Wednesday, February 20, 2013

A Road Trip Through the Hodgedpodge

Welcome to this week's edition of the Hodgepodge.  I'm glad you joined the fun today...be sure to add your link to the end of my post, then go see what some of the other players had to say. I have a busy week, but will do my best to visit everyone.


1. When were you last on a 'mountaintop'?  You may answer in the literal or figurative sense of the word.

As it happens, I was on a literal mountaintop this past weekend-the Smokies. We made the long drive to Tennessee to visit my in-laws and as an added bonus our girls, along with daughter2's boyfriend, were able to join us.


Nothing makes me happier than having my little family all together on the same soil, so I suppose you could say I was on a figurative 'mountaintop' too. 

2. Do you establish and maintain a strict budget in your household?  What is one piece of financial advice you would offer someone just starting out on their own?

We have a budget. More or less.  Ha-is it possible to sort of have a budget?  We save, we pay our bills on time, we have money earmarked for emergencies, we give, we have insurance, and we plan for and discuss large purchases, travel, and our future retirement so yes, it's a budget.  More or less.  

I think the biggest and best thing someone just starting out on their own can do, financially speaking, is to create and keep a budget. Besides the normal day to day expenses include a category for building your savings every single pay period. Economically speaking, we are living in very unpredictable times.  

3. Cherries-yay or nay?  Cherry pie-cherry cola-black forest cake-or a scoop of Ben and Jerry's Cherries Garcia...pick one.

Cherries-yay!  I love real cherries, but am not a big fan of 'cherry flavoring'.  I'll take a scoop of Ben and Jerry's Cherries Garcia please.  Chunks of real cherries and chunks of real chocolate...what's not to love?

4. Should you ever discuss religion or politics with people you don't know?

This is a loaded question, isn't it?  If I answer I'm discussing religion and politics with people I don't know.  

I'm going to address them separately, starting with politics.  Frankly, I find it nearly impossible to  discuss politics with anyone these days, so it's not a topic I'd likely bring up with perfect strangers.  I don't mind discussing the issues, but only if the person I'm talking to is civil.  Politics gets ugly pretty quickly.  

As for religion, I guess it depends on what is meant by 'religion'.  I talk about my faith when I feel prompted, when a situation calls for it, or when the opportunity naturally presents itself.  I'm also happy to talk about it if someone asks, but that doesn't happen often with people I don't know.  I hope people see my faith lived out in my life, and sometimes that prompts discussion.

I do love to talk religion and politics as long as all parties are willing to listen, and refrain from being nasty in word or tone.  

5. When you take a road trip do you prefer to be the driver or the passenger?  Where were you headed on your last road trip?

If hubs is with me then I'd definitely prefer to be the passenger.  Let's just say he makes a better driver than he does a passenger.  I enjoy a road trip by myself too.  I love to play my music loud, clear my head, and listen to books on tape.

Last road trip?  Here-


See question #1.  

6. If we peeked inside your closet, what color would we say is most prevalent?

Probably blue, in pretty much every shade.  I have blue eyes, so I gravitate toward shades of blue and green in my wardrobe.  

7. Who's your favorite senior citizen and why are they special?

My mama.  

Why is she special?  

Because she's my mama.  

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I was in a public restroom over the weekend, and the woman in the stall beside me proceeded to phone her pharmacy to check on a prescription, ask questions, give her maiden and married name, and her insurance information, account and all. 

Yes! 

From the bathroom stall! 

Seriously world...it's okay to take 30 seconds to pee without being on your phone! 

Now pass the Purell.  Shudder.  





37 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness....is that for real? The Bathroom Stall Lady? Oh my goodness. Wonder how many times she's done that in a public place and someone is writing this down [the info] in order to steal her identity? Love the Smoky Mountains. And your photo.

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  2. People speaking in bathroom stalls on their phone gives me the creeps! It'd definitely be weird if I was on the phone with someone I'm not really close to and I heard the toilet flush.

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  3. Another week of great questions! Can't wait to hear about your trip!

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  4. Wow that isn't sanitary at all! A huge risk for an identity theft too. Yikes!

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  5. I´m so glad you had such a nice weekend with your daughters. The view looks stunning and I´m sure you had a great time!

    Still shaking my head from that last answer...haha

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  6. I answered the same to question #7. :)

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  7. We feel the same about talking politics - and talking (and living) religion!

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  8. I like your number 4 and 7! Enjoy your busy week!

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  9. Really good answer to #4. I can't wait to be where you were last weekend. Glad it was a good trip for you.

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  10. Glad you got to be with your girls!! Regarding the bathroom conversation, that reeked of not being the safest place to give out personal information. WOW! That woman certainly wasn't street smart. The wrong person could have taken that stuff down and used it for less-than-honest things!

