Wednesday Hodgepodge

Well it's a completely miserable excuse for summer time weather here this week but I guess we should be grateful we are not in the throes of a horrendous heat wave.  I should be grateful that I'm saving on electricity which is usually astronomical due to the air conditioning and I'm saving on water because the sprinklers are not needed and I'm saving on propane because it's too wet to use the grill or the heaters and I'm saving on clothes because at this rate my summer things will not wear out and I'll be wearing them next summer too. 

Still . . . a little sun would be nice. 

Anyway . .  . it's time for Joyce's Hodgepodge . . .

1. July 20th marks the anniversary of the first time man stood on the moon. Flash forward 42 years to July 8, 2011 which marked the start of the final Space Shuttle mission. Should we continue to explore space? Should nations devote more or fewer of their resources to exploring space? Would you want to go into space if the opportunity arose?

Oh, I don't know.  In the grand scheme of the state of our nation and the levels of priorities and taking into consideration what's going on right here on good ol' Mother Earth, I'm not sure we should be using such an enormous amount of resources to continue at least that area of exploration. It's kind of like if it's not in the budget should they be doing it?  As in, if they can't afford to fix their primary residence, should they looking for a vacation home?  Ha. On the other hand we should be making our mark in the world as far as being leaders in all things innovative.  I'm sure there is a good argument for both sides.  Maybe other nations could do the ground work and we'll just rent to own.  Ha ha ha.  I crack myself up. 
And, I'm pretty sure I'd be sitting that ride out if offered. 

2. What are three things in your freezer?

Just 3 things?  Okay, well . . . ice cream (several flavors, actually), frozen hamburgers and ice in the bag.

3. If you could see any band/artist perform live tonite who would it be? It has to be someone living...no Beatles, Elvis, etc.

Hmm.  I'm not a huge concert going fan and I've seen Elton John and Billy Joel and Backstreet Boys and Brittney Spears (when she was a good girl) and Amy Grant and the Dixie Chicks (when they were socially acceptable, although I still like 'em) so there's not really someone I've consciously thought I would like to see in person.  Maybe Carrie Underwood. (hopefully she'll always be a good girl)

4. Ice-cubed or crushed? Or are you one of those people who don't like ice?

Crushed.  I prefer bagged ice from the store but I'm not above crushed from the fridge either. 

5. The owner of a small restaurant outside of Pittsburgh recently announced he was banning children under six, saying they regularly disrupted other customer's meals. You can read the story in more detail here but isn't this a perfect topic to discuss in our Wednesday Hodgepodge? Have at it friends...what are your thoughts?

Oh jeez.  Is it very nice?  Well noooo, but then again patrons don't have to go there either and if he loses business then it's his doing.  There are plenty of upscale restaurants where it would not be appropriate for children to eat.  And there are plenty of kid friendly places where adults sans kids would not want to frequent.  Obviously parents should be teaching their children manners at home so that when they do dine out they are aware of what's expected of them.  For the longest time the only places we dined out with the kids was in highly kid friendly places, more for our sakes than theirs.  Each time we went they got better at it and we "up ed" the level of sophistication also so that by the time they were 2,4,5  5,7 and 8 they had it down (we ate out often) and knew how to behave. That said, there are those times when your child gets a wild hair and is just plain ol' disruptive and in that case they should be removed so as to not disrupt other paying customer's dining experience.  That is just lplain old politeness and common sense.   I guess it's his restaurant and he can serve whom he pleases.  He probably isn't a grandpa.  Just sayin'

6. What was your first car? How did it come to be yours?

My first car was a Mustang II.  I bought it in '79 (or early '80) I think. It was not new.  It was root beer brown with a tan top and I purchased it myself.  Okay well, Dad looked it over and helped me get the loan and went with me to pick it up but I paid for it.  It was just like this one . . .

Snazzy, eh?  I thought so.

7. If I had a nickle for every time I asked the boys what they wanted to eat I'd be rich.


8. Insert your own random thought here.

Yesterday I went to pick up my dress after alterations and it's not quite right so back I must go tomorrow when the seamstress is in the shop.  Ugh.  Here's the thing - every time I go in there I find something else I want to lust after.  I need to just be done already!  I'm trying to be good here, people!

I'm just sayin'