Wednesday Hodgepodge - Volume 295

It's Wednesday - time to Weigh In and Hodgepodge!  Click on the photo if you want to join in.

1.  Can you believe it's the end of January?  What was the best day of January 2017 for you, and why?

I'm going to say the first day of Winter Storm Helena.  It was so beautiful to wake up to a blanket of snow everywhere.  A real Winter Wonderland.

2.  What sounds make up the background noise in your life?

Right now?  The ticking clock, the heater blowing in the background, and the sound of my fingers clicking across the keyboard.  I'd love for the sound of waves breaking on the sand to be part of the background noise of my life but we just don't live close enough.

3.  I read on the Power of Positivity website a list of ten things to drop from your life right now.  They are-

anger outbursts, people who put you down, regret, negative self talk, being a people pleaser, the notion you need to be perfect, the past (but keep the lessons learned!), gossip and judgement, comparing yourself to others, and the word hate (focus on what you love instead)

Which thing on the list do you most need to drop?  Are you trying or will you try?

I have one regret and I don't know that I'll ever be able to drop it.  I regret not asking my parents more questions about their lives, about our early lives (the ones I am too young to remember).  We talked incessantly so I'm sure I know a lot more than many people do about their parents' likes and dislikes and life experiences but every now and then, something will come up and I'll think to myself "I wish I had asked Mum or Dad about that".  I should drop it, they are gone and I'll never find the answers now but the regret is still there.

4.  What is sacred to you?

I'm sure I'm supposed to say something profound here.  I'll read the other Hodgepodge posts and think "Why didn't I think of that?" (oops, see #3 above, comparing yourself to others!).  My answer is easy, my family is sacred to me.

5.  January is National Oatmeal Month.  Are you a fan, and if so, how do you like it?

I don't eat oatmeal anymore now that we're on a clean eating regimen.  I used to like it, but it was this one and I don't need the sugar in my life anymore.

6.  What feelings does twilight stir up in you?

In a word (or should I say, in a photo), this:

2008 and all the frenzy of Edward and Bella.  Sophia and her girlfriends stood in line for the midnight showing, and then had a party when it came out on DVD.  We searched for everything Twilight in the stores - Hot Topic seemed to have it all - and the camps split into Team Edward and Team Jacob.  It was a fun time!

7.  Something you're looking forward to next month?

It's our 24th anniversary in February and we're continuing on our search for the best tearoom in Virginia.  If you read my Homemaker post on Monday, you'll know that the last one was a bust.  The next one looks more promising - there are tablecloths on the tables!  Really, I don't ask for much.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I love the Hodgepodge and I'm pretty sure that Joyce visits everyone.  I appreciate that she takes the time to leave a comment.  I'm not a big one for followers or statistics or charts of what posts are the most popular but I do love to see a comment especially when it leads to finding a new blog written by someone with similar interests, or a great sense of humor, or wonderful recommendations of recipes to try, books to read, movies to watch.  When someone starts a meme and when others join in, it's not an obligation to visit everyone and leave comments, it's more of a courtesy.  I understand bloggers get busy with real life and there's not always time to comment on every post but when you can, it's lovely to see.  So, when I joined a meme that had multiple hosts and close to a hundred participants, and not one person left a comment the first week, or the second, or the third, it bothered me.  Silly maybe but that's how I felt, disappointed that not one person could take a moment to say "Enjoyed your post" or "Have a great day".  I guess maybe I wasn't their cup of tea.  Thoughts?

UPDATE:  Thank you so much, Hodgepodge ladies, for pulling me off the pity party train about this.  I needed to be reminded that I blog for myself, to chat about things I love, to share things I think may interest others, and because I love to write.  It's not about followers or statistics and although I love them when they are there, it's not about the comments either.  I'm off the train and moving on - thank you!