise: "The Hot Five, featuring Louis Armstrong: The World's Greatest Trumpet Player." It worked! At the end of the gig, Okeh Records signed him to a recording contract. Can you think of a time when, like Lil, you were glad you asked for forgiveness rather than permission?  no, I may have done something like that, but I cannot think of anything.  I am a rule follower, so I am not sure I would be brave enough to do something like that.

7) In 1932, the year this record was popular, the son of aviator Charles Lindbergh was kidnapped and killed. This famous case inspired Agatha Christie to write Murder on the Orient Express. Have you read the book? Seen the movie, the remake or the miniseries?  I have seen the movie.

8) Another aviator was in the news in 1932. Amelia Earhart flew 14 hours from Newfoundland to Londonderry. What is the longest flight you've ever taken?  I have never flown.  I am not scared, we just never fly anywhere, we usually drive.

9) Random question: You have the opportunity to travel safely in a time machine. Would you go back to the past, into the future, or say, "no thanks, I'll stay in 2022?"  I would not mind going into the past and spending some time with my family that has passed...my grandparents and my dad.  I would also enjoy being with little Josh again, so maybe around the year 1999 or so.  Maybe 2000.  Josh was still a happy kid at that time.  I would be afraid to go into the future.  There would be no covid either in the past.

Sunday Stealing- LEP 2

 

1. Would you rather be the guest or the host? Guest. I enjoyed being the host

when I was younger. I do host Thanksgiving and Christmas though and

I like that.

2. What do you like to wear when you feel fancy?  I never feel fancy anymore. 

If I have to dress up, I wear my jumpsuit and heels with a kimono.  That

is probably what I will wear to preschool graduation.

3. How often do you try something completely new?  not that often

4. Do you enjoy weddings?  not really.  I know that sounds bad, but just

being real.

5. Have you ever had something customized?  I do this a lot.  I have things 

for my classroom that are customized and I give Etsy gifts that are customized.

6. Do you cook spontaneously or meal plan?  I am a planner.

7. Books you like to read over and over.  I do not really read books over and

over.  I just started reading again a few years ago, so I always feel like there 

is so much for me to read for the first-time right now, I just read new to me 

stuff.  Bible is over and over and possibly a religious self-help book, but

otherwise, I am looking for new stuff to read.

8. What are you really good at?  I am too hard on myself to think I am really

good at anything.

9. Do you sleep with windows open or a fan on?  no.  I get cold easily.

10. What is the easiest recipe you know?  lasagna is pretty easy and cheesy 

burritos.  I like to make those, so they are easy for me.  You know what..

I make a lot of playdough for the kids at school.  That is really easy.

11. Are you comfortable starting conversation with strangers?  not at all

12. Do you prefer quiet, or ambient noise when you relax?  ambient noise.

13. Who is your most adventurous or exciting friend?  I think most of my 

actual "friends" are kind of reserved like me.

14. What do you eat when you can’t decide what to eat?  snacks, chips

or cookies.

15. Do you have any funny pet stories?  Yes, but I am not sure if I can

express it where it will sound funny.  When my dogs were puppies, I

was in Josh's room cleaning out his closet.  He was trying on clothes, 

so he was in there too.  We were getting all of his too small clothes out

of his closet.  ok, well we got everything bagged up and ready to donate

and I went out into the living room and Mandy and Molly were in there

with socks and underwear they had stolen off the floor from Josh's room.

Molly had a pair of underwear around her neck and as you can see below,

Mandy was running off to try to not get into trouble.  I thought it was 

hilarious.  I have a story about Meisha too that is funny.  My dogs are

characters.

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Saturday 9: I'm the Only One

 

I'm the Only One

Saturday 9: I'm the Only One (1993)

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

1) Melissa Etheridge sings this song as though her heart is breaking. What's your favorite love song? Is it about falling in love, being in love, or losing love?  I don't really have favorite love songs, but I will go with Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers.  It would fall in the being in love category.

2) "I'm the Only One" is a favorite song of American Idol contestants, having been performed four different times. If we were to have a Saturday 9 karaoke night, what song would you do?  I would need to do a duet.  I am way too shy for a solo karaoke.  My voice does not have a lot of range and I am an alto, so not sure what song would be good for me to sing.  I can harmonize though.

3) A rocker at heart, Melissa Etheridge began her career in her teen years, playing with local country groups. Which do you enjoy more: country or rock?  rock, but I enjoy both.

