Wednesday Hodgepodge



More questions from Joyce!  Click on the button above to see how other people answered this week's questions, and/or to participate!

1.  How has your hometown changed since you were a kid?  What has changed most about the neighborhood you grew up in? 

We have had some business developments in the past few years, which has brought in some chain restaurants:  McAlister's Deli, Salsarita's, Panera, Five Guys, Buffalo Wild Wings, Chili's, Olive Garden, and Cheddar's.  There has also been a "Greenway" developed with walking/bike trails, so you could walk/ride your bike all around the Small Town if you wanted.  
As far as the neighborhood, not much has changed, except for the people. The street where I grew up is still pretty much the same.  The trees are a little bigger, but other than that, there's not much difference.  When we moved back 7 years ago, one thing that struck me was how well the older neighborhoods had been maintained; for the most part, anyway.  

2.  What song makes you laugh? 
Any song that is sung by a toddler.

3.   Are you a fan of Harry Potter?  Read the books?  Seen any/all of the  movies?  Will you be standing in line somewhere close to midnight later  this week? For those of you playing along today who live outside the US  or UK is Harry Potter a phenomenon in your part of the world?
I LOVE HP!  But, I'm not such a fanatic that I have to stand in line to see the new one.  In fact, I didn't see Part 1 at the theater.  CH was dead set against spending that much money to watch it since they split it up into 2 parts. We have all of the movies on tape/dvd. The movie is going to be the same, no matter when I watch it.

4.   If the truth hurts, will you tell a lie?  Are we better off as a  society in a world that allows no form of deception whatsoever? 

The problem with me lying is that the person can see straight through me.  I'm a terrible liar.  Sometimes the truth hurts, but it's a "character builder".  I think our society has become too "feel good"; kids/people aren't made to deal with reality, even if it hurts.

5.  What is your favorite 'sauteed in garlic and butter' food?  Or garlic and olive oil if that makes you feel better.

What isn't good sauteed in garlic & butter?  I'd have to say zucchini and/or squash, along with some mushrooms would be my favorite.


6.  Attending any reunions this summer/year?  High school?  family?  Other?  Do these events stir up excitement or dread?

No reunions this summer.  

7.  Lilac, hydrangea, peony...pick one. 

LOVE the smell of lilacs.  

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
YS is away at band camp this week.  I have to admit, I was a little sad seeing him go on Sunday.  This is the first year I haven't been a chaperone.  Even though we didn't really talk a lot to each other while at camp, I thought he needed to go away on his own, without the security blanket of knowing I was there.  When I told him I wasn't going, he asked why, but then asked about the other mom who has also gone the past 2 years (she's a "guard mom").  He was a bit worried about who would take care of the guard, but I told him that they were big girls and could take care of themselves.  Turns out another guard mom is chaperoning, so there should be no worries!

21 comments:

  1. We are always amazed at the number of restaurants around there now. Course you have the mountains in the background and nothing changes the beauty of that backdrop!

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  2. Just reading your comments about band camp reminds me how glad I am that those days are OVER! I had one in guard and one was a percussionist. Good gravy but it was HOT during camp every year. And the percussionists had to meet all summer long NOT just during band camp which ran from 7:00 am until 10:00 pm EVERY DAY for at least one week and then...well, you know. You're living it now!

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  3. I always love reading your Hodge Podge answers! Are you going to get to get together with your sisters this year since your summer vacation is so short?

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  4. I can't believe we're just days away from the last HP movie! I'm so excited, but sad at the same time. I won't stand in lines to see it either, but I'll definitely be seeing it soon!

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  5. I agree with you! What isn't good cooked in garlic and butter? LOL :)

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  6. YS is at camp - does this mean you're home sans kids?? Princess goes to camp next week and we will be "home alone" until Thurs when oldest DS is coming for a visit.

    Love the smell of lilac but can't seem to grow them.

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  7. The small business district near where I grew up is in a county which is "dry", meaning no alcohol is sold or served there so they have none of the chain restaurants there. When we visit for the day it is hard to find a place to eat that isn't fast food.
    I don't know where you are located but I feel sorry for any children in band camp here with the heat. I remember when mine attended and how hot it was. Some of them had heat related symptoms because of it.
    Mama Bear

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  8. I wish we had band camp in the UK, it sounds like a brilliant experience for kids to have. I'd love to be able to do an exchange sometime - being a guard mom or chaperone or some sort of other musical leader would be wonderful!!

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  9. I enjoyed reading your blog today. Now I have to go and find some zucchini. :-)

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  10. I've never been a fan of Harry Potter...didn't let my children read the books when they were younger. That said, my Chicky is going to see the second showing of the movie. Guess she's making up for what she missed out on, eh?

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  11. I agree with you on #4 and also the HP one and the lilacs.

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  12. Loved #2 (toddlers singing)

    4. I feel the same way about pussy-footing around the truth. Don't ask me a question you don't want a truthful answer to--I won't lie. (but I won't deliberately hurt you)

    Good for you for knowing it was time to let YS do his own thing. You're a great mom.

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  13. I think you were wise to let YS go to band camp on his own this year; it is a good growing experience for both of you LOL! Sounds like your hometown made some nice improvements with those greenways for bike/walking trails! That's one thing I miss from two moves ago when we lived in Laguna Niguel which was six miles from the ocean. They had planned a lot of walking trails so it gave us lots of places to walk Koda. That spoiled us.

    enjoy the rest of your week!

    betty

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  14. Good answer for #4 and #5! : )

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  15. Yeah, my hometown changed a lot because in Iowa all you have is flat land to develop. I have so many opportunities to chaperone my son's events since I teach at the school he attends, but I stay away not because he wants me to but because I feel he doesn't need his mom hanging around him. It is hard enought that I work at his school.

    Great answers!!

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  16. I am excited to be going to the last Harry Potter Movie on Friday. It will be sad however.
    I have lilac in my yard as well and I do agree, they do smell gret!

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  17. Love reading your answers each week. I think yours were exactly opposite of mine this time!

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  18. Your "small town" sounds just perfect to me!

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  19. Yep - you and I have the favorite grilled in butter and garlic dish - but like you said - what isn't good in butter and garlic!

    I haven't seen part I yet either - although I did buy the DVD. I'll probably do the same with 2 - so far I haven't been able to bring myself to watch 1 - 2 will probably sit on the shelf as well.

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  20. Unfortunately, most of the older homes along the street I grew up on are not being very well taken care of. My mother's, and a few neighbors have the most beautiful homes. They have lived in these homes forever and you can see the pride they take in caring for them as they age.

    Good post, Mary!

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  21. I know with our daughters OCD we have to be very careful in answering her questions. I don't believe in deeply hurting people if you don't have to but I do believe in telling the truth.

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