~The Friday Five~

1. What do you feel is the most important quality in a close friend? Honesty. An honest friend will be more compassionate, empathtic, and loving then one that is not.

2. What is the one quality in a stranger you'd just met that would make you want to get to know them better? The ability to carry on a meaningful conversation with me. If we can just start talking about anything then I want to get to know them better because there is a connection.

3. What do you think is the most important quality in a good leader? Being able to see people for where they are with their development. Not sure what that is as a quality but it is what I strive for as a manager. I don't try to make people perform beyond their abilities or to set too high of expectations for them.

4. What is the one thing that makes a child likable to you? Being charismatic.

5. What do you think is the one thing that makes a good parent (other than loving their children)? Spending quality time with them as a family. That way they can model a healthy relationship, feel secure knowing that they aren't alone and have good role models to look up to.

~The Friday Five~

1. If you could live in any period in history other than now, when would it be?

I would say when we were just settling in North America. It would be neat to see how people made it back then.

2. What knowledge or skills do you think you'd have to learn to be able to fit in your chosen period of history?

How to cook from scratch, how to do laundry without a machine.

3. If you could take just one thing from the modern world back with you, what would it be?

My dishwasher.

4. What period in history would you hate to have lived in?

1930-1945, during Great Depression and WWII.

5. What thing from the past would you like to see make a comeback?

Family values. People literally do not care anymore...

~The Friday Five~

1. What do you see when you are looking out of the window closest to you? A busy street with lots of people going by, our SUV, the tree out front.

2. Who was the last person coming into your room? Randy, just sat down with a muffin for breakfast.

3. What is the most predominant colour around you? Ivory, I'm sitting on my loveseat.

4. What is right behind you? The stairwell, pictures of family and friends on the ledge and knickknacks.

5. What is on today's calendar sheet? Reitmans off, Drive to High Prairie and do audit, Do Macs Coffee evaluation in High Prairie and Beaverlodge, Clairmont Husky Audit, pick up library books, return receiver and get new one...then the usual: take E to daycare, make lunches, pick E up from daycare, make supper, put E to bed, do dishes, finish laundry....It is a crazy day for me! Looking forward to my next weekend off!!!

~The Friday Five~

I love food...this was an easy one for me!!!

What is your favorite food from each food group?
1. Bread (Grain) Group: Foccacia Bread
2. Meat (Protein) Group: Chicken Breast
3. Vegetable Group: Asparagus
4. Fruit Group: Strawberries
5. Sugars, Fats and Oils: Extra Virgin Olive Oil

~The Friday Five~

1. Would you return to high school life for a week? Why or why not? (If you're currently in high school, would you redo your experiences so far?)

Not a chance on this side of Hell. I hated High School and couldn't wait to get done!

2. Who were/are you in high school?

I was not very popular but not unpopular, I just didn't make any really good friends there.

3. What was/is your favorite high school hangout? What did/do you do there? The pool hall, we played pool and hung out.

4. What were/are your favorite three songs in high school? No clue whatsoever.

5. What was the craziest thing you did in high school? Skipped school and drove to Camrose for the day and passed my friends Mom on the way back and then later lied about it.

~The Friday Five~

What would you do?

1. If your car/bike is wrecked (if your mass transit service goes belly-up), do you know what you would do to replace it, perhaps even have the car or bike you want already picked out? I would call my insurance agent and tell them to get on it and then I would go SUV shopping. I would probably get the same one though, I like it despite the problems we've had.

2. A client/friend gives you a lottery ticket, which wins you a prize worth (after taxes) ten times as much money as you earned/received last year. What will you do with it? Pay bills, buy a house, put rest in savings. I'm kind of boring but that is the smart route eh?

3. Fight or flee? Depends on the fight...I'm always ready for a battle of words!

4. Someone performs a random act of kindness that is exactly what you need on a bad day. If you wish to pay them back, would you write a poem, bake, buy something, or what? I would bake them their favorite item and make them a handmade thank you card.

5. Your manager commands you to pick a charity to contribute to. Do you resist? If not, which charity would be your first choice? I of course not! We've always tried to support but now our favorite charity is the Stollery Childrens Hospital. After that tied in a close second are Stars Air Ambulance and Canadian Cancer Society. Oh and if I'm being told to do it, then he better be matching my donation!

~The Friday Five~

Stranded!
It's the "stranded on a desert island" question! You can only take one thing from each category. What is it and why are you taking it?

1. A food that can be planted and regrown. Potato, you can eat them so many different ways...I really hope there is S&P, butter and sour cream there...

2. A person you haven't seen in a long time. Melissa...we can always find something to talk about.

3. A book you read as a child. My Huge book of Fairytales that we now have here for Ethan. Lots of different ways to stretch your imagination.

