songbird's crazy world

  And the theme this week —  Songs that make you think of your mother My mother loved music.  She loved Broadway musicals and opera.  But she also loved folk music, even tried to learn how to play guitar so she could play folk music.  She loved to sing, but almost always forgot lyrics and made up her own.  So the songs I’m selecting today are from my mother’s eclectic “playlist”. This is one my mom used to sing    Another one my mom liked to sing    My mother wasn’t really into rock music, but I remember being in the car with her when I was very young and she sang along with this song.  I think it was because of the French … she loved foreign languages     I had to include Italian opera …    This next song … my grandmother loved this song and sang it all the time.  She had learned it at a summer “camp”, she’d taken my mother and my aunts to some sort of summer program on Long Island to escape the sweltering Bronx…My mother never sang it while my grandmother was alive … but after she wa

 Newsflash:  if you wrap gluten free bread in a wet paper towel and microwave it for about 15 seconds it tastes 1,000 times better.  Toasting also improves the taste and texture. Though that “everything bagel seasoning” on the gluten free challah was different…I liked it, but it’s definitely…different. Being gluten free had kept me out of McDonald’s and Burger King … my waistline says “thank you”. It’s been a pretty drab spring — cool and rainy most days — but the forecast for summer says it’s going to be hotter than normal.  Thank goodness for air conditioning. I bought some t shirts and shorts to wear this summer … still need a bathing suit… I’m enjoying buying clothes now that I don’t have to buy from a “plus size” shop. Glad I bought my backup dress for the shower … I’m not seeing any progress on the customized dress.  The customized dress is purple, the backup dress is turquoise….purple is my favorite color but I’ve been told I look fantastic in turquoise… it’s nice to have choice

  Tunnel of Love 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 are today's questions! Saturday 9: Tunnel of Love (1958) Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it  here . 1) In this week's song, Doris Day tries to convince her lover to share a kiss in the Tunnel of Love. What's your favorite amusement park ride? I’m a real fan of Walt Disney World, but you probably already knew that. Can I please go ride Tower of Terror right now? 2) In the 1950s, when Doris recorded this song, Tunnel of Love rides were popular in the US. Couples would climb into small boa

 You know Duchess … Would you like to see video from September 2013, the day Drew adopted Duchess? What a curious kitten! Look at her examining her new kingdom.

Update on the wedding.  The invitations were mailed out last week.  It’s really going to happen. We’re working on some of the logistics now — transportation etc. As for the bridal shower, we’re still waiting on a few RSVP’s but the party is coming together nicely. As for my dress(es).  The backup dress has arrived.  It’s lovely and it fits perfectly.  If I don’t wear it for the shower I’ll have to find an occasion… As for the original dress, the one that I customized, the website says they cut the pattern and began to lay out the fabric … Fingers crossed that it arrives in time … but if not, I’m no longer stressing… The dress I’m wearing to the wedding has to be altered, it’s way too long and needs to be hemmed.  I have to figure out when I should take it to the tailor.  But first I have to buy shoes … And did I mention that the dresses are in a size I never expected to wear again?  The weight loss feels really good, and I know I’ll have the energy to dance at the wedding. When we move

 Another “your choice” week, and so I return to my favorite subject …Mr. William Martin Joel I think I’ve become even more obsessed with him since moving to Hicksville.  His childhood home is about a mile from my house. Let’s steer clear of the big hits and focus on lesser-known songs                

 So, Eisenhower Park started life as Salisbury Country Club, and became a public property when the club defaulted on its taxes during the Great Depression.  The club was developed in 1917 by Joseph J. Lannin, owner of the Garden City Hotel, Roosevelt Airfield and the Boston Red Sox (he’s the one who acquired Babe Ruth for Boston).  His house, still on the grounds, was built in the Tudor Revival style: Tudor Revival was quite popular around here in the 1920’s and 1930’s.  You’ll see several neighborhoods in Queens (Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Jamaica Estates) and Nassau County (Garden City, Mineola) where there is so much Tudor architecture you’d almost swear you were in an English village, but you’ll find examples of the style throughout the area. There are two in my neighborhood, across the street from each other.  This one was built in 1933. The house sits on half an acre, in a neighborhood where the lot sizes are usually 6,000 square feet to 10,000 square feet.   This one was built i

