January 2004 Archives

Angel, you're smartest when it comes to social intelligence!

You've got people smarts! Social intelligence refers to the ability to read other people and react appropriately. As a result, you probably have a pretty keen sense of others' motivations most of the time. It's likely that you can also spot the difference between what people say and what they really mean.

This understanding of behavior and human nature can help you go far. After all, it's been said that it's not what you know, but who you know that counts. And you have a way with people. Your social intelligence may manifest as having the gift for gab, being a top-notch networker, or an excellent listener and friend. However you put this intelligence to work, you're sure to be admired for an abundance of social know-how.

Take the The Multiple Intelligences Test

My sister's son was rushed to the emergency room today. My sister felt he was acting funny. He had been drinking fluids up a storm and urinating a lot this weekend. He had barely been sleeping at all. And, then he was just acting weird today altogether. So, she rushed him to the hospital.

He was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes. The doctors said if she had not brought him in, he would have been in a coma before the night was over. His sugar was 600+, but luckily none of his organs had been affected. He is now in intensive care and they have his sugar down to 350 and that is with insulin.

Poor thing. He is not taking it well at all either, according to my sister. They have been explaining to him that this is not something you get and is cured ... but that he will live with it for the rest of his life. Luckily, our niece J, also was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes when she was young. My sister is going to talk to her about sitting down with her son and explaining what it is like from a younger point of view. At least he will have someone he can relate and talk to about this.

I am going to go see him in the morning. Since he is in intensive care, the kids cannot go with me ... so I am going to visit while they are in school. Hopefully the weather will hold as it is just raining now, though they are calling for snow.

All prayers are welcomed at this point. :)

This morning I watched an interview with Mel Gibson regarding his new film, The Passion Of The Christ. Unfortunately, the parts of the interview that was showed were mainly regarding accusations of anti-semitism. And, to be honest, that got me pretty upset.

I am not one for political correctness. I have always found it to be sugar coating truths so one does not hurt the feelings of others. And, I find that this is definitely one of those situations, as there has been a large outcry from the Jewish population stating that this movie promotes anti-semitism and makes out Jews to be Christ killers.

I think that we need to get a few things straight. Jews demanded the crucifixtion of Jesus. History supports that fact. For those that are not Christians, you can argue whether Jesus was the Messiah, but you cannot dispute whether he existed or was crucified. History has proven not only that he did exist, but the he was also crucified as well.

Now, should we not allow movies portraying the holocaust because some people feel it promotes hate towards Germans? Should we not show movies about the KKK because it might promote racism towards Caucasians? Should we not show movies about Skin Heads for the same reason? Or Black Muslims? What about movies about how Christians waged war on non-believers? How about the Inquisition? Slavery? Muslims? Wiccans? Terrorists? Gangs? Satanism? The Salem Witch Trials? The Civil War? Communism? British rule over Africa? Israel? The LA riots? The American Revolution? The attack on Pearl Harbor?

I got this from Donna and decided to see what it had to say about me. Interestingly enough, I was one shy of tying with two other types; The Loyalist and The Individualist.

THE INVESTIGATOR
Enneagram Type Five

The Intense, Cerebral Type:
Perceptive, Innovative, Secretive, and Isolated

Basic Fear: Being useless, helpless, or incapable
Basic Desire: To be capable and competent
Enneagram Five with a Four-Wing: "The Iconoclast"
Enneagram Five with a Six-Wing: "The Problem Solver"

Profile Summary for the Enneagram Type Five

Healthy: Observe everything with extraordinary perceptiveness and insight. Most mentally alert, curious, searching intelligence: nothing escapes their notice. Foresight and prediction. Able to concentrate: become engrossed in what has caught their attention. Attain skillful mastery of whatever interests them. Excited by knowledge: often become expert in some field. Innovative and inventive, producing extremely valuable, original works. Highly independent, idiosyncratic, and whimsical.

At Their Best: Become visionaries, broadly comprehending the world while penetrating it profoundly. Open-minded, take things in whole, in their true context. Make pioneering discoveries and find entirely new ways of doing and perceiving things.

Average: Begin conceptualizing and fine-tuning everything before acting -- working things out in their minds: model building, preparing, practicing, and gathering more resources. Studious, acquiring technique. Become specialized, and often "intellectual," often challenging accepted ways of doing things. Increasingly detached as they become involved with complicated ideas or imaginary worlds. Become preoccupied with their visions and interpretations rather than reality. Are fascinated by off-beat, esoteric subjects, even those involving dark and disturbing elements. Detached from the practical world, a "disembodied mind," although high-strung and intense. Begin to take an antagonistic stance toward anything which would interfere with their inner world and personal vision. Become provocative and abrasive, with intentionally extreme and radical views. Cynical and argumentative.

