Wednesday Hodgepodge: Veteran's Day

I'm joining up this week with Joyce at This Side of the Pond for some fun, interesting questions-and-answers. Why not join in too?

1. We celebrate Veteran's Day in the US of A on November 11th. When did you last interact with a member of the armed forces (either currently serving or retired)? Have you ever written a letter to a soldier, bought a meal or coffee for a solider, said an unprompted thank you to a soldier you encountered out and about somewhere? If you're not in the US, comment on a similar holiday in your own country.

I'm sure this will sound a bit uncaring - I do respect and support all of our veterans and those currently serving in any military capacity - but I have only once written a letter to a soldier (back in high school) and never brought a meal or coffee for a soldier. I can't recall an opportunity to do so...I have thanked those serving though.

2. You can have fifty pounds of anything at all (except money)...what would you choose?

Chocolate? LOL Just kidding...sort of.

Photo Credit

3. When did you last receive an invitation in the 'real' mail? What was it for and did you attend? When it comes to RSVP-ing, are you an 'early responder' or a 'last minute, barely-under-the-wire' kind of guest?

It's been year and years since I've gotten a written invitation through postal mail. Most of my family and friends do e-vites now.  Do you suppose postal mail will be a thing of the past some day? something used only for packages? I respond when I'm relatively sure I can either attend or not. Sometimes that's right away, sometimes at the last minute.

4. What's something you really don't like to waste?

Food. It's so expensive without throwing any of it away uneaten. We often have Leftover Lunch here. And what isn't eaten for lunch is either frozen (if it does well reheated) or given to the chickens. We also "feed back" dried, crushed egg shells to the chickens for a calcium supplement (instead of purchasing commercial products). Peelings and other scraps are composted. We really have very little food waste.

5. Cheers, Friends, MASH, Seinfeld...of the ones listed, your favorite long-running sitcom?

Oh. Well, I haven't really watched a lot of episodes of these shows, but I'd have to say Friends. Joey was always good for a laugh. I do remember watching MASH growing up. Hawkeye was also good for some laughs. But Cheers and Seinfeld I know of, but never watched.

6. What decision are you glad you made?

Recently? I had about 10 pounds of strawberries frozen in the freezer. They've been there since last season when we picked them at a local farm. Definitely needing used! But how? I found a recipe for BREAD MACHINE freezer jam on Pinterest (here) and tried it. Super easy! And it worked! Not only great for those PB and J sandwiches, but warmed on vanilla ice cream too! Yummy!

Photo Credit and Website of Recipe

7. In this month of 'Thanksgiving' what is one thing that's different today than it was a year ago that you're grateful for?

So much has changed for me in just a year! Phew! Last November I was still dealing with the end of my marriage 9 months before, learning to balance single parenting, homeschooling and running a household all on my own. This November? I am so grateful and amazed to have a wonderful man in life. A hard-working Christian family man who loves, supports and cares for me and my kids. I am excited about our future together!

8.  Insert your own random thought here.