Day 203: Personality Profile

Every few years I retake the Myers/Briggs personality test. And each time the results are the same.  I am an ESFJ. In short, I am extroverted, sensitive, restless, and somewhat bossy and talkative.  The only change in the results in the last ten years is that I score more strongly in each component of the ESFJ. I was certain my husband would find these results absolutely fascinating. I was most perplexed to see his renewed interest in Law and Order as I read to him from the appendix of the book.  He even declined an offer to take the 70 question profile test himself! Fortunately for him, I was able to discern his personality type without a test.  I simply found the opposite profile of me. Even this, he didn’t find interesting.  However, despite his disdain for psychoanalysis found in a $12 book from Amazon, I love my INTP.

Day 202: Write poetry with students

This week, my creative writing classes are completing a poetry unit. Each day, I read some of my favorite poems to them and then provide them suggestions, “prompts” to get them started. I must admit reading and writing poetry with young people can be a pleasant way to spend the day. I have done this unit for years. The primary difference this year is I have challenged myself to write poems myself. So each time I have given them a “prompt” I provide my own examples.  Poetry is very difficult for me because it mandates such brevity and precision; I have a penchant for the wordy and over developed. Nevertheless, I attempted it and here is a sample:

Watching him design and build

Tiny villages for

Yellow dinosaurs and   firemen with

Red painted d smiles.

I am just a silent onlooker

In his world

Where a deflated Spiderman sleeps quietly

And a green tractor makes idle threats

To a pile of wooden blocks.

I stand silently and unnoticed

 Thankful

Time stands still for us both.

Day 201: Cupcake Shopping

We treated ourselves to a box of cupcakes from one of the area's cupcake stores. For $13 I got 6 cupcakes! I don't think I will make this a habit even though everyone seemed to appreciate the dessert. Ansley maintains that when she grows up she wants to own a cupcake store. I hope her cupcakes are more affordable.

Day 200: Slow Down

Because of an unexplained fever, Zach and I were home again today. Fortunately, he showed no signs of illness. Following my own advice to eschew house work, I let Zach dictate the course of the day. So naturally, after a trip to Big Lots, we were the proud owners of a 8 foot penguin. Once we returned home, we unpacked the new addition and brought him to life. This resulted in a series of wild screams and cheers from us both as the pile of plastic took shape and grew taller. We then went to McDonald's for a much deserved lunch. It took us some time to actually go in-  as we had to investigate the motorcycle parked by the door and the nearby newspaper machine. Later, we watched a few episodes of Curios George and played with "Bumpy Bump." This is the Humpty Dumpty toy that comes with the Happy Meal.
On this 200th day of my "project" I was grateful to have some time to be home and slow down. Since school started I seem to have been so "busy." This extra time reminded me not to let work/errands  get in the way of living. We are all responsbile for the pace we set in our lives, and after a day like today, I am making an effort to slow it down. Life is more meaningful when you take time to seek out penguins.

Day 199: Attend Football Banquet

Ansley's cheer/football banquet was held tonight. Here, the players and cheerleaders were awarded for their hard work during the season. Even I can't say much else about these three hours other than it gave me a great opportunity to learn how to use my new camera.

Day 198: Catch up

Today I found myself the unexpected owner of a few extra hours in an empty home. Unable to walk (race) I used these precious hours to compose these entries and catch up on my blog. By the time the kids returned from their outing with San San and Pee PAw, I was ready to face paint. 

Day 197: Run a 5K

I did it! I did it! I did it! Of all the things I set out to do this year, this will certainly be in the top 10 (after milking a cow, riding a horse, and dancing in the sand). I actually completed a 5K run. And surprisingly, I actually ran a lot. My overall time was 37 minutes; my original goal was to complete the race under an hour. During these 37 minutes I learned a few life lessons. I learned to pace myself, I learned with good music anything is possible, and always smile at the finish line even if your last.