A YULETIDE WEDNESDAY HODGEPODGE!

     As you read this we are four days from Christmas Day. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly time passes. Perhaps it's a function of getting older. One of my granddaughters purchased a gift for our two little dogs with her own money. She was so proud and happy to give them her gifts. I love the innocent wonder in the eyes of young children around this time of year. 
     I believe that Christmas is, as it always has been, a magical and special time of the year. I hate the commercialism but I do so love the Spirit of Christmas. So to all of you reading this A very Merry Christmas to you and yours. Now, onto the Hodgepodge...

1. What's left to be done on your Christmas to-do list? 

     SWMBO and I have wrapping still to do. I still have one or two gifts to purchase. I also have a Christmas menu to plan and obtain the provisions for. Other than that we're good to go!

2. The Hodgepodge lands on the first day of winter this year. What's your favorite thing about winter? 

     My favorite thing about Winter is it's end. I believe that Winter is the price that we have to pay for the privilege of living up here the other three seasons. 

3. In what area of your life are you immature? Feel free to elaborate or not. 

     Growing old is mandatory...growing up is optional. I have warned High School graduates to be careful, that adulthood is a trap. Another pithy saying is "I don't know how to act my age, I've never been this old before!"

4. What was the most (or one of the most) important lessons you learned in 2016? 

     One thing that I knew, but has been reinforced for me this year, is that wedding vows are more than just words. They are a covenant between a man, a woman and God. To love for better or for worse; for richer or poorer; in sickness and in health, is a daily choice. I pity the poor fools who choose to do otherwise.

5. It's Fried Shrimp Day...are you a fan? What's your favorite way to eat shrimp? Will there be shrimp somewhere in your holiday feastings? 

     My beloved SWMBO loves seafood. I, however, am allergic to seafood including shellfish. We will from time to time get a shrimp ring from our grocery store. I also love the Coconut Breaded Shrimp served at the Outback Restaurant. It is worth the risk of anaphylaxis resulting therefrom. There will probably be some shrimp consumed during the upcoming Christmas holiday.

6. What sound lulls you to sleep? 

     The sound of ocean waves crashing on the beach or soft music playing will convey me to the land of nod.

7. What one word best describes your 2016? 

     Perseverance - When cancer invades your life, it's like embarking on a carnival ride that never ends and which you can't get off. Perseverance is essential whether you are the cancer patient or the caregiver. #cancersucks

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

     In the spirit of the holiday, Merry Christmas to all and all the best of health and prosperity in the New Year!

SNOW! WICKED COLD! YEP, IT'S WINTER IN NEW HAMPSHIRE!

     Hello to my fellow Hodgepodgers and anyone else who is stopping by for a visit. I hope that you are all well today. Thanks again to our Hodgepodge Mistress, Joyce Daley for another set of thought provoking questions.

     Here in the Granite State we have snow. We also have wickes cold. So, regardless of what the calendar may say, winter has officially arrived. I thank God for our pellet stove and the wood pellet fuel to go with it. I thank God for our furnace and the oil to keep us, and by us I mean SWMBO, warm.

     Now, it's onto the Hodgepodge...

1. Are you more task oriented or people oriented? Elaborate.

     I am task oriented in that I like to get tasks done when I finally get around to doing them. I do tend to procrastinate. People, on the other hand, are more important to me than completing tasks. Tasks will always be there. People may not be. 

2. December 15 is National Wear Your Pearls Day...do you own/wear pearls? If you're a man answering the question, does your sweetheart own or wear pearls? Everyone share a 'pearl of wisdom' with us here today.

     I don't have or wear pearls. I can't remember my beloved having or wearing pearls. My pearl of wisdom is " Use things and cherish people. Do not use people and cherish things."

3. Speaking of pearls...oysters? Are you a fan or not a fan? If you answered yes, tell us your favorite way to eat oysters? If you said no, be honest-have you ever tried one or does just the idea of eating an oyster make you gag a little?

     I am not a fan of oysters. I have tried them before. They look disgusting but they don't taste too bad if you consume them with crackers and hot sauce.

4. Time Magazine has named President-elect Donald Trump Person of the Year. Let's take presidents and presidential candidates out of the mix for a minute. If a political figure had not been chosen who would you name Man or Woman of the Year for 2016?

