Saturday 9: Blue Collar Man

Saturday 9: Blue Collar Man (1978)

On Saturdays I take a break from the heavy stuff and have some fun…

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

1) In this week's song, we hear a job equated with security. Tell us something that gives you a sense of security.

Family. They are always there for you.

2) Lead singer Tommy Shaw hopes someone will make him an offer he can't refuse. That's a reference to a famous movie quote. Without looking it up, can you name the film?

The Godfather?

3) Shaw recalls that this song was inspired by a friend of his, a blue collar worker who had been laid off and was frustrated by the process of job hunting. His friend wanted to work, not fill out forms and job applications and wait days for a response! Do you quickly become impatient?

Nope. I think in general the older you get the patient you become, you’ve seen it all and you know that being impatient is bad for your health.

4) The name "Styx" wasn't the top choice of anyone in the band. As founding member Denis DeYoung recalled, "It was the only name none of us hated." Tell us about a recent compromise you made (which TV show to watch, toppings on your pizza, etc.).

Well I am on several committees and sometimes you speak up to make your point and then you compromise but sometimes the results may surprise you. I think that mentioned this on another “Sat9” that at a meeting about hate crimes everyone was talking about “victim,” victim this, victim that, victim, victim! Finally I had enough and said “Can we please stop calling them victims? And use “target instead.”

Our preliminary draft report came out this week and I noticed something different from the earlier version. The word “target” was showing up in the report, the target of the violence, the target of the attack filed a report… 

Maybe we do make a difference.

5) Labor Day was introduced to celebrate the achievements of the American worker. How many different employers have you had?

Not counting summer jobs, 3. One of them was for 28 years. 

6) The first Waffle House was opened on Labor Day, 1955. What's your preference: waffles or pancakes?

Well I consider them one and the same. You mix up the pancake mix and either pour it in a waffle iron or a frying pan.

I just made a blueberry cobbler this morning…

½ cup of frozen blueberries.
1 tbsp. of butter
1 tbsp. of brown sugar
½ cup of pancake mix

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In an 11 inch frying pan on medium heat add the blueberries, butter, and brown sugar. Mix the pancake mix according to the box. When the blueberries get reduced and is nice and bubbly add the pancakes mix on top of the berries. When the bubbles come to the top of the pancake mix I like to stick it under a broiler to cook the top some more.

7) Labor Day mattress sales are a big business. Experts tells us we can expect to spend $1,000 for a good-quality queen-sized mattress. Will you be buying a new one -- or perhaps making another big ticket purchase for your home -- before year end?

No, I just got a new waterbed after the last one caught fire. The old waterbed lasted 30 years! So I expect that I would wear out first before the mattress.

8) Will you be attending a Labor Day picnic or barbecue? 

I might cook outside on the grill… it depends upon the weather, I came across a recipe for “Garlic and Herb Baby Back Ribs” that looked interesting. If it rains I was going to make pan pizza, I was going to make 4 small pan pizzas with different toppings.

9) Labor Day is the unofficial start of fall. Have you had any pumpkin spice yet?

Never! Never! Never! I despise anything pumpkin… no pies, no lattes, no brownies, not one thing pumpkiny. If pumpkins are so good why do they load them up with nutmeg and cinnamon? If you get the idea that I don’t like pumpkins you are right.

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us on next Saturday for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend!