Wednesday, August 27, 2025

Always get the flowers!

It’s Wednesday and you know the drill. I’m linking up with Joyce for Hodgepodge. Thanks for being here!

1. When someone finds out what you do or where you’re from, what’s a question they always ask? 

Well, when people found out I was a high school Spanish teacher, I had to listen to some really bad Spanish. They would often just add an “o” to each word. I had to try to smile. I would often get a lot of “I don’t know how you do it”, too.

No one really bats an eye that I am from Indiana since it’s just across the river from where I live now.

2. Did you participate in ‘Greek Life’ when you were in college, or have children who did? If so what was your experience like? Taking another tack…have you ever been to Greece? If not, is that a destination on your bucket list? 

I did! I was a Kappa Delta. I went to a very small college with only three sororities. I am glad I didn’t join until my sophomore year so I got to know and be friends with lots of different people. But, at a small school you couldn’t help being friends with people in other sororities.

My kids – nope.

Can I just say that I think sorority rush has become crazy? Do you see the elaborate dance numbers they have to learn? The themes they have to come up with? The outfits they have to sport? And, the outfits that the girls going through rush have to wear with all the accessories?

I have not been to Greece but I would like to go. One of my best friends is Greek. She moved to the US when she was 19 I believe.

3. Do you like Greek food? If so what’s your favorite dish?  

I love Mediterranean food and sometimes that encompasses Greek food. Victoria introduced me to green beans with tomatoes. I love tzatziki sauce and have learned to make that with Greek yogurt, lemon juice, cucumbers, and Greek seasoning – oh and water! I love feta! Even better if it is whipped feta – see above!

4. What incredibly common thing have you never done? 

I have never been on a cruise.

5. What is a telltale sign that you’re upset? 

Oh, you know when I am upset. My face does not hide my emotions. I usually tell anyone and everyone that I am upset!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I can’t believe how fast my hair has grown out since the end of June.

My haircut end of June:

Now:

Not the best picture, but I feel like it’s grown quite a bit.

What say you to any of these questions?

Amy

32 thoughts on “Wednesday Hodgepodge

  1. If I had answered these questions I had so many things I could list for the incredibly common one– like never drank a cup of coffee or a glass of wine! LOL. I don’t remember any of the colleges up here that I toured in high school even having any sort of Greek life but Alec did say he’s pretty sure his school has them. I did Google it and was surprised to learn that many small liberal arts schools in New England have banned them and their practices but larger universities still offer them. They just aren’t nearly as popular up here as they seem to be in the south.

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  2. Wow! Your hair does grow quickly! I like both lengths. Which do you prefer? That Greek platter has my stomach growling- big fan πŸ™‚

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  3. You have such great hair!

    I loved Greek life at college and of course, KD! I was so bummed that my kids didn’t get excited about it. Nolan joined a fraternity his junior year but only because he was a founding father and thought it would look good on his resume – ugh!

    Now that you’re retired do you have any interest in doing anything with alumnae assoc? Ours is pretty active!

    xo,

    Kellyann

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    1. Thank you! That’s a good to look into but I’m not sure I’m that excited and I would have to be all in. I enjoyed my sorority but I wasn’t a leader or super into it bc I kept all my other friends if that makes sense.

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  4. I live in a college town and work on campus. The local shops always carry the makings for rush outfits, and they always make me giggle. During a time when independence is celebrated (hello, students, you’re on your own for most likely the first time), conformity is the name of the game with the sororities. They are like cookie cutters. It’s probably a good thing I wasn’t in a sorority. I would have stuck out like a sore thumb.

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  5. My face shows all my emotions too 🀣and I’ve never been on a cruise. Plenty of people will ask me if Kansas City is in MO or KS. There is a KCK but it’s small. To me, it’s common knowledge KC is Missouri

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    1. Yes! I can’t hide it! Now, that has always been confusing to me about KC. Lol.
      Did you see the Daily Tay do the skit about Brit and Pat Mahomes needing to send Taylor and Travis an Edible Arrangement? Lol!

