Happy MAY - it's the Hodgepodge!
Hello My Friends! It's been a while! What can I say, life got busy, then busier. After weeks of play prep and a week of performances and visits from family and friends, we ended on school vacation week. It was a MUCH needed break! So, while I had great hopes to get back to my little space here, I procrastinated and decided that was okay. I figured it would be a great idea to get back to it with the Wednesday Hodgepodge, which always gets my brain moving! If you haven't participated, come join the fun! Thanks as always, to Joyce for hosting!
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 LOVE Mexican food - but, living in New Hampshire, I often wonder if I've ever had real, authentic Mexican food. I do love a great Mexican salad with grilled veggies, pico de gallo and homemade guacamole. I would probably go with a side of black beans and HOT salsa! There are so many delicious Mexican dishes, I also love poblano peppers and fajitas! I probably won't have a special drink on Cinco de Mayo but I do love a good margarita!
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? Yes, I've been to Mexico - I was a junior in college. Cancun is about as Americanized Mexico as you can get. I remember arriving an ordering nachos with my friends, only to be served stale chips with gluey, orange cheese. I'm guessing they figure college kids aren't culinary experts, at least not in the mid 90s. I studied Spanish all through school, can't speak it that well but can understand some (isn't that always the way?)
3. What's one thing you may accomplish this month? I'm hoping to get yard work done (if it EVER stops raining), plant my garden and celebrate my daughter's birthday next week. That WILL happen!
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? I'd love for the community to get together to clean up the sides of the roads - this time of year it's SO dirty after such a long Winter. It's a beautiful area, but we need to clean it up this time of year. I am actively involved in our school system and try to help out where I'm useful. We just had a huge Earth Day event at my youngest's school, I'm happy to be involved and love seeing the kids get so excited about greening the grounds and making their school - and community the best place it can be!
5. What's something that may be popular, but that you just don't get? The show, 13 Reasons Why - which seemingly glamorizes suicide and I'm not sure why you'd let your kids watch this show. If you weren't aware of it and they're watching, have a conversation with them - it's too important not to!
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? My husband is the biggest Star Wars fan I know - as in, he has trunk loads of items for his "someday man cave" of little circa 1970 Star Wars figures, old Empire Strikes Back glasses from Burger King, all sorts of merchandise. He is quite obsessed and in order to be married to him, well, it was kind of a prerequisite to be a fan as well. I remember seeing the original Star Wars with my Grandmother in 1978 in Ludlow, Massachusetts. Yes, I've seen them all. I never dressed as Darth but my husband has and yes, we have several lightsabers around the house (in the attic of course), but they're handy in case we need to use "the force".
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? The post shared my then FIVE year old's pictures she took on my phone. She was so little but loved her puppies and was creative - that still rings true today! Family and creativity are two topics I love to write about - my family is just busier these days!
8. Insert your own random thought here.
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? Yes, I've been to Mexico - I was a junior in college. Cancun is about as Americanized Mexico as you can get. I remember arriving an ordering nachos with my friends, only to be served stale chips with gluey, orange cheese. I'm guessing they figure college kids aren't culinary experts, at least not in the mid 90s. I studied Spanish all through school, can't speak it that well but can understand some (isn't that always the way?)
3. What's one thing you may accomplish this month? I'm hoping to get yard work done (if it EVER stops raining), plant my garden and celebrate my daughter's birthday next week. That WILL happen!
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? I'd love for the community to get together to clean up the sides of the roads - this time of year it's SO dirty after such a long Winter. It's a beautiful area, but we need to clean it up this time of year. I am actively involved in our school system and try to help out where I'm useful. We just had a huge Earth Day event at my youngest's school, I'm happy to be involved and love seeing the kids get so excited about greening the grounds and making their school - and community the best place it can be!
5. What's something that may be popular, but that you just don't get? The show, 13 Reasons Why - which seemingly glamorizes suicide and I'm not sure why you'd let your kids watch this show. If you weren't aware of it and they're watching, have a conversation with them - it's too important not to!
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? My husband is the biggest Star Wars fan I know - as in, he has trunk loads of items for his "someday man cave" of little circa 1970 Star Wars figures, old Empire Strikes Back glasses from Burger King, all sorts of merchandise. He is quite obsessed and in order to be married to him, well, it was kind of a prerequisite to be a fan as well. I remember seeing the original Star Wars with my Grandmother in 1978 in Ludlow, Massachusetts. Yes, I've seen them all. I never dressed as Darth but my husband has and yes, we have several lightsabers around the house (in the attic of course), but they're handy in case we need to use "the force".
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? The post shared my then FIVE year old's pictures she took on my phone. She was so little but loved her puppies and was creative - that still rings true today! Family and creativity are two topics I love to write about - my family is just busier these days!
8. Insert your own random thought here.
Happy May Friends!
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stopping by from the hodgepodge love your answers, hope you will stop by at the gatorpad
ReplyDeleteThanks! I will!
DeleteWe used to have an authentic Mexican restaurant in our town. Then he closed and moved away. I miss the real thing.
ReplyDeleteI bet it was delicious!
DeleteI enjoyed your answers and I totally agree with you about the show..."13 Reasons..." There is so much abut the world today that I just don't get. Enjoy the rest of your week :)
ReplyDeleteYou too! Hoping the rainy extended forecast is a joke ;)
DeleteHappy May to you! I enjoyed your Hodgepodge today! Welcome back!
