Friday's Feast

Feast One Hundred & Thirty Two

Appetizer
Where on your body do you have a scar, and what caused it?

• I have two scars in my bellybutton (along with three other scars on my abdomen) as a result of two laparoscopies for endometriosis. Sadly, this chronic disease has no cure, and I have periodically needed surgery to help control the pain.
  

Soup
What is something that has happened to you that you would consider a miracle?

• I can't think of anything that I was truly consider a miracle. I have experienced some good fortune where I was clearly blessed, starting with my birth, but nothing that I would consider miraculous. My birth mother was a 16 year old Catholic, and fortunately for me, she did not abort me, but carried me to term as gave me up for adoption after I was born. If not for that, I wouldn't be here. But I consider that a blessing, not a miracle.
  

Salad
Name a television personality who really gets on your nerves.

• I don't watch a lot of "regular" television. There are only four shows my husband and I don't miss: Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, Battlestar Galactica (the new series) and Smallville. Otherwise, I mostly watch Discovery, Discovery Civilization, National Geographic, and the History Channel. So I'm not familiar with television personalities.
  

Main Course
What was a funny word you said as a child (such as "pasketti" for "spaghetti")?

• I'm sure there were some, but I don't remember any!
  

Dessert
Fill in the blank: I have always thought ______ was ______.

• I have always thought reading was fun.
  

Tags: Friday's Feast, memes

Friday's Feast

Feast One Hundred & Thirty One

Sorry I haven't feasted in a while! My husband and I are training for the Vienna Marathon on April 29th, and we've been doing our long runs on Fridays, which makes Friday a very busy day! This week our long run is shorter (only 13 miles - just over 20km) so I have some time to participate.

Appetizer
What sound, other than the normal ringing, would you like your telephone to make?

• A cat purring would make a nice ring tone!
  

Soup
Describe your usual disposition in meteorological terms (partly cloudy, sunny, stormy, etc.).

• Mostly sunny with occasional clouds
  

Salad
What specific subject do you feel you know better than any other subjects?

• Fitness and Exercise Science. I'm a certified group fitness (aerobics) instructor, a certified Resist-A-Ball (stability ball) instructor, I have an undergraduate degree in Biological Engineering, and I'm working towards a Masters degree in Physiotherapy. So I feel I have a good understanding of the human body and its response to exercise, and how to appropriately design and deliver and effective fitness class.
  

Main Course
Imagine you were given the ability to remember everything you read for one entire day. Which books/magazines/newspapers would you choose to read?

• I would read all of my textbooks! As I said above, I'm working on a Masters degree in Physiotherapy, so there is a lot to know. The human body is very complicated. I'd start with my anatomy and physiology textbooks (anatomy in particular is a lot of memory work) then move on to my biomechanics and exercise science textbooks as well as some of the more specialized texts. I'd also try to read as many Physiotherapy and Physical Therapy journals as possible.
  

Dessert
If a popular candy maker contacted you to create their next confection, what would it be like and what would you name it?

• I'd love to have a low fat chocolate bar. Although it sounds like an oxymoron, a few years back Hersey did make some lower-fat chocolate treats (called Sweet Escapes), but I guess they weren't very popular since they didn't stick around. I'd love to create a product like that. A name? Hmm, maybe Guilt-Free Pleasures?
  

Tags: Friday's Feast

Friday's Feast

Feast One Hundred & Twenty Six

Appetizer
What comes to mind when you see the color orange?

• Orange juice
  

Soup
Did you ever get in trouble while you were in school? If so, what was it for?

• No, I was very much the "proper Catholic girl" (I went to Catholic schools my entire life), a "goody-two-shoes", and a straight-A student. I was also involved in so many extra-curricular activities that I didn't have time to get in trouble!
  

Salad
Which topping(s) make up your perfect pizza?

• My perfect pizza consists of a whole wheat crust, topped with pizza sauce (naturally), double mushrooms, baby shrimp, and low-fat mozzarella cheese.
  

Main Course
Do you believe in UFOs/aliens/etc.? Why or why not?

