SUPER BOWL HODGEPODGE WEDNESDAY!

1. It's  been said that one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. Do you think that's true? Do you find that an easy exercise most mornings? What's something positive you told yourself today? If you missed that boat, what's something positive you could tell yourself tomorrow?
     I am not very positive early in the day. I don't recall ever starting my day with a deliberate positive thought. Perhaps I'll give it a try and see what happens. 
     I'm not particularly negative either. When I get up I kind of take inventory of joint pain and other aches and see if there are any new ones or if any are missing. If any are missing that means it's going to be a good day.
     I usually drag myself to the kitchen, greeting my beloved SWMBO enroute, and have breakfast and/or just a cup of coffee and once the juices start flowing I plan my day.

2. There will be karaoke at the next party you attend...are you in? Or will you be faking a sore throat?
     It depends upon who else is in attendance. I am way less likely to participate if most of the attendee's are strangers or new acquaintances. I wouldn't fake anything, if I chose not to participate I simply would not participate. 

3. January 29th is National Puzzle Day...what's something you've found puzzling recently?
     I watched the movie "Inception" with Leonardo DeCaprio and had trouble following what was going on. It's a puzzling movie.

4.  Jigsaw, crossword, acrostic, logic, sudoku, word search...what's your favorite kind of puzzle, and when did you last work one?
     In order of preference: Crossword, Sudoku, Word Search, Logic then Jigsaw. I generally work the daily crossword and sudoku puzzles from USA Today. I also enjoy Word Jumbles.

5. Recently a writer by the name of Amy Glass ruffled feathers with a post she wrote saying she looks down on young women with husbands and kids and she's not sorry. Among other things, she says women will be equal with men when we stop saying house work and real work are equally important. You can read the whole piece by clicking here.
     
What say you? Do you think men and women are equal in the 21st century? Why or why not?
   I say that Ms Glass is wrong! If my feathers got ruffled every time someone said something that seemed ignorant, offensive or down right stupid I would be in a perpetual state of ruffle-ness. I fail to understand why people get riled up over stuff like this.
   Anyway,  in my humble opinion housework and real work, whatever that means, are equally important. In today's world it is not unusual for both parties to a marriage to do housework and hold a job outside the home. As I type this I am doing the week's laundry.                       Believe me, having clean clothes is important. Having nutritious meals to eat is important. Having a clean place to live is important. These things don't happen by themselves.
    So I say again, Ms Glass is simply wrong!

6. What's a product you've noticed in the grocery store that you'd like to try, but haven't yet?
     I've got nothing! No idea!

7. The author, Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll) was born this week in 1832 (January 27th).  Which character from his celebrated novel, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, would you most like to meet, and why? Here's a link to a character list if you need help on this one. 
   I choose the Cheshire Cat. He's logical and would be able to elucidate the realities of living in wonderland.
  
8. Insert your own random thought here.
     Last week neither I nor SWMBO participated in the Wednesday Hodgepodge. We were otherwise engaged and unable to. Suffice it to say, we sincerely thank all of you who graciously held us up in prayer. Your prayers went a long way towards making a difficult week more tolerable. 
     Here's my random thought. The U.S. Government recently indicted a conservative film maker, Dinesh D'Souza (sp?), and released him on $500, 000 bail. A half million dollars, and the Court required him to surrender his passport(s). What heinous crime is he accused of? He allegedly conspired with three other people to donate $20,000 cash to the senate campaign of a former classmate. He has pled "NOT GUILTY" in this matter. 
     Could the fact that he made a couple of documentary films that are unflattering to President Obama have anything to do with the heavy handedness of this prosecution?
     This could be chilling for anyone who holds conservative views and decides to publicly express them. May God bless America, we really, really, need it! 

JANUARY THAW HODGEPODGE!

     We are experiencing a warming trend called the January thaw. The temperature climbs into the balmy 40's or the sweltering 50's. It never ceases to amaze me how warm the 40's feel after a few days with highs in the teens or low 20's with windchill temperatures well below zero. 

   Well, it is Wednesday and it is time for another set of probing questions from our friend Joyce from "From This Side of the Pond." Enjoy!

1.  Are you a force to be reckoned with? In what way?

     Generally, not so much, but in a few specific situations, absolutely. What I mean is I don't have to get my way in most of the things that crop up in my life. I don't dig in and fight many battles because at the end of the day most things are really not worth fighting about. However, were my beloved SWMBO or our children or grandchildren be threatened, I am definitely a force to be reckoned with. 

     

2. What are two things you love about the wintertime? Or, if love feels like too strong a word, what are two things you 'like' about winter? 

     One of my favorite things to do on a clear, dry, cold winter night is to stargaze. The sky looks so spectacular on such a night. It is awe inspiring. A second thing I like is just after a snowfall, the ground looks so pristine and beautiful. Also, all is quiet as if the snow muffled all sound.

