A Thankful Hodge Podge

Here we go, this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back over to Joyce's blog to share answers with your friends and neighbors. See you there! Be sure to read and respond to someone else's comments.  You can really learn a lot that way.

1. What's surprised you most about your life, or about life in general?  When after 25 years of teaching in one place....instead of retiring....I moved to a different system and started over.  This was one of the best career decision I have ever made.
2. Among others, these ten words were added to the Oxford English Dictionary this year...awesomesauce, beer o'clock, brain fart, buttdial, cat cafe (apparently this is a real thing), fatberg (gross-read the definition here), fat shame, hangry, Mx (gender neutral), and skippable. 
Your thoughts? In looking over the list, which word do you find most ridiculous? Which word would you never in a million years say out loud? Which word would you be most likely to use in conversation? Personally I would use very few of them in a conversation.  I do like awesomesauce and have used it several times in conversations.  I think they are all pretty ridiculous.3. Do you like gravy? Is there a food you'd rather not eat unless it comes with gravy? Do you make your own or buy the canned or store-made variety? Turkey and gravy, sausage gravy, mashed potatoes and gravy, country ham and red eye gravy, biscuits and chocolate gravy, pot roast and gravy...which one on the list is your favorite?  I can take or leave gravy.  I do like it sometimes.  I like sausage gravy once in a while.  My mom used to make tomato gravy with biscuits and I loved that.  Creamed chipped beef I love.  I have never had chocolate gravy but have heard a lot about it lately and think I will have to check it out.  I mean....who doesn't like chocolate.  I love pot roast but prefer au jus.4. Do you have a plan? Do you need a plan? Have you ever had a plan fall into a trillion pieces? Explain.  I always have a plan.  I am not a fly by the seat of my pants kind of person.  I need a plan...especially as a teacher,  I have had numerous plans fall into a trillion pieces.  It never fails.  I remember my greatest lesson plan ever fell to the wayside on 9/11.  I spent all day teaching history in a Spanish class because the kids needed to talk about it....and so did I.
5. November 19 is National Play Monopoly Day. Do you own the original or some version of the game? Do you enjoy playing Monopoly? How likely is it you'll play a game of Monopoly on November 19th? Ever been to Atlantic City? Ever taken a ride on a railroad? Is parking in your town free? Last thing you took a chance on?  I own Monopoly.  It is one of Frank's favorite board games.  I do not like playing it.  I always lose.  I have been to Atlantic City and walked on the Boardwalk and saw all the roads named after Monopoly places.  I have taken many rides on railroads.  I have even been on a train that was derailed....talk about exciting.  Parking in my town is free.  There used to be parking meters, but no more.  I took a chance on a rifle and quilt for one of the local schools....oh and two Talladega tickets.  I did not win any of them.6. A song you like that has the word (or some form of the word) thanks in the title, lyrics, or meaning?  Thank You by Ray Boltz

I sang it at the funeral of a friends young son and have never sung it again. 

Thank You - Ray Boltz

I dreamed I went to heaven
And you were there with me;
We walked upon the streets of gold
Beside the crystal sea.
We heard the angels singing
Then someone called your name.
We turned and saw a young man running
And he was smiling as he came.

And he said, "Friend you may not know me now."
And then he said, "But wait,
You used to teach my Sunday School
When I was only eight.
And every week you would say a prayer
Before the class would start.
And one day when you said that prayer,
I asked Jesus in my heart."

Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am so glad you gave.

Then another man stood before you
And said, "Remember the time
A missionary came to your church
And his pictures made you cry.
You didn't have much money,
But you gave it anyway.
Jesus took the gift you gave
And that's why I'm here today."

Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am so glad you gave.

One by one they came
Far as the eye could see.
Each life somehow touched
By your generosity.
Little things that you had done,
Sacrifices made,
Unnoticed on the earth
In heaven, now proclaimed.

And I know up in heaven
You're not supposed to cry
But I am almost sure
There were tears in your eyes.
As Jesus took your hand
And you stood before the Lord.
He said, "My child, look around you.
Great is your reward."

Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am so glad you gave.

Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am so glad you gave.

 7. In keeping with this month's theme of gratitude....what is something you're taking for granted that when you stop and think about it, you're grateful for?  Life
8. Insert your own random thought here.  Bad decisions make good stories.   Have you ever made a bad decision and had a good story to go with it?  Trying to save my first marriage I did something my ex loved....we went to Biloxi.  I was on crutches with a fractured ankle.  I am not a gambler by nature....so I spent my 20.00 on slots and then found a couch near the front door and was reading a book I was doing a review on.  I looked up as the doors parted and four of my parent's deacon's entered.  There was a deer in the headlights look on both parts.  Then I found it rather amusing.  My parents knew where I was.  They were staunch Baptists and did not believe in gambling....but had approved this attempt to save my marriage.  This was their deacons.....four of them.  They were as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs.   The head deacon asked me to please not say anything to my dad about this. I never said a word about it to my dad.....but I still laugh about it when I think back on that day.