Sunday Stealing:

 

 Animals

Hi! I'm your host Bev Sykes of the blog "Funny the World". . Welcome to Sunday Stealing. This feature originated and published on WTIT: The Blog. 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!

1.  What is your favorite animal, and why? I love them all.  Why?  They made the world what it is and even figure heavily in our enjoyment of it.

2. Are people animals? Yes, we are.

 What separates humans from animals?  A tiny percentage of DNA separates us from the other apes.  We share 98.8 with bonobos and chimps.  Humans and Bonobos share 1.7%  of DNA that chimps don't share.. so they, bonobos, are our closest animal relatives, which makes perfect sense to me. 

3.   Which animal is the most dangerous?  Any of the pit vipers.  They scare the B-Geebers out of me.  When i was 13, my sibs, Dad, and I stopped at a reservoir in the middle of the cattle country.  I walked out, bare footed, into the twilight to look at the stars reflected on the surface of the water.  

I chanced to look down at the ground before getting to the edge of the water.  The ground was alive with little snakes.  I was delighted but then saw the heads were all triangular shapes.  They were baby rattlers.  My knees were shaking so badly by the time I'd worked my way back down from the rim that I must have trembled the rest of the evening.  A baby rattler is more poisonous than an adult because they hold nothing back.  They bite like there is no tomorrow.

4.   What should you do if a bear approaches you?  I've had this happen to me.,this is how i handled it....I'm not a danger ranger or anything, but  in sequoia a mother bear walked right up behind me to see what i was rinsing out - it was a pan I'd cooked oatmeal in that morning.  

I'm not (and never have been) afraid of bears.  But I have a healthy respect their power. she got the pan.  I slowly backed away from her and all the way back up onto the cabin steps.  The rangers told us not to wash dishes outside in the dawn or dusk.  The bear didn't get the memo.

5.   Do you like dogs? Why do people call the dog, man’s best friend?  I love dogs.  Dog's are man's best friend because they are incredibly loyal, devoted, and a wonderful companion.  I love cats, too, but dogs are my favorite pet.

6.   Do you enjoy going to the zoo? Some people consider zoos to be cruel environments for animals. What do you think?  I don't go to the zoo, and we have a world class one in my city.  I've said before that i didn't like the Wild Animal Park, either but this is because they trap and kill all sorts of native animals every year to keep them off of it.

7.   Where is the best place to see animals in your country? In the world?  I'm a birder, and i think you can go anywhere and see interesting birds.  I've never gone any specific place to see animals besides birds, so haven't got an opinion about it. 

8.   Are you a vegetarian? What makes some people give up eating meat?  I am as much as possible I am a vegan.  I don't like to eat meat but I'm old now so I do eat a little.  Funny how that works.  I reckon if the Dali Lama has  been advised to eat it and does, who am I to say nay?

9.   Which animal is most helpful to humans?  All the pollinators.  Bats, bees, moths butterflies

10  If you could be any animal (besides human), which animal would you like to be? Frankly, 

i'd rather be dead..  but Then again....maybe a raven.  They belong completely to God.

11.  Who would win in a fight between a tiger and a lion?  My Money is on the Tiger.

12.  What do you think about hunting animals? Would you like to try it?  I think its high time that sport hunting ended.  If you feed your family with it. ok.  My grandpa went hunting to have meat for his extended family during WWII. 

No, to the second part of the question. I grew up shooting things.  Never, ever, again will I do it.

 

13.   Books like “Watership Down” and “Animal Farm” give animals human characteristics like human thoughts or language. Is this how you think animals really are? Or are those really just stories about people?  Those two books are not the same as really knowing what an animal is thinking.  so no... 

When I was still in my teens I saw a little ground squirrel run out to the center of the lane in the rocky mountains.  This is a long time before those roads were divided highways.  This little squirrel tried repeatedly to get its fellow ground squirrel to wake up, or move or whatever.  Others were hanging around on the side.. I'll say that was my wake up call to the fact that the other animals have fellow feelings, just as we do. 

 

14.  Some animals are endangered due to illegal poaching. How do you feel about this issue? I HATE POACHERS!

15.  If we can bring an extinct animal from the past back with genetic engineering, should we do it? Which animals should we bring back?  Until we get rid of the poachers, and reduce the human gobbling up of the earth surface, we should just forget about the whole enterprise of bringing extinct animals back.  

 

Thank you Bev for doing this meme for us every week.  

 

To see other Thieves Tales, please go HERE

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy ...

 

 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!

 

Unfamiliar with this song? Hear it here.

