Wednesday Hodgepodge

It’s Hump Day … and while Hump Day doesn’t mean as much as it did when I was working (when you’re retired, every day is the weekend), I still look forward to Wednesdays … because that means it’s time for Hopdgepodge! 

1. February 22nd is National Be Humble Day...what makes you proud? What keeps you humble?
My daughter makes me proud … I love, love, love the beautiful, compassionate, caring, nurturing woman she’s become.  My aging body keeps me humble … I’m learning that I cannot do everything like I used to. 
 
2. Where is the catch-all (aka dumping ground) in your house?
Our kitchen island.  We come in to the house through the garage, and the first flat surface we encounter is our island … so everything gets dumped there.  Just how long things stay there … well, let’s just say that can be the source of a bit of disagreement with DH. 

3. Do you make it a point to visit State/National Parks when you travel or even in your own hometown? What's your favorite?
We don’t necessarily go out of our way to visit state or national parks, but if in the area, we'll definitely visit.  I would have to say that Johnson Beach, part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore (part of the National Park Service) located at Perdido Key, FL, would be my favorite.  Beautiful, pristine beach … what’s not to love?     


4. How would you define honor?
I believe that to honor is to respect or hold in high esteem. 

5. Angel's food or Devil's food-which cake do you prefer?
Angel food … no icing … with fresh strawberries (and a little whipped cream, too, please?).


6. What's the most recent road trip you've taken? Where did you go and how many hours did you spend in the car? Do you like to zoom to your destination without stopping or leisurely wind your way there with stops along the way? What is your car snack of choice?
The last road trip we took was our trip to Hilton Head last fall.  It’s a 13+ hour drive (each way) … so we were in the car for 13 hours (not 13 solid hours … we stopped for lunch, for gas, and for a rest stops along the way).  Our preference is to get to our destination as quickly as possible … on the way there, we’re anxious to get to there, and by the time our stay is over, we’re anxious to get back to “home sweet home.”  Our car snack of choice is usually animal crackers … easy to eat, no mess. 
  

7. Recent headlines told how a preschool child in NC had their packed lunch from home taken away and a school lunch substituted by a school inspector who deemed the homemade lunch unhealthy. Reportedly the parent was then billed for the school lunch (chicken nugget meal) although an update to the story says the parent was not billed. The inspector was conducting a routine inspection of the classroom-he/she was not there solely to peek in the lunchboxes. The packed lunch contained a turkey and cheese sandwich, an apple juice box, a bag of chips, and a banana. You can read the story here. Your thoughts?
Another example of Big Government. <sigh>  It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that if state and local governments stopped micromanaging our lives, they would be in much better fiscal condition.    

8. Insert your own random thought here.
Yesterday it was a reasonably warm day – for mid February … time to prune back my knockout roses.  It seemed that the thorns were especially sharp this spring … even with gloves on, I couldn’t seem to escape the nasty thorns.  And unfortunately, my jacket “took one for the team” … a small rip in the sleeve.  <sigh> 

I noticed, while outside, that many of our plants are starting to bud out … my hydrangea, cherry tree, etc.  This is just way too early.