HAPPY HALLOWEEN HODGEPODGE!

Happy Halloween Eve to you all and thank you Joyce for this week questions!  Join the fun!

1. What's something you're dealing with that might be described as tricky?

Multiple Myeloma - the blood cancer that I have. It is THE most tricky thing that I have ever dealt with!

2.  What's your treat of choice?

Depends on why I need the treat. Chocolate anything is good for just about anything but pie is good for a long day, cobbler is good for fun and my all time just for the love of it is Reese's Peanut Butter Cups!!

3. Did you/will you carve a jack-o-lantern this month? Which real (living or dead) or fictional 'Jack' would you most like to meet in person? Why?

I've not carved a jack-o-lantern in a very long time. As for the Jack I want to meet, I can't think of any Jack that I want to meet in person.

4.  In your opinion, what's the grossest sounding word in the English language?

     Anytime I hear about a child or animal being mistreated, those words are gross sounding to me. How could anyone do such things to others. Especially to such young, Innocents and animals.

5. When did your heart last skip a beat?

My heart skips a beat a lot. When Hubby calls my name, when our grand children call me Grannie and when my oldest grand daughter told me "Grannie, you are the BEST GRANNIE EVER!!!

6. Monster Mash by Bobby 'Boris' Picket, Michael Jackson's Thriller, Werewolves of London by Warren Zevon, or Ray Parker Jr.'s Ghostbusters...your favorite 'scary' tune?

I really like Thriller.

7.   It was a dark and stormy night when______________________________.

The lights went off because of the storm and we spent the whole night huddling up to the fire and talking.  It turned out to be a wonderful night.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

We Are Boston STRONG!

GO RED SOX ! ! !

HUBBY COPIED MY QUESTIONS FOR ME HODGEPODGE

Thank you Joyce for easy questions this week, I need easy these days. 

1. When it comes to good manners, what two top your list of most important?

Please and Thank You.  Simple, straight forward, and always useful.

2. Let's open a proverbial can of worms...Common Core.  Are you familiar with the term (talking education reform in the USA)?  If so, care to share your thoughts? In your opinion, what is one of the biggest issues schools (in your home country) face today?

Yes I know what it is and I don't like it. They teach to the test, ask 2nd graders to challenge their parents decision about what to have and what to do. They teach math in a way that no one can understand and no one child learns the same as others so this Common Core doesn't allow for that at all.

3. Name a celebrity whose fashion sense you admire and share why.
None, I dress for my life, my job, my pocket book - not someone else'. 

4. How are you affected by the changing seasons?

My asthma is worst in the fall and especially in the winter. I can breath just fine in the summer heat and even those "muggy" days, but in the cold, my lungs just freeze and stop working. It's bloody painful!!

5. Scariest book you've ever read?

I don't read scary books, I don't like to be scared.

6. What time of day are you most hungry? What's your go-to snack?

3pm. I just get home from work and I'm getting ready to feed the dogs so I'm hungry too. My go-to-snack is fruit.

7. Do you lean more towards being too needy or too independent? Which do you find harder to deal with in others?

At the moment I am very needy.  I have a lot that I start, but don't finish so it ends up on Hubby's plate to finish. He really did copy the questions for me this week, last week as well if I remember correctly.  I find it hard to deal with it in others so I really hate that I am one of those people right now.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
Hubby took care of getting the double windows down so we will be warmer now that the heat is on. It's suppose to be really cold at night the next few days so I'm glad about that!  The leaves need to be raked or blown away but we just can't get to it right now. I'm trying my first agility trial with August on November 7th and have a back up handler in case my body just can't do it.  I started Yoga this week per the advice of my Oncologist to build up strength and flexibility as this is something that I will need in the future. Talk about Random!!! Just like my brain!!

So now it' your turn. How would you answer the questions?

Another Day....Another Hodgepodge.

1. What was your biggest worry five years ago?  Is it still a worry? 
My biggest worry was "When is Hubby going to Retire?"  He is a hard working man and I really wanted him to retire.  Is it still a worry - NO, thankfully he retired and is home working for me now.....

2. Yesterday (October 15th) was National Grouch Day...what makes you grouchy? What cheers you up when you're feeling grouchy?
Lack of sleep makes me grouchy.  Sometimes August will get me up at Zero Dark- Thirty to go out and then once I get to back to bed, Becke gets me up for the same reason so I finally get back to sleep but then it's time to get up. So lack of sleep makes me grouchy.  So getting in a nap or sleeping very well cheers me up.

