Sunday Stealing & Tuesday 4

1) What's the longest you've gone without sleep? About 32 hours.

2) What was the highlight of your last week? Meeting our new grand puppy!

3) You have to give a 10-minute speech to a group of high school students. What's your topic? 

Be true to yourself. 

4) What is the single best decision you've ever made in your life? Recommit my life back to the Lord.

5) If you could ask a coworker, friend or family member a question and be guaranteed an honest answer, who would you choose and what would you ask? My sister Terry. She is my best friend and she is also a marriage and family counselor. I talked to her about my ADD and she told me I was ADHD.

I might not be as physically all over like I once was, but she says I have many markers that show I am still ADHD. Once she explained it, I realized that I was and subconsciously knew it.

6) Do you cook for yourself when you're home alone? I do find myself something to eat. If there are no left overs, I can make a sandwich or find something. I can also make a quick stir fry with chicken and veggies.

7) Do you most often access the internet from your computer, your phone, or your smart watch? My laptop.

8) Do you have more email addresses or phone numbers? Phone numbers.

9) What's the biggest source of anger in your life right now? 

I would not say anger, but I would say frustration and sadness to see what is happening to our declining democratic nation. But then I look at the big picture and what the Bible says as we near end times. I remember what I  have learned and know God is in control. The Bible says you can't serve God and money. Satan is having a field day dividing people and our nation. It is a huge spiritual battle more than anything. So, I guess I am angry at Satan!

10) Mondays make me feel thankful that I am retired!

Teen-Age Romances was a comic that ran from 1949 to 1955. It cost 10¢ a copy.

Used magazines now can be bought by collectors from hundreds of dollars to almost $2000. for a copy.

1. Did you have a teen-age romance?  If not, did you dream of one? Yes I did. My first real boyfriend was Oscar and met at church youth group. We were together for a year. He had the straightest while teeth. I saw him a few times while in high school and he said I was really cute. I had changed from when we were together before. I had lost weight, had long hair and wore a little makeup. I saw him a few years later at a gas station. He asked how I was doing, and I said I had just had a baby, and he said, "no way, you look great!" I showed him my son and he said he was happy for me. Then I left. When I was married about 10 years, my parents had a party and he was the DJ. He had already met my husband. He asked me if I had ever thought it would have been like if we had stayed together. I had just had my second son, and I told him no. I had thought about it until I got married. I haven't seen him since though I have run into his sister. The last time I saw her, she said I looked great, and she took a picture of me. The last I heard, he was a retired fire captain.

2. What made it romantic? Or if it wasn't why not? First love? I would say hormones! 

3.  What were dates like when you were younger? What did people do.. where did they go? 

I didn't officially start dating until I was 16 and I dated Kevin Dodd. I really liked him and I have written about him before. We dated for several months in my junior year of high school. We were friends first and he would come over to help me with my chemistry.  Then we started going out, to high school games, out to eat and the movies. But after the spring formal, we drifted apart.

A year later I met my husband when I was 17 and a senior. We had so many fun dates along and with my sister and her boyfriend. We met the boys at church youth group, and we did fun things in our group too. On one date we went to Japanese Deer Park. It was so pretty. We to Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm. We went to the Strawberry Festival and the beach. this was in 1973, and we married in 1974!

A couple of years later. my husband met Kevin and his girlfriend when my cousin got married and he played guitar and sang at her wedding. Years later my cousin and I met up with him and his wife while he was in town to pack away his belonging from his mother's home after she passed. A couple of weeks later I received a package of all the notes I left in his locker when we dated. His wife suggested he send them back to me for sweet memories. I told my husband, and he said that was nice of them. He didn't ask to see them, and I am not sure what I did with them. That was back in the 90's. I did write back to thank Kevin and asked why we broke up. He said he was a new Christian, and I was a temptation to him. I was so happy to hear that he left me for Jesus!

I have these little date books that I kept from 1971-1989. I wish I would have kept up with them because. But I do have my blog from 2002 until now that has memories. I have lots of pictures from the 80's and 90's that I can look at to remember. Now my grandson has a girlfriend!

4, What kind of things, places etc. do you find romantic? I still love going to the beach. We just went on a cruise in January for our 50th and it was so much fun! There are pictures on the links above.

