Wednesday, July 29, 2026
It’s Wednesday and that can only mean one thing – it’s hodgepodge day with Joyce! When I first started participating in these I thought only other bloggers would read and comment – not non-blogger readers – but I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how much everyone seems to enjoy the questions and answers.
I have a theory – we are looking to go deeper and have more meaningful connections today. Usually at least one of the questions causes me to go deeper, at least.
In the same vein…
I have been trying to ask better questions of my friends and family. I am trying to lose “how are you?” and say things like “tell me something you are excited about”.
Do you think I’m right? Are we looking for deeper connections in this world of superficiality?
1. What was the last thing you celebrated?
My mother in law’s 80th birthday! I love to celebrate anything and everything, though. You want to celebrate your nails finally growing out? Call me!
2. July 29th is International Day of the Tiger. Besides the wild animal itself, when you hear the word tiger what’s the first person-place-thing-whatever that comes to mind?
I think of “tiger mom” which is the term for the stereotypical Asian mom. I also read the book.
They are calling it “tiger parenting” now and here is the quick definition.
I don’t think I was a tiger mom. I encouraged but I didn’t push too hard.
And, because of I am child of the 80s, I will sing “Eye of the Tiger” at any chance! Speaking of…
3. The expression ‘eye of the tiger’ describes someone with intense focus, determination, and the drive to succeed. What area of your life are you currently bringing that kind of energy to?
I hate to say this, and it could be the heat talking, but nothing right now.
4. What was the last meal you cooked?
The last labor-intensive meal I cooked was Friday night when I made chicken cutlets or chicken schnitzel for my niece and her boyfriend. Tom and Mason were also present. I pounded the chicken out, made a bowl of egg, flour, and breadcrumbs, seasoned the flour and breadcrumbs and added hot sauce to the egg, then did the whole frying, draining, and keeping warm in a 200 degree oven. Whew!
I also made taters and broccoli and a cake.
5. Describe your July using exactly five words.
fast, fun, family, heat, happy
fast – it went by in the blink of an eye – seriously!
fun – looking through my media (I loaded 320 photos in July), I see so many fun times
family – I was just with my niece Mia and her boyfriend, and we spent one Saturday night with Tom’s family celebrating his mom, and we went to Michigan with a grand total of 34 members of my side of the family
heat – we had some super-hot days as we do in July where I retreated inside the house more and watched more tv than read books in my down time
happy – I had lots of happy moments in July
6. Insert your own random thought here.
I looked at my school district’s calendar yesterday and was shocked! That is how far removed I have become! Teachers start full time on Monday, August 3rd and the students start full time on Thursday, August 6th. I live in front of an elementary school with the hours of 7:30-2:10 and very, very close to a middle and high school with the hours of 8:40-3:20. I try to avoid driving during the start and stop times because it gets hairy! I also like to get out and walk EO on the playground before recess!
Last year on the first day of school, I took my first day of NOT GOING to school photo:
I took myself to brunch and a pedicure and had a great day!
This year, I have a happy hour planned with my former student (without knowing that was the first day!) so that seems pretty perfect. What else should I do on this day? Should I do another photo?
What would you say to any of these questions?
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
Anyone who wants to go deep should join a women’s Bible study- questions go from ice breakers to deep REAL fast! It’s all good when you feel really comfortable with the women in the study/at your table group. I remember the first study I did many years ago- I was like, “Oh, we’re going there, already?” with regard to questions. But seriously, they’re a great way to go deeper into the Word and to get to know women a lot better than just surface level. “Eye of the Tiger” song girl, here, too! And I was the same way with my parenting as you. Your chicken looks good! I mentioned the copy cat CFA that I made last night- it’s a process with the breading (lots of spices), the egg wash, and then the frying but it’s worth it to make something delicious :).
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It’s always hard when you are new to the group but I can see that you get to know the women very fast. I was part of one where the leader started crying – like sobbing – and I would say that went deep.
I need to try that CFA copycat. I heard you marinate in pickle juice? Maybe that’s not right but it sounds good!
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My answer to what area of your life are you a tiger in I also put nothing right now.. it’s too hot.. my inner tiger is sleeping this summer. We always celebrated Not Back to School as homeschoolers too and we’d take a field trip to someplace we’d been wanting to go all summer but had been avoiding because of the crowds– like the beach or a museum. It varied year to year, some years it was just us others we’d have a whole huge homeschooling group together.
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Agreed! I get very lazy! Haha! Those are some fun traditions. Love that! I kind of want to do something very summery since it will still be summer for another month technically.
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I love the going deeper with connection things you said; I agree wholeheartedly! We all seem to be craving that deeper conversation, at least I know I am. Sometimes I struggle with what to talk about with my sons, so I end up asking them questions to get them to talk. This mainly pertains to my Drew. Graham calls me pretty often and tells me everything, and of course Jonah and Noah still live with me and tell me everything. Drew is just so quiet and reserved these days…but I like the idea of asking him what he’s excited about. Right now he would say moving in with Mallory!
On the back to school note, good for you for having accidental plans that day! I think you should absolutely take another photo. And your hair looked amazing in that one from last year!