3.  In one word, how does it feel to be photographed?
Uncomfortable. 

4. Besides your parents, who would you say had the greatest influence on you in choosing your life path?  Explain. 
Hubby.  He has always encouraged me to do what I like/love.  He is my greatest influence.

Hubby with August when August was a baby.  For some reason, the big guy walks the smallest dog while I walk Becke.  

5. The crisp days of autumn are here ...what's something you like to eat, but only if it's crisp?
Warm apple crisp with lots of brown sugar topping. And ice  cream of course.

Image from Google

6. What's the most useless object you own?
A pocket calendar.  My life is in my cell phone, not in a pocket calendar. In fact, I placed the pocket calendar near the computer and it will most likely not be opened even once just like the 2013 calendar has not been opened at all. 

7.  Share a favorite fall memory. 
I remember when I was younger, my family would pile in the car and "go for a Sunday drive" up north. The main attractions was the changing colors but we would always stop to see the "Old Man Of The Mountain" and "Indian Head". Both of these are natural rock formations that were reinforced with steel to hold their shapes. Alas, Old Man of the Mountain has collapsed and is no more, but Indian Head still lives on.  

Old Man of the Mountain

Indian Head Mountain

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
We are getting ready for the colder months so our days are full of stuff.  Unfortunately, it's stuff we were not planning on doing but had no choice,  like fixing the furnace (power vent died), and replacing kitchen window (it really needed to be replaced). Hopefully, we will get to the other stuff that we knew we had to do.  Fall is cold here in the morning. 

LEAVES ARE FALLING HODGEPODGE!

Boy these questions all seem hard to me today, how about to you? Thanks Joyce for making me think on a day when my brain is done thinking......

1. The USA will mark Columbus Day this year on Monday, October 14th. What's something you need or want to explore (literally or metaphorically speaking)?
At this point in my life, I really try to keep life simple. It takes me all day just to work, feed the dogs and maybe do one other piece of housework before my body crashes so exploring anything seems like just to much work. Sorry.

2. The Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz, Ursula from The Little Mermaid, or Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty...who do you most love to hate?

What's not to love about a Disney evil witch? She is the Mistress of Evil after all!

3. Is open-mindedness a virtue?
The meaning of "Virtue" is:  A virtue is a positive trait or quality deemed to be morallygood and thus is valued as a foundation of principle and good moral being. Personal virtues are characteristics valued as promoting collective and individual greatness. (Wikipedia) So the question becomes: Is Open-mindedness a positive trait or quality deemed to be morally good. I think that looking at both sides of a problem, issue, or idea is a good thing and that, in itself, shows open mindedness but the solution may be different or more conservative than what is considered open minded. So everything in moderation, including solutions to issues.

4. How often do you weigh yourself?

Photo by Google

Every other day!  At our last doctor visit, I told the PA that I felt overweight. She did not agree and told me to eat healthy and if I can move more to move more but not to worry about the number on the scale. Good advice, but I still weigh myself every other day.  Especially since my appetite is shot with this round of chemo.

5. This question comes to you courtesy of Rebecca over at Making Memories, so thanks Rebecca! 

Costa Rica was recently named the happiest country in the world on the Happy Planet Index. What's the happiest country in the world to you, and what makes it so?
I've not visited a lot of countries but I've learned that people are pretty much the same. Some days everything is wonderful, some days - not so much. How do we define "Happy"?  The place that is the happiest place to me is my home.  My husband is there, I love him and he loves me. So no matter what country we are in, I am happy there.

6. Besides The Bible, what is one book you think should be mandatory reading for high school students? Why?
Any book that teaches critical thinking skills, life skills. I've seen so many people graduating from high school who can't balance the check book and can't decide what to do, how to think, evaluate and make good choices. I fear for the newest generation, they are being told what to think and what to do. The more you lean on others, the more those others control you (own you).

7. I went shopping at some nearby outlets last week, and while I was there, I picked up a couple of Christmas gifts. How about you? Have you started your holiday shopping yet?

Photo by Google

I've not started my Christmas shopping yet, I'm still saving up for it.  I hope to get it done soon but again, my energy level is pretty shot. Darn Chemo!

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

The Farmers Almanac for our section of the USA for month of October looks like this. I sure hope they are wrong.  I see that nasty "S" word and I'm not ready for it.
8th-11th. Turning fair and colder.
12th-15th. Cold winds and rain are followed by clearing.
16th-19th. Pleasant early fall weather.
20th-23rd. Rain clears Mid-Atlantic States, then fair and cold. Showers for Upstate NY and New England, with wet snow over the Adirondack, White and Green mountains, then fair and cold.
24th-27th. Fair initially, then showers spread in from west.
28th-31st. Unseasonably chilly weather for Halloween.

