songbird's crazy world

  1. It's been said the best things in life are free...are they? What  are  some of those things?  The usual:  good health, family, friends, nature...  2. Stars or stripes? Red, white, or blue? Apple pie or home made ice cream? Do you like hotdogs? If so, what do you like on yours?  Stars, of course.  I am always looking skyward.  Today I will say blue, it's the color of the sky.  How about putting the ice cream on the pie? Hot dogs, let's put mustard and sauerkraut on them today, but tomorrow I'll have them with ketchup and relish.    3. One thing on your summer bucket list? Any plans to make it happen soon?  Live music at Jones Beach.  I very much missed it last summer.  We have tickets to see Jimmy Buffett at the beach in August.  4. What's your summer anthem? Yes, you need to have one.  5. What's something you love about America? If you live outside of America, tell us something you love about the place you call home.   Our Constitution opens with the wo

 So yes, we went into the city Sunday to see live music.  Live music in NYC, how wonderful that sounds. NYC is bouncing back.  if I hadn't seen the "outdoor dining" set ups on the sidewalks and the occasional masked pedestrian, I would never have known I was in post-Covid NY.  It was Pride weekend and the streets were very crowded.  Becca posted on her Instagram that she and a group of her friends went to some of  the Pride events.  So proud of my daughter, she's got a good group of friends. And baseball is back, for real this time.  Last Wednesday we saw the Long Island Ducks play a double-header. It was good to be back in the ballpark. Jen is going back to the cheerleading world.  Two of her coworkers were talking about a youth league cheerleading team, 8 and 9 year old girls.  One of the coworkers coaches the team, and the other wanted to sign her daughter up for the team. When Jen mentioned that she used to coach high school varsity cheer, they were more than happ

 And it's a "your choice" week. Live music last night!  Oh how wonderful it was!   Peter Noone at The Cutting Room.  Yes, we actually ventured into NYC for live music.  East 32nd Street, to be precise. It’s a small venue, seating is  first-come-first-served.  We got there before the doors opened and waited outside.  Drew spotted Noone walking up the street, and we got a chance to speak to him before he went inside to do a sound check.  Alas, no photos. Two other 60’s-era singers were in the audience: Billy Jay Kramer of the Dakotas and Eddie Brigati of the Rascals.   Drew managed to get a photo with Brigati. But of course the main attraction was Noone, who sang and told stories for 95 glorious minutes. So today's featured artist ... And a bonus hit

  One Bad Apple Welcome to  Saturday: 9 . What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme One Bad Apple (1971)   Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it  here . 1) This song is a play on the old saying that one bad apple can spoil the bunch, or that the bad behavior of one member can reflect badly on the whole group. Do you think that's true? Yes, definitely true.      2) The Osmonds began as The Osmond Brothers, a barbershop quartet that performed at the original Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Today there are 9 Disney Resorts all around the world, as far away as Shanghai. Have you e

 I am always looking toward to sky to see things that fly ... #skywatchfriday

 So awhile back I posted about the trials and tribulations of grocery shopping on Long Island.  It’s not my favorite activity. So I signed up for one of those shopping/delivery services.  You fill out a shopping list, schedule a delivery time, and for a small fee you let someone else do all the heavy lifting. I won’t tell you which service…names are changed to protect the guilty and all that … Usually the biggest problem I encounter is that they bring my groceries to the wrong door.  I have a second floor apartment in a two family house, and the door to my apartment is in the back of the house.  My instructions are to come to the back door and leave the groceries.  Sometimes the shopper will deliver my groceries to the front door, and the downstairs tenant (my friend Jenn) will call me to let me know I have a delivery. But this time … I placed a small order Monday.  I got the usual text messages — the shopper has started my order, the shopper has checked out, the shopper is on the way

1. What's something that reminds you of your grandmother? Tell us why. Old fashioned Jewish recipes.  My grandmother grew up in what is now Poland, and at the age of 12 she had to get a job to support her mother and younger siblings because her father was in America and unable to send home money.  She got a job as a cook on a farm.  Later, as a widow with three young children, she  o nce again returned to cooking as a way to earn a living.  She made everything from scratch --  knishes, gefitle fish, kreplach, chopped liver, and, of course, chicken soup   2. Is your life currently more ' moonlight and roses ' or a little more ' every rose has it's thorn' ? Elaborate. Lately it is more "moonlight and roses, no real problems and I am enjoying life.  3. June 23rd is National Pink Day...favorite thing you own in any shade of pink? Favorite thing found in nature in any shade of pink? Your favorite pink food or beverage? Your favorite shade of pink? My favorit

