Hodgepodge Valentine Edition

Click on the hodgepodge button to read more hodgepodge entries.

1. What is more important to you-doing what you love or loving what you do?

It is important to love what you do. If you are doing what you love, then you are probably loving what you do. The problem with me doing what I love is: short attention span. I love what I am doing at first, but after a while I'm not sure I love it anymore. Then I don't love it. Then I want to quit and do something else. It would be nice to be an artist and always love to create or paint. The only thing I can name that I loved doing is being a mom. I loved doing that and I don't remember ever wanting to quit. I still don't want to quit, but the kids grew and flew.

2. Do you like bleu cheese?

Easy. Yes. I like it stuffed into venison steak and grilled.

3. What is the most difficult emotion for you to handle?

I hate it if I feel I have disappointed someone. Rejection is also a very bad feeling.

4. Fresh flowers or chocolate?

Flowers. Not red roses. I love to have fresh flowers in vases in every room in the house.

5. What's a song you love that has the word 'love' in the title? It doesn't have to be a 'love song'.

More Like Falling in Love by Jason Gray  "....more like falling in love than something to believe in, more like losing my heart than giving my allegiance...falling in love with Jesus brought the change in me...."

6. Are you the person you wanted to be when you grew up?

I keep waiting to see if I am going to grow up. I had a lot of good ideas written down on that 6th grade paper I had to write about what you want to be when you grow up. I think mostly I lacked confidence that I could actually do those things- maybe wasn't willing to put forth the effort it would have taken to become one of those persons. Then I had kids and there was no time left to think about it. Besides, I fell in love with being consumed by those kids. Unhealthy? Yes. But that's what happened. Now I'm trying to "find myself". Maybe I should run off to California. Isn't that where people go to "find themselves"?

7. Any special Valentine's Day plans?

Not that I know of. But I.T. and I have been fighting a super huge energy sucking longlasting cold and are only now getting better- so we really should get outa this house for Valentine's Day.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I started baking gluten-free for Fash and for I.T.- to help them with their gut issues. But now Fash is off at college eating macaroni and cheese from a box and I.T. just bought regular, wheat bread yesterday. But me. I seem to not be able to eat regular macaroni and wheat bread now. Somehow I morphed into the family member who needs to eat the gluten-free way to actually keep her insides functioning well. I don't even like gluten-free baked goods. How did this happen?

Random Catch Up- Christmas Even and Sunday Blues

I've been a little under the weather and I don't know if it's because the snow is so deep or what, but it's been taking me quite a while to get out from under it. This is our front walk after last Wednesday's snowstorm.

When I'm away from blogging too long, I always feel like it's hard to get back into it. I don't ever know where to begin. But here's Outside the Box and Fash at Christmastime. He's complaining that her stocking is twice the size of his and thus, may contain more gifts. I.T.'s aunt knitted these stockings when the kids were born. I guess the pattern elongated over time.

 This was a favorite Christmas moment. Ever since the kids were little, we've always read the Christmas story from the Bible before we open stockings and gifts. Here's I.T. reading the story with Pilgrim in the background. It was so nice having Pilgrim home.

And then, as always happens- off he goes back to California. This is Pilgrim on the right, then his roommate, his neighbor from Cali and his roommate's girlfriend-at the airport. A bunch of nice, musically talented kids.

Maybe I've blogged it before, I don't know, but Sundays are doomsdays for me since the empty nest thing hit. I always miss the kids the most on Sunday. Sunday was always family day at our house, so I guess it just feels extra empty on Sunday. Church should provide some solace but:

 I'm not experiencing any community at the church we've been attending for about fourteen years and that makes me not really want to go there. But it's hard to find a new church. I've been attending church all my life, I would have thought that by this point I'd feel a real sense of belonging within a church family. So that whole situation compounds my Sunday blues.

But today is Tuesday. Tuesday is not a day for the blues. I'm feeling a little more energy today than I had yesterday. So, I'm going to steam clean the carpets. 

