TV Tuesday Post-It Notes

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Are we always responsible for our actions? Are there any exceptions?
I can't think of an instance when we wouldn't be.

2.  Has anyone from your home town become famous?
If you follow sports (and specifically the Packers), you may have heard of Randall Cobb.  He played football with my 2 oldest boys.   He's the only one I can think of.

3. January was National Slow Cooker month. Do you own a slow cooker/crock pot? Did you use it last month? What's a favorite dish you make using a slow cooker or crock pot?
I got this baby for Christmas, and it's been getting quite a work out:

In fact, tomorrow, we're having ranch pork chops:  Pork Chops, a packet of dried ranch dressing, and 2 cans of cream of chicken soup.  I'm really liking that after the time is finished, the temperature switches over to "warm" so the food doesn't dry out.

4. How do you feel about private companies collecting data about you?
I haven't really thought about it.  I know some people get really freaked out about it, but I'm indifferent to it.

5. The Games of the 2014 Winter Olympics kick off with their opening ceremony this coming Friday....will you be watching? Which Winter Olympic event would you most like to see in person? Have you ever been to Russia? Any desire to go, Olympics or otherwise?
Figure skating.  It's so beautiful, and it's inside.  I have no desire to go to Russia, especially after going to the former East Germany last summer.  I don't really have any desire to go to the Olympics.  I'm fine watching it on tv.

6. Share a good or bad sports related memory from your childhood or teen years.
This is from my college years, but it's the only one I could come up with!  I was a little sister for a fraternity in college, and we played intramural basketball.  We had one game that came down to the wire.  I had the ball (right around mid-court), and we were down to the last second.  I had no one to pass to, and everybody was yelling, "Shoot it!"  So, I shot it and it went in.  The coach yelled, "Hail, Mary!"  (although he may have actually meant a different form of the word "hail"!)  I have no idea how that ball went in.  I'm definitely not a basketball player!

7. What's a must have song for you on a work out play list? If you don't work out, run, swim, bike, walk, or anything else that could be construed as 'exercise', then what's a song that motivates you to at least get up off the couch?
Why am I drawing a blank on this one???  Weird.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

OS made it to his destination okay, and I'm resting easier knowing he's there.  It's a little strange to think that he's so far away...he's been 2 hours away for the past 7 years; now he's all the way across the country.

On a different note:  did anybody watch Catherine & Sean's wedding on tv?  If you did, did you think it was a little strange that she walked down the aisle to 2 cellists playing Michael Jackson's "Human Nature"?  Strange.  Just strange.

Go West, Young Man

This weekend began the realization of a dream.  When OS was in college, his dream was to go out west (originally to Jackson Hole, Wy.) to work.  OS is our "Nature boy"...that child loves the outdoors!  From kayaking, to white water rafting, to hiking, to zip-lining, to camping, to snowboarding, he pretty much does it all.  And apparently does it well.  He definitely has a bit of daredevil in him!
As it does for all of us, life happens and dreams change.  After living in Asheville for 1 1/2 years, the opportunity came up for him to go west.  And he's taking the bull by the horns and doing it.  As I wrote this (on Sunday morning), he's completed the first leg (out of 3) of his trip.  It should have taken him around 12 hours, but it took him around 17 with the weather.  At least he has the good sense to slow down and take his time, but this mama was restless until he arrived at my sister's house.  The middle leg saw him forge through Nebraska and into Colorado.  I don't know if Google Maps is optomistic about the drive time from place to place or if OS is just taking his time and taking a lot of breaks, but this took him around 11.5 hours...not the 9 hours Google Maps indicated.  He'll arrive at his destination today (Monday).  Hopefully he'll be able to do all of this in the daylight...this part should take at least 6 hours; which means it will really be around 8.
When I went into the liquor store on Friday to pick up a bottle of wine for OS to give to my sister as a thank you gift, I saw a van with license plates from the state OS will be living.  That was the first time I've ever seen a license plate from that state.  Saturday morning, as we were leaving the place OS had been staying (we had to pick up his bed), there was a road that had that state as part of the name.    Suddenly, this state is all around me.
Friday night, CH & I headed to NC.  Here's a picture I snapped as we crossed the partially frozen French Broad River as the sun was setting:

And, a view on the way home:

We took our camper and camped near OS' house.  Ever since we've had the camper, we've tried to camp at least once every month.  I think we missed February last year, because it's just too cold in February!  We're able to get January in because of our trip to the The Keys.  Since Friday was 31 January and Saturday was 1 Feb., I think we're able to count that!  CH said he wanted to camp in the snow.  Weeeelll, as luck would have it, our campsite was in a patch of snow!  It wasn't deep, and if they had put us in a different site we wouldn't have snow, but I think we can count that, too!  

 Our night consisted of staying in the warm camper, watching the PBS series "Sherlock Holmes" through Netflix.  It was pretty cozy!
Saturday morning we met OS at his place and packed up the bed.  His initial plan was to leave around 6 a.m., but he ended up leaving around 8:30.  After CH took a look at his tires, he suggested that OS meet us in the Small Town to get a new set of tires.  And, it's a good thing he did since he ran into some snow.  
I got teary-eyed when I hugged him and we said our goodbyes, but I didn't cry.  It's so hard to let go, especially for this control freak!  I don't know what his future is going to be like; I just want him to be happy with wherever life takes him.  My favorite band mom when I was in high school left this reply on a FB post of mine: " We know we raise them to have 

wings to fly and see the world --we just didn't think they really would. Letting go is one of 

the hardest things we do as parents ."  She should know:  she's had a couple of sons that have lived in other countries, and none of her 4 children live in/near the Small Town.  

By the time this post is being read, OS will be looking at the last leg of his trip, and, thankfully it will be his shortest.  I'm excited for him to be living out his dream, and excited to see where it will take him.