Saturday 9: Lady Liberty

Hear Barbra Streisand sing it here.

1) This song is a Valentine to the Statue of Liberty. Have you ever visited Lady Liberty?  No, I haven't, but I would like to.

2) When you combine the lady herself and her pedestal, she stands 22 stories high. What's the tallest building you've ever been in?  I have no idea when it comes to traditional buildings. Having said that, I was going to say the Washington Monument, but then I looked and the Skylon Tower in Niagara Falls is about 200 feet taller than that...so that's the tallest "building" I've been in.

 

3) Her crown represents universal liberty with seven spikes for the seven seas. Without looking it up, can you name the seven seas?  The Mediterranean, the Aegean, the Red, the Black, the Caspian, the Baltic....am I close?

 

4) The song was written by Desmond Child, a Cuban-American from Gainesville, home of the University of Florida. In 1965, a team of UF scientists invented Gatorade. Do you have any Gatorade in your home right now?  Yes, there is apple and fruit punch Gatorade in the house. I drink it to help with leg cramps and the grands like it.

5) While best known for his work with KISS, Bon Jovi and Cher, Desmond Child was nominated for an Emmy for his work on the Muppets 2003 holiday special. This morning, as we enjoy summer, what's the first Christmas carol that pops into your head?  Jingle Bells

6) Desmond wrote this song specifically for Barbra Streisand. Watching her record it was a dream come true and he found himself standing very close to her as she sang. When he asked if he was "hovering," she suggested it might be better if he gave her a little more space. Does it bother you when someone stands very close or reads over your shoulder?  Yes

7) Fireworks were introduced to celebrate the 4th because they represent the "rockets red glare and bombs bursting in air." When did you most recently sing "The Star Spangled Banner?"  We played it a couple of times at work yesterday, but I didn't sing it. I don't have the voice for easier songs, let alone that one.

8) John Adams predicted the 4th would be observed with "pomp and parades." Does your community have a parade in honor of the day?  Yep, we have one of the biggest parades around. We also have a Miss 4th of July Pageant, a block party, concerts, a carnival of sorts, and fireworks. Believe it or not, it's actually scaled back to just a couple of pre-events (pageant and block party) and the big day with everything else. For years the events went on for over a week! Covid changed that.

9) Celebrity chef Rachael Ray says she considers mini-hamburgers, or "sliders," the All-American food. What will/did you dine on this 4th of July?  We had burgers, hotdogs, brats, and smoked sausage; potato salad; corn-on-the-cob; hobo beans; watermelon, cantaloupe, and cherries; blueberry cobbler; and cookies. 

Thanks to Sam for running the Saturday 9 and bringing

us the music and questions each week!

Saturday 9: Consider Me Gone

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

 

1) In this song, poor Reba McEntire confronts a lover who makes her feel like she's not good enough. Let's go in a more positive direction: Who in your life makes you feel happy and secure?  My husband, my daughter, my grandkids, my friends, and most of my coworkers.

 

2) Reba hopes her lover will look back on her as someone who used to make him laugh. Who did you most recently laugh with?  My coworkers. I got home too late to interact much with my husband last night and it's still too early today.

 

3) She was director James Cameron's first choice to play Molly Brown in the 1997  blockbuster Titanic, but she had to turn down the role because she was committed to a concert tour. Think of the last invitation you received. Did you say yes or no?  I said yes to two birthday parties for consumers this week. One was Thursday and the other is today. I'm taking the blind man I take care of to the one today as he was invited, also. Today's is at a bowling alley.

4) Reba comes from a rodeo family: both her father and grandfather were champion steer ropers and her mother was a barrel racer. Have you ever been to a rodeo?  I have and I'd go again if I had the chance. It was a lot of fun!

5) She loves game nights with family and friends because she says she's "a competitive person." When you play friendly board or card games, do you always play to win?  I do. I'm competitive, too.

 

6) Reba wears tall boots all the time, even in summer, and has more than 100 pairs. Do you often wear boots?  No, I have a few pairs, but I don't often wear them as they don't have the arch support I need.

 

7) In 2009, when this song was popular, Mark Zuckerberg tried unsuccessfully to buy Twitter. Elon Musk acquired it in 2022 and renamed it X. Do you often post to Twitter/X?  No. I created a Twitter account years ago, but rarely used it. I just don't like the format and hated the constant notifications of new tweets.

