WEDNESDAY HODGEPODGE #653

Thank you Joyce.

To join in click HERE

1. What's one piece of advice you would give a recent or soon-to-be graduate?

 I'm not really sure what I would say. Maybe "Don't rush into anything! If you know what you want to do in the future then follow your dream."

2. May 15th marks the birth date of L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. At this point in time are you more in need of brains, courage, heart, or a trip back home? Explain. 

 One of my favorite movies. I think I need courage with all the medical issues I am going through. I would love to see my sister in Florida but don't have any plans to travel. 

Back home would be nice so I could visit my family members who are buried there. That would be a suburb in Chicago. 

3.  "There's no place like home" is an often repeated line from Baum's book. When was the last time you felt the truth of that statement? 

Since I had to stop bowling a few years ago I am home a lot now. Home is great but I want more than that now. Because I've been home so much I find it hard to push myself to go out. I used to run errands each week after bowling. 

4. May is National BBQ Month...do you own a grill? Who does the grilling at your house? What's your favorite thing to throw on the grill? What's the last thing you grilled? 

Yes we have a grill and we use it often. Mark does all the grilling. He grills a lot of the meats we eat like pork chops, chicken and steak. Not that we have steak that often or the pork chops. I try to stay away from red meats. Anyway, we had chicken breasts on Monday night. 

He also makes a great meal of onions and colored peppers which are delicious. He also grills some Italian sausage with that. Those onions and peppers are cooked in a foil tray on the grill. 

5. What's a memory you replay in your head when you need a little joy? 

That's a hard one. I do have wonderful memories when I was young and going to my grandparents summer home in Michigan. We would walk to the little town and shop. 

I also have memories of my dad's cottage in Illinois. This is when our kids were young and growing up. We would often go on the weekends. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

We had a lovely evening with Adam, Gabby and James for Mother's Day. We celebrated on Saturday night. Had a lovely dinner in downtown Orange, CA. That's the town they live in. I didn't get any pictures. 

 These are the gifts I received from Mark and the kids.

Here's some good news. We will be babysitting James and the dogs this coming weekend at Adam and Gabby's house. I can't wait. 

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My health issues are still going on. As I type this I am having lung issues today. I was at my doctor last Friday and he removed the bandages from my ankle. I had a spot that he had to squeeze out. He decided not to take the stitches out yet. I go on the 21st. I am still having pain. We will start steroid shots again but I'm not sure he is going to do it that day. 

I am still having issues with the sciatica in my left leg. Waiting for a call back from pain management to get an appointment. I am not a happy camper at this time. Your prayers are always appreciated. 

WEDNESDAY HODGEPODGE #652

Thank you Joyce.

To join in click HERE

1. What's something you may do this month?

I'm not sure. I know we are going out to eat with Adam, Gabby and James on Saturday to celebrate Mother's Day. 

Mark will be going out of town on his yearly fishing trip to Canada with his brother. 

I'm not really sure about the dates for that yet. I believe he is going to stop and visit with his mom in Texas also. (I'm not ready to be alone right now with all that I've had going on.)

2. Hola! Hodgepodge Day lands just after Cinco de Mayo... how do you feel about Mexican food? What's your favorite dish? Do you make it at home or is it a strictly dine out option? 

I like Mexican food. We don't get it very often. We don't seem to go out to eat like we used to all the time before the pandemic started. We do end up getting some Taco Bell. No, we really don't make it at home. 

I like their Chicken Cantina Bowl. It's my favorite. 

However, Mark made a delicious meal in the crock pot on Tuesday called Chicken Enchilada.

3. When the children of today grow up what do you think they'll say about this time period? What do you most hope they remember? 

Seriously I can't even begin to think how they are going to feel about this time period. I don't like that AI is around. I hope James remembers Mark and I with great love as his grandparents. 

4. What advice would you give a new mother? 

Love your baby with all your heart. It's okay to let them cry themselves to sleep. It's okay if the house gets a little messy. Time flies by quickly and they grow up too fast. 

5. What's a phrase your mother often said to you? If you're a mom do you say it to your own children? 

I don't recall my mom saying a phrase to me. 

I just tell my children how much I love them all the time. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Adam, Gabby and James went out of town this past weekend. Gabby's sister's kids has some water polo finales. They went along to watch and they brought the dogs too. I believe they had cabins that they rented. They were in the San Diego area. Adam sent me a few photos.