Wednesday Hodgepodge

From this Side of the Pond

1. "Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability." Sam Keen

Do you feel less guilty relaxing in July than you do in January? Elaborate. 

July is summer!!  Summer means longer days and outdoor activities and  is a time for me to slow down. I do accomplish some deep house cleaning. January is a fresh start!! A time to start doing what I put off in July!!

2. What's a telltale sign you're upset? 

If hub was still alive, he would definitely tell you I become too quiet or only give a one word answer.  When someone gets me upset, I just walk away from that person. 

3. July 16th is National AI Day. What are your general thoughts and/or experiences with AI? Have you purposely used it? Does it excite you, scare you, or worry you? What do you see as a benefit? How about something relating to AI you see as a negative? 

I haven't had much experiences with AI nor have I used it.  AI scares me. AI is helping people with disabilities improving their accessibility and probably helping in the medical fields. 

What I see/fear as a negative is privacy-how much of my personal information is leaked. I think the system can be used for phishing emails and people will trust AI too much.

4. You're invited to a summer pot luck and are asked to bring an appetizer, salad/side, or dessert. Which category do you go for and what are you bringing? 

Definitely a store bought dessert!!!  Either cookies, brownies, or a pie from the Deli.

5. It wouldn't be summer without___________________. 

Humidity or a few thunderstorms.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Speaking of thunderstorms, Man!! I had one too many from last Wednesday till Sunday.  The thunder shook my windows and the rain was pelting down!  I didn't lose electricity (thank God), but I did lose internet service for a couple of days, which also meant no TV.  However, I am not too much of a TV person, but I have taken a liken to soccer so missed some of the games.  A few people were evacuated because of the flooding and the EMS really  came to their rescue.

Sun has been shining brightly since yesterday and the skies are blue.

Have a great rest of the week and Enjoy Life!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What's something you enjoy now that your younger self would never have appreciated? 

Simple pleasures....a cup of coffee, a phone call/text from a friend, walking my dog,  establishing healthy boundaries, and spending alone time with God.

2. What was peaceful about today? 

I am writing this on a Tuesday evening.  I didn't do much today because yesterday (Monday) I had a lot of yard work to do and at my age this wore me out!  So today (Tuesday), I just had some R & R.  I went to the Farmer's Market for some fresh veggies, made chicken salad, and did some ironing (I am the only one who still irons?)

The grandsons are at the beach, and I am beginning a new book Frozen River.  I love sitting outside and I was able to do this.

 

3. It's National Blueberry Day (July 8). Will you celebrate?  You can have one of the following right now-a slice of blueberry pie, a warm blueberry muffin, or a stack of blueberry pancakes...which do you choose?

I keep blueberries in my refrigerator.  Usually, I put them in yogurt or sometimes just a grab a handful as I pass through the kitchen.

I would choose blueberry pie!

This or that-blueberries or raspberries? blueberries or strawberries? 

Blueberries over raspberries...strawberries over blueberries.  I haven't found many good, ripe strawberries lately.

4. Do you need a break? From what? 

Yes, from worrying about things that I can't control!!

ALSO, the HEAT!!! Which happened Monday.  Last week was HOT and I mean like 102 or higher degrees!!

5. What has surprised you most about getting older? 

Besides time going by too fast, I don't feel as old as I expected to feel.  Yes, there are things my mind says I can do (like walk for 40 minutes without stopping) but my body says 'take a rest' but I am still grateful what this 67 year old body can do!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I didn't realize how much I like soccer.  I have been watching the World Cup and man I didn't realize how physically and mentally demanding this sport is.  The players are constantly in motion and making split-second decisions. I hate the USA lost, though.

Have a great rest of the week and Enjoy Life!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What do you love most about your country? 

I value different aspects of the" United States.  First, the freedoms protected  by the Constitution, the beautiful landscapes, and the volunteerism and community service.   The freedom of religion, freedom of speech (even if you disagree with the opinions of others, etc.  America has beautiful landscapes: Grand Canyon National Park, Great Smokey Mountains. Grayson Highlands State Park, etc.  When disasters strike a community, fire, flood, hurricane, people still volunteer and donate not only items, but their time to help clean up mess.

