Saturday 9: Always Remember Us This Way

Linking up, as always, with Sam for the Saturday 9. This week's spotlighted artist is Lady Gaga.

Always Remember Us This Way (2018)

Unfamiliar with this week's song. Hear it here.

1) In this song, Lady Gaga sings about the Arizona sky and California gold. Have you visited many of our western states?  No. The only two I've spent any amount of time in are New Mexico and Arizona. New Mexico is the state of my heart and I hope to get back there one day. I'd actually like to take a couple of weeks or maybe even a month and just drive all over the western half of the country with no plan, just going where the whim takes me.

2) She sings that she's overwhelmed and can't find the words to express herself. Do you find it easier to share your feelings verbally or in writing?  Writing is definitely easier for me. When I open my mouth I usually mangle what I'm trying to say.

3) Her real name is Stefani Germanotta. She took her stage name from the Queen song, Radio Gaga. Do you have a favorite Queen song?  The cookie cutter response is probably Bohemian Rhapsody, but for whatever reason, I've always liked Fat Bottomed Girls.

4) Her dad is Joe Germanotta, president of Guest Wifi, a company that enables hotels and restaurants to offer high-speed wifi to their customers. Do you consider yourself tech savvy?  I get by, that's about it.

5) Early in her career, Lady Gaga performed songs for a children's audio book called The Portal in the Park. Tell us about the last book you finished -- did you listen to an audio book, or read a download to an electronic device or a bound book with pages?  I'm currently reading two books, The Year of Living Biblically and Death Without Company, a Walt Longmire Mystery. Both are physical books, which I prefer, but I do have several books waiting on my Kindle. I don't listen to audio books.

6) She prefers dogs to cats and tea to coffee. Do you agree with her?  100 percent on both counts.

7) Back in 2015, she appeared at the Academy Awards, performing a medley to celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Sound of Music. The movie's star, Julie Andrews, graciously came onstage to thank Gaga for her showstopping performance. Whom did you most recently thank?  My husband for cooking the burgers on the grill last night.

8) In 2018, when this song was first released, retailer Toys R Us closed all its stores and went out of business. What's the last toy you purchased?  If it counts as a toy, it would be the shark tent I bought my youngest grandson earlier this week. He is crazy about sharks!

9) Random question: How has social media made your life better?  It has literally opened up the world! I have online friends from all over that I would never have known if it wasn't for blogging, Facebook, and even, in the beginning, My Space. I get to hear what's going on in other parts of the country and world from people who are actually there and living it. It's hard to feel alone, too, because there is always someone on to chat/message with and when something happens in life everyone is quick with congratulations, comfort, encouragement or whatever is needed. It can be a negative place if you aren't careful, but it can also be very inspiring.