Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Drivers Start Your Hodgepodge

This week's Wednesday Hodgepodge marks our 500th episode. That's a whole lotta Hodgepodging, wouldn't you say? 

Yes, yes I would. 

3,122 questions to be precise. The first 306 episodes had seven questions plus a random thought, but then I got smart (or ran out of steam!) and backed it down to five plus a random thought. Pretty sure that's why we're still here lol. I did have a nice long break in the middle somewhere, but Covid brought me out of retirement, and here we are, still blogging away. 

If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave comments for the other folks there, but particularly for the blogger before you. Comments keep the blog wheels turning. Here we go-

From this Side of the Pond

1. Last time you drove/flew 500 miles (ish)? What's a place you'd like to visit that lies approximately 500 miles from your current location? 

We have done a whole lot of driving in the past several months. A whole whole lot. And we've got more coming up because that's how we roll. Literally. 

Mid-March we drove Daughter1 and her crew back to their TN home, which is less than 500 miles one way, but more than 500 miles round trip. Does that count? Hubs and I drove well over 500 miles late September on our trip up the California coast, and we drove almost exactly 500 miles in July to a wedding in Virginia, so yeah. Plenty of road tripping here. 

Somewhere I'd like to go? Maybe somewhere in Florida? Just head south for 500 miles, set up my beach chair, and put my toes in the sand.

2. Tell us about a time recently it felt like you were 'racing against the clock'. 

I can't say I've been racing the clock here lately. I mean we did just file our taxes at the almost deadline, but I wasn't racing to get it done. We have an accountant and we'd been in touch, so I knew he'd get them in on time. 

3. Have you ever attended any really large sporting events? yes What was your impression of the experience?  I give it five stars. 

The Superbowl, The Kentucky Derby, The World Series, FIFA World Cup, The Indianapolis 500, The Daytona 500, The Olympics, The Masters, Wimbledon, The Boston Marathon, March Madness, Tour de France, Monaco's Grand Prix, The Open (golf), The Ryder Cup, The Stanley Cup Finals..of the events listed which would you most like to attend in person? Or maybe one that's not listed? 

I've been to Wimbledon and would happily go again. I loved everything about the day-England on a sunshiny day, friends, strawberries and cream and a cup of Pimms, and then of course there was also great tennis. Of the events listed there are quite a few I'd love to attend in person. If I have to pick one I'll say The Masters. It just seems like a great day out. 

4. Are you an iced tea drinker? If so, do you drink it year round, or only in the spring and summer months? Do you make your own or buy it bottled? Sweet or unsweet? Flavored? Lemon or no lemon? How about a Long Island Iced Tea? 

You cannot live in the southland and not drink iced tea, can you? Pretty sure it's the law here. I have always loved iced tea, homemade please, with a hefty squeeze of lemon. I like sweet tea, but not overly sweet tea which is often what you'll find in restaurants here. I usually order half sweet/half un-sweet if I'm having tea out. I make my own and from April through October will always have a pitcher in the frig. My family loves my iced tea. Also, I make mine decaf and cannot tell the difference. 

I prefer hot tea in the winter months so usually transition to that late fall. Long Island Iced Tea is not my drink of choice but if it's made well I like it okay. It's not something I order. 

5. April 20th is Volunteer Recognition Day...do you volunteer in some way? Tell us about it. If not, tell us about a volunteer you appreciate. 

Volunteers make the world go round and there are so many I greatly appreciate. I volunteer in a few different ways, but the local soup kitchen is my favorite and I love my team. We make a hot lunch and everyone cheerfully does their part, which means it mostly runs like a well oiled machine

I've enjoyed so many volunteer roles in my life and they've all been meaningful to me in some way. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I just finished the book Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. It's been getting a lot of buzz, but I knew one of the main characters was an octopus, and that didn't sound like something I'd enjoy. Actually loved this book and definitely recommend. It's about so much more than an octopus! 

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18 comments:

  1. You are the third person to mention Remarkably Bright Creatures in less than a week. I need to order it for my kindle because all three of you loved it . . .and didn't expect to do so. I think I forgot to answer the part about where would I like to go for 500 miles. Could you swing through Alabama and pick me up on your way south? I'd love to put my toes in the sand!

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  2. I think you must keep a bag packed and your traveling shoes on most of the time. My goodness, you two do stay on the road. But, what fun making sweet memories. What a fun 500th HP!

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  3. I didn't even think about hot tea but I definitely like it in the colder months. Sometimes I have lemon balm tea at night to calm down and it will knock me right out!

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  4. Congrats on this 500th hodgepodge! I loved Remarkably Bright Creatures too.

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  5. Congrats and thanks for 500! You've had some good road trips. When we were in the 'South' we did have some sweet tea. Volunteers make the world a better place. Interesting title to that book. Enjoy the rest of the week.

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  6. Florida definitely has some wonderful places to visit. I agree with The Masters! I am not an ice tea drinker but I do have some hot tea every one in a while. It is so nice that you volunteer. Glad you enjoyed your book. Enjoy the rest of you day and week.

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  7. Hooray for the hodgepodge 500!

    I make decaf teat too. My husband gets half and half as well.

    I've not heard of that book, I''ll look it up.

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  8. Congratulations on the 500 mark!! :-) I have a cupcake for you on my blog. Hee Hee!
    I heard about Remarkably Bright Creatures too, but I was not sure if I would like it. You have got me. I will check it out at the library. :-)
    Carla

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  9. Wimbledon! What fun that must have been! I love iced tea too, with lemon but no sweetener.

    Congrats on #500. That is truly impressive!

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  10. Applauding your 500, Joyce ... and hoping we'll all be around together for the next 500! I also chose The Masters. In large part to it being geographic-friendly, but I love how it's steeped in Tradition.

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  11. Some seasons seem full of traveling, don't they? I just picked up Remarkably Bright Creatures from the library and am about to start reading - I've heard so many good things about it!

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  12. I am too lazy to volunteer for anything and have no bloody interest in sport of any kind, never had a Long Island Ice Tea heard of it but never tried it

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  13. When you get to Florida... Lakeland should be on the way!! I use Luzianne decaf teabags for my tea and always have a pitcher in the fridge. I lightly sweeten it with stevia. I do 50/50 when ordering in restaurants, too. Thank you, Joyce, for the Hodgepodge!! Congrats on this amazing milestone!! xo

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  14. That book is THE best book I’ve read so far this year!

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  15. I really enjoyed Remarkably Bright Creatures too. Both of our last "big" trips were last summer when we drove more than 500 miles to Tennessee/ Smoky mountains and then later in the summer we flew to Orlando/Disney. We'll be roadtripping again this summer this time to Shenandoah... and I'm trying to sneak in a trip to the Caribbean for this winter if I can get all the boys' passports in order.

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  16. I like to volunteer because it really humbles me. I will have to check out this book. I just finished the book The Seven Husbands of Evenlyn Hugo and it was sooo good!!

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  17. Congratulations on getting to 500! That book sounds intriguing. I recently read a Terry Pratchett for the first time and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Our trips to the US and Australia are way over the 500 mile threshold but here in the UK we'd nearly be off the top of Scotland if we did 500 miles and way past Lands End if we headed in that direction lol

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  18. Enjoyed your answers and congrats on getting to 500. I read that book too and loved it. It was so good.

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