Saturday, November 19, 2016

Saturday 9


Saturday 9: Cabaret (1972)

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

1) In this song, Liza Minnelli encourages you to put down "the knitting, the book and the broom." Which of those three were you most recently doing: knitting, reading or housework? Reading. I'm always reading, I'm seldom cleaning and never knitting.

2) She sings that we shouldn't allow "some prophet of doom to wipe every smile away?" Do you know anyone who reliably looks at the downside of life? My kid sister. I've been feeling very guilty lately -- sad, too -- about how glad I am to not be spending the holidays with my family. I wish it wasn't this way, but this is the way it is. My sister infuses so much tension and disappointment into holidays. (I'm not sure she misses me, either.)

3) In 1972, when this recording was popular, so was The Brady Bunch. In the two-part
America's Southernmost Christmas tree
season premiere, The Bradys went to Hawaii. Do you have any warm weather vacation plans this fall/winter? Key West for Christmas! Which makes me both happy and sad. Happy because it'll be nice to wear my Birkenstocks on Christmas Day and it'll be delightful to spend time with my friends down there, who love me. Sad because, well, see #2.


4) Though not her uncle, just a friend to both of her parents, Liza always called  Frank Sinatra as "Uncle Frank." Is there an older person in your life who isn't a blood relative, but who refer to as "aunt" or "uncle?" No, but my oldest friend's daughter always introduces me as her aunt.

5) Liza collapsed onstage during a Christmas concert in 2007. She says she'd been nauseous before she went on and simply fainted. Sam has never fainted. Have you? Nope.

6) People are often surprised when they learn Liza is good friends with Gene Simmons -- the KISS member with the long tongue. Tell us about one of your good friends. Henry is one of my dearest and most interesting friends. He is gay, Catholic and Puerto Rican, which causes a bit of dissonance in his very sensitive soul. He's one of the most compassionate, loving people I've ever met. If you're his friend (or you have fur), he always sees the best in you. He's smart and talented. He's been a professor, a designer, a waiter, a keyliner, a poet and now he's a library assistant. He and his partner have been together more than 25 years now. As a barren spinster and observer of human relations, I can report they have one of the most supportive relationships I've ever seen up close. Knowing Henry has enriched my life enormously. (And, to borrow from #4, he always refers to me as his "true sister," which touches my heart.)

7) Liza told US Magazine that she loves to eat at Olive Garden. Do you? Sure. It's economical, has a nice bar, and there's something for everyone on the menu.


8) She keeps apple juice and yogurt in her refrigerator at all times. Would we find either in your refrigerator right now? Probiotic strawberry yogurt.

9)  Random question: Which would be a more frustrating dinner companion -- someone who won't shut up, or someone who won't say a word? The silent one.

8 comments:

  1. Two of my kids and their spouses went to Jamaica last Christmas. One of the couples had lived through the blizzard in Boston the year before and they desperately wanted a warm Christmas!

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  2. It sounds like you have a wonderful friend.

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  3. I totally get how you feel about family and holidays. There are a couple "prophets of doom" in my family and sometimes, no matter how much I love them, I would really rather not be with them...and then that makes me sad. lol

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  4. I can't imagine a world in which I did not have to clean up after others... Things would be so much easier if people would just leave things just the way that they found them. Surprisingly, my daughter is the worst too.

    Enjoy your Thanksgiving Gal.

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  5. My sister in law (whom I love) has a sister like that. It is hard to be around her when we get together at SIL's house for holidays.

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  6. I was feeling guilty that I don't especially feel like celebrating Thanksgiving with a family thing this year. I just don't want to fuss or cook. Blah. It's just my usual fall blues.

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  7. Happy birthday! I am glad you have such a good and interesting friend. And as for the holidays - I already have a migraine scheduled so I can stay home Christmas Day.

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  8. My brother is hard to deal with on holidays. So, we go to the other side where there are people there whom I can completely ignore if they go off on anything. I'm not related and don't feel anything about their opinions or slant on life. Not my rodeo.

    Cleaning is practically a three hour on the weekend job if you don't live with someone else. I could keep my little studio spotless.
    Have a great time in Key West! Huzzah to lovely friends. We all love you, too, Gal, so have a great time out of the weather and away from negative nellies!

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