FRESHLY MOWED GRASS HODGEPODGE!

     Today SWMBO and I had the granddaughters coming over to visit. SWMBO thought that the backyard needed mowing and asked me to take care of it. Loving yard work like I do, I jumped at the chance. (If you believe that last statement, I have a bridge in NY to sell you.) So I mowed the backyard. What has all this have to do with the Hodgepodge? Absolutely nothing! Enjoy this weeks Hodgepodge anyway!

1. I've read several posts and status updates recently describing end of year school field trips. Do you remember taking school field trips as a kid? Where did you go and do you recall a favorite? For any parents responding today, have you ever chaperoned a school field trip, and if so where?

     I have never chaperoned a field trip. I remember going on one 8th grade field trip where we went to a theater in the round and saw a production of Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar." At the plays opening the actors came running down the aisle to the stage from behind us. It startled us to say the least.
     As an adjunct college teacher I went on a field trip to Washington D.C. with students in the Criminal Justice Program. We toured the Law Enforcement Memorial, U.S. Capitol, the White House, The FBI Academy, The U.S. Supreme Court and other monuments. One year we were honored by then U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter. Justice Souter graciously spent time with the students answering their questions and speaking to them about his experiences as a Supreme Court Justice. I suspect most of the students did not appreciate how significant or special a thing that was.

2. What's something you're tired of seeing online?

     The incessant pop up adds trying to sell one thing or another.
    

3. June is the month for roses. Which of the following expressions would you say has most recently applied to your life-'everything's coming up roses', 'there's no rose without a thorn', 'came out smelling like a rose', or 'wearing rose-colored glasses'? 

     I would have to say that there is no rose without thorns. Life is replete with examples of how good times are often accompanied by painful times. That's just life!

4. When grilling outdoors do you prefer gas or charcoal? Who does the grilling at your house? What's the last thing you ate that was cooked on a grill?

     Definitely Gas! It is so much cleaner than charcoal and there are no ashes to dispose of. I generally do the grilling at home. The last time we ate grilled food was on Memorial Day. We had pork ribs and hamburgers.

5. Are you afraid of the dark?

     Not really. I have spent the better part of my adult life working during the night hours so I am not afraid of the dark. I believe that I can avoid dangerous situations or if needed I can defend myself. Also, I am not above carrying a concealed firearm if prudence dictates that I do so.

6. Share a favorite song with a number in it's title.

     "25 or 6 to 4" by Chicago. "One" by Three Dog Night.

7. "Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves."(C.G. Jung). Do you agree? Why or why not?

     I agree. I have often found that the traits that really annoy me in other people are the very same traits that upon reflection I generally find in myself. I really don't know why that is, but it is. So I have to say that Mr. Jung has a valid point.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

     A man walks in to a butcher shop and he sees a showcase displaying bins with several types of brains. One bin had "Libertarian Brains" listed for $3.50 per pound. Another bin had "Conservative Brains" listed for $4.50 per pound. A third bin had "Progressive/Liberal Brains" for $129.50 per pound. The man asked the shopkeeper why the Progressive/Liberal Brains were so expensive? The shopkeeper answered " Do you know how many Progressive/Liberals you have to kill to come up with one pound of brains?" (Insert cymbal crash here)
     A man was ordered to apologize to a coworker for calling him a "stupid jerk!" The man went up to the coworker and said "I'm sorry I called you a stupid jerk. I thought you knew!" (Parum Pum!)

     Please understand that my anecdotes were meant to be amusing and not to give offense. If you took offense I apologize...I thought you knew! (Parum Pum!)