1) Bette Midler sings that the bugle boy wakes up Company B every morning by playing reveille. What awakened you this morning (phone, alarm clock, sunrise, etc.)? Or did you wake up on your own?  Our little dog is getting frail.  He wakes me up by Crying because he thinks he's alone, as he can't see in the dark.  Or, he does this because he wants a drink of water.  It happens every morning between 3am and 5am.

2) This single was produced by Bette's arranger/piano player, who went on to have a successful singing career of his own. Do you have a favorite Barry Manilow song?  I guess it would be >"Mandy".  I'm not much of a fan except that he could play really well and wrote this lovely song.  The only one I remember.

 3) Bette was named after Bette Davis. Her sisters, Susan and Judy, were named for Susan Hayward and Judy Garland. So now we know who Mother Midler's favorite actresses were. Who are yours?  My favorites are, Cameron Diaz, Bette Midler, Glenn Close, Sandra Bullock, Meryl Streep, Charlize Theron, Cate Blanchet, Emily Blunt, to name a few,

4) Bette has been married since 1984 to artist Martin von Haselberg. She was 39 years old, already a star, and had never married before. Yet within six weeks of meeting him, she was so sure Martin was "the one" that they tied the knot. Have you found that love takes time, or, like Bette, have you fallen in love quickly? I knew right away.  Right away. It took Mr. Z a little while longer to know. It's the only time I ever thought, "this is the one".  Of course, I was very young and hadn't met a lot of people.   Soon I knew this young man was a gentleman.  Pretty hard to find in those roaring 60's.

5) When their daughter Sophie was growing up, it was Martin who taught her to cook. What was the last thing you prepared in your kitchen? Did you use the microwave, stovetop, convection oven, blender, coffee maker ...?  The last thing I made was too long ago.  Mr. Z has gotten pretty territorial about the kitchen.  I'm about to elbow my way back in to it.  Be warned. He's kind, and is only thinking of my safety, since I fell in there and blasted my shoulder, memory, and elbow into oblivion in it. 
 
6) Bette says that listening and compromise have been the key to their happy marriage but adds, "Compromise is hardest of all." On what have you compromised recently?  My compromise?   I've decided to let the Big Dogs hang someone out to dry.  Hang onto your hats folks, it ain't over 'til it's over.  An ex-Russian spy just stuck his head around the door.

7) Bette and Martin have a farmhouse in upstate New York. She enjoys feeding the chickens (whom she has jokingly named The Kardashians) and puttering in her garden. Do you have a green thumb?  I used to.  And I will again.  I don't like not having a garden and I intend to rebuild that sucker...

8) In 1973, the year this song was popular, actor Neil Patrick-Harris was born. He's best known as Barney on How I Met Your Mother, which ran from 2005-2014. Were you a fan? I only vaguely remember something called that and have no idea who the actor is. 

9) Random question -- How often do you put crackers in your soup: Always, often, seldom or never?  I never do now that I don't eat Lipton soup from a packet.  I was a kid that last time I did that. 

 Readers:  If you want to see the other Saturday 9rs answers, go HERE

Thanks Sam for another fun Saturday 9!  

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us on next Saturday for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend!

 

An intelligent couple’s attempt to save Mother Earth.

Back to the 1690’s.  That’s tongue in cheek, that title... This is a Full bore, dedicated attempt to save Mother Earth, one family at a time.  It’s a very interesting article in Pro Publica. And it was fun to read.  

My daughter had one of those Mercedes conversions, in fact she converted it herself.  It once cost her $15 to drive it all the way from Santa Cruz to our house.  Fifteen dollars!  And no pollution.  She also has a composting toilet.  

Meanwhile I knit short fingered gloves, and pray for a better solution to the ills of my motherland. 

Wordless Wednesday

C/o Getty Images

 

Blue Monday: A Bizarro.

 

Ain't it the Truth.  Stay sane, People.

Sunday Stealing Questions

Anyone wishing to see the other Offerings from the thieves go HERE

Sorry about the simplicity but I'm using a lap top.  

 

Thank you Bev, for doing this sweet meme every Sunday for us.  

 

1.Which is more romantic: an expensive, glittering bouquet OR flowers that were hand picked as they grew beside the parkway?  Actually, this is very Jane Austin, so, we don't have roadways filled with flowers anymore; also, pesticides to kill weeds sort of ruined that parkway picking.  

Picking flowers from fields can get you a fine, either from local wildflowers protectors, or buckshot in the backside from land owners.  

So, to save trouble it's just good commonsense to buy them.  That way your recipient  can be sure they are neither protected, poisoned nor poached.

2.Do you know yourself well enough to understand why you feel the way you do?
Yes, I do.

 
3.Which do you do more often: let movies, songs and books put your feelings into words for you or put your feelings into words by yourself?  I'm quite good at expressing my feelings.  I'm also very good at inscrutability.

