It is Snowing; Sort Of......Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Snowbird (1971)

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

1) In this song, Elvis wants the snowbird to fly away and take the snow back with her. Have you seen a measurable snowfall yet this season? As of Friday we have not. A tiny amount accumulated on the trash can this morning and it is cold.

I wish I still put up my Christmas Village.  I could make it so much more realistic with trash cans.😉

2) Drivers in snowy climes are encouraged to keep salt, sand or kitty litter in the trunk because those items can help a car regain traction in the snow. Do you have an emergency kit in your car right now? If so, what's in it? We have a first aid kit, and a quilt in the back of the truck, but that is about it.

3) Back in 2007, North Dakota set the world record for the most snow angels made at one time (8,910). Do you enjoy playing in the snow? 

  4) Chionophobia is the fear of snow. Astraphobia is the fear of thunder and lightening. Lilapsophobia is the fear of tornadoes and hurricanes. Do you have to cope with any of these fears? Tornadoes and lightening, living in the midwest.  Earthquakes were a really big fear when we lived in California. My mom hated lightening and when we were ever riding in the midwest, (Okla) she would ride with a pillow over her head.  Tornadoes and thunder and lightening not a big thing in CA.

 5) Elvis' daughter Lisa Marie split her childhood between Memphis and Los Angeles, so she seldom saw snow. When she was a little girl, she was whisked  off to Denver in her father's private plane so the two of them could spend an afternoon playing in the snow. If you could take off and spend the afternoon anywhere in the world, where would you go? I would go to Santa Barbara to visit these fellows.

6) At home and onstage, Elvis refused to wear jeans and only wore denim if a film role demanded it. This is because when he was young, classmates teased him for "dressing poor" in jeans and coveralls. What did you wear to class when you were in grammar school? In CA in the 50's and early 60 we still wore dresses or skirts to school.  I never wore pants until maybe high school, and I don't think we wore them, much then. Cold weather was not a big issue and I can't remember wearing tights. I did not wear jeans until I was in my 40s. 

7) Elvis and President Jimmy Carter are distant relatives (the President is the sixth cousin of the King's great grandfather). Your turn: Tell us about one of your more interesting relatives.  My Grandpa came to Oklahoma from IL in a covered wagon when he was a small boy. When he was 18 he was a school teacher in Homestead OK for a short time, because he was a high school graduate.  He had a farm with a yellow tile barn and was a rural postman.  He came to CA after WW2 to retire. He was a farmer all his life and always put out a garden, when he moved to Vista he raised rabbits.  He was rather a stern man but busy until he passed away in 1967.

8) In 1971, when Elvis released his recording of "Snowbird," You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown was a hit on Broadway. Who is your favorite Peanuts character? 
Lucy is bossy and somewhat self assured, I liked her because she was so confident. I think I liked her because she was everything, I wasn't.  I was a better big sister than she was....just ask my brother.

9) Random question: You receive a gift certificate from a gourmet food company that can be redeemed for one of these three things: 1 lb. of caviar, 5 lbs. of steak or a 10 lb., live lobster. Which would you choose? Live Lobster

 

 

Sunday Stealing-The Boat Questions

Still not sure why it is called the Boat Questions.

1. YOU HAVE 10 BUCKS AND NEED TO BUY SNACKS AT A GAS STATION. WHAT DO YOU GET? I would be on a road trip so I would get a couple of bottles of water, coffee, and nuts, popcorn or candy if I am driving next, a 5 hour energy.

2. IF YOU WERE REINCARNATED AS SOME SORT OF SEA DWELLING CREATURE, WHAT WOULD YOU BE? A manta ray, they are slow and beautiful swimmers and can be playful.

3. WHO'S YOUR FAVORITE REDHEAD? Julianne Moore and Prince Harry.

4. WHAT DO YOU ORDER WHEN YOU'RE AT A DINER? Usually breakfast as that is the time we would probably stop at a diner.

5. LAST BOOK YOU READ? I just finished the Harry Potter series.

6. DESCRIBE YOUR FAVORITE PAIR OF UNDERWEAR? Cotton and roomy.

7. DESCRIBE THE LAST TIME YOU WERE INJURED. I sprained my wrist, wrestling my brother in law's very large dog into my yard .  I fell on it, and went to the doctor.

