A BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!

    Good morning, everyone! Welcome back Joyce and the Wednesday Hodgepodge. Our beloved Nation is a precocious 242 years old. That is fairly young as the age of nations go.  A belated Happy Birthday America!
    I hope that you all are enjoying your Summer. I hope that you had a pleasant Fourth of July Holiday. My beloved SWMBO and I had a lovely time. We spent part of the day with friends and shared some traditional foods. We capped the day with our usual mid-week Devotional and Bible Study.
    Welcome to another edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge.

1. What's something in your house you'd like to get rid of but can't?
    What a great question! We have a couple of broken recliner chairs, a riding lawn mower with a blown engine, and a wood stove that we don't/can't use anymore. Those are three things that I would like to get rid of but cannot seem to for one reason or another.

2. When is the last time you experienced a sense of nostalgia? Elaborate.
    Recently, I took SWMBO on a trip down memory lane. I spoke about my childhood, some of the people who I grew up with, some of the activities that we engaged in, etc. I must say that I had a pretty decent childhood.

3. You're only allowed three apps on your smart phone or tablet...which three do you keep?
    I think that I would keep a Bible app, Mail and YouTube. If you ask me tomorrow it is possible I would keep different apps.

4. July 11th is National Blueberry Muffin Day. Who knew? Do you like blueberry muffins? If you were going to have a muffin would blueberry be your choice? What's the last thing you baked?
    Yes, I do like Blueberry muffins. Blueberry bushes are practically everywhere in New Hampshire and Maine. How can you not like Blueberries?

5. What's the biggest way you've changed since you were a child? In what way are you still the same?
    How have I changed since childhood? Well, I am now 6' 3" tall and weigh over 250 pounds. I now have a full beard and I now need reading glasses. Also, I am keenly aware of the existence of God in my life and the attendant responsibilities of having that knowledge. Last, but by no means least, I am happily married to the greatest woman on the planet...but you knew that!

    How am I the same? I am endearingly impish and a faithful Red Sox fan.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

     I have a couple of random thoughts this morning. First, kudos to the Thai government and their Navy Seals for the rescue of the boys soccer team from the cave. All eleven boys and their coach were safely extracted from the cave after two weeks of being trapped and all are in good condition considering their ordeal. Thank you God for your grace and for the safe return of the team and their rescuers.

    Second, the left side of the aisle in this country have lost their collective minds. They have been protesting President Trump's nominee to fill a vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court, which is to say that they were protesting.....NOBODY, that is, until last night when President Trump announced that he was nominating Judge Brett Kavanaugh of the D.C. Federal Court of Appeals.  

     The left has recycled the same old diatribes that they have been using against every Republican court nominee since the Reagan Administration, namely, that the nominee will curtail abortion rights, LGBT Rights, access to Medical Care rights, and every other perceived rights, whether they actually exist or not. So far none of the aforementioned curtailments have occurred. One can plausibly conclude that the left is consistently wrong and/or hysterical! Therefore, let the Kabuki Theater, that Supreme Court confirmations have become, begin! 

IS HE REALLY THAT BAD? HODGEPODGE!

      Good morning to all my fellow Wednesday Hodgepodge peeps! Here we are with another Hodgepodge. Thank you Joyce Daley for another set of penetrating questions.
      Have your heard about the volcano that wreaking havoc in various places around the world? I cannot imagine how awful being in the vicinity of a volcanic eruption can be. My prayers and best wishes go out to our fellow citizens in Hawaii and those affected by the volcano in Central America.

1. What happens to the mail at your house?
     We generally trash the junk mail, which is most of it. The rest goes into a tray that sits on a chest freezer in our kitchen. We then go through the tray as the spirit moves us.

2. Something you always splurge on? Any guilt associated with the splurge?
      Dunkin Donuts has a watermelon coolatta which is my splurge. I do not feel guilty at all. Why should I, I'm an adult male over the age of majority and as far as I know it is perfectly legal to indulge in that beverage. Carpe Diem, baby!

3. There are many, but what are two important questions you think every bride and groom should ask/answer before they plan their walk down the aisle?
      The questions that I would advise engaged couples to resolve are (1) Do you want children? How many? How are you going to raise them(Child care, Education, Morally?)? Religion or no religion, which religion?   (2) What is you current financial status? How are you going to mange your finances? Jointly? Separately ? Conservatively? Aggressively? 
      There are other questions, of course, but I'll go with these two.

4. What's the best advice your father ever gave you?
      Make sure that you serve your country. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, took part in the D-Day Invasion and served in the National Guard in the late 1950's to early 1960's. He encouraged my siblings and I to likewise serve in the military for at least two, four or six years. My brother and I chose to serve in the Air Force. We are both honorably discharged veterans. I am sure that dad was proud of his two boys.

