Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Happy New Hodgepodge

Happy New Year and Happy Birthday to me! I still have birthdays but I stopped adding the years a while back. So I'm still 49. Not really. I'm still 53! WooHoo! LOL

Here's to the Hodgepodge and a fresh NEW YEAR that will bring my first grandchild! 


1. Are you ready for new? I am. Is 2016 likely to be very different than 2015? YES! Do you want it to be? YES! Because it is the year of me becoming a grandmother! 

2. January 6th is National Technology Day. Currently, what is your single biggest struggle or frustration when it comes to technology? My biggest struggle is keeping ahead of the kiddos to whom I teach technology. LOL

3. It's that time again...time for Lake Superior University to present a list of words (or phrases) they'd like to see banished (for over-use, mis-use, and general uselessness) in 2016. You can read more about the decision making process here, but this year's top vote getters are-

So (at the start of every single sentence), conversation (as in hotly debated topics where we're invited to 'join the conversation'), problematic, stakeholder, price point, secret sauce, break the Internet, walk it back, presser, manspreading (common in larger cities where some men take up the entire bus or train seat by sitting wide), vape, giving me life (refers to anything that may excite a person or make them laugh), and physicality

Which of these words/phrases would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why? I think, vape. Because I have no idea what it is and it sounds more like a word that I would try to make up while playing Words with Friends. Is there a word not on the list you'd like to add? I'm sure there is but I can't think of any right now. Oh, I looked up VAPE. Yep, let's get rid of that one. 


4. Share one of your current health related goals. Still working on the weight loss thing. Also, I'm giving veganism a go. Is veganism a word? Anyway, it has made a HUGE difference in many ways. Also, working on fitness again. That was more than one, and yet, related. 

5. Let's talk fifty shades of gray. As in the color. Gray is currently a popular color in home decor, paint, wardrobes, hair, wedding party attire, and more. Are you a fan? I am. Do you have the color in some variation in your home or wardrobe?  I do not but, I will by this summer. The nursery at my house, for my granddaughter, is going have a vintage theme and the color scheme will be peach and gray. Gray hair, the old gray mare, gray matter, gray area...which gray idiom can you most relate to right now? I'm seeing more gray hair on my head (HATE it) and I feel like an old gray mare. Gotta get over that before the granddaughter shows up in July! 

6. Certain foods are considered 'lucky' if eaten on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. Cooked greens to bring economic fortune, black-eyed peas or lentils also symbolize money, pork which symbolizes progress, fish for good luck, and if you're in Spain 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight. Did you eat any lucky foods on the first day of the year? Around here it's Hoppin'John, collards, cornbread...but no, I didn't eat it. Is that a tradition in your home? Nope. But my mother cooks it so, if anyone here wants any, they can go the hour to her house and enjoy! Of the foods listed, which most appeals to you? Cooked greens. 

7. What's the single biggest time waster in your life and what, if anything, will you do about it this year? My job. I hope to not return next year and enjoy being a caretaker for my granddaughter while her parents work. :) Ok, the job isn't actually a 'time waster', but it gets in the way of my abilty to waste time. LOL The biggest time waster in my life is worry/stress. I plan to get some people out of my house and eliminate most of the stress that way. Ha!

8.  Insert your own random thought here. Ladies (and any gents), I'm still collecting grandmother advice! Please share yours in the comments! Oh, we know the gender due to the genetic testing that the parents-to-be opted to have (no worries, BTW--is this a new trend now or is it merely an option that is offered? I'll have to ask Birdie). We don't have to wait until February!


ALSO, winter has shown up and the only way I would be any happier is if it would snow! I'm actually wearing long pants to work AND long sleeved tops! I get to turn on the heater at home and cozy up in front of it. Life is enjoyable in winter! And when you're expecting your first grandchild. :)

Have a great rest of the week, y'all!

19 comments:

  1. You're not at all excited about becoming a grandmother are you? : ) I would be right there with you! I've seen lots of gray used in nursery decorating. I like it with a color added, and peach sounds like a pretty complement.

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    1. Nah, not really. LOL I can't hardly stand it! :) I think it will be nice. I'm hoping for a soothing room. Birdie won't let us use pink, which is fine with me, so I thought the peach would be nice. Plus, her wedding colors were orange and gray...I also like a pale yellow or a green too. Decisions, decisions.

