October 24, 2020

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!


Saturday 9: Lights (2011)

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

1) This song was inspired by a young Ellie Goulding's fear of the dark. What scared you when you were a kid?

I had claustrophobia and my cousin locked me in the closet once.  That was terrifying.  She was surprised at how loud I screamed.  I was also convinced that there were snakes under my bed and always jumped out of bed far away from the bed itself.  Even when I came home as an adult, I knew there were no snakes, but I still felt the need to leap out of bed away from the bed itself.

2) She thinks back to the room where her brother and sister slept and she felt safe. Did you share a room when you were growing up?

My sister and I shared a bedroom until I moved out at age 18.  We weren't great roommates.

3) Ellie Goulding grew up in public housing and worked her way through the University of Kent in Canterbury. Back in those days, her favorite job was theater usher because it offered her the perk of seeing plays for free. What's the most recent "freebie" you scored? (This includes a buy one/get one deal, extra points on your credit card, etc.)

I am a theater critic.  I get free tickets to every show I see, so the last one I got was in March, the last theater production I saw, Camelot.

4) Even though today she is an international music star, Ellie still lives modestly. She describes herself as "still in university mode," and limits herself to $10/day for lunch. Where do you economize?

I haven't "shopped" in a long time.  Ned and Walt do most of the shopping.  I don't buy much of anything any more, so no chance to economize.  Maybe I'll go on a spending spree when the pandemic is finally no longer a danger.

5) Ellie has proclaimed herself "a cat lady" and often posts pictures of her cats to her Instagram account. What's the most recent photo you took?

I mostly take and post pictures of squirrels and dogs.

6) Ellie appeared on Sesame Street. She, Elmo and Abby thanked clouds for raindrops, lakes, and the water we drink. Would you be thankful for a little rain this weekend?

Oh lord, yes!

7) In 2011, the year "Lights" was a hit, Prince William married Kate Middleton. Ellie not only attended the wedding, she sang Elton John's "Your Song" for the couple's first dance. Tell us a song that reminds you of a romance in your life.

Walt and I decided we didn't have a song that was ours and the next song that came on the radio was "Puff the Magic Dragon," so that became our song.

8) Also in 2011, AT&T abandoned their attempt to buy T-Mobile. Which company is your cell phone carrier? Are you happy with them?

We have Verizon.  I have no good or bad feelings about them.

9) Random question: What recent experience made you feel old?

Climbing the stairs.