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!

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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!

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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.