8. ROCK CONCERT OR SYMPHONY? I love most music. LAST SEEN? Willy Nelson, last year.

9. IF SOMEONE WERE TO BUY YOU A GIFT, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE IT TO BE?
I would like it to be plane tickets to California to see the grandsons,any time I wanted.
 
10. WHAT TYPE OF SHIRT DO YOU (look) BEST IN? Well I wear T-shirts mostly.  I probably look best in a long sleeved knit shirt.

11. IF YOU COULD USE ONLY ONE FORM OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? A chauffeured limo.

12. WHAT IS YOUR DEADLY SIN? Sweets!
 

13. MOST RECENT MOVIE YOU'VE WATCHED IN A THEATER? RATE IT. Les Miserables, not as good as the stage play, but enjoyable.  We don't go out to the movies...mostly stream them on TV.  Last night we saw Joy, with Jennifer Lawrence and I really liked it. Very uplifting.
 
14. IF YOU COULD INVENT ONE THING, WHAT WOULD IT BE? A transporter like in Star Trek. It would be excellent for travel.

15. NAME AN ACTOR/ACTRESS YOU'VE HAD THE HOTS FOR? Sean Connery, I have told you that before. 
 
16. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE CITY? LAST TIME THERE? London, I was there, a year ago.  I love England and would like to see more than London.
 

17. WHAT'S THE FIRST WORD THAT COMES TO MIND RIGHT NOW? Vampire, we are watching a travel show about belief in vampires in Romania, on the travel channel. Mr BC left it on that channel when he took his accidental nap.  He has the remote.
 
18. WHAT TYPE OF PET DO YOU HAVE? We have 2 funny dogs.
 

19. WHERE HAVE YOU LIVED THE LONGEST? In southern California, I grew up there and Mr BC and I lived there the better part of 30 years.

20. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON THAT SPENT $100 ON YOU? Mr BC.
 
21. WHAT'S THE LAST PIECE OF CLOTHING YOU BOUGHT? A couple of long sleeved shirts and a purse, last week at Ross.

22. WHAT WAS/IS YOUR FAVORITE JOB? When I did substitute teaching in elementary school about 48 years ago.
 

23. WHO MAKES YOU LAUGH THE MOST? Mr BC

24. WHAT ARE YOU CRAVING? Macaroni and Cheese.

25. WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND? My grandsons and DD1.  She is raising them right. Just got a picture of Лука 7 reading a book to Caшa 5, such a sweet scene!

Friendly Fill-Ins and Friday Fragments

 

http://mcguffysreader.blogspot.com/

Week 27: November 11, 2016

1. Cursive handwriting should be taught in schools. I know that many schools do not have this as part of curriculum any more. It will probably become a lost art.

 
2. The last item I donated: was a box of clothes and small household items to Goodwill. I always have a box or bag of items ready to go.  I am trying to divest this house of all the miscellaneous and duplicate items of my MIL and mine.  We inherited her house and contents and there are a lot of things that need to be  cleared out that we just put in boxes in storage.

3. My (personal) song is: Devil With a Blue Dress, because it is Mr BC's song for me when we were dating.

4. Three things I am thankful for this week are: Took the dogs to the vet this week and Gwennie's heart was strong and was taken off of Lasix, she is still on a diet, Totum got some allergy medicine for his intense scratching,  and the weather is beautiful, although we could use a freeze so the grass would stop growing.

Today is Veteran's day, where we remember and honor America's Veterans.  I want to specially honor my veteran.....Mr Bankerchick.

 

If you don't care for political conversations I suggest you don't read on. I usually don't talk politics but this election has been particularly problematic and maybe not so Friendly. 

My Friday Fragments pieces will be mainly about what every one is talking about....and not necessarily a fragment. It would be incorrect to say I was happy with the election results. Not because I was crazy for Hillary so much, but because I don't like Trump at all, and I am deeply disappointed and worried for the country.

DD1 and DD2 are of the same mind and were Hillary fans, acknowledging the same feelings I had with her opposition, and DD1 shared a lengthy text with all of us when DD2 asked about the boys. And the discussion she had with the 7 year old.  I have excerpted a bit of it since she had taken the oldest with her to vote on Tuesday, so he was aware of who his mom was voting for.  I think she had a great discussion with him, even though she was having a hard time Tuesday nite.