4.Do you believe celebrities when they are endorsing a product? No.

5.What kind of movies do you wish were made more often? Comedies

6.Does fashion matter to you? I'm supremely unfashionable.

7.Should politicians be held to the same legal standards as everyone else? Yes.

8. If you became president, whom would you invite to sing at your inauguration? K.D. Lang

9. Do you try to write/say what you are feeling in a true and simple way? Yes, but I actually know how to do "Arch" very well, and am not afraid to use it.
 

10.What is your worst daily habit?  I'm very good at putting off until tomorrow what I can do today.  I like to think I've raised it to an art form.

11.If you had your choice which one TV show would you have canceled? NA.  Don't watch it.

12.Do you like the taste of sweet or salt? I like both but salt wins out most times.

13.Are you very precise about what words you use to describe your feelings and thoughts? 

 I am seriously articulate.

14.What do you feel the most guilty about? Not having good mothering skills when I needed them the most.

15.Do you meditate? Yes.  and i do it Constantly.  It's called walking mediation, and it works.  I'll never go back to the way I was.    

Saturday 9: Why Did I Choose You?

 

 

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 to answer the questions, however, and here is today's questions!

Saturday 9: Why Did I Choose You? (1965)

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

* Readers, if you would like to see the other posts on this topic, Go HERE

 
1) In this song, Barbra Streisand reassures her lover that, if she had it all to do again, she would still choose him. Tell us about a decision you've made that you never, ever regretted.
I've never regretted my choice of husband or my marriage.  My own mother's choice to stay was stupid, but I've never had a regret about my choice or my marriage.

2) The music was composed by Michael Leonard, who studied classical music at Julliard and the Handel Conservatory of Music in Munich. Do you often listen to classical music?
I used to listen to our local FM Classical station all the time.  I've  quit listening to most music because I can't play the stereo.  A dog's ears are too sensitive to have music up loud around them, so when we got Jasper, and now with Wolfie, I just quit listening to any music on a stereo.  I still listen to Classical music on the kindle.

3) The lyrics were written by Herbert Martin. He taught music in the NYC public school system and during the summer worked in summer stock. That's how he met and began collaborating with Michael Leonard. Tell us how you met someone important in your life.
We met at a neighbor's party.  He was a co-worker of the neighbor and I was the baby sitter.  It was kismet.  He is the most important man I've ever met.  Up until that time, the most important person was my Humanities teacher.  He also taught Western Civilization.  He was a true Mentor, and I'll always be grateful to him for the time he took with me to save my sanity.

4) Ms. Streisand was a very good student, graduating fourth in her class at Erasmus Hall High School when she was only 16. One of Barbra's classmates was Neil Diamond. Do you have a favorite Neil Diamond song?  Yes, Brooklyn Roads.  

Ever since I read the book, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, I've been in love with the place. 

 

 

5) While she didn't go on to college, she continued her education by attending two different acting schools simultaneously. Did you enjoy being a student?  I did.  What I didn't enjoy was the prejudice that was rife in both grade school and my high school.  California school administrations have a lot to answer for.  Facing that "wall" in high school cost many people, myself and even including Joan Baez, far too much.  After I read her account of what she faced, I realized that it wasn't my imagination.  That's not to say that I didn't have any wonderful teachers.  I did..
 
6) Barbra and her first husband, Elliott Gould, shared a New York apartment over a 5th Avenue restaurant called Oscar's Salt of the Sea. Elliott originated the role of Trapper John in the movie M*A*S*H. On TV, the role of Trapper was played by Wayne Rogers. Can you think of another role that's been played by more than one actor?  Sorry, I really haven't a clue on this.  Maybe when I see other people's posts.... Aha! Moments will ensue! 

 

7) Oscar's Salt of the Sea has ties to Sesame Street. Jim Henson loved their food and was amused by how inhospitable the owner, Oscar, could be. That's how Oscar the Grouch got his name. Which is your favorite Muppet?  Animal!  He has my heart forrrrr EVER!!!

 

This is from Muppet Stuff

 8) Back to Barbra ... She is a successful recording artist (nominated for 45 Grammy awards, winning 8) and an Oscar-winning actress, but she's suffered career disappointments, too. In 2010, she read the book Hidden Figures and tried to buy the rights so she could direct the film version. She lost out to fellow Brooklynite, director Theodore Melfi. In 2016, his movie of Hidden Figures was released. Did you see the movie or read the book? I've read the book,  and I've watched the movie, twice.  What an amazing, and true, story! 

9) Random question: Your best friend takes up painting and proudly presents her first framed work to you. You think it's atrocious. Would you hang it in your home anyway?  

