A – Age: 31 (and two-thirds)

B – Bed Size: Queen, for now.

C – Chore You Dislike: Dishes (handwashing).

D – Dogs: Tika, my beautiful redhead. She has recently decided that lying at the head of the bed with her butt in my face is the most preferable sleeping position.

E – Essential Start to Your Day: Eggs, which also starts with the letter E. I have three eggs every morning for breakfast. They are free-range, Omega3 eggs from happy chickens.

F – Favorite Color: Green, I think, but maybe I am just anxious for spring.

G – Gold or Silver: Both! I guess gold if I really have to choose. I used to think it looked tacky and gaudy, now I am fond of it.

H – Height: 5’10″

I – Instruments You Play(ed): None well. I used to tink away on dad’s piano, and he has tried to teach every one of three kids how to play – though none of us do. I have a ukulele I can play a few chords on, and a violin I can scrape out the scales on.

J – Job Title: Network Administrator

K – Kids: Have one, want more.

L – Live: Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada (eh?). It’s nice here. I can see myself moving for better work opportunities or for a lifestyle change, but I think I’ll stay in the Maritimes if at all possible.

M – Mom’s Name: Carole

N – Nicknames: Does mom/mummy/mother count? I guess at one time I was named “the turkey lady” for my fabulous turkey dinner, but that was a very specific crowd. Someone also calls me “Misty”, or more properly “Miss T”.

O – Overnight Hospital Stays: Lots. I had two major operations when I was a kid. First they took out one of my kidneys (never fully formed in the womb, became problematic later), then about a year later they did some more work on my plumbing. I also had an infection in my teens that had me hooked up to IV for a few days, and of course childbirth.

P – Pet Peeves: I get peeved at people who park poorly or illegally.

Q – Quote from a Movie: “Now I may not have much, but I have more determination then any man you’re ever likely to meet.” from Big Fish.

R – Righty or Lefty: Lefty!

S – Siblings: A younger brother (Warren) and sister (Becky).

T – Time You Wake Up: Six AM every weekday in the winter, which will probably change to five-thirty in the summer so I can take the dog out in the morning. I snooze until seven on Saturday, and Sunday varies but I usually can’t stay in bed later than eight.

U – Underwear: Yes I wear it, and in every style and color imaginable.

V – Veggies You Don’t Like: Turnip/Rutabaga.

W – What Makes You Run Late: Lack of tupperware when I pack my lunch, garbage day, an empty gas tank, the dog having to go out twice in the morning, and sometimes a complete lack of motivation to get out of bed.

X – X-Rays You’ve Had: Oh I’m sure I’ve had some for my operation(s), and possibly one other time when I may have broken something (I didn’t), but I can’t remember the details.

Y – Yummy Food You Make: Pretty much everything. My guacamole is always a hit, as are the various Chinese and Szechuan dishes I make. Sausage and peppers is always popular, and Jon frequently requests my “best chicken ever”. I also think I make the best turkey dinner in the world.

Z – Zoo Animal Favorites: Tigers! I think I spent two whole hours watching baby tigers at the Mirage in Las Vegas. I took some video:

2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don’t like New Years resolutions so I didn’t make any last year. I will make many resolutions in 2011, but I will make them all year long.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thank goodness, no.

5. What countries/states did you visit?
I didn’t even leave New Brunswick this year. Ugh.

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
A bedroom.

7. What dates/events from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
So many, especially the last half of the year. November 21st was a very good day. <3

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Jasmin’s bedroom reno.

9. What was your biggest failure?
I failed to put as much money into savings as I had hoped/planned.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Always with the stomach problems, but I don’t seem to get sick otherwise.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
I bought a piece of art in the spring I rather fancy, and a table for my hallway. They were both indulgent purchases.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My daughter for being giving and thoughtful, funny and brilliant. My friends for being there when my life rolls towards the dramatic. My coworkers for letting me show up for work ten minutes late almost every morning.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The administration at my workplace, for their apparent disregard of good employees and/or ignorance of their hard work. Also the Catholic church.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Just bills.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The Airbender movie (disappointment).

