Friday, May 14, 2021

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Don't Get Around Much Anymore (1942)

Unfamiliar with this song? Hear it here.

1) In this song, our lonely Romeo shares how he amuses himself these days. Which of the activities that he mentions have you most recently enjoyed: playing solitaire, reading a book, or listening to the radio? I just listened to the last innings of the Cub game on the radio.
 

 
2) The lead singer is tenor Bill Kenny. Which range is your voice: soprano, alto, tenor or bass? When I was in junior high, they put me in the with the altos because that's where I could do the least damage.

3) When Bill was on vacation in Atlantic City, he entered a series of talent contests and won 21 of 22. This led to his first professional booking. Tell us about a vacation of yours that took an unexpected turn. Shortly after I broke up with my boyfriend, I went away to California with my friend, Mindy. After three days in Disneyland we went to stay with a friend of hers in San Francisco. When Mindy knew him, he was married. Now he was divorced. He and I hit it off ... big time. It's the only vacation romance I ever had. Once I got home, my boyfriend and I reconciled, and Mr. California got on with his life, too. But it's a sweet, sexy memory.

4) This song was composed by Duke Ellington. He received many honors, including a coin struck in his honor. In 2009, he graced the District of Columbia's commemorative quarter. Do you save coins in a jar or piggy bank? I keep quarters for laundry in a heavy beer mug, and pennies in a piggy bank.

5) In 1976, Stevie Wonder recorded a tribute to Ellington called "Sir Duke." What's your favorite Stevie Wonder song?

 
 
6) The lyrics were written by Bob Russell. When he began his career, he shared an apartment with future novelist and TV screenwriter Sidney Sheldon. Have you ever tried your hand at writing lyrics, a novel or a screenplay? Every year I participate in Nanowrimo. I don't know how good my stories are, but it's fun.

7) In 1942, when this record was released, the federal government established a rationing system to conserve crucial supplies for our troops. Sugar was the first food to be rationed, followed by coffee and then meat. If you were around back then, which of those items do you think you'd miss the most? Can you imagine if we found ourselves in this situation today? Oh, the whining! I mean, if wearing a mask is too much for some of us, going without would be intolerable. FDR would probably be a puppet of the Deep State, and the Concentration Camps would be dismissed as Fake News.

8) Also in 1942, actor/singer Peter Tork was born. Without looking it up, do you know why Peter Tork was famous? Hey, hey! He was a Monkee!

9) Random question -- Have you ever deliberately lost a game? I admit that, when playing with children, I don't play to the best of my ability. But I've never thrown a game, either. Kids have to learn sportsmanship. 


 

I am a lucky gal

Yesterday afternoon, I was actually done with work at 5:30! I've been so overloaded these past few weeks that this was noteworthy. The sun was still bright, the skies were blue, and I celebrated by taking a walk. I took my canvas bag to the BIG grocery store, which is just a shade over a mile away. It took me half an hour, which is longer than it should because I am hideously out of shape.*

After hearing the good news from the CDC, I wore my mask on wrist. It made me crazy happy to be able to smile as I waved at the driver who paused for me at the crosswalk. I was amused by the little boys rather aggressively hawking lemonade from their stand outside the community softball game. (I still wasn't ready to drink a beverage mixed by grimy little hands, though.) I wore my mask while shopping, though. It's still mandated here in Illinois and I respect the law as well as the science. 

As I walked the mile back with my heavy bag -- not even Friday and most of my weekend grocery shopping is done! -- I stopped at the bakery for a chocolate brownie. I don't think I've been in that particular bakery in a year!

I thought of John and my oldest friend and realized how lucky I am. She's 11 months older than I am, he's 2 1/2 years older, and neither of them could have enjoyed a similar walk. Both of them require canes to walk any distance. With John, it's fatigue and trouble breathing as a result of (currently untreated!) congenital heart failure. My oldest friend suffers from severe knee pain.

I haven't been to the chiropractor in a year. As things reopen, I must return. While I no longer suffer those horrible, shooting pains up and down my right side, I do notice that I have regressed. My balance is off, I'm pretty damn creaky when I get up, and it took me forever to walk that mile.

But I am healthier than they are. I don't exercise, but neither do they. I don't smoke, like she does. I don't drink, like he does. But I eat too much fat and sugar and am way, way too sedentary. 

I must take a moment to appreciate how lucky I am and then be more mindful. Drink more water. Get back on my lateral thigh trainer, if only for a few minutes a day.

Appreciate what God's given you, Gal!


*It wasn't that long ago that I could walk 3 miles in an hour.