Wednesday's Hodgepodge

Visit Joyce and join the fun!

1. When it comes to good manners, what two top your list of most important?

Saying please and thank you.  And "uh-huh" doesn't count!  I can't stand when I say thank you and instead of "you're welcome" I get "uh-huh" or "no problem".   To me, that is so rude!  I mean isn't it nice of a store clerk to let me know it is no problem to do their job and ring up my groceries.  How kind ;)

2. Let's open a proverbial can of worms...Common Core.  Are you familiar with the term (talking education reform in the USA)?  If so, care to share your thoughts? In your opinion, what is one of the biggest issues schools (in your home country) face today?

Yes, I am familiar with Common Core.  My thoughts...ugh!  Really from what I see it is driving parents crazy and putting unnecessary stress and pressure on students.  I don't agree with what I know about the scoring either.  For example my niece had a Math test with 100 problems to complete in five minutes.  She answered them all correctly but was graded a 3 (4 being the best score).  Really?!  They weren't word problems, just simple computations so if she answered all of them correctly she could not have done any better.  What is that teaching the students?  To me, it is that your best is never good enough.  For the parents of those students, don't worry they will come out with something new in a few years and call it by a different name.  In education, everything just recycles.
I took a look at some of the Common Core, just to see what all the fuss was about and smiled when I saw that it is what we do as homeschoolers without all the fancy labels ;)  One of the biggest issues with schools today is the lack of discipline, but that is a whole different topic!

3. Name a celebrity whose fashion sense you admire and share why.

Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge.  She dresses elegantly,  her look is classic, and she always looks so graceful.  Her are some of my favorites:

                         Photo credit here.

4. How are you affected by the changing seasons?

I love that where I live we get to enjoy all four seasons.  There is something I love about each of them.  I love the sense of change and excitement each time the seasons change.  The changing of the seasons makes me happy :)

5. Scariest book you've ever read?

Foxe's Book of Martyrs, even though I didn't actually read it.  My husband was reading it and I was having trouble falling asleep at the time so asked him to read it aloud to me.  Well it actually gave me nightmares!  Here is part of the summary given from Christian Book Distributors:

"This unparalleled volume chronicles the tragic yet triumphant stories of men and women who faced torture and martyrdom rather than deny their vision of truth and of God."

6. What time of day are you most hungry? What's your go-to snack?

I usually get most hungry in the late afternoon.  My go-to snack is walnuts mixed with raisins.  If I'm still hungry I'll add an apple or some grapes.

7. Do you lean more towards being too needy or too independent? Which do you find harder to deal with in others?

Too independent, but I am working on it.  It used to be very difficult for me to ask for help or admit I couldn't do something but now I am learning that I can't be good at everything and do it all!  I think it is harder to deal with someone who is too independent.  For the most part people like to be needed and when someone is too independent they don't give others the opportunity to serve them.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Thanks Joyce for another great week of Hodgepodge.  Happy Wednesday!
~Theresa

Wednesday's Hodgepodge

Visit Joyce and join the fun!

1. What was your biggest worry five years ago?  Is it still a worry? 

That I'd always be dizzy.  No, I am thankful my dizziness has improved tremendously although it is not 100% gone...yet ;)  

2. Yesterday (October 15th) was National Grouch Day...what makes you grouchy? What cheers you up when you're feeling grouchy?

Lack of sleep makes me grouchy.  Catching up on sleep makes me happy and if I can't do that a fancy coffee drink usually helps.  I used to eat ice cream but am dairy free now.  My husband says if you want to see me smile, give me ice cream :)

3.  In one word, how does it feel to be photographed?

Nerve-wracking!

4. Besides your parents, who would you say had the greatest influence on you in choosing your life path?  Explain. 

God and His perfect plan for my life.  But if the question is asking about a human being than I would have to say my high school Social Studies teacher.  He is the reason I went on to college to become a teacher.  I wanted to change lives the way he changed mine.

5. The crisp days of autumn are here ...what's something you like to eat, but only if it's crisp?

Grapes.  I don't like soggy or mushy grapes.  I would have said apples but I like them cooked too.

6. What's the most useless object you own?

My sewing machine.  I used it a few times but I get frustrated trying to use it so it's been sitting in my basement for years.  If someone is next to me telling me what to do I can use it otherwise I am lost.

7.  Share a favorite fall memory. 

My wedding day.  We were married in the fall, actually Thanksgiving weekend.  It was a beautiful fall day and we even managed to get some beach pictures in.
See :)  



8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Did you know honey is supposed to be good for many health ailments?  I've been taking a spoonful with some cinnamon sprinkled on it and it seems to be helping with the fall cold I caught.  I read that raw, local honey is best.  It is supposed to help with seasonal allergies too.  It is easy and tastes good.  Have a great week :)
~Theresa

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Visit Joyce and join the fun!

1. What's one thing you learned in September?

That I am the one with an accent ;)  We went on vacation after Labor Day and drove from NY to Florida. We stopped in just about every state between (I don't think we stopped in Delaware).  I sure did get some funny looks when I spoke.  I always look hearing other people's accents, I wonder if they like hearing mine- LOL!

2. Acorn squash, butternut squash, spaghetti squash, yellow squash, zucchini squash, or blech! hold the squash... what's your favorite squash? What's your favorite way to prepare your favorite squash?

I love squash!  My favorite is spaghetti squash.  I cut it open and scoop out the seeds then brush it with olive oil, salt and pepper and bake it.  When it is tender I use a fork to scrape the squash out and serve it with my marinara sauce on top.

3. The older I get the_______________________________.

more I sound like my mother.  Seriously, sometimes I say something and can't believe how much I sound like my mother.  That isn't a bad thing, just funny.

4. What's your favorite television theme song ever?

The "Welcome Back Kotter" theme song.

I love that show and how Mr. Kotter returned to the high school he attended to teach.  I student taught in my high school and it was a great experience.
In the beginning of each episode when the theme song would play they'd show a sign that said "Welcome to Brooklyn".  I don't know if that sign is still up or where exactly it is but when we were getting onto the Verrazano Bridge this is the sign we saw:

In case anyone has trouble reading that it says "Forget About It" Brooklyn style ;)  I think all New Yorkers have a little bit of Brooklyn in them ;)

5. What do you wish you'd spent more time doing five years ago?

Enjoying every moment and not worrying.

6. What item do you most need (or want) to add to your wardrobe this fall?

I need a dress badly.  I have two weddings to attend this month and still no dress.  I ordered two online but am not crazy about them on me.  I am hoping I might change my mind by the end of the week or else I need to go shopping.

7. On October 2, 1950 the Peanuts cartoon was introduced to the world. What was your favorite cartoon when you were a kid?

Garfield.  It is so funny!

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

It is fall, isn't it?  The weather forecast today is for temperatures in the 80s!  I am thinking of how to squeeze in one more beach day :)

~Theresa