Category: Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What would you say is the key to success?

A positive attitude and believing in yourself!

2. Have you ever been to the Florida Keys? Any desire to visit that part of the US of A?

Oh yes. I have been to the Keys. All the way down. But my favorite place is on 58000 Card Sound Rd Key Largo, Florida. Best Conch Chowder and Conch Fritters anywhere, as well as a nice frosty beer!

3. When and where did you last see a real live donkey? Monkey? Turkey?

OK Saw a wild turkey Mr & Mrs and 6 Poults the other day. Monkey? Well, it has been a while. Donkey? Last January when we were on Princess Cays. They were everywhere!

4. An old Portuguese proverb says, ‘Beware of the door with too many keys.’ What do you think this means? Share an example of how this has proven true or false in your own life.

Forgive me, Joyce. My head is spinning this week, so I need to beg off on this one.

5. Besides your home, vehicle, and special jewelry, what is something you keep under lock and key?

My special papers. Will, Life Directory, etc.

6. When did you last get keyed up about something?

Tonight when I was cleaning up after dinner and not getting any help with the dogs. I kind of let loose!

7. Who thinks we need an easy one right about now? Key lime pie…yes please or no thank you?

Yes please! Especially the one they make at Alabama Jack’s!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I need sleep. Long, relaxing hours of sleep! And more time with Savannah!

1. “Summer is like childhood. It’s full of warm memories and gone too soon.”~Kellie Elmore Agree or disagree? Share something you loved about the summers of your childhood.

Agree. Now what did I love? A childhood memory? I loved cool crisp sheets on my sun kissed body. I loved the way the ocean softened my skin and the sun bleached my hair. I loved the way I always fell asleep exhausted from everything we did!

Melodie & Me.

2. Are you a fan of auto racing-NASCAR, Indy, Stock, Grand Prix, etc? Ever been to a race in person? Any desire to do this? Do you know a lot about cars? Do you notice particular makes and models when you’re out and about?

I’ve never been to a race despite the fact that Louden, NH Raceway is close by. I like watching from the comfort of my home.

3. What’s something you think is too serious to be joked about? Or do you think anything and everything is fair game?

I think people are too serious about most things. Right now I feel that Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza is nothing to joke about.

4. July 29th is National Lasagna Day. Are you a fan? Do you have a great recipe, and if so where did it come from? If given a choice would you choose a plate of lasagna or a plate of spaghetti?

I love lasagna! I love it more than I love spaghetti. I just kind of make it up as I go, with the exception of the zucchini lasagna that I make. You can go HERE and view my recipe.

5. What’s a simple pleasure you’d miss if it were not a regular part of your life?

My afternoon tea. It’s like a long held ritual, that I still keep. Growing up with my mother and grandmother, afternoon tea was a much loved rite of passage!

6. If you could be the CEO of any company, which would you choose?

An airline, and then I would fly all over the world, seeing my loved ones!

7. August is just around the bend…bid farewell to July in exactly seven words.

Family wedding was the best time yet!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

This past weekend I also saw my beautiful, smart, enchanting granddaughter, Savannah! She sang to me, talked to me and hugged me! She also asked about her Papa, who was, of course, home with the dogs.

1. The month of July was named for Roman Emperor Julius Caesar. He’s quoted as saying, ‘Experience is the teacher of all things.” So what has experience taught you lately?

Stop waiting for good things to happen in life. Just make them happen, even if you are in your own little world!

2. Where did you last ‘roam’?

When we got Lili. Since she came, we’ve really been tied down. Although we went to the movies yesterday!

3. Speaking of ‘Rome’…pizza, pasta, gelato…you can only pick one, which would you choose?

Pasta. People who have been to Italy tell me that Pizza really isn’t an Italian thing. Although they have it there. It is just not like our pizza.

4. ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’, ‘All roads lead to Rome’, ‘When in Rome…’ which ‘Roman’ idiom have you most recently encountered? Explain.

Rome wasn’t built in a day. Yes, training a pup, and getting her to be a polite puppy has been a real challenge. She is strong, stubborn, but incredibly beautiful!

5. What’s a movie you’ve seen or a book you’ve read, that makes you want to book a trip to Italy?

I’m drawing a blank, tonight.

6. Walt’s original Disneyland opened almost sixty years ago, on July 17, 1955 Have you ever been to the California park? How about any of the other Disney parks around the world? What’s your favorite amusement park ride or attraction?

I’ve never been to the California park, just the Orlando one. My favorite ride are things like the rides that carry you around the park, or little kids rides. I really do not like roller coasters or scary rides.

