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Wednesday, May 13, 2015

It's All About Me Hodgepodge

Good morning, dear friends.  I hope that everyone enjoyed their Mothers Day.  The Mister took a four day weekend so we managed to do our share of gardening, shopping, and lunching.  

If it's Wednesday, it's time for hodgepodge.







1. When is your next big deadline?  What is it for?




Every week I have a Wednesday morning deadline to have my post ready for hodgepodge.



2.  May is National Barbecue Month.  Do you prefer cooking indoors or out?  What's the best thing about a barbecue?  What's the last thing you cooked on an outdoor grill?



When you are married to a former chef, the question is more like "do you prefer to be cooked for indoors or out?"  Believe it or not, I have never grilled on a barbecue in my life.  I wouldn't know how to turn one on.


As a matter of a fact, the Mister alerts the Fire Department when I get too close to the stove.


I love barbecues because that means the warm weather is here.  The  last thing that the Mister cooked on the barbecue was delicious chicken.




3.  What is one thing on your "never again" list?



Never again will I go through an entire winter without stepping on the scale.  I hate surprises.



4.  What's something that annoys you about people your own age?  Something you love about your generation?





One thing that annoys me about people at any age is when I walk away from meeting a person and I can tell you their name, their husband and children's names, their pets name, where they live, what grocery store and bank they frequent, and name all of their accomplishments and their family's accolades that they have been awarded since grade school.  Meanwhile, they could not even tell you my name. 

The thing I like about our generation is that I never feel old hanging out with them.




5.  Lilac, iris, hyacinth, pansy... your favorite purple flower?


Definitely lilacs.  I'm fortunate to have three trees in front of my kitchen windows.



6.  What's a song that always calms you down?






I listen to Pandora radio.  When this song comes on my station, I belt it out with K.D. which immediately calms me down.  Now that the weather is getting warmer, I need to make sure that the windows are closed so I don't share my "talent" with the neighbors. 



7.  What's the last thing you donated?




I donated money to my handsome ex-boyfriend, John's team, so that he could throw on some heels and walk for this worthy cause.



8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Over the weekend, we had our new neighbors over for cocktails.  When I asked the gentleman what business he was in, he told me that he just retired from TJX Corporation.  I immediately broke out in a cold sweat, and the Mister gently took my hand.  Certainly, not the same TJX Corp.  that owns my beloved Marshals, Homegoods, and TJ Maxx?   Yup, the one and the same.  



I explained to him how much I adored all of the stores and he smiled politely.  But I knew I had to curb my enthusiasm because I could see he was beginning to feel a bit uncomfortable.  I didn't want to risk restraining orders this early in the game.

He asked if I had made the trip to Newton, where all three are on the same street.  I told him that I hadn't but I looked forward to my next adventure.   The next day was Mothers Day.  The Mister asked me if I wanted to go to the Cape for the day.  I told him I had a better idea.



So we went to Newton and to top it off we had Greek food, my absolute fave.

Mothers Day was not nearly as fun without the girls.  
But it was close.

Until next time...





Preppy Empty Nester
Preppy Empty Nester

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24 comments:

  1. Katie, I can really relate to number 4 with you. I recently met a woman, first talking in our grocery store, then I was the client ahead of her getting our nails done. She had some information I wanted (at home), as we talked and I 'dried'. I called her ( she gave me her number, didn't ask for mine). About a week later I called and for over 1 hour we talked. I hung up thinking, wow that was great, a new friend. My first tip off should have been when she didn't know who I was ,until I mentioned the salon conversation. We are exactly the same age, live very near etc. A bit later in the day, my 'older' self realized that she talked about herself for ONE HOUR, and never asked me one thing about myself. I wonder if she remembers my name! I changed my standing nail appointment (we had back to back standings), so I would't see her again. I guess that getting older has it's advantages......I don't know that I would have realized she was in the 'danger, Will Robinson' catagory. I now know waaaaay too much about this woman, her marriage, money, etc. to ever want to see her again, all from chance encounters at the grocery store and salon! Discretion and graciousness, please.

    Warmly, K

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    Replies
    1. Hi Kathleen... there are plenty of this type out there. Wish you lived near me - we could hang out and get our nails done together! Hope you have a wonderful week.

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  2. What a smart girl to marry a chef! Couldn't he have had a double major, like Chef/Doctor or Chef/Dentist? Just think how handy that would be. Anyway I could relate to your #4 also. Have you ever had phone calls where you listen for an hour? Enjoyed this post, of course. I love the sound of the song Hallelujah.

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  3. Loved your Hodgepodge and it sounds like a great Mother's Day celebration - hope you got some bargains!

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  4. Oh, I love me some Marshall's and TJ Maxx! Sounds like your Mother's Day turned out pretty swell, after all! You are one lucky lady to be married to a former chef! I'd probably never cook a meal, again!

