Onward to the Hodgepodge

I'm fairly worn out (in a good way, though) from blogging every day in a systematic way. So glad I'm participating in the A to Z Challenge--it's bringing up good memories for me-- but I'm also glad I decided to put a 26-sentence limit on my posts.

I promise not to use more than 26 sentences total here, either, today.  Thanks, Joyce, for coming up with the questions. I enjoy hopping around to get to know my "Hodgepodge family" better every week.

To make it fun, all my answers will start with the letter "O."

1. April 15th is the deadline for Americans to file their state and federal income tax returns.  What's a job you do on a regular basis that could be described as 'taxing'? 

Obligatory grading of art projects.  After coming up with the project, doing a sample, creating a rubric, setting up the supplies, teaching the lesson, helping clean up, and wondering if I've added any joy to my students' week through art, I  really do not like picking apart a project according to the rubric and assigning a grade--unless it's an obvious A+.  

2. I'm participating in the April A-Z blog challenge, and the Hodgepodge happens to fall on Day O this week. In keeping with that theme...olives, onions, oysters, okra...of the foods mentioned, what's your favorite O food?

Olives I like, but accidentally bit into one several years ago that still had its pit.  Broke my tooth and ended up with a root canal and now I need a tooth implant.  Onions are a staple in my kitchen. Oysters? Yuck (tried them twice).  Okra--I almost decided to write about my memories of sitting in the garden as a girl, with salt shaker in one hand, okra in the other.  I eat a lot of onions, but have to say OKRA is my favorite because it's never given me gas, tears, or dental disasters.

3.  What is something memorable you experienced as a child that your own children (or future children/nieces/nephews) will not get to experience? 

Outdoor playing from sun-up to sundown , virtually unsupervised, with neighborhood kids.  

4. Term limits for our elected officials...your thoughts? 

Oh, that's simple: I would like the power to kick out whomever,  whenever,  I wish.    There is one I would start with, whose name just happens to coincide with the A to Z Challenge letter for today.  

5. On April 18th, 1775, Paul Revere made his famous 'midnight ride'...when did you last make a midnight ride?  Perhaps the fate of a nation wasn't hanging in the balance, but tell us where you were headed anyway.

On the way to BWI to pick up my girl arriving home from Florida on spring break.

6.  What would freak you out more...a mouse running across your floor or a big fat hairy spider? 

Other than snakes, no animal freaks me out like a mouse.

7. I love it when people ask me

(the) origin of my name. I get to say "Zoanna comes from the Greek "zoe" which means "life abundant" which Jesus promises to give His followers, and from the Hebrew "Anna" which means "grace," another gift He freely gives.  Having an unusual name that kickstarts a conversation with strangers about Jesus is a wonderful thing my parents gave me.

8.  Insert your own random thought here. 

One special thing brightened my day. It was a card from my future daughter-in-law, thanking me for  the shower gifts and the chicken salad sandwiches I made. But that was just the beginning. She  added, among other things, "I love Steve so incredibly much!  I can't wait to marry him! Thank you for raising the man of my dreams!"    

Word to moms of young'uns and teens: Be encouraged that you are raising someone's dream.