HODGEPODGE DECEMBER 18

1. What's one thing on your to-do list that you want to get done, need to get done, or that must get done before the year ends? 

Youpee ! Nothing, my list is as empty as my wallet ! 

2.  December 17th is National Maple Syrup Day...are you a fan? Do you like maple flavor in other food items such as candy, cookies, donuts, oatmeal, hot toddies, coffee? 

I love Maple Syrup ! 

                                                                         Grand Canyon

I first ate it in 1971 at my aunt's house in America! We were visiting her in Madison/Wisconsin, and from there we started trip across the USA. From that day on, I ate a stack of pancakes with maple syrup every morning! Unfortunately, it wasn't available in Brussels at that time. Now of course it is ! 

3. Time magazine names a person of the year every year.  The tradition started back in 1927 with a 'man of the year' but has since changed to recognize not only an individual, but also to consider the impact of a group, movement, or idea that most influenced the year. The selection is not always someone or something good (think Hitler in 1938 and Stalin twice).  

This year they've named The AI Architects as their 'person of the year'. What say you? Is this a good choice, an obvious choice, a logical choice? Who do you think should have been named person of the year? 

I was never interested in "the man of the year" I had one at home. I would prefer a George Clooney and not two mass murderers or a Donald Trump, if ever he should become the man of the year !  

I'm also not very familiar with AI Architects (yet), or AI in general. I did see a woman talk into her phone so that AI could create a Christmas card and write a message for it. The result wasn't bad. I also saw an interior designer furnish a child's room with AI, and that was good too. AI is certainly useful for people who lack imagination when it comes to interior design or writing love letters. Personally, I don't really need it yet. Maybe just to figure out how to teach my cat Rosie to play during the day and not at night!

That's my AI, I make my cards myself with the help of photo fun or others 

4. What's a city, state, or country you've visited that you never care to visit again? Tell us why. 

Acropolis  

Greece !! Not the islands, but the mainland. We did a tour around Greece and, of course, visited all the important sites of Greek mythology. The Acropolis was once again crumbling, and you couldn't walk far. Athens was dirty, the people unfriendly, and the Greek food was awful. Most of the historical sites were in ruins and were somehow propped up to keep them from collapsing. I have only bad memories of this trip, and this was supposed to be a 4-star experience; I wonder what a 2-star one would be like.

5. Next Sunday (December 21st) marks the first day of winter (or the opposite if you're living down under). What's one thing you love about this new season? 

I don't know anymore what the word "season" means. It is cold in summer and now as we are approaching winter we have warm temperatures. Winter and summer clothes remain together, it's not necessary to separate them. Today I wear a T-shirt and a jacket !  A part from that I enjoy a blue sky and sunshine !

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I was busy with decorating my room, as my son and family arrive on the 20th and we will celebrate Christmas together. Now I can think of what I want, everything is ready, the most important things was to wrap the little gifts and to find them. Now I rest my brain !