Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Battle Hymn of the Republic
Memorial Day was introduced to honor the men and women who died while serving the in the United States Armed Forces. We want to make sure that message is not forgotten this weekend.

1) This recording was made live at St. Patrick's Cathedral, during Sen. Robert Kennedy's funeral. While both of Bobby's older brothers were decorated war heroes, he served too -- enlisting in the Navy in 1943. Are you a veteran? Are there veterans in your family? (We are grateful and want to hear about it.)

My dad served in the Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1945 or -46; he worked on bomb-sight maintenance. Beast's dad served during the early 1950s in the Army; he was stationed in Germany doing something involving aiming large cannon. Or something. Anyway, yeah, no one else in either family has been in the service. It's a bit weird, frankly, that in the past 50 years, we're both so far removed from the military--although my sister worked as a consultant for the Army about ten years ago for a couple of years.

2) Memorial Day also kicks off the summer season. What's your favorite picnic food?

Mom's potato salad, and her ham salad. I'm too lazy to make the former, and I don't have the equipment to make the latter.

3) Name a scent that reminds you of someone special in your life.

Old Spice and VO5 hair gel will always and forever mean my Dad's in the vicinity.

4) When was the last time you had your hair cut or trimmed?

About 10 days ago. It really needed it: the bangs and sides were totally out of control.

5) Crazy Sam runs on Dunkin'. Are you loyal to a particular brand of coffee?

I don't drink coffee. Just DDP.

6) If money was no object, what home improvement would you like to make this summer?

I'm getting really freakin' tired of the countertops in our kitchen. We went cheap in that purchase, and they have been crap since the beginning.

7) What was the last thing you bought purely for your own enjoyment?

Hmmm, the flowers for the porch yesterday? Well, no. Maybe it was the soup I had for lunch. ;-)

8) When was the last time you rode a bike?

Holy cats, it's been a really long time, several years. We live at the top of a hill, so it's great fun to leave on a ride, and absolute hell coming home.

9) Sam worries that many of her song selections reflect her decidedly Baby Boomer sensibilities. Is there a song or a performer that you'd like to see featured in a Saturday 9 this summer?

Bruno Mars, Adele, U2, deadmau5, Jennifer, Hudson, blink-182, The Offspring, Phillip Phillips, Tim McGraw, Wiz Khalifa, Beyonce, fun., Katy Perry, Avril Lavigne, Kenney Chesney, Icona Pop....that enough? ;-)