New Year’s meme

In 2010, I gained: more muscle mass.

I lost: 4 pounds.

I stopped: eating nuts, candy, chewy caramel, popcorn.
I started: going to the gym more and lifting heavier weights.

I was hugely satisfied by: the recipes in Clean Eating magazine and all the training programs in Oxygen.

And frustrated by: my weight that doesn’t budge.

I am so embarrassed that I: arranged a date between my new friend and my boyfriend’s best friend.

Once again, I: in fact arranged for the two same pieces of a puzzle to be together while they cannot fit.

Once again, I did not: find another complementary piece of a puzzle that would better fit.

The biggest physical difference between me last December and this December is: more muscle !! more strength !!

The biggest psychological difference between me last December and this December is: I can listen better and I take things even less personal. Maybe I’m a robot.

I loved spending time: trying new restaurants and walking with my boyfriend.

Why did I spend even two minutes: talking to My Sister ?

I should have spent more time: talking with my mom.

I regret buying: that pair of brown pants that is a magnet for cat hair.

I will never regret buying my laptop even though with that money I could have saved for a trip or for a house.

I spend time on my laptop way too much.

I didn’t reach out to my friends enough.

Comments by family memebers on how it’s time to have kids drove me crazy.

The most relaxing place I went was at the acupunturist.

Why did I go to all those meetings where I know I am not needed and I could have put that time to better use ? I know why, my boss wants me to know more about stuff that has nothing to do with my work.

The best thing I did for someone else was to just listen.

The best thing I did for myself was to go to the gym, choose better foods and go for a massage or acupunture.

The best thing someone did for me was to smile, listen and be there.

The one thing I’d like to do again, but do it better, is give better training sessions at work. This is why I have a work blog !

5 Questions Friday

1. Who is the better cook, you or your spouse?

I am ! I love to cook and I cook almost every day. My boyfriend is the romantic dinner to apologize or big dinners type. He cooks once in a while.

2. How often do you talk to your mom?

Once a week, maybe every two weeks. It is enough I think.

3. Are you adventurous in the kitchen or stick to the recipe?

I stick to the recipe if it’s a new one. And seeing as I rarely make the same thing, it’s always new. When I know what I’m cooking about (cookies, bars, etc.) I get a bit adventurous. Like putting candied lemon in chocolate chip cookies.

4. Is your second toe longer than your big toe?

Nope.

5. Do you dress up for Halloween? (Bonus question: What will you be this year?)

I hate Halloween.

 

 

Late Booking Through Thursday

I am many days late for this post. During my vacation I have been lazy with my blog !

1. Favorite childhood book?
Anne of Green Gables, duh. 🙂

2. What are you reading right now?
I will start reading James Patterson’s 9th Judgment today.

3. What books do you have on request at the library?
Private by Patterson, The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, Shakespeare’s Champion, Shiver.

4. Bad book habit?
Returning my library books late.

5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?
Too many books to list them.

6. Do you have an e-reader?

Not interested.

7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?
It is not a preference. I don’t want to bring a book I have almost finished in the metro in case I have nothing else to read so I start a new one.

8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?
I sometimes post what I read.

9. Least favorite book you read this year (so far?)
More than one.

10. Favorite book you’ve read this year?
All the Sookie books.

11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?
Not enough.

12. What is your reading comfort zone?
Kids books, YA, mystery novels, chick lit, cookbooks, sci-fi.

13. Can you read on the bus?
Yes

14. Favorite place to read?
The metro

15. What is your policy on book lending?
I lend it and I ask for the book back.

16. Do you ever dog-ear books?
Yes

17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?
No

18.  Not even with text books?
It depends of what I’m reading and if I have paper with me.

19. What is your favorite language to read in?
French books should be read in French, same with English. I don’t like bad translations.

20. What makes you love a book?
When I have fun reading it or if I’m totally swept by emotion.

21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?
If I know the person well enough, I will recommend the right books.

22. Favorite genre?
Don’t have one.

23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?)
Classics. I used to read them a lot growing up but I don’t anymore.

Favorite biography?
Don’t remember.

25. Have you ever read a self-help book?
Of course !

26. Favorite cookbook?
Mrs Field’s Cookies, Cuisiner au goût du coeur, Eat-Clean Diet

27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?
The Red Paperclip

28. Favorite reading snack?

None

29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.
La Vie de Pi, so not worth it.

30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?
I don’t read critics.

31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
I don’t care. If I don’t like a book I feel I have the right to say so. It’s subjective.

32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you chose?
Chinese, maybe.

33. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read?
A.S. Byatt, can’t finish the books.

34. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin?
Don’t know

35. Favorite Poet?
Louise Labé

36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?
10

37. How often have you returned book to the library unread?
Regularly

38. Favorite fictional character?
Anne Shirley

39. Favorite fictional villain?
Don’t know

40. Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation?
Books I own in paperback.