Unhealthy: Become reclusive and isolated from reality, eccentric and nihilistic. Highly unstable and fearful of aggressions: they reject and repulse others and all social attachments. Get obsessed yet frightened by their threatening ideas, becoming horrified, delirious, and prey to gross distortions and phobias. Seeking oblivion, they may commit suicide or have a psychotic break with reality. Deranged, explosively self-destructive, with schizophrenic overtones. Generally corresponds to the Schizoid Avoidant and Schizotypal personality disorders.

Key Motivations: Want to possess knowledge, to understand the environment, to have everything figured out as a way of defending the self from threats from the environment.

Examples: Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking, Bill Gates, Georgia O'Keefe, Stanley Kubrick, John Lennon, Lily Tomlin, Gary Larson, Laurie Anderson, Merce Cunningham, Meredith Monk, James Joyce, Bjsrk, Susan Sontag, Emily Dickenson, Agatha Christie, Ursula K. LeGuin, Jane Goodall, Glenn Gould, John Cage, Bobby Fischer, Tim Burton, David Lynch, Stephen King, Clive Barker, Trent Reznor, Friedrich Nietzsche, Vincent Van Gogh, Kurt Cobain, and "Fox Mulder" (X Files).

Take the free enneagram test!

I got this meme from David, who got it from Donna :)

What is the middle name of the first person you ever slept with?
Nunya :)

What kind of underwear are you wearing and what color?
What kind of questions are these? Does it really matter what color underwear I wear or what kind?

What is the song you want played at your funeral?
I haven't really thought about this. I have like no clue.

What would your last meal be before getting executed?
A ribeye steak, thick, with butter spread on it ... seasoned with garlic, a baked potato with a lot of butter, a grilled chicken salad w/ranch dressing, a bowl of clam chowder, sour dough bread from San Francisco w/real butter and olive oil, cheese cake with strawberries on top, a lemon, and my sweet iced tea.

Beatles or Stones?
Stones

If you had to pick one person on earth who should die, who would it be?
No one.

The person whose problems you would never want to hear again?
My mother's.

What is the thing most important to you (as far as physical) about the preferred sex?
Hands. I like hands.

Do you secretly hate some of your friendsters but are too nice to reject them?
Not really ... though sometimes they get on my nerves.

If you could have any super power what would it be?
Transfiguration.

Favorite hangover cure?
When I drank: bedrest. But, I don't drink to get drunk anymore.

How many drinks does it take to get you drunk?
I have no clue now ... but when I drank to get drunk ... a lot.

Favorite Outkast lyric?
Shake it like a polaroid picture ...

Hair color you most like someone you're dating to have?
Black.

If you had to be blind or deaf?
Deaf ... I would want to be able to see my children.

Do you have any psychiatric problems?
Not that I am aware of. :)

Siblings that should go to rehab?
A few.

Least favorite month?
June.

First movie you can remember seeing as a kid?
Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs.

Favorite person in the whole world?
Jesus!

When's the last time you went on a date?
A few months ago.

Do you like violent movies or dirty movies?
Neither really.

Fall or spring?
Spring.

Person you most wish you hadn't made out with?
I could think of a few. I used to have really bad taste in men. LOL!

If you are straight, what person of the same sex would you do it with?
I am straight ... so no one. That is like the point of being straight.

Where do you want to live when you are old and brittle?
Near an ocean.

Who is the person you can count on most?
Someone pretty darn special. :)

If you could date any celebrity past or present, time and age are not factors?
Sean Connery. :)

What books have you pretended you've read?
A few college math textbooks ... don't remember their names.

What's a word you would use to describe your life?
Blessed.

Favorite drinking game?
None.

What did you dream last night?
I don't remember.

Favorite bands?
Matchbox Twenty, Culture Club, Champaign, Atlantic Starr, The Commodores, The Ohio Players, Earth, Wind, and Fire, and Switch.

Yeah, yeah, I said I was going to bed ... but I haven't yet :) Law & Order is still on and I am sitting here. But, I took a quiz! I got this from Michelle:

WATER OF WATER.
Pretty lady! Fair and gentle, your empathy attracts others to you. Possibly psychic, you are pure emotion and are more likely to act on feeling rather than practical thought or logic. You think that's just fine because imagination is important. You are the Whore of Babylon with her cup of abominable things, the Medium of Endor and in the mundane world you usually make a good wife and mother. You shine when you are able to give emotional support to others

Quiz
created by Polly Snodgrass.

