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Wednesday, June 1, 2016

A Blueberry Hodgepodge

Good morning, dear friends.  It is a beautiful morning here in the Northeast on the first day of June. 

You know the drill - if it's Wednesday, it's time for Hodgepodge.     








1.  Tell us about one fun thing on your June calendar.


This month, the Mister and I are going to visit our #2 in her new digs in North Carolina.  


2.  How careful are you in the sun?  Do you tan or burn?  Do you make it a point to see the dermatologist every year?



I am very careful in the sun.
  
But it is a little late in the game at this point considering a foil-covered album cover and a bottle of baby oil laced with iodine were my best friends in high school and college.




Lucky for me, I am a whiz with a make up brush and I have an affinity for snazzy outfits.


3. Describe a time when you wanted to 'throw in the towel'?


Every time the Mister comes home and whispers in my ear "We're moving!" is when I glance the room for a towel. 


4.  What's a song you love that has a day of the week in the title or lyrics?


The first song that comes to mind is Rainy Days and Mondays.  I have always loved Karen Carpenter's voice. 


5.  Are you a fan of berries?  Which one is your favorite?  What's the most recent berry dish you've ever eaten?  Which blueberry breakfast food appeals most - blueberry pancakes, blueberry yogurt, or a blueberry muffin?




Every morning I have cereal and berries for breakfast.



I've never been a pancake lover, yogurt is a waste of good calories, but I get misty-eyed at the thought of a warm blueberry muffin soaked in buttah.  Lots of buttah.



6.  What's something you want to do before your birthday?



Turn back time by about 10 years.




7.  June 1st is National Say Something Nice Day, so let's all say something nice here.



Shout out to TSA!
Our trip to Virginia was smooth sailing thanks to polite, efficient TSA officers.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Here is my take on the latest news stories.

You would have to have been buried under a rock not to have heard the story in the news about the child falling into the gorilla pit.  If you have a weak stomach, I don't recommend watching the footage. 


The Mother of the child has been taking a beating in social media.  Personally, I don't think that the nasty comments are fair.  What mother hasn't taken their eyes off a child for a few seconds?  I remember when my two rascals were small they decided to hide on Mommy in the dressing rooms of Kid R Us. To this day, when I recall those tense moments, I break out in a cold sweat. 

I got home, drank a bottle of wine, and grounded them for seven years.







I feel badly that Harambe, the gorilla was killed but according to Jack Hanna my secret crush, the zoo keepers had no choice because the gorilla would have hurt the child, or worse.

No question about it, it was a tragic situation.  But I wish people would give the Mother a break.  I'm sure that she feels guilty enough. 




Speaking of Mothers, all I can say is that Chewbacca Mom must have one heck of an aggressive casting agent.  Every time I turn the TV on, she is in front of the camera.

I don't get it.


What makes you want to throw in the towel?



Until next time...






Preppy Empty Nester
Preppy Empty Nester

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36 comments:

  1. Always enjoy this! I actually remember the era of baby oil and iodine, where my friend would like on the roof of their house to get a tan. Fortunately, my parents were farmers and too practical to let me get away with wasting that time. Old age comes soon enough. Which is why i don't post photos of me. Lol

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  2. I agree with you on the very sad situation at the Cincy Zoo. And that Chewbacca mom SCARES me! Seriously.

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  3. Haha...I remember my worst sunburn ever - my Italian friends, with their lovely golden skin suggested I slather my white Irish skin in baby oil during a trip to Nantucket Beach - I blistered before I got home!! Mom wrapped me in a sheet soaked in vinegar and I cried for 24 hours. You asked if MC had cell phone covers, yes, but only for iPhones :-( so that is why I paint mine :-)

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  4. Oh the baby oil and iodine days. I was a sun worshiper too and it was a bad choice for this light eyed, fair skinned girl! Making a dermatologist appointment before my next birthday is my plan :-)

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  5. I don't get the Chewbacca thing either. I love the people suggesting a child's life is of less value than the gorilla's. It's a horrible thing, but if we have to choose (and they did) don't we always want to choose human life first? I loved me some Baby Oil back in the day too. Sigh.

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  6. You are speaking my hodgepodge language sister. I eat a bowl of berries every.single.morning! My favorite dessert is a strawberry parfait I make and blueberry streusel muffins, both have been on my blog last year both won awards at our Fair! I asked for a golf cart with a blueberry on it but they wouldn't give me one, ha ha!! I actually go to the Derm Dr every 6 months, I have had two Basal Cell skin cancers but I still tan with a low sunscreen(my only real vice) but I use a bronzer for a deeper glow. My goodness think of all the stuff and accolades that Chewbacca lady has gotten. What? Crazy!!

