Wednesday, January 25, 2012

A Giant of a Wednesday Hodgepodge Vol 63

Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge...come join the party! Answer the questions on your own blog or fb page then add your link to the end of my post so friends can visit. Here are my answers to this week's questions-


1. The NFL playoffs were held this past weekend and this year's Superbowl will feature the New York Giants versus The New England Patriots. How do you define 'patriot'?

A person who whole heartedly loves his/her country and demonstrates that support in word and deed.

2. What's something in your life right now that feels like a 'giant'?

Sorting out the details regarding daughter2's living/working/grad school arrangement for next year. In this case, next year begins the first week of May when we will need to move her personal belongings along with some furniture (not yet purchased) to an off campus apartment (not yet located) with a roommate (not yet confirmed) while she begins the job hunt and takes a couple of grad classes beginning in June. Thankfully Daughter2 is on top of things and is the one reminding me about deadlines and payments. fyi-when you have kids in uni, and especially kids wrapping up uni, there are always payments.

3. What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think back to being 18?

Skinny, suntanned, and nervously excited at living away from home in a college dorm. Trying hard to stay true to myself. Only getting that wrong sometimes. Loving the taste of independence. Most of the time.

4. Coconut-mashed potatoes-vanilla ice cream-mayonnaise...which white food would be the hardest to give up?

Coconut is one of my most favorite flavors so I'd have a hard time with that one. Since mashed potatoes aren't on my diet I've essentially quit eating them which is a crying shame because truly they are a near perfect food in my book but whatever. I eat them only at the holidays. Course if I came to your house and you served them I'd use that as an excuse to indulge too.

I'd probably miss vanilla ice cream the least, not because I don't like it but because ice cream isn't something I crave. Mayonnaise is tricky. I love mayonnaise even though I dole it out like its gold since its related to the mashed potato in terms of my diet. Who besides me thinks I've overthought this question? Who besides me is now craving a piping hot serving of mashed potatoes?

5. Describe an incident or a day you remember as being the coldest you've ever experienced.

Two things popped into my head and y'all are not surprised I'm going to share them both are you? Actually, I started typing out the details to one of these incidents and decided its a blog post all its own so I'm sharing that one tomorrow. Suffice it to say it involves camping...there was sun, sleet, wind, rain, hail, snow and a tornado. Did I mention I was camping? And was responsible for a group of girls? You know you're curious....come back tomorrow. Don't you hate it when bloggers do that? In my defense, it's more words than you have time to read here today.

The other 'coldest ever' day for me was standing atop the platform of the Aiguille du Midi in the French Alps. It sits high above the village of Chamonix and we were there the week after Christmas in 2007. We were bundled up in all our ski gear and warm boots but it was positively frigid.


To get there you ride a cable car up the literal side of a mountain, over a glacier, and up and up into the clouds until you feel like maybe there isn't enough oxygen in that cable car for you and the 69 peeps jammed in there with you. At least that's how I was feeling.


If you look very very closely at the picture you can just make out the speck that is the cable car.


You step out of the cable car and into a tunnel and from there out into the ice cold, and I do mean ice.cold.air.


The views are stunning, some of the most incredible I've ever seen. We lived to tell about it so that's good.


6. You're hosting a brunch....what's your favorite dish to prepare and serve?

If it's more of a breakfast then I love to make a sausage and egg casserole. If I want it to feel more like a lunchy brunch then I'll make a hot chicken salad, also delish. I am a huge fan of brunch.

7. How do you combat negative thinking?

I blast music.

Seriously, just ask my girls. They still talk about the time they got in my car and as I turned the ignition they nearly went thru the sunroof. The music may have been a tad loud. I must have been doing some serious attitude adjusting that day.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

My hubs brought me home a really unique and thoughtful gift from Korea...


It's a hand carved stamp with my name written in English and Korean. It came with a little ink pad and carrying case.


The carving on the outside of the stamp is The Lord's Prayer, written in Korean.


Thanks hubs! Go-mah-woa/고마워

34 comments:

  1. Ok...I love what you do to combat negative thoughts! How funny is that?!

    Love that stamp! Your guy is one thoughtful gent!!!

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  2. Trust me, your daughter will be ready, even if you're not --both my kids are graduates [my son is trying for a doctorate, but needs to wait for an approval to enter Rice University]...anyway, as a mom, I realize what you mean, but they're ready and money is the least of their worries.

    Oh, and my goodness, I don't know how anyone could do away with mashed potatoes in a diet [even if it's once a time for a holiday]....I love 'em.

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  3. Loved the questions and your answers. You cold pictures made me feel cold just looking at them. I can't wait to come back tomorrow and read the camping story....you peaked my interest. If I have not told you lately....thanks for doing this.

