Thursday 30 April 2009

Personality and Blogging Test

Like Donn at HomoEscapeons, I participated in an online study looking at the relationship between blogging style and personality. This is the blurb from their email solicitation:

This is an invitation to participate in an online research study being conducted by Mr. Tal Yarkoni under the supervision of Dr. Simine Vazire at Washington University in St. Louis. The study investigates the relation between people's personality and the content and style of their writing, and has been approved by the Washington University Human Research Protection Office.

http://e-xperiments.org/personality/

And here are my results:

Neuroticism
Neuroticism (sometimes also called Emotional Instability) is the tendency to experience negative emotions such as sadness or anxiety. People who score high on neuroticism are vulnerable to stress and tend to experience negative feelings more often. People who score low in neuroticism tend to be less susceptible to stress, and experience negative feelings relatively infrequently.

You scored 19 out of 50. This score is higher than 18.9% of people who have taken this test.
(That would be a 38% - solid as a rock.)


Extraversion
Extraversion (or Extroversion) is the tendency to experience positive emotions and seek out stimulating situations. People who score high on extraversion tend to be active, energetic, and enjoy being around other people. In contrast, people who score low on extraversion, known as introverts, tend to be quiet, low-key, and are typically less involved in the social world.

You scored 40 out of 50. This score is higher than 81.6% of people who have taken this test.
(And an 80% - I'm just a social butterfly, aren't I!?)


Openness to experience
Openness to experience is a general tendency to appreciate emotion, adventure, and unusual ideas or experiences. People who are open to experience are intellectually curious, appreciative of art, and sensitive to beauty. People with low scores on openness tend to have more conventional, traditional interests.

You scored 47 out of 50. This score is higher than 89.0% of people who have taken this test.
(94% - yowza! I'll try anything one, twice, do I hear three times?!)


Conscientiousness
Conscientiousness is the tendency to show self-discipline and persistence. People who score high on conscientiousness tend to be persistent, responsible, and duty-driven, but are sometimes perceived as being overly perfectionistic and concerned with order. Individuals low on conscientiousness tend to show less persistence and may have trouble seeing things through.

You scored 38 out of 50. This score is higher than 70.5% of people who have taken this test.
(76% - glad my score was a little more middle of the road on this one.)


Agreeableness
Agreeableness is the tendency to be sympathetic and cooperative towards others. People who score high on agreeableness strive for social harmony and value getting along with others. Disagreeable people tend to be more suspicious and hostile towards others.

You scored 48 out of 50. This score is higher than 98.9% of people who have taken this test.
(96% ... :-D )

That still puts my score at an even-keeled 76.8%. I guess my GPA (as per Donn) is pretty much in the same range as his. But I think that first one should read the opposite for accurate scoring, as a lower score is actually a better score. So if you reversed it, and gave me a 62% on the first one instead of a 38%, I would score an overall average of 81.6%... definitely a better score!

And that would put Donn at... let's see... 73.2%... neener neener, Donn.... beat ya! :-P

Friday 24 April 2009

Goofballs

On April 19th, we had a family gathering as my older sister was in town for her friend's wedding. As is the norm in my family, some of us get a bit goofy at times. My greatniece was chatting with my brother-in-law, sitting on the couch, engrossed in the inane conversation he was having with her.

Then she looked up and saw that my sister had the camera pointed at her, so she made a face. Little did she know (she is six) I was hovering over her head, ready to chomp on her little unsuspecting self... lol!

So when my sister emailed the photo this evening, I just about died laughing! I laughed so hard I had tears streaming down my face, dragging rivulets of mascara with them.





Then my brother took the photo and, ahem, *refined* it a bit in Photoshop... to show our true colours! I laughed equally as hard at this one!




We definitely have the goofball gene in spades in this family! I love it!!!!!

Monday 20 April 2009

LOVE IS...

your lover's soft, tender fingers caressing your cheek
a baby's belly laugh at a silly noise
the little cat's purring as she snuggles against your shoulder
feeling the warm summer sun on your face
laughing so hard with friends that you cry
the creamiest, richest chocolate
being surrounded by family
watching the dog run with pure abandon in a field
sitting, touching, and being silently comfortable
discovering the first blooms of lily of the valley in spring
clouds of dragonflies in summer
the heady fragrance of lilacs
floating face up, gently bobbing, in the warm lake waters
sharing your deepest secrets with your best friend
languid intertwinings with your lover in the soft morning light
visceral memories of those intertwinings hours later
sharing old photos with family
marvelling at the aurora borealis
music that moves your soul
helping someone when they least expect it
putting into words how you feel and sharing it
showing your love without words
and having that love returned without words

Saturday 18 April 2009

Edginess

The cutting edge of alone-ness
is slowly whittling away
at my resolve... my strength
wanes at times leaving me
feeling small and defenseless
I harp at those living under my roof
innocent as they are to any
wrongdoing, just wanting affection
and a piece of my time
while no one else
seems to have time for me
so the blade of one needing one
grows dull and rusting
from nonuse
memories of emotions
fleeting through the dark
alone

Monday 13 April 2009

Walk... Don't Run

Many years ago, I used to run. I loved running. I started running in 1980. Just a 30 minutes run most days. At a leisurely pace, but one that turned my thighs to steel and my body lean.

