PRE-TURKEY DAY HODGEPODGE!

     Good morning to everyone out there in Wednesday Hodgepodge land. Summer has definitely gone bye-bye here in the Granite State. Temperatures have become more seasonable, that is, cold. I was compelled to start the pellet stove to heat the house thereby officially kicking off the 2017/2018 heating season. My beloved SWMBO was happy that the house was nice and toasty. I am happy that SWMBO was happy. Happy wife...happy life!
     Thank you Joyce Daley for another Wednesday Hodgepodge. I am thankful for these weekly essay questions. And now....the Hodgepodge.  

1. What takes you out of your comfort zone?
     Crowds! I do not like standing-room-only type crowds. That's why I do not like Christmas Shopping. I hate the rude people who bump into you, push you, cut in front of you and who are generally unpleasant. 

2. Your least favorite spice?
     My least favorite spice is Nutmeg. SWMBO loves a few sprinkles of Nutmeg in her eggnog. I do not.

3. What's a small change you'd like to make?
     There are so many changes I would like to make. I am a seriously flawed individual. Where do I begin? Perhaps one small change I would like to make is to complete one more blog per week in addition to the Wednesday Hodgepodge.

4. Do you enjoy visiting historic homes? If so, of the homes you've visited which one was your favorite? What historic home near you is open to visitors? Have you been? Southern Living rounded up eleven of the best in the southern part of the US and they're as follows-

Monticello (Jefferson's home in Virginia), Nathaniel Russel House (Charleston SC), Swan House (Atlanta), Ernest Hemingway's home (Key West), The Biltmore (Vanderbilt home in Asheville NC), Mount Vernon (Washington's home in Virgina), San Francisco Plantation (Garyville, Louisiana), Windsor Ruins (Port Gibson Mississippi), Longue Vue House and Gardens (New Orleans), Whitehall (Palm Beach FL), and Pebble Hill Plantation (Thomasville GA)
     I do enjoy visiting historic homes. I love history. We have a home called Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborogh, NH. It was built in the early 20th century by a wealthy industrialist with innovations way ahead of its time such as central vacuuming, ammonia brine refrigeration and intercom systems. Another historic home is the poet Robert Frost's Farm in Derry, NH.

Have you been to any on the list? Of the homes listed which would you most like to visit?
     I have not visited any of the listed historic homes. I would love to check out Monticello. I am a huge fan of Thomas Jefferson. I also would love to visit Mount Vernon, the home of our first President.

5. What's something you think will be obsolete in ten years? Does that make you sad or glad?
      There are a couple of things that I think will be obsolete in ten years. One would be incandescent light bulbs. It seems to me that LED lights will replace them for better or worse. Another thing that quite possibly will be gone is cable TV. A lot of people are cutting the cable and turning to online streaming services where they can choose what they want and only pay for what they want. These streaming services such as HULU, Netflix, etc, will become more popular as greater bandwidth becomes more available. 
     I am not sad or glad about either prospect.
    
6.  Insert your own random thought here.
     With Thanksgiving Day being just over a week away I thought that I would share a few things that I am thankful for. First and foremost I am thankful for the God of the Bible who has lavishly blessed me in my life. My salvation is dear to me and will be throughout all eternity. 
     Next, is my beloved SWMBO. She is my next greatest blessing. She has been my friend, my partner and my greatest joy for over 45 years. 
     I have been blessed with two wonderful children who have grown up to be wonderful adults and parents. I have been blessed with four wonderful grandkids. 
     I have a nice home. I love where I live here in NH, notwithstanding the harsh cold winters.
     I have a wonderful church family of devoted christians who excel at showing love to each other and the world around us.
     Last, and by no means least, I am blessed to live in the greatest country on the planet. Despite our faults, and there are many, we are at our core a noble people. Many foreigners leave their native land to come to this country, often at great risk to themselves, to enjoy the blessings of liberty and to build a better life for themselves and their families. 
     This list is not complete by any means. As I have mentioned many times, I am lavishly blessed and the foregoing are just a few examples.

HOT & STEAMY HODGEPODGE!

     Again this week it is Africa hot! The heat has consistently been in the 90's with the humidity in the mid to high 60's. SWMBO, at least, is happy. She really enjoys the heat of summer. I usually hunker down in either our bedroom or her office where the AC units are. 
     Being Wednesday it is also time for another Wednesday Hodgepodge. Thank you Joyce Daley from From This Side of the Pond for another series of interesting questions. Now...the Hodgepodge!

