A Gritty Hodgepodge

 

1. What's something you wanted to do this summer that you never got around to doing? I haven't been to the local veggie stand. There is a man who brings fruits and veggies to a local church on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. I've purchased produce from him for years . . .and haven't been a single time this year. I also haven't been to the neighborhood pool as much as I wanted to go!

2. Were you the student who sat in the front row or hid in the back of the class? If you could go back and take one high school class again just for fun, which would it be? Give me a front row seat! My kids and husband laugh at me because if I were in an actual classroom rather than a virtual student, I would be on the front row now with my hand raised to participate!

3. What characteristics do you think are essential in a good teacher (this can be applied to anyone who teaches, not just classroom teachers)? I think teachers need to be authentic. I think they need to have a love of people and a love of teaching. I think they need to be kind - they can be stern or strict when needed, but still need to be kind. Some of my professors have been encouragers - I think that is important, too.

4.  September 2nd is National Grits Day. Have you ever eaten grits? Are you a fan? If so how do you like yours? Would people describe you as 'having grit'? We love grits at our house. Please do not serve runny grits to my husband. He wants his spoon to be able to stand at attention in the grits. He definitely loves butter in his grits. We also like cheese grits as a side dish with many different entrees. We personally think it is an abomination to put sugar in grits :-). 

I don't know if I would be described as "having grit" or not . . .I made it through some tough times when I was young. We made it through our house burning and a year (plus 10 days) of rebuilding. I'm a college student at 68 years old . . .maybe I do have grit.

not one . . .but 2 pans of cheese grits!

shrimp and grits

These are jalapeno popper shrimp on top of grits!

shrimp and grits

This was the homemade version of

a dish that one of our local BBQ restaurants

serves - grits, and greens, and BBQ

You can tell we like grits. I literally opened google photos and typed in "grits" and it pulled even more pictures than I've posted haha!

5. What's something you're never too old or too young to enjoy? You are never too young or too old to enjoy laughter! Technically, a baby doesn't laugh until he or she is about 3 months old . . .so I guess you could be too young. There is nothing like hearing a baby laugh. Thinking about that sound makes me smile. I hope I'm laughing until I take my last breath. Also, I guess we are never too young or too old to enjoy good music. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. One of my classes this semester is Research Methods. We had to turn in our proposal for our research. Here is what I turned in:

Proposal Topic

The Relationship Between Social Media Use and Loneliness Among Young

Professionals Ages 22–35

For my research proposal, I plan to examine the relationship between social media use and the increasing concern about loneliness that is being experienced by young professionals in the age range of 22-35 years old. I think this is a particularly interesting topic because I work directly with this age group every week. They are connected to their phones but seem incredibly lonely. They want to make connections with people but often have their eyes glued to their phones. This fits within behavioral research because social media use can be measured, as well as loneliness. Researching this could show whether social media use is associated with increased loneliness or whether it allows these young professionals to make actual connections. I can see how this topic would allow for development into a research question, hypothesis, and research design for the final research proposal.

It was approved! Here are the comments from my professor:

Lisa, this is a strong topic. You have already narrowed the population, identified two measurable variables, and resisted assuming that social media necessarily increases loneliness. That gives you room to follow the research wherever it leads.

Your next step will be to decide what you mean by “social media use.” You might examine time spent on social media, particular platforms, or the difference between actively interacting with others and passively scrolling. That distinction could make this an especially interesting study.

Weekend in Review

On Friday, Mark was kind and went with me to the church to set up for an event. When we completed that task, we headed to REI at The Summit. Mark bought three pair of performance pants and I bought one pair.

Trader Joe's has a location in the same shopping area, so we headed to the store. We had decided that we would make WW pizzas for dinner. If you combine 1/2 cup of plain fat free Greek yogurt and 1/2 cup of self-rising flour (I use White Lily), you can make delicious pizza crust that is healthier than normal. On top of my small amount of Rao's red sauce, I added turkey pepperoni and fat free mozarella, along with a few chopped onions and sliced green olives. 