• I don't believe in UFOs, nor do I believe that aliens have visited the Earth. Why? Because there are logical explanations for every UFO ever reported and there is no evidence that we have ever been visited by aliens.
  
• I do, however, believe that there is life out there in the universe. The universe is so vast that I think it would be rather arrogant of us to assume that the Earth is the only planet that supports life.
  

Dessert
What color is your bedspread/comforter/quilt?

• A patchwork of different shades of blue
  

Tags: Friday's Feast

Friday's Feast

Feast One Hundred & Twenty Three

Appetizer
What is one of your Christmas traditions?

• Going to Mass on Christmas Eve, then coming home and opening one gift. This is related to the French Canadian tradition of Réveillon, which I discussed in a previous Friday's Feast.
  

Soup
Who is the easiest person on your list to buy presents for?

• My husband. He collects comic books, so I can always buy him something off his want list, since I know what he's looking for, and what faults in a comic book he considers acceptable and unacceptable. This year I'll be giving him four comic books. It's fun to search for, and find, old comics.
  

Salad
What is your favorite Christmas scent?

• I don't know that I have a favourite scent. We've never had a real tree, because my sister is severely allergic to them, and if she spends any amount of time in a home that has a real tree, she has a severe asthma attack - one time she had to be taken to the hospital because she couldn't breathe!
  
• The smell of turkey roasting in the oven is always nice, as is the smell of bread or baked goods baking, but I don't necessarily associate either one just with Christmas.
  

Main Course
If you could give a fellow blogger a Christmas gift, who would it be and what would you give them?

• It's impossible to choose just one person. So my Christmas wish is for all my blogging friends and their families to be happy and healthy in the coming year.
  

Dessert
What's something on your Christmas wish list this year that you need (not just want)?

• I don't think there's anything on my list that I truly need. Some of the items are practical (supportive sports bra, running clothes) but I already have at least one of each, it's just handy to have more (and the old stuff will eventually wear out).

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all those celebrating! Fröhliche Weihnachten! Joyeux Nöel!

Tags: memes, Friday's Feast, holidays, Christmas, traditions

Friday's Feast

Feast One Hundred & Twenty Two

Appetizer
What was your very first job with a paycheck?

• A page at the local public library (a page reshelves books)
  

Soup
Did you ever lose something really important to you?

• The most important thing I've ever lost is my iron ring (graduates of an engineering program at a Canadian university can participate in the iron ring ceremony, where you receive an iron ring.) Fortunately, you can obtain a replacement for a small fee from an iron ring "camp" and these camps are in most of the cities where there are universities with engineering programs. You can read more about the iron ring ceremony here.
  

Salad
What is the best Christmas present you ever received?

• It's hard to choose just one. So I'll go with the best present that was also the biggest surprise. The first year that we were living together in our own place, my husband bought me a beautiful black leather jacket from Eddie Bauer. It is absolutely gorgeous, and it was a huge surprise.
  

Main Course
Tell about a favorite "hang out" place for you and your friends when you were in high school.

• One of our friends was an only child, and the basement in his parents' house was entirely his. He had a great stereo system down there, a fridge, and plenty of comfortable places to sit. So we hung out there a lot.
  

Dessert
Name something that always brings a smile to your face.

• My husband's smile.

Tags: Friday's Feast, memes

Friday's Feast

Feast One Hundred & Twenty One

Appetizer
Which language would you like to learn and why?

• There's no language in particular that I would like to learn (I currently speak English, French and German), but I would like to improve my German. It's sad, but since we moved to Germany this summer, my German has actually declined, since I'm no longer studying German 7 hours a day, 5 days a week! Most of the German I use in everyday life is limited to rather narrow topics (shopping, horseback riding, etc.) so I'm actually using less German than I was back in Canada when my husband and I were on full time language training.
  

Soup
What's the funniest thing you've heard or read so far this week?

• Darla's round up of funny holiday sites at Nichtszusagen. Hilarious! I really enjoyed "The Star Wars Christmas Album"
  

Salad
Which movie was so bad you couldn't watch the whole thing?

• Moulin Rouge. My husband and I rented it, and we just couldn't get through it. I know many people really enjoyed this movie, and I normally enjoy musicals, but not this one!
  

