Saturday 9

Time for another Saturday 9.  I don't copy and paste well -- not my strong suit.  Oh well, here we go.

 

Gotta Travel On

Welcome to Saturday 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme! 

Saturday 9: Gotta Travel On (1959)

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

1) In this song, the Billy Grammer sings that "summer's almost gone, winter's coming on." When you look out your window, do you see any evidence that the seasons are changing?

Not really except that hurricane season is in full bloom and we are getting a lot of rain.

2) He admits he has laid around and played around for too long. Do you consider lazy days to be wasted days?

Sort of.  My husband is retired and our days have sort of morphed into a no-routine hot mess.  I like routine.

3) Billy relaxed by fishing. Tell us about a visit you made to a pier, or a ride you took on a boat, this past year. (Bonus points if you went fishing!)

Zero, zip, nada

4) Born in 1925, Mr. Grammer was the eldest of 13 children. He and his wife Ruth were childless. What do you think is the ideal size for a family? 

Depends on the family.  I am thinking that fielding a team might not be good but since that wasn't my goal, I really can't speak for others.

5) This song was very popular on juke boxes back in 1959. When were you last in a bar or restaurant that had a juke box? Did you play it?

no clue so no I didn't

6) In 1959, movie tickets zoomed up in price to $1.00 and Ben Hur was the big blockbuster. What's the last movie you saw in a theater? Do you remember how much the ticket cost?

We really don't go to movie theaters much and I can't tell you the last time -- maybe to see The Secret Life of Pets.   I did see Ben Hur in the theater in 1959 though -- I remember it well.  That chariot race was grueling.

7) Huckleberry Hound was a hit with the younger audience in 1959. What cartoon did you enjoy as a kid? 

I wasn't a big cartoon fan but I did like comic books

8) In 1959, continuing dramas (soap operas) were still broadcast each day on the radio. When you turn on the radio, do you listen for talk, news, or music?   

I don't listen to the radio much -- my bad -- but I do have an internet radio that I like to listen to BBC4 -- The Archers.  When I was still at home my mother and I would listen to Mystery Theater at night before bed -- I always fell asleep before it was over and never heard the end of one of those programs.  That was in 1972.

9) Random question -- Which competition would you rather judge: The Pillsbury Bake Off, The Miss America Pageant, or Dancing with the Stars? 

Pillsbury Bake Off

Menocore? It IS a Thing

I am not a fashionista.  I don't pretend to be. 

When I was in elementary school I wore lots of tie back dresses in plaids and medallion prints along with cardigan sweaters and penny loafers or saddle oxfords.

In junior high school and high school I wore lots of skirts and sweaters -- Bobbie Brooks -- and lots of a-line dresses -- thank you Lilly Pulitzer.

I grew up and went to work and it all went to hell in a hand basket.  I got married, I gained weight, the styles had changed -- my go-to formula was gone.

I got pregnant -- that was another whole adventure for this non-fashionista.

And here I am.  I am an aging child of the 60's with no idea what she is SUPPOSED to wear but I know what I usually wind up wearing.

I wear jeans a lot -- pull on, elastic waist, fashion no-no jeans.  I wear button down shirts.  I like 'em loose and long.  Most times I am barefoot but I prefer flats -- ballet flats -- Tieks -- even though my feet don't like them.

So, I was roaming around the 'net last night checking to see if Normcore was still a thing and apparently it has morphed into Menocore.

MENOCORE

Yes, it is what it sounds like.  It is a look to help along a group of women who are generally overlooked by fashion.  The middle aged group.  It is a fashion trend to celebrate the "age" and help women find themselves if they are a little lost.  It consists of loose, likely linen clothing, bobbed white hair, thinness (Opps, can't identify!) and apparently wealth.

Check it out on Pinterest.  Or the 'net.  Or in Vogue or Bazaar.

Apparently the younger generation isn't waiting to get to be middle aged or beyond to enjoy this new trend, they are doing it now -- dressing like middle aged women.

As a society we are really interesting creatures.

Menocore -- who knew?