 
8) Back in 2009, DuPont announced that silver and black were the most popular vehicle colors, accounting for half the cars the world over. What color is your ride?

When we test drove it and chose it, I actually thought it was black, but the paperwork informed me it was "midnight blue," a blue so dark you can only tell it's blue on the brightest of sunny days.

 

9) Random question: Have you ever had a job that required you to wear a hairnet?  Yes, I worked for a very short time as a school lunch lady when my daughter was still in elementary school.

Thanks to Sam at Saturday 9 for the music and questions!

Currently

I am

Reading... nothing. I just haven't had time lately.

Watching... Gutfeld on Fox News.

Listening... on a 90's country kick this week.

Loving... that my job has been forcing me to be more active. It's at least a few steps in the right direction.

Thinking... about a coworker's retirement tomorrow. I'm happy for her. Work has been making her crazy for months and she's looking forward to being able to travel to see her grandchildren more often. She's going to leave a big hole in the department, though.

Feeling... aw-right.

Celebrating... the procedure to remove the skin cancer from Tim's nose went okay. They did nick an artery and had some trouble with the bleeding (he's on blood thinners since the stents) but they got it all. The only worry now is infection. Tim says he smells something funny and he called the doctor about it. They had him send a picture of his nose and he has to send another in 4 days. It's not like he's kept the bandage on or anything. That didn't even make it through the first day.

Enjoying... pool time with the grands.

Grateful... for good coworkers.

Weather... HOT, like most of the country. We've had heat warnings since Sunday. I think tomorrow is supposed to be the last day, but the big "cool down" means going from 94 degrees (with a heat index of 110) to 88 degrees.

Giggling...

 

Currently...

I am

Reading... Camp Girls: Fireside Lessons on Friendship, Courage, and Loyalty by Iris Krasnow. I found it in the used bookstore at the mall. The store is unique in that there are no employees. It's a self-checkout place, but there are Ring doorbell buttons by the registers so you can "call" the owner if you have a problem. Books are $2 for paperbacks and $4 for hardbacks. I can beat the prices, but there are tables, chairs, and even recliners, along with a free coffee/tea bar. It's a nice place to hang out for a while.

Watching... American Pickers. It's more background noise than anything.

Listening... to the hum of the A/C and Tim's snores.

Loving... the grands popping in and out all the time now that school is out. I just wish I had more time to be here with them. Having summers off was one thing I did love about driving a school bus.

Thinking... about Tim's appointment at the dermatologist's tomorrow. He is finally going to have the skin cancer removed from his nose. No one is going with him. He won't need a driver and he doesn't want anyone sitting there waiting as that is what a lot of the day will be. They peel a layer and then he sits. Then they peel another layer and he sits. That goes on until they remove all of it and it goes pretty deep. The doctor told him he may wait an hour or more between layers.

Feeling... about 10 feet tall and bullet proof. More about why below.

Celebrating... that the consumer I'm working with in a one-on-one situation while his usual person is on vacation, has been totally AWESOME!! Normally, he does not listen to anyone but his regular person. Anytime that person has been away in the past, this consumer has run wild and the best anyone working with him could hope for was to not get punched in the face. To everyone's surprise (and my great relief) he has been absolutely wonderful for me. We have one more day to get through so I hope my luck holds.

Enjoying... the chocolate pretzel popcorn I bought yesterday.

Grateful... for all the rain we've been getting. We haven't had to go from work to water the flowers downtown since last Thursday!

Weather... the rain has stopped but even at 74 degrees it's pretty soupy out there. Tomorrow will be in the low 80's and then it's an uphill climb from there...nothing but 90's from Saturday through most of next week. Ugh.

Giggling...

Thankful Thursday

It's been a while. A long while. It's not that I haven't been thankful for lots of things. It's that most evenings find me worn out and in pain, hence only a post or two a week. I just don't feel like coming up with a post.

So, today I'm delighted and very, very THANKFUL to report that I'm feeling good this evening. It's unexpected as the summer weather has brought back the daily chore at work of taking some consumers downtown to water the huge flower baskets hanging on the light poles in the shopping district. 

Walking with the consumers can be challenging. Walking with the consumers (especially when some of them are blind or have more severe physical limitations) while lugging the water cart (a 30 or 40 gallon tank with a pump on wheels) behind you is exhausting and can leave my legs and feet hurting so bad I can't sleep at night. 