5. Your favorite movie where a father features heavily in the storyline?
      Some of my favorite "Father" movies are, in no particular order: "Trouble with the Curve" with Clint Eastwood and Amy Adams; "The Judge" with Robert Duvall and Robert Downey Jr; "The Godfather" with Marlon Brando; "Legends of the Fall" Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins; and "It's a Wonderful Life" the Frank Capra Christmas classic.

6. Insert your own random thought here.
       Remember a few months ago when our president was engaged in a war of words with the leader of North Korea. The talking heads criticized the president saying that he was going to get us into a nuclear war with North Korea. They urged our president to engage in diplomacy.
      Now that our president has in fact engaged in diplomacy with the leader of North Korea, those same people are complaining that the president has engaged the leader of North Korea in Diplomacy. They say that he is a brutal dictator who cannot be trusted to keep his word.
     Our president, despite his flaws, is not as bad as his critics would have us believe.  Could it be that his critics are petrified that this president will succeed where his predecessors have failed so miserably? 
     Have a great week!

FAREWELL AND REST IN PEACE HODGEPODGE!

     A very good morning to one and all in Hodgepodge land. I wish you all the best that life has to offer. Here in the Granite State it is a beautiful day. My beloved SWMBO and I went out for a nice breakfast. It was a nice start to our day.
     We recently lost a very classy first lady. Barbara Bush was a woman who distinguished herself as a wife, as a mother and as a first lady. Her devotion to improving literacy for all people everywhere was, and still is, so much needed. Her exemplary efforts to combat AIDs in children was inspiring. Her personality was welcoming and her sense of humor was remarkable. Farewell dear lady and rest in peace. 
      Today being Wednesday, we have a new Wednesday Hodgepodge. Thank you Joyce Daley. Enjoy!

1. They say you learn something new every day. What did you learn yesterday?
     Yesterday while I was channel surfing I happened upon the Who performing their rock opera, Tommy, at the Royal Albert Hall. I learned that seeing Tommy performed live was much better than listening to the album(s).
 
2. Have you ever had a now or never moment? Elaborate.
     I am sure that I have had such moments but nothing comes to mind.

3.  April 25th is National Telephone Day. Do you still have a land line or have you gone mobile only? When you receive a text message do you respond immediately? Last time you turned your phone off?  In two or three sentences share with us a story/memory/incident from your childhood (or something current if that's too hard) where the telephone is featured.
     We do still have a land line. When I receive a text I try to respond in a timely fashion. Sometimes it is immediately, other times, for a variety of reasons, it is later.
     The last time that I turned my phone off was on a Sunday, at church.
     We had one phone in our house when I was a child. We were not allowed to answer the phone. Once, I answered the phone. The caller asked to speak to my dad. I hung up the phone to go look for him and tell him that he had a call. I failed to get the name of the caller so we never knew who it was I hung up on.
 
4. Close call, at someone's beck and call, call the shots, call a meeting, call it quits, call in sick, call on the carpet, wake up call...which call have you 'heard' recently? Explain.
     I am at someone's beck and call. I call her SWMBO! I know that that does not come as a surprise to anyone who knows me. 

5. What subject do you wish you'd paid more attention to in school?
     I wished that I had paid more attention in Algebra class. That failure to pay attention adversely affected my education, much to my regret. I had to retake Algebra which resulted in my not taking trigonometry which caused me to fail miserably when I took physics. I am here to tell you that choices and stupidity has consequences. 
  
6. Insert your own random thought here.
     Two police officers were seated in a restaurant eating breakfast. An armed man walks up to the window where the officers were seated and opened fire killing both officers. 
     Yesterday a man drove a van down a Toronto street deliberately running over pedestrians, killing ten people and injuring more.
     A man with a history of aberrant behavior opened fire on a Waffle House in Tennessee. He killed four people and injured four people.
     It seems to me that we have devalued human life. You cannot read a newspaper without reading about some horrific act of violence and mayhem. 
    The problem is not too many guns. The problem is not enough God. We once had a respect for the principles embodied in the ten commandments, the rule of law and in the golden rule, "...doing unto others what we would have done unto us." 
     I pray that God creates in us a new heart and renews a right spirit within all of us. Amen!

GO BRUINS AND GO SOX HODGEPODGE!

     A pleasant good morning to one and all. Welcome back to our Hodgepodge Mistress and thank you for another wonderful set of questions. 
     My beloved Red Sox have begun their season in good style. As of this writing they are 8 and 1 on the young season. This is the first time in franchise history that they have begun a season so well. 
     My beloved Bruins ended their season in less than stellar fashion but they clinched a spot in the upcoming playoffs so life is good. 
     I encourage you to participate in the Wednesday Hodgepodge. It really is easy. Click on over to "From This Side of the Pond" and simply follow the directions. You will be glad that you did.
     And now....the Hodgepodge. 

