Wednesday, October 29, 2025
It’s Wednesday and time to link up with Joyce for Hodgepodge. Let’s do it!
1. Are you a risk taker? To what degree?
I am not a bungee jumping kind of risk taker, but I have been pretty bold in a few instances in my life. I went to Spain alone as a 17-year-old and lived with a strange Spanish family – meaning I didn’t know them; they were pretty normal. I went alone to do semester abroad in Spain when I was 21. I didn’t have a friend that did it with me or anything and I was the only one from my college. I moved to Louisville alone and lived alone for a time.
I think I take social risks and put myself out there sometimes.
2. What’s your favorite candy? Would you say you have a sweet tooth?
I love chocolate and peanut butter. I like pb M&Ms but rarely eat them. I like Reese’s Pieces (ET Phone Home) but rarely eat them. I like Reese’s shapes but like my homemade buckeyes better. I do have a sweet tooth, but I would pick a good quality baked good over candy.
3. Somewhere you’ve been recently that had you feeling ‘like a kid in a candy store’?
World Market a couple of weeks ago! I do more consumable gifts these days for my adult kids and they had so much Christmas stuff out. I appreciate things from different countries, too. Anyway, don’t sleep on World Market for gifts, stocking stuffers, decor, and more.
I always feel like a kid in a candy store in the library!
4. What do you think is the most effective way to make a positive change in the world?
Maybe this sounds bad, but I felt like my job that I did for 31 years was the most effective way to make a positive change in the world. I hoped to give kids a foundation in Spanish to go out and do some good in the world. As time went on, I realized I wasn’t just teaching Spanish, but I was teaching kids. It was about so much more. I hope I gave them job skills, people skills, organization skills, coping skills, and more. Also, as a Spanish teacher I got to talk about different cultures coming together, immigration, current events, and more.
I also think pouring into the children in your life – your kids, your nieces and nephews, friends’ kids, neighbor kids – is another effective way. Kids need real life role models more than ever.
5. Do you like surprises?
Not really. It depends. I like to be in control. I like to be the one doing the surprise. I surprised Tom for his birthday one year with all his friends meeting us at a Reds game. My sisters and I surprised our parents at a winery for their 70th birthday (and my mom wrote about it in her Storyworth stories) with all their friends and family.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
Halloween falls on a Friday this year and that is weird because high school football games are on Fridays! Well, my high school (that I just retired from) is playing my first high school where I started my career back in 1994 on Thursday night (I guess they changed because of Halloween), so I plan to walk over! Full circle! I am hoping Tom and Eddie Otis will go with me but if not, I am fine to go alone.
I just read that some neighborhoods are trick or treating on Thursday due to this. So, smart kids out there will go trick or treating both nights and score!
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
World Market is a great place to go if you want a few things for an international-themed night and of course, at Christmas, it is fabulous!
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Yes! And their decor reminds me of the old Pier One!
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I didn’t think about Friday night trick or treating will impact football. Our town always has trick or treating on Halloween so it’s on Friday for sure. You can bring your dog to the football games? (Maybe you can here, too. I never go to games!) I am with you on the sweets- what you like candy wise and that you prefer baked goods. I also think pouring yourself into kids is a wonderful way to change the world. Have a great day!
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We can stay outside the fence with Eddie Otis but then I might not get to see as many kids. We only stand down on the track with the other teachers and principals – they all bring folding chairs.
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I would definitely picked a delicious baked good over candy any day! As much as I definitely have a sweet tooth candy is not something I buy or eat all that often. I think you are very adventurous! I’m not normally; I think the most adventurous thing I’ve ever done was meet up with all of you. I definitely think teaching is a great way to make an impact in the world.
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Yes! Same! That was for sure adventurous of you – the Nashville time especially!
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The lives you touched (and continue to ) as a teacher most definitely counts as a positive change in the world. Teachers are so influential! I am so happy you realize that, you can look back on your career knowing you did good!
xo,
Kellyann
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I hope I touched a few. Not literally. I might go visit my department on a teacher day next week but my sister said maybe I shouldn’t.
