Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your summer so far? Why?
(1=eh and 10=best summer ever)  
I wish I could give it a 10....so I wouldn't sound like a broken record. I have been complaining about the heat since June.  It has been a boring summer, stuck in the house most of the day. 1=eh.

2. July 26th is National Aunts and Uncles Day. Did you have many aunts and uncles growing up? Were you especially close to any one or maybe all of them? Are you an aunt? (or uncle for the men who join here on Wednesdays) Share a favorite memory relating to one of your own aunts or uncles or relating to a niece or nephew who call you Aunt (or Uncle).  
I had Aunts and Uncles and I am an aunt to 2 nieces and 2 nephews. Uncle Bucky was my favorite  .  He was a big gruff teddy bear, who had a story for everything.  When we were younger, he had a big gold front tooth, that I always though was attractive.....???? I wanted to know how to get one. He told me that when he was my age and he lost his front tooth, it came in gold, because he never, ever stuck his tongue in the space.  Of course, I had 2 chances for a gold tooth and was never successful.
My niece Megan was about one and sitting in the highchair eating at our house. Our puppy at the time Tai was a jumper and he was jumping up at Megan making her anxious.  Mr BC yelled NO Tai, and Megan began crying.  It wasn't her he was yelling at, but, she wouldn't have it....She wouldn't smile or go to him until she was about 3 years old. I still tease him that she loves me best.

Megan and Aunt Katie, she still loves me most!

3. What's your favorite food dipped in chocolate? What's your favorite food dipped in cheese? 
I haven't had one for a while but I love chocolate dipped frozen Bananas.  Bread dipped in fondue cheese is great.  I haven't had that for a while either.

4. When were you last astonished by something? Explain. No explanation needed....Trump making it so far in the presidential run-up. I am astonished and dismayed, there is a chance he could win.

5. Surf board, paddle board, ironing board, Pinterest board, score board, clip board, bulletin board...which board have you most recently encountered? I keep some of Mr BCs health information on a clip board, also information on emergency procedures, so that it is close at hand.

 6. What's your favorite story from scripture? Why that story? 
David and Goliath: David, a young boy, kills Goliath, a giant, with a stone, by faith. 

7. If you were to travel from the east coast to the west coast in your own country, which five cities would you most want to see?  
Boston, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Anchorage. I've been to San Francisco, but I love it. The other cities would be new to me.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
I really like Michele Obama, I think she is a fantastic First Lady, Mother and Human.  It was when my so called Facebook friends started posting mean things about her that I started hiding them.

 

Wednesday Hodgepodge

See Questions 3 and 7

1. How did you welcome the month of July, and tell us one fun thing you did to celebrate the 4th. (or the weekend for any non-USA residents playing along today)  

July really snuck up on me.  We usually go to the Starvy Creek Blue Grass Festival, in Conway, MO, over the fourth, but the temps have been so high, I really did not want to go even though we have AC and there are no fireworks. We always go with Maggie and Jiggs and have a good time.  There is another one in September, but the past few years we have been on vacation.  Not this year, so maybe we will make that one, it should be a little cooler. 
We have had a lot of rain and humidity, but it did not stop the fireworks in the neighborhood, so Gwennie was in the shower most of the weekend and yesterday. The fourth is not really my holiday. And we did not really do anything fun.  
We do have some fun planned for at the end of the month with a car show where Mr BC will show off one of his vintage cars.We belong to the Greater Ozark British Motor Club, and will be at the show and the associated dinner and awards show in the evening.

2. Right now..what's your favorite red thing? white thing? blue thing? 

Red pomegranate seeds, though they aren't in our stores right now, I have a new flowy pleated white blouse that is nice and comfortable, blue berries are in season right now, so I always have fruit in my cereal.

3. Wave the white flag, raise a red flag, fly your freak flag...which 'flag' have you flown most recently? Explain. 

I surrender! I finally hid the last objectionable Trump supporter 'friend' on my facebook.  I am just tired of the election and the memes.  I am truly contemplating not voting, as I have some problems with Hillary and Bill as well.  I worry that if I don't vote at all, Trump might get in, and it would be all my fault.  I wonder if we have a third party on the MO ballot. If you are for Trump you can pass on my blog or not....This is my last post on the subject....maybe.

