Wednesday, May 27, 2020

We're All In This Hodgepodge Together

Welcome to the middle of the week and your friendly neighborhood Hodgepodge. If you've answered this week's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for the blogger linking before you. That's what good neighbors do.


1. The US of A celebrated Memorial Day this past Monday. Does your family have any military ties? If so, tell us about them.

Yes I do. My dad was a career Marine and my son-in-law is a surgeon in the Army. In addition we spent nine years living in Annapolis so we also hold the Navy in high regard. My dad is buried in Arlington National Cemetery and if you've never been I highly recommend a visit there. A beautiful peaceful place full of meaning, history, beauty, and the remains of so many of our nation's brave and beloved soldiers. 

2. Cole slaw, potato salad, baked beans, potato chips, mac and cheese, macaroni salad...your favorite BBQ side? How many of these do you make from scratch vs. buying from the deli?

This is a toughie. Why are food questions always the hardest for me to answer? I like all of those sides, but my two favorites are baked beans and cole slaw. If we're grilling burgers I want baked beans, and if it's BBQ I need a side of cole slaw. 

I don't make my own potato chips, but everything else on the list I prefer from scratch. I rarely if ever buy a salad or side dish from the deli.

3.  I enjoyed asking this question back when the Hodgepodge was a regular thing...Lake Superior State University posts a list each year of words they think should be banished from the Queen's English for misuse, overuse, and/or general uselessness. The 2020 list includes-quid pro quo, artisanal, curated, influencer, literally, I mean, living my best life, mouthfeel (word used by foodies to describe texture of food in their mouth), chirp (basically an insult, you can read more on the website), jelly (short for jealous), totes (short for totally), vibe, and OK Boomer (internet response from millenial to older generation).

Of the words/phrases listed which would you most like to see 'banned'?

I have never heard the word chirp used in this way so don't think I'd notice if it were banned. Same goes for OK Boomer and mouthful. I totes use jelly, I mean, and vibe so not going to vote those out either. I guess I'll say influencer because it sounds pretentious and who declares someone an influencer anyway?  

Somebody reading here is probably saying OK Boomer right about now-ha! 

4. I'm sure next year's list will be filled with words springing out of this weird season we're all in currently. What word or phrase associated with the Corona would you be happy to hear less often?

Unprecedented. Because is it? Wasn't there a pandemic about a hundred years ago we keep comparing with this current pandemic? Also it seems when someone behind a microphone tosses this one out if feels like they're doing it strictly for effect. 

I read a thread on Twitter asking this question and most answers were the predictable phrases we all think of...unprecedented, uncertain, we're all in this together, social distancing, flatten the curve, etc but my favorite was the mom who answered with 'What's for dinner?'  Ha! That's some truth right there! 

5.  The month of May wraps up in just a few days. Bid her adieu in ten words or less.

Life is rarely just one thing and May was no exception. 

Tornadoes struck, roses bloomed, a virus lingered, moms were loved. 
More than ten words but whatev. 

Hmmm...should whatev have made the list in question #3?

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Some of you follow my daughter's blog and/or her Youtube channel, but for those who don't she shares fun videos and insight into life in and around S. Korea. Been on a bit of a hiatus for the past three months (I don't need to explain why, right?) but she's back with a new post and video up this week.  It's fun to travel vicariously through her-

Her blog can be found here-Sincerely Shannon


20 comments:

  1. I grew up in Baltimore for the first part of my life...maybe till I was 6 before moving to Virginia. My mom's family lived there and every summer I would go and spend the summer with my grandmother and uncles.
    I watched your daughter's video yesterday...enjoyed it tremendously!

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  2. I always say I travel through everyone else since I really dont like to travel :) LOL
    I'm totes jelly... LOL... I may have said that myself a few times

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  3. I so enjoyed taking the tour with your precious Korean family. What a thrill it must be for you to watch it over and over and know they are doing well. Unprecedented! Yes, after a few times, it loses it's punch and we begin to question, is it really? Influencer! One of my granddaughters is an assistant to a fashion influencer in Dallas. She handles all the business arrangements between the influencer and companies who want her to help sale their products, among other things. It is interesting work, and I think the influencer is currently influencing over 680,000 Instagram followers. It at least pays well.

