Wednesday, October 14, 2026

It’s Wednesday which means it’s time to link up with Joyce for Hodgepodge!

1. Do you think you’re driven more by curiosity or comfort? Explain. 

Hmmmm, Joyce. That is a tough question! I think I am a pretty curious person. I have dreams of being a private investigator! I try to solve mini mysteries in my neighborhood. Why does my neighbor’s ex come over every afternoon? Why does he blow leaves so much? What is their relationship? Sometimes Tom is in the mood for my Nancy Drew shenanigans and sometimes he is over it.

With that said, I am always thinking of my comfort, too. I am a horrible person when I’m hot or hungry or wearing uncomfortable clothes. I started watching the new Amazing Race and I just don’t think I could be that dirty, sweaty, hot, etc.

2. What non-food item is in your refrigerator or freezer? 

The only thing I can think of is frozen eye patches for under your eyes that my mom got me that say “chill out”. They feel great if you have sinus pain. I also have a headache cold cap that Mason got me. I always forget about it. It feels really good but looks really weird!

3. Are you comfortable with silence? If you’re home alone, do you like silence or do you need regular background noise? Do you seek out times and places to be silent? What’s your favorite place to find silence/be silent? 

I love the sound of silence! I have been enjoying the soft sound of my essential oil diffuser, the hum of my washer or dryer – my dishwasher is totally silent so I can’t count that – and I have been enjoying having Alexa play soft classical. I don’t think I could live in a big city. I think honking is so rude. I hate that sound. I do seek out silence. With my teaching job I needed to come home and have some silence. My twin boys were not loud and rambunctious. They were able to enjoy quiet hobbies quite well but when they were laughing or talking it never bothered me, either.

I also love a library! I think it’s so comforting! I don’t think they are as quiet as they used to be, though.

I love a quiet morning. I think that’s one reason why I like getting up early.

4. Carpentry, electrical, plumbing, landscaping…which skill would you most like to possess and how would you put that skill to use today?

None! I would be bad at all of them! I did help my dad with lots of projects, though, and he rarely hired anything out. I even helped him change the oil on my childhood driveway. Tom is much the same way and can do a lot of things. My Dad helped Tom build our first fence. My Dad once almost lost a finger trying to fix a car issue on his own and he also fell off the roof onto his driveway and was totally fine. He was ice skating and fell through the ice on our lake and skated home and told us. He had some good stories to tell!

5. Do you lean more towards being too needy or too independent? Which do you find harder to deal with in others? 

I probably lean toward being too independent. I have a funny story about getting my first period. I hope it’s ok to talk about it in this company. I had sent away for a free “starter pack” and pouch and I was ready to go for when the time came. I had a book called “Free Stuff for Kids” and I got all kinds of stuff sent to me – lol. On the day it happened I was riding my bike with my friends in the neighborhood, and I came in to use the bathroom. I didn’t tell my mom until several hours later because I just handled it. When I told her, she said, “Why didn’t you tell me? Are you ok? What do you need?” I told her I was good and that I had it covered. I also remember that I was wearing a burgundy striped shirt and shorts. Isn’t it funny what we remember?

Also, my 4th grade teacher had a signup list to hold her hand to walk to the cafeteria to lunch and she told my mom that I didn’t sign up. I said I didn’t feel the need to hold a hand for that purpose.

I would hate anyone to call me “needy” by the way! I don’t like “neediness” in others, either, but I feel mean saying that. As a teacher, I tried to give students tools to do things on their own and sometimes it’s just having someone tell them they can do it. I do think sometimes it’s smart to accept when you need help, though. I think it’s foolish to think that you can do everything on your own. Ahem, men – sometimes.

6.  Insert your own random thought here. 

I went off on some tangents today so I will stop here!

Amy