Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Hot Fun In The Summertime Hodgepodge

Welcome to another edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. We've had a few new faces join the party in recent weeks, so welcome especially to the newbies. I don't ask a lot here, just three little things-

  • Please only link if you've answered today's questions (I delete non-Hodgepodge links)
  • Add a link back here so anyone visiting your blog can play along too. The button code is in my sidebar so you can easily copy and paste. 
  • And finally, leave a comment for the blogger who linked before you because that's the neighborly thing to do. 
Now on with the show!


1.July 15th is National Give Something Away Day.  What can you give away? Will you?

From my vantage point mid-move I will tell you there is always something we can do without. In the past six months we've given away clothes, furniture, and assorted miscellany by the pound. I'm sure there will be plenty more once we're in our still-to-be built house, but for now I guess a smile or kind word will have to do. 

2. Do you have a mantra? Please share with the class if you feel comfortable doing so.

My mantra is simple...'Every little thing is gonna be okay.' 
Because it is. 

3. Who does the grocery shopping in your house? How many times a week do you shop? Do you make a list or pray for inspiration in the produce aisle?

I used to do all the grocery shopping, but in our temporary digs here with my mom we're all sharing the load. I'm sure once we're re-settled I'll go back to my weekly menu planning and list making. Grocery shopping is a chore I kind of enjoy. 

My preferred way is to plan meals for the week, and I definitely shop from a list, a) because I love making lists, and b) I'm over 50. Without a list you don't remember what you came for when you're over 50. Truth. 

4. Is there a TV show you're embarrassed to say you watch? You're going to tell us what it is, right?

Once upon a time I watched The Real Housewives of Orange County and later The Real Housewives of NJ. When it comes to 'reality' shows I might tune in for the early days, but I've never been a loyal fan of this sort of programming. The combination of too much yelling and ridiculously bad behavior wears me down. 

Probably my most recent embarrassment would be Sister Wives. I used to record it and watch while I ate my lunch, but once hubs retired he was not on board so I gave it up. 

I have to add as I was proofing this to publish my daughter mentioned The Bachelor/Bachelorette. I'm not watching the current season, and I didn't watch last season either, but I've seen more than a few of this one. 

5. A recent article listed fifteen words we should eliminate from our (written) vocabulary in order to sound smarter-

that, went, honestly, absolutely, very, really, amazing, always, never, literally, just, maybe, stuff, things, and irregardless

Of the fifteen, which word is your most overused?

I'm going with 'that'. When I edit my writing I find a lot of thats. Yes, believe it or not I start out with more words than you see here-ha! I try reading the sentence without the word, and 9 times out of 10 I don't need it. I know I also use the word 'just' a little too often, but I like it so will probably continue in my overuse. 

I might reduce the occurrence, but won't completely eliminate any on the list except irregardless. That word is mostly misused, and makes me twitch.  

6. So apparently dying your hair gray (in your youth!) is a thing right now. It's called 'The Granny Hair' trend. Your thoughts?

Why???? I don't get this trend at all. Perhaps if all the strands of my brunette self were brunette down to their roots, then gray would be a novelty? I have to say I don't get it, and I'm not a fan. 

7. A while back Buzz Feed asked members to share the most beautiful sentence they've read in a piece of literature. A hard thing to narrow down, at least for me, but let's try. What's one of the most beautiful sentences you've ever read in a piece of literature?

"Dear old world,' she murmured, 'you are very lovely, and I am glad to be alive in you."
~L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

8. Insert your own random thought here.

We move into our rental in less than three weeks. Between now and then we will log over 3200 miles in the car driving south then north then south then further south. We do complicated well. Or crazy? Maybe it's crazy we do well. 



26 comments:

  1. Good Morning Joyce. We answered the same on #5. I have a feeling those two words will be the most popular. The gray hair thing-so right! This week's questions were quite fun. Oh Anne of Green Gables, love the whole series, so many lines in that. I was having too much fun on my answers to pick only one great line from literature. So I went with the first one that came to mind. Thanks for coming up with another great eight!

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  2. Boy do I hear you on the making lists because we are over 50!!!!! Sometimes I scare myself with the brain fog!
    Love your beautiful sentence, I concur.
    Girl, you guys are making memories this summer! Where are you going for goodness sake??!!

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  3. It may be crazy, but it will all be worth it when you move into your new lakeside house! I had a draft about 90% composed for this week's hodgepodge but I don't have access to my laptop this morning and don't have time (or the mental capacity since I only got about 3-1/2 hours of sleep last night) to write one this morning. Next week? Hope so!

