Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

 

1.  I recently read here about four secrets to happiness from around the world. They were-

Overcome your fears by facing them head on, allow yourself to relax and reset, work to live versus living to work, and find the good in life. Not sure if these are the actual secret to happiness, but which of the four do you struggle with most? Which one comes most easily to you?

   While these aren't bad rules to live by, I don't think that they are truly the secrets to happiness. Work to live, versus living to work? I don't think that makes you happy. I don't think that living to work is a bad thing, depending on your definition of work. Sometimes it's okay to stand in the rain of the storms of life, instead of searching for a rainbow that doesn't exist. Use the rain to grow something, instead of trying to find your way out of it. I think some people relax too much. Now I'll step away from the podium I have built for myself and answer the questions.
   Hardest one for me? Finding the good in life. I'm not a overly peppy, positive person. I don't have a negative perspective on life, just more realistic than optimistic. Easiest one? Overcome your fears by facing them head on. I'm a straight to the point person. I don't beat around the bush, especially when I'm scared.

 2. How would you spend a found $20 bill today?

   I wouldn't spend it. I would save it. If I spent that found 20 dollar bill, I wouldn't have a 20 dollar bill anymore. Instead, if I keep it, I earn 20 dollars.

 3. Ego trip, power trip, guilt trip, round trip, trip the light fantastic, or trip over your own two feet...which 'trip' have you experienced or dealt with most recently? Explain.

   Trip over your own two feet. I'm incredibly clumsy. I just tripped yesterday, while running into a lake with my friends.

 4. If you could master any physical skill in the world what would it be, and how would you use that skill?

   Swimming. I love to swim and I'm a pretty strong swimmer, and I'd love to master all the techniques and such. How would I use that skill? Probably lifeguard somewhere. I think that would be fun, whistling at people who are disobeying the rules. My only problem is that I'm nearsighted, and even with my glasses, I still don't have 20/20 vision. So I guess you're on your own, if don't see you.

 5. As July draws to a close, let's take inventory of our summer fun. Since the official first day of (North American) summer (June 20th) have you...been swimming? enjoyed an ice cream cone? seen a summer blockbuster? camped? eaten corn on the cob? gardened? deliberately unplugged? watched a ballgame? picked fruit off the vine? taken a road trip? read a book?  Are any of these activities on your must-do-before-summer-ends list?

   I just went swimming for the first time this year on Sunday, I've gotten other ice cream, but I haven't eaten a normal ice cream cone. I've eaten a cone, but without the ice cream. They taste like cardboard, but it's a good cardboard. I've seen Inside Out, I'm not sure if that's considered a summer blockbuster or not. We set up a tent in our living room and slept there one week, not true camping, but close enough for me. I haven't eaten corn on the cob, I hate gardening and I haven't deliberately unplugged. I haven't watched a real ballgame, but I have watched my brother and one of his friends play in a backyard. I might of picked a strawberry off the vine in June, but other than that, no. I haven't taken a road trip but I have read many, many books. None of these things are on my summer bucket list, except I would like to swim some more.

 6. The Republican Presidential candidates will debate on August 6th. What's your question?

   I don't believe I have anything to ask the candidates at the current time. If I come up with anything, I'll edit this post.

 7. What's your most listened to song so far this summer?

   I don't have a most listened to song. My mom plays the radio in the kitchen all the time, so whatever plays I listen too, and I have a bunch of CD's that I play. No song in particular has been singled out.

 8.  Insert your own random thought here.

 

   I love to write, from blog posts to books, from journal entries to lists. This morning, I went to the trail and I talked with one of my wonderful friends about books we were writing. That was very enjoyable. Later today I will be heading to the nursing home to volunteer, then heading to the library. As of today, life is great.

 

 

Here are a few puns until next time. Some of them are original, and others are ones I've heard.

 

You can't lose a homing pigeon. If your homing pigeon doesn't come back, what you've lost is a pigeon.

 

My brother has the heart of the lion and a lifetime ban from the local zoo.

 

Whiteboards are remarkable.

 

I refused to believe that my road worker father was stealing from his job, but when I got home, all the signs were there.

 

I was walking down the street when I saw an advertisement for a cheap TV with a broken volume knob. I thought to myself, "Wow! I can't turn that down!"

 

The man who created knock-knock jokes deserves a "no-bell" prize.

 

I went to a really emotional wedding yesterday. Even the cake was in tiers.

 

Someone stole my Microsoft Office and they're going to pay.

You have my Word.

 

 



7 Things I've Been Loving This Week!

1: Having my cousin K.D. over on Thursday.

2: The peace and quiet of the house so I could read on Friday. I read many hours that afternoon.

