Wednesday Hodgepodge - 18 November 2015

1. What's surprised you most about your life or about life in general?

I guess what surprised me the most is the fact that I ever got married. I figured it would never, ever happen for someone like me. Since I didn't think that anyone would ever marry me, I also didn't think that I would ever have babies. David and I have been married for thirty-one years now and I am thankful for all of my beautiful babies.


2. Among others, these ten words were added to the Oxford English Dictionary this year...awesomesauce, beer o'clock, brain fart, buttdial, cat cafe (apparently this is a real thing), fatberg (gross-read the definition here), fat shame, hangry, Mx (gender neutral), and skippable.

Your thoughts? In looking over the list, which word do you find most ridiculous? Which word would you never in a million years say out loud? Which word would you be most likely to use in conversation?

Hangry and skippable are alright by me, and I kind of like the idea of a cat café (assuming that the definition that I found is actually what it really means! http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/cat-cafe). I love cats. "Buttdial" has become a way of life around here as folks are always calling us that way. We've heard some very interesting conversations due to this. I think several of the other words sound either crude or downright rude.


3. Do you like gravy? Is there a food you'd rather not eat unless it comes with gravy? Do you make your own or buy the canned or store-made variety? Turkey and gravy, sausage gravy, mashed potatoes and gravy, country ham and red eye gravy, biscuits and chocolate gravy, pot roast and gravy...which one on the list is your favorite?

I love gravy! I would be one guilty of having everything swimming in gravy. However, we buy the jarred or packet variety because I still have not mastered making home-made gravy. If you want gravy that you can slice, I have you covered!


4. Do you have a plan? Do you need a plan? Have you ever had a plan fall into a trillion pieces? Explain.

I always have a plan, but there is always something in motion to show me that I shouldn't have bothered with a plan in the first place. Things very rarely actually come together as planned.

A prime example would be our twenty-eighth wedding anniversary. We saved all year to go out and splurge on that anniversary weekend…hotel, nice dinner, and the works. The day before our anniversary, David was admitted to the hospital, on death's door, and entered our anniversary with one less body part due to the amputation of one of his toes. He came out of surgery just before midnight, just in time for us to bring in our anniversary together. This started two months of stays in hospitals and a nursing home, not at all what we had planned for our anniversary.


5. November 19 is National Play Monopoly Day. Do you own the original or some version of the game? Do you enjoy playing Monopoly? How likely is it you'll play a game of Monopoly on November 19th? Ever been to Atlantic City? Ever taken a ride on a railroad? Is parking in your town free? Last thing you took a chance on?

I like to play Monopoly, but not necessarily for as long as it takes to play the game all the way through. In the past, we've had the original game, but now we have the My Little Ponyversion and we enjoy playing it with our children (now all adults) whenever they are home.
It is unlikely that we will play it on November 19 as none of our kids will be home then.

I have never been to Atlantic City. I have ridden the trains in various theme parks, if that counts. I have been in real train cars, but not while the trains were operating. If there is paid parking in this town anywhere, we haven't come across it. Everywhere that we park is free. Driving to Corpus Christi, I guess, would have to be the last thing I took a real chance on. I just knew I would have to drive across horrendously long bridges out to the island, but it wasn't scary at all.


6. A song you like that has the word (or some form of the word) thanks in the title, lyrics, or meaning?

The Old Rugged Cross has been my favorite hymn since childhood. It very much speaks of thankfulness for the sacrifice made for our salvation, for the gift that Heavenly Father gave to us.



7. In keeping with this month's theme of gratitude....what is something you're taking for granted that when you stop and think about it, you're grateful for?

At this point in my life, I can't think of anything that I take for granted. However, during my childhood, I would have to say that I took my grandparents being alive for granted. I never imagined life without them and thought they'd always be there. Obviously, no one lives forever and they were no exception. I am very thankful for the time that I had my grandparents in my life, for the lessons that they taught me, and most of all for the love that they freely gave to me.


8. Insert your own random thought here.

More of a question than a thought… Why does life have to be such a challenge for someone in my age group? I turned fifty this year and that in itself doesn't really bother me. What bothers me is being compared to 20-somethings and always falling short, regardless of my knowledge or experience or their lack thereof.

Also, am I the only one that gets indigestion from just drinking water? If I laced it with jalapenos, I would understand. But just drinking plain old Dasani or any other bottled water gives me indigestion. The tap water here causes an entirely different problem!



NOTE: The My Little Pony link above is an affiliate link. If you click the link and purchase the My Little Pony Monopoly game via that link, we will financially benefit from the transaction. Thank you for your support of PS Annie! Have a blessed weekend!