Friday's Fave Five & Saturday 9

Thanks to Susanne and Sam for the memes. The links are on the left.

Five favorite things I am thankful for this week.

A few of my friends and I met up for a pool party potluck and delayed birthday celebration for my friend Stephanie and I. That was on Tuesday.

Thankful for all the things I am learning as I prepare for my next Bible journaling day.

Thankful that our trip to the vet didn't show a back problem for our doxie. But she did have some bites on her lower backside, probably from her and Coco playing to rough. Coco is bigger and a year and a half. She is not aggressive, and they both play hard. Minnie is long hair and so we didn't see anything. But we did notice she was licking herself a lot and then not herself for two days, so we took her in. She will be on antibiotics for a week, pain pills and ointment. Sure wish we had doggie insurance!

Thankful that I was able to go to a nearby large church to her Lisa Harper speak on Thursday. I also got one of her books called Luke, Gut Level Compassion. She will be speaking again on Friday night.

Thankful that my son was not seriously hurt Thursday when he got hit from behind. He said the car hit him a few times and he looked in the mirror and saw that the driver was having a seizure. So he called 911 and after the police took the report, he drove himself to the urgent care. Hopefully his card won't be totaled by the insurance. 

Morning Train

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

1) In this song, Sheena Easton sings about her lover, who takes a train to and from work each day. When is the last time you took public transportation? Where did you go? I went to spend two weeks in Walnut Creek Ca with my cousin in 2018. She was house sitting for her brother. One day we took the Bart train trans tube line, under the Bay bridge and we came out at Downtown San Francisco. We walked to the wharf and got on a boat and went up to and under the San Francisco Bridge, then by the Alcatraz and toward the Bay Bridge. We went shopping and ate in China town. We took the cable cars back downtown to get back to the Bart.(Bay Area Rapid Transit.) On the Bart

We had so much fun and then I had to fly home, 400 miles away.

2) His workday begins at 9 and ends at 5. Do your days stick to a predictable schedule? I am retired and don't have a work schedule. Our church groups start back on the 9th and then we will be on that schedule. But most of what we do revolves around our family.

3) In the evening she sings that they may go to a movie, a restaurant or slow dancing ... whatever she wants. Which of those would you choose? I want to go to the movies.

4) As a little girl, Sheena Easton performed at family gatherings, not just because she was talented but because she could be a bit of a ham. When you were a kid, were more often shy or outgoing? I was a hyper outgoing and talkative. I made friends easily. I learned to be in control of my behavior. I am now more of who God made me.

5) In the late 1980s she was the spokeswoman for Bally's health clubs. Do you have a gym membership? Yes, I do and I have to get back to Chuze. I get a free membership with my health insurance.

6) In 1987 she played Sonny Crockett's love interest on Miami Vice. Were you a fan of the show? No.

7) This weekend is a good reason to have a picnic or barbecue. The best-selling barbecue sauce flavors are sweet, spicy, and smoky. What's your favorite? Sweet with just a hint of spice.

8) Labor Day weekend may offer a golden opportunity for napping and sleeping in. Do you snore? My husband says I do if I am on my back and my sinuses are bothering me.

9) Labor Day traditionally marks the beginning of the fall. Will you be adding any new fall clothes to your wardrobe? Maybe, but it doesn't get cold here until near November. I will be decorating the house for fall starting this weekend.

Previous entry had a fun make a story based on a picture, and I really enjoyed it. I need to copy it and send it to a friend. 

Tuesday 4 - Dark Academia & Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

Welcome back to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.  Toni loved to have people open their minds and think about things .. think into things.  Let's try that this week okay?      

 A popular trend in home décor and mood background music is called  *Dark Academia and it is based on novels set on old university campuses that have secrets, love affairs, mystery and the scenes and mood these novels evoke.   Velvet sofas, old books, Victorian wallpaper, deep high back chairs, antique photos and paintings, candles, romantic lighting and classical music are all part of it.

1. Does this picture evoke any feelings in you? If so share what they are please. What is the mood it sets for you? I lightened the picture to show off the beautiful windows. It lightened the background too.

2. Put yourself into this scene.  Where are you going? It's early morning and I decided to go early before the street comes alive. I see that the owner is up already getting ready for her usual crowd. I am walking briskly since the air is cool, but I am enjoying the smell after a night of rain.

