HodgePodge 11.19.25

 

1. Let's do our gratitude question first this week...what's the best thing about your home, and have you taken time to enjoy it lately? 

2. Do you like squash? Of the varieties listed, which one's your favorite and how do you like it prepared? Is squash of some sort on your Thanksgiving menu?? 

acorn, butternut, delicata, spaghetti, zucchini, crookneck (yellow squash), patty pan

3. Last time you were 'squashed in' somewhere, or felt squashed? 

4. Have you ever played squash? What about other 'racquet sports' such as racquetball, tennis, pickleball, badminton, table tennis (ping pong)? Are these sports something you enjoy? 

5. Something in today's society or culture that feels like a 'racket' to you? If you don't like that one, tell us about a place you've been recently where there was a lot of 'racket'. 

6.  Insert your own random thought here. 

Look at me - two weeks in a row!!  I'm not going to use ChatGPT today, although it was a fun thing to do that last week.  Most people commented on that and since I love knowing how other people think about things, I appreciated the responses!  If we were all in the room together we could all grow/stretch one another's minds about this topic I think :)

Here we go - back to my rambling, "when are you going to get to the point?", answers :)

1. Let's do our gratitude question first this week...what's the best thing about your home, and have you taken time to enjoy it lately? 

So I did use AI, just not ChatGPT, for this one - I asked Google Photos to show me pictures of my home.  I expected a picture I took a couple of weeks ago of the house lit up at night with the flag flying.  Or the million of my sunny kitchen eating area.  Or the POV I've snapped many times of me blogging in my cozy living room.  Nope.  It put together pictures taken IN my home - and I like that answer so much more.  The best thing I like about my home is having people in it.  We've said a hundred times, this is not an entertainer's home and we didn't buy it with that activity in mind and have always been sorry that open spaces weren't a priority to us.  But guess what?  We make it work anyway.  Nothing makes me happier than a full house.  Full stop.

From holidays to graduation parties to game nights - to a random Saturday invite to come over for dinner or kids dropping in - everything is good.  My door is always open - I'm always happiest at home when it's full of people I love.

2. Do you like squash? Of the varieties listed, which one's your favorite and how do you like it prepared? Is squash of some sort on your Thanksgiving menu?? 

acorn, butternut, delicata, spaghetti, zucchini, crookneck (yellow squash), patty pan

Short answer:  not really.  I don't dislike it, I just rarely choose it.  IF a recipe calls for it and I prepare it, it's usuallyzucchini or yellow squash and I prefer it grilled or roasted.  I don't think we have it on our thanksgiving menu - to me it's more of a summer food.  Our neighbors have grown squash in their garden before and we always enjoy getting and eating that,  but I probably wouldn't spend money to eat it.

3. Last time you were 'squashed in' somewhere, or felt squashed? 
I don't feel "squashed in" as much as Tom probably does - he doesn't like to touch people when he has to be sitting around.  I don't either, but I am smaller so it's probably easier for me?

Now Friends, the following pictures are all first-world problems and I feel I need to say that because, really, who are we to complain??  These are supposed to be FUN questions, right Joyce?

On airplanes - again, I'm smaller so a bit easier for me.  On this trip, though, that guy behind Tom kept making noise. . .then later in the trip that person was sitting in from of Tom on the bus and reclining his seat into Tom's lap - I get it - tight spaces.

Not squashed - BLESSED - to be with this crew to celebrate a birthday.  And to have a restaurant with a large enough table to seat all of us!!  And that we're good enough friends that we CAN endure being this close to one another for a couple of hours ;)

The "real" reason we only "do" one football game a year - b/c the seats are small, aisles narrow and Tom always feels so crowded.  But the energy can't be matched at home so he indulges me once a year!!

This could have easily turned into something emotional, rather than physical, but let's stick with this :)

4. Have you ever played squash? What about other 'racquet sports' such as racquetball, tennis, pickleball, badminton, table tennis (ping pong)? Are these sports something you enjoy? 

I think anyone who "knows" me through this blog or knows me in real life knows this one - ha!

I started playing tennis with my dad at the local park in the 80's - he checked out a Tracy Austin book from the library and he learned to teach me strokes and such.  In middle school we found a coach at our local pool who I continued lessons with - then later worked for - through High School.  I had a chance to reunite with him last year!!

Since moving to Knoxville in 2015, I have been able to participate in USTA and have had the opportunity to go to many State tournaments as well as a few regional ones :)
Tennis kept me from picking up Pickleball until about 1.5 years ago. . .my dad has played for 30-ish years, my in-laws for at least 20 and because of that my kiddos have always been exposed to the sport.  Because it is something we do across the generations together (80's to 20's pictured here!) I jumped in and really do like it!!

My dad, as well as in-laws, are very good players who we enjoy time on the court with!

My mother-in-law and myself on a sunny day this summer :)

And it's the ONE sport (besides walking) that my sister and I both enjoy together.

I've never played squash, but grew up watching my dad play racquetball and my parents had a badminton set for our backyard.  I've heard great things about racquet sports and longevity - I think three of our parents (all active in their 80's!) could testify to that!!

And Friends, anyone can play pickleball!!  Go out and try it - so.much.fun.

5. Something in today's society or culture that feels like a 'racket' to you? If you don't like that one, tell us about a place you've been recently where there was a lot of 'racket'. 

How I would love to answer this one honestly. . .but just can't.  It has to do with what Mike Rowe and Charlie Kirk had in common and, without you knowing me, I would seem like a hypocrite to the outside world saying "education is a racquet".  Especially since I used to be a part of a system I believed so strongly in and, to my deepest core, still do - just not in it's current state.  

So. . .I gave up and asked ChatGPT this one and the answer is *perfect* - 

The pressure to rush through every season—especially this time of year—feels like a racket. Between holiday events, year-end demands, and everyone's Instagram-perfect plans, it can feel like we’re being sold a version of “joy” that’s actually just hustle. I’m trying to stay grounded and intentionally enjoy the simple moments instead.

I wish I could have come up with this one and written the above!!  Absolutely NO JUDGMENT to my online and real-life friends or neighbors who are already on to Christmas - I'm glad you love the season so much!!!  I really, really want to "live in the day" and, for me, one month is enough of the "stuff" of Christmas. I'll read/tell the story of Christmas every day of my life because it's so miraculous, but the commercialism and consumerism of it all is just too much for me.  But, just me - I love that you all love the season so much that it starts November 1st for you ;)

6.  Insert your own random thought here. 

Last night we had our monthly Birthday Friends dinner and forgot to get a picture!!  Ugh.  Anyway, there were 9 of us and I'm usually the "question-asker".  I was ready because of this post - I went ahead and asked about everyone's best part of their homes.  I learned so much about each person because of that!!  The space and the reason varied - some of their answers were because it was the only place in their house where it was "quiet", some because of the people that fill it, one because it's where they keep their travel memories/souvenirs, one because of the view of the East TN mountains, and one person said her favorite room was her parent's backyard, first in CA and now the one they've created here.  I ended with my answer because I had already had time to think about it (the second person to go said, that's not fair, I haven't thought about it yet! - ha!). . .in my head I just now again went around the table remembering each person and their answers. . .it was a good conversation starter!!

Can't wait to read each of your racquet posts - please visit the linky party to join or find more blogs to read!