This week's Hodgepodge

1. What news story are you following right now? I cant help but watch the news on the shooting in California. Its so sad and unnecessary. We have to pay more attention to mental health people!

 2. What's the last thing you wanted but didn't get? I wanted a Starbucks this morning but decided I’d rather have it on Friday. I can only afford it once a week.

 3. May 28th is National Hamburger Day...when did you last have a hamburger? Other than your own kitchen or BBQ grill, where is your favorite place to go for a hamburger? And for all you non-meat eaters out there...when you're invited to a cookout what is the one side dish you hope is on the menu? I had a few burgers last weekend . When I was in Florida last week, I had dinner at a friends house and she made the most amazing burgers on the grill. The patties were stuffed with either bacon or blue cheese. Yumm! We have a small chain around Dallas called Snuffer’s and they have great burgers. They also have the best cheese fries in town too. I love burgers and honestly we have too many places that have delicious burgers; Fuddruckers, Twisted Root, Club Schmitz, In and Out….

  4. How have your priorities changed over time? I feel the most drastic was getting married. My priorities now have to include my husband and my puppy and I’m ok with that. Being single and self-sufficient most of my life, my priorities would have been more around only me. Age and experience have changed my priorities as well. Several years ago I got laid off for a few months before I was offered an opportunity to transfer to another department. I didn’t handle that well at all and completely freaked out at thought of being unemployed. Going thru this huge merger now, I find myself much calmer and confident than I used to be. My faith is stronger and I feel that whatever happens is in God’s plan and to just do the best I can do every day. 

 5. What's a favorite memory with your grandparents? My grandparents on my mothers side pretty much split the responsibility with my parents on raising me. I have too many memories to count and for that very reason I am so blessed. My grandma (Nanny) is 87 and is amazing. I lost my grandfather 17 years ago and I miss him so much. I had the strongest connection with Poppy and he’s the one that got me on the Harley when I was just a toddler. He took me everywhere with him and I was his sidekick. When I was young, my grandfather would plan our family vacations around his Ruidoso, New Mexico motorcycle rally. My aunts, uncles, cousins, etc would all go get cabins and have the best time. We went exploring, fishing, picked berries, watched Indian dance shows, ate fry bread, rode ski lifts, so much more. I have very fond memories of those trips.

 6. On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being fantastic!), how good are you at multitasking? Share an example. I rate myself an 8. I can write blog posts from my phone while listening to conference calls, I can write bills and send birthday cards while holding my puppy and watching TV. I put my home phone on speaker so I can get caught up with my friends and family while also unpacking.

  7. How would you summarize your highs and lows for the month of May? I lost my wedding diamond on May 1 and that was all time low- I moved and had lots of stuff broke and that too was in the lows. I had birthday party at Club Schmitz that at very last minute got switched to Strokers and that stressed me out and some of my guests so that’s low while at same time, I had great turnout and ended up having a blast with those who did show up ( high), I got to travel to Jacksonville where I seriously have some of the most wonderful friends AND got upgraded to beach view hotel room ( high , high, high). Overall more highs than lows so I cant complain. 

  8. Insert your own random thought here. I got a lot of unpacking done this past Monday but I still have so much left to do. I am at the point now that I’m at peace with the fact I cant get it all done immediately and to just take it day by day. I cant believe May is over already. I have mentioned Club Schmitz on numerous occasions and I am so sad that after 68 years of business, they are closing their doors at the end of this month ( this weekend). My dad’s first cousins Bob and Larry owned the bar and are ready to retire. Its on a prime place of real estate in Dallas and are selling the land and getting out while its good. I am happy for them but sad for selfish reasons. I always celebrate my birthday there and we popped in quite a bit for a burger and onion rings. I bought a few t-shirts last weekend when we were in and I got the very last ones. Sad to see a Dallas icon be bulldozed and a place I literally grew up at. Its been on the news and in the papers all month and people have come from all over to go one last time. Its crazy!

Hodgepodge- better late than never . Right?

I am soooo agggravated! Just realized that this post was still in draft from last week. Poo! I've been so busy, I just noticed . Oh well.... This is from last week and will post tomorrow for this current week. Geesh....

1. Under what circumstances do you do your best thinking? I do my best thinking in the car when I’m driving to work, home, etc. I also do a lot of thinking in the shower ( when I’m not singing whatever song in my head for the moment).

  2. Are you a risk taker? What's one big risk you've taken? I believe I am a pretty big risk taker. I lump it with same category as adventurous and I’m that for sure. I’ve bungee-jumped numerous times off very high places. I’m not afraid of heights so I get dangerously close to the edges simply to look down and see everything – not trying to scare anyone. I risked a “safe” job when I interviewed for my position I have now 10 years ago. My training team was barely a year old when I applied and it was sketchy for a few years on whether our team would continue or be let go. I am so glad that I took the risk with potentially being unemployed soon after. Luckily, we are still going strong ( knock on wood) and I love every minute of my job. With the merger taking place in July, I’m a little nervous again. 

  3. Some of the most common phobias according to the National Institute for Mental Health are-fear of spiders (arachnaphobia), snakes (ophidiophobia), heights (acrophobia), fear of spaces from which escape is difficult (agoraphobia), fear of thunder and lightening (astrophobia), fear of dogs (cynophobia), injections (trypanophobia), social situations, flying (pteromerhanophobia) and fear of germs and dirt (mysophobia). True phobias affect only about 10% of adults, but of those listed which would you rate as your greatest fear? I hate snakes!! I see them often around my Dad’s ranch and they were in our pond growing up behind the house in high school, so I’m used to them- but I HATE them. I love lightening and thunder storms and we all know my love for dogs

Here's a cute one of Jax laughing 

. 4. Are you settled or do you feel the need to move somewhere new? HAHA! I am not settled and barely unpacked from my move 2 weeks ago. Unfortunately we moved into a rental home so there will DEFINITELY be another move when we buy our own house. Our plan is to buy a house and live there until we retire, then we want to move to Hill Country and retire there for good. It’s a plan at least!

 5. What is something you find annoying when dining in a restaurant? Kids are run wild. My mom was so strict with my brother and I that people used to compliment her when eating out on how good we were. I expect the same I guess. I understand that kids are going to cry- take them outside or in the bathroom. Don’t ruin everyones else’s experience. 

  6. Daffodil yellow, sunset orange, spring green, or sky blue...your favorite color this time of year? Um, sunset orange ALL year long thanks! 

  7. If you were going to take a holiday all by yourself, where would you go? I would most likely go to Galveston that is our closest beach 5 hours away. I would take a lawn chair and just read books all day. I travel a lot and referring to number 1 question, I’m adventurous. I’ve driven to Niagara Falls by myself, Banff, Whistler, all over LA, Boston, many more all by myself. 8. Insert your own random thought here. I’m working in Jacksonville, Florida this week and have had no time to blog. I still haven’t posted about my birthday last weekend. I’m crazy busy and wouldn’t change a thing but I do wish we had more hours in the day. I’m posting to this linkup a day late and on my lunch hour. I have such dear friends here in Jax that it feels like home here too. Speaking of orange sun- here are a few sunrises I’ve caught from my hotel .