Wednesday Hodgepodge

Hodgepodge…I love that word!

1. Share a favorite song lyric.

I am not a HUGE listener of music. I’m a talk radio kinda girl. But I do love a good musicals. South Pacific, Oklahoma, Sound of Music, Guys and Dolls…”I got the horse right here his name is paul revere and the guy he says if the weathers clear…can do, can do…this guys says the horse can do…” or “I dreamed last night I got on the boat to heaven and by some chance I had brought my dice along…” but then who can pick…’Do a deer a female deer….” or “Happy, Happy, Happy, Happy Talk….talk about things you like to dooo…” y’all I am humming and tapping my feet.

2. When was the last time someone yelled at you?

Ok….after a few minutes of searching the old memory banks I pulled one out. I have to be honest and say that it has been such a long time since anyone really yelled at me I had to stop and think. Personally I have done my fair share of yelling over the course of my maternal life but having it directed at me is a bit different.

I think the last time was many years ago. We, the entire family, husband, son and daughter were all in the car headed to the airport. I was driving. The Hubs had come home from an extended trip a few weeks prior but was now having to head back for another lengthy stay for some additional training. So there we are on the expressway and all of a sudden the van blows a tire. Now keep in mind that the Hubs is the defensive driver in the family…NOT ME! Well I was doing the best I could to maneuver the car over to the side of the road, but it was clear that I was not doing it fast enough nor to his likening. Well he rather forcefully issued a few crisp orders to which I responded “DON’T YELL AT ME!”

I am laughing as I type this because it was all rather comical in hindsight, but not very funny as it was happening. I managed to get the car over to the shoulder. I then began to pray for a hedge of protection over our car as the flat was in the back on the driver side of the car. I was as far over to the right as I could get but I still had visions of seeing my son go flying into the air after being struck by oncoming traffic.  But I digress, the hubs and the son changed the tire on the side of the expressway and then we got back on the road as quickly as we could. The only things worse would have been if the hubs missed his flight! Once we got to the train station the Hubs did see the error of his ways and apologized for raising his voice. It was really done out of concern. He was trying to protect us all from getting smashed into as I inadequately made my way to the side of the road.

Hmmmm maybe that’s why he does most of the driving when we are out and about…….

3. Money, fame, happiness...are they mutually exclusive?

I guess I have to say no. I think a lot of people thing the money and fame will make them happy. However when you look at the nightly new and see all the dysfunction of the rich and famous I have to respectfully disagree. Money and fame would be nice but if you are not grounded in the truth of Christ then you are seeking your reward in the wrong place.

4. What is your favorite dish to prepare for family and friends that doesn't require turning on the stove, oven or an outdoor grill?

Hmmmm, maybe reservations! That’s a tough one, most of my crown pleasers all require some kind of cooking. But on further consideration I do have a trifle desert that is pretty darn good and there is no cooking involved beyond making up a batch of whipped cream and slicing a few strawberries.

5. The first week of August is National Simplify Your Life Week. What is one thing you could do this week to simplify your life? Will you do it?

Hands down the biggest nemesis in my life is keeping my desk and bills organized.

Case in point………

Sorting through the daily and massive piles of junk mail. Forcing myself to sit and balance my checkbook or pay bills, well now that I am in the wonderful phase of my life where my hormones are in charge I find that it takes so much effort. I used to be so totally organized and had all my ducks in a row in that area of my life. Now when I think of doing those accounting task my brain just revolts. I would love to say that I will sort the mail immediately upon taking it out of the mail box, but it just gets put down on the table. I would love to to say I balance my checkbook the day I get it in the mail, but the truth is that I see the statement in the pile and I think, “Whew…I JUST can’t do that right now!”

So I guess to answer the question of “Am I going to do it?” well the truth is that yes getting my bills in order would simplify my life greatly, but am I going to do it? I’ll let you know when the hormones subside….I just wish I had a clue when that is going to happen. Personally I think peri-menopausal women should be restricted from handling sharp objects or put in a position of having to balance anything. I really do think I have lost the capacity to place numbers in their proper chronological order or even make sense of very simple tasks. I mean the last time I balanced my check book it was a super fun time! I can’t wait to do that again……..NOT!

6. On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being 100% and 1 being not at all) how tuned in are you to your country's national political scene?

I think I have to give my self a 7, I at least know who all the players are and can tell you what the serious issues are. I get so frustrated with the folks who have opinions yet do not have a functional understanding of how our government works or who is in charge. If you don't know who the speaker of the house is our who your representatives are then you need to keep your mouth shut and do some reading and learn how to cast your vote. I will say that I do find the process a bit overwhelming and I think everything needs to be simplified a whole lot. I think there are tooooooo many spoons all trying to stir the pot and tooooooooooo many cooks in the kitchen.

7. What are your final parting words to the month of July?

Stay inside…it’s just to darn HOT!

8. Random thought, well with my mammogram tomorrow and a colonoscopy in another few days and and even more daunting task that I am really struggling with pending on the horizon, I guess it would have to be this, ‘How do you place all the things that need to get done in their proper perspective?”

Philippians 4:13

¹³ I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

 

Being a grown up is hard sometimes……….

 

For more Hodgepodge fun y’all head over to Joyce at From This Side of the Pond and link up!

Blessings

R