4. According to Conde Nast Traveler, these are the seven best places to visit in July-

a boat safari in Botswanna's Okavango Delta, Riviera Maya Mexico (it's whale shark season and apparently you can swim with them), Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, Pamploma Spain, St. Petersburg Russia, the Fuji Rock Festival at Mount Naeba Japan, the Salzburg Festival in Salzburg Austria

If time and money weren't factors would you want to see any/all of these? Which would you most like to see and why? 

I've been to Japan and had a wonderful time, but not really interested in any kind of rock festival.  Spain, Austria and Russia would be interesting though,  Africa or Mexico would hold no interest for me.  Now I've been to Yellowstone, but the smell put me off, when I was younger and I mostly felt car sick when we went to see all the hot water and paint pots. Other than that, it is beautiful and would be cooler than MO in July, so I would love to go back to Jackson Hole and the Grand Tetons in our RV.

5. Grilled cheese, pimento cheese, or mac and cheese...your favorite from the cheesy treats listed?  

This month I have been feasting on Swiss and Pepper Jack grilled cheese sandwiches, but I love Mac and Cheese too.

6. What makes you sweat? 

I would love to say....I don't sweat....I glisten, however, since the "change" I glisten, at the drop of a hat, and profusely, from the top of my head.  I always thought that after that....hot flashes would cease....but not for me.

7. Your favorite movie with a 'patriotic' theme of some sort?  

I always loved the play and movie 1776, also love the mini-series John Adams. Independence Day is a hoot.  I hear the sequel is not as good, so I won't be seeing it until it is free on Netflix.

8. Insert your own random thought here. 

The sky is dark this morning, with Thunder storms all around us.  We have to go to a blood draw for Mr BC this morning. The pups will get a walk, as soon as I finish this post, as long as it is not raining. then I am in for the rest of the day with my laundry. 

Tisket a Tasket a Pretty Glass Basket-Wednesday Hodge Podge

1. Besides left over Easter goodies, what's something currently kept in a basket at your house? 

I have a basket that holds the newspapers for recycling, I have a beautiful glass basket that belonged to Mr BC's Mom, that sits on the (Jimmy) Buffet in the dining room with seasonal things in it, but mostly it is empty or contains odds and ends.  

2. 'The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.' ~Michelangelo Buonarroti 
So which one are you...the one who aims too high, or the one who aims too low? Have you ever seen The Sistine Chapel? Did you know Michelangelo's surname prior to answering this question? 
I am probably the one who shoots too low so I can reach it, because I don't like disappointment. I had heard Michelangelo's surname before but I don't think I have ever seen it spelled out before.  We will visit the Sistine Chapel when we visit Rome in September.

3. April 7th is National Beer Day. Hmmm...wonder how that's celebrated? Do you like beer? Have a favorite? If you're not a beer drinker do you have any recipes you enjoy cooking that call for beer? 
I do not care for beer, I drank it in college as that was usually what was at parties and I would get a cup of beer and sip it all nite.  I use to have a recipe for beef stew that called for beer.

4. When did you last travel somewhere new? Tell us where? How'd it go?  I has been hard to think of a place I have traveled that was new lately.  I have traveled to many foreign climes, Japan, Turkey, Greece, England, plus I have been to Oahu and several of the states.  Lately we just seem to go back and forth to California to see grandkids (which is good!) But that is why I went ahead and booked and laid out a deposit for London, Paris and Rome for September so we would actually travel during our retirement.   Our passports should arrive soon!

5. The value of Starbuck's is greatly overrated.

Too expensive, too strong to drink...at least for me and I like a bold brew. Their shop is usually overcrowded and hard to get a seat to relax.

6. What's a pet peeve of yours when it comes to restaurant dining?
Don’t address us/me as ‘sweetie’ or ‘you guys’ – I am not a ‘guy’, and please keep your fingers/hands only on the bottoms of glasses and silverware, not where my mouth will be touching them. Also other diners don't talk on your cell phone.

7. It's Poetry Month...share a favorite poem, either the title, a few lines you find meaningful, or the whole kit and caboodle.
I shot an arrow into the air,
It fell to earth, I knew not where;
For, so swiftly it flew, the sight
Could not follow it in its flight.

