Saturday 9: Volare

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

1) The word "volare" is Italian for "to fly." Say something else in Italian.  Ciao. Amore. Buongiorno. Arrivederci. Grazie. Prego. That's all I've got.

2) This week, Bobby Rydell invites us to take off with him up in the clouds and promises we'll find a rainbow. Countless lyricists have included rainbows in their songs. Can you name another song that mentions rainbows?  Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Rainbow Connection, Brown Eyed Girl.

3) His happy heart is singing. What is making you happy this morning?  I'm answering this Friday evening, but I'm anticipating being happy about feeling well enough to finally take down the Christmas tree and other decorations.

 

4) Bobby Rydell, like Frankie Avalon and Fabian, was a 1950s teen idol who hailed from Philadelphia. Home to the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, Philly is Pennsylvania's most populous city. Have you ever been there?  Yes, my grandfather's family had ties to the city, but I was so young I don't remember anything.

 

5) Bobby was such a perfect example of a clean-cut American boy that when Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey sat down to write the play Grease, they named their fictional high school Rydell High after him. Do you have a favorite song from Grease?  Oh boy....Grease is my all-time favorite musical and I love all the songs. We Go Together was the class song we chose when we ruled the school in 1982, but if I have to choose one I like just a bit more than all the rest I guess it would be Summer Lovin'.

 

6) In addition to singing, Bobby also acted. His most famous film role was opposite Ann-Margret in Bye, Bye, Birdie (1963). Have you seen it?  Several times, both the movie and the musical.

7) In 1960, when this record was popular, so were hand-loomed, 100% virgin wool sweaters from Italy. You could order one from the Sears catalog for $12.60 (approx. $135 in today's dollars). That sweater was labeled "dry clean only." Do you have any garments waiting to be picked up from the cleaners?  No. Dry cleaning has fallen so out of favor that I don't think there is even a cleaner in our town. It has been years since I've dropped anything at the cleaners.

 
8) Also in 1960, Princess Margaret married photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones. They met when he was commissioned to take her official portrait. Who took the most recent photo of you?  Probably someone at work.

 

9) Random question: Is your oldest friend also your best friend?  No.

Currently

It was back to work for me today. I'm not over whatever bug I have, but I am doing better than over the weekend. The horrible achiness has mostly passed and the constantly running nose has switched gears and gone to congestion. It was good that it was a fairly easy day at work.

... it's a "balmy" 37 degrees at 9:00. We have been well below freezing for a while now so today felt like spring even with the mountains of dirty snow piled here and there. We're warming up all week and predicted to hit the low 60s on Friday and Saturday. 

... getting ready to start reading the new Janet Evanovich novel, The King's Ransom.

... listened to a lot of classic country and Motown at work today. I love Christmas music, but after a month it's nice to listen to anything else.

... watching Antiques Roadshow. It's been ages since I've watched.

... thinking about the elderly, blind man I help care for. If you remember, he was diagnosed with throat cancer and has been in a nursing home through his chemo treatments. Those are done and he is coming home tomorrow and returning to work on Wednesday...but only until he goes to the hospital for surgery on the 19th. It will be a long and involved surgery and he will spend 2-3 days in the ICU followed by 4-5 days in a regular room. He was a "lot" before all of this and he is going to have a lot more needs after his surgery. I feel bad, but I have told my employer I don't want to take care of him any longer. It's just too much. The other caregiver has also quit. I did tell them I will help out a bit until he goes for his surgery to give them time to look for help. Pray they find people for him.

... feeling wide awake. All that sleep over the weekend sure has me rested up. I hope I can sleep tonight.

... celebrating the Steelers' win last night. They squeaked into the playoffs! We'll be having a pizza party at work next Monday before the game.

... grateful for grocery pick up and for my daughter who went to get mine yesterday since Tim worked. Also that this bug doesn't seem to be one that's going to linger.

... enjoying the towel warmer our daughter got us for Christmas. Talk about luxury!

... making me giggle

Sunday Stealing: When You Need a Break

Welcome to Sunday Stealing. 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!

This week's meme is inspired by Christina at Call Me Patsy, who turned to answering these questions when she felt frustrated by a project she was working on.

Questions to Answer when You Need a Break 

1. What would you rather be doing right now?  Just about anything other than sleeping. I've had a cold or some bug all weekend and nearly all I've done is sleep. There was so much I wanted to get done, not the least of which, was packing up the Christmas decorations for another year.

2. What is always on your grocery list?  Diet Coke, orange juice, eggs, and some kind of bread are the top items and always present on the shopping list.

3. Have you ever used a fire extinguisher for its intended purpose?  No, thank goodness!

4. How many times did you text yesterday?  Maybe two, because, uh, sleeping.

5. Would you prefer a slow-paced, relaxing vacation or one filled with new sights and experiences?  I would prefer a mixture of both. I want to see and do new things, but I want to have times to rest and relax, too.

Saturday 9: New Year's Day

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

Welcome to the first Saturday 9 of 2026.

 

 
1) In the lyrics, Taylor Swift promises she'll not only be there for the party, but for the clean up afterward. As we say move on from the holiday season, could your home benefit from a thorough cleaning? Yes, it could. Are you offering?

 

2) This song describes a party where guests took Polaroid pictures. Have you ever owned a Polaroid camera? Do you have one now? I had a One Step. My dad got for me the Christmas I was 13. I loved that thing. It's long gone and no, no Polaroid cameras in the house.

