Ice Breaker – Nicknames
It’s time for this week’s Stretched Ice Breaker. I ask a question that helps “break the ice”. I’ll answer it first. Then it’s your turn to answer the question in the comments. By answering the question, we get to know just a little more about each other. This is one way to keep The Stretched Community growing. Here we go….
Question: What is one of your nicknames? How did you get it?
My answer: You don’t have to go far to realize that one of my nicknames is STRETCH. I post about it on my About page. I picked up the nickname STRETCH when I was in high school. When I started my junior year in high school, I was 5’6″. Now, I’m almost 6’6″. I did a lot of STRETCHING over the last couple of year’s of high school and in college. I don’t remember who gave me the nickname although I suspect it came through my high school youth group. I liked this nickname a lot better than a few of the other nicknames I’ve had over the years like Pope, Stain, and even just Stolpe. STRETCH has now become a big part of my life as I blog about life’s STRETCH marks every day right here.
There you have it! Now, it’s your turn. I’m looking forward to hearing about your nickname(s). Leave your answer to today’s Stretched Ice Breaker in the comments below.
Ice Breaker – My Hometown
Stretched Ice Breaker Friday has arrived! For those of you who are new around here, each Friday, I ask an “ice breaker” question. These questions are designed to help us get to know each other. Typically, I answer the question first in the post (below), and you answer the question by leaving a comment with your answer. So here goes….
Question: When people say the name of your hometown or area, what comes to mind? In other words, what’s the big deal about your town, city, community?
My answer: I live in a small suburb on the north-west side of Philadelphia, PA. My town hosts the annual Philadelphia Folk Festival. The “Folk Fest” has played host to many famous folk “stars” like Arlo Guthrie. The festival takes place at the Old Poole Farm which is located right off the Perkiomen Trail. I’ve run and biked by the festival several times, but I’ve never attended myself. The festival runs for a few days every August. You can stop by for the day, or you can camp out for the entire weekend. Apparently, it’s kind of like Woodstock on a smaller level. One of these years, I’ll have to check it out!
There you have it. That was pretty simple. Now, it’s your turn. Leave your answer to this week’s Stretched Ice Breaker question in the comments. I’m looking forward to hearing about your hometown.
Ice Breaker – Good Friday
Time for a quick Stretched Ice Breaker question to get your Friday going. This is when I ask a question, and we all answer it. I’ll leave my answer here in the post, and you can leave your answer in the comments. Check back at the end of the day to see how everyone else answered the question.
Ready?
Question: What’s good for you today?
Answer: So today’s question is a bit more wide open than normal. But today is Good Friday. I couldn’t resist. What’s good for me today? I’m thankful to have a few days off. I’m actually on vacation visiting my parents and my brother. It’s been good to be away from the hustle and bustle of life as we know it in PA. And it’s been good to visit with my folks. Yesterday, we did some geocaching by White Rock Lake, and we went to my folks’ church for Maundy Thursday. Today, we’re heading into my brother’s restaurant to see where he works, and we’ll be heading back to church tonight for Good Friday service. All this is good!
So there, you have it. My answer is simple. Now, it’s your turn. Share your answer in the comments.
Ice Breaker – Easter Candy
It’s time for the weekly Stretched Ice Breaker!
Every Friday here on The Stretched Blog, I ask a question which helps us get to know each other. I’ll answer first. Then you join the conversation by leaving your answer in the comments section.
This week, my kids helped me with the ice breaker question. I think you’ll find it fun and entertaining. Here goes….
Question: What is your favorite Easter candy?
My Answer: I have to go with stale Peeps. You know what I’m talking about. They’re the sugar-coated, bite-size marshmallow treats that look like little bunnies or baby chicks. I love to open them up on Easter morning and let them sit for a day or two until the outer coating hardens up. There’s nothing quite like two-day old Peeps. (Interesting fact, Peeps are manufactured just north of The Stretched Blogger up in the Allentown/Bethlehem, PA area.)
My second place Easter candy – black jelly beans. You either love them or you hate them. I love them!
Okay. Now it’s your turn. Let’s hear your answer to today’s Stretched Ice Breaker. Have a great weekend!
Ice Breaker – Songs On Your Playlist
It’s Friday! How did it come around again so quickly?
Friday means Ice Breaker time here on The Stretched Blog. In case you’re new here or you forgot, ice breakers are questions used to help us get to know each other a little bit better. Each week, I ask a question which I answer first. After that everyone else answers the question by posting their answer in the comments.
Without further delay, here’s this week’s question: If you could make a playlist of your favorite songs, what five songs would make the list?
My answer:
1) Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton
2) Carry On My Wayward Son by Kansas
3) Where The Streets Have No Name by U2
4) Love Is The Seventh Wave by Sting
5) The Best Thing by Big Tent Revival
Each of these songs carries a memory of a time or place. Leanne and I shared our first dance to Wonderful Tonight. I remember listening to Sting’s song and playing hacky sack with my brother, Brian Willem, and Shane D’Entremont on the beach during a high school youth group camping trip. And the Big Tent Revival song reminds me of Creation 97. Leanne and I went to the music festival that year while she was five months pregnant with our daughter, Hannah.
Now it’s your turn. What’s on your playlist? I can’t wait to hear your answers!
