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Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Today is Hodgepodge with Joyce day!

1. What’s a characteristic you admire in others? Elaborate. 

I really admire good listeners. I think I am a good listener but I also like to talk. Sometimes I am very eager to respond or state my opinion in the matter. It’s something I’m conscious of and something I work on.

2. Do you have a favorite mug? Let’s see it. Why is this one your favorite? 

I am not a big Starbucks fanatic but I do love and treasure my Starbucks places mugs. They were either brought back to me by a special person in my life, brought back by me, or acquired to remember a trip or place. My Mom just gave me England and Spain for her last Christmas with us. She passed away almost a month to the day after Christmas this year. I really know how to turn something sad, don’t I? They are also the perfect size and heft.

3. July 15th is/was National Give Something Away Day…will you (or did you, depending on what day you answer these questions) give something away? If so what? Do you regularly give away or do you tend to  ‘accumulate’? 

I regularly give things to people I think can use the things more than me or I donate. I currently have a pile ready to go. I would say I constantly have a bag and I try to be thoughtful as I use or don’t use things. Is this serving me? Do I need this? I want to be more minimalist than I am but I am pretty good at not accumulating too much – except shoes. I love shoes!

4. You’re planning a trip. Do you prefer exploring big cities or smaller, more off the grid towns? World Atlas lists these 12 ‘off the grid’ towns to see in 2025. How many on the list have you seen? Of those listed which one would you most like to visit? Tell us why? 

Boothbay Harbor Maine, Middlebury Vermont, New Hope Pennsylvania, Rehoboth Beach Delaware, Brevard North Carolina, Saugatuck Michigan, Medora North Dakota, Ouray Colorado, Lamoille Nevada, Neah Bay Washington, Hood River Oregon, or Cambria California

*You can read more about each destination by clicking the link above. 

I like the smaller places. When I have limited time and can only see the big cities I think I miss some of the flavor of the country. I didn’t get to see any smaller places in Scotland – only Edinburgh and Glasgow. In England I got to see some smaller places like York and fell in love.

I would really like to do a New England trip and see some of the first places mentioned.

5. Have you ever…ridden a motorcycle? been to a Disney park? met a celebrity? won a contest? Tell us something about whatever you answered yes to on this list. 

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My Dad was a fighter pilot and I think he had to have a motorcycle, too as part of the fighter pilot package (think Top Gun). I rode on the motorcycle with him while I could sit in front of him, but I was scared when I had to be behind him. I distinctly remember him telling me I was too tall to sit in front of him but me fighting him and him letting me sit in front anyway. I was probably about the age in the above picture.

I have been to all the Disney parks. I think I enjoy Disney more as an adult because it’s just so clever and creative. My favorite is Epcot! I’m sure you’re not surprised. I did however hear someone say, “why would I pay to travel when I can visit 20 countries at once right here?”

I have met Jack Harlow. He was really nice. Your kids might know who he is if you don’t!

I have won a $500 Nordstrom gift card from Mix and Match Mama, a free trip to the Dry Tortugas on a boat that I still haven’t used (I went once and won the return trip), a speech contest, a short story contest, and probably a few other things I can’t remember.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Yesterday was my 25th wedding anniversary! Tom had to work – he had just been off last Thursday and Friday. We don’t have to celebrate on the actual day and I am hoping to do a little trip at the end of the summer or in the fall. So, we just had a special dinner.

These crazy kids had no idea what was in store. Actually we were 28 and 33! So, we definitely were not kids.

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What would you say about any of these topics?

Amy

23 thoughts on “Hodgepodge”

  1. Happy belated anniversary! My dad and at least one or two of my uncles had motorcycles so I do remember riding on them a time or two (and hated it!)… mostly because I was conscious of the fact that my father had been in lots and lots of motorcycle accidents and had broken so many bones. Our favorite park has always been EPCOT! Not just for the world showcase either; we love so many of the different attractions there. I’ve won a few contests but mostly things through school where I had to submit an essay or artwork or poem. I couldn’t tell you what I won but I remember winning!

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    1. Thank you! They really scare me.
      Yes, I agree – there are so many cool things there besides the World but I haven’t been in so long I know things have changed.

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  2. Happy belated anniversary! Yesterday was mine and my husband’s 25th wedding anniversary as well! I’m a retired teacher now celebrating 3 years of blissful retirement! You will love retirement, Amy. You will find that each day is a Saturday!

