Welcome to this week’s Hodge Podge. Excuse the title. I just could not help myself. I hope everyone has been enjoying a nice week. Not much chit chat for me. Let’s just jump into the questions. I briefly glanced at the questions and I hope I don’t have too many answers that resemble, “well, that depends.” That answer, which can often be a standard reply for a certain someone around here, can be real bone of contention for me. Whenever we any type of game or reason for a conversation starter, I also start with the rule, “No…well, that depends” answers allowed. I hope I don’t break my own rule – ha.
1. I saw this meme on Instagram: The movie Dirty Dancing came out in 1987 and was set in 1963, so if remade in 2026 it would be set in 2002. Now I need a little lie down in a dark room for a while. Time is crazy isn’t it? So…what were you up to in the year 2002? Time is, indeed, a funny thing. Are the early 2000’s now considered “back in the day”?? Oh my. Side note: I have never seen the Dirty Dancing movie. It could be I’m the only one, but ’tis true. Nevertheless, I remember 1987 (not too much of 1963 as I was a wee thing then) and I should remember more of 2002. I was in the middle of raising my family. I had a fourth, sixth and eighth grader. I was smack in the middle of my “mom era.” I do not recall anything unusual or exceptional that year. Two years earlier, I had been to Paris and to Moscow which was quite the trip for this me, as well as my family. Perhaps we were still in recovering mode. And just thankful the world had not come to an end during Y2K.
2. What’s something that scares you that you’d like to try anyway? (I will not break my above-mentioned rule). Something that scares me would imply something that frightens me. Or spooks me. And, honestly, I am at the age that I don’t even consider doing things that frighten me. Goodness, I don’t even do/watch/read things that “unnerve” me. There is just no need. That said, I do try to push myself. Things that scare me in a way as to be nervous or apprehensive can be good for me. Every once in awhile. I need to resist being too settled in my comfort zone. So, I want to say it depends on your definition of scared. But, I won’t:)
3. Watermelon. Yay or nay? Would you say yes to…watermelon salsa~watermelon feta salad~watermelon sorbet~a watermelon Jolly Rancher~a watermelon margarita? No thank you to all of them. To watermelon in general. And, really, to most melons. I can take a bite of cantelope and I recently did after last weekend’s trip to the farmer’s market. But I don’t really like it. Melon is an easy pass for me.
4. August 12th is National Middle Child Day. Are you a middle child? If not, where do you fall in the birth order in your family of origin? Do you think this has influenced your personality? Elaborate. This was a fun question. For kicks and giggles, I did a little looking around the internet at typical, or stereotypical, traits according to birth order. It was pretty fun (and fascinating) how accurate many of them were/are as I consider not only my brother and myself but also my own children. I am the oldest of two. No middle child for us. Here is a summary that I read (repeatedly) about firstborn: Responsible. Competitive. Confident. Well-behaved. Bossy. Stubborn. Intelligent. Ambitious. Successful. A leader. A perfectionist. Give or take one or two, and whether good or bad, I would say that pretty much sums me up:)
5. Would you rather talk to everyone at a crowded party for a short time, or have a significant conversation with two people? Explain. Oh no….I don’t know if I can even answer this one without breaking my own rule!!?! Let me use yesterday as an illustration. The ladies from my Bible study, which has been on summer break, met for lunch. There were 21 of us at a local Olive Garden. These ladies are my friends. I like each and everyone of them. However, the older I get, the less and less I enjoy crowds. Or things done in large groups. I have always wanted to be a wallflower and there was a time when group events were my friend. (A wallflower can easily get lost in a crowd.) But, these days, I just do not enjoy them. And so, after I ate, I got up, chatted with different groups and with almost everyone there. And I enjoyed doing so! I enjoy chatting. I like hearing about summer vacations and, yes, seeing new grandbaby pictures. But, the real goal is to politely “work the room” and then leave. So, I guess my answer is talk to everyone (and then say good-bye). But, yes, I enjoy significant conversations as well. It’s just not as easy to make an exit – lol.
6. Insert your own random thought here. Something interesting I have noticed lately, here in the land of blog. There have been several times in the last few weeks when I have gone to visit a blog…and it is shut down. As in, not there. Which, for some reason, genuinely makes me sad. Almost like if I came home from a weekend away and my neighbors had moved. We are not “close” but we are certainly friends/friendly. I would be sad not to have the chance to say goodbye to them if they ever were to leave. Actually, I will just be sad if they every leave. We have great neighbors. I know some bloggers can go several (many) weeks between posts. I get that. And sometimes that can turn into months and well, a blog is silent. But recently I have found blogs that simply do not exist anymore. Closed for business. Sigh. I miss those blog friends.
