Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Young at Heart in the Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week's edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer the questions on your own blog then add your link at the end of my post.  Be sure to go say hi to all your friends and neighbors...or at least to the blogger who linked before you!

Here we go-


1.  I'm celebrating a birthday this week so a question relating to aging feels appropriate. Douglas MacArthur is quoted as saying, 'You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt;  as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope, as old as your despair.' Would you agree? If not, why not?

Mostly I agree, certainly from the standpoint of mentally how old one feels. There are however, some physical changes that happen to our bodies as we age that all the faith, hope and self-confidence in the world can't prevent. That's when good habits, great genetics, and right eating and exercise matter.

2. What remarkable feat, interesting piece of trivia, or historical event occurred on your birth day and month? Not necessarily your same birthyear, just the same date/same month.

Our National Debt officially began on my birthdate back in 1789. Hey-you don't get to be seventeen trillion in the hole overnight-ha! Alexander Hamilton, then Sec of the Treasury, began negotiating a 'temporary' loan with one of the two existing banks in business back then. Coincidentally he helped found one of them, The Bank of NY. 

The deal went through in February of 1790, and the govt. successfully borrowed $19,608.81. Apparently we now pay that amount in interest about every 2.4 seconds. Boggles the mind, doesn't it? 

3. Describe a time or circumstance where you wanted to 'have your cake and eat it too.'

How about my birthday, when I'd literally love to have a great big piece of chocolate cake, but don't want the number on the scale to change? Is that even possible? I'll let ya know-ha! 

4. What's something you do that makes you feel young? Something that makes you feel old?

Young? Swimming makes me feel young, and carefree to boot, which is a bonus.
Old? Trying to read anything at all without my glasses on. Sigh. 

5. When did you last do something that was 'a piece of cake'?

I drove in and out of Philadelphia a couple of weekends ago, and that turned out to be a piece of cake. My mom and I went to an event at the Wells Fargo Center, and getting there and back, in and out, etc was so much simpler than I thought it would be.  You never know how Friday night city traffic is gonna roll, but we had no problems at all. 

6. Beef, wine, and cheese all improve with age. What else would you add to that list? (not necessarily food or beverage)

Blue jeans, oak trees, our little MG, and how comfortable I feel in my own skin. 

7. If I were to have a giveaway when we hit Volume 200 in the Hodgepodge, what should I give away? By my calculations we'll hit Volume 200 on November 26th, the day before Thanksgiving, which means whoever wins would have whatever it is by Christmas.

I'm curious to see how everyone answers this one. I have an idea of something I think would be fun, and reflective of the weekly Hodgepodge, but will wait to share until I see what you all have to say. 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I was going to post a photo here, but the cord connector thingymabob on the computer appears to be stripped. It's been working a little hit or miss now for a while but I couldn't get it to connect at all today. Aarrgh! Technology! Now there's something that has the power to make me feel both old and young.  





33 comments:

  1. As you can tell, I am up very early for a flight today! Sure it's possible, enjoy the cake and have a fabulous birthday. I love that swimming makes you feel young. Don't get me started on reading glasses, Mark and I have them in most rooms of the house....LOL! Blue jeans, great answers......

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  2. I just love the weekly Hodge Podge. Thanks for all the time and effort you put into your questions. Have an awesome birthday week!

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  3. You have to go for the chocolate cake all the way...you can work it off tomorrow! Good for you in making it through Philly unscathed. I'm not as confident about driving into downtown ATL on Friday night. The traffic will be horrendous with 2 shows back-to-back. Getting nervous already!

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  4. Ah, I KNEW you had some ideas!!!
    We are on the same cake eating/scale weighing page. Grrrr.
    I was trying to read an address in the phone book yesterday and I could barely read with or without my glasses on. This does not bode well.
    Like your #6.
    Happy Birthday to you, have that cake!!!!!

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  5. #6....blue jeans....I shoulda thought of that. What a great answer. You rock. You've really piqued my curiosity on your random.

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  6. Happy birthday and may all your cake bites be calorie-free today. We all know they are. It's a perk to birthday cake. All you can eat, no changes in any numbers, no elastic needed.

    Blue jeans, of course! I have to get new ones before Kansas because I've lost a size (that's the great news) but I really love the feel of old washed denim, all broken in just right. Aaah. Well, this is a nice problem to have.