MooGoo Revoo-- again

A little while back I did a review on a product called MooGoo Skin Milk Udder Cream.  I didn't give it a very good review and I am here today to fix that.

At the time of the first review, I had exfoliated my face with a microfiber cloth and then applied this.  I think I was a little aggressive with the cloth and perhaps irritated my skin a bit so when I put this on it started itching after a while. 

So, I put it on my list of "itchy" things, stated that in the review, and put it away.  After a few days I decided to try it again.

I absolutely love it.  No itching, no greasiness that takes forever to soak in and it makes a wonderful makeup primer.  The only thing is that the fragrance is, well, not great but it goes away quickly and the after effects are worth it.

I really do love all the First Aid Beauty products I have been using for quite some time now.  They feel posh, they feel comforting, they come in really cute packaging and they cost a bundle. 

I had worked up to using at least six products twice a day with a couple of others for special occasion thrown in.  When you buy it all at the same time, it makes sense that you run out at approximately the same time which means a hefty purchase when you need to replenish. 

So......I have been looking at what I did before FAB came into my life.

I used Dr. Bronner's bar soap on my face -- it is non-drying and it is full of good oils and I never had a problem with it.  I bought a bar of the baby soap at Sprouts yesterday and started using it last night.  It felt fine.

Then, for a toner I used to use rosewater.  So, I picked up a bottle of Heritage Rosewater at Sprouts.  I used it last night and it felt really soothing.

Then, the MooGoo.

Nothing is going to get rid of the little wrinkles and things that I am, now, very aware of.  But, I need products that make my skin comfortable, don't break the bank, and are readily available. 

Have I totally abandoned FAB?  Probably not -- I really like it -- but we will see how the new routine goes.  Sometimes I think you can do too much to your skin as well. 

At least the MooGoo doesn't really make me itch.

Little Dutch Girl

I am of British ancestry.  I was brought up by a mother that identified herself as British.  My grandfather was first generation American of Welsh/English immigrant parents.  I was told I had beautiful, English skin (whatever that is).

Then why would my grandmother refer to my mother as "my little Dutch girl"?  Towheaded, blue eyed, fair complected little child whose hair flipped up all the way around like -- a little dutch girl of advertising fame -- is that what made her a little Dutch girl?

She wasn't Dutch -- or was she?

Let's go  back  about 30 years ago.  The interest in genealogy reared it's ugly head and I was bitten by the bug.  My mother wasn't a whole lot of help, to be honest, although she tried.  Her mom's family was a bit of a mystery.  Her grandfather was really not a part of her life and she only had snippets of info about him.

His name was Banta.  My aunt swore he was Hispanic.  My mother decided he was Basque.  Clearly they didn't know and were playing the guessing game.  This was before I was involved with anything online so I was guessing right along with them.

Grandfather Banta is the tall, slender gentleman in the back seat of this "car".  He doesn't look stereotypically Dutch, does he?  That is probably because he takes after his mother, the Choctaw Indian.

I digress.

So, moving right along to DNA testing.  I had mine done.  It was exactly what I expected and then not so much.

The American Indian never showed up unless you do some really in depth searches.  I was looking for possible Jewish links -- again, not there unless you REALLY look.  So, what did it look like?


Europe West46%

Great Britain28%

Ireland/Scotland/Wales21%

Ok, yeah, I got it -- All that British connection -- no surprise there!

But, I was ignoring the elephant on the page.  I had 46% Western European DNA connection.  I knew I had a great-great grandmother from Germany on my dad's side but I didn't believe that connection would account for 46% of my ancestry.

So, I started exploring -- oh, it isn't just Germany -- it is, in large part, the Netherlands.  Hmmm......

The Banta's are from the Netherlands.  How could I possess so much DNA from somebody I only knew of but had no connection to? That is a tad creepy to me.

So, I have been doing some reading on The Netherlands.  While I still think of myself as primarily British ancestry, I am totally engrossed in learning about the lifestyle of my Dutch family, my roots.

