Hodge and Podge
Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 5:01AM I am joining with Joyce at From This Side Of The Pond today for her Wednesday Hodgepodge. I like Joyce even though she keeps kicking my butt at Words With Friends. Go say hi to her. 
1. Lake Superior University has once again published a list of words/phrases they think should be banished from the Queen's English in 2012-
amazing, baby bump, shared sacrifice, occupy, blowback, man cave, the new normal, pet parent, win the future, trickeration, ginormous, and thank you in advance.
Which of these words/phrases would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why?
Is it wrong that I kind of like a few of these? "Baby bump" for example is such an apt descriptor and "thank you in advance" is useful from time to time. I guess I'd have to go with "pet parent". No matter how much you like an animal, you are not their parent.
'Cause that would be weird. And if it were possible what would we call that bump? Puppy bump? Kitten bump?
It's too strange to contemplate.
2. Are you easily embarrassed?
Yes. After living with Hayden for all these years, you'd think I'd be tougher but I am not. I still cringe when I remember the time our kinda hot African-American next door neighbor who later turned out to be a thug came over to bring us a gift after I had Faith. He was sitting at our kitchen table holding the baby and cooing over her when Hayden came up, looked him dead in the eye and asked him if he was made of chocolate.
I wanted to die. And that is just one of an entire list of times the boy embarrassed me. I should do a series some time.
3. What is your go-to snack?
Raw broccoli with a drizzling of red-wine vinegar reduction.
No, not really. Um . . . whatever is not nailed down?
4. Have you ever been to Washington D.C.? If not do you have any desire to go? What site/attraction would you most want to see in that city? If you have been, what's your favorite site/attraction?
Yes, I have been to D.C. many times. It's where my grandparents lived while I was growing up and my grandpa and his wife still live there. Our latest trip was in the fall of 2010 and you can read about it here.
This is my favorite photo from that trip.
We happened upon the Einstein memorial one day quite by accident and I think it's completely charming.
5. Sit ups-planks-lunges-squats which do you hate the least?
I'm going with sit ups. The pain from those is isolated to just one small area.
6. What's a small act of kindness you were shown that you've never forgotten?
Dangit. I know there are many, but I can't think of one right now. I'll have to get back to you on this.
7. Have you ever been a blood donor?
Yes, and come to think of it I need to get in again soon. It's been a while.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
Have you seen the show Dance Moms? The girls and I watched several episodes back to back yesterday and it freaks me out. If that's what it takes to make your kid famous, no thank you. Those moms make me glad I'm not rich and that I life in a place where that level of competition does not exist. My kids may not ever be super stars, but that's not really the point of parenthood is it?
Reader Comments (16)
I'm sorry, but your story about Hayden asking if your neighbor was made of chocolate made me laugh out loud. Are there as few African americans in Nebraska as there are in New Hampshire.
As for the sit ups-planks-lunges-squats question, I would switch it to which do I love the least. My answer would be planks because I'm not moving.
BTW, my post on non-dairy milks today was inspired by you. I hope you enjoy it :)
Glad I'm not the only one who's second child likes to blurt out embarrassing word-vomit!
#2? Is beyond hilarious. Seriously, that's so very funny.
Cute post! I have to say, I am somewhat easily embarrassed, but I do rather enjoy embarassing my own children :) It's a wonderful pay back and so much easier to do to them.
Dance Moms . . .ewwww. I saw those ladies on Anderson yesterday and I'll never watch that show ever.
And chocolate. *giggle* it is only funny because it didn't happen to us . . .
Miriam - at the time, our population was less diverse, but there were three African-American families living on our street so it's not like it was a novel thing! And yes, I was inspired. Maybe I"ll even give it another week.
Abby - No you are definitely not the only one.
Megan - Funny now but not so much at the time.
Paula - Ooooh, I like doing that too!
KB - It's like watching a car wreck!
I like sit-ups because you get to kind of lay down while doing them. Considering I usually do abs after I've done legs, back anything else torturous, I'll take laying down when I can - also, did I mention, my husband cheerfully gets me up at 5:30am to work out? I could crawl back to bed after an hour.
That memorial is so neat! I'd love to visit it.
I saw dance moms for the first time when my daughter was home. All that shouting was just too much-ugh!
It's possible I'm typing my comment to you from a coffee shop very close to Einstein : )
Alexi is addicted to Dance Moms. AND I'm posting the link to this blog post on Alli's wall because I know the chocolate post is gonna make her laugh really hard. :)
I tried to comment earlier, but my computer at work hates me, or rather all the pop-up blockers, virus protection, and other security measures hate me.
I hate Dance Moms just about as much as I hate Toddlers & Tiaras. They both make me cringe. I hope that if I ever turn out like those moms someone will shoot me and put me out of my misery.
The Hayden story was hilarious and made me giggle out loud.
Okay, I thought it was funny when Eliana told me there were chocolate eggs at the store (brown eggs in the fridge case)...Hayden is so funny! I know it's the kind of thing that was not funny when it happened (I guess it depends on if the dude had a sense of humor). You should definitely write a post (if H is okay with that ;) ).
I, for one, would like to know if Joyce has EVER lost a game at WWF?
Because she kicks my behind.
I've seen a handful of 'Dance Mom' episodes but I've only been able to watch fifteen minutes of each. At the fifteen minute mark I'm thinking very bad, hateful thoughts at both the moms and the dance instructor while also feeling terribly sad for those kids and I need to change the channel. I really cringe when the moms/dance instructor talk about dance taking a higher priority over academics. So wrong. I have cousins who take dance and at most it takes two nights out of their week. They still have time for other activites, a chance to have a life and do good in school and they dance just as well as the girls on the show. Okay novel over : )
Krista - your husband is a mean, mean man.
Brenda - I know! It make Einstein seem cuddly!
Joyce- I had a feeling . . :)
Heather - I love you and your girls.
Lorrie - They need interventions for moms like that. Hey! That would be a GREAT show!
Christina - I'll check with him when he's feeling less teenagerish.
LJW - I've beaten her a couple of times, but it's rare.
Kristen - I'm really hoping for reunion shows down the road so we can see how these poor girls turn out.
Really? 'Cause I'm pretty sure it was hilarious at the time. At least, when your neighbor related it to his friends it was!