3: A fun family reunion on Saturday.

4: Beating my dad, brother and cousins at basketball at the family reunion.

5: Swimming at a lake on Sunday with my dad and brother. That was the first time I've been swimming this year.

6: Going for ice cream with some family yesterday.

7: Going swimming with some of my friends at another lake today. I had a lot of fun.

BONUS! 8: This pun:

7 Things I've Been Loving This Week!

1: This pun

 

2: Yesterday I started my school year. It's been awesome so far.

 

3: I signed up for the summer reading program at our local library. I've already read several hours and I only signed up yesterday.

 

4: My new Art curriculum. It's awesome. Instead of having to answer questions on what you've learned, you have activities. Fun. :)

 

5: Finding out one of my favorite books is releasing a sequel this fall.

 

6: Watching the Alvin and Chipmunks movies with my brother again.

 

7: This gem

 

 

 

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

 

1. Is your home air conditioned? If it's not air conditioned, is that by choice? Did you grow up with air conditioning? If not how did you cope with the heat? Share about a time or place you remember as being too hot-the temperature kind of hot, lest anyone be confused.

   My home is air conditioned and I love it. I think it would be terrible to go without, and thankfully our home never has. A place that is too hot? Our driveway. It's blacktop and you can actually fry an egg on it when it's sunny. I've burnt the bottoms of my feet on it every summer I can remember living here.

 2. What's something in your life right now that falls under the heading 'up in the air'?

   I have two things that are always up in the air for me. What I'm going to eat, and when I'm going to do school. Unlike normal people, I do my school whenever I have the time, not on a certain schedule. I try to have it finished by noon, but that doesn't always happen, especially since I'm a night owl.


 3. Your favorite light and airy dessert?

   Peanut butter pie. I don't make it often, but my friends and I were just talking about it yesterday and I think I'll be making one soon.


 4. When did you last feel like you were 'floating on air'?

   Last evening when I was doing a science test, I got a perfect 100 percent. I was delighted for the rest of the evening.


 5. Airport, airmail, airtight, airhead...which have you most recently encountered? Explain.

    I encountered an airhead earlier today. Seriously, I don't understand how some people can be so dense.


 6.  Have you ever been to the Alps? If so where did you go? If not, is this a destination on your must-see list? If you were headed that direction this summer, which of the following would be your preferred activity...a gentle walk, a serious walk, a bike ride, a boat ride around one of the lakes, or summer snow skiing?

   I've never been to the Alps and I don't have it on my list of things I like to see. I think I would like to go for a gentle walk the most. Isn't a serious walk a hike? All I think of when I think of the Alps is Heidi, a book I had to read in third grade.


 7. What is one saying or phrase that was considered 'cool' when you were growing up?

   I can't think of a cool phrase or word that was cool then, and isn't now. Give me twenty years and I can say that words like hashtag and selfie were popular.


 8. Insert your own random thought here.

   I just returned home from bowling with my brother and two of his friends. We had quite the time. When we arrived, I asked for the wrong size shoes, almost dropped a bowling ball on my foot and tripped over the floor. That was in the first five minutes. One friend tossed the ball and it managed to end up in the lane beside us. We had several problems with the pins, and I tripped over my shoelaces. I only got one or two strikes, but I had a blast.
   I had to laugh, because my brother was getting cocky with his spares and as he jumped to celebrate, he went for a heel click type thing, and all of the change in his pocket fell out and littered the floor. We called it the Spare Change. We all had fun and made some memories that I hope last a while.

Just a Note

    Hello everybody! As of today I have decided that I will not be doing 20 Things Tuesday anymore. I apologize for those of you who enjoyed reading it. I realized that I was way over my head with 20 things. I should have started out with something more attainable. So, to try and heft myself over this hurdle, I will be starting something else, a simpler replacement to 20 Things Tuesday. I now introduce:

7 Things I've Been Loving This Week!

   As an additional note, I will continue to do these on Tuesdays. I will just go from Tuesday to Tuesday, as my week frame.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1.July 15th is National Give Something Away Day.  What can you give away? Will you?

   Clothes. A lot of clothes. I will be giving some of them away, either donating them to a charity or giving them directly to some of my younger friends.


2. Do you have a mantra? Please share with the class if you feel comfortable doing so.

   I have a variety of mantras that string along the same line. Get a grip, suck it up and deal with it are main ones.


3. Who does the grocery shopping in your house? How many times a week do you shop? Do you make a list or pray for inspiration in the produce aisle?

