Wednesday, February 1, 2023

The Absolutely Amazing GOAT Hodgepodge

After a brief hiatus the Hodgepodge returns. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for the blogger before you. Here we go-

From this Side of the Pond
1. Tell us anything you want about your January. 

After nearly a month away from my blog I finally wrote a post on Monday recapping January (click here to read Picking Up Where We Left Off). As much as I love blogging I definitely needed a short break and am thinking there might be another built into my year somewhere down the road. I know that is somewhat contrary to how blogs are supposed to operate, but I see a lot of value in stepping out and coming back to it with fresh enthusiasm. 

2. 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 2023 list includes GOAT, inflection point, quiet quitting, gaslighting, moving forward, amazing, Does that make sense?, irregardless, absolutely, and it is what it is.

Which of these words/phrases do you use regularly? Which of these words would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why? Is there a word/phrase not on the list you'd like to add? 

Hmmm...is irregardless commonly used? It strikes me more as poor grammar rather than a word we overuse. For the record it should never be used, right? I had to look that up and it actually can be used in the same way as regardless. Who knew? 

None of the words on the list bug me too much, but if I have to pick one I'll go with gaslighting. Not so much the word, but the action itself. 

What might I add to the list? The word unprecedented would get my vote.  

3. February 2nd is Groundhog Day. What's something that feels repeated in your life right now? 

I feel like this has a negative connotation, as in habits you want to change but you never do for whatever reason. And I guess our days can sometimes feel like the same old same old, but in my mind that's not necessarily a bad thing. I like routine. I also like to break up routine so hope for some spontaneity and unexpected fun thrown into the mix too. 

4. What's a food you love that's named after a place?

There are many...Korean barbecue, Prosecco, Parmigiana-Reggiano, and Eton Mess to name just a few. 

5. What's the best season of the year to visit your part of the country? Tell us why. 

Well that depends on how you feel about heat. I mean HEAT. I live on a lake so the summer months are primetime here. Also the humidity so you need to be okay with that (there is a lake remember). I live in a mostly quiet small town but it's definitely busier in the summer months, particularly on the weekends. 

We always tell houseguests coming in the summer months to aim for at least one weekday on the lake to enjoy the solitude. If you love swimming, boating, and sunshine then summer here is for you.  

My favorite season on the lake though is autumn. Maybe that's because Autumn is my favorite season period, or maybe it's because I love the solitude that rolls in when the summer people head back to regular life. 

The humidity in September-October-November is down and we can spend time hiking to some of the many waterfalls in our area or wandering the quaint mountain towns nearby. 


The lake water is warm enough to swim well into October, it's quiet here in the fall, and it is absolutely beautiful. 

Yes I'm absolutely going to continue using the word absolutely. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I need to tweak a couple of things on my blog and want to know how you read blogs these days? Do you follow the blogger on social media to see new posts? Receive an email when a new post is up? Use some sort of app? Inquiring minds want to know...

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list...

14 comments:

  1. Welcome back! You've been missed! I follow blogs two ways. I really like getting an email that someone has posted. I follow a couple of blogs via Instagram BUT I have a tendency to actually read the blog if I get an email notification.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I agree: I hate when people say "these unprecedented times". Shut up! And re: blogging, I just know to check your site on Tuesday for Qs then I catch up on other posts. I guess some people might like an email. We have to keep blogging alive!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Beautiful and fun photos of your lake. We have fond memories of visiting friends on their lake in Michigan early in our marriage. The evening boat ride and the bats!! That was fun. Greg went on and on about irregardless ...what do you need the ir for? I use Feedly to let me know when someone I follow posts something new. I do follow a couple blogs by getting prompts in my email, too. Happy February to you!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I look forward to reading your post. I like your idea of taking a break and coming back refreshed. I also agree with having a routine. Your choice of foods are delicious too. Of course summer in the lake is wonderful but so is the beautiful Fall weather. Lovely photos. I use Feedly.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Autumn at the lake sounds so wonderful! I use Feedly to keep up with the blogs I enjoy reading.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi,
    I love that photo of you and your husband.
    I get an email notice when some of my favorite bloggers have a new post. I do like that option.

    ReplyDelete
  7. So glad you had a break and I'm glad you're back. I use a blog list gadget from blogger to keep up with bloggers. It's on my sidebar and it does a decent job.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your post title cracked me up! I had to Google "What is Eton Mess" but it looks delightful. Coming from the Land of Soul-Sucking atmosphere (Phoenix), I find Alabama's humidity not so awful. Like getting a sauna treatment from God without having to go to the spa. Oh, I also use Feedly.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Glad you're back but totally understand about needing a break now and again. Autumn by the lake sounds good. I prefer not to get e-mails about new posts as keeping on top of my inbox is an ongoing chore. I use the blogger reading list to see what new posts there are on blogger and a similar thing on wordpress blogs. I check these fairly regularly.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm really tired of "unprecedented" as well. I feel like at this point, pretty much everything is indeed "precedented"! Found your blog through someone else and will try to read along - probably just popping in now and again, especially since I'd like to start doing the hodgepodge. I do have email subscriptions to a few bloggers, but I try not to do too many of those since it just leads to my inbox getting full!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I used to use Feedly app but quit that a long while back. I do miss how it "used to be" when I read blogs more and felt connected to several ladies through blogging and how they'd share their lives. Not many blog anymore.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Joyce, I use Feedly. New blogs (ones I have chosen) come into the Feedly reader. I've been using it for over five years and it works great for me. I was so happy to see Hodgepodge pop in there this week!! Welcome back! xo

    ReplyDelete
  13. I didn't have time to participate last week (we were out of town) but enjoyed reading your post. I'm with you in that gaslighting needs to stop. And I too am tired of "unprecedented".

    The photo of you and your hubby is beautiful. Not only is it a good photo of both of you, but it speaks volumes about your love for one another.

    With your blog, I used to get emails. Now I've added it to my list of frequently visited blogs in my sidebar, where it updates when you post. This is the most convenient way for me to keep up with blogs I read regularly. Others of them, for whatever reason, still come to me via email.

    ReplyDelete