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  2. Did you say you were expecting your first grandchild? Lol. I love your excitement! And now because you know she's a girl, it's so much easier to plan! Just remember, by age 2 or before, she'll need a Fisher Price popcorn popper to drive her parents crazy. :-)

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    1. I might have mentioned it. LOL Oh, yes! I had forgotten all about those! Good call! :)

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  3. Happy Birthday to you! I love your excitement about becoming a grandmother! You remind me of myself, nine years ago :) (That was four grandchildren ago) I love the above advice about the Fisher Price popcorn popper. Ha Ha We have one at our house, and it's been a favorite of every "grand". My advice? Savor every moment of being with that little one, when she gets here, 'cause they grow up too fast!

    Kathy (from Reflections by Kathy)

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    1. Thank you! I can't hardly stand it! I like that popcorn popper idea too. I had forgotten all about those! I was hoping that the grands wouldn't grow up as fast as their parents did. :)

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  4. I always enjoy your Hodge Podge.

    Happy Birthday, you young thang!

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  5. It's going to be a great year for you. Babies are the best and I know you will enjoy each precious moment! I just looked up Vape and I thought that is what it meant. Your right because it is really no different than smoking in my opinion and I have heard it is no better for you than cigarettes. I'm interesting in knowing how going vegan has helped you. Peach and Gray will be so pretty for the babies room. I pray you can be home with the baby, it is very important for children to know their grandparents. We are cold and rainy here with El Nino hitting us.

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    1. I hope so! I'm anticipating a good year, anyway. Eating vegan has helped me, mostly, with digestion. Things flow more smoothly, no bloating, no stomach cramping, and the like. It also kind of helps me not eat so much as the food does not cause cravings for more and more. And, I feel satisfied after I eat instead of full as a tick. :) I think the peach and gray will be nice too. I hope I can be here too. I'm sort of over going to a job every day for the little bit of money I make. Plus, who wouldn't want to stay home with their grandchild? LOL Thanks!

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  6. I'm so excited for you! We only have two grandkids and they lived 1,600 miles away when they were little, so we missed a whole lot of the fun. We spoiled them double when we did get to see them, though! I enjoyed your Hodgepodge answers today!!

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    1. Oh, gosh! How did you stand it? I would have to move. LOL Thanks!

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  7. I am loving the grey trend, and my new living room decor is a mix of greys and chocolate colors, which I never would have put together if it weren't for my friend who decorated my house. :D

    Happy New Year!!

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    1. I'm lucky enough to have a designer daughter. I put up a Pinterest board of things I like and she gets busy. It's great to have her when I start taking down walls too. You know, so I don't take down one that is supporting the roof. Ha! Thanks!

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  8. Ok have no idea what Vape is, not a word I have ever used, I don't mind the colour grey but don't think I own any clothing in grey

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    1. It's those electronic cigarettes or something like that. Kind of stupid, regardless. Ha! I like gray too, but not in my hair. LOL

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  9. I hope you did something special for your birthday. You certainly deserve it. You really need to work on getting more excited about having a grandchild. I don't think you have enough excitement! Hahahaha. You're gonna love it. XX

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    1. Nope. Had to go to school and then did nothing but cook dinner, watch tv, play with Tucker and go to bed. I don't usually have what it takes to do things and go to school the next. Not if I want to be nice to people. LOL Yeah, I'm not that thrilled about the grandchild. LOL

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  10. I noticed you mentioned becoming a grandmother (I didn't count the times but I'd say you are covering better than CNN jumps on breaking news) - well congrats - I've been papa for many years (was awarded that honor earlier in life than yours will be) but grandmother is different so I don't have much advice. I suspect it will come naturally to you. I don't think people should make a big deal about what they will be called. Our newest granddaughter will apparently not call me what the other before her did. It's OK but I don't understand my daughter's problem with papa. Also, one last thought - we have a bit of control over our becoming parents but becoming grandparents - it's out of our control - it's a real gift.

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment! It makes me feel connected to everyone even though we may live far apart! Have a wonderful day!

 
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