I absolutely would.  I tend to be sort of "Judgie" about paintings but I've seen some really terrible stuff hanging in Guggenheim and other galleries so why on EARTH break a friend's heart? 

 

Thank you so much, Sam, for this great MEME every Saturday.  It's a pleasure to participate.  

 

 

Sunday Stealing: A to Z

 

 

Hi! I'm your host Bev Sykes of the blog "Funny the World". . 

 Pssst..  If you want to see other offerings go HERE

Welcome to Sunday Stealing. This feature originated and published on WTIT: The Blog. 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!

Thank you, Bev, for the fun MEME.

 
Taken from NED the Duck

 

OK, The MEME...

A - Annoyance: How SHORT the dang days are!

B - Bestest Friend[s]: All friends are Besties!  Mr. Z, Meffie, Diana, Chris, and P.J., all  my blogging and knitting buds, and dear little Wolfie

C - Car: Our Jeep. 

D - Day or night: I like both.

E- Easiest person to talk to?: Mr. Z.

F - Favorite Month: I'll have to go with a season, and that would be Fall into Winter which is called "The Wet" in Australia, and the term best describes the fall and winter weather of California.  Months pretty much don't matter that much to me, except to keep things straight, like the checkbook.

G - Gummy Bears or Worms: Do either of those come chocolate covered? If not, Ill pass. 

H - Hair Color: Black and now mostly gray with a little black still left. It's not much but just enough to brag about here.

I - Ice Cream: Jamocha Almond Fudge, Chocolate Cherry, and Butter Pecan 

J - Jewelry: Silver, because I can make them myself, and I like to wear rings, earrings and necklaces.  Bracelets jangle and get caught in my knitting. Grrrr.

K - Kindergarten: It should be up to the parent.  I had the chance to have the twins at the SDSU preschool, which helped them to - somewhat- separate themselves from each other, but now, I'd "Montessori" preschool at home, and team with other parents...

L - Longest Car Ride: Probably the trips to Nevada and Arizona back in the 80's.  We were meeting up with friends to go on digs. 

M - Most missed person: Our Eldest daughter. The older that I get, the more I miss her.  

N - Number of Siblings: Three.  One of us didn't make it out of childhood, babyhood actually.

O - One regret: Only ONE?  Let me go through my latest list and get back to you on this.

P- Part of your appearance you like least?: Everything!  I'm almost 80?  What's to like? 🤣

Q- Quote: "The only way I can feel the least bit important is to think of all the mud that didn't even get to sit up and look around." Kurt Vonnegut. 

R - Reality TV Show: Zero Tolerance for Reality TV (except for ones like that pawn shop in Las Vegas.)

 

S - Shoe: Mules, mostly, but a few of these things.  Skechers, Hiking boots, UGGS, High style boots, I love sandals, since you can wear them virtually all year this far South in SoCal.I also like my Tevas, I have two pair.  And, of course, the little plastic things......CROCS!

C/O 7ESL site

T - Time you woke up: 4 am

U - Unpredictable?: When the bell tolls for Thee.....Donne knows ALL about unpredictability...

V - Vegetable you hate: I cannot stand black-eyed peas, not the smell of them cooking or me, trying to eat them.   

W- Worst Habits: Delusional Lying?  Walter Middy Fantasies? Okay, here's my worst habit:  I collect too many things.  I can't stop.  I also have too many hobbies.

X - X-Rays: None of my exes where called Ray. OH!  Never mind.  OK, just yesterday I did come across an old Esophogram report that confirmed a condition called Esophageal spasm. So fun, NOT!  That lead to all sorts of interesting episodes of "E.R" since it mimics things.

Y - Year you were born: In the dead of Winter.

Z - Zoom: Where?  Zoom where?  Batman or Superman? Can I Zoom up the coast to Santa Cruz, or Zoom to the East Coast to see peeps? 

Seriously now, we haven't used this APP yet because I forgot that we were asked to join it, and it got a little complicated for me to suss out on my own.

Saturday 9: Thank U, Next (2018)

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 to answer the questions, however, and here is today's questions!


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


1) In this song, Ariana Grande thanks her former boyfriends for what they taught her about love, life, patience and pain. Do you believe you have learned more from your successes, or your mistakes? 

Since I am one of those rare people who nver makes misteaks, I'd say it was from my successes that I learnd my self conficince and paniche..

2) One of the young men mentioned in the song is Pete Davidson, a cast member of Saturday Night Live. SNL has been on for more than 45 years now. Who is your all-time favorite cast member?
Since I never watch SNL, sad to say, I have no favorites.  I just remember the wicked Donald Trump that Alec Baldwin created.  And some of Gilda Radner's skits that hit the big time.

