Hodgepodge: 7/13/11

1. How has your hometown changed since you were a kid? What has changed most about the neighborhood you grew up in?

My hometown (Chilhowie, Va) hasn't really changed since I was a kid. The only thing that's really changed, if you can call it a change, is that we got a one way street. How many towns that have 2,000 people really need a one way street? Apparently, my town! We still even have only one red light, which in my opinion, we need another one! My first "real time away from home" was when I went to school at King College. I didn't come home very often, but I'll always remember the very first time I came home from college. I began driving through town just enjoying it when all of a sudden, I realized that I was driving the wrong way. I began looking around, & then I realized the street I was on was now a one way street. Of course, I called my parents & told them what I had just discovered. They just laughed at me. Needless to say, I don't drive down that street anymore. Currently, I am attending pharmacy school, & I rarely get to come home. Just this weekend I came home for my dad's birthday. And yet, it's the same ole town I grew up in. Nothing has changed, & that's the reason why I like my hometown so much. It stays the same. I've moved a total of 4 times in my life. The longest I've lived in one house is 12 years, but I can honestly say that where I'm living now has been my favorite. My first house was a beautiful two-story home that my uncle & papaw built. The house was in an area I like to call "the country"--for those of you who don't understand what that means, I didn't live in town, like I do now. I was on the outskirts of town. My second home was a beautiful one story house out on the west end of town. I lived right beside of one of my best friends. Needless to say, we moved 6 months later to a two-story brick home in a subdivision. We lived there for several years. I loved that house. We had such great neighbors--everyone was so friendly, & my favorite neighbor is now my boss. The home I am currently at is right in the middle of town. My neighbors are my godparents. As you can see, my neighborhood has changed because I have moved several times. 

2. What song makes you laugh?
"Entrance of the Gladiator"--the circus theme. It's hilarious! Every time I listen to this song, all I picture are clowns riding around on their little bikes or unicycles, & yes, for some reason, I picture The Three Stooges doing something ridiculous. That makes the song funnier! Enjoy--it's a funny song & I hope it brings you laughter like it does me!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B0CyOAO8y0


3. Are you a fan of Harry Potter? Read the books? Seen any/all of the movies? Will you be standing in line somewhere close to midnight later this week? For those of you playing along today who live outside the US or UK is Harry Potter a phenomenon in your part of the world?
I am a huge, & I mean HUGE Harry Potter fan!! I have all the books, & I've watched all the movies as well, but I only own movies 1-3. In order to make up for it, I do have the Harry Potter play station games, which I haven't finished playing all of them yet. However, I'm not crazy enough to stand in line for a movie ticket. No way Jose! That's not going to happen with this gal. However, my boyfriend & I plan to see the movie in theaters sometime next week once most of the crowd has died down. He's also a Harry Potter fan. This past weekend, Harry Potter has been playing on ABC family, & yes, I watched the movies all over again. No matter how many times I watch the movies, I never get bored of seeing them. I can literally watch them over & over again! My favorite Harry Potter movie is the first one: Harry Potter & the Sorcer's Stone. What's yours? I like this one so much because it followed right along with the book, & didn't leave out much detail. I like movies that follow straight from the book & are in good detail. If you haven't read the books, I encourage you to do so! They're a terrific read for all ages!! 

4. If the truth hurts, will you tell a lie? Are we better off as a society in a world that allows no form of deception whatsoever?
Unfortunately, I hate to say this about myself, but yes, I will tell a little white lie just to keep from hurting someone's feelings. If that person has tried really hard to look his/her best for something & yet, they don't match or something is a little off, I tell that person that he/she looks fine! I do so because I know they've tried hard to make an impression on someone, & I don't want to burst their bubble! I am just kind-hearted; I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. In order to keep me from telling lies, I try to get out of the situation if I can. I don't necessarily call a "white lie" such as the one above "deception". To me, deception is knowingly doing something that you probably shouldn't in order to gain something. Telling a "white lie" is really not deceiving--you're trying to prevent from hurting someone else's feelings. Deceiving is similar to "tricking" or "cheating" in order to make yourself look better. I disagree with deceiving others. I think it's completely wrong in every way. The Bible even mentions how the serpent "deceived" Eve to eat the apple from the tree. The serpent did this in order to get back at God for kicking him out of Heaven. Therefore, what the serpent did was wrong, which was deceiving. In the context that deception is similar to tricking, I think we are better off as a society without deception. Haven't you noticed that most arguments today start because someone cheated someone else out of something? If deception would not exist, half of the arguments would cease to exist. As a society, I think the American people would be happier & more satisfied with themselves if deception ceased to exist. 

5. What is your favorite 'sauteed in garlic and butter' food? Or garlic and olive oil if that makes you feel better.
Honey, this is the south--there are no foods that are cooked in garlic & olive oil! It's all cooked in butter & sauteed garlic!! One of my favorite foods sauteed in garlic & butter would be shrimp. My dad usually fixes shrimp out on the grill, in which he coats them in garlic & butter. However, I'm not a huge "shrimp on the grill" type of person. I like my shrimp cooked with pots & pans. Nothing brings out the shrimp flavor than garlic & butter. 

6. Attending any reunions this summer/year? High school? family? Other? Do these events stir up excitement or dread?

I plan to be attending my family reunion (the Clapp renunion). Unlike other people who dread going to their family reunions, I thoroughly enjoy going to mine, & I look forward to coming every year. I get to visit with my cousins, & of course, my cousins can cook!! The food is amazing. Good food, friends, laughter, family, enjoyment--what else can you ask for at a family reunion? Our family reunion is held at the Old Quarry United Methodist Church in Saltville, Va. It happens once a year--either the last Saturday & Sunday in July or the first Saturday & Sunday in August. The festivities usually begin Saturday morning at around 11:00 a.m. where everyone signs in under the family tree. Many picture albums are available for us to look at once we're waiting on everyone to arrive. I'm in several of them (about being drum major, being accepted into King College, & being accepted into the Appalachian College of Pharmacy). Some of the pictures date back many years, while others are current & are of newspaper clippings of all of the kids' achievements in life. Then, it's eatin' time! Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, breads, pasta salads, baked beans, desserts (all of which are homemande) are completely eaten up & all gone by 1:00 p.m. Usually by 2:00 or 3:00, mostly everyone is heading back home with empty crockpots. On Sunday morning, everyone meets back at the church for service. My sister usually sings at the reunion that morning as well. Then, right after the service, everyone departs to go home until next year.

7. Lilac, hydrangea, peony...pick one.
Lilac--they're beautiful & they smell wonderful! I have a Lilac bush outside my apartment, & I can smell it when I come home from school! It brightens up my whole day! Not to mention, lilac is one of my favorite colors as well.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
I'm so ready to be out of school & a pharmacist already! I don't like going to school in the summertime, but I know it'll be worth it once I'm finished! I've got less than 1 year now until I begin my full 5 eight week rotations! Let the countdown begin!