A Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Hodgepodge

Finally getting back into the swing of things by joining Joyce and friends for the Wednesday Hodgepodge.

1. A new Miss America was crowned on Saturday night-did you watch? If you were a contestant what would your talent be?

I did not watch the pagent, I was working, but if I had been home I probably wouldn't have watched it anyway... I don't watch much TV.  If I was a contestant my talent would be.... hmmm. Back in the days when I actually could have been a contestant I probably would have played the saxophone. Now maybe some type of target shooting. I don't really know.

2. Do you have houseplants? Real or fake?

I do not currently have houseplants, I got rid of them all when Dominic started to crawl. I didnt want him dumping them, eating them or eating the dirt.  I've thought about getting some more, but they are just so expensive and my house doesn't have much natural light.  Oh, I guess I do have one fake one... I have an antique fern planter that I have full of fake ferns.

3. When you were in school did you speak up or were you more of the hide your face, avoid eye contact, and pray the teacher didn't call on you type of student?

I'd say I was pretty much the hide my face and avoid eye contact type of person, especially in math.

4. Next Monday marks the Chinese New Year...what do you order when someone suggests
Chinese food?
My favorite entre is sesame chicken, I also enjoy egg drop soup,  crab rangoons and a good egg roll, though it is quite difficult to find a good egg roll anymore.  Ya know, I could really go for some PF Changs lettuce wraps right now... I really miss PF Changs.

5. How would you define a miracle? What would it take for you to consider something a miracle?
Something that can be explained other than through the intervention of God.

6. What's your favorite Disney song? If you're stuck you'll find a list here. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious from Mary Poppins. If you think the sound of it is something quite atrocious, you should try to spell it.

7. I should have _____________ yesterday.
Cleaned the bathrooms... I woke with a headache, Dominic was sick too... I slept most of the day then went to work.  Tuesday is my bathroom cleaning day, it's the only chore that I make sure I do to keep myself on schedule. But thats ok, I am having a good day today so I'll be able to fit them in.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
Life has been crazy busy and I can't even tell you with what.  I've sorely neglected my blog and I think about it usually on Thursday when its too late to do the Wednesday Hodgepodge.  Good news is, I have a few topics rattling around in my head and as soon as those bathrooms are done, I think I have time to compose at least one.

A Fairy Tale Hodgepodge - 12/7/11

Joining Joyce and friends for the weekly Wednesday Hodgepodge.

1.  Will you be hosting any house guests between now and the end of December? Does that thought make you happy or crazy? Do you do anything special for your guests to make them feel at home? How long should a house guest stay?

As far as I know we will not be hosting any house guests between now and the end of December, but who knows, we may have some impromptu overnight guests while my son is on winter break.  I don't think much of not having guests because we never have had guests over the holidays, although sometimes I think it would be nice. I've always wanted to make little guest baskets, but not having guests, I've never had the opportunity to.

2. Walter Elias Disney was born this week (December 5) back in 1905 ...what's your all time favorite Disney movie? Here's a list in case you're struggling...and yes, you have to pick one.

I would have to say my favorite Disney movie is Cinderella.  You can't go wrong with a classic like Cinderella, it has to be the quintessential fairy tale of all time; poor orphan girl meets, falls in love with and marries a prince. Every girls dream. Her ball gown is what I thought prom and wedding dresses were suppose to look like until a few short years before my first prom.  I can't mention the movie Cinderella without mentioning my favorite line, which is when Cinderella says "and look, glass slippers."  Plus,  I love the mice, they always make me laugh.

3. What was the last thing you purchased that you realized was a mistake after the fact?

It happened last night as a matter of fact, an acquaintance of mine brought me 5 pounds of  locally caught, freshly smoked, salmon, which I purchased from him.  Upon getting it home, I tasted it, found it over-smoked to my taste (and my family's). Now I have 5 pounds of smoked salmon I need to figure out what to do with (I've vacuum sealed it and tossed it in the freezer for now).

4. What percentage of your Christmas shopping is done online?

Very little if any of my Christmas shopping is done online. I think last year I may have purchased a few hard to find DVD's for my husband, step-dad and father-in-law. This year, we may end up purchasing another DVD for my father-in-law and possibly an Amazon gift card for my niece to buy books for her kindle. But, so far, none of our shopping has been done online.

