Wednesday Hodgepodge 4/6

1. National Read a Road Map Day falls on April 5th. Would people say you have a good sense of direction? Do you rely on a GPS when you drive somewhere new? When was the last time you used a map? 

Maps?  Are for suckers.  Or people smarter than me.  Whichever.  Favorite and I use the GPS which can be quite the adventure if you don't know what you're doing.  Like if you put your destination in as the via point (and then it takes you 2 hours to get to a location 15 minutes away).  Or if you haven't updated said system for quite some time and run into road construction.  Every time you hear that thing say, "Recalculating" you know it really wants to say "HEY MORON!  I GAVE YOU EXPLICIT INSTRUCTIONS TO GET TO YOUR DESIRED LOCATION, BUT NOOOOOOOO.  WE HAVE TO VEER OFF THE CHOSEN PATH.  ROAD NOT TAKEN MY REAR END."

2. What's your favorite cookbook?

I can't choose.  I've compiled my favorite recipes from several different cookbooks and those tend to be my go-tos as far as meal planning goes.  I modify and change so that it's easier for me to create something I'll enjoy.  I have one from a colleague's aunt that is just top of the line.  I have a pink Better Homes and Gardens one that is just amazing.  And I have this hardcover cookbook that I stole from my mom that I absolutely love.  Whether it makes me weird or not, I just love reading cookbooks.  I used to do it every morning while I ate breakfast at home.  I kinda miss that now.

3. What painting would you like to "walk into" and experience? Why?

Anything by Degas--the images are just so ethereal.  I like the idea of feeling that way after years of realizing that the size of my hind end has me firmly anchored to the ground of reality.

4. What annoys you more- misspellings or mispronunciations?

So have I mentioned that I'm a high school English teacher?  Both bother me, but in different contexts.  I can allow certain spelling mistakes, but I cannot tolerate their, there, and they're.  Or then and than.  Or misuse of apostrophes.  Can I count all of those as spelling mistakes?  They drive me crazy.  I just think, "You are shaming your high school English teacher right now."  Although, I might take those things a little more personally (whether or not I should).

I'm a lot more lenient on mispronunciations because it's difficult to determine sound if you've never heard anyone say it.  And those dictionary pronunciations don't always help with emphasis, etc.

5. What is something your mother or father considered important? 

My mom and dad always emphasized school.  I found that a little funny considering that neither one of them attended college, but I kinda think that's why they thought school was so important.

My mother also believed in cleanliness.  She would clean house at home and then go to other people's houses (as a guest) and clean there, too.  It's a gift (or compulsion.  Whichever).

My family has always emphasized the necessity of humor.  This is a lesson I internalized more than any other one, because I can laugh in the most inappropriate of moments. 

6. Do you like or dislike schedules?

I like them, but sometimes I think they need to be amended to suit the "teachable moment."

7. Let's have some fun with National Poetry Month (that would be April)...write your own ending to this poem-

"Roses are Red

Violets are blue..."

My dishes are white

but I never did like to make poetry rhyme.  Actually, I can't stand Emily Dickinson and am pretty sure the world wouldn't have lost anything if her sister-in-law would've burned her poetry like Emily ASKED HER TO.  Ugh.  It pains me to read anything that follows the pattern of "The Yellow Rose of Texas." 

Incidentally if you'd like to read the history behind that little ditty you'll find it here.

8. Insert your own random thought in this space.

Target has delayed shipment of my end tables.  I'm distraught, people.  Horribly distraught.  But I'm making up for it with my new dishes (I luuuurrrrrvvvvvveeee them).  And if Favorite isn't look this weekend, I'm probably going to start putting things together for that laundry room.  Every laundry room needs a huge sign that says "LAUNDRY" right?