Joyce From This Side of the Pond hosts a weekly Wednesday Hodgepodge of questions for fun and for getting to know each other.

Here are the questions for this week:

1. What reveals more about a woman-her refrigerator or her purse?

I think the refrigerator. My purse is full of things that I think have to be there, so there’s not much choice involved except brands. But people’s preferences in food and drink are interesting.

2. When was the last time you went to the zoo? Where? What’s your favorite zoo animal?

Oh, let’s see — maybe when we lived near Atlanta and went to the big zoo there. That’s the last time I remember, but then Jesse would have been under 4 years old, so he wouldn’t have any memory of going to a zoo, and that’s sad. Maybe we did go when we were in SC again, but I don’t remember. The zoo was in a town 30 minutes away, so it wasn’t something we’d just pick up and do. Hollywild Animal Park in SC set up drive-through Christmas light displays that we went to for several years, though, and they had a petting zoo. Favorite zoo animal? Maybe the giraffes. They’re just so unique.

3. What social issue fires you up?

I am not sure what constitutes a social issue, but if abortion is one, that would be it. It’s just so hard to understand people not understanding that a life is involved.

4. Are you a coupon clipper? If so, are you extreme?

I clip them once every few months and sometimes even remember to file them, but often forget them when I dash off to go shopping. So the next time I clip and file, I throw away the expired ones and lament the money I could have saved. I just hate to mess with them, especially the ones that have persnickety restrictions.

5. What is one of your favorite souvenirs brought back from your travels?

A little heart shaped ornament from Asheville, NC.

6. Lemon meringue or key lime?

Lemon meringue. Not a big lime-flavor fan, though I do like lime jello just very occasionally. Not a big jello fan, either. 🙂

7. What is the most beautiful word you know in any language?

Love.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

These are the kinds of conversations that go on in my head sometimes:

We’re having a cold snap now, but a few days ago the temperatures were at the level that I needed the AC on in the car for a bit, but then it would be too cold and I’d have to turn it off, then back on, etc. I remember thinking, “The dial on the AC setting needs one more notch between the lowest setting and ‘Off.'”

Then I thought: “You should be ashamed of yourself for being so picky and discontent. Some people don’t even have AC. Be grateful for what you’ve got.”

And then, “Yeah, but being content doesn’t mean we never see things that need improvement or let people know who could work out the improvements. Contentment doesn’t mean we sit around mindlessly grinning and never advance.”

It’s interesting….