1. This week’s Hodgepodge lands on National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day. Is yours in need of a cleaning? Will you get that done today? How often do you tackle this particular chore?

Not really right now. I threw out stuff last trash day and it’s really only got stuff in there I intend to use. But I probably will rearrange when it’s time to start thawing the turkey. I guess I do it whenever I see that there’s something festering in a Tupperware.

2. November 15th is also National Philanthropy Day…tell us about a charity (local or otherwise) you like to support when you’re able.  

Hmm, I don’t know any other than when we buy pumpkins from the church or give to some Christmas drive for kids.

3.What in nature inspires you and why? 

I think animals in general. They live such simple lives of just surviving. And I have little respect for the way some people choose to live where they don’t do anything and yet, our society keeps them alive. This sounds kind of negative but it used to be you had to try to improve your life and succeed but so many people now can just sloth around and we will give them food and money and even phones and I just think when I see animals out there doing their thing, trying not to become prey, trying to find food for their offspring … that just inspires me in some primal way to be better.

4. What’s something you own that makes you feel cozy? 

My heated blanket and it’s just about time to break that beast out!

5. Who did you thank today? Who thanked you? 

No one yet today but last night, when he was about to go to the gym, my oldest realized his shoes are all gross from the new job so he needs new ones. (Which I knew; we’d talked about) So I gave him some money to go get some and when he got home, he came up to me and gave me a sort of hug and thanked me. This is rare form for him! I am sure I will thank my kids later… IF they remember to take out the trash!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

This rain! It’s just a constant drizzle, windy and overcast. Essentially, a typical a fall day. I’m trying not to let it bother me but I do tend to get depressed when there are days on end like this. I do believe this weekend is supposed to be sunny. We’re going to a chili and karaoke party Friday night (I’m gonna have to DRINK if they think I’m going to sing in front of people!) and we are hosting a bottle share Saturday.

I have bee up a while today since my daughter had a field trip. Hopefully it’s less rainy in Tifton! We’ll see. She did bring her umbrella. Meanwhile, last night was a surprise stay late night; I thought I could leave by 5:15 but I have a bill on committee today so it was 6:30. I left, got groceries, and was only 8 mins late getting my daughter from dance (which is fine since there’s another class after.) But OMG the girl bagging my stuff: NO, hot chicken and mac and cheese do NOT go next to the milk and ice cream. I purpose put my stuff on the belt so they know where to put it but wow. Just wow. Been a long time since a Publix bagger screwed up so much. It really set me off too so I was pretty angry but I managed to settle and then the evening was good. I read my book and fell asleep – and slept all night! But the downfall of that when you’re aging is that you wake up stiff. Ow, my back!