Links to memes are on the left. Thanks to Sam and Annie for this week's questions.

My Website is at Susan's Garden of Friendship and the link is to the right. Lots of inspirational pages too. I hope to see you there!

Tuesday 4 and Wedneday Hodgepodge

Welcome back to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.

Books are such a big part of many people's lives. Maybe we should talk about that.

1. Do you have some books in your home? If so what subjects are they? Which is your favorite?

I used to have 3 bookcases filled with books at my last two homes. When we moved to our current home, I had to downsize my books. My nephew took a lot of my classics for his library. I donated some to my church library. I kept my favorites. Those are the one in the bookcase below. Those are my different study bibles, faith journals and Bible journaling Bibles. I have a smaller bookcase that has gift bibles and various books from classes I have taken. I need to let go some of these books next.

2. Do you enjoy browsing around bookstores?  Do you have a favorite you like to go to? I do like bookstores and there is a used bookstore in my city I go to. Our library has a large used bookstore that I like to visit. If I am on vacation and there is time, I like to find a bookstore. When I went to Oregon last year, we visited a city that in bookstores? had a wondaful used bookstore that had a lot of faith books, Bibles and some classics. I do like to collect bookmarks from places I visit. 

3. Do you think real books are clutter or do you just love having them around you? 

I try to keep my books organized. I don't see them as clutter, just one of my favorite collections.

4. What is the oldest book you've read and what is the newest book you've read or are reading. 

I have a book that my Sunday School teacher gave me about 60 years ago. I have read is my mom's copy of Gone with the Wind from the 60's. I have read it 7 times over the years. I also have a Bible that belonged to my grandma that my mom gave her. I also have a Bible from both of my grandmother's. I have several Bibles in different versions. I like to read the study notes with the extra large print. The last newest books I have are a set from Call The Midwife. I have 2 sets of series book in my collection. One of the Left Behind series. I am on book 12 now. I also have a set called AD Chronicles that I want to read again. Oh, I just remembered that I still have my Trixie Belden books and those are from the 60's.

1. What are you currently juggling in your life? 

I don't feel like juggling anything, but my plate is full right now with my classes and groups. We also had all 4 grands over on Friday and two through Sunday. Grand dogs too!  Most of the groups I am in are breaking for June and July. One ends. I won't be making a kit for my Bible journaling group for July, but we might still get together.

2. How often do you buy new clothes? What was the last piece of clothing you purchased? 

I don't buy clothes to often. I went shopping for both Easter and Mother's Day and the women's tea, but I end up using what I already had. The last thing I got was probably a t-shirt from Love and Faith. I wore one today when I went to lunch with my friends after our study.

3. What food festival would you most like to attend? If you need help here are links to some of the bigger and more popular food events around the world This is a loaded question! 

We used to go to the International Street Fair in Old Town Orange CA. There are several blocks that set up booths from many countries and it happens on Labor Day weekend. We haven't gone in years because it was so crowded!

I chose one main place for each of the links listed.

-Ten Food Festivals Worth Traveling To Find    I chose the Big Apple BBQ. We are going to Hawaii in April of 2024 and we will have to try something new. I do like Helena's authentic Hawaiin Food.

-The US2024 Best Food And Drink Festivals And Events In The US   I would like to try the Original Lobster Festival in Huntington Beach (Orange County CA) this September.

-20 Popular Food Festivals Around The World In 2024 For Your Unconditional Love Of Food

My husband and I like to try new places when travel. I prefer a sit-down dinner at a nice location.

We have been to the Garlic Festival in Gilroy CA. I would like to go to the Maine Lobster Festival.

I did have a great lobster roll in Kennebunkport Maine in 2008.

4. May is the 5th month of the year. Tell us something you remember about your 5th grade year. 

We had two classes. For half the day we were in the resource room. We had a tub that we pulled out of a shelf unit and the container fit into our desk. Music, science, history, art and conversational Spanish were taught in the am by two teachers. After lunch we went to smaller class for English and Math. The 6th graders went to the larger class. The room was also a cafeteria. They planned it all really well. All 5th graders had to do a state report and mine was on Nevada.

