Happy Holidays!

 

Blue Skies for Christmas

Here in central Texas we're having an unusually warm December, with record highs expected for the holiday weekend. I really hate winter, so that's definitely OK by me. It means my sky shots haven't been very dramatic lately, but I'd trade drama for blue skies any day! Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous....

So far, today has brought a little more cloud cover, but that should clear out by afternoon (so they tell me). And even this isn't bad, with the temperature outside already climbing into the 70s. It reminds me of all those hot, humid Christmases we had in San Antonio when I was growing up. Just the kind of winter I love!

Happy Friday, everyone! Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays!
And keep watching those skies!

For more sky shots, click on the button above.

Saturday 9: Drivers License

The Saturday 9  meme is hosted each week by Sam Winters. Nine questions posted every Saturday — sometimes random, sometimes with a theme. This week, the theme is...

Drivers License (2021)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1. This song is about a girl who just got her drivers license. Who taught you to drive?

I took a Drivers Ed course in junior high, back in the Pleistocene age, so I could get my learner's permit. But back then I didn't really have access to a car that I could use very often, so never bothered to get a license. I didn't get my first driver's license until after I was married. My husband gave me a "refresher course" behind the wheel and taught me how to use a clutch. Don't remember the name of the teacher who taught the driving course. 

2. Do you like your drivers license/state ID photo?

Well, I don't really like it, but it's not terrible. It was taken almost ten years ago, though, when I was about 30 pounds heavier and had longer hair. So it really doesn't look much like I look now. When I get my license renewed next year, I suppose they might make me have a new photo taken. Texas is a little loose when it comes to that sort of thing. 

3. Think back to the first ticket you received. How old were you, and what was it for?

Fortunately (and knock wood), I've never gotten a ticket. I'm a pretty careful driver. 

4. In this week's song, Olivia Rodrigo is brokenhearted, driving through her boyfriend's neighborhood, certain that he has taken up with the sophisticated blonde girl. When it comes to romance, do you have a jealous streak?

Romance? Jealous streak? Hmmm. I don't think so, but I really don't remember. 

5. Olivia grew up in Temucula, California. Temecula is home to 40 wineries and dozens of tasting rooms. Have you ever attended a wine tasting?

No. I've been to a winery — there are quite a few here in the Texas hill country. But no wine tastings. Always thought it would be fun, though.

6. Her first on-screen appearance was in a commercial for Old Navy stores. Old Navy is owned by the same company as Banana Republic, Gap and Athletica. Have you done any of your holiday shopping at one of those stores? (Yes, their websites count.)

No. I don't do that much holiday shopping anymore, and it's mostly done online. But I haven't visited any of those stores (or their websites) for several years. 

7. She went on to star in projects for Disney studios. That's also how pop stars Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Miley Cyrus, and Christina Aguilera got started. Arguably the first teen star created by Disney studios was Annette Funicello. Do you remember her?

YES! She was my favorite Mouseketeer. Well, Annette along with Darlene Gillespie. I used to hurry home from elementary school so I could see the Mickey Mouse Club and watch the Merry Mouseketeers go through their paces every day. Every day? I think it was every day. Anyway, I loved Annette. She was so sweet and talented and obviously well-endowed under all that preteen costuming. I even loved her in those crazy bikini beach movies. So sad she's not with us now.

8. "Drivers License" was one of this year's most popular songs. One of this year's most popular books is John Grisham's The Judge's List. Do you expect to do much reading between now and the end of the year? If so, what's on your TBR (to be read) list?

Well, I've got several books going at the moment — Capote's Women, by Laurence Leamer; Death in a White Tie, one of Ngaio Marsh's classic Inspector Alleyn mysteries; and Bryant & May: London Bridge Is Falling Down, by Christopher Fowler, the latest entry in his Peculiar Crimes Unit series. I've also been reading Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre this year, and still have several chapters to go. I would love to finish just one or two of these books, but I'm not really going to have much time for reading during the next few weeks. 