1. April is National Jazz Appreciation Month. Are you a fan? If so what's a favorite you'd recommend to someone new to jazz listening?

      I am a fan of most types of Jazz. My taste runs more to the smoother side of the genre. I would recommend newcomers start there, listening to someone like Kenny G. and then explore other styles and artists until they find something or someone more to their taste.

2. Mandolin, ukulele, harp, accordion or banjo...which would you be most interested in learning to play? Or do you already play one of the instruments listed?
     I think that I would choose the mandolin. It seems to me to be more akin to the guitar with which I sometimes succeed in making music.

3. Do you judge a book by it's cover? Elaborate. You may answer in either/both the literal or figurative sense of the word.
     To be completely honest, yes I do. If I am looking to buy or borrow a book to read, the cover synopsis has to grab me, or I will not buy or borrow the book. 
      I sometimes judge people "...by their cover," in a manner of speaking. I have become quite cynical after my many years in law enforcement. A police officer's survival could very well depend upon their ability to evaluate people and distinguish between those who pose a danger and those who do not. I therefore tend to take a wait and see attitude before I'm willing to "buy the book."  If that makes me a bad person, well, so be it.

4. According to a recent study the ten most nutritious foods are-almonds, cherimoya (supposed to taste like a cross between a pineapple/banana), ocean perch, flatfish (such as flounder and halibut), chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, swiss chard, pork fat (shocking! but I don't think they mean bacon), beet greens, and red snapper. Are any of these foods a regular part of your diet? Any you've never ever tasted? Which would you be most inclined to add to your diet?
     I eat a fair amount of almonds. I do not eat fish due to allergies. I have never tried any of the other items mentions. I would be most likely to add cherimoya to my diet because I like both banana and pineapple.

5. Besides a major holiday what is the most recent thing you've celebrated with your people? Tell us how.
     That's easy! My beloved SWMBO and I celebrated the 35th anniversary of her 29th birthday in late March. The day began with her receiving a tasteful birthday card. She was then treated to a fine breakfast at one of our favorite breakfast restaurants. Then at dinner, we went to the Outback restaurant where we had a fine meal and some wonderful conversation. A fun time was had by all.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

     BREAKING NEWS: The Boston Red Sox just spanked the "Evil Empire," AKA the New York Yankees beating them by a score of 14 to 1. Happiness is a Red Sox win. Ecstasy is a Red Sox win against the Yankees. 
     People will sometimes ask me which baseball team is my favorite. My answer is that I have two favorite teams, the Boston Red Sox and whoever is playing the Yankees.
     The rivalry is real! However, and at the risk of my losing my citizenship in Red Sox nation, there are players who wear, or have worn, the Yankee pinstripes who have garnered my respect and admiration. In my estimation, the only flaw that I can see in these people is that they played for the Yankees. Otherwise they were exceptional human beings and outstanding baseball players.
     GO RED SOX!

WINTER'S DEATH SPIRAL HODGEPODGE

     Erin Go Bragh! Saturday is St. Patrick's Day so a shout out to all who are of Irish ancestry. May the wind be always at your back and may you be in Heaven a half hour before the Devil knows you're dead. 
     Another Wednesday Hodgepodge is upon us once again. May the Lord bless you in a tangible way today. Thank you Joyce for your return and for another fine set of questions. 

1. Best place you've been lately?
     SWMBO and I had occasion to go to a fine restaurant with some close friends and enjoy a wonderful meal and great conversation. The restaurant is called the "Copper Door." It is a somewhat upscale restaurant with great ambience and food. We had a great time.

2. What's something you should say yes to today? Or this week? Or even this year?
     I should say yes to snow shoveling. As I write this we are in the throes of another northeaster. Old Man Winter is just refusing to realize that his time is up and that he needs to move on. This is his second snow tantrum in as many weeks. Ten to eighteen inches of snow is expected. YUCK!

3. Do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day in any way, shape, or form? If so tell us how. In Western cultures the color green is typically associated with jealousy, nature, good luck, and growth. What's the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word 'green'?
     We don't usually celebrate St. Patrick's Day. We might go to McDonald's for a Shamrock Shake but that would be about it.
     The thing that comes to mind when I hear the word green is the grass at Fenway Park. When you first walk into the stands the grass is so green that it almost seems like a special effect. It is really striking. I imagine other major league ball parks are similarly beautiful and striking.

4. What's a product or service you love so much you'd happily be their spokesperson? Tell us what makes you such a fan.
     Anyone who has read my blog posts knows how committed I am to my faith in God. I am a kind of a spokesperson for God and His Gospel. All who have obeyed the Gospel are also spokespersons, #GreatCommission. Neither God nor His Gospel are products or services to be sold but I could see myself being a spokesperson for the Gospel. It is free to whosoever will.
     From a more earthly perspective, I do love Skippy's Chunky Peanut Butter. I think I could serve as a spokesman.
  