ReplyDeleteThanks Terri! It was fun to BE back!
DeleteI watched the entire season of 13 Reasons Why. I thought they did a good job of exploring possible reasons kids get to that horrible point. My youngest has lost two friends to suicide and it's just terrible. Understanding why, and this show did not cover all reasons, is a step in the right direction. My girls and I discussed just about everything when they were growing up and suicide was one topic. I believe the show is good as long as it's followed up by a good family discussion. There have been discussions in our local high school as well and I think that's a good thing. So much goes on that we are not as aware of as we probably should be. I do have teacher friends who are letting their elementary school children (their own not their students) watch it and I don't think I agree with that. I would love it if someone had the key to stopping suicide. My brother's daughter's family lives in New Hampshire. I have never been but I've seen pictures. It is gorgeous up that way! Have a wonderful rest of the week!
ReplyDeleteI think the most important thing is that if people are watching the show, they have to communicate with their children about the messages in the show, which ultimately is made for entertainment. My daughter is in 7th grade which can be a confusing and challenging time. When I've overheard kids talking about the show, it makes me wonder what their home life is like - and hope that someone is there to discuss difficult subjects. I think back to when I was growing up and the movie Heathers was wildly popular, I feel like we were having the same discussion back then about movies glamorizing teenage suicide. I guess in a lot of ways I'm glad that schools have had discussions and brought the subject matter to the forefront to encourage parents who might not of known what it was about or what their kids were watching. I think it's all about communication and like you, we discuss a wide variety of subjects, we pretty much talk about anything and everything because I'm trying to prepare them for life. Not always an easy task.
DeleteNH is great - Winters are long but the rest is pretty fantastic. I do wish we had a bit more SUN these days!
Loved your Star Wars paragraph - my cousin and her husband are rather fanatical, they entered their wedding reception to the soundtrack and walked under a light saber arch! I enjoyed your Hodgepodge and thanks for stopping by to visit my blog.
ReplyDeleteOkay Pamela - your cousin wins, handsdown! I got the biggest kick out of that visual! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteWelcome back. I hadn't heard of that show but someone else mentioned it on their blog so maybe I should check it out. I definitely think we need to talk more about mental health but TV programmes are not always the best way. Enjoy the rest of your week.
ReplyDeleteI agree - bottom line, they're made for entertainment. If their targeted demographic is teenagers, I think as a parent you need to be aware of what your children are watching and what messages they're getting. Thanks for coming by!
DeleteI enjoyed getting to know you through your post today. I love the title of your blog--and there's nowhere I'd rather be than barefoot by the sea :)
ReplyDeleteI sure wish we could borrow some of that rain you've been getting. Our garden is so dry.
I'm not familiar with the show you mentioned, but it doesn't sound like something kids should be watching, but, sadly, that could be said about most shows, these days.
Thanks for stopping by my blog. Enjoy the rest of your week!
Kathy (Reflections)
It's my favorite place to be is well! Thanks for stopping by :-)
DeleteNOW I know why I keep hearing, "May the Fourth be with you"! Lol!! I just wasn't understanding!! What a disappointment the nachos in the Cancun must have been! But, I suppose back then, I wouldn't have been as disappointed as I would be today!
ReplyDeleteSun is FINALLY shining here, hoping it shows up for you soon :)
Happy May!!
I agree my friend! I think they're in college Cancun may have been more about the beverages and less about the cuisine ;-)
DeleteGreat to see you back and on such a momentous day (eye roll!!). :) I live in a houseful of SW fans and someone may have worn Leia buns this morning to school. I love Mexican food and I'm starting to like things spicier and spicier (my age I guess). I watched 13 Reasons after all of the hype it's gotten. I definitely think it needs to be discussed if teens are watching this and should only be watched by older teens. It was pretty graphic but if it opens up discussions, that's a good thing for that reason. I have to say I loved the soundtrack! I hear you about being busy and busier...good for you taking a break from the blog. We all need that sometimes. By my birthday month I'm stylish and friendly. I'll take it!
ReplyDeleteI love that she wore princess Leia buns to school! That is hysterical! I'm definitely curious about the show now, I couldn't believe how many people in my daughters grade seem to be watching it, I think it's insane! I remember the hype that surrounded Heather's back in the day… This seems similar and that had a great soundtrack too - or maybe that was pump up the volume, I'm getting my Christian Slater movies mixed up!!!
DeleteI think some parts of the USA get more authentic Mexican than others, but if Mexicans are running the restaurant I feel hopeful. There's been a big push in our area to curb littering. I don't get why people throw trash from their cars??? Our neighborhood has adopted a road and does a periodic pick up. I wish it weren't necessary.
ReplyDeleteI hear ya with littering! Not sure why in 2017 people can't find a garbage can!
DeleteI so relate to your answer to question #6. My wife is a rabid Star Trek fan, and so I am one too...by marriage. I also agree that we can do very nicely without so much rain and the yard work thing. Thanks for visiting my blog page and for leaving a comment. Have a great week. Until next time...
ReplyDeleteThat's too funny! People do ❤️ their sci fi!
DeleteI loved how you answered #6!!!
ReplyDeleteI think your random is right on! What do you think?
Carla
It's true Carla - I could open a Star Wars shop there is SO much! I do tend to agree with the random :)
DeleteYes to Mexican food and yes I've been to Mexico. I also recently blogged about 13 Reasons Why. I agree with you 100%.
ReplyDelete