7. It’s that time of year…when were you last bitten or stung?

Yesterday. When i got up early to walk Lili. Oh the language I used! I simply hate mosqitoes!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Lili  really has been a challenge. You know, she loves me so much and follows me from room to room, sits on my feet if I am standing chopping vegetables and just wants to be with me all of the time! Sometimes she gets a little too clingy, but then I tell myself that she has found her person and I am going to have a loyal companion for many years to come.

1. July is National Anti-Boredom Month. When was the last time you were bored? What’s your go-to cure for boredom?

Are you kidding? With a 4 month old puppy, one dog that just had surgery, a husband with stage 1 Malinoma, and my own rather unique and crazy issues! No, no boredom here.

2. What’s the last thing you made a reservation for?

For our cruise last January. I did hotels before and after,  as well as all the cruise work.

3. What’s one thing on your summer ‘bucket list’? Any plans to make it happen?

I want to go to the Beach with Savannah and Amanda. I hope soon.

4. What’s your favorite summertime sip?

Chardonnay with frozen green grapes. Trust me, I am a cheap date!

5. What do you find is the best way to handle another person’s hostility and hopefully ease the tension?

Just accept that it is there and move on.

6. Your favorite film set in summer?

Jaws. Probably because they filmed it on Martha’s Vineyard and I grew up in Falmouth on Cape Cod. I was a teen and that film scared me to death. Took me a while until I went back in the ocean!

7. What word are you using too much lately?

Totally!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Anneliese is out of surgery and ready to come home. The tumor was encapsulated so the Vet thinks it was a Lipoma (fatty tissue) as it was not invading into her mammary area. Yay!!!

1. Speaking of 180…when was the last time you ‘did a 180’ on something?

Tough question. It’s something very personal, and I’m not sure I want to share it here.

2. It’s Independence Week in the US of A! What’s your favorite thing about America right this very minute? Favorites only! Let’s hear what you love about America.

The “Real Americans” in this country! (And you know who you are.) These people are willing to join the military, serve in the communities as firefighters and police, they voluneer for communy events and do it with a smile on their faces.

If you’re playing along today, and you’re not an American but have been to America, what do/did you like best about this country? If you’ve never been to America, do you have any desire to visit? What’s the number one thing you’d like to see?

I would reccomend The Grand Canyon and Alaska! With Alaska, I would say take a cruise and get a land tour with a train! Alaska is simply stupendous!

3. Stars or stripes? Red, white, or blue? Watermelon, homemade vanilla ice cream, or blueberry pie?

We will have our flag flying on the 4th. I’m making a fruit salad with watermelon for dessert.

4. When did you last see stars, figuratively speaking?

Two night ago, while walking the puppy, I looked up and saw a shooting star and a second later a second one! I imagine that will never happen to me again!

5. ‘Clear as a bell’, ‘with bells on’, ‘lots of bells and whistles’, ‘saved by the bell’…which phrase ‘rings’ truest for you lately? Have you ever seen The Liberty Bell?

Yes, I have seen the Liberty Bell. I suppose with bells on. My cousin and I are celebrating the 4th of July together and I will do so with “bells on”!

6. Are you caught up in World Cup fever? Have you watched a lot or a little or none at all?

No. Sorry to say, I am not at all into soccer, AKA “Football”.

7. Bid farewell to June in 10 words or less.

Bye June, please help Lili be an easier puppy!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

It’s too hot! Today when I got up it was close to 80 degrees (F). Now at 3 PM it was 98 degrees! I’m not a big summer fan and I really dislike the heat!

1. What summer activity most takes you back to your own childhood?

The cookouts. Our family loved to cook-out or picnic and those make me vividly recall my childhood.

2. What’s your favorite summer smell?

The salty beaches. I could stand by the sea shore all day just smelling the ocean salt!

3. It’s beach season in the US of A…so how do you feel about sand?

Love it, but not under my bathing suit! I love to walk beaches along the shore on warm, wet sand.

4. Sun tea, SunChips, sunflower seeds, Capri Sun, Sunny Delight, Sun-Maid raisins, sun-dried tomatoes…your favorite food or beverage with sun in its name?

Sunflower Seeds I guess, although there are uses for sun-dried tomatoes.

5. What’s your favorite way to cool off on a hot summer day?

A dip in the ocean. This is really funny because I live across the street from a lake. Somehow lakes just don’t do it for me.