3) Thinking of funny people ... As you can see from the video, Ariana performed "Thank U, Next" on Ellen Degeneres' talk show. Ellen makes people laugh every afternoon. Who in your life can you always count on to make you laugh or smile?  The  totally ironic and sarcastic joking of my daughters and hubby.  Baby goat videos on the web, and lets see... 🤔Political Cartoons?

4) It looks like Ariana Grande's personal romantic saga will have a happy ending because at Christmastime, she announced her engagement. Do you know anyone who is getting married in 2021?
Nope. 

 5) Ariana loves Harry Potter and named her dogs Snape, Lily and Sirius Black after characters in the J.K. Rowling books. Are you a Harry Potter fan? No, I am a fan of Gandolf, Striker, and Legolas.

6) She loves board games, especially Monopoly. Sam isn't crazy about Monopoly because it takes so long. How about you? Are you a Monopoly fan?  I used to love to play it with my sister in law who would always upset the board by accident when she was going broke.  Or so the story goes.  I think she was set up.  She's a real light in my life that one.
 
7) In 2018, the year this song was released, Toys R Us closed all its stores and went out of business. Who received the last toy you purchased? What was it?  Since we haven't had kidlets in the family for a long time, I cannot remember the last toy we bought for anyone. 

8) Also in 2018, Aretha Franklin died. What's your favorite Aretha song?  "R.E.S.P.E.C.T."

9) Random question: Are you more likely to shed a tear at a wedding or during a movie? 

To be honest, it would the movies. 

However....... Weddings are usually something for happiness and that doesn't make me cry. Now if the bride and bridesmaids came up the aisle break dancing, I think I would cry with laughter.  So cool!  When I saw this for the first time, I brought tears to my eyes.  So much fun! Beautifully done. 

 

Don't they all look cool in their Shades? 

DIY Foaming Hand Soap...

 There are a lot of others that are simpler but this one has a bit of razzle dazzle....

 

Monday Madness: This one is fun, I promise..

 

 

  A Resignation from the Death Star...

An Article by: Alexandra Petri of the Washington Post

And now, back to my knitting... 

See you for the Memes! 

 

The Black Astronaut....

 This is amazing..... 

Bet you didn't know that much about him.  Here's his story...

 Sometimes it just amazes me that we have made it this far with so much sickening hidden prejudice running in the veins of the populous.

 When Kennedy was murdered,  it ruined our chance, in so many ways, at being an honorable country.  

 We haven't come a long way Baby...and racism is still just bubbling away underneath...   It’s ugly and it is still very much alive.  What is wrong with people?  Are they that ignorant of human genetics and DNA?  It’s not just the religious right  that clings to the stories of Noah’s son Ham.  They can be dismissed with a flick of the wrist. Even if they invade one of your favorite places on the web, you can rid yourself of them.  

Photo from the lawless Insurrection in Washington D.C.

That's a Policeman, trapped in a Mob
This is what happens with Mob Rule
Everyone better start thinking
if this is what
they really want
Photo c/o The New York Times

Sunday Stealing: January

 Hi! I'm your host Bev Sykes of the blog "Funny the World". . Welcome to Sunday Stealing. 

 

This  feature originated and published on WTIT: The Blog. 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 6 intelligent questions. Cheers to all of us thieves!

If you would like to join in, go HERE

Thanks Bev for this  meme every week.  

 

1. What are your plans for January?  I plan to stay sane and stay healthy. And what ever ELSE it may take to survive.  I live in the moment...... unless.....

 

 

 

 

2. What do you want to see happen in 2021?  I want to see everyone, who wants one, to get their vaccinations before they get sick.  The scarcity of the vaccine could create a battleground. 
 
3.  What would you give a 5 star rating? My County, for recognizing the threat of this thing early on, and doing it's level best to keep the count of cases down. 
 
4. Do you have writing goals for 2021? No, I don't.
 
5. How do you feel about memoirs?  I like to read them if they are from a person I'm genuinely interested in.  
 
6. If you could join any musical group who would you choose?  My voice is shot.  I can open my mouth for the high notes I used to be able to sing, I can hear the note in my head but cannot produce it.  I'm not going to be doing any more singing.
 
7. What are your favorite genres across all media?  I like to read all History, Autobiographies, books on Economics, Political Science, as well as Thrillers, or anything in mysteries, from some pretty silly cozy mysteries to some deadly serious mysteries.  I also like to read books about animals studies and a few authors who write fiction here and there.  Not many but there are a few...
 
