FMM and Some Inspirational Poetry

1. Did you watch the Oscars? If so, who did you enjoy seeing most?
I worked 11am-11pm yesterday so I did not watch the Oscars.  Awards shows bore me to death anyway.

2. Do you drink meal replacement shakes, smoothies, etc?  If so, what’s your favorite kind?
I do not and I have never had any of them to drink.  I don't believe in quick fixes or supplements.  I don't think they are the healthiest choice.  I also don't think they would be effective for me because I like the taste of food.  If I was to drink a meal replacement shake for lunch I would just be adding calories to my day because I'd eat real food an hour later.

3. Share one thing you have done to help someone in the last week? 
I help people on a daily basis - kind of part of my jobs as a teacher and a dispatcher.  Other than that I guess I held the door for several people at the gym.

4. What is the tastiest thing you ate last week? 
Baby spinach salad with fresh strawberries, fresh blueberries, feta cheese, sesame seeds, and homemade balsamic dressing.  Variations of this salad (spinach, fruit, nuts/seeds, cheese, homemade dressing) is one of my all-time favourite things to eat and I really should make a point of having it more often.  Chris and I once did a dinner challenge for a week where every dinner was a salad.  We had some rules about how many salads needed protein and how many couldn't use greens, etc.  It was great!  We tried lots of new salads - some of which we continue to make.

5. Think of one fun thing that you could do this week without spending any money to do it. 
I love having game nights with friends or just spending that time with my husband.  I grew up in a family where if you were able to hold cards or throw dice you were sitting at the table playing.  I have a massive board game collection that Chris constantly has me weed out.  We play games together all the time.  It is a great way to chat with each other and connect after dinner.

6. Share one place that you’ve been to and would like to visit again. 
I'm looking forward to returning to San Juan, Puerto Rico in a few weeks while on a cruise.  If you've never had mofongo it is absolutely delicious.  I also really enjoyed Las Vegas and would love to take Chris there.

7. Do you prefer Facebook or Twitter? 
I don't use Twitter so I guess by default my answer is Facebook.

8. What is your favourite vegetable? 
I love lots of vegetables so nothing is jumping out right away.  I guess squash because it is not too often that I make it so it never loses its appeal.  Chris' favourite is broccoli which really sucks because it is one of my least favourite vegetables.  I eat it, but I wouldn't buy it if Chris didn't like it so much.  Ooh, now that I've been thinking a second my favourite vegetable is actually green or yellow string beans.  Delicious!  I hope this summer I can start a veggie garden and grow some.

9. Share a goal that you have for the month of March.
I am doing 20 workouts at the gym (including 5 workouts on a cruiseship - lucky me!).

10. Share a quote that inspires you. 
I'm not a quote kind of person.  How about a poem?  Or now that I grabbed my poetry book, how about two?  Both poems are by Edgar A. Guest

It Couldn't Be Done

Somebody said that it couldn't be done,
But he with a chuckle replied
That "maybe it couldn't," but he would be one
Who wouldn't say so till he'd tried.

So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.

Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you'll never do that;
At least no one ever has done it;"
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
And the first thing we knew he'd begun it.

With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you, one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.

But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
That "cannot be done," and you'll do it.


 Don't Quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
when the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
when the funds are low and the debts are high,
and you want to smile but you have to sigh,
when care is pressing you down a bit - rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns.
As everyone of us sometimes learns.
And many a fellow turns about when he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow - you may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than it seems to a faint and faltering man;

Often the struggler has given up when he might have captured the victor's cup;
and he learned too late when the night came down,
how close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out - the silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
and when you never can tell how close you are,
it may be near when it seems afar;
so stick to the fight when you're hardest hit - it's when things seem worst, you must not quit.


Now go to www.alltheweigh.com to post your own repsonses to these questions.