Sunday Stealing: When You Need a Break

Welcome to Sunday Stealing. Here we will steal all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent questions. Cheers to all of us thieves!

This week's meme is inspired by Christina at Call Me Patsy, who turned to answering these questions when she felt frustrated by a project she was working on.

Questions to Answer when You Need a Break 

1. What would you rather be doing right now?  Just about anything other than sleeping. I've had a cold or some bug all weekend and nearly all I've done is sleep. There was so much I wanted to get done, not the least of which, was packing up the Christmas decorations for another year.

2. What is always on your grocery list?  Diet Coke, orange juice, eggs, and some kind of bread are the top items and always present on the shopping list.

3. Have you ever used a fire extinguisher for its intended purpose?  No, thank goodness!

4. How many times did you text yesterday?  Maybe two, because, uh, sleeping.

5. Would you prefer a slow-paced, relaxing vacation or one filled with new sights and experiences?  I would prefer a mixture of both. I want to see and do new things, but I want to have times to rest and relax, too.

Saturday 9: New Year's Day

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

Welcome to the first Saturday 9 of 2026.

 

 
1) In the lyrics, Taylor Swift promises she'll not only be there for the party, but for the clean up afterward. As we say move on from the holiday season, could your home benefit from a thorough cleaning? Yes, it could. Are you offering?

 

2) This song describes a party where guests took Polaroid pictures. Have you ever owned a Polaroid camera? Do you have one now? I had a One Step. My dad got for me the Christmas I was 13. I loved that thing. It's long gone and no, no Polaroid cameras in the house.

3) Taylor sings that we should "hold on to memories." What special memory from 2025 memory will you hang onto?  Our week long vacation with our daughter and her children.

 

4) Taylor Swift grew up on a Christmas tree farm in Pennsylvania. Have you taken your tree, or other holiday decorations, down yet? If you didn't decorate at all, let us know that, too.  No, everything is still up. I will be taking the tree and inside decorations down on Sunday. The outside things will have to wait for a thaw and/or my husband to have some time off work...whichever comes first.

5) Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announced their engagement but no wedding date has been shared. Do you anticipate attending any weddings in 2026?  No.

6) Travis' team, the Kansas City Chiefs, is currently 6-10. Not exactly the record their fans hoped for. According to a 2024 Pew research study, 53% of Americans said football is their favorite sport. Have you watched much football this season?  No. I like football, but Tim grew up in a family that didn't watch any sports and he doesn't like to watch either.

 

7) In 2017, when "New Year's Day" was released, Wonder Woman was a hit at the box office. While Wonder Woman's superhero abilities vary depending on which TV show, movie or comic book you refer to, some of her powers remain consistent: a) immense strength, b) superhuman speed, c) the ability to almost instantly recover/heal from injury. Which would you like to possess – a, b, or c?  I think I'd appreciate the ability to heal. Would that include healing arthritis?

8) Have you made any New Year's resolutions for 2026?  Nothing specific, just a general thought of being healthier.

 
9) What was the first thing to make you laugh in 2026?  My husband being goofy.

Thanks to Sam for the music and questions!

Play along here.

Saturday 9: Bye Bye Bye

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

This song was chosen because it's time to say goodbye to 2025.

Thanks for participating in Saturday 9 this year.

1) In this song, a man predicts his lover will start an argument. Is there anyone in your life who can be quarrelsome?  Yes, there are a couple who are never wrong and will argue anything and everything.

2) He says he's had it, he's checking out and signing off. Can you think of a time you were glad you walked away from something?  

I was very glad when I walked away from my job at the nursing home.

3) This week's song was performed by the band NSYNC. The group was formed in Orlando, FL, which is world famous as home to Walt Disney World. Today there are 12 Disney theme parks located around the globe. Have you ever visited one of these Magic Kingdoms?  We lived in Orlando for a couple of years when we were first married so we went to Disney World a lot. We've only been back once since we moved back north and we were a little surprised...we saw garbage, burned out lightbulbs...just little things, but back in the day you never would have seen such things. They went all in to make it a magical place.

4) They made a celebrity appearance on The Simpsons. What's your all-time favorite cartoon show? Scooby-Doo or Bugs Bunny. 

5) In 2000, the year "Bye Bye Bye" was popular, Brad Pitt was named People's Sexiest Man Alive. Are you crushing on anyone right now?  Nope

Let's look back on 2025 ...

6) What's the farthest from home you traveled in 2025?  Erie, PA, which is just a little less than 200 miles away.

7) What was the biggest purchase that you made in 2025?  Our new walk-in shower by far. The grands' jeep probably came in second.

8) What was your favorite book of 2025?  I don't know. I guess none made that big of an impression. It was a year of mostly fluffy romances.

9) What are you looking forward to most in 2026?  Getting healthier.

Currently

The day after Christmas. 

A day of pajamas and low expectations. 

Except from the cat. 

The cat expects food to be deposited in his dish...even though there is already enough food there to prevent starvation.

Christmas was good.

On Christmas Eve we had our traditional meal of take-out Chinese with my mom and stepdad. Fah-rah-rah-rah. (IYKYK)

Then I went to church with our daughter's family. The church was decorated so beautifully.

We were up early on Christmas for no particular reason. Santa spoiled us both.

Under the tree for me were new pajamas, pretty new sweaters and tops to match, a lovely scarf, and the big collection of Sharpies in all colors I wanted for crafts.

