Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) In this song, Elvis wants the snowbird to fly away and take the snow back with her. Have you seen a measurable snowfall yet this season? We had snow last weekend but it's all melted away. It's supposed to start again this afternoon and continue until ... I dunno ... April?
2) Drivers in snowy climes are encouraged to keep salt, sand or kitty litter in the trunk because those items can help a car regain traction in the snow. Do you have an emergency kit in your car right now? If so, what's in it? No car. But I've written so many articles on this, I know what you're supposed to carry: flares, shovel, energy bars, a charger for your phone, blanket, and a protein shake or two (less likely to freeze than water). And a 5 lb. bag of clay kitty litter.
3) Back in 2007, North Dakota set the world record for the most snow angels made at one time (8,910). Do you enjoy playing in the snow? I used to love sledding. Do kids still do that? Or is it too low-tech?
4) Chionophobia is the fear of snow. Astraphobia is the fear of thunder and lightening. Lilapsophobia is the fear of tornadoes and hurricanes. Do you have to cope with any of these fears? Nope.
5) Elvis' daughter Lisa Marie split her childhood between Memphis and Los Angeles, so she seldom saw snow. When she was a little girl, she was whisked her off to Denver in her father's private plane so the two of them could spend an afternoon playing in the snow. If you could take off and spend the afternoon anywhere in the world, where would you go? I'd fly off to Los Angeles to meet my oldest friend for lunch at her favorite place -- the Hotel Casa Del Mar on the beach. Her birthday is this weekend and I fear no one is fussing over her. This would make her happy. And, considering all the snow that's expected here, it would make me happy, too!
6)
At home and onstage, Elvis refused to wear jeans and only wore denim if
a film role demanded it. This is because when he was young, classmates
teased him for "dressing poor" in jeans and coveralls. What did you wear
to class when you were in grammar school? This page from a 1967 Sears catalog is pretty indicative. I wasn't allowed to wear slacks unless the mercury dipped below 20ยบ. But I could wear a "pantdress" or "culottes," which I preferred because I never did like dealing with slips. And knee socks! No self respecting girl in my gradeschool wore anklets. (BTW, it makes me sad to think of Elvis being bullied. Kids can be so cruel.)7) Elvis and President Jimmy Carter are distant relatives (the President is the sixth cousin of the King's great grandfather). Your turn: Tell us about one of your more interesting relatives. My dad was a talented auto mechanic and he enjoyed his work. Before I was born, he spent summer weekends working in the pits at the drag raceway. It wasn't until after he died that I learned my mom persuaded him to give that up when my older sister was born because it was too dangerous. I wonder if that didn't have something to do with his lukewarm attitude toward parenting.
8) In 1971, when Elvis released his recording of "Snowbird," You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown was a hit on Broadway. Who is your favorite Peanuts character? Charlie Brown had a good heart.
9) Random question: You receive a gift certificate from a gourmet food company that can be redeemed for one of these three things: 1 lb. of caviar, 5 lbs. of steak or a 10 lb., live lobster. Which would you choose? I would have gone with the lobster, except that the question specifies "live." Sorry, I just can't. So I'll take the steak, please. They "don't have legs and don't run around."
