Wednesday, January 16, 2013

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!







41 comments:

  1. Does that bagel place have chocolate chip? ;)
    That asparagus dish looks heavenly! I just love asparagus ;)

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  2. Oh...your answer about teaching was so on target! I wanted to say Amen and Amen!

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  3. Completely agree with you with everything bagels. Nothing like a warm, toasted everything bagel with cream cheese! mmmm

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  4. Totally agree with the education answer. Let teachers teach; what a novel idea. That dish looks amazing! What a delight--mother-daughter candlelight dinner.

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  5. We have similar answers this week, with the whole 'job creation' thing, and no 'one size fits all' for teaching children. I think I need to experience a NJ bagel sometime. Have a wonderful time with D1 in DC. We loved riding the metro there many years ago.

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  6. Love the photo of you and your friends mapping out your journey to the market. Especially like that you are all pointing at different places.
    The dinner plate looks interesting, other than the asparagus, that is one veggie I am not fond of. But, the dish does look good.
    Thanks for being our host!!

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  7. Enjoyed your answers! I would love to try fresh bagels, all we have had was out of a bag and those are pretty good. I didn't even think about the metro in DC for a train. Which that was about 3 years ago. Oh well time for bed. You do such a great job with questions! Thanks!
    until next time...nel

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  8. Your daughter is obviously an awesome cook! Yum. :)

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    1. She is, but that picture was taken in a restaurant : ).

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  9. ...that dinner? Oh yum.
    I like the photo you shared of the train trip in China...pointing to different ones, each one of you, and yet you arrived/found the right one to get there. Oh ya....getting poolside service at the hotel, I forgot that part.

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  10. I agree the world needs more love. Sadly I don't see it happening anytime soon :(. I visited all the blogs that were on here by 5am except one thats apparently a private blog. Apparently most of us need new beds and bedding judging by our answers. :)

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  11. Enjoyed your answers! All the way to Hong Kong-WOW!!! My thought exactly, that education is not a "one size fits all". I started to put that in my own answer, with a thumbs up for cyber school, but got back on topic. =) And your dinner looked wonderful!
    Have a great day!

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  12. I like your word for this year because I agree, what the world needs now is love, sweet love. Hay! What a great song title that would make don't you think.
    I forgot about subway trains, I've been to Boston, it's about the only way to get around. Totally forgot that, I was thinking Amtrack.....

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  13. Good Morning, Joyce! Say 'hi' to Deanie if you see her on the Metro- she's on it every day! Under the Tuscan Sun---I loved that movie. I still watch it when it comes on television. It really should be one that I own. I wouldn't mind living there for a while. I also loved the cottage that Colin Firth was in in Love Actually. Well, except for the eels in the pond. LOL Have a wonderful visit with your lovely!

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  14. Oh-I completely forgot about the Metro while in D.C. a couple of years ago. I could rant and rave for many hours about education-let us teach and if I can't teach then fire me for goodness sakes!!! Definitely the world needs more love-great answer. Have fun visiting daughter.

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  15. I also love the "everything" bagel. Have a great time with your daughter!

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  16. I remember riding the Metro when we went to DC. It was a great way to get around.

    Love is a good choice and yes the world does need more of it.

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  17. How wonderful to have taken a trip to China. One of these days! I so want a bagel now - which isn't fair as I am not 'supposed' to eat wheat! (but cheat every once in a while and then pay for it!) Which restaurant in DC? We will be there next week ourselves! Cheers!

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  18. I was so timid about riding the underground in London but once I did it I thought it was amazing. Hope to get a chance to try it again someday! Well if I ever get to NJ I definitely have to have a bagel. Great choice on a movie, I recently watched it and that would be fun to do! Love is a perfect word and that asparagus looks delicious.

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  19. my son is in DC now too..hope neither of you fall off the fiscal cliff!

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  20. 'Love'...you can't go wrong with that! Doesn't seem to be nearly enough of it these days. Your dinner looks delicious! I'm sure you and your daughter are going to have an unforgettable time together...enjoy!

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  21. I didn't consider our subway a train because we have a "Go" commuter train as well as "Via" a passenger train. Personally I prefer steam trains of an earlier era. The last time I rode the subway was on my last day of work over a year ago.