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  11. SMH on random thought! Oh My-the bathroom stall! Glad you enjoyed the Smokies-next time let me know and we can meet somewhere on your way down for a quick lunch or dinner.

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  12. LOVE the picture of the Smokies ... we've taken to driving through the Smokies on our way to Hilton Head ... such a beautiful drive. Can't wait to hear about your weekend.

    All I can say about #8 is Ewwww!

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  13. You've got me excited about cherry season! And seeing my family-- my mama. And taking a road trip, maybe to the mountains again!!!

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  14. Personal information from a bathroom stall? Had she never heard of identity theft?

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  15. Good grief. It seems the world takes their phones into the stall with them! It's very common now to see that. Anyway, I don't give my personal info out to anyone. I had to phone the social security office and didn't want to give them my social security number. That's cautious. lol

    Love the photo of you and the girls. So nice to have family around, isn't it!

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  16. Beautiful pic of you and your girlies in the Smokies. I love that area of the country, of course, being from Virginia, guess I would.

    Love your #8, oh, my goodness, how insane!!!

    Happy rest of the week!

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  17. Oh no, that lady in the bathroom stall would have grossed me out! Even worse than worrying about identity theft ;)

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  18. So glad you had some family time, and what better place than the mountains!

    In response to #8, I think many people have lost all common sense!

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  19. So glad you got to be with the girls over the weekend. I agree about not talking about politics these days! I pretty much said the same thing about my dad for #7. I like having a cell phone but you will seldom see me on it outside of the house and definitely not in public.

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  20. I am going to the Smokeys on Thursday after school. I can't wait. I love that place.

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  21. I am always amazed at the number of people talking on cell phones while in the bathroom. It happens at work sometimes and I just think gross thoughts.

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  22. What a great picture of you and your girls, Joyce...and no better place for a reunion, as far as I'm concerned. I went to grad. school in Knoxville and that's where we got married. Loved living so close to the Smokies. Eww...people kill me with not being able to get off their phones for things like that! We were in a restaurant yesterday for lunch and a mother and her teen daughter sat there the entire time and didn't get off their phones for a second. So sad to me.

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  23. The TN mountains look amazing....what a great weekend to see the girls again. I can't believe anyone would call from a bathroom first of all the echo alone is a giveaway! Ha people! Have a great Wednesday!

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  24. You are so right about discussing politics these days. There is very little, if any, civility in anyone on that subject. I know on Facebook if I share a photo that might express my opinion...I can expect to get SLAMMED by a few people who don't agree, but just can't let me have my opinion as I leave them alone to theirs. I try to stay away from anything too controversial and there are a couple of my relatives I simply block from seeing any post I think they will respond badly to. :/

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  25. Number 8 is outrageous! Added my responses on my blog today. Hope you are having a great week!

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  26. Pretty pictures from your weekend! I've never been there.

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  27. Beautiful picture of you and your girls! The last time I was on a mountain was in Gatlinburg too! :-)

    Julia @ Mom on the Run x2

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  28. I have blue eyes too but never really thought green appropriate for me to where anywhere really lol I despise red so I don't buy that at all.

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  29. Oh,the beautiful Smoky Mountains! And to share their beauty with your beautiful daughters. Even more precious. Enjoyed being part of WH again today. Thanks for putting so much thought into these thought-provoking questions.

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  30. It's amazing to me that people cannot put down their cell phones. There is a time and place and the bathroom is not one of them.....crazy people.

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  31. I forgot to say, I am your newest follower.

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  32. i live near the smokies in NC. beautiful!

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  33. Enjoyed your answers, cannot wait to hear more about your trip. I am with you on #8. It amazes me that people cannot go to the bathroom especially a public bathroom without talking on their phone. Hope you have a great week. I think we are supposed to get some wintry weather tonight.
    until next time...nel

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  34. I think I'm mostly concerned that the woman would give our her personal information like that. Has she not been listening at all????? Mountains are so pretty. I used to go all the time when I was young. Now I just stay at the coast. But I still have a fondness for the high country.

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  35. My eyes are green, but I wear lots of green and blue too, same reason; it matches! The contrast with the blue brings out the green and wearing green makes my eyes just glow green.

    As far as your #8 goes...Smoky Mountains, huh? I haven't been in a few years, but they are so pretty! :)

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  36. Just can't take a bad photo of a beautiful mountain, can we? Hey, i asked my boy who his favorite senior citizen is. Thought he would say Pappaw. He said Chuck Norris!

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  37. Here is my question about wearing blue: how do you pair it with jeans? I have a navy blue shirt I love, but when I put it on with my jeans I feel monochromatic.

    A whole post on how you do this complete with pictures would be perfect!

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