Ice Breaker – Super Bowl Halftime Show

Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.

As I mentioned last week, if you have an idea for an ice breaker, leave a comment or send your idea to me at jon@jonstolpe.com.  If I use your question, I’ll give you credit and point readers your way.  This week’s question is inspired by the upcoming Super Bowl festivities.

Question:  Who would you like to see perform during the Super Bowl halftime show?

My Answer:  Since the Super Bowl is up near New York City (in North Jersey), it makes sense to me they would have Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen as the halftime show.  I wouldn’t complain if this was the case.  Springsteen actually performed in 2009.  And my favorite band, U2, performed in 2002.  So I’ll stick with Billy Joel.  This may not be a popular choice for some, but he’s always been one of my favorites especially when you add a band with a great saxophone player.

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep STRETCHING!

Also don’t forget to sign up for the Stretched newsletter.  Check out this post to find out how to sign up.

Ice Breaker – Food For Life

Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.

I have to give credit to my wife for this week’s Stretched Ice Breaker.  After writing the weekly Stretched Ice Breaker for a couple of years, it’s appreciated when people give me ideas for ice breaker questions.  If you have an idea for an ice breaker, leave a comment or send your idea to me at jon@jonstolpe.com.  If I use your question, I’ll give you credit and point readers your way.  So here’s my wife’s question along with my answer.

Question:  If you could only eat one food or had to eat only one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

My Answer:  I think my wife may have been picking on me here, since I eat the same thing for breakfast every day (oatmeal) and for lunch (yogurt, cheesestick, apple, granola bar).  If you throw nutrition out of the equation, I would have to go with ice cream.  I love ice cream.  To make it more nutritional, I’d go with peanut butter swirl ice cream.  Just think of all the protein!  If I’m answering the question from a nutritional standpoint, I might go with oatmeal as long as I could add almonds, cinnamon, raisins, coconut, chia seeds, brown sugar, and a little milk.

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep STRETCHING!

Also don’t forget to sign up for the Stretched newsletter.  Check out this post to find out how to sign up.

Ice Breaker – I Have A Dream

Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.

Over the next few days, people will be celebrating the life of MLK (Martin Luther King Jr.).  He is known for speaking out against racial inequality.  His speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. is often quoted – “I have a dream….”  MLK’s dreams are still being realized and worked on today.  This week’s Stretched Ice Breaker is inspired by his famous speech.

Question:  Finish the sentence, I have a dream ___________.

My Answer:  I have a dream that men, women, and children all over the world would develop a mission mindset.  When I say mission mindset what do I mean?  Sure I’d love to see people going on mission trips all over the world.  But this isn’t really my dream.  My dream is that people would see the mission field right where they live and work.  My dream is that they would have a focus on reaching out to people in their neighborhoods, in their workplaces, and even in their homes.  What’s your dream?

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep STRETCHING!

Also don’t forget to sign up for the Stretched newsletter.  Check out this post to find out how to sign up.

Ice Breaker – Alaska, Hawaii, or Home

Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.

Like most of the northern and eastern parts of the country, we’ve been dealing with extremely cold temperatures this week.  Our furnace stopped working on the coldest day when the our condensate line froze and our condensate trap cracked.  We’ve found a way to stay warm while we wait for a new part to fix the furnace.  In the meantime, our family has been thinking about warm places.  These thoughts are the inspiration for this week’s Stretched Ice Breaker.

Question:  Would you rather visit Alaska or Hawaii?  Or would you prefer to stay at home?

My Answer:  I’ve never been to Alaska, and I think it would be great to visit there at least once.  I’ve been to Hawaii a couple of times, and it is truly a paradise.  I’d visit Hawaii again any time.  I remember enjoying the sunshine, the beautiful beaches, the tropical jungles, and the amazing mountains.  It’s too bad Hawaii is so far away from the east coast.

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep STRETCHING!

Also don’t forget to sign up for the Stretched newsletter.  Check out this post to find out how to sign up.

Ice Breaker – 2014 Fitness Goals

Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.

Even if you are in perfect shape, you probably have some things you’d like to do to improve or to maintain your fitness level.  As I stated in my 2014 Goals post on Wednesday, I set personal goals in several different categories for the new year.  Today, I’m going to share my fitness goals with you as part of this week’s Stretched Ice Breaker.

Question:  Did you set any fitness related goals for the new year?  Share one (or more) of them in the comments.

My Answer:  After the three goals above (spiritual, marriage, and family – not shown here), I have other goals and desires which are worth pursuing.  I want to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  I want to do things for my body which will allow me to live a happy, productive, and long life.  To this end, I will find ways to exercise 250 days in 2014.  I will run 1,500 miles.  And I will swim 25 miles.

(Last year, I exercised 250 days, and I ran 1386 miles.  Are these goals possible?  I think so.)

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep STRETCHING!

Also don’t forget to sign up for the Stretched newsletter.  Check out this post to find out how to sign up.