5. Amaryllis-snowdrop-poinsettia...your favorite winter blossom?

Poinsettias without a doubt. As you can see above I used poinsettias in my bridal bouquet. (One last mention here of our 17th Wedding Anniversary which we celebrated this past weekend - yay us!)  We also spent part of our honeymoon on the Caribbean rain forest island of Dominica, where the poinsettias were growing wild all over the place.  It was beautiful. 

6. What is one thing on your personal Christmas wish list? I think we all want peace on earth so let's make this answer an actual item.

It is always so hard for me to think of things for myself, as a matter of fact, just yesterday I decided to start a board on pinterest for just this purpose.  There is one item on it so far, an immersion blender.

7. If you could only use one word today what would it be?

Love.  I firmly believe that you need to tell the people you love that you love them every day.  So if I could only use one word today, I'd have to say love.  Even if I can't say I and you, I think they would understand if I just looked at them and said love.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

We usually do Christmas Eve at my Mother-in-law's house. (Pictured above is Christmas Eve 2004, a 16 month old Dominic enjoying ritz crackers and cheese) Peggy is retired and my Father-in-law is planning to retire soon.  For over 17 years I've been a part of this family and every year my Peggy makes all the food. Granted, it's snack type foods, but it's a lot for one person to take on, especially financially.  This year my niece and I decided enough was enough. We've left her two things to make and divy'd up the rest of the food between the family members, some just need to pick up a bag of chips or a box or crackers. The menu has been pretty set for years, but I suggested if someone wants to bring something new in addition to their assigned item they are welcomed to do so... I'm excited to see if any new food traditions develop... (I've got one in the works that I'm sure will be a big hit - if I can pull it off that is!)

Wednesday Hodgepodge 11/16/11

1. What song reminds you of a specific time in your life and what is it about that song that makes you remember?

This one is very hard, there are a lot of songs that remind me of specific times in my life. Most songs take me back to the time in my life when they were popular and to what I was doing a specific time the song was playing. I've been racking my brain trying to think of a good example and right now all I can think of is the song Footloose. Believe it or not, this song does not bring happy memories. When I hear this song, I remember being at a family function and yet again being compared to the cousin who everyone seemed to love most... "____ can do the footloose dance. Chrissy, do you know the footloose dance?"  It seemed I was always being compared to her, and she seemed to always be better at everything.  Now, however, the tables have been turned, but believe me, I take no satisfaction in the poor choices she's made as an adult and the troubles that came along with them. Who knows, maybe she felt she was always being compared to me and wishing everyone didn't wonder why she wasn't a good girl like Chrissy.

2. What's something you've given up on?

Trying to please everybody.  As you may have gathered from question #1 I spent most of my life looking for attention and affection, and never feeling good enough.  I spent most of my time trying to do what I thought would make other people happy and doing what other people wanted me to do.  This continued as an adult and even up to a couple of years ago when everything came to a head.  Trying to do everything perfectly and please everybody started affecting my health and my sanity.  With the help of a couple of doctors and my husband I've been able to overcome these issues and am much happier for it. 

3. What's something you'll never give up on?

I'll never give up on learning.  I love to learn new things. There is always something new out there to learn and it gives me a great sense of self worth and accomplishment every time I learn something new.

4. If you had to cook something from scratch in the next hour what would it be?  Well, since I have chicken defrosted in the fridge, I would make chicken and rice. It just so happens that is what is on the menu for dinner tonight.

5. Have you started Christmas shopping? Decorating? Listening to Christmas music?

Yes, No & Yes... Our Christmas shopping is pretty much done, I pick up little things for nieces & nephews throughout the year, and we put our major purchases for Dominic on layaway a few weeks ago. We just have a few little things to pick up now.  Much to Dominic's chagrin, we do not begin decorating until Thanksgiving.  (Although he did sneak a Christmas figurine onto one of the end tables the week of Halloween).  I start listening to Christmas music sporadically in October, and full time the first of November, and if the radio station gets switched by hubby at some point, Dominic is sure that it gets changed back as soon as possible.

