Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Workin' the Wednesday Hodgepodge Vol 91

It seems only appropriate that answering the questions in this Labor Day Hodgepodge required a bit of work. I'm glad you joined the party today...be sure to add your link to the bottom of my post before you head out to visit the neighbors. Here are my answers~


1. Americans will celebrate Labor Day this coming weekend. Do you know what we're actually celebrating? (without consulting your friends google or wikipedia, ahem) What's a project you're currently 'laboring' over?

I do know why we celebrate and I'll spare you my thoughts here about the need and function of labor unions in the 19th century being very different from that of the 21st century. I live in NJ and unions make the news here every.single.day.

As far as projects I'm laboring over...I don't suppose you want to hear me mention my photo organization one more time do you?

Okay, how about this-we want to do some landscaping to our side hill and also need the back hill seriously pruned. We cannot seem to get a quote on the project. Recently we had a landscaper out to look at the potential work and make some drawings. I had no trouble reaching him by phone and spoke a couple of times to an actual person to book the appointment. He arrived on time, was personable and professional, and was accommodating in that he made the appointment for early evening to allow hubs time to get home from work. This landscaper came highly recommended by more than one source and said he'd get a quote to us by the weekend. That was three weeks ago. We've left countless messages and I can't imagine why he hasn't gotten back to us and is suddenly unavailable by phone. It's a little worrisome, not to mention frustrating.

2. Labor Day also signifies the unofficial end of summer for most of us...what summer food will you miss the most? If you live in the Southern hemisphere feel free to substitute winter for summer.

Watermelon and tomatoes. I love all the summer fruits but watermelon is my favorite. And mid-winter when all the tomatoes are pink and grainy I'll be wishing I could sink my teeth into a red, ripe, fresh-from-the-vine Jersey tomato.

3. A well known proverb states, "It's easier to seek forgiveness than ask permission." Your thoughts?

I'm really more of an 'ask permission' kind of girl. Plowing ahead and then worrying about making up for it later is not my style. I won't be breaking the rules unless it's a matter of life and death. Ha- I'm sure my hubs is nodding his head at the truth of that last statement.

4. Food critic, film critic, art critic, book critic...which hat would you most like to wear?

Food.
No one is surprised are they?

5. When you were a kid, (besides your parents) who was your favorite adult?

There were many but the ones who popped immediately to mind were my grandma, the young mom who lived next door, a favorite camp counselor, and the youth leaders in my church.

6. The astronaut Neil Armstrong passed away last week. He was regarded as a hero by many generations of people all around the world. Do we still have modern day heroes? What makes someone a hero?

Back in 1969 the courage it took for those astronauts to climb into that little bitty capsule is mind boggling. By all accounts Neil Armstrong was a humble man. He liked to credit the thousands of NASA workers who made his moon walk possible rather than seeking the spotlight himself. I think bravery combined with integrity and humility is the very definition of heroism.

Our society likes to hold up sports figures as heroes but I disagree. I think sports figures can potentially be role models, but what they do is in no way heroic. Nor are celebrities heroic. And while great business leaders and entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs can inspire and change the world, I wouldn't label them as heroes either.

The world needs role models and heroes both. I think a hero is someone who, with great courage, deliberately and without regard for the personal consequences, puts others before self in order to accomplish something amazing.

Firefighters and policemen rushing in to the crumbling World Trade Center buildings-heroic.

One man standing firm against the tyranny of a dictator-heroic

Navy Seals, Green Berets, and other Special Forces rescuing a fallen soldier behind enemy lines-heroic.

A pilot calmly landing a plane full of frightened passengers in the middle of the Hudson River and then stating he was only doing his job-heroic.

Bravery is an essential component of heroism. I think humility and integrity complete the package.

7. I never get tired of __________________.

...a clear , bright blue sky.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Debby over at Just Breathe had a little musical meme on her blog last week and I told her I'd play along. The instructions were to name 15 vocalists (in no particular order) who will always stick with you...don't take too long to think about it, just the first 15 that pop into your head.

Okay, you know I'm not very good at that whole 'not thinking too hard about it' thing but here's a list of fifteen...

Steve Perry (Journey), Lou Gramm (Foreigner), Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, Karen Carpenter, Don Henley, Bono, Martina McBride, Barry Gibb, Carole King, Phil Collins, Ann Wilson (Heart), Rob Thomas (Matchbox Twenty), and Christopher Cross.

Who would be on your list?



30 comments:

  1. I had the same problem with the first landscaper who was scheduled to come and give me an estimate. The only problem was that he never showed up! He'd sounded a little drunk and unprofessional when I'd called. That should have been my clue, eh?

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  2. Oh what a fun little meme! I see a Hodgepodge question there! :-) I hope you hear from your landscaper soon - perhaps he had a family emergency or some other event that has prevented him from being available. Still, I understand the concern and frustration on your part. Have a wonderful weekend!

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  3. Oh i was just photo organizing by year. I'm so glad we have the Container store! It's quite a time consuming job and sometimes a little emotional.