4) In 1985, Melissa sent a demo to Olivia Records, hoping for a record deal. She was rejected. Her debut CD was released in 1988 on the Island label and went gold. Tell us about a time you bounced back from professional adversity.  There is only one job I even cared about leaving.  It was the teaching job I had before my current job.  I was an early childhood special education teacher for an education cooperative.  We serviced special education kids from small districts and many of the kids with autism around the coop (we serviced several counties) were sent to me.  I taught at the school here where I live. I had worked for this place for 10 years and they asked me to switch schools.  This is not like...we want you to change buildings within our district, this was we want you to travel an hour away to teach in another county.  They asked people to do this all of the time.  I said no and I quit.  I had never been without a job and my heart was broken.  I often wondered if I made a mistake.  It was a very hard time for me.  I accepted a job at my current district a few months later, but for a while I was really depressed and unsure.  I now know how toxic that job was because the place I work for now is amazing and the people I work with are phenomenal.  They are great teachers to learn from and they are good friends too.  I feel like God put me in the first job to keep me close to Josh and later moved me so I could be truly happy.  It all worked out.  I have been with my district now for 7 years.

5) In her personal life, Melissa has faced major challenges, including breast cancer and the death of her son. She credits music with helping her heal emotionally. What gives you strength?  God gives me strength and so much more.

6) Melissa is a vegetarian, so her diet emphasizes plant-based foods like fruits, grains, nuts and vegetables. What was your most recent meal? Would it qualify as vegetarian?  Josh wanted McDonald's.  I had the fish sandwich, but ugh....I am not sure why he wanted McDonalds. 

7) In 1993, the year this song was popular, a massive storm dropped a record 56" of snow in Mount Le Conte, TN. Have you done much shoveling this winter?  Not too much.  We have only had two snows and I shoveled for both of them.  It was not hard.  I only shovel the sidewalk and the porch.  Our driveway is gravel, so we do not shovel it.  Snow melts fast here in Missouri.

8) One of the most popular movies of 1993 was A Few Good Men, starring Tom Cruise, Demi Moore and Jack Nicholson, who famously said, "You can't handle the truth!" What's the most recent movie you watched?  We are watching Frozen at the end of the day at school on my Disney Plus account.  I love to hear the kids sing the songs.

9) Random question: Dessert is on us! Describe your perfect ice cream sundae.   I love turtle sundaes and turtle concretes.  It is hot fudge and caramel on vanilla ice cream with whipped cream and a cherry on top.

If you visited last weekend.  I told you guys I was summoned for jury duty.  I was texted and e-mailed by the county, and I also called the jury line to make sure, but the case was settled, and I do not have to go on Monday.  I am glad.  Covid is awful here.  Many more schools closed down this week here and our school has a lot of staff out this week and we had a snow day Thursday, but so far, we are able to stay in session.  Our nurse is out this week.  This is terrible.  Then I hear how upset people are because they have no childcare.  I do not think anyone wants to be sick, but they are.  I pray every day for God to protect us from covid.

Sunday Stealing- LEP

  

                                 

1. Do you buy things when you want them or wait for sales? I typically 

wait for sales.  Many of the items I purchase will go on sale a few times 

and at least two times a year.  Unless I run out of something.  I pick a sale. 

I try to plan.

2. Do you think time moves slowly or quickly?  Just depends.  Sometimes 

time goes by so fast.  Usually when we have a lot going on or if I am off work.

It can go slow when I am in some meetings.

3. How often do you spend time alone?  Rarely.  I am ok with that though.

4. What’s something that has changed in the last month?  Here, I think schools

all have plans for having to shut down.  We never had to close last year and

neither did many of the schools here in Missouri, but we have had several to

close last week close to our district.

5. What’s the best part of your job, profession?  Being around kids.  They are

so sweet.

6. How many pens do you have?  I don't even know.  A lot.

7. What are your healthiest habits?  I wash my hands and sanitize them a lot.

8.. Do you have a favorite postage stamp?  I don't guess I have one.  I have

never thought about this.  I do enjoy Christmas stamps.

9. Who did you talk to the most this week?  My assistant Jamie, she is with me 

in my classroom much of the day.

10. What’s on your bedside table?  My alarm clock, tv remote, Vick's

and Neosporin

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11. How often do you try something new?  Not that often.  Sometimes the school

throws a curve and we have to change plans, but we are used to that by now. 

OH!  I have been summoned to jury duty again.  That is new.  That is in a 

couple of weeks.

12. What are some of your grocery list staples?  We butcher our own meat, so

vegetables, milk and eggs, pepsi, root beer, bread and snacks.

13. Do you have a favorite poet?  not really

14. What interesting fact do you know?  I think a lot of things are interesting. 

I am super interested in history of the U.S.  That is why I love historical fiction

so much.  I like reading about things that are not so well known or have been

covered up.

15. Do you fold laundry right away or do it later?  right away.

Saturday 9: Bobby's Girl

 

Bobby's Girl

Saturday 9: Bobby's Girl (1962)

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

1) In this song, Marcie Blane confesses she sits at home, hoping Bobby will call her. Do you owe anyone a phone call or email?  no, I get right back to people if I miss their calls or emails.

