How can it be February HodgePodge?

We are so glad that Joyce is back with her weekly questions! Feel free to copy and paste the questions and answer on your own blog or answer in the comments. You can join up with us over at Joyce's blog!

1. Tell us anything you want about your January. January flew by! It was a very busy month and I can’t believe it is now February!

2. Lake Superior State University posts a list each year of words they think should be banished from the Queen's English for misuse, overuse, and/or general uselessness. The 2023 list includes GOAT, inflection point, quiet quitting, gaslighting, moving forward, amazing, Does that make sense?, irregardless, absolutely, and it is what it is.

Which of these words/phrases do you use regularly? I’ve used GOAT maybe once or twice. I use amazing too often. I also use “does that make sense?” too often. Our whole family says “it is what it is.” My mother-in-law, whom I’ve written about many times, is 97 and is suffering from memory loss. A few years ago BEFORE IT WAS POPULAR, she started saying, “It is what it is.” I have laughed because I feel like she started that trend. I know she didn’t in reality but . . . .

Which of these words would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why? I think the “quiet quitting” is weird. I understand the concept, but I’ve thought the phrase was weird all along. Is there a word/phrase not on the list you'd like to add? I can’t think of one to add.

3. February 2nd is Groundhog Day. What's something that feels repeated in your life right now? I start each day with hope that the work will begin on our house . . . .and then my hopes get dashed yet I wake again the next day with hope. It is coming. They actually installed a port-o-let yesterday. Granted my neighbor texted me at work yesterday with pictures telling me the placement of the port-o-let would not do. Let me just say that it has been a long 6 months.

4. What's a food you love that's named after a place? I really love French fries but I understand they aren’t really named after France. I like Israeli Cous Cous . . .is it really named for Israel? I don’t know! About 40 years ago, I ate Baked Alaska but I don’t think I’ve had it since. I can’t wait to read everyone’s answers for this question!!

5. What's the best season of the year to visit your city or your part of the country? Tell us why. Spring is spectacular here. We have dogwood trees and azaleas along with many other blooming plants and trees. I will warn you . . . if you have allergies to trees or grass or pollen, we also have a LOT OF THAT!

6. Insert your own random thought here. We are headed out of the country in a week or so. I can’t wait to tell y’all all about it.