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    1. I hope I didn't hurt anyone's feelings. I know we've always had influencers (marketing, right?). It's the word as a descriptor I don't care for. I know your granddaughter is a wonderful girl!

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  4. I was glad I wasn't the only one who thought "influencer" was pretentious!! LOL
    Thankful for your dad and SIL's service ... and what an honor to have your father at Arlington. I have visited there several times - such a sacred place. Have a GREAT day!

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  5. Arlington National Cemetery is amazing and sobering to visit. How special that your dad is buried there. Our Son in law is a Marine "Once a Marine always a Marine". Hubbies father was in the army in WWII. Now I understand why your son in law is in South Korea. I'll come back and check out your daughter's video. I must live in a bubble since most of those words hadn't hit my radar or maybe I'm really good at toning things out. Hope the rest of May is kind to you and yours!

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  6. Arlington cemetery is indeed a beautiful and serene place to visit. Thanks to your son-in-law for his service and your beautiful daughter and grandsons for being there with him to inspire him every day. There are so many beautiful places in the world and South Korea was not one I ever thought about being so, but their video is lovely! Thanks for sharing that. (I love all the sides too, I just don't make them all.) And we all know the media will do anything to create more drama.

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  7. Ha I'd ban all those words including mouthfeel as it's listed not mouthful as you, understandably, mistyped. Although maybe I could use that one as many of the foods I dislike are down to texture so rather than just saying I don't like them I could say they don't have the right mouthfeel lol.

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    1. I've read it a hundred times and never caught that!! Thank you! I corrected it : )

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  8. So glad you keep us informed of some of the "strange" words of the year. Otherwise I would have no idea of most of them. Going now to watch Shannon's video, I also enjoy her blog. She is such a trooper and such a wonderful credit to her Dad and Mom.

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  9. I would love to visit Arlington National Cemetery. It is so moving when I see photos. Good for you making those BBQ side dishes. I don't know why I've never tried except that family members would make them for years and years. I must put them on my bucket list! LOL for OK Boomer. That is also funny about "What's for dinner." Love your May adieu. Thank you for sharing the video. What an experience they are having.

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  10. Great questions Joyce. Hopefully I can answer them and post when I get home this evening. Enjoyed your answers!

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  11. A fun Hodgepodge, Joyce! I watched Shannon's video and would like to know how much weight she carries with that huge backpack and the baby! Oh my goodness! My knees hurt just watching her! LOL I enjoyed your answers!

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    1. We like to say she's small but mighty : ) The baby and the carrier probably weigh almost as much as she does.

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  12. Arlington is indeed beautiful and peaceful and how special that your dad is there. Our state veterans cemetery is not far from us and, although it is not Arlington, it is also a beautifully serene place. One of our dear friends is buried there.

    I prefer making all the sides from scratch too (except potato chips). I will buy a deli potato salad occasionally, but much prefer to make my own when time allows.

    Thanks for hosting. Fun questions today!

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  13. Great take on 'influencer', Joyce. Reminds me of what Hollywood used to call a '10-percenter.' I look forward to 'meeting' your Shannon a little later; thanks for sharing her link. As ever, thank you for crafting these neat posers every Wednesday!

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  14. Oooo, I think I've found something we DO NOT have in common... I am not a fan of baked beans or coleslaw. Not that that would prevent us from BBQing together. ha.

    Loved Shannon's video! Those littles are growing so fast!

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  15. I enjoyed Shannon's video. I'm not a world traveler but I enjoy seeing exotic places through the eyes (and pocketbook!) of others!

    May. Yes, it's finally almost done. It was truly "one for the books" (along with the second half of March and all of April).

    I didn't hear the term "social influencer" until recently and realized that all of us who blog fall into that description. Hmm. That's a weighty thought.

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  16. Ha! I really appreciated your humor today...and I bet you appreciate your daughter's blog. What a great way to know how life is going over there!

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  17. I forgot to answer the questions this week!

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