  (God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time on 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! Saturday 9: (God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time on You (1998) Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it  here . 1) In this song, a boy celebrates the life of love he's received from his mother, saying it's more precious than any diamond or pearl. Do you have a piece of jewelry that means a great deal to you?  The purple stone is an amethyst, my birthstone.  Yellow is topaz and red is ruby, the birthstones of my daughters.   2) NSYNC licensed their name and

 This photo showed up in my Facebook memories  When Duchess was a kitten she was more … adventurous…than she is now.  She’ll be 11 next month. You know the joke about tuxedo cats? Well, I want to show you an actual cat treat I gave Shadow Real shrimp…. Is she spoiled or what? We have apparently learned to live together and to share space. When we came home last Friday night we found the two of them sitting together, just like this.  I wonder if they were gossiping about us … Lesson of the day:  never leave a cereal bowl unattended….

 Ordered a second dress from another company.

  I love walking by the lake.  It’s a man made lake, but it’s a peaceful, quiet spot. Lots of ducks And turtles A nice place to take a walk. Until …. …a behemoth of steel rising from the lawn, peeking out over the trees … In just one month the park will be inundated with cricket fans … Remind me to stay way from the park during the first two weeks of June. Cricket stadium And  more info

 So, having purchased a dress for Becca’s wedding, I turned my attention to appropriate attire for her bridal shower. Just placed an order on line.  It’s a website I’ve purchased from before.  What I like about the site is that (for a small fee) you can customize the style of your dress — change neckline, sleeves, length — to suit your needs.  Many of the dresses are currently on sale, 40% off.  I customized the dress, placed the order … … and now my Facebook feed is full of people complaining about the company, there have been problems where orders weren’t delivered, etc. How a previously reliable company has fallen apart. Maybe I should be shopping for a backup dress.  Just in case.

 The worry doll I got at the Mexican restaurant on Cinco de Mayo

 The Jewish mother wants to know … when does “dating” become “a relationship”  and how soon will she feel comfortable asking him to be her “plus one” at her sister’s wedding?

  Today is Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. Take a moment to remember the martyrs. So I had a great day Sunday.  The gluten free expo was wonderful — for the first time in over a year I didn’t have to read a label or ask questions before deciding what to eat.  I came home with a few products, got myself onto mailing lists for other products … met the folks who run Bare Naked , a gluten free bakery and cafe that’s just a few minutes from my house. … it was a successful adventure.  And the Mexican restaurant — Besitos  — is very gluten friendly.  We had queso fundido and tacos.  And I really enjoyed their house margaritas— made with pomegranate and tangerine juice.   Sunday is Mother's Day.  We’re going out to brunch, to a Greek/Mediterranean restaurant.  They do a brunch buffet with many options. Should be fun.  The weather has been wet and chilly, so I haven’t had a chance to add to my Charity Miles.  I’m hoping the weather will improve soon. So I requested my pass for Tobay

 And the theme is Latin Artists. That’s very broad, isn’t it?  Should be interesting to see what everyone chooses  I’m going to start with some Santana    Something from Shakira — en español     Some Ricky Martin    Let’s hear from Sergio Mendes    And we’ll end with the Macarena, the original version.       Oh, ok, here’s the more familiar version   

 Happy Long Island Marathon weekend!  The race is happening today, but the festivities started Friday night.  We went over to Eisenhower Park Friday night to check out the festivities.  They had a stage set up for local bands, a bounce house and games for the kids, and a food truck festival.  We ran into friends while exploring.  Nice evening. Happy Cinco de Mayo! Drew and I are going out for Mexican food tonight.  We’re trying a new place tonight, a restaurant that Jen recommended.  Their menu is very gluten sensitive, most of their dishes are either gluten free or can be adjusted.   But first, I’ll be spending the afternoon at a food expo, an event called  Wicked Gluten Free .  Free samples and products, all gluten free.  I want to explore new products.  Time to stock the pantry. Sigh.  I’m glad I’ve got options, but I hate having to think about food this way. If you’ve ever worked for a large corporation you know that many companies have programs where they donate to charity and enc

  Rocket Man 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: Rocket Man (1972) Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it  here .   1) In this song, Elton John tells us he's taking off for outerspace at 9:00 AM. What will you be doing at 9:00 AM tomorrow morning? I’m writing this on Friday.  Come Saturday morning I will be getting ready to go out to a brunch arranged by my daughter Becca in honor of her upcoming wedding (she’s getting married in July).  It’s a little get-together for the bridesmaids, the mothers and the aunts.  S