songbird's crazy world

 

 Another “free choice” week. As I mentioned last week, my  paternal grandparents, who died before I was born, hailed from Belarus.  Being Jewish, they could not claim citizenship.   But that part of the world is, nevertheless, my ancestral home.  My father sometimes spoke of the little village on the Dnieper River. The river flows from Russia through Belarus and Ukraine to the Black Sea. You know I am a huge fan of Broadway musicals.  Yesterday I saw something on a Broadway fan site, about how my favorite musical, Fiddler on the Roof , is fiction, but its setting is very real.  Remember, Perchik the student comes from Kiev (the script uses the Russian name for the city).  And all the Ukrainian refugees heading to the Polish border … like a scene from the show … So many refugees… But so much bravery in Ukraine!  Zelensky is a true leader, a true hero.  Let’s focus on the fighting spirit of the Ukrainian people. Dee Snider has allowed this song to be used in support of Ukraine. They’re s

 Today was the annual trek to  Bobb Howard’s  for retro candy and toys, Today’s haul. Alas, they’re unable to run their annual egg cream festival because of COVID.   Maybe next year.

 We live in a scary world.  Ukraine is the new Sudetenland. I hope NATO holds together. And we have a former President who thinks Putin is “very savvy”.  One more reason I am glad he has been consigned to the trash bins of history. My paternal grandparents, who died before I was born, hailed from Belarus.  Being Jewish, they could not claim citizenship.   But that part of the world is, nevertheless, my ancestral home.  My father sometimes spoke of the little village on the Dnieper River. The river flows from Russia through Belarus and Ukraine to the Black Sea. In the coming days I am sure I will hear place names that would have been familiar to my grandparents. Please let the Ukraine stand strong.  Please let peace come soon.

 

 And the theme I chose for today? Party songs. So let’s get the party started.  Pink is a good way to start.    Miley likes parties. We’re keeping it going with the Black Eyed Peas    Switching gears, let’s hear from Kiss.   And let’s close it out with something from Kool & the Gang.

 … to start thinking about “Mother of the Bride” dresses. They’re not engaged … yet.  But I heard it from both of them tonight, the engagement is coming. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I exchanged text messages with Donny on Friday and Saturday, as we wished each other happy birthday. His birthday is the day after mine. Donny is my cousin.  Sort of.  Way back in 1966, my aunt married a divorced father of two.  In those days, divorce was not as common, or as accepted, as it is now.  That my new uncle had two sons who did not live with him … that was very different from what I was used to. Anyhow, Donny was 6 years old when his father married my aunt.  His brother Bobby was 5, the same age as my sister.  My aunt and uncle were frequent visitors to my parents’ house whenever my uncle had visitation with his kids.  Good times. My uncle died in 1971, shortly after my 11th birthday.  We lost touch with the boys after that. But as an adult, Donny sought out my aunt.  I guess he needed to feel the connection with someone who remembered his father.    And after my aunt passed away he looked for me and my sisters, And now, every year, we talk or text.  And remember what it was

  Saturday 9: Rapid Roy (The Stock Car Boy) 1972 Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it  here . 1) The lyrics tell us that every Sunday afternoon we can find Roy at the racetrack. What are your plans for Sunday? We’re going out to dinner to celebrate my birthday.   2) Roy is fearless behind the wheel of his '57 Chevrolet. But it's just natural to feel fear every now and again. What scares you? Lots of things scare me.  I’ll mention one.  The idiot drivers on the road that make travel dangerous for everyone.     3) Roy's been photographed grinning with a toothpick in his mouth. Do you often use toothpicks? If so, do you carry them with you? I don’t use toothpicks.   4) Legend has it Roy learned to drive fast when he ran moonshine out of Alabama. Moonshine usually refers to illegally produced whiskey. What was the last alcoholic beverage you drank?    Champagne on Valentine’s Day. 5) This week's featured artist, Jim Croce, attended Villanova University, where he pl

