Saturday9

Saturday 9: Flipper (1964)

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

1) Flipper ran for three seasons, from 1964 to 1967. Are you familiar with the show? I remember the show. Were you a fan? Not really. We saw the movie and I was 14, so I wasn't interested.

2) Brothers Sandy and Bud consider a bottle-nosed dolphin, named Flipper, their pet. Do you currently share your home with any animals? My dog, Annie! She's great company. Just wish she could do something with her hair--she sheds! Here she is guarding her toys.

3) Bud and Sandy's dad was Chief Warden Porter Ricks of the fictional Coral Key Marine Preserve. In reality, the show was filmed in Miami and Key Biscayne. When were you last in the ocean? I think 2014. Which ocean was it? The Gulf of Mexico, Port Aransas, I think.

4) There was no one single "Flipper." In close-ups, the role was played by a dolphin named Susie. While Susie was good at interacting with people, she had trouble with stunts, and sometimes a male dolphin named Clown was brought in for action sequences. Do you consider yourself more social, like Susie? Or are you more athletic, like Clown? I used to be fairly athletic, I am somewhat social--not extremely outgoing.

5) Without looking it up, do you know the difference between a dolphin and a porpoise? No I'm hoping you will tell us.

6) Flipper wasn't just a TV pet. He was an industry! During the show's run, Flipper comic books, coloring books and puzzles were very popular. As an adult, do you entertain yourself by reading comics, coloring, or completing jigsaw puzzles? No.

7) The Flipper lunchbox was also a big seller. It came with a Thermos topped with a red cup. Do you own a Thermos? I just got rid of one. I had a plaid lunchbox with the thermos in it. I carried a plaid lunchbox all through elementary school and the thermos always had chocolate milk in it. You can't see it that well, but I am holding it in this pic.

8) In 1964, when Flipper premiered, it was up against The Outer Limits and The Jackie Gleason Show. If those were your only viewing choices, would you watch the family show about the dolphin, the sci-fi anthology show, or the comedy-variety show? (Or would your rather flip through a magazine?) I would rather read a book. But if we must choose something to flip, I would choose one of my magazines.

9) Random question  -- Which would you be more comfortable explaining: how a car engine works, the current IRS tax brackets, or the rules of baseball? Oh mercy, I will have to keep silent.

Sweet Summer Hodgepodging

1. The sweetness of summer...where have you found it recently? If you're in the Southern hemisphere, feel free to tell us about the sweetness you're finding in winter. 

So far, I'm experiencing the "sweatness" of summer, as I am working outdoors with my buddy Fred trying to get this house ready... purge, purge, purge ... clean, clean, clean. If the house doesn't sell, I will still be better off with all this stuff done!!! How's that for making lemonade out of lemons before you even have the lemons? 

But, to answer the question, the sweetness of summer has been the friendships and the people who have helped and encouraged me so much in all I do. 

2. Take your sweet time, sweet tooth, home sweet home, short but sweet, the sweet smell of success, sweet talk...choose a sweet idiom and tell us how it fits your life currently? 

Sweet tooth!! I'm finding myself indulging in sweets of some kind every day, can't open the pantry without seeing those chocolate covered almonds or peanut butter cups, and, thanks to me, the freezer is now running low on brownies and chocolate chip cookies!!

3. Sweet as honey, sweet as sugar, or sweet as pie, which phrase do you use when a sweet phrase is called for? Sweet as honey, I think. What's the last sweet treat you indulged in? Oh dear, yesterday at lunch with my friends, we had her chocolate birthday cake, and last night after dinner, I had a big slice of Alice's Italian Cream Cheese Cake. She baked it for a wedding! Not only was it delicious, it was quite lovely decorated with real flowers.

4. First thing that comes to mind when you hear the word fidget? 

Kids who can't sit still or maybe Fidget Spinners in the hands of kids who can't sit still!

