Saturday 9: Linger

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

1) In this song, Dolores O'Riordan of the Cranberries sings that her lover has her wrapped around his finger. Do you feel that anyone has you wrapped around their finger?  I'd like to say no, but my daughter has always been able to get me to give in to what she wants (unless it's truly something harmful).

2) This was one of the first songs Delores and Noel Hogan wrote together. They performed it often live and perfected it before going into the studio to record it approximately two years later. Because they had polished the performance and arrangement, it's not a surprise that it was the biggest hit off their debut album. Tell us about a time when your preparation paid off.  The only thing I can think of right now is our vacations. I'm a planner. I always spend a lot of time researching and looking into the place we are going and find the best places and deals.

3) The Cranberries believed the moody black-and-white video (linked above) playing on MTV contributed to the song's popularity. MTV and VH1 were highly influential when they showed music videos and interviews 24/7 during the 1980s and 1990s. Do you recall watching music videos on MTV and/or VH1?  Totally. Videos were so much a part of 80's culture and a huge influence on style. I loved watching on both MTV and VH1...and even country videos on CMT. In my opinion they did themselves in when they moved away from music to other things.

4) The Cranberries were founded by brothers Noel and Mike Hogan in their hometown in Limerick, Ireland. The River Shannon runs through Limerick. Do you live near a river?  No, but the Loyalhanna Creek (a small river, really) runs through town and meets the Conemaugh River not too far away to form the Kiskiminetas River. 

5) Fergal Lawler soon joined the brothers and became the Cranberries drummer. Today he says he enjoys listening to his early work with the group because, "Songs are like a snapshot in time." Do you often flip through photo albums and look at snapshots?  I used to, but I don't remember the last time I pulled out the photo albums. Like most people I've gone digital and frankly, since our son estranged himself from the entire family, including the extended family, looking back is sad.

6) Dolores O'Riordan showed up for her Cranberries audition dressed casually in a black tracksuit with her own Casio electronic keyboard tucked under her arm. The Hogans were impressed not only by her vocals but her no-nonsense, "let's get to work" attitude. Share a memory from one of your job interviews.  The only one where anything stands out was when I was in college. I was scheduled for an interview for a summer job at Cedar Point. I really wanted it, but the day of the interview found me sick as a dog with a high fever. I went to the interview, but obviously failed to impress since I didn't get a job.

7) In 1993, when "Linger" was released, The Nanny premiered on CBS. It's remembered today for it's catchy theme song, which tells the story of "the nanny named Fran." Can you recall the lyrics to theme of one of your favorite shows?  From back in the day? Sure. Sunday, Monday happy days. Tuesday, Wednesday happy days. Thursday, Friday happy days. Saturday...what a day. Rocking all week with you.

8) In 1993, gas was $1.11/gallon. Could your vehicle use a fill-up right now?  It could. I've been running the grands to appointments all week.

9) Random question: How many pairs of shoes do you own?  Not as many as I did when my feet didn't hurt and I could wear alllllll the cute shoes. Maybe 20, but I don't wear them all.

Thanks to Crazy Sam for the music and questions!

Play along here.

Thankful Thursday

We've made it through the week. That's the first thing I am thankful for. Other things include:

2. I made it through today. Today was rougher than all the rest. There were so many new things to figure out with cyber school. I spent a lot of time on the phone with people at the school trying to get things sorted out. In the end I think we did okay, but I am sure I have more gray hair. The picture I sent to anyone who asked how it was going to day...

3. Our daughter is going to stay at the facility one more week than originally planned, for a total of three weeks. We facetimed tonight and she seems more positive, more on an even keel.

4. Our son-in-law will be working afternoon shift next week and daylight the week after so no more midnight shift before our daughter comes home. Hallelujah! Midnight has been...well, not a lot of fun.

5. I texted a friend of mine who homeschools using PA's cyber school today. She has been doing it for years. She's going to try to come here on Sunday and help us figure out a few things.

6. Tim brought home Chinese for dinner. Just the comfort food I needed on this long, rainy, difficult day.

7. Tomorrow is a new day. 

 

Currently

I am

Reading... Trust No One by James Rollins.

Watching... The Emoji Movie with the grands. I need a night sleeping in my own bed so they are having a sleepover here tonight. It may take a while for them to settle down, though. They got to Facetime with their mom tonight for the first time since she's been gone and they were a "little" excited.

Listening... to them rustling around on the air mattress. They are both notorious for flopping all around before they finally relax and go to sleep.

Eating... we had a pretty normal schedule this evening and I was able to make a big pot of spaghetti with meatballs and garlic bread. Enough for everyone, some leftovers, and dinner for their dad at work tonight.

Thinking... about schedules. There is so much to remember and fit into each day. I'm exhausted. It's no wonder our daughter gets overwhelmed. I don't struggle with anxiety or depression, but it's still a LOT. It's going to be relaxing when I go back to work.

Feeling... tired and sore. That's why we're sleeping here tonight.

Celebrating... each day we make it through and that the kids got to "see" their mom tonight. Also the way our son-in-law has stepped up to do a lot more than he's used to doing.

Enjoying... getting to know our son-in-law better. He's normally super shy and quiet, but we've been having some long heart-to-hearts.

Weather... temps are in the 50's, but we've had pouring rain most of the day.

Giggling...

Saturday 9: Farewell, Amanda

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

 

1) The record begins with a long instrumental interlude, and when the lyrics kick in at about the 1:00 mark, they bid Amanda "farewell, adios, addio, adieu." Of course you recognize "farewell" as English. Without looking it up, can you identify the other languages? Spanish, French....and I have no idea what language"addio" is.

