Wednesday Hodgepodge -

As always, Joyce has come up with some interesting, eclectic questions ... some easy, some thought-provoking.  I have already read several others' answers (always an interesting waste of time way to start my morning) ... if you want to read or play along, click on the button above).

 

1. Do you like your name? Were you named after someone? If you have children how did you settle on their names? 

I've never really liked my name, but after this many years, I'm certainly used to it.  I've always hated that it's a nickname and that no one ever seems to understand when they ask for my middle name, that it's not Kathy Ann.  I was determined when choosing a name for DD, I was going to give her a name that couldn't be shortened so when she had to give her middle name, people would be able to come up with her full name.  Seems so silly in hindsight, doesn't it?  And speaking of DD's name, I had her first name picked out early in my pregnancy, but I couldn't come up with a middle name for her.  I think it was in my 9th month (we didn't count by weeks back in the olden days) when I was standing in line to buy something when I saw a display of stuff with names (can't even remember what now) ... and saw the name! 

2. How do you define success?

Living in such a way to hear "well done, good and faithful servant".

3. Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy?

Jeopardy.

4. If you could own any single object that you don't have now, what would that object be?

If money were no object (ha!), I'd love to have granite countertops.  But our house is not even 3 years old, there's absolutely nothing at all wrong with my countertops, and money is an object (Would that be the opposite of the old saying "if money were no object"?  Now that I'm typing this, that whole saying makes no sense.  ha!)

5. What is something that inspires you? 

God's creation awes and inspires me.  The majestic mountains.  The expanse of the sea.  The beauty of nature.  The intricacy of living, breathing beings.  

6. Meatloaf-yea or nay? If its a yay how do you make yours?

We like meatloaf (DH more than me).  I'm still looking for a recipe that will knock our socks off.  I've got some good recipes but none that are over-the-top fantastic.

7. Which is more admirable-the ability to organize and be methodical or the ability to adapt and make do?

Organizing and being methodical is easy (maybe it's because I'm OCD/anal -- because you have to be in order to be an accountant, I always say -- I always tease DH that he isn't OCD/anal enough to have been an accountant -- ha!), so I think that the ability to adapt and make do is more admirable.  Besides, adapting/making do implies sacrificing, doing without, going with something other than the first/best choice ... so doing well under those circumstances is quite admirable to me.

8. Insert your own random thought here. 

I'm "off" today and am going to spend the day with DD and the Ts.  We don't have anything special planned (yet), but it doesn't matter ... it will be nice to just spend some time with them.    

There's no place like home

I enjoyed my trip to the Gulf Coast, but I'm glad to be back home.  I missed my DH, my pups, my DD, my 4 Ts, my bed, my routine ... I love to travel, but I'm always SO glad to get back home! 

My dad spends a couple of months in Orange Beach, AL every winter, and each year my sister L and I go spend a few days with him.  The last couple of years, he's rented a condo right on the beach - this year his condo was on the 12th floor, so we had an absolutely gorgeous view of the Gulf.

Too bad my camera doesn't have a wide-angle lens to give you a better idea of the view we had.

It was quite cold when we got there ... we wore our winter coats the first couple of days ... but even as cold as it was, it was still warmer than back here in Illinois!  ha!

We had a good visit ... we played Rook, we walked along the beach, and we ate too much fresh seafood ... but I'm glad to be back home.

Wednesday Hodgepodge - Totally Random

Joyce has some up with some very interesting questions this week.  I always look forward to her Wednesday Hodgepodge!  If you'd like to see what everyone else has answered or if you'd like to play along, just click on the button above.

1. Every January 1st since 1976 Lake Superior University has published a list of words they'd like to see banished from the Queen's English. Words may be banished due to mis-use, over-use or just general uselessness and they receive over 1000 nominations. Here are the fourteen words/phrases they'd like to see banished in 2011-viral, epic, fail, wow factor, a-ha moment, back story, BFF, man up, refudiate, Mama Grizzlies, The American People, facebook/google when used as verbs, I'm just sayin', and Live life to the fullest.