Main Course
If there were a holiday in your honor that didn't use your actual name, what would the day be called?

• Workout Wednesday. Everyone would be given time off of work or school to exercise on Workout Wednesday!
  

Dessert
Name one movie which is coming out soon that you would like to see.

• Spiderman 3. Okay, so it's not coming out until May 2007, but I am looking forward to it. The first two Spiderman movies were great, and I have high hopes for the third movie in the installment.
  

Tags: Friday's Feast, memes

Friday's Feast

Feast One Hundred & Twenty

Appetizer
Have you ever flown in a helicopter?

• Yes. A few years ago, my husband and I were in Maui, for the wedding of a friend. We took a helicopter tour of the island with Blue Hawaiian. It was amazing. We saw rainforest, cliffs, and waterfalls, including Hawaii's tallest waterfall. An unforgettable experience.
  

Soup
What color is your warmest coat or jacket?

• Forest Green. I have a warm, down parka from Eddie Bauer in Forest Green.
  

Salad
What is your favorite rainy day activity?

• It depends. If it's the weekend, curling up on the couch with my husband, and reading or watching TV together. If he's working, then curling up with our kitten on my lap, and reading, or playing a computer game (like Civilization IV or Caesar IV).
  

Main Course
Describe your hands.

• I have rather short, stubby fingers. In fact, I had to give up playing piano when I reached 2nd grade in the Royal Conservatory of Music, because I cannot reach an octave. It also means that small, dainty rings look best on my fingers. Large rings just look odd. On my right hand I wear my iron ring, from graduating from an engineering program at a Canadian university, on my pinkie, and a beautiful dual-tone gold diamond ring on my ring finger. On my left hand, on my ring finger, you'll find my engagement ring and wedding ring. I keep my fingernails short, and I normally don't wear nailpolish. My thumbs don't match. My right thumb is squat and stubby, shorter and fatter than my left thumb. My left thumb is longer and thinner.
  

Dessert
If you could eat only one nut for the rest of your life, what nut would you pick?

• I typically don't eat nuts. I don't like them. I do like peanut butter, but only smooth peanut butter. I just don't like the texture of nuts, or of bits of peanut in my peanut butter. But if the peanut butter is smooth, I enjoy the flavour.
  

Tags: memes, Friday's Feast

Friday's Feast

Feast One Hundred & Nineteen

Appetizer
Have you ever changed a flat tire by yourself?

• No. That's why I've always been a member of CAA (Canadian Automobile Association). If something goes wrong with the car, like a flat tire, I can call them, and they'll help out.
  

Soup
Do you have an "innie" or an "outie" belly button?

• Innie
  

Salad
Name a new paint color and describe it.

• Siamese blue. This blue is bright and vibrant, the colour of a Siamese cat's eyes, like the eyes on my dearly departed Whiskers (to the right)
  

Main Course
What is your favorite holiday tradition?

• Both of my parents are French-Canadian (although they are from Manitoba, not Québec), and my favourite holiday tradition has always been the Réveillon. This consists of attending Mass on Christmas Eve (Midnight Mass is typical, but when we were younger we would go to an earlier Mass), then coming home and having a small meal (tourtière would be served) and opening one gift. Tourtière is a meat pie, typically made with ground veal, beef and pork. My mother's tourtière, made entirely from scratch, is delicious. She makes everything, including the crust, by hand.
  
• More details on Réveillon and tourtière can be found at these sites:
  
  • Réveillon
  • Allrecipes: French Canadian Tourtière
  • History of Tourtière
    

Dessert
If you were a cookie, what kind of cookie would you be, and why?

• Protein Power Cookies, because they are healthy with just a touch of sweetness. So they are like me - eating healthy most of the time, but not afraid to indulge every now and again.
  
