Monday Madness

This week's Monday Madness Questions

1. I get about _______ telemarketer phone calls on a daily basis.
   
   
   • one
     
   
   
2. I never call anyone after _______ at night.
   
   
   • 22:00 (10 PM)
     
   
   
3. I never call anyone before _______ in the morning.
   
   
   • 08:00 (8 am)
     
   
   
4. I (please choose one) DO or DON'T screen my phone calls via caller ID.
   
   
   • Don't (We don't have caller ID where we live here in Munich. If we did have caller ID, I would screen my calls.)
     
   
   
5. I really should call _______ more often.
   
   
   • my parents
     

Tags: memes, Monday Madness

Monday Madness

This week's Monday Madness Questions

1. I wish people would just _____.
   
   Be more considerate and kind to each other. If people were more considerate and thoughtful, the world would be a much nicer place.
   
   
2. My biggest pet peeve where other drivers are concerned, is _____.
   
   People who talk on cell phones while driving! Even with hands-free, too often people are distracted by their cell phone conversation, and not really paying attention to the road.
   
   
3. I will probably spend about _____ on holidays this season.
   
   $1000 Canadian.
   
   
4. I really hope to _____ by the end of this calendar year.
   
   Build up a good following for my "Step and Tone" class at the new gym.
   
   
5. I make about _____ resolutions each year, and keep _____ of them.
   
   I don't make resolutions. I prefer to set myself small, attainable, yet challenging, goals throughout the year. For example, right now I have several goals. I'm studying Anatomy and Physiology, and I hope to do well in the course; I'm training for a spring half-marathon and marathon; and I'm endeavouring to do more strength training. None of them are resolutions, but rather goals I am working towards.
   

Tags: Monday Madness, memes

Monday Madness

This week's Monday Madness Questions

1. Which of the holidays that you celebrate, do you feel is the most important?
   
   Two come to mind. The first, Easter, is a traditional holiday that is important to me because I am Catholic, and we celebrate Christ's sacrifice for us on Easter. The second is a holiday that we observe. Remembrance Day is important because we honour those who have served, and who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom.
   
   
2. Which holiday do you most enjoy?
   
   I enjoy Christmas. It's a wonderful celebration. Putting up the tree and decorating it, shopping for and wrapping presents, attending Mass, getting together with family, giving gifts and watching others open them, enjoying good food together.
   
   
3. Is there one holiday that your family tries to get together every year? If so, which one?
   
   My family and I used to live in the same general area, so we would get together for all the major holidays. This summer my husband and I moved to Munich, so it will be just the two of us celebrating together for the next three years.
   
   
4. Share one special memory from a past holiday.
   
   A few years ago I bought my husband the comic book "Avengers #1" for Christmas. He is a huge comic book reader and collector. I will never forget the expression on his face once he opened up the gift and realized what is was. He was very touched, and I was so happy to be able to surprise him.
   
   
5. Name one holiday coming up, that you're really looking forward to, and why.
   
   I'm looking forward to Christmas this year. It will be our first Christmas in Germany, and I'm looking forward to experiencing many of the German and Bavarian Christmas traditions. We plan on visiting the Christkindlmarkt at Marienplatz as well as some of the other Christmas markets in Munich. We hope to try some Glühwein (hot spiced wine) and experience some of the traditional German Advent and Christmas celebrations.
   

Tags: memes, Monday Madness, holidays, Christmas, Germany

Monday Madness

This week's Monday Madness Questions (fill in the blank this week):

1. In order to protect my computer from viruses, I use _______.
   
   Norton Anti-Virus
   
   
2. I also use _______ for protection from spyware.
   
   Norton Internet Security
   
   
3. I don't spend nearly enough time _______.
   
   Cleaning house (too many other things take priority - studying, running, working out, horseback riding, spending time with hubby, blogging, etc.)
   
   
4. The first person I usually talk to in the morning is _______.
   
   My husband. We wake up next to each other, so we greet each morning with a "Good morning sexy/gorgeous/honey. I love you."
   
   
5. It takes me about _______ to get ready in the morning.
   
   It depends on what I'm doing. If I need to shower, get dressed, eat breakfast, and put make-up on, then 45 minutes or so. If I'm just throwing on sweats, to stay home and study, or if I'm just putting on running or gym clothes, then hardly any time at all, say 5 to 10 minutes.
   
