Wednesday is my favorite day!

And not just because the college lovelies come for dinner.  It's also HOP day! 

The first HOP is from Patrice, at Everyday Ruralty, who hosts Wednesday Words of Weight Loss every Wednesday!  It's a fun HOP that offers encouragement and company on the issue of weight.  It's never too late to join!  Come on, this is your week to join in the FUN! 

  Questions:1. Do you consider cutting the grass relaxing or torture? I used to cut the grass all the time and I considered it exercise and helpful since, if I did it, Hubs didn't have to come home and do it after working all day.  HOWEVER, he made a comment one day that changed all of that.  First, you have to understand that Hubs and hid dad never bought anything new.  They always rigged old things to get them working and used them instead.  Now, I am certainly NOT opposed to using already made materials and machines.  On the contrary, I'm all for it, environmentally speaking.  The problem is, whenever they did this, only THEY knew what had to be done to use the machine/tool/whatever.  After our lawnmower broke down, Hubs rigged it but didn't tell me anything about it.  When I tried to start the mower, I couldn't.  Hubs said, "Any idiot knows that you have to add blahblahblahblah...before it will work.  You might have torn it up!"   I replied, "No. Only the idiot who rigged the mower to work would know that.  But don't you worry yourself about it, I won't ever mow the grass again."  That was in August of 1988.  And I haven't touched a lawn mower since.  It doesn't matter now anyway though because my allergies won't allow me to do it anymore.  And yes, hormones were running wild...I was 7 months pregnant with Birdie at the time.  Good news?  Hubs learned a very valuable lesson or two:  don't call me an idiot and don't mess with a pregnant woman, especially in August. 

2. Are you a fast eater or a slow one?  Oh man, I am a FAST eater.  I try to be slow but I forget almost every meal.  It's a habit I developed while raising the girls--I had to eat and get finished to get them all bathed, read to, homework completed if it wasn't already, clean up the kitchen and get them in bed.  There was no time to eat slowly.  Hubs and the girls ate in a most leisurely fashion.  Hubs still does.  

3. If you could travel to any country in the world to have the dinner of your choice, where would you go?(You wouldn't have to pay a cent.)  I don't know.  I really like American food...especially of the southern comfort variety.  But, probably Italy for some real pizza.  I do love pizza!

4. Does your dining room table have place mats or a tablecloth right now?  Right now it has a tablecloth on it.  Except where Hubs and Breezy (when she's here) sit...they have a place mat because both of their places look like a two year old sat there when they finish eating! 

5. What's the best positive thought you could tell yourself day in and day out? Will you be trying it?  Stay away from that. And I do say it to myself every time a thought of anything sugary or fried comes into my mind.  It's working so far.  Fingers crossed!

Second is WEDNESDAY HODGE PODGE from Joyce at From This Side of the Pond.  This one is a great way to get to know some wonderful new bloggy friends and learn more about some old ones...not that I'm calling anyone OLD, mind you.   

1. Have you ever been served breakfast in bed? Do you enjoy that? If someone were serving you breakfast in bed this coming weekend what would you hope to see on the tray?  Nope.  I probably wouldn't enjoy it that much.  I do this for Hubs sometimes though and he likes it.  The girls loved doing this for him on Father's Day when they were growing up.  If someone was serving me breakfast in bed, what I'd like and what I can have right now are worlds apart in appeal!  Like to see:  waffles with syrup; link sausage AND bacon; eggs, grits, and toast with butter and green tea to drink.  What I am allowed:  scrambled eggs and turkey bacon with water.  Yum.  Yum. 

2. What is one piece of advice you would give a new mother?  Put down that book and listen to your instincts.

3. When was the last time you wanted to scream? Explain. Wow.  That's been quite a long time ago---back when I used to 'go off' about almost everything.  I'm sure it was due to some sort of extreme frustration brought on by Hubs.  He's really good at pushing my buttons.  But now, I just ignore him when he does that.  Unless he tells me what to do or how to do it.  Or if someone accuses me of saying or doing something I did NOT say or do.  Or....LOL

4. Can you hula hoop?  I can after I practice for a while.  But it does take practice...right now I'm not even sure I can get a hula hoop around this body.

5. What is something people do in traffic that really bothers you?  How much time do you have?  I think that number one on my list is when they pull out in front of me causing me to slam on brakes and then they speed up.  Idiots.

6. What do you do when people don't admit they're wrong?  It depends on who it is.  If I don't know them very well then I don't care-- I just make sure I don't get to know them any better.  If it's someone I do know well (read: Hubs) I reach extreme levels of frustration. 

7. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word 'fun'?  Family gatherings!  Reunions; oyster roasts; cookouts; dinners... During the holidays or just because, our family gatherings are BIG FUN!

8. Insert your own random thought here. We are only 3 days from Birdie's college graduation!  Which is exciting--TWO degrees (I know I've mentioned it before BUT-a BS in Athletic Training and a BS in Physical Education with a concentration in Exercise Science)!  And then, on May 15, the people offering a graduate program are flying her to Texas for an interview.  If it all works out, she'll be 20 hours away from us for TWO YEARS.  But, she will get valuable experience in the field AND they pay for her master's degree.  But she'll be 20 HOURS AWAY.  Road trip, anyone?

This is my Birdie.  She's one smart cookie!

OH!  Some of you might remember that Birdie took the BOC three weeks ago.  And, you might also remember me mentioning that her professor's were telling the students that the first time pass rate was only 33% and that I thought that information was so unnecessary and could possibly act as sabotage?  Well, Birdie called last night when she received an email informing her that---SHE PASSED THE BOC!  FIRST TIME!  (Isn't it funny how that 33% pass rate for taking the first time takes on a whole new meaning now?).  She is SO like her mother.  LOL