Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Good Grief- It's the Hodgepodge-Vol 96

Welcome to this week's edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge.  Everyone is welcome to play along...answer the questions on your own blog then hop back here and link up with the whole big wide world.  Or small wide world.  However you see it is fine.

Here are my answers to this week's questions-


1. It's a brand new month...share one thing you're looking forward to in October.

We're going to see Christopher Cross play in a small venue next weekend and I'm really looking forward to that...we wore his album out when we were in college. When I hear his music now I feel all the drama love and laughter of those years bubble right up to the surface. His voice was amazing and I hope that hasn't changed.  

We're also going to a charity horse race later this month. I like wearing my boots, the crisp fall air and gorgeous colors, and the atmosphere on race day.  

2. Is chivalry dead? Explain.

Not dead, but sometimes hard to find in 2012. Our culture is very me-centered these days and rudeness abounds. The word essentially means having the qualities of a knight-courtesy, generosity, and bravery.  For the most part our modern day knights (the military) still exhibit chivalry. So do husbands raised in the South, and elsewhere I suppose, but my experience is with the southern variety and his good manners were most definitely part of his charm.   

I don't think independence and common courtesy have to be mutually exclusive for women. Feminists have co-opted the word so its taken on a negative connotation, but in my mind a man helping me with something heavy, holding a door, or giving me a seat on a crowded subway doesn't mean he thinks I'm weak and incapable. It just means he's kind and his momma raised him right.   

3. On October 2, 1950 the Peanuts comic strip made its debut. Which character is your favorite?  Which character is most like you?  (Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Schroeder, Snoopy, Woodstock or Pig Pen)  If you need a description click here.

Charlie Brown is my favorite. The eternal optimist filled with insecurities. 

I took one of the zillion online quizzes entitled 'Which Peanuts character are you?' and I came up as Linus-'an optimistic, open minded person who believes everything will work out in the end...willing to give people a second chance...always thinking, plotting, or dreaming.'  Sounds about right.  

4. What's something you're competitive about?

um, everything.  

Okay, not completely true. I'm not competitive about parenting or what sort of car I drive or other such nonsense. I'm only competitive about important stuff like Words With Friends, a game of Pool, Backgammon, Dominoes, Scrabble, cards, darts, and essentially anything involving a board and some dice.  

5. October is National Popcorn Popping Month...are you a fan?  How do you like your popcorn?

I'm a fan. I used to pop a lot more corn than I do these days. Hubs doesn't like the way it makes the house smell so I mostly have popcorn when he's out of town. Sometimes when he's traveling I'll make popcorn for dinner and I pretty much always have it when we go to the movies.  I buy the light microwave style and eat as is. Once upon a time I liked it dripping in butter, but the thought of that makes me feel a little sick now.

6. When did you first realize the world is small?

As a child I thought the world was huge and in many ways I guess it was 'bigger'. We didn't call people whenever we felt like it because long distance phone calls were expensive. We wrote letters and waited a week or more for them to reach their destination. We didn't have online access to information, and images from the other side of the world were in books at the library, not at the end of our fingertips. My grandparents lived out West and trekking to see them from the East Coast felt like it took forever and seemed such a huge adventure.  I remember as a girl, hearing stories of missionaries to China and that might as well have been the moon.  Now my hubs hops on a plane to Shanghai and we barely bat an eye. 

I think for me the world began to feel small when I married and we started moving from pillar to post. We made each new location home and collected friends and memories before packing up and heading on to the next place. You learn that people are people. There is beauty and aggravation, tranquility and kindness and kids forgeting their sneakers for gym no matter where on this planet you may land.
   
7. In terms of architecture, what's the most beautiful building you've seen up close and in person?

Oh my. I've seen so many beautiful buildings I for sure cannot choose just one.  A few of my favorites are-Royal Albert Hall in London, Parliament (also in London) Christ Church in Oxford, Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Kolner Dom in Cologne Germany, and the Basilica di San Marco in Venice.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

For those who don't know him-







35 comments:

  1. One of my favorite songs! :-) And that's funny, I took the quiz you linked to and came up with Linus as well... though on the quiz I found I was Woodstock... both sweet characters! :-) have a wonderful day!

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  2. Popcorn *does* tend to make a house smell weird. Totally have noticed that! but love it anyway lol

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  3. I remember Christopher Cross well, he did have a good voice. Your answers are so similar to mine, I could have written them myself. I'm sure this means something, I don't know what, but I know it's something...:)

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  4. Have fun at the concert! I came up Linus too in the quiz, but Snoopy is my favorite character. He's such a free spirit. :)

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  5. I'm sure you don't like something your husband eats...so, a little give and take on the popcorn?!!! Bud doesn't like the 'smell' either, but on the other hand he likes some cheeses that make the refrigerator smell....marriage is all about living in harmony, the 'bad with the good'. MHO

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  6. Saw Christopher Cross a few years ago-you will enjoy his concert. :)

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  7. Going to the horse race sounds like fun. I have only been to one and it was awesome. Would love a chance to go again sometime. I took the Peanuts quiz and I was also Linus.

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  8. Seeing Chris Cross should be fun! Kevin would have liked to see him. I am thinking he is at the Newton theater?