   
6. I keep all my appointments in/on _______.
   
   A daytimer/planner (paper). When I was working for Parks Canada, all the IT Managers had iPAQs, so I used to keep everything on there. I miss my iPAQ. One of these days I'll spend the money to buy one of my own.
   
   
7. It takes me about _______ to fall asleep at night.
   
   10 to 15 minutes. That's after reading for about an hour to unwind.
   

Tags: memes, Monday Madness

Monday Madness

This week's Monday Madness Questions:

1. From ch'i: If you could only read one blog every day- which one blog would be on your daily list?
   
   My friend Michelle's Blog, mw-artco. She does beautiful paintings and ACEO, and I'm always interested in seeing her new pieces.
   
   
2. From kat: What do you do to de-stress from a hectic day?
   
   Go for a run, lift some weights, curl up with a good book, or relax with a computer game (role-playing or citybuilding game).
   
   
3. From paxil princess: What is your favorite piece of clothing to wear in the winter?
   
   I love wearing cords in the winter. They are comfortable and warm.
   
   
4. From sherle: Do you prefer discussing problems with a sibling, a parent, a significant other, a psychologist, or a total stranger?
   
   Significant other. My husband. He's learned to be a great listener.
   
   
5. From trista: How long have you been blogging?
   
   Not long. Only since August 2006. We were posted to Munich in July, and our family blog started out as a way to keep in touch with friends and family back home. Then I started this blog as a running, group fitness, and horseback riding log, and it has evolved from there!
   
   
6. From lisa e: Which side of the bed?
   
   It doesn't really matter. Back in Canada, our bedroom was arranged such that I was on the right hand side. Now here in Munich, I'm on the left hand side.
   
   
7. From elton: How often do you pig out when you eat?
   
   Never. It's not healthy! I eat a little too much at family celebrations, like Thanksgiving or Christmas, but I can't recall ever "pigging out".
   
   
8. From karen: Do you watch the space shuttle launches?
   
   When the space shuttles were still fairly new, I used to watch the launches whenever it was possible (ie. I wasn't in class or otherwise occupied). Now I tend to watch the launches only when there is a Canadian on board. I'm much more likely to follow the news on the shuttle missions on the internet these days.
   
   
9. From dawn: What's your favorite leisure-time activity?
   
   Doing anything with my husband. We go for runs together, lift weights together, read comic books together, watch TV and movies together... We just love spending time together.
   
   
10. From sherle: When is the last time you said, 'I love you' and to whom? What about hugs? Who is the last person you hugged?
    
    Said "I love you" to my husband this morning, before he left for work. My husband was also the last person I hugged, last night, before bed (I was still in bed when he left for work this morning, so no opportunity for hugs, just "I love you"s.)

Tags: memes, Monday Madness

Monday Madness

This week's Monday Madness Question:

Using the letters in your name (first, last, both, whatever), describe your life!

I'm using the First initial of my First name, and my full Last Name

C - Canadian (I'm proud to be Canadian)

M - Marathoner (I've run one marathon, numerous half-marathons, and plan to run another half and another full marathon in the spring)
I - Intelligent (okay, so I'm not being very modest here, but I did graduate at the top of my class both from high school, and from university in engineering)
L - Loving and very much in Love with my husband
L - Lively (our lives are never boring - we have so many hobbies and have visited so many interesting places and plan to visit many more)
S - Silly (hubby and I love being silly together, and watching silly shows, like The Muppet Show together)

Tags: memes, Monday Madness

Monday Madness

This week's Monday Madness Questions:

1. From bev: Small town or big city?
   
   
   • Neither, actually. I like something in between: a small city. Big enough to have plenty of cultural and entertainment venues, but not so big that it's crowded, with tons of traffic.
   
   
   • Basically, any city from the size of Kingston, Ontario, or St. John's, Newfoundland, (population approx. 150,000) up to the size of Ottawa, Ontario or Munich, Germany, (population approx. 1 million) works for me. Anything smaller is too small, and anything much bigger, is to big. I would never want to live in Toronto, Montreal, or Vancouver for instance. Too many people, too much traffic, and too expensive!
   