5. March 14th is Pi Day. How are your math skills? What's the last thing you did that required math of any kind? And most importantly do you like pie? What's your favorite kind? With ice cream, whipped cream, or please hold the cream?
     My math skills are fair. The last time I used math was to figure out our finances. 
     I most certainly do love pie. I love those small Table Talk Pies you can get in the grocery store. My favorite pie is Pecan Pie with a dollop of whipped cream.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.
     On Monday, news broke that someone was delivering bombs in the form of packages in Austin, Texas. To date three bombs have been delivered and detonated. 
    A task force of State, Local and Federal law enforcement has been formed to bring the serial bomber to justice. This will not be easy. You may recall that it took eighteen years to bring Ted Kascinski, the Unabomber, to justice. I pray God that this case doesn't take nearly that long.
     There is an undeniable fact. There are evil people running loose in the world today and these evil people do not obey laws that the rest of us do. It is not the implements that they use that is evil, it is they who are evil. May God protect us all from such people.
     Have a wonderful week and c'mon Spring!

INSURANCE KERFUFFLE HODGEPODGE!

     Good morning everyone! I hope that you are all well. I hope that your new year is going well, also. 
     The change of the new year brought with it a change in helth insurance for my beloved SWMBO and I. With the change in health insurance came the usual adjustments to the usual change in policies and procedures of the new company. In a word...UUGHH!
     The good news is another Wednesday is upon us and therefore another Wednesday Hodgepodge. Take a break from your week and relax as you enjoy the Hodgepodge. 

1. What keeps you blogging?
     There are acouple of reasons why I blog. One is that I enjoy crafting sentences trying to express my thoughts as precisely as possible. I also have some fairly strong opinions and enjoy giving voice to them through the written word. Last, and by no means least, I have enjoyed getting to know my fellow bloggers through the Wednesday Hodgepodge. I relish the diversity of opinions and personal experiences that have been shared through the Hodgepodge.

2. Some people like to travel in the winter months. Do you enjoy the beach in winter? According to Southern Living the best U.S. beach towns to visit this winter are-

St Simons Island (Georgia), Hilton Head (South Carolina), Bald Head Island (North Carolina), Seaside (Florida), Bay St. Louis (Mississippi), Cape San Blas (Florida), South Padre Island (Texas), Folly Beach (South Carolina), Chincoteague (Virginia), Duck Key (Florida), Nags Head (North Carolina), and Fairhope (Alabama)

Have you been to any of the towns listed (in any season)? Which on the list appeals to you most this winter? 
     SWMBO and I do not do a lot of traveling at any time of the year. I'm sure that visiting a warm water beach during the dead of winter would be a nice break from the deep freeze. 
     We have not visited any of the beaches mentioned...ever. We would like to at some point.

3. What's a song you're embarrassed to know all the lyrics to? Are you really embarrassed or do just think you should be?
     I do not think that I am embarrassed to know the lyrics to any song. I cannot think of a reason why I should or would be. I enjoy music from artists that some people think are not "cool." A few examples are Air Supply, Barry Manilow, and Celine Dion. I am not embarrassed about it. I just like what I like and I am the sole arbiter of what is cool, that is, what is cool to me.

4. When you were a kid what's something you thought would be fantastic as an adult, but now that you're an adult you realize it's not all that fantastic?
     When I was a child I thought that being the master of my own destiny would be fantastic. I thought having the freedom to come and go as I like, to eat what I like, to not eat what I don't like and to stay up as late as I want would be fantastic. Then I grew up and found out too late that adulthood is a trap and that there is no escape from it.

5. Share a quote you hope will inspire you in 2018.
     "Knowing is not enough; We must apply. Wishing is not enough; We must do."  Possessing knowledge is a good thing. Wisdom is knowing how to apply that knowledge. Furthermore, we must engage, we must do, if we are to accomplish anything. The curse of procrastination is that it puts off "doing" and nothing gets done as a result. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.
     President Trump inartfully expressed the opinion that the United States should admit people to the country who have skills that will enhance our country and to not admit people who are essentially unskilled and who would become a burden to this country. He was advocating for changing to a merit system to obtain entry to our country rather than a quota system where we admit a predetermined number of people from a given country.
     I agree with the President that there are countries that are less desirable then others. Case in point, remember all the celebrities who promised to leave the United States and move to another country if Donald Trump was elected. Not one of the celebrities chose a country to flee to whose citizens don't have access to a quality education and are forced, through no fault of their own, to live in squalor.  The Presidents choice of words, although crude and profane, were accurate. 
     Facts are troublesome things. One fact, the president was not denigrating any people. He was describing the conditions under which they are forced to live.