8. What candle scents are your favorite? I like Patchouli the best. Sandalwood, Bay, and Pine scents appeal to me, too. 
 
9. How well can you mimic other accents or voices?  I'm good at it, or was.  I haven't done it in awhile.  I used to do a lovely Jimmy Carter.  I admire that man to no end.
 
10. What books are on your TBR list in 2021?  I have over a thousand in my ebooks and twenty five at least in print. I am planning on reading about a third of them this year.
 
11. When do you decide it’s time to upgrade/buy something new?  When the old one breaks.  Though I would really LOVE to have a new Serger.  I'd almost kill for a new Serger.. *thinks about it*
 
12. Why is your favorite color your favorite color?  Because, though I can't really wear it, it is the color I always want to look at.  It's lurking in the tulips in the side bar....
 
13. Who understands you the best?  My hubby.
 
14. Do you write letters? I love to write letters.  The problem is that they are so slowwwwww.... my two oldest pen pals - one in Turkey and one in Tasmania -  and I correspond by email now. 
 
15. How do you keep going when times are hard?  Once you lose a child, the rest of life has NO chance In HELL to do you in. 

I'm supremely confident that my mother knew this, and that some others may feel this way as well.  

It changes you.  It makes you think that you survived the worst already. 

And, so you put one foot in front of the other until you arrive in a place of Peace.  

I am SO LOOKING FORWARD TO MAY 11th!  Ta Ta! my little Sunday Thieves.  Go raid that cookie jar!

 

 

 

 

Saturday9: All Shook Up (1957)

 

 

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 to answer the questions, however, and here is today's questions!

  Chosen because January 8 is the anniversary of Elvis Presley's birth.

Not familiar with this song?  Hear it HERE

If you would like to see other offerings from the Saturday 9 crowd, Go HERE

And AWAY we go!

 
1) In this song, Elvis shares quite a list of maladies: he's itching, his hands are shaky, his knees are weak, he has chills ... How are you feeling this morning?  Well, I napped for about 3 hours and it's 2 pm so I must be well rested by now.

2) He also mentions being "tongue tied." The dictionary defines it as, "unable to speak freely, as from shyness." Do you often find yourself tongue tied?  I'm pretty quiet when in company, but when in a group that I feel comfortable in, whether I've known them most of my life or not, I'm generally outgoing.  Most people are this way.

3) Even after he was wealthy, Elvis never lived away from his parents. At one point Graceland Mansion was home to four generations of the family: his grandmother, his father and stepmother, Elvis, his wife and daughter. Have you ever lived in a multi-generational household?  Yes, during WWII my mother and I lived with her parents on their Ohio farm, and with most of her siblings and all the cousins.  We went back to live there for extended stays in two consecutive years when my brothers were born.  Those were the happiest times of my childhood. 

4) Thinking of family, Elvis Presley was a distant cousin of President Jimmy Carter. Both of their family trees can be traced back to the 18th century and Thomas Preslar (before the surname was changed to Presley in the early 1800s). Have you traced your ancestry? If not, is it something you'd like to do?  I have verbal history from my mother and her sisters and parents, and from my paternal aunts and grandmother.  These have been verified by other family members.  And I have DNA history now which supports what they all said.  I just wish I'd had some of that ancestral money! Lol...
 
5) As an adult, Elvis never wore denim (except for a movie role). That's because when he was in school, his classmates teased him for "dressing poor" in jeans and coveralls. Is denim a big part of your wardrobe today? It would be if it was old enough to be flexible.  I don't like stiff fabrics anymore.  I have too many joints that can't be flexed anymore.  Back in the day, this is all we ever wore,  501's straight off the stack.  Girls would nip and tuck them at the waist.  We never EVER were allowed to wear them to school.  This was in the 1950's after all.  We never EVER even were allowed to wear slacks or peddle pushers to school. The 60's was the Great Rebellion!  Huzzah to my 1960's College sisters!

Nice Bod, no?

 
6) Before becoming famous, Elvis drove a truck in and around Memphis. Have you ever had a job that kept you behind the wheel most of the day? No.  Some of my volunteer jobs did but not any paying ones.  Meals on Wheels and Project Wildlife, pick up and transport, involved a lot of driving, but not most of the day for those two, either. 

7) In 1957, the year this song was a hit, the Allstate Mechanical Freight Set was popular, too. Kids would wind up the engine and watch it pull two cars and a caboose around the track. To enhance the realism, sparks would shoot from the engine's smoke stack as it rumbled by. Did you ever play with a toy train? If not, tell us about a childhood plaything you remember fondly.  An Indian Princess Three speed bike. It was sort of an after thought for me to have, since my brother had gotten a new three speed racer for his birthday.  My parents, primarily my mother, managed one for me for a combined Christmas//birthday gift.  If you have a birthday that's right on top of Christmas, that happens a lot.  When I grew up, I realized just how much of a sacrifice that was for my mother to make.  I rode it everywhere.  Before that, my bro and I had a bike frame, two tires, handle bars and a brake. The "Barely There" model of bike. 

