SATURDAY 9: BACK IN THE USA (1978)
Unfamiliar with this week’s song? Hear it here.
1) This song lists seven cities — New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, Chattanooga, Baton Rouge and St. Louis — that Linda just loves. How many have you visited? Just two–New York and St. Louis.
2) The lyrics refer to hamburgers sizzling on the grill. What toppings do you believe make a perfect burger? I don’t know that I have specific ones–something that adds some crunch and/or something unique. I’ve had some really interesting burgers with apple on them.
3) The original recording of this song by Chuck Berry has always been one of Linda Ronstadt’s favorites, one she used to enjoy singing along with in the car. What’s the most recent song you sang? I’m not sure, because a lot of what I’ve listened to in the past day or so has been new, so I don’t know the words. I haven’t had a radio-blasting belt in a few days.
4) Linda sang The National Anthem at Game 3 of the 1977 World Series. The New York Yankees won both that game and the series. How is your baseball team doing this season? It’s the Pittsburgh Pirates, so that tells you all you need to know.
Since this is our last Saturday 9 before Independence Day, let’s ask some questions about the holiday.
5) During the Revolutionary War, General Washington celebrated the 4th of July by giving his troops a double ration of rum. Will you imbibe any spirits on Independence Day? Most likely–we’re having a small thing with just our parents and siblings, and I’ll probably have a few drinks.
6) The first man to sign the Declaration of Independence, John Hancock, said he wrote his name so large King George could see it, even without his glasses. Do you require glasses for reading? I could go without them to read, but I am nearsighted. Without my glasses or contacts, I can read what’s on my computer screen, for example, but it’s all blurry. Since books are a little closer to my face, I don’t have a problem with them, although I wear glasses or contacts almost constantly anyway.
7) Since July 4 is a federal holiday, banks are closed and there’s no mail delivery. Thanks to email and ATMs, Sam finds going withoutthose services isn’t a hardship. What about you? Will you find it inconvenient that banks and the USPS are closed on July 4? Nah. I’ll probably be home all day, payday isn’t until the 10th, and I can use cards if I have to and access my account online.
8) The first 4th of July parade each year is held at 12:01 AM in Gatlinberg, TN. Will you attend a parade or fireworks to celebrate the 4th? Maybe fireworks–I’m not sure what we can see from the new house, but the apartment we’re moving out of is right in the middle of the festivities. We’ll probably skip the parade, even though said apartment is on the parade route. Like, they line up across the street and block the road our parking lot is on.
9) More and more Americans celebrate our nation’s holiday by eating foods from Italy and Germany. For the July 4, 2016 holiday, more than $50 million was spent on Italian sausage and bratwurst. What’s on your 4th of July menu? Not sure yet. Maybe we’ll see how the grill at the house works and what everyone wants to bring.