Friday Fav Five & Saturday 9

Thankful that my doctor gave me a double order of antibiotic ear drops at my last appointment because my ear is infected again. It is my fault because I scratch my ears when I am asleep. I think I need to put gloves on before I go to sleep. Thankful that my husband can put the drops in when I need them.

Thankful that I got my craft happy mail out yesterday. I am doing a winter card exchange. I made a bunch of baseball size cards with cute snowmen. They will fit in a trading card sleeve. I am also working on February Bible journal packs.

Thankful that we haven't had to use the heater much this winter. It dries out my sinuses,

Thankful for book reading time in the evening. I am currently reading book one of the Left Behind series. I want to read more this year. I find I fall asleep sooner too after reading.

Thankful for the warmer weather that came in today. We will be up to the mid 70's through the weekend and we will get rain next Thursday. Thankful for weathermen who reminded me about the Wolf Moon tonight, the first full moon for 2024!

I took this at 11pm Thursday with my old Cannon with a zoom lens.

Saturday 9: Joanna (1983)

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

1) The subject of this week's song, Joanna, is described as someone who never lets you down and can always be counted upon. Who in your life is like that? My parents. I was raised to follow through with what I start. To offer help when you see a need. I used to volunteer a lot. Now that I am older, I have to see how I feel and if I can do something that won't hurt me.

2) Kool and the Gang vocalist James "J. T." Taylor sings that he will do his best to do what's right for her. Reflect on the last week. What did you devote special effort to? 

My Bible journaling group and being to help with the grands.

3) This video was filmed at the Colonial Diner in Lyndhurst, NJ. Still open 40 years later, the Colonial is known for their Boom Boom Shrimp, aka fried shrimp in sweet chili sauce. Think of your favorite local restaurant. What menu item would recommend? 

The two crispy taco plate with beans and rice at Rancho Taco Shop.

4) Kool and the Gang's biggest hit was 1980's "Celebration," which is popular today with disc jockeys at wedding receptions. Are you likely to get up and dance at a wedding reception? Or would we find you enjoying the party from your seat? 

I would get up and dance. The last time I danced was at my high school reunion in August 2023. It was a slow dance and they were playing Sabor a Mi. Before that, it was my nephews wedding, Dec 2022. A bunch of women got up to dance around the groom and that included his aunts. I also danced with my siblings and then with my husband to Sabor a Mi.

5) Kool and the Gang are proud of their NJ roots. Group founder Robert Bell was given the nickname "Kool" by his Jersey City friends because he was so "laid back." Do you think your friends would describe you as "laid back?" No, that would be my husband.

6) One of the Jersey City's biggest employers is Evergreen, a transportation and shipping company with offices in Evertrust Plaza, a high-rise near the waterfront. What is the tallest building you've ever been in? Were you there for business, or to enjoy the view? Yes, I enjoyed the view!

Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center in NY, 2008. I went on a New England cruise with my parents. We spent a couple of days in New York before we left. We are 70 stories tall and got a 360 degree view of the city. This was one of the stops on our upper and lower Manhattan bus luxury bus tour. I am standing with my dad. He passed in 2013.

 

7) In 1983, when "Joanna" topped the charts, Vanessa Williams became the first African American to be crowned Miss America. Today, Miss America is still among the most popular televised pageants, along with Miss World and Miss Universe. Do you watch beauty pageants? 

I remember watching that one. 

8) Also in 1983, superstars Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson joined forces for the #1 song, "Say, Say, Say." Each man began his career as part of a group but went on to have success on his own. Can you think of anyone else who started out in band or group but also scored as a solo artist? 

Donny Osmond, Lionel Ritchey, Michael McDonald who we saw the summer before Covid at the Orange County Fair.

9) Random question: Have you more recently eaten bread sticks or carrot sticks? We went to Olive Garden on the 15th for our son's birthday and they served lots of breadsticks. I only ate half of one.