Mark doesn't like red sauce so we sprayed his crust with avocado oil and he added cheese and hard salami and two kinds of olives, a pepper from his plant, and some pepperoncinis. They were delicious. I also ordered groceries which were delivered about the time the pizza came out of the oven - of course, right?

On Saturday morning, I headed to my WW meeting. I've stayed within two pounds of my goal weight since the end of June. I keep thinking that I will post before and after photos and talk about my journey, but I haven't found enough courage yet :-)

I ran by Walmart to pick up the things I couldn't order. I headed home to ride the bike and eat lunch. Then I took my car to the car wash! It was filthy!!

In and aroundall of the other things, I also did homework. I really liked the lecture below from my Methods of Research class.

I liked this lecture, too!

On Saturday night, we met our son, daughter-in-law, oldest granddaughter, and friend for dinner at the Pita Stop Express. My food was yummy!

Our granddaughter needed dessert. This piece of chocolate cake was massive. Mark and our daughter-in-law ordered baklava.

I was at work by 6:45 a.m. on Sunday morning. Sometimes my job includes fun things like helium balloons.

The ministry fair falls under my job description.

Mark helped me put the tablecloths on (Friday's job!).

I think it went well!

Sunday afternoon, this memory popped up on Facebook. I can't believe it was 18 years ago. This was when Glenn and Laura were in college. Glenn and Mark roasted a whole pig for the Wesley Foundation.

So what did you do this weekend?

 

Sunday Stealing Survey

Welcome to Sunday Stealing. Here we will steal all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent questions. Cheers to all of us thieves!

This week's meme was inspired by F, Yeah Surveys. She admits she does too many of these, but we get it. We do, too.

SURVEY TIME!

1. What will you remember from August 2026? It has been so hot in Alabama! I guess I will remember the heat!

2. When will you start your holiday shopping? Are we talking about Christmas? I will start shopping after Thanksgiving. I might buy a few things in England and Ireland before then.

3. Where did you meet the person you fell the hardest for? We've been married 42 years! We met on a single's canoe trip planned by our church. Afterwards I told my roommates that I had met my future husband. I guess that means I fell hard!

4. Where did you meet your best friend? We also met at a church function. Back in January of 1987, someone in our church started a Mother's Support Group. At the very first meeting, I met Phella. My twins were six weeks old and she had a toddler and was pregnant. I truly can't imagine my life without her.

5. Share a fact about the last person who texted you. Our daughter is the last person who texted me. She was sending me photos from the football game where our 7 year old granddaughter was cheering.

6. EXTRA! EXTRA! Since June's DIY meme was such fun, let's do it again. Please close out this post with a question for your fellow Sunday thieves. Hopefully we'll have enough responses for a September DIY.

Here is my question: What is something completely ridiculous or insignificant that you would be genuinely annoyed if someone stole from you? And why would it bother you so much if someone took it?

Last Weekend . . .seems so long ago!

 So . . .Mark bought a new tractor for the farm! He and his twin brother and their cousin are the new owners of a brand new John Deere tractor. Isn't she pretty?

While Mark was meeting the John Deere delivery people, I was working hospitality at Party in the Lot which is our annual back to school bash.

We had fog bubbles again - like we did during VBS.

We are able to close the street between the church and the parking lot which gives us lots of room. Before the night was over, there were LOTS of people.

We had a free dinner of burgers or PBJ's, chips, cookie, cuties (oranges), and a drink. Everyone is welcome - all of our neighbors!

As I was driving home that night, the sun was setting and it was so beautiful.

Mark sent this photo to me with the caption "greed will kill you." The photo was originally "live" so you could see movement. The greedy bass was dead, but the bream he tried to eat was alive!

Meanwhile, two hours south our middle granddaughter was participating in cheer photos.

Friday was Mark's birthday and I treated him to dinner at Tres Luna, a locally owned restaurant. Our food was yummy. I have no idea who these people are, but I was snapping a photo of the bar. Let me just say that this place was packed.

My sister gave him a gift card, but she also sent him some lotto tickets. We love getting the tickets as part of our gifts. He didn't win anything . . .