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!

I am a terrorist. Did you know that?

I did not personally know that. I just found out today while reading a news article on the San Francisco Chronicle's website.

"Attempts to suppress protesters become more disturbing in light of the Homeland Security Department's recommendation that local police departments view critics of the war on terrorism as potential terrorists. In a May terrorist advisory, the Homeland Security Department warned local law enforcement agencies to keep an eye on anyone who "expressed dislike of attitudes and decisions of the U.S. government." If police vigorously followed this advice, millions of Americans could be added to the official lists of suspected terrorists."

When I went to bed last night, I went to sleep in America. You know that country known as the land of the free and home of the brave? The one that has a constitution that allows me, you, and the little Chinese man down the street ... free speech? Yeah, I thought you would recognize that place.

Well, it no longer exists. We are living in Russia now ... and the Homeland Security Department, in cohorts with the Secret Service, are now the KGB!

Who would have thunk it?

I just came back from taking cup cakes and punch to my youngest child's school. She is in kindergarten and has the most wonderful teacher. And, her teacher just loves her! It does a mother good to hear a teacher just gushing over how great her child is, how smart, polite, well-mannered, and how excited about learning she is. It just makes you feel good all over!

And, she is all those things too, if I may say so myself. :) She is by far my best child, with my oldest running a close second. Though, my oldest is starting puberty so she has been getting a bit mouthy of late and extremely whiny. But, she is my girl! My middle child is my baby, even though she is the middle child and a handful. Very opinionated, like her mother and extremely high strung. She is my smartest child though. She makes straight A's without even trying and is great at sports.

My oldest is my glamour girl.
My middle child is my tomboy.
My baby is my princess.

Makes me wonder what personality the baby to come will have ...

The pregnancy dream monster visited again this morning. I had two dreams, though I only remember bits of them both. One had me on a ship with a floor that did not look too sturdy and a captain that was an idiot. I remember lots of waves though and a messed up floor.

The second one had something to do with a flood of sorts. My friend Kim and I were trying to figure out how to get the water back where it belonged when I saw this green snake. Kim was crossing part of the water, holding onto vines from trees so it looked almost like she was walking on the water. The green snake was a high green, almost fluorescent, with a dark green stripe down it's back. I was afraid Kim was going to get bitten, as she could not see the snake, but it left the water and went the other direction going away from us. But, then, there was this brown and gray snake ... fat too ... and it ended up in some shack with us and kept trying to kiss Kim.

Weird dreams. What is even stranger is I always end up dreaming about water and snakes when I am pregnant. I did with all my children ... and now I am doing it with this baby. I wish I knew what the significance of that snake is!

The kids' beds are supposed to be delivered today and I am not ready. I still need to get some other things out of their rooms and then wash the walls and floors. I have been trying to reach the furniture store to see if I can change the delivery date, but I keep getting their fax machine. Does anyone like that screeching in their ears? I would surely hope not. I wish people would get a dedicated number for those things!

This evening was pretty good. We had my youngest daughter's birthday party and the kids had a really good time. The "Dora the Explorer" cake was delicious. We also had "Dora" decorations. She got a new singing Care Bear, Doctor Barbie w/babies, a Care Bear playset, a new doll, little pony, two new books, and $25 from her dad. She was real excited! Especially since she already has one singing Care Bear and now with two, they will sing and interact together. It is so cute!

But, I am whooped and am heading to bed early. I have a lot to do tomorrow, including a visit to my little girl's school to drop off punch and cup cakes. She has pink icing on her cupcakes and cannot wait to share them with her class. :)

OBITUARY

Today we mourn the passing
of a beloved old friend by the name of
Common Sense
who has been with us for many years.

No one knows for sure how old he was
since his birth records were long ago lost
in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered
as having cultivated such value lessons as
knowing when to come in out of the rain,
why the early bird gets the worm and
that life isn't always fair.

Common Sense
lived by simple, sound financial policies
(don't spend more than you earn)
and reliable parenting strategies
(adults, not kids, are in charge).

His health began to rapidly deteriorate
when well intentioned but overbearing regulations
were set in place.

Reports of a six-year-old boy
charged with sexual harassment
for kissing a classmate;
teens suspended from school
for using mouthwash after lunch;
and a teacher fired
for reprimanding an unruly student,
only worsened his condition.

