Wednesday Hodgepodge

Thanks to Joyce for the questions.  Grab the button and hop on over  and join the fun.

1. The NFL playoffs were held this past weekend and this year'sSuperbowl lineup will feature The New York Giants versus The New England Patriots. How do you define 'patriot'?

The dictionary and definition we teach students:  one who loves, supports, and defends one's country.  A vague definition, don't you think?  To me the word 'patriot'   is someone who goes the extra mile to defend our freedoms, and one who strives to uphold the ideals we hold so true.   'Patriot' is also a devotion to a cause that will benefit society.

2. What's something in your life right now that feels like a 'giant'?

Just hearing the "C' (cancer) word will always be a 'giant'-once you have had experience with it.

3. What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think back to being 18?

I was 17 when I graduated from high school; I turned 18 in July.  I remember being excited about going away (leaving home) to college.

4. Coconut-mashed potatoes-vanilla ice cream-mayonnaise...which white food would be the hardest to give up?

This is an easy one for me!!   Not a fan of  any of these!   

5. Describe an incident or a day you remember as the coldest you've ever experienced?

A hard one for me to remember since we are experiencing temperatures way  above normal.

6. You're hosting a brunch...what's your favorite dish to prepare and serve?

Some type of casserole-hash brown probably, many breadfstuffs, and lots and lots of fruit.

7. How do you combat negative thinking?

I have a five minute devotion book I read every morning.  This helps me get through the day.  I also hum a favorite song....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mmgV6mPvb0

8. Insert your own random thought here.
Charlie is snoring-a sound I love to hear right now.  He had his colonoscopy this morning, and the doctor was pleased with his findings-only 3 polyps.  Praise The Lord!!  

Praise God for the sunshine.  

This past week has been so gloomy.  It has rained and rained and rained.  The temperatures have been more lile 'spring time' than winter.  Even though the calendar says January and I have 'Let It Snow' decor up, it is more like March.

The rain is so depressing ....and this is what it has been like all week.  

I think I am depressed because I am scared.  Hub has his colonoscopy Tuesday.  He was diagnosed in January  2010 with colon cancer and has taken chemo treatments.  December 2010, had another colonoscopy and now has one on Tuesday.  Hub use to coach high school baseball.  He was never a teacher, only a coach.  One of his past players is an anesthesiologist.  He will be putting my husband to sleep on Tuesday and will stay with him.  He called my hub to tell him this and to tell him it will be an honor to take care of him.  What a blessing this man is.  

  

 Hub showed me a knot on his back last night.  This really freaked me out.  He says it doesn't hurt, but....once you have had experience with the big 'C' word any little pain makes your mind think the worst.  Then I get angry with him for not telling me about his knot sooner and start asking all kinds of questions...When did you notice the knot?  Has it gotten any bigger?  Does it seem to move?  Is it sore to touch?  Why haven't you told the doctor?  Do you feel alright? 

My nerves and 'mind' is getting the best of me. In the mornings, I read a short five minute devotion from a book I have purchased.  This morning it was about times we have adversity in our life.  God knew my thoughts and feelings!  I know God is my protector and when I  call upon Him-He will answer my heartfelt prayer.  I just need to have faith in God.  I do know God knows I am human, and right now I am scared.

Daughter #2 played  basketball this weekend at her college.  #1 daughter came home -she knows how I get when the time gets close-and we all went to the basketball game.

Daughter surprised-as she is coming out of tunnel-we brought her nephew with us.  He does have an eye for the 'ladies.'

Daughter ready to play!

Have a great week!  

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Join the fun!

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


On a road trip Saturday so I missed the pageant. :( I enjoy watching Miss America. 
My talent would have to be something related to music.  I can't sing a lick, but I enjoy music probably something like 'Name That Tune' or 'Guess the Lyrics.'



2. Do you have houseplants? Real or fake?

Not a green thumb person-no real houseplants.  I do have fake ones on the back porch.