Saturday 9, New York

Hello friends, the days are flying bye! Tuesday I went to Christmas party for the seniors at our church and that is anyone over 60. Then on Thursday our life group went to a Tea House and we had a treat time! We plan to go to another one in the spring. I took my mom's hats and the ladies got to pick one to wear. It was really cold in the evening, but we made the most of it!

I made a little ornament for each of the ladies. 

Saturday 9: Please Come Home for Christmas (1992)

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

1) In this video, Jon Bon Jovi recalls decorating the tree with Cindy Crawford. They took turns wearing a Santa hat. Will anyone in your household be donning a Santa hat this season? I wore one the other day. I also have lots of them for anyone that wants to wear one on Christmas morning.

 

2) He sings of the salutations he's received from friends and relatives. Have you received many holiday cards this year?  I have not received as many as before. It is sad that with the advent of the WWW., we continue to see less cards sent out. Back in Christmas 1973 I worked at the post office.  There were 35 of us sorting a sea of red, white and green envelopes. That did not include the people that would take the mail out of the full cases or the people that would bring more trays of mail in. The post office I worked at was a 24 hour facility and I worked the swing shift. It was a busy but exciting time. 10 years later, there were LSM machines where there were 14 operators keying in zips and while the runners moved trays of mail in and out while being processed. Another 10 years and 4 people did this while the computerized machines did all the scanning, barcoding and sorting. I saw a lot of changes while I worked there including the robots that sorted big packages and moved trays of mail. I retired in 2011.

 

3) Will you wrap many presents? Or do you prefer to use gift bags? I normally wrap a lot of presents. This year I using more gift bags for the grand nephews and nieces. But I will wrap the presents up for my grand kids. Even the one getting money. She will have to open a few boxes to get the cash!

 

4) Jon Bon Jovi says he and Frank Sinatra are distant relatives. Do you believe that musicality is a genetic gift, or that it can be taught? I think it is both!

5) Jon is such a big Star Wars fan that he wrote a carol called "R2-D2: We Wish You a Merry Christmas." There a dozen Star Wars movies. How many have you seen? I have seen them all! I have seen many of them with my oldest son since he was about 3. He is a buyer and seller of Star Wars vintage Toys.

6) Jon once guest-starred as Carrie's love interest in an episode of Sex and the City, the popular HBO sitcom set in New York. The new reboot, And Just Like That, also centers around NYC life. Where does your favorite TV show take place? I like several TV shows! New York, Seattle, Las Vegas and Hawaii.

7) Jon met his wife, Dorothea, when they were still in high school. Do you remember who you wanted to marry when you were in high school? I started dating my husband when I was a senior and we have been married 47 years now.

8) At Christmastime 1992, when this song was released, toys that tied into Disney's Little Mermaid were very popular. Have you purchased toys for anyone on your gift list this year? Yes for my grandson and one grand nephew. the rest are getting gift cards or clothes.

9) Jon recorded "Please Come Home for Christmas" to benefit The Special Olympics. Here's your chance to plug a cause or organization that's near and dear to you. I support our local Pregnancy Help Center called Corona Life Services. We also participate in Operation Christmas Child and the Foster program for our Country.

It has been really cold for us all week in So. California. In fact, we were colder than New York City where my daughter has been on vacation. They will be home late tonight. Here are a few pictures she posted on her site.

 

Saturday 9 I Left My Heart in S.F.

Saturday 9: I Left My Heart in San Francisco (1962)

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

1) This song is a valentine to the city of San Francisco. Songwriters George Cory and Douglas Cross moved to New York to find fame and fortune and found themselves homesick for the city by the bay. Have you ever been homesick? Or, in the parlance of the song, where have you left your heart? My heart is homesick for my parents. I think they went to a Tony Bennett Concert. I inherited some of there CD's. 

2) Cory and Cross were buddies with Ralph Sharon, a piano player who often worked with Tony Bennett. Ralph brought the song to Tony and the results were very happy for all involved. Have you more recently done, or been on the receiving end of, a favor? The only thing I can think of is giving a homeless woman some money the other day. 

