Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What's one thing on your to-do list that you want to get done, need to get done, or that must get done before the year ends? 

Really nothing.  I guess I am lucky in this regard.

2.  December 17th is National Maple Syrup Day...are you a fan? Do you like maple flavor in other food items such as candy, cookies, donuts, oatmeal, hot toddies, coffee? 

Yes, a fan.  Maple flavor donuts are my favorite, but I also like maple flavor candy and cookies.

3. Time magazine names a person of the year every year.  The tradition started back in 1927 with a 'man of the year' but has since changed to recognize not only an individual, but also to consider the impact of a group, movement, or idea that most influenced the year. The selection is not always someone or something good (think Hitler in 1938 and Stalin twice). 

This year they've named The AI Architects as their 'person of the year'. What say you? Is this a good choice, an obvious choice, a logical choice? Who do you think should have been named person of the year? 

Naming the AI Architects as 'person of the year' shows that the world has entered the age of applied AI.  The AI Architects is one person but a team effort of researchers and developers.  

Let me just say, I do not agree with this selection. An obvious choice because the way technology is affecting our world.  And people like Sam Altman and Elon Musk is a why they (AI Architects) were chosen. I think AI will eventually eliminate millions of jobs across white-collar workers.  I think the chatbots have contributed to our mental health crisis.  Teaching middle school, I have already seen the danger this has had on females.  Heck, it takes me a few minutes or longer see if a photo I am looking at is 'real' or AI.  And students are using this feature to write their essays!!! 

I would have named Pope Leo XIV as Person of the Year.  He was the first American Pope and his election was a major global religious event.

4. What's a city, state, or country you've visited that you never care to visit again? Tell us why. 

Newark, New Jersey

Back in 2012, I finally got hub to go to New York.  On the way to New York, I found out the reason it didn't take much persuasion for him to go.  He had purchased a Volkswagen (one I had wanted, beige with a tan top that you could let down).  Hub had bought this vehicle on-line and had given the man a deposit.  We spent a few days in New York going to the Empire State Building (which I also found out that hub was terrified of heights), Statue of Liberty, and a Yankee's Game' I am a Yankee fan.  The day came when we were to go and pick up the car.  How do you know where it is was my question to hub.  Only for him to reply someone was coming to our hotel and get us. 

A lady did come.  We got in the car with her and there was incense burning in the floor board.  We chatted (only after I heard her chatting on the phone).  She was from the Middle East and was speaking Aramaic.  We pulled up to this very, very tiny fenced in lot.  Then we went inside and I told hub I smelled marijuana and he just shrugged it off.  I asked the lady where was the vehicle I had came after.  She replied they were washing it, and this seemed like no big deal to me. Hub and I walked around the small lot which had only about 4 cars in the entire lot!!  Finally, the Volkswagen arrives, but the top is no longer tan, it is jet black.  I go and stand beside the vehicle and put my hand on the top.  My hand is jet black.  They had painted the  top.  RED FLAG!!!  Hub explained to the man that I really wanted the tan top so the deal was off and could he have his deposit back.  He writes him a check (I kept thinking this check wasn't real).  Anyway, he tells the lady who picked us up to take us back to the hotel.   On the way back to the hotel, (incense still burning strong) she pulls into a doughnut place.  We all get out of the vehicle.  The lady orders her a doughnut and a drink (I am thinking to go of course) AND she sits down at a small table to eat and drink.  We get back in the car and then she says, "I really don't know how to get you guys back" and she asks hubs for directions!!!  Hub has never been to Newark or New York EVER!!  I kept thinking I was DOOMED!!  I don't remember how we made it back, but we did!!!

That was my first and last encounter with Newark.  I don't ever want to go back!!

5. Next Sunday (December 21st) marks the first day of winter (or the opposite if you're living down under). What's one thing you love about this new season? 

Right now, I dread the winter.  We have already had snow and ice.  The temperature was in the single digits Sunday night and the wind chill factor was well below zero. School was closed last week for a couple of days and the days we were able to go, we went on a delay schedule!!  I love watching it snow, but we haven't hit winter yet and I am ready for the warmer temps.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Monday night was my Ladies Bible Study Group.  We decided to meet an hour early due to the cold.  I love this group of ladies.  Our devotion centered on HOPE.   Worldly hope is based on certain outcomes.  Hope in Jesus is based on the unchanging character and faithfulness of Jesus.  Waiting patiently through trials and sickness is definitely difficult, but having hope in Jesus one knows the glorious outcome is certain.  We know the final chapter!!  Our group is trying to decide on a book for our next meetings.  Any suggestions?

Have a very Merry Christmas!!!

Enjoy Life this season!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Do you struggle with the commercialization of the holiday season? What helps you keep your focus when the season’s busyness and commercialism start to take over? 

I don't really struggle, but I don't like all the commercialization.  I don't like seeing Christmas stuff out with Halloween decorations or Thanksgiving.  Again, I think Thanksgiving gets a bad rap.  Sales start too early making the season seem rushed.

Traditional activities help me to keep the true meaning of Christmas.  Reading the Christmas Story, singing Christmas Carols, attending church services, and displaying the Nativity Scene help me to remain focused . 

2. What's one small thing you want to savor before the year ends? 

First, I need to declutter negative thoughts!

I want to be able to give myself permission to feel good in the small moments.  Sometimes, I still feel guilty.  I want to savor the good memories and fun times I did have.  I will savor the fun time I had on my cruise.