Tim found lots of new work clothes, a travel case for his pistol, and a new tablet.

We went to our daughter's for dinner. Mom and John were there, too, so it was the 8 of us around the table.

(It's still tough to accept that there should be 5 more who choose not to be here.)

More gifts, good food, and games.

The big moment came when we gave the grands their big surprise from us. 

A gas powered Army jeep.

It was Pappy's big wish to give it to them. Nanny was a little more reluctant.

The grands were a bit overwhelmed by it at first, but by the end of the afternoon they were driving it all over the place.

(Only with an adult along for the ride.)

Weather... bracing for icy weather that's supposed to be bad enough they already put restrictions on the interstates and turnpike last night and are asking people to stay home. Should be starting soon.

Reading... Second Chance Bookstore

Watching... Love, the Coopers

Thinking... about our oldest granddaughter. She turns 17 today. It's been 5 years since we've seen her. She's nearly a grown woman now, but still a little girl in our memories.

Loving... having nothing in particular to do today. The day after Christmas has always been one of my favorite days. The rush is over and it's a day to stay in your jammies, enjoy your gifts and each other, and eat leftovers.

And as my blogging friend, Linda, says..."keeping it real"... the older I get the more I fight melancholy during the holidays. I miss the ones who are gone. I miss the huge, loud, crazy family Christmases of the past. New traditions are good, but not the same.

Sigh.

Giggling...

 

Merry Christmas!

 

Saturday 9: First Christmas

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

1) The song mentions snowmen and snow on a windowpane. Has it snowed near you yet?  It sure has. We had a minor storm last week that hit right for the morning rush and created quite a mess. We got 3-4 inches of snow that time. We've had lots of flurries since then and yesterday we got about half an inch at the end of the day. Now we are gearing up for 3-5 inches and frigid temperatures starting tomorrow afternoon.

2) Diane Keaton sings that hearing "I'll Be Home for Christmas" makes her miss someone she loved who won't be coming home at all. Is there a Christmas song that reminds you of a loved one?  No, nothing specific, but like me, my dad loved Bing Crosby so any of those make me feel nostalgic.
 

3) After the song was first released for Christmas 2024, Diane said she appreciated how many people posted on her Instagram, sharing their "First Christmas journeys," explaining how they navigated the first holiday season without a special someone. What have you recently posted on social media (other than this blog post)?  A list of things I'm thankful for here on the blog and on Facebook, a photo of our Christmas lights this year.

4) Diane appeared in the Broadway musical Hair and sang in movies like Annie Hall and The First Wives Club. Still she didn't consider herself "much of a singer." How about you? What's something you do, even though you're not completely comfortable doing it?  Now and then I have to speak in front of a group and at work I'm finding that more and more I am singing, if not loud and proud, then at least audibly even though I really, really stink.

 

5) This was Diane's first and, sadly, her only record. She was nervous doing it, but it helped that the lyrics was written by her friend, Carole Bayer Sager, and that both Carole and her writing partner, Jonas Myrin, were with Diane in the studio. Tell us about a friend who came through for you.  I had a dear friend who was there through all the grief our estranged son and his wife put us through. She allowed me to cry, be angry, and anything else I needed. She really helped me get through it.

6) After her 75th birthday, Diane said she was excited that new ventures were coming her way and she found herself saying "yes" more often. In addition to recording this week's song, she accepted an unexpected offer from Look Optic to design eyewear. Have you recently tried something you've never done before? OR What's something you'd like to try?  I am terrified of snakes...absolutely phobic about them...but when a local pet store came to work with several of their animals recently, I decided to face my fear.

Did I like it? NO! Am I over my fear? Also, NO!!! But I did it.

 

Now for some questions about the holiday season ...

7) Do you display the holiday cards you receive?  I have a metal Christmas tin I sit them up in. We really don't receive that many these days.

8) This is a big time of hear for necklaces, hats and headbands decorated with jingle bells. Will you be wearing any bells this season?  I wore some today!

 
9) The website Morning Save included these three items on their list of this season's popular gifts. Would you rather receive: a. cup holder/phone mount for your car; b. sherpa lined clog slippers; c. set of three stainless paring knives with rosemary green plastic handles?  None of those excite me that much, but I could like either the phone mount or the knives.

Thanks, as always, to Sam @ Saturday 9!

Play along here.

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful...

* for my cozy home, soft flannel pajamas, fuzzy socks, and a warm blanket on this frigid evening.

* my Christmas shopping is nearly done. A few things are on their way in the mail and I have a few gift certificates to pick up and that's it. Well, except for wrapping.

* for the Kindle app on my phone that allows me to read any place or time.

* the doctor scheduled my procedure (biopsy and a D & C) for January 19, after the new year begins so I will have PTO available again.

* the biopsies done of our daughter's esophagus showed nothing but inflammation.

* for coworkers who have my back and who make me laugh.

* they put either a Big Mac or chicken nuggets in the Grinch meals at McDonald's. I dislike both so I don't care that every McDonald's around sold out last week before I got one. (I just wanted to try fries with Grinch salt, anyway.)

* my daughter came to help me trim Oliver's claws tonight. Now his little "love taps" won't hurt when they come in the middle of the night.

* for my precious grandchildren...and all of my family.

* Rudolph is on to bring some nostalgic Christmas joy.

* for all the people who choose to act with kindness and generosity rather than irritation and anger during the holidays.

* for the Savior who is the reason for all of this.