4. A celebrity. Oprah. Just imagine sitting a talking to her about anything and everything.

5. The entire episode run of a television show (it's a very nice desert island). Lost. Why not, my deserted island can't be as messed up as theirs...

~The Friday Five~

1. Could you live without your phone for 1 week for $500? Hahahaha!!! Add a zero on the end and we'll talk!

2. Whom do you talk to on the phone the most? Jess

3. Whom do you no longer talk to on the phone but wish you still did? Curtis

4. If you could get ahold of one celebrity phone number, whose digits would you want? Oprah

5. Do you talk on the phone more or less than you used to? Way more! I own a whole floor at telus headquarters I'm sure!

~The Friday Five~

It's been a while to say the least since I did a Friday Five post on my blog. But tonight I was perusing some of my favorite blogs online and decided that I needed to write on mine more. So I thought I should try to do the Friday Five post again. So without further ado, here it is for this week!

How much do your dreams cost?

1. What would you do right now, if money were not an issue?
I would get myself done up, hair, nails, clothes...then do the same for E and R, hop on a plane to somewhere hot and stay there until I got homesick.

2. What would you do for the next three years, if money were not an issue? I would go back to school and get a degree in either Human Resources or Commerce.

3. What is bringing you the most joy right now that requires little or no money? Spending time with E at home playing. We hang out and watch the weather in the morning (he LOVES the weather) then we play with his toys, have a nap, snack, play some more...you get the drift.

4. What types of things do you find enjoyable that require no money? Getting a good book from the library and sitting under a tree on a sunny day and reading. Taking the family to the park in the summer. Building a snowman on a warm winter day. Taking pictures of things. Writing.

5. Is there anything you've been meaning to do for a long time, but put off because of money? Lots of things are put off because of money. Furthering my education is the foremost thing that comes to mind. I really want a degree...I know I'm capable of it and it would benefit us.

So not the funny one this week. More to the serious side of things. But it is a smart thing in these economic time to take a minute and look at what is really important...question #4 really hammers that one eh?

Stay tuned...tomorrow is my attempt at baking like a pro. I'm a little scared. I have alot of money invested in stuff to do it and Mary had a bit of a flop with hers last night...surely I can do better??? I'll post some pics for you all, wish me luck!

~Friday Five~

1. If you could change one life-changing event in the life of someone important to you, would you? No, not because I don't love them but because I believe that it happened for a reason and we won't fully know the extent of changing something that should have been.

2. Which do you think is easier to do, being friends for many years, or being life partners for many years? I don't know that either is 'easy' To me, both are unique relationships that require different things from me and the other person in order to make it work. Both require constant care and attention in order to work.

3. Have you ever walked away from someone you considered a friend? Yes...there are some things that even friendship cannot forgive.

4. If you had to choose between telling the truth and hurting a friend or lying and making them happy, which would you choose? The truth...again, it happens for a reason.

5. Which would you rather hear--the truth which will hurt, or the comforting lie?
The truth...don't sugar coat it. Again, things happen for a reason. The world will always spin and we'll always make pizza.

~Friday Five~

So I finally found the website where Mo has been getting the Friday Five questions from (Yeah I know I'm a little slow at these things sometimes!) Anyhow, go to it here to see the website!

Without further ado, here are this weeks questions & answers! Play along if you like!

1. Do you have a favourite cause that you support? Canadian Cancer Society & Autism Speaks Canada
2. If so, how do you support it? I support both through donations when I can, Autism Speaks through word of mouth on this blog, and relays hopefully in the near future
3. Have you been an active member of an organization (attending meetings, volunteering etc)? Well as a kid I helped out lots with Royal Purple functions, not as a member though, also volunteered at the library for many years.
4. Have you ever led any group? None that were not work related.
5. If so, how was your experience with it?
OR: 5. If not, why, is it a conscious choice, of lack of opportunity? So far lack of opportunity! I'm sure that as Ethan gets older I will become more involved in the community we live in...never stayed anywhere long enough to get involved before!

~Friday Five~

1) what is one thing about you that you hate? Hate is a pretty strong word to refer to myself with...I don't HATE anything, but I definatly dislike my weight...because it is not healthy.
2) what is one thing about you that you love? I LOVE that I can walk into a room of people and start talking to complete strangers...never could do that about 10 years ago.
3) if you had to change one thing about you what would it be and why? I would take procrastination out of my dictionary. Then I would accomplish alot more of the goals I have set for myself rather then putting it off.
4) what is one word that you would use to define yourself? Ohhhh... that's a hard one! One word! Hmmm I guess it would be Capable.
5) imagine what you would look like in a perfect world...what do you look like? I would be me...50lbs lighter!

~Friday Five~

Here are this weeks Friday Five, courtesy of Mo!