I did not like English and Math, though I did like reading. I liked all the other subjects in the big class. The biggest thing I remember during this time was my parents driving me to the new university that was being built in Irvine and they said they wanted me to go there. I graduated from UCI in 1977.

5. What are your favorite five words right now? Trust, Faith, God, Family, Friends

6. Insert your own random thought here. Last Saturday(May 18) my daughter and granddaughters and I attended a garden themed tea at our church. It was so nice! The food was great, the music and speaker were too! It meant a lot to me to have my girls there with me. I helped to put on many spring and Christmas teas over the years while I was on the board from 1995-2006. I have also hosted teas for a charity event called Crystal Roses. It was really nice to go to an event and just enjoy it. I know how much work it takes to put on an event like this one.

Friday Fave Five & Saturday 9

Thanks to Susanne and Sam for our memes. Links are on the right.

Thankful for being able to spend some time with my sister. She lives about a hour away. She was selling a porta crib and my friend was buying it. We met up at BJ's and were there for 4 hours catching up with life. Terry and I are 16 month apart and have always been close. We want to get together with our other sibling, hopefully this spring. Time goes by way to fast!

Mini desserts

Sugar cookies with strawberries and whip cream

and fudge brownie with whip cream and hot chocolate.

Thankful to have made it to church this past Sunday. Afterwards, hubby and I went to a place called Goodfellows. We used to take my parents there and I loved it. They play music from the 40's to the 60's. The whole place is decorated with pictures from that time era. My parents said it reminded them of the early days of Las Vegas. Goodfellows is always packed. We ordered the creamy chicken and rice soup with salad and toasted garlic bread.  I only had a couple of bites of the bread. Thankful that we could go there and not feel sad thinking of my parents.

Thankful for being able to meet up with my friend Linda to Bible journal at the coffee shop at Crossroads church near us. Our church has a coffee bar, but it is only open on Sundays. We both got coffee and avocado toast. It was nice catching up. Our regular Bible journaling meet up in March 5.

Thankful for friendships. Another one of my friends passed away. She was not in good health. She was diabetic and Covid hit her hard two times. The second time was worse. She was on kidney dialysis and had other problems. I saw her at Christmas, and she lost a lot of weight. I hugged her and told her to enjoy Christmas with her family. We just never know. See you in heaven Lissa!

Thankful for my doctor appointment, my ear is healing. Doctor said it looks good and what I still feel is from my sinuses. I have a hearing test on Monday. She recommended a Netty Med and I am going to look into to it. Thankful for being able to hear again. I still have to deal with the tinnitus, but overall, feeling much better. Thanks for those who were praying and wishing me well!

Saturday 9: Blame It on the Bossa Nova (1963)

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

1) This week's song tells the story of a girl who found love at a dance. 

I remember hearing this song. My parents liked Steve and Eydie. My parents also had Eydie's albums in Spanish. They would play it and teach us how to slow dance.

Share a happy memory from a party, prom or dance you attended. 

That would be my senior prom I went with my husband. I was 17 and he was 18. It was at the SS Princess Louise that was docked next to the Queen Mary in Long Beach CA. It was a special night. They had a band called Red Wine and we also had the for our wedding.

2) This record was a big hit for Eydie Gorme, which surprised her. When she first heard the song, she disliked it and had to be convinced to her record it. Tell us about a pleasant surprise you had recently. 

I had some albondiga soup that I really liked today. We were going to eat lunch at El Torrito today so I could have some albondigas-meatball veggie soup. Hubby wanted to eat at Olivia's, a place that I really don't like because of the atmosphere. They seated us in another room with a window and the soup was great! 

3) "Blame It on the Bossa Nova" is about love at first sight on the dance floor. Eydie's husband Steve Lawrence maintained he fell in love with her the first time he heard her sing. Have you ever felt a sudden, powerful attraction to someone? If yes, did you act on it? 

That would be my husband and yes I acted on it!

4) While this was a solo success for Eydie, she was also known for recording and performing with Steve Lawrence. He was just 22 and she was 29 when they married. Eydie admitted she was self-conscious about the difference in their ages. Do you think age matters in a romantic relationship?

It just depends on the people involved and so many circumstances. 

5) Eydie was fluent in Spanish, which enabled her to pay for her classes at City College by working as an interpreter. Tell us about one of your early jobs. I just answered this so here is a copy/paste. 

