Valentine Nine

I was only 2 years old when the song shown above came out but I liked the questions to today's "Saturday nine" meme so decided to play along. Herb Albert to me is the "Taste of Honey" and I only know this because I had a jazz type album once with it on it. 

Saturday 9: Won't You Be My Valentine? (1961)

 

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

 

1) Dore Alpert sings that while he considered asking others to be his Valentine, he's sure that this is the girl he wants to love "forever more." What do you think is the secret of a long-lasting romantic relationship?

In my opinion, long lasting relationships are enduring due to good communication skills on both people, along with shared interests as well as outside interests/friends. 

2) Dore is better known as Herb Alpert. He used the name "Dore" early in his career because he thought it was more befitting a teen idol than "Herb." Who made you swoon when you were a teenager?

David Cassidy made me swoon when I was in 6th grade.  Also Andy Gibb and Shaun Cassidy followed by Parker Stevenson and Robbie Benson.  Can you say age 12-13???? 😂

 

3) Herb found he was a better trumpeter than singer. Between 1962 and 1969, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, had 12 consecutive gold albums. They were so popular that in 1966, they sold more records than Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, The Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Of those artists (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, The Beatles and the Rolling Stones), which is your favorite?

the Beatles.  My husband would say it's a tie between Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.  I do like both of them, too Rolling  Stones I can do without although they had a couple songs I liked. 

4) He found his greatest success as an executive. Herb and partner Jerry Moss founded A&M Records and signed an array of talented artists including Cheech and Chong, The Carpenters, and Cat Stevens. Herb was happy to step away from performing and run the record label. Are you comfortable in front of an audience or crowd? Or would you prefer to be behind the scenes?

Of course I'm comfortable in front of a crowd. I had to conduct/lead IEP meetings as a special education PreK teacher, act as a family court advocate for certain students, and perform piano as a piano major. I also was on a music ministry team years ago in various churches in my late 20s/30s and currently I sing with our church choir. We average about 1200 people at the 11 AM service or special services like Xmas Eve or Easter so yes, I'm used to being in front of an audience. 

I like being in charge as well as behind the scenes.  In high school I was often the stage manager, house manager or props manager for our spring musicals. I was only in one play my senior year.  

5) Karen admitted that when The Carpenters were first signed by A&M, she had a crush on Herb and liked his aftershave lotion. Do you usually wear a fragrance?

yes my fragrane is Satsuma:  i have it in perfume, body butter, shower gel.  If I can't get Satsuma then some other combo of orange/lemon/citrus is what I lean towards. Fresh and crisp. Other scents I like (these are my Spring ones): Peach, Cherry Blossom, Jasmine.  In the summer, because I do a lot of hiking in the woods/mountains and scents are to be avoided as they do attract bears, I typically use an unscented deodorant or a very light fragrance like Avon's Skin so Soft body lotion as that also helps to keep biting insects away.  For my hair I use a purple shampoo for my silver tresses that smells like wildflowers or a coconut/lychee scent by Raw Sugar. I also like jasmine scented body sprays for summer leading into Autumn.  But usually....it's something orange-y/lemon-y. 

This is our Valentine's Day Saturday 9 and so this morning we shall focus on the holiday. 

6) The holiday is also known as The Feast of St. Valentine. Do you have a special meal planned for February 14?

We decided that if we don't go out to breakfast or brunch, we will order from my fave Italian restaurant and bring it home to have picnic style in the family room. We are also making our own hot fudge sundaes with oat milk ice cream (mint chocolate chip and mocha fudge are the choices). 

7) Thames River Cruises offers special dinner cruises for Valentine's Day that give lovers a view of London. Some cruises offer live jazz, others classical music. Which would you prefer: jazz or classical?

I'd like both!!  I love classical of course and jazz is wonderful. in fact, we had a dinner cruise down the Hudson one year and the band was all jazz.  Super fun!

 

8) Women buy and send more Valentines than men do. Who received the last greeting card you sent?