16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
And So It Goes – Billy Joel

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier
b) thinner or fatter? Thinner
c) richer or poorer? About the same
TWO OUT OF THREE AIN’T BAD!

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Dancing, swimming, hiking, camping.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Pouting, brooding, fretting.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
Surrounded by my family and people I love. Oh and opening lots of pressies, I LOVE pressies!

21. Which internet people did you meet this year?
Too many Twitter people to count thanks to the Fredericton tweetups. Also some fellow bloggers.

22. Did you fall in love in 2010?
Twice.

23. How many one-night stands?
None. Ick.

24. What was your favourite TV program?
The Walking Dead

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I can think of one that I have no more time for, but hate is an awfully strong emotion.

26. What was the best book you read?
The Lions of Al Rassan – thanks Mister!

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Amy Annelle

28. What did you want and get?
A lot of things actually – I’m very blessed.

29. What did you want and not get?
A million dollars.

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Probably Red, though the Expendables was also really good.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I don’t remember what I did. I turned 31.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Financial stability.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
I’ve spent a good part of 2010 defining my personal style actually, and I’m very happy with where it is going. I would describe it as “class” – both classy and classic.

34. What kept you sane?
Peter.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Jason Statham – and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The most? I’ve just spent twenty minutes brooding over this and can’t decide. Locally I was really fired up about the attempted sale of NB Power. Nationally I am disappointed in the decline of our Canadian identity abroad as well as the protection of our natural resources. Internationally I was moved by the natural disasters all over the world, and not just Haiti which seemed to get all of the attention.

37. Who did you miss?
Nana.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know many excellent people this year. I think in many ways I’ve also rediscovered myself.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
The registration for your vehicle has an expiry DATE, not just a month. Don’t go by the stickers on your license plate, look for the date on your registration card. Also, fuck the police.

40.Do odd numbers make you uncomfortable?
Yes, very much so. Who makes a meme with 39 questions anyway?

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping paper. Gift bags are a shallow cop-out used by soulless people who have forgotten the joy of ripping open a carefully (or not) wrapped package.

2. Real tree or artificial?
Real, and I think I’m getting it today!

3. When do you put up the tree?
Whenever I have time. Usually the second or third weekend of December.

4. When do you take the tree down?
I tend to start disassembling the tree and decorations the day after boxing day, but I don’t do it that way for any superstitious reasons.

5. Do you like eggnog?
*Glug*

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
So many gifts of my youth were awesome. My cabbage patch dolls, popples, and science kits. *sigh* One of the most memorable was a purse my aunt sent me – it was made from a dried toad (basically just an empty dried toad with a zipper in the center of the belly).

7. Hardest person to buy for?
Dad.

8. Easiest person to buy for?
The kiddo! I can basically just buy all the awesome stuff that my inner child wants to have and give it to her!

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
No, but this made me think of my Nana and her over-the-top Christmas decorating. I miss her so much.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
I haven’t been in the habit of sending cards. I really should pull up my big girl panties and send some.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
I love just about any gift I’ve ever received. I had an aunt that used to just tear pages out of magazines all year and wrap them up and give them for Christmas and I thought that was AWESOME. However a few years ago I received a gift from my significant other of four years. It…triggered something. It was so NOT me. Something that nobody that knew me would think I would like, but he thought I would love it. That’s when I knew I wasn’t understood, or that the person he saw me as was who he wanted me to be, and not who I really was. It was the beginning of the end.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Die Hard. It’s a tradition with me and Jas now to watch it every year on Christmas Eve.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Mentally in August, but the gifts never seem to actually get purchased until the last few weeks before Christmas.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Regifted? No.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
My mom’s tortiere.

16. Lights on the tree?
Uh, yes? I go with all-white on the main tree. Sometimes I do another tree in the porch with coloured lights.

