Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 212

Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Come back tomorrow and share answers with the universe. Our corner of it, anyway...see you there!

1. What's the first image that comes to mind when you hear the word 'spring'? Which phrase best describes the season of spring where you live right now (today)-sprung! almost there, or still waiting?

2. Bed, couch, stapler, garage door, computer mouse, recliner, flashlight, door knob...which household item containing springs most needs replacing in your home? Speaking of springs...did you ever own a Slinky?

3. March is Women's History Month. Share a favorite quote by a woman.

4. What's a question that looms large in your mind right now?

5. Are you a sugar freak? By that I mean how much do you love sugar? With all the bad press sugar gets these days, have you made any efforts to reduce the amount of sugar you consume?

6. Would you rather have less work to do or more work you enjoy doing?

7. Ever been to Texas? Of the top ten Texas tourist attractions which would you most like to see-The Alamo, The San Antonio River Walk, The State Capital, Dallas World Aquarium, Padre Island National Seashore, Houston Space Center, Schlitterbahn Waterpark in New Braunfels, Six Flags Fiesta Texas,  Moody Gardens, or Galveston Island?

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

For Sale Delights and Aggravations

Good Morning. It's sunny. Two days in a row. Whoohoo! It does a body good to see the sun, and while I know that phrase sounds like something my grandma would say, it's true. We haven't had nearly enough sunny days this winter so I'm feeling extra grateful today. A snowy yard is prettier bathed in sunlight.

We do still have a snowy yard. ahem.

The hubs and I have bought and sold houses a number of times, so we know the drill. It's a painful but necessary process, the selling part anyway. You get every nook and cranny of your home, yard, and even the garage, shiny sparkling clean, and in that state it must remain forever and ever amen. Of course there's only so much we can do to 'spruce up the yard' just now, but we do keep the driveway plowed, the front porch and walkways cleared, and the steps free of ice which is no small thing.

My house is always pretty clean, sale or no sale. There's just the two of us here for the most part, so while 'stuff' doesn't accumulate, the furniture still somehow manages to collect dust, and the floors still need vacuuming, and every bit of personal needs to remain out of sight.

Oh, and we have a dog. A sweet, gentle, lovable old dog who must be contained whenever potential buyers are here. What that means is we're spending a lot of time in the car because it's WINTER and too cold to hang out of doors for very long.

Until yesterday. Yesterday was glorious...a whopping 40 degrees, which I know sounds downright chilly to some of you reading here, but for those of us in the northeast 40 is a temperature worth celebrating. Even a windy 40 degrees could not dampen our enthusiasm for the big yellow ball overhead. Our realtor hosted an open house which meant we needed to be out for about three hours, so we did what anyone in our situation would do-

Snow picnic. Check out the bench....there's nowhere to put your legs because of all the SNOW, but we didn't even care because sunshine and the great outdoors! How we've missed you!

For the record our pup loves the snow. She's sporting her very stylish booties, and hubs did put a blanket down for her to lay on, but she prefers the snow. She is not a fan of heat, so winter is her favorite time of year.

The lake was frozen solid making for a stunning view. We trudged walked for a while, and I have to say, it does feel a little daring to be on the lake.

We saw ice fishermen, snowmobilers, and cross country skiers all smiling, happy to be out enjoying the beauty of a winter's day.

That's my super model.
Too cool for the camera.

Or distracted by a flyaway plastic bag, you decide.

We lasted the whole three hours, although at one point I might have been wrapped up like a mummy in two blankets. It's not easy walking in deep snow, but we didn't even care. It felt so good to be outside, moving. So good to feel the sun on my face. So good to remember that in spite of how it's felt some days, winter never lasts forever.

"How many lessons of faith and beauty should we lose, if there were no winter in our year?" ~Thomas Wentworth Higginson

Thoughts On Retirement Day Six

I thought it might be fun to post a Thursday Thirteen today. That used to be a thing in the blogosphere. Bloggers posted lists of thirteen random thoughts on Thursdays, I guess because the words Thursday and thirteen go together? Anyway, I'm not sure if it's still a thing because it's been ages since I've written something random on a Thursday, but if it's not still a thing I'm going to make it one today, because a list is what I've got.

