songbird's crazy world

 From 2014, a rainbow over the ball park.   Posted because I am finally convinced that I will see live minor league baseball this summer. Hope is alive for a return to normalcy. # Skywatchfriday

   

  1. What are some memories you associate with spring?  I always knew spring had arrived when I saw forsythia blooming.  It's everywhere on Long Island, in yards, in parks, along the highway... And of course there are robins....yeah, Robin likes robins, go figure. 2. April showers bring May flowers...was that saying proven true where you live? Snapdragons, anemones, carnations, lilacs, sweet peas, tulips, lily of the valley, orchids, roses, gardenias...which one on that list is your favorite May bloom? But a close second 3. What are your top three distractions and how do you deal with them?  Social media, YouTube and TV.  Sometimes you just have to shut everything off and focus on what needs to be done. 4. Do you eat beef? In the course of a week, how often is beef on the menu? A hamburger, steak, prime rib, or a roast beef dinner...which beef entree would you choose and yes you have to choose. Unless you're a vegan, and then you may pass.  If you really are going to make m

Nothing like a trip to a Japanese restaurant...the Dragon roll was incredible, and I love the onion volcano...  

 When my father retired, back in the late 1980's, and my mother  was still working full time, he turned supermarket shopping into a hobby.  He'd read the weekly circulars from every store in the neighborhood, he'd clip and organize coupons, he'd make note of who was offering to double coupons that week, he'd get out his pen and paper and make lists,  He'd make sure that his check cashing card for each store was in his wallet, he'd bring his checkbook to the store, and then he would shop...drive to another store...and shop some more... When I want groceries... Do I want to actually go to the store and shop?  Does the store offer curbside pickup?  Delivery?  OK, I'm actually going to the store this time... Have I updated the store's app and clipped the online coupons? Do I have any paper coupons?  I read the newspaper on line, so I don't get a lot of coupons, but sometimes Drew shares with me. Ugh, that's right.  The soda bottles. A 5 cent depo

 Driller chose this week's theme: In honor of our middle grand daughter’s 21st birthday (April 16) build a play list of artists born in April. Well,  Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis, now known as   Tony Orlando, was born on April 3, 1944 in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan.  His heritage is Greek and Puerto Rican.   Orlando's musical career started with The Five Gents, a  doo-wop  group he formed in 1959 at age 15, with whom he recorded demo tapes. He got the attention of music publisher and producer Don Kirshner, who hired him to write songs in an office across from New York's Brill Building, along with  Carole King ,  Neil Sedaka ,  Toni Wine ,  Barry Mann ,  Bobby Darin ,  Connie Francis , and  Tom and Jerry , who didn't make it in the office until they changed their name to  Simon and Garfunkel .  (The Brill must have been a really interesting place to work.) By the late 1960s, Orlando had worked his way up to vice president of  CBS Music, where h

  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!           From the  League of Extraordinary Penpals                 1. What issues are important to you? I am passionate about politics, and about legal issues.  Spent the better part of three weeks watching the Chauvin murder trial. Accurately predicted the verdict, but nevertheless held my breath when the jury came back . 2. Which breakfast foods are your favorite? You simply have to come with me to  Thomas's Ham & Eggery  for an omelette or scramble, served in a skillet with home fries and toast.   3. How often do you change your hair style? I've been wearing it the same way for years. 4. Your most pecul

  All I Ever Need Is You 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. ALL I EVER NEED IS YOU (1971) Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it  here .      1) The lyrics tell us that some men search for silver, some for gold. Are you wearing either silver or gold right now? I don't wear jewelry when I am just hanging out at home, so no silver or gold right now. 2) This song was a top 20 hit in the United States but sold much better in Canada. What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of our neighbor to the North? Maple, eh. Maples leaves, maple

 An oldie but a goodie, a photo from Jones Beach... #skywatchfriday

There’s nothing like hearing Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC tell a national audience about a mass shooting/active shooter situation 11 MILES  FROM MY HOUSE! Shooting in West Hempstead, NY.  One of my best friends used to live in West Hempstead. Turned to more local news ... just in time to see the press conference by the Nassau County Police Commissioner.  Shooting took place in a supermarket, in the manager’s office.  One dead, two injured.  Apparent gunman was an employee or former employee.  He’s armed and dangerous and was last seen headed westbound on Hempstead Turnpike — that’s a major artery, NY 24, connects so many Long Island communities.   The Commissioner referred to “the Turnpike” and no one on Long Island had to ask what he meant. I’m 11 miles away, not in any danger ... but it feels so close.  

 Your choice again... ...so today I choose Fleetwood Mac. The Rumours album was one of my favorites.  Released in 1977, the music evokes memories of my junior and senior years of high school. I must have played that album until the vinyl wore out.   I finally got to see Fleetwood Mac in concert in 2013, at Jones Beach.  Great show.   So here are some of my favorites from Fleetwood Mac. And my absolute favorite -- how can you resist Stevie Nicks singing about a breakup with her lover while said lover accompanies her on the guitar?  

  Don't Rain on My Parade 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 to  answer the questions, however, and here is today's questions! Saturday 9: Don't Rain on My Parade (1968) Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it  here .   1) Is rain expected where you are today? I'm writing this on Friday. It rained all day yesterday but it’s starting to clear today, 2) In this song, Barbra Streisand warns everyone to not spoil her optimistic mood. What is something you're feeling really good about today? I'm fixing up my patio to make it my personal summer spot, and I like what I've done

 It's always nice to find a new park. Wantagh Park  is a small county park.  Besides the marina, the park has playgrounds, a pool, ball fields, miniature golf, a dog run,  picnic areas... And, of course, a few walking/biking trails. My interest is finding  places to walk. And any place where the picnic area boasts a lighthouse... But wait!  What's that in the distance? If you recognize the Jones Beach Water Tower and the Jones Beach Theater, you're either a local or you have been reading this blog too long. It's five miles from the county park to Jones Beach, according to Google Maps.   As I said, there's a marina.  And a sandy  beach area for play, though you're not able to swim at the beach. Have you ever seen so many geese? Long Island seems to be a rest stop for migrating Canada geese.  We also have a local Canada goose population that does not migrate, but when I see  so may geese in one place I know we are dealing with visitors. A girl on a bicycle -- she