Hodgepodge Time

1. What's the first image that comes to mind when you hear the word 'spring'? Which phrase best describes the season of spring where you live right now (today)-sprung! almost there, or still waiting?

Oklahoma is the land of weird weather. Last week closed for snow and in two days a beautiful weekend. The trees start budding and then get hit with snow again.

2. Bed, couch, stapler, garage door, computer mouse, recliner, flashlight, door knob...which household item containing springs most needs replacing in your home? Speaking of springs...did you ever own a Slinky?

I don't think anything needs replacing. We just had the garage door fixed so hopefully that was the last thing in a bit. I had a slinky and Whitney had a slinky that was actually made of plastic.

3. March is Women's History Month. Share a favorite quote by a woman.

I'm terrible about quotes. Perhaps Lucy from Charlie Brown "If everyone agreed with me, they'd all be right."

4. What's a question that looms large in your mind right now?

When will I get a new boss. Its been 10 months since our last director passed away unexpectedly and the higher ups are finally getting around to writing a job announcement. Which means it will be another 6-12 months before they hire someone.

5. Are you a sugar freak? By that I mean how much do you love sugar? With all the bad press sugar gets these days, have you made any efforts to reduce the amount of sugar you consume?

I enjoy sweet things but as I get older I eat them less and less. Not because of any bad press but just because my tastes change.

6. Would you rather have less work to do or more work you enjoy doing?

More work that I enjoy doing. It is so much better to be busy than doing less work and bored.

7. Ever been to Texas? Of the top ten Texas tourist attractions which would you most like to see-The Alamo, The San Antonio River Walk, The State Capital, Dallas World Aquarium, Padre Island National Seashore, Houston Space Center, Schlitterbahn Waterpark in New Braunfels, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, Moody Gardens, or Galveston Island?

I lived in Texas and hello...Oklahoma is right next to it. Of those listed I've been to 9 of them. The only one I've missed is Padre Island but I've been to Port Aransas which is just north of Padre. I'm not sure I would really recommend any of them though.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Off to London Thursday! Just a little excited for a real vacation!

The End - Winter Reading Challenge

So this is the end of the Winter Reading Challenge that Rebecca Jo started up. I've enjoyed keeping track of all the books I've read. And yes, most of them are forgettable. LOL

Love, Chocolate and Beer by Violet Duke (This was way too long)

Finding Southern Comfort by Barbara Lohr (This was so unbelievable)

The Cowboy's Christmas Plan by Shanna Hatfield

Stronger by Lexie Ray

Just this Once by Rosalind James

Snow Angel by Melanie Shawn

Until I Found You by Victoria Bylin

Shell Game by Chris Keniston (this one was cute)

Game for Marriage by Karen Erickson

Game for Love by Melissa Foster

The Look of Love by Bella Andre

These books I read in the first week of March but included them on the list just to round out my numbers.

Hooked on You by Lindsey Brookes

Treading Water by Marie Force

One to Hold by Tia Louise

Cassie's Cowboy Crave by Kimberly Krey

What have you learned from what I read? That I read terrible literature and there is hardly a worthwhile book amongst them. Hey a girl's got to escape sometimes, right?

Thank you Rebecca Jo for hosting this over the winter.

Hodgepodge Like a Lion

1. 'In like a lion, out like a lamb'...does the first part of this saying describing March weather ring true where you live?

In Oklahoma you can have a lion and a lamb day all in 24 hours. So the saying works just about anytime of year.

2. March 4th is National Grammar Day. What common grammatical error bothers you the most?

Oh there are so many. My first real boss was an English professor and he taught me so much. I really don't like erroneously place commas.

3. William Arthur Ward says- 'The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.' Which one are you?

A realist.

4. What's something you need to 'march forth and conquer' this month?

Being out of the office for two straight weeks. Between a vacation and then as soon as we return going on a work trip the pile of paper and emails waiting for me will be intense.

5. An ongoing debate around here...do you dust first, then vacuum or vacuum first, then dust? Of the two routine household chores, which do you dislike the least? How's that for wording?

You should dust first then vacuum. And of the two I don't mind vacuuming. Don't you wonder why there are two u's in vacuum and no other word?

6. According to thrilllist.com, the ten most photographed sites in the U.S.A. are-Cinderella's Castle in Orlando, Southernmost House in Key West Florida, The Space Needle in Seattle, The Site of the Boston Massacre in Boston, The Bellagio Lake/fountains in Las Vegas, The Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, Coit Tower in San Fransisco, The Art Institute of Chicago, Niagara Falls, and snagging the number one spot-The Guggenheim Museum in New York City.

How many on this list have you photographed? Which on the list would you most like to visit and photograph?

From this list I've taken pics of Cinderella's Castle, Space Needle, Bellagio Fountain and the Lincoln Memorial.

Bellagio Fountains

Since I've never been to New York City that would be tops on my list.

7. Fifty years ago Monday (March 2, 1965) The Sound of Music premiered at the Rivoli Theatre in NYC. Have you seen the film? Do you own a copy? On a scale of 1-10 how much do you love it (or not)? Ten=best movie ever. If you're a fan, what's your favorite scene or song from the movie?

