That's Entertainment!

Let's talk about entertainment, okay?

1. Do you have an actor or actress whose movies you hate to miss? I usually see a movie that sounds interesting and if an actor/actress I like is in it, al the better! I love musicals and enjoyed The Greatest Showman and Coco. It seems like most of the movies I have gone to recently are the ones we take the grands to see. 

2. Is there a movie or TV program you could watch over and over again? There are certain movies that come out around the holidays that I see every year. Ten Commandments, White Christmas, It's a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Carol and Christmas Vacation.  I will watch Gone With The Wind, Sound of Music and Fiddler on the Roof when they come out. I watched all those movies with my parents and they are feel good movies. I like to watch Hallmark movies and When Comes the Heart.

3. Do you have a list of books or magazines you are hoping to read over the summer? Would you share it with us?  Bonus: do you make a cuppa something or a snack when you read? I have a couple of books waiting, but my Bible studies keep me busy. I just finished a book called Forgiving What You Can't Forget by Lysa Terkeurst. I have read a few of her books. I also like Francine Rivers and Have her book A Lineage of Grace on my list to read. I want to read The Let Behind Series. A fictional series of books that talk about what happens to some people after the Rapture which is when the Christians are taken to heaven in a blink of an eye. I will have tea when the weather is cold and ice water with fruit when it is hot. We do make popcorn when the grands are around.

4.  What kind of music do you enjoy listening to? I mostly like to listen to Christian music on Pandora. When I am with my hubby and going for a drive, we like to listen to oldies, music we listened to when we were dating and from the 60's and 70's. We have a few movie sound tracks that we like to listen to like The Greatest Showman and Phantom of the Opera.

On Monday we went to the beach, It was the high 90's at home and only 72 at the beach. The kids had fun building a big pit. 

Before we left we got ice cream. They were so happy and then they were quiet.

There will be more beach days.

One Bad Apple (1971)  Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here

Wow this song took me back to my high school days!

1) This song is a play on the old saying that one bad apple can spoil the bunch, or that the bad behavior of one member can reflect badly on the whole group. Do you think that's true? Sometimes it is. But I can think of lots of situations when that is not the case. But I still think you have to watch who you hand with and that is what I told my kids and now my grandkids.

2) The Osmonds began as The Osmond Brothers, a barbershop quartet that performed at the original Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Today there are 9 Disney Resorts all around the world, as far away as Shanghai. Have you ever been to a Walt Disney property? Many times to Disneyland Resort at California which opened up 3 weeks before I was born. My dad's friend worked there so we got in because of him. My uncles helped build the Matterhorn. I live about 30 minutes from Disneyland.

On my 60th birthday. We had VIP seats and George Lucas was a few rows ahead of us.

 3) By the time the Osmonds made this record, Donny had joined the group and became their breakout star. Without looking it up, can you name any of the other four brothers who performed in video clip?Jay????

 

4) In the 1970s, adolescent girls learned through teen magazines that Donny's favorite color is purple, and that he was especially fond of purple socks. Today, socks are a very big business. There are designer sock manufacturers and even a sock of the month club. Is there a wardrobe item you're very particular about? Yes, my shoes have to be comfortable!

5) Donny and younger sister Marie had their own TV variety show. One regular segment had them performing a medley of popular songs, and it began with Marie singing, "I'm a little bit country," followed by Donny's musical reply, "I'm a little bit rock and roll." In this regard, are you more like sister or brother? More like Donny's. But I also like sour and loved the Jackson Five!

 

6) Donny's popularity continues today. Fans have seen him win Dancing with the Stars (season 9) and come in as a runner up on the first season of The Masked Singer. Do you watch either of these shows -- or other competition series, like American Idol, The Voice, America's Got Talent, etc.? My husband and I like to watch Survivor, Dances with the Stars and American Idol. Sometimes I watch America's Got Talent and the Voice. I have been to some taping of American Idol and America's Got Talent.

7) Donny has also appeared on Broadway. He surprised audiences and got rave reviews as arrogant bad guy Gaston in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Tell us about a time when your behavior surprised those who know you well. In 2012 I was in Maui with my family and I got a plumeria flower tattoo on my ankle! 

8) Donny is also a grandfather, many times over! Sam admits she's not crazy about that revelation because it makes her feel old. What's something that makes you feel your years? My osteoporosis.

9) Random question: We're filling a pinata with your favorite candies. What should we buy? Butterfingers, Dove's Dark Chocolate with almonds. Reeses Peanut Butter Cups.