3. Do you have a companion or are you going to meet someone? Who is it? I will be meeting my cousin Joanie. We both love the cozy and historical feel of this place. We love books and coffee. This place has the best coffee and pastries. The owner uses a few soy candles and they don't bother me like regular candles. There are more battery-operated lights that still give off a soft glow.

4. Using your imagination describe who and what you find inside the foreground building.  Is it a restaurant, library, academic building, a home?   We love this old bookstore that is also a coffee shop. We love the cozy chairs and the decor. There are different areas to sit in and Joanie loves poetry, so we make our way to her favorite section that features the Bronte sisters. We enjoy the pictures on the way and the soft music playing in the background. The lights next to the chairs are bright enough to read, but not to strong. We are having the best conversation and don't even notice the people coming in. Joanie takes a bathroom break while I check my messages. When she comes back, I leave to use the bathroom too, you know, the coffee does that to you. On my way back I stop at the counter and browse through the bookmark rack. I find one that has two women having tea. I get one for Joanie and myself to remember this morning. I find and her and we both get ready to leave. I give her the bookmark and she smile and hugs me and then hands me something from her purse. It is the same bookmark! We laugh and hug each other. We make plans to meet up soon and walk out to the sunlit street and a now busy street. Off to the world of Academia as we embrace the Light!

Thanks to Annie for this creative meme! The link is on the left.

Wednesday Hodgepodge, thank you Joyce!

1. What is one cliche you think is nonsense? Better late than never.

What's one you think holds truth? You can't judge a book by its cover. 

2. What's the last thing you broke and how did it happen? A small picture frame that I dropped

3. Are you a fan of s'mores? Have you had a s'more this summer? I ate a few this summer.

Every me our grandson came over, he asked for a smore.

Last thing you ate that you wanted to ask for 's'more of'?  My granddaughter made a gluten free cake

for our birthday and it was great. I usually don't eat cake, but I even enjoyed a small piece the next day.

4. A mode of transportation you've never tried? Will you someday? a spaceship and no I won't try it.

I have ridden in/on a bike, car, motorcycle, train, plane, outrigger canoe, cruise ship, submarine

Our 50th anniversary on August 10.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I am doing this on Tuesday morning. I am going to a swim party later today and have to go make sandwiches. I have been busy working on my next Bible journaling kit.

I have learned so much about some of the trees/plants of Israel. I learned some new Bible verses too.

Friday's Fave Five & Saturday 9

Thanks to Susanne and Sam for the Memes and their links are on the left.

1. Thankful to be back at church after missing 2 weeks. We did watch online.

2. Thankful for cooler weather. We were at 103 on Tuesday. Thanks for AC too! While enjoying the cool air, we made reservations for two of the specialty restaurants on the cruise ship. It isn't until January, but we were advised to book well in advance. This is part of our 50th anniversary celebration.

3. Thankful for this computer. I have been able to search for information for my next Bible journaling meet up on the. The topic will cover trees and fruit. I learn so much when I prepare for my group. Then I have to decide what verses I want to use because I can't use many. I also find the graphics to go with the verses or theme. After I found what I want, I cut and resize the pictures and insert them into a document. Then I send it to the printer. I cut everything and make little kits. It does take time, and a lot is done while I watch tv or I take in in the car when hubby and I are driving somewhere.

4. Thankful that I visited my Aunt last week. She passed away today. I will see her in heaven someday.

5. Thankful for the cute things I find on the net that are encouraging or funny.

Saturday 9: Sh-Boom (1954)

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

1) 70 years ago this month, the Crew Cuts were singing that life could be a dream. When you awaken, can you recall your dreams? Most of the time I can unless I wake up suddenly.

2) The lead singer refers to his girl as "darling," "sweetheart" and "baby." Have you used an affectionate endearment lately? If yes, who were you speaking to? Hun to my husband. Baby or Ba to my youngest grandson. I have lots of nicknames for my dog, Minnie that I say in an affectionate way. I call her Eme, or Meme.

3) Two members of this Canadian quartet are brothers, born 15 months apart. Do you have siblings? If yes, how close in age are you? Terry and I are 16 months apart. Ann and I are 31/2 years apart and my brother and I are 6 years apart. Ann on top, Terry on right, Scott in the middle.