1. On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your summer so far? Why?
(1=eh and 10=best summer ever)
     I'll go with a "5" due to the excessive heat. SWMBO would rate it higher, I'm certain. 

2. July 26th is National Aunts and Uncles Day. Did you have many aunts and uncles growing up? Were you especially close to any one or maybe all of them? Are you an aunt? (or uncle for the men who join here on Wednesdays) Share a favorite memory relating to one of your own aunts or uncles or relating to a niece or nephew who call you Aunt (or Uncle).
     We had a bunch of aunts and uncles during my early youth. I was close to one of my mother's brother. He played a significant role in my adolescence. He provided a refuge and an understanding ear when I needed it. I really loved him and miss him.

3. What's your favorite food dipped in chocolate? What's your favorite food dipped in cheese?
     My favorite food to dip in chocolate is a fat, ripe strawberry. My favorite food to dip in cheese is some version of chip...corn, tortilla, etc.

4. When were you last astonished by something? Explain.
     I have not been astonished in recent memory.

5. Surf board, paddle board, ironing board, Pinterest board, score board, clip board, bulletin board...which board have you most recently encountered?
     Ironing board? Are you serious? Does anybody use those things anymore? I'll go with a scoreboard. I've been watching a fair amount of baseball this summer and not just the Red Sox. I catch a National League game from time to time also. I do visit Pinterest a fair amount too.

6. What's your favorite story from scripture? Why that story?
     I love the Gospel of John, Chapter 17. After they shared their last Passover Meal together, Jesus and His disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed. What makes this account so special to me is that Jesus prayed for me. The thought that the Creator of the Universe would pray for all of us, me in particular, is amazing! I cannot put my mind around that fact even though Scripture is clear on that point. (John 17:20, 21) I am one of those who has believed Jesus through their testimony.

7. If you were to travel from the east coast to the west coast in your own country, which five cities would you most want to see?
     I would definitely want to re-visit Washington D.C., Nashville, TN, Denver, CO, Las Vegas, NV, and San Francisco, CA. 

8. Insert your own random thought here.
     Last week I commented upon the Republican Convention. The Democrat Convention is playing out as I write this. It seems that the Democrats are no better organized than the Republicans are. 
     It occurs to me that modern day politics is more akin to the NFL. The primaries was the regular season and the national election in November is the Super Bowl. 
     It seems to me that both parties are more concerned with winning the Super Bowl than they are in solving the real problems facing our country. It seems to me that Republicans and Democrats are more devoted and loyal to their party than they are to their country. If there's a conflict between what's best for the country and what's best for their party, they will choose their party every time, even to the detriment of We the People. 
     I hate being such a cynic, but there it is! Enjoy your Wednesday!

AFRICA HOT HODGEPODGE!

     It is Hump Day already! I can hardly believe it. Our Hodgepodge Mistress, Joyce Daley, has come up with another series of interesting questions. Pop on over to her blog page, "From This Side of the Pond," and follow the simple directions on how to participate and join in on the fun. You will meet amazing people who also participate. Now onto the Hodgepodge...

1. How did you welcome the month of July, and tell us one fun thing you did to celebrate the 4th. (or the weekend for any non-USA residents playing along today)

     My beloved SWMBO and I began the Month of July with the celebration of 44 years of wedded bliss together. We are truly blessed! We then decided to get Summer colds. I got over mine quickly. SWMBO is still fighting hers due to her compromised immune system. To celebrate Independence Day, we went food shopping and grilled some animal flesh in the spirit of the Holiday.

2. Right now..what's your favorite red thing? white thing? blue thing? 

     My favorite red things are the questions of this Hodgepodge. My favorite blue things are the answers. My favorite white thing is the page upon which they are written.

3. Wave the white flag, raise a red flag, fly your freak flag...which 'flag' have you flown most recently? Explain. 

     I never surrender so the white flag is out. As hot as it is today, a red flag of warning might be appropriate. No, I'm gonna let my freak flag fly as I often do! Why? I'm glad that you asked. When people think you're crazy you have a wider latitude of what you can get away with.

4. According to Cond Nast Traveler these are the seven best places to visit in July-

a boat safari in Botswanna's Okavango Delta, Riviera Maya Mexico (it's whale shark season and apparently you can swim with them), Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, Pamploma Spain, St. Petersburg Russia, the Fuji Rock Festival at Mount Naeba Japan, the Salzburg Festival in Salzburg Austria

If time and money weren't factors would you want to see any/all of these? Which would you most like to see and why? 