Hodgepodge Wednesday #2

1. Will you watch the Super Bowl? If so who will you root for? If you are outside the USA what is the 'big deal sporting event' in your own country?

In past years, we have gone to our friends' house around the corner. They have a big screen t.v. We try to play pinochle and watch the Super Bowl at the same time, while eating wings and drinking wine. I usually notice things like a football player, who has hair down to his waist that sticks out from under his helmet. I think more about how dangerous it is for that guy to be playing with his long hair sticking out for some other Brut to grab and yank and possibly break his neck with, than I do watching the plays. I also like reading the names on the jerseys and watching the silly fans in the stands on those pan shots. I root for whoever is running a long ways at one time with the ball. I mean that is really something to be able to get by all those big dudes, not to mention all that running. That impresses me whether he's stealing or packing.

2. Is ignorance bliss?

Well, using my previous answer as evidence, I'd have to guess that maybe it is.

3. Which of the seven dwarfs are you? (and just in case your Disney is a little bit rusty, here they are-Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, and Sneezy)

In the morning, when I rise, I am Sleepy. Every time. I'm not shy enough to be Bashful, not smart enough to be Doc, not dumb enough to be Dopey. Grumpy? Yes, he is a contender. Happy? Yes, mostly I am. I don't have enough allergies to be Sneezy.

4. When you are riding in the car with another couple how do you organize the seating? (Men up front? Women up front? Couples sit together?) And thanks to Lori at Mountain Woman at Heart for the question! Everyone go say hi to Lori.

Men in the front seat, ladies in the back. Unless we don't like the couple, then we stick them in the back and by that I mean in the bed of the truck- cap off. Then we drive real fast.

5. What is beauty?

My mother always says, "Beauty is as beauty does." In other words, a person is most beautiful who treats others kindly, is polite, smiles a lot and is all around, generally pleasant. She also said, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." I agree with both.

6. If someone asks you to bring an appetizer or a dessert to a party in their home, which would you choose?

Triple chocolate, rocky road brownies- gluten free. The test batch is sitting on my kitchen counter right now and I will bring them to the Super Bowl party, if I get invited to one. I'll bake a new batch, that is. The current one will have disappeared by then. 

7. What is your crowd pleasing go-to appetizer?

My sister's cheese ball rolled in nuts and red and green, chopped apple peel and chives is a definite crowd pleaser. Every time. I've stolen that recipe and now use it as my own.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

On Monday after work I went to the library in the town where I work and there discovered they own the Complete Season 4 of Top Chef- on location in Chicago, for me to borrow! (We don't get the Food Network on our t.v.) I do not know what on earth is the matter with me, but I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning watching every episode Monday and Tuesday nights. Call me a geek, but this show makes me laugh, makes me cry and makes me hungry. I love the show. I love the food. I love watching Tom Colicchio and Padma Lakshmi- my favorite judges. I even got my I.T. hooked on watching this foodie competition. He didn't really want to, but because he had to work this morning, I.T. had to get to bed, so he couldn't stay for the "after the win- interviewing" episode. On his way up the stairs to bed he called out to me really loudly, "You're my Top Chef!" Which made me feel great and cracked me up.

Are you a U.S. citizen? This Affects You.

Thank you to blogger friend, KW, a faithful servant to the citizens of the United States of America. This is his post. It is short and it affects you. Read it and pass it on.
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A New Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

Governors of 35 states have filed suit against the Federal Government for imposing unlawful burdens upon them. It only takes 38 (of the 50) States to convene a Constitutional Convention.
This will take less than thirty seconds to read.

The new 28th Amendment is an idea that we should address.For too long Americans have been too complacent about the workings of our Congress.  Many citizens have no idea that members of Congress can retire with the same pay, $165,200 per year, FOR LIFE, after only one term.

AND that they specifically exempted themselves from many of the laws they have passed (such as being exempt from any fear of prosecution for sexual harassment) while ordinary citizens must live under those laws. 

The latest corruption was to exempt themselves from the Healthcare Reform... in all of its forms. 

