It's a Hodgepodge

 

1. What does adventure mean to you? 

Adventure is something "out of the norm" for me. It can also be a healthy way to look at things. One time we had a HUGE snowstorm in Alabama. We even had green lightning. Our kids were in kindergarten. When things thawed and Mark was back at work, his co-worker said, "we just looked at the whole thing as an adventure." It wasn't planned, but when it happened they rolled with it and called it an adventure. 

I also think that our international travels are an adventure. Mark and I love going to new places and seeing and learning new things.

2.  What are your thoughts on tipping? What businesses or service providers do you regularly tip? Do you resent being asked if you'd like to add a tip? What about when a suggested amount is presented? 

Since covid, I routinely tip at least 20%, unless the service is horrible (which rarely happens). Every Wednesday, Mark eats breakfast with several other guys. Their server has Mark's coffee ready almost as soon as he walks through the door. They tip her generously every week, and then at Christmas, the give her a Christmas card with a very nice tip enclosed. I tip servers in restaurants. I tip the nail tech when I get a pedicure (20-25% - depends on how good the massage is!). I tip my hair stylist - usually a flat $25. I struggle with tipping when I order at the counter. There is a place in town where I eat at least once a month. You order at a counter, but they do deliver your food to the table. They have the percentage amounts on the screen as you pay. There have been a few times where having the suggested amounts on the screen have actually "hurt" the server. I pick one, but might have tipped more if I were just adding it on.

3. I scream you scream we all scream for ice cream...do we? Is ice cream a favorite treat at your house? What's your favorite flavor? Regular, soft serve, gelato, sherbet, or some sort of non-dairy version of ice cream...what's your pleasure? 

We only buy ice cream if we are serving a dessert to company that needs ice cream (cobbler, apple roll, etc.). I don't eat it anymore, but I do love a good strawberry or a chocolate and peanut butter flavor. I actually like all of the kinds. Mark and I make "banana ice cream" about once a week. We slice very ripe bananas and freeze them. We then put them in the food processor along with a few blueberries or a couple of strawberries or some fresh frozen peaches . . .chop and blend until creamy. It may sound weird, but it is delicious.

4. What's your 'back in my day, we____________________ ' story or saying? 

Back in my day, if you missed your favorite TV show . . .you missed it! VCR's had not been invented yet. There were no streaming services. Actually, we had 3 TV channels - period. Also, back in my day, all phones had cords and you hoped your phone had a really long cord so you could pull it into another room away from your family. I remember when rotary dials went away. I remember when we got our first cordless phone!! I also remember when I got my first cell phone. It was MASSIVE.

Ours was very similar to this one!

our phone looked like this!

5. Somehow this is our last Hodgepodge in the month of June. Next week's Hodgepodge lands in July. Wow. Sum up your June using three adjectives. 

Full. Emotional. Purposeful

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

By this time next week, I will have my first class at Samford University under my belt. (Summer semester for me consists of two five week terms.) I have been terribly worried about my transition from community college to a four year university . . .but I'm closing in on the end of the first class!! My final is July 2. I have two projects due this week. I emailed the professor and asked if there would be a study guide for the final. NOPE. oh well . . .