     With the exception of Mexico and Russia I would go for doing the rest, if time and money were not factors. I believe that for a  retired American police officer, Mexico and Russia would not be welcoming and may be downright dangerous, so no thank you. There are plenty of other places, safer places around the globe.

5. Grilled cheese, pimento cheese, or mac and cheese...your favorite from the cheesy treats listed? 

     Grilled cheese, please! I would like tomato, onions, pickles on my sandwich too if you please.

6. What makes you sweat? 

     In these "Africa Hot" temperatures, simply breathing makes me sweat. Standing in front of the congregation preaching a sermon or teaching a Bible Class also makes me sweat regardless of the ambient temperature.

7. Your favorite movie with a 'patriotic' theme of some sort?

     "13 Hours, the Men of Benghazi" is my new favorite. These brave warriors risked everything to protect and save their fellow citizens, many of whom did not want them around before the hostilities began.

8. Insert your own random thought here. 

     I often use the Random Thought to vent my spleen over some travesty from government, politics, etc. Today I will not. Today I pay tribute to my fellow citizens who are wearing, or have worn, a uniform in service to "We the People." Whether that uniform be from one of the military services or if it be a police, fire or EMS uniform, I pay honor to you...and you know who you are! 
    Throughout our history, we as a nation have been blessed by God with special men and women who sacrificially give of themselves to protect us from those who would do us harm or to execute violence on our behalf upon those who have done us harm. They ask nothing in return and simply see it as their duty. They act out of gratitude for the blessings of liberty that this nation affords them. I say, THANK GOD FOR THEM ALL! 

END OF SPRING WEDNESDAY HODGEPODGE

     I am writing this blog post on auto pilot. I was able to attend the Red Sox/Rockies game last night at Fenway Park. I got home in the wee hours this morning. The Red Sox won, thank you for asking! I was up and going again at 7:00 a.m. and I feel a nap coming on quickly. In fact it is here and slapping me in the back of the head. So I may nod off in mid.....Okay, I'm back! Now onto the Hodgepodge!

1. How should success be measured? Using that as your standard, who is the most successful person you know? (Or one of the most successful?)
     This is really a great question! The measure of success, like so many other things, depends upon context. Some might use wealth as a measure of success. Others might use power. Others still might use achievement in a particular field of endeavor. Some use a combination of the aforementioned metrics to define success. I don't believe that there is only one way to define success. The Beatles achieved great success. President Reagan achieved success. I can't say who the most successful person is.

2. Have you ever been to a hot air balloon launch/fest/party? Ever taken a ride in a hot air balloon? Is that on your bucket list? According to Frommers the ten best hot air balloon adventures in the world are-
Loire Valley (France), the Serengeti (Tanzania), Napa Valley (California), Lake Champlain (Vermont), Cappadocia (Turkey), Istria (Croatia), Gstaad (Switzerland), Yarra Valley (Australia), Muelle (Costa Rica), and Albuquerque (New Mexico).

Which one on the list would you most like to experience?
     I was stationed in Albuquerque, NM, in the mid 1970's. I was able to witness firsthand their annual balloon festival. From time to time a balloon would inadvertently land in a "Restricted Area" which inevitably led to some interesting interaction between heavily armed security response teams and the balloon crew. I would love to go back to Albuquerque some day.
     I have never taken a ride in a balloon.

3. May 25th is National Brown-Bag It Day. Did you/will you pack a lunch today? When did you last pack a lunch for someone and what are your go-to ingredients for a brown bag lunch?
     I will not be brown bagging it today. I can't remember the last time I packed a lunch. My go to ingredients are Bologna & cheese sandwich, potato chips and a piece of fruit.

4. What's one of your favorite dance scenes from a movie or television show?
     I'm sorry, I don't dance don't ask me!

5. John F. Kennedy made famous the line, '...Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." So what can you do for your country?
     I've pretty much have done it already. I served in the U.S. Air Force for almost eight years. I served my community as a police officer for thirty years. I have voted in every election in which I was eligible to vote. Now I just vote!

6. Weekends are made for __________________________________.
     Michelob! At least that's what a beer commercial used to say. Weekends are made for relaxation and recreation!

7. On this last Wednesday of the month, bid farewell to the month of May in seven words or less.
    Goodbye Sweet May, as you go away!

