Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 166

Welcome to another week of Hodgepodging. Answer the questions on your own blog, then scoot back here tomorrow (Wednesday) to link up with all the other lucky people joining the fun. See you there!

1. Do you have an interest in learning about your family's heritage? Why or why not? If you know a little bit about your roots, share an interesting piece of trivia or a fun fact about someone who goes way back on your family tree.

2. Branch Rickey, the baseball exec credited with signing Jackie Robinson, is quoted as saying-

"Luck is the residue of design."

Agree or disagree? Why?

3. In the town where you currently reside, what's your favorite green space?

4. Who is your favorite comedian?

5. March is National Nutrition Month, and almost everyone needs to improve their diet in some way.  What about you? How can you improve your nutrition on a daily basis? Will you try?

6. Which of these green expressions have you 'experienced' in recent weeks -green with envy, green thumb, green around the gills, or give the green light? Explain.

7. Where is one place you don't mind waiting?

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Some Kind of Wonderful

All last week the forecasters kept saying the weekend would be lovely. I believe they even used the word 'warm', and I guess when viewed through the lens of the snowiest winter on record, they were sort of right. While temps did hit 50 degrees in the city on Saturday, I still needed a coat, scarf, and gloves, which is not my definition of warm. Warmer, yes but spring has not quite sprung here folks.

Saturday hubs and I had tickets to see the musical Beautiful. When I mentioned that here on Friday a few people thought I was going to see Carole King herself, but no. Beautiful is the Broadway show about her life and music, and it really was 'some kind of wonderful'. 

She wrote that song for those of you reading here scratching your heads. 

Carole King was in fact, a prolific song writer, and she wrote a lot of songs for other performers too, that you may not have realized were hers. She stopped touring and writing a few years ago, but wrote her first number one song, Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow, when she was only 17 years old. So much talent!  

The actress playing Carole King in the show right now (Jessie Mueller) is completely convincing in the role, and is an amazing talent in her own right. The whole cast was phenomenal, and we absolutely loved the show from start to finish. 

Hubs and I saw a matinee which let out around 4:30, and then had an early-ish dinner reservation in Greenwich Village. Early for New York that is, 6 PM. The restaurant was about 30 blocks from the theatre, and while we had every intention of grabbing a cab (30 blocks is about a mile and a half), we started walking and just kept going. It was a nice evening for a walk.  

We dined at Gradisca, which came highly recommended by one of hub's co-workers. I'm sure we didn't need to walk that far to find great Italian food, because I'm not even kidding when I say there are over 10,000 Italian restaurants in the city (Trip Advisor lists over 11,000 on their site). We're all about a great recommendation though, so we walked. This particular work associate is married to an honest to goodness Italian, so we figure they know what they're talking about. 

And they do! Fantastico!  

Gradisca's is known for the owner's mama's pasta recipes, and when she's in town she can sometimes be seen set up at a table, making the pasta herself. I'd read some reviews online too, and everyone  raved about the tiramisu. We had to try it, didn't we? Delizioso!

Our backyard may still look like this...

...but Saturday turned out to be 'one fine day'. 

It's Not Too Late Baby Now for Friday Fragments

I don't know if I have enough for a post today, so it's possible my Friday Fragments will actually be fragments.

Does anybody even read blogs after 3 PM on a Friday?
We'll see.

I've gotten serious this week about recording what I'm eating and it's been enlightening. The biggest surprise is how often I mindlessly start to eat something that doesn't seem like much of anything...a small bite of this or that, mostly when I'm cooking, but when you put it all down on paper (or enter it into the iPad app) those meaningless bites of nothing special add up to honest to goodness calories. Calories I'd rather have used elsewhere.

I've been inspired to try some new recipes, because hubs (the man with the metabolism of a teenager) can only eat so much grilled chicken and steamed broccoli. I made this baked crispy hoisin chicken not long ago, and we both loved it. Very spicy, so if you don't like very spicy you'll want to reduce the amount of red pepper in yours. We like very spicy here.

It seems like one or both of my girls are traveling every.single.weekend. and I think I'm getting used to it.

Sort of.

And they've resigned themselves accepted the mom drill, which is-text me when you're at the airport, text me when you board, text me when you land, and then do it all again on the day of your return flight.

I bet there are times when even Generation Y hates technology.

