Come to the Caberet-Saturday 9

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

1) In this song, Liza Minnelli encourages you to put down "the knitting, the book and the broom." Which of those three were you most recently doing: knitting, reading or housework? Housework is eternal, but I was reading last night before bed. I don't knit any more because needlework is just too hard on my eyes and my knuckles.

2) She sings that we shouldn't allow "some prophet of doom to wipe every smile away?" Do you know anyone who reliably looks at the downside of life?   Not so much, but when I was working, there was always someone who was negative.  I try not to let those folks into my life.

3) In 1972, when this recording was popular, so was The Brady Bunch. In the two-part season premiere, The Bradys went to Hawaii. Do you have any warm weather vacation plans this fall/winter? I am going to Santa Barbara in January and February, it is usually pretty mild in the winter....but, isn't always reliably nice in the winter. Seeing the grandsons is great no matter what the weather. Their birthday is just one day apart and Caшa, was born on his Mom's birthday, it just make sense to go and celebrate the fun.

4) Though not her uncle, just a friend to both of her parents, Liza always called  Frank Sinatra as "Uncle Frank." Is there an older person in your life who isn't a blood relative, but who refer to as "aunt" or "uncle?" No, but my mom was Auntie Jeannie, to a lot of kids when I was younger.

5) Liza collapsed onstage during a Christmas concert in 2007. She says she'd been nauseous before she went on and simply fainted. Sam has never fainted. Have you? I have been nauseous before but I have not ever fainted. One time my mom fainted from heat, in line at Blue Bayou restaurant at Disneyland, and we got right in thanks to kindly patrons.
 
6) People are often surprised when they learn Liza is good friends with Gene Simmons -- the KISS member with the long tongue. Tell us about one of your good friends.  I have been lucky with friends, one friend is special, as she is the wife of Mr BC's best friend from school. We have been friends since we first met, so many years ago, she is my mall walking buddy too, so we see each other a lot.

Maggie and Jigs BFF

7) Liza told US Magazine that she loves to eat at Olive Garden. Do you? We have only been there once or twice, several years ago. I don't think it is truly authentic Italian, I was raised in a very Italian neighborhood, growing up in our southern CA suburb. Christmas was delicious.

8) She keeps apple juice and yogurt in her refrigerator at all times. Would we find either in your refrigerator right now? Yes, if Apple Cider counts as apple juice.  This time of year I have a bottle of it in my fridge.  I have some cartons of yogurt, but they might be out of date. I mix it as the liquid in spiced Chai concentrate, instead of milk and.... poof.... spiced cider.

 
9)  Random question: Which would be a more frustrating dinner companion -- someone who won't shut up, or someone who won't say a word? Both are not a great thing at dinner.  I guess someone who won't say a word, would frustrate me more, and probably make me uncomfortable if it was just us at a table. 

 

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.

Friday Fragments-Passport to Friendship

“Airplane travel is nature’s way of making you look like your passport photo.” -- Al Gore

Going to Post Office today to renew our passports....did you know most USPS offices will take your picture too?  The last time I renewed I had to get pictures taken elsewhere (AAA). I had to buy some new make-up for the pictures so I won't get lost on the white background.

Today was our friends, Maggie and Jiggs,50th wedding anniversary.  I met them in 1966 when I came to MO to meet Mr BC's folks. We had cupcakes and coffee today, after our morning walk in celebration. Mr BC and I will be 48 years this August.  The trip in September to Europe is in celebration of that Anniversary.

In 2 weeks, Mr BC leaves for a couple of weeks in CA to see the kids and grand kids.  I am going to stay home and watch the dogs and will probably go sometime this summer or fall after our big trip.

I am going to have my new floor in the dining room put in while he is gone, and have some ME time while he is gone. Maybe hit the antique stores in the area.

                             Joining Mrs 4444 for Friday Fragments

Busy Weekend-Friday Fragments

Joining Mrs 4444 for Friday Fragments

I haven't done Friday Fragments for a few weeks, mainly because I have not been doing too much to post about.  Winter has kept us indoors so much more than usual.  Today is the first day of Spring and we are starting to have a little hope of Spring in the weather forecast.  