8. Insert your own random thought here.
     Our church is currently in the second year of a two year Bible reading program. I have taken to posting the day's Bible reading on the church Facebook page with a pithy spiritual thought. Yesterday I posted the following..."Is the existence of God a matter of fact or of opinion? Does God cease to exist if a majority of people say that He does not exist? Does God cease to exist if you decide, for whatever reason, that He does not exist? The answer is a resounding "No!" 
God exists...Period! There is so much evidence for the existence of God that it seems to me that it takes more faith to believe that He doesn't exist than to believe that He does. "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse." (Romans 1:20)" I think that this quote from Scripture is pretty clear. Think about it!

THUNDER STORMY HODGEPODGE

     We are having sporadic thunder storms today. Apparently high humidity and clashing weather fronts is a recipe for violent weather. So far the storms we have had were not too severe, at least in my town. Other parts of New England were not so lucky with having trees blown over and damage from hail. 

     Oh well, it's still wednesday and it's still time for the weekly Hodgepodge. Come on and join in on the fun!

1. The month of July was named for Roman Emperor Julius Caesar. He's quoted as saying, 'Experience is the teacher of all things." So what has experience taught you lately?
     I learned that "butterflying" chicken breasts before putting them on the grill makes it easier to cook them evenly. SWMBO loved my BBQ chicken breasts. 

2. Where did you last 'roam'?
     I drove to a friends house and took the back roads over the mountains and literally through the woods. It was a beautiful day and a nice picturesque drive.

3. Speaking of 'Rome'...pizza, pasta, gelato...you can only pick one, which would you choose?
     I would pick pasta. I understand that Italian Pizza is not the same as the Pizza we get in this country.

4. 'Rome wasn't built in a day', 'All roads lead to Rome', 'When in Rome...' which 'Roman' idiom have you most recently encountered? Explain.
     "Rome wasn't built in a day" Recovering from a chronic disease is a one day at a time kind of thing. Nothing happens quickly and there are often set backs. 

5. What's a movie you've seen or a book you've read, that makes you want to book a trip to Italy?
      "The Pigeon Project" by Irving Wallace makes me want to book a trip to Venice.

6.  Walt's original Disneyland opened almost sixty years ago, on July 17, 1955  Have you ever been to the California park? How about any of the other Disney parks around the world? What's your favorite amusement park ride or attraction?
     I have never been to any of the Disney Amusement Parks. I don't see me ever spending $133 dollars to go and stand in line for hours on end. The admission price is outrageous in my humble opinion.

7. It's that time of year...when were you last bitten or stung?
     In our yard...the mosquitos have been particularly hungry. SWMBO got nailed by a tick which infected her with Lyme disease. I guess her cancer wasn't challenging enough.

8.  Insert your own random thought here. 

     In the 1840's at the Vienna General Hospital, a teaching hospital, the mortality rate in the maternity wards was 1 in 6 women died from infections. It seems that in the mornings doctors and students would perform autopsies on the women who died the previous day. Afterwards they would go to the wards and perform pelvic exams upon the living women patients without washing their hands.
     Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis was in charge of one these wards. He instituted a protocol of hand washing for all doctors and students before they examined any patient. Within the first month the mortality rate fell to 1 in 42. The second month the rate fell to 1 in 84. 
     Dr. Semmelweis expanded the hand washing protocol to include washing hands between examining patients. This caused the mortality rate to drop even further.
     The doctors and students complained so bitterly about the hand washing protocols that Dr. Semmelweis was fired. The doctor who succeeded him threw out the hand washing protocols. The mortality rate quickly returned to what they were before the protocols were put in place.
     It wasn't until several years later when Louis Pasteur discovered the connection between germs and infection that Dr, Semmelweis was exonerated. My point is that truth matters!

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!)     

MID MAY HODGEPODGE!

1. It's still May, right? When were you last in the middle of something that might be described as mayhem?

     SWMBO and I have two granddaughters who visit us on occasion. Today's visit would be correctly described as mayhem. We watched the movie FROZEN. Apparently my grandbabies have seen the movie once or twice as they were almost able to repeat the dialogue verbatim. Then they decided to use your's truly as a jungle gym. They climbed all over me, jumped upon me and generally had a great time playing with and on their Pepere. After they went home, SWMBO and both dogs fell fast asleep. 

2. When did you last feel dismayed?

     I don't remember!

3. What's a food combination you like, but other people may find strange?

     I sometimes eat french fries dipped in mayonaise, some people find that strange. I'm given to understand that it is quite common in Europe.

4. "It is never too late to be what you might have been." Do you think that's true? Why or why not?

