Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

 

I wasn’t sure I’d make the Hodgepodge today … I overslept (for good reason – I haven’t had a good, full night’s sleep in almost a week) and woke up sluggish, but it’s still Wednesday … so there’s still time for a Hodgepodge!

 

1. My real life friends came through with another question this week so thank you real life friends. When you've eaten in a restaurant do you complete their comment card? Do you take online surveys highlighted at the bottom of store receipts?

I’ve done both a couple of times, but as a rule, I don’t usually.  I’m more apt to if the service was way above and beyond the call of duty or if it was abysmal.

2. The (US) ban on women in combat was lifted at the end of January. It will probably be next year before specifics are worked out, but its been reported over 200,000 front line positions will eventually open up to women.  Your thoughts?

If women truly desire to serve on the front line and if they’re truly qualified (i.e., no watering down the physical requirements), then I think it’s ok. 

3.  In looking back at all the blog posts you've written, what's your favorite post title?

Gee, my post titles are all pretty lame. 

4. What's worse-overly permissive parents or overly protective parents?  Did your own parents lean more to the permissive or the protective category?  If you're a parent where do you fall?

I’m not sure which is worse.  I think extremes of any kind are dangerous.  My parents were very strict and didn’t tolerate much independent thinking.  It took me a long time to “recover”.  And I saw firsthand the heartache parents experienced when their teen-aged/young adult children rebelled against overly protective parenting.  I vowed that I would do my best to choose the middle ground and learn to loosen my grip as my daughter got closer to adulthood.  It’s not an easy thing to do. 

5.  Candlelight-moonlight-firelight-bright lights in the big city...which one's your favorite?

I love sitting in front of a roaring fire in the fireplace … I love the convenience of our gas fireplace, but it doesn’t come close to providing the warmth and ambiance of a “real” fire.

6. Dr. Seuss's birthday was celebrated on Saturday. What's a favorite book you remember (Seuss or otherwise) from your own childhood?  Did books play an important role in your growing up years? Explain.

Oh my goodness yes!  I grew up in a small town and some of my earliest memories are walking to the library on Saturday to check out books.  It wasn’t uncommon for me to try to check out more than I could possibly carry back home.  When most of the neighborhood kids were out playing, I preferred to be inside with a book.  I’d have to say that my favorite book from childhood is probably Little Women (do young girls even read that any more?).  

7.  To quote Dr. Seuss...

"From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere."  from One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish

Share something funny you've recently read, seen or heard. 

My dad brought home from the Alabama Gulf Coast a small shoebox full of Mardi Gras beads (there were THREE Mardi Gras parades right past his condo building last month).  T#4 loved them … she put on a couple … next thing I knew she had them ALL on!  She told me that she loved her fancy necklaces and would wear them with her fancy dress.

 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

We got snow yesterday, but nothing compared to what the northern part of the state got (sure wish they could have shared).  Click on the photo if you want to see it really coming down. Because it had been in the lower 50’s on Monday, the snow didn’t stick to streets, sidewalks and driveways did stick to untreated surfaces, trees, fences, etc.  Unfortunately the snow isn’t going to last much longer because daytime temperatures are above freezing (not by a lot but enough that about half of the snow was melted by sunset yesterday).