Wednesday, August 31, 2011

The Hodgepodge is never a chore-Vol 42

Welcome to another edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge...add your link at the bottom and join the party. Here are my answers to this week's questions-


1. Do you think the world became a more dangerous place on September 11, 2001 or are we just more aware of the danger? How has your own life changed as a result of that day?

I think I lost my naivete about the world long before 9/11. It left me in December of 1988 when a Pan Am jet with my dearly loved next door neighbors aboard fell from the sky. The world has been full of evil since long before any of us reading here were born. I think it is only in America that we have felt mostly safe from a particular type of evil but 9/11 pretty much put an end to that.

We moved overseas post 9/11 and that definitely gives you a different perspective, not only on America but on how the rest of the world views America, which fyi is not all sunshine and roses. We still travel a lot, most often by air, and every time I'm in an airport I think about our personal safety. Air travel used to be a little bit exciting but those days are gone, replaced by liquids in a bag and full body scans. Its no longer just airports either, that have amped up security. My bag was thoroughly searched and I was patted down before the football game at Giants stadium on Monday night. I didn't bat an eye.

2. Did you think your parents were too strict when you were growing up? How about in hindsight?

My parents had rules but I don't remember thinking they were too unreasonable. I was a kid who liked rules so I'm pretty sure I didn't complain too much. There are times as a kid when you feel pressure to participate in something you don't really want to be part of and its nice to throw the blame on your parents rules as in "I'd love to go to the party but my super strict parents said no." I would say that while my dad had a gruff exterior he didn't worry the way my mom did and was more inclined to say yes to certain things. My mom liked to tick off the dangers and what ifs. I do not fall far from that tree. Ahem. All that being said, my dad definitely had high expectations and if you were in trouble you went to mom first. I think my own kids do the same so maybe that's a girl thing.

3. Share one random but candid fact about yourself.

Have you ever read my 100 things about me post? Why not? I wrote it a couple of years ago and its chock full of random candid facts about me. I'm struggling to think of something that hasn't already been said. How about this-I started subbing in our local school system last spring. I love kids and I've taught school in the past, plus I liked the flexibility subbing offered. It has been a long time since I've been in the public school system and on Day 1 I suddenly remembered that teaching and subbing are nothing alike. Oh my.

4. Would your nearest and dearest describe you as simple or far too complicated?

My hubs says I'm complicated. That's a compliment, right?

5. What is your favorite stadium or carnival food?

I'm not even sure what qualifies as stadium/carnival food anymore since it seems like you can get almost anything at ball parks and fairgrounds nowadays. I had roast turkey with cranberry sauce at the Jets game Monday night. We were in the company box and there is usually a buffet of typical game day foods-hotdogs, dips, chicken wings, etc. available for snacking. I've really been watching my diet and I wondered what I'd find to eat that wasn't too unhealthy. I was pleasantly surprised to find turkey and it was really delicious. If fat and calories were not an issue I'd go for a hot dog with mustard and sauerkraut.

6. Tornado, hurricane, earthquake...how many of these natural disasters have you experienced? Which do you think would be the scariest?

Supposedly the recent East Coast earthquake was felt in our area but I was oblivious. I've never been in a tornado but I have been in two hurricanes. Irene was mostly a non-event at our house although when you live behind a hillside full of huge trees, strong winds and rain are nerve wracking. We lived in Annapolis during Hurricane Floyd and that was scary. My mom was visiting and hubs was out of town and couldn't get home. It was my birthday weekend and we were without power for days. My girls and I played hours of dominoes with my mom all by the light of our camping lantern. I'm thinking this may be what put them off the game for years to come. Hmmm.....

I think they're all pretty scary but if I have to pick the scariest I'd say earthquakes. At least you can take some precautions if you know a hurricane or tornado watch is in place, and certainly with hurricanes we have a lot of warning and the opportunity to get out of harms way. Earthquakes occur without warning and there's not a whole lot you can do when the ground opens up.

7. Labor day weekend is approaching so a work related question seems appropriate. Growing up, did your parents assign you regular chores? Were you paid for doing those chores. If you're a parent do you assign chores to your own children? Why or why not?

That last question was inspired by a post Mindee wrote on Monday. Everyone go say hi to Mindee. She blogs at Our Front Door and she's funny.

I had chores growing up. My mom always had a list on Saturday mornings for my younger sister and I to have done before the end of the day. We usually argued over some of those chores but I believe bickering with a sibling is a key component of the kid -chore package. And of course arguing and complaining never got us out of the actual doing.

During the week we set the table and did the dishes after supper. Saturdays were for cleaning our room and bathroom, dusting downstairs and our least liked job-vacuuming the steps. My mom would look things over when we finished too. We did not get paid for doing chores. We were part of the household and most likely its primary mess makers so why wouldn't we have to participate in the care and keeping of the house? As a ten year old I may not have seen it in quite those terms, but as a mother you better believe I did, which is why my own girls had chores too.

