Interesting questions. Serious thoughts.

First, for those bloggers wondering....yes, we did get the rescue pug! We got her this past Thursday and she is a sweet, loving little girl.  She is fitting right in with the family, especially with our "first-born" pug Miss Honeybee.  We have named this one Miss Daisy and we are working on her knowing her new name.  She needs to be spayed but she is in excellent condition and is a beauty of a pug!!!  (Of course, they ALL are!)

This week's Hodgepodge questions and my answers:

(by the way, Joyce: I love this mix of questions this week!)

1.  When it comes to good manners, what two top your list of most important? 

First, using "please" and "thank you" - with everyone, including those people you know well.  It's a sign of respect and courtesy.  It keeps conversation civil and it never gets old.  Second, NEVER use curse words in normal conversation.  I believe it is the opposite of civility.  Using foul language is a way of sounding tough, and sometimes sounding like you just can't find a better word in its place.  I admit that if I meet someone and they toss those words around when talking to me I feel that 1) they are uneducated, 2) they are trying to be mean - or cool - or something they are not, and 3) I immediately put up a wall.  It makes me nervous.  But, maybe that's what they want.  

2.  Let's open a proverbial can of worms...Common Core.  Are you familiar with the term (talking education reform in the USA)?  If so, care to share your thoughts?  In your opinion, what is the biggest issues schools face today? 

I have heard the term Common Core.  Without googling, I think it means to teach ALL children in the US the same basics...in terms of English, math, science.  It means that ALL children will have the same knowledge to start with as they continue on their education path.  Is it a good idea?  It sounds like it but I'm sure it's not an easy accomplishment - and if it means more testing and more paperwork for teachers it could be detrimental instead of being a positive in the classroom.

I have a daughter in grad school right now getting her Masters in Education in Literature degree.  She is observing in a school right now and will start student teaching in January.  I love her enthusiasm and hope she doesn't lose it, but I'm worried she will get hit with all the "extra" work that teachers have, and all the discipline issues, and lack of funds, etc.   Obviously every kind of job has to deal with "problems beyond their control" and there are parts of the work that are frustrating.  Teaching is no exception.  I hope she can keep her eye on the students.  I hope she can be one of those teachers that can help a child "click" and reach for more and enjoy the school environment.

Did I answer the question?  Probably not.  There are MANY tough issues in schools today.  I admire ALL those who go into the profession of teaching for the love of children and for the good of our country.   Here's to you!!

3. Name a celebrity whose fashion sense you admire and share why. 

I'll go with my first thought: Reese Witherspoon.   Every time I have seen her in People Magazine or on an award show, she is dressed like a normal person.  She looks beautiful when dressed up - and always classy.  She dresses down like most of us, in t-shirts & sweats.   She's a wife and mom.  She dresses "age appropriate."

4.  How are you affected by the changing seasons? 

This question makes me chuckle, because those who know me, KNOW I am greatly affected by the change of seasons!   I try, try, try to tell myself that ALL seasons are nice but I can't "live" it.  I dislike cold weather.  I cocoon inside and I just don't like it.  My brain gets grey when the sky gets grey - and the trees are empty of leaves.   I could go on and on about how I don't like to bundle up, I don't like cold weather clothes, or cold activities.   I'm a warm weather person - and hubby and I "half joke" about moving to Key West.  Note: I say "half joke" ... cuz we are half serious.

5.  Scariest book you have read. 

I do not like to read scary books.  So,  a tough question.  I suppose a book I thought was scary was a Danielle Steel book that I read probably five years ago or longer... what?  Yes, Danielle Steel!  I can't remember the title but it was about a parent getting that middle-of-the-night phone call about their teenager being in a horrible car accident...and how life changed just like that in that moment.  She wrote it in a way I really felt the anquish and as a mother of two daughters it stuck with me.   It "scared" me how life can change in a second!

6.  What time are you most hungry? What's your go-to snack? 

I find myself most hungry late afternoon - when I want to wait until dinner before eating.  My go-to snack to get me through from 4pm to 6pm is a hand full of nuts.

7.  Do you lean more towards being too needy or too independent?  Which do you find harder to deal with in others? 

I definitely lean towards being too independent.  No question about it.  My hubby calls it my German Lutheran heritage that makes me strong and self-sufficient.  It's also the fact that I worked and lived on my own before marrying, and then once I married, hubby traveled for his work so I continued to do things on my own.  It was "go and do" or miss out.  I never freaked about doing things alone.  I'm happy by myself.   So.... the second question:  I find it harder to deal with needy people.  Especially women!

Which brings me to one particular person who may know who she is when she reads this.  Over the last year I wanted her to be more independent - because I thought it would make her happier in the long run and she'd be more self-assured. I personally think it's a wonderful feeling to be in charge of yourself.  So, we had a bit of a falling out...not with words, in fact more with silence. I want her to know I wish her much happiness on her new life starting in a couple of weeks.  I love her - and want the best for her!!  

8.  My random thought.  

Is it just me or is Halloween getting creepier all the time?   I think back to when I was a kid dressing up to "trick or treat" and I never considered wearing a costume that was  bloody and goulish. I wanted to be a "pretty" gypsy or scarecrow...or whatever.   I know there is this whole trend of the "walking dead" and the TV shows are popular.  I just don't get it.  I still like Halloween to be about children putting on cute costumes.   Why dress up in horror?   What do you think?