All Aboard the Hodgepodge

Today is Wednesday, and that means time for the Hodgepodge. I am grateful to our hostess Joyce for welcoming us each Wednesday. It is fun to join with the others over at her place for some thought-provoking questions and the sharing of answers. Climb aboard, and come along for the ride!

Here are the questions and my answers:

1. Lake Superior University has once again published a list of words/phrases they think should be banished from the Queen's English...here's the list for 2013-

fiscal cliff, kick the can down the road, double down, job creators/creation, passion/passionate, yolo (an acronym for you only live once), spoiler alert, bucket list, trending, superfood, boneless wings, and guru

Which of these words/phrases would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why. Go here to read more about how the words were chosen.

I read about each of the words/phrases, and there are good arguments for the banishment of all of them. I will choose job creators/creation. I guess the election made me just a little bit sick and tired of hearing this phrase. They can't just say 'reduce unemployment?'

2.  When was the last time you rode a train?  Where did you go?

We rode the train between terminals at DFW in September. Does that count?
My most memorable train ride was the one we took from Chicago to San Francisco on the California Zephyr when I was in first grade. 

(source)

We saw the country through the Vista-Dome, crossing rivers, chugging through dark tunnels, and eating and sleeping on the last car on the train. I learned how to say the states on our route in order as we traversed through the west. I even remember that Pete Fountain was on the train with us. I didn't know who he was, but my parents were  impressed. Of course, I know who he is now. One of New Orleans' favorite sons.

3. Bagels-yay or nay?  Favorite 'flavor'?  Favorite topping?
Sure, I like bagels. Plain ones with cream cheese or cinnamon bagels toasted with butter.

4.  'Tis the season of awards shows...if you could star in a movie already made which one would you choose? 
Well, I think every girl dreams of starring as Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. Alas, at my age, I'm destined to be Auntie Em instead.

5. The move towards single gender classrooms has been making the news in recent months....what say you?  Do you think kids perform better if seperated by gender and are taught differently or is that discrimination?  If you're a parent, is this something you'd support in regard to your own children? 
I don't have a strong opinion one way or the other on this issue. As a retired teacher, I know that children learn differently, and there is not often a 'one size fits all' answer for the best way to reach every student. I have also been around long enough to know that educational trends and methods come and go in cycles.

6. What's your favorite thing about staying in a hotel?
I enjoy staying in hotels. Especially those with plump pillows and crisp bedding. I like coming back in the afternoon to a clean room and fresh towels. And, of course, I love finding the bed turned down with a chocolate on my pillow after dinner. While this doesn't happen in every hotel, I sure like it when it does!

7. Do you have a 'word' for 2013?  What's the story behind your choice?
My word is FAITH, and I posted the story behind my choice in last week's Hodgepodge. 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
I have joined up with the Siesta Scripture Memory Team for the first time. It is part of Beth Moore's Living Proof Ministries, and I think it will be a good goal for 2013. Anything to exercise that old brain of mine is a good thing. Now if I would just  work on memorizing verses while on the treadmill, that would be even better. In keeping with my word for the year, I will try to choose verses relating to faith, at least for the first few months. I selected my second verse yesterday, an easy one, 'Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.' Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) I find that though I know verses (and I know this one well), I am not always sure of the references. Hopefully the SSMT will help me to learn not only the scripture, but where to find it as well.