I breathed a song into the air,
It fell to earth, I knew not where;
For who has sight so keen and strong,
That it can follow the flight of song?

Long, long afterward, in an oak
I found the arrow, still unbroke;
And the song, from beginning to end,
I found again in the heart of a friend.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

8. Insert your own random thought here.
Mr BC has just left for a trip to CA to see the grandsons.  We have opted this year to go individually for some good one on one visits, minus the dogs.  I am staying home to dog sit and have some alone time for myself. Usually I am the one who goes and leaves grandpa behind, we have often traveled without the other and it makes coming home that much sweeter. After 47 years we find we don't have to be joined at the hip.

Friday Fragments-Passport to Friendship

“Airplane travel is nature’s way of making you look like your passport photo.” -- Al Gore

Going to Post Office today to renew our passports....did you know most USPS offices will take your picture too?  The last time I renewed I had to get pictures taken elsewhere (AAA). I had to buy some new make-up for the pictures so I won't get lost on the white background.

Today was our friends, Maggie and Jiggs,50th wedding anniversary.  I met them in 1966 when I came to MO to meet Mr BC's folks. We had cupcakes and coffee today, after our morning walk in celebration. Mr BC and I will be 48 years this August.  The trip in September to Europe is in celebration of that Anniversary.

In 2 weeks, Mr BC leaves for a couple of weeks in CA to see the kids and grand kids.  I am going to stay home and watch the dogs and will probably go sometime this summer or fall after our big trip.

I am going to have my new floor in the dining room put in while he is gone, and have some ME time while he is gone. Maybe hit the antique stores in the area.

                             Joining Mrs 4444 for Friday Fragments

Arkansas Ozarks Bound

Eureka Springs also known as Little Switzerland
www.arkansas.com

We have made some plans for traveling in Mlle Cozette, at the end of June.  We are going to venture further into the Ozarks by crossing the border into Arkansas and visiting Bentonville, the Pea Ridge National Military Park, and Eureka Springs.  We are going to leave on a Monday and be back the next Friday or Saturday.  Where we want to go is primarily dog friendly but I have located a couple of doggy day cares in Bentonville.
Bentonville is where Sam Walton of Walmart fame hailed from.  I want to soak up a little vintage retail therapy while we are there, but we are primarily going for the art museum Crystal Bridges, Museum of American Art.  We have wanted to see it ever since we saw it on Sunday Morning. 

For Swearing Outloud-Sunday Stealing

Click for attribution

21: Would you swear in front of your parents? 
I often said dammit or hell if I were upset or angry, but nothing stronger.

22: Which continents have you been on?
North America, Europe, Asia.

23: Do you get motion sickness? Any horror stories?
I use to but not as an adult,,,no tales to tell.  I did get sea sick when I was a room mother and went with DD2 class on a field trip.  I was not very helpful,  kids could have fallen of the boat and I would never have noticed.  Good thing they were wearing life vests.

Saturday Nine-Come Dancing

1. When was the last time that you went out dancing?

Mr BC and I are not a dancing couple so we don't purposely go out dancing. We last danced together at our daughter's wedding.  His mother, however went dancing almost every Saturday night until about a month before she passed away. She belonged to the local Anti Horse Thief Association (really!...a lodge/social group) Mr BC often went with her when he came to MO for a visit. I don't think he danced, but he was asked.

2. Have you ever had an argument with a teacher?

Oh yes, When we lived in Michigan in the 70's, corporal punishment was still practiced in some public schools. DD1, a kindergartner came home and told me her teacher spanked her, something that we rarely did to either of the girls even though it was less frowned upon. I was horrified and went down to the school and made a huge stink. I was smuggly told that state law permitted it and it was a teacher's discretion to implement. Luckily we were about to move and about 2 months later I was able to put her in a more enlightened school.

3. Do you have a tough time remembering people’s names?

I have always had a good memory so when I struggle for names and places now, it is rather disconcerting. I have a hard time laughing it off, because I imagine folks are thinking how I am so old. I suppose it is somewhat of a given because of our age, but I hate it when it happens to me. Last night I fussed at Mr BC because he couldn't remember something I had told him already and had to apologize. 

4. Would you rather change your past or know your future?

Coming up on the far side of my life, I think I would rather change the past.  I am not sure I want to see to far into the future it might be too short.

