Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Life's A Hodgepodge

Welcome to another edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge.  Answer the questions on your own blog then add your link to the end of my post.  Don't forget to visit your neighbors!  Here are my answers~

1. What's something people might ask you for help with?

Hmmm...can't think of a thing I'm an expert on. Childcare? Disagreeable toddlers? I'm good with kids so maybe something child-related.  

I'm also always happy to help out doing whatever needs doing, provided its not something on my list in question #2.

2. What's something you might ask people for help with?

Computer malfunctions, any sort of car trouble, and moving furniture. Just ask any big strong boy my girls know (and a few who were strangers, but who were lucky enough to be passing by when a couch or mattress needed carrying down stairs in 105 degree heat). Most boys they know have hauled something up and down stairs, lugged something heavy to the car, or have loaded bins and boxes in and out of a storage unit for us at one point or another in the past seven years.  

You wish we were friends in real life too, don't you? Ha!

3. Did your family take summer vacations when you were a child?  If so, where did you go?  If you're a parent, did/do you plan summer vacations for your own family?  Did/do they resemble those you took as a child?

Not every summer, but there were some summers we took big trips.  My grandparents lived out west so we made trips to Colorado and New Mexico to visit them, just not every summer (I wrote about that here and here). 

I have older siblings and a couple of summers we also did that thing parents do where they combine a vacation with a college tour.  I'm sure it was a lot of hours in the car, and some of it was likely boring, but funny how I only remember the fun family togetherness where we got to swim in hotel pools and eat out a lot.  Kids don't need fancy.

When my own girls were growing up we usually spent a week at the beach and we all still enjoy that. We're kind of always traveling, always have been too...we've never lived near our families so we'd always try to see them at some point every summer. And of course once we moved overseas travel became a way of life.  

It's a hard habit to break. 
Just sayin'. 

4. Pool-lake-ocean...which one is most appealing to you on a hot summer day?

D. All of the above.  

I prefer boating on a lake and swimming in a pool.  I do love swimming in the ocean, but only if the water temperature isn't too frigid or the undertow too powerful.  

5. Have you ever justified using the expression 'you gotta be cruel to be kind'? Was it really necessary or were you rationalizing?

I don't think there's ever an excuse for cruelty. I do think tough love is sometimes necessary in raising children who might be living on the edge, but never cruelty. Tough love is still love. Cruelty isn't love.

6. The Journal of Psychology recently mentioned the results of a survey identifying the ten most hated foods as-liver, lima beans, mayonnaise, mushrooms, eggs, okra, beets, brussel sprouts, tuna, and gelatin. Of those foods, how many do you actually hate?  Any you'd add to the list?

The only one on the list I 'hate' is liver.  I like everything else listed and would even say some of those foods are favorites.  Brussel sprouts, eggs, okra, mayo and tuna are eaten around here on a regular basis.  

7. What's your favorite book or movie set in a beach or lake town?

The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy is one of my favorite books. He's one of my favorite authors and I like pretty much everything he's ever written.  His books are set mostly in southern coastal towns and he writes so beautifully you can practically smell the low country air.  

As far as movies go Jaws still twists my stomach into knots, even though I know what's coming. On Golden Pond is definitely another favorite. A sweet story that makes me want a summer cabin on a gorgeous lake with a little wood boat to take out fishing.  

I'm sure when I read other answers to this question today I'll remember a few more I love.  

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Excited to have special friends coming to town for a few days. We've got big plans to lounge on the patio while we catch up on life, live and in person. Can't wait! The last time the four of us were together we were guests in their home on Prince Edward Island.  



New Jersey is probably similar, right?   



38 comments:

  1. Thanks for the name drop on Pat Conroy. I am always looking for authors whose books take place in southern coastal towns since that is where I love to vacation. I'm going to add his name to my book "wish list."

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  2. I really liked reading your Hodgepodge today. But liver, I like...okra, you can have my share! LOL

    As for the 5th question this week, yep---that expression I'd not heard of until you asked. So, I did the best I could on that one.

    Enjoy your company. Sounds like a fun, happy time coming up in the near future!

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  3. Have fun with your company, Joyce!!

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  4. Hope you have a fun time with your friends!

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  5. Hope you have lots of fun with your friends Joyce. And thanks for the Hodgepodge fun every week.

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  6. I am going to have to rent "On Golden Pond". I saw it years ago but don't really remember it. Enjoy your visit with your friends :) And NJ is beautiful :)

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  7. Have a good time with your friends! CH wants to take me up to PEI; he was up there last summer on his motorcycle ride & said it was beautiful!

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  8. Ah...moving...yes! That is tough work! I'm moving Chicky "out" for "good" in a few short weeks. I don't think any of her roommates will be moving into their new place the same weekend we go, so we are going to be on our own. Thankfully she's a strong girl. I have a feeling I'll be digging into the Motrin bottle after I leave her. My muscles are already dreading it (not to mention my heart).