   I go shopping with my mother and help her with the shopping, and my brother tags along. I don't mind grocery shopping, but my mother abhors it. We make a list. Whenever we run out of something, we put it on the list. Not everything makes it on the list, but that's our general shopping plan.


4. Is there a TV show you're embarrassed to say you watch? You're going to tell us what it is, right?

   I am embarrassed of no TV show that I watch. I still watch cartoon network and I feel no shame.


5. A recent article listed fifteen words we should eliminate from our (written) vocabulary in order to sound smarter-

that, went, honestly, absolutely, very, really, amazing, always, never, literally, just, maybe, stuff, things, and irregardless

Of the fifteen, which word is your most overused?

   I don't know what words I overuse the most. Without those words, my blog name would probably be something like Only Me and Random Occurrences, Objects and Acquaintances, and that makes me sound like some creepy loner desperate for friends. So I'll keep using those words.


6. So apparently dying your hair gray (in your youth!) is a thing right now. It's called 'The Granny Hair' trend. Your thoughts?

   I can't say I'm surprised that something this stupid is trending. To each their own, so I guess if you want to have gray hair, go ahead. I would never dye my hair gray, and I can't see why anyone ever thought "Hey! I'm going to dye my hair gray so I can look like I belong in a nursing home before everyone else!"


7. A while back Buzz Feed asked members to share the most beautiful sentence they've read in a piece of literature. A hard thing to narrow down, at least for me, but let's try. What's one of the most beautiful sentences you've ever read in a piece of literature?

   Deep into that darkness peering,
   Long I stood there,
   Wondering, fearing, doubting,
   Dreaming dreams,
   No mortal ever dared to dream before.
                       Edgar Allan Poe


8. Insert your own random thought here.

   I have to say, I took me over an hour to find the perfect sentence for number 7. But I think I found a pretty good one. Words are amazingly powerful. After reading quote after quote, I can't help but feel inspired by the artistic way the authors formed the sentences into masterpieces. 

20 Things Tuesday

   It's late and my computer is not working very nicely and is not letting me write, so here is another 20 Things Tuesday.


Right Now

1: A unusual peace and quiet that coats the house.
2: The sound of my cat's soft purr from the glider beside me.
3: This quote one of my friends showed me: "Don't wait for Prince Charming to come to you, go find him. The poor idiot might be stuck in a tree or something."
4: My fish, swimming carelessly in their tank.
5: The fan that sits in our living room. It's running now, and that itself is a miracle. We've had it for years.


Today

1: Going to the park to hang out with friends.
2: Tacos.
3: Playing with a basketball with my brother.
4: Getting my homeschool yearbook.
5: Getting to flip through and keep the pictures that didn't make the yearbook.


Tomorrow

1: Hopefully going to the trail for exercise.
2: Going to the library to get new books.
3: Going through a lot of my clothes.
4: Writing.
5: Painting my nails.


This Week

1: My cousin's turning five and we are attending her birthday party.
2: Rearranging my furniture this weekend.
3: Reading.
4: Gearing up to start school.
5: Getting rid of some unwanted items that have been cluttering my room.

The Day I First Missed a Question on a Test

   I remember a day from my childhood, a day that was a tragedy at the time, but now, I look back and can't help but smile. A day when a little seven year old me, at that point, had never missed a question on a test. Not once, not ever. I was a overachiever even then.
   It started out as a normal school day. I had just finished a Bible test, ready for my 100 percent to greet me at the top of the page, when tragedy struck. I had gotten a 98. A 98! I was shocked and heartbroken at the horror that lay before me. It was a number these events, 1-5, about Moses' calling to go talk to pharaoh. I confused 'Take off your sandals' with 'This is holy ground'.
   At the time, I was heartbroken. I bawled and bawled like it was the end of the world and I was going to hell for eternity. Looking back, I see I overreacted a little. As of today, I've missed plenty of questions on test and worksheets. I'll probably miss some more too. But I don't think I'll ever forget the day I first missed a question on a test.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

 

 

1. When did you last 'swim against the tide'? Explain.

   I don't have a specific instance when I swam against the tide. I typically try to avoid the normal expectations of the public, because if a lot of Americans are doing it, then there has to be something wrong with it.

2. What's the last self-help or self-improvement book you read?

   I don't read self-help or self-improvement books. I read a book on drawing a month or two ago, does that count?

 3. "Tolerance is a tremendous virtue, but the immediate neighbors of tolerance are apathy and weakness." (Sir James Goldsmith) 

Agree or disagree? Discuss. With civility please, because I think we have a good thing going in our very diverse (in geography, age, religion, political persuasion, ethnicity, marital status, upbringing, and cooking abilities) neighborhood here on This Side of the Pond.

