HodgePodge and Nanowrimo - The Eye of the Storm

Thanks to Joyce for hosting, and visit here for other entries.

1.  What's surprised you most about your life, or about life in general?

I am sure there are lots of things that surprised me about my life, but the one that comes to mind at the moment is how I can derive such joy and delight in the simplest things; birds at the feeder, a child's smile as I walk past them in the grocery store, the fall leaves, the cherry blossoms.  Well, you get the idea. 

2. Among others, these ten words were added to the Oxford English Dictionary this year...awesomesauce, beer o'clock, brain fart, buttdial, cat cafe(apparently this is a real thing), fatberg (gross-read the definition here), fat shame, hangry, Mx (gender neutral), and skippable. 

Your thoughts? In looking over the list, which word do you find most ridiculous? Which word would you never in a million years say out loud? Which word would you be most likely to use in conversation?

Well I have used brain fart in conversation, and I think fat shaming gets in there too from time to time.  I don't think I would ever use any of the others, but you know what 'they' say - Never, say never!

3. Do you like gravy? Is there a food you'd rather not eat unless it comes with gravy? Do you make your own or buy the canned or store-made variety? Turkey and gravy, sausage gravy, mashed potatoes and gravy, country ham and red eye gravy, biscuits and chocolate gravy, pot roast and gravy...which one on the list is your favorite?

I do like gravy.  A lot!  All kinds.  I probably wouldn't eat brussel sprouts without gravy, unless it is the kind my husband makes with bacon and parmesan. We do make our own gravy, and recently my husband discovered an awesome gravy recipe by Jamie Oliver which is so delicious.  My favourite though is my mother's roast beef gravy.  It makes my mouth water just thinking about it poured over Yorkshire pudding!

4. Do you have a plan? Do you need a plan? Have you ever had a plan fall into a trillion pieces? Explain.

I have plans for the little things like writing a novel, or improving my swimming.  However I really suck at making plans for the big things like: should we move?, should we renovate?, where should we go on holidays?.  We both kinda fly by the seat of our pants on those big plan-less events.

5. November 19 is National Play Monopoly Day. Do you own the original or some version of the game? Do you enjoy playing Monopoly? How likely is it you'll play a game of Monopoly on November 19th? Ever been to Atlantic City? Ever taken a ride on a railroad? Is parking in your town free? Last thing you took a chance on?

Yes I own the original game - I think it is the one I played on as a child.  I love the game, but likely will not be playing it on the 19th.  I didn't even know there was such a thing as National Monopoly Day.  I have never been to Atlantic City, but I have taken a few train trips: through the Rockies, from Frankfurt to Florence and back again.  Parking in my town is free, but not unlimited.  And near the hospital there are meters now. (which I think is atrocious!)  The last thing I took a chance on was agreeing to teach a course I have never taught before with only 24 hours notice.  I am glad I did.  It went very well.  

6. A song you like that has the word (or some form of the word) thanks in the title, lyrics, or meaning?

You are the wind beneath my wings.  I love the line "Have I ever told you you're my hero". 

7. In keeping with this month's theme of gratitude....what is something you're taking for granted that when you stop and think about it, you're grateful for?

I am grateful that I leap into things without always thinking it through.  I think, at 60, that can only be a good thing.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Here is an excerpt from Chapter 18 - I have just over 30,000 words.  Hoo Hoo!

She drove in the eye of the storm.  It was sunny, and clear, and when she parked she noticed the air was very, dare she say it, warm.

She greeted her friend at their favourite sushi restaurant and they were talking before she had removed her coat and before the first cup of tea had been poured.  They had known each other through it all – first loves, first heartbreaks, first drinks, first betrayals.  The death of their fathers, marriages, divorces, babies, illness. 

All of it. 

Time would go by.  Sometimes a lot of time.  And yet when they reconnected it was as if no time at all had passed.  They always called each other on their birthdays.  It was their thing.  She was two months, almost to the day, older than her friend so she led the way into the new year, the new age, the new terrain. 

When they were growing up her friend had been the beautiful one.  She was the academic one.  It had seemed that way until they were in their twenties.  Then she had felt more of an equal but they were opposites.  One blonde, one brunette.  One tall, one short.  One slim, one curvy.  

But they were connected deeply – like two sides of the same rare and fragile coin.