A Trendy Hodgepodge

Are you thawing out yet? We've begun a gradual warming trend around here. A good bit of the snow melted yesterday, though quite a bit still remains. It got cold last night, much colder than predicted, and all that water from yesterday's melting snow and ice refroze. We should see more of it disappear later today as the temperature is supposed to reach the mid 40s.

I'm participating in the Wednesday Hodgepodge, hosted by Joyce @ From This Side of the Pond. Give her a visit to find links to the others who are playing along and to find the rules if you'd like to join in the fun. Thank you, Joyce, for coming up with questions for us to answer week after week!

1. January is National Mentoring Month. Have you ever had a mentor? Been a mentor? How would you rate the experience?  I've never had an "official" mentor, but several people throughout my life have taken on the role unofficially by teaching me what they knew about a certain thing. I've also never been a mentor in any official way, but I think I have at least sort of filled that role for a few people, most of them teenagers when I was involved with youth ministry. I would rate having a mentor as a very positive experience. It's great to benefit from someone's shared wisdom and avoid the pitfalls of inexperience. On the other hand, I would rate being a mentor as sort of a mixed experience. It is wonderful to help someone grow and mature at something and usually it is a blessing, but sometimes the one being mentored can be very draining on you emotionally, time-wise, or even spiritually. You'd better be good at setting limits if you step into the role of mentor.

2. What current trend makes no sense to you?  I'm still scratching my head over man-buns. Ugh. I still don't get Twitter or Snap Chat. Also, the current trend of basically throwing an adult temper tantrum when you don't like something....well, whatever happened to manners, kindness, intelligence, or just dealing with the fact that we can't all have our own way all the time?

3. I saw a cartoon on facebook highlighting a few 'weird' things that make you happy as an adult. The list included-writing with a nice pen, having plans cancelled, freshly cleaned sheets, eating the corner brownie, cleaning the dryer lint screen, and sipping coffee in that brief time before anyone else wakes up. (Credit for the cartoon goes here) Of the 'weird' things listed which one makes you happiest? What is one more 'weird' thing you'd add to the list?  It's definitely writing with a nice pen for me and along with that writing the first words in a brand new, blank journal. As for a weird thing I'd add...being the first one to dip a knife into the peanut butter (or the butter or the jelly jar).

4. What's the last good thing you ate?  The lasagna we had for dinner Monday evening.

5. Describe life in your 20's in one sentence.  Married and raising kids.

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

For real. Except it's not really slow. If I buy yellow bananas today, they are brown tomorrow. If I buy green bananas, they are brown tomorrow. I have tried all the tricks (pull them apart, etc.) and bought the little banana tree thing for the counter and I still get brown bananas. How do you beat this????