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?

 In school, I was the quite person and always did what I was told.  In other words, 'a doormat.'  That has now changed-I wonder if it has to do with age.



4. Next Monday marks the Chinese New Year...what do you order when someone suggests Chinese food?

I like some Chinese food-but not one of my favorties.



5. How would you define a miracle? What would it take for you to consider something a miracle?

An extraordinary event that can't be explained-=  Oldest daughter has had two open heart surgeries.  The first one at UVA and the second one at Boston's Children Hospital.  The surgeon at Boston couldn't believe she lived through her first surgery (said she should have died) and was not too hopeful for this surgery; he said he "needed a lot of help from the man above." I remember those words like it was yesterday!  Oldest daughter is now in her second year of pharmacy school. Miracle-yes!!!
Another miracle---Even though my hub was diagnosed with colon cancer-it was caught in the early stages.  He only went for a colonoscopy because of a promise he had made to his dad.  Miracle-Yes!!  He goes for another colonoscopy Tuesday-January 24-asking for a special prayer.
Both of these
God does perform miracles everyday.



6. What's your favorite Disney song? If you're stuck you'll find a list here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lenkR5XzSJc
Hercules--"Go the Distance"



7. I should have _____________ yesterday.
Hmmmm....can't think what I should have done-I know I should have done something!




8. Insert your own random thought here.
I am ready for some cooler weather.  Temperatures are in the 50's tonight, tomorrow in the 40's and will be reaching the high 60's/low 70's by Saturday.  It sure doesn't feel like winter in 'my neck of the woods.'

The weatherman kept saying our area was under a winter weather advisory.  I spent Thursday night looking out the window (all I could see and hear was wind and rain), texting oldest daughter-she was planning on coming home to get her vehicle (has been driving one of my vehicles) and texting hub-who was in West Virginia watching #2 daughter play basketball.  It was to say the least, an eerie night especially when the electricity was going on/off.  Thankfully, I did not lose electricity but the wind was doing some major blowing!!
Hub finally made it home, #1 daughter asleep (last I checked) and #2 daughter and basketball team were spending the night.  Whew-now I can get some sleep.

Phone rings at 5:30-school is closed due to snow/ice.  I look our the window and I don't see anything.  My roads are black and I could see the ground.  You know when you don't get enough sleep, you feel like you are dreaming, well that's exactly how I felt.  I do the next best thing--I put on my glasses (blind as a bat without glasses/contacts) and look out the window again and turn the television on-oops forgotten hub still in bed. Not a nice word coming from his mouth.  There-I saw for my own eyes school closed on the TV screen.
I tried going back to sleep--after all this--right!  So I woke hub up--I had a good idea.  Since #2 daughter plays basketball in Ohio on Saturday and my aunt (who I dearly love and haven't seen in 5 yrs) lives only a couple hours of away from where daughter will be playing-let's leave and spend the night and visit her.  So I waited a few hours and called aunt-my mom is staying with her this winter and aunt has the stomach virus.  No way am I going around this.  Weather wasn't looking too good in Ohio, either.  So hub and I planned on staying home on Friday.--
Except.... I needed to go to Wal Mart.  I needed to pick up some things so we might as well go and drive #1 daughter's VW bug and make sure it is running okay before she drives it back to school.  The roads were clear....I couldn't see any snow...

Still don't understand why school was closed, but I needed this day off.

Quickly purchased what I needed at Wal-Mart.  Hub was starving so I had to hurry-you know how that is.  Trying to think of what you need to buy (had left list on counter-yep I need a list), and hub saying hurry so I can eat. We loaded the bags in the car and CAR won't start.  What?  I began questioning hub--you did say you drove this (#1 daughter's car) last week because it isn't good to just let them set.  Yeah he assured me he had.  Then why won't it start?  Look--the engine light is telling us we are trying to steal the car.  He tries again--it starts for a few seconds and then quits, engine light on again-trying to steal vehicle.  What?  Then it hits me-how are we going to get home?  #1 daughter is still at school-planning on coming home in the next 5 hours and #2 daughter is either in West Virginia or Ohio.  Hub calls his son-he is at the office but he can't leave because he is the only one there.  Ahem...We could call your mom, I tell hub.  Yes she is 76 years old and doesn't drive much but..hub replies-- just let me think a minute.  Finally he gave in, and he called his mom.
45 minutes later, we were on our way home!!

