Wednesday Hodge Podge (and it's still Wednesday!)

1. When it comes to good manners, what two top your list of most important?
Only two? OK, how about holding or opening the door for a person near you; saying please and thank you.
2. Let's open a proverbial can of worms...Common Core.  Are you familiar with the term (talking education reform in the USA)?  If so, care to share your thoughts? In your opinion, what is one of the biggest issues schools (in your home country) face today?
Oh, brother! I'm familiar with Common Core; enough to know that I'm glad I retired when I did and am only subbing, now! As a substitute teacher, I have found it necessary to familiarize myself with some of it, so that when I take a class, I'm able to at least make a semblance of sense of it before I attempt to teach the students. I've never seen teachers so frustrated and that includes the LAST three times they attempted to modernize math. The biggest problem I believe is getting parents to realize the importance of a good education; being involved with their children from grade school all the way through high school. 
3. Name a celebrity whose fashion sense you admire and share why.
I do not care for the styles of today's fashions and I'm not big on celebrities. However, I do like our local news anchors and think they are always dressed appropriately; not like many "celebrities" that show up on TV.  
4. How are you affected by the changing seasons?
I love the changing seasons; each one! However, if there are too many "gray" days in a row (no matter the season) I start to get grumpy. I do have a tendency to "snuggle in" (not quite hibernate) when it gets dark earlier and earlier in the winter and look forward to the lengthening days of late February and March.
5. Scariest book you've ever read?
Thinking...thinking...    I don't read scary books.... I suppose the creepiest may have been back in college with Edgar Allen Poe's "The Telltale Heart."
6. What time of day are you most hungry? What's your go-to snack?
I find myself the most hungry in the late afternoon.  Saltine crackers with peanut butter take care of my cravings, nicely! Some times fruit... Oh, and anything chocolate...   
7. Do you lean more towards being too needy or too independent? Which do you find harder to deal with in others?
I'm independent, but not from my family.  I love how our family helps with each other no matter the need; the same with our church family. The one time we were desperately in need of help, it was extremely humbling to be on the receiving end of things, almost to the point where I wanted to say "No, thank you!" when I really needed to say, "Yes, please!"  People who seem to be needy all the time, wear on me. I find I have a hard time being good friends with people who are always looking for someone else to "do" for them what they should be learning to "do" for them selves.
8.  Insert your own random thought here.
We had a wonderful vacation but finding so many of our destination points with this sign was extremely discouraging. I hate to complain since many of our friends actually lost time from work but when you've been saving and planning and set out to visit, oh, say..."The Wright Brother's Museum" in Kitty Hawk, NC and it closes up tight before you get there... or the light houses you want to visit are in National Parks at the shore... and don't forget the National Parks in the Great Smoky Mountains and Cherokee National Forest... and a marina on the Outer Banks in NC (among other places)  they do not own in waters they seem to think they do, it gets very discouraging and it's the first time I've actually been more than just disgusted with my government, more like just plain ANGRY.  I'll remember all of this come election day for years to come.

If it weren't for us taxpayers, there would BE NO national parks, national museums, national NOTHING! (I know, poor grammar.)

Well, we had a good time in spite of our government's shut down thanks to great family, friends and weather!