 

What word or phrase would you like to see banished from our everyday vocabulary in 2011? You can choose one from the 'official list' or you can get creative and come up with your own.
I think any noun used as a verb out to be outlawed.  

2. Do you consider opportunity something that comes to you or something you create for yourself?
Yes.  Ha!  Seriously though, I think opportunity can be something that comes to me or something that I've worked to create ... or both.  

3. Since we're all eating healthy this month, ahem, what's included in your favorite salad? Is there dressing?
Various lettuces, some thinly sliced red onion, some sauteed prosciutto, some shredded parmesan and a light vinaigrette (not too much).  We have that salad 3-4 times/week. 

4. The fourth Monday in January is said to be Blue Monday...aka the most depressing day of the year. The date was calculated using many factors including weather, debt level, time since Christmas, time since we've failed at our new year resolutions, low motivation and feeling a need to take action. Do you get the blues this time of year and if so what is something you do to lift your spirits?
I don't normally get SAD.  Although I do grow weary of too many days in a row without sunshine.  I love snow, so although I have extremely low tolerance to cold, I don't usually react (emotionally) to winter (including January) like most people do.  

5. Do you wear a watch? Any other everyday jewelry essentials?
I used to wear a watch, but once I retired, I put it away.  When retired, time of day becomes less important ... and besides, we have clocks in almost every room of the house.  When we travel, I do wear my watch, though.  I always wear my rings (engagement/wedding).  I haven't worn earrings in years (I wonder if my holes have closed up?).

6. What is something useful you learned in high school?
Typing.  I took it only because my mom stressed how important it would be (it and shorthand and home ec would be -- it was a totally different time back in a small rural community back in the mid 60's).  Turns out typing has been important ... with computers used for everything these days.  My family and co-workers always teased me because if they heard something typing away on a keyboard at a high rate of speed, they knew that it was me.  ;-)

7. Do you use an accountant when completing and filing your income tax returns or do you attempt to muddle through all by yourself?
No, we use Turbo Tax.  I'm sure that I could prepare our returns myself, but using Turbo Tax means that I don't have to worry about math (after 30 years of working as an accountant, I can't do simple math on my own any more ... I need a spreadsheet or a calculator! ha!) and that I can e-file.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
I've survived 2 days back at work ... things have gone well.  I'm having some trouble getting into my new routine.  I worked full days so far this week because I will be unable to work tomorrow or Friday.  Next week I should be able to get into a normal work schedule ... and hopefully a new normal routine here at home.  

Let it snow?

We've got 2" of the 3-6" of snow in our forecast ... I can't remember the last time we had this much snow in one winter (which may tell you more about the state of my memory than our weather ha!).   There were little sleet balls falling as I walked out to the parking lot after work yesterday afternoon ... it didn't take too long for it turn to snow.  It's still snowing, so DH has graciously agreed to drive me to work (to spare me the hike in from the parking lot).

It was nice to come home to the smell of chicken stroganoff cooking in the crockpot ... so nice to have dinner ready within 15-20 minutes of when I got home.  It's weather like this that makes the crockpot so handy.  I need to go downstair, dig out my crockpot cookbooks, find some recipes and start using it more.  

My first day back to work went well.  Everyone welcomed me back with hugs ... and a cake.  I was a little apprehensive because I'll be helping out with work I hadn't done in almost 5 years; I spent yesterday reviewing procedures and policies and feel confident that it will go well. 

I don't imagine that I'll have any time this week to work on T#4's big girl quilt.  I have the triangle pieces sewn together ... the next step will be sewing the star blocks together.  Once I get back from my trip to the Gulf Coast and get settled into my new routine, I hope to be able to spend some time in the sewing room. 

Friday Ramblings

I'm feeling much better today ... still not quite 100% yet, but definitely much better.  I actually took a shower, got out and ran a few errands, and ate "regular food" for lunch today. 

I'd love to get back to work on T#4's big girl quilt, but the first step involves precise piecing, and I think it might be best to wait until I'm feeling 100% and my mind is sharp/alert.  Besides, I've got a book that I started last night and forced myself to put down so I could go to bed at a fairly reasonable hour ... I want to finish it!

