z Cottage by the Sea

Saturday, March 7, 2026

Linger

Hi. I hope this post finds you doing well. We've been having much needed rain and bit by bit its wearing away mounds and mounds of snow very slowly.   


Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love to answer the questions, however, and here is today's questions!




1) In this song, Dolores O'Riordan of the Cranberries sings that her lover has her wrapped around his finger. Do you feel that anyone has you wrapped around their finger?
Definition of the term: "Wrapped around your finger" (often "around your little finger") means having complete control or influence over someone, to the point where they will do anything you want. It signifies that a person is easily manipulated or persuaded, often due to strong affection, infatuation, or a doting relationship.
So.. no this is not me at all.


2) This was one of the first songs Delores and Noel Hogan wrote together. They performed it often live and perfected it before going into the studio to record it approximately two years later. Because they had polished the performance and arrangement, it's not a surprise that it was the biggest hit off their debut album. Tell us about a time when your preparation paid off.  
Learning new dances like Balinese dancing for programs I performed in. Learning to use the castinets for Carmen,was always well worth the time spent. It is nice to tuck things you've learned to do well under your belt  just for your own satisfaction.

3) The Cranberries believed the moody black-and-white video (linked above) playing on MTV contributed to the song's popularity. MTV and VH1 were highly influential when they showed music videos and interviews 24/7 during the 1980s and 1990s. Do you recall watching music videos on MTV and/or VH1?
I wasn't interested in either channel.  They were aimed mostly at teenagers.

4) The Cranberries were founded by brothers Noel and Mike Hogan in their hometown in Limerick, Ireland. The River Shannon runs through Limerick. Do you live near a river? 
Oh by, do I ever!
  Personally I live near a ton of rivers and big :creeks all of which end here at the ocean.
the Oyster Creek

The Toms River
The Manasquan River


5) Fergal Lawler soon joined the brothers and became the Cranberries drummer. Today he says he enjoys listening to his early work with the group because, "Songs are like a snapshot in time." Do you often flip through photo albums and look at snapshots?
Yes.  I like doing that.

6) Dolores O'Riordan showed up for her Cranberries audition dressed casually in a black tracksuit with her own Casio electronic keyboard tucked under her arm. The Hogans were impressed not only by her vocals but her no-nonsense, "let's get to work" attitude. Share a memory from one of your job interviews.
 At my interview I was hired when they saw my records right on the spot before I said more than hello  and he said that based on my abiluty and education  I would get raises anyway so he might as well give them to me now.  And he did.  I left with the job and a big raise in less than 10 minutes.
I went on another one where I fell on the way there while going to catch the bus, and was a serious mess by the time I got there.  I didn't get the job and on the way home, I fell on the sleet covered street again ripping my stockings and hurting my knee,my hair plastered to my head.  By the time I got down the street my dress had worked it''s way up into my waistline and all you could see under my coat was my slip (thank goodness we wore them!).  It was just awful but I didn't own a car and had to walk or take a bus everywhere.

7) In 1993, when "Linger" was released, The Nanny premiered on CBS. It's remembered today for it's catchy theme song, which tells the story of "the nanny named Fran." Can you recall the lyrics to theme of one of your favorite shows?
Yes.  I recall the words and music to Greatest American Hero, Eight is Enough  and a few others.

8) In 1993, gas was $1.11/gallon. Could your vehicle use a fill-up right now?  Probably.  
 
9) Random question: How many pairs of shoes do you own? Too many but I wear only 3 ... one dressy pair, my moccasins and my Puma speed cats.


Wednesday, March 4, 2026

Neil Sedaka's Music

So many of us loved Neil Sedaka (Tzedaka in Hebrew means charity) and it was sad to hear that he passed on Februray 27 this year. He sstudied at the Juliard School of Music for 12 years and was a virtuoso pianist. Here he is in 1966 on the program I've Got a Secret singing one of his songs and finally playing a classical piece.
It's fun to see the old program too!  Time flies.