8) The best-selling book of 1957 was Peyton Place, a scandalous tale of life in a small New England town. Do you suppose there are enough steamy stories behind closed doors in your town to fill a novel? Of course there are.  When you think about it, there have always been enough "hot" stories, and they are EVERYwhere.  It's the nature of humans, to be this way, even under severe religious repression.  One look at family secrets and their set of hidden trysts is enough to tell that story, let alone set the ears burning and the Church Alter up in flames.

9) Random question: Can you do 10 push ups?  Not anymore,  though I can still do more than 10 sit ups.

 

Thursday Thirteen: A tougher meme in the Pandemic..

 And I was already not very good at it in the first place... 

My life hasn't really changed that much with the Pandemic restrictions.  But I do take photos.. Here are thirteen taken while in lock down...

#1 My birthday gift from a DD....

My first ever Yarn bowl a birthday present.

#2 Teeny Tiny Moomin like creatures from my daughter..

#3  No big Green tree this year, we could see that our blind doggie would have too much of a challenge

 

Second thoughts arose.. We only put up  the White Tree

 

#4 The White Tree

Because it sits up on a table top.

#5 New Short fingered glove pair. The first and it's over half way done. 

Going to a good person who is very kind.

 

#6 Good Books.  This just came and I am so happy to have it!  I'm almost through with RAGE, another book by Bob Woodward.  I have to read it in small amounts because it's such a toxic subject.. I read a cozy mystery or an Agatha Christie along with these Horrid inside looks at the White House.

#7 And this one, too...

I was once two breaths away from becoming a nun

#8 

♥  A Beautiful Ornament Created by a Dear Friend.  ♥

#9

One of the Tortoises when he was a year old

 #10 

Another way to read and a treat from afar.  Yummy!

#11  Darling Wolfie, after his last grooming.  He is blind , now, and almost deaf 

Such a Good Boi, and a Sweet Boi

 

#12  This is my year to rebuild my language skills.. 

Two of my old French Primers from Childhood

 

#13 I want to rebuild my garden this year.  God Willing and the Crick Don't Rise, It will be rebuilt. 

One of my beautiful Bromeliads from yesteryear.

And there are thirteen little threads that run through my existence.  I'm sorry to have been away so long but I just am not able to figure out 13 things that often.  Thanks for reading my Thursday 13.  Sweet Dreams!

 

Sunday Stealing: The End of the Year

 

This is Sunday Stealing, and you can get there from THIS link.  Bev is the Chieftess of our tribe.   Her Blog, Funny the World, is HERE

Now for the questions of the week.  To see other participants answers, go HERE

 First things first, did you have a good year?  I've had better ones.  So say we all! :o)

 What was your favorite article of clothing this year? Well, I'll go with my sweaters and yoga pants.

 What song sums up this year for you?  Worry and Blur; Generational Angst; Rage Against the Machine.  

Weird, No?  But it's fitting for this time.  This was performed in 1993. ATTITUDE... You've sunk a long ways, Baby.....
 

What was your favorite movie of the year? I don't know that any movies came out this year that I may have seen, except the one about Mr. Rogers.  That was weird but made me think about this amazing man.

Did an actor/actress catch your attention for the first time this year? No new ones, no.

Favorite new TV show? Zero and a spin out for me.  I don't watch it.

Did you make any big permanent changes this year? No

What was one nice thing you did for yourself? I quit watching or reading anything and everything about irrelevant people or topics.

Did you develop a new obsession? Just in trying to find out why I was dropping weight so quickly. It's been solved with the help of a diligent doctor.

Did you move? Move House?  Nope

Did you get a pet? No, but the time is coming when we will have to make a decision we just don't want to make.  Wolfie is just barely able to walk.  Like most folks, old or not, we just want to keep him, snuggle him, and love him, to the bitter end.  We see ourselves in our aging pup, and know that, if we were in an uncaring society, we might be left to die somewhere.

Do you regret not doing anything? Yes...
I regret not going up to see the kids in the October after I fell.  We still didn't have a ramp for the bounder, and getting up and down the stairs was a problem with a broken shoulder and elbow.  But we also didn't know a Pandemic was going to upend everyone's lives for an entire year and a half, apparently we will be waiting that long for shots, some of us.  Unfortunately, we may have more saboteurs waiting in the wings.  

Do you regret doing something?  I haven't been out of my house for months, I guess I regret not getting rid of stuff in here, but who wants to take it right now anyway? 

