Hodgepodge Wed. 11-13-2013

It's a new Wednesday so you know what that means..... more Hodgepodge. If you'd like to join in the fun, go to Joyce's page "From This Side of the Pond"  CLICK HERE

1. Describe a typical Sunday from your childhood.

Sunday was my favorite day of the week when I was young. The day meant "time with family". We got to sleep late, but you know kids never sleep past their 'routine' time. So, my brother, sister and I would play while Mom fixed breakfast. After we ate, we had to get cleaned up and put on our 'nice' clothes.

Around noon we'd go over to my great-grandmother's house. We never knew who was going to be there this day. Family was always showing up. It could have been local ones or one of Grandma's sisters and her family would make the 2 hour trip to come have dinner with us. It was always a great day. All the women would be working in the kitchen, talking and laughing. I loved being there.

2. How comfortable are you with uncertainty? Explain.

It drives me crazy. As I get older, I've noticed many, many people who can't make a decision. I'm not sure what causes it. Maybe they're afraid of making the wrong one, or they have to weigh how their decision will affect them. When my daughters were growing up in their teen years, I would purposely take them to the grocery store with me and insist they make decisions on which product to buy, in the hopes they would be able to handle that part of adult life. 

3. What have you accomplished recently that might be described as crafty, as in 'arts and crafts' crafty? If crafty doesn't work for you, how about handy? Or both?

I don't think either one would describe me. I've tried to be crafty with many things, but they always look so unprofessional, like it was made by a kindergartner. I tried recently to make greeting cards. One turned out to be passable so I sent it on in the mail. The second one I also mailed but I shouldn't have. I felt ashamed and the recipient didn't say a word about it. I could tell by the look on her face what she thought of my talent, or lack of. Handy? My husband thinks it's handy having me in the kitchen. 

4. Have you ever worked in a 'food place'? What did you take away from the experience?

When I was in high school, I was a waitress in a small restaurant. In later years, I worked in a Famous Recipe Chicken. I didn't mind the work at all, but I didn't like working with the public. Too many of them could be nasty and short tempered. I've never liked being called names and still don't.

5. Cold turkey, talk turkey, what a turkey...in recent days, which turkey phrase or idiom best applies to you and why? Click on the word turkey if you need to read more about the meaning behind each phrase.

I can be 'what a turkey' at times. I often have the tendency to put the mouth in motion before I put the brain in gear. Also, when it comes to my dear hubby, I may want to talk turkey, without a TV, but he doesn't like doing that.

6. If you could have any one guest join your Thanksgiving dinner table, who would it be?

When I first read this, it brought back a memory and I had to laugh.

"Of course I'd want to invite my closest friends, Dorothy and Blanche, but could Jesus come for dessert?" (from Golden Girls)
Seriously, I can't think of anyone. If my choice was 'living or dead' I would say my mother. I'd love to spend one more day with her.

7. What is one thing you must accomplish today?

I need to clean house, what else is there? :)

8. Insert your own random thought here.

This weekend we have 2 birthdays in the family, mother and son. Friday my youngest daughter will be 39 yrs. old and Sunday my youngest grandson, her youngest baby, will be 7. It doesn't seem possible. I'm getting old. I can remember the day Teresa was born, just like it was yesterday, without the pain. Why have the years gone by so fast? And Bryan is growing up too fast! One day I'm changing his diaper, then next I'm watching him get onto the school bus. He's the last of our babies. I could be sad, no more babies to cuddle, but when I look at him, my heart swells. He's a great kid just as the other 6 of my grandchildren are. 

