Wednesday's Hodgepodge

               

Visit Joyce and join the fun!

              1.  April showers bring May flowers...what have you been showered with this month?

Lots of sweat!  I started exercising again using The Biggest Loser DVDs and they are quite a challenge.  I know they are doing something.  Hopefully I’ll see good  results quickly. 

2. What is the nature of compassion?  Is it learned or innate?  Can compassion belearned?  If you're a parent is this something you've purposely sought to instill in your children, and if so how?

I think it is both.  Some are gifted more than others with compassion but everyone can learn it.  I think we can instill compassion into our children by modeling it.  If they grow up seeing us caring for others, those things will become the norm. 

3. Do you prefer to watch romantic comedy or romantic drama...or are you rolling your eyes saying bring on the action flicks?

I prefer romantic comedy movies.  Sometimes they are so silly but they usually are feel good movies. 

4.  It's April which means baseball season is officially upon us here in the US of A. Humphrey Bogart is quoted as saying "A hot dog at the ballgame beats roast beef at the Ritz." Agree or Disagree?

I agree.  I’m not one for fancy restaurants.  There’s something fun about eating a hot dog outdoors.

5. What's something in your community or city that needs fixing or improving?

Unfortunately it would be our Main Street.  Many businesses have gone out due to high rents.  While there are still a few great shops there are many vacancies.  We have such a lovely town, close to the water and lots of nature around us.  I would love to see some upgrades done to the center of it. 

6. Share a song you enjoy that mentions flowers or a specific flower in its title.

"Raindrops and Roses"

7. April 22nd is Earth Day...do you believe there's life on other planets?  That wasn't the             question you were expecting was it?

No, and no. 

8.  Insert your own random thought here. 

“The earth is the LORD’s, and all it contains,

 the world and all who dwell in it. 

For He has founded it upon the seas,

And established it upon the rivers.”

Psalm 24:1-2

~Theresa

Wednesday's Hodgepodge

Visit Joyce and join the fun!  

1.      1.  April 15th is the deadline for Americans to file their state and federal income tax returns.  What's a job you do on a regular basis that could be described as 'taxing'? 

Making sure that my husband’s parents aren’t being taken advantage of and being taken care of properly in their old age can be taxing.  Everyone needs an advocate, especially the elderly. 

2. I'm participating in the April A-Z blog challenge, and the Hodgepodge happens to fall on Day O this week. In keeping with that theme...olives, onions, oysters, okra...of the foods mentioned, what's your favorite O food?

Olives- yuck, onions- I like red onions on my hamburgers or in my salad, oysters- yuck, okra- never had it.  If I could choose my own O food I would choose Oreos- double stuff, of course!

3.  What is something memorable you experienced as a child that your own children (or future children/nieces/nephews) will not get to experience? 

Many things are different today.  No more record players or pay phones are what I thought of.  We always carried a dime and then later a quarter to make sure we could make a phone call if we needed a ride home.  When we lost power and cell service during Sandy we drove around looking for a pay phone and couldn’t find one.  I don’t think there are any left. 

4. Term limits for our elected officials...your thoughts? 

Um, yes.  I am all for term limits. 

5. On April 18th, 1775, Paul Revere made his famous 'midnight ride'...when did you last make a midnight ride?  Perhaps the fate of a nation wasn't hanging in the balance, but tell us where you were headed anyway.

The last midnight ride here was to 7-11 for a Big Gulp Coca-Cola.  I sent my husband to get me one because I had a migraine.  The caffeine helps the headache but for some reason soda fountain soda works the best for me. 

6.  What would freak you out more...a mouse running across your floor or a big fat hairy spider? 

I don’t like either but a mouse would freak me out more. I don’t even like typing that work- yuck! 

7. I love it when people ask me________________________?

if I’d like a cup of tea.  Maybe that is just because I am in the mood for one now and so sore from working out that I don’t want to get up ;)  

8.  Insert your own random thought here. 

Praying for all those affected by the Boston bombing.  Thankful for the many there that day that assisted the injured.  

 ~Theresa

Wednesday's Hodgepodge

Visit Joyce and join the fun! 

1. Share one fun thing you did last week, while the Hodgepodge was on 'spring break'.

Well we took a couple of days off from school and that is always fun ;)  We dyed Easter eggs and made Resurrection Rolls.  The week before we made Easter chocolates.  You can see them here.  

2.  April 10th is National Sibling Day...do you have siblings, and if so are you close? Share a favorite story featuring one or all of your siblings. If you don't have siblings, did you ever wish you did?

I have two older sisters.  Yes, we are close.  My oldest sister is seven years older than me and my other sister is 3 years older than me.  At different times I have been closer to each of them.  I don’t know if I have a favorite story but one that makes me laugh is when my oldest sister was shaking her Instant Breakfast and the top wasn’t on tight.  It went all over the living room walls.  

I thought my middle sister was the coolest when she let me drive her Camaro and take my road test in it. 

Have you seen the new 2012 Camaro?  Almost makes me want a fast car again ;)

3. Is it important to you to 'buy American'? Why or why not? How much of an effort do you make to 'buy American'? If you're not American, insert your own country in the blank. 

Yes, I think it is important to buy American.  So many in our country are without jobs and if we can help keep the jobs here then I will do what I can.  One thing I am pretty picky about is food.  Unless it is something we can’t grow here like bananas I want my meat and produce from America.  My extended family thinks I am nuts how I go to several stores to find USA grown tomatoes or peppers.  Sadly it is sometimes hard to find organic produce that is reasonable from the USA.  I will buy some frozen organic veggies from Trader Joe’s that are not from USA.  Another thing I always try to buy American is my car.  I’ve owned seven cars (I think I counted right) and they are all from American companies.  I know there are now foreign automobile companies that make their cars here and that many American cars have parts from overseas but I still try to keep my dollars here the best way I know how. 

4. Besides The Bible, what book has impacted your spirituality in some way?

“Trusting God, Even When Life Hurts” by Jerry Bridges.  Life-changing!  It is so easy to say you trust God but this book really shows you what it means to truly trust Him, no matter what the circumstance. 

5. April showers bring May flowers or so the saying goes.  Do you find rainy days calming or depressing?  When were you last caught in a rainstorm? What's blooming in your neck of the woods today?

Rainy days are calming.  Every once in a while I love a rainy day.  My favorite thing to do is to take a nap while listening to the rain falling.  I can’t remember the last time I was caught in a rainstorm although it sounds fun.  I noticed the daffodils have bloomed in my backyard as well as some crocuses.  The bushes are just starting to bud.  

6. What's your favorite yellow food?

I’d say corn on the cob.  Pretty soon we will be able to get some fresh corn at the farmstand.  It’s one of my favorite things about summer.  I put on a big pot of corn on the side burner of the BBQ and enjoy it with lots of butter.

7. April is National Poetry Month...what's a poem that holds special meaning for you, and why is it special?

An acrostic poem that was written by my daughter titled Mommy.  She saw that I wrote one for my husband and wanted to try it herself.  I think I wrote the one for my husband when I was teaching acrostic poems to my second grade class and we were dating.  He saved it and still has it on his desk.  Ahh. 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

It's nice to have the Hodgepodge back.  We missed you last week Joyce!  

~Theresa