8. Insert your own random thought here.


We saw The Patriot Flag unfurled at the Giants/Jets game on Monday night. The flag is 56 feet wide and 30 feet high and has been touring around the country all year. It's been in all 50 states and will fly at all three 9/11 sites on the 10 year anniversary date in a little over a week. It is an impressive and moving site to see in person.

23 comments:

  1. I subbed in the school system for almost two years before landing my first teaching job last year. I actually enjoyed it...especially after I built my reputation and got the long-term jobs. It was a great way for me to confirm that I wanted to teach, but, as you said, it is vastly different from having your own classroom!!

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  2. Enjoyed your answers! I bet you were exposed to a lot of different feelings about America!
    until next time... nel

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  3. You are so right that teaching and subbing are not the same job. I too have done both, in reverse order than you are doing it. Did you keep your certificate updated all of those years? Good for you!

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  4. When we lived over seas years ago, we had our eyes opened as well about what others think of Americans. And you are right, it wasn't always good.

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  5. Hey, Joyce. Love visiting your blog as always. I left teaching in the mid-80's and have never looked back. I think it would be hard to be back in the classroom, even as a sub, after so much time away.

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  6. Joyce, you always have the most interesting answers to your questions! I enjoy reading your answers almost as much as I enjoy answering each week.

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  7. Re: #4. I prefer to think of that as complex rather than complicated. ha!

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  8. My son is subbing today. Wish he would find a full time job, but that's another story...
    And, by the way, that company box sounds pretty delightful, although there is something to be said for watching a football game from the cheap seats on a freezing cold day. Or, maybe not!

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  9. I often wonder what the world would have thought of the U.S. if we had not retaliated, regardless I don't think they would have been kind. In this situation at least we were the victim and yet we are blamed for it. Crazy!

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  10. Your #1 answer reminded me of the last time we flew back to New Hampshire for a visit...on the way home the security at the airport let my husband and I go through but pulled our daughter aside (she was 13 at the time) and patted her down...she was mortified.

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  11. I didn't so much hand out chores to the lovelies while they were growing up- probably because I had so many when I was growing up and I hated them! So, instead, we all did chores together and tried to make them as fun as possible- plus, no one person had to do it all.

    I have subbed in between working at the elementary school the lovelies attended. I am an interventionist there when funding is available. Haven't been subbing much lately though- mostly up there as a voluntary tutor. I really like helping the kids who need extra help!

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  12. So sorry about your neighbors on that flight. Yes it would be nice to have a warning for the earthquakes. I would have loved to have seen the flag.

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  13. Hi Joyce,
    Your picture of the flag is awesome! Would love to see that. Have a great day!

    Sherrie
    Food for Thought
    http://100sweets.blogspot.com/2011/08/wednesday-hodgepodge_31.html

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  14. Totally agree-when going to an airport or a professional game-went to baseball-and didn't bat an eye while being searched- Isn't it a shame we have reached this point.

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  15. My kids had chores and of them, doing dishes was the one they disliked most. Once they all moved out, we got a dishwasher. ;O)

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  16. I am happy to hear that you and your family weathered the storm so well. It was pretty much a nonevent at our house; but not so for our neighbors in Vermont. We are attending our first fair of the season this weekend and I have to say that I am looking forward to a sausage grinder with peppers and onions and the french fries with vinegar. I never had those in the south; but they are a fantastic part of the New England fair experience. I know we can make them at home and we do occasionally...but they are not the same. :)

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  17. I can´t believe your neighbors were in that Pan Am flight! How small is the world?! That really must have been hard. It´s true, the rest of the world (or at least down here) do not all view the US favorably. I´m constantly defending you guys. LOL

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  18. Teachers are saints and subs too I could not hold the attention of a child for more than 5 nila seconds! Great answers !

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  19. Subbing...Oh MY! What were you thinking?! Thanks again for providing us with Hodgepodge questions. I've been out of it for a few weeks, but here you are, always providing us interesting things to think and blog about.

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  20. I hate I didn't get to do Hodgepodge this week! I have an all written final on Friday, & I have been so busy with studying. Maybe next week will be a little less hectic for me :)

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  21. my computer took a crash just as I was posting for this weeks answers so will catch up next week. Loved the post this week.

    rainbow

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  22. "different perspective, not only on America but on how the rest of the world views America, which fyi is not all sunshine and roses."
    This is so true. We lived in Canada for a few years, and it was an eye opener.

    I can imagine the Patriot Flag must have been very moving.

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  23. I need to read your "100 things" sometime real soon! I'm not sure I could even think of that many things to write about myself :/

    It must have been pretty cool to see that flag :)

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