Old man and his moped

An elderly man on a Moped, looking about 100 years old, pulls up next to a doctor at a street light.
The old man looks over at the sleek shiny car and asks, 'What kind of car ya got there, sonny?'
The doctor replies, 'A Ferrari GTO.
It cost half a million dollars! '
That's a lot of money,' says the old man. 'Why does it cost so much?'
Because this car can do up to 320 miles an hour!' states the doctor proudly.
The Moped driver asks, 'Mind if I take a look inside?'
No problem,' replies the doctor.
So the old man pokes his head in the window and looks around.
Then, sitting back on his Moped, the old man says, 'That's a pretty nice car, all right... But I'll stick with my Moped!'
Just then the light changes,
So the doctor decides to show
The old man just what his car can do.
He floors it, and within 30 seconds
The speedometer reads 160 mph.
Suddenly, he notices a dot in his rear view mirror.
It seems to be getting closer!
He slows down to see what it could be and suddenly WHOOOOSSSHHH !
Something whips by him going much faster!
'What on earth could be going faster than my Ferrari ?' the doctor asks himself.
He presses harder on the accelerator
And takes the Ferrari up to 250 mph.
Then, up ahead of him, he sees that it's the old man on the Moped!
Amazed that the Moped could pass his Ferrari, he gives it more gas and passes the Moped at 275 mph and he's feeling pretty good until he looks in his mirror and sees the old man gaining on him AGAIN!
Astounded by the speed of this old guy, he floors the gas pedal and takes the Ferrari all the way up to 320 mph.
Not ten seconds later, he sees the Moped bearing down on him again!
The Ferrari is flat out, and there's nothing he can do!
Suddenly, the Moped plows into the back of his Ferrari, demolishing the rear end.
The doctor stops, jumps out and unbelievably the old man is still alive.
He runs up to the banged-up old guy and says, 'I'm a doctor.... Is there anything I can do for you?'
The old man whispers,
'Unhook my suspenders from your side view mirror!'

I hope you had a good weekend. Things were quiet here. We didn't do much. We went to church Sunday morning. Before the pastor got into his study on Malachi, he read off some statistics on fellow Christians being killed, raped and tortured in other countries by Muslims, just because of their faith. None of it surprised me because I've read so much on the subject and in the news. It just makes me sick and angry. But all during his reading, you could have heard a pin drop in the sanctuary.

I hope it woke up some of them to what's going on in our world. I hope they realize the Muslims are NOT the peace-loving people they're trying to make us believe. I read an article the other night about how they're now using Twitter, giving their fellow members instructions on how to behead an infidel so you don't look so cruel or violent. It made me sick. And how many of them have worked their way into positions of power in our own White House?

Until next time...........

Election Day, Nov. 5, 2013

Tuesday was election day. One of the important things on our ballots was the aquatic center the city wants to build. Granted, it would be nice to have, but there are many more things that they could do to benefit ALL citizens instead of just a few.

The biggest arguments for this project is "something for the kids to do" and "it's a healthy activity for families" but in this part of the country, it would only be open 3 months out of the year. For those of us who won't be utilizing it and for us homeowners who will be paying for it the next 35 yrs. in our real estate taxes, it's not a good thing.

Well, it was voted down. It had been our mayor's pet project the last year or so, and after the votes were tallied, he posted a hateful status on his FB page. He was angry and blamed the citizens of not caring about the kids. It was awful to read and I think it was so uncalled-for.

We have a busy day ahead of us with lots of running.
* I have to go out to the lab to get a blood test to check my vitamin D level.
* Then to the drug store to get a refill on a script.
* And then my favorite (not) -- the grocery store. They've started with their sales on items for Thanksgiving dinner:  10-12 lb. turkeys for 99¢ a lb.! We usually do 1 turkey plus a ham, or 2 turkeys (1 roasted and 1 deep fried)  Frozen vegetables 62¢ a bag! I'm stocking up on those since Bob and I eat lots of vegetables. I'll be watching the sales the next couple weeks and get a few items at a time, then the perishables right before.

Today when we leave the house, I'll definitely be wearing a coat. It's cold out there. Our high today is only going to be around 46° with a wind-chill of 37°! That requires a warm coat for sure! The sun keeps peaking out but only for a few minutes at a time and a cold wind, 15 mph from the north-west. It is sure stripping all the trees. Our neighbors across the street have a yard full of leaves that wraps around the ankles when anyone walks by.

Well, until next time....... hope you have a great day.

Hodgepodge Wed. Nov. 5, 2013

1. My sister is celebrating a birthday today. Happy Birthday little sis! What's one way you're like your siblings? If you don't have siblings how are you like your lifelong best friend or cousin?

I have a younger sister and a younger brother. I don't look much physically like either one, but we share our mother's likes and dislikes. Family was her top priority so the 3 of us have the same feelings when it comes to our individual families. Our taste in foods are common. My brother, who lives in Texas, often asks me for Mom's recipe for a dish he's hungry for. My sister is a good cook so she has most of Mom's recipes.

2. What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of yourself at age eighteen?

My wedding. Hubby asked me to marry him the summer after I graduated. I had plans to go on to school, so we postponed the wedding until February of the next year, 1966.

3. Sculptor-actor-painter-dancer...if you could excel in one of these arts, which would you choose and why?

Painter.... In school I majored in art and painting with oils was my favorite. After school, life happened and I didn't sketch or pick up a brush for several years. After my daughters started school, I tried it again, but it'd been so many years, it was difficult to get back into it. I eventually gave up. I still have a love for the art, but I'm only an admirer now.

