FMM: Personal Quirks and Habits

We had such an awesome weekend at Mardi Gras in Mobile.  The weather was lovely, alcohol consumption (for us) was under control, food was good, parades were fun, ball was great.  And the flight home yesterday was smooth and easy, and we got back early enough to do a load of laundry and grocery shop.  As always, it seemed there wasn't enough time with my best friend, but it was a great weekend. 

We've got another weird week coming up.  Going to get our taxes done tonight.  Tomorrow night, I'm walking with my co-worker again.  Wednesday night I'm volunteering, and then maybe we're going to an Italian conversation meet-up and getting there late.  Thursday is Valentine's Day, but not sure what we're doing -- maybe just another Italian conversation class.  Friday night, we're going out to dinner with our neighbors.  Saturday morning is a 5k, and then my law school roommate and her husband come into town, so we're having a little reunion lunch with some other people from our class, and then spending the afternoon hanging out, and then going to dinner, and they'll be staying with us.  Can't wait for all of it!  Well, except maybe the taxes tonight... but at least we'll know what the damage is and can plan for it, you know, just in case we have to come up with a lot more money in the next couple months. 

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section here at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!
Personal Quirks and Habits
1. Share one unique character trait that sets you apart from your friends.  That's tough.  Most of my good character traits are shared by many of my friends.  And since most of my friends are also lawyers, sadly many of my worst character traits are similarly shared!  I really can't come up with anything -- I'm argumentative, so are many friends; I'm reliable, so are many friends; I'm a planner, so are many friends; I'm analytical, so are many friends; I like doing puzzles, so do some friends.  Not sure what I could say that's really unique from my friends. 

2. List at least two pet peeves that always aggravate you.  Inefficiency and half-heartedness. 

3. Is there a word or phrase that you say so regularly that people expect to hear it from you?  Not really.  I guess it would be saying some foreign word that is very similar to the word in English and saying "that's ___ for ____."  Like saying sensualita, that's Italian for sensuality. 

4. Are you a risk taker, or do you typically play it safe?  Didn't we just have this question?  I guess it depends on the situation, but I guess I generally play it safe. 

5. Describe your life as it was in high school. Are you the same person? Have you changed?  I had a large group of acquaintances and a small group of good friends, mostly from debate.  There was usually some boy on the periphery.  I think I'm the same person in many ways, but of course I've changed too.  I was surprised at my 10 year reunion that some people didn't seem to have changed.  I think I'm much less petty, sensitive, conformist, insecure and confused than I was then.  But at the same time, I'd still be considered studious and smart, "debate" (well, litigation now) is still central in my life, etc. 

6. What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done that you’re glad you did?  I backpacked alone in Europe one summer in college after my friend backed out.  One of the best experiences of my life!  I love traveling with my husband and with friends, but few people travel for long periods of time alone, and you get to have so many more interesting experiences that way. 

7. Do you ever talk to yourself? If so, share an example.  Not out loud, but frequently when working out I tell myself to just keep going for a set amount of time or to a landmark ahead.  Somehow it works.  Even though every single time, I pretty much make myself keep going.  Like doing a plank, I'll say 15 more seconds, then I'll do the 15 seconds and say 15 more seconds.  Or while running, I'll say, let's just push to the intersection, I'll get to the intersection, and then I'll aim to push through, and then to the next intersection...

8. Share something you did that unexpectedly helped shape your life.  Studying abroad in college.  I knew it would change my life, but little did I know that more than 5 years later it would change my life again.  It lead me to an Italian group in Dallas, which was where I met my husband. 

9. Do you follow a strict routine, or are you a free spirit? Are you somewhere in between?  I'm  pretty much a routine person for my daily life.  I find myself sticking to a pretty regular schedule.  But on vacation, we hate organized tours and stuff like that, so we much prefer to know about 5 things we want to see somewhere and just do what we want, hopefully integrating those 5 things. 

10. Share something about yourself that you hope will inspire others.  Hmm... since I've shared it before, my first marathon time was over 5 hours, and less than 10 years later, I qualified for Boston. 

Now it’s your turn to answer this week’s questions! Don’t forget to come back and link up in the comments.