About The River

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Baby it is Cold Outside ~ Hey, it is the first Hodgepodge of 2018!

When you run out of room in the fridge during the holidays.
Welcome to the first Hodgepodge of 2018.
Joyce asks the questions.
We answer the questions.


 1. It's that time of year again...time for Lake Superior University to present a list of words (or phrases) they'd like to see banished (for over-use, mis-use, or genera uselessness) in 2018. You can read more about the decision making process and word meaning here, but this year's top vote getters are-

unpack, dish (as in dish out the latest rumor), pre-owned, onboarding/offboarding, nothingburger, let that sink in, let me ask you this, impactful, Cofefe, drill down, fake news, hot water heater (hot water doesn't need to be heated), and gig economy

Which of these words/phrases would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why? Is there a word not on the list you'd like to add?

I would say dish can go, in the way that it is used here.
For me, profanity can be added. I must live in the area of the USA that the Fword is taught in all households. Maybe it is me, I might just be what some call old fashioned. I honestly think a person should be able to have some control. While I am waiting at the check out at a local store this weekend. "It is F'n cold out." "I could not get my F'n car started." and the worse of it is when I hear a mother in the grocery store yell at her kid, "just pick out a F'n cereal." 
 I am doing all I can to keep my boys from using. And you will not catch me using it. 
Honestly!!! Why?

Dare to be different, I say!


2. What's something you need to get rid of in the new year?
 
I have four closets that I did not get to in 2017. 
I also have a garden shed that needs a good cleaning.
 3. Where do you feel stuck?

 Not enough snow for skiing yet.
Ice and negative temps making outdoor activities non-existent.
Feeling stuck inside the house!


4. January is National Soup Month. When did you last have a bowl of soup? Was it made from scratch or from a can? Your favorite canned soup? Your favorite soup to make from scratch on a cold winter's day?

We had one more squash to use from the garden. I made a wonderful squash soup Saturday night. It was a new recipe.  It called for cinnamon. Oh, did it taste wonderful.

My all time favorite soup is Chicken Dumpling.

 5. Tell us one thing you're looking forward to in 2018.

Our oldest son will graduate from high school and will start college in August 2018. He is very excited about his career path. I am excited for him to spread his wings.

I would be lying if I did not share that I have some other feelings floating around in me about him spreading his wings as well. My husband and I are blessed to have been given our two boys. To watch our first one venture out on his own, well ...  

 6. Insert your own random thought here.


This photo was taken back in 2013. We participated in a Blue Jean Ski Race.

Dreaming of warmer temperatures so it will snow. Yep, that is true, it has been too cold to snow.

24 comments:

  1. It is extremely cold here. 13 degrees overnight, which is astonishing for the South! But even at that, it is not f-ing cold...

    "...when I hear a mother in the grocery store yell at her kid, "just pick out a F'n cereal."

    Holy moly. Or...I should say just moly. What in the world?

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  2. Too cold to snow....EEEEEE! We are getting a cold rain this morning and I hope to stay inside. Love the photo of your family in skis! Take are and stay warm! Hugs!

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  3. I love your answers, Carla. And-I am with you- enough of the F word. It is used freely and interchangeably as a verb and/or a noun. I always think of the person using it as a bit uneducated when it comes out of there mouth in just about every sentence. It has been so overused that it has no shock value anymore.

    Cold here, too, but at least we are above 0° today...whoo hooo--- a heat wave! xo Diana

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  4. I didn't know some of those words to be banished! lol!! I made chili and two kinds of soup over the break. The last one I had was minestrone. We're due for some snow tonight into tomorrow. It has been too cold to snow but it's warming up a bit today. Just in time! I know what you mean about your oldest going off to college and spreading his wings. The rest of their senior year is going to fly. I better get my act together!

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  5. We were listening to a new song the other day from a mainstream artist and the f word was right there in the chorus, repeated over and over again, like it was just another word. My husband and I just looked at each other in disbelief. I really think that in the next ten years it will be an acceptable adjective and that is not acceptable to me. And I live in NY!! 😉BTW...right there with you regarding the mixed feelings with college. My baby will graduate high school this year and it is bittersweet...we'll have a lot of chats I'm sure!

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  6. I have a shed and garage that need cleaning out but when I clean it out, my husband quickly fills in the empty spaces, so I can't win. I need to get a dumpster...