     I do not think it is true. There are some things that age becomes a barrier to accomplishing. For example, I am too old to become a fighter pilot or astronaut. I could not become a federal agent or a police officer at my age. Also sometimes people suffer disease or disabilities that preclude people becoming anything they might want. The word "never" makes this statement too absolute. If you change "never" to "sometimes not" then that statement becomes true.

5. US News and World Report listed the best historic destinations in the US as follows-Washington D.C, Philadelphia PA, Williamsburg VA, Charleston SC, Boston MA, Richmnd VA, Savannah, GA, Santa Fe NM, Yellowstone, San Antonio TX, San Francisco CA, New Orleans LA, and Charlottesville VA.

Of those listed how many have you seen in person? Which two sites on the list would you most like to see in person?

     I have visited, in person, Boston, MA; Washington D.C.; Santa Fe, NM,; San Antonio, TX.; and Charlottesville, VA. I would like to visit Yellowstone and San Francisco, CA.

6. May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. If you had to participate in a single fitness activity for the next half hour, which activity would you choose?

     I would choose to take a bicycle ride.

7. What did you like best about the city, town, or neighborhood where you grew up?

     One thing I really liked is that the Merrimack River was about 100 yards from my front door. I spent a fair amount of my free time playing along it's banks with my friends.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

     Last Sunday we honored those special ladies who we are blessed and privileged to have in our lives. It occured to me that, as Christian men, we do all year long what most men do sporadically, if at all. 
     Critics of Christianity make the claim that Christian women are treated as inferior to men, that they are not honored or respected. Nothing can be further from the truth. We are commanded to love our wives with such love that we would die for them. We are to treat them and love them as we treat and love ourselves. We are to think of them as being better than ourselves.
     Over 40 years ago I made a promise to God to love, honor and cherish my beloved SWMBO until death do us part. That is one promise that I have kept and plan on keeping for as long as I have breath in my body.
     I hope all you ladies had a tremendous Mother's Day! 

Z - ZOO

Today is the final blog post for the 2014 A to Z Blog Challenge. My “Z” word is ZOO.

I am a big fan of Zoo’s. My absolute favorite Zoo has got to be the San Diego Zoo. My beloved wife and I have travelled to the city of San Diego, CA, a few times over the years. Our son and his family, especially our grandsons, live in San Diego. We cannot take a trip out there without including a visit to the zoo in our itinerary.

There is so much to see at the San Diego Zoo. One of the things I love to visit is their amazing collection of snakes and reptiles from around the globe. They have many specimens ranging from the largest snakes to the tiniest frogs. They also have many poisonous snakes which do not look lethal but according to the information posted by their habitat, many are deadly.

    Another favorite exhibit is the Polar Bear Habitat. They have a habitat that is viewable both on land and below the water. Sometimes the polar bears become very animated and put on quite a show.

There is an aerial tramway that gives a spectacular view of the entire park from the air as you glide overhead. 

  There are elephants, giraffes, many kinds of deer, big cats and many other animals that make a trip to the zoo a memorable, if not life changing, event.

Should you have occasion to visit the city of San Diego, do yourself a favor and make a visit to the San Diego Zoo a part of your trip. You will not be sorry that you did. Enjoy your day!  

L - LAUGH

     I love to laugh! Despite all the trials of life I need to laugh. I suspect that I am not alone in this regard. I retired two-plus years ago after a 30 year law enforcement career. Here are a couple of amusing cop related anecdotes.

A state trooper stops a car filled with silver haired old ladies on the interstate for driving too slow. As the trooper walks up to the car he notices that except for the driver all the ladies are white as ghosts, gripping tightly on their seat belt.
The trooper speaks to the driver, telling her that he stopped her for driving too slow. The silver haired darling looked up at the trooper and told him that she was driving the posted speed limit of “25.” The trooper paused for a second and then realized her error. She was on Interstate 25. The trooper then understood why the passengers were all petrified, the car had just exited Interstate 95. (Insert cymbal crash here)

Another state trooper pulls over a car on the interstate. He walks up to the driver and informs him that he apparently left his wife at the previous rest stop a few miles back. The driver said “Thank God...I thought I’d gone deaf!”

I hope you laughed or at least was amused!

MARCH MADNESS ENDS HODGEPODGE!

      If you're a college basketball fan today is a sad day for you. The college basketball season came to an end last night when the University of Connecticut defeated the University of Kentucky in the NCAA Championship game. At least you still have the Hodgepodge to cheer you along your way.

