Wednesday Hodgepodge

(Link in meme-roll)

1. Are there any men or women in blue on your family tree?

My brother was a police officer briefly. I have photos of him in uniform, but otherwise you wouldn't know. He switched to EMT/Fire fairly quickly. Probably the best call of his life. Weirdly, his son has always wanted to be a cop; he's currently working for TSA. Does that count as police?

2. Are you someone who suffers from the Sunday night blues? What helps you get over it?

No. I like my job, and weekends being the way they've been over the past few years, I usually can't wait to get out of the house Monday morning.

3. I read the color blue is an appetite suppressant since there are very few naturally blue foods out there. How do you feel about blue cheese? Love it or blech? If you're a fan, what's something you like that's made with blue cheese?

I like bleu cheese just fine, though with other food, not alone. Bleu cheese dressing is my favorite salad topper.

4. We can't head in to the Labor Day weekend without a related question, can we? Complete this thought: I work best when____________________.

...people leave me [[expletive]] alone to get stuff done.

5. 'Everything yields to diligence.' Antiphanes Your thoughts? (on this particular quote or on diligence in general)

Diligence will not stop rain from falling or bullets from killing people. Working to help flood victims or victims of violence in a diligent manner is possible, just hard work doesn't always achieve everything. It's one of the fallacies that arrives all boxed up as LIES THE WORLD TOLD ME at about midlife when you realize you can't postpone death forever.

6. The National Park Service turned 100 years old on August 25th. Have you been to many of America's National Parks? If so share with us a favorite or two. Which National Park would you most like to visit before the next birthday rolls around?

I have been to several; in fact, I now have a passport. In the past year, I've been to the Abraham Lincoln Home and El Morro in San Juan. Of course, I've also been to Yellowstone and Little Bighorn and Rushmore; of those three, I can't recommend highly enough a lengthy stop at Little Bighorn. My favorite part is Mesa Verde, where I've visited a dozen times. I love climbing around there. I'm not likely to see any more U.S. Parks this year; it's possible we'll drive through Brecon Beacons while on vacation next month.

7. Bid farewell to August in seven words or less.

Bring on the fall and lower humidity!!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I have, it seems, only random thoughts these days. My goal today is to maintain my composure and not have another afternoon of anxiety attacks like I did yesterday. One hour, one minute, at a time.