My friend Ann in Ohio got the last card I sent. It included a gift card as she won a contest I was having on facebook. 

9) Men buy and send more roses at Valentine's Day than women do. What's your favorite flower?

My fave flowers are tulips but I also really love the wildflower known as "Indian paintbrushes" (found in the Adirondack mountains) and trillium, another wildflower in the mountains. 

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!

OLYMPIC WEEK FAVES

I for one am glad it's Friday.  It's been a long, kind of slow and boring week for me. I was fighting my first head cold (started on Saturday with very mild sore throat) since 2018!  The last time I was sick, was when Dave and I both had covid during my Winter Break in February 2023.  I'm thankful I don't get sick often and that the head cold was pretty much over with by Wednesday evening...so...I need to be intentional about finding the blessings this week because honestly, the week sure did seem to drag. 

I'm sharing FIVE blessings that make my "Faves" list and joining up with other grateful bloggers over at this site, hosted by Susanne. Join us!

• OLYMPIC OPENING!  I settled onto the couch last Friday evening with a wine spritzer Dave made me after dinner and a warm, fleece blanket to watch the Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympics. I loved it. Class act this year!  I loved the theme of creativity with harmony and all of the Italian culture that was represented but most especially the 3 Italian composers (Verdi, Rossini, and Puccini) who were depicted. It was so well done!  Much classier than the last couple of opening ceremonies for sure. (this is my opinion).  I didn't think the coming together of the 5 rings looked like a pentagram at all although I know certain groups are saying it was a satanic symbol.  How sad that they can't see it for the beauty and symmetry that it was intended to be!!  Our world sure does love controversy doesn't it? how sad.  But I'm thankful that I personally didn't see it that way at all...I thought it was a beautiful piece of Italian art and the music was gorgeous.  I've enjoyed watching some of the highlights at 8 pm this week: alpine skiing, cross country ski racing, figure skating. I'm thankful for the unity of the Olympics and the hard work and talents of the athletes. 

backyard on a warmer Wednesday 

• FLAG FOUND!  About a week ago the little Valentine garden flag I had in the front yard blew away and I thought it was lost down the street somewhere. It was far too bitter  cold to go searching for it so I gave it up as lost and told myself well....there goes the $12 I spent. When I went out to re-fill the bird feeders on Wednesday morning (because it was warmer!), there was the flag stuck to the side of the house between  the siding and the gutter pipe.  I gently peeled it off the pipe/house and brought it inside to thaw out.  I put it up again on a different garden pole in the backyard which gets less wind than the front yard. I like the cheerful color  with the white snow. I'm thankful I found our little flag and that the temps have warmed up to the mid to high 30s this week, finally!

more clothing donations

• ERRANDS DONE:  Because the head cold was finally pretty much gone by Wednesday, I was able to get out and do a couple of errands: return books to the library and get 2 more; take Dave down to our mechanic so he could pick up his car from a needed repair; and bring a huge trash bag full of donated clothes to the local thrift shop.  Most of the clothes in the bag were old clothes I used to wear to teach in:   3 pairs of nice jeans, pants, blouses and tunics, a couple of dresses and skirts, leggings, and a couple of nice short sleeved summer shirts. These were all things I hadn't worn in the last year and know I most likely never will in the future. A couple of things were brand new and I maybe wore them just a few times. I'm thankful I had a half day to purge the closet and trunk. 

pots, frying pans, covers, small glass containers

mixing bowls, stock pot
slow cooker and
in the far left of this corner  cupboard:
large plastic bowls and party platters

the microwave cart now has the cereals and crackers on the bottom shelf
healthy snacks like protein bars, nuts, quinoa chips on the upper shelf
Drawer holds foil, waxed paper, freezer baggies, extra pot holders