3. Pomegranate, kumquat, persimmon, kiwi, and guava are all fruits said to have health benefits, particularly during the winter months. Do you have a favorite on the list? Are there any on the list you haven't tried? 

     I don't have a favorite from the given list of fruits. I have tried Pomegranate and Kiwi. I can take them or leave them. 

4. I passed a local church yesterday and noticed they had this on their outdoor sign- 'When all else fails, do the right thing.' Your thoughts?

     I believe that we should always try to do the right thing in the first instance. Doing the right thing is not a fall back position. To do otherwise is like "You're not trying if you're not cheating." or "It's only wrong if you get caught!" As a Bible believing Christian I believe we are called to do the right thing always.

5. Do you ski? According to one list I've seen, the top 5 ski destinations for 2014 are-St. Anton Austria, Whistler Canada, Cortina Italy, Tahoe USA, and Zermatt Switzerland.  Of the five listed, which would you most like to visit? We can make skiing optional if that helps the non-skiers with their answer. 

     I am not a skier. I have never been tempted to try. That said, I wouldn't mind visiting Switzerland or Austria. I wouldn't mind watching other people ski from the cozy warmth of a chalet while sipping a hot chocolate.

6.  What's the last thing you looked for online? (Besides my blog!)

     The last thing I looked for online are pet friendly hotels in the Lebanon, NH, area. SWMBO and I and the fur babies will be spending a few nights in a hotel when they try to harvest her stem cells for a possible stem cell transplant in the future.

7. What saying, slogan, quote, or motto have you seen lately that inspires you for the new year?

     "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phillipians 4:6,7)

8.  Insert your own random thought here. 

     The NFL Super Bowl is once again upon us. I love the Super Bowl because it is the first death knell of Winter. It is a reminder that Spring is just around the corner. The next death knell of winter is when the Red Sox pitchers and catchers report for spring training in Florida. The final death knell is St. Patricks Day. We can still be whacked with a snow storm but the odds are increasingly in our favor that we will not.

     Winter is the price we must pay for the privilege of enjoying the other three seasons here in New England. It is a price worth paying. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR HODGEPODGE!

1. Times Square is the setting for the infamous ball drop signaling a brand new year....when did you last 'drop the ball' on something?

     Hardly a week goes by when I don't drop the ball on something or other. Nothing specific comes to mind. SWMBO is very forgiving however, otherwise my ghost would be typing this right now. No jury in the entire nation would ever convict her if she was not so forgiving!

2. What is one thing you resolved to do in 2013 that you actually did?

     I resolved to be more active in the church. I think that I have achieved this goal.

3. Jack London is quoted as saying, "You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club." Agree or disagree? Why? 

     I guess I would have to disagree. I would assert that Inspiration hunts us down and comes after us with a club. Inspiration is something that is spontaneous. Inspiration is something that jumps up and smacks you dead in the face without warning. You hear a song with a powerful message and a beautiful melody, you are inspired.

     You read about some of the great figures of history and all that they overcame to become the influential people that they became and you become inspired.

     Sooner or later Inspiration gets us all!

4. What was the best thing you ate in 2013?

     I give up...what was the best thing that I ate in 2013? I don't know. If you were to meet me in person you would soon realize that there is a veritable cornucopia of things that I have consumed over the pst year. To narrow it down to one specific "best thing" is daunting to put it mildly.

5.  Share an anti-resolution...that is, something you plan to keep on doing in the new year.

     I plan to keep on loving, serving and enriching SWMBO's life in any way I can. Beside that I intend to keep blogging, reading, and studying the Bible.

6. The Pantone color of the year for 2014 is radiant orchid.  Like or no like? Would I find this color anywhere in your home or wardrobe? Will you add something in this shade to either?

     I have way too much testosterone to be able to respond to this question and maintain possession of my "Man Card!"

7. In three words or less sum up your 2013.

     Cancer Really Blows!

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

     At this time of year people often look back over the past twelve months and reflect upon the condition of their lives. They assess the progress that they made on the changes that they resolved to make during the year. The more common resolutions such as to lose weight, exercise more, improve their personal relationships and yada, yada, yada often don't survive past the first quarter of the year. We start out with zeal and positive expectations as well as good intentions to succeed. Despite our best intentions we fail. I number myself among those good intentioned souls who have added bricks on the road to perdition, that particular road being paved with good intentions.

     It can be discouraging to make the same resolutions year after year to just see them fall by the wayside year after year. How can we stop this vicious cycle? I haven't got a clue!

     One thing that I do know is that perseverance is unbeatable. I take a lesson from Thomas a. Edison. He used something like a thousand different metals for the filament on his light bulb until he happened upon tungsten, the metal that finally worked. 

     Well, if you have failed at keeping your resolutions, persevere! If you stumble and fall during the year, get up and begin anew! Persevere! Never retreat! Persevere! Never surrender! Persevere!

     I readily acknowledge that this is easier said than done. Remember...PERSEVERANCE WINS THE DAY!

     Happy New Year to one and all!