songbird's crazy world

  Thank you, Pfizer.  Thank you medical personnel at the Javits Center.  Thank you, National Guard.

  Bills, Bills, Bills 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. BILLS, BILLS, BILLS (1999) Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it  here . 1) This song is about a cheating boyfriend. Unlike most songs, where the lover deceives by seeing another, this one squanders his girl's financial resources. She sings that he's ruined her credit. Do you know your credit score? Yes, every responsible adult should know where they stand. 2) How often do you pay your bills? Do you handle them as they come in, or do you pay weekly, bi-weekly or monthly? Or are you lucky ...

Today is Purim! Purim is a minor Jewish holiday, based on the Biblical story of Queen Esther.  The holiday has a sort of Mardi Gras/Halloween feel to it, with costumes, feasting and drinking involved.   You'll recall that the Bible tells how King Ahaseurus of Persia grew dissatisfied with his Queen Vashti, and sought to replace her.  How Esther was chosen from among all the eligible maidens of Shushan.  How Esther's uncle Mordechai foiled a plot against the King.  How the King's evil advisor Haman plotted to kill all the Jews of Persia.  And how Esther, at her uncle's bidding, intervened and save the lives of her people. The focus of the Purim festivities is in the synagogue. Everyone is expected to dress up in costume to hear the reading of the Megillah, the Book of Esther. And whenever Haman's name is mentioned, the congregation is expected to make noise -- by stamping their feet, clapping or using noisemakers -- to drown out his name. Friends are su...

 So Major League Baseball has begun spring training, with the first games to be played next week.  I am excited! After last year’s abbreviated season, I’m hoping this year will be more normal.  The Mets and Yankees will meet in inter league play   on the 4th of July.  And on 9/11, for the 20th anniversary. No word yet on how Citi Field or Yankee Stadium will function.  I’m not sure we’ll be able to see a live game this year. But then, the Long Island Ducks are back. They couldn’t play last year, but they have a workable plan for this summer.   50% capacity, cashless vending, mascots can’t hug patrons ... but it will be fun nevertheless. I can’t wait.

  1. Your favorite cleaning product? Do you clean your own house or hire out? Most disliked household chore? What one chore do you not mind so much?  I have a small apartment, it's fairly easy to clean.  I have a washer/dryer, so laundry is fairly easy.  My floor seems to be a magnet for dirt, so I am constantly sweeping or mopping -- ugh.  2. It's Canned Food Month...do you use a lot of canned goods? What are the three canned items you purchase most often? Last thing you made using a canned ingredient?  My shopping list usually contains canned tuna, canned soup or a can of coffee.  I dislike most canned vegetables, I usually prefer frozen, but I will use canned mushrooms.  I threw some into my spaghetti sauce the other day.  3. Can of worms, anything can happen, can you imagine?, as best I can, kick the can down the road, more than one can take, no can do, not if I can help it...choose an idiom and tell us how you currently rel...

 Wow, this month went by so quickly! It's another "your choice" week. I may have mentioned, more than once, that Drew is of Sephardic Jewish heritage.  His mother's family came from Greece and Turkey, and spoke Ladino (Judeo-Spanish).   Drew's mother had a famous cousin -- Eydie Gorme. And Eydie is related to another famous Sephardic singer, Neil Sedaka.  Drew and I refer to Sedaka as his cousin, but in reality I don't think Drew is related to Sedaka.   Lainie Kazan is also Sephardic, but not related to Gorme or Sedaka. And then I found out that Lea Michele, born  Lea Michele Sarfati, also claims Greek/Sephardic roots. So today I'm playing songs from Sephardic Jewish artists. Let's start with Lea. At the Tony Awards And on Glee, with Idina Menzel... Lainie Kazan... With Dean Martin So dramatic, so moving Neil....let's call it two careers.  Because he sang teen songs, then disappeared for awhile...and had a more sophisticated sound. He loves ...

   Coronavirus  questions               In the past year have you– 1. Gone without a bra (Plastic Mancunian & Bud may skip this one!) Of course. 2. Skipped making your bed. Even before  the virus I wasn't good at making the bed every day... 3. Ordered groceries to be delivered Yes, of course. 4. Cooked a real meal Yes, I am rediscovering the kitchen. 5. Spent the day in pajamas? More than once. 6. Skipped shaving your legs Yes. 7. Spent hours on Instagram or Pinterest Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. 8. Eaten in a restaurant Yes, as soon as they reopened we started going. 9. Skipped washing your hair. Yes 10. Not folded the laundry You're supposed to fold it? 11. Worked a puzzle No 12. Had Zoom calls Zoom similar platforms, especially FaceTime. 13. Written letters. Nope. Email works just fine. 14. Binge watched a TV show Of course.  Most recently, The Mandalorian . 15.Gone barefoot Frequently.

