The Hodgepodge is Literally My Cup of Tea

We're hearing the echoes of  bells ringing over Joyce's blog as she tells us 

the jam-packed saga of her daughter's wedding.  I chose the term "jam-packed" very 

carefully, too,because when I read, I read every word.  I do. 

Speaking of "I do,".... let's get to the Hodgepodge. 

1. What's your best piece of advice for a newly married couple? I'm asking for a friend.

Pray for your spouse.  When prayers go up, walls come down.  

2. Before we're too far into the new year I wanted to post a question Teresa submitted during the

 December giveaway. Teresa blogs over at Being Refined As Silver, so everyone go say hi.

Teresa asks, "What were you doing on December 31st, 1999?"and "Did you or your family make 

preparations for Y2K?"

1999? That sounds about as far back as 1888, which I also barely remember.  Let's see, we would have had three 

children ages 11, 10, and 8, so we would have been at home.  We were partying at home, and when I party, I party. 

I have a New Year's Eve horn which is an old brass door wreath decoration that I blow on the porch or out the 

upstairs window. It sounds like a sow with flatulence.


 But with regard to preparations for  Y2K,  we didn't do much. I stored up a 

whopping six gallons of water and took my brother-in-law's word that the world would not crash, nor would all 

computers worldwide.  I'm not usually one to believe any of the hype; I refuse to be a fear-mongerer.  Like I told 

one of my relatives (who was trying to tell me we should put plastic over the windows and have gas masks on 

hand),  "Look. I know where I'm going when I die. I'll be with Jesus, and that's all that matters. He will take care 

of me, whether I die from mustard gas, natural gas, or my family's gas! I'm NOT going to cover my 

windows with plastic!" 

3. According to Global Language Monitor, the most used word of 2014 isn't a word. It's the heart 

emoji. Huh? How can something that's not a word be the most used word, but I digress. What 

do you think was your most used word in 2014?

Seriously, the heart emoji?  I am sick to death of the phrase "I heart  [such and such]."  They actually 

SAY the word  "heart" instead of "love."" Dumb!  My most used word was probably  "Sure."  Sure, I'll pick your kid

up from school. Are you sure we have toilet paper in the other bathroom?  Make sure you unload the dishwasher

before dinner, or you'll be doing ALL the dishes after dinner. Are you sure you have all your books?  I'm sure I

didn't spend THAT much on sewing stuff last month!  I'm not a math person, that's for darn sure.  Are you sick of

my examples? Sure you are.

4. Speaking of words, it's that time again. Time for Lake Superior University to present a list of 

words they'd like to see banished (for over-use, mis-use, and general uselessness) in 2015. You can

 read more about the decision making process here, but this year's top vote getters are-

bae (before anyone else), polar vortex, hack, skill set, swag, foodie, curate/curated, friend-

raising, enhanced interrogation, cra-cra (as in crazy), takeaway, and -nation (a suffering 

sports suffix).

Which of these words/phrases would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why?  

Cra-cra bothers me the most of the ones on that list. 

Is there a word not on the list you'd like to add?  

Yes, "literally"!      I  would LOVE to literally banish

 the word "literally" before my teeth literally implode in my mouth or I smack the literal beheebers

out of the next person who literally  uses the word "literally" incorrectly!

5.  January is National Hot Tea month? Are you a fan?

Yes, but  I have to be in the mood (very cold, sick, or with gingersnaps).  Maybe "fan" is not the right word if one needs a mood to like something?

  

 Do you like flavored teas?  Yes, I do.  Except for lemon which (literally) tastes like Pledge furniture

 polish.   How do you take your tea?  Unsweetened, with a wedge of lemon if I have it.  Have

 a favorite cup or teapot?  I have a few special mugs but need to get  a new teapot since I burned the

other one too badly to use again.  Here's the one I want, because I believe that every room needs a 

pop of red.  I love the sleek design and finish.

How many cups of tea do you consume in a given day?  Zero.  My average is probably 10 cups per 

winter.

6. Whatever happened to _Ralph Mouth____________________?

7. What is one book on your must-read  list this winter?  

Captivating.   

My daughter gave it to me  for Christmas because she said no book has so changed her concept of beauty in the 

eyes of God. 

8. Insert your own random thought here. 

Tonight I made history--at least in our family.  I solved an algebra problem before my husband did!  And I did it 

without paper.   There may have been some excessive celebration going on here in a cra-cra way, literally.   As my  

middle schooler said earlier this week, "My self-esteem is hovering at an all-time high."