Ice Breaker – Questions For Me (Looking Back)

As we close out 2013, we’re remembering some of the top posts written in 2013.  Today, I’m sharing the top Stretched Ice Breaker from the past year (the sixth most popular post written this year).  It’s a great question to throw back at you as we get ready for 2014.  Just like last year, I will respond to your answers to this Ice Breaker.

Ice Breaker – Questions For Me

Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question.  The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community.  I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments.  While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.

I asked a similar Ice Breaker question quite a while ago, and I thought it was a good time to bring out this question as I suspect there will be many new answers this time around.

Who?  What?  When?  How?  Why?

Question:  What question(s) do you have for me?  What do you want to know about me?  This is your chance to ask me anything!

I’ll answer some of them in the comments and in a follow-up post next week.  I look forward to reading your questions.

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment.  I look forward to reading your response!  (As always, feel free to share links.)

Ice Breaker – Christmas Carols

Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.

Ice Breaker – Christmas Carols

By now, you are either sick of listening to the Christmas songs and carols on your local radio station, or you are just getting primed to go Christmas caroling with your friends and neighbors.  Either way, this is the time of year to listen to Christmas music.  We only have a few days left before the big day.  Before you know it, we’ll be thinking about the New Year and singing Groundhog Day songs.  This week’s Stretched Ice Breaker is inspired by the songs we sing and hear this month.

Question:  What is your favorite Christmas song or carol?

My Answer:  I’ve shared this before.  My favorite Christmas carol is In A Bleak Midwinter.  There’s just something about this song I’ll always love.  Our local high school marching band used this song in their marching program this year.  I was a little surprised, and it brought a smile to my face whenever I listened to their program – even when they played before Halloween.

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep STRETCHING!

Also don’t forget to sign up for the Stretched newsletter.  Check out this post to find out how to sign up.

Ice Breaker – Christmas Cookies

Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.

Our family spent several hours last Saturday together making Christmas cookies to enjoy and to send to some neighbors, friends, and relatives.  This is always a dangerous time in our house as the flour, sugar, and butter start taking over the place.  This week’s Stretched Ice Breaker is inspired by the Stolpe Family Cookie Bake-Off.

Question:  What is your favorite Christmas cookie?

My Answer:  My favorite Christmas cookie is the Swedish Spritz cookie.  It’s just the right mix of sugar, flour, butter, and anise flavoring.  I remember making these cookies with my mom every year.  She’d help us make the dough, and she let my brother and I use the cookie press to make the cookies.  The best part was always eating some of the raw cookie batter that oozed out of the cookie press.  The next best part was always testing the first few cookies when the cookies came out of the oven.

If you’re looking for a way to win over the Stretched Blogger, you can’t go wrong with plate of Swedish Spritz cookies (you could also try shortbread cookies, snickerdoodle cookies, and bourbon balls).

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep STRETCHING!

Also don’t forget to sign up for the weekly Stretched newsletter.  Check out this post to find out how to sign up.

Ice Breaker – Jury Duty

Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.

Today, I will be fulfilling my civic responsibility by reporting to the Montgomery County Courthouse for Jury Duty.  This will be the second time I’ve been called for Jury Duty.  The first time was a few years ago, and I actually was selected to sit on a jury for a couple of days.  This certainly wasn’t my plan, but it was an educational experience to say the least.  With this in mind, I present today’s Stretched Ice Breaker Question.

Question:  Have you ever been called for jury duty?  Were you ever selected to be on a jury?  When you were on a jury, what kind of case was it?

My Answer:  As I mentioned above, I was selected for a jury a few years ago for a slip and fall accident.  As I remember the details of the situation, a young woman was suing a local hotel for injuries she sustained when she slipped and fell down the stairs in the hotel on the way down to a banquet hall.  She blamed the poor lighting and carpet pattern for failure to see the steps correctly.  Her lawyer brought in a couple of “expert” witnesses to discuss light levels and carpet patterns.  We listened to testimony for two days.  During the trial, we learned that the young woman had been drinking with her friends prior to the accident.  Needless to say, we ruled on behalf of the hotel.

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep STRETCHING!

Also don’t forget to sign up for the weekly Stretched newsletter.  Check out this post to find out how to sign up.

Ice Breaker – Thanksgiving Feast

If you’re reading this, I’m guessing you survived your turkey coma.  I hope you had a great day of Thanksgiving yesterday.  Did you have a Thanksgiving feast?  Most of us (at least in America) chowed down on turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, and other assorted culinary delights.  Before you forget, this week’s Stretched Ice Breaker is inspired by the Thanksgiving feast.

Question:  What is your favorite food from your Thanksgiving feast?

My Answer:  Stuffing. Some people call it dressing.  It goes great with mashed potatoes, gravy, and turkey.  And stuffing is usually made a little different by each person.  More recently, I discovered there are many different varieties of stuffing.  For example, last Christmas, I made a corn bread, chorizo, and corn stuffing.  It was absolutely delicious.

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep STRETCHING!

Also don’t forget to sign up for the weekly Stretched newsletter.  Check out this post to find out how to sign up.