2. Your favorite patriotic song? 

"God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood.  This song brings a tear to my eye everytime.

3. Red, white, or blue? Stars or stripes? Something you own besides a US flag with some combination of those colors or decorations as part of its design? 

I own a shirt with red, white, and blue with stars and a sweater with red, white, blue that has stars and stripes.

The shirt is worn on Memorial Day and the sweater I usually wear on our Veteran's Day Assembly at school.

4. What's one thing you want more of this summer: fun, rest, adventure, connection, quiet, or confidence? Elaborate.

 I want to do something fun!!  I feel like summer is quickly passing me by and I haven't really done anything fun.  Sure, I have been to many baseball games watching my grandsons play and this was fun...but I want more.  Trouble is...I really don't have anyone to do something fun with.  Most of my friends either are having health problems or their spouse is...so.  This is the first summer in about ten years, I haven't taken a trip or plan on taking a trip and this is weighing heavily on my mind.  Maybe something will come up in the next 5 weeks, because then it will be time to return to the brick and mortar building.

5. What was your ultimate, go-to summer activity when you were a kid? Do you still do any version of that today? If you answered yes, does participating in this activity as an adult make you feel like a kid?  

Camping in a friend's backyard.  We would plan for weeks the night of our  camp out.  We bought all the snacks weeks ahead of time.  When the night came, we were so excited.  Our parents helped us put up the tent, and we had a little campfire.   Bellies full of hotdogs, chips, and S'mores, we would go inside the tent and get in our sleeping bags and began telling ghost stories. Of course, there was a group of neighborhood boys who knew were were camping out and always tried to scare us!!  This was the fun part cause we knew who they were and what they were up to!   Early the next morning, we would drag our bodies back home and get in our bed for a few more hours.

No version of this today!!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Monday, my Bible Study Women's Group finished the book,  Don't Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table by Louie Giglio.  This book had me really thinking because I do let a lot of negative thoughts control my life.  I do have the power to control my mind, if I try.

The workbook was so good and made me really stop and ponder!!

A lady in our group made us the cutest July 4 little gifts with special treats.

We haven't thought about another book study, but if anyone has a good one, please share.

Have a great rest of the week, Safe Fourth of July, and Enjoy Life!!

Friday will be another trip around the sun for me!!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Summer's here!  In the northern hemisphere anyway. If you're in the southern hemisphere substitute winter for the word summer. What do you love most about summer? What's your biggest summer pet peeve? 

What I love most about summer is having more daylight hours.  I love waking up to the sun shining through the windows; it just makes me happy.   I also enjoy sitting outside on my deck.  It is so peaceful except for the occasional hum of the heat pump. 

My biggest pet peeve would be when a beautiful day can become uncomfortable because of the high humidity.  Thankful, this hasn't happened yet!  Another pet peeve is seeing ticks!!

2. What song always reminds you of summer? 

"Kokomo" by the Beach Boys 

This got me thinking...Kokomo is an actual place in Indiana, but a fictional Caribbean place in the song lyrics, although the sound does mention Aruba, Jamaica, Bermuda, and the Bahamas.

3. What's something you remember about your childhood summers? Do you think kids today get to enjoy summer the way you did as a child? Elaborate. 

My childhood summers were great!!  My neighborhood was a tight knit place.  We all were like family.  We all would pitch in and help each other with chores so we could head outside.  We would play till dark...kick the can, catch fireflies in a jar, hide-n-seek, just fun times.  When I got older, I would go to Baltimore and spend the summer with my grandmother.  I loved going crabbing with my uncles!  I miss those Maryland Crabs!!

I don't think kids enjoy much of their summer.  My grandson, who I love dearly, played baseball until just a couple of weeks ago.  Now he is in basketball camp and football camp!!  Summer is supposed to be fun and I love sports, but too much of a good thing isn't fun anymore.  AND most kids would rather stay inside and watch TV or play video games.  I keep the grandkids on Tuesday, and I have taught them how to play volleyball without a net and badminton.  Do they grumble when I say time to go outside, YES, but once outside I hear those giggles while playing.