41. The longest I’ve gone without reading.
One day, maybe.

42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.
Too many !

43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?
Cooking, my boyfriend, loud voices in the metro.

44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?
Anne of Green Gables

45. Most disappointing film adaptation?
Meyer’s books

46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time?
200$

47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?
All the time…unless I already know I want it.

48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?
Being bored by the book

49. Do you like to keep your books organized?
Yes

50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?
If I love the book I keep it. If I know I won’t read it again, I sell it. If it is not « sellable » I give it.

51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?
Fantasy, Harlequin romances, Danielle Steel…

52. Name a book that made you angry.
Lovely Bones

53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did?
Janet Evanovich’s One for the Money

54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t?
Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters

55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading?
Everything

Gratitude meme

It’s quite fitting that I would find this meme while I’m doing the grateful monday post every monday. This meme comes from Mimi queen of memes.

What are you most grateful for when you first wake up in the morning?
My boyfriend’s smile, my cat and sunshine. Sometimes, for not having pain in my neck or shoulder.

2. What are you most grateful for when you go to bed at night?  Finally, it’s time to go to bed.

3. Who is the person who has had the most influence on your life?  Myself. By reading I learned what I had to do, how to act or not, where to get help, etc.

4. Is there someone you’d like to thank for something special they did for you but haven’t yet? Take the time to do it in this meme.

To H. Thank you for making me so mad. Thank you for your lying, it really made me see you the way you really are. I have enabled you from the start and trusted you without question. I have always been able to make excuses for you, to close my eyes in denial. By making me angry, you have finally made me let this friendship go. I’m sad, angry and bitter. I’m also difficult and emanding since then, but, really ? It’s for the best and this too shall pas. I will eventually return to my easy, cheerful, realistic ways.

5. Who was your favorite or least favorite teacher?  Mario was the most challenging art  teacher I have had. I loved him for not making it easy for me so I could become better. He made me see that I was different, that I did see things differently and that in arts, it was more than okay.

If you could talk to them now, what would you say? Thank you !

6. Do you say grace at mealtime? No. I think by being happy with what we have, it’s a state of grace. Why say it if you feel it ? Besides my boyfriend is anti-saying-grace.

7. Name one thing you take for granted everyday.  Free Wi-Fi

8. Have you ever looked back at your life and realized that something you thought was a bad thing was actually a blessing in disguise?  Every damn bad thing that ever happened to me. Enough stuff to become a TV series.

9. What are the top five things you are most grateful for in your life?  My salary, my brains, change, the love, trust and affection of my boyfriend, that I’m a Gen X.

How about you ?

I found this at PurPlume’s blog and I thought it would be fun. If you want to give it a go, you can answer the questions in the comment or on your blog.

1. When do you feel happiest?

When I have the feeling the world is asleep. When I have slept my full 10 hours, the world is brighter. But when I have insomnia, I love to be up blogging or doing homework while the world is silent. I feel like I’m alone, I can hear my boyfriend snore, my cat is usually asleep on the chair beside me and it’s bliss.

2. How do you take care of yourself?

I exercise regularly, I eat well enough, I try to breath deeply a couple of times a day. I go to bed early. I stimulate myself intellectually by learning new things and challenging myself to go to another level. Blogging helps me not keep everything to myself. After years of therapy, I still and I will always need somewhere to vent. I buy better shoes so my feet are comfortable and the same with clothes. I need to be comfortable and warm enough or cool enough. I give affection to J-L and I accept his.

3. Are you internally (by yourself) or externally (by others) motivated?

I am so internally motivated it’s ridiculous. I hate working with other people because I always know what to do and when to do it. I’m a control freak. I don’t need encouragements but they are welcome. I am the one telling me to do better or to go the distance with stuff.

4. What do you do for fun?

Bounce, go to the gym, walk, read, blog, snuggle J-L and play with my cat, cook, try new recipes, take pictures.

5. What intimidates you?

Very popular people. Eating in public. Particularly the first time with someone.

6. What is something you’re proud of?

Being good enough in English to get the job I have now. Being able to study from home and I get good marks. I’m so proud of all the work I have done on myself to feel better. I am doing a great job.

7. Finish this sentence. I never____________________.

Have been to the States since I’m an adult.

8. Favorite vacation spot.

Île d’Orléans

9. Today is a (rate from 1 – 10).

10/10 I slept almost 12 hours, I went for sushi with J-L and then we bought lots of cupcakes, we walked a lot and I have continued my homework. I’m going to contunue it after this post.

10. Finish this sentence. If you knew me really well you’d know _____________.

That I’m honest and can interact well with people even if I prefer being alone.