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I loved your answer about making a change in the world. You did exactly that! And that was partly my answer as well, using my job as a way to do this. I’m on the opposite end of it as you were with the littles, but it has to start somewhere! I love the thought of you going to the game Thursday night. My town changed ours to Thursday night as well, because of Halloween. I thought that was cool! Happy Wednesday, my friend. xoxo
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I hope so. It does have to start somewhere and positive adults can literally change a life.
You too! Rotolos, baby!
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I would be a kid in a candy store at that football game! How fun! Such a full circle moment for you 🙂 I am very impressed, too, by you going to Spain alone and so young- that is such an accomplishment.
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I will feel like a loser if no one comes and says hi. Thank you.
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Halloween has become an extended holiday in recent years. When we were kids it was Halloween only, no matter the day. Now there are so many trunk or treat options starting the week before. Which I’m sure I’d have loved as a kid : ) I’m curious about the local games here now that you mention it. My son-in-law attends the local hs games as he’s on the field but I know they have trick or treat plans so maybe it’s an off week. Teachers are definitely in a position to make positive changes in the world. Have a great day!
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So weird! I really hate that by the actual day, the kids are Halloweened out.
Maybe they changed it, too, or it’s a no game week.
Thank you! You too!
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All the football games in this area are on Thursday night this week so kids can trick or treat on Friday. Living in a new place is taking a risk for sure, especially in a new country! We don’t have World Market here anymore, but I have always enjoyed going in those stores. Have a good day friend!
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It sounds like a fantastic adventure going to Spain.
Yum to the Reese’s. I can remember about 15 years ago the only place you could get them here in England was American themed shops or buy them online. I am glad they’re more popular now.
It doesn’t sound bad at all. You worked hard to teach youngsters a different language and way of life.
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It was! That is sad and I am glad you can get them now! Thank you!
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I love World Market, but haven’t been in awhile since they closed the one nearby. Every Christmas I say I’m going. This year! I love your comment on ways to impact others. Teachers are so important. It’s sad from a parent’s perspective to witness all of the ways teachers have been restricted recently.
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Ah shoot! Michael’s is pretty good now, too. I haven’t been this season, though. Thank you! I hate that, too. I was so appreciative of the teachers my kids had.
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I also choose library for feeling like a kid in a candy store.
I teach Middle School and we are having a dance tonight, trick-or-treat is being celebrated tomorrow night and football game is Friday. SHEW!!
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All these books and they are free!
You will be worn out by the weekend!
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I love the mug in the first picture!
I think Halloween/football game sounds like the perfect Friday night. I do miss Friday night lights. That was my favorite thing ever as a kid. My grandparents lived a block from the field so we’d walk there.
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It’s so pretty! Weird that I only got one – maybe!
I didn’t go to games until middle school and then I was always a cheerleader except for one year that I did swimming.
I loved the outdoor atmosphere of the games as a teacher. We only had 4 home games each year.
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I agree about picking a baked good over candy, and also about how teaching really can make a difference. I remember at an inservice (one of the few good ones) hearing about how you as the teacher may be the only adult who speaks positively to a kid, or even speaks at all, in their day. You made such a difference for 31 years!
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Yes! I heard that same spiel and I always tried to connect with a kid at the door with a compliment or remembering a test the day before. They would connect with me, too, usually. I got some compliments on my outifts at the door that made my day, too! I am a big believer in standing at the door so it was a priority for me. I hope I did!
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Ironically, that is what the inservice was all about – standing at your door and talking to students. It seems simple, but I guess they were trying to encourage teachers to get that connection before class even started!
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Not sure if a whole session is needed for that! Lol!
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I like chocolate and peanut butter too. I bet your buckeyes are great! I have not been to World Market in a long time. I am starting to think of Christmas. I agree, a teacher gives a lot to students and are under appreciated. So, thank you!
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Yum! I discovered adding Rice Krispies and yum! Thank you!
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I love your thoughts on #4. I don’t want to jinx it but I’m having a really great school year…& have so many great students. I’m happy with Friday night Halloween but yes — so odd because of football game too. I guess older kids aren’t always trick or treating but there tend to be more Friday night conflicts.
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That is so nice to hear! It is odd! Yes, there could be. I love when teens still trick or treat.
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