There are so may things to be thankful for! 

I am thankful for the time I am spending reading my Bible. 

I am doing to intense studies right now. One is on the book of John. 

The other is on the Holy Spirit. I have a lot of reading to do. 

I also get to add creative work too.

Thankful for being retired so that I have time for my studies and crafting.

Thankful for my husband, a great father, grandfather and cook!

Thankful for a great Sunday Service/

Thankful that my son and his wife like to play with the grands!

Thankful for being able to do fun activities with the grands.

Thankful for my Zoom study group. We completed our book study on

Forgiving What You Cant Forget by Lysa Terkeurst.

Thankful for my friends!

Saturday 9: Papa, Can You Hear Me? (1984)

This song was chosen in honor of Father's Day. Hear it here.

1) The song begins with a prayer to "God, our Heavenly Father." Do you often pray? Yes daily! It is a very important part of my life. I talk to him during the day but my long prayer time is at night.

2) This song is from the movie Yentl. Set in the early 1900s, it tells the story of a Polish girl determined to receive a religious education, even though the custom of the day banned girls from studying the Talmud. What subject do you wish you knew more about? Math. The fear of math kept me from pursuing the medical field. If I had received better counseling,  I may have succeeded. Now I encourage my kids to move forward in spite of your fear.

3) It took Streisand more than 15 years to get Yentl made. Studios initially rejected the project, telling her that audiences no longer want to see musicals. Then, because it centered on Judaism, she was told it was "too ethnic." But Yentl was a success at the box office, becoming one of the most profitable movies of the year -- and since Barbra was producer, director and star, she enjoyed those profits. Tell us about a time you're glad you stuck with something. I went through infertility. It took 4 years, infertility doctors, 3 miscarriages, medicine, shots and bedrest. God blessed me with 3 children.

4) The movie, and this song, were so popular that they earned a parody on The Simpsons. (See it here.)  That video has had more than 250,000 views. Before the Yentl parody, what's the last YouTube video you watched? My grandson playing the drums and it is posted on the link above in the header.

5) Barbra Streisand's father died suddenly, the result of complications after an epileptic seizure, just after her first birthday. He held degrees in both English Literature and Education and was a school superintendent. Do you know anyone who made a career in education? Yes my brother in law and my nephew. 

6) Sam's own father wasn't an educator, but he is crazy about the local library. He's there so much the librarians greet him by name. Do you have a library card? No I don't. I lost it. I do need to get over there this summer and take my grands.

7) For family barbecues, Sam's dad proudly dons his "Kiss the Chef" apron and mans the Weber. What's the last thing you cooked on the grill? My husband does most of the grilling. He has been teaching my grandson. My grandson cooked grilled chicken and steak on Monday.

8) He takes his grilling very seriously and jealously guards his marinade recipe. Do you have a recipe you're willing to share this morning? My husband does a marinade that includes lemon and oranges. I added a recipe below.

9) Sam's father hates it when his daughter swears. What's the latest curse word you used? (It's OK, we don't blush easily.) I don't like to use bad words. Oh shoot is what I sometimes say.

In my previous post I shared pictures my grandson playing drums.

The video is on the menu link above. If you visit, please give a thumbs up. Thanks!

This is a recipe I found from October 2020

I think I would use strawberries for the summer.

~Cranberry Raspberry JELL-O Dessert~

1(6 oz.) JELL-O Raspberry Flavor Gelatin

2 cups boiled water

1 can  (16 oz.) whole berry cranberry sauce

1 can  (20 oz.) DOLE crushed pineapple, un-drained

1 (11 oz.) can of mandarin oranges in light syrup, drained.

1 apple, chopped in small pieces.

2/3 cup  walnuts

Mix JELL-O with boiling water. Let it cool. Add the pineapple and cranberries.

Put it in the fridge for a few hours, mixing occasionally.

Peel and dice the apple.  Take out JELL-O from the fridge, add apple and walnuts.

3- Refrigerate overnight or until firm.

I remember my mom making this in a beautiful mold. She would place some pretty dark green lettuce down on a plate and then turn the mold over the lettuce. It was so pretty!

Weekend Highlights and Tuesday 4

I had the best weekend. We had lunch with our son and his wife. They showed us their pictures from Yosemite. Later we went to a birthday for our friend who turned 70 last year but celebrated this year. Another friend from church has a Taco business and provided the food. They had a live band that played oldies from the 50's, - 70's. It was outside so no mask.