We're six days in to retirement and so far so good. Ha! Technically hubs is the one six days into retirement, although as his wife of 30 years, the woman he's moved from pillar to post and back again, the woman who's kept dinners warm and sleepy babies awake to say hello and goodnight to their Daddy, who on more than one occasion ate popcorn for dinner while he dined on hand rolled pasta in Italy, who has handled the mail, the calendar, the laundry, the years of home maintenance, the packing, unpacking, schedules, appointments, and  countless other bits and pieces that make a house a home, it feels a little like I've retired too.

And technically he's only four days in because weekends are still weekends. Four days may not sound like a lot, but it's enough for me to have thirteen thoughts on a Thursday.

1.  Hubs was considered officially retired at the end of work day Friday. I made a big deal of it by serving him left over chicken casserole from my book club gathering the night before. Wife fail.

2. Tuesday afternoon I phoned my mom to chat and she asked how hubs was spending the first few days of retirement. I informed her he was, at that very moment, polishing the wood floors downstairs. That I was calling from the upstairs bedroom because he didn't want me walking on them until he was finished.

Retirement rocks y'all. Mostly.
 
3. I might need to pack up the Keurig and go back to using a regular coffee pot. Now that hubs is home sipping coffee with me in the a.m. those Keurig cups are disappearing at an alarmingly rapid rate.

4. I enjoy hubs sipping coffee with me in the a.m.

5. Breakfast lunch and dinner...'nuff said. My dishwasher is running a whole lot more frequently than pre-retirement.

6. Course hubs would love to eat out many times a week, but no can do.

As much as I love dining out, it's too hard sticking to a healthy eating and exercise plan if I eat out a lot. I've finally found what works for me, and restaurant dining adds an unfortunate wrinkle to the mix.

A delicious, who-wants-to-always-order-grilled-chicken-in-a-restaurant??? kind of wrinkle, which is why no can do.

7. While we don't watch a lot of television here, when we do watch we mostly agree on content. There are one or two programs I enjoy that I know hubs does not enjoy, so pre-retirement I'd record these programs and catch up during my lunchtime. While he was at work. Hmmm.

8.  The ice on top of snow on top of ice on top of snow around here this winter is ka-razy! Good thing hubs is retired. His workouts this week have involved a whole lot of chipping ice, shoveling snow, and swearing.

9.  When you put your home on the market you fall in love with it all over again.

10. Who are these kids?

Work trip-Aruba, 1995

11. I have not been to the dry cleaners in over a week. That's exciting.

12. Friends are flowers in the garden of life. Somebody said that and it's true. So much love has come our way since hubs announced his retirement. There have been phone calls, Facebook messages, cards in the mail, texts, emails, fun packages, invitations to luncheons and dinners and weekends away. Every kind word and thoughtful gesture fills our hearts with gratitude for the people whose paths have crossed ours in the course of a quick thirty years.

13. It's been
sixfour days and I still like him. A lot.

How Do You Solve A Problem Like The Hodgepodge?

Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge...so glad you've stopped by this side of the pond! I will ask that you please link only if you've answered today's questions. Much as I want to help you promote your blog, that's not what The Wednesday Hodgepodge is about. Thank you for understanding! Also if you do participate, please add a link back here somewhere in your post, because that's what good neighbors do. 

It's possible winter is making me a little cranky. 

Let's get started-

1. 'In like a lion, out like a lamb'...does the first part of this saying about March weather ring true where you live?

We had approximately five inches of snow fall on March 1st, snow and freezing rain most of the day Tuesday, and still more snow in the forecast for Thursday, so yeah she's a roarin'!

2. March 4th is National Grammar Day. What common grammatical error bothers you the most?

Just one? The whole your and you're thing really gets under my skin, I think more so than the whole there-they're-their confusion. 

