More Than Just A Game

*I've edited this post to link with Flashback Friday, hosted by Martha at Seaside Simplicitiy.  Hop over to Marth's blog to add your own Friday Flashback.  

So did you hear there's a big game this weekend?  People seem to fall into one of four categories when it comes to the Superbowl...

a. they're die hard fans of any game involving the pigskin and will watch no matter who's playing  

b. they're loyal to a particular team in the final match up so they're excited to watch  

c. they like a party and great appetizers so if you've got dip they're in, and 

d. football? blech! I'll be watching NCIS reruns in the other room

Where do you fall in the fan kingdom?

I guess in our house we land somewhere between a and b. We'll pretty much watch any game up to a point, but we definitely have our loyalties when it comes to particular teams and players. Now that I think about it, our loyalties might lie less with the team and more with the city they represent and the chunk of our lives we associate with that city.

Go Ravens!

When I was growing up the team from Baltimore was known as the Colts. In 1984 their owner moved that team in the dark of night (literally) to Indianapolis, where they remain to this day. Not in the Superbowl, but I digress. Marylanders were not at all happy, but I didn't care so much back in 1984 because I was an Eagles fan and didn't follow the Baltimore teams.

This isn't confusing is it?

I grew up outside of Philly and will always and forever think of the Eagles as 'my hometown team', but...there's a but....when you move as much as I have you discover it is very possible to have more than one hometown team.

Also, I should add that not all Marylanders were unhappy when the Colts left Baltimore, because a big chunk of that small state has always rooted for the Washington Redskins.

I told you.  Football.  Not confusing at all.

We moved to Maryland in 1994.  One day in 1996 we woke up to discover Art Modell had moved the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore, and voila...the Ravens were born. All sorts of legal mumbo jumbo stated that the name Browns, along with the team colors and team history, had to remain in Cleveland, but the players became Ravens.

So not confusing.

Clevelandites were now the unhappy ones, and if there's one thing you should know about pro football its this-someone is always unhappy.  Anyway, most Marylanders were excited to finally have an NFL team in town and a contest was held to choose the name and mascot. In case you didn't know, Edgar Allan Poe spent the early part of his career in Baltimore and is also buried there, so the team name is essentially a shoutout to a hometown boy made good.

Back to us...we spent nine happy years living in Maryland, and my girls went from toddler to teen in this city by the Bay.  Funny how the 49er's are also a city by the Bay, but when I say Bay I'm talking East Coast.  The Chesapeake.

When I think of Baltimore I think of trips to the zoo-

I think of Saturday morning walks around the Inner Harbor, visits to the Aquarium, and Girl Scout overnights spent sleeping uncomfortably on the hard floor of the Science Center-

I think of third grade field trips to a former oyster cannery, a daughter's 12th birthday at The Hard Rock Cafe, and accidental matching shoes on the pavement outside-

I think of Camden Yards and a shortstop named Cal who was making baseball history.

I think of countless runs to BWI and the unscripted welcome home sweetness of fathers and daughters.

I think of boating on the Chesapeake and the Old Bay goodness of crabs picked on a sunshiny day.

I think of purple seats in a downtown stadium.

These days we live in NY Giant country. Or NY Jet country depending where your loyalty lies. And of course these two NY teams play their home games at a stadium in NJ so yeah, football's not at all confusing.

On Sunday there will be no confusion. No conflict as to where our football loyalties lie. We didn't grow up girls in San Francisco. We didn't watch a thousand sunsets on that west coast Bay. We never planted roots, made a house a home, fell in love with bridges and sea air and blue herons in a California  burg.

Why do I love football?  Lots of reasons...I love the competition, the intensity, the skill...I love a game won in the last seconds, a fabulous catch, a ball run into the end zone from 80 yards away.

Mostly though, I love what football stirs up inside my head.  I love the memories invoked.  My dad in his recliner, youth group retreats, fall days, college, Neyland Stadium filled with 90,000 screaming fans dressed in orange, blue skies, family piled together on the couch eating lil' smokies and cheering for the hometown team. Growing up. Me and them.

Go Ravens!

Another Super Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week's super edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge!  Be sure to add your link to the bottom of my post and then go compare answers with your friends and neighbors.

Go Ravens!  

1. In the USA this coming Sunday millions will be watching the Baltimore Ravens take on the San Francisco 49er's in the Superbowl.  What was the last event you attended that could be described as super?

I have to wrack my brain to come up with something here....Christmas?  
Looks like I'm overdue for something super.  

2. Share something you're a fan of these days?

Lots of things...conversation hearts, a full moon, this Deruta pottery pattern, the book of James, Downton Abbey, breathtaking sunrises,  Lee Brice, weekend getaways on the calendar, Pinterest, and deer outside my window looking back at me...just to name a few.

3.  How do you feel about wings?  In case anyone is confused, I'm talking about the edible appetizer kind.  What's your preferred seasoning-hot, mild, teryiaki, sweet and sour, other? Do you make your own or is there a favorite place you like to go for wings?

I like them every now and then, but they're not an altogether healthy dish, especially when served with a side of blue cheese. I must have the side of blue cheese and plenty of celery too, because I like mine hot.  Not the ridiculous blazing so-hot-you-can't-actually-taste-them kind of hot, but definitely hot.  

I've only made wings a couple of times because this is a dish I prefer to eat out. They're messy! I do have some in my freezer I bought from a door to door salesman (yes, really) and they're not bad, but they're still messy.

4. As long as we're talking sports today, have you been following the Lance Armstrong story?  Did you watch his interview with Oprah and if so what was your reaction to his confession and subsequent remarks?