Is this why my favorite flower is the tulip?  Is this why my hair flips out in that very annoying way -- like my mother's did?

Is this why my grandmother called my mother "her little Dutch girl"?  While my grandmother never knew her father, she must have known his heritage and she must have seen the genes in her daughter.

Oh, yeah, the DNA test also said I have Viking blood.  Could that explain my temper?  Probably.

So, I am going to continue learning about all things Dutch and figure out how much I identify with it.  I doubt I will ever lose the totally ingrained feeling of being British but how much fun are tulips and wooden shoes -- we are from Friesland.  Need to read up on Friesland.

And maybe I shouldn't mind the flippy hair so much.  It has meaning.

She Works Hard for the Money

It is time for another Saturday 9!  Hop over to join Sam in the fun.

 

 

 

Thursday, August 30, 2018

She Works Hard for the Money

Welcome to Saturday 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme! 

She Works Hard for the Money (1983) 

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

1) This song is about a woman who works hard as a waitress. What's the hardest job you've ever had?

 

The hardest job I have ever had is being a mother and a wife -- and I am still doing it.  As far as a job that I worked at outside of my home and earned money, I was a secretary to one of the assistant superintendents of a school district in my hometown.

2) The lyrics tell us she has worked at this job for 28 years. What's the longest you stayed with one employer? 

 

I was at the school job for 3 years during which time I got married, got promoted twice, got pregnant and quit for the job I am still doing.

3) Donna Summer was inspired to write this song during an awards show. She ducked into the bathroom and met the elderly ladies' room attendant, whose job it was to make sure the room the spotless, the complimentary hairspray and moisturizer was abundant, and there was a hot towel for every celebrity who used the facilities. "Wow," Donna thought, "she works hard for those tips." Who is the last person you tipped?  

It would have to be the waiter at a restaurant since I haven't had my hair professionally cut in about a year -- I know, I know,

4) Early in her career, Donna was in the touring company of the musical Hair. It played in Munich for so long that she became fluent in German. What's the longest you have ever lived away from home?
 

I have never lived away from home.  I lived in my childhood home until I married and then I lived in our home.  I lived in my hometown until the work transfer and then I moved to my current location and my family, including parents and aunt, moved with me.  I have never lived outside my home state. I am very dull and boring.

5) Sam's dad is naturally outgoing and enjoys striking up conversations with waitresses, librarians, the checker at the supermarket, etc. Sam is always polite but more private. Are you more like father or daughter?

 

I am more like Sam's father -- I never met a stranger I wouldn't talk to -- well, within reason.  I had a lovely conversation with a lady at Half Price Books the other day who sold five boxes of books for $59.  That was pretty good.  Once I sold 117 paperbacks and only got $17.  Rip off.

6) A little more than 10% of the American workforce is self-employed. Have you ever been your own boss?  

 

I am a wife and mother -- I am truly the boss of everybody.  However, JLSHall is the family matriarch and oddly, I listen to her. 

7) Labor Day weekend may offer a golden opportunity for napping and sleeping in. Do you snore?

 

Sometimes -- mostly during allergy season.

8) Will you be attending a Labor Day picnic or barbecue? 

 

No, I will be cleaning out my other house to put it on the market

9) Labor Day traditionally marks the beginning of the fall. Will you be adding any new fall clothes to your wardrobe?

 

Probably but I tend to buy season neutral clothing anyway so I wear the same thing all the time.  Looking to pick up a couple of cardigans though.  I wish I looked cute in them, like my daughter, but I really just look like an old lady in a sweater but I do find them to be comfortable.  

Sunday Stealing

August 25, 2018

Misc.Questions

Hi! I'm your host Bev Sykes of the blog "Funny the World". . Welcome to Sunday Stealing. This feature originated and published on WTIT: The Blog. Here we will steal all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent questions. (Past hosts include: Our first - Judd Corizan, Mr. L, Kwizgiver and Bud)  Cheers to all of us thieves!

