Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
The Trolley Song (1944)
... Because Stacey suggested Judy Garland. Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this movie clip, just about everyone (except Judy) is wearing a hat. Do you wear hats for fashion, for warmth or for both?

There is very little that I wear strictly for fashion. I will wear a hat in winter if I'm outside for long. I also like a hat that keeps the sun off me in warm weather outside. Obviously, different hats, here.

2) This song is from Meet Me in St. Louis, which was a huge hit and the second highest grossing movie of 1944. When is the last time you watched a movie in the theater?

We went and saw the latest Star Trek flick a couple of weeks ago. Pretty good. Not great, but good.

3) The movie follows the Smith family as their hometown, St. Louis, to prepares to host the 1904 World's Fair. What's the biggest thing happening in your hometown?

One of the things I love about living where I do is that pretty much nothing happens here. I mean, we have our stuff--the headlines this week are about a middle-school kid getting arrested for threatening another kid with a knife, the arrest of a guy who stole an ATM out of a bowling alley last month, and the fact that the state may be suing the school district because of "illegal" fund transfers. Mind you, the irony is this state suing anyone over illegal fund transfers is simply outrageous....

4) This week's featured artist, Judy Garland, is best known as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. That movie is shown so often that Sam thinks she may have seen it a dozen times. Is there a movie or holiday special you've seen over and over?

I live with someone who swears that Christmas will not come if he doesn't watch Peanuts, Rudolph, and the Grinch. At least once. During December. We have them all on DVD. Oh, and the Fred Astaire thing. And Frosty. Gah. I hate them all. This, I am very aware, makes me a Bad Person.
OK, I can get through Rudolph, because I know all the songs and I love Burl Ives.

5) Judy admitted to being perpetually tardy. Are you usually prompt? Or are you always running late?

I always used to be at least 10 minutes early everywhere. Now, I'm late to work at least once a week and don't get too worked up if I'm a little late to meetings, etc. If I'm really late--say, more than 10 minutes, I will let people know. I added "of course" at the end of that sentence and then realized how many people I know wouldn't give 10 minutes a single thought.

6) Judy's first professional performance was a rendition of "Jingle Bells" when she was just two. How old were you when you entered your chosen profession?

I started working at my local public library at 16. My sister Jean became a librarian when I was about 18. I had no idea WTF I was going to do post-college at age 21, so I settled on grad school for my MLIS and it's worked out well. So, pick one of those ages, I guess. Incidentally, my oldest niece (Marie's daughter) is also a librarian. One of my college roommates is a librarian (perhaps a director now?). At least three other family members have worked in libraries at some point in their lives. My other college roommate's daughter has worked in a library. I really, seriously, think Sparky would make a great academic librarian--but he won't even think about it. Yet. heh

7) Thinking of "Jingle Bells," here's a wintery question for a hot summer day: What's your favorite carol?

Really, I love them all. I guess "Joy to the World" because it reminds me of my dad singing the tenor part. But then "We Three Kings" because my mother faux-hated it. "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" makes me giggle. You can' beat "Silent Night" either. I don't know. There are so many good, lesser-known ones too: "Lo, How a Rose Ere Blooming" is simply lovely, and "O Holy Night," when sung by a solid voice, is beyond gorgeous.

8) Judy was a very demonstrative person. She enjoyed hugs and admitted that, when she nervous, she took emotional support from physically reaching out. Are you demonstrative?

Uh, yeah. It's weird--we didn't grow up particularly huggy-kissy (though we are excellent at crying!), but as an adult, I'm really much more touchy. It's weird getting together with my family now because they're so standoffish.

9) She told Barbara Walters that people would be surprised to learn that she was a good cook and specialized in desserts. Do you have a sweet tooth?

Need you ask?? Well, I have been trying to keep myself on a shorter leash on this, but really--I could eat sugar ALL DAY given no health issues.