In other news, the weather forecasters say temps in NYC will reach 50 degrees on Saturday. I do hope this isn't one of those times when they're wrong.

Hubs and I have tickets to see Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, this weekend. I am a huge fan of her music and am really excited to see the show.  Almost as excited as I am about the 50 degree forecast. I mentioned to someone today that we were going to the show, and she hadn't heard of it. When I said it's the Carole King Story, she said, 'Who?'

People!! Come on!! Do 'youngsters' only 15 years younger than me really not know Carole King?

And on that note I'll leave you with one of my all time favorites, and wishes for a happy weekend wherever you are.

There's Always Throwback Thursday

Not a lot is happening here at the moment, and I thought about not blogging, but then I remembered it was Thursday. Sad, but true...sometimes I have to check an actual calendar to be sure of the day. Chalk it up to empty nest syndrome. Or middle age. Whatever. Thursdays mean bloggers with not a lot to say can grab any old photo they like and write because they feel like it.

I thought back to past Marchs. Marches?  What is the plural of March? Anyway, the month of March in years past. How did we cope with the month that wants to last forever? The one with the still-too-cold temps, that refuses to mesh with our longing for warm air and sunshine?

In the year 2002, we coped. We more than coped. We left the snow shovels and our children back in Maryland and Hello St. Lucia! Is it lame to blog about a trip we took twelve years ago?  No. Not when you've been cooped up in the house for too many minutes on a Throwback Thursday, it's not.  

Hubs earned this getaway through work, and some fun co-worker/friends were also along for the ride. We stayed in what was then a Hyatt, but I remember it was sold right after we left (not because of anything we did!), and I believe its a Sandals now. I wouldn't know because it's 2014, and I'm here in NJ where it's 16 degrees, as opposed to lying on a sandy beach in St. Lucia, but I digress. Let's discuss this picture-

My hair! So short! I don't think I've had it that short since. Maybe you didn't notice my hair because you were distracted by my awesome shorts.  Why did we ever think this was a good look?  

Did we think it was a good look?

Apparently.  My waist was small but that whole belt around the middle thing just ugh ew no, not a good look.  Plus I'm pretty sure I could have put both legs in the same opening.  On the bright side, I am rockin' the sunglasses.

Which I lost.

I was on a streak back in 2002...three pair in a single year.

We had such a fun week, dining al fresco, lounging beside the sea, hubs water skied and I watched-ha!, and as per usual he made friends with random people.

This is Raphael who delivered the most excellent frozen fruity drinks right to our chairs every day. We snorkeled and donned ridiculous helmets to ride horses on the beach.

We relaxed and forgot about frozen gutters, doing checking algebra homework, and all that 'what in the world will I fix for dinner???' kind of stuff, because grandparents were happily doing all those things in our place. First world problems I know, but enjoyable to be away from nonetheless.

Big corporations aren't as much fun in 2014, so sadly no Caribbean getaway on my March calendar.  No big legged high waisted shorts either though, so it's not all bad. You know what else?  Back in 2002 I put all the photos from this trip into a cute scrapbook with dates and labels, embellishments and clever sayings.  I'm really off my game in this department.

How 'bout we chalk that up to middle age empty nest syndrome too?

And the plural of March is Marches.
I may have cabin fever, but its not to the point I've stopped caring about good grammar.

A Good Old-Fashioned Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week's edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. Thanks for playing along! Add your link at the end of my post, and then go see what others had to say. Here are my answers-

1. The expression, 'mad as a March hare' originated with a fictional character who is distracted and frantic. When were you last 'mad as a March hare', and what was it that made you that way?

Probably last week as I worked to complete our tax organizer for the accountants. They have a strict deadline, require umpteen forms uploaded to the computer, and my scanner was on the fritz. Plus when I'm in the middle of the process the numbers take up 110% of my brain. If someone phones needing something, or wanting to chat while I'm logged in to the organizer, I really am no good to them. 

Getting this extremely unpleasant job done every year always makes me a little bit frantic...hubs knows I'll be needing dinner out once it's done-ha! 

2. Mardi Gras this year falls on Tuesday, March 4th. Have you ever been to Mardi Gras, and if so what did you think?  If not, do you have any interest in going?  Purple, gold, and green are the colors of Mardi Gras. Which one is most prevalent in your wardrobe? How about in your home?