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  9. Huh. Somehow I complete forgot the architecture question when I typed out my questions/answers... oh well. Christopher Cross! I too wore out his album!! He was a "one album wonder"! Is he going to be at the theatre at Sussex County Tech? Enjoy! And, geez Joyce... wwe both picked good ole Charlie Brown, and Linus! We DO think alike!

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  10. The eternal optimist filled with insecurities. I like how you phrased that ... fits me to a T, which is why I chose Charlie Brown. ;-) I just took the quiz you linked to, and it confirmed that I am Charlie Brown.

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  11. I love the smell of fresh popped popcorn, yum! Sweet of you to be so considerate of your hubby:) I'm going to have to take a Peanuts quiz now and see which one I'm really like! I agree with your sentiments about chivalry. Enjoy the concert and reminiscing, too!

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  12. # 7 was hard for me to think of because I have never been "across the pond" :) and when I think of stunning architecture so many places in Europe come to mind. I loved the questions this week!

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  13. Good chivalry answer. I loved that song by Christopher Cross and I haven't thought of him in years. Hope you have a great time at his concert.

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  14. Great questions this week and I loved your answers. Not sure I liked having to think this hard so early in the morning, though. : ) Have a great day!

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  15. Who knew Christopher Cross was still touring... that's a voice of the past right there!

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  16. Loved your answer to #6. Well said. I too like popcorn but don't eat it very often. OK so now I have to take the quiz and find out who I am linked to?

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  17. That song takes me back. Isn't it fun how music can bring you right back to a time and place in the far distant past? Enjoy the concert and the reminiscing. :)

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  18. Loved your chivalry answer!

    And where was that Peanuts quiz yesterday?! LOL

    I thought about castle in Germany but I didn't want to have to spell it! LOL

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  19. I love Christopher Cross! Hope you have a blast at his concert! I would give anything to visit all the places you've been and to see what you have! Great answer for #6...that one had me a little stumped.

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  20. I liked your answer for #2....the same qualities which impressed me in my man....
    Mama Bear

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  21. Fun post! Royal Albert Hall is on my bucket list, and especially at the Last Night of the Proms. Yeah, wishful thinking, I know...

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  22. Well I didn't even know I knew Christopher Cross. I love that song but I've never owned any of his music. I'm going to get that one on my phone! Have a wonderful time. My husband doesn't like the smell of cooking oil so we don't do any fried foods. I love popcorn!

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  23. Omg I grew up with Chris Cross playing my 45 over and over again singing Sailing! wow such a flash back! Happy Wednesday!

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  24. Enjoy the Christopher Cross concert. I love that song- it just makes me happy :)

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  25. I enjoyed reading your answers to all of the questions.
    Christopher Cross has an amazing voice. I have always loved his music. What a great show that will be for you I am sure.
    I think you are right about Southern Gentlemen, it is definitely in their nature to be chivalry. While I am proud of the fact that I can do things on my own, I love when a man opens a door for me or helps me with those heavy items.

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  26. At least one of your questions always makes me dig deep each week. I always end up learning something, too, and I thank you for that!

    I like Christopher Cross, too. He has a unique voice.

    Aren't we blessed to be married to southern gentlemen?!

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  27. That's so funny, my Hubs doesn't like the popcorn smell either. I don't know why that surprises me. ;)

    We wore out Christopher Cross too!

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  28. I am Charlie Brown! At least by the test. We're getting close to that 100 mark for Wednesday Hodgepodge! When we get to 100, do we get to eat cake?

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  29. I love great architecture! I think some of the very best is in churches, there are so many medieval style to modern that are just gorgeous! The Dayton News Building in Ohio is very sweet too.

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  30. AHHH...Christopher Cross! What memories his songs bring back!!!
    Is the linky not working, or is it just my computer?

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  31. I'm so late getting here! But I had to teach kindergarten all day long so I guess I should be glad I'm still on my feet. And I would laugh about that but I'm just too tired. :) I'm Lucy. I've always been Lucy. I'm a Charlie Brown and Linus wanna be though.

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  32. oops! Never mind about the linky...it showed up! :)

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  33. I'm so late getting around today, but better late than never. Right? I always enjoy your slant on things. Thanks for hanging in there with us on Wednesdays. You are a real trooper for sure!

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  34. Glad I finally played along...I've had fun and hope to join in next week as well! You stated the answer to #2 so much more eloquently than I did. I definitely agree with the last paragraph 100%.

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  35. Hi! Enjoy the concert. I liked Chris Cross but in the late '70's got interested in chamber music, which were the only concerts (along with operas) that I attended. The last popular music concert I went to was a band called Curved Air in the early 70's.
    1. I like oct because the weather will be cooler and less oppressive.
    2. Chivalry is not dead it has been for the most part dismissed. I am old school and when I open a door for a female only mature women appreciate it. I open the car door for my BW and some women see that and think I'm terrific (I'm not, just well bred)some women look at me like I have the audacity to think they are crippled. Go figure. If I were female I think I would like the special treatment. Go figure.
    3. They all ok, not a big comic strip fan.
    4. Used to be a grain mixer, strived for and achieved the most production 99% of the time. When a group is telling jokes I try to get the most and funniest jokes told.
    5. I still think it is big. Try driving from New Orleans to New York. It seemingly takes forever, and not just because I get a speeding ticket in each state which slows me down.
    7. I think St Patrick's cathedral is quite beautiful as well as the buildings surrounding Jackson square in New Orleans.

    So happy to be able to read your posts, please take care, you and your family.

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