Sunday Stealing

 Stolen from Tuesday 4

1.  Name a TV series show or shows in which you have seen every episode at least twice:

2.  Name a show or shows you can't or would not miss: I really enjoyed the first and third seasons of Only Murders in the Building. (I don't know why, but I wasn't crazy about season 2.)

3.  Name an actor or actors that would make you more inclined to watch a show: Steve Martin as star. Tom Hanks as producer. (I love his CNN documentaries.)

4.  Name an actor or actors who would make you less likely to watch a show:  Roseanne! I cannot stand the sight of that toxic, silly woman.

5. You're having a lovely dinner party for friends and family. What will you serve for appetizers, main course and dessert? I'll have a fruit plate as an appetizer. Then I'll ask everyone what they want on their pizza. For dessert, I'll serve cupcakes. Or macarons. Something pretty.

6. Snow storm! You've got house guests and you're all stuck inside for the night. What do you prepare for dinner.  Will you watch a movie? I wouldn't ask anyone to deliver food in a snowstorm, so we're going to have whatever is in my kitchen. Right now, that would be hot dogs and applesauce. Donuts for dessert. (Hey! You knew it wasn't going to be haute cuisine when you accepted the invite.) For the movie, we're going classic.

7. We are going into New York City for the weekend. Where do you want to go? I'm headed to the Bronx to see Anthony Rizzo, of course.

8. 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? Short story writing. Because I think it would be fun to stretch my skills in that direction.

9. Ever been to a Drive-In Theater? Would you like to see Drive-In Theaters make a come back? I went as a child. I'd like to see them come back because more screens is good for the movie business.

10.  Should towns provide community entertainment like bands in the park, fireworks on the 4th, community picnics or is the cost just too much? Of course!

11.  What would you change about your town if you had the power? I'd like to see beat cops on the street more, interacting with us. When they do, I sense a greater sense of collaboration between the police and the public.

12.   How often do you find yourself shopping for groceries? About 3x/week. I don't drive, so I'm limited to what I can haul home.

13. Do you have a favorite night time snack? It changes. These days it's cinnamon applesauce cups.

14,  Do you buy in bulk and what kinds of tips do you have to save money on grocery shopping? I buy nothing in bulk and have no tips. Except, maybe, don't pay full price for toilet paper when those big rolls of Charmin Essentials are just waiting for you at The Dollar Store. 

15. Let's have a picnic in the park.  What foods are we packing and will we cook anything there or is it all prepared ahead of time? We're having cold fried chicken, chips, fruit and cookies.

Saturday 9

 Saturday 9: Diamond Girl (1973)

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

1) This week's song is by Seals and Crofts, a pair of Texas boys who met when they both joined a local band called The Crew Cats. Have you ever visited The Lone Star State? If yes, where did you go? I visited Dallas on business. It was the mid-80s, when I was writing for a haircare company. BIG hair was popular in those days, and Dallas was the epicenter of big hair so that's where the beauty show was.

The ladies of Dallas with their high-maintenance hair

2) Lead singer Jim Seals compliments his girl by comparing her to a precious stone. What's the nicest compliment you have ever received? Who was it from? A decade ago I met a young woman who had just immigrated from India. We didn't work together often, but we sat near one another. One day I did a very small thing for her -- she was sad that her little plant had died and while she was lunch, I surprised her by replacing the dead plant with a couple of carnations from the bouquet on my desk. Really, it took a moment and cost me nothing. Anyway, it meant so much to her! She bought me a Christmas gift a few weeks later, even though she doesn't celebrate Christmas, because I "spread holiday cheer all year around." After I was let go in 2022, she sent me another Christmas gift (to my home), an electric blanket so I could have "a warm and cozy Christmas." A few months ago she reached out via Facebook to tell me she's glad I look so happy in retirement, and to share photos of her kids. It means a great deal to me that she thinks I'm nice and kind.

3) Diamonds are birthstone for people born in April. What's your birthstone? Do you wear it often? Topaz and no.

4) In ancient times, Hindus believed diamonds brought good luck. Do you have a good luck charm? I used to but I lost it.

5) On the other hand, some believe that one of the world's most famous gems, The Hope Diamond, is cursed. 14 of its owners have died from unnatural causes. Those who possessed the diamond committed suicide, were murdered, tortured to death in prison, and even torn apart by dogs! If you received a beautiful piece of jewelry that was rumored to be cursed, would you be concerned? Or do you think curses are silly? I think curses are silly.

6) Rare diamonds share an element with the common pencil. Both contain graphite. Sam is crazy about pencils, pens and felt-tip markers. Do you enjoy shopping for office supplies? Yes! I love binder clips and paper clips.

7) In 1973, the year this record was popular, Shelley Hack was a hard-working and well-paid model. She regularly appeared on the pages of catalogs, on magazine covers and then launched Revlon's popular Charlie cologne in print and on TV. What commercial have you seen recently? Did you watch it on TV, online or on your phone? Golden Corral ("You can't handle the shrimp!"). It was on TV when I was watching the news.

8) Also in 1973, Motown great Stevie Wonder was in a car accident that left him with a scar on his nose. Tell us about how you got one of your scars. 10 years ago I had a "beauty mark" removed from my face. My dermatologist wanted the mole biopsied, but because of the prominent location on my face, he sent me to a plastic surgeon. She was a wizard. The scar just looks like a tiny horizontal laugh line.

9) Random question: What's your perfect day -- weatherwise? 75º, clear skies, just a breeze.