SUNDAY FUNDAY - JANUARY 3, 2021

 SUNDAY FUNDAY - JANUARY 2, 2021

DICK CLARK’S NEW YEAR’S ROCKIN’ EVE

I wasn’t too much into music in middle school, but my sister was. She is three-years-older than me.  She (and really that implies me - as she played all the old 45 rpm records) listened to Pat Boone, Tab Hunter, Paul Anka, Fabian, Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Connie Francis, Ricky Nelson, and others.  

Growing up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in the 50s and 60s, we had three radio stations - WMT - which was the “old people” radio station - new, weather, Iowa Hawkeye sports, some light banter, and very little music (but then it was more like Big Band music if I remember)

KCRG - was the country station.  I didn’t listen to this station (although did watch the news)

KWWL - I’m not sure what genre they had before, but when Rock N’ Roll occurred, this was the station that kids (aka “me”) listened to.  I can remember (when I was old enough to drive) going to Lake McBride with a transistor radio - tuned to KWWL 

I really got into Rock Music in the 1960s when I went to college (1965-1969).

I liked Dick Clark and American Bandstand.  I’m thinking it was on right after school, so when I got home I could watch it while I did my homework.  Of course, like pretty much everybody, I walked to school it was 10 miles - uphill in both directions!!  (Really, my high school was about 1.5 mile and my junior high school was about ½ mile). 

Last summer (2020), the Palace Theater in Georgetown showed “Hairspray” (which I hadn’t seen before), and that seemed to be a nice parody of Bandstand.  They had a screen outside with plenty of social distancing for the movie.  

I remember watching the boys (in suits) and girls (in party/prom dresses) dance on Bandstand.  Looking at this sample, I appreciated the girl’s hairstyles!!  My female friends - did you have hairstyles like this? (Here is a sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkNvgHPRf7Y) 

I remember where the teenagers rated the songs - as to how ‘danceable’ the song was

Did you watch Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin' Eve?  That seemed to be our New Year’s fare.  Did you watch it?  Did you count down with the New Year’s ball?

*****

HOW DID YOU CELEBRATE NEW YEAR’S EVE?

Do you have dinner?  Champagne?  Have friends over (in non-COVID days)? Go out to places?  Dance? 

Do you have special foods for New Year’s Eve?  

Then, what did you do on New Year’s Day?  Watch the Rose Parade and then watch College Football bowl games.  

Yes, this WASl be a different New Year’s Eve for sure!!!

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THIS DAY IN HISTORY

On January 3, 1925, Mussolini declares himself dictator of Italy

On January 3, 2004, the Mars space rover Spirit landed on Mars

On January 3, 1924, King Tut’s tomb was discovered in Egypt

On January 3, 1959, Alaska became the 49th State (and the flag changed for about a year when Hawaii became a state)

On January 3, 1938, Franklin Roosevelt established the “March of Dimes” to fight against polio (Roosevelt was a victim of polio - and years later, Roosevelt’s image was put on United States Dime coins!!!)

AND, TOMORROW IN HISTORY

January 5 - The Golden Gate Bridge was started in 1933

January 6 - Samuel Morse demonstrates the telegraph in 1838

January 8 - George W. Bush signs the “No Child Left Behind” act.

MUSIC HISTORY - top hits from 1969

 “I Heard It Through The Grapevine,” Marvin Gaye

“Crimson and Clover,” Tommy James and the Shondells

“Everyday People,” Sly & the Family Stone

“Dizzy,” Tommy Roe

“Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In,” the Fifth Dimension

“Get Back,” the Beatles with Billy Preston

“Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet

CRYPTOGRAM PUZZLES: ABOUT SPRING WEATHER - A = W; E=T; M=E;

1) AND  ALK  ENMOM  ENCXGMO  LXG  BVUNEXVXU

VX   ENM BLT?  ENM  KWVMXEVKEK  AMOM  TOLVXKEJOQVXU.

2) ANLE  VK  L  EJOXLGJ'K  PLZJOVEM  ULQM? EAVKEMO

AND NATIONAL DAY

January 3 - National Chocolate Covered Cherry day

It’s been a few years since I had these gooey sweets (and I think I will forgo them this year too, even though I like them!!!)

January 4 - National Spaghetti Day

How do you like your spaghetti?  Meat sauce?  Meatballs? Thin spaghetti noodles? (I am weird - I break my spaghetti noodles into about one-inch pieces before cooking)

January 8 - Elvis Presley’s BIrthday

Good old Elvis IS 86 today (is he still living someplace?) or he would have been 86 today!!!

SAFETY 

My friends, yes the vaccines are coming, yes, there is hope, but DO NOT get COVID first - watch your social gathering!!!  

May 2021 be a great of great happiness for all of you; may you prospect, and may the pandemic be wiped away and we can have somewhat normal lives again!!

LOVE WINS!!!

Karen