Wednesday, October 8, 2014

The Wonderful Thing About Hodgepodges Is Hodgepodges Are Wonderful Things

Welcome to this week's edition of the Hodgepodge. If you've answered the questions, add your link at the end of my post. Also, please be sure you've added a link back here somewhere in your post, in case your readers want to join the party too. You'll find the code for our cute button on my sidebar. 

Do try to say hello to whoever linked before you, because that's the neighborly thing to do here on a Wednesday. Okay, here we go-


1. Do you manage your own money or do you have a financial planner who helps in some way? Do those kinds of conversations stress you out? A lot or a little?

We do a bit of both. We work with our financial planner to manage the big picture. Do the conversations stress me out? I don't know if 'stress me out' is the right phrase...it's more like I have brain strain after we've spoken to them.  Like I need to go lie down with a cool cloth on my forehead. All those numbers y'all. And percents and pie charts and other math related jargon. Not my love language. 

2. The second week of October is Pet Peeve week. Off the top of your head share TWO of your current pet peeves.

I don't think I have a lot of pet peeves, but here are two that sprang to mind-

People who leave their shopping carts in the middle of a parking space instead of walking the literal three feet to a cart return. 

People who drive S-L-O-W in the passing lane, which in America would be the left lane. I mention that because it seems so many drivers don't know this. They think it's A-OK to pick any old lane and drive. It's not. Left lane=passing lane. 

3. What is one thing you'd like to learn right now, this very week if you could?

Calligraphy. Do you know what calligraphers charge to address wedding invitations??? Yowza! Many years ago I attempted to teach myself, but then let it fall by the wayside. I have nice handwriting, and it's something I enjoy doing, so I'm going to see if I can pick this back up. I'm betting there's a YouTube instructional video out there somewhere too. 

4. How concerned are you about the health related news concerning Ebola? How about Enterovirus D68?

On a personal level, as far as me actually contracting Ebola, that worry is low. I have not traveled to the countries primarily affected or knowingly had contact with anyone who has. That being said we do travel a lot, so the idea of diseases spreading via air travel percolates in the back of my mind from time to time. 

The Enterovirus doesn't worry me quite so much because it primarily affects children and teens. Even if adults catch the virus we typically, over time, have built up much greater immunity and are able to fight it. I do have a daughter teaching school and know she is vigilant with washing hands, doling out Kleenex, and wiping down desks. Teachers are also part mom-part nurse-part many many things. 

We live in a global society in the 21st century, so those in charge of such things need to have a plan as to how they communicate with the general public. I understand they don't want to unnecessarily alarm citizens, or create panic, but we also need accurate information when these types of issues start making headlines.  

5. Garfield, Nemo, or Tigger...your favorite orange cartoon character?

Tigger, because the book in which he originated (Winnie-the Pooh) will always hold a place near and dear to my heart. Plus Tigger is an optimist and I admire that trait in people as well as tigers. 

6. I'm going to see Gone Girl with my neighborhood book club this week. So often books made into film are disappointing. What's a book turned film you thought was well done, in that the casting was 'like you pictured' when you read the book, and the film plot remains mostly true to the book plot?

I'm curious to see the film because I did not love the book like so many other readers did. I loved the first half of the book, and then it turned for me. Daughter2 saw the movie over the weekend and said it was pretty intense, but she hadn't read the book beforehand. 

If I see a movie before reading the book, then I don't care as much about casting as if I've done it the other way round. If I read a book first I care much more about the casting and especially staying true to the plot. Also, if I see a film soon after having read the book I'm more invested in how true the story is to the original. If years pass between the reading and the seeing then I don't seem to mind changes quite so much. 

Some books I thought were done well in their conversion to film were Gone With the Wind, Little Women, Jurassic Park, and The Help. 

7. What is one story your family always tells about you?

Stories told about me generally mention one of three things-

My love of words from a young age. 

My stubborn streak. 'I can do it myself' was an oft repeated declaration of mine from the time I could talk.  

My inability to ride in a plane-train-car-boat-amusement park anything- without losing my lunch. 

You do know when I say 'lose my lunch' that's a figure of speech, right? 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Someone sent this to hubs recently, and it's worth a look, even if you're not into cycling. Amazing!! I know that word is overused, but Danny McAskill has nerves of steel, and talent to match. Plus the scenery is positively breathtaking...makes me want to book a trip to Isle of Skye, pronto. 


26 comments:

  1. I was saying to my hubby on the drive from Canada how respectful Americans are when driving because they keep the left lane open. Trucks passing however would be another pet peeve but I had already used my 3. Thanks for hosting this blog. I love visiting.

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  2. Loved the questions for the week. I really had to think on them. Loved your random thought. What an amazing picture.

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  3. I LOVE how you answered #5. Including Tigers as you did.