6. What do you know about your parent's wedding?

It took place in the courthouse sometime in December shortly after my dad turned 18.  I have a "family" picture taken in my grandparents family room that I'm pretty sure is of the day, so I know that my dad's brother and sister where there as well as my dad's aunt and uncle as well as my maternal grandparents who are not in the picture.

From left to right, Uncle Delmar & Aunt Toni Grove (my dad's aunt & uncle) My Dad, My Mom, Uncle Gene (my dad's brother) Aunt Ellie (my dad's sister) Uncle Harvey (Ellie's husband) and Aunt Marty (Gene's wife)

7. I can't believe I __________.

I can't believe I have been married for almost 17 years (anniversary is December 3rd).  Sometimes it seems like such a long time, especially in this day and age, I know very few people who have been married as long. Most of the time it doesn't seem like that long at all, it seems like just a few years ago we were on our honeymoon in the Caribbean, I guess time flies when you're in love and having fun.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Somehow I have found myself with a free day today. I've spent most of my day stopping every few minutes to wonder what I am really suppose to be doing, its so odd to not be running around doing one thing and thinking about what I need to be doing or where I need to be in an hour.  So I've decided that this afternoon, I will work on organizing the "office" which is basically a catch all three season room, so I've just turned on a space heater in there and I'm off to grab some trash bags.  Hmmm. Maybe a before picture would be appropriate... hopefully I'll be able to add an after picture this evening.

So here's before...

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Of all the tools and gadgets you own which do you most enjoy using?

I would have to say my Kitchenaid stand mixers.  Yes, mixers plural, I enjoyed using my first one so much, that when my Aunt wanted to get rid of hers, I bought a second, it has come in handy having two!  Whenever I am using my mixer I know something good will soon be arriving (even if I don't always get to eat it).

2. When (if ever) is impatience a virtue?

I think impatience can be a virtue (defined as moral excellence and righteousness; goodness) if it keeps you from being lazy.  If you are busy doing things because you are impatient for them to be done, or impatient for a little "me time" thats goodness in my book.  

3. What temperature do you keep your thermostat set to in winter? Do you have another way to heat your house besides a furnace of some type?

We usually keep it 72 degrees and we use electric space heaters in a few areas for extra warmth when needed.  This year we are trying something new however.  We have purchased an electric infared heater and so far, even though it has been in the low 30's several times we have not turned on our furnace yet this year.  This infared heater is touted to maintain your home's temp with low electric costs.  So far it has done a great job of keeping the temp at 72 degrees.  So, we've decided to try to not turn on our furnace this year as the cost of propane is so outrageous.  "But your electric bill will skyrocket," you say.  Well,  we are figuring the electricity cost of running the infared should be no more than the electricity cost of the furnace blower (which seems to run constantly in the winter) so in theory this will actually save us money as we won't be using any propane.  This is an experiment, we'll see how it goes.

4. Do/did you have a close relationship with any of your grandparents?

I had a very close relationship with my maternal grandmother before she passed away when I was 23.  She was always there for me and my siblings. 

5. When did you last have a family portrait taken?

Our last family portrait was taken about a year ago, we will be taking another one very soon.  We always try to have a family portrait done around Christmas.

6. What does the word patriotism mean to you?

Oh what a tough one.  I think patriotism means supporting your country in the spirit in which our founding fathers created it.  Even though I do not agree with most of the things going on in our country today, this is still a great country where we are free to make choices and free to try to change the way things are done if we don't like it. 

7. Do you like to play cards and if so, what's your favorite card game?

I am more of a board game person, although I do spend a lot of time playing Spider Solitaire on the computer, however, I would probably be disowned by several family members and most of my former classmates and kicked out of the state of Michigan if I did not say that Euchre was my favorite card game.  I do love to play, I'm just not very good at it. LOL.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Veterans Day is Friday.  Although neither my husband nor I served in the armed forces, we both have several relatives and friends who did.  I wholeheartily support the men and women who are serving and have served this country.  You may not agree with the politics and policies of the current or former administrations, you may not agree with the wars we are involved in, but these men and women put their lives in danger and their families on hold, to protect the freedoms that make this country so great (and get paid very little to do so). 