 

"Caшa,is pretty blissfully oblivious at this age, but  Лука, has been talking about the election the past few months since the US political process is a classroom discussion item. I explained to Лука,  that a big reason I don't support Trump is that he represents the polar opposite of everything I'm trying so hard to teach them about being a decent and good-hearted human beings. Лука, was disappointed when I told him that it looked like the man I have described as a bully will probably win, but I pulled myself together and let him know that this country has enjoyed good presidents and survived bad ones, and we can be grateful that the sun will come up in the morning and we'll get through this like we do any other challenge."
 
I sincerely hope that she is right, and the boys, (and the rest of us) will not be impacted negatively, by his administration. The news indicates that all is not well out there already.

Friday Fragments

Mr BC has switched over to a dialysis cycler, from manual dialysis.  It has made our days available to us again, because he sleeps through the night while it works its magic instead of doing it several time in 4 hour chunks..  Yesterday, we ran errands and had lunch out, at Panera, for the first time. I liked it.  I had a Thai chicken salad.

Spring is here, there are still blossoms on the redbud but the forsythia is leafed out green. Did you know redbud blossoms grow directly out of the bark of the tree?  I didn't.  I still have some bulbs that will blossom, though most have come and gone.  I was worried about a dry spring, but there are more storms to come on the weekend and next week.

Gwennie is afraid of thunderstorms, and spends the duration in the shower,  She can get quite wet if the shower has been in recent use.  I got a good sized teak bathmat?? to keep her up off the floor of the shower and less damp.  She seems to think the shower is more secure, than under the bed where she is most of the time.

We are preparing the RV for our trip to CA.  Have an appointment for servicing on Friday.  When we had some work done last time....at a provider, not to be mentioned. We paid quite a lot and the electrical...when switched to DC....quit working, and that made it hard to refrigerate while driving.
The guy told Mr BC to try something, that might work, but we still have a drip from the air conditioner and the servicing to be done.

I think I mentioned before we are getting a park, not far from where we live.  The entrance will be right on old Route 66 and we right down the street about 3 blocks.

Caшa has gone to Belgrade with his Daddy on his yearly spring trip to the University of Belgrade.  Лука is now in school and this does not coincide with his daddy's trip, so now it is the little one's chance to travel with daddy to Serbia and visit with family.  He is having a good time with his daddy, family and their kids. We get pictures almost every day.  The both boys were there for Orthodox Christmas in Jan.  Лука is having a great time too....Mama took him to the USS Iowa in San Pedro, for a day's adventure. 

He is a Lefty.....good try!

Well, I meant to post to Facebook!

I guess this is as good a time to start posting again, as any,,,,,I really enjoyed this video of marching geese.

Hello, everyone!  We have had an eventful summer:

We spent July 4th weekend at Starvy Creek Blue Grass Festival  Maggie and Jiggs.  This was our first outing with the Motor Home.  As usual we had a great time.  We took the dogs, as fire works are not allowed, and they start the first of July or earlier in our neighborhood. vexing all the puppies.

In August we went to St George Utah, for my nieces wedding.  It was a true family reunion to have my brother and his family, DD1's family and DD2.  We had a grand time.  It rained all morning but the sun came out in the afternoon. and all was beautiful and fairly cool.
She had cupcakes instead of regular wedding cake, which Caшa, and Лука, enjoyed!  She did have an unusual smaller cake that the bride and groom cut.  It was decorate with blackboard and chalk frosting something she always said she wanted!

The reception was fun with lots of dancing and a photobooth Лука, who has been dancing since he could walk, danced all night along with his mother, or his brother or by himself.  Caшa was possessed by the photobooth.  He photobombed a number of guests and learned how to take the picture.  Every time we lost track of him he was sneaking into the photobooth.

The next event is our trip to Europe at the end of the month.  I have had the London segment pretty well planned for a month,  We are going 2 days earlier than the tour for some extra time.  I splurged on a 3 day London Pass for the extra days and I hope it will be a worth while expense.  One good thing about the pass was last week they sent me an email about some tickets for Buckingham Palace being available,  I went right to the website and scored 2 tickets for one of our non tour days.  It was really something I wanted to do that was not included with GoAhead Tours.