It declined even further
when schools were required to get parental consent
to administer aspirin to a student;
but, could not inform the parents
when a student became pregnant
and wanted to have an abortion.

Finally, Common sense lost the will to live
as churches became businesses;
and criminals received better treatment
than their victims.

Common Sense finally gave up the ghost
after a woman failed to realize
that a steaming cup of coffee was hot,
she spilled a bit in her lap,
and was awarded a huge settlement

Common Sense
was preceded in death
by his parents, Truth and Trust,
his wife, Discretion;
his daughter, Responsibility;
and his son, Reason.

He is survived by two stepbrothers;
My Rights and Ima Whiner.

Not many attended his funeral
because so few realized he was gone.
If you still know him pass this on,
if not join the majority and do nothing.

-- Author Unknown

I almost forgot!

I am 11 weeks pregnant today ... whoo hoo! One more week and I am out of the first trimester! And, if my mid-wife is correct, than I should start to feel less tired. That would be so great!

What I find ridiculously funny about pregnancy though is the fact that it is supposedly 9 months. Does 40 weeks equal 9 months? No! It equals 10 months. Also at 8 weeks of pregnancy the fetus is only 6 weeks old. Now why is that, you may ask? Well, it is because they count two weeks in which you aren't even pregnant and part of that two weeks was your last period.

So, in actuality ... pregnancy is 38 weeks ... 9 and a half months. Just goes to prove that medicine is not an exact science. LOL

I had a good laugh today while reading Donna's blog. She wrote about her best friends son and a situation that occurred at his work ... and you could tell she was shocked by it. A quick synopsis: a mother lost her kids at a pharmacy. She had left the children in the car and they were not there when she returned. Come to find out they had crossed a very busy road to visit Blockbuster.

If you have kids, and do not claim to be the perfect parent Dr. Spock told our parents they should be, then you can relate to this most likely or see where it is entirely possible for this to occur. Most of us have a moment of parenting that would make non-parents rally to Social Services about us. We usually do not talk about those moments in front of others though, at least not anyone without kids or who thinks they are the best parents in the world. We know better. :)

But, I will share my moment here for all to either gasp in shock or laugh because they know it could happen to them.

I got this from David, who got it from Donna :)

Angel, you're inspired by Helping People

Not everyone has the compassion and generosity to look out for the greater good. Lucky for all of us, there are kindhearted people like you who make a real difference in this world. You're probably the first to step up and lend a helping hand whenever you can whether it's organizing a book drive for the library, serving dinner at a soup kitchen, or giving an elderly neighbor a ride to the doctor.

Chances are, you're also driven by your ideals and want to really make a difference in the work that you do. But that doesn't mean you're unrealistic. You know that Rome wasn't built in a day and that it takes years -- and even decades -- to make changes in the fabric of society. Until poverty, illiteracy, and a plethora of other ills are no more, you'll do what you can to help out and make life better wherever and however you can.

Find out what inspires you ...

I am sitting here still trying to wake up. I went to bed at 10 PM and did not get up until 8 AM. One would wonder why I have such a hard time waking up with all that sleep! Oh the joys of the first trimester. You sleep and sleep and sleep ... and you never feel truly rested.

What is really funny is I had no kids last night. My ladies went to my friend Kim's house for the night. I had a night all to myself! I could have done whatever I wanted. What did I do???? I cleaned house, did laundry, cleaned the litter box, ate food from Taco Johns, and went to bed early. Unbelievable, isn't it???

Sometimes I wonder about myself. I really do.

Well, it is officially the year 2004. Pretty cool :) I still remember when there were people freaking at the prospect of it becoming the year 2000 ... and how the world was going to end just because we left the 1900's. Now it is four years later and the world hasn't went boom yet.

What am I looking forward to in 2004:

• The birth of my new baby ... we are looking at July for this arrival.
• The Glorious Appearing will be published this year. I love the Left Behind novels and cannot wait to read this one.
• I will get to buy the last Lord of the Rings video this year.
• I will get to buy the last Matrix video this year.
• I am hoping Lucas will get off his butt and finish Star Wars III.
• Finally getting my mom her mother's ring. It will be nice when she no longer has a reason to nag me about it.
• Buying my new bedroom suit. The couch is not the best bed.
• Getting us a minivan. My car is a total lemon!
• Seeing a new president get elected!!!!

• My oldest daughter going to middle school.
• Actually giving birth to the new baby. Labor is not the best time to be had.
• Giving up smoking. I know this is not going to be fun.
• Listening to my mom's non-stop griping about everything.