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!