This whole story makes me so sad.  I didn't watch the whole interview, but I've seen quite a few excerpts.  So sad.  Have we not learned in the year 2013 that exposure is inevitable when you're in the public eye?  Guess not.  

We may not all be multi-million dollar athletes who doped, lied about it, and then bullied his accusers, but we are all in need of God's amazing grace.  I think I'll leave it at that.  

5. What's a question you hate to be asked?

Would you mind stepping on the scale?

6. The coaches in this Sunday's big match up happen to be real life brothers.  Jim Harbaugh coaches the 49er's and his older brother John Harbaugh coaches the Baltimore Ravens.  Were you and your sibling(s) competitive?  In what way?  Are you still?  If you're an only child how did you handle competition growing up?

I'm just going to go ahead and admit up front that I'm a fan of competition. Friendly competition that is, the kind that bubbles up in a board game, or healthy competition like we have in a free market society.  I'm not so much a fan of competition when it comes to the less tangible things in life like love, acceptance, and a person's worth.

In terms of my parent's attention or things I wanted to do when I was a kid,  I 'd say I wasn't competitive at all with my older sister. She was just enough older than me for that not to be an issue. Same goes for my brother, although he and I used to get into some heated games of  ping pong. I really really really wanted to beat him just one time, but I never did.  It didn't hurt because he was older, athletic, and always encouraging in my efforts.  

My younger sister and I are just a year apart.  I don't remember feeling competition with her for my parent's love and attention, but I guess it's possible there were moments of that for both of us.  If so, they don't stand out. We had a lot of overlap in friends, but  I think we were mostly glad we had each other.  We were in the same trig class in high school, even though she's a year younger than me.  She's a numbers girl so was ahead of the game there.  It didn't bother me a bit. 

We argued now and then, but that was mostly about making sure everything was exactly always 100% Even Steven in terms of our assigned household chores.  Oh we could drill down on that one.   

My sibs and I are not in competition with one another as adults.  
Unless a board game is involved, and then all bets are off.  

7. What's your favorite game involving a ball, and when did you last play?

To watch, it's college football, but can't say I've ever played-ha.  My favorite game to actually play that requires a ball would be ping pong.  It's been a few years, but it's still my favorite.  

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Is anyone planning to participate in the A-Z blog Challenge this April?  You can sign up starting today by going here.  The idea of this challenge is to post every day (except Sundays) during the month of April, using the alphabet as your guide.  I've taken part the last two years and really enjoyed it.  There are thousands of participants, and let me just say there's something for everyone out there in the blogosphere.  I think this year they're going to attempt to do some categorizing which should make it easier to find blogs that meet your interest. It's a work in progress so they'll likely tweak that as the month progresses.  

The last two years I've had a theme and find I work best that way. Sadly, no fabulous trip is in the works for this March so I'm having to think hard to come up with a theme for this year's posts.  You don't have to have a theme, but I think it helps a lot.  

Let me know if you plan to play along! 

Stuff and Nonsense and Hodgepodge Questions

I skipped recapping the weekend on my blog yesterday because it was boring. Not boring in a bad way,  just boring as in I spent a lot of time resting my head on the couch, catching up on old movies, and playing I Spy a deer in the back yard.

Let me put it this way-at one point on Sunday afternoon I heard hubs rummaging around upstairs and asked him what he was doing. His answer?

Laundry.

He said he was bored and needed something to do. I'd feel sorry for him, but I'm too busy feeling sorry for myself.

My voice is back, but I'm still like a toddler when it comes to my ear. No wonder kids whine when they have an earache.  Remember when you were a kid and you'd sometimes get water in your ear while swimming? You'd get out of the pool and tilt your head sideways, and then hop up and down on one foot hoping it would clear?

Yeah.  That's me.
Except I haven't been swimming.
I still have four days of antibiotics so here's hoping.

Nobody really wants to know this do they? I mean everyone has something right now and I know I don't read blogs hoping to hear people blabber on and on about every minor ache and pain.

But my eeeearrr.  It's so annoying.

Let's change the subject.
Do you know what else I neglected to blog about this weekend?

The weather, which happens to be another topic I don't go searching for in my blog reading, but since you're already here I guess I might as well catch you up.  We had a sprinkling of snow on Friday night and today it's raining ice.

Lovely.

Actually it kinda was.

Saturday morning it looked like someone had sprinkled that pretty decorator sugar all across our front lawn. For the record, the above photo is not my front lawn. That's the frozen lake in tiny town, and hubs and I had lunch in a pub just opposite there on Saturday.

We had Sunday lunch opposite a different, but equally lovely lake in another tiny town.

People were out on the ice on this one. Way out. In the middle of the lake, fishing and playing. Makes me nervous, but hubs said it was super thick. There were quite a few people ice sailing which looked like a lot of fun.  

Hmmm...it seems like I'm catching you up on my weekend after all. Do you like mussels?  We had some of the most delicious mussels for lunch on Sunday-

The broth was super scrumptious.  

I think that's about it.  How 'bout some Hodgepodge questions? Answer these on your own blog and then scoot back over here on Wednesday to link up with the rest of the Hodgepodge peeps. If you're new here feel free to join the party....the more the merrier!

1.  In the USA this coming Sunday millions will be watching as the Baltimore Ravens take on the San Francisco 49's in the Superbowl.  What was the last event you attended that could be described as super?

2.  Share something you're a fan of these days?

3. How do you feel about wings?  In case anyone is confused, I'm talking the edible appetizer kind.  What's your preferred seasoning on a wing-hot, mild, teryiaki, sweet and sour, other?  Do you make your own or is there a favorite place you like to go for wings?   

