Laura’s Music Challenge 18

Evening everyone. Still feeling the Dad’s Day vibe, so it’s nice to find Laura’s song challenge themed for the day. Play along with us! 💕🎶🙂

1. Post a video of a song that makes you think about unconditional love.

Okay, now this may strike you as weird, but I’m choosing “Jackson” in honor of my parents. My mother loved Johnny Cash, and this song reminds me of how they bickered all the time, but yet loved each other and stayed together 50 years.

2. Post a video of a song that reminds you of your dad.

My dad loved the Doors, and he especially enjoyed “Light My Fire.”

3. Post a video of a song about being a good man.

Welp. There are many aspects to being a good person, which apply to everyone. Not gonna list all that now. But for a man, in the context of being with me (what else?), this song gets close to how I’ve imagined it might be, ideally. Two people who’ve been hurt and confused, learn how to love from each other and take cautious steps to create something new and lasting. This man is not an arrogant bully like so many, demanding this and that, dictating how Things Should Be, but is willing to roll with the newness of something that hasn’t existed before. To me, that’s a good man, someone I could trust to be kind and loving and supportive, and vice versa.

Happy Father’s Day! ❤️

Support(ive) is the best way to describe my relationship with my dad, before he faded from dementia. He was an encouraging, upbeat guy, with a salesman’s type of personality. He’d get angry, but it was gone in a flash, and he generally stayed within the range of mellow to happy. Though he had definite opinions about politics (card-carrying liberal from NYC), among other things, he’d bounce back after a discussion or debate, no hard feelings.

Daddy wasn’t a griller or a BBQ dude or any sort of handyman guy. Mom actually did all that stuff (RIP). Dad believed in going out to dinner. Mostly though he just read books and of course his beloved NYT. That’s what he’d be doing today, if he were still around and able. I’d likely bake some fudgy-wudgy brownies for him. Those were his favorite.

He was always up for a conversation with me. Always supportive of my endeavors. Always encouraging of my dreams and goals, though he would express his ideas if he thought I might be making a mistake. He was a good father and I was lucky to have him.

Dad and me, at his 80th birthday, 2010 (RIP).

Song Lyric Sunday: Daddy

Jim gives us some nice choices for Father’s Day today. I picked an old favorite: “Daddy Don’t You Walk So Fast,” written by Peter Callander and Geoff Stevens, and originally recorded by Wayne Newton in 1972.

The love between the two of us was dying
And it got so bad I knew I had to leave
But halfway down that highway when I turned around I saw
My little daughter running after me
Crying

Daddy, don’t you walk so fast
Daddy, don’t you walk so fast
Daddy, slow down some ’cause you’re makin’ me run
Daddy, don’t you walk so fast

Now, it broke my heart to tell my little daughter
That her daddy had to run to catch a train
She had no way of knowin’ I was leavin’ home for good
I turned around and there she was again
As she said to me

Daddy, don’t you walk so fast
Daddy, don’t you walk so fast
Daddy, slow down some ’cause you’re makin’ me run
Daddy, don’t you walk so fast

If only for the sake of my sweet daughter
I just had to turn back home right there and then
And try to start a new life with the mother of my child
I couldn’t bear to hear those words again
She cried and said

Daddy, don’t you walk so fast
(My daughter cried)
Daddy, don’t you walk so fast
Daddy, slow down some ’cause you’re makin’ me run
Daddy, don’t you walk so fast

Daddy, slow down some ’cause you’re makin’ me run
Oh, daddy, don’t you walk so fast

A Kitty Tail [300 words]

Once upon a time there was a silly divorcée.

She was in love with a selfish man who failed to return her affections.

People told her the BMW/porcupine joke, but she didn’t listen until it was too late.

She was sad.

But she decided she’d venture into the land of dating sites and find someone new.

She tried various sites and profiles, as you do…

But things just went from bad to worse. Liars and con artists and creeps, oh my.

Finally, the silly divorcée’s daughters decided to get involved.

They decided that their mom needed a kitty to absorb her time and attention. Older sister sent younger sister to help Mom pick a kitty so Mom wouldn’t get confused.

The silly divorcée wanted all the kitties! Each kitty was so adorable she couldn’t decide which one to choose.

But younger sister, being perceptive (just like her older sister), figured out which adorable kitty was the perfect match for her silly mommy. She urged her mom to adopt a sweet grey and white 6-month old little baby boy kitty.

And Silly Mommy did!