  Cry 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: Cry (1952) Unfamiliar with this song? Hear it  here . 1) In this song, Johnnie Ray assures us we'll feel better if we cry. Do you agree? I cry easily.  And yes, it does help. 2) He   mentions waking from a dream, believing it was real. Has that ever happened to you? I don't usually remember my dreams. But sometimes I will wake up while dreaming, and I can sense my mind shifting from what was happening in the dream to what's really happening. There's a moment of "wait, that doens' t...

 Mandy Patinkin singing “Over the Rainbow” in Yiddish ... This was done in November, right after Biden’s election, for the Jewish Democratic Council of America.

This storm will bring us up to 9 inches... I am so done with snow.

 My little kitchen table is all dressed up.

  1. This week's Hodgepodge lands on Ash Wednesday which signals the beginning of Lent. Do you mark this season in some way? If so tell us more. Did you grow up 'celebrating' Lent? Is attending church part of your weekly routine? Are churches open for in-person worship where you live?  I’m Jewish.  Lent isn’t part of my religion. My synagogue went digital last year, services via Zoom.  Now the building is open for worship but at limited capacity.  You have to register in advance if you want to be in the building for services. 2. When is the last time you sat beside a 'real' fire? Do you have a fireplace in your home? Wood or gas logs? Favorite thing cooked over a fire?  I don’t have a fireplace.  Drew does, but he never uses it.  There was an electric fireplace at the restaurant when we went out to eat Saturday.  But it’s been awhile since I’ve been near a “real” fire. 3. Something that's currently got you fired up?  The nightly news/pol...

  It’s a retro store, designed to delight every baby boomer.  They sell toys and candy. Every year, on the Saturday before Valentine’s Day, the owners host “free egg cream” day.  (An egg cream, for the uninitiated, is a drink that was once very popular in the candy stores and luncheonettes of NYC.  It does not contain eggs or cream.  Instead, it is made from chocolate syrup, milk and seltzer.) And if you’re on the store’s mailing list, you get a postcard just before your birthday, entitling you to a gift from the store. Drew’s birthday is in February.  So is mine.   The first time I set foot in Bobb Howard’s was in  2018   Had an egg cream, bought some candy, claimed my gift. Ditto  2019 .  Ditto  2020 .  More  photos . But ...Covid.   No “free egg cream” day this year.  But we still got our postcards. So we went to the store today.  It’s a small store, only 5 customers allowed at a time due to the pand...

And since today is President's Day, I chose this theme for us:   President’s Day.  The President is the leader of the country, leader of the free world.  Let’s have songs about leadership.   So let's start with something cute from Disney: Let's go ride with the leader of the pack. Fogelberg called his dad "The Leader of the Band" Neil Young was looking for a leader in the fall of 2020 (very political song, and you know what my politics are...) And let's end it with something fun.  Remember Gary Glitter? He had a great song, perfect for today's theme.  But I couldn't include his music because...well... He came to a very bad end, didn't he? I was so happy to find out that the Spice Girls covered the song. My kids loved the Spice Girls! And the song is a lot of fun.

 For Valentines Day she gave me the best gift. An appointment to get the COVID vaccine. Seriously.  She previously got appointments for my mother (age 88) and for Drew (teacher).  I become eligible tomorrow, since NY is now allowing those with co morbidities to be vaccinated.  And this morning Jen found an appointment for me.

  My Valentine 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: My Valentine (2011)   Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it  here .   1) Paul McCartney sings that he won't let a day go by without remembering why he loves his valentine. What blessings are you thankful for today? I will celebrate my birthday on Thursday.  I am always grateful to have made it through another year.  This year I am especially grateful. 2) Paul directed the video of Natalie Portman translating his song into American Sign Language (ASL), which is the third most common...

  1. Something little you are loving right now?  I bought this little thing for my desk.  It doesn't take much to make me happy these days. 2. Red roses or pink peonies? Red wine or pink lemonade? Red lipstick or pink polish? A cotton candy colored sky or a fiery red sunset? A book-movie-song you love with the word red or pink in it's title?  Roses, definitely roses.  Pink polish.  And the sunset. And 3. What's something you currently have your heart set on doing-going-seeing-or experiencing? Live theater.  I miss Broadway and I can't wait for this pandemic to be over and theaters to reopen . 4. Who would you most like to have a heart to heart with right now? Is that possible?  My mom.  Or rather, my mom before she had dementia.   5. Write an acrostic for the word L-O-V-E.  Living in Covid times On with the mask! Vendors using curbside pickup Everyone stay safe! 6. Insert your own random thought here.  There's an ancie...

  “If the facts are against you, argue the law. If the law is against you, argue the facts. If the law and the facts are against you, pound the table and yell like hell” ―  Carl Sandburg Trump’s lawyer is pounding the table today. The Hiuse Managers did an excellent job.  The video everyone should see.