Wednesday Hodgepodge

It's not quite the "late show" version, but....heeeeeeeeeere's Hodgepodge!

1. What's surprised you most about your life, or about life in general?

Genuinely not sure.  I don't want to think I've lost the ability to be surprised, but very little surprises me these days.

2. Among others, these ten words were added to the Oxford English Dictionary this year...awesomesauce, beer o'clock, brain fart, buttdial, cat cafe (apparently this is a real thing), fatberg (gross-read the definition here), fat shame, hangry,Mx (gender neutral), and skippable. 

Your thoughts? In looking over the list, which word do you find most ridiculous? Which word would you never in a million years say out loud? Which word would you be most likely to use in conversation?

Ugh, ugh, ugh.  I like to think I would never say "fatberg" out loud, but I have used the phrases "brain fart" and "buttdial".   I would absolutely go to a cat cafe...but if that's what I wanted, I'll make my own cup of coffee and pet my own cat.

3. Do you like gravy? Is there a food you'd rather not eat unless it comes with gravy? Do you make your own or buy the canned or store-made variety? Turkey and gravy, sausage gravy, mashed potatoes and gravy, country ham and red eye gravy, biscuits and chocolate gravy, pot roast and gravy...which one on the list is your favorite?

I like gravy, but don't require it as such.  If I'm making it, it's likely to be from-scratch sausage gravy served over biscuits.

What is chocolate gravy?  I think I'd try that.
4. Do you have a plan? Do you need a plan? Have you ever had a plan fall into a trillion pieces? Explain.

I laughed at this, because parent-teacher conferences were last week.  My husband was out of town, and the neighbor lady's husband was out of town, and so the neighbor lady and I took turns watching each other's kids while we went to conferences.  That doesn't seem like it should have been a big deal to plan, but somehow we managed to make it a thing.  Anyway, Sunshine's teacher tells me she's very methodical and will be a notorious list-maker when she's older.

In a nutshell, yes, I like plans.  I can barely get through the day without saying "Okay, first I'm gonna do this, then I'm gonna go here, then I need to come home and work on this other stuff, then..."

It almost never works that way.  And most of the time, that's a really minor thing.
5. November 19 is National Play Monopoly Day. Do you own the original or some version of the game? Do you enjoy playing Monopoly? How likely is it you'll play a game of Monopoly on November 19th? Ever been to Atlantic City? Ever taken a ride on a railroad? Is parking in your town free? Last thing you took a chance on?

I actually have two versions of Monopoly.  We have the original version, and we have the electronic version (which is nice because there's no loose bits of paper to go EVERYWHERE when the box inevitably gets dropped).  We didn't play it today (the kids were at school, then at scouts, then doing homework) but that's life.  I've never been to Atlantic City, and I'm genuinely not sure how interested I am in doing so--nothing I've heard about it makes it sound appealing.  I have taken a ride on the railroad, and let me take a minute to say that I do love Amtrak.  Sure, it takes a long time, but it's pleasant and relaxing and I can take my OWN sandwiches, thankyouverymuch.  Parking is free in parts of town--other parts it's rather expensive.  Last thing I took a chance on...I really don't know.

6. A song you like that has the word (or some form of the word) thanks in the title, lyrics, or meaning?

For the Beauty Of The Earth

7. In keeping with this month's theme of gratitude....what is something you're taking for granted that when you stop and think about it, you're grateful for?

clean water.  I mean really.  It's hard to stay healthy without it.

A roof over my head.  It's easy to fall into the assumption that everyone has it, but it's a definite luxury.

My kids.  They drive me insane, but getting them here was HARD and I'm glad they're mine.
8. Insert your own random thought here.

I am stupidly excited for next week.  I haven't seen my sister in a long time.  We're going what I would term "back home" for Thanksgiving, and the kids will be taking their first ride in an airplane (Heaven help us!) and all misgivings aside, I hope it's as great in reality as it is in my heart already.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. In two or three sentences tell us what Veteran's Day means to you?

The men and women who have put themselves in harm's way for our safety deserve better than our nation treats them.  Their courage and integrity are inspirational.

2. What's your favorite film with a patriotic theme woven into the storyline?

I really liked the movie Men of Honor.

3. Flu shot-yes or no? If you answered no, do you plan to get a flu shot? If not, why not? Have you ever had the flu?
Yes, I've gotten mine this year.  The last time I had the flu was about three years ago, when they misjudged what the dominant strains would be and a lot of the people who got the shot wound up with the flu anyway.  I was one of those lucky ones.  Fortunately, my family didn't catch it.

