Wednesday's Hodgepodge

 Visit Joyce and join the fun!

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

Yes, it certainly does!  It is still very cold and we are still getting snow.  I’ve noticed that it is staying lighter longer in the day and I’ve been hearing more birds chirp in the morning but the weather has still been roaring. 

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

The use of there, their and they’re.  There is actually a website about the correct use of these words: http://www.theretheyretheir.com.

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?

I’d like to think I am a realist. 

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

I am trying to clean out the basement, which is used a lot for storage.  I listed some kids’ clothes on ebay yesterday, have started a bag for thredup and a donation bag.  Have you heard about thredup?  It is an online thrift type boutique.  You order a bag, fill it, put it out for the mailman to take and they pay you.  You can also buy some great clothes and accessories from them.  Some are brand new, while most are gently used.  If you are interested, let me know and I’ll refer you and both you and I will get $10 to spend. 

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? 

You dust first, then vacuum.  That way you vacuum up all the dust that falls while you are dusting.  I dislike vaccuming the least. 

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 don’t think I’ve photographed any of those.  I’d like to visit Key West again, so I’d say Southernmost House. 

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 love The Sound of Music.  I’d say it is an eight.  I don’t remember seeing it as a kid but enjoy watching it with my family now.  My favorite scene is when Maria is dancing an Austrian dance and then Captain comes over and asks her for a dance.  At one point during the dance their eyes meet and you can just feel it!  She blushes and the Baroness is watching.  It is obvious to everyone that Captain belongs with Maria. 

When I was in high school I had the best Math teacher, Mr. Silver.  All of the kids loved him.  He would sing “How do you solve a problem like Teriya” instead of “How do you solve a problem like Maria?” about me (Theresa).  It was a joke.  Really, I wasn’t a problem.  At least not for him ;)

8. Insert your own random thought here.

The weather is mild today with light rain.  Tonight it is supposed to change over to sleet, then snow.  The forecast says we will get 6-8 inches of snow by Thursday night.  That is good news for the snow ramp we built on our front lawn.  My husband threw the snow from the snow blower there on purpose.  It must be eight feet tall.  The kids made a nice ramp to go down on their round flying saucer sleds.   

I saw a video on youtube called “Looney Luge”.  It was filmed here on Long Island.  I think we may have to try that next. Doesn't it look like fun?

~Theresa

Wednesday's Hodgepodge

 Visit Joyce and join the fun!

1. When did you last have to interact, either by phone or in person, with someone in a government run agency? On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate the experience? (10 being fabulous and 1 being pass the Tylenol)

Just yesterday I had to call the tax department of our town to ask a couple of questions.  I would rate the experience a 10.  The two women I spoke to were so kind, friendly and helpful. 

2. The current governor of Wisconsin is considering a run for President next time around. Walker attended Marquette University, but never graduated. In terms of any candidate running for the office of President (not asking here if you agree or disagree with Scott Walker's politics) would the lack of a college degree influence your vote or no? Would that be a factor in your support of any candidate running for public office, even a role less weighty than President?

No, the lack of a college degree would not influence my vote.  There are many intelligent people that have not gone to college.  I would take into consideration the intellect of a person running for office but wouldn’t pay too much attention to their degree. 

3. When did you last visit a place or site named for George Washington or Abraham Lincoln, and what was that place or site?

Well, does it have to be named for them or can it be a place they traveled?  I’ll go with the second.  We live about ½ mile from a road that George Washington traveled on in the 1790s in a horse- drawn carriage tour to thank his Long Island supporters and spy ring for their help in winning the American Revolution (www.discoverlongisland.com).   There is also a side road we often drive on that is said to be named because George Washington ate bread and cheese on that road.  I couldn’t find any sites to confirm that though. 

4. February 16th was President's Day in the US, but did you know it was also National Almond Day? I didn't think so : ) Do you like almonds? If so, what's a food/dish/recipe you enjoy that contains almonds? 

I didn’t know that, but do like almonds.  I eat them raw by themselves or mixed with a few raisins and chocolate chips.  I use almond meal/flour for baking and almond milk in place of milk in other recipes.  Here is a new favorite that I recently started making for Vegan Rice Pudding.  I am not vegan but I often look for vegan desserts because I know they don’t contain milk or eggs which are food intolerances for me. 

Vegan Rice Pudding

7 cups of almond milk (I use reduced sugar vanilla)

1 cup of rice

½ cup of sugar

1 Tbsp. vanilla extract

2 pinches of salt

Put rice and milk in saucepan and bring to boil.  Then lower to medium-low heat and simmer, stirring often, until it is very thick and is mostly rice with hardly any milk visible.  This will take about 35-45 minutes.  Remove from heat and add other ingredients and mix well.  Let cool and pour into container of your choice.  Cover and refrigerate (they recommend plastic wrap but I don’t like using plastic on anything hot).  Refrigerate until well chilled (overnight is best).  Serve with cinnamon. 

