HUMP DAY HOPS!

Be sure to catch my review and giveaway PLUS guest post from 

Mari McCarthy right here!

FINALLY, it's time for my TWO favoritey fun HUMP DAY HOPS! If you're here for Chats on the Farmhouse Porch only, then scroll down.

First up is WEDNESDAY HODGE PODGE from Joyce at From This Side of the Pond.  This meme is fun and sometimes even poses a challenge (read: she makes us use our noggins!).   

1. Do you think the world became a more dangerous place on September 11, 2001 or did we just become more aware of the danger? How has your own life changed as a result of that day?  I think we probably just became more aware of the danger. There's only one thing that I can say for sure that has changed for me since that day- every single time an airplane flies overhead, I cringe. Especially if it makes an out of the ordinary sound. 

2. Did you think your parents were too strict when you were growing up? How about in hindsight? I thought they were somewhat strict but, it was fairly easy to figure out how to manipulate the asking in order to get to do what we wanted to do. In hindsight, I think they should have paid more attention to what we were up to! 

3. Share one random but candid fact about yourself. Isn't it funny that when someone asks a question like this you just can't think of an answer? I have a really short temper (although it's better now) that is accompanied by a sharp tongue. And it isn't pretty. Oh and, just so ya know, I come by it honestly (right Dad?). HOWEVER, I would much rather be like this than a doormat. And I might also use it as a defense mechanism to keep people from getting TOO close. Maybe.

4. Would your nearest and dearest describe you as simple or far too complicated?  Hmmmm...well, not simple. But, not FAR TOO complicated either. I would say probably just somewhat complicated.

5. What is your favorite stadium or carnival food? We don't go to carnivals and I haven't been to a stadium in YEARS. So, I don't know. When I was growing up and went to the Braves games with my Granddaddy, I loved the hot dogs. Does that count?

6. Tornado, hurricane, earthquake...how many of these natural disasters have you experienced? Which event do you think would be the scariest? I have experienced all three. There was a tornado in our town when I was growing up but it didn't affect us directly as it was on the other side of town. I experienced an earthquake while growing up too but, thankfully, all it did was rattle the windows. The hurricane I experienced was HUGO in 1989 and I can remember it vividly. It was horrible and you can read about it here. Of the three, I think that earthquakes and tornadoes are scarier because they are sudden. At least with a hurricane, there is time to evacuate. To be honest, if I never experience any of these again in my life, it will be just fine with me. I do NOT dig natural disasters. At all. And, there's another dang hurricane brewing in the Atlantic. Katia. Let's start blowing our raspberries and praying RIGHT NOW!

7. Labor Day weekend is approaching so a work related question seems appropriate. Growing up, did your parents assign you regular chores? Were you paid for doing those chores? If you're a parent do you assign chores to your own children? Why or why not? Were we PAID for doing our chores? Is this a joke?! We never got paid for anything until we got real jobs!

That last question was inspired by a post Mindee wrote on Monday. Everyone go say hi to Mindee-she blogs at Our Front Door and she's funny. 

8. Insert your own random thought here. My Panthers look like they're going to suck at football this year. Again. There was NO NEED for them to spend $$$$ on Cam Newton. I'm not against him personally. They could have spent big $$$$ on any quarterback and I would NOT have been pleased. They didn't know whether they needed a quarterback or not. And they won't know. Until they finally get an offensive line going. And I am NOT thrilled with that new coach either. So there.

My second favoritey HUMP DAY HOP is from Patrice at Everyday Ruralty called Chats on the farmhouse porch!

Questions for our chat:

1. What was your biggest fear as a child? That our house would burn down while we were sleeping. And I have no idea what this fear was based on. Guess I was a strange child.
2. How old were you when you learned to cook? Or how old will you be when you learn to cook?  Cute question! I was watching/helping my grandmother from a very young age and I prepared my first meal (with help, of course) when I was 8. But I am no where near the fantastic cook that my grandmother was. Not even close.
3. Did you have a favorite book as a child? What was it? I loved Harriet the Spy when it first came out! Oh gosh how I loved that book! I read it over and over and over again and again and again! I even played spy girl for a time. Until I got caught. Oops!
4. What's the busiest time of year for you? I am busiest from Halloween until after the first of the new year. Mostly because we are C.R.A.Z.Y. about the holidays and go all out with decorating and hosting gatherings! I can hardly wait just thinking about it!
5. Have you ever won a contest? Yes. Several. Because I am so COMPETITIVE. I HATE to lose. Which means I mostly enter contests that I'm pretty sure I'm going to win. :)  I haven't won any lately but my attitude has changed- I just keep trying. The most fun was on two separate Halloween nights while in college. My NUTSO friends and I decided to dress up for two years and we won FIRST PLACE at every bar gathering place we visited. I actually have pictures BUT it's probably best if I don't reveal our costumes (head hanging in shame but with a little smile and fond memories).

If you haven't already, be sure to catch my review and giveaway PLUS guest post from 

Mari McCarthy right here!