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  7. I haven't read the actual story, but how did the kid get down there with the gorilla in the first place? Things happen, you take your eyes off of your kid for a second, and wham! he's gone. Been there, done that, need to write a blog post! :)
    So nice of you to recognize the TSA workers. They definitely have a rough job with very little praise.
    Karen Carpenter: {sigh} What a calm, soothing voice she had.
    Have a fantastic time visiting your #2!

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  8. Hi Katie, LOL, I"m still LOL! Great post and I relate to a lot. June, I hope I'm returning to the beach where I won't get blistered! This old girl has learned her lesson from all those tans with baby oil and iodine. I just had my bowl of fruit and cereal but not in that pretty French cup. I've got to get one of those, and I could kick myself for missing an opportunity. What's one thing I want to do, how about going to France! I'm always planning a trip to France but somehow I don't always get there. I enjoyed seeing your had a great trip to Austin with Sarah.
    Hope your are enjoying a great week……..

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  9. Welcome to North Carolina! It is a beautiful state. I don't know a lot about Durham, but I could drive to Raleigh from my home blind folded. My daughter has lived in Raleigh since she graduated from Meredith College many years ago. Great restaurants, friendly people and always somewhere to go for entertainment.
    Maxine

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  10. About that gorilla thing, I'm so tired of hearing about it at this point. Aren't you? I feel terrible for the mom, the child, and the gorilla. You are right - there's not a mom out there who might not have had the same thing happen. It's just a matter of luck, grace, and diligence that we all make it through with littles!!

    I'm grouchy because it's been raining for d a y s...probably since you were here. I need a blueberry muffin with a pound of butter and a lot of coffee. :)

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  11. I agree with you about Zoo Mom. Many people, especially those who aren't parents, don't understand and Mom and Dad do not have 100% control over their children 100% of the time.

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  12. Hope the TSA treats you well on your way to NC!

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  13. Katie...I, too, slathered my skin with a concoction of baby oil and iodine when I was in high school. If only I knew then what I know now. Lesson learned!

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  14. Hi Katie, I'm headed to NC soon, too -- Banner Elk and Sugar Mountain, about 45 minutes from Boone. We'll go from a steamy June trade show in Myrtle Beach up to the mountain for a few days of R&R before back to the real world. can't wait!

    Jack Hanna knows is stuff. I feel for the gorilla and granted, Mom SHOULD have kept her eyes on the kid -- she probably knows he is a climber or explorer. But things happen and kids are fast -- and I'm sure she's feeling the guilt now. I hope she can let it go and move on -- and that the media will let her.

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  15. As far as the Chewbacca mom goes, I think people are taken with the joy she finds in the simple things. Our world is so full of people who can't seem to connect to the idea of finding happiness all around. I think it's refreshing that someone has appeared in the spotlight because of such an upbeat approach to life!

    And many congratulations to your #2.....Go Blue Devils!

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    1. You are probably right about people taken with the joy, Janie. Thank you for taking the time to comment and I will pass on your congratulations to my #2. Enjoy your week, Janie.

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  16. Anything "moving" relaed makes me want to throw in the towel. The Poor mother. My daughter and hubby were in Cincy that day...so we had the convo about the zoo situation too. Mine slipped away from me once...for a few seconds and I panicked. I am for those kiddie vests with bungie cords. ha! Heaven help me when I become a grandmother sometime. Muffins with butter...YES! Speaking of sunshine...I now have to sit in the sun a bit every day because I am deficient in vit D. sad but true. Avoiding the sun for years and sun block have brought me here. But, my skin is great! ha.

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  17. I always enjoy your posts! You're so on point today from the sun worshipping to the latest news stories! (I guess anything is better than politics at this point) Congratulations to #2 Not much better in life than having happy children! Your girls are beautiful!

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    1. Thank you so much for your sweet words. Btw ... anything is better than politics at this point!! Enjoy your week.

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  18. Your hodgepodge posts are the best! Yes, growing up on the Texas Gulf Coast I used my share of baby oil, and when we returned home with bright red bodies my dad and mom used their share of vinegar. Yuck, just the thought of that pain and smell. You'd think a girl would learn after the first time.
    I'm sad about the zoo situation, but I think the zoo is responsible for having a barrier that a 4 year old could slip through. Yes, that mom will likely never get over this, not to mention the child. I would have wished they could have used a stun gun on the gorilla. When I saw the video of how the gorilla pulled the child back into the shelter then drug him through the water, my heart sank. I can't imagine the fear that was consuming both the mother and the child.
    Karen Carpenter - I could listen to always. Chewbacca Mom - once was enough! '-)
    Love your cute breakfast mug. Do you have a set of these? My friend, Cathy Shermer, made these. We have a set too.
    What makes me want to throw in the towel? The upcoming Presidential election!

