Wednesday, October 23, 2013

An Uncommon Hodgepodge

Welcome to another edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge! Add your link at the end of my post and then hop around and chat with your neighbors.  Here are my answers-


1. When it comes to good manners, what two top your list of most important?

Saying please when you ask for something and thank you when you're given something (even if its something intangible such as verbal directions or the right of way).  I think if we could do this small thing the world would be a nicer place.  

Treat others as you would like to be treated.  

I miss common courtesy, and think the cell phone has to be one of the biggest contributors to its demise. Everywhere you go people are on the phone including church, graduations and other milestone celebrations, crossing the street, entering buildings, sitting in a quiet dark theater, while driving, even in the restroom stall one away from your own. ewwww!  Unless a patient is waiting on you to perform an organ transplant, I think you can safely put that phone conversation off until after you've peed. 

2. Let's open a proverbial can of worms...Common Core.  Are you familiar with the term (talking education reform in the USA)? If so, care to share your thoughts? In your opinion, what is one of the biggest issues schools (in your home country) face today?

I'm familiar with the term. I guess my personal philosophy is that children are not products and cannot be managed as such. And why do we always want to mandate something then figure out if its good or bad after the fact, especially when it comes to children? Why can't we have a period of time where the standards are tried and tested by fire-in the actual classroom by lots of different teachers with lots of different teaching styles and student populations-before we insist everyone adopt them.  

I had a longer answer here, but it seemed like too much so I'll just leave it at that. 

3. Name a celebrity whose fashion sense you admire and share why.

Jennifer Anniston. Her style is casually cool, trendy but not overly so, plus she can rock a pair of blue jeans or a more sophisticated look for evening. 

4. How are you affected by the changing seasons?

For the most part, I enjoy the changing seasons. I do think there is a small sadness in the air this time of year, and perhaps that's why God added so much glorious color to the month of October. I love the first few snows of the season, but could do without the springtime blizzard.  I start to feel restless if winter lingers into late March or early April, but mostly I'm happy to live in a state with four seasons.  

5. Scariest book you've ever read?

The Red Dragon by Thomas Harris.  For the record I try hard not to read anything disturbing. I love mysteries, but not the creepy serial killer variety, and this one was definitely creepy scary. Plus I was living alone at the time so BIG mistake. 

The book was originally published in the early 80's and was the first book to feature Dr. Hannibal Lecter.  If I were to pick that book up today I'd put it immediately back on the shelf, because we're all familiar with Hannibal Lecter in the year 2013.  Back in 1981 he was introduced via this book. Not to spoil anything in it, but this was also the day of taking your film somewhere for processing, and after I read that book it was hard for me to ever drop off film without flashing back to this story. FYI-the book was even creepier than the movie, and that's saying something.

6. What time of day are you most hungry?  What's your go-to snack?

Late afternoon. I would love to eat dinner at that time, because that's really when I'm hungry, but since hubs is never home at 4:30 in the afternoon I wait.  I try not to forage.  I don't always succeed, but I try. Sometimes I'll make a cup of tea and that takes the edge off, but if I start rummaging through the pantry all bets are off.  9 almonds doesn't cut it.  This is why I don't buy chips, because if there were chips in my pantry at 4 in the afternoon that's likely what I'd unsuccessfully try to resist.  This time of year I will often have an apple which isn't bad as far as snacks go.  I'll cut it into slices which somehow makes it more satisfying.

7. Do you lean more towards being too needy or too independent? Which do you find harder to deal with in others?

My family (as in my mom and sibs) will tell you that from the time I was a tiny tot my most often uttered phrase was 'I can do it myself'.  There is an upside and a downside to independent people, but I think its mostly good.  I know there are times I make hubs crazy by resisting help, but when you have a spouse who travels a lot, and you move a lot, independence serves you well.  

If a person is truly needy I have all the patience in the world for them.  If they are spoiled needy then I find that more difficult.  Independent people are easier, unless of course they want to do something contrary to my way of doing something.  Ha!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Something I love to do every year is pack a shoebox or two for Operation Christmas Child. Yes, I know it's still 62 days until Christmas (not that I'm counting), but the National Shoebox Collection Week is November 18th-25th, and that really is just around the corner.  

You'll find everything you need to know about what to pack, how to pack it, what to pack it in, and where to drop or send your shoebox on the Samaritan's Purse website (click here for details). 

Honestly this is such a wonderful ministry to children all over the world, and it's easy and fun to fill a shoebox. Humbling too, to realize how excited a little child somewhere will be to get a brand new toothbrush or their very own bar of soap.  

You select the age range and gender for your box, and I almost always buy for girls because that's what I know best. I buy a few essentials, but also some fun things like a pink purse or glittery crayons and stickers. You can even track your box now by printing a label at home, and then once it's delivered you'll get an email letting you know where your box was sent. 

I encourage you to visit the website and see what it's all about.  You can bless a child with a shoebox, and in the filling of that shoebox I think you'll find you're blessed right back.  







30 comments:

  1. I've got two boxes sitting on my dining room table right now! We love filling them, and sending a box to our sponsor child as well! :-) I love Jennifer Anniston too. Seriously, I think our answers are so similar... we really should have a Hodgepodge Retreat some time! :-)

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  2. enjoyed the hodgepodge this week, hope your week is great

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  3. AMEN! to Operation Christmas Child!

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  4. Operation Christmas Child is such a wonderful ministry. I used to participate in it with my Bible Study group in AL. We'd collect items and pack and ship hundreds of boxes. I always enjoyed trying to imagine how excited the kids would be when they opened their boxes. I think you've made me decide to participate, again. Late afternoon is when my tummy starts growling, too. Thankfully, we eat dinner around 5 PM.

