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!