Somehow, that doesn't seem logical. We should not have an elite that is above and apart from the law. I truly don't care if they are Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Greens, Independents, Communists, Nazis or Whatever. This elitist self-serving above the law mentality must stop. And we can't expect them to impose this upon themselves. We must do it for them, and for us.

COPY the text of this post and email it to 20 people, or re-post it on your blog, in three weeks, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one proposal that really should be passed around.

Proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution: 

 "Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States."

Sunday Rap

I.T.'s project took him to work today, on a Sunday. So, I drove over and attended church with my first born son and his bride-to-be. That was fun. The people over there are so warm and accepting. A cute baby was baptized and a college intern gave a sort of impromptu piano concert during the Lord's Table at the end of the service, which was a real treat (the piano music, not the elements). The best part was after the service during the regular "Sunday School" hour. Instead of the usual programming, there was an intergenerational time of discussion over a couple of pre-selected questions designed to provide a faith sharing experience. I like this sort of thing.

After church I had the rare pleasure of eating lunch with my son at his house- just the two of us. Bride-To-Be had work to do, so that left son and me to continue discussions surrounding what we believe and why, and how God has been working in each of our lives. It was truly like old times when he used to live at our house a million years ago. I'll mark it as my favorite three hours of the entire month of January.

Back at the ranch, and by ranch I mean suburban, brick, dwelling with walk-out lower level, I found I.T. lazing in his Lazy Boy watching television! Yep. Television. We have not had television in about two years, because we don't want to pay for cable- because our converter box won't convert and because the I.T. says he has no will power over television, so it's just better if we do not have it. It seems someone at the Sunday work party had a spare antennae, which looks more like a little satellite dish that sticks on a window near the television, that he decided to give to I.T. That little sucker works like a charm for about four channels. And that was enough to tune in the football games that will decide who plays in the Super Bowl. Isn't that something?

Packers, Bears- sounds like a camping trip to me, so I headed for the kitchen to try out a new gluten- free chocolate brownie recipe. Turned out to be a real winner too- the snack I will be bringing to the Super Bowl party (if we get invited to one).

Fashionista called just as I was downing my second brownie. I was so glad to hear she is feeling better after a weekend of being ill. Dorm rooms. I can just picture the happy germs that live there. Ick! Of course I made sure to tell her about sixty times to wipe down everything touchable with those bleach cloths I bought her. I could see her rolling her eyes right through the phone line.

Now, I'm settling in for a cozy, fireside game of backgammon with my hero hubby, Information Technologist. If my California son, Pilgrim, calls me, it will be icing on the cake of this near to perfect, negative 6 degree, beautiful, sunny day.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Joyce, From This Side of the Pond hosts this meme. Thought I'd join in this week. See more hodgepodge at Joyce's blog.

1. Do you like your name? Were you named after someone? If you have children how did you settle on their names?

My mother tells me I am named after Heidi, that yodeling, Swiss with pigtails from the movie of the same name. Whether it was the original film that debuted in 1937 or the remake in 1959 that inspired her, I'm unsure. But I guess she was not equally impressed with all of the characters, as she did not name my brother Peter. "Heidi" has always been fine by me, but it does originate from the longer, Adelheid (Ad-dell-hate), which means "noble kind". This may explain why I am the queen. Somewhere I once read that the name Heidi stems from the name Adelaide, meaning "battle maiden", which actually explains a whole lot more and with greater accuracy.

As for our three kids, unintentionally they all ended up with "J" middle names- the only one with special meaning is Fash's. Her middle name is the same as my mother's.

2. How do you define success?

I define success differently now than I would have in past years. At this stage of the game, for me, success has to do with the solid, everlasting, life saving grip on the truth of the Word- that He made me, He loves me and He gave his life for mine. Success is each and every time that I am unwaveringly persuaded of that truth to my very core. Success is when that truth affects my thinking and my doing and my saying. Success is when Love wins.

3. Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy?

Toughie. I like words and word puzzles. But I enjoy learning overall more. I'll take Jeopardy for 500.