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  4. I'll have to agree, you do complicated very well! 3200 miles! That's a lot of riding... One of these days you're gonna' look back and marvel at these days :)
    Thanks for another great Hodgepodge!
    Kathy (Reflections by Kathy)

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  5. Your life does sound complicated and crazy, but it sounds exciting too. I can hardly imagine picking up from here and moving states away. Although, sometimes I think I'd like to.

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  6. Well, we share some similarities in some of our answers today. And, you are amazing in how well you handle "crazy." I think of you often as we are living our own kind of crazy right now but nothing as crazy as yours. :o))) Happy mid weekL!

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  7. I'm not sure what the granny hair thing is. I wouldn't every want to go gray as is! :)

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  8. I'm pretty sure it's LIFE that y'all do well. I find so much inspiration and encouragement from your experiences. I've seen Sister Wives but only a couple of times. I can't seem to get into reality television. I have watched Christley Knows Best a few times in the past. I'm wondering when he's going to come out of the closet. LOL I don't get the gray hair thing either. Won't it be interesting to hear what they have to say when all that gray comes on naturally? :)

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  9. That is a beautiful quote. I was thinking of Anne of Green Gables but couldn't come up with one. I love your mantra and for some reason I now have Bob Marley's "Every little thing's gonna be alright" in my head :)

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  10. I can't wait to read all the "most beautiful" quotes...

    & I cant wait to see how many answers are "real Housewives" :) haha

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  11. I always enjoy the Wednesday Hodgepodge because I get a chance to read other thoughts, opinions, etc., which also trigger memories I had forgotten. I think Anne of Green Gables quote was a good one.
    I read recently that irregardless has become acceptable, but I still find it irritating. And agree with you about that and just.
    Have a great day. I know you are the optimist in all your situations and will be happy for you when you are able to settle.

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    1. Joyce, I have to add that I think the word awesome is way overused and should have been on the list.

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  12. WOW...a lot of traveling in store for you! Have fun! And good luck with the move!

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  13. Can't imagine why your hubs wouldn't be on board with watching Sister Wives over lunch, or any time. Has he no taste for the sublime in daytime television ? For the record, I've never seen it. Lol.

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  14. This was fun. I am enjoying others' answers. Thank you for the party. found you from A Haven for Vee blog. : - )

    Have a wonderful day!

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  15. Heck, I can't remember what I need to get at the store without a list and I'm barely over 40. I can't even really blame mommy brain, as my boys are getting older and not so needy now.

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  16. I've never planned meals and it is something I hope to do when we are retired. Enjoyed reading your answers. Best of luck with your move in three weeks. Hopefully you will feel settled there while your home is being built.

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  17. That's a great mantra. Sister Wives would be great lunch time viewing! Maybe you can barter with an evening show. ha. This (your) new retirement lifestyle is scaring me. I'm kind of like my alone time. Just sayin' ;)

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  18. That's a great Mantra to live by!

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  19. Sister Wives was like a car accident along the highway. You didn't want to look, but you couldn't not look. I always felt so sorry for those women and just wanted to punch him in the nose!

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  20. Another Hodgepodge and another opportunity to read what a cross section of your readers have to say. Are you really an undercover statistician, writing a book on people's opinions? You could, you know!

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  21. I watched the B shows for a while too until they got so raunchy I couldn't stand seeing show. I hate the drama that goes along with fighting for someone's attention. Love the quote. I used to plan meals and buy groceries accordingly. These days I just plan for us to eat a meal at some point. Retirement is grand!!!

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  22. To be honest I don't get the attraction of reality shows like Real Housewives anywhere or the Bachelor/Bachelorette. Choosing to reorder your lives in a different location is a monumental task somewhat akin to engaging in a major battle. The best of battle plans last only so long as your first contact with the enemy. I think relocating is like that. Best of luck as you and Hubs battle through!

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  23. Oh, yes...definitely lists!!! I just think the bachelorette this season is a little trashy. I'm invested in it now, though, and since we don't have cable....
    I found a Hallmark series on Netflix yesterday with Andie McDowell: Cedar Cove. Pretty good...and not trashy! :)

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  24. That's a lot of mileage you're going to be doing! Love reading your answers but unfortunately too busy to take part this week :(

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  25. Awesome questions. You are definitely burning up the roads. I know you will be glad once you are settled.

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