5. Share with us one of your favorite childhood travel memories. 

I still smile when I remember how our family traveled to Illinois one summer, along with my aunt and uncle and their boy, Lonnie Wayne: five of us and three of them. Yes, I have shared this story and the pics a few times in the past! We traveled in an UN-air-conditioned, 57 Chevrolet. We drove all night from Arkansas to Illinois to visit another aunt and uncle and cousins. We enjoyed a wonderful time there and Aunt Gerry took us kids to the public swimming pool to cool off. Sweet! Swimsuits were available for rental since we had not brought our own. Ewwww!! It is hard for me to imagine us doing that today even though we were just kids about 9 and 7, I think. I remember threatening a little boy who put a frog down my sister's back!

We always loved going to Arkansas!

6. Insert your own random thought here. I am just posting some random photos of recent happenings. Not too many thoughts except I'm doing my best to not get my hopes up too much about my moving to a new location.

Fred working on the stairs to the upstairs deck

Cute kids at church meeting for first time.

The boy is gonna break some hearts!

Things around the house ... some sentimental and

some odd finds!

Here a mess, there a mess,

everywhere a mess, mess!

Lunch on Monday with long time friends was indeed a sweet summer treat. We celebrate 46 years of friendship and meet through the year on our birthdays. Yesterday was for my May birthday and Sherri's July. The you-know-what virus prevented our meeting in May as Nancy is 80 years old and at risk. Can you believe she is 80??? Anyway, we have a Willow Tree figurine that we pass on to each of us who is celebrating a birthday. In light of the clutter in my house now, I left it with Sherri to enjoy until we meet again.

Left to right, Sherri, me, Nancy

And the frosty mugs were in my DH's little fridge. It brought back the sweet memory of him singing, "Put it in a frosty mug for me, put it in a frosty mug, glug, glug, glug, put it in a frosty mug!"

The kids LOVED singing that with Grandpa as I poured up the chocolate milk or whatever beverage they wanted in a frosty mug!

 

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: 77 Sunset Strip (1958)

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

1) 77 Sunset Strip was one of TV's early hits, running for six seasons. Before this morning, were you familiar with this show? Yes, my parents watched this show and so, of course, we did also. All I remember about it is the theme song and Kookie, lend me your comb.

2) The show's jazzy theme is punctuated by finger snaps. When you snap your fingers, is the left-handed snap as loud as your right-handed snap? Left hand is weaker.

3) The show revolved around Bailey and Spencer Investigations. Stu Bailey and Jeff Spencer were among TV first "private eyes." Who is your all-time favorite TV PI? Maybe Columbo?

4) Their office had "a fancy label," meaning an attractive address, on Los Angeles' Sunset Blvd. Tell us about the prestige area of your neighborhood. Our neighborhood is a nice neighborhood, but I wouldn't say it was prestigious.

5) Next door was Dino's Lodge, the real-life restaurant and bar owned by entertainer Dean Martin. Are you a Dean Martin fan? I remember liking Dean Martin, but wouldn't say I was a fan.

6) The valet at Dino's was Kookie. He was known for his perfect hair, his slang ("ginchy" meant cool, "germsville" was the hospital, "a dark seven" was a bad week) and his desire to someday be a private investigator, like Stu and Jeff. Do you think you'd be a good detective? In my job as paralegal many, many years ago, before the Internet and Google, one of my jobs was to locate deadbeat debtors. I was pretty good at skip-tracing and later, that experience aided me in tracking down and researching material for my future employer.

7) Stu and Jeff had a loyal secretary named Suzanne, played by French actress Jacqueline Beer. In real life, she was married to adventurer Thor Heyerdahl, who famously traveled from Peru to French Polynesia by raft. Does 100 days on a raft, sailing the south seas, sound fascinating to you? NO!!

8) Clint Eastwood was fan of the show and, in the 1990s, tried unsuccessfully to bring 77 Sunset Strip back. Is there a show from the past you'd like to see "rebooted?" I can't think of any. It never seems to work.

9) Random question: Thinking about the last week, did you nag anyone? No. Or were you the one who was nagged? Not! Although in trying to empty out my house of non-essentials, one of my friends came to help and she was quite ruthless in telling me what should probably go. Sentimental old me may have held on to some of those things.