4.  As long as we're talking sports today...have you followed the Lance Armstrong story?  Did you watch his interview with Oprah and if so what was your reaction to his confession and subsequent remarks?  

5.  What's a question you hate to be asked?  

6. The coaches in this Sunday's big game happen to be real life brothers.  Jim Harbaugh coaches the 49er's and his older brother John Harbaugh coaches the Baltimore Ravens.  Were you and your sibling(s) competitive?  In what way? Are you still?  If you're an only child how did you handle competition growing up?  

7.  What's your favorite game involving a ball and when did you last play?    

8.  Insert your own random thought here. 

Friday Happies

Or fragments, but I'm going with happies today.  Is that a real word?  Even Merriam Webster isn't completely convinced.

I've been mostly off the grid and on the couch this week. My empathy for people suffering from the flu or chronic illness has grown 100 fold.  I haven't had the flu, just something related that will.not.quit.

My voice is slowing returning.  I'm still trying to stay
mostly quiet, because when I talk I cough. Also, my head still feels like it's underwater, but I think that's slowly improving.

So far this is super happy, isn't it?

It's been kind of interesting not having a voice all week.  My phone rings and I don't even think about answering it.  Last night as we were going to bed I started to say something out loud to my hubs and he told me to rest my voice.  Hmmmm.  My voice is irritating right now, even to me because its soft and scratchy, and then there's that pesky cough, but still....he actually wondered aloud if once my voice is completely back to normal I will start talking and not be able to stop.

Possibly.

I had a lot to tell him this time last week, but it all seems rather unimportant now. Maybe I've become that person who is quietly contemplative as opposed to someone who talks because she likes to talk.  Ha!

I ventured out into the deep freeze for a quick minute on Wednesday because we needed something from our safe deposit box at the bank. It was 7 degrees and I was wearing a heavy wool coat, a fur collar, lined gloves, and I was still cold. The guy getting out of the car beside me was in his gym shorts and a warm up jacket.  I get why women wear full length fur coats.  I do not get this.

Here's a few things that have made me happy this week-

hot tea
text messages that contain the word Momma
cough drops
my comfy couch
antibiotics
ice cubes
words with friends
homemade chicken noodle soup
seven deer playing in the front yard under a big brilliant moon
Robitussin
clementines
slippers
Redbox
a husband who calls home and says he's picking up dinner
a husband who brings me a cuppa, draws me a hot bath, and who doesn't complain about the incessant coughing even though I know it's super annoying and likely keeping him awake at night
a husband who makes me laugh even when I feel crummy

Also, this-

Conversation hearts in a big glass jar make me ridiculously happy.
I may have eaten one for breakfast.

Then there's this-

The view that greeted me as I came down the stairs this morning.  

In the midst of frigid temperatures and laryngitis and short dark days we get this. 

Kinda impossible not to feel a little bit happy.  

"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork."  Psalm 19:1

All is Fair in Love and Hodgepodge

Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge!  I'm still sans voice, but thankfully I can use as many words as I want in print.  Here are my answers to this week's questions...be sure to add your link before you hightail it out of here.

1.  The popular saying 'All is fair in love and war' is originally credited to English writer John Lyly.  Is he right?

Only if you strictly adhere to the definition of fair-

adjective-In accordance with the rules or standards; legitimate

adverb-Without cheating or trying to achieve unjust advantage

Hmmm...isn't the object of war to gain advantage over your opponent?  Even so, in times of war we still have 'rules'...how a prisoner is treated for example. If everyone stays true to the definition of 'fair' then yes, all is fair. 

Oftentimes people make up their own definition of the word fair, which is why we hear warlords use it. Or, in the case of 'love', ordinary people who are pursuing someone unavailable (married) might think (hope-wish) this saying justifies their bad behavior.  

2. Are you a cereal eater?  What's your favorite kind?

I like cereal.  I don't eat it every day, but I like it.  Special K with Red Berries is my favorite.

Wait-Lucky Charms is my real favorite.  I'm not answering with that one though, because I never buy or eat it anymore.  Sniff.  

3. A five year old in Pennsylvania was recently given a ten day school suspension for talking with a friend about shooting one another with a Hello Kitty Bubble gun (the toy blows bubbles).  She did not have the gun with her at school.

A psychological evaluation was also ordered and the incident was recorded on her permanent record.  The suspension was later reduced to two days and her parents are suing to have the incident removed from her file. Your thoughts? (If you missed the story, click here for details)

In this particular situation, if you look at the actual product I don't think it even looks like a gun. More like a blow dryer.  It's hot pink and painted with Miss Kitty on the side.  Regardless, it seems we have lost all common sense in this country.  We don't know 'the whole story', but did this instance really warrant a ten day suspension?

I know we're lawsuit happy in this country, but if I were the parents I'd want this removed from my child's record too.  It may sound silly now, but its possible it won't be viewed as such when she's a teenager applying to university, and there's a 'suspension for terrorist threat' on her permanent record.  

I guess what disturbs me most about this story is the notion that innocence in America is lost. Every word uttered must be scrutinized for motive, stuck under the microscope and examined, even in a kindergartner.  We no longer investigate before making a judgement, instead we leap to worst case scenario, which yeah, I kinda understand but not really. We've somehow become a nation that runs to extremes and figures we'll sort out the pesky details later.  When did we lose our ability to thoughtfully work our way towards a conclusion as opposed to being collectively catapulted there in a single bound?

Not everything is a four alarm fire. 

In America everything is a four alarm fire.  
Sometimes out of neccessity, but often because we make it so.

Tangent.  Sorry.  

4. Whatever happened to_______________________?

Common sense was the first thing that came to mind.

