Wednesday, February 6, 2013

How Can You Say No to the Hodgepodge?

Welcome to this week's edition of the Hodgepodge!  I don't know if it was the questions or the winter weather or too much time spent indoors lately, but it seems I had a lot to say this week.  Kudos to anyone who makes it to the end~


1. Chinese New Year will be celebrated on February 10th, and 2013 is the year of the snake.  When did you last see a snake?  Are you okay around snakes or do they give you the shivers?

I think it was late summer when I spied a snake slithering from the grass into the rock wall that sits where forest meets yard.  The rocks in our wall are more boulder than pebble, and apparently snakes love rocks. I'd like to think he was on his own, but hubs and I imagine he was meeting friends.  

Hubs found a snakeskin in the yard when I was out of town one weekend.  I know because he saved it to show  me.  Don't ask me why.  

Actually I do know why.

Hubs finds snakes interesting and knows a lot about them. It's possible he has a framed snake skin stashed somewhere in the basement. His dad killed it when he was a boy and they framed it.  Eww

He'll be a little disappointed that I don't mention here what type of snake it is (was?), but honestly I can't remember. I think it might be a copperhead which is why its a big deal. Or it might not be a copperhead, but it's something. Periodically he suggests we hang that framed snakeskin upstairs in the pool table room, but I put the kibosh on that faster than you can say Bob's your uncle .  

When it comes to snakes I'm mostly in the shivers column.  

2. The color red in Chinese culture usually means good luck.  Do you believe in luck?

This is a hard question.  

We all know people who walk under a perpetually cloudless sky, whose lives seem to fall into place when they need them to fall into place, and who in general seem to have things go their way.  That being said, we never really know what went on behind the scenes to get that person to the place they are today. What appears to be 'luck' is oftentimes the result of hard work, good decisions, good timing and/or good relationships established at some point prior. 

Is the same true of someone we might label as 'unlucky'? Are their circumstances always the result of 'bad luck'? More often than not, I think 'bad luck' is the result of bad decisions, missed opportunity, and lack of initiative.    

I suppose there are people who would say they're lucky at games of chance.  In that small context I might say yes, some people are 'luckier' than others.  

3. sledding-ice skating-building a snowman...if given a choice, which activity would you choose?Which of the three have you done most recently?

I haven't been sledding since my kids were young, and probably haven't built a snowman since we lived in Maryland.  That was all eons ago, so I'm opting for ice skating. The last time I skated we were living in the UK, so it's been about four years. In the winter months rinks were set up around London and we used to go with the Young Life group to the one in front of Somerset House.  Such a beautiful place to skate! We also went skating as a family at the rink set up in Kew Gardens which is not too shabby either.  

4. Ralph Waldo Emerson is credited as saying, "The years teach much which the days never knew." Where have you seen this quote played out in your own life?

I've attempted to answer this question about four different times.  It kept wanting to be its own blog post, so I think I'll save the long form for another day and just say, in short-motherhood.  

5.  When was the last time you ate a cupcake?

Hubs birthday (September).  I made Texas sheet cake cupcakes and took them down to my sister's boat where we were celebrating. One of the best chocolate somethings I've ever tasted.  


For reals.  

6. What is something you can't say no to?

Quite a few things...some that popped into my head are-

dessert, a phone call from one of my girls, movie theatre popcorn, hubs calling me to 'come here and look at this deer/fox/coyote/bear/footprint' in our yard, a walk on a not-frigid, blue sky kind of day, someone big or little asking me to read aloud, a trip to Italy/England/almost anywhere, and a hot cup of coffee first thing in the morning

7. Are you a doodler?

I used to be, but I don't  find myself sitting with pen in hand very often anymore. 

Sigh...doodling...another victim of the electronic age. 

Don't anybody leave me a comment and tell me there's a doodle app.  As fabulous as I'm sure that is, electronic doodling is no way-no how the same as pen on paper. 

When I was in school I doodled a lot, church too...that's what bulletins are for, right? I had an elaborate thing-a-ma-bob I liked to doodle. It was an intricate swirly shape with a curly cue on the end and I'd connect them until my paper was covered.

Do I need to define any of those words for anyone?  Sometimes I speak in doodles.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I'm taking a little field trip with friends today...if it's interesting I'll tell you about it tomorrow.  

If it's not interesting I'll probably go ahead and tell you about it anyway.  February blogging calls for desperate measures people.  






40 comments:

  1. Ah yes...phone calls from the children. I long for these but recently had to call my boy back when he called in the middle of a workshop I was attending!!! I thought I'd turned my phone to silent when it went off! The worst part was that I'd plugged it into an outlet in the front of the room, and it was sitting on the tray attached to the whiteboard. Embarrassing! Everyone got a good laugh though.

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  2. For some reason i cannot open Auburnchicks Adventures blog.. ;/
    Anyway that was a great superbowl game despite the 49ers loss, i was thinking how happy you must've been for the Ravens. Both teams had great seasons! I too always prefer to have coffee in the morning. Have fun on your trip tomorrow!

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  3. Great answers to great questions! You do such a good job! Ice skating is something I would of loved to learn. I love watching someone who can really skate, they are so graceful! Maybe that is what kept me from learning - I knew there was not a graceful bone in my body. lol
    until next time...nel

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  4. You just reminded me of my husband's grandfather, who was a rancher, and had rattlesnake skins stretched out and mounted in his house. *shudder* Can't wait to hear about your field trip!