Today I pulled the cart and walked with the consumers and when we were done we went to a park for lunch and to spend some time outside on such a beautiful day. I even went grocery shopping for the older man I take care of and then cleaned, cooked his dinner, and prepped some of the food for over the weekend.

I should be hurting right now. A lot. However, I'm not. I'm thankful to be able to say I feel pretty good after all that. I'm thankful for the Vionic walking sandals I wore to do the watering and for the Vionic recovery sandals I changed into afterward.

Vionic Walk Max Wanderer

Vionic Rejuvenate Sandal

Y'all, not being in pain right now is HUGE! It gives me hope that I might survive next week when the only man in my department is off. He has a one-on-one. His consumer is notoriously difficult for everyone but him. I already know I have him on Monday. It's likely I will have him most of the days. The plan is to meet him at the door when he arrives, get him into a van, and leave the building behind. He is usually better when he is out so we are hoping if he never gets in he won't act up. Anyway, getting him out that quick means he is designated (along with whoever has him) to water the flowers every day. So, yeah, today gives me hope I can do it.

What are you thankful for this week?

Currently

I am

Reading... finishing up Smile Beach Murder by Alicia Bessette. I didn't read much over the weekend. Hubby was home and it was a binge watch couple of days.

Watching... just about finished with our Longmire binge.

Listening to... today it was Weezer and Smash Mouth.

Loving... Tim had a great check up with his heart doctor yesterday. His heart looks good and he will start rehab next month. His doctor made the appointment.

Thinking... about some really stupid stuff going on at work.

Feeling... happy.

Celebrating... our daughter's family is coming home tonight. They had gone to Niagara Falls for a few days. It was really quiet around here.

Enjoying... the summer weather. The pool's open, though the water's too cold for me. We take the consumers out to one park or another nearly every day at work.

Grateful... we bought a robot pool vacuum this year. We all hate trying to keep the bottom of the pool clean.

Weather... sunny and 73 degrees this evening. Partly cloudy and 80 tomorrow.

Giggling...

  

Saturday 9: Hold On

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

 

1) This song gives encouragement to someone who is enduring heartache. Have you more recently given support, or received it?  More often than not, I am the one giving support. I suppose it's because I tend to keep difficult things private.

 

2) "Hold On" is featured prominently in the 2011 movie Bridesmaids. It's an anthem for the friends in the film and they love to sing it together. Is there a song that reminds you of good times with a good friend?  Billy Joel's Piano Man reminds me of my college days and some very good times.

 

3) The video for this song finds Wilson Phillips outdoors on a snowy mountainside and then on a sandy beach. What's the view outside your window?  From the kitchen window I can see our pool, my mom's backyard and the huge Catalpa tree whose branches spread nearly the entire width of her yard and is easily the tallest tree in the neighborhood. 

 

4) The mountain segments were filmed in California's San Gabriel Mountains. The girls were flown to the set by helicopter. Have you ever been in a helicopter?  I flew in helicopters several times as a child. I haven't been in one since.

 

5) The members of Wilson Phillips are authentic "California Girls." Wendy and Carnie Wilson's father is Brian Wilson, who wrote the Beach Boys hit. Chynna Phillips is the daughter of John and Michelle Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas, who sang "California Dreamin'." Have you been to California? If yes, where did you visit?  I've never been to California.

 

6) Another generation of the Wilson family has entered the music business. Carnie's daughter/Brian Wilson's granddaughter, Lola Bonfiglio, participated in the current season of American Idol. Has a family member followed you in your chosen profession?  No.

 

7) In 1990, when this song was popular, satellite radio was in its infancy and streaming was unheard of. Our cars gave us a choice of AM/FM and maybe CD player/tape deck. When you're driving and a favorite song comes on, are you more likely to sing along if you're alone? Or don't you care if anyone hears you?  I only sing when I'm alone or with someone I feel won't judge my lack of talent like my grandchildren or my special needs clients.

 
8) Also in 1990, actor Alan Hale Jr. died. He was "the skipper" on Gilligan's Island. Without looking it up, can you name the other six castaways? (If not the actors, then their characters.)  Gilligan (Bob Denver), the Professor (Russell Johnson), Thurston Howell (Jim Backus), Lovey Howell (Natalie Schafer), Ginger (Tina Louise), and Mary Ann (Dawn Wells). And yes, I knew them. I have always been a fan.

9) Random question: What superhero would you like to have as your best friend?   You should know by now that my answer to any superhero question is...