I Mustache You A Question





I was tagged by Robyn Baldwin to do this Mustache Questionnaire... who am I to refuse?

  1. Alex.  BIGGEST PET PEEVE.  There’s nothing wrong with the name Alex, except it’s not MY NAME.  I used to joke to people that called me that that there’s a dyslexia epidemic, until I came across someone who actually had dyslexia.  Has anyone seen my foot? Oh here it is, in my mouth.  It got bad enough that I actually (in a moment of low self-esteem, probably in my teens) considered changing my name to save everyone the trouble.  Nowadays, I correct people right away so they can’t get into the bad habit - I have to confront the embarrassment head-on.
  2. Papa - only two people call me that, but they do say it A LOT.
  3. Ax - due to #1 and what must have been a record-setting number of disparaging nicknames as a kid, I generally refuse to answer to anything but my actual name.  This one nickname gets grandfathered in since my oldest friends still use it.
  4. Axe-man - see #3

  1. Cleaning after pets at the Ontario Humane Society
  2. Tutoring (French, Math, Physics)
  3. Translating Academic Papers from German to English (or at least, proof-reading the translations)
  4. Wireless Network Engineer

  1. Star Wars (all of them) - I think it was generally accepted practice in my generation (for boys at least) that social ranking was determined by who had seen the movies the most.
  2. Pulp Fiction - This is one of the movies I decided I must own on DVD once I first got a DVD player.  Highly quotable, in fact, it just gave me the idea to put “Bad Motherf***er” on some of my tri stuff (helmet, bike, etc.) just so I can paraphrase the diner scene.
  3. Swingers - From the same list as Pulp Fiction, maybe not quite as timeless.
  4. The Good The Bad and the Ugly - I love this movie, but I mostly put it on this list so anyone who’s seen it will now have the theme stuck in their head.

  1. A Prayer For Owen Meany - If this book isn't the only book to make me laugh out loud AND cry, then it’s definitely the record holder for number of times it’s done both.
  2. The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy - This book might not be for everyone, but if you like it, we can be friends, and if you've read it, you’ll better understand my sense of humour or even my worldview.  I try to emulate Douglas Adams a fair bit in my own writing.

  1. Toronto: Grew up in Scarborough, first place of my own in North York, currently in Mississauga.
  2. Waterloo, ON: University
  3. Braunschweig, Germany: 1 year exchange
  4. Leeds, UK: Grad School

  1. Thailand
  2. Costa Rica
  3. Germany
  4. Switzerland
Honourable Mentions: France, Mexico, Turks & Caicos

  1. Costa Rica - any place warm/tropical would do right now, but I dreamt of this place the other morning.
  2. Seville - This place made a great impression on me culturally (architecture, food, music); it’s also warmer than here, and very relaxed.
  3. New Orleans - Ditto
  4. Bed - Warmth, comfort... you know.

  1. BRAAAAINS - this is part joke about how I’m not a zombie (yet), but some people do eat brain.  I consider myself an adventurous eater, but here’s where I draw the line.
  2. Leek - I really don’t like the taste of this one.
  3. Brussel Sprouts - Does anyone like these?
  4. Avocado - this one’s weird, I think it’s the texture, because I have no problem with guacamole.

  1. Spaghetti and Meat Sauce - this was number one when I was a kid, and I’m not gonna change...
  2. Burgers
  3. Steak
  4. Muffins - I had to admit these were my weakness when I found that I could avoid sweets entirely, except I’d crack and get one of these mid-mornings.  I can say no to ice cream, chocolate, cookies, cake, donuts no problem, but muffins slip the net far too often.
Honourable Mentions: Butter Chicken, Peanut Curry, Pancakes, Jambalaya...

  1. New Girl
  2. Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
  3. Brooklyn 99
  4. Saturday Night Live
Honourable Mentions: I’m working through Orange Is The New Black on Netflix, Game of Thrones (season 2 so far) on DVD, and when House of Cards comes back... hooo boy.
  1. The Lightning Kid going to school - I’m also terrified at how well he’ll cope and if he’s ready for it all, but it’s a major milestone to be in an actual school instead of a daycare.
  2. Triathlon Season - Half-Iron, Off-Road and Winter Triathlon are all possibilities in 2015.  I haven’t nailed down goals or a schedule, but there’s sure to be something exciting.
  3. Visit to Germany - We go every year, and the travel gets a little less stressful every year as the kids mature... I think.
  4. Camping - Not a certainty but we've wanted to go camping as a family since before we were a family, and we've basically waited till the Lightning Kid is out of diapers completely... maybe that’s what I’m actually looking forward to the most.

  1. No hitting, no screaming, no breaking things - the 3 biggest rules in the house, and repeating them has barely helped with complying...
  2. No Retreat, No Surrender - this started as my mantra for toilet training, but I’ve applied it parenting and advocating for the Lightning Kid’s education and inclusion.  It works for athletic goals too.  It’s a Springsteen song and a Jean Claude Van Damme movie.

  1. Alley-Oop! - Every time I pick one of the boys up.
  2. Ugh. - I guess I’m not always a happy camper...

  1. Dan T. Head of Dan & Sally’s Digital Domain
  2. Hayley Goleniowska of Downs Side Up
  3. Morgan of Wildly Fit
  4. Katie of Mom’s Little Running Buddy

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