4. We celebrate Fathers Day on June 21st.

 Do you favor your dad in looks or temperament? Tell us something about your dad. Or your husband as a dad. Or a son/son-in-law as a dad. Or your grandpa. 

Many people say I favor in my dad in looks, I just can't see it.  This was on my wedding day, which if hub would have lived, we would have celebrated 45 years together on June 20th!

I do have my dad's temperament.  

My dad was a hard worker.  Family was very important to him.  He was kind, thought of others before himself, set clear boundaries, and was very supportive.  My dad passed away in 1984 at the age of 47.  I miss him dearly.

5. Let's wrap up with a summer this or that-

• flip flops or sandals
• beach or pool 
• watermelon or peaches
• shorts or sundress
• iced coffee or ice cold lemonade
• amusement park or water park

Flip flops, pool, watermelon, shorts (sundresses when school begins), cold lemonade, and amusement park

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I just don't understand people.  Saturday evening, I was at a friend's house eating dinner.  My phone kept pinging and pinging.  When I looked at my phone, I was in complete shock.  My step-son had honored his dad (my late hub) by posting the most ugly post about him.  My hub has been dead for 8 years, so why post something like this now?  I was so mad and hurt.  The comments I were receiving were wondering the same thing.  

Anyway, I waited till Tuesday to reach out to the insurance agency my step-son works for which was previously owned by my husband. I sent a nice letter explaining how disappointing this was and how the people in the community was just as upset as I was.  The only response I heard from the owner, was not an apology but the situation has been addressed and the post deleted.  

Anyway...it is what it is.  People love drama and want to hurt other people.

Have a great rest of the week and Enjoy Life!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. June 17th, 1994 was the day of the infamous O.J. Simpson car chase. What were you doing in 1994? I'm guessing somebody is going to tell me they weren't born yet but that's part of the fun of the Hodgepodge. Lots of generations are represented here. 

In 1994, I was raising a 7 year old and a 5 year old girls.  My late hub and I were living in the house we had built.  My late hub was coaching Pony League baseball and I was dragging the girls to all the games! I do remember the famous Bronco chase!!

2. What's your favorite summer salad that isn't the traditional tossed green lettuce kind of salad? Do you like fresh fruit in a salad (other than in a fruit salad of course)?

 

My favorite is Cowboy Caviar..black beans, black-eyed peas, corn,bell peppers, tomatoes and vinaigrette.  I also enjoy a Watermelon Feta Salad.

I do like some fresh fruit in a salad.

3. Is chivalry dead? Should it be? 

I am in the middle on this one.  I think they can be practiced as courtesy and respect for all.  It shouldn't be a set of rules applied to just a certain group.

Integrity, respect, and kindness are worth keeping.

4. Would you rather spend a week of your summer vacation in Hawaii or Alaska? Have you ever been to either? Are they two places you really would like to see? How do you feel about 'Hawaiian pizza' aka pineapple on a pizza? Have you ever eaten Baked Alaska? 

Spend my summer in Hawaii.  I have been to Hawaii, but not Alaska; my brother lived in Alaska for about 4 years. I would like to go back to Hawaii one day.  I stayed on the island of Maui.   When it comes to pineapple on my pizza, I am a pizzaholic!!!  I have eaten Baked Alaska, but not a fan.

5. World Cup play is happening now...are you interested? Watching any matches? Did you or your children play soccer/futbol? There are eleven US cities hosting matches-

I am not a soccer fan, even though one grandson played the sport for two years.  I never played soccer. 

-Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York with the stadium in NJ, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle

along with  three cities in Mexico (Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey)

and two in Canada (Toronto and Vancouver)-

You get free tickets to one of these matches. Which city do you choose? Tell us why. 