4. If you could own any single object that you don't have now, what would that object be?

Stainless steel, electric frying pan. No Teflon. The one I had belonged to an old lady with one front tooth, who sold corn from her front yard stand- 6 ears for a dollar. She died and her kids held an estate sale. The Farberware fry pan cost me four dollars and it was like brand new. After using it just about every day for the past seven years or so, the electrical parts suddenly fried up in a puff of smoke. At Christmastime I can never think of one thing to put on my list. After Christmas when all the money is long spent, I can't stop thinking of  list items. I wonder why that is.

5. What is something that inspires you?

I am inspired by simple stories of faith that I hear and/or read about: the customer in the bookstore who was searching for the perfect gift for a boy she did not know who was making profession of faith at his church on account of the impact her own son, suddenly and recently dead of a heart attack, had made on that boy's life, the forgiveness that an entire Amish community offered to the family of a man who took the lives of their children while they were at school and then ended his own, the story my friend tells of how she and her husband told little pieces of the Gospel to the ski lift operator every time it was their turn to catch the chair, in response to questions he had asked, which led to a more in-depth conversation over lunch, in the lodge. Or a small woman who went as a missionary to China during turbulent war times, and by the strength of God led many children on a journey out of harm's way and into safety. The miracles from those who have trusted  in the Lord our God- who are trusting in Him now-  are everywhere for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear and nothing compares to the inspiration that comes from them.

6. Meatloaf-yea or nay? If its a yay how do you make yours?

Meatloaf- a resounding yes! Mine is 2/3 venison and 1/3 Italian sausage, is made with horseradish sauce and has two, whole boiled eggs laid end to end in the center, so that when you carve it, every piece has a perfectly round slice of hard cooked egg in the middle. It's a favorite here.

7. Which is more admirable-the ability to organize and be methodical or the ability to adapt and make do?

Oh my. In this household, I.T. has an over the top ability to organize and is the definition of methodical. But I also have never seen a person so adept at adapting and able to make do with what is on-hand. The guy is such a package and I just don't know which parts I admire most. I think when a person can adapt without complaint and be content to make do, that is quite admirable. Personally, I lack in every area. Remember my name- Adelheid, the Queen.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

In my opinion, Mattie Ross demonstrated way more True Grit in the 1969 film than the Duke. He was just better at wielding a gun. The Mattie Ross of the 2010 version had some grit, but Jeff Bridges, he's no gun twirler.

New Appreciation of the Empty Nest

There was a time, not long ago, when I cried daily over this home void of children, who grew up too fast and moved out to new dwellings and far away college places....but after this past weekend....well...

 A few weeks back, I.T. told his sister, who lives out of town, that she and her family, which includes two young swimmers, could stay at our house over the weekend of the "away" swim meet that was to take place at our local high school pool. If you've ever been involved in a USA weekend swim meet for grade school kids, you know that they go on and on for hours and hours over a period of two days- Sat. and Sun. I.T.'s sister also has two younger sons who are not yet old enough to be on the swim team. So, mother and daughter arrived on Friday night and father and three sons arrived on Saturday morning. Our house served as Grand Central Station for the family swimmers and their parents, who traveled back and forth, to and from the pool to compete and cheer, have lunch, compete and cheer, rest up, compete and cheer....repeat.

And the two little guys hung out with Aunt Heidi, who prepared meals and snacks and tried to keep the kitchen and bathrooms clean and Uncle I.T., who built a fort that covered the entire family room, took the boys sledding- twice and played corn hole and other games in the living room- several rounds.

At 7:15 pm on Sunday night, we were serving up the final meal- south of the border dinner. All the kids were dead dog tired, staring into space, while chomping down their tacos. I.T. and I were past dead dog tired. We were just dead.

After the good-bys, we love you guys, thanks for comings and one more cleaning up of dishes and vacuuming of ten million crumbs- I.T. and I just looked at each other, smiled and said,

"Gosh, we love this empty nest!"