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  3. I love the groovy dancers in the pic of you (so cute!) in the forefront and the dancers in the back, lol. Happy anniversary! I posted a partial wedding picture today but should have posted a full length picture of my dress (because I talked about it). Your dress sure is pretty! Disney was our least favorite family vaca and I have no desire to go back. We have Kings Island near us for rides and the Disney movies are not beloved by me so the theme is not special. Enjoyed reading your answers. Have a great day!

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    1. It was at my neighbor’s house and I can’t figure out why they were dancing by the front door. Tom said my dress made me look tall – lol. Thank you! I enjoyed Disney when my twins were almost 5. We didn’t try to do too much or try to do the character breakfasts or signings or stuff like that.
      We love King’s Island and took twins on a rainy day and it worked out great – we got to ride things without a wait. I am not a “Disney Adult” either. Thank you! You too!

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  5. Your dress is so pretty! We’ve had some fun trips to Disney but I have no desire to go back. It’s changed a lot and everything has to be completely planned and booked before you get there or you’re in long lines for eons. I have a couple of Starbucks mugs I like for the same reasons, but I don’t like drinking from them. I prefer a smaller mug for drinking. I don’t think I have your email so will put this here-Re: Mah Jong-we play every Tuesday and it’s pretty informal. No fee to play but everyone brings $4 in a mix of quarters, dimes, nickels and you’ll never lose more than that amount. We have anywhere from one to three tables and will have a ‘Bob wall’ if we’re an odd numbered group. If you win the round everyone pays you the number beside the hand- 25, 30, 50 and in our case it’s cents : ) If you are jokerless everyone pays you double. If you draw the winning tile yourself everyone pays you double. If someone discards the tile you pick up for mah jong that person pays you double and the others pay you just the amount listed. Are you on Facebook or do you have a neighborhood page of some kind? You could just put it out there that you want to play or start a group, is anyone interested. My mother-in-law’s library organized a group. Sorry this is so long!

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    1. Thank you! I appreciate all the details! I feel like the group of four I played with at the lesson would be good but we might need the trainer once more. lol. So many rules!

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      1. Yes, there are so many rules and some don’t make a lot of sense. The best way to learn is to play and to find someone who knows the game and can play with you and answer questions and also tell you when you’re breaking a rule lol. I learned with another girl and then there were two friends who knew the game playing so we each had a buddy. It helps to study/learn the card a little. I wish I were closer…I’d love to help you learn.

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  6. Good morning! Listening is a skill I work daily on – and because I like to talk, struggle with. It’s essential for my job as the person who answers the phones for a very busy office. Happy anniversary! I hope you have a wonderful day!

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  7. Aww! What a sweet gift from your mom. Those Starbucks mugs are fab!
    I live in England and think of York as a big place as I come from a small town. York is beautiful, especially at Christmas!
    Happy anniversary to you and Tom!

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  8. Happy Anniversary!! My late hub and I was planning a New England trip before he passed away. We were going to drive, take our time, and just enjoy this adventure. We had mapped out all the places to stop and visit on our way.

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  9. Happy 25th Anniversary!! ❤️ I have been to Disney World several times since I was a kid. I love that place but we haven’t been since my kids were younger. I have a Mickey Mouse mug from Disney that is one of favorites to use. That mug still looks brand new after the years I’ve had it!

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  10. It seems you always do a good job of donating things, which inspires me. I had forgotten about you winning that gift card from MMM. I love the Starbucks places mugs. Enjoy your day and maybe we can call you this weekend! Miss you!

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  11. Happy Anniversary! The years fly by don’t they. I also have similar Starbucks mugs and love them. What a fun retro pic of you and how cool that your dad was a fighter pilot.

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  12. I loved reading your answers! I wholeheartedly agree with being a good listener. Someone once told me that people don’t always want a solution; they want someone to listen sympathetically, and that has never left me! I think everyone needs lessons in this. It’s a good thing to work on!

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  14. Happy Anniversary! I like to think I’m a good listener, but I’m usually thinking of what my response is going to be…oops! It’s so good you like coffee so that you’re reminded of your mom whenever you use one of those two mugs. I love riding on the back of a motorcycle. We used to have a big Harley and clocked tens of thousands of miles on it. Then, we had a Ural which neither of us liked. We don’t have anything right now, and I miss it.

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

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  15. I think the Starbucks mugs are the perfect heft! Well said 🙂
    I chuckled at the fighter pilot package. Haha
    My dad was a motorcycle officer for a few years, and it was cool to see him zip off on his bike! Happy 25th! Love the wedding photo 🙂

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