Happy February & HodgePodge!

Woody the Woodchuck is Michigan's Official Groundhog.

Her schtick is she has to come out of her stump and stay for 30 seconds to signify an early spring.  If she goes back in before that - 6 more weeks of winter. 

Fun fact - she's got a better track record than Phil does!  

She's got a 65% accuracy rate, where Phil only has 38%.  But this year, she agreed with him. 

How about....

If winter could stay around 30* - that would be perfect.  

Last weekend was the VFW's Dept of Michigan Mid-Winter Conference and one of the main events is a banquet announcing the Patriot's Pen and Voice of Democracy winners.  

In a quick nutshell - middle school kids write an essay on the topic that the VFW chooses, and high school kids record a 3–5-minute speech on their topic.  Ever since I've been the chairpeep at my post for this program, there have been 2 separate topics, but this year it was the same for both - "How are you showing patriotism & support for our country?"  

The entries are judged at the post level - the winner goes on to compete at district level and then onto state and national levels.  So, this banquet had the 12 district winners there and the state winners were announced.  

I know there was one very proud family (and VFW post who sponsored them), since their kids won both the PP and VOD!!  

These kids can win a truckload of $$, (idk about other posts, by mine gives $300 to the VOD winner), district gave I think $500 and the state winner got $6000 and an all-expense paid trip to Valley Forge and will compete against 51 other kids for the $35,000 national win.  

Anyhooo.  I took last Friday off work and drove the 2 1/2 hours to Kalamazoo and spent 2 peaceful nights alone in a hotel.  Heavenly!  

Saturday during the day, there was various meetings & trainings that I really didn't need to go to, but it makes the post look good to have more people in attendance.  Saturday night was the banquet.  The last couple years it was just the people from my post and maybe one or two others at our table, but this time the hall was packed!  We had 5 old guys from various other local posts with us, which means we got to hear some great stories!  

 Sunday, I got up & had breakfast, then chilled in my room until time to check out.  I had planned to go explore a couple cemeteries (because I like to do that!)

But I had no desire to risk getting stuck!  

I went to a second cemetery and was able to drive thru, but I decided not to get out to walk around because it was like 12*F out, even tho the sun made it look nicer. 

So I went home. 

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Time for the Wednesday HodgePodge!

1. The Winter Olympics kick off on Friday, February 6th...on a scale of 1-10 how excited are you? (1= eh and 10=watching every event all day every day). What's your favorite Winter Olympic sporting event?

A solid 1.5.  I enjoy watching the opening ceremonies and maybe whatever events I happen to catch.  But I don't plan my day around it or set an alarm reminding me to turn on this or that event.  

2. In other sporting news, the Superbowl (American football's championship game) will be played on Sunday, February 8th. So tell us...what's your superpower?

This one required a LOT of thought!   Creativity?  Imagination?  I like to make things. 

3. Are you a romantic?

Hmmm.  Maybe not in the traditional sense.  The Spouse & I just like to be together.  We don't have to do anything per se.  Pre-covid & grandkids we used to have date nights where we would park the car at Tim Hortons, walk down the block a little bit and get dinner at Taco Bell, then go back to Timmy's to get a coffee, then we'd go walk around thru the Salvation Army.  Ridiculous, yes.  But we were together and that's all that matters.  We really need to start doing that again. 

4. Blue cheese-yay or nay? How about feta? If you said yes to one or both, what's a dish you like that calls for one of these?

Yes & yes!  Feta more than bleu, tho.  We always have Sunday breakfast at the same local diner and they have a "capri scramble" that's scrambled eggs with tomato, mushrooms, spinach & feta.  It's so good!   And I have had a burger somewhere called a black & bleu that had bleu cheese & mushrooms that was delicious, too. 

 
5. What's more important - doing what you love or loving what you do?

My first thought was the Clay Walker song, "if I could make a living" - it's got a line similar to that!

I agree with Joyce - this is a trick question!  At first it seems like the same thing.  But once you think harder - it's not.  Doing what you love is more for hobbies, or what you choose to do.  Like I love doing Halloween stuff.  Loving what you do?  When it comes to work... eh NO.  I don't ~love~ my job.  It's a paycheck and since I've been there almost 26 years, there's a definite sense of possibly misguided loyalty.  The search & rescue team?  Enjoy.  The VFW?  Enjoy most of the time.   

6. Insert your own random thought here. February is the month of ❤️...

You'd think with a last name like our's (Love!!)

that we'd go all out.

Nope. 

This is the best Valentines meme ever!!!

Linking up at From This Side of the Pond!