  Protein Power Cookies:
  
  1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour
  1 cup whey protein powder (I like Designer Whey vanilla)
  1 tsp baking powder
  1 tsp baking soda
  1/2 tsp salt
  1 cup unsweetened applesauce
  1 cup Splenda (or sugar if you don't like Splenda)
  2 eggs (or equivalent egg substitute)
  1/4 cup skim milk
  1 tblsp vanilla extract
  2 1/2 cups oats (old fashioned)
  1 cup chocolate chips (unsweetened or semi-sweet)
  
  Preheat your oven to 350°F. Toast the oats for about 15 minutes. Leave your oven on at 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone liners.
  
  In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, protein powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
  
  Cream together the applesauce and the Splenda. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Combine the milk and vanilla, and add to the applesauce mixture.
  
  Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture in two or three additions, stirring to combine. Stir in the oats. Mix in the chocolate chips.
  
  Using a cookie scoop or ice cream scoop, drop balls of dough (slightly smaller than a ping pong ball) onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about an inch between them. Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes; remove them from the oven when they've started to brown around the edges.
  
  Let the cookies cool for a few minutes, then transfer them to a rack to cool completely.
  
  Yield: about 5 1/2 dozen cookies.
  

While you're here, please take a moment to visit my Tenant, Ghost Works. Thanks!

Come join the Feast

Tags: memes, Friday's Feast, recipe, Protein Power Cookies

Friday's Feast

Feast One Hundred & Eighteen

Appetizer
Do you believe there is intelligent life on other planets?

• Yes I do. The universe is so vast, that I feel there is life, somewhere out there in the universe. And, if the most popular cosmological model today is actually true, then we all have a twin in a galaxy so far away that it is hard to imagine. Check out the Scientific American article Parallel Universes (parallel universes aren't just science fiction!)
  

Soup
What is one thing you said you'd never do, but you eventually did?

• Skydiving. I'm so glad I did it - it was an incredible experience! We went with Skydive Gananoque and did a tandem jump, which meant I was strapped on to an experienced instructor, who handled all the details of the jump. I didn't have to worry about anything! We even had a video taken of my jump. I didn't enjoy freefall (I thought I was going to be sick throughout the freefall) but once the parachute opened and we were under canopy, it was an incredible experience. It is so quiet and peaceful up there, and seeing the landscape around me from up in the air was just amazing.
  

Salad
Who is the teacher that influenced you the most in school?

• Mr. Durnin, at St. Pius X High School, in Ottawa, Ontario. He was the teacher in charge of the gifted programme when I was in grades 10 through 12. He was a great teacher, who challenged us, and he was also kind, caring, and compassionate.
  

Main Course
If you could trade places with anyone for one day, who would it be and why?

• One of the astronauts on the International Space Station. I would love to travel to space and see what the Earth looks like from up there. I also think it would be an incredible experience.
  

Dessert
What is your favorite dish to prepare?

• Chili
  
  Ingredients:
  1-2 tsp olive oil
  2 bell peppers (red, yellow or green), diced (optional)
  1 medium onion, chopped
  1 clove garlic, minced (or use pre-minced garlic from a jar)
  12 ounces extra lean ground sirloin (or ground beef) (optional)
  1 tblspoon chili powder (or more to taste)
  1 tsp ground cumin
  1 14-ounce can of diced tomatoes (no sugar added)
  1 15-ounce can of black beans, rinsed and drained
  1 15-ounce can of kidney beans, rinsed and drained
  1 15-ounce can tomato sauce (no sugar added)
  
  Directions:
  Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add peppers, onion, garlic and cook until they soften. Add ground sirloin. Cook thoroughly until there is no pink left. Add remaining ingredients. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  
  Top with grated low-fat cheese if desired (Monteray Jack or Mozerella work well) and serve with sourdough bread.
  

Tags: memes, Friday's Feast

Friday's Feast

Feast One Hundred & Seventeen

Appetizer
Create a new candle scent.

• Gatorade Marathon Scent - guaranteed to energize you before that big race!

Soup
Name one way you show affection to others.

• Hugging

Salad
What is your favorite writing instrument?

• A nice, thick ball-point pen, or mechanical pencil, like the Papermate PhD or the Pilot Dr. Grip

Main Course
If you were given $25 to spend anywhere online, from which site would you buy?

• $25 isn't a lot of money (it can't buy me a pair of running shoes, or a computer game, for instance), so I'd have to go with Amazon.co.uk. They ship to Germany and (obviously, being a UK site ) carry English books.
  