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  5. Its been a couple of years since I did a shoe box, I need to do one this year!

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  6. I agree, I got a phone call while being waited on at the P.O. yesterday and I didn't answer it! Jennifer Anniston is a wonderful choice, she always looks nice. Smart choice on an apple for a snack! Great answer for #7 on being needy or independent. I loved doing the shoe boxes. If I don't get around to it I always, always send a nice donation for the boxes, it's a wonderful project.

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  7. I so agree with you on the cellphone .... it's like they're an attachment these days.

    I will have to check into the shoe box - gift giving!!!

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  8. My Wee Worship (3 & 4 yr.old) Program at church also does Operation Christmas Child. Each child brings in some small items and we pack them. However, it can be challenging with the younger ones as to why this particular item is for another child, but in the end the child does understand -a little-LOL! I could have written a book on answer to question #2.

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  9. Ditto on the cell phone manners. When did we decide that we were so important that we have to be available every second??
    Forage, HA, love that!!

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  10. Operation Christmas Child sounds like a wonderful program! As for cellphones, I completely agree. And while at times guilty myself, I try to remember life is what is happening in front of me, not through my phone. That thought makes me think of two articles I've read on the issue: The first made the point that, with easier video recording (ie: with phones and such), parents generally miss actually SEEING their kids performances and such because they are so busy filming it/watching it through a phone screen. And really, how often are you going to watch your 3-year-olds dance recital again on your phone? I think the memory is the live performance. The second thought was that phones, period, are rude. The idea that someone calls you at a time convenient to them and you should drop everything you are doing to answer. Given most our calls are now telemarketers, who call as I'm trying to deal with kids or prep dinner, I tend to agree on that point - and basically don't answer our phone anymore. If it's urgent, people leave a message.

    Thanks again for the questions!

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  11. Jennifer Anniston was a great choice! Style seems effortless with her, and I envy that. I think that Angelina Jolie is the same way. Classiness just seems to ooze from them through the styles they select.

    Have a great day!

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  12. Thanks for another great set of questions! I don't know how you do it, but I'm glad you do. I always enjoy reading your answers, as well!

    Just hearing the term "Common Core" makes my blood pressure rise...and most people have no clue! Sigh.

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  13. My girls have done the shoebox ministry a few times through their school when they were younger. So much fun.

    I agree on the please and thank you and I think we all need to put our cell phones down sometimes.

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  14. Filling a shoebox or two and thinking about the child who receives it is always fun. It's amazing how just a little box of gifts can bring joy to not only the receiver but the giver too!
    2 - 4 pm are a battle everyday for me - you're right about a cup of tea, it does help. But, a cup of tea and a cookie or two , that's what I really want! ;)

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  15. Well, we are in 100% agreement on the cell phone manners. Goodness!

    And, we pretty much said the same thing about needy versus independent.

    Our family has done Operation Christmas Child for years and years and now I enjoy it with my little Princess.

    Happy rest of the week!

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  16. I agree with you on the cell phone thing, it seems it's so important to everyone to be checking it every minute of the day. Every time my brother comes to town he always seems to be attached to his. The other day, he actually told us all to hold on while he took a call in the car. It makes me feel so not important when people do that.

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  17. I love Operation Christmas Child... & seeing how amazingly big it has gotten. I remember when it first started.. & yes, that makes me sound old :)

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  18. I have 4 boxes ready to go for Operation Christmas Child. My daughter volunteers at the big warehouse in Charlotte where the boxes get separated, and boxed into larger boxes for shipping overseas, etc. It is a wonderful, EASY way to brighten a child's holiday. I encourage everyone to take part!

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  19. I like Jennifer Anniston's style too, especially her hair :) I love participating in Operation Christmas Child. The past couple of years we were able to track where our packages went and that was extra nice.

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  20. I cannot believe how close our answers were this week. I had thought since last week about my random thought and decided on Sunday to do Operation Christmas Child....and there it was on yours. It is one of my more favorite things to do during the holidays. It really kicks off the spirit for me.

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  21. Our answers are very similar, again. Thank you for pulling this together for us each week!!

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  22. Hi Joyce! Funny, your answer to #5!.. My son still lives at home with me, but still, if I watch a late night scary movie, then I hear every little noise.. and I can't sleep until I've stayed up even LATER, to watch something FUNNY, so that I can finally fall asleep! (0; Thanks for hosting Wednesday Hodgepodge, and have a great week! ~tina

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  23. I'm also hungry at around 3PM i like to have my daily tea & cookies, just like my grandpa used to!
    Jennifer Aniston is pretty chic! Love her! Although i wasn't one of those people who copied her 1994 hairstyle. ;)

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  24. I've heard of the shoe box thing, it sounds like fun. :) I'm going to sleuth it out here!

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  25. I'm doing my very first shoe box for Operation Christmas Child right now. It is very humbling to think how these little objects that I stock up on can be a real treat for some child that has none.

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  26. I do the Marine's collection for Children. It's pretty big up here. I also take out $100.00 in one dollar bills and tuck them in an envelope in my purse. Then when I see The Salvation Army kettles I put a dollar in all season long. If I run out, I will get more.

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  27. I've participated in Operation Christmas child in the past. It would be a great idea for my Difference Makers; I'll have to share it with them.

    I don't mind when Mr.4444 is out of town and I can eat dinner at 4pm!

    Thanks for hosting :)

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  28. always nice to see a comment from you JOYCE!!!

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  29. You, my friend, are a genius! Thanks for a great hodgepodge this week.

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  30. Oh my goodness - late afternoon for me too. We actually usually eat dinner at 5:00 for that reason. If we don't eat then, everyone fills up on snacks and then dinner wouldn't be until way too late.

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