I did go back to the University to fill out all my employment paperwork.  Things have obviously changed since I was hired on back in 1989.  I had to fill out paperwork for a background check ... and I had to pee in a cup!  :-o

I also got my hair cut ... normally my hair grows on the slow side, but every once in a while, it grows like crazy between cuts ... and this time was one of those times.  I probably should have had it cut a good couple of weeks ago.

We had a bit of snow over night ... just enough to cover everything.  It's been snowing pretty much all morning ... at times pretty intensely.  It's all pretty much melted (the temperature's been at 35 for a couple of hours or more), but I'll bet we would have had 3-4" on the ground had it been cold enough.

Have a fabulous Friday ... and a wonderful weekend!

I'm baaaaaaaaack

I don't know if anyone's noticed, but it's been almost a full week since I posted last.  In that post, I mentioned a tummy bug that had hit DD's house.  Guess what?  It made it here, too ... and it's still kinda hanging around (although I did get a full night's sleep last night - 'nuff said ha!).  So far, DH seems impervious to my germs, for which I'm thankful.  I definitely would not wish this on anyone.  In all my almost 60 years, I can't recall a worse bout.  :-( 

My dad has reported that he's about 1/3 of the way through his final leg to the Alabama Gulf Coast, where he goes to spend a couple of months each winter.  His ophthalmologist gave him the ok to head south, so he left yesterday morning.  Thankfully he didn't push himself like he usually does and stopped about 3 hours away from his destination.  I hope I don't worry DD as much when I'm in my late 80's.  ;-)

Speaking of my dad going to the Gulf Coast, I'll be leaving next Thursday to go spend a few days with him and my sister L.  He's staying on the 12th floor of a condo right on the beach, so I can't wait to enjoy the fresh seafood, walk along Johnson Beach, and enjoy the panoramic views from his condo.  Here's a picture that I took last year of Johnson Beach; it's a part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, so it's totally undeveloped ... and beautiful. 

I've been offered a part-time, extra-help position at the University ... in the department where I used to work.  So much of our retirement nest egg is still in the stock market, hoping for a rebound, and what's not is in CD's which aren't earning nearly enough these days, so I thought that I would take advantage of this opportunity to add to our nest egg.  I'll be limited on how much I can work, so I'm optimistic that I'll still have time for my Ts, quilting, etc.

Speaking of quilting, I have everything cut from my fabrics for T#4's big girl quilt except for the binding.  I hope that I can do a little sewing over the weekend, but T#4 is probably still a year away from her big girl bed, so I've got time. 

Hope you all have had a wonderful first week of the new year.

Happy New Year!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” - 2nd Corinthians 5:17 

2011 is here ... 2010 is history ... 2011 is a new beginning, a blank slate.

It doesn't matter what mistakes I made last year, what words I wish I hadn't said, what thoughts I wish I hadn't thought, what things I didn't do that I wish I had.  Today is a new day, a new year ... will I look back on December 31, 2011 and have the same regrets, or will I look back and see progress on my journey to become more like the One who has ordered my days? 


Today looks to be another lazy day here.  I'll probably turn on the Rose Bowl parade while cutting fabrics for T#4's big girl quilt ... it's slow going ... my cuts have all been small squares (2", 2 3/4") ... and my legs don't seem to tolerate standing for long periods of time.  Fortunately, I'm done with the small squares and only have strips to cut for the rest of the fabrics, so the cutting *should* go a little more quickly.  It doesn't help that cutting and piecing are my least favorite parts of quilt-making.  ;-)

I'm going to make a log cabin variation (log cabins and 9 patches are my favorite quilt patterns!).

I'm using pinks instead of the blues and green instead of burgundy (for the stars) ... her bedroom is done in pink and brown with a touch of green. But I think those colors work well together, so even when DD changes the room colors, I think that this will be a pretty quilt.  I hope that DD and T#4 (when she's old enough) think it's pretty, too.  ;-) 

I still have DSIL's quilt here ... a tummy bug has hit DD's house.  :-(  Unless she needs me to help out, I'm going to try to stay clear of the germs if possible.  He still doesn't know that I've made him a quilt ... and I can't wait until he sees it.

Wishing you all a blessed 2011!