Leibster Award

I've been nominated - or tagged really - by the Leibster Award. I am not sure if there is actually an award of any type, but it is an interesting blogging chain letter and a good excuse to do some writing. I also like that through links to other blogs I have gotten to read some great blogs of friends of friends. That said I must pay homage to my sister, who nominated me, and has an very insightful blog you can read here.

So here are the rules:

1. Answer the questions that the tagger set for you.
2. Share 11 things about yourself.
3 Pass the award to other small blogs
4. Ask them 11 questions.

And on that note, let's begin.

#1: What's the one thing you would really like to do, if you could only sum up the courage to do it?
Open my own business. I've thought about this a lot, I even know what I want to do. Back home and in Fredericton there were these little craft shops where you could go and paint your own ceramics, then they would glaze and bake them for you and you would pick up your works of art a week later. There is nothing like that here in Grande Prairie and I think it would be popular. I know I would actually look forward to going to work every day and creating. Why don't I do it? There are so many barriers. It takes a lot of capital to start a business, money I don't really have on hand to gamble with, and the thought of taking out a loan, if I could even secure one for a small business, makes me feel ill. Also I have very little experience in the whole process of clay and kilns, not to mention running a business. I know I could learn, but I fear for the botched experiments along the way. Finally I would still want to have a life, which would require hiring a staff to help me, in a city where there are few dedicated employees, wages are high, and finding the right people would be difficult. All of this... and then what if it isn't successful? Failure would be directly linked to my financial security. Not cool at all.

#2: What one life event has most made you the person that you are today?
It's very hard to pinpoint this to one single event. Where I am today, or who I am, is a result of such a long string of choices and events, most of which I had very little control over. I love the life I've created now. How I got here, if you go back far enough, I think would all start with breaking up with my high school boyfriend. That might sound harsh, and believe me it wasn't a pretty scene and I went about it all the wrong way (which would be one regret I do have), but I have a personality that naturally tends to avoid being in the spotlight and I like to let others take the lead. Being on my own for the first time as an adult allowed me to explore who I was and what I wanted without relating that to someone else. I met people and jumped at experiences I never would have otherwise. Ultimately it led me to meeting my husband and taking off with him across the country after only three months. Because I knew I could trust myself and my decisions.

#3: If you had to describe yourself with a song, which song would you be?
This is an impossible question... I don't have one song I would turn to. First thought was an eve 6 song maybe? Then possibly Three Days Grace? Our Lady Peace? No one song seems to fit. Then out of the blue I will never let you down by The Verve Pipe came into my head. I'm going to go with that, it's a great song and the lyrics "People don't take chances with their heart, since I met you I am past the hardest part" really reflects how I feel about my relationship. But then that describes the relationship, not me personally, although I never will let people down... Well fuuuuuuuck. How about I Am the Walrus? I really think "goo goo g'joob" sums up my inner person perfectly. No that is not my final answer.

#4: Where is your favorite place you've been/seen so far?
Northern Saskatchewan. I took a trip with my parents to see where they lived when I was born. It really gave me insight that wait, they were young and took risks and were people before they became who I know them as now. It was beautiful, although remote country. I loved seeing buildings and places that before had only existed in photo albums. I enjoyed meeting my father's old boss and his family and hearing them reminisce. It's a trip I know I will probably never make again and I am so glad we did it when we did.

#5: What's your biggest ambition in life?
Happiness. I don't feel the need to raise a family or to have a glorious career, or to change the world. I just want to live a life that fulfills me, and the people closest to me. I want to be 80 or 90 in a nursing home and live with my memories and know I crammed as much into my life as I could.

#6: Who is the most inspirational person you know?
I look up to a lot of people, I'm not going to just pick one... Basically if you are in my life you inspire me!

#7: What's the one thing you hope people remember about you?
 I enjoyed my life and was a pleasure to have around. I didn't cure cancer but I didn't create it either.


#8: If you could only eat and drink one thing for the rest of your life, what would they be?
 I would probably choose coffee, just because if I couldn't have it I would be very cranky. But I want that coffee with sugar and flavoured creamer. Do I get to choose a food too? I am going to choose cheesecake. Clearly I am not going to have an extended "rest of my life" but it's going to be delicious.


#9: If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
 I think you have to choose flight, I mean the others would be cool, but to be able to fly would definitely make the cape make more sense.