Whip n' chill was a close second.  Does anyone remember whip n' chill?  It was a dessert, sort of a very light and airy pudding and the lemon flavored was our favorite.  
I'm sure it was 'lemon flavored' and not actual lemon, probably full of chemicals too, but when I was growing up we thought it was such a treat.  

5. January 23rd is National Handwriting Day, billed as a day to reacquaint yourself with a pen and pencil.  Do you like your handwriting?  Do you prefer to print or write in cursive?  This date was chosen because its the birth date of John Hancock.  What's the last thing you signed your name to?

I do like my handwriting, and it depends on my mood as to which I prefer-print or cursive.  I still love to write with a pen and I have a bit of a thing for pretty stationery, notecards, journals, and paper in general.  The last thing I signed my name to was the back of a check. 

6.  Speaking of John Hancock, ever been to Philadelphia?  Do you have any desire to visit the city of Brotherly Love?

I grew up outside the city, my dad worked there for many years, and I have a sister who currently lives in the city, so yeah, I've been.  I love Philly.  Everyone should visit Independence Hall and eat a (real deal) cheesesteak at least once in their life.  

7. Share something funny you've heard a child say.

One of our favorites is this...when daughter2 was in kindergarten they were doing a unit on nutrition, healthy eating, and growing strong bodies. The teacher must have really emphasized the importance of this because when my daughter said her prayers that evening she said, 

'Thank you God for my strong healthy body.  
Because without it... I'd just be a head.'  

Pretty sure that wasn't the teacher's point, but it still makes us smile some 17 years later.  

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Have you seen this?  
Super cool!

Hodgepodge Questions-Vol 110

I'm on round two of antibiotics as of yesterday, aaaaand...complete vocal rest. Complete. NO talking. None. Not even allowed to whisper.

It's really hard y'all, because I talk like I write.
With lots and lots of words, when only a few would do.
Oh bother.

Here are this week's questions.  Come back tomorrow because I'm gonna need to 'talk', and you'll want to add your link to the party.  Here you go~

1. The popular saying, 'All is fair in love and war' is originally credited to English writer John Lyly.  Is he right?

2. Are you a cereal eater?  What's your favorite kind?

3. A five year old in Pennsylvania was recently given a ten day school suspension for talking with a friend about shooting one another with a Hello Kitty Bubble gun (the gun blows bubbles).  She did not have the gun with her at school.

A psychological evaluation was also ordered and the incident was recorded on her permanent record.  The suspension was later reduced to two days and her parents are suing to have the incident removed from her file. Your thoughts?  (If you missed the story click here for details).

4. Whatever happened to_____________________________?

5.  January 23rd is National Handwriting Day, billed as a day to reacquaint yourself with a pen and pencil.  Do you like your handwriting? Do you prefer to print or write in cursive?  This date was chosen because its the birth date of John Hancock. What's the last thing you signed your name to?
 

6. Speaking of John Hancock...ever been to Philadelphia? Do you have any desire to visit the city of Brotherly Love?  

7.  Share something funny you've heard a child say.  

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Well. That Didn't Go As Planned.

I drove down to D.C. last Tuesday to spend a few days with my daughter1. Hubs had a business meeting in Canada last week, and then work commitments here afterwards so it was going to be some fun me and my girl time. I stopped at my mom's for lunch en route and had a nice visit with her before trekking on into the city. I got there about the time daughter1 was getting home from work and we celebrated with a grown up dinner in a nice restaurant. There is something a little surreal about sitting opposite your 'little girl' over a nice meal. You find yourself wondering how in the world you got there?

I'm happy we had that very nice evening out because things went downhill pretty quickly from there. I started with a sore throat and a cough on Wednesday. It was like one minute I was fine and the next I was the person people wanted to take three steps back from. Also, that evening my daughter asked me to look at a little rash sort of thing on her back. It was itchy and stinging slightly, but I thought it might be just an allergic reaction to something and it didn't look too worrisome.

Long story short (ish)...it leapt to miserable pretty quickly, and as much as we did not want to set foot in a walk in clinic we decided we had no choice. We had more or less self-diagnosed the rash as shingles and we knew if that were the case she'd need the meds within a few days to get the best outcome down the road. Thursday evening we trekked to a clinic outside the city (the one near her office said she could come in on Sunday! Four days away!).  On the way to the clinic I kind of made up my mind to go ahead and have the doc look at my throat because holy moly it was excruciating.

They gave me a flu test because they said they were giving them to anyone who came in with respiratory symptoms.

The flu test is not pleasant.
Just sayin'.
I think they scrape the edge of your brain with that q-tip.

My strep test was negative, but because I looked and sounded so awful they sent it off and he went ahead and gave me the z-pack. If it was indeed strep I'd already have it treated.

Doc diagnosed daughter1 in about 10 seconds with shingles. Haven't you always heard shingles was something for the over 65 crowd? Seems everyone she told knew of someone her age or even younger who'd had shingles.

Shingles are pain.ful.

She was given a 'controlled substance' for the pain and all I could think of was Gregory House and his addiction-ha. Daughter1 is used to my paranoia, but sometimes I wonder if these doctors actually register how tee-ninsy she is when they set the dosage. She might be almost a quarter of a century in years, but she's no bigger than a minute in weight, and sometimes I wonder if they notice.

Daughter1 had already arranged to leave work at noon on Friday and we'd planned to meet my sister in law in the city for lunch and then do a little walking around. Change of plans.  She  took a whole pain pill before work and then called me in tears around 11 saying she was green.  Daughter1 came home from work and went to bed and sister in law came to the house, which I gotta say at this point was feeling a little bit like a leper colony. I was well on my way to completely losing my voice and I'm sure my sister in law whipped out the Purell the minute she got back on the train.