We celebrated a birthday today at our daily walk in the mall.  After walking we usually spend an hour or so in the food court drinking coffee and chatting.  I have met a lovely lady, who walks everyday and visits with us, unless, she is delivering meals on wheels to seniors that day.  She turned 91 today and we celebrated with Maggie's (of Maggie and Jiggs) homemade cinnamon rolls. Ninety-one and she walks 6 days a week then delivers meals to other seniors, This lady is amazing and I want to be just like her when I grow up.

On Saturday we are going to the monthly meeting of The Greater Ozark British Motoring Club.  We haven't gone this winter because the weather has been bad on the meeting dates. I have to remember to bring the check book to pay the dues for this year.  They meet at a garage for an early morning technical meeting at 9:30 and we usually meet up with them at lunch at Logan's Roadhouse.  Mr BC wants to go to all the meeting and since Springfield MO is about an hour away,  I am going to have him drop me off at Battlefield Mall early....for a little walking and shopping and then he can pick me up for lunch. Going out for lunch, it has been so long.

Had a nice visit with DD2 on Wednesday.  I usually see her when she comes here to dry her clothes every other Wednesday....she has a washer but no dryer.  She was here most of the afternoon finishing up her laundry and I also drove her to pick up her car which was in the shop.  Just a nice visit!

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Feliz Navidad-Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Feliz Navidad (1970)

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

1. "Feliz Navidad" is Spanish for "Merry Christmas." Can you wish us happy holidays in a language other than English or Spanish? 
Joueux Noel!  I know a few more words in French.

2. According to ASCAP (the American Association of Composers, Authors and Publishers), this is one of the 20 most played holiday songs of the last 10 years. What's the most recent carol that you heard? 
We have a classical station that is playing a lot of instrumental and choral Christmas music and in the afternoon and I love turning on the radio.

3. Which Christmas song do you hope you never hear again? The one where Grandma gets run over by a reindeer.  
It is awful and then it becomes an earworm all day long.  Oops! There it is!

4. This week's featured artist, Jose Feliciano, was honored to perform this song at the tree lighting ceremony at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. If you were to win a trip to our nation's capital, which sites would you visit? 
I have been to DC and have seen everything I want to see.  I have other places to visit.  I especially liked the National Art Gallery.

5. As a very young child, Jose taught himself to play the accordion. If you could suddenly, easily learn to play any instrument, which would you choose? 
I guess the piano or guitar. 

6. Jose says that hearing early 1950s rock on the radio made him want to become a singer. What's your favorite music genre? 
Almost any thing except jazz or rap.

7. At 17, Jose had to drop out of school to help support his family. Too young to enter bars, he played guitar in coffee houses for tips. Have you ever worked a job where you regularly received gratuities? 
No, although when I was a bank teller, I was regularly given money....couldn't keep it! As a side note, I saw Feliciano in one of those coffee houses in Pasadena. I was impressed, by his music and his beautiful dog, who sat quietly at his feet.  I wasn't aware I was seeing someone who would be famous one day, though, I should have known.

8. Jose and wife Susan have been together for more than 40 years. Who is the happiest married couple you know? 
Mr BC and I come to mind....also our best friends Maggie and Jiggs.

9. Jose wrote and performed the theme of the 1970s show, Chico and the Man. What's your current favorite TV show? On network...The Middle....
We are currently streaming many favorites we like Time Team, each episode featured a team of British specialists carrying out an archaeological dig over a period of three days.  I am also hooked on A Place to Call Home, an Australian melodrama, Set in Country New South Wales in the period following World War II.  Both of them we watch on Acorn, a streaming channel of British TV.  I also am catching up on Foyle's War. I started watching that on Masterpiece Theater and did not know there were several seasons.

Chatting #148

1.  D3 is facing wisdom teeth removal. Have you had your wisdom teeth removed? Yes, several years ago.  I have had lots of dental work since. Just this past year, I have had a lot of painful and expensive work....take care of your teeth.

2.  Today Wendell is serving iced tea, iced coffee, and carrot juice. He wants me to ask you which you'd prefer.  I am loving ice coffee this summer, so that will do, Carrot juice is not my cup o' tea, Wendell, but ice tea would be my second choice.

3.  If you use a crock pot, do you have a favorite recipe? If not, what is your favorite, easy "go to" recipe? Crockpot enchiladas, it is sort of a layered casserole. Layer your enchilada ingredients, with your sauce, and about 6-8 tortillas I used canned sauce, and cook 5-6 hours.  I make it in the oven the rest of the year, but in the crock pot in the summer.  Tamale pie is good too.  Recipes are online for both.