Stolen from Phoenix, the Blogging Mama, which is now a private blog, unfortunately

1. How has your life most benefited from the Internet? Whether it’s meeting people, cutting business overhead, finding rare collectibles, or simply sharing funny cat pictures, share how the web has made life easier.

 

I am able to keep up with family better and I have reconnected with people I lost touch with years ago.  It also comes in handy when doing genealogy.

2. The getaway car is waiting outside – where is it taking you?

Savannah, Georgia

3. Do you reply to comments on your blog? All of them? Or just the really interesting ones?  Do you go back to check if the authors or the blogs you comment on reply to your comments? Yes, I replay and yes, I go back to look for comments.

4. On average, how long does it take you to make an important decision? Depends on the decision -- if it is an emergency I make a decision pretty quickly -- if I am trying to buy a new sofa -- well, that can take a long time -- long enough for me to lose interest in it.

5. Do you gather a lot of information prior to making the decision, or do you go with your gut in the heat of the moment?

Again, depends on the decision

6. What’s the most important thing you’ve learned recently? To take one day at a time and to enjoy that day and not wish your life away

7. What’s your hidden talent? Are you double-jointed? Can you sneeze the alphabet? Share your unique skill.  I have no hidden talent.  Just a girl trying to get by.

8. Rate the level of intensity you have about wanting to know God – no desire, low priority, curious, great desire, high priority, desperate to learn more. Explain your answer. I know God.  He is with me every minute of every day.  I talk to him everyday and he hears me.  He takes care of me because I am his child.

9. What’s one of your nicknames?  How did you get that nickname? Liss.  My dad called me Liss.

10. What do you have to have with you when you travel? Why? my meds because well, I need them.  Something to read.  Phone Charger.  A few clothes.

11. What do you think about reading books on an electronic reading device? Do you have an electronic reading device? Do you love it? Why? If you don’t love it, why not?  I read a lot and I love books but I have been reading on a device and I love it, too.

12. Do you prefer writing on paper or a keyboard? Why?Paper

13. If the shoes make the man (or woman), what do your shoes say about you right now? (Assuming you’re wearing shoes. Although if you’re not, that certainly says something, too.)
I am not wearing shoes.  I have a love/hate relationship with shoes.  I have problem feet.
14. Describe your favorite pair of shoes. Ballet flats

15. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained one ability or quality, what would it be? To get my house cleaned up in a day lie I used to be able to.

BONUS:  When they "cool sculpt" your body, where does the fat go? I have no idea.

Think (1968)
Unfamiliar with this week's song. Hear it here.
In fond remembrance of The Queen of Soul (1942-2018).
 
1) As befits one of America's premiere artists, Aretha Franklin sang at three Presidential inaugurations. The first was Jimmy Carter's in 1977, when she sang "God Bless America." What's your favorite patriotic song? America the Beautiful

2) The daughter of a Baptist minister, Aretha grew up with church music. She told Rolling Stone one of her favorite songs was the hymn, "Victory Is Mine." What's your favorite religious song? I have many favorites -- I love church music -- but in our church hymnal the hymns aren't named so for this I will say "Jesus, Name Above All Names"  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBVFvtM9SzM

3) She welled up a bit when President George H. W. Bush presented her with the nation's highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005. When is the last time you shed a tear? Oh, I don't know.  Probably a bit weepy yesterday

4) In 1980, the Queen of Soul sang for the Queen of England in a Command Performance at The Royal Albert Hall. Have you ever been to London?  Yes I have and I would like to go back

5) Since Aretha had many honorary degrees, it would have been appropriate to refer to her as Dr. Franklin. Who is the last person you referred to by his or her title (Officer, Father, Sgt., Dr., etc.)? Probably my priest, Fr. Klein

6)  In this week's song, Aretha tells her lover that it doesn't take a high IQ to understand what's going on in their relationship. Do you know your IQ? No

7) A sculpture of Aretha is on display at Madame Tussaud's in New York. Do you think wax museums are cool, or creepy? I have never been to one and never had any desire to go to one so I guess I would have to say creepy because if I thought they were cool I would probably go.