All About the Cars-Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Freeway of Love (1985)

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

1) In this song, Aretha's ideal car is a pink Caddy. What's your dream vehicle? A 1965 Cherry Red Mustang. 

2) Have you ever owned a convertible? We have 3 right now, all vintage British Sports Cars. An MGB, MGTF, and a middle of restoration Triumph R3. 

This will be the final Product

3) Aretha longs to "drop the pedal and go." Are you a careful, conservative driver? Or do you enjoy going fast? I go with the traffic and I think I am a defensive driver.

4) Aretha's grandmother Rachel helped raise her. Tell us about one of your grandparents. Harry was born in the 19th century and was a farmer in Oklahoma, and also a rural postman. He and grandma moved to California when he retired at the end of WW2. I remember him as being a little gruff as he wouldn't let us win at card games just because we were kids. He was my favorite of all my grandparents. He always wore a hat.  

5) Aretha played a waitress in the 1980 movie, The Blues Brothers. Have you ever worked in food service? My first job was passing dinner trays at a nursing home and picking them up and taking them to the kitchen.  I was a senior in high school.  

6) Aretha was a chain smoker for decades and had a terrible time giving up cigarettes. What habit do you wish you could break? I wish I could curb my sweet tooth.  It is the cause of my weight and the condition of my teeth.

7) A sculpture of Aretha is at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in New York City. What's the last museum you visited? The Natural History museum in Santa Barbara with Лука, they have a sand box where you can dig for dinosaur bones.  It is a charming little museum.

8) Since Aretha has many honorary degrees, it would be appropriate to refer to her as Dr. Franklin. Who is the last person you addressed by his or her title (Officer, Father, Pastor, Dr., etc.)? My family physician last week. 

9) The daughter of a minister, Aretha enjoys singing "church music" and her 1972 CD Amazing Grace is one of the best sellers in gospel music history. Do you have any gospel music on your phone, iPod or MP3 player? I have Aretha on our devices, but not gospel. I enjoy a little gospel but, I prefer hymns sung, as I remember them being sung, if at all. I love this version of Amazing Grace with Il Devo.

The Nosy Meme-Sunday Stealing

Nosy Meme 

Stolen from: FYeah Surveys

Average hours of sleep: 

Usually I sleep about 7 hours a nite.  I go to sleep ok, I just can't seem to stay asleep.

Last thing I googled: 

Doggie gates from Amazon

One place that makes me happy: 

Santa Barbara with my Grandsons, at the beach or playground or even Costco.

How many blankets I sleep under.

We are currently sleeping under 2 blankets and a set of flannel sheets, with our dogs, we are very toasty.

 What are you wearing right now: 

Jeans and a t-shirt and I am feeling a little cold.  Need to put on a sweater. I think I'll go get the new one I bought at TJ Maxx.

 Last book you read:

I am still reading the Princess Bride, the last book I finished was As You Wish, by the Dread Pirate Roberts, Cary Elwys. I should read my Kindle Fire, but I find myself playing games.

Favorite fictional character:

Jane Austen's Elizabeth Bennet or Louisa May Alcott's Jo March. 

Last movie I watched in the cinema: 
We watch most of our movies On Demand, so I think it was the Lego Movie with grandson Лука, it was a actually a pretty good movie. 

Dream vacation: 
Well I am taking Mr BC to London, Paris and Rome in September. But I think my dream vacation would be an around the world cruise or living in England for 6 mos in a cottage.

Dream wedding: 
I have been married for 47 years and I had the wedding I wanted at the time. A destination wedding anniversary would be nice.

Dream pet: 

One who will eat perfectly.  I have two on a veterinary diet to lose weight. And one who is a picky eater.

Dream job: 

One that involves travel and relaxing. It would be the only way I would leave retirement.

How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are? 

Probably 40.  Those were good years.

Which is worse, failing or never trying? 

Never trying keeps you from failing, but life would not be very interesting.

If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do? 

It's called responsibility and I must admit that as I grow older and have less responsibilities....I do more things that I like.