Saturday 9: Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer

Playing along with Crazy Sam and the gang over at Saturday 9.

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

1) In this song, Nat King Cole sings about enjoying "soda and pretzels and beer." Which of those three would we find in your kitchen right now?  I think Tim has a couple of bottles of Corona in the refrigerator so right now you would find all three.

2) The lyrics mention a romantic movie. Which movie couple do you believe had onscreen chemistry?  I love Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman in While You Were Sleeping. I'd be sad to learn there wasn't at least a little bit of something between them.

3) He wishes "summer could always be here." How has your summer been so far?  Ungodly hot and too much work with not enough fun.

4) According to the song, a great warm weather meal includes sandwiches and weinies. Tell us about your perfect sandwich or, if you prefer, what you believe is the ideal way to dress a hot dog.  My two favorite summer sandwiches are a simple tomato and mayo sandwich and a BLT.

5) Nat was a big baseball fan. Growing up in Chicago he played sandlot games and listened to Cubs games on the radio. As an adult he was a season ticket holder at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Do you enjoy playing/watching baseball or softball?  I was on the girls' varsity softball team in high school, but I haven't played since. I don't enjoy watching baseball or softball. Too much down time.

6) The lyrics of this week's song were written by Charlie Tobias, who wanted to create a sense of nostalgia for summers gone by. Share one of your special summer memories.  Gosh, so many to choose from...I guess I'll go with my birthday present to my mom on her 72nd birthday. 

Mom grew up near Conneaut Lake Park and back in the day its roller coaster, the Blue Streak, was the biggest baddest coaster between New York and Chicago. Mom wanted to ride it so much, but her mother forbid her. In later years her younger sisters were allowed to ride and when I came along I, too, was allowed to ride (with much lecturing about not standing up). Mom never did ride the Blue Streak. 

Once she went home for a family reunion and told the story. A cousin said you're here, the park's open...and off they went. Mom purchased her ticket and was ready to ride when the coaster broke down. It never reopened that day. The park went into bankruptcy in the 1990's. Since then it has been a constant fight to keep it open. The fight wasn't always successful and last year it finally closed for good. 

Eight years ago I decided it was high time she got to ride the Blue Streak and off we went...praying the rain would stop by the time we reached the park 3 hours away. The weather cooperated and Mom finally got to ride. Did she want to go a second time? Nope.

7) In 1963, one of the best-selling books was Happiness Is a Warm Puppy by Charles Schultz. The cover showed Lucy giving Snoopy a big hug. Name another character from the Peanuts comic strip.  Charlie Brown, Sally, Linus, Peppermint Patty, Marcie, Sherman, Violet, Schroeder...

8) Also in 1963, men were wearing thin, solid-color ties. Later in the decade, ties would become wider, patterned and more colorful. Where do you turn to keep up with fashion trends?  Nowhere. I just wear what I like and/or what's comfortable.

9) Random question: Would you rather be a cowboy or a pirate?  A cowboy. I like horses.

I'm off to spend the day with my biological father today. We'll probably get back in the early-ish evening. I hope to get around to visit then. Have a wonderful Saturday!