Wednesday, September 9, 2026

It’s Hodgepodge with Joyce day!

1. ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?  On a scale of 1-10 how much of a fan are you? (10 is never miss a game and 1 is I’m just here for the snacks). Who’s your team? If you’re playing along today, but live outside the US feel free to sub your feelings about futbol for the more American sport of football. 

I am probably a “1”. I was a cheerleader but never really understood football. As a senior I had a junior football player boyfriend, though, so that made the games more fun! I also had a crush on a college football player at my college and went to all the home and away games! My friends and I were groupies.

I just want everyone to have fun. Sports aren’t that serious. I like sports snacks. I like the social aspect. I hate people screaming at the tv or screaming in person in an angry way. I’m ok with “Let’s go!” but not with crazy red-faced people acting like their life depends on an 18-year-old kid and what they do with some pigskin.

2. What’s something you currently have a game plan for managing? 

Not much! Ha! I know everyone is excited about the ‘ber months but they also mean holidays are coming and when you’ve lost a parent or parents, that is hard. I feel a responsibility to keep my family of four close (that is hard with adult children with work schedules and distance) and I feel a responsibility to keep my side of the family close. It will be a year in November that we have no home base in our hometown as that is when we sold my mom’s house. I booked the same Airbnb for the holidays this year as I did last year. I had an interesting conversation with my niece Mia about traditions. She was totally on board for continuing to go to that town and was vocal about what we should do as far as traditions. It really warmed my heart.

Sorry if you aren’t ready to talk about holidays yet!

3. Do you like chicken wings? Hot, mild, or some other flavor? What’s a must have food for you on a tailgate menu? I know tailgating isn’t as big of a thing outside the US of A as it is inside the US of A, but you can also answer the question this way-what’s a must have food for you at a sporting event viewing party? 

There’s no feminine way to eat a wing! I prefer boneless with knife and fork. I prefer mild but I love the combo of the blue cheese, buffalo sauce and celery. I can’t believe when I go to a wing place and they have no celery. I love a dip. I love any dip with tortilla chips. I like queso, guac, salsa, Mexican layer dip, chili cheese dip, spinach and artichoke dip, all the dips. I don’t have a must-have food but I enjoy a tailgate spread. By the way, the tailgate is the best part of the experience.

I will “fake” the flavor with rotisserie chicken sometimes for a lunch:

4. Teams typically have strict playbooks they follow. What is one unwritten rule or piece of advice in your ‘life playbook’ you think everyone should know?

I think basic etiquette. If you go somewhere, take a gift, ask what you can bring, thank the host, treat the host if they have spoiled you. Don’t complain. Be appreciative and grateful. That kind of thing.

5. This is the week we remember and mourn all that was lost and changed on September 11, 2001. I always include a spot for bloggers to share anything they’d like to share about 9/11. Share as much or as little as you like. 

September 11th is my Dad’s birthday so it was an important day to me long before 2001. My Dad was a pilot and was flying private on that day, by the way. I was teaching and I will never forget my principal coming on the intercom and telling us to turn on the tiny tvs in our classrooms. We actually saw the second tower hit live on tv. The principal’s daughter lived in NYC and worked in the World Trade Center but was home on maternity leave so it was really personal to our principal.

The kids were beside themselves and starting to open up their flip phones and call home. We didn’t do anything that day but kids that were still at school moved from class to class like zombies. I went home and watched news the rest of the day. I had been married for a year and didn’t have kids yet.

6.Insert your own random thought here. 

These days we don’t go to many football games in person, but I can hear the high school games from the school where I retired from my patio. I don’t mind having a game on in the background while I’m reading or doing things. I’m hoping to use the outdoor tv and solo stove some this fall with Tom.

Amy