 

I was 14 when I got my first job for a toy store called Toy City. There were 9 cities in Orange County owned by Bill Griffith. My mom was his manager over the stores.  I got to work at the store in my city for one summer with a student work permit. Mom would drop me off and then leave to check on the other stores. I loved that job! Harriet was my supervisor, and I learned a lot from her. I unboxed merchandise and found he invoice and price tags. I tagged things and stocked the shelves. The old NCT cash register was intimidating, and he had a tax table taped to the counter. They offered free wrapping with red and white paper. I was never idle. My mom told me always look to see what needed to be done. Organize shelves, return stock, sweep when needed and ask Harriet to see if she needed something done. I was never alone in store.

I loved the book section. I liked going across the street to eat at Woolworths. I would sit at the counter and order a BLT and soda for around $1.00 At the end of the summer, I bought a sting ray bike that my little brother rode and left outside and it got stolen. I also worked during the Christmas break and it was busy! When I was 15, I worked the summer as a Candy Striper, no pay. I did not work again until the end of my senior year. I was too busy with homework, competitive athletics and extracurricular activities.

6) In 1963, when this song was popular, The Rambler was Motor Trend's car of the year.

 It was a 9-passenger station wagon, perfect for families. What do you remember about your childhood family car? We did have a Rambler. We also had VW Bug that I learned to drive in. That is me behind my dad. We were on our way to church camp.

7) Also in 1963, President Kennedy made a state trip to Ireland. Have you visited the land of your ancestors? Yes, I got to take a 6 week trip to Mexico back in 1969 when my friend's sister got married.

Now based on Ancestory.com I am 42% Americas which US, Mexico and So America. I am 36% Iberian peninsula which is Spain and Portugal. So, I would love to see Spain. My mom, grandma, great grandpa and great great grandpa had light skin and green eyes. Two of my grandma's brothers and reddish brown hair and green eyes. My 3 sisters and I have brown hair and eyes. Brother took after mom, with green eyes, light brown hair with red highlights. His kids are all light skinned.  My sister and her husband had 2 boys with green eyes and they both had brown eyes. But the grandparents on each side had green eyes. Genetics is an interesting study!

8) The pilot for Gilligan's Island was filmed in 1963. Were you a fan of the show? Yes! It was a fun show to watch.

9) Random question: Crunchy, smooth or organic peanut butter? I buy Trader Joes organic Valencia creamy peanut butter. It has no salt or sugar.

 

Tuesday 4 - September

1. When you were in school or university, did you look forward to returning? Why or why not?

Yes, for the most part I did. I liked getting new clothes each year before school. I did not like getting up early to get ready, but once I was at school, I was okay.

 I did not feel that way when I went to the university. I wanted to go to the local Jr. college and then transfer. But my parents wanted me to go to the new university from the time it opened up in 1965. I had the grades and met the university requirements. The recruiters hit hard and offered me scholarships and grants. It was my parents dream, so I accepted. The local college was on an eighteen-week semester system. The UC system was on a nine- week system. It was just too hard to keep up while working and commuting. When I went for my second year, I was told I did not qualify for assistance based on my parents' taxes??? I was married now and was really mad because I felt deceived. But I did not want to disappoint my parents. So, I got a student loan and got out in 4 years. I graduated by the time I was 21 with a degree in Social Ecology.  When I graduated, I wanted to start my family, but that did not go as planned. I went to the local college and took courses I really enjoyed. I guess I did it backwards. 

2. September has Labor Day, which, for many is the signal of summer's end and fall's grand entrance.  Do you celebrate Labor Day in any way or is it just a day off for you? This year my family got together on Saturday. My brother had the whole family over and we had the best time. I love my family! 10 people were missing. My sister and her family stayed home to celebrate before she leaves on a 3-week cruise on the 6th. My daughter in law and grandson were sick and my middle son and his wife could not be there. This home was my parents' home that my brother bought, so there are lots of memories here. My husband and I are retired so we rested on Monday.

When we were growing up, our family went to church camp in the mountains on Labor Day Weekend. It was a tradition and we had lots of fun! 