So now it's your turn. Join in the fun wont you? 

The Flip Flop Goodby

It's officially Fall up here in the upper right hand corner of the USA and it sure does feel like it is real!  At night the temps are in the high 30's and by day only in the 60's. So at night the heat goes on so that we can wake up to a warm house and during the day, the heat goes off.

One of the first things to go away are my flip flops. I love wearing them and I know that they are not good for ones back or feet, but I love the sun on the toes while having something between the rocks and my feet.  It's always sad when they go back into the closet.  

The flip flops have found their spot in the basket until next year. My heart is heavy over this, people. I love my flip flops and wear them all day, every where. It's always sad to put them away for socks and shoes.

The front door also gets some color with a fall wreath. The glass was so clean that the glare was showing in every photo I took no matter the angle I stood at.

So here is the door again with the storm door open. Do you all have storm doors? We have them up here. The glass comes out and a full screen goes in for the good weather.

And one more photo of the wealth itself.

I do love the colors of fall but not the temperatures. It is getting pretty around here fast! The leaves are so pretty and bright.

Unfortunately, at some point all that beauty up on the trees, land here where we have to blow or rake them all up.

Well, that sure is a workout so it's all good right.  Have a great weekend all. See you Monday.

I know I'm late today but it's still Wednesday Hodgepodge time!!

I know it's late in the day, but I've been busy and didn't have time to get to this. Besides, since it's still Wednesday, it's all still good...right!  Thank you Joyce.

1. What's one thing you learned in September?
"Normal" is wonderful!!

2. 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?
I love them all I don't think I have a favorite one but we are eating a lot of spaghetti squash at the moment. 

3. The older I get the__More I look forwarded to retiring_.

4. What's your favorite television theme song ever?

I always liked this show, it ended every time with everyone having a good time.  

5. What do you wish you'd spent more time doing five years ago?
Saving more for a rainy day.

6. What item do you most need (or want) to add to your wardrobe this fall?
Shoes and boots- I want a few more choices in colors in my footwear selection.

7. On October 2, 1950 the Peanuts cartoon was introduced to the world. What was your favorite cartoon when you were a kid?
The Jetson's!  I loved the idea of robots cleaning and cooking for me. I'm still looking forward to my flying car, aren't you?

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
Yesterday we started round 2 of Chemo. This time it's dubbed "Kill them all, Kill them dead".  It's a different routine than last time and a lot more confusing so thankfully we have it all written down on a calendar so I know what to do, where to go, and what to take on what day to take it. Thank God for our wonderful oncology nurse Lisa, who took the time to make sure that we understood it all.  So the fight continues. 

Cover Reveal for a great new novel

Julie is a fellow blogger and a dream follower as well.  Her dream, to be a writer. She did it!! Her first novel, Polar Night came out eairler this year and it was wonderful. I'm planning on getting this novel as well, as soon as I can. Here is some infromation about the newest novel.

A brilliant flash of light transcends through time.

Another freezes a cloaked figure within a frame of salty mist as waves crash against a rocky shore. Her harrowing expression shadows the beacon to a pinprick.

By the next blaze, she is gone. Only the lighthouse remains.

Hannah’s eyes blink in step with each heartbeat. Images of her deceased parents and Martha’s Vineyard explode like firecrackers inside her mind.

She shakes her head.

For weeks this eerie woman dressed in nineteenth century garb has been haunting my webcam, but tonight she stared into my soul.

Why? ...

Who is she? ...

Casting aside months of research on historic lighthouses, Hannah drives to the coast and boards a ferry.

What is the strange connection she has to this mysterious woman suspended in time?

Hannah finds out.

But, it’s not at all what she expects ...

Hannah unravels a century old murder.

Author Bio:

Julie Flanders is a novelist and freelance writer in Cincinnati, Ohio. She has a life-long love affair with the ocean and has spent more summer vacations than she can count on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. When not writing, Julie can be found reading, cheering on her favorite sports teams, and watching too much television. She is an animal lover and shares her home with her dog and cat.

Find Julie at:

Website ~ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Pinterest ~ Goodreads

The Ghosts of Aquinnah will be released by Ink Smith Publishing on December 5, 2013

Congrats Julie on what looks like another brillant novel and I will be getting mine on December 5th!  Well done, follow your dreams.