That was 7.5 years ago today! And if you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m the silly mom in the story, and Gatsby is the kitty! While the tale/tail is somewhat fictionalized, some things are true, such as the BMW and the fact that my daughter and I adopted Gatsby from the Orange County Animal Shelter on December 8, 2011. Partly it was to make me feel better after losing my beloved Cocoa earlier that year and also I had just broken up with BMW guy.

Since we don’t know G’s exact birthday, we decided to celebrate it on June 8! Today he is 8 years old! ❤️🎉🐱

He’s absolutely thrilled, as anyone can see.

Sunny Side Up

The lovely Mrs. Wayfarer nominated me for the Sunshine Award. Thank you! 🙂💖

I’ll answer her great questions, but I don’t do nominations myself. Everyone who likes and comments here brings me a bit of sunshine and I’m grateful for your support. Thanks for reading my posts! 🌻🌻🌻

• Where do you find the inspiration to write your blogs? 

Lately my inspiration comes mainly from the prompts around Blogville.

• When was the last thing you’ve done something for the first time? 

I downloaded the coloring app last week. It’s been very relaxing.

• If you were a superhero, who would you be? 

Catwoman.

• What is one simple thing (or person, place, event) that never fails to brighten up your day? 

Seeing a cat.

• What tradition in your family or country do you always look forward to? 

Halloween costumes.

• What blog (and whose blog is it) inspired you to take action? 

The Haunted Wordsmith inspired me to begin hosting prompts too.

• What is your favorite TV show?

Of all time? Probably The Sopranos.

• What movie can you watch over and over again and make you feel the same way every single time? 

When Harry Met Sally.

• What is your favorite holiday destination? 

Northern California.

• When was the last time you laughed so hard you had tears in your eyes? 

Probably when talking to my daughter.

• If you had the power to change anything in the world right now, what would it be? 

Terrible instant virus takes down McConnell, POTUS, and VPOTUS, and then mysteriously disappears. Nancy Pelosi becomes POTUS.

The Weekly Smile

I’ve skipped a few of these, my bad. Last weekend was pretty smiley though. Three days off work is always welcome (though I did some side work). Received the good news that a story I submitted in March will be published in an anthology soon. Had a fun Saturday night playing games with friends. Spent a sweet Sunday afternoon with my daughter and granddaughter. And had a nice relaxing Monday doing nothing, my favorite thing. Mmm nothing!

J/k. I actually worked on that old novel I’ve been jabbering about, only to discover that it’s a colossal mess and I can’t deal with it. I fixed chapters 1-5, which were reasonably chaotic, but then the thing jumps off a cliff. I’m not jumping after it.

Back to short stories, poems, and stuff I can tackle in short bursts, until I retire or die, whichever comes first!

~*~

The Weekly Smile

More Things I Hate

I see it’s up to me to break up the syrupy brunch of Mommy Day posts full of flowers and pancakes and goopity goo, mm yes please I would like another mimosa hold the OJ thanks…

What was I saying? Oh! Yes, things I hate. Let’s start with slide. No, I’m not talking about those things in the park next to the swings. I’m talking about the absolutely enraging expression “it was a slide into the DMs.” If you haven’t been living under a rock, you know that this is the stupid way young people describe encountering one another privately on a social media site for romantic/ sexual purposes.

In other words, he sent her a message.

For fuck’s sake. We already have normal words like message, text, and email. We don’t need this idiotic slide thing. It drives me bananas.

Next up is drop. This is a word we use in its appropriate sense all the time as in these examples:

1. He drops women after three dates.

2. Don’t drop the baby, Grandma!

3. I dropped the package off at FedEx.

In the past, we had a perfectly good word to describe the action of an artist releasing a new piece of work, whether a song, album, book, painting, etc. We used the word release, in fact! But now these irritating people are using the word drop just to annoy me.

“My single dropped at midnight.”

It sounds like code for a spy operative. “The dog didn’t bark?”

“No, he was poisoned by the double agent.”

“Funny, I thought you were the double agent.”

“Well, actually–”

😡😡😡

Even more things I hate coming soon!

Fashion Q’s from You Know Who

Rory’s at it again, folks! 😂

Today’s topic is ………….. The Fashionastas!

Could you cope with buying no clothes for a full year?

I guess so… 😢

How many pairs of coloured/patterned socks do you possess?

Lots!

What is YOUR number one fashion rule?

Visible items must match.

What is the quirkiest customised outfit you have ever worn and where and what for did you wear it?

I dressed like an elf for a Christmas party a few years ago and won a prize.

In your opinion what are 5 basic but important items of clothing?