6. Share a favorite song with the word sun or sunshine in it’s title.

Here Comes the Sun. First by the Beatles, but I found this clip done by George Harrison at a Charity (I think it was the Concert For The Prince’s Trust in England) show. So many famous, familiar faces. I loved George. He was the mostly quiet, Beatle, who wrote tender love songs.

7. Tell us about a time you had an exceedingly good or truly awful customer service experience. If it was awful, did you report it? Ever go back there again?

Back in 1989 I lived in West Berlin. I have to say almost all my experiences were good ones, but one day after a French Press coffee pot broke (It was glass and just snapped shattering and scalding me) I took all the pieces back and I wanted a new one. The Clerk said too bad. No returns. I stood for a moment, open mouthed, then I said quite loudly, “I want to see your superior!”. Well that did it. The clerk became very nice and in no time I had a new pot!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Oh wow, the big news is that Lili is doing very well in school! She is listening to my words and following my directions. I am so happy I remembered the name of Fritz’s teacher. She is a remarkable woman who really knows how to train dogs!

1. Since you weren’t Hodgepodging last Wednesday, how did you pass the time?

Just hanging out, missing your questions!

2. What’s the first word that comes to mind when I say marriage? Yes, one word.

Love

3. Summer officially arrives in the Northern hemisphere later this week. Does it feel like summer where you live? Describe your idea of the perfect summer day.

Yes. Yesterday it was close to 90 degrees and today will be the same, just with no breeze. I got my first mosquito bite!

4. “Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.”(Sam Keen) Is laziness ever respectable? Do you have a lazy summer planned, or something semi-ambitious?

No laziness for me. I have 4 dogs and a husband. They all demand my attention.

5. Past or present, who’s your favorite television dad? Why is he a favorite? Is he anything like your own dad?

George Banks, Father of the Bride

Watching your kids grow up is tough. Watching your daughter marry a man she has known for three months is even tougher. Sure, George didn’t take it well at first but he came around at the end, which is what matters. The lesson: we all react (and sometimes overreact) emotionally at time.

6. June 18th is International Picnic Day…share a favorite picnic memory.

My family loved to picnic during the summers. They were planned for almost every weekend. Everyone pitched in and a great time was had by all.

Hot-dogs, hamburgers, corn on the cob, potato salad, and chips. Hot coffee and tea in thermoses, soda pop to boot, and strawberry short cakes.  S’mores made with marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers.

Mom, Aunt Tilly, and Melodie

Uncle George, Janet, Aunt Betty, and my Grandma Honey.

Mel, Grandma and Me.

Me, Papa Fred, and Mel.

7. The travel site Trip Advisor lists the top five islands in the world for 2014 as- Ambergris Caye in Belize Cayes, Providenciales in Turks and Caicos, Bora Bora in French Polynesia, Marco Island Florida, and Lewis and Harris in The Outer Hebrides (Scotland). Have you been to any of these? Of those listed (and if price were not a factor) which would you most like to book for a holiday?

We’ve been to Belize and Turks and Caicos. If money were no object, yep, I’m heading to Bora Bora!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Lili started school last night. The teacher recognizes that she is a real handful. But she also helped me to see that I react poorly to Lili’s drama. So it is time to bring it down. Don’t play into Lili’s drama.

1. I’ve read several posts and status updates recently describing end of year school field trips. Do you remember taking school field trips as a kid? Where did you go and do you recall a favorite? For any parents responding today, have you ever chaperoned a school field trip, and if so where?

I grew up in Falmouth Massachusetts. We had two memorable field trips. One was to the Mayflower in Pliymoth Plantation, in Plymouth, MA. You can read about this historical site HERE. It is pretty close to my hometown and was a great field trip.
The second one was to The Nation Seashore. You can go HERE and check it out. Back then, we we were able to stay in old barracks and stayed for a few days. Growing up on the peninsula of Cape Cod really was quite the idyllic way to grow up. The ocean, the sun, and my bike. Does it get any better than that?

2. What’s something you’re tired of seeing online?

Commercials! You know, the ones that pop up when you get to a site and are reading something? They just turn themselves on. Of course if you disable that pop up then you do not get to read the story you are trying to read!

3. June is the month for roses. Which of the following expressions would you say has most recently applied to your life-‘everything’s coming up roses’, ‘there’s no rose without a thorn’, ‘came out smelling like a rose’, or ‘wearing rose-colored glasses’?

Everything is coming up roses. Life has been mostly good. Savannah’s party was great, the garen is almost completely in and after today I can take a day or two off.

4. When grilling outdoors do you prefer gas or charcoal? Who does the grilling at your house? What’s the last thing you ate that was cooked on a grill?

