Saturday's Child: The Weekly Hodgepodge

 Want to join the party?  Come on over to From This Side of the Pond  for the Hodgepodge link-up!

Tell us about one fun thing on your June calendar.

The Haley's team 5k on June 25th.  It's a nighttime 5k that I've done the past two years.  I finished 3rd from last the first year; dead last in 2015.  Not sure if my placing will be any better, but I'll give it a go.

 

How careful are you in the sun? Do you tan or burn? Do you make it a point to see the dermatologist every year? 

I'm darker skinned, so I don't have to worry about the sun as much as my lighter counterparts.  However, I am on medication that could cause serious issues if I've overexposed to sunlight.  I do tan, but I've only burned once. 

People actually see a dermatologist every year?  I've never seen one, but would like to.  I'd like to know if microdermabrasion would help the scars on my face.  I've got acne scars, brown spots from windburn, and a couple of scars from abscesses that I've had my mom burst with a needle before they took over my entire face.  For as much as my face has been through, my skin still looks very well.  A dermatologist visit might make it even better.  BUT that sounds like money.

Describe a time when you wanted to 'throw in the towel'? 

Every day is a struggle.  The past week has been even more so.  A few things have kicked off another battle with depression.  I have too many days where I want to quit life altogether.

What's a song you love that has a day of the week in the title or lyrics? 

 

 

Are you a fan of berries? Which one's your favorite? What's the most recent berry dish you've eaten? Which blueberry breakfast food appeals to you most-blueberry pancakes, blueberry yogurt, or a blueberry muffin? 

Yes, I love berries:  strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries.  I'm not a fan of raspberries; the seeds get caught in my teeth.  One of my favorite breakfasts is plain Greek yogurt with fresh berries and flax seeds.

What's something you want to do before your next birthday? 

Make something of my life besides a mess.

June 1st is National Say Something Nice Day, so let's all say something nice here. 

It's pretty outside.

Insert your own random thought here. 

 

 

Another song I like with a day of the week in the title.

Lose Your Quit Quest 26

Step 26:  Look into the future if you want to change today.

Wake up sleepy Jean.

Oh, what can it mean

To a daydream believer

And a homecoming queen

- Daydream Believer by The Monkees.

Written by John Stewart

 

 

Daydreaming isn't always a bad thing,  Daydreams can wake up the dormant dreams inside of us.  Daydreams can prepare us to take those newly awakened dreams and turn them into goals.  Daydreams can help us in the midst of our goals to not give up.

 

The 80's group Timbuk3 said, "the future's so bright I gotta wear shades."  No, our futures won't be perfect, but they can be exciting and fulfilling if we keep the dream going.

 

Sometimes we have to look into the future to avoid a pitfall.  At one of the lowest points in my life when all that surrounded me was darkness, I looked at the future.  That future wasn't pleasant.  The destructive mental and physical behaviors in my life were draining me of any hope for a good future.  Jeremiah 29:11 seemed like a pipe dream--words on paper that were for those other Christians.  My health was heading into the toilet and I was having too many symptoms I wasn't pleased with.  I saw where it was going, and I had to find a way to stop it.  I knew I couldn't start getting well on my own, so I contacted some trustworthy help.  I've been on the mend for several months and I feel much better.  No, I'm not where I want to be, but I'm definitely not where I was.

Green Around the Gills: The Weekly Hodgepodge

Want to join the party?  Go on over to From This Side of the Pond  for the Hodgepodge link-up!

 

Share a favorite song, book, or movie title containing the word green?

Early Morning Blues and Greens by the Monkees
 

Ralph Waldo Emerson is quoted as saying, "Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect." Would you agree? Are you a believer in luck?

No, I am not a believer in luck.  That would mean that everyone doesn't have a chance at success or happiness.  Believing in luck gives one the excuse to be lazy and not even try.

Spring water, Hot Springs, handspring, spring fling, spring break, spring fever, offspring...which 'spring' word best applies to something in your day, week, or life right now?

