Back to School

Welcome Hodgepodgers!  Today's questions start off with one I submitted to our leader Joyce awhile back.  With it being 'back to school' time for many, I think this question fits right in.  What do you think?

1.  At what age did you feel like a 'grown up'?  What keeps you young now? 

For me, I think graduating from college and ending my education and college life was a time to step it  up and be a grown up.  I had a job and I moved into an apartment with a girlfriend.  I was responsible for my half of the rent, utilities, etc.  I also had to pay for my car, and for my food, and everything else I wanted.  It was also the time when I got to make the decisions totally about my life.  I could certainly ask for advice, but I knew I had total freedom on what I wanted in and out of life.

What keeps me young?  I think it's a state of mind.  I love being around young people.  I love to stay 'current' on everything going on now, but don't want to be goofy about it (no, you won't see me in a miniskirt trying to LOOK 25!)  Feeling good, and staying in tune with what is happening keeps me young.   Oh - and did I mention hair dye??

2.  When did you last buy a vehicle? Was this by design or because you had no other option?  Was the car/truck purchased for your own personal use or was it bought for someone else to drive?  Om a scale of 1 -10 (with 10 being delightful and 1 bring 'pass the Execdrin') how would you rate the experience? 

Well, I have a hubby with a car fetish.  The man loves cars, and loves the process of looking for a car, buying it, driving it for a bit - then repeating the process.  Over and over.  I do not understand his enjoyment of it, but I'm not a man, and I'm not him.  Marriage is accepting each other's hobbies and being happy for what makes them happy.  Right?

So, for me....   I personally got a new car two and a half years ago.  I have been an SUV driver for a long, long time. I love many things about an SUV:  the storage space, sitting up a bit high in traffic, room for passengers, etc.    I loved my Toyota Highlander that I got back when I was living in NJ.  It was perfect for the hilly and snowy terrain.  I made many trips back and forth with it from NJ to SC when we were moving south.   It served me well.   When it came time to get a new SUV Toyota had changed the body of the Highlander and made it bigger and heavier.  I was disappointed - so I looked around and ended up with a Honda CRV.  Why?   Although it's lower to the ground than a Highlander, it has many of the same features.  And, this time, I wanted to buy from a dealership that was not too far to travel to for when the car needed maintenance or other work done on it.   I also considered size.  It's easy to park... and it isn't huge but still has plenty of inside space.    Wow. I feel like I should be a car salesperson!   My experience was an 8... because I knew what I wanted.  We traded in the Highlander.  It went smoothly.

3.   Corn bread, corn chips, corn pudding, corn on the cob, corn flakes, corn chowder - your favorite of the corn-y foods listed? What needs to be served along side your selection?  

I love quite a few of the corn-y foods on this list!  I think my favorite is corn on the cob because it is so seasonal and fun to eat!  What to eat with it?  Some bar-b-que!  Of course!  I also love warm corn pudding - and if you are ever in Murrells Inlet, SC go to Bovine's Restaurant for the best warm corn pudding! Its served as a side on most plates.

4.  What's something in your life that regularly requires you to put your thinking cap on? 

Why it's the Hodgepodge!!  Sometimes I have to reflect, sometimes I have to consider options, sometimes I think about what makes me tick. That's why I like participating!

5.  Share a favorite movie set in a school or classroom, or whose theme relates to school days in some way. 

GREASE!!   It's the word!    It's the best!  I love musicals and I love 'feel good' movies.    This one has a wonderful story, and is funny, has great songs, and amazing dancing!  I love everything that takes place at Rydell High!

6.   Reading, writing, 'rithmatic' are commonly referred to as the THREE R's.  What are the three R's in your life right now? 

Riva - life   (Our cabin on the Black River)
Religion     (my faith)
Reading      (I am in a Book Club and I am reading all the time.)

7.  What's something you've learned or tried recently that you can say was as 'easy as ABC'?

Recently?   I wonder what that means in length of time.  I can't think of anything in the past 12 months that I have started, certainly something that came easy to me.    I have some skills that I do "okay"...like I'm a bit crafty.  I am a bit musical. I can drive anywhere without fear.     It's all I can think of right now.

8. My random thought. 

To continue the 'back to school' theme, my random thought has to do with the passage of time.  Another summer over for so many.  Schools here in SC start this Thursday.  Teachers reported back on Monday.   It always makes me a bit sad to see summer end.     I'm wondering if you are excited about fall and all that starts up again.  Do you have a full schedule in September?  

Lastly, be kind to teachers!  They have a tough job, and they certainly don't get the credit they deserve.     (Yes, my daughter is a teacher so I hear how crazy/amazing/scary/enlightening each day is with America's youth.)  They deserve our respect!!