a Guilt-Free HodgePodge

It's been a while since I've posted (vacation + the stress that happens before and after said vacation!) so that means I also need to do a catchup post!  

But first....today's Hodgepodge!  Thanks again to Joyce at From This Side of the Pond for putting this linkup together! 

Here we go...

1. "Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability." Sam Keen
Do you feel less guilty relaxing in July than you do in January? Elaborate.

Yes.  Winter is a time for hibernation, but summer with the longer days seems to be a never-ending list of things to do - mowing the lawn, taking care of gardens, the grandkids want to play outside, etc, etc, etc.    

2. What's a telltale sign you're upset?

Internally, I can feel my AFib start to flare up and I have to suppress the urge to scream or cry.  I might slam things around or just want to growl and shake things.   I might also be confusing upset with mad! 

 I'm usually pretty quiet in groups, since I have the talent where the middle of my sentences interrupts the beginning of other people's (meaning I get talked over all the time and idk why! So, I just don't talk)

3. July 16th is National AI Day. What are your general thoughts and/or experiences with AI? Have you purposely used it? Does it excite you, scare you, or worry you? What do you see as a benefit? How about something relating to AI you see as a negative?

I don't think I've had a whole lot of AI experience that I know of! The fact that there is AI has made me a lot more cautious - like it's sometimes hard to tell if a photo is real or not or something was written by a real person.  I can also see some benefit to having it but I can also see where people would abuse it.  

The Spouse's work is wanting to start using AI for computer programming, but he's not excited since it will be harder to fix mistakes in a program when you don't know what it did to create the mistake! 

4. You're invited to a summer potluck and are asked to bring an appetizer, salad/side, or dessert. Which category do you go for and what are you bringing?

I was just in this situation yesterday!  The search & rescue team I volunteer on had a cookout with the county's Victim Services Unit (so we can get to know each other, more or less) I drew a blank on what to take, but once I got there, there were several interesting pasta salads and desserts that I never would have thought about making / bringing! 

5. It wouldn't be summer without___________________.

The Ice Cream Truck!   I'm sure the neighbors think we're weird (it's me, the Spouse, the Spawn and the 2 grandkids in my house) since whoever hears it first sends an "ICT" text to the rest of the family and we all come outside.  At least 2 people are in the back yard and 2 in the front, trying to figure out where it is and from which direction it'll be coming from.  It's also funny to hear one of the grandkids yelling that they "have a visual" when they see it on the next street over.   They totally got that from me!

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Since it's almost lunch time as I write this - here's some food I had last week.  I love going to Mom & Pop type places that aren't chains.  

Grilled chicken strawberry salad with raspberry vinaigrette dressing. 

This was almost too pretty to eat!

But it got devoured. 

From the Apple Tree in Lapeer, MI

The "Supreme Spud" from Stubby's BBQ in Hot Springs, AR. 

A huge baked potato topped with brisket & pulled pork, baked beans and coleslaw. 

OMG. 

So good. 

this is a solid 3 meals. 

Biscuits & Chocolate Gravy

Cheesy grits & sausage patties

and sweet tea, of course!

from Phil's Family Restaurant in Hot Springs.

My first time having chocolate gravy - wasn't sure what I was expecting.  It's like lukewarm runny chocolate pudding but not as sweet as Jello pudding. 

Still a yummy breakfast, tho! 

 

Three Cheers for the HodgePodge

Happy July!!
What's funny is that I took this pic of daisies in Sis1's yard and a few minutes later, she got a text with the same pic... from Sis2!

Moving on to this week's HodgePodge, hosted by Miss Joyce over at From This Side of the Pond....

btw - Sorry about my link on the sign up!  I usually post while I'm at work so all my info is saved - I'm at home right now and clearly didn't fill out the linky correctly!

1. What do you love most about your country?

The variety. Have you seen the 2 British guys, Josh & Jase, who visited Michigan last winter? They documented their travels on Facebook. Seeing the state that I live in thru someone else's eyes, especially a non-American, really makes you appreciate what you got.


Going in a different direction - going back to 1992 when I enlisted in the Navy.... there was a moment standing in the MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) in front of that flag, holding up my right and swearing to defend the Constitution of the US against all enemies -

it was the first time the enormity of what I was doing hit me.
Like a pang shot thru my heart as I realized that I just might have to give up my life for my country. That's a pretty deep thought for an 18 year old kid!

2. Your favorite patriotic song?

Courtesy of the Red White & Blue
of course!

3. Red, white, or blue? Stars or stripes? Something you own besides a US flag with some combination of those colors or decorations as part of its design?

Blue is my favorite color. Stars. And I have multiple pairs of patriotic earrings.

I almost forgot!  Next week is mine & the Spouse's 20th anniversary.  Our wedding colors were red, white & blue!  We had Michigan & Arkansas flags hanging behind the head table and we had little bowls of RWB M&Ms on the table. 

4. What's one thing you want more of this summer: fun, rest, adventure, connection, quiet, or confidence? Elaborate.

I'd like rest and/or quiet, but with the Spawn & grandkids in my house... that ain't happening. So let's go with fun & adventure.