5. What’s one thing you feel you must do in your life before it ends?

Ah, the bucket list, there is more than one thing on it. I guess it would be to renew our passports and travel with Mr BC.

6. How many credit cards do you have right now that have a zero balance?

One.

7. What is the most expensive thing you purchased this year?
So far, a new laptop and printer.

8 . If you're married, this probably doesn't apply to you, but: Are you mindful about getting tested for STDs/HIV at least semi-regularly? Why/why not? Married people: Were you mindful about this type of thing when you were single? Why/why not?

In the 60's this was not something you did, though std's were around, HIV wasn't.  So unless one was symptomatic,(maybe not even then) one was not tested. Good girls would not have to worry about this....yeah, right.

9. If you could ask the president of the United States one question, what would it be?

How can we get the country to rally around universal health care?

Where in the World?

It was pretty hard to  work up enthusiasm this week to write so I didn't.  I've been visiting blogs and commenting but I thought I was too sick to write and would  just pass this week.  Then I thought I would write something wonderful about my husband.  (prompt 5) Then I decided I would just go to Mama Kat and read and comment, then I decided to write a little about Prompt 5 and 6. So here it goes. Please enjoy my hoarse and scratchy throat.

Mr Bankerchick and I are a good match.  We are not perfect by any means but a good match. We like much of the same things, with history being up there at the top of the list. When my folks retired they wanted to travel and they did, probably not the way my dad wanted to as he did not like to Fly. That would have limited them to the western hemisphere, any place dad could drive, and Mom wanted to go to exotic locals. so they went to see the world and Dad got on airplanes. We decided that since we did not mind flying we would travel in our retirement too.

While we worked at raising kids and living life pre-retirement. I always admired Mr Bankerchick's resilience. I had an opportunity to take a cruise with my Mom, after Dad died, of the Mediterranean Greece and Turkey.  Wow that was great and Mr BC said sure of course you should go! And so I did, even knowing that he would have given his right arm to go too, but, we didn't have the money to spend on trips, girls in college, etc. And we would never have asked for Mom to pay for his way too! 

 DD2 went to spend a semester London and he provided the miles and rewards so I could go for a few days to visit her, He stayed home to work, traveling for his job to less than exotic locals, and I went to London, Wow what a great trip.  Another place he would have given his right arm to visit.  So England is a place I would like to return to, so Mr Bankerchick can see it too.  And we are going to do it too! We also want to visit spots in Europe as well.  When he was working for Toyota, we won a two week trip to Japan and he went to Korea for business.  So with Asia being taken care of to our satisfaction, MEH!  We will travel to Europe and travel to places here in the good ol' USA as well.

The Prompts:
1.) List 10 things you wish you could say to strangers who share unsolicited advice about your parenting skills.
2.) Write a poem inspired by a picture you took last week. Share both!
3.) Create a bucket list of 50 things you want to do this summer (with or without the kids!)
4.) A country you would like to visit.
5.) What is something you could stand to learn from your significant other?
6.) Getting kids dressed? Cooking dinner? Bed time? Create a video that describes the most difficult part of the day for you.

PLASTIC FOOD

I ostale djakonije - hrana u izlogu je od plastike, bili smo i u radnji koja prodaje modele hrane, vecina restorana u izlogu ima plasticni model jela koja sluze - korisno za nas Gaidjine (strance)

DD1 and SIL have been in Japan for the last 10 days or so. Big travelers, and they always post pictures as they go. Here is an example and the comment in Serbian, since SIL takes the pictures he writes the comments for his larger Serbian family and we wait for DD1 and SIL to tell us all about it when they get home. Now since I too have been to Japan I can sometimes figure out the comment with my online Serbian translator. So I believe this is an example of offerings in the window of a restaurant, that are PLASTIC models. I believe he is saying the things that look like billard balls is PLASTIC bread, and that the food looks exotic or strange (strance). So how did I do SIL was I close?

Mr Bankerchick and I went to Japan in 1979 and went to many of the same sights and I was amazed at the models of the entrees in the windows of restaurants. We actually see a lot of that in the windows of Asian food emporiums here in SoCal but at the time we went to Japan it almost seemed like Pop Art to me as it was so realistic.