    And now that you mentioned the passing lane --- it brings to mind how irked I get when drivers use the on ramp to a freeway going only 30 miles and hour and I can't pull out from that lane because cars are in the lane beside me and I have to brake to slow down. When, all along they have every chance to speed up to the speed limit to merge...they don't!! lol

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  4. Oh, yeah. The whole "being too lazy to walk the buggy where it belongs" is high on my list, too. The Help was pretty true to the book, too...I forgot about that one.

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  5. Wow...that video is amazing! I want to go there, too...STAT! I agree with you, "The Help" was spot on. I could watch it over and over, again. Yeah...I've heard some stories about my stubborn streak, as well. ;)

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  6. I agree with your pet peeves! And, as I said in my post I look forward to hearing your thoughts about the Gone Girl movie. Are you hiring a calligrapher for the invitation envelopes? My Dad's friend was a calligrapher and did our invitations as a gift… the actually invitation. He did one, and then I went and had it reproduced. It was beautiful!

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  7. Oh definitely the carts and the passing lane. Your answers regarding the virus and Ebola were my thinking. We have traveled a lot in the past, but I think I am just about done with the planes now. Plane trips were hard for me too and I just had to suck it up and enjoy.
    I couldn't think of too many movies that stuck true to the book, but you are right about Little Women and The Help.
    On the topic of finances, so many things about wedding planning put a strain on the pocketbook!
    I will have to watch the video on my computer.
    Thanks for the questions and Happy Wednesday to you.

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  8. Being a car sick person every day of my life, I totally get what 'lose your lunch' means :)

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  9. Agree with you on both your pet peeves. And, yes, calligraphy is so EXPENSIVE and our daughter got married 12 years ago!

    Wishing you a great mid-week!

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  10. I watched the video. I wouldn't want to say that Danny McAskill is a lunatic, but no kidding... Anyway, when the kids were little, we attended a church that was an hour from our home. Our 4 year old 'lost his lunch' every Sunday on the way there. We had to give it up after a while.

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  11. Yes, Jurassic Park is a great book to movie conversion! I read it in 8th grade right before the movie came out and was surprised how good a job they did.

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  12. I'd forgotten about how accurately The Help was transferred to the Big Screen. Awesome video, but my fear of heights is so bad that I just couldn't watch it when he started getting up there.

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  13. I thought it was funny that you loved Tigger, while he tends to get on my nerves :) I love all of the Winnie the Pooh characters, except Tigger.

    I almost chose Gone With the Wind for my answer to # 6. I enjoyed the movie just as much as the book, and that's awesome considering how long ago it was made.

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  14. Oh my! I wouldn't hike that, let along ride a bike on it. But it was beautiful up there.

    Gone With the Wind. I agree they did do a good job with that.

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  15. Good point on the shopping carts, I agree with you on that one! I like your answer on Calligraphy, I couldn't think of anything! The video is amazing. Our Cairn Terrier Skye originates from the Isle of Skye....that's how I got her name!

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  16. Wow to that video. Danny McAskill must have a death wish....like so many of those thrill seekers. Whew!!

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  17. One of my favorite book adaptations is Under The Tuscan Sun. I also liked the Eat Pray Love Movie a lot more than the book. Seeing Gone Girl this weekend :-)

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  18. Funny, I almost said "calligraphy" as my thing to learn this week! But I don't have anything pressing, like a wedding, to give me the incentive - just a hobby I'd like to learn some time! Right there with ya on the shopping carts too - unless the stall is really far away and you have a car full of kiddos/babies... in my mind, from every vantage point you should have three cart stalls within easy walking distance. Sometimes they are not well planned out. Just sayin...

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  19. I found that I could do pretty decent calligraphy (okay it PASSES for calligraphy) after practicing with a calligraphy pen. My friend Diane, whom I lost to cancer last year, had beautiful calligraphy. I had forgotten that until I was rereading old cards in my closet at saw one from her. Brought tears to my ears reading scripture so beautifully scrolled on paper.

    Isle of Skye--gorgeous. Booking a flight as soon as I can.

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  20. That bicycle rider's elevator does not go all the way to the top floor. The video is impressive all the same.

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  21. I watched that video earlier this week. Simply amazing! I even called my boys over to watch it. Extreme talent!

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  22. Thanks for the questions!

    Left behind shopping carts would be on my list too.

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  23. Oh yeah, abandoned shopping carts are totally annoying! I used to 'practice' calligraphy, it was fun and frustrating at the same time. :)

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  24. Breezy is a calligrapher of the self-taught sort. It quite lovely but she doesn't think so. But we're all self-critical to a fault so... I can't stand it when they leave the carts in the middle of the aisle to look at something on the shelf. Just put the cart next to the shelf. Sheesh. :)

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  25. Like you, I can't handle carnival rides, and "losing my lunch" is NOT just a figure of speech. It's not pretty.

    As for the biking video, that is remarkable! I didn't know people could jump their bikes over terrain like that!

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