A penny for your thoughts!

Well, here in the south we are having another freakish "winter storm" with rain, sleet, some ice, and then snow in the highlands.  Thankfully, I am on the coast so we are supposed to stay out of the worst of it today.  But, regardless, it's cold - and wet out.  It's another good day to be indoors and blog.

Here's this week's Hodgepodge questions with my answers.

1.  What makes love last? 

Prepare!  It's a short four word question - but a complicated long answer follows!  

And truly, if we KNEW what made love last then our divorce rates would go down.  Spousal abuse would go away.  The world would be a happier place all around!

Here's my take on it.  Romantic love starts as an amazing time of feeling "high" when with another person.  Everything he/she says or does is magic.  It's exciting and "living in the moment" is wonderful!   But, that feeling can't last forever - and it doesn't.  

Another kind of love has to take over.  I think then it becomes "real love" - the one we pledge in our wedding vows to have…to love, honor, cherish… to go through good times and bad times together.  Real love happens through the passing of time. Real love comes with sharing experiences together.  Making memories together.

Too many people get stuck wanting the first magic love all the time.  When it doesn't last they give up.  They move on.  It's a shame…because the "real love" hasn't even had a chance yet.   Real love can not be selfish.  It can not "taking, without giving" and it has to be ready to accept the bad days.  Real love has to look to the future together.

2.  The Beatles made their US debut fifty years ago this week. As you a fan?  If so, what's your favorite Beatles tune? 

Check out my blog post right before this one.  I wrote about my love of the Beatles after watching Sunday night's Grammy Special honoring them.  I won't repeat everything I wrote there but I will say "I love you - yeah, yeah, yeah!!"    My favorite Beatles song?  That's a bit like asking my favorite child, isn't it?  ha!  I have many favorites.  I think my favorite album though is "Norwegian Wood" …   I can't limit it to one song. I'd be a fool on a hill!

3.  Valentine's Day - your thoughts?  Do you celebrate in any way?  Do anything special for the people you love?  Expect anything special from the people you love? 

I like Valentine's Day… it's nice.  Ha!  I'm a believer of sharing love everyday, so waiting until one special day seems silly.  But, then again, it's never too much to celebrate love!   Quoting a Beatle…"All we need is love!"     I give my hubby a card - and if I can I try to make something special or do something special for him on the day.   He always gets me roses  -which I tell him every year NOT to do…  but he does anyway.   When my daughters were young children I gave them little gifts and cards and made more of a big deal about the day.

I have to mention - last night I babysat and the sweet little girl and I said we would exchange valentines on Friday, Valentine's Day.  I think I'm most excited about that!  Picking out a card for her… and seeing her smile!  (She asked "would I get one just for her alone, and not for her & her brother?"  I said YES!!  ( :  )

4.  Steak or burger…you have to choose.  Now that that's settled, how do you take it? 

90 percent of the time I will take a steak!  I mean, who won't?  I will take a filet please, cooked  medium… with a little mushroom sauce on top!  YUMM!!!     Occasionally, and depending on the situation, a hamburger cooked on the grill, on a bun with all the condiments is certainly really good too!

5. February 12th is the birthday of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States.  Lincoln is quoted as saying "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test your character give him power."  Do you agree?  Why or why not? 

That Abraham Lincoln was a smart man!!!   Yes, I agree.  Just look at our Congress members today and think about how they use/mis-use the power we have given them.  Look how pompous the people given power can become!

We all go through life and come upon adversity at times.  Some people handle it better than others. True.  But, those who are given power can effect the lives of so many - for the good OR for the bad.  We have seen it go both ways in history.

6. Honest Abe's image is featured on the US penny (1 cent coin) so I'm wondering…  What do you do with your pennies?  It's been suggested that the US should stop making the penny, and two bills have been introduced proposing just that, but neither were approved.  What say you? 

I think in time the penny will go out of circulation.  Perhaps just on it's own - without the need of legislation.  It's easier to "round up or down" and deal with nickels and dimes.  With inflation the value of the penny gets less and less anyway.

What do I do with my pennies?   I try to use them when possible because I don't like to have the weight of pennies weighing my handbag down.  So, if I'm out paying cash somewhere I try to pay "to the penny" if possible.  (If I'm in a hurry - out comes the $20 I just got at the ATM).   I also keep a coin jar in my bedroom and empty all my coins from time to time into it…then take the jar to one of the coin counting machines you can find in most grocery stores now. I get the receipt and use it for buying groceries.

7.  Do you think pop culture deserves serious study? 

Yes, I do…in a sociology class and in a music class.  But, "pop culture" is a pretty broad term.  I think of it from the 60's and 70's - but maybe this question is directed more to what is happening now.   So, then…no.  I think a decade has to go by first - to look back and to see how the "pop culture" of that time influenced events.  

8.  My random thought. 

I'm guessing that a lot of the random thoughts will be about the Olympics.  Mine is today.

 I have not been especially excited about the Winter Games and have not planned to sit and  watch them non-stop on TV.  One reason:  I get SO nervous watching… downhill skiing, speed skating, the flips of the crazy snowboarders, even the figure skaters are ALL very frightening to watch.  One slight mishap, one little wrong turn of the ski, or one shaky landing can turn an athlete from a winner to a loser. (I know, I know - they are ALL winners.)  It's so hard to watch!

The years and years of training!  I certainly hope the athletes have their heads on straight and can deal with the challenge of the moment, and the acceptance of the outcome.  

Stay warm - and dry out there blogging friends.  Ole man Winter is not done with us yet!   Have a good week!!