One can do a lot of people watching at Wal-Mart.
Vehicle was towed to a VW dealership.  Dealership was to have it fixed on Saturday.  Good-#1 daughter can drive her vehicle back to school.
Saturday---we woke up to this

and Charlie and I headed to Ohio to basketball.  Nice drive on the way up.

#2 daughter was glad we came.
Daughter #1 called-car won't be ready on Saturday.  The problem is.....

the key.  Cost $200.00!!! for a key-not including the tow bill, computer bill-yeah to see the problem, and not sure when it will be fixed.  I was stunned!  Oh well-it will be okay.

Driving home from Ohio was another story.  About an hour from home, we ran into snow.  Hub went 35 on the interstate and my behind was eating a hole in the seat!!  I was so glad to arrive home SAFELY!
Daughter #2 called and bus driver had taken the wrong turn.  They had at least 6 more hours on the road.  For those of you who have girls, this is not a good thing. Girls have plans -and to say the least, the girls were furious.  Guys, on the other hand, would have probably laughed and joke, but girls don't!  Most of Saturday night was laying awake waiting on the phone call that daughter was back at college-safe and sound.  The call finally came!

Daughter #2 called Sunday morning and--she had gotten a speeding ticket.  She swears she wasn't speeding, but we all know about that-don't we?

Until this weekend not much was happening or exciting.  I don't need to think this anymore!  It seems to all happen at once, doesn't it?

Busy week--I plan on going to two basketball games and I have meetings after school.  The weather is going to be a crazy roller coaster ride-thunderstorms tomorrow with temp in the 60's and maybe snow Wednesday with temps in the high 60's on Saturday!!  I felt like my three-day weekend was a roller coaster ride!

Not much happening.......

Not much happening........
Winter has been very mild.  Temperatures in the 50's and 60's with thunderstorms.  I am feeling like I am living in the top half of Florida instead of Virginia.  Thunderstorms tonight-with snow to follow in the morning. Being a teacher, I have missed hearing the words--"School Closed."   However, if we keep this up, summer vacation will begin in the later part of May.  In all my 30 years of teaching, this has only happened once!

This is my youngest daughter's last year playing college basketball.  Hub-goes to every game.  I, on the other hand, go to as many as I can. Right now, hub is in West Virginia and I am listening to the game on the radio. It is hard traveling and then getting up for work the next day.  I have enjoyed watching daughter play, but I am glad it will soon be over!!!  For this to be her senior year, it has been a rough, tough, long senior year in college basketball.  If anyone has a daughter/son who is interested in playing college sports, I hope I can talk to them before hand.  It is not an exciting road as one might think.  Now, don't get me wrong, I have meant some wonderful parents, but I haven't really enjoyed the college sport scene.  There are many things a parent is not told until her child is playing college sports.  I just want a daughter/son to really think and discuss the sport scene with parents before signing to play.

Glad tomorrow is Friday.  This has been a long week.  I plan on traveling to Ohio to watch-yep basketball.  Hope the weather isn't so bad.

Good weekend to all!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Lake Superior University has once again published a list of words/phrases they think should be banished from the Queen's English in 2012-

amazing, baby bump, shared sacrifice, occupy, blowback, man cave, the new normal, pet parent, win the future, trickeration, ginormous, and thank you in advance.

Which of these words/phrases would you mBost like to see banished from everyday speech and why? Go here to read more about how the words are chosen.

I would have to choose--"the new normal."   What is normal now a

2. Are you easily embarrassed?

This depends on the situation and the company I am with.