Did anyone/thing make you so mad it stayed with you for days? YES!

Did you lose anyone close to you? No. Close, but no..

Who was important to you this year but wasn’t important last year?  Sorry, I don't get some of these questions, and this is one of them.  As I see it, any one in my life is important- even if they are only transecting my life in Instagram or blogging.  They are IN my LIFE.  They are important.

Who wasn’t as important to you this year as they were last year? N/A... Oh wait.  Probably trump, now that he's on the way out, I don't have to waste a single thought on him ever again.

What was the best moment of the year for you?  When Biden won the election in a resounding way.

What was the worst?  This guy... Article  From the Washington Post.

What have you learned about yourself this year that you didn’t know in the years prior?  That I'm a lot tougher than I thought I was.

What do you wish for others for the coming year? That they are all healthy and can get back to their lives.  I also want them to be able to put country over party.  We need to solve some big problems in the USA. All this poisonous talk needs to stop and we start working  together.  I also wish that we could stop so much of the thievery in Washington DC.  It's  a cancer on the Body Politic.

What do you wish for yourself?  I wish too see all the kids, and throw a GREAT big birthday party for all of them and their friends.  Hire a band and have a blast. 

"Res o lution time, Come On!" lol

 Glenn McCoy is a scream!  Enjoy the Irony and agony... 😏😆

 

Happy New Year, I think!  Lol....Double tap to Make it bigger..

Saturday 9: Feels like the First Time (1977)

 

To my readers:  Happy New Year!

I am trying to figure out why the SIZE of the post font seems to change almost daily.  It's a work in progress but eventually the path to all the elements and the changes will stop the overwriting that's happening.  Sorry to be making anyone crazy with it.  It's been difficult to follow the bread crumbs through the maze of post Google Blogger challenges to the editor.

 

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

Welcome to the first Saturday 9 of 2021! 

1) Look up from your screen. What's the first thing you see?  A Christmas Card from my Niece.

2) Looking back on 2020, what surprised you?  trump getting his keester handed to him, and the virus that is no joke.

3) Have you made any resolutions for 2021? 

1. I mean to get control over my crafting areas, same as last year but without a broken shoulder or any other obstacle. 

2.I've resolved to be ultra careful.

4) In Italy, it's said that if you wear red underwear on New Year's Eve, you'll have good luck all year around. Do you have a lucky charm? No, but we do follow the Swedish custom of making sure that the first taste in the New Year is a sweet one.  So, we eat a piece of fudge or other candy upon the stroke of midnight. It's been a tradition for our family for quite awhile after I read about it in my Sunset Magazine so many moons ago.
 
5) In Spain, some New Year's Eve revelers believe that, at the stroke of midnight, you should eat exactly 12 grapes, one at a time and one right after the other, to bring you luck for the next twelve months. Did you have anything special on your New Year's Eve menu?

Spaghetti Olio with Vegan Meatballs and Parmesan

It was delicious.  

6) In this week's featured song, Foreigner lead singer Lou Gramm lets us know that he'd sail across a stormy sea to reach his true love. How is the weather where you are today? Are you kicking off 2021 under calm skies, or is it stormy?  It's sunny out and cold today.  And, we didn't get any rain overnight but, a couple of days ago, it rained quite a lot. 
 
7) In the 1990s, Gramm joined forces with Billy Joel in a series of concerts to preserve the Montauk Point Lighthouse. Do you have a favorite Billy Joel song? Billy Joel is one of my favorite singer/songwriters, but this one is likely my favorite: "I Love You Just the Way You Are"

To my darling.....

 I would like to send LOVE 💖 LOVE 💋LOVE 💘 to the Blogger Crew for creating/reworking an "Add a Video" tab in the editor that actually works.  

Thank you!

8) In 1977, when this song was popular, Star Wars was breaking all box office records. The Spy Who Loved Me, a James Bond movie, was also a hit. If you were going to binge on one of these film series, would you choose Star Wars or Bond?

Star wars used to appeal to me a lot when I was younger, but now, the Bond movies would win this contest.  I guess that now, I think we are more in danger from ignorance right on Earth than in outer space.  I can't see Outer Space being our natural evolution, since we keep DE-volving into real wars right here on Earth. Actually, I'm sick and tired of the Saber Rattling that's been going on my entire life! 

9) Random question: Would you rather have nothing but green lights for all of 2021, or never have to stand in line for anything all year?  My biggest concern is that everyone will very soon get to stand in a line to get their vaccinations, especially the young who seem to be the ones who will have to wait until the last.  Well, Then we can have a green light!

 

Want to join in?  See other offerings?  Go HERE 

 

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us on next Saturday for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend!