Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Sometimes You Feel Like a Nut in the Hodgepodge



Well, well, well!  I got an email  from Sally this morning telling me I'm celebrity and did I know it? Huh? She said Joyce chose my question to use in today's Hodgepodge! 

Funny thing was, no, I hadn't checked the questions yesterday like I usually do.    I was cooking and baking like a veritable Betty Crocker since we had a snow day and hubby was home.

And today, now at 3:15 pm,  is the first time I've had computer access to write;  I'm at my friend Renee's while she's in surgery. I've been caring for her homeschooled sixth grade son by helping him revise a paper. Poor kid. He'll never want me to "help" again.  I am a former English teacher, which is a bit like referring to a retired Marine as "an ex-Marine." There's no such thing. 



1. When did you last have to interact, either by phone or in person, with someone in a government run agency? On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate the experience? (10 being fabulous and 1 being pass the Tylenol)

Well, that's an easy one.  My sister works for a certain government agency that shall rename nameless, and she and I have been texting a lot about the log cabin in Kentucky that she wants to buy.  Does talking to your federally-employed sister on your iPhone count as "interacting"?  If so, it's  a strong "10" experience.   

2. The current governor of Wisconsin is considering a run for President next time around. Walker attended Marquette University, but never graduated. In terms of any candidate running for the office of President (not asking here if you agree or disagree with Scott Walker's politics) would the lack of a college degree influence your vote or no? Would that be a factor in your support of any candidate running for public office, even a role less weighty than President?

Even though I am a proponent of higher education , and everyone in my family holds at least one degree, I don't think I've ever been swayed by education in voting for a candidate based on his diploma or lack thereof.  I do think it's important to show a different document, like say a birth certificate. It takes NOTHING to earn one of those, does it?   

3. When did you last visit a place or site named for George Washington or Abraham Lincoln, and what was that place or site?

Hmmm. As close as I live to Washington DC, I haven't actually visited there in many years.  It advances the greying of my hair to drive not just one but TWO beltways to get there .  Probably my last visit was with a homeschool group when we went to the White House. (I was unimpressed; isn't that terrible?) We also saw Ford's Theatre, which was much more fascinating to me. I'm kind of a Lincoln nerd.

4. February 16th was President's Day in the US, but did you know it was also National Almond Day? I didn't think so : ) Do you like almonds? If so, what's a food/dish/recipe you enjoy that contains almonds? 

I really like almonds. They're a great purse snack by themselves, and even better in an Almond Joy.  I like green beans almondine, cheesecake topped with slivered almonds, and Honey Bunches of Oats with Almonds.    


5.The television program Saturday Night Live celebrated it's 40th anniversary this past weekend. Were/are you a fan of the show? If so what has been your favorite (or one of your favorite) skits, sayings, or characters that came out of the program?

Okay, I feel like the only person in my age group who missed the whole glory that was SNL back in the day.  My parents were strict about what we could watch; in high school I heard bits and pieces,  but never really "got" the references from skits.  In college, at parties, I sort of watched Steve Martin ( "a very funny guy") and my roommate would call me "Zoanna Zoanna-Danna."  But I have no idea about what some of you are cracking up about . More cowbells? Guess I'll be getting cozy with Youtube soon to catch up on the comedy I missed in my youth. 

6. Anything purple within ten feet of you? What is it?

My glasses are purple.  I love the color purple (although I've never seen the movie by the same title).  It used to be my favorite.  (It's now blue, which I'm whispering so that purple doesn't get jealous.)  I actually love the pale purplish-blue shade  called periwinkle. 





7. Back in December I asked you to submit a question for a future HP as part of a giveaway I was hosting. I grabbed this one from those entries, submitted by Zoanna who blogs over at Penchant for Pens. Thanks Zoanna!

She asks, "How often do you make your bed, and how do you like to make it-pull the covers all the way up over the pillows, tuck the covers in around the pillows, or place all the pillows on top of the covers?" 

Well, thank YOU, Joyce, for picking my question .  (Isn't it fun to see one's name in print?)  I do feel like a celebrity seeing it as I hop around the Hodgepodge Pond.  Or the HodgePond.