Charcoal. Hubs used to do the grilling, but I have found I do a pretty good job of it, so I have taken over.

5. Are you afraid of the dark?

Yes. I have nite lights around the house. It has always been this way.

6. Share a favorite song with a number in it’s title.

7. “Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.”(C.G. Jung). Do you agree? Why or why not?

Yes, because when we find something that irritates us, we can often see that we are guilty of the same. Through this insight can come understanding.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

My garden is officially is in. The bubble gum is laid out in the stone walls and I hope that it will work again to keep the chipmunks and squirrels at bay.

1. What news story are you following right now?

The problems with the VA. (Veteran’s Administration Hospitals) Hubby is a Vet and gets his care from the VA and currently he is waiting for skin cancer surgery.

2. What’s the last thing you wanted but didn’t get?

A new shower head, although that is still in the mix. I just didn’t get it when I was at Loews. I’m still doing investigations.

3. May 28th is National Hamburger Day…when did you last have a hamburger? Other than your own kitchen or BBQ grill, where is your favorite place to go for a hamburger? And for all you non-meat eaters out there…when you’re invited to a cookout what is the one side dish you hope is on the menu?

Last time I ate a non-home cooked burger? When we were coming back from one of the VA trips. We popped into Burger King and grabbed one there. My favorite burger joint 5 Guys Burger and Fries.

4. How have your priorities changed over time?

I realize that family and close friends are the most important in my life.  Things…do not matter but people do.

5. What’s a favorite memory with your grandparents?

Afternoon tea. I loved coming home from school and sitting down with them and having afternoon tea. I would tell them all about my day and how it went, and what I did, and I just loved that! And I really miss it now.

6. On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being fantastic!), how good are you at multitasking? Share an example.

I am not. I was in my younger days, but not so much anymore.

7. How would you summarize your highs and lows for the month of May?

Sleep deprivation from puppy care is the low and birthdays for Hubby, Savannah are at the top and Lili herself is also a gem…in training, of course!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I loved “Dancing With The Stars” this year. I wanted Meryl Davis and her partner to win, and they did! Meryl is half of our Olympic Ice Dancing Team. She and her partner, Charlie Davis, won the Gold medal in Russia. Anyway, Meryl is such an amazing dancer, and she is so graceful! Her partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy is from Ukraine. He has smouldering good looks and the two of them danced with so much sex appeal! Each week they danced on the show and were, in my opinion, perfect! I am so happy they won!

1. Under what circumstances do you do your best thinking?

Complete silence and stillness. No distractions, no one bothering me. Just me, in an empty room with a pen and paper.

2. Are you a risk taker? What’s one big risk you’ve taken?

No, I wouldn’t say I am a big risk taker. I think probably because I have already lost so much in my life, I tend to play things very carefully. Perhaps sometimes too carefully.

3. Some of the most common phobias according to the National Institute for Mental Health are-fear of spiders (arachnaphobia), snakes (ophidiophobia), heights (acrophobia), fear of spaces from which escape is difficult (agoraphobia), fear of thunder and lightening (astrophobia), fear of dogs (cynophobia), injections (trypanophobia), social situations, flying (pteromerhanophobia) and fear of germs and dirt (mysophobia). True phobias affect only about 10% of adults, but of those listed which would you rate as your greatest fear?

Really dislike snakes and heights. I remember going up to the top of the Empire State Building and nearly getting sick. No, heights are not on my list of fun things.

4. Are you settled or do you feel the need to move somewhere new?

Eeventually I would like to move closer to my daughter and granddauughter. But where we are right now, is beautiful and I do love it.

5. What is something you find annoying when dining in a restaurant?

Loud talkers and loud laughers. On our last vacation at the table next to ours was a large group. Every night they laughed loudly (drunkenly) and talked like they were giving speeches in a large convention hall. We asked our waiter for help, but he was in an awkward position, as this was his table too.

6. Daffodil yellow, sunset orange, spring green, or sky blue…your favorite color this time of year?

Deep sky blue!

7. If you were going to take a holiday all by yourself, where would you go?

Hmmmm. Good question. I’d love to go to Paris and just go to museums each day. But then, I love the Carribean, and would love to go there and feel the warmth. Or Alaska and enjoy the majesty. Too many wonderful places in the world!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Lili Marlene continues to assimilate into our home. The dackels have all been canine good citizens, and although they have not “welcomed” her, they have put up with her clumsey puppy ways. I remind them that one day she will be the big protector dog!

(Yes, new Mommy is tired, but very, very, happy!)