I'm not sure.  We've had fabulous spring weather the past few days, and I've tried get out in it as often as I can.  I'm really enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells from being out on the Ladiga Trail.  We're supposed to get a couple of days of rain, then right back to sunny skies, so I'll relish every outside moment I can get.

What's something you do to make yourself look or feel more confident?

I feel more confident when I can infuse humor into a situation.  For example, I go through spells every once in a while where my musicianship is "off" to the point where I want to quit playing and go in a corner and cuss.  If I can bring in humor and laugh it off and get others to do the same, I feel more confident that the storm will pass and I'll be able to play with some semblance of  precision again.

It's National Celery Month...are you a fan? If so, what's a snack or dish you enjoy that calls for celery?

The only time I care about celery is when I see my mom chop it up to make cornbread dressing at Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I've never been a big fan of celery, but I do need to try to eat more of it.

What's one thing you wish you'd learned sooner?

How much time have you got?  I definitely wish I'd learned money management sooner.  The Dave Ramsey Show started in 1992; two years AFTER I started doing my own stupid stuff with money and creating my own big pile of financial doo-doo.

Would you like to own a second home? If so where would you want that home to be?

I would like to own a first home.  Owning my own house is one of my ultimate dreams.  I've fantasized about it.  I've blogged about it.  I've even got a board on Pinterest with some of the things I want in my dream house.  The task of getting there seems daunting, but hopefully it will happen someday.

Insert your own random thought here.

I really need to get back to pampering myself like I used to.

 

Sunny Girlfriend: The Weekly Hodgepodge

Want to join the party?  Go on over to From This Side of the Pond  for the Hodgepodge questions.

What summer activity most takes you back to your own childhood?

Bike riding.  During the summers of my childhood, I'd ride my bike everywhere; to the Eastwood center and pool, to vacation Bible school, and to the store.  Summer was the season of biking around the neighborhood pretending to be Wonder Woman, Batgirl, or the Duke brothers from Dukes of Hazzard. 

What's your favorite summer smell?

The smell in the air after a good summer rain.  The smell of barbeque makes me think of summer.

It's beach season in the US of A...so how do you feel about sand?

I think sand at the beach is wonderful.  I would love to go to the beach and learn to make a sandcastle.

Sun tea, SunChips, sunflower seeds, Capri Sun, Sunny Delight, Sun-Maid raisins, sun-dried tomatoes...your favorite food or beverage with sun in its name?

I really like SunChips.  Garden Salsa is my favorite flavor.

What's your favorite way to cool off on a hot summer day?

Get inside under the air conditioning with a cold drink (water, tea, or the occasional soft drink).

Share a favorite song with the word sun or sunshine in it's title.

 

 

Sunny Girlfriend by The Monkees

 

Tell us about a time you had an exceedingly good or truly awful customer service experience. If it was awful, did you report it? Ever go back there again?

I can't think of one particular negative incident, but it pains me that I usually have a bad customer service experience when I go to one of my favorite stores--Hobby Lobby.  It's just a shame that the helpers at a craft store don't know anything about their products--what they are or where they are in the store.  It's annoying, especially when I've memorized where things are just in time for them to rearrange the store.  I wish I could work there and really help customers.

One of the best customer service experiences was at a Quincy's Restaurant in Anniston, Alabama.  The waitress was a joy and she went way beyond the call of duty.  I went there several times--until I realized they pooled the server's tips.  This wonderful server's tips were being divided amongst mediocre and rude servers.  She eventually tired of it and quit.  I stopped eating there, and eventually the place shut down.  It's a Western Sizzlin' now (I think). 

Insert your own random thought here.

Played around with the baby dress pattern from last week and made some more accessories to go with it.  They fit a newborn/infant.  I sold one set and gave the other as a baby shower gift.  I also got me a new little dollbaby model.  I've named her Jasmine.

I've also been playing around with hats and removable accessories.  I've already sold three.

Love to Love: The Weekly Hodgepodge

Want to join the party?  Go on over to From This Side of the Pond  for the Hodgepodge questions.

