Arguing With My Old Man: The Weekly Hodgepodge

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From This Side of the Pond 

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At the end of every year (or at least since the mid-1970's) Lake Superior State University posts a list of words they think should be banished from the Queen's English for misuse, overuse, and/or general uselessness. You can read more about the decision making process here, but this year's list includes-

cringe, game changer, era, dropped, IFKYK (If you know you know), 

sorry not sorry, skibidi, 100%, utilize, and period. 

Which of these words/phrases do you use regularly or even just every now and then? How many did you have to look up? Which of these words would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why? Is there a word/phrase not on the list you'd like to add? If so do share, then tell us why. 

Yes, I know I say this every year that I answer this question, but I"m saying it again.  Who made Lake Superior University the dictionary's daddy?  Words in this list that are real words should be left alone--maybe just not overly used or misused.  Words that are simply slang will fade with their over usage.  The only one I do not know (and don't want to know) the meaning of is skibidi.  I've heard it said, but only know that the word is in relation to a toilet.  No thank you.  I don't need to know that badly.

Your favorite soup? Do you make this one yourself or is it from a can? 

Chicken noodle soup is my absolute favorite.  I've never been able to make it as good as Campbell's.  My second favorite is broccoli cheese.  Again, I can't beat Panera Bread's version available either in the restaurant or from the deli section of the grocery store.

How do you feel about winter? What's one winter activity you look forward to? 

Old Man Winter and I have never gotten along well.  It doesn't matter if it's a cold rainy Alabama winter or a cold snowy Colorado winter, it is my least favorite time of the year.  I'm thankful for the placement of the holidays that makes it more bearable.  However, now we are in the post-holiday part of the cold months.  The good thing is that the days are slowly getting longer, so I'll stop getting sleepy at 4:30 p.m., and the fight against Seasonal Affective Disorder isn't quite as fierce.   

This winter, I plan to keep my mind and hands busy.  I've got many arts and craft projects to work on, plus I'll be planning for a course I'm (hopefully) teaching this summer.  Then there are books and magazines to read and always the fun YouTube video to watch.  The busier I am, the less I fuss with the Old Man. 

The Pantone color of the year for 2025 is mocha mousse (sample pictured here). What say you? The website describes it as 'a warming, brown hue imbued with richness. It nourishes us with its suggestion of the delectable qualities of chocolate and coffee, answering our desire for comfort'. Is this a color I might find in your home or wardrobe? Is it one you might add in some big or small way in the year ahead? 

In a similar, but not really vein...if I were to offer you a choice right now of either a cup of mocha or a cup of mousse which would you say yes to? 

That is a gorgeous rich color.  I like it.  Unfortunately, it doesn't go with the color scheme of my home and I don't have any browns in my wardrobe.   However, I wouldn't frown at making myself a poncho, shawl, or hat, scarf, and fingerless mitts out of a similar color.  

As to the question of mocha or mousse?  Yes.

I've not had either one, so I'd be willing to try both.

Which of the following winter related idioms can best be applied to your life in some way right now? Choose one, then tell us why you chose it.  

snowed under, on thin ice, tip of the iceberg, chill out, break the ice, snowball effect, not a snowball's chance in hell, get cold feet, the cold shoulder 

Right now, chill out sounds best.  I'm still recovering from sickness, so I'm hanging out at home and resting.

Insert your own random thought here. 

In case you missed it:  

• My previous Hodgepodge post "If at First You Don't Succeed" is here.
• My latest Five Minute Friday post "Stuff" is here.
  
• My latest Weekly Digest "Days 34-40 - Sick Leave" is here.
  
• My latest First Line Friday post: "#26 - Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff" is here.
• My completed "24 in 2024" challenge is here.
• My completed 2024 reading challenge:  "Full Shelf Challenge V.2" is here.