A MERRY CHRISTMAS HODGEPODGE!

     Next Monday is Christmas 2017. I sincerely hope and pray that all of you have a blessed Christmas and that the upcoming New Year gives you all the best of health and prosperity. In short, Merry Christmas and a Happy new Year.
     As it is another Wednesday, it is time for another Wednesday Hodgepodge. I do so appreciate this weekly distraction and time of thought and reflection on the issues on our Hodgepodge Mistress, Joyce Daley's, mind. Thank you Joyce and a special Merry Christmas to you and yours. 
     Now...the Hodgepodge!

1. Where have you found unexpected magic or delight this holiday season?
      All the magic and delight has been expected this holiday season. Therefore, the unexpected stuff is yet to be.
    
2. What's your favorite type of holiday gathering? Will you/have you gathered in your favorite way this month?
     I prefer the smaller type gatherings. The church has an adult Christmas Party that is outstanding. Unfortunately, SWMBO and I were unable to attend this year.

3. Time has named 'The Silence Breakers' (women who came forward with stories of harassment)  'person of the year' for 2017. Would you agree? If not, who do you think deserves the title?
     I do not agree with the Time selection. Then again, I have never been too impressed with the publication which selected the likes of Adolph Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Nikita Khrushchev and Ayatollah Khomeini as their person of the year. 
     I believe that the person of the year should be President Donald Trump. Considering all that he had arrayed against him he was able to get a new Supreme Court Justice and 57 Federal Court Justices appointed and confirmed by the Senate. 
     He has withstood a hostile press and is doing what he promised the American people he would do. Ninety percent of his coverage has been negative our false.
     He had to respond to the aftermath of two hurricanes that caused extensive damage which will require years to recover from. 
     Therefore, I believe that President Trump is the person of the year.

4. How did you spend your time this year? Are you happy about that? Elaborate
      Most of this year was spent dealing with health issues, SWMBO's and mine. I am not happy about it at all. I am glad that we have good insurance and great support from family and friends. I would rather have spent my time in other pursuits.

5. Bid farewell to 2017 in ten words or less.
     So long! Farewell! What a trip its been!

6. Insert your own random thought here.
     Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I wish you godspeed if you're traveling over the holiday. I wish you the best of health and prosperity. 

NH WEATHER CRAZINESS HODGEPODGE!

     Welcome back Joyce and thank you for another Wednesday Hodgepodge. I had a nagging feeling that I was forgetting something today. That something was the Wednesday Hodgepodge.
     The weather up here in the Granite State has been erratic. Some days it has been cool and raw. Other days it has been humid and unseasonably warm. Still other days have been wet and humid as well as wet and raw. It is so true that if you do not like the weather around here, just wait awhile it will certainly change.
     Now onto the Hodgepodge...

1. What's surprised you most about your life or life in general? 
     I am surprised that I have survived to reach my present age. I have taken many foolish risks while growing up.
     I am surprised that I am such a God fearing man. People who knew me pre-conversion are also quite surprised.
     I am most surprised, AND very thankful, that my beloved SWMBO has chosen to remain with me all these years. We are still very much in love and are unwaveringly devoted to each other. We still yearn to be, and enjoy being, in each other's company. Ours is a love that songwriters and poets write about.
  
2.  Sweet potato fries, sweet potato casserole, a baked sweet potato, a bowl of butternut squash soup, a caramel apple or a slice of pumpkin pie...you have to order one thing on this list right now. Which one do you go for?
     I am going with the baked sweet potato. I do enjoy several of the other items on the list though.

3. What's a famous book set in your home state? Have you read it? On a scale of 1-5 (5 is fantastic) how many stars does it rate?
     The most famous book set in New Hampshire I suppose is "The Hotel New Hampshire, by John Irving. I have not read it so I cannot say where to rank it on the given scale. 

4. There are 60 days until Christmas...have you started your shopping? How do you stay organized for the holidays?
     No, I have not started my Christmas Shopping. How do I stay organized for the holidays...I don't!