The week away did not go as we had anticipated and looked forward to.  We didn't do the shopping we'd planned unless you count hitting CVS no less than five times in four days as 'shopping'.  

We don't.

We didn't eat out at all the fun places she wanted me to try.  Instead, we stayed in our yoga pants and ordered food in.  We drank gallons of tea, watched SVU marathons and napped on the couch.

We didn't do any 'sight seeing' although the Urgent Care north of the city is lovely.

We did talk, and I'm pretty sure we solved some of the world's most pressing problems. We managed to laugh a lot. Daughter1 said over and over how happy she was to have me there. She admits she's not the best one for getting herself to the doctor, plus shingles are a little bit scary. I did all her laundry and before I left I cleaned the bathrooms, changed her sheets, and Lysoled the place down for which she was grateful.

She was feeling a little less crazy from the pain on Sunday so she worked her tech magic and got my blog transferred over to my domain name before I left. Since you're here reading it must have worked. Hubs said I should stay if I felt like she needed that, but it was time for me to go.  I was annoying even myself and I knew she was feeling well enough to cope on her own. She has sweet roommates, one of whom is a P.A., and I know they'll keep an eye on her.

Now I know there are some people who might look at this week and say it was a big giant FAIL. Daughter1 and I would have to disagree.

Was it what we imagined it would be?  Definitely not, but mothers and daughters can bond over lots of things, including finding the humor in shingles and cough syrup.  

When daughter1 was little and we'd visit her grandma, she would get very emotional when it was time to leave.  My mom would always go back in the house and get her a cup of water, and this became required procedure for many many years.

Sunday was a gorgeous day in DC, and as I got ready to leave we were both feeling a little teary. Daughter1 came out of the house with something to give me-

...and for a minute, she was not the grown up girl with a job in the city, who rides a train to work, and pays her own bills, and manages her own life.

She was the golden haired toddler who sprinkled our lives with sunshine and whose heart has been inextricably linked with mine since a long ago day in June.

Definitely not a fail.

My Favorite Phrase-The Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week's edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge! We've got quite a crowd playing along every week which is really fun. Be sure to hop around and visit the neighbors once you've added your link.  Here are my answers-

1. Lake Superior University has once again published a list of words/phrases they think should be banished from the Queen's English...here's the list for 2013-

fiscal cliff, kick the can down the road, double down, job creators/creation, passion/passionate, yolo (acronym for you only live once), spoiler alert, bucket list, trending, superfood, boneless wings, and guru

Which of these words would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why?  Go here to read more about how the words were chosen.

Politicians in cahoots with the media have ruined more than a few perfectly good phrases haven't they? A month ago I'd have said fiscal cliff, but these days it's job creators/creation. People disagree on what that even means, what constitutes private vs. public, and how and which jobs are counted. 

2. When was the last time you rode a train?  Where did you go?

I guess that would be last March on my trip to China-Taipei-Hong Kong. We rode a lot of subways which is always interesting.  

That's me on the end with two friends who traveled with us. We're trying to figure out how to get to a particular market, and I love that we're all pointing to something different. No worries-we made it.

I'm in D.C. for a few days visiting my daughter, and I'll be riding the Metro while I'm here. It's a great way to get around the city (most of the time).  

3. Bagels-yay or nay?  Favorite 'flavor'?  Favorite topping?

Pretty sure if you live in NJ the answer to this question must be yes.  It's kind of the bagel capital of the world.  If you visit us we'll pop down the road and get you 'The Best Bagels in NJ'.  

My favorite flavor is the 'everything bagel'. It's rolled in a little bit of everything-poppy seed, sesame seed, roasted garlic, minced onion, and kosher salt-yum!  I like mine lightly toasted with a little butter or light cream cheese. Tuna, turkey, ham, etc are also delicious on an everything bagel.

4. 'Tis the season of awards shows....if you could star in a movie already made, which one would you choose?

This is a toughie.  I can think of a bunch depending on what criteria we're using, but today I'm going with Under the Tuscan Sun. I'd love to spend a few months in a charming villa set in the Tuscan countryside.  

5. The move towards single gender classrooms has been making the news in recent months...what say you?  Do you think kids perform better if separated by gender and are taught differently or is that discrimination?  If you're a parent is this something you'd support in regard to your own children?

When it comes to education, it's always something isn't it?  I think that's partly why teachers burn out.  

Education is never one size fits all.  I'm sure there are some children who learn better under this model, and others who perform better in a mixed setting.  I would prefer this to be an option, as opposed to turning schools upside down to 'see how it goes' and then a couple years down the road spinning it back again. I realize the field is always expanding in knowledge and best practices, but it sometimes feels like a giant experiment.  How about we try letting teachers teach?  

6.  What's your favorite thing about staying in a hotel?

Maid service, room service, the spa, and waiters bringing me something cold and tropical at the outdoor pool. 

7. Do you have a 'word' for 2013?  What's the story behind your choice?

I'd never really heard of this until last year, but I felt prompted to choose a word and it was joy. I think God knew I would need to look hard to find it in 2012.  

This year my word is love.  There are a number of reasons why I chose this particular word, but I think I'll just say the world needs more of it, and leave it at that.  

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I arrived at my daughter's in DC last night, just in time for dinner...

...it tasted as good as it looks!

Hodgepodge Questions-Vol 109

Here are this week's questions for the Wednesday Hodgepodge...everyone is welcome to play along.  Answer on your own blog then scoot back over here tomorrow (that would be Wednesday) to link answers with everybody and their brother.  More or less.

