Welcome to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge! I'm thankful for all the wonderful bloggers I've 'met' through this fun little mid-week hop, and I appreciate the chance to think, laugh, and share with you all as we Hodgepodge on.
1. Are you settling for something?
I looked up the meaning of the word settle, and found phrases such as make-do, and put up with, so yes I suppose I am settling for a certain amount in my life. I imagine most of us settle in one way or another. Sometimes settling is the best you can do, and in the end its not always a bad thing. Less than the best maybe, but not necessarily undeserving of our gratitude.
For instance I don't get to live in the same city as my girls, which is something I would absolutely love, but I'll settle for, and make the best of, whatever time we do get to spend together. Hubs and I would love to be living on a lake down south, but for now we'll settle for the New Jersey countryside, grateful for a job and a home we love. My house could use a deep clean, but girls are home for just a few days, so I'll settle for something less than a deep clean in order to enjoy my family.
Life isn't always perfect, but less than perfect can be pretty okay too.
2. It wasn't that long ago almost every store in the US locked doors and turned out lights on Thanksgiving Day. This year many will be open all day Thursday, giving shoppers a jump start on 'Black Friday'. In your opinion is this a good thing or a not so good thing? Will you be shopping on Thanksgiving Day?
I am not a fan. At all. Is there anything wrong with our country taking a collective breath once or twice a year? Stepping back from the frenzy, and the pace, and the crazy? I thought this blogger said it so well...worth a read if you haven't read it before.
http://themattwalshblog.com/2013/11/17/if-you-shop-on-thanksgiving-you-are-part-of-the-problem/
3. Speaking of shopping...I saw a recent article on the twelve best shopping cities in the world. In order they are-New York, Tokyo, London, Kuala Lumpur, Paris, Hong Kong, Buenos Aires, Vienna, Dubai, Madrid, Milan, and Seoul.
Ever shopped in any of the cities listed? In which city would you most like to pull out the plastic or cold hard cash?
I've shopped in New York, London, Paris, Hong Kong, and Dubai. I suppose if I can only choose one I'm going with Kuala Lumpur, because I like saying Kuala Lumpur. Plus I've always wanted to see those crazy buildings connected by a skywalk high above the earth. They're called The Petronas Towers...if you ever saw the film Entrapment with Sean Connery they were featured there.
For the record, I'd never turn down a trip to London, Paris, or Milan-shopping or otherwise. Just sayin'.
4. When did you last dine by candlelight?
Last Friday night actually. Right here at home in my very own kitchen. I broke my rule of no-cooking on a Friday because hubs had been home exactly one day in a two week time span, and it felt like a home cooked meal was in order. I put a table cloth on the table, lit candles, and made a nice meal. It was a lovely way to spend a Friday night, and I think it needs to happen more often.
5. What do you have too much of?
Hmmm....dust? Always just a little too much of that around here.
6. The Hunger Games...are you a fan? Did you read the book(s)? Will you/have you see the movie? Will you/have you seen Catching Fire?
Definitely a fan! I loved the books, and enjoyed the first movie. The second book was my favorite of the three, so I'm looking forward to seeing Catching Fire with my family on Friday or Saturday. Daughter2 saw it last weekend with her cousin, but she is happy to see it again.
7. Share your plans for Thanksgiving Day. The who, the where, the what..especially the what! As in what's for dinner? If you're one of my International visitors, whose homeland doesn't celebrate American Thanksgiving (the whole world doesn't ya know!) then still tell us your plans for Thursday.
Just the four of us here this year, and we're all looking forward to lots of wonderful food, naps on the couch, and just hanging out in the same space and time. It doesn't happen often enough these days. We're still fixing turkey (breast) with all the trimmings-cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, brussel sprouts with pancetta, cranberry sauce, squash casserole, corn pudding, and creamed onions. This year we're trying Pioneer Woman's Pumpkin Cream Pie for dessert.
Right now all four of us are signed up for a local 5K Turkey Trot, but I'm guessing the weather will be a factor in who actually decides to join the 'fun'. We'll watch the Macy's Parade on TV, and then lots of football throughout the day. We'll probably eat around 4 so there is still time for a late night turkey sandwich. It's not Thanksgiving without a late night turkey sandwich.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
I posted this on my Facebook page earlier this week. It's not a new story, but it was new to me, and is a wonderful reminder that one person doing good, doing the right thing in the midst of unspeakable awfulness, can truly make the world a better place.
To read more of his amazing story click here.