Wednesday, September 12, 2012

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME HODGEPODGE?

Welcome to the 93rd edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge...so glad you joined the party today!  Add your link at the end of my post and be sure to visit some of the neighbors.  Here are my answers~


1.  ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL? The NFL is back in action along with all the college teams.  Are you a fan?  Who do you root for?  If you're not a fan what do you do while the rest of America watches Saturday, Sunday, Monday night, and now Thursday night games?

I'm definitely ready for some football.  It's one of the many things I love about fall. College football is my favorite and in our house we root for the Tennessee Volunteers. My NFL loyalties are slightly complicated, the result of moving too many times.  My first loyalty lies with my original hometown team-the Philadelphia Eagles. After that it's the Jets and whoever Peyton Manning is playing for (those Vol roots run deep!)

Also, my apologies to those of you who live outside the US on this one.  I normally edit questions that are "American" in nature so you have an alternative, but I missed doing that here.  

2.  What's something I'll always find in your closet?

blue jeans and heels

3.  Share one of your earliest memories.

This one popped into my head right away...I guess I was about 5 years old and we had company.  They had kids too and we were all up in the bedroom my sister and I shared playing records.  Yes records.    I picked up the Peter Pan album and it snapped right in two which startled me.  I had a lifesaver in my mouth which I accidentally inhaled and it became lodged in my throat.  Instead of running for my mother I went and hid in the closet.   I don't know why, but I guess I thought I'd be in trouble for breaking the record.  My parents weren't mean so I don't know why my brain spazzed,  but it did. Eventually the lifesaver went down which is why you're lucky I'm here to tell you this super interesting story.  

4.  What circus act best describes your week so far?

I'm spending a few days with my daughter and getting here was a bit of a circus.  My flight was delayed twice and had three gate changes.  Fi-na-lly we boarded, but just as the pilot got the plane backed out of its parking space he announced that a 757 had dropped it's tailbar? and then managed to run over it, blocking the only alley to/from the runway.  

On top of that, the pilot informed us that on Saturdays and Sundays, Newark is working on  runway improvement so they shut a runway down and inbound and outbound flights use the same runway.  He may have said more but I plugged my ears and sang lalala.  His words were confirmed though, when we hit the brakes hard,  just as another (much larger) plane landed mere feet in front of us.   Well, it felt like feet.  

 Is a circus this exciting?

I was supposed to get to SC a little before 5 PM and had plans to meet my sister for dinner.  Instead I got in about 9pm and daughter2 and I grabbed chicken fingers from the drive-thru at Zaxbys.  

My circus act?  How about aerial?  The bar kept swinging towards me but I just couldn't grab hold.

5.  What's a food you disliked as a child that you love now?

Brussel sprouts.  I despised them as a child but they're one of my favorite vegetables now.  Daughter2 and I shared these on her birthday-



Crispy brussel sprouts with serrano ham, manchego cheese, and a sherry glace.  De-licious!

6.  Describe your summer in three words.

family, faith, and sorrow...sometimes life is hard, even on the brightest blue sky summer days 

7.  Where were you on September 11, 2001?  Will you do anything special to mark the day?

I was working as the Director of a preschool on 9-11.  The bookkeeper and I were in the office waiting on the Xerox guy to come in and repair our machine.  We'd seen him pull into the parking lot and couldn't figure out why he was just sitting in his car.  When he finally came in he gave us the news.  I walked to each classroom and whispered the news to the teachers. We cancelled afternoon classes and parents began trickling in to collect their children.  We had parents who worked in the Pentagon and lots of Secret Service families in our school.  

I was at my daughters yesterday so she got an extra hug.  I called my daughter1 and my mother too.  I prayed for the families of the innocent victims and gave thanks for the brave police officers and firefighters who fought human instinct by running into a place people were fleeing.  Our military too, those who went to war as a result.   I thought about how freedom is precious and most definitely not free.  It must be protected and there is a cost.  

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

This week's questions took a turn downbeat but there's always something for which to be grateful.  So nice to have a grown up dinner and conversation with my daughter2 on her birthday Monday evening. 

She really is 2-2 precious!

34 comments:

  1. Hope you have a wonderful visit with D2. It really was a circus getting there! Hope we have better luck getting to NOLA next week, although I got a call yesterday saying our hotel was closed due to Hurricane Isaac, so I was scrambling to make alternate plans. On a football weekend! We are also going to a game in Denver. I'll be sure to say hi to your friend Peyton. :)

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  2. My hubby had a similiar flying day last week. After most of the day at the Myrtle Beach airport he came home and decided to work from home all week. Sometimes it's just not worth it! And, I'm a bit jealous of you for being with daughter #2 right now. I agree that the grown-up discussions are the best over dinner and perhaps a glass of wine! It is such a good feeling to be with them and know they turned out so well, isn't it??

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  3. How can you say the questions took a downbeat when you threw in the circus? : )

    And I still don't like brussel sprouts.

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  4. Go Vols! Glad you were able to spend some time with daughter-precious time.

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  5. A fun hodgepodge! Thanks for being such a gracious host.