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  4. oh I love that your husband brought you home a gift. What a unique one at that. Hope your having a good week.

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  5. Can't wait to read about the camping trip adventure. Music does comfort us, doesn't it.

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  6. What a nice gift! I'm not a fan of cold so I'm very impressed that you went on that cabel car up that mountain to get that view. You are brave, very brave!

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  7. Enjoyed your questions and answers this week and yes now I want some mashed potatoes. Thanks Joyce, way to sabotage my diet. lol

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  8. It's hard to believe that Daughter2 is about to finish college already! (though probably not for you, since you're paying her bills)

    Your photographs are breath-taking. I can only imagine, since I'll never experience anything remotely similar.

    So sweet of hubs to bring you such a unique gift. He's a keeper :)

    Thanks for hosting!

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  9. Gorgeous ski pictures....I can imagine the cold bitterness of the day....but still beautiful! Love your gift from Korea way to go hubs!
    Have a wonderful Wednesday!

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  10. Outstanding gift from the hubs. Kudos to him. Skinny was my first thought about being 18 also. Thanks for the great questions and continuing to host. Blessings, SusanD

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  11. Those views ... stunning! Well worth the cold, I'm thinking.

    That gift your hubby brought home is absolutely awesome! How thoughtful!

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  12. That view is amazing and the stamp is very cool!

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  13. I feel the same about Vanilla Ice Cream - I just don't crave it either.

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  14. Great Alps pictures, I had forgotten about my excursion in the Swiss Alps, that was spring, but still cold. What a great gift from Korea! Have a good day.

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  15. Another move! That is a big giant to get organized. Praying everything goes smoothly. Just looking at those pictures gives me chills.
    Absolutely beautiful! I love your new gift. Beside the cool stamp the case is stunning.

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  16. Unfortunately, I am all too familiar with uni fees...times four. Even with their scholarships, there are always this and that to pay for. I love the Cosby episode where Theo is talking about money and college and Cliff tells him not to forget the askidentals---the money they ask for when the misspend the incidentals. LOL

    Those Alps photos are spectacular! What a sight!

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  17. I'm new to your little party here, but the questions looked fun. Thanks for hosting this. :)

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  18. Your answers are always so exciting! I forgot about skinny and suntanned at 18- but me too! I love blasting music too- hard to think wrong thoughts with the right music blasting :)

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  19. Wow I know all of those fun college times and being on time about stuff.. I love my taters.. Oops on my diet.. Ha Ha.. Love the gift..

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  20. Yikes! brb--need to go wrap up in a blanket while I look at your 'cold' pictures! I bet is was worth it though, those are beautiful.

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  21. I'm guessing you are a Giants fan...I probably shouldn't have joined up with this hop today
    2 reasons:
    I'm a Pats fan ;)
    AND
    I'm in a bad mood which my answers reflect

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  22. The stamp is very cool! Love it!!!

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  23. I have always wanted to visit the Alps...they sure look gorgeous and COLD! Such a neat gift your hubby brought back for you! It's always nice to get a little surprise!

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  24. Loved the pictures... beautiful, cold but beautiful. You have been so lucky to travel as you have, and I feel lucky now to travel in your pictures. Thanks for sharing!

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  25. I wouldn't want to have my daughter living out of state. It's hard enough having our son living in another county. He hasn't been home for a visit in...well...since he moved 2 weeks ago! :) Love the stamp. Wonder if he could find my name?

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  26. I want to stop by every home that I've read answers to for brunch! I've read a few casseroles and quiches, two things I love but don't cook myself!

    I love your stamp! My husband doesn't preplanned gifts. I love the "for no reason" spontaneity, but I'll never get something with my name on it unless I order it myself! :)

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  27. Those are cool! Oh yes im also a bitter Niners fan right now ;/
    Why was your husband in Korea? That must've been a LONG flight! I am still not over the flight to and from Italy lol. I like flying but that was much too long, and of course if you sit next to someone obnoxious it doesn't help. The attendants were nice on the way back so that was good. ;)

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  28. Your cold photos make me cold just looking at them. I love your Christmas card photo, btw, much warmer feel to it. :) Yes, we will be moving one child and marrying another. Big giant spring here. It's all good, though, and I am going to enjoy it! Love the stamp too, very cool. Have a great day, Joyce.

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  29. Wow the stamp is cool!!! I am a patriots fan, and like you shouldn't eat the taters but they are good n yummy

    Thanks for hosting
    Gina

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  30. Beautiful pictures and made me freeze too.

    I can't believe that you have another move facing you so soon! Goodness, it brings back so many memories for me.

    Thanks for hanging with us on Wednesdays!

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  31. thanks for stopping by...love this hop.

    Hope your weekend is great and blessed

    Gina

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