The photo below was taken in June 1980, after I completed 16 miles of a marathon. I had to quit when I developed hip pain, which turned into chronic tendonitis that plagues me to this day in certain positions, and with a loss of full range of motion.

Running for me became a space to travel to... a place in my mind... although I had to have a small portion of my awareness on the road, the traffic, paying attention to all the pertinent dangers that exist to one trekking along, rhythmic breathing, cooling sweat trickling from my face and body.

Over the years, running has taken its toll. My left knee complains at times now, so running has given way to walking. My feet aren't too fond of that constant pounding either.

But my brain misses the endorphin rush that zoning out while running would give me. At one time, I could be 'in the zone' within minutes of starting a run. It all became effortless and timeless. At times I would extend a run simply to keep the runner's high going. But in the end, I had to admit defeat and give it up.

This year, I have convinced myself that I need something to attain as far as physical fitness goes. So I have decided a start is this: The Inaugural Air Force Run. My dad was in the Air Force. I grew up on AF bases across Canada, and even spent six months in Biloxi, Mississippi when I was four and Dad was on course down there.

My brother-in-law is in the Air Force as well, so I have convinced my sister and her good husband, the Captain, to join me in this 5 km fun run/walk. I won't run but I can walk for hours, as can my sister, all from taking the dogs for daily walks. But I am going to try and push myself a bit and see if I can keep a steady pace that is more than just a leisurely amble.

So... I have six weeks to get into a bit better shape for this walk. I know a lot of people who run for exercise will think that this is probably a wussy thing, but for one who can't run anymore, it is what I can do. And it is for a good cause too, as it is a fund raiser for support services for military personnel and their families.

Besides, I will get a t-shirt for my efforts too!

Spring has sprung...

The grass has riz
(well, it's starting anyway)
I wonder where the birdies is??
(the cat knows... and wants to eat them!)


Something to look forward to with the arrival of more tweeters...
I better keep her claws trimmed so she doesn't shred the damn screen!

Saturday 11 April 2009

Pysanka!




How's that for one big egg? This is the giant Ukranian Egg (Pysanka) located in Vegreville, Alberta, Canada. I'm not Ukranian but I think this thing is very cool!

It is made of metal and has a gazillion parts but is certainly an eye catcher!

Wishing everyone a Happy Easter and may you eat as much chocolate as you like without getting a tummy ache!

I am off to the store to buy more Mini Eggs.... I seem to be out, for some strange reason...

Friday 10 April 2009

Snuffed




Momentary contact

reactions amaze
hope surges briefly
longings, yearnings, achings
for that bright, intense flame
flurry of fear and trepidation
deep waves of sadness
underlying faint thankfulness
for nonresurrection

Still... too many what if's and if only's

Wednesday 8 April 2009

Brief Interlude

We will resume our regular programming as soon as scheduling difficulties have been resolved... in other words, as soon as I have time, I will get my ass in gear and put up another post.

In the meantime, please enjoy a view of one of our local viewers participating in one of her favourite activities.





Wednesday 1 April 2009

Friendship




My bestest and oldest (well, longest time but not oldest, cuz I am 9 months older) girlfriend, Debbie, once had a revealing conversation with her eldest daughter.

The daughter is now 21 and this conversation took place a couple of years ago, shortly after Debbie and I had been talking on the phone (she lives in Texas).

The gist of the conversation was... daughter states she is jealous of how long Debbie and I have been such good friends, how it seemed so easy for us, and how she (daughter) didn't have any friends like that.

Debbie looked at her and said that even friendships require effort to keep them alive and healthy. It doesn't just happen on it's own. You make the effort to keep in contact (especially for us because we have lived far away from one another for many years) and to let the friend know that you care. You are there for them if they need you. In whatever capacity you can manage.

You tell them you love them. You wish them happy birthday, you are the ear they need when they have to vent and the shoulder when they need to cry. You are there to share the laughs and the memories, and to make new ones as time goes on.

Her daughter had no idea. Debbie and I have been best buds for almost 37 years. We've had some rough times, just like any relationship. We even went for about 2 years without talking. And now, we can't even remember why!

But what it comes down to is, if you consider someone to be your friend, and you truly care about them, you will make the effort to keep in contact and to let them know that you care. Period. Distance doesn't matter. Especially nowadays with email and IMing, webcams and internet phone calls. Contact couldn't be any easier if you lived on the same street.

So just make sure that your friends... the ones you love... know that you feel that way... that they are important to you. Call them. Tell them. Because if you don't put any effort into the friendship, it will die a slow and lingering death. And one day you will wonder how you ever let that happen.

To all my friends, be they ones I have known for years or ones I have met recently through blogging, you are all important to me. I just wanted to say...