17. Favorite Christmas song?
Anything Tchaicovsky.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Both! I like to be in my own home with the kiddo on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but out and about the rest of the time. Not much traveling happening this year, just to Saint John for Boxing Day with the family I think.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen. Nailed it!

20. Angel on the tree-top or a star?
A star.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
One present Christmas Eve, the rest on Christmas morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
Parking at the mall. Sometimes I will take the bus or a taxi just to avoid the parking.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
My main tree is done in a theme of blue, silver, and white. Last year I bought a bunch of tiny white birds that clip onto the branches of the tree and I am really smitten with them.

24. Favorite food for Christmas dinner?
Traditional turkey, stuffing, potatoes, gravy, etc.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
Different things from different people. You’ll either have to ask me or surprise me.

2. A dangerous situation is happening and you spot an animal trapped, probably too afraid to get to safety. It could be a raging flood or crumbling cliffs and the animal could be a dog or cat – or perhaps your own family pet. Would you make an attempt to save them?
Absolutely, without a second thought.

3. Even if you would or would not make an attempt, let’s say you somehow get to the poor animal but circumstances change and you can’t get back to safety. Maybe in the raging flood, you walked on something that finally broke free. Maybe the steps you used upon the crumbling cliffs had given way. Help has finally arrived in the form of a helicopter but they say they will only take you to safety and you must leave the animal behind. Would you or would you not?
I would fight and argue and beg and persuade until the very last second. I would do as much as humanly possible, but in the end I would have to keep myself safe.

4. There have been situations where people have tried to rescue dogs and cats but got stuck themselves. Do you think the rescue officials have the right to sue people who decided to help but ended up getting stuck themselves?
Tough call. I don’t think we should sue or charge people for trying to do the right thing but failing at it.

5. The questions were to make you think about the value of an animal’s life. Did it help you rethink a few things or did it just help you hash out what you already feel?
Nothing here surprised me, I’m pretty firm in my beliefs.

1. What were your three favorite songs ten years ago?
Ten years ago I think I was still very much into the “alternative” genre. Some of my friends at the time were moving into punk but that wasn’t my style. As for songs I could only guess:
- Got the Life by Korn
- Killing in the Name Of by Rage Against the Machine
- Street Spirit by Radiohead

2. What songs or groups from ten years ago did you love then, but don’t like anymore?
The afore-mentioned punk. Anything by Marilyn Manson. Well I never really loved Marilyn Manson; I hesitantly accepted it and ditched it as soon as I could.

3. What songs from ten years ago did you love then, still love now, but haven’t heard in a long time?
Probably the stuff by Smashing Pumpkins. They had an album of b-side material that came out before they went really big and there were some songs from that and Siamese Dream that I loved. I should really go find it again.

4. What songs or groups from ten years ago did you not like then, but do like now?
I can’t think of any.

5. How has your taste in music changed in the last ten years?
I think like many people after high school, music has stopped being a “really big deal”. I stopped taking it so seriously and am just content to like what I like. I’ve even found country music that doesn’t suck. I don’t know what my nineteen-year-old self would think about that.

You are…The Peach

Random Gentle Love Master (RGLM)

Playful, kind, and well-loved, you are The Peach.

For such a warm-hearted, generous person, you’re surprisingly experienced in both love and sex. We credit your spontaneous side; you tend to live in the moment, and you don’t get bogged down by inhibitions like most women your age. If you see something wonderful, you confidently embrace it.

You are a fun flirt and an instant sweetheart, but our guess is you’re becoming more selective about long-term love. It’s getting tougher for you to become permanently attached; and a guy who’s in a different place emotionally might misunderstand your early enthusiasm. You can wreck someone simply by enjoying him.

Your ideal mate is adventurous and giving, like you. But not overly intense.

I could only have been happier if they had a result titled “eater of worlds”, but this will do nicely.

You can take the test here.

1) What is your favorite mode of travel? (Car, train, plane, etc). Boat. Any kind of boat is fine, but I have a particular soft spot for any boat without a motor.