Ann and husband Ernie, Hubby and me, Terry, SIL Cindy and brother Sam

4) A hit in Toronto, the Crew Cuts traveled by car to appear on TV in New York. How are your wheels? Would you give your vehicle a tune up before embarking on a 1,000 mile (500 miles each way) road trip? Yes, my husband keep the service up to date, especially before a long trip. 2 years ago we drove to Lake Tahoe. It is about 900 miles round trip.

5) In 54 and 55, they had five Top 10 hits. Then the Crew Cuts fell off the charts. Founding member Rudi Maugeri suspects it's because they were a "teen act" and teenage music tastes can change fast. Who did you listen to when you were in high school? Lots of Motown( like the Jacksons, Smokey Robinson, Supremes, , Temptations, Four Tops, Gladys Knight and the Pips,  Spinners, and many more. I also enjoyed easy listening/soft rock like Carole King, Elton John, Carly Simon, The Carpenters. We mostly listen to Christian music now, but when we went away for our anniversary, we played a station that had the oldies on it. I had to come back and add Crocodile Rock. It was popular when I was a senior and it had my name in the song!

6) A well-maintained crew cut should be trimmed every 2-4 weeks. Is there an appointment with a 

hairstylist on your calendar? Yes, I really need a haircut! Hopefully by Friday.

Let's look at the summer of 1954.

7) 70 years ago, Chicago Bears great Walter Payton was born. Today more than 1200 students are

 enrolled in Chicago's Walter Payton College Preparatory High School. Was your high school named 

after anyone? After the city, Santa Ana.

8) J.R.R. Tolkien's Fellowship of the Rings was published. It's the first of three volumes in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Have you read the books and/or seen the movies? No, but I have thought about it. Some of the dorms at my college UC Irvine, were named after the books. Middle Earth is all I remember since I graduated back in 1977! 

9) Sports Illustrated was first published. As a special promotion, the premier issue included baseball cards. With the introduction of online communities and trading apps, collecting baseball cards continues to grow in popularity. Are there any card collectors in your life? I have a cousin that has been card collector, buying and selling. My grandsons collected cards when they were young.

I found this on YouTube

Tuesday 4 & Wednesday Hodgepodge

Thanks to Annie and Joyce for the memes. Links are on the left.

1. What are you best known for in your family or among friends? Being a woman who loves the Lord and who is creative. A great Mema too!

2. Were you popular in school? I had my group of friends, and we did a lot of things together. I was elected to be Girls League VP and Student Government. 

3. Would you rather take a drive in the country or shop in town on a day off? I would like to take a drive in the country, but I live in the city and would have to drive about an hour to get to a "country setting." If I have to drive that long, I would rather go to the beach. 

4. Are you a member of any societies, clubs or associations or were you at any time?  I belonged to a number of clubs in school.  Did you enjoy them? I enjoyed high school. I didn't get into anything until 1993 when I found a new church and decided involved.

I was on the Women's Ministry Board and leader part of that time. I led a recovery group and later became a lay counselor. I was also a Sunday School teacher. Hubby and I were greeters for 10 years. We stepped down for a number of years to help with grandkids, and aging/ dying parents.  In 2016 I led a group called Finding your Purpose in your senior years.  I have been involved in Life groups since then. I have been teaching Bible journaling for the couple of years. Hubby and I will start greeting again in a couple of weeks since our church just went to 3 services. We are also in a retired married group.

1. What's the last thing you completely overreacted to? Finding out our new credit card for our cruise was denied! We called them up and got it straightened out and they apologized. We only owed $1.00 on it and it was determined that they made an error when my husband called to make a payment and tell them we didn't get the card, but we got the bill! The $1.00 purchase was what we paid for a carry-on hard side luggage after booking our cruise. 

2. Your top five snacks? Chips &s salsa, fruit, yogurt with fruit, peanut butter & apples, pickles.

3. What smell always brings back some type of memory? Elaborate. Freh cut grass reminds me of my grandpa David. Beans cooking reminds me of my grandma Louisa. Frying corn tortillas reminds me of my mom as she showed me how to make hard shell tacos.