Dessert
Are you dressing up for Halloween? If so, what are you going to be?

• I'm not yet sure if we'll be dressing up. Hallowe'en traditionally isn't celebrated in Germany, although we've been told it is slowly catching on here in Munich. I'll have to check with our neighbours to see if we can expect any trick-or-treaters. If we can expect some, I'll probably dress up as a Jaffa from Stargate SG-1.
  

Come join the feast.

Tags: Friday's Feast, memes

Friday's Feast

Feast One Hundred & Sixteen

Appetizer
What is your favorite beverage?

• non-alcoholic: Diet Coke
• post-run: Booster Juice High Impact Açai Smoothie - I miss these so much here in Munich. Back in Ottawa, we would end all of our long runs at Booster Juice, and then have a delicious smoothie as we walked home (about 1.5 miles) for our cooldown.
• alcoholic: a good beer, like Sleeman's (in Canada), Upper Canada (in Canada), Paulaner Helles (in Munich), or Paulaner Oktoberfest (in Munich)
  

Soup
Name 3 things that are on your computer desk at home or work.

• pen, post-it notes, something to drink (typically water or Diet Coke)
  

Salad
On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being highest), how honest do you think you are?

• around 8-9. I try to be an honest as possible, but I'm not above telling a little white lie to avoid insulting people or to keep the peace. Or when discussing Christmas or birthday presents, or other surprises!
  

Main Course
If you could change the name of one city in the world, what would you rename it and why?

• Interesting question! I can't really think of any city that I'd want to rename, since so much of the history of a city is often tied to its name. Yes, there are some names that are hard to pronounce, or confusing, but they often give the place character.
  

Dessert
What stresses you out? What calms you down?

• stresses me out? People who are sick and who come into work, spreading their germs, when every job I've ever worked at (Canadian Federal government) has very, very good sick leave policies, so you're not losing pay or being penalized for taking sick leave.
• calms me down? Spending time with my hubby, going for a run, or curling up with a good book.
  

Friday's Feast

Feast One Hundred & Fourteen

Appetizer
Name a song you know by heart.

• There are so many! Many songs from Church choir, many Billy Joel songs, almost all the songs from South Pacific, many of the songs from The Sound of Music, many The Guess Who songs, many songs from other classic rock artists, some of Madonna's songs. Yes, an eclectic mix.
  

Soup
What will you absolutely not do in front of another person?

• It depends on the person. I can't think of anything I wouldn't, and haven't done in front of my husband. As for anyone other than my husband, well, I wouldn't go to the washroom, or be intimite with my husband, in front of anyone else.
  

Salad
How often do you use mouthwash and what kind do you like?

• I use mouthwash once or twice a week. When we were in Canada, I liked Scope. Now that we're in Germany, I haven't really found a brand that I like yet.
  

Main Course
Finish this sentence: I am embarrassed when...

• I call a friend by the wrong name; forget an important date; or when I fervently defend a point and quickly realize, as I'm defending it, that my argument has absolutely no validity at all or that I'm talking in circles.
  

Dessert
What was the last food you craved?

• Pizza. Sometime last week I had a craving for pizza, so we ordered some. Ham, double mushrooms, easy on the cheese.

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Friday's Feast

Feast One Hundred & Thirteen

Appetizer
What is your favorite herb or spice?

• Garlic
• Cinnamon
  

Soup
Name a song you like but haven't heard in a long time.

• Sunglasses at Night, by Corey Hart
  

Salad
If you were to take just one minute to write down as many things as you can think of that you need (not want) to do, approximately how many things would there be?

need to do? let's see:

• go to the grocery store
• return bottles and get deposit back (you return practically all bottles here in Germany - pop bottles, juice bottles, water bottles, beer bottles, etc.)
  
• go for my 3 easy mile recovery run
• make a bakery run, to buy today's bread
• put on a load of laundry
  
• fold up and put away the clothes that are now dry
• dust
• Swiffer the floors
  
• should start looking at a bike, for commuting
• should buy a Dirndl (traditional Bavarian dress) for my niece, so hubby can bring it to Canada when he travels next month on business (it will be a Christmas gift for her)
  

Main Course
Tell something interesting about one of your family members (nothing scandalous, please, just something unique).