1. April showers bring May flowers, or so the saying goes. When did you last 'shower' attention on someone or have attention 'showered' on you? Did you love it, or did all that attention make you squirm?
     I am uncomfortable having attention showered upon me. It really does make me squirm. The last time I showered attention on someone was when SWMBO and I celebrated the 31st anniversary of her 29th birthday in March.

2. Share a favorite 'spring break' memory. Not talking about just the 'college spring break' thing, but any favorite spring break memory you'd like to share. Keep it family friendly please!
     One of my favorite "Spring Break" memories is from several years ago. I had some extra vacation time so SWMBO suggested that I fly out west and visit our son 's family. So, I did. SWMBO hates to fly. I love to fly. So off I went. I had a wonderful time but it wasn't the same without SWMBO being there. I became homesick even though I had a good time.

3. It's National Pecan Month...are you a fan? If so, what's your favorite dish that calls for pecans?
     I am a huge fan and my favorite dish with Pecans is Pecan Pie! Yumm!

4.  'Put all your eggs in one basket', 'egg on your face', 'rotten egg', 'walk on eggshells', or 'a good egg'...which egg-spression could most recently be applied to your own life?
           I will go with "rotten egg." You may recall my prank on SWMBO on April Fool's Day. That earned me the rotten egg award that day.

5.  In my experience___________________________________.
     …there is some good in all people. You just have to dig a little deeper to find it in some people, but it is there!

6. What's a  favorite song with the word rain in its title or lyrics?
     I am a huge fan of Creedence Clearwater Revival. My favorite "rain" song is CCR's "Who'll Stop the Rain?" I also like CCR's "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?;" Eric Clapton's "Let it Rain;" The Beatles "Rain"; and James Taylor's "Fire and Rain!"

7. What does the word hope mean to you?

    There are two meanings of the word "hope" that form my thinking. One definition is "a wishful desire." Examples of this kind of hope is found in statements such as "I hope the Red Sox win the World Series again!" or "I hope my wife doesn't get mad because I'm late."
     The second definition is the Biblical definition. Hope is "confident expectation!" A Christian's "hope" of Heaven is not a wishful desire but rather it is a confident expectation based upon God giving his promise that those who have obeyed the Gospel call can be assured of a place in Heaven.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
     I am participating in this years A to Z blogging exercise. The letter for today is "G" so I wrote about the Granite State, AKA New Hampshire. This random thought is from that blog entry.
     Our state motto is "Live Free or Die." These words were sent as part of a toast to a reunion of soldiers who participated in the Battle of Bennington which took place during the American Revolutionary War. These words were written by the hero of the Battle of Bennington, General John Stark who was too ill to attend the reunion so he sent along this toast with his regards. The full quote is "Live Free of Die, Death is not the Worse of Evils."
 This motto speaks of a mindset that we have a God given right to live free and we shall live free at ALL costs. You gotta love General Stark's attitude which is still alive and well in the Granite State.





     

NO PARTICULAR REASON HODGEPODGE!

     Joyce has come up with some real doozies this week. I don't know how she does it, but I am glad that she does. It's a lot of fun to answer these weekly posers and give my readers a glimpse behind the curtain. Thank you, Joyce!

1. My sister is celebrating a birthday today. Happy Birthday little sis! What's one way you're like your siblings?  If you don't have siblings how are you like your lifelong best friend or cousin?

     One thing I share with my brother is the joy of singing. I love to sing, notwithstanding the fact that I'm not very good at it. We also share an affinity for eating out at restaurants with family and friends.

2.  What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of yourself at age eighteen?

     Ignorant! I did not know nearly as much as I thought I did. Over the ensuing years I have learned how much I did not know way back then. By the grace of God, and only by the grace of God, I am still alive, I am still happily married and I am still learning.

3. Sculptor-actor-painter-dancer...if you could excel in one of these arts, which would you choose and why?

   
     I think I would choose "Actor." An actor uses words as well as actions to tell a story. I am amazed at the power that carefully chosen words have to evoke a wide range of emotions. I enjoy crafting ideas with words and view acting as just another venue to do the same.

4. What's a scent that takes you back in time, and where does it take you?

   
     Cabbage boiling on a stove. The smell of cabbage is a mild form of the smell that a paper mill emits. My family used to periodically drive to Trois Rivieres (Three Rivers), Quebec, Canada, to visit with my father's older brother. On the way we drove through the town of Windsor, Quebec. There is a paper mill in Windsor that abuts the roadway and every time we drove by it we closed the windows, no matter how hot it was, to try and keep the smell out. It never worked, but it's the thought that counts...yeah right! The smell was really potent!

