Hodgepodge Wednesday-November 18th Edition

It must be Wednesday! How do I know that? Because I am here with Joyce, From This Side of the Pond, to do the Wednesday Hodgepodge. What I am not really sure of is if this is November. Can't tell by paying attention to the weather.We had tornados all over the place on Monday evening. We didn't have a tornado here but we were under a watch until 3a.m. (Tuesday) morning. And we had strong lightening, thunder, winds, and rain! Some had hail. I didn't see any at my house. But what is really funny is that the same area of the state that had tornados on the ground Monday night are today (Tuesday) having blizzards. I-70 from Garden City, Kansas to Denver, Colorado is closed today due to blizzards. Sheesh!! Now on with Joyce's prompts.



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

I don't know if there have been many surprises in my life. I learned very young not to expect much out of life. It was what it was. If I had to chose one thing that HAS surprised me it is about grief. I thought, after taking care of Richard, for the three years leading up to his death that I wouldn't grieve that much. WRONG!! I am still grieving and it has been almost 16 months!!




 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?

Oh gosh, it is hard to chose which I think is most ridiculous! But the top two I am absolutely positive I will never use are: awesomesauce and beer o'clock! And I won't ever visit a cat café. Can't imagine anyone I know will either. As for fatberg...I have never heard it called that but when I worked at the nursing home, ever so often, the maintenance man would have to clean out the traps to the sewer system. Not a job I wanted to have, for sure. And then we would get a memo that flushing tampons and tampax was NOT to be done, as the maintenance men were finding them in the traps. They DO NOT break down in a reasonable amount of time and if you work in a building where most of the staff is young females you are going to eventually have a problem!! Who knew?? And, just for the record, I am a Mrs. I was a married woman. I am not a Miss. You can use the term Ms. if you are offended by me, a widow, using Mrs., but the term MX. is ridiculous. If you don't want to be identified as anything, then just don't use a title. It is NOT mandatory.


 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 love gravy. I love it on my mashed potatoes. Or maybe on the meat. But that's it!! My step-father used to love brown gravy on a piece of chocolate cake. Ew!! But whatever floats your boat.


 4. Do you have a plan? Do you need a plan? Have you ever had a plan fall into a trillion pieces? Explain.

I have a plan! I have to have a plan. And I write it all in my Happy Planner. (see here) You can ask my family about my plans. I need to know ahead of time about things. I don't like things sprung on me at the last minute. I need a plan!! But, I don't fall apart if my plan doesn't go according to the plan. I just plan better for the next time. I menu plan for this very reason. If I don't have a menu plan then we will be eating at a fast food place 7 days a week!!


 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 have an old Monopoly game in the game cabinet! Not an original. But it is old. And we don't play!! I hate the game of Monopoly!! We played it as kids and it was long and boring, I thought. And I had brothers who cheated. Yep, you know you did!! I did own a collector's edition, from Franklin Mint, but when times were tough a few years ago, I sold it. That's what you do with collectors stuff. No, I have never been to Atlantic City, I have never ridden on a railroad, parking in my town IS free and the last thing(people)I took a chance on are these two kiddos who are living in my house!!


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




I think I slow-danced to this song in the 1970's.


The lyrics:


I want to thank you for being so nice now
I want to thank you for giving me my pride
Sweet kisses too
And everything you do
I know I'll never find another one like you
If I prove my love it won't be true
Oh my my darling
How can I forget you

I remember the first day that we met
I taught you how to smoke your first cigarette
You were so sweet
In everything you did
And oh darling
You made me seem so big
Just to have you right there in my arms
Just to hold
To squeeze all of your sweet loving charm

I wanna thank you
Darling I wanna love you

I wanna thank you again and say bye bye
I wanna thank you again
Oh how I will cry
Sweet kisses to you and everything you do
Darling I wish I had another one like you
Just to hold you
Have them in my arms
It will bring back memories
And all of your sweet loving charm

I wanna thank you
Darling I want to love you
Baby I wanna hold you
Please let me kiss you


 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?

I know I take my freedom for granted. I think many of us do. There are so many people out there who do not have the power to act, speak, or think as they want without restraint or hindrance. I am thankful I can make choices for me and my family. That I can worship the God that I chose to worship. That I can speak out against my government if I don't agree with them. That I do not have to have a 'man' speak for me. We take our rights for granted.

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8. Insert your own random thought here.

All over the internet we are reading about Paris. And religious freedom. And Syria. And refuges that are wanting to come to our country. I will start by saying that I don't have the answers. I don't know what is the right thing to do. But, I am afraid. There are extreme religions out there who want to kill us. For what we have. For what we believe in. And some of them want to live in our country. I don't think tolerance and acceptance is always a good thing. I think we need to be super-vigilant. Ever so watchful. And be sure of who we are letting into this country that might be under the guise of "refuge". It is sad that it has come down to this. But we must stay vigilant!! And pray! We need to pray!!