Hodgpepodge 101

Welcome to this week's edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge.  We're into a new century here so to speak as we've just completed Volume 100.  This is a friendly group and everyone's welcome to play along.  

Last time we played I asked for your favorite and least favorite thing about the Hodgepodge.  A few people said they felt if they weren't in the top 15 to link up they didn't get as many visitors as those who linked up early.  I just want to encourage everyone who has the time to stop back by the Hodgepodge later in the day or week to say hi to bloggers further down the list.  Everyone wants to feel like they're part of the neighborhood!  

I try my best to eventually get around to everyone, but I do know I dropped the ball on Volume 100 due to the hurricane and our lengthy power outage.   

Okay, here are my answers to this week's questions-

1.  What rule of life should never be broken?

The Golden One.  
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."  

Sadly it is broken on a fairly regular basis.  

2. What's your favorite family recipe?

My mom has always been an excellent cook, as was her mom before her, so this one is really hard to answer.  A few favorites are my grandma's rolls, my mama's enchilada recipe, her meatloaf, and pretty much any dessert she creates.  She is master of the Christmas Cookie.  

3. Is the media manipulative?

I'm not sure we know.  It certainly feels that way sometimes but maybe that's our own bias coming in to play.  I cannot think of a single news outlet these days that does not come with a pretty obvious bias and that makes it really difficult to get 'just the facts'.  

Not that long ago news was reported in a fairly straightforward manner as opposed to the way its done now-reported from a particular angle then discussed, dissected, analyzed, repackaged and handed back to us in the form of someone telling us what we should think about what they have deemed important. I don't think it's good for America.  At all.  

4. Hubs and I saw Skyfall last weekend...are you a fan of the Bond films?  If so, who's your favorite Bond?

I am a fan of the Bond films, and actually prefer the newer more serious scripts to the older slightly campy story lines.  Plus the new ones feature Daniel Craig. 'Nuff said.

5. What is one thing you hope people never say about you?

I hope the word selfish is never used to describe me. 

6. What's a nearby tourist attraction you'd like to see, but haven't gotten around to visiting?

Ellis Island.  It's on my list of places to go before we move but we haven't gotten there yet.  No we're not moving anytime soon, but I make a list everywhere I live. Time has a funny way of getting away from you and before you know it your furniture is on a moving van and you're saying, '...but we never got to ....'

7. Where's your favorite tree?

I love this question.  Several popped into my head, one being a big shady tree in the backyard corner of the house where I grew up.  Technically the tree was on our neighbor's property but its canopy spread into our yard too.  My sister and I, along with our friends, played Barbies, Kiddles, and dress up for hours under that big tree.  
Another would be a spectacular tree that stood alone on a small hillside on my college campus.  Hubs (who was not yet my hubs) and I had lots of long talks under that big tree.  We still call it 'our tree'.  

And finally, it would be this delicate red maple in the backyard of our first NJ home-

I wrote about it here. 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

What do bloggers who meet in real life do when they get together?  They go stand in line to meet other bloggers. I'm looking forward to Saturday when Kim (Kimberly's Korner) and I get to see Ree Drummond (aka The Pioneer Woman) in person at a nearby bookstore.  Maybe she'll take an immediate liking to us and invite us to her ranch?