PRE-ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE HODGEPODGE!

     Today is October 22nd. The Zombie Apocalypse, AKA Halloween, is almost upon us. Hard to believe that this year is going by so fast. Today being a Wednesday you know our friend Joyce at "From This Side of the Pond" has another series of Hodgepodge questions. I hope you enjoy this week's edition. Better yet, why not join in? Visit Joyce's blog to see how easy it is to join the fun.

1. Elizabeth Lawrence is quoted as saying, 'Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn." So have you done just that? And what did you leave undone in order to do so?

     I have no problem leaving things undone to take time to enjoy life. I learned long ago that we have a tendency of getting so wrapped up in the so called obligations of life, most of which are not obligations at all, that we forget, or worse yet, neglect to pause and enjoy life. I suspect that no one ever said on their death bed that they really regret not getting _______ done!  I do leave things undone quite often. What I leave undone are too numerous to mention so I won't.

2. Since we're talking turning...what's one thing you feel you're doing 'every time you turn around'?

     "Putting out fires" comes to mind. Not the incendiary, property damaging kind, but rather the "Pain in the butt got to get it done now!" kind of fires. I have been rather busy dealing with various issues in my life, all segments of my life. A wise man once told me "Of such are the vicissitudes of life...HE WAS RIGHT!

3. How hard is it for you to 'turn the other cheek?'

     It is a lot less hard now then it was a few years ago. I have never been one to easily get angry or lash out but if someone pushed a certain button then they were in for an extremely unpleasant reaction. I now try to imitate Jesus as described in 1 Peter 2:21-24. 

4. When did you last turn a drawer, your car, a room, or your entire house upside down looking for something? Did you find it?

     About a month ago I could not locate my keys. I searched everywhere to no avail. My beloved SWMBO joined the search and could not locate them either. We searched the house high and low without any luck finding them. We searched through the inside of the car. Nope...not there either! 
     I thought long and hard trying to retrace my steps, trying to remember where I had been or when when was the last time I used my keys. Nothing clicked! 
     SWMBO asked me to drive her somewhere, I forget where. I obviously had to use SWMBO's car keys. Anyway, after I had driven a mile down the road I suddenly remembered where my keys might be. I pulled over and stopped the car. I got out and found my keys still inserted in the lock of our hatchback. In the iconic words of Homer Simpson "DOH!" 

5. 'One good turn deserves another'...were you most recently on the giving or receiving end of that sentiment?

     I was recently on the receiving end. A couple of weeks ago I ordered a pallet of wood pellets with our usual supplier. Due to the demand our ton and a half of pellets won't be delivered until sometime between November 10th and November 30th. Last Sunday the temperature was suppose to drop below freezing. When I arrived home Sunday afternoon a "Pellet Fairy" had deposited five plus 40-pound bags of wood pellets by our garage door. SWMBO awoke to a nice, toasty warm house the following morning. Needless to say, she was well pleased. 

6. Red, yellow, and orange are the colors of fall. Also the colors of fruit. If you were permitted only one color of fruit in your diet, which would you choose? This question isn't as easy as it sounds, at least not for me.

     I think I would have to go with the color "red." I love apples. Cortland Apples are my favorite. I like red seeded or seedless grapes. I also love tomatoes.  (Yes, the tomato is a fruit!) So, red is the color for me!

7. The Hunt for Red October, October Sky, Halloween...which 'October' film is your favorite?

     Being a devoted Tom Clancy fan it has to be The Hunt for Red October. It was the only movie that was faithful to the novel from which it is adapted.
 

8. Insert your own random thought here.

      Last weekend the 24th annual Pumpkin Festival took place in Keene, NH, not too far from Keene State College. Some distance away a group of people were having a party at a private residence. Across the street at another private residence was another party. At some point thrown bottles and rocks were exchanged between the two party goers. The Keene poise responded and tried to disperse the partiers. The situation escalated to the point where thousands of people began throwing rocks and bottles at police, overturning cars and setting bonfires in the middle of the street. 
     The Keene police were vastly outnumbered so they sent out a call for mutual aid. Reinforcements from the State Police, the County Sheriff and the surrounding towns responded. Tactical Teams (AKA SWAT Teams) responded from State Police, Nashua and Manchester to assist in restoring order. The riot went on well into the evening. 
     The responding police conducted themselves as true law enforcement professionals. There were 84 arrests that day. More are expected as the investigation unfolds. 
     To their credit many of the Keene State College student body went to store owners, property owners and elsewhere to assist with the clean up operations the next day. They apologized for the behavior of the rioters and the damages that the rioters caused. 
     I say Kudos to the police for their restraint under trying circumstances and to the students for their stepping up to help with cleaning up someone else's mess.