Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Take a Trip on the Hodgepodge Rail


It's Wednesday and that can only mean one thing.  Well, okay, maybe not the ONLY thing, but it's on my Wednesday mind. (Do you have a mind for every day of the week, too? My Wednesday mind has a Hodgepodge on it.) Thanks, Joyce, for jotting down a broad mix of questions that have sort of "corraled" us Hodgepodgers for "two hunnert and some odd" weeks, as they say around here.

1.  I recently read here about four secrets to happiness from around the world. They were-

Overcome your fears by facing them head on, allow yourself to relax and reset, work to live versus living to work, and find the good in life. Not sure if these are the actual secret to happiness, but which of the four do you struggle with most? Which one comes most easily to you?

I struggle most with my fears.  Anxiety is something I didn't struggle with or even understand, until about 10 years ago, and it is a kissing cousin to fear, so I have to really remind myself of scripture and God's great power over all things (real and imagined) and dwell on His love which "casts out all fear."   

Once I do that, finding the good in life comes easily!

2. How would you spend a found $20 bill today?

Call me boring, but I'd get a new kitchen gel mat to stand on when doing dishes.  

3. Ego trip, power trip, guilt trip, round trip, trip the light fantastic, or trip over your own two feet...which 'trip' have you experienced or dealt with most recently? Explain.

Ego trip, just a couple hours ago.  We had our friendly Comcast rep stop by again for a problem with our installation, and while she was standing in my foyer, she noticed a painting I had done a few years ago. It was my first "big" acrylic sample for a class I was teaching on painting cylinders and spheres. The rep loved the colors, the composition and said it would look great in her new place that she wants to do in a modern style .She said, "Seriously, if you were to say you'd sell it, I'd buy it!" 

I laughed. "You've got to be kidding!"   
"No, I'm serious. It reminds me of my mom who is a painter, and she's going through some health issues, but the painting itself is just great!"
"Well, thank you! Sure I'll sell it!"  (I was so flattered.)
"Seriously?  You would?" (I was nodding.)  "Then think about a price and when I come back on the seventh, you let me know what you want for it." 
"How about 25 bucks?"
"Deal!" 

It was so funny because just this week I was wondering if my paintings would ever grab someone's eye enough for them to pay for one. I'm still kind of "high" from her offer to buy it!



4. If you could master any physical skill in the world what would it be, and how would you use that skill?

Walking down a flight of steps without holding onto a railing for fear of falling.  I'm not joking.   (See question and answer 1.)  I would use that skill every day, several times a day ,to get from here to there as needed--much faster and more smoothly.

5. As July draws to a close, let's take inventory of our summer fun. Since the official first day of (North American) summer (June 20th) have you...been swimming? enjoyed an ice cream cone? seen a summer blockbuster? camped? eaten corn on the cob? gardened? deliberately unplugged? watched a ballgame? picked fruit off the vine? taken a road trip? read a book?  Are any of these activities on your must-do-before-summer-ends list?

Yes to swimming, ice cream cone, corn on the cob, gardening (though it's not fun in my inventory), deliberately unplugged, taken a road trip, and read part of a book. 

The ones on the "have not done yet this summer" list can stay there and I wouldn't be disappointed. 


6. The Republican Presidential candidates will debate on August 6th. What's your question?

What will you do to regain America's trust in the power of government against her enemies?

7. What's your most listened to song so far this summer?

I can't think of one. But I  can tell you that we were all ready to be out of country music land by the time vacation ended, though.   What's really creepy is knowing how OLD some of these guys are who are singing about the girl in shorts up to there and and gettin him all hot and bothered till daddy comes looking for him in the Chevy truck with a loaded 22. 

(Maybe I should write a country music parody and call it "Twang Ain't my Thang.")



8.  Insert your own random thought here.

As I write this, my husband's cousin is having emergency surgery for a brain aneurysm. She's in her 40s.  Please pray for her. 


11 comments:

Joyce said...

Congrats on your sale! I saw your prayer request on Facebook I do hope she has a good outcome.

Linda said...

I am giggling over #7. Congratulations on your sale of the painting...keeping your husbands cousin in prayer. Have a Blessed Wednesday.

Marla said...

This country music lover says "different strokes for different folks!" I love country music lyrics. They make me laugh - but also make me think deeply at times. And I love the country music community. Anyway... Yes, congrats on your art sale. You now can call yourself a "professional artist!"

wildirishrose said...

Many prayers for your husband's cousin and family. Aneurysms are terrifying.

Unknown said...

Oh friend - after your email this morning I am getting total Godbumps all over in reading about your art being sold! Isn't our God so good, to remind us oh so gently that we are His prize, His creation, and He has gifted us and will reward us when we bless others through our lives? Even if it may not be how you had hoped or imagined (i.e. in the classroom), look at how you created something years ago and it has now blessed another! Love you friend... praying for your husband's cousin right now. (And ahem, WHY are we not Facebook friends? I mean seriously...)

Laura said...

Congratulations on selling one of your paintings! I will forever being holding on to a railing while going down a flight of stairs. I fell on our stairs in June and have been on crutches all summer. Not fun!

collettakay said...

Your song would be hilarious, I'm sure! I deal with that nasty anxiety also. Hugs to you :)

I hope you can stop by:

http://collettaskitchensink.blogspot.com/2015/07/hodepodge-72915.html

Colletta

Theresa said...

Amen to your answer for #1! I need to do the same thing. Congrats on selling your first painting, that is great! I hope your cousin's surgery went well.

Lea @ CiCis Corner said...

Yes, I'm laughing at #7 also! And, way to go with your painting. That should bolster your ego. Maybe you need to paint more. Always fun to read your answers.

Life SPW said...

I hope your husband's cousin pulls through okay! Congratulations on selling one of your paintings. I could not draw or paint to save my life. Having anxiety is no fun. I'm glad that you found a way to cope. I hope you realize that that makes you courageous...accomplishing something in spite of your fear(s). It's the stuff heroes are made of!

River said...

I really don't see the point in the face your fears thing. Of course it depends on the fear, but when people who are afraid of heights decide to face that fear by walking across a very high bridge or by jumping out of a plane, I think, why bother?
If you're afraid of heights, then avoid the heights.
If you're afraid of snakes, then avoid snakes.
And so on.
Fair enough if your fear is going to the doctor or dentist, those are things that must be done eventually, but spelunking because you are afraid of deep dark caves, just doesn't make sense to me.