1. Lake Superior University has once again published a list of words/phrases they think should be banished from the Queen's English...here's the list for 2013-

fiscal cliff, kick the can down the road, double down, job creators/creation, passion/passionate, yolo (an acronym for you only live once), spoiler alert, bucket list, trending, superfood, boneless wings, and guru

Which of these words/phrases would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why. Go here to read more about how the words were chosen.

2.  When was the last time you rode a train?  Where did you go?

3. Bagels-yay or nay?  Favorite 'flavor'?  Favorite topping?

4.  'Tis the season of awards shows...if you could star in a movie already made which one would you choose?

5. The move towards single gender classrooms has been making the news in recent months....what say you?  Do you think kids perform better if seperated by gender and are taught differently or is that discrimination?  If you're a parent, is this something you'd support in regard to your own children?

6. What's your favorite thing about staying in a hotel?

7. Do you have a 'word' for 2013?  What's the story behind your choice?

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Pea Soup

We've had the strangest weather all weekend.  Fog so thick that in some spots, you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.  Like pea soup.  All day Saturday, all day Sunday, and still hanging around this morning.  I'm here to tell ya it's getting old...we are so ready for the sun to break through.  I feel like I'm in England.

Actually, no I don't.
Even three straight days of gray skies and thick fog cannot trick me into thinking that.

Hubs and I had a nice weekend, very low key.
Low key is blog speak for not a lot to blog about.

We ate out a lot, twice on Saturday in fact. It seemed like the thing to do given the fog. When it comes to eating out, any old reason works for me. We also did fun things like drop off dry cleaning and a big grocery shop and hubs chopped the ice off the end of the driveway. He also took the Christmas wreaths off the pillars because the snow finally melted enough that you could actually see them, and I sorted through the paperwork mountain accumulating on the desk. We watched some football, and we're in agreement this was not our season. I think I said that last year, but this year was really not our year.

In other exciting weekend news, we're catching up on Downton Abbey. Are you watching, because it seems like the whole of America is hooked. Confession-we hadn't seen even the first episode prior to Christmas. I know this sounds ridiculous, but sometimes watching British programming makes us feel a little blue. The girls bought us the first two seasons for Christmas so we caved, and are now midway through Season 2.  I've been recording Season 3 so we'll be all caught up soon...I guess I don't need to add that we love it.

I made Cream of Parsnip soup last night because soup and fog and Sunday afternoon football go together.  I know some of you are turning up your noses, but trust me, it's delicious. Plus, I got a new immersion blender for Christmas so blending stuff is fun.

I'm starting a new volunteer opportunity this morning that I'm excited about, and then the rest of the week will be spent with Daughter1.  You'll find us painting the town red down in DC.

Okay, in reality we'll be shopping and gabbing and lunching, but painting the town red sounds more interesting, don't you think?  I could insert a really bad pun here about it being inauguration weekend and how we'll be a bright spot of red amidst all that blue...but I won't. Daughter1 works in close proximity to the White House, and I'll be meeting her for lunch most days, but I'm pretty sure we'll steer clear of the craziness as much as possible.

And if that's not possible then next Monday's post will be a lot less bland.

More spice.
Less pea soup.

Friday at Five

It's still Friday and I have a head full of fragments...what better place to drop them than right here?  I don't really have anything of substance to say but,  a) when have I ever let a little thing like no substance keep me from blogging?,  and 2) I'm trying to get back in the writing groove which I think we can all agree is no easy feat post-Christmas.

I had a dozen women here for lunch today and I didn't cook a thing. I hosted our Gourmet Group and the great thing about hosting is no cooking. Your house is the venue and all you're required to provide are the beverages. I knew hosting in early January would motivate me to get every single solitary Christmas item packed up and put away, and on top of that my house would also get cleaned.

Ta-da!...it's done!

Speaking of yummy recipes, when daughter2 was home we made a delicious avocado-shrimp-grapefruit salad we'd seen on Pinterest, and it was a keeper.  The shrimp would have been delicious over pasta, but I suppose greens were the better option following a month of sugar cookies.  Sigh.

You'll find the recipe here.

I'm reading The House of Tyneford by Natasha Solomons in case anyone is interested. If you're a fan of Downton Abbey you would probably enjoy this book too.

My car is at the dealer today getting new tires so I have a loaner vehicle.  I'm not always good at noticing when something needs repairing on my vehicle.  Hubs will get in and say, 'How long has it been making that noise?' and I'll say, 'What noise?'  That answer frustrates him just a little-Ha!

Anyway, the dealer called and they will need to keep the car through the weekend which means I have to drive this loaner vehicle for a couple more days.  I really try not to drive the loaner vehicle anywhere except to/from the dealer which means hubs and I have to go out for breakfast tomorrow.

Here's how I made that happen-I was going to run to the store after picking up my car, but now I'm not picking up my car so there won't be any cream in the house for tomorrow morning's coffee.  I used the last of the cream at my luncheon today and Voila!...breakfast out.

We rented Salmon Fishing in the Yemen while Daughter2 was home, and watched it over the New Year's weekend. We all liked it a lot. I'd read the book, but the movie didn't get much publicity so I'd kind of forgotten I wanted to see it.  Sweet story and I'm a big fan of Emily Blunt.

In other Pinterest news...my daughter2 showed me something she'd seen that she thought was a cute idea for parents of young children.  Trace your child's hand on paper, write a bible verse you want to pray for them across the palm, and then keep it in your bible so you'll remember to do just that.  

Hey, you're never too old to have your hand traced....

Or to benefit from a mother's prayers. 

Rain is moving our way this weekend, but not until Sunday.  That means I should be able to squeeze in both a walk and a nap.   