1. What was the last thing you purchased from a vending machine? Bottled water

2. What was the last thing you made copies of on a photocopier? I copied some forms at home to send to our broker.

3. When did you last use a pay telephone? Ummmm...I dunno...I pay lots for my cell phone and it is conveniently located where I need it kind of like payphones used to be...does that count?

4. How often do you visit an automatic teller machine? A couple of times a month to do deposits. I never go into my bank unless there is a problem and a managers head needs to roll...

5. Which of your daily tasks would you most like to see automated? Cleaning the floors...uggh I hate dragging out the vacuum, swifter and mop!

Well there you go...what are your five?

~Friday Five!~

Here is a Friday Five for this week! Of course courtesy of the fabulous Mo!

Friday Five
1. Did you get an allowance as a kid, and if so, how much was it? Nope, none of us did I don't think! Not enough to go around for that!
2. How old were you when you had your first job, and what was it? I was 12 and I worked for 2 hours a weekend at our local library and opened it for those two hours by myself.
3. Which do you do better: save money or spend money? Well it used to be spending...now I'm practising to be a fanatical saver!
4. Are people more likely to borrow money from you, or are you more likely to borrow from them? Neither really. I don't like to mix the two things. Lately I've had to borrow from parents but only because of Ethans' medical problems.
5. What's the most expensive thing you've ever bought? Our Chevy Duramax Extended Cab truck that we no longer own...It was a beauty! Double the price of our first home actually!

~Friday Five~

I know, a day late again!!! I had company though and it is rude to sit on the computer while you have company. Anyhow, here they are, courtesy of Mo of course!

Friday Five
1. When feel the urge to use the bathroom, do you hold it or go right away? I go right away...don't want to weaken the old bladder...

2. When was the last time you held hands with someone? Ummm, last week can't remember the day. Randy, Ethan and I went for a walk through the park.

3. Do you hold in your emotions or let them out? Depends who it is with. If I think it will hurt the person then I hold them as long as I can. But generally I've learned that if something needs to be said/done, it's best to do it and suffer any consequences.

4. If you play blackjack or poker, are you more likely to hold or fold on any given hand? Hold, I'm a risk-taker!

5. In general, can you hold your tongue? When you have a secret? When someone says something you don't agree with? If it's a secret then I usually keep mum about it unless it NEEDS to be told. If it is something that I don't agree with then it goes hand in hand with Q#3. 99.9% of the time I give my opinion though. If you don't want it, don't ask for it.

~Friday Five, A Day Late!~

Here is this Friday's Five, courtesy of my friend Mo of course! A day late but oh well!

What's your favourite TV network? If you know me at all, you know it is the Food Network!

If you could create your own channel, what would it be? A combination of the Food Network, Slice, TLC, the Travel Network, and News Headlines (once an hour and no repeated headlines unless there is new news!!!)

What TV show did you watch as a child, that you wish they would bring back? The Cosby Show, loved that show!!!

What show have you always hated, and wonder why they ever made such a dumb show? That stupid soap opera show Passions! I seriously want to smash the TV every time it is on!

What TV show's seasons would you buy on DVD? Lost, Grey's Anatomy, and Criminal Minds.

~Friday Five~

Another edition of Friday Five, courtesy of my online bud Ramona!

What makes you feel old? The 10 year College reunion letter in the mail...

What makes you feel young? My son...have to be young to keep up with him!

What was better when you were allowed to do it the old way? I'm with Ramona...I like change...I can't think of anything off the top of my head. I'm sure there are things I talk about from time to time but they aren't coming to mind.

What’s better now that you do it the new way? DVR...LOVE taping my favorite shows and fast-forwarding the commercials...I wouldn't go back!

What’s something you are old school about? Manners. I can't stand it when people don't exhibit good manners...I'm really hoping the they aren't old school or gone with the times.

~Friday Five~

Friday Five is a set of 5 questions that my friend Ramona posts on her blog every Friday. I've been wanting to answer them here for awhile but I kept forgetting. So hopefully I'll be able to keep up with it...Anyhow the topic and seriousness vary week by week so it's never boring. Here are this weeks questions, feel free to jump in and participate!


1. If you had the ability to legally change your name, would you? To what? Nope I wouldn't change it, it's me!

2. What do you with with change that you receive from banks/purchases/find on the ground? I throw it in a empty facial wipes plastic container that sits on the counter and use it for mad money. When it gets full I roll it and take it to the bank.

3. If you could travel back in time to change the course of one historical event, what event would it be? 9/11

4. Would you rather live a safe, stable, moderately interesting life or one where every day was dangerous, volatile, and different? I want safe, stable and interesting...I've had enough of the other!

5. What do you think you'll be remembered for when you die and, if you could, would you change it to something else? That I'm friendly and am a good person. That I love to help other people realize their potential and teach them skills they will use their whole life.