Wednesday Hodge Podge

My friend, Joyce, over at From This Side of the Pond, hosts this weekly blog carnival. I love it because she does all the work for me and voila! I have a post. :) Thanks Joyce.

So here are the Hodgepodge questions that I get to answer...

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1. Every January 1st since 1976 Lake Superior University has published a list of words they'd like to see banished from the Queen's English. Words may be banished due to mis-use, over-use or just general uselessness and they receive over 1000 nominations. Here are the fourteen words/phrases they'd like to see banished in 2011-viral, epic, fail, wow factor, a-ha moment, back story, BFF, man up, refudiate, Mama Grizzlies, The American People, facebook/google when used as verbs, I'm just sayin', and Live life to the fullest.

What word or phrase would you like to see banished from our everyday vocabulary in 2011? You can choose one from the 'official list' or you can get creative and come up with your own.

     "Really???" When I moved back from England last March, I started hearing people say, "Really?" after something they disliked, didn't want to hear, sarcastically questioned, or just got into the habit of saying. I think I've said it twice in the past 10 months because it annoys me to say it any more than that. I know people that say it in every conversation and even more than once. Really???     

2. Do you consider opportunity something that comes to you or something you create for yourself?

     I think it happens both ways for sure. There are times when I feel led to do something, so I make a plan and get it done. And then there are things that seem to just happen or fall into my lap and in either case, I thank God for the opportunity.  

3. Since we're all eating healthy this month, ahem, what's included in your favorite salad? Is there dressing?

     I love mandarins in my salad or dried cranberries. So yummy!

4. The fourth Monday in January is said to be Blue Monday...aka the most depressing day of the year. The date was calculated using many factors including weather, debt level, time since Christmas, time since we've failed at our new year resolutions, low motivation and feeling a need to take action. Do you get the blues this time of year and if so what is something you do to lift your spirits?

     I don't feel like I get the blues around this time of year, but perhaps a little impatient while waiting for Spring to spring. 

5. Do you wear a watch? Any other everyday jewelry essentials?
     Yep, I love wearing a watch. I just got a chunky one from Premi*re Jewelry that I love. On the other wrist I wear beaded bracelets that my friend, Sarah, has blessed me with over the years. I always have earrings on and I do enjoy necklaces. Joyce, I'm not sure if you recall... but I posted pictures from a trip to Scotland where we did a lot of walking and hiking, and you commented on my bling. Yes, I was wearing a long necklace. See here. :-) 

6. What is something useful you learned in high school?

     To treat others the way I would want to be treated. 

7. Do you use an accountant when completing and filing your income tax returns or do you attempt to muddle through all by yourself?
     An accountant for sure. For now we have a team of accountants through my husband's company because of our recent expat assignment in England. From what I understand, it'll take a few years to get everything sorted properly. 

8. Insert your own random thought here.
     Instead of writing a post, it's done now though obviously, I should be ironing my son's shirt for tomorrow. Whenever he has a basketball game, he has to dress up and wear a shirt and tie to school. I should be grading my 7th grader's quizzes and tests from the past week, and I should be getting my exercise done. Oh, starting dinner would be nice as well. So off I go to get those things done...