3. December 9th is National Christmas Card Day. Do you still send Christmas cards? If so does yours include a photo or is it a more traditional card, or maybe homemade? How do you feel about the tradition of exchanging cards at the holidays? If Hanukkah is the holiday you celebrate in December do you send cards to mark the occasion? 

I still send Christmas cards; no photo included.  I don't send as many as I use to, though.I usually send cards to my close-knit friends and family who lives far away.

People have gotten out of the tradition of sending Christmas cards.

4. What's your least favorite holiday related task? What's your favorite? 

5. Let's do a little holiday this or that? 

• shopping or wrapping
• baking or decorating
• eggnog or wassail
• real tree or artificial
• turkey or ham
• white lights or colored lights 
• ugly sweaters or matching pjs
• peppermint or cinnamon 
• presents Christmas Eve or presents Christmas Day

 Shopping, decorating, neither eggnog or wassail, artificial tree but I love a real tree but too difficult for me to have a real tree, ham, white lights (I love sitting in my room with just the Christmas lights on), matching PJs, peppermint, both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

My grandson, Blake, (the one with the big grin and red hat) was in the Christmas Parade Saturday night.  The 8 and under football team for Abingdon was in the Championship Football game so the team was able to ride in the parade. It was a cold and damp evening.  Parade started at 6pm.  I met daughter in a parking lot, walked 4 miles, and kept up with the twins while daughter kept up with the dog!  I was determined to see Blake on the float and take a picture. AND I DID!!!

Emily sent me this later that night!

Which I quickly responded, Well, at my age of 66, I am glad I can still SPRINT!!!

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

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What does it mean to have ,the 'holiday spirit'? On a scale of 1-10 how is yours this year? (10=off the charts, 1=still looking for it)

I would say I am a 4.  I am trying but since my oldest daughter passed away it is so difficult to get in the 'holiday spirit'.  And her birthday is also in December.  A heart-breaking month for me.

2. What's your favorite character from a (December) holiday-themed movie, book, or TV special? Tell us why. 

Imogene Herdman.  

Imogene is bossy, loud, and she smokes. She plays Mary in the play, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. The Herdman's were unruly children who had never heard the Christmas Story nor had they every been to church. The rehearsals are completely chaos with these children.

The night of the play, the townspeople are surprised.  They bring to the play, the 'real life' happenings.  Imogene doesn't lay Baby Jesus in a manager, she insists on holding him.  She coddles the baby as if it is her own.  Tears drip from her eyes.  Imogene does what mothers do; we love and coddle our newborns. 

Imogene, though she is perceived as an unruly, worst child can still find the true meaning of Christmas.  She transformed prejudice into understanding.

3. Do you like gingerbread? Are gingerbread houses part of your holiday tradition? 

I do not care for the taste of gingerbread.  When the girls were  younger, gingerbread houses were a tradition.  Daughter carries this tradition on with her boys.

4. Much of our vocabulary is determined by where we live or where we grew up. What say you-

sprinkles or jimmies? lightning bugs or fireflies? soda or pop? sneakers, trainers, or tennis shoes? sub, hoagie, grinder, or hero? freeway, highway, or motorway? frosting or icing? sauce or gravy?

Being from the South it is:  jimmies, fireflies, pop, tennis shoes, sub, highway, icing, and gravy.

When I lived in Baltimore it was soda.

5. Share a favorite holiday memory from your childhood. 

We never decorated for Christmas until after the first week of December.  

Going to the mountains early in the morning with family and picking out a Christmas Tree was so fun.  Dad would chop it down and somehow attached it to our vehicle.  Once home, the tree was positioned directly in front of our picture window.  Dad was always a pro positioning it just right so it wasn't moved a thousand times.   The tree sat in a stand that contained water.  Decorations were brought out and the tree decorating began.  Oh, those tangled lights!!!  And Lord help us if a bulb wasn't working.  But Dad was to the rescue.  We spent hours decorating the tree and laughing.  Christmas music was always playing in the background on a huge floor stereo. We only took a break from decorating when changing the Christmas albums.  When the tree was finished, we ate a light lunch.  After lunch, it was time to decorate the outside!  Bright lights were strung across the front of our house.  Big, huge plastic candles lined our sidewalk.  Then Mom would always decorate the door with some type of paper and hang a wreath on the door.  

Afterwards, we all would go to a little restaurant to eat.  So many people would be there and conversations were all about decorating.

Coming home, we would look at each house with the decorations brightly shining.  My little neighborhood said we lit up the entire town

These were the best memories ever.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.  

This Thanksgiving, was the first Thanksgiving I was kinda all by myself.  And I hated it!!  Daughter was out of town with her in-laws, so it was just me.  Early on Thanksgiving, I went to help out at church.  The church I attend, fixes and delivers meals to families in need.  I arrived at church by 8am and began delivering meals (300) later.  Completely finished with this task by 11.  I came home and had a pity party. AND asking God why?  Around 4pm a neighbor  called and invited me for turkey dinner.  This was such a blessing to me and I am so grateful for this kind neighbor.  Which got me to thinking????  Next year, I am going to invite people, who may have no place to go for Thanksgiving  to my house.  OR better yet, have a place where they can go for a meal and WE ALL CELEBRATE THANKSGIVING TOGETHER.  Holidays are not all joyful and if I can do this small gesture, I can make peoples' Thanksgiving a little better.

Have a great rest of the week and Enjoy Life!