Housework, weather, car repairs...you're glad you stopped by here today, aren't you?  

It's Always Sunny in the Hodgepodge

When I posted these questions yesterday I thought they were just eh, but I actually enjoyed answering them.  Be sure to add your link to the bottom of my post and then run off and see what everyone else is saying~

1.  What is one thing or area in your home or life you hope to report is completely organized when 2013 draws to a close?  Do you have a plan to make it happen?

I'm pretty sure I have said this every January since moving into this house, but my photos are still not organized the way I'd like for them to be.  Maybe 2013 will be my year?

2.  What's the worst uniform you've ever had to wear for a job?

When I was a senior in high school I worked in a nursing home. I had to wear a white dress made of polyester and to top it off, a hair net in my hair.  That seemed cruel at age seventeen. 

I also worked as a camp counselor and we all agreed some years the staff shirts were better than others. The shirts were paired with red shorts and worn on Sunday afternoons as we greeted incoming campers.  A bunch of us discussed this very thing at a recent summer reunion and everyone remembers the summer of the collared shirt.  It was not our best look.  

3. What was your last kitchen 'mishap'?  This question comes to you courtesy of Betty who blogs over at A Glimpse into Midlife...everyone go say hi to Betty!

I don't have too many mishaps in the kitchen, at least not so far as food is concerned.  

Would not being able to figure out how to operate my new food processor count as a mishap?  My mother bought me one as a gift back in the summer and I finally got it out over the Thanksgiving holiday. Everything seemed like it was aligned, clicked, and ready to go, but it would not run.  Hubs to the rescue...who knew the lid had to be on to make it work?  

A couple of years ago I ruined a perfectly good brand new juicer by juicing a batch of fruit with the machine's direction booklet still inside.  

My family keeps a close eye on me when I operate anything with a plug.  Or a blade.  Or a motor.  

4.  How do you protect yourself against other people's negativity?

If you're perpetually negative I will keep you at arms length.  If something negative is said I'm the person who likes to point out 'the bright side'.  Because there always is one ya know!  

If you're perpetually negative and I have to interact with you on a regular basis I will try to get you to see circumstances from another angle.  You should also know on the inside I'll be sighing with impatience just a little.   

5.  Who in your family do you most resemble (physically)?  If you have children, who do people say they favor?  Do you agree?

Growing up all four of us kids were said to look like my dad.  As I've gotten older though, I most definitely favor my mom.  

Daughter1 has always been the spitting image of her dad.  I remember when she was little someone commenting on that and her questioning how she could look like her dad when he's a man and she's a girl.  As she's gotten older her face has changed some, and while she is no doubt still her father's daughter, I do see some of my family in her too.  

Daughter2 is my mini me.  People who know me and then have seen her out somewhere have come up and asked her if she's my daughter...the resemblance is strong.  

6.  January 8th is National Bubble Bath Day...will you be celebrating?

I do love a bubble bath so why not?  

7.  Some of the 'world's best winter festivals' are...Mardi Gras (New Orleans), Quebec Winter Festival (Canada), Sundance Film Festival (Park City Utah), Rio Carnivale (Brazil), Sapporo Snow Festival (Japan), Venice Carnival (Italy), and the Harbin Ice Festival (Northern China).  Of those listed (and if cost were not a factor) which would you most like to attend and why?

If you read here regularly you know how much I love Italy, but in this case I'm not choosing Carnival.  I've been to Venice and prefer to see it without the crowds.  Hubs chaperoned a French trip to Quebec during Carnival season, when Daughter1 was in grade 9. They loved it, although it was maybe the coldest they'd ever been. Quebec is on my list of cities to see, so I might say Quebec.  I will add here though, that I'd never heard of the Harbin Ice Festival in Northern China, but after seeing the pictures that one is on my list now too. 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

That last question reminded me I have some cute semi-organized photos of the hubs and Daughter1 in Quebec.  How's that for random?  

Hubs chaperoned the trip partly because there was a lot of fun stuff on the itinerary,  and partly because I'd just had surgery on my hand and was in a huge cast. 

The French club went in February '03, and the trip coincided with Carnival.  

They did a lot of sightseeing-

Saw the frozen Montmorency Falls from a great vantage point-

Went snowshoeing-

Did some super cool tubing-

They even went dog sledding-

Daughter1 has always been petite and in 2003 she didn't weigh enough to stand in back.  Consequently  she was swooshed across the snow like some sort of Russian princess.  

They also spoke French, made maple candy in the snow, and had to extend their stay by one day,  because while they were in Canada the great state of Maryland was buried under a little snow of its own.  Nothing like Canada, but it was determined the buses wouldn't be able to maneuver through town or get parked anywhere near the high school.  They ended up spending that extra day...

...in a ginormous indoor mall!  

I think hubs would have been happy to skip that extra day.  If you've chaperoned school trips you know that as much fun as they are, when it's time to go home, you are ready.  

I love this picture-

...and I don't think they look cold at all.  

Questions for the Wednesday Hodgepodge Vol 108

Some weeks the Hodgepodge seems to roll around faster than others, doesn't it? Here are this weeks questions...come back tomorrow and add your link to the party!

1. What is ONE thing or area in your home or life you hope to report is completely organized when 2013 draws to a close?  Do you  have a plan to make it happen?

2. What's the worst uniform you've ever had to wear for a job?

3. What was your last kitchen 'mishap'?  This question comes to you courtesy of Betty who blogs over at A Glimpse Into Midlife...everyone go say hi to Betty!

4. How do you protect yourself from other people's negativity?

5. Who in your family do you most resemble (physically)? If you have children, who do people say they favor? Do you agree?

