It's November now. Are you grateful?

It's a rainy day here, so it's a perfect time to sit at my computer and answer today's Hodgepodge questions. Many of them this time are about the month of November and about being grateful.   So - I am grateful it is raining and NOT snowing where I am as we start this new month.  I am grateful for other things too.   Want to know more?  Read on.

1.  Besides Thanksgiving, something you are looking forward to on your November calendar? 

November is not my favorite month as it really seems like the start of things I don't particularly like...   colder weather, grey skies, too much worrying about the holidays, too many expectations, lots of expenses, fear of disappointing, just a really long spell of time until spring arrives. 

As I think of my calendar for this month I think I look forward to things that have to do with music and with football.  I have a bunch of rehearsals scheduled this month as both the community band, and the two handbell groups I am in, prepare for Christmastime.   I enjoy the rehearsals.   And, I love football on the weekends.  I know it sounds weird but there is something comforting about watching games, maybe it's because I get myself comfy on the couch, and relax. I also enjoy the "football talk" among some of my friends.  

2.  If I gave you a thank you card right now who would you send it to and why? 

I wrote one yesterday and mailed it to thank our hosts for the Halloween dinner we attended. We had a fun time dressing up and we had fabulous food!

Today?  I think I would/should write one to my hubby.  In this rain he is off and traveling (flying) to upstate New York for business.  He really doesn't complain much about any of his travels and having to deal with weather changes,  the annoying people, and all the hassles of going somewhere by airplane.  He certainly handles it much better than I ever could. 

3.  Of the breads listed, which one's your favorite...  bagel, cinnamon, sourdough, garlic, banana, biscuit, pita, Naan, or plain old fashioned white bread? 

Well, I had to look up Naan bread. It is Indian flatbread.   Of the ones listed, I think my favorite is warm, buttery, garlic bread!   But, the question is a bit confusing because bagels and biscuits come in many flavors.  I certainly like a warm cinnamon bagel slathered with cream cheese too!

4.  What's something you have in abundance?   Is that a good thing?  

Plenty of love baby!!!      But, if our leader Joyce is asking about a "thing" I guess I will say I have an abundance of everything!  Too much!  I half-joking/half-seriously say to hubby that he better not die first and leave me with all this stuff and then I have to figure out what to do with it all!     You know, you can't take it with you!!

5.  November 5th is National Love your Red Hair Day.   (Who knew?) Are there any redheads in your family?  Who's your favorite redhead?  

Natural redheads in my family?  I don't think so.  A few of the women have been redheads at times, but only there hairdresser really knows for sure?!

My favorite redhead?    I think many will answer Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett.   They are two names that come to my mind quickly.  There is a country music singer Eric Pasley that is a red head.  And of course, there is the comedian Carrot Top!

6.  The travel website BusBud recently calculated the most Instagrammed spot in every state.  Are you happy with your state's #1?  (Check out www.businessinsider.com/most-instagrammed-location-in-every-state-2015.)   If not, what do you think is the most photographed spot in your state?  Have you snapped a photo there?

South Carolina's place listed "most instagrammed" with photos is Myrtle Beach.  First, that's a pretty broad answer.   I noticed some of the other states had more specific locations... like a ball park, or a zoo.    In terms of state beauty, I will certainly disagree.  I think there are many places in Charleston that are certainly more photogenic.  Lots of people snap a pic of the Ravenal Bridge there too.  And even William Brice Stadium (home of the Carolina Gamecocks) seems like more people instagram pictures while there...especially since mostly young people are the instagrammers.  

So, I am not happy with the answer.  And, yes, I have taken pictures in Charleston of the beauty of the Battery, and the homes, etc.  I have taken a picture of the Ravenal Bridge.  And, I have taken pictures while I have been at a football game at William Brice Stadium. 

FYI:  I am on Instagram if you'd like to follow me.  

7.  What's something you learned about yourself this year that you're grateful for?  

I have learned I can do a lot of the planning, and running around, and co-ordinating a wedding AND have it turn out beautifully!  My daughter got married in April and because she lives in another state, I did much of the "leg work."  I hired a wedding consultant at the end to take care of things the week of the wedding... and especially the day of it.  I wanted to be the Mother of the Bride on that day!   But, I am grateful that everything came together so beautifully and that it was such a gorgeous day for the couple and for everyone who attended.

8.  My random thought.  

The news lately has been all over the video of the student in a Columbia, South Carolina school getting violently pulled out of her desk.  After hearing my daughter talk about some of her situations teaching in an urban high school last year, I certainly feel that we need to hold our students more accountable for bad behavior.  Consequences!   This student had been asked/then told numerous times to co-operate and she did not.  

I think the education system (administrators, teachers, support staff)  has to be allowed to toughen up the classroom situations without fear of dismissal. And, parents - oh parents!  Stop just siding with your kids!  If Susie Student got in trouble I can guarantee she was not completely innocent! 

My daughter left teaching because the students in her freshmen and sophomore classes were so out of hand that she could not teach them, after working hours on lesson plans.  She became so stressed out - scared for her own safety, and fearing a nervous breakdown.  She left the profession.   I was certainly in agreement with that since she's my daughter and I want the best for her.  But, the education world lost a wonderful, excited new teacher - because students were unruly, unmannered, disrespectful, and mouthy. 

I think it's a sad state of affairs in many schools in America.