Hodgepodge Vol 81

It is Wednesday and that means it is time for Hodge Podge.  Hope you will join in.  If you have a blog then copy the questions in a post and click here to link up with Joyce so that we can all enjoy your answers too.  Joyce works hard to come up with some really good questions and it is fun to see how everyone answers.

1. In what way are you your own worst enemy?  I don't give myself enough credit in what I CAN do.  Sometimes I sell myself short because I am afraid to try.

2. Jacques Cousteau's birthday was Monday, June 11th...ever been scuba diving? Is that something you'd like to try? What's your favorite 'under the sea' creature?    I have been scuba diving and snorkeling.  I was not impressed because I am claustrophobic.  I did love seeing the sea horses, turtles and brightly colored fish off the reef in Key West.  If was amazing.

3. On a scale of 1-10, how comfortable are you in and around the water? (1=not at all, 10=very) Do you know how to swim and if so how and when did you learn? I am comfortable around water - at least a 10.  I learned how to swim at the YWCA when I was a child....living near the beach made this very important.  I went all the way through Life Saver.  I love water....but as I have aged I am not thrilled with lake water.....I can't see the bottom.

4. What's something you do to motivate yourself to tick an item off your to-do list?  Make a calendar of when I want something done.  If I have a schedule....I am good to go.

5. What makes a good neighbor? Are you a good neighbor? In Luke 10 Jesus says we are to love our neighbors as ourselves and I truly believe that.  I have an elderly lady next door - Mrs. Mildred and I have spent many nice moments in her house visiting with her.  I have wonderful neighbors on both sides of me and I think you should know your neighbor, check on them, be considerate of them....and yes, I am a good neighbor.  I have good neighbors too. 

6. Who loads the dishwasher at your house? Is there a right way and a wrong way?   I load the dish washer most of the time....although we do have a if Frank cooks - Karen cleans and vice versa rule.  I don't fret over the way the dishwasher is loaded....there is more important things to deal with than loading a dishwasher...like washing white clothes with something red.  LOL

7. You know it's summer when the lightening bugs come out in the south and the gardens start coming in.  I love the fresh vegetables.  I ate two tomatoes off Mr. Larrys vines today and they were delish.  Definitely a plus over the grocery store, no-taste tomatoes I have eaten all winter.

8. Insert your own random thought here. Tomorrow is Flag Day.  What do you know about Flag Day?  On June 14th, 1885, Bernard J. Cigrand, a 19 year old teacher at Stony Hill School, placed a 10 inch, 38- star flag in a bottle on his desk then assigned essays on the flag and its significance. This observance, commemorated Congresses adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777. This observance was also the beginning of Cigrand’s long years of fervent and devoted effort to bring about national recognition and observance of Flag Day. The crowning achievement of his life came at age fifty when President Wilson, on May 30, 1916, issued a proclamation calling for a nation wide observance of Flag Day. Then in 1949, President Truman signed an Act Of Congress designating the 14th day of June every year as National Flag Day. On June 14th, 2004, the 108th U.S. Congress voted unanimously on H.R. 662 that Flag Day originated in Ozaukee County, Waubeka Wisconsin. So let me ask you this....what do you know about flag etiquette?  Federal law stipulates many aspects of flag etiquette. The section of law dealing with American Flag etiquette is generally referred to as the Flag Code. Some general guidelines from the Flag Code answer many of the most common questions:

• The flag should be lighted at all times, either by sunlight or by an appropriate light source.
• The flag should be flown in fair weather, unless the flag is designed for inclement weather use.
• The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.
• The flag should not be used for any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. The blue stripe of the bunting should be on the top.
• The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard.
• The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic organizations.
• The flag should never have any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind placed on it, or attached to it.
• The flag should never be used for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
• When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and arms. To store the flag it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously.
• The flag should be cleaned and mended when necessary.
• When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country, it should be destroyed by burning in a dignified manner.

Enjoy your Flag Day tomorrow.  Enjoy seeing Old Glory blowing in the breeze.