4. I've seen lots of people posting pictures of their Christmas trees up and decorated. Many stores have had Christmas on display since well before Halloween. Red cups are back at Starbucks, sans the holiday decor, and that has some people up in arms. What are your thoughts on all the holiday ruckus this second week of November?
Putting a Christmas tree up this early isn't how I roll, but I understand why it makes my friends happy.  One of my friends said she does it because the kids love it, and they're only little for a short time.  The stores having their Christmas stuff up before Halloween wears me out, but I understand why it's up in November--how else am I supposed to decide how I'm decorating my house this year?  I think the people getting upset about the red cups have a really narrow view of what Christmas means--instead of getting upset about a cup, how about I take my own travel cup to my favorite coffee shop, get it filled up, and then buy some food for our local food pantry?

5. What 'critter' are you most afraid of encountering unexpectedly? Why that one?

Hm.  It's a toss up between a brown recluse spider or a house centipede.  House centipedes are creepy and like to hide in the folds of shower curtains or sneak out from things I'm trying to clean and it always creeps the bejabbers out of me.  Brown recluse spiders are on the list because I was bitten by one a few years ago, and it nearly cost me my left leg.  

6. Do you like building things? What's the last thing you 'built'?
I used to.  Don't have a lot of time for it anymore.  The last thing I built that required a workshop was a coffee table.  The last thing I built in my kitchen was a big pot of soup.

7. In keeping with this month's theme of gratitude...what are you most grateful for that brings beauty to your daily life?
My kids!  Love those little stinkers.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

To all the veterans in my life--thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Besides Thanksgiving, something you're looking forward to on your November calendar?

Whoo.  Well, "Thanksgiving" covers a lot of ground on my calendar, because we're travelling to visit my family for Thanksgiving.  I am looking forward to seeing my sister and her family again, and I'm looking forward to the kids' first trip on an airplane (and I'm grateful Sunshine has been medically cleared for air travel!), and I'm looking forward to seeing some old friends, and I'm looking forward to the photo session with my sister and her family and our faaaavorite photographer while we're there.

If you're talking about something other than that weekend, I'm looking forward to my son's first day at baseball clinics.

2.  If I gave you a thank you card right now who would you send it to and why?

Fascinating question.  I had to think about this one for a while, but I think I'd send it to my mother-in-law.  I'd explain why, but this blog is supposed to keep me focused on the positive things, and it's hard to explain how much she's had my back while keeping the bitterness out of it.

3. Of the breads listed, which one's your favorite...bagel, cinnamon, sourdough, garlic, banana, biscuit, pita, Naan, or plain old fashioned white bread?

garlic bread!  I love garlic bread.  (I miss garlic bread.)  There's a store here that sells a loaf of French bread with chunks of roasted garlic baked into it, and despite realizing that gluten and I don't get along, that bread is sorely tempting.

4. What's something you have in abundance? Is that a good thing?

LEAVES.  Oh my goodness.  One oak tree in our back yard, and it's a mess.  I guess I don't mind raking leaves, I just hate having to bag them and drag them to the front yard.

5. November 5th is National Love Your Red Hair Day. Are there any redheads in your family? Who's your favorite redhead?

My grandfather was a redhead back in his younger years.  So were both my uncles (on opposite sides of the family).  Grandpa died when I was 11, but my uncles are both still with us, and they're awesome.  Favorite (non-family) redhead crown has to go to my friend E, who is awesome and hilarious.

6.  The travel website Busbud recently calculated the most Instagrammed spot in every state. Go here to see what made the list where you live. Are you happy with your state's #1? If not what do you think should be the most photographed spot in your state? Have you snapped a photo there? If you live outside the USA answer as it relates to your state, city or province.

Ours is the Pittsburgh Zoo.  I've only been there once, and I'm not sure if I took a picture there or not.  (Probably?)  I have to admit to being surprised that it's there, because there's also Hershey, and Philadelphia, and Valley Forge, and Jumonville, and a whole truckload of other amazing things to see right here in Pittsburgh.  (The clipper fleet?  PNC Park?  The Point?  Mount Washington?  Even without the rest of the state, how did the zoo win the battle in Pittsburgh?)

7. I'm going to try to have something related to gratitude in this spot each week during the month of November. Here's this week's question-

What's something you've learned about yourself this year that you're grateful for?

I have learned that I don't actually give up, even when I want to or when I say I'm going to.  I would much rather just keep going forward.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I am overjoyed that my hometown baseball team won the World Series!  The photos of the victory rally look overwhelming, and rumor has it that the number of attendees is almost double that of the actual population of the city herself, but in a crowd of 800,000 people, if nobody gets hurt and only three of them get arrested, I'm proud to watch how they celebrate by being a community rather than drunken rioting.