HODGEPODGE JANUARY 9

 

1. At the end of every year (or at least since the mid-1970's) Lake Superior State University posts a list of words they think should be banished from the Queen's English for misuse, overuse, and/or general uselessness. You can read more about the decision making process here, but this year's list includes-

cringe, game changer, era, dropped, IFKYK (If you know you know), 

sorry not sorry, skibidi, 100%, utilize, and period. 

Which of these words/phrases do you use regularly or even just every now and then? How many did you have to look up? Which of these words would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why? Is there a word/phrase not on the list you'd like to add? If so do share, then tell us why.

I would use, "If yo know you know", sorry not sorry,  utilize and period. The other words I know but I don't use them.

2. Your favorite soup? Do you make this one yourself or is it from a can? 

Don't talk to me about soup ! I hate all soups, it fills you in with water and you can't eat the main course. The only soup I like is lobster soup. 

 

Otherwise I never eat a soup, which drove my Rick crazy, as he loved soups. So from time to time I made a Minestrone, which we both liked. 

3. How do you feel about winter? What's one winter activity you look forward to? 

 

That's how I feel ! I wished I could hide in a nice warm cave, as activity a long sleep until I smell fresh green  grass and see little flower heads coming out ! Then we can talk about activity !!

4. The Pantone color of the year for 2025 is mocha mousse. What say you? The website describes it as 'a warming, brown hue imbued with richness. It nourishes us with its suggestion of the delectable qualities of chocolate and coffee, answering our desire for comfort'. Is this a color I might find in your home or wardrobe? Is it one you might add in some big or small way in the year ahead? 

The French Television described this color as follows : the Pantone Color Institute unveils the color that will mark the world of design and fashion. For 2025, it is mocha mousse (Pantone 17-1230), a brownish hue that mixes beige and brown. This shade creates a soothing and comforting atmosphere. Interviewed by BFM Business, interior designer Leïla Bezaz explains that mocha mousse embodies the idea of ​​a "good steaming hot chocolate".

Honestly this color is not my cup of tea,  it's too dull ! I got just used to very light grey or creme but not this milk chocolate color.I wouldn't know where to put it !

5. Which of the following winter related idioms can best be applied to your life in some way right now? Choose one, then tell us why you chose it.  snowed under, on thin ice, tip of the iceberg, chill out, break the ice, snowball effect, not a snowball's chance in hell, get cold feet, the cold shoulder 

Not a snowball's chance in hell, that I will love winter one day !

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

When I found this photo of me together with a friend, I remembered that in my childhood I loved snow and sunshine, and

sledding. I think the last time I sat on a sled was when my son was about 5 or 6, today he is 51!!!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Salvadore Dali

 

"The only difference between a madman and me is that I am not mad."

 I visited an exhibition of Salvatore Dali, it was interesting. I think he loved and admired himself when I saw the countless self portraits he had painted ! One crazier then the other. He probably was a very intelligent man, but I had the impression that he was making fun of us "normal people". Without a doubt he was a great artist, even if I didn't like any of his work.

AWWWW MONDAY - WEEKEND JANUARY 4

 

Linking to AWWW MONDAYS 

 

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WEEKEND

Have you ever sat in a cold sauna and the ice-cold steam enveloped your body ? That's pretty much how you would feel if you went for a walk naked in Belgium ! In short, the whole week was a terrible weather.

Luckily we had a lot to do in the afternoons, we played a question and answer game every day. Then we drank our coffee, but this time there were no waffles, probably because the new year hadn't really started yet. 

A new guy has joined us, who gets up every time he can answer a question. This makes us laugh, because he seems like a schoolboy to us. 

On Sunday morning it was quite cold - 0°C and it had snowed a little. By the time I found my mobile to photograph the first snow, the snow had already melted and by lunchtime it was suddenly almost summer temperature  11°C, no wonder there are so many sick people. The pharmacies are as full as bakeries with freshly baked bread on a Sunday morning. 

Another new resident joined us, but she's only staying for 3 months until her neck vertebrae have healed. We got on really well right away; she has 8 cats!! And they're all inside cats! Of course she wanted to see Rosie, who was in a good mood and greeted her friendly. Now that the holidays are behind me, I'm relieved. If only the weather wasn't so bad.

During the week we had a refugee and nobody knows how he escaped from the fourth floor which was locked with a code and was rolling along the corridors in his wheelchair. He wanted to go into my room twice, but I told him that it wasn't his room, and he started waving his hands around and made incomprehensible noises. I turned the wheelchair around and called for a nurse, but since no one came I put him in the library, where someone always comes by. He must have had Parkinson's because he reminded me of Rick before he died, and I felt thankful that I had learned a lot how to handle people with this disease and I was no longer afraid of them, which I used to be.

HODGEPODGE JANUARY 1

 1. Oxford's Word of the year for 2024 is 'brain rot'. Are you familiar with this term? Do you suffer from the condition? Ha! This is a term used to 'capture concerns about the impact of consuming excessive amounts of low-quality online content, especially on social media'. If you were choosing a word to capture 2024 (for the nation/world, not your own life personally) what word would you choose? 

Peace

2. It's National Polar Bear Plunge Day (January 1)...will you be participating in one of these events (or even your own)? How will you spend the first day of this brand new year? Do you have a traditional New Year's Day menu? 

I don't know the National Polar Bear Plunge Day, but it's certainly a good thing. Bears I only know from a zoo !

3. What's something that brings you joy and how will you do more of it in this new year? 

Travel and discover more of the world, but for the moment my health doesn't allow it ! It would bring me so much joy !

4. Do you struggle with the January blues? What's one thing you can/will do to keep them at bay? 

I think even the happiest person would get depressed. We had 10 days of sunshine here otherwise it rained or was humid the whole month of December.

I have a light therapy lamp, which should replace the sun. It was invented in the Northern countries where in winter they have 3 h daylight !!! I have it since a few years and I think it helps a bit. You won't get brown with this it's only for the light.

 

5.Will you choose your own personal word of the year for 2025? What about a goal, resolution, or maybe even a bucket list? Elaborate as much or as little as you like. 

I don't have a personal word for 2025. All depends on my lung disease, how I feel. If I am getting better I want to make a little cruise or going somewhere and laying in the sand at the beach. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I think we all have the same thought here, is the sun still existing ?