3. William Arthur Ward says, 'The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts his sails.' Which one are you?

I'm the one telling everyone in the boat with me to be patient, give it time... the wind will change. When adjusting the sails becomes unavoidable, I'll happily adjust the sails, it's just not my first inclination.

4. What's something you need to 'march forth and conquer' this month?

Our house is officially on the market. If you've ever sold a house you know keeping it market-ready is a full time job. 

5. An ongoing debate around here...do you dust first, then vacuum or vacuum first, then dust? Of the two routine household chores, which do you dislike the least? How's that for wording?

I say dust then vacuum but hubs prefers to vacuum then dust. He feels like vacuuming stirs up the dust, but I say dusting after you vacuum just creates more dust to be vacuumed. You might have to read that twice.

If we're tag teaming the chores, I dust and hubs vacuums. Vacuuming is more satisfying overall, because it lasts longer. Dust seems to reappear as soon as I put the cloth away.

6. According to thrilllist.com, the ten most photographed sites in the U.S.A. are- Cinderella's Castle in Orlando, Southernmost House in Key West Florida, The Space Needle in Seattle, The Site of the Boston Massacre in Boston, The Bellagio Lake/fountains in Las Vegas, The Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, Coit Tower in San Fransisco, The Art Institute of Chicago, Niagara Falls, and snagging the number one spot-The Guggenheim Museum in New York City. 

How many on this list have you photographed? Which on the list would you most like to visit and photograph?

I've been to six of the ten, and since my daughter is conveniently living in the PNW now, I'm excited to see The Space Needle later this year. I've never been to Las Vegas or Niagara Falls, and I'd never heard of the Coit Tower until I saw this list. 

The one I most want to see is Niagara Falls. I know it's a tourist trap, but I'd still like to see it in person. I wouldn't say no to a trip to Cinderella's Castle either. 

7. Fifty years ago Monday (March 2, 1965) The Sound of Music premiered at the Rivoli Theatre in NYC. Have you seen the film? Do you own a copy? On a scale of 1-10 how much do you love it (or not)? Ten=best movie ever. If you're a fan, what's your favorite scene or song from the movie?

I'm a definite 11, and yes we own a copy. The Sound of Music is my all time favorite movie, one that never gets old for me. It's awfully hard to pick a favorite song or scene. My girls used to love to recreate the 'clock' song, and we have that on video. Too cute for words. 

I think in the movie though, my favorite scene is the one where Christopher Plummer sings Edelweiss knowing in a few hours he's leaving his beloved homeland for good. So heart wrenching. Plus hubs used to sing that song as a lullaby to the girls when they were small, so its extra special in my mind.  

If you're ever in Salzburg take the Sound of Music tour. So much fun!! You see a lot of the sites used in filming the movie, and the city is so perfectly charming.  

'There's a family in Salzburg...' We might have uttered that line no less than 100x during our visit there. And if you don't know where that line originated I feel sorry for you. 

8. Insert your own random thought here.

My son-in-law celebrates a birthday today so whoohoo! When I say celebrate I mean he'll work an exceedingly long day, because that's how life rolls just now. At the end of it all though, he gets to come home to his adorable wife and I know she'll spoil him good.

Happy birthday Dr. Captain...may all your dreams come true!

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 211

Grrr...it's the first week of March. Time for snow, ice, and the Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then come back tomorrow to add your link to the party.  See you there! 

1. 'In like a lion, out like a lamb'...does the first part of this saying describing March weather ring true  where you live? 

2. March 4th is National Grammar Day. What common grammatical error bothers you the most? 

3. William Arthur Ward says- 'The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.' Which one are you?

4. What's something you need to 'march forth and conquer' this month?

5. An ongoing debate around here...do you dust first, then vacuum or vacuum first, then dust? Of the two routine household chores, which do you dislike the least? How's that for wording? 

