THE Wednesday HOPS

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. Has your diet changed a lot since the warmer weather came? Well, considering that the warmer weather showed up in February this year, the answer is, "No."  The only difference now is that it's so hot I sweat sitting in the shade doing nothing whereas, from February until the first of May, I only broke a sweat working in the sun.  And, yes, my mood/attitude has taken a severe plunge.  But my appetite seems to be holding it's own.  Unfortunately. I haven't broken my rules, but I'm still plenty able to eat. 

2. Did you do anything interesting over Memorial weekend?  Yes, see yesterday's post.

3. If you could plan a get together with your blog friends, what would that look like?  Oh goodness but we would rent a HUGE beach house out on Sullivans Island or maybe go out to Folly (NOT Isle of Palms because their police are like the Gestapo--they have such delusions of grandeur out there) and we would all enjoy spending one full week together cooking/laughing/talking/laughing/sitting on the beach/laughing/going out for drinks/laughing/sharing/laughing...it would be the best time EVER!

4. Do you like yogurt? What's your favorite kind or favorite way of eating it?  I LOVE yogurt- just about any kind- frozen or not.  I like it in recipes and by itself.  BUT I'm not eating it right now because of all the sugar.  My favorite is peach followed by strawberry and Bryer's is best!  If it's frozen yogurt, I really like Publix brand strawberry but I don't turn any of it down.  Except now. Because I'm not eating it.  Because of the sugar.  I know I already told you that but now I really want some yogurt so the repeat is for me.  Guess that will be my chant for the day...

5. What's the most important quality or character trait in a friend?  I'm going to go with honesty.  I don't like for anyone to tell me something that they think I want to hear- I want it straight up.  No sugar coating either.  Sugar coating is wasted on me because I smell a lie underneath the sugar coating.  Not to mention that sugar coating is a waste of time.  Just tell me.  My BFF is very good at telling me like it is!  It's one of the things I love most about her!

NEXT 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 to the US capital-Washington DC? If so, what's your favorite site? If not, what would you most like to see on a visit to that city someday in the future? Is it even on your list of places to visit? I did visit DC once and that was during my early teen years.  My aunt attended a HUD meeting and took me along.  I was mortified at the very first thing I saw when we entered the city---prostitutes lining the sidewalks!  And they looked just like Hollywood portrays them.  I was stunned.  Once we got further into the city, I loved it.  My favorite place was the Lincoln Memorial.  It still is.  Although the museums are to die for!

This is Evwardo and Birdie at the Lincoln Memorial.  They went to DC to visit Deanie.

2. When did you last attend a wedding? Are there any weddings on your summer calendar? Were you a summer bride? If you're single, is summer the season of your dream wedding? The last wedding we attended was for one of DD2's (Deanie) college roomies.  It was in October and it was still HOT outside and it was an outside wedding.  It was a lovely wedding and we didn't sweat too much.  Sitting out there.  In the hot sun.  For over an hour.  But, I'm not bitter.  The reception, however, was probably the absolute worst I've ever seen.  The atmosphere was ok but the caterers?  If they had catered Breezy's wedding, I would have had them shot.  Seriously.  There are two summer weddings on our calendar this year.  One in June and the other in August.  If they're outside, I may feign illness.  I was not really a bride at all because I don't do weddings.  We just had a simple little ceremony at the beach in JANUARY because I don't do heat either. 

That's Deanie on the far left at the reception.  She was a bridesmaid at the October wedding. 

3. What is your favorite way to eat strawberries? Fresh off the plant!  When the lovelies were growing up, I would take them strawberry picking and we would eat about as many as we picked!  Delicious!
 

4. What is one thing you are especially looking forward to this summer?The only things I EVER look forward to during summer are Hub's and DoodleBug's birthdays.  This year, I will add July 4th because everyone is coming home for that weekend! Wait.  I just realized that my baby is turning 20 this summer.  This is NOT COOL.  My baby is turning TWENTY.  How,exactly, did THAT happen?

DoodleBug on her birthday last summer. 

5. Do you use/like the self checker at the grocery store? I have used it only twice and I don't prefer it at all.  It does me no good to talk to the computer- it does NOT listen. If I go to the line of a real live cashier, I am able to engage in idle chit-chat.  I enjoy idle chit-chat with the cashiers.

6. Share a favorite piece of common sense advice.  Holding a grudge is one of the most useless things in the world to do so-- LET IT GO! There is a person in my family who can hold a grudge longer than anyone else in the history of the world.  She drives everyone in the family NUTS and causes problems at family celebrations.  We have to finagle around everything just so we can even hold family gatherings.  Pretty much, we have things now and just don't tell her about it.  Life is easier for everyone that way. Hub's grandmother (his mother's mother who lived to age 103) had two sisters.  The sisters had a falling out over 50 years ago and never spoke to one another again--Hub's grandmother could not let either of her sisters know that she had a relationship with the other one because then they wouldn't have talked to her either.  These idiot women went to their GRAVES not speaking to each other. 

7. Barefoot, flip flops, tennis shoes, sassy sandals-your first choice for summertime? Barefoot around the house and flip flops- almost year 'round!  Though I do wear tennis shoes while walking Tucker. 

8. Insert your own random thought here.  I cannot believe that, in late July, DoodleBug (the BABY) will turn 20.  TWENTY.  No more numbers that end in teen.  I do not like this.  I do not care to accept this.  I may not even give her a birthday party.  No, I'm kidding.  I'll give her a party.  Unless, NOT throwing a party means she'll stay 19.  Then I won't give her one.



It's not too late to donate!  Deanie is running in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Global in DC on June 4.  Click the button below if you would like to donate on her page for this very worthy cause!