Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What’s changed in your life, home, or community since your last birthday?

Well the biggest change is that I have a grandson now! Quinn Wallace was born in March, and he is a super amazing.

He is six month old, sitting up, crawling, and pulling himself up onto his feet! He is a man with a mission!

2. September is Classical Music Month. Do you like/listen to classical music? If so what’s a favorite piece and/or who is a favorite composer?

Not a super classical music fan, but my favorite piece is The Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43, (Russian: Рапсодия на тему Паганини, Rapsodiya na temu Paganini) is a concertante work written by Sergei Rachmaninoff. It is written for solo piano and symphony orchestra, closely resembling a piano concerto.

3. Besides The Bible, what’s a book that has positively changed your life, relationships, career, or perspective? How so?

The First Year Of Forever: Surviving The Death Of Our Son, by B. D Van Vechten. I was given this book shortly after losing my daughter back in 1985. I have read it and reread it. Why? The book made me realize that I was not alone. That my feelings were normal for what I was going through, and it helped me to stop being so hard on myself.

The journey of getting through the first year is really a marathon. Just when you think you are getting to a better place, it all comes rushing up and hits you in the face all over again.

It is now 31 years later, and most days I do okay, because I do not allow myself to go there. But some days, when I least expect it, I suddenly find myself sobbing.

Yes the first year was the worst, but the forever, is oh so hard too!

4. I read (here) these ten hobbies will make you smarter…play a musical instrument, read voraciously, meditate regularly, work out your brain (puzzles, sudoku, board games, etc), exercise often, learn a new language, write your feelings down (blog, journal, just write), travel to new places, cook different kinds of meals, participate in sports actively

Are any on this list your current hobbies? Which hobby on the list would you be most inclined to try?

I play Words with Friends almost daily, and I enjoy that. I blog almost daily because I love to write, and share my thoughts and ideas. I also cook and make up new recipes. Last night was a new grilled chicken recipe that I made in my cast iron skillet. My cousin gave me that skillet and I use it all the time!

5. What sports traditions does your family have?

Hubby and I like to watch the Grand Slam Tennis Tournaments. I used to watch them with my Uncle George when I was a kid, now I watch with my husband.

6. In a few words, weigh in on the current football/National Anthem brouhaha. Keep it family friendly please.

I would never disrespect our country, our flag or our people by acting the way these spoiled multi-millionaire football players have. Don’t like this country? Then I suggest you get out and go to another one. America is not perfect, but we are so much better than so many others.

Since Colin Kaepernick is now demonstrating against our country (he has become a Muslim) I would suggest he moved to a Muslim country, where he might feel more at home. Oh wait! They would never pay his big millionaire salary, or put up with his bull.

7. Where do you have loads of patience, and where do you most lack patience?

I have loads of patience with the grands. Those two could be pushing all the buttons and it doesn’t phase me at all. Last time I baby sat Quinn, he was so tired and fussy and fighting sleep. So, I just lay down with him until he fell asleep. I watched him with half closed eyes, until he curled up and fell asleep. It took a while, but I could stare at that handsome face forever!

Savannah is really easy, she is four years old and can tell me what she feels and what she wants.

I have little patience with Lili. I know I should be better than I am, but that dog can get on my nerves so quickly.

She is hyper and can jump floor to ceiling in one motion. And then, she will come over and quietly sit down next to me and look at me with those big brown eyes and I melt. She loves me so much and I do love her, I just wish she would settle down a bit!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

The summer is over and yesterday when I drove up town to get the mail and get a few groceries, I actually could get around, without traffic jams and tourists walking into traffic. I know we need the tourists to come and spend their money, but goodness, it drives me a little nuts when I am unable to get around my little town.