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  6. I think 9-11 made us all hold our babies a little closer and whisper prayers of gratitude. Gotta keep praying for those who lost loved ones...especially the children, many of whom are now in middle school. Tough to grow up without a parent...

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  7. Sorrow? gotta check out your link to see what the news is...

    Heels & jeans.. love how woman have such a contrast. I'll have sweatshirts & dresses :)

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  8. Oh yeah... just remembered about that post about your niece :( Seems longer then this past summer. Oh man... that's rough.

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  9. You and I have the same answer for #5. Love those little round balls now! Yes, it was a tri down memory lane this week. Some good, some not so good, but that is live isn't it.

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  10. Loved hearing your early childhood memory and so glad you finally made it and had a great time with your daughter.

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  11. Wow - what a circus is right! Ugh - I absolutely can not stand flight delays and such.

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  12. I can imagine how hard it was for you, knowing that you had parents that worked at the Pentagon.

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  13. Agreed! 9/11 certainly changed us and wanted to draw closer to friends and family, tellin how much really love them. I too disliked brussel sprouts! But it's best web you learn to add some ingredients to it to spice it up.

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  14. I'm so happy that you made it safe and sound to spend a wonderful time with your daughter(despite your circus act). I love, love, love brussel sprouts and that dish looks delightful.

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  15. Enjoy your time with daughter#2! hope she has a nice birthday.

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  16. I got my Master's from UT-Knoxville, so I root for the Volunteers from time to time, as well. Go Big Orange! Blech to brussel sprouts...never cared for those things! Have a blast with your girl!

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  17. " Orange you glad, you're a Vol!!??" ... Ok, silly - but I had the SAME answers as you did about football (almost!). :)

    I too love brussel sprouts - but can you believe I even loved them as a child - maybe it was the sauce my mom made to pour over them?!

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  18. GReat answers, as always. Love your #3 & #4. I pray my flight goes "as planned" tomorrow. Goodness! one never knows. And, yes, life is hard and this trip to Va. is going to be a difficult one for me as I say my final goodbye to my precious Aunt. Continue enjoying your time with daughter #2!

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  19. Joyce, you always have the most interesting tales to tell! You really should write a book :)

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  20. Sure, the circus can be that exciting! Glad you finally made it and could celebrate together.

    The brussel sprouts look divine! Yum!

    The 9/11 question was a little melancholy, but it's good to remember.

    I thought you're questions this week were great! Thanks so much for keeping up with the Hodgepodge.

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  21. I think I may have been staring at the emergency exit on that plane and hyperventilating! Glad you made it safely.

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  22. Your childhood story reminded me when I was young. I guess I must have been 4 or 5. I don't recall, but I had my head hanging upside down over my grandparents sofa and I had an ice cube in my mouth. Yea, right a large object inside a small kids mouth upside down! Did know one ever tell me this was a stupid idea? I don't remember, but I learned a lesson that day. I got choked forcing me to sit upright. I remember coughing and coughing and coughing, as I couldn't catch my breath. Lucky for me it was only ice and the coughing melted the ice causing it to slid down my throat. Thanks for hosting! I always love joining in on the fun!
    Cathy Kennedy's Blog

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  23. Loved the childhood memory. Loved your answers. Tough questions this week.

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  24. I am glad you swallowed that life saver! :) Daughter 2 is cute as a button! :)

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  25. Yup! I think that you definitely qualify as a trapeze flier! Have a wonderful visit with your daughter. And when you were a child, how terrified you must have been that day. Luckily, lifesavers dissolve. :)

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  26. I have a wonderful recipe for brussel sprouts, onion and bacon! Oh I love that!

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  27. I love Brussels sprouts too! So yummy! I'm so glad you got to go be with your lovely on her birthday. I really need to go to DC for DD2's birthday in April--and it's spring break week at school this year so I just might brave a plane and do it! You've inspired me! As usual. :)

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  28. The Brussels sprouts look fabulous. There is something else I liked as a kid and still like. (I still haven't come up with something I didn't like then but like now...)

    For the childhood memory, it's strange how so many of my earliest memories were when I was in trouble for something.

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  29. Hope you're having a great time with Daughter2!!!
    GO BIG ORANGE! :)

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  30. Ahhh, sounds like a perfect week for you even if the flight experience wasn't the best. That would have put me in a sorry state of aniety!

    Also, do you feel like the kids are getting older at warp speed?!! I can't get over how they are aging and we're not. hahaha

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  31. what an awful flight experience!

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  32. Glad you had a nice birthday visit with Daughter 2, airport stories are always humorous AFTER the fact!

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  33. I missed doing a post for Wednesday Hodgepodge this week. BOO ME!
    I am not a huge football fan, although hubby is. So I am tortured to watch every weekend and now Thursday nights too! I remain a huge hockey fan and look forward to it beginning in the fall.

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  34. We had some aerial acts going on also last Monday to Chicago. Yes Joyce I agree. Life is not full of happy things each day, somedays are tragic for many and we must appreciate what we have. I love taking time to be reminded and thankful. Can't believe I didn't comment last week.

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