What should have been a triumph is a disaster. My heart goes out to the young girl who was so cruelly used and abandoned by the adults who should have been looking out for her interests. Frankly the entire Russian team should never of been allowed to participate. If anti-doping rules are to be taken seriously the Russians should never have been at the Olympics. The legal fiction of the Russian Olympic committee is nonsense. That being said, I don’t have a problem with any of the members of the Russian team.  But doping. It’s real.  It gives the skater an advantage. So when it was discovered that  Kamila Valieva, the favorite for the gold medal, failed a drug test … First response?  What a surprise (all sarcasm duly  intended).   She claims that the banned medication that was found in her system belongs to her grandfather. However two other heart medications (which were not banned) were also found in the sample she gave.   But … she’s 15 years old.  The drug test was back in December,  

 I’m so sad …the day for pitchers and catchers to report to spring training has arrived, but baseball has not. “Labor dispute”, I hate that term.  I hate it almost as much as I hate the word “lockout”.  We need another Judge Sotomayor to resolve this problem and give us back a season. This long-suffering Mets fan wants to go to Citi Field. But at least we have our Long Island Ducks.  The Atlantic League has expanded to 10 teams, and we plan to see the Ducks play each of the other 9 teams. And even better … one of the new teams is the Staten Island Ferry Hawks.  They’re going to play in the stadium previously used by the Yankees’ farm team. It’s 60 miles from the Fairfield Properties ballpark in Central Islip to to the Richmond County Bank ballpark in St. George. So you know the Ducks and the Ferry Hawks will play each other often. It’s 25 miles from Drew’s house to Central Islip, a very easy drive. It’s 43 miles to St. George, over the Verrazano Bridge,  so not as easy as going to Cent

 Happy Valentine’s Day. It’s a “your choice” week. I’m in a Disney mood.  So let’s start with something from Encanto Let’s sing along with Elsa.    I really like Belle, don’t you? Simba can’t wait to be king.    Now, from my childhood … And my favorite.   

 Did I really neglect my blog for an entire week? First time in a long time I’ve had so little to say. Yesterday Drew and I saw Death on the Nile.     I figured out the motive and the murderer halfway through the movie.  I thought I was quite clever.  But then I remembered that I read the book, albeit decades ago, so maybe I am not so clever as Monsieur Poirot. The annual birthday bash has begun … Drew’s birthday was last week, mine is later this week.  Lots of fast food and casual dining restaurants give customers free food for their birthday… yesterday we had free popcorn at the movies, and then we each got a free meal at PDQ.  (PDQ is just like Chik-fil-A, but without the politics.   The weather has been crazy.  Yesterday was almost springlike, the temperature hit 60 degrees.  This morning there’s a light dusting of snow on the ground.  I am not a fan of the white stuff, as you know.  I’m looking forward to spring.

 And I have the honor of being the honorary co-host this month. Today’s theme? Well, since Valentine’s Day is approaching, I thought we’d all enjoy love songs. Today is also a special occasion. It’s Drew’s 64th birthday.  He and I have had a long and strange relationship, but I can’t imagine my life without him.  Drew periodically reminds me that the Beatles arrived in NYC on his birthday, February 7, 1964, and he claims to remember watching them perform on The Ed Sullivan Show  a few days later. So the songs I have chosen are all from The Beatles  or from members of the group. Let’s start with something from Paul. Love songs are not silly …    An early hit by the Fab Four    And another    Let’s hear from George now    This is a nice one from Ringo    John always had a great way to say it You know I have to include this one.    And while this one isn’t technically a love song, I think you know why I had to include it.

 At least this time it’s rain, not snow. I am not a fan of winter. 

 A little bit of role reversal is happening here.   Becca has gotten very domestic recently, a new-found interest in cooking. I “blame” her boyfriend; a few months ago she told me that she and the boyfriend were “learning to cook.” Becca already knew how to cook, but didn’t have much interest in it until this guy came along. So she was singing the praises of her air fryer, how things came out crispy without oil, how she uses it every night.  How she needs a bigger fryer now that she’s cooking for two people every night.   And she said “You should get one.” And gave me suggestions about which one to buy. Amazon delivered mine this afternoon. I am so excited to try it out.

We got over a foot of the white stuff Saturday. I am not a fan.