5. What was your ultimate, go-to summer activity when you were a kid? Do you still do any version of that today? If you answered yes, does participating in this activity as an adult make you feel like a kid?

I went into a lot of detail in the last Hodge Podge. We spent summers "up north" and basically were only in the house to eat & sleep.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Hockey + Metallica + National Anthem
'Murica.

Also - since there's also been a lot of "Summerween" coming out in the stores, Tractor Supply (cursed be thy name, since they're getting WAY too much of my money again this year) has a bald eagle skeleton!!!!

I grabbed this off their website. I have already ordered & received one, but it came with 2 right wings. So I'm waiting to hear back from them what to do about this situation.
😠

But they also have a turkey skeleton!!
Placing order #2...

Summertime HodgePodge

Welcome to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge on Thursday.  Thanks to Joyce at From This Side of the Pond for this week's edition. 

It's officially summer!!!

1. Summer's here! In the northern hemisphere anyway. If you're in the southern hemisphere substitute winter for the word summer. What do you love most about summer? 

The long days.  Sitting outside, listening to critters.  

What's your biggest summer pet peeve?

Most bugs.  And humidity.   

2. What song always reminds you of summer?

Just about anything from Kenny Chesney.  Get Along is my current favorite. 

 
3. What's something you remember about your childhood summers? 

I don't know if other places do this, but in Michigan, we go "Up North".  A lot of people I know have a second house or property that they go to for vacations, hunting, fishing, camping, etc.   Growing up, my parents had "the Farm" which was 120 acres of mostly forest and an 1890s farmhouse and orchard about 140 miles away.  So, we spent most weekends and summers up there.   We spent all day outside.  Dad would stand on the porch and whistle when it was mealtime.  We had a tv, but it was ancient even by 1970/80s standards, so it has very seldom turned on.   Seemed like there was always a Detroit Tigers game on the radio.  Once I hit my teens, the other siblings were out of the house already, I'd take the neighbor's horse out and the only way my parents would have any idea where I was is to follow hoofprints. 

Do kids get to enjoy summer the way I did as a child?

Definitely no.  Dad worked and Mom was a SAHM so they didn't have to worry about daycare or anything.   Looking at my grandkids now - the Spawn works at a daycare, so the granddaughter (4) goes with her, while the grandson (6) has already spent a week at summer camp and is currently attending summer school.  

4. We celebrate Fathers Day on June 21st. Do you favor your dad in looks or temperament? Tell us something about your dad. Or your husband as a dad. Or a son/son-in-law as a dad. Or your grandpa.

I am the youngest of my siblings, I was Daddy's girl.  He worked with his hands so I learned early all of his tools and how to use them.  By 10 years old, I knew how to make "matroonis" aka a vodka martini, extra dry with 14 olives since that was his favorite adult beverage.  He was also extremely patient, since I'm sure when he got home from work, he just wanted to float around the pool and relax, but I was right there in his bubble, hanging on him.  He also had a bit of an ego, he liked to stop and admire himself in the mirror whenever he passed by one.  That trait has definitely been passed on thru the generations.  

Sadly, Dad passed in 2009.  When we (all us siblings) went to the cemetery to approve the location (he's in a niche - the file cabinet type thing) the director showed us the section on the wall marked in tape - I started to laugh and the director looked horrified!  Dad always said he would not be put in the ground, so nobody could pee on his grave and he's in the 4th level, so we always have to look up to him!  Once I explained, everyone laughed.  

I could go on & on.  

5. Let's wrap up with a summer this or that-

flip flops or sandals ~ flipflops for hanging around home, sandals for work. 
beach or pool ~ pool.  I don't like sand getting where sand shouldn't be. 
watermelon or peaches ~ watermelon
shorts or sundress ~ shorts
iced coffee or ice cold lemonade ~ neither - iced tea!
amusement park or water park ~ either/or  I like them both but I don't like crowds! 

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Because I'm weird - I really like to explore cemeteries.  I follow several cemetery exploring pages on FaceBook and Instagram, etc.  I'd seen pictures of this angel before and thought it would be so cool to see it, but I never researched it - I thought it was in Europe somewhere.  Nope!  It's in OHIO!  Specifically Cleveland!  

Haserot Angel

"The Angel of Death Victorious"

Cleveland just happens to be where we usually stop for lunch when we go visit Bro2!    So a couple weeks ago, we stopped and drove thru Lake View Cemetery and occasionally hopped out of the car to see certain stones closer.   It's a huge place with spectacular monuments, but it doesn't give off the solemn vibe that most cemeteries do.  They hold music events there, both guided & unguided tours, 5k runs, etc, etc.  

While we were there, we also visited ...

Alan Freed, the disc jockey who coined the phrase "rock & roll"

20th President James Garfield

Eliot Ness, the FBI agent who brought gangster Al Capone to justice (did you ever see the Untouchables movie with Kevin Costner?)

John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil (the guy with lots of $$$$)

Harvey Pekar, comic book author of "American Splendor" -

I didn't know who this was but had to research him after seeing all the pens stuck in the ground!

We missed seeing the Collinwood School Fire Memorial - it would have been sad & emotional. 

It's been a while since I posted other than Hodge Podge posts, better get on that!