   
2. From turtlemoonwave: Do you have a favourite childhood memory, and if so, would you share it?
   
   
   • I remember earning my All Round Cord as a Girl Guide. The All Round Cord was the highest honour you could obtain as a Guide. (The highest honour you could obtain in Canadian Girl Guides was as a Pathfinder - one age group higher - and was the Canada Cord - I earned that too, a few years later). One of my best friends and I earned our All Round Cords around the same time, and we both received them in a beautiful, candlelit ceremony. The ceremony highlighted all that we had accomplished in order to earn the All Round Cord, and it meant a lot to both of us.
   
   
3. From cat: How do you calm down when something has really upset and/or angered you?
   
   
   • It depends on the situation. If something has upset me, I'll usually have a good long cry, and vent to hubby. He's learned to be a good listener (ie. I don't want him to solve my problems, just listen to them, at least most of the time).
   
   
   • If something has angered me, I'll usually go for a run, or hit the gym. Running is a great way for me to clear my head, and work any frustrations out. A run usually leaves me feeling refreshed and it usually improves my mood.
   
   
4. From dna princess: What attratcs you to memes?
   
   
   • First of all, it gives me something to write about, besides my daily workouts (my blog started as a running and workout log, and has evolved from there). I also enjoy visiting other people's blogs, reading their answers to meme questions, and learning more about them.
   
   
5. From mads: How reliant are you on computers to get through your day?
   
   
   • Now that I'm a student again (working on a Masters degree in physiotherapy), I no longer rely on computers for my work, like I did when I was a public servant, working for various Federal government departments in Canada (Parks Canada and then the Public Health Agency of Canada). Since my husband and I are in Germany, and most of our friends and family are still back in Canada, we rely on the computer to keep in contact with them, through email and through our family blog. But I can survive without the computer. I enjoy working and playing on my computer, but I can also live without it for short periods of time (up to about two weeks).
   
   
6. From tizzie: In a crisis, are you calm or do you panic?
   
   
   • It depends on the situation. If it's a crisis that I've been trained to handle or know how to handle, or a crisis situation that I've practice many, many times, I'm fairly calm. The adrenaline gets going, of course, but I'm still relatively calm. If it's a crisis that I have no idea how to handle, I panic.

Tags: memes, Monday Madness

Monday Madness

This week's Monday Madness Questions:

1. From: cassie:Dramas or comedies?
   
   It depends. I like well-written television shows and movies, whether they are comedy, drama, or some other genre. My all-time favourite t.v. show is a comedy (M*A*S*H), but most of the current shows I watch are drama (well, sci-fi drama: Stargate SG-1, Stargate: Atlantis, Battlestar Galactica, Smallville).
   
   
2. From: nutmegnine: Your neighbor has frequent noisy parties on nights before you need to get up early. Do you confront him directly, call the police, call your landlord, join in the debauchery, or seethe quietly and do nothing?
   
   I'd politely speak to the neighbour first. If that didn't accomplish anything, I would call the landlord, and if that didn't work, I'll eventually call the police.
   
   
3. From sherle: Are you more comfortable in big crowds or small groups?
   
   Another "it depends". If I'm at a party, or otherwise socializing, I prefer small groups. But when I'm teaching group fitness, or participating in some kind of event (like a marathon), I like big crowds, since they tend to have a lot of energy.
   
   
4. From zeno: Do you prefer Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox?
   
   Firefox all the way!
   
   
5. From briar: They say you learn something new every day. What new thing did you learn today?
   
   The names and locations of the bones in the skull and face (I'm studying anatomy and physiology at the moment)
   

Monday Madness

This week's Monday Madness Questions. This week's challenge comes from trista.

1. Name 10 things you would do if you had more time.
   
   
   1. Run more
   2. Strength train more often
      
   3. Attend other instructors' group fitness classes more often
      
   4. Study more
   5. Take more university courses (so I could finish my Masters degree sooner!)
      
   6. Start swimming again
   7. Take up crochet again
   8. Explore more of Munich
   9. Redesign my blog
   10. Get back into creating art and computer graphics
       

Monday Madness

First off, Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Canadians reading my blog. Now, onto this week's Monday Madness questions:

1. From amaranth: Name three people you would pick (and why) if you could choose who to be stranded on a deserted island with.
   
   
• My hubby, because we're deeply in love, and we enjoy spending time together. Plus, he's an engineering officer in the army, so he's a useful person to have around.
• My parents. That way my mom wouldn't worry about me, and my dad is a handy guy to have around.
  