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  5. There are an awful lot of self-absorbed people out there. I try to keep them at arms length. I don't think I knew your hubs was a chef at one time-bonus!

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  6. Again, love. I hope you were able to find some goodies while you were celebrating Mother's Day. Your posts such a delight. I have to go back and look at the needlepoint story. I may need/ want a new project.

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  7. I love lilacs too. I grew up with a long hedge of them in the backyard and always have had lilac bushes near my front or back door.
    I always notice and give kudos to my doctor, dentist, hair stylist, etc. when he or she makes the effort to refer to something specific we had talked about in the past - like my kids, trip or project. It's refreshing and uplifting to know that someone was listening to me.

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  8. Katie - Of all the TJ Maxx, Home Goods and Marshall stores in which you have shopped (MA or otherwise), which are the best?

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  9. LOL on #2! I think secretly my honey, LT (a firefighter), doesn't want me near the grill so he doesn't have to put out any fires! He can make the flames dance, but if I do it I will burn the backyard down I am sure! I also related to #4 and had the thought of those people that are "friends" but it is only one sided. You are the one to always call, text, make plans, drive over, buy the tickets, etc and there is no reciprocal. Sad.

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  10. I broke out in a cold sweat just reading this info about TJX...I love Newton, passed through many times on my way out Route 9 to the cousins in Grafton and played many a high school sports games against some fierce rivals back then...now that I know the three stores are on the same street my thoughts are how do I pass through Newton on my way to Scituate...

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  11. I'm lucky like you in that my hubby does most of the cooking, unfortunately he's NOT a former chef. (But he doesn't do too badly lol)

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  12. Love it! I totally remember everything about people I meet yet half the time they never remember me or my name LOL!

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  13. Oh, I so remember my parents stressing with me all my life about how it is so important to engage others and that's by asking them engaging questions about themselves and not consuming all the conversation yourself. Good advice!

    We don't have anything but TJMaxx here in our neck of the woods but I LOVE that place and try to go at least once a month.

    Happy rest of the week!

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  14. Love this post. About my generation..we had the Best music! Graduated high school in 1969! My kids music was just sounds. Yep...I am old! Fifties and sixties tunes are still my favorites. Ha! Beatles,etc. I love old standards from my parents generation...which some of the newer singers are recreating. kD Lang and Tony Bennet! Wow!

    Oh my TJs, Marshalls and Home Goods on the same street! Wowsers! And the past owner...what a coincidence!
    Whenever I run to Les KY I check out those places too! Love them. Well...don't we all!
    Sheila

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  15. Ok, I'm kinda jealous about the hubby/chef thing. If Mr. Doctor ever even goes to the grocery store it is for beer and ice cream! This reminds me I think I need to make a trip to HG/TJM and Marshalls!

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  16. I am seriously envious that your husband is the cook in the family...I love to cook, but lately I am just not feeling it. AND, he takes you to TJX central...you hit the jackpot, girl! xoxo

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  17. Never cooked on the BARBI either!Never want too!
    New neighbors.......I too have new Neighbors in the hood.WE have welcomed them by stopping, taking champagne down on their arrival day etc etc........My husband jumped his battery on the way to work.Do you think they have walked up the street a tad or left a thank YOU in my mailbox?Heck no!Whats wrong with people being so BORDERED UP as I call it!This is the third or fourth set of new neighbors I have just about given up on!We use to do welcome parties................DONE WITH THAT!
    I think I may need to come to the CAPE this summer to visit you know who the SON............of course I will call YOU!We can hit all THREE STORES NO PROBLEM!XX

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  18. SO MISS HOME GOODS....CAN'T FIT ANOTHER THING IN THIS HOUSE SO I DON'T GO.!

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    1. Rosemary... The Mister tells me I have to start selling all my stuff back to Homegoods!! I don't think that they'll go for it!!

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  19. Spouse and I took guitar lessons a year ago and "Hallelujah" was the song that inspired me to keep practicing. After I mastered that, a few Eagles songs, and got a free Guitar Center tee shirt that was so big I could have camped in it, I quit so I could grow my fingernails out again. Priorities, ya know.

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  20. I went to Homegoods the last time I was in Atlanta a few weeks ago. I forget how awesome it is. We're getting one over in Mobile, and they can't seem to build it fast enough!

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  21. Too funny...so happy I did not miss this. I think you should be the new poster child for Homegoods! Hilarious imagining the exchange between you and your new neighbor. I love BBQ too and how lucky the mister loves to cook! This post also reminded me to finish the post I did start and am almost done with (I think) from when I was tagged by you. Promise by next week, to get it done. I have had many balls in the air and doing my best to stay afloat! Enjoy your weekend......

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