    All my soups are made from scratch.
    I'm looking forward to retiring in the spring of 2018.

    We have a lot of snow and a very cold snap so being inside feels very nice being inside.
    Hugs, Julia

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  7. I agree with you on the over-use of that word. You would think that people could have a broader vocabulary! Congratulations to you son on his coming graduation. I've been there with the mixed feelings a mother has about them growing up and moving on.

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  8. So what is your son thinking about for his career? Not saying I don't let out a bad word from time to time, but NOT the F word.

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  9. What a great family photo...I love it!
    Happy New Year,
    Lori in Blue Ridge, GA

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  10. I love the fridge solution! lol. I'm know it will be hard letting your son spread his wings. (Been there, got the T-shirt as we say.) But it's wonderful when you can watch your kids turn into adults and be proud of them and then, hopefully, (eventually) they make you into Grandparents and it gets even better.

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  11. I do think of you and am sad for your sake that it's been too cold to snow. I like that pic from 2013. Next year will be an adventure in trusting God, a further step for both you and your graduate. God bless you. I agree with you on the use of the Fword up here. I think it has managed to be used in every possible Part of speech. If it weren't so disgusting it might be clever. Anyway, what time can you pick up Sweet P. tomorrow? I know you miss her.

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  12. I loved your family photo, Carla. And I know how you must feel about your son's next step. I remember when my kids went off to college...I prayed a lot!
    Agree, too, with the use of the F word. It's heard everywhere these days and I don't like it either. Take care and hope you get some skiing weather!
    xx Cheryl

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  13. Congratulations on your win in 2013! What a fun family event. I try to be good about not swearing, and I rarely use the Fword, but when I slam my finger in a cabinet door or break a plate, I've been known to use a few slightly gentler cuss words. Oh, it's tough to send the kiddos off to college...but they always come back! My 24-year-old is back living with us for a while. ;-)

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  14. I love that you do so much as a family. You can really see how much that means to your boys too. Ahhh when the oldest leaves the nest!!! Been there. While I had the brave face and was so excited when my daughter went to college I still had a stash of Oreo's waiting in the car and had a good cry for the 3 1/2 hour drive home! Have a wonderful start to this New Year full of new adventures.
    xoxo
    Kris

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  15. What fun shots! Wishing you a wonderful 2018.

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  16. Love the cans in the snow. I seldom drink soda but have a small can of Ginger Ale every once in awhile. Your are right about getting rid of the profanity. Your squash soup sounds delicious. It's not easy letting them spread their wings but it feels wonderful to see them grow into adults....

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  17. We are currently experiencing a strong summer storm, but we desperately need the rain, so it's good. Yes swearing is a big hate of mine, have to admit that quilting does make me utter the odd naughty word.
    Scary but exciting watching your children spread there wings, I am sure he will be fine.

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  18. I love this post and your happy photos, the beer made me laugh. We don't get any snow, we're lucky to get rain these days, so this is very exotic to me :-) And I like the idea of decluttering language alongside everything else.
    Amalia
    xo

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  19. It has been really cold here in the southeast too, but we're supposed to be back into the 50's next week. It is bittersweet watching our children fly the nest, emphasis though on the sweet. I think we've become careless as a society with manners in general, and I consider refraining from profanity good manners. If I come up with a grand plan as to how to implement some structure into my days I will share : ) Happy New Year!

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  20. Hopefully y'all will get more snow so you can at least enjoy the cold weather. It's been very cold here! Ridiculously cold! (for Central Alabama) We don't have good heat pumps down here! Everything's all about air conditioning!

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  21. I think January being National Soup Month is a great idea, and there are so many great tasting recipes ...

    Enjoy your weekend.

    All the best Jan

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  22. Too cold here too - but we got a FOOT yesterday! High of 1 degree tomorrow. I'm waiting for my cross country skiing happy place! Not there yet!

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  23. Too bad they didn't include the word "reach out" as in, "I'm going to reach out to you today..." I find that very annoying. Overheard in the market mother to 3 year old "I'm going to beat your ass..." and child following behind says "beat your ass.." Great going mom!

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  24. How is your weather now? We had quite a warm up today, and this morning it was warmer here than at our friends in South Carolina! How strange is this weather?!
    So excited for Sam and all this year has in store for him!

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High Fives from Wisconsin!