I've seen the movie many times. Remember it used to come once a year. I'm not a huge fan of the movie but I like it better than Wizard of Oz.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Whitney graduates college in two months! So proud of how hard she has worked and how hard she is looking for a job. Applying for work is hard business.

Quick Friday Fragments

So our state comes to a stand still when it snows. And it started a couple of hours ago and our office is closing shortly. Just enough time for some Friday Fragments.

At least it is pretty snow unlike the pellet snow we had earlier this week. 

Glad I wore my boots today since I have to walk to my car in it.

We provided refreshments this week for a meeting and have lots of cookies and brownies left over. I must stay away from them as long as I can.

I still have one box of girl scout cookies in my office. (Yay willpower)

Two sentences about cookies. I'd better hit the gym while I can.

Hodgepodge Questions and Answers

Joyce has some interesting questions this week for the hodgepodge.



1. Did you watch The Oscars? How many of the Best Picture nominees have you seen? (American Sniper, Birdman, Boyhood, Selma, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Imitation Game, The Theory of Everything, and Whiplash)

Do you think actors should use their acceptance speeches as an opportunity to promote their political and/or social agenda? Does that sort of speech make you more or less inclined to change the channel?

We did watch the Oscars. We didn't get started until they had been on for 90 minutes so the DVR came in handy. We could scan through all the commercials and all the speeches. We didn't catch up until the last twenty minutes of the show.

I haven't seen any of the films and I doubt I'll see any of them. I'm not a big movie person.

I also don't think this is the appropriate place to talk about your agenda. Thank the people who helped you but I really don't care what your views are on any of a number of topics. Unless it is directly related to the move role maybe?

2. Speaking of the movies... are you comfortable going to a movie alone? How about dinner in a restaurant (not fast food, but an actual restaurant)? The second half of this question was posed by Carrie who blogs over at It's Not Easy Being Queen. Thanks Carrie!

I've eaten in many restaurants by myself and don't have a problem doing so. I usually take an ipad or a book and people watch. I've never gone to a movie by myself but that's because I don't go to movies.

3. What's the last home repair or home improvement project you had to pay someone to complete? In hindsight was this a project you could have done yourself?

We had two light fixtures changed last weekend and we paid someone to do it. It was money well spent.

4. Have you ever had Indian food? Like it or no? If you're a fan, what's your favorite dish? Have you ever prepared this yourself at home? Is there an Indian restaurant in your current hometown?

I am not a fan of Indian food. The one cuisine that I just can't seem to like. There are a few Indian restaurants in town. We are a college town after all.

5. A song that reminds you of your parents?

I've got nothing for this one.

6. The 26th of February is National Tell A Fairy Tale Day. What's your favorite, or one of your favorite, fairy tales? Do you have any childhood memories associated with a particular fairy tale?

I probably liked Cinderella the best. I had a Cinderella cake for a birthday that had a pumpkin carriage with moveable wheels. I thought I was pretty special that day.

7. What's a problem you solved yesterday?

I hear this and think how do you solve a problem like Maria? LOL. I don't think I solved any problem yesterday which is unusual because I normally solve lots of problems every day.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Two weeks until we leave for London and I've got nothing planned, nothing packed. I did find our passports so I guess that's something.

Cold Monday Morning

I don't want to be a complainer but it is a cold morning here. Wind chill near zero doesn't help. Nor does an office that was 55 degrees when I opened the door. But I have it a little better than my next door office mate who was at 51 degrees. It seems to be just a small section of the building because the bathroom was warm. My little space heater just isn't helping a lot.

The weekend was productive as we got two cars fixed for the airbag recall notice, two ceiling fans replaced and shopped for a dress for Whitney to wear to her last sorority formal. All that and made the best meatloaf ever and baked a cake. This weather makes me want comfort food.

Hodgepodge Time

I'm going to get this done early so it will post early on Wednesday and I'll be on top of things!

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 since I work with a huge federal grant, it was 10 minutes ago when someone from the government was in my office asking how to get money to someone. I was able to give him good news and the day started out great! So that was a 10. I can't say that all of my experiences are like that though. In fact I think I may have a 5 coming up later today.

2. The current governor of Wisconsin is considering a run for President next time around. Walker attended Marquette University, but never graduated. In terms ofany 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?

I don't know if you need to be a college graduate to be President but it probably doesn't hurt. You learn a lot of stuff in college that is beneficial in life.

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

All of the elementary schools in town are named for President's and Whitney went to Washington Elementary. However I've been other places since the last time I was there. I usually see the Washington and Lincoln monuments when I'm in DC which will be next month.

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'm not an almond fan. So I usually skip those dishes.

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?

I wrote about the SNL anniversary show Monday. I remember watching in the 80's and early 90's. And then life got in the way and who wants to stay up that late when you have a little one. But there are so many good skits that came out of it. One of my favorites is Buckwheat is dead.

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

The closest purple thing to me is a box of girl scout cookies. The Samoas box is purple.

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?"

I don't make the bed mainly because my husband is still in it when I get up. On the weekends I try and make it but I'm not very good at it.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I love seeing all the snow pictures knowing that we don't have that weather. Keep posting them friends!