 So it’s finally summer.  The weather is hot and muggy, and I am glad I bought that portable air conditioner for my bedroom. I was on the phone with my friend Jenn yesterday.  I’ve known Jenn for decades, she went to college with my sister, and she became like family.  Her eldest son is just six months older than my daughter Jen, and her sons refer to my daughters as their cousins, and visa versa. Family isn’t just blood.  Sometimes it’s who you choose to be with. We refer to my daughter as “single N Jen” and my friend as “twin N Jenn”.  Say that out loud, you'll smile, maybe even giggle. The topic turned to Father’s Day, and the two of us reminisced about my father.  He mentored Jenn when she decided to go back to school to become a teacher.  That was something he liked to do, encourage new teachers and future teachers. There are days when I really miss him. There was a post in one of my Facebook groups, that we should all share happy childhood memories.  And the first thing that

  It's Monday again. And today's theme? Build a playlist of your favorite songs from the 80s or 90s. Too many choices! I'll limit it to acts that I've seen perform live (though not  in the 80's)...that will narrow it down.... We start with Sir Paul.  I saw him at Citi Field, July 2009 Kenny Rogers...we saw his farewell tour, Christmas 2016.  One of his big hits in the 80's was  this song Joan Jett opened for The Who at the Nassau Coliseum in May 2015. I saw Jackson Browne  with John Fogerty in August 2014 at Jones Beach. Huey Lewis opened for Jimmy Buffett at Jones Beach, August 2015 The first concert ever held in the Meadowlands Stadium was Bon Jovi, June 2010 Rod Stewart, Jones Beach, August 2014.  We had tickets to see him at Jones Beach  in the summer of 2020, but that tour will now take place in the summer of 2022.   I've seen Billy Joel twice, during his residency at Madison Square Garden.  January 2014 and again in December 2014. And we have tickets t

 Becca chose the site of this year’s Father’s Day Brunch.   The Cove  is right on the water. We had a round of mimosas.  Drew and Becca had the Eggs Benedict.  Jen and I chose the Greek omelette, hers without tomato.   And of course I had to take a photo of my kids with their dad.

  Papa, Can You Hear Me?   Welcome to  Saturday 9 . What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme! Saturday 9: Papa, Can You Hear Me? (1984) This song was chosen in honor of Father's Day. Hear it  here . 1) The song begins with a prayer to "God, our Heavenly Father." Do you often pray? As a Jewish woman, I have often performed the candle lighting ritual that Barbra performs in that clip.    We light candles to usher in the Sabbath and every major holiday.   You light the candles, cover your eyes and recite Blessed are you, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who hallows us with  mitz

 Suburban skies #skywatchfriday

 Went to visit a friend, and saw  something on her lawn... A new friend. Or rather, two new friends.

So we went to the movies...yes, an actual theater...saw Disney's new live action film, Cruella . Really loved it.  We're planning to see In the Heights soon. Never managed to see it on Broadway, so I am really looking forward to the movie. Food trucks have become very popular here on Long Island.  There's a church about 5 blocks from Drew's house, they have "Food Truck Fridays" during the spring and summer.  We also find the trucks at craft fairs and other events. Two of our favorites are  Cousins Maine Lobster  and  The Steak Truck .  We got lobster rolls the other night ...yum. Vacation plans are coming together.  We don't want to go too far this year, things being what they are.  Looks like Maryland might be our destination for our summer road trip.  Lots of historical sites, perfect for two history buffs. Waterfalls and gorges.  Lighthouses and railroads.  Sailing on the Chesapeake and the Potomac.  And we joked about seeing a baseball game -- Drew ev

 And it's a "your choice" week. One of my favorites from the early  70's died in a plane crash.  Only 30 when he died. Gone way too soon.   Today I will enjoy the music of Jim Croce. Let's start with "Operator" "I Got A Name" Who could forget "Leroy Brown"? Or Big Jim? And now the one that always makes me cry ... released as a single posthumously, his second #1 hit...

    Hi! I'm your host Bev Sykes of the blog " Funny the World ". . Welcome to Sunday Stealing. This feature originated and published on WTIT: The Blog. Here we will steal all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent questions. Cheers to all of us thieves!    Stolen from  The League of Extraordinary Penpals               1. Describe your phone lock screen Let me just show you...     2. How often do you journal? at least 5 times a week   3. What’s your favorite thing to teach others? Bits and pieces of history, trivial facts that make it so fascinating.   4. How do you like to spend Sundays? We usually do Sunday brunch, Drew loves to cook breakfast foods.   5. What would you describe as your kryptonite? chocolate    6. A TV show or movie you thought was really bad Made it through about 4 minutes of The Bachelor before I had to change the channel.   7. Do you know your