#10: What are the three objects (excluding people and pets), you would save from your burning house?
 My phone, because I'm now helpless without it. My wedding ring, which I don't wear on a daily basis because my job would ruin it. And my wallet because I'm practical and anything I need right away is probably going to require money, and replacing all the ID and stuff is a hassle. By the way, I am not saving anything in the fire proof safe - which includes a flash drive of photos, important documents and the like, because it is fire proof. Take that burning house. Then with the insurance money we are building a more suitable house. Because I love our lot, dislike the house.

#11: What's your favorite childhood memory?
 Bonfires on the beach at the bay. Really anything Scotts Bay related is a good one. Corn boils, hodge podge, family and relaxing. Star gazing, mud walks, swimming and rock collecting.



Whew... the halfway point! Now I need to share 11 things about myself...

#1: I love filling out forms and surveys
 Tedious paperwork? Bring it on! I got chosen for the long form census questionnaire? Score! I actually do those mail in shoppers surveys, website surveys, the surveys off the bottom of shopping receipts, you name it. So this 11 question thing is right up my ally.

#2: I like to be argumentative
 For some reason, if someone is completely set in their way or their beliefs I feel a need to challenge that. I think it comes from being able to look at things from all sides and not being really all that concrete in my beliefs about anything myself. I am constantly questioning myself, so guess what, I'm going to be constantly questioning you too.

#3: I hate socks
 They are the first thing I take off after a long day. I'll be freezing cold and hubby will tell me I need socks, and once I put them on I realize he's right. But I hate them.

#4: I love to sing but really can't sing
 This bums me out a lot. I love karaoke but should be banned from it. I will sing in the car only if the music is up loud enough I can't hear myself ruining the song. It's also the easiest part of rock band to perform drunk, but I really should be handed a guitar. Also I know like all the words to songs but they'll be totally off key.

#5: I don't get boredness
 I always have a list of stuff I want to do. I don't get people who are bored. If I never had to work again I would definitely not go stir crazy and you'd all get crafty popsicle stick art for Christmas. There is always something to do, something to try, somewhere to go.

#6: I love to travel but hate to leave home
 Right now we are in a place both financially and lifestyle wise that we really could go almost anywhere and do anything. But I hesitate to make plans because the thought of leaving home always dampers my plans for adventure. A weekend seems manageable - leave a bunch of food for the cats and bring the dog along. But a week or longer... you need to impose on people to take care of pets, your mailbox will be packed with bills when you get back, your house most likely will be a pile of smoking ashes and rubble... I mean, I'm needed around here, how can I leave? So I don't.... or very hesitantly do once a year.

#7: I don't want to have children
 I know everyone thinks it's a phase, or that we'll change our minds, or biological clocks will start ticking. But we've talked it over extensively and there is just no reason to have kids. I can't imagine trying to cope with being responsible for another human being for such a long period of time. I can't even fathom getting through the pregnancy. I think I would be a great mother, but I think I would lose myself to it, and I like myself, want to keep sharing myself with the people in my life right now, especially my husband. It's just not a lifestyle choice I am going to make. That said, I love children and really enjoy the children in my life and would not give up my title as Auntie Kristina for anything. Not being a mom will ensure Auntie Kristina is always there for them.

#8: The Kristina Trifecta
 If I am cold, tired and hungry then watch out. There is no reasoning with me. Take any two of the three and it's manageable... but all three is just not pretty.

#9: I am not in shape
 I like to think because my job is quite physical that I couldn't possibly be that bad... But I can't run for more than 2 minutes. I have no upper body strength. No endurance. I'm winded just typing this. I know things need to change, but I can't find the motivation to change them.

#10: I forget to brush my teeth
 Disgusting, I know. I'm sitting here right now though, I ran my tongue over my teeth and realized I forgot to brush last night. It's a day off so I definitely didn't brush them this morning. This isn't a one time occurrence. How I have gone 32 years without a cavity is beyond me.

#11: I hate calling people on the phone
I completely can't articulate my thoughts on a whim. I need a script. I hate polite small talk. I got married so someone else could make all my phone calls for me. And he does :)



So there you have it. Now to tag some other bloggers... um yeah... sorry Melly and Mo. Here are your questions:

#1: If you could give your high school self one piece of advice what would it be?
#2: What is one thing you are afraid of?
#3: What is your favourite photo of? Bonus points for posting it.
#4: What is your earliest memory?
#5: What is your favourite article of clothing?
#6: Where would you like to travel to?
#7: If you won $1 million what is one thing you would splurge on?
#8: What is your favourite book?
#9: What 5 songs would you want on your desert iPod?
#10: If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?
#11: Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

Hope you enjoyed!