3. September's birthstone is the Sapphire which is 2nd only to a diamond in hardness. (Ruby is a red sapphire by the way) It comes in many colors.  Do you know your birthstone, and do you like it? My birthday is in August and my stone is a peridot. I like it, but don't have a ring with my birthstone.

                            

4. September's birth flower is the Astor. What is yours? My flower is gladiolus and poppy.

I am working on this Monday evening. Tomorrow morning my monthly Bible journaling group meets.

This month's theme is based on God's Word.  Study, knowledge, instruction and wisdom.

Thankful Thursday and Birthdays!

Thankful for 48 years of marriage August 10, 2022

We had lunch at Cheesecake Factory.

Thankful for a great meal, Shepherd's pie,  

roast turkey sandwich and butternut squash soup.

We got a piece of cheesecake to take home.

Thankful for my life group Bible Study.

We went out to lunch after our study to celebrate the birthday girls.

Thankful for finally making John Bible study at church on Tuesday.

We talked about our motivational gifts on Sunday.

One of my gifts is teaching.

Thankful for being able to see my family doctor.

Thankful that she listened to my concerns.

Thankful that she is ordering test and sending me to physical therapy.

Thankful for good health insurance.

Thankful that I live just a few minutes from the clinic.

Thankful that the grands are all back in school.

3rd and 7th

9th grade, High school!

Jazzy did not want her picture taken.

Thankful to share a birthday with Jazzy and tomorrow is the day!

We celebrated on Sunday.

Thankful that my husband is taking me to the beach for my birthday tomorrow!

Thankful for family, friends, another year of life.

Thankful to have a relationship with my Lord Jesus!

Saturday Nine and Updates

Life has been busy and these grands are my life.

My craft group is keeping me busy and we just finished Cutie High. 

I will be starting a new Bible study called Fallen this week and another one in a couple of weeks. I am also busy with my Lifefgroup with weekly studies, crafts and outings. We will also be helping with Operation Christmas Child that sends shoeboxes to kids around the world.

Cheeseburger in Paradise (1978)

This was taken in Waikiki, Hawaii, 2020 

and the place is still there!

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

1) In this song, Jimmy briefly attempts a healthier diet, which included sunflower seeds, carrot juice, zucchini and bulgur wheat. Do you pay attention to your daily consumption of vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, etc.? I try, but chips is my downfall. I do take my vitamins.

2) Jimmy sings that he'd like French fries with his burger. Do you prefer to dip your fries or drizzle the ketchup over them? I don't use ketchup because of acid reflux. I don't eat very many fries but do enjoy them on occasion.

3) Which cheese would make yours a cheeseburger in paradise: American, cheddar, Swiss, bleu, Muenster, or Monterrey Jack? I don't normally eat my hamburgers with cheese. But if I had to choose it would be Muenster.

 

4) Buffett fans call themselves Parrotheads. Concert attire for a well-dressed Parrothead often includes a Hawaiian shirt and a foam fin hat. What will you be wearing tonight? Jeans and a t-shirt. I will be at an outdoor movie event at church. It is a fundraiser event for our churches school.

 

5) For someone with such an easygoing and laidback vibe, Jimmy is a very busy man. His business ventures include liquors, restaurants and hotels. He's also published eight books. All this in addition to making music! On a scale of 1 to 10 -- with 1 being lazy and 10 being highly motivated -- how would you rate yourself this morning? I am not a morning person so I would say a 3. 

6) Jimmy has some very famous fans. Paul McCartney asked him to play at one of his parties, and Barack Obama invited him to perform at a fundraiser. If you could invite anyone -- anyone at all! -- to play at your party, who would you ask? Amy Grant.

7) Jimmy was born on Christmas Day. Does your birthday fall on a major holiday? If yes, do you mind "sharing" your special day? No holidays but I do share a birthday with my grand daughter.

8) In 1978, the year this song was popular, the Susan B. Anthony Dollar was first minted. The initial design was not a hit with the public because vending machines could not accept it. What's the last thing you bought from a vending machine? I would say a snack food. I use to be the vending coordinator for my postal district that had over 400 machines. Sadly they were removed by 2010 and I retired in 2011.

9) Random question -- If today's your birthday, your zodiac sign is Libra. When did you last check your horoscope? I don't read horoscopes.