Partly Hodgepodge with a chance of snow-Vol 19

Welcome to this week's edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. I hope you brought your snow shovel and boots because I think you may need them here today. Ca-razy forecast!!

It's been fun having so many participants here on Wednesdays and it now takes me a couple of days to get around to them all. I encourage you to hop around too...not everyone is able to link early so check back periodically and see what blogs have been added throughout the day. Part of the fun of the Wednesday Hodgepodge is getting to know new bloggers every week. Here we go~

1. Sunday was the first day of spring. So they say. Ahem

What is your favorite outdoor springtime activity?

Snowshoeing, sledding, slipping and falling as I wheel the rubbish bin to the curb...you know, the usual springtime stuff.

Oh I know the 6-10" of snow predicted to accumulate today will eventually melt and one day in the near future we'll experience true springtime weather. In the meantime I guess I can get my head around one more cup of hot cocoa with marshmallows.

My real favorite outdoor activity in springtime is hiking.

2. Who would you want to come into your kitchen to cook dinner for you?

Heston Blumenthal or Raymond Blanc...if someone is coming to cook for me I want amazing.

3. When was the last time you flew a kite?

I think the last time we did this was 2004. We spent many a summer holiday at the beach and always reserved at least one evening for pizza and kite flying on the sand.

If I close my eyes I can almost feel the late day sun on my face.

4. What topic puts you to sleep faster than anything?

Html talk or really any talk relating to the inner workings of my computer. I just want it to turn on when I hit the power button. I don't need to know how it works. Oh, I'm impressed that you do and I'm more than a little bit grateful there are people in this world who are not bored to tears by this sort of thing. People who actually enjoy making the computer magic happen. Because to me that's how a computer works~by magic, right?

5. What flowers do you associate with specific people, places, or events?

I'm reminded of our wedding day when I see orchids. Gerbera Daisies make me think of Daughter1 because they're her favorite and have been for as long as I can remember. Poppies will forever make me think of England. And I remember a little town in Italy and one of our most special family holidays ever when I see big blooming hydrangeas.

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6. What significant historical events took place during your elementary school years?

I was in elementary school during the tumultuous 60's and the early 70's so all sorts of events were happening that made history. Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King were both assassinated when I was in the second grade but I don't remember much about either of those tragedies. In the summer just before I turned nine we landed on the moon. I remember watching with my family on our black and white tv.

I guess the biggest thing that comes to mind though, is the Vietnam War. My dad was a career Marine and he spent my entire 3rd grade school year in Vietnam. I remember taking him to the airport to fly out and I remember him telling me to be a good girl for my mother.

This is a picture (four actually) from the scrapbook my mom made...

It's me along with my three siblings sending happy birthday wishes to my dad on the other side of the world. I'm holding the word 'Dear' and I have to say I'm pretty impressed with my mother's creativity. No skype, no cell phone photo sharing...just good old fashioned photography sent via snail mail back in 1969.

I remember starting the 4th grade and telling my new teacher I wouldn't be at school one day because we had to pick my dad up at the airport. She asked how long he'd been out of town and when I said a year tears sprang to her eyes. I remember feeling so proud when he came into my class later that same year and showed slides and told us a little bit about Okinawa and the country of Vietnam. I remember being a little disappointed he wore his civilian clothes.

The innocence of childhood is so precious.

I think we've lost a little of that in today's technological world.

7. Do you swear? Do you pseudo-swear? (you know- crap, shoot, friggin' ?)

No. I can't say that a word (or pseudo-word) has never slipped out, but swearing is really not at all a part of my vocabulary. I think its a habit that people pick up and like most habits it's hard to break. I am especially not a fan of women using the big word. ick.

8. Insert your own random thought here-

I've seen this several places lately and I had it on my facebook page not long ago so if you're my facebook friend sorry for the repeat. I can't help it-this just makes me smile. Hope it makes you smile too!