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  22. "How about we try letting teachers teach?" I know, right? I also felt like you hit the nail on the head when you said it all feels like a giant experiment. To me, it feels like an experiment that is never given enough time to play out with more variables than necessary.

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  23. You are so right, politicians have ruined more than a few phrases :)

    Love is a good word choice, which brings the old song by Dionne Warwick to mind...What the world needs now, is love, sweet love...

    Have a great week!

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  24. that does it - you and I need to meet for bagels in Tuscany! Date? ;-)

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  25. I think you are so right about the NJ Bagels being the bagel capital. Then again I am biased, but I do believe there is nothing like a bagel store bagel. I'm also with you, everything bagel all the way:)

    http://adayinlifeasiknowit.wordpress.com

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  26. Loved your answers....two were actually exactly as I would have answered them. Love bagels too!

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  27. I love the idea of letting teachers teach ;) I forgot about tuna on a bagel, but that is so good!

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  28. Do you ever want to go in that bagel shop and yell: "Congratulations. You did it!" (think "Elf" when Buddy goes into the diner with "the world's best coffee" sign!)
    "Under the Tuscan Sun": Great choice! I love that movie. I wish I had the guts to do what she did!

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  29. I try not to listen to the political sayings. Just makes me crazy. Ha.
    The Metro in DC is one of the better ones for sure. Have fun!

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  30. I love everything bagels too... but, I like mine with garden cream cheese. :-)

    Julia @ Mom on the Run x2

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  31. Ah, time with daughter = joy for sure! And, the meal looks delicious! Enjoy your time together!

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  32. I took a train in China too but forgot to mention it in my hodgepodge post.

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  33. Hello, I enjoyed the questions and going around visiting to read answers. It's brought back some childhood memories too!
    Bethany

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  34. Aww nuts, subways are counted as trains too? Guess I was on one later than I originally planned. But to my credit I don't consider them the same thing. Not sure exactly why but I can tell you I despise subways. Rode a few in DC - ick.

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  35. Those first four words have been over-used ad nauseam.
    The last time I rode a train was 1989 in San Diego, just a short line, it was part of a rr museum.
    Love bialys. Love bagels almost as much especially onion bagels and garlic bagels. I love the lox flavoured cream cheese. Sarah Lee bagels are garbage, Lenders not too bad, best come from a bakery.
    Movie to star in is tough, there are so many. Perhaps "A Man and a Woman" it was such a poignant love story.
    I am not sure it makes a difference with most people. I myself was always distracted by girls in the classroom but I suppose mixed classes are OK.
    Not having to make the bed.
    I guess my word would be "Believe". Believe that the economy will eventually improve and that unemployment will diminish. But if we couldn't in four years probably can't in eight. Gotta have faith and believe.
    Have trouble posting, cut and paste from Apache office to blog a problem, inserting picture a real hassle, took several days to post latest blog. Microsoft word is better.

    Hope you and the family are well and happy Joyce.

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  36. Good gracious, that looks like a mouthful of heaven!

    I always feel like bagels should veer towards sweet. I'll have to try your version

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  37. Oh my goodness that dinner looked amazing!

    We said almost the exact same thing about the children in the classroom...

    Traveling to China, how exciting!

    Blessings
    R

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  38. Your bagel sounds good too! I think I have similar problems with bagels that I do with donuts or cookies; I need to buy one at a time and never have a bunch of them in my house. There are just too many good flavors and too many ways to enjoy them!

    You definitely stay at better hotels than I do! LOL

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  39. Great questions!

    An everything bagel sounds yum! I just wouldn't want it for breakfast.

    Your dinner looks relish! Enjoy your visit!

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  40. I have your badge and I did this last week. But, I attached it to Wordless Wednesday. I really loved doing this and I am going to try to do two different posts this upcoming week.

    I will add pictures and everything. Now that I've seen how it works I will work harder at it.

    Oh I would love an onion bagel. We live in southern Oklahoma now and I can't find an onion bagel anywhere. They are all sweet bagels like blueberry or cinnamon and raisin.

    We lived in Maine for a decade and I learned how to truly appreciate bagels and the one you describe here makes my mouth water.

    I am looking forward to next week and hope you have a lovely one!

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