8) Aretha and Motown legend Smokey Robinson were literally lifelong friends, since they were playground buddies in Detroit. Smokey is one of the only people who can claim to have seen The Queen of Soul with a bucket in a sandbox. If we went to the playground today, would you head for the swings, the slide or the jungle gym? Or, like Aretha, would you play in the sand? I don't care for sand and I don't like climbing so I would have to say the swings or maybe the slide if it wasn't too hot.

9) Random question: Do you like pumpkin seeds?  yes

Girl Scout Situpon Buckets or How to Transform a Paint Bucket Into Something Stupidly Expensive

Good morning!  I hope it is for you.  I am a little tired today and just a little grumpy.  Yesterday was a very active and busy day and I am paying for it today. 

Last night was our second Brownie meeting of the year.  We are joining our troop with another troop whose leaders decided they didn't want to lead anymore.  We have a group of 16 girls now as opposed to 5 and it is a lively group.  It is mixed -- we have four Daisies and the rest are Brownies.  They are working well together and I think after the next meeting we will no longer be two troops combining but actually one big troop and it will be good.

Our goal last night was to have the Brownies teach the Daisies about Girl Scouts.  Several of the "old" girls prepared information to share with the littles.  After that, worked ensued on making a 5 gallon paint bucket into a little stool for them to sit on with room to carry all their necessary items.  We hope they will be useful during cookie booths even though they aren't supposed to sit down.  We will see.

So, I made a prototype and then cut out all the necessary parts ahead of time so they would only have to assemble it.  It was chaotic enough with all that pre-made -- I can't imagine what it would have been like if we had been trying to do all the cutting during the meeting. 

I didn't take any photos of the event last night -- I need to do that in the future -- but I did take photos of me making mine.  So, for your viewing pleasure  --

circle the size of the bucket lid cut out of cardboard -- we used moving boxes because we had them and they were free -- Girl Scouts are always frugal and resourceful

Four layers of extra loft batting to fit the cardboard circle

The lid before I attached the velcro -- low profile, industrial strength velcro cut into four pieces and spaced equally (12, 3, 6, and 9 like a clock).  I had put the loop and the fastener pieces together as a unit so when I stuck the bottom piece down I only had to remove the tape off the top one and place the covered "cushion" on the top and stuck to the velcro

The cardboard circle with the batting was covered in the fabric of their choice.  It was stretched around to the back and secured with duct tape.  It was easy to work with it to get a really smooth and nice looking cushion so when it was attached to the velcro, this is what it looked like

Decoration was their choice and the only requirement was that their name and troop number be visible.  So, here is my name and troop number.

And a little bit more ribbony goodness.  I have since added a sticker and a cross hanging from the handle.  I don't have a photo of that though.

So, yes, that has been what I have been doing the last couple of days.  It was really interesting to see the girls work on these last night.  There was all manner of fabric, embellishments, bling, hang-y things.  Their personalities really came out and they had a wonderful time. 

Now, I just have to clean up the mess I made. 

A Scientist I Am Not

Back in my school days my strengths were English and History.  I had no use for math -- odd I would enjoy quilting with all the geometry involved -- and science -----well, I learned I was allergic to formaldehyde in high school biology so there you go.  It makes sense, then, that I would marry a microbiologist who never met a math problem he didn't like, right?

Anyway.

I have several hobbies, not the least of which is researching my family tree.  It doesn't take but two generations of searching to get me across the great pond and that makes the searching a bit dicier.  Enter Ancestry DNA testing.

Yes, I did.  I took the test.  I wasn't surprised at the results they showed, I was surprised at what they didn't show but that is another conversation.  Then I downloaded my results to Gedmatch.com and found another whole slew of "matches" -- some I recognized, some not so much.

Facebook groups on family history have begun to immerge and I joined one dealing with Wales and Welsh DNA.  People are putting their kit numbers up there for comparison.  I have done the same and never come up with any matches which is disturbing considering my great-grandparentage.

So, yesterday I was contacted by a person who showed how we were a match and how if you use a certain search criteria you might find more matches.  I tried and I did, only to be told that I might come up with some false positives.  Sounds like medical testing.

