Wednesday Hodgepodge - Volume 275

1.  On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your summer so far?  Why?

One day it's a 10, the next it's a 1...it's the cycle of deployment.  Some days I am invincible, I can do it all and other days, I miss Vic so much I can hardly bear it.  The new job is exciting and challenging and exhausting.  MudLynn is so happy to see me when I walk in the door, and I to see her, but then I remember that we have to go for a walk and I feel like if I take one more step, I will collapse.  Truly, my summer has been like this:

2.  July 26th is National Aunts and Uncles Day.  Did you have many aunts and uncles growing up?  Were you especially close to any one or maybe all of them?  Are you an aunt?  Share a favorite memory relating to one of your own aunts or uncles or relating to a niece or nephew who call you Aunt.

I had one aunt and one uncle on my Mum's side.  My aunt lived in England and I saw her off and on over a six year period (when we lived in Belgium, she would come over a couple of times a year for a visit) and then more regularly during the five years we lived in England.  My uncle I saw less frequently as he lived in California but he made occasional visits to England and then later to our house in California.  Sadly, they are both gone.

My father had two brothers and two sisters, as well as a half-sister and half-brother.  Sadly, there was a rift between my Mum and my Dad's siblings and I didn't really get to know them until I was an adult with a child of my own and reached out to them one Christmas.  I was thrilled to be in contact with them again and although our travels as a Navy family often kept us away from them, we keep in contact as much as possible and now more than ever with Facebook.  Of the six siblings, only my Aunts Mary and Carol are still with us.  My Aunt Mary is the matriarch of the family and the keeper of the family genealogy.  She is in her 80s and still going strong.

I have two nephews ages 12 and 13 now.  They live about six hours away and are constantly busy.  My sister and brother-in-law have busy careers and the boys are very into sports so visiting in not always practical.  We have, however, spent a few Christmases together in the last ten years and hope to spend more now that we are all on the West Coast.  My favorite memory has to come from Christmas 2009 when they were 5 and 6 and very inquisitive about the packages under the tree.  They were down on their stomachs, sorting through the boxes and being pretty rough about it as young boys can be.  It wasn't too long before one of them made a wrong move and the whole tree tipped over.  I suppose it could have been a nasty accident, with them trapped underneath but the tree fell away from them, leaving them fully exposed to all for their dastardly deed and they immediately began a chorus of "I'm sorry" while we tried so hard (and failed) not to burst out laughing.  I wish I had had a camera!

Their decorating attempt (before the whole thing came crashing down) was hilarious!  The ornaments only went up as far as they were tall!

4.  When were you last astonished by something?  Explain.

A few weeks ago, I was named Employee of the Quarter for my department.  I was thrilled and expected a gift certificate to spend at the company store (logo items like jackets and bags) but was astonished to find a significant monetary award.  It was quite a moment.

5.  Surf board, paddle board, ironing board, Pinterest board, score board, clip board, bulletin board...which board have your most recently encountered?

The only board in my life lately is the Pinterest board, researching Christmas in July.

6.  What's your favorite story from scripture?  Why that story?

The Christmas story - I've always loved to hear it on Christmas Eve.   We've been to a variety of real-life and theatrical reenactments and it's always so awe-inspiring.

7.  If you were to travel from the east coast to the west coast in your own country, which five cities would you most want to see?

Nashville, San Antonio, St. Louis, Sante Fe, and Denver, 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I haven't had a chance to read all the responses to the Pokemon Go question from last week's Hodgepodge but the ones that I read were hilarious and I really needed a good laugh at times last week.

UPDATE:  I can count honestly!  1, 2, 4, 5, oops!

3.  What is your favorite food dipped in chocolate?  What is your favorite food dipped in cheese?

Anything dipped in chocolate becomes an instant favorite!  Top of the list is probably pretzels - love the sweet and salty combination.  Cheese?  Pieces of crusty baguette, hands down.