I chose Philadelphia.  First, I have never been.  I would love to see Liberty Bell Center and Independence Hall.  I have never cared about going to Mexico or Canada.  New York would be my second choice.  I love visiting New York!!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Don't ask my how, but I completely lost my blog!!  After a couple of weeks, it was restored!!  Yay!!

My oldest grandson's All Star Baseball Team won their Division!!  They lost in Sectionals, but the team improved the more they played together.  A great season!!

Accepting his medal!

Have a great rest of the week and Enjoy Life!!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Do you like your name? Are you named after someone (grandparent, etc)? If you have children how did you choose their names? 

The older I get, I like my name...Tamara Lena Helton Doane.  Lena comes from my great-grandmother.  Most people call me 'Tammy' or Tam-Bug.

As for my girls'names...I always liked the name Amanda and my late hub liked the name Christine (from a TV Show) so my first born was named Amanda Christine Doane.  My second daughter has 4 names....My oldest daughter's cardiologist was Dorothy, my grandmother's name was Sarah, and hub's grandmother's name was Emaline...so she was named Dorothy Sarah Emaline Doane.

2.  A piece of red velvet cake, a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a slice of blueberry pie? You can only have one...which will you choose? If you could pick any red, white, or blue dessert other than those listed here, what would you choose? 

A slice of blueberry pie.  Not only do I love blueberries, but one of my grandsons also loves blueberries.  He and I will just eat a bowl of blueberries for a snack.

3.  What's a job you'd like to try for just one day? 

Being an airline stewardess.  I would like the travel opportunities, meeting new people (well some....I have seen some terrible videos of people getting arrested on planes), and just the adventure and variety of my day.

4. Any patriotic decor in your home currently or coming up this summer? 

Yes, my door hanger is patriotic and I will decorate my table for the Fourth of Juy.

5. It's the end of May, so let's exercise our brains. Sum up your month with an acrostic using the word MAY. We can do it!!  

Maybe I will survive 

Another day

Yearning for summer break.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

My garden was plowed and tilled BUT now, it is a bunch of weeds!  And when I say a bunch of weeds, I mean it!!!!! A neighbor told me I needed to till it again.  Right now, I am at the point of what is the use???  I have been really busy and just didn't have the time and when I had the time the much needed rain came!!  

I have never watched the show Southpark, but I was talking to a friend about my grandson making All Stars for baseball.  That one episode in Southpark  is how I am feeling!!!  A short summary is the team keeps winning even thought they are trying to lose because they realize their entire summer is nothing but playing baseball.  When my daughter told me grandson had made All Stars, I was happy, but secretly wishing baseball wouldn't take up my summer.

Have a great rest of the week and Enjoy Life!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What's something you may do this month?

I may finally get my vehicle cleaned!!!  My appointments have had to be postponed because of weather....rain, cold, or sometimes I have a baseball game to get to and I have had to reschedule.

2. Hola! Hodgepodge Day lands just after Cinco de Mayo... how do you feel about Mexican food? What's your favorite dish? Do you make it at home or is it a strictly dine out option? 

Lover of Mexican food!!!  I haven't had a dish I didn't like...favorites...fajita/chicken nachos, enchiladas, fresh salsa, corn tortillas, bold spices, cilantro, etc. 

I strictly dine out!!

3. When the children of today grow up what do you think they'll say about this time period? What do you most hope they remember? 

Green Revolution starting to take root, how we didn't really know what AI was all about,  they may look back and judge what we did or didn't do, and how fast technology was changing.

That even though there was chaos, there was still joy and hope.

4. What advice would you give a new mother? 

Being a new mother is a huge transition.  Accept help and don't feel guilty about it, take care of yourself, the housework can wait, don't aim for perfection, give yourself time because not only are you raising a new baby but your are becoming a new version yourself.

5. What's a phrase your mother often said to you? If you're a mom do you say it to your own children? 

When asked the question, 'Why'? to my mother, it was always, "Because I said so."  I think I said this a time or two to my daughters.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Baseball is in full swing...and I mean full swing!!  I will admit, I didn't want the twins to move up to Coach Pitch, but doing so has made getting to games easier!

Have a great rest of the week and Enjoy Life!