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September 29, 2009

New Thing #88: Firefly



I have been thinking a lot about Michelle lately. It's hard, I feel like there is no one I can talk to about her. Nick's gotten remarried, which I am happy about but still wish that I didn't feel weird bringing up the past. Kevin never got to know her. Mom and I talk about her but it usually ends in tears. I feel that her old friends and I don't understand each other because she was the glue that held us all together. My new thing was that I watched the entire season of "Firefly," one of Michelle's favorite TV shows. It was short-lived, like her. I miss her. There was one moment when I was watching an episode that I said to myself "I have to call Michelle and talk to her about blank" ... and then I remembered ... and it made me cry. Because for that brief moment, she was alive to me again. And then ... she was gone all over again and it reduced me to tears. I don't want to talk about this anymore

September 22, 2009

If the Dress Fits...


The wedding dress fits! What a blessing! Here I thought I HAD to lose all this weight... now I know I CAN lose the weight but no pressure! Ohhh, so happy.

September 9, 2009

Twenty Rules For Life Time Learning

Training for Chado is very similar to training in martial arts. Even though it is not as actively physical, Chado trains the body and strengthens character just like martial arts. It is a lifelong pursuit and if you do not train constantly, you lose your edge.

Early in their formal education, young samurai were instructed to brush a copy of the following rules and then sign and date the document as a lifelong pledge. I think it also applies to tea training, or other situations.

1. Never lie.
2. Never forget to be grateful to one's Lord.
3. Never forget to be grateful to one's parents.
4. Never forget to be grateful to one's teachers.
5. Never forget to be grateful to one's fellow human beings.
6. Do nothing to offend gods, buddhas and one's elders.
7. Do not begrudge small children.
8. Do not burden others with your own troubles.
9. There is no place for anger or rage in the Way.
10. Do not rejoice in the misfortune of others.
11. Do your best to do what is best.
12.Do not turn your back on others and only think of yourself.
13. When you eat, think of the hard work of the farmers who grew the food. Never be wasteful of plants, trees, earth or stones.
14. Do not dress up in fine clothes, or waste time on superficial appearance.
15. Always behave properly with good manners.
16. Always treat everyone like an honored guest.
17. To overcome ignorance, learn from as many people as possible.
18. Do not study and practice the arts just to make a name for yourself.
19. Human beings have good and bad points. Do not dismiss or laugh at anyone.
20. Strive to behave well but keep good actions hidden and do not seek the praise of others.

September 8, 2009

Favorite Foods from A to Z

Favorite Foods from A to Z (maximum of 3 items per letter):
A – Artichoke, Asparagus
B – Broccoli, Berries (all), BBQ
C – Chocolate, Cheese, Caesar Salad
D – Desserts
E – Enchiladas, Espresso drinks
F – Fondue, Fruit (most)
G – Grandma’s Lemon Chicken & Lemon Meringue Pie, Gaie’s Salad Dressings
H – Hungarian Goulash, Haggaslagg, Honey-baked Ham
I – Ice creams, Icees
J – Junior’s Cheesecakes
K – Kevin’s Hash Browns,
L – Love Love Teriyaki Bowl
M – Matcha Tea, McDonald’s Cheeseburger
N – Nigiri sushi
O –
P – Pickles, Pizza, Potatoes
Q – nada
R –
S – Steak, Sushi, Stuffing
T – Taco Bell, Tuna Fish Sandwich, Turkey
U –
V –
W – Wine
X – nada
Y –
Z – nada

September 6, 2009

New Thing #87: Took an Enneagram Test

I took a free enneagram test online.


Path of development:

Accept insecurity as part of life
Develop inner faith in self, others and the world
Recognize that both flight and fight are reactions to fear
Observe fear and calm it
Move ahead in spite of fear
Ultimate task: Reclaiming trust in yourself, others and the world, and living comfortably with uncertainty.

*********************************

After I took the free online test, it said I was an Enneagram Type 6 - The Loyalist with Wings of Type 5 (The Investigator – (woman with telescope)) and Type 7 (The Enthusiast – (girl with butterfly))

Type 6 – Fat grumpy man on left, bottom
Conflicted between trust and distrust

People of this personality type essentially feel insecure, as though there is nothing quite steady enough to hold onto. At the core of the type Six personality is a kind of fear or anxiety. This anxiety has a very deep source and can manifest in a variety of different styles, making Sixes somewhat difficult to describe and to type. What all Sixes have in common however, is the fear rooted at the center of their personality, which manifests in worrying, and restless imaginings of everything that might go wrong. This tendency makes Sixes gifted at trouble shooting, but also robs the Six of much needed peace of mind and tends to deprive the personality of spontaneity. The essential anxiety at the core of the type Six fixation tends to permeate the personality with a sort of "defensive suspiciousness." Sixes don't trust easily; they are often ambivalent about others, until the person has absolutely proven herself, at which point they are likely to respond with steadfast loyalty. The loyalty of the Six is something of a two edged sword however, as Sixes are sometimes prone to stand by a friend, partner, job or cause even long after it is time to move on.

Sixes are generally looking for something or someone to believe in. This, combined with their general suspiciousness, gives rise to a complicated relationship to authority. The side of the Six which is looking for something to believe in, is often very susceptible to the temptation to turn authority over to an external source, whether it be in the form of an individual or a creed. But the Six's tendency towards distrust and suspicion works against any sort of faith in authority. Thus, two opposite pulls exist side by side in the personality of enneatype Six, and assume different proportions in different individuals, sometimes alternating within the same individual.

The truly confounding element when it comes to typing Sixes is that there are two fundamentally different strategies that Sixes adopt for dealing with fear. Some Sixes are basically phobic. Phobic Sixes are generally compliant, affiliative and cooperative. Other Sixes adopt the opposite strategy of dealing with fear, and become counterphobic, essentially taking a defiant stand against whatever they find threatening. This is the Six who takes on authority or who adopts a dare devil attitude towards physical danger. Counterphobic Sixes can be agressive and, rather than looking for authorities, can adopt a rebellious or anti-authoritarian demeanor. Counterphobic Sixes are often unaware of the fear that motivates their actions. In fact, Sixes in general, tend to be blind to the extent of their own anxiety. Because it is the constant back drop to all of their emotions, Sixes are frequently unaware of its existence, as they have nothing with which to contrast it.

Because Sixes so frequently fail to appreciate the extent of their own fear, they often mistype themselves. It is common for instance, for female Sixes to mistype as Twos, especially if they are identified with a helper role, but Sixes have a much more ambivalent attitude towards relationships than do Twos, who generally know exactly what they want. Sixes, failing to recognize their anxiety, can mistype as Nines, but Nines have the ability to relax and to trust in others, neither of which come easily to Sixes. Sixes can mistype as Fours, especially if they have artistic inclinations, but they lack the Four's self-absorption. They can mistype as Fives, especially if they are intellectual, as many Sixes are, but unlike Fives, Sixes tend to be practical. Finally, conterphobic Sixes can easily mistype as Eights, but they lack the Eight's self-certainty.