     I would name the masses of people who compose the silent majority who turned the political world on it's head as the persons of the year. None of the professional political operatives or the professional pollsters got it right. The American people spoke loudly and clearly and shook the world and proving once again that our system is still vibrant and more importantly, still works.

 

5. The Pantone Color of the Year for 2017 has been announced, and it's a vibrant green aptly named-greenery. Your thoughts? Is this a color currently in your home or wardrobe? Will you add something in this shade for the new year? Click here to see the color.

     I am sorry to report that color and fashion have no meaning for me. When it comes to color give me the primary colors and let it go at that.

6. Today I've had too much________________________.

     Self criticism. I tend to be my harshest critic. I'm sure I'm not as bad as the voices and thoughts in my head seem to indicate. I am reminded that we are called to love our neighbor as ourselves. We, and by we I mean I,  forget that we are to love ourselves. 

7. Share a favorite lyric from a favorite Christmas carol.

     "Hark! The herald angels sing. Glory to the new born King. Peace on earth and mercy mild. God and sinners reconciled."  The Creator, Almighty God of the universe wants to be reconciled with a sinner like me. Hallelujah! That thought is amazing to me.

 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

     There's a saying "You don't know what you have until it's gone." That is often true of some of the things in your life. It is certainly true of the people in your life. This truth was brought home to me again this week.

     Another truth that I was reminded of this week is that as Christians we don't say "Goodbye" to our loved ones when they pass away. We say "Til we meet again in Heaven." 

     This week our church family said "Til we meet again" to a dear man who has shaken off his mortal coil and has graduated to glory. This man has served our Lord and His church for over 50 years. He had a gruff exterior but his heart was extra large and pure gold. He loved people and he loved doing things for them. He lived an exemplary life and he will be sorely missed.  

     So my random thought today is cherish the people in your life while they are still with you. Tell them that you love them and that you appreciate their presence in your life now. Don't wait until they leave your life to express your appreciation. 

     May God bless you this week.

 

WINTER IS COM...IT'S HERE! HODGEPODGE!

     Good morning everyone! Welcome to another Wednesday Hodgepodge. The Granite State has experienced its first snow event of the season. Mother Nature, having impeccable timing, dropped a couple of inches of the white stuff just before and during the morning commute. Many drivers have apparently forgotten the simple rules of Physics, specifically, the coefficient of friction as it applies to momentum and the efficacy of brakes under those conditions.  And so we slide into this week's Hodgepodge...

1. Let's talk holiday decorating. On a scale of 1-10 where do you fall? (1=Scrooge and 10= Clark Griswold). What's your favorite corner-room-table-space to decorate? Is it done?
     I am a Scrooge-ophile, definitely. I may get the tree up and some lawn decorations put out by New Year's day.
     We do not have a favorite space to decorate.

2. Is there a nativity scene in your decorating somewhere? Post a picture or, if it's special to you in some way, tell us why. Or do both-it's Christmas!
     We do not have a Creche, or Nativity Scene, as you call it. We had one, but it is in a box of decorations that we chose not to bring down from the attic this year.

3.  Do you live in a social neighborhood? If so are you glad? If not do you wish you did?
     We do not. We do chat with one of our neighbors from time to time but we mostly keep to ourselves.

4.  As the saying goes, 'there's no time like the present'. How does that ring true in your life right now?
     It doesn't...I am an avowed procrastinator.

5. Do you dread Mondays? Why or why not?
     Not really. Being retired, Monday is just like any other day. We have a routine but I don't dread Monday any more than the other six days of the week.

6.  Poinsettia, Christmas Cactus, Amaryllis-which on the list is your favorite holiday plant? Are any of these on display in your home right now?
     I am not a flower or plant person. That is more of a SWMBO question.

7. Share a favorite quote from a Christmas movie.
     "Merry Christmas? Bah! Humbug!"  A Christmas Carol, the George C. Scott version.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
     I was going to vent my spleen again over the post election state of affairs in the good ole U.S. of A. or write something commemorating the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Empire of Japan. However, I will simply bid you all a good week and let it go at that.