I spent last evening putting in kit numbers and doing comparisons and have come up with three people that I truly think might be related.  I don't know how or where -- well, somewhere in Wales I would suspect.

I can honestly say this is the most confusing thing I have ever seen.  I know nothing about DNA and at this point I am pretty sure I am incapable of learning.  I guess I will just have to rely on the knowledge and wisdom of others.

So confused.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

This spring when we were visiting Savannah, Georgia I decided to make sure my souvenirs were meaningful.  It is so easy to just get lost in souvenir shops because that is what we do when we travel, isn't it?  Food and souvenirs.

So, I decided that on this trip I would only buy two sorts of things -- books on the area and Christmas ornaments.  I have found that these sorts of things are easy to transport home, unlike a large model of Westminster Abbey.  That is another post, however.

One of the books I decided to purchase was "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" by John Berendt.  We all know that I am a sucker for good covers and I love the cover of this book.  I love the "bird girl" statute and the general spookiness of it. I couldn't wait to delve into the book.

But, since it was a souvenir I decided to borrow it on my kindle through overdrive so I could keep my copy pristine.  I started reading the library copy but didn't finish so I rechecked it.  Still didn't finish so I moved on to my copy.  The reading got slower and slower and I am not one to move on until I am done with something, especially as close to the end as I was.  But.....I had reached a draggy point and it was like trying to plod through quicksand.  Do they have quicksand in Georgia? I will have to Google that.

Finally the other day I picked the book up -- which is no longer pristine I might add after having carried it in my purse and dog-earring a few pages -- and decided to finish it. And I have.

So, what did I think?  I have enjoyed it but it does have draggy spots.  I guess I got bogged down in the Williams trial (just read it) but the book does share the flavor of Savannah with all it's quirkiness.

I will say that before I started the book I watched the movie with Kevin Spacey in the lead and I really enjoyed it -- mostly because I got to see Savannah again and I loved it.  I don't always enjoy the movie versions of books but this I did.

Would I recommend?  Yes, I would.  I would also recommend the movie.  I would also recommend a visit to Savannah in person.  Wear comfortable shoes and a crossbody bag.  And prepare yourself for lots of souvenir shops.

I still wish I had tried to bring home a bird girl statue.

It's a Jungle Out There

Thursday, August 16, 2018

It's a Jungle Out There

Welcome to Saturday 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme! 

Saturday 9: It's a Jungle Out There (Theme from Monk) (2003)

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

1) This week's song is the theme from the detective show that ran from 2002-2009. Were you a fan? Never watched it.

2) The song warns us about the air we breathe and the water we drink. Does your home have an air or water filter?  I have a filter on the water dispenser in the fridge.

3) The lyrics say, "People say I'm crazy to worry all the time." Are you a worrier? Or do you just take things as they come?  Worrier.  I come from a long line.

4) TV's Adrian Monk is known for his outstanding deductive powers, an homage to Sherlock Holmes. Have you read any of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's books featuring Sherlock Holmes?  No but watched it plenty on TV.

5) Monk was also known for fastidiousness and precision, an homage to Hercule Poirot. Have you read any of Agatha Christie's books featuring Poirot?  No.  Again, tv.  My husband's guilty pleasure

6) This song was written and performed by Grammy and Emmy winner Randy Newman. Do you have any trophies or plaques? No, I wasn't a competitor of anything.

7) Before winning an Oscar in 2001, Mr. Newman had the distinction of having the most nominations (15) without a win. Do you consider yourself a graceful loser?  I don't really know -- never been tested as I was never competitive.  Oh, I did win a free soda at a restaurant in the mall where I took ballroom dance at about 13.  Does that count?

8) In 2003, when this song was introduced, Lance Armstrong won his fifth Tour de France. Later, he was disgraced in a doping scandal. Can you think of a time when a hero disappointed you?  Never really had heroes.


9) Random question -- We're catering lunch. Should we put you down for a burger or a taco?  Taco, please.