Springtime Surprises Hodgepodge

1. What surprises you the most about people? 

Well, I find myself wanting to turn this answer into a gripe about all the bad things people do that 'surprise' me...but I'm really not surprised cuz the world is broken and I know this...OR I could go with being surprised by kindness but the truth is I rarely if ever find myself surprised by that these days.  Sorry...first question and I'm on the struggle bus.

Sometimes I'm surprised by people's special gifts and talents and that's always delightful.  I love artistic and musical gifts and even mathematical and scientific gifts are interesting and surprising.

2. Would you rather have a chauffeur, nanny, gardener, maid, personal shopper or cook? Tell us why that one? 

After thinking about it I will go with maid.  I don't like to dust, so therefore, I don't...and it feels like things get dirty as soon as I clean them...especially floors.  I'd love a weekly maid.

As the days wane on my chauffeuring my kids about, I value those times in the car a lot more and so I wouldn't want to hire that out.  A few years ago I might have jumped at this one though.

I enjoy gardening and have a pretty easy level of plant life set up around our house.  I will simplify our vegetable patch when my dear daughter is no longer at home to help me.  Maybe I'll just go all flowers so I can have fresh bouquets to share and set around my house.  

Personal Shopper sounds ridiculous.  I don't shop that much and when I do grocery pickup I figure I'm kind of my own personal shopper.  Plus I love thrift sales and all the fun is in rummaging yourself. 

Cooking, again I enjoy it, so I wouldn't want to take that out...although I've heard it's very difficult to cook for two...and that makes me sad.  I currently love my son coming into the kitchen, snatching the top off the crockpot, stirring about and sniffing...and then eating seconds or thirds and telling me how wonderful it all tastes.  

3. May 18th is National Notebook Day. No idea what that means but let's run with it anyway. What's something you currently keep in a notebook? Have you seen the movie The Notebook? On a scale of 1-5 how does it rate? (5=a favorite, can watch and re-watch and re-watch again) 

I am not a fan of The Notebook movie.  I am a fan of notebooks.  I am notorious for using 1/3 the pages and never filling them up...or keeping them blank because they're pretty and I can't decide what to write in them.  Currently, I've been keeping the notes to book studies I'm doing so I can refer to them if I ever need them.  I fold a page between each book.

4. Do you like mushrooms? Last dish you made or ate that had mushrooms on the ingredient list? Your favorite dish that calls for mushrooms? 

I love mushrooms.  I used them in Beef Stroganoff a few weeks ago.  It is probably my favorite dish with mushrooms.  It's simply beef tips with a brown sauce with onions and mushrooms...then I add egg noodles and a dollop of sour cream.

5. What would you say is the most annoying thing people do in public? 

The phone annoys me.  I'm not opposed to people needing their phones...like if you're looking at notes for a lunch mtg, or taking a call from a kid, etc.  but if you're sitting there ignoring the person who made time to spend with you 'in person' that's just rude.  And smart watches are just as bad.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I'm growing a pot of chamomile and lemon balm for the first time this year.  I imagine calming tea times.  I am also dehydrating my own green powder because I'm cheap and can use the dandelions in my own yard, thank you.