1) May is National Blood Pressure Month. What sends yours soaring, either literally or figuratively? What calms you down? When did you last have your BP checked?
Answer: Well, I take it that this issue is one of the perks of turning 50? I have always had low blood pressure, but now it seems to be taking new direction, and wandering a bit, so I have to keep my eye on it. The last time I had it checked by a doctor was about 6 months ago... I think? My father gave me a BP kit, but I admit I don't exactly pull it out on a regular basis to check on it. I would say trying to do too many things at once (thus, of course, leading to frustration) would be the frontrunner for pushing my BP up; so I just try to take things a little easier, and for now, I just try to watch my salt. I exercise. I take my potassium pills... and just hope that all helps. Sometimes my son will say, "Mom, remember your blood pressure. You want me to help you?"... Right away, no problem seems so big anymore, and I just have to smile.
2) You found $1. What do you spend it on? $10? $100?
Answer: I imagine I'd just throw the dollar towards either my next quick run to the market, or towards my next bank deposit... A dollar isn't much, but every little bit helps, right?!... If I found $10, I'd treat me and my kids to ice cream!.... And if I found $100, I honestly think I'd be torn between feeling elated and guilt-ridden, worrying who might have lost it in the first place. But I guess if I was to spend it, maybe I'd spend half, and donate half to a good cause... like St. Jude's Children's Hospital, I think.
3) Mandatory labeling of genetically engineered (GE) food has been proposed, but not yet enacted in the U.S... How much attention do you give food labels before you buy? Is this an issue I feel strongly about?
Answer: I do pay attention to labels sometimes, but admittedly not all the time. However, I like the idea that every company, farmer, or producer of whatever kind put a fully-detailed label on what we are INGESTING! I think that's definitely the right and proper thing to do. I fail to see why that should raise the prices, though, when labels are pretty much mandatory on most everything we buy now anyways, right? What would be the horrific additional effort producers have to put out, just to type a few more words onto a label?... I don't know. Is it that hard?!... Cry me a river!
4) May 15th marks the birthdate of L. Frank Baum, author of The Wizard of Oz. At this point and time, are you in more need of brains, courage, heart, or a trip back home? Explain.
Answer: I'd say brains! I often call myself the national poster child for the saying, "Haste makes waste." I tend to rush too much during the course of a day, which just causes more confusion, mistakes, and frustration. I feel like a chicken with her head cut off; or like they say, I'd constantly be losing my head if it wasn't attached. Typically, I can think, and remember things, much more clearly and reasonably, if I just slow down and focus on ONE thing at a time!
5) "There's no place like home" is an oft repeated line from Baum's book. When was the last time you felt the truth of that statement?
Answer: When Dear Son and I got caught in the pouring rain, recently, while walking the dog 'round the neighborhood! Thank goodness we weren't too far from home, but we were soaking wet just the same. We were glad to get back, to change into some warm, dry clothes!... And I remember hot tomato soup sounding good for lunch that day!
6) Steak... Yes, please?... or No, thank you?
I like steak, but on my budget, we don't eat it very often! I'd also place my trust in cooking it in almost anyone else's hands but mine! I've gotten better with it now, but I remember a time or two, when a steak I'd cook resulted in a texture comparable to that of shoe leather!.. I'd then be so totally disgusted with my culinary failure! Dinner would be a very quiet one that night... peanut butter and jelly sandwiches it was, and, like Shania Twain used to sing, you'd all "better say, mmmmm, I like it that way."!!
7) When was the last time you were in a genuine hurry?
Answer: Well, I think I just answered that in question 4, expressing this might be most of the time; but I'd say specifically, the day before Mother's Day. I tend to bite off more than I can chew, in the way of projects, goals, and/or responsibilities, sometimes. On Saturday, I baked three different batches of assorted homemade muffins; and THEN, I had the crazy notion to still try my hand at making a jello-shot cake!!.. (aka: Spiked Rainbow Jello Mold)... Well, ya know.. We thought... Just for fun, right?!
The fact is, it took me HOURS and HOURS to make this one fun little dessert, no matter how fast I tried to rush it. In between each layer, I'd wash a few dishes, or work on other preparations for Sunday. My suggestion to anyone thinking of trying to make it?... Clear your schedule for the day!
I do think it came out kinda pretty; but the thing is, after only about 3 small slices of it on Mother's Day, the sweet fruity jello taste was just not doing anything for me. Honestly, I felt like I was getting a little nauseous on it! We, in fact, still have leftovers..... BUT... I guess I'm glad we can say "At least we tried it! It's a fun memory to look back on!
8) Insert random thought?
Answer: Hmmm... (0; "You'll always miss 100% of the "shots" you don't take"?! (Wayne Gretzky)
Thanks to Joyce for hosting Wednesday Hodgepodge,
and thanks to all for stopping by today!