5. November is for Peanut Butter Lovers (National Peanut Butter Lovers Month).  Are you a lover or a hater?  What's your favorite dish/recipe that calls for peanut butter? 

     I am definitely a peanut butter lover. My favorite peanut butter is Skippy Extra Chunky. My favorite recipe is what we in the northeast call a "Fluffernutter." It is peanut butter and marshmallow fluff between two slices of bread. Yummm! I also love peanut butter cups, Reese's of course.

6. What do people thank you personally for most often?

     I really don't know. SWMBO sometimes thanks me for loving her and for being there for her. Sometimes people will thank me for "really" listening to them and for my counsel, especially if what I advise them to do works out for them. I like to think that I'm kind and compassionate and I am sometimes thanked for "really" caring.

7. What event this year are you most thankful for?

     There are two, SWMBO's birthday and our wedding anniversary. I have come to cherish and appreciate them more now then when we first became "us" for reasons most of you know, or at least can guess.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

     I have attended many funerals during my life time. I really dislike going to funerals for many reasons. That being said, I am often struck by the kind things that people say about the dearly departed after they have passed. I find myself wanting to ask if they told the dearly departed those kind words while they were alive. In some cases I think that I know the answer to that question...probably not!
     I try to make it a point to tell the people in my life how much I appreciate them for who they are and for being in my life. I try to tell them the kind, heart-felt things that I am sure to share with their loved ones in the event, may God forbid, I attend their funeral. 
     So, I encourage all of you to let the people in your life know how much you love and appreciate them...now, while they can still hear you! 
     I am profoundly grateful for so many people that it is my privilege to have in my life and whose life of which I am a part.

AUTUMNAL HODGEPODGE WEDNESDAY!

1. When did you last sing happy birthday to someone? When were you last sung to? Does that embarrass you or do you enjoy being the center of attention on your special day?
     The last time I sang "Happy Birthday" to someone was about two months ago. The last time I was sang to was last April. My birthday fell on a Wednesday and at the mid-week Bible study the song leader asked everyone to turn to song number #59 in the hymnals. There was no song #59 and he announced my birthday and the congregation sang Happy Birthday to me. I was, and am always, embarrassed when things like this happen. I do not like being the center of attention.

2.  Name a famous or 'infamous' person (living or deceased) who shares your birth day and month. Is that someone you'd like to meet in person if it were possible?
     There are three people who share a birthday with me, both famous and infamous. First the infamous, Soviet Premier Nikita Kruschev who almost brought the world into World War III by placing Soviet missiles in Cuba in the early 1960's. You might have heard of the Cuban Missiles Crisis? The next two people are that great American actor, William Holden, and the author of the Pulitzer Prize winning play, "Our Town," Thornton Wilder.
     I would imagine that sitting down with any of these figures would result in an interesting conversation, particularly in light of the fact that they're all dead!

3. Someone hands you a box tied up in a lovely bow...what are you hoping to find inside?
     A jackpot winning lottery ticket!

4. What can you guarantee about yourself?
     I can guarantee without qualification or equivocation that I am a male. I can also guarantee that I am a smart ass!

5. Talking art and beautiful cities here...'The Last Supper' in the Santa Maria della Grazie Abbey in Milan Italy or 'The Mona Lisa' in The Louvre, Paris...which would you most like to see up close and in person?  Why?
     I choose Paris, the Louvre and the Mona Lisa. I choose Paris because of all the things that come with it...Art, History, Western Civilization. I also more familiar with what Paris has to offer than Milan.

6. Your favorite dessert?
     My absolute favorite dessert is Pecan Pie with a dollop of whipped cream. YUMMM!

7. This coming weekend marks the official start of autumn (in the Northern hemisphere)...what is something you do to get ready for fall? What is one thing you're looking forward to on your fall calendar? Spring or fall-which do you prefer?
     There are a number of things I do to get ready for fall. Here are three (1) Remove the air conditioners from the windows and store them until next year. (2) Remove the screen insert from the front storm door and replace it with the glass insert. (3) Store all the "yard stuff" in the sheds. One thing I look forward to on my fall calendar is deer hunting season. I am a wonderful hunter, I'm a lousy finder, but I am a wonderful hunter. I prefer the Spring because of the beating we take all winter. Spring is such a relief.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
     My beloved Boston Red Sox played a three game series with the dreaded Evil Empire, AKA, the New York Yankees. The Red Sox swept the Yankees and knocked them out of the play offs. That is a good thing! My beloved New England Patriots have won both their games and are "2" and "0." Granted these wins weren't particularly pretty but they were Divisional Games and could become more important towards the end of the season. Finally the Boston Bruins skated against the NHL Evil Empire, AKA the Montreal Canadiens. The Bruins won in convincing fashion 6 to 0. It is good to be a New England sports fan...at least at this time it is. This, like New England weather, is subject to change drastically without notice!