A Secret Hodgepodge

1. The Hodgepodge lands this year on National Secret Keeping Day...on a scale of 1-10 (with 1 being I'm a blabbermouth and 10 being I'm a vault) how good are you at keeping secrets?

I’m a vault. If you tell me not to tell anybody, I won’t.

I read here nine jobs for people who can keep a secret-cybersecurity worker, executive assistant, housekeeper, lawyer, nuclear plant technician, physician, private investigator, psychologist, security guard.  Of the jobs listed, which one most interests you and why?

Maybe the psychologist. Especially when a psychologist has been given a secret by someone who has committed a criminal act. I think there needs to be an exception to the rule of the psychologist keeping it secret, but, on the other hand, if there were, a criminal most likely would not confide in the psychologist.  

2. What's the secret of life (or one of them anyway)? 

Being thankful is one of the most important for me. The Bible says to be thankful in all circumstances because that is God’s will for me.

3. Off the record, best-kept secret, a fly on the wall, top secret, my lips are sealed, secret shopper, as quiet as a mouse, poker face, spill the beans, open secret, bite your tongue...which secret idiom can you best relate to right now? Explain. 

My lips are sealed right now as to something I am going to do. Not explaining because it's a SECRET. 

4. Spill here the secret ingredient in one of your favorite recipes? 

I have a recipe for chili that calls for chocolate chips, which I had never heard of before. Being a chocolate lover, maybe it is just my imagination, but I think it makes my chili really good! Haha!

5. My mama celebrates a big birthday tomorrow (Wednesday).  Share a favorite quote, song lyric, saying, or verse of scripture that will add some sunshine to her day (ours too!) 

“Age is merely the number of years the world has been enjoying you.” I don't know your mama's age, so she can read this scripture graphic I made for her as "even as we get older"!

6.  Insert your own random thought here. 

Growing older has definitely been a surprise. One day you’re chomping at the bit to be 16, old enough to drive, old enough to date, then 18, being on your own, 21, being married, it was so exciting. And then it’s: “what happened?” “ how did I get here so quickly!” I never pictured myself older, but here I am, 71. I am thankful for my life, that God wanted me to exist, and the many ways I have seen His hand in it in spite of my foolish ways along the road to now. And just think how many untold number of ways that He was there that I didn’t see. I love singing the song below:

The Goodness of God

I love You, Lord

Oh Your mercy never fails me

All my days, I've been held in Your hands

From the moment that I wake up

Until I lay my head

Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

'Cause all my life You have been faithful

And all my life You have been so, so good

With every breath that I am able

Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

I love Your voice

You have led me through the fire

And in darkest night You are close like no other

I've known You as a Father

I've known You as a Friend

And I have lived in the goodness of God, yeah

And all my life You have been faithful, ohh

And all my life You have been so, so good

With every breath that I am able

Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God, yeah

Written by: Ed Cash, Ben Fielding, Brian Johnson, Jenn Johnson, Jason Ingram - Bethel Music

Saturday 9 Grand Old Flag

 

Unfamiliar with James Cagney's 1942 version of this song? Hear it here.

1) The flag we currently fly, with 50 stars and 13 stripes, was designed by a high school student. When Alaska and Hawaii were added, President Eisenhower invited Americans to submit designs for how best to incorporate the two new states. Ike chose 17-year-old Robert G. Heft's submission from more than 1500 entries. Tell us about a contest you entered and won. (Or really hoped to win.) 

Our office building held a tenant party with a Caribbean theme and the really big door prize was a cruise to the Bahamas! I WON!!! That was our first cruise! Great time.

2) The government also has another of Mr. Heft's designs waiting: one that incorporates a 51st star if another state is added. When you were in school, did you memorize the states and their capitals?

Possibly, but I knew them from a Milton Bradley game about the states. We learned their mottos, flowers, and capitols. Probably other things as well.

3) Six American flags have been planted on the surface of the moon. Those are undoubtedly the flags farthest from you this morning. Where is an American flag flying near you today? By my front porch.

4) This version of the song was performed by James Cagney in the 1942 classic, Yankee Doodle Dandy. Have you ever seen it? Several times.