This will be our second Veteran's Day since we moved back to Michigan from Las Vegas, and I am really missing the annual air show at Nellis Air Force Base, we never missed it when we lived there.  Maybe next year we'll take a vacation to Las Vegas in November for the air show and to see some great friends.

It's a Monster of a Hodgepodge

1. Who taught you to cook?

The answer to this is a hodgepodge in itself, I learned a bit from my Grandma Pike, a bit from my mom a bit from my mother-in-law, a bit from The Food Network and a lot by trial and error, and, I must say I've learned well. I really enjoy cooking, I just wish I had more time to do it. Which is one of my short term goals... eat out less, cook more. 

2. Have you been told you think too much? Are you a perfectionist? Are you too sensitive? Were they right?

Have I ever been told so? I don't think so... but...
Do I think too much? Yes, I'm always running through scenarios in my head. Whether it be what is the most appropriate response to a real life issue, a "what should I have done" in retrospect to a real life issue, or what should I do in a worst-case scenario that will probably never happen.
Am I a perfectionist? A lot of the time, yes. I want everything to be perfect and I aim for perfection, usually with one of the following results. A) I come pretty close, as I've come to accept in the past 20 years, nothing is ever perfect. B) I've determined that there is no way it will ever be even close to perfect so I've given up and no longer try for perfection.
Am I too sensative? I think so. I think I take everything too personally, and if someone slightly raises their voice or uses the wrong tone, I immediately feel like a scolded child. I should probably work on that, but I have no idea how to grow a tougher skin. Do they make a lotion for that?

3.  As a child did you have a favorite blanket or toy? Tell about it.

Nothing long term, I have a picture with a "Mrs. Beasley" Doll, Do you remember her from a Family Affair? Buffy had one.  My mom said she was my favorite, I was about 3 in the picture, I do have some vague memories of her, but I think I'd outgrown her before kindergarten and other than that I do not recall having another favorite toy.

4.  What "institution" do you have the most faith in.

I have to thank Amiee for this answer because when I first read the question, my reaction was "I don't beleive in any institution."  But then I read Amiee's answer, and she believes most in the institution of marriage.  That's right, marriage is an institution, and it is the only institution I believe in.  Granted, I have seen very few marriages stand the test of time, but the few I have, are the ones I look to.  I know it's not easy, but it is worth it.

5.  Chrysanthemums-pansies-burning bush-ornamental cabbage... your favorite in an autumn garden?

My favorite would have to be the burning bush. Here in Michigan where it seems to be so gloomy most autumn days, the fire burning in those leaves always brings sunshine to my heart. 

6.  What superpowers do the kids in your neighborhood seem to possess?

There is only one child in my neighborhood as we live in the country, and that is my son.  His superpowers are too numerous to list, but I think his most powerful superpower is love, I don't think I've ever met a more caring 8 year old boy.

7.  Are you a fan of the cranberry?

Yes! I love cranberries; cranberry juice, cranberry jelly, cranberry apple jello salad, but my absolute favorite has to be the craisin and white chocolate chip oatmeal cookie (you can find the recipe on the craisin package).

8. Insert your own random thought here...

Dominic started playing basketball last week.  When we signed him up, the flyer touted it as a "clinic" type program through the after school enrichment program, and although one of the scheduled practice days interfered with one of our Cub Scout days, we decided it would be ok, since we do Cub Scouts twice a week. After two practices, they tell the boys the practice days are changing, (mind you, there was no formal notice to the parents, I had to verify it with the director of the after school program). Ok, I guess I can handle that, just a minor bit of juggling to do but it's handled.  And then today, a schedule of games gets sent home... what? games?  AWAY games? that we have to drive him to... on random days of the week, which end up interfering with both Cub Scout days.  And to top it off, no note letting us know which team (B or C) he is on. I'm really not happy.  Scheduling is an issue with us as it is, our plates are very full.  But, we'll get through it with more juggling and hopefully a little car pooling help on the day's Terry and I can't make it. Dominic is enjoying it and that is what matters to us.