  
2. From julie: What is your favorite genre of film and what is your favorite movie from that genre?
   
   
• Tough question! I don't really have a favourite genre. I like some sci-fi, some action/adventure, some fantasy, and some from other genres. My favourite movies of all time are the Original Star Wars trilogy (with The Empire Strikes Back being my favourite), the Indiana Jones trilogy (with Raiders of the Lost Ark as my favourite), The Lord of the Rings trilogy (no favourite, they are all good), Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Princess Bride
  
  
3. From tiffany: Which country would you like to visit and why?


• Egypt. I'm fascinated by ancient Egyptian history, and I would love to see the Pyramids, many of the old temples, especially Hatschepsut's temple, the treasures from King Tut's tomb at the Egyptian museum in Cairo, and other ancient Egyptian ruins and artifacts.
  


4. From wil: What are you driving these days? What's it's (their) good and bad points? Would you buy another one, and why or why not?


• We just bought a four door Smart car, and we hope to pick it up tonight, so we haven't actually driven it yet. We were basically looking for a small car, with good fuel economy, and the Smart has all that, but the four door isn't as tiny as the two-door Smart, so you can actually travel with it, and fit luggage in the back.
  


5. From cindy swanson: "Lost," "24," or both?


• Neither. Haven't gotten into either show. Our favourite shows right now are Smallville, Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, Battlestar Galactica (the new series), and the various Law & Orders. Unfortunately, we don't get any North American tv here in Germany, so we've had to buy the DVDs for the shows.
  


6. From lady starlight: You've been very good this year. What should Santa bring you for Christmas? (the sky is the limit)


• A horse, and all of the necessary horse supplies, tack, and other equipment to go along with the horse. It should be a well-trained horse, trained in hunter seat and dressage.
  

Monday Madness

This week's Monday Madness Questions

1. From amanda f: What do you do when someone compliments you
   
   a. Smile and say Thanks
   
   
2. From shelly: What color are your eyes?
   
   Hazel
   
   
3. From kia: What do you like most about yourself?
   
   The fact that I've overcome some pretty major obstacles in my life, including two chronic diseases, and I'm a stronger, happier person for it.
   
   
4. From julie: How do you spend Christmas?
   
   Christmas Eve we normally attend Mass at Church, then come home and open one present. Christmas morning we would open the rest of our presents and our stockings. Later that morning, when we were living in Ottawa, we would go over to either my parents' place or my sister's place, and open gifts with them. Then we would assemble at someone's place (usually my parents' or my sister's) and have Christmas dinner.
   
   Now that we are in Munich, with no family close at hand, my husband and I will probably simply celebrate Christmas quietly together.
   
   
5. From wide imagination: When do you normally blog? Day or night?
   
   Usually during the day. Of course the day here in Germany is not at the same time as the day back in North America. We are six hours ahead of Eastern Time here in Munich.
   
   
6. From rach:What song can you relate to your personal life? Share a line or two of that song.
   
   Hmmm, interesting question. Well, before I was married, it was definitely Only The Good Die Young, by Billy Joel, since I could have been Virginia in that song, the good, proper, Catholic girl, waiting for marriage:
   

   Come out Virginia, don't let me wait
   You Catholic girls start much too late
   aw But sooner or later it comes down to fate
   I might as well be the one

   These days. Hmmm, another Billy Joel song might suit, I Go To Extremes
   

   Darling I don't know why I go to extremes
   Too high or too low there ain't no in-betweens
   And if I stand or I fall
   It's all or nothing at all
   Darling I don't know why I go to extremes

   For my husband and I, our first dance at our wedding was yet another Billy Joel song, Just the way you are
   

   Don't go changing, to try and please me
   You never let me down before
   Don't imagine you're too familiar
   And I don't see you anymore
   I wouldn't leave you in times of trouble
   We never could have come this far
   I took the good times, I'll take the bad times
   I'll take you just the way you are
   

7. From sherle:What is your favorite color for a sleeping environment?
   
   Blue. Our sheets, bedspreads, and pillowcases are various shades of blue.
   