What makes love last?

I have no idea.  I've never been in a serious relationship, so I wouldn't know.  I don't even know how to make loving friendships and family relationships last.

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

I've never been a big Beatles fan (no, I'm not in Al Queda).  The Monkees have always been my favorite.  Better music, better looking band members (Mike is my favorite), and, of course, a great TV show.  Here's a couple of my favorite Monkees songs:

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 who love you?

Valentine's day is a reminder of another area of my life that isn't good enough; no boyfriend, no husband, not even a classroom full of babies to celebrate with anymore.  I hate it.  I will not be celebrating at all.  I'll probably stay in bed with the shades drawn so I don't have to face another reminder of what I am not.  I might go to Celebrate Recovery and wear something red.

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

Burger.  I don't know how to pick a good steak; I don't eat them often enough.  The perfect burger has cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, minimal pickles and onions, ketchup and mustard, and a good bun (not a soggy one).  The best burgers are the ones I make myself.  Sonic and Jack's make the best fast food burger, in my opinion.  Man, now I'm hungry for a burger.

The Hodgepodge lands on the birthdate (February 12th) of Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States of America. Lincoln is quoted as saying, 'Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test his character give him power.'  Do you agree? Why or why not?

It's true.  Power, like money and fame, reveals who a person really is.  Power, money, and fame are like a guitar amplifier; they don't create sound, they merely amplify the trueness of the instrument.  Does that mean those things are bad?  Not at all.  It just means it's better for power to be given to people of character.  I think we've seen what power in the wrong hands looks like.

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

I roll my pennies and spend them.  Getting rid of the penny is a stupid idea.  Rounding everything up to the nearest 5 cents is stupid.  Sometimes pennies are the bridge between me and a full tank of gas.

Do you think pop culture deserves serious study?

Yes, it reveals where our society as a whole is going.  Do I think it needs to be a degree program at my favorite universities?  No.

Insert your own random thought here.

This Monkees song describes my Valentine's day plans perfectly:

 

Squash Casserole: The Weekly Hodgepodge

Shout out to From This Side of the Pond for the Hodgepodge questions.

 
What's one thing you learned in September?

I've learned that I have a lot more sadness and bad memories weighing on me that I care to have.  In this process of dealing with emotions and not eating them,  I'm finding that I'm more tired, more depressed and sick, and more frustrated and angry than I want to be.  I know it's part of the process of recovery, but I would like to find some good in my life and find some closure to many of these issues and memories.

Acorn squash, butternut squash, spaghetti squash, yellow squash, zucchini squash, or blech! hold the squash... what's your favorite squash? What's your favorite way to prepare your favorite squash?

Good ole yellow croockneck squash.

The older I get...

...the more I want to live a real life to its fullest.

What's your favorite television theme song ever?

Ever?  The theme to The Monkees

Currently?  Theme to The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson

What do you wish you'd spent more time doing five years ago?

• Working out
• Laughing
• Living
• Reading
• Crafting

What item do you most need (or want) to add to your wardrobe this fall?

Pants (slacks, trousers).  I have plenty of nice blouses, but only a few good pairs of pants.  In another couple of weeks, capri pants aren't going to cut it.  A luxury item I would like is a fringed black leather jacket.  I don't need it; I've just always wanted one.

On October 2, 1950 the Peanuts cartoon was introduced to the world. What was your favorite cartoon when you were a kid?

Superfriends.  They could have done without the Wonder Twins, but still, a good cartoon. 

 

Insert your own random thought here.

Had a really good workout last night; the first in a long while.  I cannot say that I'm well yet.  The ability to maintain consistency will determine if I've finally conquered whatever ailment I had.  I'm still working to improve my mood, although it is difficult.  I don't regret for one minute the changes I've made over the last 12 months.  Directly dealing with what ails me mentally or physically is a lot better than sweeping it under the rug, trying to medicate it, acting like it doesn't exist, and being ashamed that it exists.  Yes, I said it, and I'm not taking it back either.