6. According to thrilllist.com, the ten most photographed sites in the U.S.A. are- Cinderella's Castle in Orlando, Southernmost House in Key West Florida, The Space Needle in Seattle, The Site of the Boston Massacre in Boston, The Bellagio Lake/fountains in Las Vegas, The Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, Coit Tower in San Fransisco, The Art Institute of Chicago, Niagara Falls, and snagging the number one spot-The Guggenheim Museum in New York City. 

How many on this list have you photographed? Which on the list would you most like to visit and photograph?

7. Fifty years ago Monday (March 2, 1965) The Sound of Music premiered at the Rivoli Theatre in NYC. Have you seen the film? Do you own a copy? On a scale of 1-10 how much do you love it (or not)? Ten=best movie ever. If you're a fan, what's your favorite scene or song from the movie? 

8. Insert your own random thought here.

The 411

It's snowing here again, or still depending on your point of view. This is a dainty snow, quite pretty if you can get past the five foot+ high snow mountains in driveways and parking lots and ev-ry-where you go, the freshly iced walkways and porch steps your husband spent two hours chipping free and clear just yesterday, the chalky gray salty substance touching literally everything from the bottom of your feet to every square inch of your vehicle and, most importantly...you are not out in it.

Then it's quite pretty.

But guess what? I'm not here to talk about the weather. My blog, my little corner of the Internet, has been neglected in recent weeks, and I want to try and rectify that. Because while the blog has been quiet, life has not. Life has carried on at warp speed in spite of the fact that we're essentially housebound due to the extreme cold and above mentioned winter mayhem.

This past Thursday, February 26th, marked 30 years to the day my hubs began working for the company he has worked for come rain or come shine, since 1985.

On Friday February 27th he retired from that company.

Done. Closing one chapter. Officially not working.

Have mercy.

I kid. But only sort of, because there's a whole lot to figure out in the next little bit, and I've been somewhat reluctant to write about it here because all the retirement things were colliding in my brain with all the wedding things. I needed to compartmentalize. These two not small life events have been running on parallel tracks for the past few months and whew...we've got a lot of things going on here people.

How about if I keep today simple and respond to the three questions I'm asked most often when someone hears our news.

1.  Will you move? 

Absolutely. In fact our house just went on the market.
Potential buyers please read paragraph one. Winter-yay! It's great!

Okay, maybe not great, but it is survivable. And pretty! Really really pretty!

2. Will your hubs go back to work?

Yes, eventually but not tomorrow.
Did I mention it's winter and we're in the house? A lot?

3. Will you go bonkers? Will he? 

Hmmm...stay tuned.

That last question is normally asked by people who actually know hubs in real life, as opposed to most of you reading here who know him via my blog. ahem. 

I don't in any way mean to imply that my hard working husband is going to drive me crazy by not immediately going back to work, but!...there's always a but in life isn't there? One of the absolute best and most admired traits my husband possesses is his drive. His strength of character and steely determination to always push forward, think long term, to set goals and meet them and then set some more. To fly headlong into the future. Take risks. Overcome challenges.

He likes to picture himself sitting on his dock reading a book, and while I'm sure he'll do some of that there will be more. Because there always is. We're young. Not young in the sense of just starting out, but certainly in the sense that we have a very long list of things we want to accomplish in this world.

In order to do something different you have to step off the path you've been comfortably trekking for thirty years and forge a new path. As much as we hate to admit it, change isn't a naughty word. And while I always normally dig in my heels resist, I know this much is true-

God has always always used change in my life for good.

Something else I know?
I may as well decide from Day 1 to see this as an adventure.

Because with hubs, it always is.

Bibbidi Bobbidi Hodgepodge

Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge! I've been traveling, so I'm scrambling a bit to get this one posted. If you've answered the questions, add your link at the end of my post, then go see what your neighbors had to say.  Here we go-

1. Did you watch The Oscars? How many of the Best Picture nominees have you seen? (American Sniper, Birdman, Boyhood, Selma, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Imitation Game, The Theory of Everything, and Whiplash)

Do you think actors should use their acceptance speeches as an opportunity to promote their political and/or social agenda? Does that sort of speech make you more or less inclined to change the channel?

