Wednesday, February 18, 2026
It’s Wednesday and that means it’s time to link up with Joyce for the Hodgepodge. It is Ash Wednesday which marks the first day of the Lenten season. Yesterday was Mardi Gras which means “Fat Tuesday” as it’s the last day of Carnaval in many countries. The time to party is over as they move into the six weeks leading up to Easter.
You didn’t miss my post yesterday; I had a rare case of writer’s block and a really busy day on Monday.
Louisville is a big Catholic city and when Tom first moved here from Eastern Kentucky, he thought someone had a dirty forehead on Ash Wednesday and told him he needed to wipe it off.
The Catholics eat fish on Fridays and churches hold big fish fry events. Many restaurants do fish specials. My old teacher next door neighbor made frozen truffle mac and cheese every Friday, and it smelled horrible all down the hallway!
1. The Hodgepodge lands on Ash Wednesday, which is the first day of Lent. Do you mark this season in some way? Will you be giving something up or adding something to your life in this Lenten season?
I did not grow up in a church that asked us to give something up or add something to our life for Lent. I have done the “40 Bags in 40 Days” challenge as an adult – you list forty spaces in your home to declutter and gather a “bag” to donate or throwaway in each of the spaces.
I made my first gumbo yesterday for Mardi Gras. Tom loves gumbo and misses his favorite Cajun restaurant that closed.
2. Pancakes…are you a fan? Syrup or no syrup? Plain, blueberries, chocolate chips, bananas, or some other add in? Are pancakes on your menu this week?
I am a savory breakfast person, but my best friend always suggests ordering a “dessert pancake with chocolate chips” for the table. I do like a sweet bite after eating! If I did order them, I would do plain or chocolate chips most likely.
3. Tell us about a time recently when you felt ‘spread too thin’.
Teaching last year! There is just so much to do as a teacher. I visited my school for the first time since June 4th on Monday. It was a teacher day so I got to see my old department and some office staff. I didn’t wander the whole building.
4. What’s your favorite jewel or gemstone? In terms of your wardrobe would we find more gem tones, pastels, black and white, or primary colors?
I love bright pink as you can see above. Other than that, you see lots of black and white and patterns.
5. What responsibility do you think is hardest about being in charge?
I’m not sure if I am interpreting this question correctly but managing people is really hard. I do think I have an authoritative tone, and I have a voice that projects to get attention when needed. But, after that, I don’t think people respond well to yelling. I like clear concise directions without repetition. People respond better when they feel free to make choices and not like they are stuck, if that makes sense.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
I was not “allowed” to go to my school until after October 1st (3 months after official retirement date in the state of KY).
I was waiting for a teacher workday to go visit and Monday was my first opportunity. I was worried about how I would feel, but I felt great. I felt like that chapter was closed and I was not sad at all to not be a part of it anymore. I wasn’t able to go in my classroom as the teacher who now uses it was absent and I didn’t ask to have it unlocked or anything. Now, it may have felt different with students there, but it didn’t on a teacher workday!
A few people asked me about subbing, but I just don’t want to do an 8-hour day right now and it might be too soon to do that anyway. One of the reasons I retired was because I didn’t want to be out of the house for so long anymore so my next gig would have to be shorter and much more flexible.
What would you say to any of these questions?
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
My favorite jewels/gemstones are diamonds and sapphires and I feel like I do have a fair amount of blue and white in my wardrobe. I think I have more gem tones in my fall/winter wardrobe and pastels in my spring/summer wardrobe. I’m glad going into the school didn’t make you feel sad.
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Beautiful! Yes, that would be the same for me. Thank you – me too.
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I find that the only time I think about pancakes is really the winter. They don’t stay with me long enough, even if I add a protein to the plate. I really should consider mixing up my own pancake mix and having them now and again. Pumpkin ones are my favorite!
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Yes! A true comfort food. I think I like them more at dinner. That would be a great thing to have on hand.
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I did not enjoy subbing and I think when you’re used to being in charge of your own room it’s hard to step in to someone else’s space. Or at least it was for me. I’m glad you felt good about visiting. I never think about making my own gumbo, but I do like it and we had some recently at a Mardi Gras dinner. I’m more of a savory breakfast person too. Enjoy your day!
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I think it might be so boring for me. Yes! I would have trouble with that. I did sub for my mom before I was a teacher and that was fine. Cajun isn’t my fave type of food and I would probably never choose gumbo on a menu.
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Judgement day is gonna be interesting (I mean for everyone, myself included). I think the Lord may have a few choice words for those who engage in debauchery during Carnaval only to ¨turn Holy¨ for a set amount of time. I don´t think that´s how walking closely with the Savior in faith works. But, well, I sin as well and like I said, everyone is going to have some explaining to do…. Anyway- Cincinnati is a very Catholic city. We know many Catholics and the fish fries are big here, too, and especially in Cincinnati. That´s cool that you got to see your school and your teacher friends. I´m glad you felt like the chapter was closed and you didn´t feel sad. Have a great day!
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Yeah, it was good to visit and get that reassurance. We don’t often go to the fish fry/fries because they are so packed but we take advantage of restaurant fish Friday specials sometimes.
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I kind of forgot about Mardi Gras being yesterday! I bet your gumbo was delicious. That’s funny about how Tom thought someone’s forehead was dirty! I’ve thought the same thing before, but I didn’t say anything. I am so glad you went to visit your old stomping grounds this week! I’m sure it felt a little surreal to be there as a visitor and not a teacher. I would think it might be hard to be a sub, or at least too soon. I hope you have a great day!
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Yes to all of that! It was weird but it was good reassurance that I don’t want that stuff in my life right now. Maybe I am on a sabbatical. We will see!
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Love that you went back to your school. That had to have been such an odd feeling but also nice to see who you want to see, I’m sure. We’ve had three amazing English teachers retire in the past couple years, and they come bsck regularly to sub which surprises me…but they like the flexibility of saying no if needed and only sub a couple days a week. I’m not sure how I feel. I guess it’s nice for the since they aren’t too far removed from teaching, can be picky on who to sub for, and are familiar with the building. I’m not sure how I will feel about that when my time comes. Trav is pumped for fish fry Fridays haha
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It was weird but it wasn’t! I think I would sub if I wasn’t worried about EO home alone. Fish Fridays!
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I love that you got to go back to your school and you didn’t have “sad“ feelings. Those last few years were so difficult, though, it might take a while to soften. I’m sure you do miss your colleagues and the challenge of what your job was supposed to be (teaching) but once you get used to that time at home, it’s hard to go back 🙂
I love a good fish fry!
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Thank you and I was a little nervous about what it would feel like. It made me feel lighter to walk out those doors after my visit. Well, you also see that maybe those people were only friends of convenience on their side of it and that’s weird, too, but it’s ok.
We don’t really go to the big fish fries – they are crazy here! I take advantage of restaurant fish specials sometimes, though.
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