HEAT WAVE HODGEPODGE!

     Well, here's another set of thought provoking and fun questions. I don't know where Joyce comes up with these, but they are fun to answer. Won't you join in?

1. Picture postcards were first printed back in the mid-1800's and deltiology is the official name for postcard collecting. When did you last send a postcard?  Receive one? Do you save postcards sent to you? Do you collect and/or send postcards when you travel?

     A couple of years ago SWMBO and I took a trip to Niagara Falls, NY. We were thrown out of Canada on that trip, but that's a story for another time. I think we sent a postcard or two during that trip. I don't remember the last time that I received a postcard. I do not collect them, however, I do on occasion send them when traveling to a place of interest.

2. What treat do you most like to indulge in while on vacation?

    SWMBO and I have a sort of unofficial rule when we're on vacation..."All Diet Restrictions Are Off!" That means that while we are on vacation we might eat  or drink something that is not on our normal eating regimen. My list might include an ice cold beer, corn on the cob, watermelon sherbet "anything", or some decadent, cream filled pastry thingy, just to name a few!

3. Are you good at hiding your feelings?

     I am with most other people. Sometimes I am with SWMBO, but if something is really bugging me, she usually knows.

4. Does your town/city/county still deliver telephone books to your home? Do you check the yellow pages when searching for a local business number or has the internet replaced the phone book in your home?

     We do get a phone book now and then. In our town it has morphed into a business directory of sorts. A lot of people have done away with their "home phone" and rely exclusively on their cellphones. The internet has practically replaced the telephone directory.

5. Would you rather be first or last?

     When we have a potluck meal at the church I generally will go last. I think that it's only fair to give everyone else a fair shot at getting their food before I attack the buffet like Grant took Richmond. I don't think that I have ever had a burning desire to be first at anything. I am more than okay with waiting for my turn, in fact I prefer it that way.

Yosemite National Park

6. July is National Park and Recreation Month (in America, but everyone can still play along)...where and when were you last in a park?  Did you participate in any recreational activities while you were there?

     Several years ago, SWMBO and I flew out to San Diego to join our son and his family on a trip to Yosemite National Park. That was one of the best vacations that we have ever had. We all took a raft ride down the Merced River. That river had the coldest water that I have ever been in, including Hampton Beach, NH, and the North Sea off the coast of England. 

     Yosemite is one of the most spectacularly beautiful places on the entire planet. I highly recommend it to you.

7.  What was one of your worst ideas?

     Only one? On that Niagara Falls trip that I mentioned earlier, I figured that I would leave the interstate and take a shortcut across upstate New York to get to one of the ferry crossings  to cross Lake Champlain into Vermont. Well, I got lost and dragged SWMBO and the dogs with me. She was okay with it for the most part, but it was not my finest hour.

      Another time, I ate some Indian Pudding that my mother in law made and....

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

        We are in the throes of a typical New England heat wave. The temperature has exceeded 90 degrees and the humidity is somewhere in the 60 percent range for a few days now. It is so hot and uncomfortable that most "normal" people are longing for the cold of winter. 

        Interestingly enough that's the way it works up here in the northeast. A Yankee by definition is a person who in the winter complains vociferously about the snow and the cold and in the summer complains as forcefully about the heat and humidity and when you ask him "Well, if you're so miserable, why don't you move?" Their answer is "Because there is no better place on earth to live!"  I'm a proud New England Yankee. It doesn't have to make sense, people, that's just the way it is!

       Oh by the way, when I talk about the so called "normal" people, that excludes SWMBO. That's right, my beloved SWMBO is not normal! When the temperatures are so hot and the humidity is so high that the simple act of breathing brings sweat from every pore, SWMBO does not sweat...period! It's amazing, no matter how miserably hot it gets, she basks in it like a turtle on a warm rock.

       The other side of that coin is that during the winter months I seldom, if ever, get cold. My whole existence is dedicated to keeping SWMBO warm during those times. Such is the Yin and Yang of our existence. You see, opposites truly do attract. God bless you all!