Monday Madness

This week's Monday Madness questions:

1. From jstar: Holiday in Europe or Asia?
   
   Europe. I'm living in Europe right now (Munich, Germany) and there is so much to see and do. There is so much history here (as compared to North America) it's just terrific. We've already done a lot of touristy things in and around Munich, but there's so much more we want to do and see.
   
   
2. From sherle: How do you try to change a behavior pattern you don't like about yourself... whether it's chewing fingernails, overeating, smoking, or picking your nose?
   
   Don't start in the first place. Honestly. I've never smoked, and I've eaten mostly healthy most of my life. I have to - fuel is food for my body. If I ate crap I wouldn't be able to exercise the way I want to.
   
   
3. From tricia: Have you ever successfully completed a Sudoku puzzle?
   
   I've never even started a Sudoku puzzle.
   
   
4. From caylynn: What website do you visit the most often?
   
   The Running Forums at Runango. I'm friends with a lot of women who post on that site, and we encourage and support each other in our running, and other exercise, endeavours.
   
   
5. From michael morgan: What was your favorite thing about high school or college?
   
   High School: being involved in so many different clubs and activities. School play, band, choir, library club, improv drama club, yearbook, environmental committee, writers' club. It was lots of fun.
   University: learning new things. I love learning. If I could, I would be a perpetual student, and simply get degree after degree. I love learning new things.
   

Monday Madness

This week's Monday Madness questions:

1. How do you eat an oreo cookie?
   
   Remove one of the chocolate cookie wafers, eat it, then eat the other wafer with the filling on it.
   Alternately, dip entire cookie in a cup of tea, and then eat the slightly soft cookie.
   
   
2. How long does it take you to eat lunch?
   
   15 minutes
   
   
3. Caffeine or decaf?
   
   Neither, I can't stand coffee! For tea, I'll drink either, with Diet Coke, it's always the fully caffeinated stuff.
   
   
4. Chicken or beef?
   
   Both, when I'm back home in Canada. Here in Germany, more chicken. Beef is harder to come by, and is more expensive.
   
   
5. Pen or pencil?
   
   Pencil, as long as it's a mechanical pencil. Otherwise, pen.
   
   
6. Autumn or spring?
   
   Both are my favourite seasons, because the weather is perfect for running - not too hot, not too cold. But I'd say Autumn has the slight edge, since the footing can often be very muddy/mucky in Spring.
   
   
7. Baseball or basketball?
   
   Baseball. Although I haven't watched much since the Toronto Blue Jays won back-to-back World Series.
   My sport of choice is Hockey.
   
   
8. 'Survivor' or 'The Amazing Race?'
   
   Neither. I can't stand "reality television". I just don't get it. It holds absolutely no appeal to me.
   
   
9. Come up with one question I can ask our Monday Madness participants in the weeks to come.
   
   What website do you visit the most often?
   

Monday Madness

Questions from Monday Madness this week:

1. How long have you been blogging?
   
   Not long. I just started blogging when we moved to Munich, Germany, this past summer, as a way of letting all our friends and family back home know what we were doing. I started with the Mills in Munich blog, which describes our adventures in Germany, and then started this blog as my personal running log, which has quickly evolved into talking about more than just running.
   
   
2. How many times have you taken a break from blogging?
   
   Since I'm new to blogging, I haven't taken any breaks yet!
   
   
3. How long is the longest you've gone, so far, without posting on your blog?
   
   Again, since this is new to me, only a day or so so far.
   
   
4. How many fellow bloggers do you keep in touch with, through your blogs, on a regular basis?
   
   I haven't met anyone through blogging yet that I keep in touch with. I am a regular poster on a couple of forums, especially the Runango Women's Forum, and I keep in touch with the ladies there on a daily basis.
   
   
5. Have you ever met, in person, a blogger on your blogroll?
   
   Only the women that have blogs, whom I have also met at FEs (Forum Encounters) through the abovementioned running forum. Forum Encounters usually happen at races, when a bunch of us get together before a race that a group of us are running.
   
   
6. How often do you update/change the 'extra' stuff on your blog?
   
   Since my blog is new, I've been experimenting and playing around with it, so it's been changing on a regular basis. Once I've settled on something that I like, it will probably be changed every few months.
   
   
7. Do you think you'll be blogging for years to come?
   
   I think so. At least for the next three years (while we're in Munich) since it's a good way of keeping in touch with all our friends and family back home.