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  19. As usual, I got a kick out of your hodgepodge. Oh the days of baby oil and sunbathing. Remember when spf 4 was considered protection in the sun. I still love to be out in the sun and try to wear sunscreen especially on my face. I am paying for all my summer tans with lots of brown spots on my face. They're not freckles and they're NOT cute! :)

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  20. Oh, how well I remember the days of baby oil and iodine, and combing lemon juice through our hair. How funny!

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  21. Love your Hodgepodge days, Katie. Years of lying in the sun with baby oil have caught up with me, and now I slather on the sunblock and try to stay in the shade. I love blueberry muffins, but I really like berry cobbler even more. I, too, think people are coming down too hard on this mother, even though I haven't seen all the footage as to how the child got in there. I can't imagine any parent who hasn't had at least one terrifying experience where their child was out of their sight for a minute and panic swept in. I think a little less judgment and more compassion is in order. The nice thing I have to say is Thank you for always putting a smile on my face with your witty and entertaining blog posts.

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  22. Katiem congratulations to your daughter. She will love North Carolina! So many great cities there.

    The gorilla story was very sad and frightening poor little guy, hopeful he will not be scarred for life.

    As for the chewy mom, she seems like a funny and happy lady.

    Have wonderful week!

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  23. I don't get the Chewbacka Mom either...I love blueberry muffins but force myself to eat oatmeal or something healthy most of the time. I used to love sitting out in the sun with Hawaiian Tropic Oil with no sunscreen in it. I can still remember that coconut smell! Have a great time with your daughter in NC!
    Shelley

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  24. I agree: thumbs up for Karen Carpenter's voice and thumbs down for pancakes.
    Thumbs down for a wild animal living his entire 17 years in captivity. Double thumbs down for having to kill this innocent, critically endangered animal. Thumbs up that the little boy is fine. It will be interesting to see if it took only a few seconds for the young boy to reach the gorilla enclosure and work his way over/past/through the barrier.

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  25. Every time I read one of your posts I think, you are my soul sister!! We have so much in common. Karen Carpenter's voice is so soothing to me! Have a great week, friend!

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  26. Wonderful hodgepodge! I have berries almost every day. Sometimes I have them with vanilla Greek yogurt, or with cottage cheese and a sprinkling of granola. I, however, could eat my body weight in pancakes, especially with real maple syrup and a side order of crispy bacon.
    The gorilla story is getting a little out of hand. Don't people realize that the gorilla had the strength to kill an adult, let alone a child. I am not one to condone killing animals for no reason, but surely the zoo couldn't wait and see if the gorilla was going to behave itself while onlookers witnessed the death of a child. My question was about the nature of the enclosure. How could a person so easily get into the gorilla enclosure in the first place? Usually there is a double "ditch" set up to prevent such tragedies.
    I used to get horrible sunburns as a child and young adult. Sunscreen is now just an automatic part of preparing to go out. I don't have the patience for sunbathing anymore, either.
    Enjoy your time with your beautiful daughter! -Jenn

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  27. hahahahahahaha, you've made my day Katie! Oh, and if I see one more media story about the gorilla and the boy I'm going to go CRAZY! Really, don't we have more important problems to solve????
    Jenna

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  28. Your comment about the sun fits me to a tee! I wear sunscreen religiously, see the dermatologist, barely go out in the sun but yep I did all the same things you did! I thought you were way younger than I!! Your daughter is gorgeous by the way!!

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  29. I haven't seen enough about the CHILD and the BIG G.............but my first thought was SHE WAS LOOKING AT HER PHONE NO DOUBT!There had to be TWO FENCES To get through..................and at that AGE with BOYS........YOU NEVER TAKE YOUR EYES OFF!HARDEST JOB anyone can ever have..........and I had TWO of them!

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  30. I NEVER liked PANCAKES either................

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  31. Great Hodgepodge as usual! One thing I want to do before my birthday in July, is clear junk out of the lower level aka basement. Always wear sunscreen and try to wear a hat so my hair doesn't get so fried too! Hope you're having a great week! Wish I had a blueberry muffin!

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  32. Love Karen Carpenter, don't love pancakes! A husband with a broken leg has been making me want to throw in the towel!!

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  33. I love this!! Love Karen Carpenter and blueberries and pancakes. Fist thing I said to my hubs about zoo mom was that if it were our son I wouldn't have been standing there yelling Mommy's here, I would have scaled the fence to get to my son. He just rolled his eyes and said that would make it easy for them to catch me with a net to take me to the nut house!!! :) I guess it's easy to say what we would have done.

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  34. So, you've gotten all kinds of comments about hodge podge except one thing... Are you moving????? Did the Mister whisper that in your ear? I'm in suspense!

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