Are U-ey with Me in Hodgepodge Number 180?

Whoa!  This is Edition 180 of the Hodgepodge, hosted by Joyce . Every week, with few breaks, she poses 7 questions and lets us insert a random thought as number 8.   That's a heck of a lot of questions and  a whole lot of randomness, but it's fun to get to know other bloggers this way. 

Check it out and play along. 

1.  Speaking of 180...when was the last time you 'did a 180' on something?

Literally--and when I say literally, I mean it literally, not figuratively, as some are wont to do, but I digress--the last time I 'did a 180' was about two weeks ago when I was saw a disabled vehicle on the side of the road with a young couple in it.   It was  mid-afternoon, 96 degrees , humidity at about 99 percent, and I was not going to assume the couple had cell phones or that anyone else had stopped to help.  I know from experience that an hour and a half can pass--plus 3 cop cars--with a dead cell phone, no gas, a full bladder, and rain coming down--and no one stops. 

The situation was safe for me, so I turned around at the next neighborhood and went back to offer help. They said someone was on the way, but appreciated the offer anyway. 

Figuratively, I changed the course of health I was on right after Easter, started Weight Watchers and have been walking our very hilly neighborhood fairly regularly.  I'm down almost 10 pounds and a dress size. Woot!

My figure-atively is literally shrinking. 

2. It's Independence Week in the US of A! What's your favorite thing about America right this very minute? Favorites only! Let's hear what you love about America.

If you're playing along today, and you're not an American but have been to America, what do/did you like best about this country? If you've never been to America, do you have any desire to visit? What's the number one thing you'd like to see?

Right this very minute?  12:45 a.m. is this very minute, and I'm thinking how --for all the lousy changes in health care lately--we still have incredibly amazing hospitals, doctors, nurses, therapists, and EMTs in this country.  Living as close as I do to Baltimore,  I feel spoiled to have the best hospital in the world--Johns Hopkins--just an hour away. 

We also have the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center when we need it. And, unfortunately, my oldest son did need it once. 

3. Stars or stripes? Red, white, or blue? Watermelon, homemade vanilla ice cream, or blueberry pie?

Stars. Blue. Ice Cream.

4. When did you last see stars, figuratively speaking?

In January, when I was at the gas station. I tripped and hit my head on the metal pump, and my knees and shoulder hit the concrete platform.  I probably had  a concussion but never had it checked out. I could have--I'm five minutes from yet another hospital!

5.  'Clear as a bell', 'with bells on',  'lots of bells and whistles', 'saved by the bell'...which phrase 'rings' truest for you lately?  Have you ever seen The Liberty Bell?

Saved by the bell.  On Sunday we had a guest speaker fill in for our amazing pastor.   The guest speaker's gifts obviously lie elsewhere. Thankfully one of his gifts is his military punctuality, so he ended promptly at 1230 hours. 

Yes,  I've seen the Liberty Bell.  When I was a kid, our fifth grade class went to Philadelphia. 

6. Are you caught up in World Cup fever? Have you watched a lot or a little or none at all?

No, I'm not.  I have watched a tiny bit, but I just have a hard time watching any game that takes forever to score. 

And when a goal is scored, it's only worth one lousy point. I think soccer goals should be worth 20, at least, since they're so take so daggone long to make.

7. Bid farewell to June in 10 words or less.

Goodbye, June. Hello, surgery, chemo, radiation, intense prayer and support.

8.  Insert your own random thought here. 

  

My older sister turns 50 this week!!  I'm 13 months behind her.  OY!!!

But still younger!!!!!