   I agree to a point. Tolerating stupid people, bad drivers, annoying children, obnoxious teenagers and other clowns is a virtue. I don't think that tolerating things being shoved down your throat is a virtue, I think that people should get a grip and stand up for they believe in, even if it goes against the grain.

 4. What is one of your most vivid memories of the kitchen from your childhood?

   We used to have SuperBowl parties when I was little and I remember being yelled at by my great-aunt to get out of the way of the television screen, then I would go in the kitchen and eat Dorito's. I remember thinking how cool it would be to have parties like that every night. Junk food, people, the works.

 5. How did/do your own children's summers compare with your summers as a child? If you're not a parent, answer as it relates to what you've observed about the current generation of children vs. your own childhood.

   I'm not a parent but I do remember that my brother and I loved to play on our slip and slide or our trampoline. I'm not sure if anyone even uses slip and slides anymore.

 6. Tell us what body of water you would most like to be on or near today, and why?

   I would want to be on the beach. Virginia Beach or Clearwater Beach, preferably.

 7.  Share a favorite song about water, or a favorite song with the word water in it's title, or a favorite song to listen to as you sit beside the water.

 

   Message in a Bottle by The Police. It's not really about water, but I like the song and it does have references to water in it.

 8. Insert your own random thought here.

 

   Even though it's still summer, I'm excited for school to start. This year I'm delving into topics that sounds fun, but challenging. School supply shopping is the very best shopping I think possible. All the different notebooks, pens, pencils, folders, binders, everything. Even though summer is nice, I love starting school.

 

 

13 Things Tuesday

   Here we are again. I'm sorry I'm missing 7 things, but now, I'm tired and can't think of anything, so it's only going to be 13 things.


Right now:

1: Watching a new TV show with my mom.
2: Reading a book I got from the library today.
3: Blogging. (Duh)
4: Taco's.
5: My kitty's adorableness, as she lays all sprawled out on our glider.


Today:

1: Going to a friend's house and having a lot of fun.
2: My friend made an excellent brownie with toppings that made it look like a flag. It was delicious.
3: A trip to the library. I love our local library.
4: Macaroni and cheese. :)
5: Shark week shows.


Tomorrow:

1: More room cleaning. Sigh.
2: Oatmeal for breakfast.
3: Reading.

Wednesday Hodgepodge



 

 

1. On Saturday July 4th America celebrates her Independence. (If you're not American,  feel free to answer in terms of a national holiday in your own country) What is your favorite thing about the day? Your favorite food on the 4th? Do you fly a flag at your house? Fireworks-yay or nay? Any special plans this year?

   I am American and I love Independence Day. My favorite thing is probably going to my grandparents for a large picnic. My favorite food to have on the fourth of July would have to be macaroni salad. We typically have a flag out and we go and put flags on the graves of our family's veterans. I love fireworks, and I enjoy setting them off, and watching them as well.


 2. What's something you recently got for free?

   A new pair of shoes my grandma gave me.


 3.  The Statue of Liberty, The Liberty Bell, The Washington Monument, or Mount Rushmore...how many on the list have you seen? What is your favorite historical American monument, and why? 

   I have seen the Washington Monument in person, and the rest in pictures. I don't have a favorite monument but I do have a penchant for the Confederate Flag.


 4. When it comes to the news are you more ostrich (stick my head in the sand) or hog (they have room to take a whole lot in)? How much attention have you given the recent news reports regarding ISIS and the acts of terror they've perpetrated against those who do not share their beliefs or support their cause?

   Probably more hog, just because bad news doesn't really faze me. I haven't given too much attention to the ISIS news, just because I don't really watch the news, and when I do, I'm not watching to see what ISIS is doing.


 5. We're talking plain ice cream...vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry? Choose one.

   Vanilla, definitely. I love vanilla ice cream more that any other kind, and I have to say that I don't think I'm a boring person.


 6. Share a song you love containing the word 'stars' in the lyrics or title?

   Counting Stars by One Republic. I don't love this song, but I do like it and would listen to over a lot of other music. I honestly couldn't think of any other song I liked with star in the title.


 7. Describe and/or say goodbye to June with an acrostic. 

Just saying, I'm not going to miss you much,
Unlike the other months so far, you rained a lot.
Nothing more left to say,
Eventually you'll be back again.

(That was the best I could think of. I had no creativity to fly out for this month.)


 8.  Insert your own random thought here.

   Tonight, my brother, mom, both my grandmas, cousin and I are going to the drive-in movie theater. I'm excited to go. I like movies so this should be a fun experience. Yeah, I know, this wasn't exactly my best post, but they said a random thought, not a deep one. :)