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  4. What a great post. And I especially liked your assessment of heroism. I agree that humility is part of it. Someone looking for celebrity is hardly a hero. Doing the right thing when no one's looking is an important character trait in my book.

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  5. I don't know about in your neck of the woods, but here the watermelon has been fabulous this year. I'd say a little sweeter than normal. Could it have been because of lower water content? Or, perhaps I hit on a better variety of watermelon.

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  6. I completely agree about the hero question! Hope you hear from the landscaper soon. How about you send him this blog to read only add his name to the blog so everyone seens it! That may get his attention!

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  7. I wonder what happened to your landscaper. I am glad you hadn't given him any money yet. I would maybe start looking for a new one.

    Have a good Wednesday, Joyce!

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  8. Oh, how I am going to miss watermelon! I love what you wrote about heros - it is what I was thinking but just couldn't quite put into words. Bravery + humility + integrity are hard to find all in one person these days... Great questions the week! Have a great Labor Day :)

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  9. I suspect your feelings about unions in the 21st century are similar to mine. ;-) Oooh, I'll miss watermelon, too! Sure hope you're able to get some landscaper out to work on your hills.

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  10. Steve Perry… oh yes! Journey was my favorite group as a teen and is still my favorite group! Happy Wednesday Joyce!

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  11. I'd be 1000 lbs if I were a food critic :)

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  12. There must be more work out than we think because your landscaping story is a common tale around here as well. At least tell us you are BUSY and when you might be available! Grrrr.

    I like your hero answer. That is pretty much what I was thinking too. All of your candidates for heroes were great, rappers, celebrities and sports figures? Not so much.

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  13. You're way more patient than I- I would have given that landscaper only one phone call after he missed his deadline. Did you try Angie's List? Or is that a local thing here? I like the kind of heroes who aren't in heroic professions- you know, the ones who do things not because their job requires it but because they want to. My list of 15---hmm...I'll have to think about that...LOL

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  14. Hope you hear from the landscaper soon. It always puzzles me when folks don't seem to want/need the work we are offering to pay them to do. Of course by the time you do hear from him, you may have decided to choose another. If you're like me, once decisions have been made, I want the work done asap! Have a great day!

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  15. I agree, those winter tomatoes don't even come close to our home-grown ones!

    I hope your frustrating landscaping dilemma works out.

    As for vocalists, I was listening to Karen Carpenter the other night, thinking how beautiful her voice was...so sad that she left us so soon.

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  16. The Beatles. I love the Beatles. Their music never gets old, even though Paul and Ringo do!

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  17. Love your clear bright sky. Thank you for playing along with the musical meme. Great answers and I forgot about Don Henley and Karen Carpenter. I agree with your hero answer about people in sports not being heros. "Bravery is an essential component of heroism. I think humility and integrity complete the package." Excellent statement Joyce!!!!

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  18. Forgot about tomatoes....gonna miss them! I love your music list mine would be similar! Have a wonderful weekend!

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  19. Good luck getting your landscaping done. Very frustrating when a contractor doesn't seem to want to work!

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  20. Thanks for giving my brain a little workout this morning :) I love your list of musicians. There really are so many, aren't there? I think I could have listed 50.

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  21. We seem to have several things in common, chief among which is our love of watermelon. I will so miss them when their gone. Really enjoyed reading your statement on heroes and couldn't agree more. Great questions this week. Thanks for being so creative and giving us cause to think.

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  22. What is it with service people these days? We are still waiting on the furnace people to get back to us with a quote for a new one.
    I totally knew you were a rules girl. ;)

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  23. I will definitely plan to participate in HP next week! This was a fun one! It is so frustating to deal with someone whom you think would want your business, but yet they won't return your calls. I've had to deal with a similar situation a few times myself. Oh, how I love home grown tomatoes...with just a sprinkle of salt.

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  24. I loved your answer to #6, so well stated! It's always so fun to see the various answers to these questions each week. Thanks for hosting us each week!

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  25. LOVE clear blue skies! I was sitting outside yesterday just looking at the sky --- enjoyed it greatly!

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  26. Thank you for your comment on Heroes - you definitely hit the nail on the head with your description. One of my first thoughts was about the firemen and policemen in downtown Manhattan as well.

    As for artists, I would add Al Jarreau, James Taylor, Sade, Sting, Loreena McKennitt - just to name a few!

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  27. I loved these questions....they were fun. I loved the 12 artists too...yours were great....and by the time I finished I had like 25 of them.

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  28. okay the vocalist thing sounds fun, here goes: carole king, james taylor, dan folgelberg, john denver, michael feinstein, jackson browne, judy collins, carly simom, joanie michell, tony bennett, frank sinatra, paul marcartney, john lennon, boz scaggs, leon russell--that was fun and you know what, i am not usually a rule breaker either, my husband is and you know, i love watermelon too and just realized, i haven't had any all summer :)

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  29. Oh, I SO want to be a food critic. Imagine getting paid to eat wonderful meals and then write about it. Heaven.

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