6. January 8th is National Bubble Bath Day...will you be celebrating?

7.  Some of the 'world's best winter festivals' are - Mardi Gras (New Orleans), Quebec Winter Festival (Canada), Sundance Film Festival (Park City, Utah),  Rio Carnivale (Brazil), Sapporo Snow Festival (Japan), Venice Carnival (Italy) and the Harbin Ice Festival (Northern China).  Of those listed (and if cost were not a factor) which would you most like to attend and why?

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

The Party's Over

The decorations are (mostly) down, daughters have safely returned to their homes away from here, and as a bonus...I have a cold. Yep, the party is most definitely over.

Even though we're entering the second week of a new year I've had a daughter at home. Life remained in holiday mode around here until yesterday.

Yesterday reality burst my bubble.
I guess it was time.

Daughter1 had to head back to work right after Christmas, but Daughter2 is still in grad school which meant an extra week spent at home.

With her momma.
Where daughters belong, but I digress.

She is such sweet company.  We like a lot of the same things-cooking, playing games, shopping, and talking about life over long leisurely lunches.  She's 22, but still lets me hold her hand. Daughter2 has been teaching me to play the piano, and just when I begin to feel like a lost cause she's patient and makes me laugh.

I don't know if I'll ever actually 'play', but I will treasure the memory of the lessons.

We went to see Les Mis on Friday, and she didn't even make fun of me (much) for mis-reading the start time.  We sat in the quiet dark theatre by ourselves for an hour at 10 in the morning, and we gabbed the minutes away until the actual start time.

Les Mis.  We loved it.  A mesmerizing tale of love and hate and cruelty, of forgiveness and redemption. The music is haunting and beautiful.  Go see it.

We had a fun dinner out on Friday night eating our favorite Thai food, and again on Saturday night dining in a favorite Italian restaurant. Hubs and I have made a pact that its grilled chicken and salads for the rest of the month.  Well, the rest of the week anyway.

Yesterday we trekked to the airport for daughter2's flight home.  As we stood at the security checkpoint, my love-hate  relationship with United departures was confirmed. On the one hand, this spot has been the gateway to some wonderful adventures. On the other, it feels like the place where I am forever telling my girls goodbye, watching them maneuver computers and luggage and boarding passes as they re- take their place in a grown up world.

Our house is quiet most of the year.  I can do quiet.  In fact I like quiet, except when I don't.  When daughters come home, a lightness you didn't know was missing seeps into the rooms and spaces you live in every day.  They fill the quiet with something soft and warm and right.

That elusive something lingers here today...in scraps of paper left behind, bathroom sinks to be cleaned,  and linens to be washed.  Today it's back to the routine of everyday life.  I awoke this morning to a pink painted sky...

...a gentle reminder that everyday life is beautiful too.

Snow Babies

Snow fell all day here on Saturday and it was so pretty.  

Far too pretty not to get out in it, even if that means foregoing makeup and zipping a ski coat over your pajamas.  

Daughter2 resides 'down South' for much of the year so for her, operating the snow blower is still something of a novelty.  As far as she's concerned that task falls under the unlikely heading called FUN.

Pretty sure I don't look this adorable when I'm running the snow blower.
I love her white jacket.

Actually I'm a huge fan of nice ski clothes. 

These are cute, don't you think?   

Okay, so she was too young for skiing, but oh my word, a tiny tot scrunched into a snowsuit definitely makes me smile.  This is Daughter1 experiencing her first big snow.

Hey, what else is a blog for if not to post pictures you never got to post two decades ago because there was no such thing as the Internet?

Well maybe there was, but it was all very mysterious.

Where is this child's mother???

In my defense, Daughter2 has always had the most delicate skin. Rest assured as soon as she came inside she was fine.  

Here's proof some 20 years later-

I took this picture on Saturday, and as you can see her cheeks are still like porcelain. We are all envious of Daughter2's perfectly perfect skin.  

How 'bout more random snow pictures?

We used to lovingly tease Daughter1 back in the day because she was what might kindly be referred to as 'cautious'.  Nowadays she is quite the adventure lover, but it took her a few years to get there. Hmmm.... this backyard hill may be where she first discovered adrenaline.  She learned to ski on this little hill too. Hubs taught her by strapping her tiny boots into the kiddie skis then setting his own skis on either side of hers.  She loved it.

Austria, 2006

Still does.  

NJ is not the Alps but still, when you live in the northernmost corner of the state odds are pretty good you're gonna have a hill.  

And woods.  

And enough snow every winter to build your own igloo.  

We had a super long driveway in that house which we paid someone to plow, but still hubs did a lot of shoveling. We don't use a snow shovel too often these days.  There are many things to be grateful for in the 21st century, and snow blowers make our list.  

When the girls were four and six we moved to Maryland.  We lived in a small friendly cul-de-sac, and kids spilled out of every house when it snowed.  Well everyday really, but especially when it snowed.  

I wised up and put scarves on my fair skinned daughters.

My girls still speak with great joy about the blizzard of '96.  School was closed for over a week and we had a huge party in the middle of our cul de sac.  The county plow had mounded all the snow into a literal mountain at the head of the court and all the kids had fun climbing up and sledding down. We built a bonfire in the middle of the snow covered street, and the adults brought out beach chairs and barbecues, and for a few days in that long ago winter, it felt like time stood still.

Time no longer stands still.

Every now and then you get lucky though, and you catch a glimpse of the girl whose small fingers you maneuvered into mittens, whose socks you straightened so the seam was just right, and whose rosy cheeks you wrapped with a scarf.

When the world outside her window becomes a fairy tale...

...the freshly fallen snow still calls her name.