I did watch The Oscars. All four+ ridiculous hours, plus some red carpet coverage beforehand.  We were at my sister's house and about halfway through debated calling it a night, but figured we'd lasted this long, might as well see it through. 

I thought the show was particularly bad this year. Bad as in NOT entertaining, and isn't that why we watch? Can't anything be purely entertainment anymore? Must everything have something weighty attached to it ? Yes this is America and everyone has a right to express themselves, but I do think there's a time and place, and The Oscars are neither. It matters not whether I agree or disagree with whatever cause or issue is being touted by the celeb, that's not what I want to see and hear when I tune in to a show called The Oscars. 

Kind of like you not dropping in here hoping to read a rant about Hollywood.   

An-y-way...I saw three of the nominated best picture pictures-American Sniper, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and The Imitation Game. I think I'd like to see Whiplash and will probably watch for it on DVD. 

2.Speaking of the movies...are you comfortable going to a movie alone? How about dinner in a restaurant (not fast foo, but an actual restaurant)? The second half of this question was posed by Carrie who blogs over at It's Not Easy Being Queen. Thanks Carrie!

I don't have a problem going to a movie alone, although I can't say I actually do that too often. If I'm spending money on a movie, it's usually an outing with the hubs. I wouldn't go to a restaurant in town and dine alone, but if we're traveling and hubs has an evening work event I'd have no problem dining alone in a restaurant.  I'd also have no problem staying in my jammies and ordering room service-ha!

3.What's the last home repair or home improvement project you had to pay someone to complete? In hindsight was this a project you could have done yourself?

Just today (Tuesday) we had a carpet guy here to re-stretch our bedroom carpet.  He was punctual, neat, reasonably priced, and we're very happy with the end result. It's not a job I'd try on my own. 

Most home improvement projects are not things I'd try on my own.  I'm not what you'd call handy. 

4. Have you ever had Indian food? Like it or no? If you're a fan, what's your favorite dish? Have you ever prepared this yourself at home? Is there an Indian restaurant in your current hometown?

I love Indian food, one of my favorite cuisines. I love spicy food and normally order chicken tikka masala and bhindi bhaji (an okra dish). I've tried lots of dishes though, and as long as they're not Vindaloo kind of heat I'm happy.  Hubs loves the heat and asks for diced chilies on the side. 

When we lived in the UK we ate in our local Indian restaurant at least once a week. The staff gave us big hugs when we moved, and everyone got a bit teary eyed. No Indian restaurant in tinytown, but there is a place we like several towns over. 

5. A song that reminds you of your parents?

Anything by The Bill Gaither Trio. Every now and then I'll see them on TV and I have to stop and listen.  

6. The 26th of February is National Tell a Fairy Tale Day. What's your favorite, or one of your favorite, fairy tales? Do you have any childhood memories associated with a particular fairy tale?

When I was little my sister and I had a record (the kind you played on a phonograph) of songs from Hans Christian Anderson stories. We played that thing to death, and in fact just typing this I find myself humming the tune to Thumbelina.  

My mother spent hours reading to my sister and I all throughout our childhood, so hearing a fairy tale now awakens some very tender memories for me. It would be hard for me to choose a favorite, but I've always loved Cinderella. 

And while nothing beats a book in my opinion, I did love the movie version of this one too.  Lesley Ann Warren played the title character and when the fairy godmother turned her rags into a gown it was pure magic. There's a new version coming out in March, with Lady Rose Lily James in the lead role. I'm looking forward to seeing that too. 

7. What's a problem you solved yesterday?

Hmmm...yesterday (Monday) hubs and I spent a leisurely afternoon in Greenville South Carolina, so nothing  immediately comes to mind. Maybe where to have lunch? 

Tupelo Honey! Problem solved! 

8. Insert your own random thought here.

A little too much going on round here today to give this a lot of thought. Nobody minds if I just share another wedding picture do they? 

Good because I love these...

I love that my son-in-law recognizes handing over a daughter means handing over a little piece of a father's heart too.