Our friend mailed a picture to him and said the gift was on its way. The shirt has a picture of a tractor on the back and the front says, "Life is Good."

We left Birmingham at the crack of dawn on Saturday morning and drove two hours south to see that cutie patootie cheer at her jamboree. There are 47 cheer leaders - K, 1, and 2nd grades. Those little boys are already playing tackle football!

It was another HOT Saturday. Very hot - not a stitch of make up on that hot face!

The girls were doing their halftime cheer (below). The tent was in the way, but we could see our girl on the left hand side.

We went back to their house for about an hour but they had a full day of plans. The grandgirls all love pops - they were playing with sparkly slime.

This one had a NASTY cold. I won't describe what was coming out of her nose, but it was gross.

I worked Sunday morning and taught Sunday School and then had to go back for a nominations/lay leadership meeting at 4:00. Our supper club was meeting at 6:00 and our friends live near the church. Needless to say, I was the first guest.

Look at the beer . . .Bigfoot!

We were going with a Mediterranean theme - host grilled lamb steaks/chops and chicken. I made the charcuterie board and it was really pretty and good!

I am running on fumes this week. I hope all of you are doing well!!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Just FYI - I am running behind this week. I watched a Time Management Ted Talk for one of my classes and I do know that I have the same number of hours in a week that everyone else has . . .but whew!

Also, since I am late writing this -- let's all extend lots of love and sympathy and prayers to Joyce, our host, and her family on the death of her mother.

1. How do you feel about the transition from lazy summer days to a busier fall routine? Since my summer days are not "lazy," that is not a transition from me. My August and September are very busy this year so I hit the ground running every day. I do love the fall colors and plan to pull out the fall decorations on Labor Day weekend.

2. Your favorite cookie? Our friend, Donna Nelson, makes a white chocolate, almond, and coconut cookie that is to die for. I don't really eat sweets anymore, but sometimes I will have a bite of hers. I also LOVE a good homemade chocolate chip cookie - Donna also makes excellent chocolate chip cookies! Most of the time I eat Alyssa's oatmeal cookies that you can purchase in the deli/bakery area of your local Publix. They have no added sugar.

3. What's something you've learned from a culture different than your own? I've learned so much from reading blogs written by others who live in the UK or Australia. I also love learning about cultures when we travel. We've eaten dinner twice with families in Palestine. Let me just say that sitting around a table, eating food cooked by someone's mama, and sharing our lives makes you think differently about others. 

4. Food critic, film critic, book critic, art critic...which hat would you most like to wear? Tell us why. I think I would really enjoy being a food critic. I would want to be a world-wide food critic. I might have a hard time eating a few things especially things that are still alive. I would have to take Mark along to sample those items haha! I would try to always find something positive to say first.

5. What's a small, random thing from your childhood that you still remember clearly? I had a stuffed monkey that I loved. I sucked on his banana until it fell apart - that sounds so yucky now! I also remember playing with play dough and coloring in a coloring book. I still enjoy playing with play dough and coloring! I also remember sitting in our swing with my daddy and how my little hand felt in his big callused hand.

6. Insert your own random thought here.  Someone else said they have a hard time with the random thoughts. So do I. 

Flying on a Hodgepodge

 

1. August 19th is National Aviation Day...do you like to fly? Last time you were on an airplane? The date is chosen in honor of the history and development of aviation, and celebrated on the birthday of Orville Wright. Have you ever been to the Kitty Hawk area of North Carolina? The city of Dayton in Ohio (their birthplace)

I do not like to fly, but I do fly because I love to travel. I take a combo of Ativan and Dramamine when I fly. Those 12 hour flights are a killer. I would love to go visit some places like Australia . . .or New Zealand, but I might have to fly somewhere in the middle and stay a day or two and then continue on. I was on an airplane in October and will be on an airplane again this fall. I don't think I've been to the Kitty Hawk area of North Caroline and I know I've never been to Dayton, Ohio.