2) Where is the northernmost place you’ve traveled? The southernmost? I probably live in the northernmost place I’ve ever been. Canada, eh? The southernmost was probably Florida.

3) What is the last place you visited for the first time? Quebec City, which would have been in February of 2009. I loved it and want to go back.

4) Of all the places you’ve traveled, which is your favorite? Probably the Annapolis valley of Nova Scotia. I know it’s not very glam, but I love the land there and the community spirit. I can see myself settling down there on a hobby farm in my golden years.

5) Where would you most like to travel to next? If I had my ‘druthers I’d visit Washington, DC at the end of October for the Colbert/Stewart rally. I’d also like to take in all the tourist-y sights there.

CFWU x 3
Deadlifts:
45# x 5
115# x 3
185# – good
185# – fail
185# – good
195# – fail (almost at the top, argh)
195# – shaky, but all the way up

Skill practice (aka goofing around):
Static holds – sucked
Pistols – 5 on each side
Cartwheels – 3 on each side

NEW DEADLIFT PR!

Happy dance time. I’m sure it was pretty ugly, but up it went. I think I’m going to stick to higher rep sets with comfortable weights for a while. Maybe end of August I’ll go for a 1RM again and shoot for 200# – big milestone there!

Are you still with me? Good, because now I’ll share a bit of what I saw on my free time.

What is left of the Quebec City Armoury, which suffered a major fire last year.

Here is a shot of the fortification walls that seperate “Old Quebec” from the rest of the city.

This picture doesn’t properly convey the European feeling you get in the old city, with it’s narrow, winding streets and beautiful architecture.

I thought this store was adorable, I wish I had gotten a better shot of the window display. It’s a year-round Christmas shop.

Quebec parliament building.

The ice palace being constructed for Carnaval de Québec. Unfortunately I left the day before the carnival started, I think it would have been fun to try some Caribou.

Chateau Frontenac. Just in front of the building they are dismantling part of a giant ice slide that wound it’s way downhill for many city blocks and at one point made a ninety-degree turn. I thought it would be fun, until I learned that you don’t slide down it on your butt, you skate down it at fifty kilometres an hour trying to beat out three other racers. It’s called ice-cross.

Time for quick points:

• I was worried that my poor French skills would not be enough to survive in Quebec City, but I was wrong. I think you should know some French; enough to order food, shop, and ask directions, but it doesn’t have to be perfect.
• A group of school kids were walking through the city while I was on my tour. As they passed a shop window with a display of hockey memorabilia they started chanting “Go Habs Go!” It was adorable.
• Palace Royale is a gorgeous hotel with great facilities, and it’s just steps away from Old Quebec.
• There are a few ethnic restaurants, but mostly you’ll find pubs and steakhouses.
• The one Chinese restaurant we did find was great. It was Chinese New Year so they had some great specials. I ordered a three-course New Year special that had a Tofu dish as the main course. Everyone else at my table was served their meals and the server asked if everything was alright. I piped up and asked about my tofu, and off he ran to the kitchen. He brought back a large plate with a small bowl of rice in the middle. I looked at it and said “ou est le tofu?”. “Inside” he said, pointing to the rice. So I picked at my blob of rice, only to find…more rice. This back-and-forth with the waiter went on for about ten minutes before he brought out my tofu with a huge grin on his face. For a minute there he really had me going! The other odd thing about the restaurant was that they didn’t have a liquor licence, but that didn’t mean we couldn’t drink in the establishment. We sent two brave members of our party out into the cold and down the street. They purchased a big case of beer and a bottle of wine, which was happily shared among the whole crowd. I wish we could do that in my city!
• We commonly saw “Soup of the Moment” on menus instead of “Soup of the Day”. For some reason I really liked that.

It was a good trip, but it left me wanting more. I’d really like to take my family here but now I can’t decide if we should go for the winter carnival or if we should go during the very busy tourist season in the summer.