Saturday Nine, Late...

My Life

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!

1) This song begins with the story of a man who moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a comic. What comedian always makes you laugh?  George Carlin.  I think he was the funniest guy who ever did stand up.

2) The lyrics say, "You don't need to worry about me 'cause I'm alright." Tell us about a time when you had to reassure your family or friends.  I had a week long stay in the hospital being treated for an infection that involved rather a lot of my anatomy.  This, so that I could then have surgery to remove a little red rascal that was spitting wads at another organ, who had immediately tried to defend itself.  It was then that I had to reassure family and friends that I was alright.   It was April Fool's Day on of those days, and the kids and I had fun with text messages about food and what I was going to eat once I "blew the joint."

3) This song was the original theme of the Tom Hanks sitcom Bosom Buddies. Tom Hanks is a direct descendant of Nancy Hanks, Abraham Lincoln's mother. Is there anyone noteworthy, celebrated or infamous in your family tree?  No.  I have sprung from the salt of the earth, and as you all know, nothing good ever came from that.  And, in an aside, we have rain!  It's raining right now at 12:20 am!

4) Before going solo, Billy Joel was in bands called The Echoes, The Emeralds, The Hassles and Attila. What do you think would be a good name for a band?   Cold Burritos.


5) Billy Joel wrote one of his most famous songs, "Just the Way You Are," for his first wife, Elizabeth. Even though they divorced more than 30 years ago, fans still demand he perform the song in concert. Do you go out of your way to listen to songs that remind you of a long-ago lost love? Or do you avoid them?  Not having been pining for lost loves lately, I have to say "No" to that.

6) In 2008 Billy Joel had to return a $3,000,000 advance for his memoirs because he didn't finish them. Have you ever read a celebrity tell-all?  I just started reading Glass Castle because it came back from being checked out.  I had to quit after about twenty pages.  Couldn't get into the author's style.  Man it is really REALLY raining!  This is the second of August!  Wow!

7) Billy Joel was in a motorcycle accident and did irreparable damage to his left thumb. Are you comfortable on a motorcycle?   I rode behind my uncle on his Harley several times.  I always felt safe and comfortable.

8) In addition to riding cycles, Billy enjoys sailing in Oyster Bay. Do your summer plans include time on a boat? Sadly, no.  I love boats but never got the chance to own one.  When we were young parents, we discussed living on a boat in the harbor, but boats are holes in the water into which you pour money.  So we didn't do it.

9) Billy Joel is a popular college commencement speaker. If you were asked advice from the Class of 2014, what would you say?   Plan to do what you love for a living, and if you can afford to, take a year off to volunteer in that field so you can set your head on straight.   A year isn't much but it will ground you, and make you stronger.  And, I'd work and pay the way through, and stay away from debt.  Student debt will suck you dry.