Hodgepodge Water Fun

Here goes:

1. When did you last 'swim against the tide'? Explain.
It is so easy to just go with the flow but far more rewarding to swim against the tide.  The biggest one for me was when I went back to school to attain my Geology B.S. The rewards from that have been great and I'm getting to do interesting work so there's that.

2. What's the last self-help or self-improvement book you read? 
Self Help/Self Improvment are not my cup of tea.  I'm not really sure if I have ever read one.

3. "Tolerance is a tremendous virtue, but the immediate neighbors of tolerance are apathy and weakness." (Sir James Goldsmith) 

Agree or disagree? Discuss. With civility please, because I think we have a good thing going in our very diverse (in geography, age, religion, political persuasion, ethnicity, marital status, upbringing, and cooking abilities) neighborhood here on This Side of the Pond.
Tolerance is a virtue, one that is lacking in today's world.  You believe what you want to believe, I will believe what I want to believe and we can agree to disagree on the things that we have a difference of opinion on.
However, I do think that on most issues, people should have an opinion of some sort. You can stand up for that opinion but you shouldn't take the stand that your way is the only way. Variation is the spice of life.  If everyone thought the same way, life would be terribly boring.

4. What is one of your most vivid memories of the kitchen from your childhood?
Thanksgiving morning.  The image of my mother finishing the gravy and stuffing, another friend working on the mashed potatoes she brought, another working on the sweet potatoes, someone else snitching tastes.  A sort of organized chaos, but still homey and warm ond comforting.

5. How did/do your own children's summers compare with your summers as a child? If you're not a parent, answer as it relates to what you've observed about the current generation of children vs. your own childhood.
They have more varied entertainments. Electronic entertainments.  I grew up in a rural area, outside of a small town--like 3200 people small. There wasn't much to do.  I worked my way through the local library in the summers. I was a voracious reader.  We did watch movies a lot too.
My kids have Kindles, Xbox, Youtube, and computer games.  Books are available to them, but only Bruiser will become a reader for enjoyment, I think.

6. Tell us what body of water you would most like to be on or near today, and why? 
Torch Lake in Michigan.  We stayed in a cabin about 20 yards from the shore and it was wonderful.  The water is clear, blue and warm and perfect for playing in.

7.  Share a favorite song about water, or a favorite song with the word water in it's title, or a favorite song to listen to as you sit beside the water.
Brad Paisley With Water:

8. Insert your own random thought here. 
After a stretch of warm weather, we now have rain.  The rain is nice because we don't have to water the grass, but it has definitely cooled off.  Getting three days of rain is unusual for us.  We more normally get thunderstorm down pours/hail. Not that I'm complaining about the rain, but it is a bit abnormal for us.