Hodgepodge Wednesdays & November's 10 on the 10th

It's Wednesday and time for the Hodgepodge with Joyce. Since yesterday was the 10th I'm also joining in for Marsha's 10 on the 10th. 

 

1. Marilyn texted me something that inspired this question, so thank you Marilyn! Of the following sayings, typically associated with the (American) southern way of speaking, which do you most relate to right now? Explain. 

Bless your heart~too big for yer britches~ madder than a wet hen~you're preachin' to the choir~

knee high to a grasshopper~oh my stars

 

Probably Oh My Stars!  It seems like each time my sister or I talk to someone who was much closer to my dad than we were we find out something rather new and shocking. Each time I think I've finally made peace with who he was, I learn something else and have to readjust all over again. It feels like it's prolonging the grief process and it makes it harder to hold onto what good memories I do have. 

2. The Hodgepodge lands on (US) Veterans Day this year. Are you a veteran? Have a family member who's a veteran? If you answered yes, tell us something about them. Will you do anything to mark the day in some special way? 

No, I never served but I know my grandfather served during WWII and my uncle served during Vietnam but I think that's about it. I don't typically do anything to mark the day. 

3. Is breakfast for dinner a stroke of genius or a sign of total household collapse? Is breakfast for dinner a regular thing at your house? Are all family members on board? 

I think of breakfast for dinner as an easy night of cooking but it's rarely something we do, mostly because my husband is not on board at all and complains about it. So the boys and I typically plan breakfast for dinner on a night he's working late or has a haircut and won't be here for dinner. When we do breakfast for dinner it's usually waffles or pancakes with fruit and either bacon or sausage since none of us really enjoy eggs. 

4. How do you see the world? 

 I see the world as mostly beautiful with good people in it- I know it's not all beautiful and there are many evil or selfish or rude people in it but I still notice lots of small kindnesses so the good is there too. That said I prefer to look at parts of the world where there are little to no people around. 

 

5. And this week's gratitude question-what's something about your surroundings (home, neighborhood, city) you're grateful for? 

That's easy! I am so thankful to live on the lake. Waking up to this view never gets old.  

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Marsha picked such a fun theme for this month's 10 on the 10th. I grew up watching The Muppet Show, all the Muppet movies, Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock so I feel like I had lots of Muppets in my life. In case you don't know about them Muppets are a particular type of puppet created by Jim Henson in the 1950's. He sort of married hand held puppets with marionettes hence the name Muppet. 

We took our boys to Sesame Place often so lots of Sesame Street characters made my list (though, clearly the characters we met in the park are not actual Muppets). In no particular order I love:

1. Cookie Monster-- what's not to love about a monster that constantly craves cookies?

Alec and Ian and I with Cookie monster

2. The Swedish Chef-- I'm not sure he would have made the list years ago but now that I have my own chef in the family he holds new meaning. 

3. Kermit the Frog 

4. Big Bird-- fun fact; the guy that played Big Bird (and Oscar the Grouch), Caroll Spinney, lived just a couple of towns away. 

Alec, Ian and I met Big Bird

5. The Count

Evan, Ian, and I with the count

6. Oscar the grouch-- such a lovable grouch. 

 

 7. Grover (and his alter ego supergrover)-- one of my favorite books growing up was The Monster at the End of This Book and I just loved how dramatic Grover was. 

 

Alec and Ian with Grover

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8. Fozzie the Bear

9. Zoe-- I never really knew this character growing up but it was Alec's absolute favorite and so she became one of mine too.

Alec with Zoe

10. Elmo 

I also really enjoy Miss Piggy, Beaker, Gonzo, Animal, and who could forget Bert and Ernie too?