Just Because:

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: Just Because (1956)

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

1) In this week's song, Elvis complains that his girl has confused him with Santa Claus. This time of year, Santa is prominent. Did you more recently hear Santa referred to in a song, see him in a holiday decoration or ad, watch him in a film or TV show, or maybe even met him in person, ringing a bell or asking kids if they have been naughty or nice?  We have seen him in films, several actually.  It's part of our ritual that we like to do to get ready for the holidays, and try to ressurect some Christmas Spirits to haunt our dreams and make us sorry that we are old and well past the age of belief.

2) Finally Elvis just can't take it anymore and breaks up with her, just because. Is there anyone in your life who has a way of pressing your buttons and getting on your nerves?  Not too many these days.  I've mellowed out a lot regarding ordinary people.  There are some politicians and oligarchs, though, I would kill with a wink if I had that power, but they are the only ones whom I can no longer stand.  Sadly, I do not have that power.  Remember the teenage game called "Killer"?  I'd love to play that with Putin.

3) "Just Because" is one of the last songs Elvis recorded at Sun Studio in Memphis. TripAdvisor recommends a Sun Studio tour as one of the top things to do in Memphis. Have you ever been to Memphis? If yes, what did you do? Never had the pleasure. 

4) Elvis left Sun for RCA, a much bigger record label. As part of the deal, RCA negotiated for the rights to all his unreleased Sun songs. "Just Because" is one of them, and it was included on Elvis' first RCA album. Have you gotten a good deal on anything lately? No, not lately.  I'm in "GET RID OF IT MODE".  I"m sorry to be such a dud.

5) In 1956, when "Just Because" was released, non-stick cookware was first introduced. Do you have any Teflon in your kitchen right now? I have two skillets and an electric frypan/griddle.  The latter appliance we used to take it to Rockhound meets and it worked great for those big communal meals. 

6) Elvis thought peacocks were beautiful and commissioned stained glass peacock panels for his living room. Do you have any stained glass in your home?  We have a few stained glass ornaments that we hang on the Christmas  tree, and our door has a tiny clear glass insert with a hummingbird in it. 

7) He tried to keep peacocks at Graceland. One of the birds saw its reflection in Elvis' gold Cadillac and started pecking, ruining the car's expensive paint job. Elvis donated the peacocks to the Memphis Zoo. Have you ever had a bird as a pet?  I've had lots of birds as pets.  A big (giant actually) White Leghorn rooster called Bully, and a whole flock of tumbler pigeons, several parakeets.  This little guy we caught down at shelter island and fed him some broccoli, and brought him home. 

His name was Pepé.  He was the sweetest thing and even talked a little after awhile.

8) Elvis decorated the long Graceland driveway for the holidays with blue lights. His father teased that with the airport nearby, pilots might confuse their driveway with a runway. What airport is nearest your home?  Sort of.  we live at the top of a long, sloping mesa  and the planes that don't fly up the river valley fly over our house.  I love to see them.  We aren't talking about jetliners, but mostly only about private planes.  It used to be, before 9-11, that the biplanes flew over, too.  It was very exciting to see them.  

9) When Elvis was alive, he kept the holiday lights up until January 9, the day after his birthday. That tradition continues at Graceland today. Conventional etiquette tells us Christmas decorations should go up the day after Thanksgiving and come down before January 6 (the 12th day of Christmas). Do you think it's ever too early, or too late, for Christmas decorations?  With so many rules about so many things, I think that Conventional etiquette can go take a hike.  I kept our tree up until April one year because it was such a cheerful thing to have during the rest of winter.  The kids loved it.  And of course, it was made possible because that year we had an artificial tree.  

Our little coat hanger Christmas Tree
Merry Merry!

SAM SAYS: 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!

Dear Readers.  If you would like to see more Saturday Nine posts Go HERE  to the Mother Ship and down to the Linkie at the bottom.  

Thanks again Sam, for this very lovely MEME.... I look forward to it every week!