Hodgepodging Light and Heavy

Good Fences 
Drystone Walls, my favorite

South of Kettlewell
in the Yorkshire Dales

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1. What's surprised you most about your life, or about life in general?

When I was a kid, I expected that I would die in my 30s (as an elderly person) before a firing squad.  I'm not sure why that was, but maybe too much TV and espionage movies. Anyway...but here I am, still alive. Another thing that's surprised me about life in general is how long it took to get the point where life seems short.

The Man From...

And here's an interesting tidbit about the name of the show (from Wikipedia):

"Concerns by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer legal department about using "U.N." for commercial purposes resulted in the producers' clarification that U.N.C.L.E. was an acronym for the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement. Each episode had an "acknowledgement" to the U.N.C.L.E. in the end titles." 


2. Among others, these ten words were added to the Oxford English Dictionary this year...awesomesauce, beer o'clock, brain fart, buttdial, cat cafe (apparently this is a real thing), fatberg (gross-read the definition here), fat shame, hangry, Mx (gender neutral), and skippable. 

Your thoughts? In looking over the list, which word do you find most ridiculous? Which word would you never in a million years say out loud? Which word would you be most likely to use in conversation?

Shudder.  If you ever hear me use the words 'awesomesauce,' 'beer o'clock,' 'brain fart,' 'buttdial,' 'fatberg,' 'fat shame,' 'hangry,' or 'Mx,' you might as well bring out the firing squad. 

My cat told me she loves the idea of a cat cafe. But now that I've told her what the actual definition is, she's not so pleased. She doesn't want anyone touching her, thank you, or having to feign friendliness to perfect strangers.

 Tuppence, in one of her less ladylike poses
'Back off.'

'Skippable,' on the other hand, is the perfect word to use in many situations. And the rest of my thoughts on this are propa skippable, like.

Knowing that those other words have been added to The Oxford English Dictionary, and that it was published by Oxford University Press, makes me reconsider the trustworthiness of my Oxford Book of Carols.

3. Do you like gravy? Is there a food you'd rather not eat unless it comes with gravy? Do you make your own or buy the canned or store-made variety? Turkey and gravy, sausage gravy, mashed potatoes and gravy, country ham and red eye gravy, biscuits and chocolate gravy, pot roast and gravy...which one on the list is your favorite?

Mr. C., just yesterday, showed me a newspaper ad that told of canned gravy on sale, 10 cans for $1.00. You couldn't give me canned gravy! Ewww.  The only gravy I like (or trust) at all is the gravy I occasionally make after simmering the giblets in water, along with a bay leaf and peppercorns, and using that stock with the turkey 'drippings,' (I'm sure that's what my mom called it) to make a nice, tasty gravy. About once a year.

Turkey 'drippings' sounds pretty disgusting, when you think about it. 

Turkey Drippings?

4. Do you have a plan? Do you need a plan? Have you ever had a plan fall into a trillion pieces? Explain.

Yes, I like a plan. (ISTJ, remember.) Right now I don't have a plan and feel a bit like floating, which is an uneasy feeling for me. I don't remember having a plan fall in a trillion pieces. It helps not to have unrealistic expectations. They usually work out, and I'm a pretty careful planner, but one should be prepared for interruptions and derailments.

Names blacked out to protect the less guilty

5. November 19 is National Play Monopoly Day. Do you own the original or some version of the game? Do you enjoy playing Monopoly? How likely is it you'll play a game of Monopoly on November 19th? Ever been to Atlantic City? Ever taken a ride on a railroad? Is parking in your town free? Last thing you took a chance on?

It took me a sec to realize that all of these questions were related! I do have the original Monopoly plus a London version plus a kids' version. I doubt that I'll be playing Monopoly on the 19th. I've never been to Atlantic City, the parking in our town is free (and believe me, no one has to hunt for a parking space), and I have been on a train. Someday I want to travel on the Settle-Carlisle RR, but that won't be for a bit.  The last thing I took a chance on was parking directly across from W.A. Frost on the night of the wedding reception. It was a 2-hour parking spot, but it all worked out.

  Settle-Carlisle RR, Ribblehead Viaduct

Wikipedia

6. A song you like that has the word (or some form of the word) thanks in the title, lyrics, or meaning?

'Now Thank We All Our God'  I can still remember the German words of the first couple lines, from when our high school choir sang that in concert! Here is the first verse:

Now thank we all our God,
with heart and hands and voices,
who wondrous things has done,
in whom this world rejoices;
who from our mothers' arms
has blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today. 

A bit more about that hymn, 'Now Thank We All Our God,' or, in German, 'Nun Danket Alle Gott,' which I found interesting, and thought you might too:

From Wikipedia:

"Now thank we all our God" is a popular Christian hymn. It is a translation from the German "Nun danket alle Gott", written c. 1636 by Martin Rinkart, which in turn was inspired by Sirach, chapter 50 verses 22–24, from the praises of Simon the high priest. It was translated into English in the 19th Century by Catherine Winkworth.

"Martin Rinkart was a Lutheran minister who came to Eilenburg, Saxony at the beginning of the Thirty Years' War. The walled city of Eilenburg became the refuge for political and military fugitives, but the result was overcrowding, and deadly pestilence and famine. Armies overran it three times. The Rinkart home was a refuge for the victims, even though he was often hard-pressed to provide for his own family. During the height of a severe plague in 1637, Rinkart was the only surviving pastor in Eilenburg, conducting as many as 50 funerals in a day. He performed more than 4000 funerals in that year, including that of his wife."

7. In keeping with this month's theme of gratitude....what is something you're taking for granted that when you stop and think about it, you're grateful for?

The ability to breathe easily, and having fresh, clean air to breathe. One of the advantages of beautiful, clean NW Wisconsin. Admittedly, during the months of November through March it's fresh and clean and COLD, but still...

Wisconsin - Fresh, Clean Air

8. Insert your own random thought here.

God grant our nation a generous heart,
To accept those who are truly refugees fleeing persecution,
Courage to refuse those who are intent upon destroying our country,
And wisdom to insist that our officials understand the difference.

In case you're not yet convinced that we're up against a culture of death, check out these two Frontline programs that were on PBS last night. They're definitely an eye opener. The links below will take you to the videos of the two Frontline programs. Each is about 20 minutes.  In three weeks, Frontline will be airing the program, 'The Rise of ISIS.'

Frontline: ISIS in Afghanistan   and  Frontline: The Taliban Hunters

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This post is linked to

Theresa's GOOD FENCES 
and Eileen's Saturday's Critters

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