• CUPBOARDS CLEANED:  Usually I wait until  Spring to thoroughly clean out some  cupboards but this week, because of the bitter cold and my own head cold, I stayed indoors and decided to go through the bottom cupboards/corner cupboard and re-organize all the cookware. It felt so good to do this! I used a lightly scented Mrs Murphy's spray on the shelves. I like the end result and even Dave likes it better (he could usually care less about how I arrange the cupboards). (note: I also love the lemon verbena hand soap scent for using in the kitchen...the one I used for cleaning cupboards and counters is Rain Water).  Since we no longer buy lots of processed snack foods or store bought cereals, I was able to utilize the lower part of the microwave cart for this. In the plastic bin on the higher shelf (to the right) we have a variety of low sugar protein bars, boxes of raisins, nut mixes, and low sugar fig bars.  We keep these stocked for tossing into our beach bag or hiking backpack. Dave also likes them in his work lunches. Sometimes I'll grab a protein bar, fruit,  and sparkling water for lunch in place of a salad or sandwich. I'm thankful this chore is done.  

• COFFEE and READING:  One of the errands I had to run this week was to  purchase a gift certificate for my oldest daughter for Valentine's Day.  This year I went with gift cards for both girls.  Courtney first introduced me to this fave coffee shop awhile ago and now that they're in the new space in the town just to the north of us, I head there at least once a week for a coffee and my book or Bible study. This week I brought a library book I was finishing up.  I spent a wonderful 45 minutes nibbling on one of the almond croissants and a maple latte. (my lunch) There's a book section where you can borrow a book while in there or you can buy certain ones. Many are used.  They also sell some local artists'  wares (goat's milk soaps/lotions; jewelry; small tote bags; candles) and not only do they have nice tables for 2-6 people, but they also have cozy armchairs spread around the  cafe. I love it. I'm thankful I had this break in my routine. 

Those are the simple things that made me smile this week...just simple blessings but they all warmed my heart. 

I hope whatever you have planned for Valentine's Day, if you celebrate it, that it's a memorable day for you. 

The Positive Focus

 

This morning for my quiet time, I opened up the Jesus Calling devotional book I have and read today's entry.  I don't use this devotional every day but today's really spoke to me.  I discovered something "new" to me in reading the Scripture posted above. 

I love when we read Scripture over and over and one day God reveals something new about it.  That happened to me this morning as I sat sipping my hot coffee. 

If you're unfamiliar with this devotional book here's a summary: The Scriptures are written out after the short half page anecdotal reading.  The author explains in the Introduction that she first experienced peace in the Presence of God while in the French Alps. The entries are words she heard from God while meditating on various Scriptures. The book is like hearing directly from Jesus!  It's very powerful and meant to be read in a quiet place with all of your thoughts focused on God. 

Today's reading was about letting Jesus be our focus....God is a positive focus for our thoughts. So many of us, especially Americans, look for positive focus in sports, shopping, music, etc.  But God has placed a desire in our hearts.  In every human being.  What is that desire? It's a deep longing to be loved and known.   And only God can fully meet that desire. Our spouse or significant other can't, our children cannot, our material possessions cannot, money cannot.  

And here's where the Scripture "clicked" for me.  I've always known that it doesn't mean that God will give us anything we ask or desire.  It  does mean that when we look for Him and to Him...when we truly place our hope and find our joy in Him, then HE (God) becomes the desire of our hearts. We will then desire time in the Word, time talking with Him (prayer), time with Him in whatever mode has you "feeling" closest to Him.  (your spiritual temperament). For me, that is time spent outdoors.  (Naturalist).  For my husband, it's time spent studying Scripture and taking Communion. 

We have a longing in our souls for deep, covenant relationship.  Allow God to dwell in your heart today. Spend time focusing on His thoughts towards you. 

God knows our thoughts before we can even express them!

Tell Him what He means to you. Tell Him your struggles and then listen.....listen to that still, small Voice inside your heart/mind/soul. Peace comes from hearing the Words of God. 

And you will find that inner joy....God will become your positive focus. 

What are you focusing on, today?? 

2026 Book Review #5:Penitence

 

I saw this novel on the "new books" shelf at the towne library. This is the author's debut novel and it was a good story with no editing errors that I could find. 