 

3) The lyrics compare San Francisco to Paris, Rome and Manhattan. Have you visited those cities? I have been to San Francisco a few times. I was last there in 2018. I was in Manhattan in 2008. Does Paris, Las Vegas count? We ate at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant. 

Banana Eiffel Tower Soufflés 

4) This week's artist, Tony Bennett, sang professionally for the last time in August. He retired after performing at Radio City Music Hall with Lady Gaga. Their musical collaboration dates back to when they both performed at President Obama's inauguration. Though 60 years apart in age, they became fast friends based on their shared love of jazz. Do you find that most of your friends are older than you, younger than you, or within 5 years of you? Most are within 5. But one of my friends is 10 years older than me.

5) While Lady Gaga grew up listening to Tony Bennett, as a young man Tony recalled listening to Bing Crosby, Judy Garland and Joe Venuti. Which singers did you enjoy during your teen years? Too many groups to mention. I did enjoy Motown Music like the Jackson 5.

6) While he's famous for singing about San Francisco, Tony is a proud son of New York. Born in Queens, he chose to end his career at Radio City Music Hall and was excited to perform "New York State of Mind" with Billy Joel at Shea Stadium in 2008. Do you have a favorite Billy Joel song? Yes Uptown Girl. Reminds me of Frankie Valli.

 

7) Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra may have been competitors but they shared mutual admiration. Sinatra called Bennett "the best singer in the business," and Bennett did a Sinatra homage album called Perfectly Frank. Think of people you have worked with over the years. Tell us about someone who has impressed you, and why. My supervisor Vera Parks made a big influence in my life. She brought me back to the Lord in the 80's when I was looking. She helped me a lot at work and taught me many things. She was like a mother figure. She helped me gain confidence in myself. I eventually took over one of her programs when she retired. 

8) The 1970s were a difficult period for Tony. During the days of disco and Studio 54, he said singing new songs made him feel like his mother, a talented seamstress, when she was forced to make a cheap dress. OK, so Tony doesn't like disco! Is there a genre of music you just don't care for? I  don't really care for country music. I have talked to a lot of native Californian's and they say the same things. Not sure why. There are a few sings and songs I like, but I would not choose that station. I don't mind a rap that I can understand, and don't like anything with bad language. I did like the rap in the musical Alexander. You do have to listen really well because they go so fast. I thought it was educational too! I have preset stations in my car for Broadway musicals, Classical, easy listening and Soul. Then there are stations for the 60's, 70's, 80's. I do not like heavy metal. I mostly listen to Christian music. 

9) Random question: Imagine you're the passenger in a long car ride. Are you more likely to be calm or fidgety? Calm because I am usually working on my crafts.

1. You're having a lovely dinner party for friends and family. What will you serve for appetizers? Chips, salsa, guacamole, pickled carrots and cauliflower. Main course- green chili chicken enchiladas, home made beans, beef,onion,diced tomatoes and zuchinni guiso(stew), rice and home made corn tortillas. Desert, flan.

2. Snow storm! You've got house guests and you're all stuck inside for the night. What do you prepare for dinner. I would make home made chicken soup with whatever I have.Will you watch a movie? Which? Depend on the guest. I would also bring out some games like scrabble or monopoly.

3. We are going into New York City for the weekend. Where do you want to go? I would like to see a Broadway play. I would like to visit Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. The 911 Memorial. I would like to eat at Delmonicos Steak House. I would like to get some cheese cake at Jr's Cheesecake in Times Square. I guess I would not get much sleep.I have been there once back in 2008.

4. You are going to night school. They offer courses in writing short stories, painting, piano or guitar lessons,simple home repairs,baking, and gardening. Which do you pick ( or make up one of your own) and why? I would like to take a painting class. I did not know I could paint until I started Bible journaling. I like to water color. I would like to learn more about painting with acrylics and maybe oil.

My trip to New York and New England Cruise