I make my bed almost every day. I like how it makes the whole room feel instantly put together, even if it's not. 
When putting on fresh clean sheets, I make it with hospital corners like my mama taught me.  Then I put on the fitted sheet of cream and the flat sheet in slate blue  (Egyptian cotton, nothing else!), then the thermal blanket, a pinwheel quilt, and then the log cabin quilt of pure white.  After that I stack up the sleeping pillows three high on each side , and center another sleeping/propping up pillow in front of them.  My husband hates decorative pillows so I have conceded to not "cluttering up" the bed with "junk that just has to be taken off at night only to be put back on in the morning."   (That's my logic for wearing a bra, but the logic doesn't convey to the public arena, does it?) 

Have you ever heard  Jim Gaffigan's jokes about decorative pillows?  Search youtube for a good laugh on the subject.

8. Insert your own random thought here. 

It's time to put dinner in the oven for Renee's family.  I brought almost all of it with me,  having exercised  my mise en place skills to work in my own kitchen yesterday .  I'm making San Francisco chicken,  saffron rice just like our one-time personal chef made it for us (see yesterday's post), and roasted asparagus, which is supposed to be great for cancer patients (and the general population).  She loves asparagus so this should be a treat when she gets home tonight .


9 comments:

Joyce said...

What a good friend you are. I'm glad you made it to the HP today. I should have sent you a message, but it's been a busy few days (months!). I can see why you asked the bed making question...you have quite the production going there : ) I am a lot like you when it comes to making the bed. Hubs makes it sometimes but he hasn't quite gotten the knack of finding that exact angle I need the pillows in shams to be propped. He is particular about a lot of things, and it surprises me that he can just toss the pillows on the bed and carry on with his day : )

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Had to come over to see how you answered your question. I like almonds too and I often take them to the show instead of eating popcorn!

Elizabeth "Libby" Day said...

Always interesting how someone answers their own questions. That's why I always read Joyce's responses first. I can see why you asked that question. It was a good one. Also, think it shouldn't be an issue to provide a birth certificate.

Michelle said...

Congratulations on your celebrity status...lol
My mom always made her bed much like you do. I never could understand about those decorative pillows..you couldn't sleep on. Our beds all had those ruffles that hide the underneath of your bed (can't remember what they are called). She sewed them all!
The other day hubby and I had a talk about how differently we were raised. His family was very poor..outhouse, one pair of shoes (if any), etc.
My mom used to say, `We are not rich, but we are comfortable`. She was a seamstress and she sewed `everything`.
From curtains - bed shams, and everything in-between..including our clothes. I remember her saying, `she would never again make a man's 3-piece suit.` So, she stuck with making us girl's our clothes.

Anyhoo, after giving you TMI..lol

I noticed this thing about `cowbells`, too? I am glad to see I'm not the only one who just don't get it :)

Well, have a great week and thanks for stopping by!!

Cranberry Morning said...

Your dinner sounds wonderful! I've not made saffron anything in years. Good answer on #2. Good thing he's got the 'most transparent Presidency ever,' isn't it.

Your bed sounds beautiful. If I had cream and slate blue sheets I probably would be more eager to get mine made up in the morning. It would help a lot to motivate me if I got rid of my 1980s wallpaper. Hopefully this summer I'll get it ripped off so I can paint the walls.

Fun that Joyce chose your question. It was a good one, even if I acted silly about it. A question for you, the English teacher: Does the overuse of the apostrophe drive you crazy, or is it just me? :-)

Kathy ... aka Nana said...

You're a celebrity! Woo hoo!

I love roasted asparagus ... thanks for the reminder - I will add some to tonight's dinner.

Susan Kane said...

Hmmm. Lincoln, often visited John Hayes' house in our county seat, Pittsfield, IL.
It has been said that Lincoln spoke from one of the four porches in the County Courthouse there.
We visited Lincoln's tomb and house in Springfield many years ago.
I like Lincoln, a lot.

Judy said...

Well, now I feel like a total slob since I don't make my bed every day. It probably has a lot to do with not being anything close to a morning person. The brain is just way too fuzzy in the morning.

Unknown said...

Oh my dear deprived friend... http://www.hulu.com/watch/536145

And, your "bra" logic cracked me up - YES! Seriously... ridiculous. Love you, my celebrity friend! So glad you were able to be there for Renee and her son! (My aunt was an English professor, so I know his pain!)