But I am glad for you, my friends, that continue to stop by this blog space of mine. Thanks for taking the time to comment. And, for the non-commenters (you know who you are!), I appreciate you as well!!
Saying it depends is a way to make the answers more interesting! You have to explain all the sides!
Very good responses, Jennifer! The movie, Dirty Dancing, is what I call a “comfort” movie. I have watched it enough so I can have it on in the background as “white noise”. I love a good melon and love watermelon feta salad and watermelon sorbet. I tend to be a wall flower in large groups although I do like to go around to different tables and visit other stitchers if I am attending a retreat. I am the oldest of 3 and what you found from your research sums me up to a ‘T’ as well. Happy Wednesday!
I’ve never been to Moscow, but my hubs has been a few times for work and his brother and sister-in-law lived there for a couple of years and have a lot of stories. We are all still friends (from afar) with their driver who they grew close to in those years. I like big crowds less and less, although I’m not a wallflower. My hubs seemingly knows everyone in the world, and if he doesn’t he will find a way to get to know them lol. His mom is the same way. He is a true first born and fits all the traits typically mentioned. We balance each other well I think. Hope you have a great day!
My eldest was born in 2002 and would say that it’s back in the day. lol That trip to Paris and Moscow sounds interesting.
Ahh! I am the same, I am quite happy to plod on in life without doing things that scare me.
I tick a lot of the boxes about being the firstborn and it pretty much sums me up.
It sounds like a nice get together with the ladies from your bible study but I prefer smaller events with only a few people.
I would recheck those blogs, over the last couple of weeks Blogger blogs have had issues where lots were removed by mistake and have since came back.
I loved dirty dancing when it came out! I made my kids watch it when they were teens and they liked it as well. I would like to talk to one person meaningfully than be in a crowded party.
Hi,
I loved how you answered #4!! And it sum up me too. 😉
I also like how you answered #5, work the room and leave.
Do you do Irish Goodbye’s? Our son Atticus taught us this one, it works well.
Your post title made me smile . 😊
Love what you did with the title- very well played! You win the internet today. Truly! I agree with Dara- it depends answers are good because you can explain yourself more. I’m not a fan of crowds in a way, shape or form. Twenty one people in one lunch party is a crowd! I’m sure it was nice chatting with your friends- that’s a lot of chatter!! It is sad when bloggers stop blogging. I guess everything has an end date…
Oh, yes! I saw your follow up comment and totally get what you were saying. I was just teasing you. Your comment made it sound like you were surprised I had cute kids so I couldn’t resist teasing you about that!
I too am the 1st born of three and share most of the characteristic traits. However, I do not enjoy large crowds and am not mingler. I do appreciate how you worked your way to the door. I had to chuckle because I did that exact thing yesterday. Our HOA has a monthly Coffee & Chat that I feel compelled to attend if able. I walked in after the initial start time and made my way to one of the hosts and visited with her before speaking and visiting with a table of ladies on my way to the door. That was enough for me and I made an appearance. Cute and creative title!
Ok, but the conversations at a party/with just one or two people question truly deserves an “it depends” answer! That one really got me thinking, too!
And I’m so sorry that you don’t like melons of any sort…but I totally understand because I feel that same way about most other fruit, especially in the berry family- I just don’t like them and I can’t even tell you why!
I think your title should win a prize – love it!! There is a blogger that I followed and we actually chatted via email a few times and she has stepped back totally. I really miss reading her posts and I have no idea how to get in touch with her. That makes me sad, so I understand what you are saying!
I’ve enjoyed all your answers because they’re always so thoughtful. I can also get too comfortable at times, so I have to push myself out of it every now and then. I’m far too young to want to call it quits on challenges. My mom struggled with phobias, and as she grew older, fear seemed to paralyze her. I’ve always been determined not to follow that path. My sister was also afraid of everything, and I had to confront fear head-on from a young age. Public speaking has never been my favorite, but I’ve pushed myself to face those challenges and always feel a sense of triumph afterward! Still don’t go out of my way to speak in public…
Joyce gave us another interesting and fun Hodgepodge! Focusing on your random answer, I’ve had a few blogging friends who died. It is unsettling when we are left hanging. One of them didn’t tell us she was so sick; another took us along on her cancer journey, while another just went away. I have left strict instructions to post my obituary on my blog and then give it a few days before deleting it. The same for my Facebook. I’ve met over 20 blogging friends in person. These friendships here are special!! Happy Wednesday, Jennifer!