3) Taylor sings that we should "hold on to memories." What special memory from 2025 memory will you hang onto?  Our week long vacation with our daughter and her children.

 

4) Taylor Swift grew up on a Christmas tree farm in Pennsylvania. Have you taken your tree, or other holiday decorations, down yet? If you didn't decorate at all, let us know that, too.  No, everything is still up. I will be taking the tree and inside decorations down on Sunday. The outside things will have to wait for a thaw and/or my husband to have some time off work...whichever comes first.

5) Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announced their engagement but no wedding date has been shared. Do you anticipate attending any weddings in 2026?  No.

6) Travis' team, the Kansas City Chiefs, is currently 6-10. Not exactly the record their fans hoped for. According to a 2024 Pew research study, 53% of Americans said football is their favorite sport. Have you watched much football this season?  No. I like football, but Tim grew up in a family that didn't watch any sports and he doesn't like to watch either.

 

7) In 2017, when "New Year's Day" was released, Wonder Woman was a hit at the box office. While Wonder Woman's superhero abilities vary depending on which TV show, movie or comic book you refer to, some of her powers remain consistent: a) immense strength, b) superhuman speed, c) the ability to almost instantly recover/heal from injury. Which would you like to possess – a, b, or c?  I think I'd appreciate the ability to heal. Would that include healing arthritis?

8) Have you made any New Year's resolutions for 2026?  Nothing specific, just a general thought of being healthier.

 
9) What was the first thing to make you laugh in 2026?  My husband being goofy.

Thanks to Sam for the music and questions!

Play along here.

Saturday 9: Bye Bye Bye

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

This song was chosen because it's time to say goodbye to 2025.

Thanks for participating in Saturday 9 this year.

1) In this song, a man predicts his lover will start an argument. Is there anyone in your life who can be quarrelsome?  Yes, there are a couple who are never wrong and will argue anything and everything.

2) He says he's had it, he's checking out and signing off. Can you think of a time you were glad you walked away from something?  

I was very glad when I walked away from my job at the nursing home.

3) This week's song was performed by the band NSYNC. The group was formed in Orlando, FL, which is world famous as home to Walt Disney World. Today there are 12 Disney theme parks located around the globe. Have you ever visited one of these Magic Kingdoms?  We lived in Orlando for a couple of years when we were first married so we went to Disney World a lot. We've only been back once since we moved back north and we were a little surprised...we saw garbage, burned out lightbulbs...just little things, but back in the day you never would have seen such things. They went all in to make it a magical place.

4) They made a celebrity appearance on The Simpsons. What's your all-time favorite cartoon show? Scooby-Doo or Bugs Bunny. 

5) In 2000, the year "Bye Bye Bye" was popular, Brad Pitt was named People's Sexiest Man Alive. Are you crushing on anyone right now?  Nope

Let's look back on 2025 ...

6) What's the farthest from home you traveled in 2025?  Erie, PA, which is just a little less than 200 miles away.

7) What was the biggest purchase that you made in 2025?  Our new walk-in shower by far. The grands' jeep probably came in second.

8) What was your favorite book of 2025?  I don't know. I guess none made that big of an impression. It was a year of mostly fluffy romances.

9) What are you looking forward to most in 2026?  Getting healthier.

Currently

The day after Christmas. 

A day of pajamas and low expectations. 

Except from the cat. 

The cat expects food to be deposited in his dish...even though there is already enough food there to prevent starvation.

Christmas was good.

On Christmas Eve we had our traditional meal of take-out Chinese with my mom and stepdad. Fah-rah-rah-rah. (IYKYK)

Then I went to church with our daughter's family. The church was decorated so beautifully.

We were up early on Christmas for no particular reason. Santa spoiled us both.

Under the tree for me were new pajamas, pretty new sweaters and tops to match, a lovely scarf, and the big collection of Sharpies in all colors I wanted for crafts.

Tim found lots of new work clothes, a travel case for his pistol, and a new tablet.

We went to our daughter's for dinner. Mom and John were there, too, so it was the 8 of us around the table.

(It's still tough to accept that there should be 5 more who choose not to be here.)

More gifts, good food, and games.

The big moment came when we gave the grands their big surprise from us. 

A gas powered Army jeep.

It was Pappy's big wish to give it to them. Nanny was a little more reluctant.

The grands were a bit overwhelmed by it at first, but by the end of the afternoon they were driving it all over the place.

(Only with an adult along for the ride.)

Weather... bracing for icy weather that's supposed to be bad enough they already put restrictions on the interstates and turnpike last night and are asking people to stay home. Should be starting soon.

Reading... Second Chance Bookstore

Watching... Love, the Coopers

Thinking... about our oldest granddaughter. She turns 17 today. It's been 5 years since we've seen her. She's nearly a grown woman now, but still a little girl in our memories.

Loving... having nothing in particular to do today. The day after Christmas has always been one of my favorite days. The rush is over and it's a day to stay in your jammies, enjoy your gifts and each other, and eat leftovers.

And as my blogging friend, Linda, says..."keeping it real"... the older I get the more I fight melancholy during the holidays. I miss the ones who are gone. I miss the huge, loud, crazy family Christmases of the past. New traditions are good, but not the same.

Sigh.

Giggling...

 

Merry Christmas!