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  9. Well, phooey! Why didn't I think of "On Golden Pond"??? That is truly one of my favorite movies of all times!
    Thanks for your thoughts on a blender. :) I recently saw one with a red base and I am kinds smitten with that, but color alone is probably not a reason to buy a small appliance. ;)

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  10. Loved the questions this week. The one about the most hated foods made me laugh. It is funny that both of us mentioned PEI today. Small world.

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  11. I can't believe that I haven't read any of Pat Conroy's books. Time to remedy that!

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  12. I said the same thing about #5. If you're cruel you're not being kind at all.

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  13. Nothing like good friends coming to visit! Have fun!!!

    You've got me wanting to watch "On Golden Pond"... isn't that sad? I'm going to love seeing everyones answers on that one.

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  14. Moving heavy things was definitely on my short list of "things I ask help with." I don't know why I had the worst time coming up with movies set on the water...the thing that came to mind first was all the "Gidget" movies, and I didn't think they would count as favorites. ;)

    Enjoy your time with your company! :)

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  15. Good morning! Enjoyed this as always! I loved that book too! and on Golden pond clicked right into my head on this question too. Oh and I also agree on that food list LOVE everything on it but liver, haha Enjoy your day Joyce!

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  16. Jaws was my pick too! Have lots of fun with your friends.

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  17. I'll chime in and say, "Why didn't I think of "On Golden Pond", too! Good choice, and an old favorite of mine.

    It sounds like more fun times are ahead for you and the hubs. Enjoy!

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  18. I use my children's friends as well and have even asked our young neighbors to move things for us. Enjoy your visit with your friend.

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  19. I am so glad that I have a strong son who works for U-Haul whenever things have to be moved.
    Have fun with your friends.

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  20. I've definitely heard of tough love but not the other phrase!

    You can keep your brussel sprouts!

    Thanks for another fun week!

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  21. I adore Pat Conroy. The Great Santini is probably my favorite, but Reagan's middle name came from a character in Prince of Tides.

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  22. I'm pretty fond of Brussels sprouts and fried okra, I also like liver!
    Hope you have a lovely visit with your friends.
    Our houseguest (my son's future fiancee) leaves today and we will miss her.

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  23. Oh my gosh, Jaws was a good movie for it's time. I should watch it again, I bet it looks fake compared to what they can do now-a-days. As usual, thanks for hosting! Have a great week!

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  24. I totally forgot about needing help for computer issues!!! Still hoping one of our girls marries a tech savvy guy!
    I will have to look into Pat Conroy, have never read anything by that author.
    Have fun with your friends!

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  25. The undertow never bothers me. It's the what's swimming with me that I can't see. And the medical waste that's dumped out there. Liver? All I can say is, "Thank God I'm allergic to it." LOL

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  26. Hope you have fun with your friends the next few days! Your answer to #2 made me laugh. You're such an entertaining person on your blog that I count you as a (cyber) friend, and I think I'd be willing to be friends in person too, even if it means moving an occasional piece of furniture. : )

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  27. I can very happily say that at this writing we are not renting a storage unit! Yay! Ha ha, It's the little things.
    I love company for summer weekends! Have fun!

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  28. Hope you have fun with your friends. And I agree - anywhere for a vacation would be fun. And I always ask for help on the computers. I had fun! Thanks. sandie

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  29. "On Golden Pond!" I had forgotten about that movie. Thanks for the reminder. I just might enjoy watching it again soon. I'm hoping to get back to Hodgepodge next week myself.

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  30. Oh, I so remember using boyfriends and our son's friends as well for the very same thing. Now, we have to call professional movers if we want help with anything. :0)

    Well, I feel better now that you said Jaws as well. Great minds think alike. Right?

    Sounds like a fun visit in store. Enjoy!

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  31. I do remember getting friends and boy friends to move boxes and funiture. I guess we are not moving anymore so no need to call out troops! I hope you enjoy your company and enjoy the weather your way, I hope it's better than ours has been - way too much rain!!

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  32. One of my friends recently came into town for Spoletto and the week that he was here we couldn't meet up to even have a meal together between the shows he was seeing and my wacky work schedules :/

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  33. How could I forget asking for help for computer issues? I agree with you on the whole water perspective. Boating on a lake, swimming in a pool, once in a while dare the ocean. And for carrying anything heavier than a watermelon, I give a holler!

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  34. Enjoyed your answers. Have a wonderful weekend with your friends! Nothing like catching up!
    until next time...nel

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  35. totally agree with you on #2! hate all that "guy" stuff!

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  36. I couldn't think of any movies about the lake or the beach except Jaws. I settled on Finding Nemo and later realized it really wasn't about the beach or the lake. Enjoy the time with your friends and thanks for the fun questions. I really enjoy reading everybody's answers.

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  37. That's interesting my mother's favourite book and author and The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy!

    Damn I forgot On Golden Pond, that was a great film!

    Anyway, I joined in again, thanks it was good fun.

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  38. We made a few big trips but I hardly remember them. We only did a little boating when I was younger so I never became a big fan. Golden Pond is a great movie. I had beach on my mind! Hope your having a great time with your friends!

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