Sunday was a great day, church with no mask! It felt great to sing maskless! Lunch afterwards at IHop and yes I had pancakes! Then my grandson Elijah had his first band recital and he did great!. He did so well and I am a proud Mema! He is 7 and there were about 10 kids, with him being the youngest. He did one thing the rest did not do,,, he sang as he played and he made us all laugh at the end!  He played The Reason, a song from 2004. Looking at a future worship leader! So happy I could see all my family this weekend!

He was so happy when he was done!

Now for

This week's questions come from Sparky! I hope you enjoy doing them.  

Let's talk about you .....

1. Music. What kind of music do you enjoy? Are you musical?  I love most music. I am just getting use to country music, slowly. Christian music is top on my list and our church just started playing a new song called Holy Water and my son asked if it was a country song! I like to listen to oldies from the 60's -70's. That would include Rock N Roll, Soul and Easy listening.  I am listening to Christian music on YouTube. The Blessing is playing. I can play the piano a bit.

2. Travel. Where have we been? What's your favorite destination(s)? I have answered this a few times. I have been to Hawaii 4 times and plan to go again in the spring when Covid restrictions have relaxed. So I guess you would say that is my favorite place! I have been to Mexico City and Acapulco. I have been on a cruise to Alaska with hubby and church friends. On New England cruise with my parents. Both those cruises stopped in Canada. I have been to Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. I have been to New York prior to the cruise and we visited Mass. and Maine. I have been to most of the famous spots in California like San Diego(90minutes away) Santa Barbara, San Francisco, So Lake Tahoe, Sequoia and Yosemite.

Waimea Falls

On Waikiki  Beach with Diamond Head behind in the distance.

On Diamond Head with Waikiki, Honolulu behind me.

This is on Oahu. We will be going to Maui in 2022.

Brunch at the Disney Aulani Resort

3. Occupations. Did you end up working at what you wanted to be? Do you wish you'd done something else, if so, what? etc. I got a degree to do Social Work but end up at the Postal Service. I end up working in the Marketing Department and really learned a lot on the computer. I loved working with graphics, putting together many types of brochures and training manuals. I also worked on big spreadsheets to keep track of the vending machines in our district. We had around 400 machines and we ranked number 2-15 in the nation. Grand Central Station ranked number one and Huntington Beach was number 2. Headquarters had the machine close down in 2009. I had it all completed by 2010 and they changed my job position and hours. I retired in 2011 with 36 years of service. If I could do things all over, I would have been a nurse.

This is me in front of a vending machine in Hawaii, 2009

4. How do you keep from being bored? I read my Bible, bible journal and craft. I am in a few Facebook groups.  A few are Bible study group with artistic aspects to it. Another group is just a fun craft group. I also spend time with my grands. 

 I found this video today on YouTube and thought it was so funny!

Saturday 9: Ain't That a Kick in the Head (1960)

Unfamiliar with this song? Hear it here.

1) Dean Martin asks the musical question, "How lucky can one guy be?" Tell us about a time when you got a lucky break. Getting moved to the marketing department after having been injured on the workroom floor. It opened up a new world for me.....COMPUTERS!

2) This song was introduced in the original Ocean's 11 movie. Have you seen it, or the remake and its sequels? I have not seen the original, but I have seen the remake.

3) All the Ocean's movies are about heists. Why do you suppose audiences enjoy watching caper films?

Action/adventure movies can be exciting. Also depends on the cast, like George Clooney, Andy Garcia and Matt Damon.

 

4) Dean was born in Steubenville, OH. Though he seldom returned to his hometown, he kept Steubenville in his thoughts, regularly donating toys to area children hospitalized over the holidays. Who received the last gift you gave? Our grand daughter when she graduated from 6th grade last week.

 

5) Dean was extremely claustrophobic and avoided elevators whenever possible -- and even when it wasn't. He was late for the first night of an engagement, even though he was staying at the hotel where he was performing, because he insisted on taking the stairs from his luxury suite to the showroom (18 flights). The hotel put him in a smaller, less prestigious room on a lower floor so he could more easily arrive on time for his own shows. Have you ever been stuck in an elevator? No.

6) He and Frank Sinatra were great friends, but they had their differences. For example, Frank loved to party and Dean hated it. One of Sinatra's favorite stories was about how Dean got bored with a party in his own home and went up to his bedroom to watch TV. When the guests didn't take his hint and leave, Dean made an anonymous noise complaint to the police, who came over and broke up the party. When it comes to parties, are you more like Frank or Dean? I am like Frank, I like a good party but my husband is like Dean. We are going to a big birthday party tonight. He will last around 3 hours and then say the dog has to go out and it is his bedtime.

