HOT WATER BLUES HODGEPODGE !

     A very pleasant Hodgepodge Wednesday to everyone. A thank you to Joyce Daley, our Hodgepodge Guru, for her efforts in bringing us the Hodgepodge questions every week.

     The world is still going crazy. Our country is still going crazy. My beloved SWMBO is still going crazy and she's taking me with her. In short, situation normal, all fouled up! 

     Here's the Hodgepodge!  

1. The first day of summer rolls in later this week. What are ten things you'd put on your list of  quintessential summer activities? Will you try to manage all ten this summer?
     Ten things? Here goes...(1) Beach trip(s); (2) Fishing; (3) Light reading; (4) Yard work; (5) Trip to the Mountains; (6) Trip to the drive-in; (7) Yard work; (8) Spontaneous Naps; (9) Trip(s) to the lake; (10) Did I menton Yard work?

2. Do you collect seashells when you're at the beach? What do you do with them once you get them home? What's your favorite place to comb for seashells? How many of these 'best beaches for hunting seashells' have you visited? Which one would you most like to visit?

Calvert Cliffs State Park (Maryland), Jeffrey's Bay (South Africa), Sanibel Island (Florida), Shipwreck Beach (Lanai Hawaii), Ocracoke Island (North Carolina), Galveston Island (Texas) and The Bahamas
     I don't collect seashells. If I did collect seashells, my only options would be the NH, MA, and Maine beaches. I have not visited any of the listed beaches. I wouldn't mind visiting any of the listed beaches at all. I would probably add a few beaches in the Caribbean Sea.

3. At a snail's pace, shell out money, come out of your shell, go back into your shell, drop a bombshell, happy as a clam, clam up...which 'shell' phrase could most recently be applied to some event or circumstance in your life? Explain.
     "Shell out money" seems to be applying to us this year. We've been hit with the ancillary costs associated with SWMBO's cancer treatments that are not covered by insurance. Earlier this year we had to replace our furnace and water well expansion tank. Now, it appears that our well water softener is on the fritz and our washing machine is about to give up the ghost. Sheesh! This is turning out to be a very expensive year.

4. What summer activity do you dislike? Why?
     I hate yardwork! Why? Because I hate yardwork!

5. What's something you see as quickly becoming obsolete? Does that bother you?
     "Free Speech" and it bothers the #@$&*%$# out of me. One of our guranteed rights is the right of free expression. However, the notion that offensive speech is not permitted is being enforced through violence on college campi throughout our beloved nation. "Safe Zones," or "Free Speech Zones" are concepts NEVER contemplated by our founding fathers.
     The United States Supreme Court has explicitly ruled that offensive speech is protected speech. 
     Therefore, if what I write or say offends you, understand that I am a repeat offender.

6. Insert your own random thought here.
     Neither the U.S. House of Representatives nor the U.S. Senate are capable of conducting an investigtion. It is absurd to think that a room full of people with no expertise or investigative experience limited to five minutes to ask questions will get to the bottom of anything.
     I watched several of the recent hearings and heard people testify under oath that there is NO EVIDENCE that the president did ANYTHING illegal. That's not stopping them from throwing millions of dollars down a rat hole through the special prosecutor who has been appointed to look into the fact that the president did nothing illegal.
     Like Jeff Foxworthy says..."We are a nation founded by geniuses and run by idiots. SHEESH!

GRANITE STATE HEAT WAVE HODGEPODGE!

     This week Summer 2017 has come with a vengeance. It has gone from unseasonably cool temperatures in the 50's with rain, to the hot and muggies of late Summer. Yesterday was our third day in the 90's, officially making it a heat wave. SWMBO is happy and doesn't have the decency to sweat, uh...um...excuse me, I meant to say "to glow." As for me, I have been "glowing" like a pig.
     Our Hodgepodge Mistress, Joyce Daley, is back with another Wednesday Hodgepodge after a brief hiatus last week. Joyce has been publishing the Wednesday Hodgepodge for over six years. It must be challenging to come up with a theme and the questions related to the theme. Joyce has been masterful at the task. Please join in on the fun. You'll be glad that you did.   

1. The Hodgepodge lands on June 14th this week, Flag Day in the US of A. Do you fly your country's flag at home? Sometimes, often, or every single day? Have you ever visited the city of Brotherly Love (Philadelphia)? Did you make a point of seeing The Betsy Ross House? Have you ever made a trip to Baltimore? If so, was Fort McHenry on your itinerary? (where Francis Scott Key was inspired to write The Star Spangled Banner)
     No, I don't fly the American Flag at my home. I often wear an American Flag lapel pin on my suit or sport coat. I have never visited the cities of Philadelphia or Baltimore. 

2. Red flag or white flag? Which have you encountered most recently? Explain.
     When I was in military basic training and it got to be dangerously hot, they would fly a red flag indicating that all strenuous physical activity was suspended for the day. The last three days have been a red flag day. I stayed inside and tried to stay cool.

3. Are you a stay in the car listen to the end of a song kind of person? What kind of person is that?
     I do stay in the car sometimes until the end of a song. Not just any song though, it has to be one of my favorite songs. 

4. What are some of the traits or qualities you think a good dad possesses? In other words, what makes a good dad? What's an expression you associate with your father?
     I believe that a good dad possesses unconditional love and patience for his children. He also possesses an attitude of forgiveness and encouragement. The phrase that I associate with my dad that comes to mind is something that my dad would always say when we were playing chess. After I made a move and just before he lowered the boom on me he would say "That's a good move just in case you don't know it." Within three moves I heard him announce "checkmate!" thereby winning the game. The day that I officially became a man was the day that I finally beat him at chess. 

5. What's one rule you always disagreed with while growing up? Is that rule somehow still part of your adult life? Is that a good or bad thing?
     I really don't know! 

6. Insert your own random thought here.
     I haven't been able to get out much since SWMBO's stem cell transplant. SWMBO and I have been essentially quarantined, staying at home for the most part for the last 100 plus days. Upon reaching the 100th day post transplant we have been given a bit more latitude. 
     I have a friend with whom I share a special bond. We love to share a meal and just talk about all manner of things. We discuss our families, current events, books that we've read, grandchildren and a plethora of other wide ranging issues. We're also able to have frank discussions about how we are doing personally, i.e. physically, emotionally, spiritually and so forth. 
     This morning I was able to meet with this friend for breakfast at a local restaurant. What a great time we had! It's been months since we've been able to meet together and talk.  
     God has lavishly blessed me with the people He has put in my life. This friend, of whom I speak, is one of these special blessings.  
     You may count yourself blessed if you too have such a friend!