2. In what area of your life do you tend to 'wing it'? Is this an area you should be winging? 

I wing it until I make it! I'm winging it as a 68 year old college student. Some days I'm winging it on my job! Some days I'm winging it through life.

3. A favorite book, song, or movie that relates to flight in some way?   

The Flight Girls: A Novel - A Gripping WWII Tale of Fearless Women and Forbidden Love - I haven't read it yet so I don't know if it is a favorite, but it is loaded on my kindle ready to go. Fly Me to the Moon is not a favorite, but it did pop into my head! Leaving on a Jet Plane is another one that popped into my head. I don't know that I have a favorite.

4. Soft serve, gelato, sherbet, frozen yogurt, or good old fashioned ice cream...what's your pleasure? Your favorite flavor? How often do you indulge? 

These days, my two favorite frozen indulgences are sugar free fudgsicles and Halo Top Salted Caramel (no sugar).

5. I never get tired of hearing the words, "I love you."

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I know I say this every semester, but I feel a little freaked out. Classes start on Monday and we already have the syllabus for the Research class. It is so much work and so far beyond my normal scope of knowledge. I will definetly be winging it. We don't have the information for our other class yet.

A Full and Fun Weekend in Review

 

This post has a ridiculous number of food pictures and random pictures. After work on Thursday, we met our long-time friends for dinner at Soho Taco. My shrimp kebabs and black beans were yummy!

After we ate, we walked around the corner to the Homewood Theater for the season opener. This is our least favorite "entertainment" of the season. It just isn't our kind of music, but we love the theater - the rest of the shows will be plays and they will be really good.

On Friday morning, I had a 7:15 a.m. doctor's appointment and I was in and out by 7:55! I headed back home and did some laundry and rode the stationary bike and then headed back to Homewood to meet three friends for lunch at ZoZo's. 

It was a weekend of eating . . .we met Mark's twin brother and wife and her cousin and spouse at Stix. The cousin and spouse were in town for a dental conference.

Mark enjoyed sushi -- the tuna was minced which was very different.

I was disappointed we didn't sit at the cooking tables, but I was able to order shrimp . . .like I would have ordered if they were preparing tableside. We both ate my leftovers on Saturday - 3 meals (plus some still went in the trash!)

On Saturday, it was HOT here in Alabama. It was opening day for the fifth grade tackle football team (along with the other teams). Most other school systems cancelled their outdoor activities on Saturday, but not this one. Our oldest granddaughter was cheering so Gran and Pops loaded up and headed 30 minutes southeast. See the two blue tents? She is the cheerleader "between" the two tents.

It was so HOT! Did I already say that? haha!

I had on my hat to cover the tops of my ears (remember I had a sqamous cell removed a couple of years ago). I had on sunglasses and had my neck fan. When we stood up, the back of our shorts was wet - seriously hot.

As soon as they completed their dance routine, they called it and we all left. The teams they were supposed to play had backed out so the team was divided and they were playing against each other.

While driving to the game, we had decided to stop at Aldi on the way home and buy charcuterie stuff. It was too hot to cook. Our friend, Marietta, who is one of my monthly lunch bunch friends (ZoZo's above), brought us a cute reusable bag. I still had it in my purse from lunch on Friday and we used it at Aldi. We bought my favorite crackers and cheese and turkey and other fancy meats, along with olives. The bag folds back flat and fits in the square with the kitty cat face!

We had the baby dills, mini saltines, and carrots at home. We usually have figs or dates, but all I had was prunes haha! We were still hot from the football game so came in the door and I went straight to the shower! While Mark was showering, I started putting together our plates. It wasn't really a charcuterie, but more of a cold cut plate.

I worked on Sunday morning! Everyone was back in worship - it was a great Sunday. Our new campus opened and they are already out of space. They literally used every chair in the building (even kid's chairs) and people still had to stand (photo below).

Working the welcome desk - it was a great day in all of our worship services.

We even had fog bubbles greeting everyone. All of the kids loved the bubbles.

I taught Sunday school and afterwards we had family over for lunch. I thought I would grab a picture of all of us at the table, but that didn't happen!

We had a weekend full of eating and fellowship!