3. What is your go-to snack?

Veggie Straws  I just recently found these.  They are crunchy and salty and I love them!

4. Have you ever been to Washington D.C.? If not do you have any desire to go? What site/attraction would you most want to see in that city? If you have been, what's your favorite site/attraction?

I enjoy visiting D.C.  I always find I don't have enough time there.  My favorite attraction -The Vietnam Memorial.  I can remember making my uncle's special candy and shipping it to Vietnam.

5. sit ups-planks-lunges-squats...which do you hate the least?

First, what are planks?  I guess you can tell I am not much into exercising.  Since I must choose-it would be sit-ups.  Why?  Once I am down, I don't know if I could get back up.

6. What's a small act of kindness you were shown that you've never forgotten?

When my husband was taking his chemo treatments, my neighbors cooked dinner for us more than once and often would just drop by to sit with him.  While I was at school, I was a nervous wreck, but coming home just to see friends sitting with him was something else!  This eased my mind soooo much.  Dinner was thoughtful, but just being with him meant a lot to me.

7. Have you ever been a blood donor?

Yes, many times.  As a matter of fact, my entire family has.  We have the blood mobile come to the high school and I am so proud of the teenagers who donate blood.  We do still have some caring and responsible young people!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Instead of January I think I am in the month of March.  Our temps are warm and the forecast for tomorrow is thunderstorms!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Hop on over and join the fun.  Thanks Joyce!

1.. What are three words you would use to describe your 2011?

Snowy-don't remember a winter like this past year
Worry- always worry about daughters, husband and step-grandson

Swiftly-the year went by too fast. 

2. Do you like shrimp? What's your favorite way to have it prepared?

A shrimp lover.  I love grilled shrimp---Charlie makes a special sauce and grills it-mouth watery.  Just thinking about this, makes me want some.

3. Is your house de-Christmased? If so when did you tackle that job? If not, when will the decorations come down?

Totally de-Christmased.  In between opening Christmas presents and preparing Christmas dinner, decorations  came down.  #2 daughter's birthday is the day after Christmas and for years house whas de-Christmased-birthday party and sleep overs.  This year she had to head back to college on her birthday because of basketball :( so to keep my mind on her not leaving I still took down all decorations. 
When Charlie and I were first married and before children, I didn't take down any decorations until January 1st.

4. Do you like to watch scary movies?

Yes even though it nerves the crap out of me! then I am  awake for hours.

5. ice skating~sledding~skiing~snowboarding~of the four listed which wintertime activity do you most enjoy?

Haven't been ice-skating since college days.  Use to go cross-country skiing before having children.  Now that I am older, I would have to stick to sleeding.  I do miss going skiing, though.

6. Did you have a childhood hideout? Describe it.

Don't remember having a childhood hideout.

7. What's a place or space that motivates you?

A place would have to be in the shower.  OMG-you say, but I do most of my thinking and motivating in the shower.

8. Insert your own random thought here
Today was our first day back to school, and school was closed!  I needed just one more day.

Happy New Year

Have you heard the saying?  "As one door closes, another one opens."  This is how

I feel about the 2012 New Year.

So many fond memories of 2011-basketball game thrillers, snowstorms (so nice to be able to hear the words-"Schools Closed"--ahem), graduations, reunions, hot, lazy summer days, and the list goes on and on.

  Like many fond memories, there are memories that aren't so fond.  However, when life doesn't go as planned, I remember the verse-Jeremiah 29:11  "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." and then I repeat-"This too shall pass."  Life is a roller coaster with many hills to climb, bumps and curves along the way, and full of thrills.

Throwing away my old calendar, I now stare at one that is blank-not blank for long, this I am sure of.  I am ready to embrace 2012 with all it has to offer. 

An appropriate song for the beginning of the New Year:

Wishing all a Happy, Prosperous, and Blessed New Year!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5TIulzXoXo