All Downhill From Here

Brit tagged me with some great questions in the midst of my pre-Christmas hysteria, and now that things are settling down a bit I’m finally getting to spend a little more time on my computer.

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot cocoa, made with milk and with a teaspoon of decaf instant coffee added. And if there’s Kahlua around? it kind of slips into the mug too.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Ours borrows whatever wrapping stuff we’ve got left. This year he used up some extra gift bags hanging around. Sometimes we’ve left out a little scrap of leftover stuff and he’s magically st-r-e-t-c-h-e-d it.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Coloured. I would choose red or blue and white or blue and green, but I don’t put them up, and am content with Hubby’s choice of red and green.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? I’ve thought about it, but if I want a kiss I pretty much just go and get it.

5. When do you put your decorations up? Sometime in the first or second weekend of December. This activity MUST include noshing on Pot of Gold chocolate and drinking a token rum n’ eggnog.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Mashed Potatoes WITH TURKEY GRAVY. I always have seconds of this!

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Christmas at my Grandparents’ on the farm when I was about 6 or 7. I remember the grown-ups playing board games and us kids playing hide-and-seek in Grandma’s cupboards. I was blessed with a very happy childhood.

8. What is your favorite 2005 run?
If I have to stick to a non-race run, then I think I have to pick… this one.

9. What is your favorite 2005 race?
Another tough choice, so I’m giving it two categories.
Favourite Road Race: I’m tempted to say the Stampede Half, because it was my first and I felt GREAT at the end (plus I got to see Little Runner finish her mile immediately after), but it’s tied with the 15k that I ran in Tampa with Carlene.
Favourite XC race: these have a whole different version of euphoria, and I have a three way tie; October’s muddy Waldorf, December’s Silver Springs and March’s Fish Creek.

10. Snow! Love it or Dread it? To add to Brit’s comment – how can you not like snow? – Snow around here usually means it’s XC series season. And I love snowy XCs! Plus it’s SO BEAUTIFUL when I’m not slipping around in it on my way to work. Check out these snowy, frosty pictures Kathy Taerum took of our recent Silver Springs race.

11. What was your most favorite running purchase this year? The only things I BOUGHT were shoes and races, and one pair of Coolmax running socks at the Gasparilla expo… Oh! I’ve got it! Chocolate Powergels. I love these things. Yes, I’m warped, but I love ’em.

12. What is your favorite piece of running apparel purchased in 2005? My Roadrunner shorts – or did I buy them in 2004? Can’t remember.

13. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Chocolate cake. It’s not really a Holiday Dessert, but I like it better than plum pudding or brandy-flamed fruit soup. I also hugely enjoy nibbiling on Nanaimo Bars.

14. What are your big training plans for 2006? a) Train for and complete the Burnco Calgary Marathon in July. b) If I survive this well enough, train on trails through August to complete the Moose Mountain long trail run. a) is very important. b) is very, very optional.

15. Name one thing you like about blogging: Just ONE? Well this great community of runners and bloggers gives me a fabulous, understanding audience for my need to ramble on about running and life. (that’s kind of two worked in there, but who’s counting?)