WEDNESDAY HODGEPODGE

It's been a strange week in Munich.  The weather has been all over the place.  Today it is raining intermittently throughout the day.  A perfect day to catch up on all of my correspondence and participate in Joyce's mime, "Wednesday Hodgepodge."  Interestingly, her questions had me thinking about fall, the weather, and even natural disaster preparedness.  I hope you can participate with us.  Just click on the "Wednesday Hodgpodge" badge above and it will take you to Joyce's site where she explains the procedures.  Have fun!

1. What is one piece of advice you would give a 'just-turning' 21 year old adult?
Speaking from experience (both of my sons who turned 21 many years ago)  I find it difficult to give them advice that they a) want to hear, and b) will heed.  That being said,  I suppose I would suggest that they reach for the stars and not let anything or anyone put them off their course.

2. Besides cooler weather (or warmer weather, depending on your hemisphere) what is one thing you are looking forward to this fall?

Our vacation to Sardinia next week and then a week in Venice in October.  We didn't take a vacation this summer and preferred to wait until all of the kiddies are back in school.

3. What sound lulls you to sleep?
I have trouble falling asleep.  If I could be near the ocean, I'm sure that the sound of the waves would be lulling and sleep would come naturally.

4. September is National Preparedness Month...does your family have an emergency 'kit' and/or disaster plan in place?

Our home in the states is in Ohio and in the spring tornados watches and warnings are quite frequent.  Everyone knows to go to the basement immediately.  We have fire alarms throughout the house and a plan for evacuation.  

5. How has your blog changed since you started blogging? Or has it?

It began as a diary of sorts to commemorate our move from the U.S. to Germany.  Throughout the 2  1/2 years that we have been living in Germany it has morphed into a blog about everyday life and commentary about all sorts of things.  Still, it serves it's purpose of giving family and friends back home an idea of what life is like in Europe.

6. What's something you've recently learned to do on the computer?

My computer, a MacBookPro, does just about everything.  My 12 year old grandson showed me how to make a movie, a slide presentation with music, and to make music.  Still, I can't say that these activities are that useful to me other than preparing a video for a special occasion.  I wish I had this kind of technology when I was teaching high school.  I could have made lessons much more appealing.

7. Is a picture worth a thousand words? Elaborate.

One from an experienced, professional photographer or artist that understands his craft can even be better than words.  An image, done the right way, can evoke emotions in a way prose cannot.  Here are two examples that say all that can be said about the subject of war.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

We are in the midst of making some important decisions regarding investments and business ventures.  I am on needles and pins.  I wish I had a crystal ball so I could predict the future.  Life is so unpredictable now, economically.  I hope we make the right decisions. 

 After meeting with our financial advisor, researching stocks and bonds, reading all that we can about investments, it still feels like we are being blindfolded and tossing a dart at a picture of a donkey taped to the wall.