Wednesday Hodgepodge

Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge hosted by Joyce at From This Side of the Pond.  Here are the questions and my answers:

1. What's left to be done on your Christmas to-do list?

Hmmm...  I need to pick up the salad fixins.  I'm cooking much of my dinner ahead of time, so I'll be doing that on Friday.  All the decorations except for the ceramic village are out.  I am actually able to sit in the living room and enjoy the lit up Christmas trees.

Of course, this could be wishful thinking cause I may have forgotten something, but then how would I know?

2. The Hodgepodge lands on the first day of winter this year. What's your favorite thing about winter? 

I've already said I hate winter.  My favorite thing about it is that it will eventually end.  Snow is only pretty at Christmas when you do not have to shovel it, drive in it, walk in it....  And does anyone really like temps in the single digits?  Bah, humbug on winter, 'cept for the Christmas celebrations.

3. In what area of your life are you immature? Feel free to elaborate or not.

I still read the comics?  I watch Arthur cartoons even when my grandson isn't here?  I think Cookie Monster is hilarious?  Can you be older than 70 and still be immature?  Assuming you are not a man.  My friend says they never mature.

4. What was the most (or one of the most) important lessons you learned in 2016?

Never underestimate the gullibility of the American public to believe whatever BS is being handed out.  I will not elaborate; you can fill in the blanks.

5. It's Fried Shrimp Day...are you a fan? What's your favorite way to eat shrimp? Will there be shrimp somewhere in your holiday feastings?

I love fried shrimp but rarely eat fried food.  They are a treat if and when I have them.  I do love shrimp cocktail.  We will be having poached shrimp for an appetizer Christmas Day.  

6. What sound lulls you to sleep? 

Too funny.  I can fall asleep just closing my eyes.  Anytime.  No sound needed.  I used to have a sound machine with surf and rain sounds, but fell asleep before I ever needed it.  

7. What one word best describes your 2016? 

Peaceful - except for sometime around 10:00 am on November 9.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
As I am writing this I am thinking about the indictments that came down this morning by the State Attorney General against two former emergency managers in Flint, MI.  I wrote about this water crisis earlier this year.  In January to be precise.  And every day there has been another article in the newspaper, with an entire section devoted to it on Sunday.  It is criminal and heads should roll.  There are some things I have discovered that just made me so angry I could not blog about it.  Like finding out that they continued to charge the Flint residents Detroit water rates even after the switch to 'non-potable' Flint River water.  And then used the cash to fund other areas of government.  I don't understand how the audit firm let that happen without reporting it.  Ugh.  I just can't even think about this.