Friday, May 01, 2020

Saturday 9

LITTLE THINGS
  
1) In this song, Bobby Goldsboro celebrates the "little things" that delight him, like seeing his girl smile. What are some little every day things that reliably lighten your mood? Oh, lots of things! These are top of mind ...
•  My cats. 
•  That I was able to find Cubbie blue masks (I miss baseball!). 
•  When the online technology works and I'm able to have a good meeting with my coworkers or client.
•  Watching That Girl on Antenna TV and checking out Ann's clothes. 
It would never occur to me to wear  these colors together, but she looks adorable
2) Bobby is a lifelong sports fan. While in high school, he came to terms with physical limitations -- slender build, slow speed -- that would prevent him from having a career as a professional athlete. That's when he turned his attention to music. Given your choice, would you rather make your living in music or sports? Explain your decision. Music, because it's a longer career. My cousin is in his 50s, and he's been a working musician for decades (both performing and teaching). Athletes are pretty much done before 40.

3) Shortly before "Little Things" was released, Bobby toured England for two weeks, backing up Roy Orbison. They opened for The Beatles. Bobby fondly recalls spending time with Paul McCartney, teaching him how to imitate the croak of an Alabama tree frog. Are you good at imitations (human or otherwise)? No. This is another area -- like singing -- where I'm hampered by being tone deaf.

4) Back in the States, Goldsboro (again with Orbison) opened for the Rolling Stones in New York. Which band did you listen to more recently, the Stones or the Beatles? The lads from Liverpool.


5) Bobby worked on projects with Burt Reynolds, doing the music for the movie Gator and the TV show Evening Shade. Burt said it was not only Bobby's musical ability but also his wit that made him fun to work with. What qualities do you value in a coworker? Willingness. Enthusiasm for the task at hand is almost as important as competence.

6) These days, Bobby spends more time painting than performing music. He regularly
donates his artwork to be auctioned off for charity. Have you ever tried your hand at painting? Not since paint-by-number kits were the rage. 



7) In 1964, when this song was on the radio, women spent more on styling gels and sprays than they do today. Are you having a good hair day? Or has the pandemic made dealing with your hair something of an adventure? My hair has become all cowlicky and wavy.


8) Nationally and internationally, one of 1964's biggest news stories was the marriage of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. The bride wore a yellow dress and white and yellow flowers in her hair. The groom was decked out in a sedate dark suit with a red tie and a yellow boutonniere. What did you wear the last time you got really dressed up? I don't remember the occasion, but I know I wore my paisley cardigan because I was hoping to wear it again before I washed it. Since it's May, that's not going to happen this season.
 
9) Random question: Imagine you're stranded on a desert island with a complete stranger. Would you prefer your one and only companion be a man or a woman? A man. My upper body strength would be woefully inadequate to the tasks of survival. I'm hoping a man would balance that out. Of course, I'd rather not be stranded on a desert island at all.

Nothing but good news

Wednesday night, Chicago's athletes participated in a telethon to benefit those feeling the negative effect of the corona virus crisis. The Cubs' Anthony Rizzo appeared.

Of course he did.

Sports columnist Dave Kaplain rattled off Rizz' impressive off-the-field stats.

•  Since mid-March, the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation has provided 5000 meals to healthcare workers at 30 hospitals in 6 states.

•  That's nearly 115 meals a day, purchased from local, independently-owned restaurants struggling to stay afloat.


Then Kaplan joked, "Aren't you ever going to stop?"

"I don't want to stop," he said seriously.

And sure enough, on Thursday his foundation delivered 500 KN95 masks to Lurie Children's Hospital.

Rizz is now 30. He doesn't have many seasons left. If he wanted to mention how detrimental the pandemic and the truncated season will be to his career, I don't think anyone would blame him.

But then, he wouldn't be Anthony Rizzo. Instead he talked about his parents (they're healthy but bored) and staying in shape (riding bikes with his wife and taking swings in a batting cage) and his beloved Kevin.

Kevin is a good boy. He understands "sit," "stay" and "go out." However, Kevin doesn't get "rollover" and looks confused when asked to give his paw.

Anthony Rizzo is a good boy, too. When his as-yet unborn kids ask him what he did during the 2020 pandemic, he can be proud of his answer.



Those who pay the dearest price

I am, naturally, appalled by the self-important whiners who act as though their civil rights have been severely impeded by a once-in-a-century pandemic. It's offensive to see safety precautions akin to those put in place for hurricanes and tornadoes compared to "fascism."

It also belittles the true victims: Those who have lost their lives and lost their loved ones. Those who will continue to suffer loss of life. Look at this headline. Consider that six-figure number.

Here's a link to this story

I close with the quote by the Montebello company executive fulfilling the body bag order: "I hope to God that they don't need my order and that they cancel it." Here's hoping this government estimate is far off, and the anguish represented by that number is never realized.



May Music Meme -- Day 1

A song you like with a color in the title. Aha! This song has two colors in the title! And I do adore it.  (Play along! Click here for prompts.)