4. What's something you learned from the last book you read? I am reading the Call the Midwife series. I learned about the workhouses in England.

5. What's the next thing on your to-buy list? Will you make that purchase before the end of the year? The next major purchase will be a new I-Phone. I hope to get one before our cruise in January.

6. Insert your own random thought here. I have been going through boxes of paperwork and shredding things that we did not need. I am also decluttering some of my craft things. It takes time, but I am feeling pleased to be making progress. It is slow going because the pain in my back is slowing me down.

I enjoy looking at the full moon. I took pictures with my camera that I got back in 2018. Here is one I took on Monday night. I wanted to take more, but the mosquitos are real bitters! I took these two pictures with a Cannon on the Zoom. one at 9:30 and one at 11:30pm on the 19th.

Friday's Fave Five & Saturday 9

Thanks to Susanne and Same for the memes, links on the left. 

So many things to be thankful for this week!

1. Thankful for a birthday lunch with a couple of my August birthday friends. 

2. Thankful for the beautiful day hubby and I had last Friday. He got me flowers and upgraded our room so I could have a few and soaking tub. He told me about the place were going to eat at the next day and I told him about the dress I got. So we ate at the original place on Friday instead. The Wind and Sea gave us a free dessert!

3. Thankful for 50 years of marriage last Saturday. We went whale/dolphin watching and it was great even if we did not see whales. We had the best dinner at the Chart House and he liked my dress. We also got another free dessert. It was a special weekend, and I was not going to say no to the desserts.

4. Thankful for dinner with my eldest son's family and my daughter and family. Since I share a birthday with my granddaughter, we both took our picture together and everyone loved the gluten free cake she made. Thankful to have dinner with my middle son and his wife at BJ's. 

5. Thankful for my Bible journaling group that met on Tuesday and a large group of friends met on Thursday to celebrate a friend turning 70. Most of my friends are seniors and we know how important is to be in fellowship.

Saturday 9: I Get Around (1964)

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

1) 60 years ago this month, the Beach Boys were singing that having a cool car and helped them get girls. In your teen years, what did you drive? A VW Bug and Chevy Malibu SS.

2) They are searching for a new place to party. This weekend, will you be visiting any bars, theaters or restaurants? I plan to rest and go to church. It has been a busy 2 weeks!

3) When Brian Wilson was forming the group, he turned to his friend Al Jardine, his brothers Dennis and Carl, and his cousin, Mike Love. Though most of their songs were about cars, beaches and surf, only one of those founding members was a surfer: Dennis. Do you enjoy the beach? Are you good on a surfboard? I do love the beach. I never tried surfing though I have sat on one. I did go on an Outrigger Canoe in Waikiki and it was a similar experience of paddling out to sea and catching a ride back in.This is a picture of me in front of the Duke Statue. August 2009.

Waikiki, June 2012

4) They were originally from Hawthorne, California. Hawthorne was the early childhood home of Marilyn Monroe. Since Marilyn was one of the most iconic women of the 20th century, we know you recognize her image. Have you seen any of her movies? All about Eve, The Misfits, Some Like it Hot.

Hollywood, 2109

5) "I Get Around" is included in Endless Summer, the greatest hits compilation released in 1974. Influential music critic Robert Christgau said Endless Summer should be part of any basic record library. What's one of your favorite CDs? I have lots of them! Amy Grant-the Collection, Carole King's Tapestry and I also have the original album. Just too many to mention.

Let's look at the summer of 1964.

6) The #1 film of the summer of 1964 was Walt Disney's Mary Poppins. Have you seen it? Yes, our whole family went to the movies when it came out. My mom got us the album too.

7) President Lyndon Johnson accepted the Democratic party's nomination at the August 1964 convention in Atlantic City, NJ. Atlantic City is known for casinos and gambling. Do you often play the lottery, bingo, or any other game of chance? Our Senior Fellowship plays bingo once a month. We don't have to pay anything. We just bring a dish to share.

8) Billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was still a baby in the summer of 1964. What was in your most recent Amazon delivery? ink for my printer.

9) Another little one born in '64 is Mariska Hargitay. The star of Law & Order: SVU is the daughter of a well-known movie star. Without looking it up, do you know who her mother was? Jane Mansfield.