*I also like this warm, served right out of the pot. 

5.The television program Saturday Night Live celebrated it's 40th anniversary this past weekend. Were/are you a fan of the show? If so what has been your favorite (or one of your favorite) skits, sayings, or characters that came out of the program?

I used to like the show when I was younger and would stay up that late on a Saturday night.  I don’t remember much about it except that it was funny.  I probably wouldn’t enjoy that same humor now.  I don’t think it would be good, clean fun. 

6. Anything purple within ten feet of you? What is it?

A big Happy Birthday gift bag. 

7. Back in December I asked you to submit a question for a future HP as part of a giveaway I was hosting. I grabbed this one from those entries, submitted by Zoanna who blogs over at Penchant for Pens. Thanks Zoanna!

She asks, "How often do you make your bed, and how do you like to make it-pull the covers all the way up over the pillows, tuck the covers in around the pillows, or place all the pillows on top of the covers?" 

My bed is made every day.  Depending on the day, either my husband or I make it, whoever gets up last.  We pull the covers all the way up over the pillows and then place another set of pillows with shams on top of that. 

8. Insert your own random thought here.

How can clothes come out of the washing machine looking worse than when they went in?  This happens to me every so often and I can't seem to figure out what it is.  There are random spots and just a bit darker than the material they've stained.  I know it's random but I always think I bet someone on the Hodgepodge knows the answer ;)  So, any ideas on what can be causing it or how to get the marks out?  

Thanks.

~Theresa 

Wednesday's Hodgepodge

Visit Joyce and join the fun!

1. Do you wear your heart on your sleeve, or keep your emotions tucked in tight?

I think I wear my heart on my sleeve, most of the time.  The few times where I’ve tried to keep my emotions tucked in tight they ended up exploding out and it wasn’t pretty ;)  I also think there is wisdom in using our words wisely and try to remember there is a time to speak and a time to be quiet. 

“A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back.”  Proverbs 29:11

2. How did you meet your closest friend?

My closest friend now is my husband but I don’t think that is what the question is asking.  I’ve had many close friends during different seasons in my life but the one I think of is my childhood friend Lynn.  We met in first grade when she was the new girl in my class.  Our teacher, Mrs. Baker (one of my favorite teachers ever), asked me to be her special buddy and show her around.  We found out we lived only a block away from each other and became instant friends.  She moved across the country when we were 16 but we’ve stayed in touch and remained friends.  Although we don’t speak as much as we used to, she will always be my special friend and I love her like family. 

3.  Pink lemonade, grilled salmon, cotton candy, pink grapefruit, a strawberry milkshake, or raspberry sorbet...of the pink foods listed, which one is your favorite? Least favorite? Which one have you most recently consumed?

A strawberry milkshake is my favorite.  My least favorite is grilled salmon.  I have most recently consumed pink grapefruit.  I was on a pink grapefruit kick a few months ago, hoping it would burn some fat! 

4. When were you last 'tickled pink' over something? Explain.

When I discovered my cell phone wasn’t lost.  I discovered my cell phone wasn’t in my bag a few days ago.  I tried looking in the car but didn’t see it.  So I decided to wait a bit and see if it turned up.  Today my home phone rang and when I looked at the caller ID I saw my cell phone number.  I thought maybe someone had found it and was calling to return it.  I answered and it was my son saying he found my phone under the passenger seat while he was out with my husband.  I was so relieved that no one was running up my cell phone bill and that I didn’t have to go through the hassle of getting a new phone and possibly having to get a new phone number.  I’ve had that phone number for probably over twenty years and want to keep it.  I’ve had a few old friends get back in touch with me through that number. 

5. Are you a fan of television talk shows? Daytime, nighttime, or both? What's your favorite?

Not particularly.  Although once in a while I do enjoy watching Kelly and Michael.  I know she is from New Jersey but she reminds me of a Long Island girl.  I think Michael was a good choice for replacing Regis.  They are a great combination. 

6. When was the last time you wanted to ask a question, but felt too foolish to do so?

I can’t think of a specific example right now.  Usually I wait before asking a question and hope that by listening to what everyone else is saying I can put the pieces together.  Sometimes it works.

7. My favorite __________________right now is _________________.

My favorite snack right now is air popped popcorn with melted coconut spread. 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I watched parts of the Super Bowl on Sunday night and thought it was an exciting game but was so disgusted by the fight that broke out.  The player who started it was ejected from the game.   Big deal!   I don’t know if there were any other consequences but think there should be.  That’s my random thought ;)

~Theresa