7) Dean Martin had a secret passion for comic books. He loved them, but was too embarrassed to buy them himself. What's your guilty pleasure? Crafts!

8) In 1960, when this song was released, Princess Margaret married photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones. Their relationship began when he was commissioned to take her official portrait. Who took the most recent picture of you? My husband.

9) Random question (Not really so random, considering Dean Martin's reputation): Do you have a hangover remedy to recommend? Nope, never been drunk and rarely drink. I may get a virgin of something like a Pina Colada.

 

Saturday 9

My grand daughter graduated from 6th grade. 

She grew about 4 inches this year!

All the grand really grew this year. I shrunk a half inch!

Saturday 9: You'll Never Know (1943)

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

1) In this song, Haymes sings he must have reassured his girl "a million times or more." Does it frustrate you when you have to repeat yourself? Yes sometimes.

2) The lyrics were inspired by a poem written by a war bride to her soldier husband. Have you ever been in a long-distance romance? Yes, but I was only in high school.

3) This was the biggest hit of Dick Haymes, a popular singer in the 1940s. He got his big break when he replaced Frank Sinatra, who left the Tommy Dorsey Band to go onto bigger and better things. Are you a Frank Sinatra fan? I like him because he reminds me of my dad.

4) During the 1940s Dick Haymes toured with the Dorsey Band, made hit records, had his own radio show and appeared in nine movie musicals.  Yet by the early 1950s, he was broke. Part of it was that musical tastes changed, but more of it was that he enjoyed night life and high living too much. If you wanted to shave unnecessary expenses from your budget, where would you economize? Crafts.

5) He blamed his money problems for his ongoing hypertension. How do you combat stress? Listen to music, Bible journal. I am doing an online camp so I set up a tent in the back yard and laid on the air mattress and listened to the birds sing. It was relaxing. Then I worked on my Bible study.

6) Though he needed his voice to sing and suffered from high blood pressure, Haymes was a chain smoker. What bad habit would you like to quit? Snacking on unhealthy sweets.

7) Though raised since early childhood in the US, Haymes was born in Buenas Aires to an Argentinian rancher and his Irish wife. This enabled Dick to claim Irish citizenship later in life. Have you ever lived abroad? If not, do you wish to? No and no. I wouldn't mind traveling to other places.

8) Dick Haymes never regained his popularity as a singer. After touring Europe for years, he returned to the United States in the late 1960s and tried his hand as a dramatic actor, playing small parts on popular cop shows like Adam 12, McMillan and Wife and McCloud. If you had to support yourself as a performer, would you be more successful as a singer, a dancer, or an actor?  Actor.

9) Random Question: We're at the booth of a gypsy fortune teller. Would you be more embarrassed if she loudly and correctly guessed your age, or your weight? My age.

 

1.   What was the best thing you have ever bought? That would be my first house. Off all my homes, it is the one I liked the best.
       
2.   What was the best book you have ever read? The Bible and Gone With The Wind.

 3.   What is the best food you've ever eaten? My mom's tacos and I learned how to make them too. I guess you could call it a comfort food.

4.   What was the best movie or TV series you've ever watched? Grey's Anatomy.

Friday we drove 350 miles to Northern California. We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn which was very nice. We had dinner at Chilis and then shopped at Walmart.  Hubby had to get some desserts to take to a gathering after a funeral service we were attending. The service was on Saturday.  Sunday we stopped at my husband's brother's house.  His stepson is the person who passed away and I was able to talk to my sister in law about it. Her son was the same age as my oldest.  We left there and drove to Pismo Beach and spent the night in Pismo. We had a great dinner at a place called Brads. Then I got to meet up with my online friend named Sloan. We belong to the same crafting group and we met at a virtual camp 2019. The beaches were crowded even though they were pretty cool and overcast. It was really nice to get back home. 

This week I am starting an in depth study on the book of John with one group. I am also doing Encampment, a study on the Holy Spirit. It is on Facebook and it is free. It starts the first. Finally I am doing Camp Wonder through Illustrated Faith. 

My life group meets on Tuesdays for a few more weeks. This is the last week of school for the older grands and Jazzy graduates from 6th grade this week. I also have a dentist appointment this week. So it will be a another busy week for me. Thankful for those who died serving our country.