HodgePodge Wednesday

I'm back for the first HodgePodge Wednesday of 2012! Don't forget to link up at Joyce's blog.

1. What are three words you would use to describe your 2011?
I would say:
unusual due to the fact that this was the first summer since I started teaching that I had so much time on my hands;
life-changing because my son graduated from college and headed to Officer Training leaving my husband and I to a truly empty nest;
stressful also comes to mind with reasons that include my work, subbing for Zumba instructors, and breaking a bone in my foot.

2. Do you like shrimp? What's your favorite way to have it prepared?
Shrimp is probably my most favorite seafood. There was a place in Knoxville, TN, called "The Half Shell" that we would go to that served stuffed shrimp. It was so good!! (I really liked their grouper also.)

3. Is your house de-Christmased? If so when did you tackle that job? If not, when will the decorations come down?
I "de-Christmased" on the 30th this year. Usually I wait until either the first or shortly thereafter. I did it a little earlier this year because I needed help with getting the tree back to the attic and C was the only one healthy enough to do it and he left on the 31st. However, my candles are still in the windows and the wreath is still on the door, so I guess I'm not finished.

4. Do you like to watch scary movies?
Not the movies that are out now. There is just too much blood and gore in them. I can stand to watch some of the older movies (before 1980).

5. ice skating~sledding~skiing~snowboarding~of the four listed which wintertime activity do you most enjoy?
I would have to say sledding because I have only ice skated twice in my life and have never been skiing or snowboarding. I used to sled all the time when it snowed enough growing up. There was a great hill just across the street from where I lived. I remember having so much fun!

6. Did you have a childhood hideout? Describe it.
I don't remember having a childhood hideout. I do remember when we played hide-and-seek there was a dogwood tree that had branches leaning over enough to hide under. And across the street there was a park (yes, where we would sled) that had good places to build forts. But I don't remember an actual hideout. Does that mean I was deprived?

7. What's a place or space that motivates you?
Tough question. I have never really thought about a place or space motivating me. I love the mountains--looking at them, being on them, even looking at pictures.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
I read a blog yesterday about the blogger's "last first kiss" and was thinking about it today. Then I heard a message from the Proverbs 31 lady (I don't remember exactly what it is called) on the radio station I listen to. She talked about how her husband prayed for God to send him a wife. I got to wondering: my husband and I were at the university at the same time but didn't meet until a year or so later when I moved back home and he moved to that area. While we were at the university, he dated a girl with the last name "Fletcher" and I dated a guy with the last name "Fletcher". Do you think we were suppose to meet at school but we took a different path so that we couldn't?

Thanks, Joyce! These were good questions this week.