9. Random Question: What is the longest line you ever stood in, and was it worth it?

Longest in terms of feet and inches? Or minutes and hours? In general, I try to avoid standing in lines of any kind. But I remember standing in line for several hours to get in to see the first "Star Wars" movie back in 1977. At the time, I thought it was worth it — I had a lot more time on my hands back then. If we're talking physical length (not time spent), then I guess I'd say the line we stood in to get our second shot of the covid vaccine was just about the longest I remember. And that line was definitely worth standing in. 

By the way — do you stand "in line" or stand "on line"? I think it's probably a regional thing, but I'm definitely an "in line" stander. 

 

 Happy Saturday, everyone!

For more Saturday 9 Q&A, just click on this button:

Still Here - Still Watching the Skies

Well, obviously it hasn't been a great blogging year here at Joysweb. Haven't had a lot of time for the blog — only one post all year long! But I'm still around and still love taking sky shots. And we've had some pretty nice sunsets recently, so I thought this might be a good way to get me back into the blogging habit. Maybe just the nudge I need.

Happy Friday, everyone! And keep watching those skies!

For more sky shots, click on the button above.

Saturday 9: Waiting for Tonight

So.... It's been a while since I posted anything here at joysweb. I've been concentrating on my book blog lately. Well, actually, I've mostly just been trying to get through "cedar season" here in the Texas hill country. The allergies have been driving me crazy and the allergy meds keep me slightly comatose a lot of the time. 

But I'm awake now (hi, there!), and thought I'd make an appearance before the year gets much further along. And what better way to make a comeback than with some Saturday 9 questions?! So here we go....

The Saturday 9  meme is hosted by Sam Winters. Nine questions posted every Saturday — sometimes random, sometimes with a theme. This week, the theme is...

Waiting for Tonight,
by Jennifer Lopez (1999)

Listen to it HERE

1. In this song, Jennifer Lopez anticipates a night of unbridled passion with the love of her life. What are you waiting for tonight? (No pressure; it doesn't have to be as thrilling as hers.)

Hmmm. Can't say I'm really waiting for anything. Except the COVID vaccine, of course. And it looks like I'm likely to be waiting quite a while for that.  

2. She sings that she's glad she's beyond those nights that found her tossing and turning alone in her bed. Did you enjoy restful sleep last night?

I think I did. Felt pretty rested this morning. Don't remember having any problems getting to sleep or staying that way. That's not always the case — I've never been a really great sleeper. 

 3. Whatever Jennifer has planned for tonight, it won't include alcohol. She never drinks liquor. What's the last adult beverage you enjoyed? 

We usually have a little wine with dinner every night, so tonight's glass was my last "adult" beverage. It was a very tasty Shiraz.

4. Ms. Lopez performed "Waiting for Tonight" during last year's Super Bowl halftime show. Will you be watching The Big Game this weekend? 

Most likely. We watch it every year. The hubby isn't as much of a football fan as he used to be, but we do still watch a lot of football. It was more fun to watch back when the Cowboys were actually winning games.

 5. Speaking of this weekend, The Weeknd will headline the Super Bowl 2021 halftime show. Are you a fan of his?

I have absolutely no idea who or what The Weeknd (sp?) might be, but I'm willing to give said Weeknd the benefit of the doubt, for now.

6. Super Bowl Sunday is the #1 day for guacamole consumption in the US. When did you most recently eat something with avocado in it?

I had avocado toast for lunch today. We eat avocado just about everyday. It's a superfood. Appropriate, I guess, for the Super Bowl.

7. Chicken wings are a popular Super Bowl dish, too. When did you most recently eat chicken? How was it prepared?

Wow, I really can't remember the last time I had chicken. The hubby doesn't eat chicken. So if I had it, it would probably have been in a restaurant. And I haven't been in a restaurant since early March, last year.

8. This year, fast food chain Chipotle will run their first-ever Super Bowl ad. Do you pay closer attention to commercials during the Super Bowl?

Yes, probably. Some of the Super Bowl ads are pretty entertaining. In fact, in recent years some of them have been more entertaining than the half-time shows — and certainly more memorable.

9. Random question: Are you more likely to pretend to be more naive than you really are, or more sophisticated? 

Neither. All that pretending sounds like a lot of work. 

 Happy Saturday, everyone!

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