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  6. I love the food you talked about here, whether Greek or Mediterranean. It’s delicious! I had it for lunch on Sunday, in fact. I chuckled at you having to sit through lots of bad Spanish when people found out your profession. I love your hair! Are you going to let it growing or are you thinking of keeping it cut that length? I love it either way!

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    1. Oh, it’s so good! I need to make chicken schwarma. I did just order some hummus and pita chips in my grocery order.
      I mean, my Spanish isn’t perfect, but bad Spanish is never cute to me! Lol!
      I think I am going to grow it out a bit again and go darker. It’s looking too light to me.

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  7. I have never been on a cruise either and I answered the same way for the next question- my face says it all or at least a lot!! I didn’t know that girls had to learn dances. My goodness that is nuts. I think sorority life is huge in the south. It’s popular at Big Ten schools but I don’t think the process is that intense (at least it wasn’t at OSU for Alyssa). I read that at my alma mater, IU, all Greek activities were suspended for a month last year in the spring due to lots of um, poor choices by some members of frats and sororities.

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    1. Yes! They have to learn professional level choreography is what it looks like to me! Did Alyssa go through it last year? What did she decide? I remember the OSU sorority row was really cool looking – like out of a movie.

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  8. I went to a univ in the south and enjoyed being part of a sorority. My hubs was in a fraternity and both my girls were in a sorority at their university which was also a small school. They are not in mine as we didn’t have a chapter there, but they’re in the same one which was fun for them. There is a funny instagram account of a little girl about 4 or 5 doing commentary on rush outfits. She describes what she’s wearing and it’s so cute. Rush wasn’t over the top at our school like it has become in the big SEC schools especially. Google balloon arches at Univ of Arkansas -whoa! I went to a workshop when I lived in the UK about duel languages and the host said if you’re stuck in Spain or France try adding a vowel to the end of the English word and often that works lol. I’ve never been on a cruise either and it’s not something I’m interested in doing. Hope you have a great day!

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    1. Me too! But, it wasn’t over the top either.
      I’ve seen that little girl! So cute and funny!
      I heard about those balloons on Big Boo podcast and will google them now. They said that – eek! Have you watched Poop Cruise on Netflix. So scary!

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  9. I imagine people thought they were so funny trying to speak Spanish to you. hehehe
    Oh wow! The sorority rush does sound a little crazy and so much pressure for the girls.
    I have never been on a cruise either but would like to.

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  10. I was in a sorority and loved it! So many great memories! I do remember having to get Rush outfits together but I enjoy fashion so thought that was fun. The negative comments about sorority life usually come from those who didn’t participate so I take those with a grain of salt. My son was in a fraternity and he enjoyed it as well. When I’m upset I get really quiet but have been told my face shows it so there’s that. Have a great week everybody!

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  11. I know we’ve talked about this before, but love that we are sorority sisters! I am sure I have spoken a word or two of bad Spanish to you, but I love the practice, even with all my mistakes. Do you think you would want to go on a cruise? Maybe one to Greece, ha?! Have a good day friend.

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    1. Yes! And, Kellyann is too. You have not! Your Spanish is really good. I don’t know – I would be open to it. I am more intrigued by the European river cruises.

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  12. I love that first picture! When people find out I was a spec ed teacher for the first 10 years, it’s like I’ve grown wings and have a halo. I love Greek food and would love to go to Greece, too. I was not in the Greek life…I was a mom. My oldest two were but not the last. I haven’t ever been on a cruise, either.

    https://marshainthemiddle.com

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    1. I bet! Greek food has such great flavors. I just don’t like olives.
      You didn’t miss much – it was fun but I wasn’t an obsessed sorority girl and really my college wasn’t like that anyway.

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  13. Great answers. It’s interesting to see what common things people have not done. I really miss a great Mediterranean restaurant. We had several in Virginia Beach but on our side of the water here in Washington, there’s nothing.

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  14. I haven’t been on a cruise either. And probably never will. Michael spent lots of time working on boats in the oil field, and says that the safety on cruise ships leaves a lot to be desired. I bet you have heard A LOT of bad spanish…ha, ha! πŸ™‚

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    1. I would rather do a smaller boat trip like you did but a big commercial cruise isn’t really us. Tom said I need to teach better if I heard bad Spanish at school. lol.

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