2) We know Marcie wants to be Bobby's Girl. Let's play the Google Game and find out what you want. Go to your favorite search engine, keystroke your name and "wants," and then search. (For example: "Samantha wants" led us to a math problem that begins: "Samantha wants to purchase a new dress ... " Crazy Sam was tempted to read on because her wardrobe could use sprucing up.) What does Google tell us you want?  Lori wants to distribute 35 peaches (also a math question).

3) This hit record was an accident. Marcie Blaine had just graduated from high school and had a few days before she had to take off for her summer job as a camp counselor. A friend asked her to record a couple songs he'd written, just so he could play them for record labels and song publishers. Her friend was hoping somehow an established star would hear the songs, record them and make one of them a hit. Instead, a producer at Seville Records said he wanted not just the songs but especially the unknown girl who was singing them, and Marcie became a recording artist. Tell us about a favor you're very glad you did for a friend.  I just wrote a letter of recommendation for a friend.  I really hope it helps her get a new job.

4) By the time summer was over, and Marcie's gig as a counselor was done, she was #3 on the charts. Her record stayed in the "Hot 100" for 19 weeks and, for the second half of 1962, she was the top-selling female singer in the US. What female singer do you listen to most often?  I don't listen to specific singers.  I usually just listen to what is on the radio.  My son would be able to answer this question.

5) After "Bobby's Girl" took off, she recorded it in German for the European market. Only she didn't speak German, so she sang it phonetically. Can you sing any songs in a language other than English?  I can sing a few Christmas carols in French, our French class in high school sang Christmas carols in French in high school in the halls.  I have also sung Latin in choir.  I have probably sung things in other languages also being in several choirs in my life.  I just can't remember.

6) Seville rushed Marcie into the studio to make more records. None of them charted higher than #68, and Marcie wasn't having fun. After a year of being a rock 'n roller, she enrolled at Queens College in New York City. What's the most recent class you took?  I am currently doing a professional development course for my job called Leters.  It is how to teach reading to kids, and it is the equivalent of a master's class.  I will be paid for having taken it once I am finished at the end of the school year.

7) In 1962, when this song was popular, the most popular baby names were Michael and Lisa. Are there any Michaels or Lisas in your life?  There is a Michael in the Kindergarten class next door to me.

8) Also in 1962, Marlene White, the first African American flight attendant for a major US airline, appeared on the cover of Jet magazine. What's the last magazine you flipped through? Was it in print or online?  I have magazines in my classroom I have on my bookshelf for kids to look at or even cut up at the art center.  It would be those that I have flipped through.

9) Random Question: After enjoying a long, relaxing weekend, do you find yourself more or less productive on Monday morning?  I work at a school that has a 4-day school week, so Monday I am not very productive, but on Tuesday, I am very productive, and I stay that way the rest of the week.  I have a lot to fit in in 4 days.

Tuesday 4 Meme- True Crime and Mystery

 

                True Crime and Mystery

 Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4 where we try to give you topics to discuss each week. Hopefully it helps with your blogging, gives a bit of fun and helps you meet new friends.

This week we are talking about true crime and mystery.  I think this week's question might need some thinking cap time!

1. Was there a notorious crime in the news that caught your attention or interest? Did you follow that case to it's conclusion?  If there was no solution, do you pay attention to news about the case long after? (for instance the Lindbergh kidnapping case.. Patty Hearst, etc., )  I always wondered what happened to JonBenet Ramsey.  I don't really pay attention to the case anymore, just why someone would want to kill her?  There are a lot of cases like that I just do not understand.  Click the picture to read the latest:

2.Does the mystery genre of literature and movies interest you?  Does any one book ,series or movie stand out for you?  I love mystery movies and I love Agatha Christie books and movies, but I am not typically a fan of reading mysteries.  I like a psychological thriller, but not a mystery.

3.  Ever play Clue or any one of the new mystery games available?  Do you enjoy solving mysteries or puzzles?  I have played Clue.  I enjoyed that when I was young.

4. Some towns are known for mysteries that took place there.  Do you have something like that in your town or state?  If not.. how about telling us about something that has always puzzled you!  There are a couple of cases from close to my house that had me wondering.  The biggest case was of the Springfield Three.  The two girls had just graduated high school in 1992 and went missing along with the mom of one of the girls.  It is a huge case here and they have no idea where the girls are.  It is believed they are dead, but they have not found them.  I had just graduated college when they went missing, so I think that is why I remember the case so much.  They weren't that much younger than me.  They had many leads but were never able to quite figure out who was responsible.  I do keep up with the cases close to my home.  You can click on the picture to learn more.