5. October 26th is National Tennessee Day. Have you ever lived or spent any time in Tennessee? Is this a state you'd like to visit one day? The top rated tourist attractions in Tennessee are-

The Great Smoky Mountain National Park (Gatlinburg area), Elvis's Graceland (Memphis), Birth of the Music Biz (Memphis and Nashville), Dollywood (Pigeon Forge), Tennessee's Military Heritage (many battlefields), The Hermitage (Andrew Jackson's home), The Parthenon (Nashville), Oak Ridge American Museum of Science and Energy, Chattagnooa and the Tennessee Valley Railroad, Downtown Knoxville, Lookout Mountain, The Titanic Museum (Pigeon Forge), The Museum of Appalachia (Clinton), and The Lost Sea Adventure (Sweetwater)

How many on this list have you seen? Which one on the list would you most like to see?
     I have never been to the state of Tennessee. I would like to some day. There are a lot of attractions that I would find of interest to me. I think that I would most like to see Nashville, the home of Country Music.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.
     My beloved Red Sox are out of contention for the World Series. The dreaded Evil Empire, A.K.A. the Yankees, are also out of contention, having been beaten by the Houston, Astros who also beat the Red Sox. I am hoping that the Astros go all the way and beat the L.A. Dodgers in the World Series. Houston could use the uplift after the hurricane disaster earlier this year.
     My beloved Patriots seem to be making progress towards playing good football. They performed very well against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night. I do not bear the Falcons any malice mind you. They are a good team with an excellent quarterback and other excellent key personnel. 
     It should also be noted that the teams that met in the Super Bowl were not the same teams that played Sunday night. There has been a number of personnel changes on both teams. GO PATS!
     Have a great week everyone!

PRIDE GOETH BEFORE THE FALL HODGEPODGE!

      Good morning to everyone. The Hurricane relief and recovery efforts in the southeast and Puerto Rico continue in full vigor. The wildfires in the northwest and the Golden State continue almost unabated. This has been an awful year for natural disasters to torment our great nation. Please continue your prayers and, where you can, financial and other material assistance. Also, please pray that no further disasters strike our great land.
     The investigation into the shooting incident in Las Vegas continues as well. How much more suffering can we endure? 
     Grab a cup of your favorite beverage and pull up a seat and take a break and enjoy some positive diversion that is the Wednesday Hodgepodge. Thank you Joyce for another series of questions.  

1. On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate your sense of direction? 1=can't find my way out of a paper bag and 10=if I've been somewhere once I can find it blindfolded ten years later.
     I am SWMBO's human GPS. I have been blessed with an innate sense of direction. At the risk of sounding immodest I would rate myself a 10. When was the last time you looked at/used a map you could hold in your hand? (phones don't count!) 
     I used a folded paper map a couple of years ago when I was in an area that had no cellular coverage. We were in Maine. I usually have one as a back up. back east, down south, out west, up north
Choose one of these directional expressions and tell us why you chose it.
     I choose "back east" and by back east I mean the northeast. I choose the northeast because in my humble opinion it is the best part of the country to live. We have no indigenous land dwelling creatures that are poisonous and can kill you. The ocean is a different story. 
     Winter is a challenge but I see it as the price we must pay for the privilege of enjoying the other three spectacular Seasons.

2. Did you do more talking or listening yesterday? Is that typical? Describe your yesterday in one word.
     I did more listening yesterday. Yes, it is typical. One word...SWMBO!

3. Time, money, water-power-resources, opportunity...which one on the list are you most guilty of wasting? What might you do to change that?
     I guess I'm most guilty of wasting time. What I might do to change that is to procrastinate less and focus more on being task oriented and more productive.

4. Did  your family take regular vacations when you were a kid? Tell us something you remember about a family roadtrip from your own childhood.
     My family would often take a road trip to Trois Rivieres, Quebec, Canada. My dad's brother, Uncle Blackie, lived there. We always had a great time. Uncle Blackie was always fun to be around. He was an avid Canadiens fan. I am an avid Bruins fan. We had many good natured arguments about this storied hockey rivalry. I usually lost those arguments because the Canadiens usually won.

5. If you could grow anything you wanted, what would you grow? Why?
     If I had the proverbial green thumb, I would grow the standard fare of tomatoes, green peppers, cucumbers, etc. In addition I would grow watermelon, pumpkins and corn.
     I love farm fresh vegetables. I also love fresh corn on the cob with butter and salt, watermelon and pumpkin seeds.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

      Video of the damage caused by the recent wildfires in northern California are heartbreaking to see. Video of the damage inflicted by the recent hurricanes is likewise heartbreaking. I cannot imagine how I would feel if I lost everything I owned in one fell swoop.  My heart goes out to those who have. 
     Once again the American spirit is on display. Many of those who did lose everything and consented to be interviewed have expressed thankfulness that their loved ones are alive and unhurt. They express further a great optimism and determination to rebuild their homes and recover from their losses, no matter how long it may take them.
     So I ask again what I asked in my opening paragraph, to be in prayer for these people who have been affected by the storms and the wildfires. Also, if you are able and so inclined, please help financially as well. After all, it is the American way...it is the Christian way. God bless you and protect you!  

ENOUGH WITH THE HURRICANES ALREADY!

