The Wednesday HOPS!

If you're stopping by for the weight loss portion of today's post, just scroll down.  If you're here for Wednesday Hodge Podge, it's the first HOP today.  If you're here for BOTH, just start reading and keep on to the end!

FIRST 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. What is the most useful book in your house?  Whichever one I'm reading at any given moment that takes me away...books allow me the escape that real life doesn't. Unless it's a Stephen King book....I don't usually want to go where he sends readers.

2. What's worse-being too hot or too cold?  Being too HOT is worse because I can't get cool.  However, I can get warmed up when I get too cold!  Face it, one can take off just so much and naked around here isn't pretty or cooler. 

3. Share something that made you smile this past weekend.  Birdie playing soccer with the dogs; DoodleBug and her friends who showed us all how to deal with a tragedy.

4. How do you like your hamburgers? Or don't you?  I eat veggie burgers or turkey burgers.  I put a little cheese on them with a dab of mayo.  I have eaten my burgers this way since I was a kid.

5. What's your summer beach read? If it's not summer in your part of the world then tell us what book you're reading in front of the fire while sipping hot cocoa.  Stephen King's (of course) UNDER THE DOME.  I'm reading it slowly because it's good and I don't like for good books to end.

6. How was your birthday celebrated when you were a kid?  We pretty much could have whatever we wanted as far as parties went.  Regardless, we always had a family celebration on the actual birthday complete with gifts, favorite meal, cake and ice cream. 

7. What's something that is totally uncool that you love anyway?  Better keep this a secret. 

8. Insert your own random thought here. Some of you know that a friend of DoodleBug's took her own life on Thursday.  I can't even imagine a tragedy of such proportions as a parent.  This young girl, Kiki, was an amazing young person who will be missed by many.  Over the weekend I watched the men and women's Ultimate Frisbee teams (DoodleBug and Kiki were supposed to co-captain the women's team in the fall) come together in a way that did my heart good.  These kids surrounded each other with an outpouring of love and support the likes of which I have never witnessed before.  Even those who were at home for the summer came back into town.  Kiki's parents also reached out to these wonderful kids.  I am in awe of such warmth, love and support.  It will be a long road of grief but they won't have to travel it alone.  

The SECOND 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. How are you doing with your weight goals this summer?  I have stuck to my goals so far.  Even though it's FRUSTRATING because it sure didn't seem to take THIS long to put all this excess baggage on!  It is in situations like this that I completely lack PATIENCE of any kind.  And it is this lack of patience that has led to self sabotage in the past.  Hopefully, NOT THIS TIME.  The Slimmer this Summer Challenge has helped me stay on track.

  2. Has summer been relaxing or just as busy as ever?  My summers have been hot, dull and boring since the last lovely moved away to college.  The youngest lovelies attend(ed) college downtown Charleston but rent their own house and stay there year round for school and jobs.  However, Deanie is helping me pick colors to paint two bedrooms so, I'm thinking the dull and boring parts are about to change.  The hot part is here to stay.

3. How many times have you gone swimming this summer?  That would be an incredible 0.  Zip. Nada. None. Don't do that swimming thing anymore...reason?  I don't think they make bathing suits in my size and, if they do, I wouldn't wear it.

4. Have you been to any of your class reunions?  Hell to the N.O.  I have no desire to attend high school reunions and I am in contact with my college buds so we just connect on our own.

5. If you could choose one of the following ways to spend the day, which would it be?    -a picnic    -a day on a boat    -shopping at a mall    -visiting an old friend There's an old friend I would love to spend the day with.