4. What's a scent that takes you back in time, and where does it take you?

Lilacs.... it brings back fond memories of my great-grandmother and my favorite aunt. They had lilac bushes in the yard and I couldn't wait for them to bloom each year. Their houses would smell so good, I loved being there.

5. November is for Peanut Butter Lovers (National Peanut Butter Lovers Month). Are you a lover or a hater? What's your favorite dish/recipe that calls for peanut butter?

Really? I love peanut butter. In fact, I just finished eating some on wheat crackers. I often have some for lunch because it helps stabilize my blood sugar in the afternoon. My favorite recipe? Peanut butter fudge. hahaha

6. What do people thank you personally for most often?

My husband often thanks me for things I do for him, especially when I feed him. When I was working, before retirement, my boss was always thanking me for the work I did for him that was above and beyond my duties. I loved working for this man. He was always good to me and appreciated all the work I did to make his day less stressful.

7. What event this year are you most thankful for?

All I can think of right now are the coming holidays. I'm so thankful for having my family close by to be with me.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Monday, Nov. 4, 2013

My day was a busy one. In a nutshell....

1) I did laundry all morning

2) Went out to the shop and got my hair cut

3) Came home and got a couple things done around the house

4) Met D#1 and son-in-law at a house they're thinking of buying. They wanted our opinion. 

5) We got some Arby sandwiches on the way home. 

6) I spent an hour on the keyboard working on my "assignment" for the week. 

7) Now I'm going to play a game or two on FB before going to bed.

That was my day in as few words as possible.
I hope you had a good day.
Until next time...............

Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013

Was anyone an hour early for church this morning? I hope everyone remembered this autumn deed.

I hate having to change the clocks. It always takes at least a week to feel right again. Even though I got an extra hour of sleep, so they say, I don't feel like I did and I'll probably have trouble at bedtime tonight.

Along with the clocks, we need to change the batteries in the smoke detectors.

We went to church this morning. The service was very good. Pastor continued with his study of Malachi and invited everyone to the alter for prayer.

I turned in my shoe box for Operation Christmas Child today. It felt good to see so many boxes stacked high, ready to pack up and ship off to the children.

We've been going to this church for the last several weeks, but we weren't sure how to get around their big building. They've built and rebuilt and added on for several years. The building is huge. My brother and his wife were married in that church, 1973, in the old sanctuary, so I've been inside. However, it's nothing like it was back then. So, today we had Bob's brother and his wife give us the 'grand tour'. I think they have a room for every occasion and every person. There's 3 adult Sunday schools, 2 young adults plus children's, divided by age. A library. Kitchen and cafeteria. The old sanctuary is the high school room now. We were both amazed at all the rooms and hallways. We never got upstairs or the balcony. Our tour took a half hour.

Our weather today is more clouds and a cold wind. The sun did peak out for a short time. The high is 50° and down to 34° tonight.

I've just been relaxing since we got home and have no plans for the rest of the day. I'm going to do some practicing in a little bit... if my brain will cooperate.

Until next time..............

High School Football Friday

Welcome to November! Before long we'll be shopping for our turkeys and writing up the menu and the guest list, giving the kitchen a good cleaning and all those other jobs that the holiday calls for. On second thought, I think I'll let my daughters do the cooking at Lisa's house. I'll take the pumpkin pies.

Tonight's high school football game is the big talk of the town. The Cougars are going up against St. Marys and since both teams haven't won a game yet this season, a lot of people are hoping their team wins tonight.


This afternoon Bob and I went to WalMart to get the items we needed to fill the shoebox for the Operation Christmas Child ministry. We have to turn them in Sunday. I must admit it was fun shopping for these little items, knowing they'll be going overseas to some young girl. They gave us a list of several needed items (a new toothbrush, a hair comb, a bar of bath soap, a washcloth) plus some small things to play with and a new T-shirt. It makes me feel humble knowing I have so much to be thankful for. We easily take these items for granted, but this little girl will see them as a great gift.

The storm predicted for us last night went farther south and missed us. However, those who live in that area received some damage. They said today the damage was from 'straight-line' wind and not a tornado. All we had was a constant rain all day until around midnight.

Today was very cloudy and still a bit windy. The storms brought us colder temperatures, 51° today and down to 38° tonight.

I think I'll make myself a hot cappuccino to warm up.



Until next time ....