     Good morning to all. I hope your Wednesday is going well. Hurricane Irma is finally dying and becoming less of a threat to life and property. She has done incredible amounts of damage and so far ten people have lost their lives. Now the recovery begins in earnest. An army of electrical workers has descended upon the state of Florida to rebuild and restore their electricity infrastructure. May God bless the people of Florida as they begin to recover and rebuild.
     Not even the fury of a hurricane can stop the Wednesday Hodgepodge. So say a prayer for Florida and don't forget Texas and those impacted by hurricane Harvey. Grab a cup of coffee, tea or other relaxing beverage. Take a comfortable seat and enjoy the Hodgepodge.

1. Is a picture worth a thousand words? Elaborate.
     I think that this cliche is mostly hyperbole. Pictures are valuable to spark a memory, to freeze time for a moment or to record an event. Like a lot of things pictures can be manipulated via photoshop and other editing software thereby presenting a false narrative. A case on point is the movie "Jurassic Park" where dinosaurs walked the earth and interacted with human actors. 
     However, a single photograph can spark a stream of memories that would easily take a thousand words to adequately describe. 

2. Have you ever driven any part of the Pacific Coast Highway? If so what was your favorite stop? If not, is this sort of trip on your bucket list?
     I cannot say that I have. I did drive along the coast from San Diego to an area located just north of La Jolla. I would like to drive the entire PCH someday. What little I did see was beautiful.

3. How do the changing seasons affect you? As the seasons change do you find yourself looking more forward or backward? Which season-season transition bothers you most? Why do you suppose that is?
     As Summer becomes Fall the cooler temperatures serve as a warning that much colder temperatures and, dare I say it, snow are not too far off. It's time to begin to batten down the hatches and to winterize the house and the cars.
     The season transition that bothers me the most is Fall into Winter. I think it's because Winter is so challenging to navigate, especially as I get older. Winter seems to be the longest season of the year and the cold aggravates the arthritic joints in my knees and hands and makes it painful to move. 

4. It's your birthday and you get to pick the dinner menu. What are we having? Do you ever lie about your age?
     My birthday menu would be a nice Prime Rib cooked medium well done, with gravy, garlic mashed potatoes, steamed mixed vegetables and bread rolls with butter. For dessert we would have Pecan Pie with whipped crime followed by "two fingers" of a nice Scotch Whiskey as we engage in conversation as we digest our meal. 
     I do sometimes misrepresent my age. "Lie" is such an ugly word, accurate... but ugly.

5. What's a life lesson you've learned recently?
     No matter how badly you hurt, you must still move. Pain is Mother Nature's way of telling you that you are still alive. Somedays I am really alive. It also makes you better appreciate God's promise that in Heaven there will be no pain. In my youth when I was essentially pain free, this promise rang hollow, a kind of "that's nice" attitude. Today, by the grace of God, I am a wiser man.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

     In previous blog postings I extolled the character of the people of Texas for their response to the devastation left by hurricane Harvey. I suspected at the time that Texans were not unique in this regard. The people in Florida have begun to prove that I was right,  in the wake of hurricane Irma.

     Despite our problems as a nation, Americans continue to prove themselves to be a noble and compassionate people.  I am confident that the people of Florida will recover from this disaster because it is in their DNA to pick themselves up and press on. It will not easy or quick but it will get done.

     Please continue to pray for the people who have been affected by the two hurricanes. If you are able, please make a financial contributions from time to time to a relief/recovery agency throughout what is sure to be a lengthy recovery. It's the American way. 

     Thank you in advance! God bless you and God bless America. Also, ENOUGH WITH THE HURRICANES ALREADY! 

THE WASHINGTON KABUKI THEATER HODGEPODGE!

     A belated happy Independence Day to all of you out there in Hodgepodge Land and elsewhere. America celebrated its 241st birthday yesterday. Upon reflecting upon the Declaration of Independence I come away with a few thoughts. First, the Declaration is an amazing document. It is, in my humble opinion, one of the finest documents ever written by man. Next, the men who signed the Declaration, by signing it, committed the capital offense of treason against the British Crown. Knowing this, they signed it anyway. Third, the men who signed the Declaration pledged their lives, their property and their sacred honor. 
     When in the course of human events it becomes necessary to participate in another Wednesday Hodgepodge, we do...

1. When and where were the best fireworks you've ever seen? Speaking of fireworks...do you know your hot buttons? The things people can say and/or do to set you off? When was the last time someone pushed one of your hot buttons?
     I have seen a fair amount of firework displays in my life but none of them stand out as exceptional. I've witnessed a few lightning storms that were remarkable.
     As far as hot buttons go, I am pretty laid back and am not easily angered. One thing that is sure to evoke a reaction from me is any perceived threat to my beloved SWMBO or other family member. It's been a very long time since anyone was dumb enough to push that button.
  
