May Hodgepodge

Visit Joyce and join the fun!

1. How should success be measured? Using that as your standard, who is the most successful person you know? (Or one of the most successful?) 

I do not think success is measured by how much money one makes (unless of course you are talking about the success of a business).  Success to me is measured by impacting other people's lives in a positive way.  Using that standard, I think of my two favorite high school teachers, Mr. Silver and Mr. Zenie.  I am sure they are both enjoying retirement these days.

2. Have you ever been to a hot air balloon launch/fest/party? Ever taken a ride in a hot air balloon? Is that on your bucket list? According to Frommers the ten best hot air balloon adventures in the world are-

Loire Valley (France), the Serengeti (Tanzania), Napa Valley (California), Lake Champlain (Vermont), Cappadocia (Turkey), Istria (Croatia), Gstaad (Switzerland), Yarra Valley (Australia), Muelle (Costa Rica), and Albuquerque (New Mexico). 

Which one on the list would you most like to experience? 

No, I have never been to a hot air balloon activity nor taken a ride in a hot air balloon.  It is not on my bucket list.  I have no desire to leave the ground in a balloon but if I had to I'd pick Lake Champlain in Vermont.  I love the New England states and I'd pick the fall because the foliage is gorgeous! 

3. May 25th is National Brown-Bag It Day. Did you/will you pack a lunch today? When did you last pack a lunch for someone and what are your go-to ingredients for a brown bag lunch?

No, I will not pack a lunch today.  I packed a lunch on Sunday for my mother-in-law so she wouldn't have to go up the stairs to the kitchen.  It was an insulated bag, not a brown bag, with an ice pack.  My go-to ingredients are a sandwich of some sort, a fruit and a snack (baked good or chips) along with a drink.  For my kids that is usually a flavored seltzer can and for my mil a thermos of hot tea (no matter what the temperature is outside). 

4. What's one of your favorite dance scenes from a movie or television show? 

The final scene in The Wedding Planner where Mary (Jennifer Lopez) asks Steve (Matthew McConaughey) what he wants and he answers "I want to dance...with you".  I tried to find a video clip but couldn't :(

5. John F. Kennedy made famous the line, '...Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." So what can you do for your country?

I can show respect for our country and the many who have served or are serving for our freedoms. 

6. Weekends are made for __________________________________.

Catching up, relaxing and getting ready for the coming week.  For me that means some sort of chores, doing something enjoyable and not feeling guilty about it and going to church. 

7. On this last Wednesday of the month, bid farewell to the month of May in seven words or less. 

Bye May, hopefully the tree pollen too. 

8. Insert your own random thought here.

  

Middle of The Road Hodgepodge

Visit Joyce and join the fun!

1. Tell us about a time you found yourself 'in the middle of nowhere'. Was this deliberate?

I once went to a friend's party which was being held at one of her friend's house.  I'd never been there before and I was driving by myself at night.  It felt like it was in the middle of nowhere.  There were no street lights and one lane going each way.  I thought I might drive right off of the island into the ocean if I blinked too long.  I don't think I've ever been so happy to find the Expressway. 

2. What's something you're 'in the middle of' today or this week? 

I'm in the middle of our homeschool week. 

3. At what age do you think 'middle age' begins? What does it mean to be 'middle aged'? 

I used to think it was 50 but now I think it is later.  It means you have lived enough to have wisdom but not old enough to be considered elderly. 

4. Ravioli, stuffed peppers, samosas, deviled eggs, steamed dumplings, pierogis, or a jelly donut...your favorite food (from this list!) with something yummy in the middle. Your favorite not on the list? 

My favorite is stuffed peppers.  My mom made them a lot growing up and I don't make them nearly as often as I should.  I combine ground beef and cooked brown rice.  Then stuff that into a half of a bell pepper and top it with tomato soup.  Yum!  My favorite that is not on the list would be a ham and cheese calzone.  Pizza dough baked with ricotta cheese and thinly sliced ham, haven't had one in years but am craving one now. 

5. Albert Einstein is quoted as saying ''In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.' Would you agree? Have you found this to be true in your own life? Feel free to elaborate. 

Yes, I would agree.  There is always opportunities to learn in difficulties.  Often the opportunity is for us to respond differently than we might initially want to. 

6. What's a song you remember loving from your middle school years? Do you love it still? 

"Don't You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds.  Yes, I love it still. 

7. May 18th is National Visit Your Relatives Day. Will you celebrate? Which relative would you visit if time, distance, and expense were not considered. 

I do not have plans on visiting any relative, aside from those who live in our house.  I would visit my Aunt Carol in Florida if I could. 

8. Insert your own random thought here. 

I kept thinking of the song "The Middle of The Road" by The Pretenders as I read this week's questions.  The Hodgepodge always seems to put a song in my head :)

Mother's Day May Hodgepodge

Visit Joyce and join the fun!

1. What's something fun you're looking forward to on your May calendar?

Celebrating Mother's Day with my family this Sunday. 

2. What are some images that come to mind when you hear the word mother? 

A smiling woman who puts her children before herself and will do anything for them. 

3. What's something beautiful you own or have seen that's made of glass? 

I have a beautiful glass pitcher that was my Grandmother's.  I have it on top of the china cabinet and use it as a decoration. 

4. Was today typical? If not what made it unusual? 

Yes, today was typical.  Helping my mother-in-law, homeschooling, piano lessons, preparing meals, doing laundry, vacuuming, talking on the phone with family members, sitting down to relax with a cup of tea. 

5. What is a quality you wish you could have more of?

Self-control.  Sometimes I wish I would have kept my mouth shut. 

6. What's the next major purchase you need to make? Will it happen in the month of May? 

Well, I don't need to make a major purchase but hope to buy a new easy set up pool.  Ours had a leak so we threw it out at the end of the season last year.  It wasn't big, but great for sitting in a tube and floating around to keep cool.

7. What responsibility/job/work did you dislike while growing up but has proved helpful to you as an adult?

Cleaning up the dishes, washing and drying them right after a meal was finished.  It really has helped me with keeping a clean, orderly kitchen. 

8. Insert your own random thought here. 

Two more days of my whole30 plan!  It's the little things I miss (although really it isn't that bad) like ketchup, light French dressing, vanilla almond milk with sugar in it, and coconut ice cream ;)  I plan to still eat mostly Paleo since I feel better when I eat that way and still need to lose weight.  Now to continue practicing self-control :)