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  5. Well I made it to the end with no problem at all.
    I too had a time with question number four. Kept writing and editing, writing and deleting...
    I also agree with you about the doodling, electronic doodles just wouldn't be the same!
    Thanks for being our host here and for coming up with such great mind boggling questions week after week.

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  6. Well that's what a blog is for, right? To tell about things nobody may be interested in but you tell it anyway? ;) But I bet it was an interesting field trip and that we'll have fun reading about it! :)

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  7. There IS a lot of doodling sites online that are interactive...but, they're not the same thing. As you say, been years since I've held a pencil to just doodle.

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  8. Nothing beats good old paper and pen!

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  9. Agree 100% with your answer to #4...time flies by so very FAST when you're raising children. You just don't realize it until it's all said and done. Nope...not a fan of snakes and it doesn't help to have a hubby who thinks he's Steve Irwin! Enjoy your field trip, Joyce!

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  10. I have the same answer to Nr. 5, but you said it sooo much better. You have a way with words. :)
    Also on Nr. 6 .... a great list. I forgot to add trips to anywhere on my question. The first thing that came to mind was my daughters.
    I actually did HP today. Yeah!

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  11. I am wondering where you are going today? I hope you do post about it.
    I don't know how you come up with all these questions each week. Your a great hostess!

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  12. Love the questions this week. Thought provoking as usual. Have a good trip out today.

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  13. Joyce, your answers were very fun, and it was no chore at all to read to the very end! Motherhood is a great answer for #4, and I laughed out loud at your doodling answer. I've covered quite a few church bulletins in my time as well. : )

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  14. I'd like to try one of those cupcakes!!!
    I like your answer about luck. Some people do seem lucky, like my mother. She used to win things ALL the time!
    Have fun on your field trip!

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  15. Now Joyce, I can't imagine why you wouldn't want to hang that framed snake skin :)

    A February field trip sounds like fun! Enjoy.

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  16. I like your answer on luck. I always doodled on church bulletins! Hope your field trip is fun but if it's not I am sure the time with your friends will be wonderful.

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  17. Loved your doodling answer and that you speak in doodles. lol

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  18. Hope you have fun on the field trip. Where to? With who? Details please.

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  19. Those cupcakes sound delicious!!! I want to make a batch!

    I can't wait to hear about your field trip.

    And as usual, it was no problem to make it to the end.

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  20. Well, how cute an idea, cupcakes with candles for someone's b'day. I'm going to remember that. The Princess and I are baking Valentine cupcakes on Friday. She loves, loves "pupcakes!"

    Thought I might have taken doodling in the wrong way. :o)

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  21. Fun post, Joyce. I actually have a couple snake skins around here, but I'm thinking I need to clean out some stuff. :-)

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  22. All this talk of cupcakes is KILLING ME. I guess I'll have one with lunch again today....

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  23. Some people do seem to be lucky. Is the trend now-birthday cupcakes? Both daughters chose birthday cupcakes instead of the traditional birthday cake.

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  24. of course i want to hear about your field trip!!!----love that movie popcorn too----great information :)

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  25. Enjoy your Wednesday Hodgepodge's!
    For some reason I can't link up.
    http://tamtamlee.blogspot.com/2013/02/wednesday-hodgepodge-vol112.html

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  26. Fun questions! Of course I love any opportunity that lets me show off my snake charming skills ;)

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  27. The cupcakes looked heavenly...and I don't usually go for cupcakes. I can't wait to hear about the field trip...I hope it is great fun. Loved the questions this week.

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  28. Ok you have 2 blog post ready in the wings, one is the field trip and one is #4. Interesting,every interesting.

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  29. I've been meaning to try a Texas Sheet Cake recipe that I have. Now after reading your post I am really in the mood for them.

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  30. Texas sheet cake cupcakes sound yummy! Hope your field trip was nice!

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  31. Our church has paper in the pews labeled Art Work for the kids.
    Sooo looking forward to the field trip post!

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  32. It took me forever to get over here and link up. I was able to sneak...I mean, access my blog from school and post but never had enough time to get here. Tuesdays/Wednesdays/Thursdays I have 9 classes and it's rough on the clock. And my feet. And my last nerve. LOL

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  33. A great post, I love movie popcorn and eat cupcakes whenever offered. Take care.

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  34. I had to fix my doodle answer; I misread it as DROOLING. I kinda non-answered on the drooling anyway. :)

    I have no idea what a Texas Sheet Cake is, but it looks good!

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  35. Cupcakes....it's a sign! I was just telling my husband that I need to eat a cupcake. I can't remember the last time I had one! Definitely need to remedy that. Our anniversary is coming up! Hmmmm. Good questions. Looking forward to next week's!

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  36. I used to doodle on the time sheets when I was a timer at the kids' swim meets. I'm sure the meet master appreciated my artwork when the time sheets were turned in at the end of the meet!

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  37. Church bulletin doodling!!! YES! I wasn't bored...just happened to have a pen every Sunday! I doodled so much that I could actually smell the ink :-)

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  38. Your can't say not to list was way better than mine...

    Blessings
    R

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  39. I'd obviously pick ice skating for number 3! And yes, I am a doodler ;)

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  40. I will try to remember to come back on Tuesday for the meme. You write well.

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