    And the $19,xxx debt? Wow. How many times would Hamilton have rolled over in his grave to know what the debt is now?????

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  7. Go ahead, enjoy that chocolate cake, birthday calories don't count--I say so :)
    Trying to read (or do anything else) without glasses--what a pain! I can't believe I didn't think of that one.
    The National Debt began on your birthday? Oh, let's not even go there!!!

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  8. The cake/scales. That I understand. And oh yes! Blue jeans. They are oly get better with time!

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  9. I love that we both answered blue jeans as something that gets better with age!!! Have a wonderful day!

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  10. Enjoy your birthday, Joyce!! They are to be celebrated each year, without apology!

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  11. Wishing you a mighty wonderful birthday all day! Yes, those are two events that happened on this day that have had opposite contributions. One took away from the stability of our economy; your worth on the other hand has added immeasurably to those who have the pleasure to know, love and just be blogging buddies with you. Eat that piece of cake!

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  12. Yes, it is certainly mind boggling about the national debt. Too bad you have to share the celebration each year. ;-) I've tried the literal cake and it definitely doesn't work as part of a healthy living plan. Lol Thanks for the Hodgepodge, Joyce.

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  13. Enjoyed this as always! Have a wonderful celebration, and EAT that cake without looking back. Didn't have a chance to Hodgepodge (yet...I "might" get around to it) but the first thing that popped into my bed about what improves with age is blue jeans, lol. Enjoy your day!

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  14. Ah yes, trying to read small words these days definitely makes me feel old. I remember when trying to put some thread through a needle was easy. Have a wonderful birthday, Joyce! Thanks for always putting together a fun Hodgepodge.

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  15. Great answers! Have a happy birthday and eat the cake! Life is too short!

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  16. Happy birthday! I agree technology makes me feel very old.

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  17. Eat the cake and enjoy every bite! I had lemon raspberry cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory on my birthday and since it will be the only piece I indulge in this year, I savored every bite :-)

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  18. I hear you on the technology bit. Isn't that just so aggravating!

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  19. One must always have cake for your birthday!

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  20. Happy Birthday, Joyce.... hope you have a great day.

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  21. How comfortable we are in our own skin is a great one! Just this weekend at the wedding, I was asked if I wanted to join some gals on a hiking trip and without even blinking an eye, I responded with a "no thanks, that does not interest me at all." ha ha

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  22. I love your answer to #4. I love how carefree I feel when I swim.
    I have an eye appointment first of October. Last year the doc said I have 20/20 vision with my glasses on. We'll see how it goes this year.

    Let us know how your birthday goes and I hope it's awesome!

    Happy Birthday!!

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  23. Oh, Happy Birthday to you! I just could not get to the Hodgepodge yesterday. I had a lengthy meeting with my decorator and that pretty much consumed my day. I sure did miss it but I'll plan to be right back with it next week. Hope your day is extra special!

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  24. I decided to be a player this week. Thanks for hosting.
    Successful traffic on a road trip - that's is a remarkable thing in today's world of traffic jams.
    Blue jeans - the age ok up to a point and if you don't wash them, well they can get over ripe.

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  25. Happy Birthday too. Congrats on growing this hop. I haven't been around in awhile, but I had it on my to do list for awhile now. I will be sure to help you promote it to reach your goal. ;)

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  26. We had early release at school today so I get to read and comment before Friday! LOL I hope you had/have a wonderful birthday! We always had to go back to school after Christmas break on mine. We still do most of the time. Good thing I don't pay attention to them anymore. LOL

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  27. Happy Birthday! Hope the cake is fabulous! ;)

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  28. If you don't get on the scale, it will not change!! Have the cake! It's your Birthday!!

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  29. Happy Birthday! Thank you for all your hard work making the Hodgepodge so fun! I hope you have a fantastic year ahead!

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  30. Happy birthday to you. Eat the chocolate cake and go swimming!!

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  31. Thanks for another great set of questions. Also, thank you for visiting my blog and leaving a comment. I hope that you have a spectacular birthday this week. Have a blessed time!

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  32. Oh, there's nothing better than birthday cake, so go ahead & enjoy it! Happy birthday!

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