 

2) Can you say "goodbye" in a language not represented in question #1? Aloha, shalom, auf Wiedersehen, and sayonara.

3) The lyrics reference a night full of stars. When did you last take a moment to check out the night sky?  I almost always look up when I am outside at night.

 

4) This song was written for Adam's Rib, a comedy starring Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. The movie is about husband-and-wife lawyers who square off against one another in court. Have you ever served on a jury?  To my dismay, no. I've always wanted to, but I've only ever been summoned once and I never got called up to be considered. The parties involved settled out of court.

 

5) "Farewell, Amanda" was composed by Noel Coward. Though best known as a playwright, he also wrote more than a thousand songs and was a director and an actor. His epitaph reads, "A talent to amuse." How would you like to be remembered?  As someone who loved much, cared deeply, gave freely, and laughed hard.

 

6) There's even a book of Noel Coward paintings. It was published after his death, in part because Coward considered himself only an amateur painter. When did you last pick up a paintbrush?  It would have been at work, probably within the last month, but it was for a craft, not any work of art. Unless you consider things made from things like tissue paper, dried macaroni, pipe cleaners, and toilet paper tubes art. If you do, I have some pieces I'd be willing to part with for the right price.

 

7) In 1949, when audiences first heard "Farewell, Amanda," Americans began playing Clue. What's the last board game you played?  I think it was Candyland.

 

8) The best-selling novel of 1949 was Point of No Return by John P. Marquand. Tell us about the last book you finished.  Eh, it was some romance. It was enjoyable, but nothing made it stand out from the millions of others out there.

 

9) Random question: Growing up, did you share a bedroom?  Yep, with the dog.

Have a wonderful Saturday, everyone! I'll be around to visit as soon as I can. I am taking care of the grandchildren these days and their dad is working tomorrow (Saturday). It kind of all depends on whether dad works a single shift or a double one. We won't know until tomorrow when he's at work. It's all based on if someone calls off (and tomorrow's going to be a beautiful day so what are the odds?).

Thanks, Sam, for the music and questions!

Play along here.

Thankful Thursday

And here we are.

One phone call upended our world today. Our daughter went to a residential mental health facility today. She will be there for at least two weeks. Her tearful call to me included the admission that she no longer trusted herself to be alone as she had reached the point of "having a plan in place." (The plan being one to commit suicide.)

My mother stayed with the children. Our daughter's best friend drove her to the facility, about 90 minutes from home.

Our son-in-law can't take time off without seriously hurting the family finances. I was able to take time off. I must use all my vacation days first and then I can use the emergency family medical leave. Once activated I will have up to 12 weeks that can be used all at once or here and there as it is needed. I just have to fill out the forms and get our daughter's doctor at the facility to sign it.

So, for at least the next two weeks I will be off work and taking care of the grandchildren, doing the homeschooling, and whatever else is needed.

This week I am thankful...

* our daughter was brave enough to reach out when she needed help.

* for the friend who not only drove her, but argued with the facility about finances and was able to get her admitted to begin with.

* my employer is understanding and willing to work with me.

* I can keep my insurance up by paying $50/month if it comes to that.

* our son-in-law is really stepping up. He is under a lot of stress between this and his father's upcoming heart procedure next week.

* my mom, at 81, is still fit enough to help out.

* all the thoughts and prayers for our daughter and our family.

* above all else, that I know the Lord is in control and He is my strength.

Songs That Would Be on My Ultimate Playlist

These are the songs that make me want to get up and dance or sing along.

In no particular order.

1. Come and Get Your Love

2. Should Have Been a Cowboy

3. Piano Man

4. Dancing in the Moonlight

5. How Do You Like Me Now

6. September

7. Get Down on It

8. Walking on Sunshine

9.  She's In Love with the Boy

10. Sweet Home Alabama

11. These Are My People

12. Ballroom Blitz

13. Love Shack

14. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go

15. Take Me Home

16. American Pie

17. Sweet Caroline

18. Brown Eyed Girl

19. King of the Road

20. Uptown Funk

21. It's a Great Day to Be Alive

22. The Joker

23. Hotel California

24. Take It Easy

25. Girls Just Want to Have Fun

What songs are on your list?

Currently

I am...

Reading... A Sweet Alaskan Fall by Jennifer Snow

Watching... American Idol

Listening... to Oliver purr while he sits on the back of my chair and toys with my curls.

Eating... I've been living on soup the last couple of days.

Thinking... about how much needs done around here. The clutter is getting away from me.

Feeling... meh. My cold took a turn for the worse Saturday evening and yesterday (Sunday) I did nothing but hide under my blanket and binge watch Netflix. Today it's been up and down. Right now I feel slightly better. Here's hoping tomorrow I'm feeling a lot better.

Celebrating... our daughter's improvement. The med changes seem to be helping a good bit. Praying it continues. Also, thank you, everyone, for your kind words, encouragement, and prayers.

Enjoying... starting to plan and prepare to sell our crafts and other items at the opening day of the local athletic association's softball/baseball season. We did extremely well last year and that was with not really knowing what we were doing. We've learned a few things.

Weather... cold. It's going down to 18* tonight and tomorrow's high is only supposed to be 28*. At least the big storm that swept up through New England pretty much missed us. We didn't get more than a "robust" dusting and that is already gone.

Giggling...