2. Have you hosted any outdoor summer parties this year? Attended any? What makes for a great outdoor party?
     I have not hosted or attended any outdoor summer parties. I have attended one or two outings where it was just SWMBO and me and another couple. I think a great outdoor party has three ingredients; (1) Great Food, (2) Great Music, and (3) Wonderful People.

3. What does freedom mean to you?
     Freedom means the ability to worship God as I choose, when I choose and how often I choose. Freedom means the ability to go where I choose, when I choose, for as long as I choose.  Freedom means the ability for me to say what I want, how I want and about anything that I want. Freedom means that I can associate with whoever I want and I can choose to not associate with anyone I choose. 
     Freedom means doing all the aforementioned things without fear of reprisal from any level of government.  

4. July is National Cell Phone Courtesy month...what annoys you most about people's cell phone habits?
     There are two cell phone habits that annoy me. First, are people who persist in using their cellphones while driving, in clear defiance of the law. Second, are people who are conducting business at a counter or other place and who don't have the courtesy to suspend or end their call while conducting their business. 

5. What's your current summer anthem?
     "Turn the Page" by Bob Seeger.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.
     The "Swamp" continues to flourish in our Nation's Capitol. I seem to remember that part and parcel of the campaign promises of most of those running for office during the last election cycle was to "drain the swamp!" It seems to me that the swamp level is rising. 
     The attempt to replace Obamacare, which is imploding, is a HUGE disappointment. The Republicans, you remember them, they're the party in power, cannot get it's act together. The Democrats are predictably conducting themselves as obstructionists. 
     In short, it is the same old Kabuki Theater that the American people voted against during the last election cycle. God help us!

DAYS AFTER MAY DAY HODGEPODGE!

     It's the beginning of the merry month of May and it's Wednesday so that could only mean it's time for another Hodgepodge. Thanks to out Hodgepodge mistress, Joyce Dayley, for another series of writing prompts cleverly disguised as probing questions. So let the weekly exercise in writing commence.

1. Can you tell I'm embracing a Cinco de Mayo theme here this week? Do you like Mexican food? What's your favorite dish? How about on the side-black beans, pinto beans, refried beans, rice? What about heat-mild, medium, hot? Will you celebrate with Mexican food and drink on May 5th aka Cinco de Mayo?
     I am not a fan of Mexican cuisine but I will eat it on occasion. I like taco's and burritos with chips and salsa. I usually go with rice for a side dish. I don't care too much for the bean side dishes. My heat tastes run to medium, but I have been tricked to making a foray into the high heat fare. I will not be observing the Cinco de Mayo holiday with Mexican food or drink.

2. Ever been to Mexico? For work or holiday? Love it or no? If you haven't been is this a place you'd like to visit? Can you speak Spanish?
     I have never been to Mexico nor do I have any desire to visit our southern neighbor. I can speak enough Spanish to get my face slapped.

3. What's one thing you may accomplish this month?
     I will try my best to stay alive. SWMBO is getting somewhat stronger and she's beginning to go stir crazy. It is kind of like living with a wounded bear.

4. If you were mayor of your village, city, or town, what's one thing you'd like to see changed, done away with, revamped, or accomplished? Is serving in public office something you've ever seriously considered?
     The one thing I would like to accomplish is to eliminate wasteful spending. I have no desire to run for public office. Even if I had such a desire I could not run because my parents were married.

5. What's something that may be popular, but that you just don't get?
     I guess I'll go with RAP Music and Hip Hop. I just don't get it!

6. Can't let this week slip by without mentioning Thursday May 4th is Star Wars Day. As in 'May the 4th be with you' ahem. Are you a fan of the Star Wars series? Exactly how much of a fan are you? On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being 'I've seen every film, own the action figures, might have dressed as Darth Vader for Halloween one year', and 1 being, 'what's a Vader?' -where do you land?
     I am a fan of the Star Wars franchise. I've seen all the films but I don't own any action figures or other paraphenalia.

7. Scroll back through your blog posts and in three sentences or less tell us the general theme of your fourth blog post. Does it still ring true today? Is it a topic you re-visit on your blog from time to time?
      My fourth blog post is from August 24, 2010, titled "LOVE IS A CHOICE, NOT A FEELING." The general theme of the post is that love is something that we choose to do. It describes the genesis of my relationship with my beloved SWMBO and how I came to understand that love is, in fact, a choice.  I still believe it today. I'm sure I'll write about it again at some point in the future. 
  
8.  Insert your own random thought here.

     My heartfelt prayers are going out to our fellow citizens who have been victimized by horrific flooding or who have lost everything in the recent tornado's that have devasted sections of the south. I can't imagine what it must feel like to lose your home and all your possessions in one fell swoop.
     I pray God's grace upon those who have been affected, that they may recover quickly and return to some semblance of normal very soon.
     God bless all of you reading this post!