Black pants, black tee shirt, white tee shirt, turquoise sweater, black jacket.

Ok, so Flares? Once popular for the 70’s sure …. but where are they now?

Hopefully making cozy bedding for endangered tiger cubs or something.

Which are your best three quotes that mean the most to you with regards fashion/clothing/lifestyle?

I like what I like.

I don’t care what’s in style.

I want to be warm.

You obviously have favourite colours you enjoy wearing, we all do – but if you were asked to wear the opposite colours to what you normally wear what would those colours be?

Bright red, bright orange, lemon yellow.

What are the wrong trousers to wear like ever?

For me, any that hit between knee and ankle. 😝

What is your favourite style of nightwear from the following options?

Baggy T-Shirt, boxers/long Johns

Ridiculous looking Pyjamas

Nothing as in bare all over

Sexy attire – you know the naughty stuff

Other – regular clothes mostly. What if there’s an earthquake and I have to run outside?

For you what one single musical track just speaks fashion to you?

Right Said Fred’s “I’m Too Sexy.”

The celebrity whose style you most identify with from the following?

Melissa McCarthy

Jack Nicholsan

Clarke Gable

Halle Berry

Meryl Streep

Lady Gaga

Charlie Chaplain

Gene Kelly

Other – Diane Keaton (always cold and layered up).

Would you wear stripes with squares?

It depends on colors and actual design.

Which out of the following line up are you most likely to wear?

Heels, Boots, Flats, Loafers, Sneekers, Brogues, Thongs [Flip Flops], Running Shoes*, sandals, Wedges, Slippers, Lace Ups, Decks, Wellingtons, Riding Boots, Mules, Ankle Boots, Boat shoes, Chukkas, Chelsea Boot, Slips ons?

*I have a great pair of running shoes I wear for walking. They’re turquoise!

Are hats your thing? If so which styles?

I love cute hats! Mostly I wear them for costumes though.

For women; last time you wore a scarf and for men; last time you wore a tie?

I wore a scarf last week ~ it was turquoise!

Have you ever physically suffered for the sake of a fashion trend?

When I was younger, I’d wear high heels to look sexy, even when they hurt my feet or back. I refuse to do that now. I also would tolerate being cold so my cute outfit could be seen without a big lumpy jacket tossed over it, but I won’t do that now either. Pffft!

Expository [SOCS]

“Experiences over things” is another one of those irritating expressions that people parrot mindlessly. I used to see it creep onto dating profiles before I exited that whole expanse of pants. 😛

What does it mean? Welp, let me explain. Instead of buying Mom a nice cupcake-scented candle or a cute kitty tee shirt for Mother’s Day, take her to Tahiti. Don’t get Dad a boring tie for Father’s Day either ~ think of the wasteful packaging! Consider doing something more fun like taking him ziplining over the Amazon. Dads love that! Put the expense on his credit card. 😂

People without a lot of money have always been creating experiences. Family dinners, picnics, BBQs, potlucks, game nights, a day at the beach/lake/park, etc. are all part of normal life for everyday folks. It’s only now that the rich have discovered they haven’t been spending enough time with people who matter that they’ve come up with this absurd phrase. 🙄

Also, for anyone who may be related to me: I still expect the candle and tee shirt.

Mother’s Day is May 12. 🌷

Late Night Quick Draw

Late Night Quick Draw ~ sorry for the oopsy. Rory seems to have deleted or rescheduled his post. Maybe it will magically reappear later. Copy pasta the questions at your own risk!

Season 1

Describe yourself in 7 words?

Funny, serious, organized, reliable, introverted, poetic, neurotic.

What do you find funny?

Yer mom.

Favourite Food?

Cookies.

Favourite Tipple?

Constant Comment black & orange tea.

Favourite Ice Cream Flavour?

Cookie dough.

Currently Reading?

The Essex Serpent.

Last Film you saw [Cinema/DVD]?

While You Were Sleeping.

Favourite Comfort Food?

Cookies.

Ideal Breakfast?

Cookies.

Favourite Music Genre?

Classic rock.

Best Holiday you have had?

Portland with my daughter.

Holiday destination you would love to see?

New Mexico might be nice.

What’s your favourite animal?

Favourite Game?

Ticket to Ride.

Favourite sport [Take part in/watch]?

Meh.

Most Favourite Nursery Rhyme Growing Up?

Pop Goes the Weasel.

Favourite Colour?

Turquoise.

What would be your perfect day?

Assuming I can’t go back in time, just a pain-free, stress-free day would be nice.