Ice Breaker – Breakfast
This morning, I’m coordinating the third annual Sunnyside Up Breakfast Benefit at my office. For the past three years, I have worked together with a few other co-workers at Siemens in Blue Bell, PA to make breakfast sandwiches with farm fresh eggs, bagels, cheese, and other add-on items. We sell the made to order sandwiches at the office and donate all the proceeds to a charity connected to our employees. This year, all the donations are going to the Warriors For Tim Foundation. Warriors For Tim is an organization designed to raise organ donor awareness and to help families who are going through the organ donor process or who are on the waiting list for donated organ. The organization was created to leave a legacy for Tim Raymond. Tim passed away a couple of years ago after complications from the H1N1 virus (the swine flu) and an infection. Tim’s dad, John, is a project manager in my department. I’ve had the privilege of working with John for the past 16+ years. It’s exciting to lift up John and his family through today’s breakfast.
(If you’re interested in learning more about Warriors For Tim or finding out how you can donate to the cause, click here.)
In honor of today’s breakfast benefit, this week’s ice breaker question is about breakfast. As usual, I’ll answer the question, and then it’s your turn. By sharing your answer to the question, you help the Stretched Community to grow as we get to know one another in a fun way. So here goes….
Question: What’s your favorite breakfast food? If it’s cereal, what’s your favorite breakfast cereal?
My answer: If I had my choice, I’d go with Swedish pancakes. There’s nothing like the sweet flavor of the buttery and sugary thin pancakes with a mix of toppings. Whenever I have Swedish pancakes, I think of my grandparents. My Grandpa Stolpe had a system for eating his pancakes with different toppings. Every so often, we make the pancakes at our house, and they’re a huge hit every time.
So there you have it. Now it’s your turn. Leave your answer in the comments.
Ice Breaker – Made For The Movies
Happy Friday! You know what that means? It’s time for this week’s Stretched Ice Breaker. If you’re new around here or you’ve just missed the last several month’s of Friday posts on The Stretched Blog, ice breaker questions are designed to help us get to know each other – to break the ice so to speak. I ask a question, and I give my answer. Then it’s your turn to chime in.
Are you ready?
Okay, here goes: If they made a movie about your life, who would play your part? Would the movie be a comedy, an action flick, drama, romance, or something else?
My answer: Jim Carrey. He’s tall, reasonably handsome, and has a sense of humor. Yes, his humor is probably at a different level than mine, but I still think it would be interesting. Instead of thinking Ace Ventura Pet Detective or Bruce Almighty, think The Majestic. In this movie, Carrey played a more serious/romantic role.
As for the type of movie, I guess I’d go with a dramatic comedy with some great romance. These are all elements that play out in my real life experience.
That’s enough from me. Now it’s your turn. How would you answer today’s ice breaker question? Share your answer in the comments.
Ice Breaker – Cartoons
It’s Friday!
You know what that means? It’s time for the weekly Stretched Ice Breaker Question.
Today’s Ice Breaker Question is simple. What was/is your favorite cartoon?
I’ll answer first, then it’s your turn. My favorite cartoon as a kid was Hong Kong Fuey. The cartoon was about a dog who used karate to catch bad guys. What more could you ask for as a little kid?
Now, it’s your turn. I look forward to hearing your answers!
Ice Breaker – Quality Names
Today, we conclude Quality Week on The Stretched Blog with an ice breaker question about quality. As usual, I’ll ask a question and give my answer. Then, it’s your turn.
Question: When you think of quality, what name or company comes to mind? And why?
My answer: For some reason, I think of two car companies. First, I think of Toyota. They have been known for the quality processes that they have in place to make sure their cars are produced at a high quality. Since getting married over 15 years ago, my wife and I have had three Toyota cars. They have been great! Second, I think of Ford – at least Ford when they first started. If memory serves me correctly, Henry Ford had a strong desire to make sure his cars were produced with quality and affordability.
See how simple that was? Now, it’s your turn. I look forward to hearing what you have to share.
Ice Breaker – Ice Breaker Questions
Yep, you just read the title correctly!
I said “Ice Breaker” twice.
If you do a Google search for “Ice Breaker Questions”, Jon Stolpe Stretched comes up fourth. That’s pretty impressive! Today, officially marks the 20th ice breaker question to appear on the Jon Stolpe Stretched Blog since the first question was asked back on October 7, 2011. We’ve discovered some pretty crazy, amazing, interesting, and funny things about each other. And you should have learned quite a bit about me. We’ve learned about tattoos, Christmas movies, close encounters with famous people, and hair.
Today’s ice breaker question is pretty simple. It will help me as I develop more content for our traditional Friday posts, and it will help us achieve the main mission of these ice breaker questions – to break the ice – to help us get to know each other a little better.
If you could chime in, it would be appreciated!
Question: What is your favorite type of ice breaker question (for example, something about your past, something about the future, something about your favorite things,…)? What is your favorite Jon Stolpe Stretched Ice Breaker Question so far (you may need to visit the archives to find your favorite)? What ice breaker question would you like to see answered here?
Unlike the “traditional” ice breaker posts, I’m leaving the answers all to you. So what do you think? I can’t wait to hear your feedback.