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Awww, that is so sweet! So, try to ask him open-ended questions like “is there anything you need for the new place? anything you are worried about?”
My hair was so short last year! I kind of forgot how much I had cut off in June! Thank you, though.
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I love so much about the Hodgepodge. I love the many directions people go with the questions, and yes I think people do want connection and blogging is a way to give us that. I usually (if I remember) link my HP on my Facebook page and sometimes people answer the questions in their comments. Everyone wants to share and I love that. Your chicken looks good. I’m looking for dinner inspiration lol. That might require more labor than I have in me today. School starts so early!! August 3rd. I am in full on summer mode here in August still. They start about then here too so the lake will be less busy which is a plus. My grands are in a hybrid school so the homeschooling part starts early but the in-person part doesn’t begin until late August.
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I do, too! That is because of you and your great questions! That’s great! I feel like this is the time for easy meals and the early fall inspo will happen soon. Oh my! I bet you love that quieter time on the lake. That’s a more normal time in my mind!
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How could I forget “The Tiger Mom” or “Battle Hymn Of The Tiger Mom” right? What an intense read that was. What did you think? It was one of my favorite books but I was glad I did not grow up in that kind of environment. I think you have done a great job at transitioning into retirement!
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Shoot! Was just reading your what’s up and I am getting an error message and can’t comment! It was! It made me feel for my students who had tiger parents! It made me sad.
I love your new dishes and that you got the famous blue bags in pink! They are the best! Such cute outfits and so much fun this summer with those talented girls of yours!
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I love the hodgepodge questions every week, they always get me thinking. I think everything should be celebrated too! I am definitely not a tiger parent, I am more encouraging than pushing too hard. Enjoy your first day of not going to school again!
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Same! That’s how I am, too. Thank you!
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Yes! Do another photo!! 😆 Aren’t you happy you don’t have to go back in August! I have a high school, middle school and elementary school in my area too and I always avoid the roads at start and dismissal times.
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I will! Yes! It’s still weird for me, though. Yes! I need to know when I’m trapped.
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I love your happy “no school” pic! That’s great! Yes, I do remember the Tiger Mom phenomenon… I may have been a little bit like that, but ultimately it was their life, their choices. Luckily, everything turned out well!
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Thank you! Yes, that’s how I parented. I pushed them to excel but also wanted them to just be happy.
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I lived in San Francisco and saw tiger moms everywhere- it’s more of a cultural thing within the Asian community that many non-Asians tried to emulate, but unless it’s instilled in you as a child by your own parents, it usually doesn’t last. I had a good friend from Hong Kong with two children, and my goodness! that’s all I can say. Sure, her kids excelled at everything, but they missed out on many activities I knew they wanted to try, so it’s a toss-up. I had no idea it was a thing outside the Asian community. Since my sons are now in their forties, I am so far removed from any of that now.
I vote for the no-school picture! It reminded me of when I graduated high school and started a job in the financial district the Monday after graduation. When September came and I didn’t have to go back to school, I celebrated it and it felt freeing.
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Oh, I bet! Reading the book helped me to have a better understanding of some of the parents I dealt with. Haha – I will do it again. I bet. It does feel quite freeing!
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Definitely think you should make the pic an annual tradition. And your hair looked amazing in that photo, it’s inspiring me to take some inches off. Funny story….years ago at Galveston Mardi Gras, Survivor was performing. Later we ran into them in the hotel lobby and the lead singer signed my friends’ program, Eye of THAT Tiger. We laughed about that for years…..it’s your (one) big song, please get it right?! Enjoy the rest of summer, your July looks like it was a blast.
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Ok I will! Thank you! It was really short last summer. That’s so funny and sad! Lol! Drugs, probably! Lol!
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I loved your answer about it being hot. This morning I stopped at the grocery store after library volunteering, and I was exhausted when I get home. It is extra hot here today, and it just zapped me. That seems so early to be starting school. I need to look at our school calendar to see when to expect the traffic to return!
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It just takes it out of you! You don’t feel like cooking at all I’m sure! I know – crazy early! Yes – you need to know I would say! I do!
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You should definitely take another photo! That could be a really cool tradition! Our daughter is a third grade teacher and she starts back on Monday and the children come back a week from Monday!
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Ok! I will! Aww – is she ready? It’s always bittersweet as a teacher. You are sad to say bye to summer but also excited!
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I remember thinking how much I loved that photo last year – ha! This is my 9th year of no back to school for a kid (since I don’t really count the youngest’s college years). I don’t know when it starts here – typically mid-August. Its kind of a weird bittersweet feeling for me and I’m not even a teacher!
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Awww – thank you! Woohoo! It’s funny how quickly you get out of the habit of knowing the school information, isn’t it? I think August evokes nostalgia for everyone, don’t you? It does for me!
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I find myself having deeper conversations with my grands now that they’re older. I love to talk with them because they’re all three so funny in different ways. I’m very shy so it’s hard for me to have deep conversations with other people. That’s weird because I don’t really hold back on the blog! I loved your not going back to school picture and definitely think you should do another one!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
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That’s great! I bet they are. I love kid energy. You are? I would never have guessed that! I think I will. I am trying to think of a way to make it different.
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