STORY SUMMARY

Angie and David Sheehan have two young teens: Nico age 14 and Nora age 13.  The children are only 10 months apart and are very close.  Nico has been recently diagnosed with children's Huntington Disease.... a very rare genetic disorder. It is October and he was diagnosed over the summer. He is already displaying many of the physical and behavioral/emotional changes. 

One night, their  whole lives are shattered.  A murder has happened and it was Nora who killed her brother Nico. She calls 911 confessing.  After that, she stops talking. 

Angie and David are desparate to defend their daughter so they turn to an old friend, Martine, who happens to be the mother of Angie's ex-boyfriend from high school, Julian.  Julian himself is a criminal defense attorney in NYC. Martine is local and is in her early 70s thinking of retiring. But she takes on Nora's case as a favor to the family. She brings in Julian because she has not had a lot of experience with criminal defense. 

Angie and Julian have to now navigate through their feelings from their shared past. Both of them carry heavy secrets for which they have no inner peace. They do share a horrible accident that happened to result in Angie's younger sister, Diana, being killed on the ski slopes of Colorado where Angie now lives with David.  Her mother Livia forced her to break up with Julian....now her mother is in a memory care facility for Alzheimer's Disease but Angie remembers keeping the secret of living with Julian in NYC when both moms (Martine and Livia) think they had indeed broken off their relationship. 

Angie crushed Julian when she left NYC shortly after 9/11.  And that is when she had a huge secret she has never revealed to any one. 

It's David who figures things out.  And it's David who reveals some of the secrets that have plagued Angie....and Julian...over the years.  

Will Julian be successful in doing penance for his behavior back in high school? Will Angie ever forgive her daughter for killing her son? Will they ever hear Nora talk again and explain why she pulled the trigger, not once but 3 times? Will Julian and Martine be successful in getting a plea deal for Nora and keep her out of prison for life? 

How will the act of forgiveness play out in this story? 

MY THOUGHTS

This was a pretty good debut but it was rather slow paced and seemed to get bogged down in spots.  The bulk of the plot begins towards the middle of the book. 

The characters and settings are very well developed.  The description of NYC on 9/11 and shortly after were chilling as I remember that horrible day very well. It is just a brief moment in this story, but it's exceptionally well written in my opinion. 

I felt relieved at the end of the story which ends with Angie and Nora together on Nora's 14th birthday. I'm glad they were together but....it left me with wanting to know more and the feelings that came out in Angie seemed much too abrupt and not fully resolved. 

I was a bit disappointed at how Angie and Julian's relationship evolved after a big secret was revealed by David. It felt like that whole section could have been a bit more climactic.  

The author is good at expressing all of the emotions that parents go through when a child is killed.  She explains at the back of the book that this is not based on any one crime but she did research the topic of what's known as fraticide (a sibling killing another sibling). What bothered me most was that no one looked deeper into Nora's mental health.  It  seemed that the author was leading us one way and it ended up just falling by the wayside....it just seemed to end too abruptly. 

There were some good quotes that jumped out at me and one of them is actually from a different book called Just Mercy:

"You are more than the worst thing you've ever done." (pg 278 Penitence by Kristin Koval c. 2024) 

That quote is said in another spot in the book but I forgot to mark which page it was.

I also liked this quote:

"Sometimes who a person becomes is more important than who a person used to be" (pg 107)

"God goes silent on all of us. It doesn't mean He doesn't love you." (pg 137). 

Overall, this book is a good look at the struggles of keeping secrets for many years, of marital issues while navigating parenthood and care of an elderly parent and parenting a child with a terminal diagnoses. It's also a good look at how the American juvenile justice system is broken.   I think the author missed the mark on forgiveness though.  We can only really forgive when we know the forgiveness of God. She alludes to it in her section of when Angie goes to Catholic church and "confession" but......again, it just didn't wrap up well. It is thought provoking though. 

In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 14 and older. 

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this an 8.