4.  Do you prefer to wash dishes by hand or dishwasher? Yes, I know some of us probably don't like dish washing. Wendell flat out refuses! I just answered this question this weekend and I like to wash by hand first thing in the morning so that I can soak my hands in hot water. I set them to dry in the dishwasher, then run them all when I get a load.

5.  What are you looking forward to?  Back to dental work, I want to get my bridge work completed so I can chew again. I am also ready to get the RV fixed and get some travel in this summer.

I just took the doggies for a walk and ran into Maggie and Jiggs heading for home.  We weren't able to go to the Blue Grass festival with them on the 4th, and they said, as usual, since Mr BC and I weren't with them, the weather was beautiful, and maybe we are weather jinxes. I wish the RV were already serviced so we could have traveled locally this week as the weather has been dry and rather cool.  

Let's Have Iced Coffee and a Chat- #145

1.  What do you think you would have liked most from my menu?  The mango chicken salad and I love roasted sweet potatoes. The whole menu sounded delightful.
2.  Have you ever had an interesting experience with serving dinner guests?  One time I put my dessert on top of the fridge ( I had no other space).  When I opened the fridge it fell off and all over me and the floor.
3.  What's your favorite beverage, this summer? International Delight Lite Caramel Machiatto Ice Coffee...I have a glass every morning instead of hot coffee.
4.  Do you ever have bouquets of fresh flowers in your home?  No, not at present.  I do get them during holidays.
5.  Tell me something interesting. Please.  We will be going to a Bluegrass Festival for 4th of July week.  We are going Tuesday to get a good spot for the RV, with our best friends Maggie and Jiggs.  It is our first outing this season. 

Chatting about Bluegrass

1.  How well do you handle change? Better than some at my age and circumstance (old and retired).  I like a little change it makes life interesting. I am not always crabbing about how it use to be better, even though some times 'it did use to be better.'   I can adapt eventually to most change. I initially had a hard time adjusting to retirement, I kept feeling at the end of the day, that there was something I didn't get done.

Chatting on the Porch-Epic Fail

• What's  the one thing you feel is the biggest waste of  your time during an average week?Playing games on the computer.  Last night, I was playing Spider Solitaire and decided I would go to bed when I won a game.  Half an hour later I finally went to bed.... a loser. 

The ABC'S of Me-Sunday Stealing

Massive Alphabet Meme, part one

The Letter A
Are you agnostic?
I probably fall within the definition of a pragmatic agnostic. The view that there is no proof of either the existence or nonexistence of any deity, but since any deity that may exist appears unconcerned for the universe or the welfare of its inhabitants, the question is largely academic. I prefer to believe that I am a humanist.
What is your age?
I turned 66 last Thursday.
What annoys you?
So many things....mainly the daily news.

Utterly Obsessed.... With Nothing at All

http://mlkshk.com/

My current obsession are games.  I have been a bad blogger, Usually when I can't write I at least do my rounds and comment. But I mostly Lurk.  I have been seriously hooked on games.  I have been mindlessly playing at Nick Mom, Yahoo, and Facebook.  I use to play a few word games every morning first thing to get the mind warmed up, but lately it has moved more toward obsession.  We started turning the TV off at 9am, but now I think I have to turn the computer off as well.

We have had rain for over a week, with lots of storms that have been very scary, Think Moore OK, those storms went moved on to MO and while we suffered no damage they had potential.  Mr BC follows the weather on his laptop during the storms and I wring my hands.

This is Mr BC's high school reunion weekend.  We went to a dinner last night and it was a very small crowd for an all school reunion, There was a bigger crowd at the picnic.  I got to meet some more of the guys and gals Mr BC has talked about, lo these many years.  Mostly I was a little bored because Maggie and Jiggs weren't there.  We came home, and after a weekend of not taking the dogs with us when we went out, we took them for a walk in the park. They were so happy!

I Survived....Many Things

I talked about how I was feeling about this challenge here. If I do this again, I believe I will have a theme and I have another year to think about it.  I appreciate my new followers.  I have 70 now,  Woo Hoo! I have also found some new blogs to add to my reading list and now that I am back I am catching up and commenting.  It is not as daunting a task to read and comment because not all of my new reads are posting every day.  Life is getting back to normal.