Ho-Ho-Ho-Hodgepodge

It's still November but Joyce reminds us that there are only 4 more Hodgepodges until Christmas! Hence her segue into the first question.

1. With that being said I think I need to dive right in to some Christmas related questions, don't you? Which do you prefer: pretty gift wrap with a bow or a pretty gift bag with/without a bow? What percentage of your holiday gifts are currently (as in right this very minute) wrapped in some form or fashion?

I love receiving prettily wrapped gifts with a fancy bow, and I used to be really into wrapping gifts. Then traveling made it really hard to transport them. And kids made it seem a little pointless to put that much effort into it! I do a combo of bags and wrap now. And I try to use a few bows here and there but I don't get too elaborate.

2. What is one item on your Christmas list this year?

I really don't have one, although I wouldn't be averse to an iPad or a new iPhone (mine is the old 3G).

3. What makes a home?

Love, of course!

4. Motown founder Berry Gordy celebrates his birthday on Hodgepodge Day-November 28th. Are you a fan of the Motown sound? If so, who's your favorite Motown artist and/or song? Here's a list in case you're stuck.

I am not a fan of Motown in general. That's not to say that I don't like individual songs that happen to fall in that category. The Commodores' Three Times a Lady takes me straight back to high school. I've always liked that song!

5. Red or green-which one is more prevalent in your closet?

Definitely red. I don't care for green at all, except for money!

6. True or false-bacon makes it better? If you answered true, what's your favorite dish made with bacon?

True, if "it" is breakfast. Or a hamburger. But I'm not the type who thinks bacon belongs on everything.

7. Share a favorite holiday memory.

I think I share this every year, but it's still special!

One year, when I was about 8 or 9, I couldn't decide if I wanted a REALLY BIG present (which meant I would probably just get one gift) or if I wanted a WHOLE BUNCH of smaller presents. There wasn't anything particular I wanted, but I'd always thought having a REALLY BIG gift to unwrap would be fun. But I loved opening presents and hated the idea of having just one thing to unwrap. When Christmas arrived, there was just one present, a REALLY BIG one, for me. When I opened it, I discovered the box contained a bunch of individually wrapped presents! At the time, I just thought it was so cool that I got both of my wishes. But as I grew up, I realized what an incredible thing that was for my mom to do. I was the youngest of four kids, and I can imagine the time it took for my mom to get all our gifts wrapped. She went to a lot of effort to please me.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

My brain is too numb and wiped out from the tragic death of one of our church's youth, an 18-year-old who was killed in an auto accident as he drove back to college Sunday evening. Ask me questions, and I can answer them. Give me a blank space and it's just liable to stay that way!