• Unique? Well, my father worked for many years in Saudi Arabia, with the International Civil Aviation Association, through the U.N., helping them to develop their Crash Fire Safety program for airports. My mom, sister, and I visited him twice. We had to have special permission to enter the country (since it is normally closed to all except Muslims). My father lived in a walled compound, along with other Westerners who were working in Saudi Arabia (Brits, Americans, Australians, Europeans, etc.) and while we were on the compound we could live and dress normally. Outside the compound, though, we had to wear a black habaya, be accompanied by a man, and have our arms and legs fully covered. It was quite the experience.
  

Dessert
What's the latest you've ever stayed awake?

• All night. One time, on a weekend during our first year of university, a group of friends and I took a trip to Montreal (about 2 hours drive from Ottawa) and stayed up all night.
  

Friday's Feast

Feast One Hundred & Twelve

Appetizer
Measured in minutes or hours, how much exercise have you had in the last week?

Last Friday: Running (Speedwork): 1:22:50
Saturday: rest day
Sunday: 10 mile run: 2:04:44 (I'm a slow runner)
Monday: 1 hour Pilates class, 55:21 run, 30 minutes strength training
Tuesday: running 1:02:25
Wednesday: 1 hour BodyArt class, 1 hour Step class, 15 minutes strength training
Thursday: Running (Speedwork): 1:06:26

So, 3 hours group fitness, 45 minutes strength training, 8 hours 1 minute and 46 seconds running

Today will be half an hour riding, plus a 5 mile run (about an hour running)

Soup
If you had to change your blog title to something else, what would it be?

Fantasies and Delusions

Salad
Name one television show you watched when you were 9-12 years old.

The Facts of Life

Main Course
If someone gave you $50 to spend with the one condition that it had to be educational, what would you purchase?

Some German books. My German is pretty good, but I want to improve it, especially my spoken German.

Dessert
Do you tend to prefer dark colors, neutral shades, or lighter/pastel hues?

To wear? Neutral shades.

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Friday's Feast

Feast One Hundred & Eleven

Appetizer
What was the very last song you listened to?

• "Hung Up" by Madonna (on my MP3 player as I was running)
  

Soup
What is one company/store/corporation you would recommend that people stay away from?

• Walmart. Small, local stores can't compete with them, and they supposedly don't treat their employees very well. Plus, it's always so crowded in there, and the parking lot is a zoo! For me, it's much easier and more pleasant to shop elsewhere.
  

Salad
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how much do you enjoy having your picture made?

• It depends on the situation. If it's a planned photo, and I have my hair and makeup done, then an 8 or 9. If it's just a photo out of the blue, then 5 or 6. Official photos, like passport photos, since you can no longer smile, about a 1 or 2. I don't look good with a non-smiling face.

Main Course
Besides a bookmark, what is something you've used to keep your place in a book?

• old receipts, tags off of clothing, cue cards, used U-Bahn/S-Bahn tickets, scraps of paper, sticky notes. I read a lot, so I use anything that is lying around, if I don't have a bookmark in the book.
  

Dessert
Name a food that you like that most people don't

• Hmm, I'm a picky eater so it's hard to say. I guess some of the more gamey meats, like Buffalo and Moose.
  

Friday's Feast

Appetizer
Name 3 things that you are wearing today.

• 2CER (Combat Engineer Regiment) T-Shirt (one of hubby's old unit tees)
• navy shorts
• glasses (will get replaced by contacts when I go for my run)
  

Soup
Who was the last person you hugged?

• Hubby

Salad
What do you like to order from your favorite fast food place?

• Pizza, from our local pizza restaurant, just around the corner
  

Main Course
What time of day do you usually feel most energized?

• Just before noon - that's usually when I head out for a run
  

Dessert
Using the letters in your first name, write a sentence.

• Cats And Yaks Love Your Nice Nest
  
• Can All Yellow Llamas Yell Nicely Now?