I've never been to Mardi Gras or New Orleans for that matter. Do I have any interest in going? It's not high on my list of must-sees, but I'm pretty much up for going anywhere if the opportunity presents itself, so I wouldn't say no. 

Of the colors listed gold is the one you'd see most, both in my wardrobe and in my home. My foyer, family room, sunroom, upstairs hall, and one guest bedroom are all painted a muted shade of gold. I'm in love with the color, Benjamin Moore ladyfinger, for anyone who wants to know...it's very livable.  

3. Are you old fashioned?

In some ways I am, but in other ways I think I'm quite modern. Hey, I have a blog, and that's very 21st century, don't you think? I read a definition online that defined the term old-fashioned in both negative (methods, attitudes, or machines no longer useful in the modern world) and positive terms (referring to nice things from the past that still exist).  

I'm probably a little old fashioned when it comes to good manners. Common courtesy seems to be one of those things that lately falls under the 'no longer useful in the modern world' category. At the risk of sounding like grumpy Mr. Wilson, I think I'll just leave it at that.  

Some of you don't know who Mr. Wilson is, do you? 

He was the grouchy, get-off-my-lawn-neighbor in that old-fashioned television show, Dennis the Menace.  

4. Do you like to carefully plan your vacations, or do you prefer the days to be more spontaneous?

We're somewhere in the middle. We always do our homework before we travel so we don't miss something fabulous where we're going, but we also leave plenty of room for whatever the day and location may bring.

5. March is National Sauce Month...what's your favorite sauce, and what do you most often top with this sauce?

Currently my fave is a super spicy BBQ sauce from Kansas City called Cowtown's Night of the Living Bar B-Q. It's hot, so I usually temper it a little by mixing with something milder, but it's loaded with flavor and so delicious. A co-worker who lives in the KC area, and knows my hubs loves hot sauces, sent us a couple of bottles a while back, and we liked it so much we've continued to order it online.  

I also love a good homemade marinara or bolognese on a plate of pasta, but that's a very rare treat these days. 

6. What's something that easily brings a tear to your eye?

Lots of things, but one of the first to pop into my head would be the soldier dad and child reunion videos that make the news or circulate online. They get me every time.  

7. If you could own any sports team, which one would it be and why?

Chelsea Football Club. Why? 
Because it's London silly. 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Here's a little happy for you today. If you haven't seen this video brace yourselves for the most adorable choir conductor ever...enjoy! 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 165

Before I post this week's questions I thought I'd answer a couple myself. I'm often asked how I come up with questions, and while I'd love to say they're all at the ready, simply floating around inside my head, the truth is it takes some work.

I keep a file on my computer, phone, and iPad, so if something pops up in the course of my day I can add it there. I like to keep about 30-40 questions on file, and I normally take one or two from that file every week. I'll go back and add in to the file as I collect ideas. If I'm traveling or have a lot on my plate, I know the question file is there, and I try to save it more for those weeks I don't have a lot of time to spend creating from scratch.

I read a lot and that inspires questions, and I also try to pay attention to what's happening in the world.  Real life friends and family, along with blog friends, make suggestions too. And most weeks I look around online to see if there is a holiday or trend I can use as a springboard for questions. I try hard not to repeat questions, but it happens sometimes.

Also, I never read anyone's answers until I've hit publish on my own. I never want my own answers swayed by yours. I love the different directions people run with the questions, and don't want to be influenced by which way you went with yours if I was thinking in a completely different vein.

I'm always on the lookout for great questions, so feel free to send yours my way. I always try to link back to the sender when I ask.  Each week I aim for a mixture of deep and light. Sometimes I surprise myself with a question that feels light, but turns deep or vice versa. I avoid yes and no questions because where's the fun in that?

I do my best to visit everyone who participates. That doesn't happen 100% of the time, but close to it.  I hope everyone who joins will visit at least two or three of the bloggers who linked before them, and I think it's especially sweet when people come back later in the week and say hi to the late linkers. I know those bloggers appreciate that too.

Now on to the Hodgepodge...answer on your own blog then hop back here tomorrow to share answers.  Newcomers are always welcome!

1. The expression 'mad as a March hare' originated with a fictional character who is distracted and frantic. When were you last 'mad as a March hare' and what was it that made you that way?