5) In that film, Cagney portrayed George M. Cohan, the composer of this week's song. In 1940, Cohan was honored by with a Congressional Gold Medal. In presenting him with the award, President Roosevelt specifically thanked Cohan for "You're a Grand Old Flag," "Yankee Doodle Dandy," and "Over There." What's your favorite patriotic song? I really like You're a Grand Old Flag, America the Beautiful and the song God Bless the USA by Lee Greenwood especially.

6) Though a performer his entire life, Cohan disliked listening to recordings of his own voice. How about you? Do you like your singing and/or speaking voice? I do not like to hear or see myself speaking.

7) James Cagney won the Oscar for Best Actor his performance as George M. Cohan. Also nominated that year was Gary Cooper, who portrayed Lou Gehrig in Pride of the Yankees. Tell us about another movie about a great American.  How about Helen Keller, Andrew Jackson, and Lincoln?

8) As a teen, Cagney juggled high school with a variety of jobs, including bell hop and delivery boy, and gave all his earnings to his family. Looking back, Cagney was grateful that he had to begin work early, saying, "I feel sorry for the kid who has too cushy a time of it. Suddenly he has to come face-to-face with the realities of life without his mama and papa to do his thinking for him." Do you agree? I agree. My parents taught us responsibility and stretching a dollar. I bought my first car when I had a real job, when I married, I paid for half the expenses, we never took any money from our parents for anything such as down payments, etc. 

9) Cagney had a rebellious streak. His boss, studio head Jack Warner, nicknamed Cagney, "The Professional Againster." Cagney joked that he enjoyed earning the title. What about you? Are you rebellious? Not so you could tell it, although I have resisted a few times. Hehe!! 

Grand old flag ... Forever in peace may you wave ... the emblem of the land I love, the home of the free and the brave. May every heart beat true for the red, white and blue and remember the sacrifices that made our freedom possible. Don't let it slip away!

A Starry Hodgepodge

1. Are you currently making plans of any kind? Yes. What kind? To sell my house and move. What emotions are associated with the planning process? Agonizing sentimental feelings and indecision mixed with excitement. Tell us about one plan you had to cancel due to the current situation which shall remain nameless. Ha! Haha!!! Just one?? Well, this very week a celebration for the 4th of July had to be canceled. 

I'm sorry for the kids that didn't get to have the standard graduation celebration, but most of the stories I've heard, they were able to come up with creative ideas. Also, people who haven't been able to have the wedding they wanted. My brother's friends had a wedding planned in Ireland for their son, which had to be canceled due to this current nameless situation. What disappointments for families who had loved ones pass away. And the other disappointments such as canceling vacations. My disappointments have been small in comparison. 

2. Last time you saw stars, either literally or figuratively? Hmmmm. I have to think about that. It's been a long time. 

3. Blueberries yay or nay? Blueberry pie, blueberry muffins, blueberry yogurt, blueberries by the handful...what's your pleasure? All of it!!! I've been eating blueberries for breakfast in my cereal. Blueberry muffins are so delish when they are fresh out of the oven (speaking of ovens, I cleaned both of mine yesterday!!)!! Here is the recipe "To Die For Blueberry Muffins". Truthfully, I don't understand naming any food "to die for" as no food is worth dying for.

4. swim against the tide, swimming upstream, in the swim, sink or swim, makes your head swim...choose one of the 'swim' idioms listed and tell us how/why you relate? Getting the house ready … so much to do!! And as mentioned above, trying to make a decision truly makes my head swim. I like what Joyce mentioned to me before about letting it percolate in my mind. It is!!

5. Sum up your June in a single sentence. All in all, it's been fairly pleasant and so I can't complain.

6.  Insert your own random thought here. I've had several things going lately, mostly work around the house and feeling a great sense of accomplishment. Yesterday we realized I'm the queen of shredding!!! But I did go over to see Sara and her family and took them out for dinner for Noah's birthday. 

He is 12 today (Tuesday)!

An unusual sunset on one of the Sahara Sand nights