2. Mardi Gras this year falls on Tuesday, March 4th. Have you ever been to Mardi Gras, and if so what did you think? If not, do you have any interest in going?  Purple, green, and gold are the colors of Mardi Gras. Which one is most prevalent in your wardrobe? How about in your home?

3. Are you old fashioned?

4. Do you carefully plan your vacations, or do you prefer the days to be more spontaneous?

5.  March is National Sauce Month...what's your favorite sauce, and what do you most often top with this sauce?

6.  What's something that easily brings a tear to your eye?

7. If you could own any sports team, which one would it be and why?

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

A Little Bit Of Linus and A Whole Lot of Nothing Much

Hello blog.  It's been a while, but not a whole lot to report or maybe too much, which is why I've been avoiding you. I've eked out the Hodgepodge these past couple of weeks, but that's about it, and I'm determined to say something here today.

Even if that something is essentially nothing.

Who thinks I've spent too much time curled up under my super soft blankie watching mindless television on our overly comfy couch? Do you remember the blanket I got at our neighborhood Christmas party? That blanket y'all! It just might be one of my all time favorite gifts ever.  I don't actually drag it around the house with me, but somedays I'm tempted.

So the weekend. You know the drill-ridiculously cold temperatures that make you wonder why you thought dinner out on a Friday night was a good idea. On the bright side we did not get the foot of snow originally predicted, and instead we got a whopping none. I'll take it. We still have a couple of feet on the ground, frozen so solid you can walk across the top of the 'grass' without falling through. I'm pretty sure I'll be posting photos here in June of the 'big rock candy snow mountain' at the top of our driveway.

Here's the boardwalk in tinytown-

Also, there's a lake out there, and benches in front of the water. 
You'll have to take my word for it...

...or you can wait til July and see for yourself.  

I always say March is the hardest month of the year for me. I won't utter a word of weary complaint about snow in January or February, in fact I love it. But then you flip the calendar and it's like the word SPRING literally pokes you in the eye. It's March, and I need winter to begin tapering off. When you can't see so much as a blade of grass it's hard to imagine that happening, but it will. The earth will not be restrained by a little thing like a snow mountain. Seasons changing are one of God's very best ideas, don't you think?  

We do have a couple of fun things on the calendar which helps, because I need something to look forward to in March. Also, last week I managed to book a couple of small getaways for later this spring, and just seeing the reservations written in my datebook makes my heart feel lighter.  

We watched some of the Oscars last night, hubs would say too much, and I'm inclined to agree.  I thought the show really dragged. I think Ellen DeGeneres is so funny, but even her bits felt like she was working too hard. I did think there were some beautiful gowns, and Charlize Theron is my pick for best dressed. She has the most amazing bone structure, and her hair, makeup, jewelry, and gown were flawless. I loved absolutely everything about her look.

I stayed up too late for a Sunday, but I was thinking we'd at least wake up to the couple of inches still in the forecast, and my 6 a.m. boot camp would likely be cancelled. Where are those snowflakes when you need them? I dragged myself out of bed and the whole ride to the gym I kept thinking how next weekend we spring the clocks forward, which means the 5:15 alarm will actually feel like 4:15. Daylight Savings Time is all a big mind game isn't it?

Last week I had a board meeting at my house and I like to always have a little token of thanks for the volunteers. Usually I make something relating to a holiday or season, and then try to be clever in wording the tags. This month I made these-

I did something similar last year for my daughters on St. Patrick's Day, only for theirs I used Mason Jars.  FYI-it takes a whole lotta Skittles to fill up a Mason Jar. This time round I got smart and used pretzel bags. They are just the right size and hold the rainbow shape. The gold 'at the end of the rainbow' is actually four Rolos, which I think are like gold in their own way. Also, for anyone trying this at home, it seems a bag of Skittles contains a disproportionate number of red and orange as opposed to yellow. I used two big bags of Skittles for eight treat bags, and had to monitor the yellow. There's less purple too, but does anyone actually like the purple?

So that's a little bit of nothing too important on this frigid, but thankfully (unless you count what's already on the ground) un-snowy Monday. I almost feel like digging in to my Spring Cleaning list, and maybe I will, but before I do there's this-

Sunrise from my front porch. If we didn't have winter, would I still have this? Maybe not.  And just when I feel bone weary of the cold gray winter skies God reminds me,"....for everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven." March on!